Sports – Page 505 – North Platte Post Archive

Nuggets Banking on Big Year from Arron Afflalo

Posted on June 30, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Arron Afflalo is looking forward to his return to the Denver Nuggets after being acquired from Orlando in a draft-day deal last week.

The 28-year-old shooting guard is coming off a season with the Magic during which he averaged a career-high 18.2 points.

In some ways, Afflalo feels like he never really left the Nuggets as he always kept close tabs on his former team.

And yet plenty has changed in his two-year absence. Namely, George Karl being replaced as coach by Brian Shaw. Afflalo is ready to take on whatever role Shaw has for him, whether it’s as a scorer or being Afflalo the leader.

Afflalo said his responsibility is to “make sure I’m capable of getting that job done. I have no problem doing whatever coach asks of me.”

Rockies Place RHP Jhoulys Chacin on DL

Posted on June 30, 2014

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies’ beleaguered starting rotation took another blow as right-hander Jhoulys Chacin was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with an inflamed shoulder.

Chacin becomes the sixth starter out of commission for the Rockies. The team has already used 12 different starters this season.

The move is retroactive to Sunday.

To take Chacin’s place on the roster, the Rockies recalled right-handed reliever Chad Bettis from Triple-A Colorado Springs. He will be available Monday night in Washington against the Nationals.

Chacin missed the first month of the season with a strained right shoulder. He’s 1-7 with a 5.40 ERA this season.

Bettis is 0-1 with a 10.05 ERA in 13 games with the Rockies this season.

Avs get Briere from Montreal for Parenteau, Pick

Posted on June 30, 2014

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche have acquired veteran forward Daniel Briere from the Montreal Canadiens for right wing P.A. Parenteau and a fifth-round pick in next year’s draft.

Briere had 13 goals and 12 assists in 69 games last season. He also had three goals as Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference final.

Avalanche executive Joe Sakic says the 36-year-old Briere brings “experience to our hockey club.” Briere was a first-round pick of Phoenix in 1996 and has played in 916 regular-season games with Philadelphia, Buffalo, Phoenix and Montreal.

Parenteau missed 25 games last season after hurting both knees during the year. He finished with 14 goals and 19 assists.

US Says Jozy Altidore Available to Play vs Belgium

Posted on June 30, 2014

SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) — Jozy Altidore is available to play for the United States in Tuesday’s World Cup second-round game against Belgium, but it does not appear the forward is ready to return to the starting lineup.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said during a news conference Monday that “it’s now difficult to say how many minutes.”

Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans’ opener against Ghana on June 16 and didn’t appear in their next two games. He has been working out on his own.

Aron Johannsson replaced Altidore for the remainder of the game against Ghana, and Klinsmann switched from a 4-4-2 formation to a 4-5-1 against Portugal and Germany.

Klinsmann says: “Just having him with us tomorrow is huge.”

Royals Sign 42-Year-Old Ibanez, Released by Angels

Posted on June 30, 2014

Raul Ibanez Kansas City Royals — Photo from ESPN.com

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Kansas City Royals have signed 42-year-old outfielder Raul Ibanez, nine days after he was released by the Los Angeles Angels.

The Royals made several moves Monday before their game at Minnesota. Ibanez and infielder Christian Colon were added to the roster, and infielder Pedro Ciriaco and outfielder Justin Maxwell were designated for assignment.

Ibanez batted just .157 in 57 games for the Angels, but 10 of his 26 hits were for extra bases. He spent three seasons with the Royals, starting in 2001. This is his fifth team since 2011. Ibanez hit 29 home runs just last year for Seattle.

Colon was recalled from Triple-A. The fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft was batting .296 with 48 runs, 14 doubles and 14 steals in 74 games for Omaha.

Infante’s Single in 9th Lifts Royals over Angels

Posted on June 29, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Omar Infante delivered another big hit against the Angels, singling home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning to send the Kansas City Royals over Los Angeles 5-4 Sunday.

Lorenzo Cain hit three doubles for the Royals, finishing with four hits and two RBIs.

An error by second baseman Howie Kendrick set up the game-ending hit by Infante, whose grand slam Friday night helped beat the Angels.

Infante’s single came against Los Angeles newcomer Jason Grilli (0-3). Pittsburgh traded its former closer to the Angels on Friday.

Greg Holland (1-2) struck out two in the ninth.

Rockies Score 3 on 2-Error Play, Beat Brewers 10-4

Posted on June 29, 2014

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Colorado scored three runs in a wild fifth-inning sequence featuring two Milwaukee errors, and the Rockies avoided a season sweep to the Brewers with a 10-4 win Sunday.

Wilin Rosario took advantage of the gaffes with runners on first and second. His shot to third was booted by normally sure-handed third baseman Aramis Ramirez.

One run had already scored when the ball squirted into foul territory before shortstop Jeff Bianchi threw home high and offline trying to get Corey Dickerson. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy then threw errantly attempting to get Rosario at third and Rosario hustled home safely for a six-run lead.

Jorge De La Rosa (8-6) got the win despite allowing three wild pitches and hitting one batter. Milwaukee’s Yovani Gallardo (5-5) was tagged for 10 hits in five innings.

NPCC Lady Knights Volleyball Signs Erika Goodwin

Posted on June 29, 2014

North Platte- The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team announced the signing of Junction City, Kansas’s Erika Goodwin to a National Letter of Intent. Goodwin transferred to North Platte where she will be a sophomore for the Lady Knights after playing her freshman year at Western Nebraska Community College.

The 5’8″ Goodwin will play either the Libero or DS position as the Lady Knights look to improve on their Region IX Division II Runner-Up finish from a year ago. Goodwin is the daughter of Mike and Leslie Goodwin and is surrounded by siblings Charly, Cole and Morgan, her mother, and Coach Vicki Hopping as she signed her National Letter of Intent.

“I’m looking forward to a good season and getting to know everybody better,” said Goodwin.

“We are excited to welcome Erika to our program,” said head coach Sally Thalken. “She brings experience from playing a year of college volleyball already and has been around a very successful program.”

Angels Stay Hot, Beat Royals 6-2

Posted on June 28, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Albert Pujols and David Freese combined to drive in five runs as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Saturday for their seventh victory in eight games.

There were two rain delays with the second after the fourth inning lasting 3:58. The game didn’t end until nearly 7 hours after it started.

Pujols, who has 14 RBIs in his past 13 games, singled home runs in the third and sixth innings. Freese, who had three hits, drove in three runs, two in the four-run sixth and the other in fourth. He has six RBIs in his past seven games, after driving in only three in his previous 26 games.

Rookie right-hander Mike Morin (2-1), who went to high school at a Kansas City suburb, allowed two runs on two hits over two innings to pick up the victory.

Royals rookie Yordano Ventura (5-7) took the loss.

Gomez, Garza Lead Brewers over Rockies 7-4

Posted on June 28, 2014

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Carlos Gomez launched a three-run homer and Matt Garza battled into the seventh inning for his first win in four starts to help the Milwaukee Brewers continue their season mastery of the Colorado Rockies with a 7-4 victory Saturday.

Garza (5-5) pitched five scoreless innings before allowing two runs each in the sixth and seventh. His first win since June 7 improved the Brewers to 6-0 this season against Colorado. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth inning for his majors-best 27th save.

Gomez staked the Brewers to a 3-0 lead in the first, hitting his 13th home run on a 3-2 pitch from Jhoulys Chacin (1-7).

Braun’s two-run triple keyed a three-run sixth that upped the Brewers’ lead to 6-0.

Gomez was removed in the seventh inning after colliding with Braun in the outfield. He is day to day with a neck strain.