Baseball – Page 55 – North Platte Post Archive

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.

Royals Sign First-Round Pick Finnegan

Posted on June 28, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals signed first-round draft pick Brandon Finnegan, a left-handed pitcher who helped lead TCU to the College World Series, on Saturday.

Finnegan signed for $2,200,600, the slotted money for the 17th overall pick. With Finnegan agreeing to terms, the Royals have signed all 12 of their picks in the first 10 rounds.

Finnegan, who went 9-3 with a 2.04 ERA while striking out 134 in 105 2-3 innings as a junior, will report Monday to the Royals’ High-A Wilmington (Del.) affiliate.

He pitched for Team USA last summer and beat Cuba 1-0, allowing three hits, striking out seven and walking one in seven innings.

Finnegan was a 2011 45th round pick of the Texas Rangers out of Fort Worth Southwest High, but did not sign, opting to go to TCU.

Braun’s Single in 9th Sends Brewers by Rockies 3-2

Posted on June 27, 2014

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ryan Braun was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning that scored a run and had an RBI single in the ninth, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

Mark Reynolds led off the ninth with a single off reliever Matt Belisle (2-3) and advanced on a sacrifice by Jean Segura. Scooter Gennett pinch hit for Francisco Rodriguez (3-2) and was intentionally walked. The runners advanced on a passed ball by catcher Michael McKenry. After Rickie Weeks went down swinging, Braun drilled Belisle’s first pitch up the middle.

Josh Rutledge tied the game when he homered off Rodriguez with one out in the ninth. Rutledge hit a 3-2 pitch that just barely cleared the wall in left for his second homer this season.

Rodriguez was trying to help Kyle Lohse win his third straight start. Lohse has been victimized by five blown saves this season.

Infante’s Slam Sends Royals to 8-6 Win over Angels

Posted on June 27, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Omar Infante capped a seven-run inning with his first career grand slam, and the Kansas City Royals held on to beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-6 on a rough Friday night for starting pitchers.

Jason Vargas and Angels counterpart Matt Shoemaker (5-2) combined to give up 14 runs on 20 hits — four of them home runs. Neither got an out in the fifth inning.

Michael Mariot (1-0) picked up with his first career win with 1 1-3 innings of relief, and Greg Holland earned his 23rd save by tossing a perfect ninth.

Salvador Perez had three hits while Lorenzo Cain, Billy Butler and Alex Gordon each drove in a run for Kansas City, which ended the Angels’ six-game winning streak despite limping into the series having lost six of seven.

Weeks, Peralta Help Brewers Beat Rockies 7-4

Posted on June 26, 2014

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Rickie Weeks had three hits, including a leadoff home run, and Wily Peralta won his fifth consecutive start as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Colorado Rockies 7-4 Thursday night.

Weeks homered on the first pitch from Colorado starter Christian Friedrich (0-2). Aramis Ramirez followed later in the inning with a two-run shot.

Peralta (9-5) allowed three straight singles in the fourth. Ryan Wheeler then hit a grand slam, giving the Rockies a 4-3 lead.

In the fifth, Weeks doubled and scored on Jonathan Lucroy’s single. A sacrifice fly by Khris Davis put Milwaukee ahead 5-4.

The First Nationals Sweep Columbus at Bill Wood Field

Posted on June 26, 2014

The North Platte First Nationals swept Columbus in a Cornhusker League doubleheader Thursday, 6-4 and 10-4.

Columbus took the early lead in game one by scoring two runs in the first inning. North Platte (23-11) tied the game with two runs in the third inning then took a 4-2 lead by scoring two more runs in the fifth. Columbus tied the game once again in the sixth inning with two runs before the First Nationals sealed the win by scoring two runs in the top of the seventh inning to go up 6-4.

Darian Allberry pitched a complete game for North Platte and gave up four runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out five batters and walking none. Luke Volz led the way at the plate by going 2-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Six different players drove in a run during the game for the First Nationals.

Columbus once again jumped out to an early lead in game two after scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Columbus added to its lead by scoring two runs in the top of the third inning to go up 3-0. The First Nationals responded by scoring three runs in the bottom half of the third to tie the game. North Platte then scored a run in the fourth, three in the fifth and three in the sixth before giving up one run in the seventh inning to earn the 10-4 win.

Five different players had a multi-hit game for North Platte and they also had seven extra-base hits. Jack Kenny led the way by going 2-4 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI. Alec Wesslund, Drew Callaghan, Alex Harms, Volz and Allberry all also hit doubles in the game. Callaghan earned the win on the mound. He came in, in relief for the final four and one-third innings and gave up one run on three hits and struck out three batters. Jayden Kruse started the game and pitched the first two and two-third innings, giving up three unearned runs on four hits and he walked three batters.

The two wins give North Platte a three-game winning streak going into the weekend. The First Nationals next game is Saturday as they host Janesville, Wis. Post 205 in a doubleheader at Bill Wood Field. The first game is scheduled for 12 noon with game two getting underway at 2:30 pm.

The North Platte Juniors (18-6) are also in action Saturday, but they go to Norfolk for a doubleheader that begins at 1:00 pm.

Vandy Beats Virginia 3-2 for 1st National Title

Posted on June 25, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — John Norwood’s home run in the top of the eighth inning gave Vanderbilt the lead, and the Commodores beat Virginia 3-2 on Wednesday night for their first national championship.

Norwood turned on Nick Howard’s 97 mph fastball and sent it into the left field bullpen to break a 2-2 tie in the third and deciding game of the College World Series finals.

It was Norwood’s third homer of the year, his first since April 19, and Vanderbilt’s first since May 16. It also was only the third home run in 16 CWS games and the 22nd in 72 games by the Commodores (51-21).

The Cavaliers (53-16) loaded the bases with one out in the eighth when Adam Ravenelle hit Kenny Towns. But Mike Papi was forced out at home on a chopper to Ravenelle, and Brandon Downes grounded out.

Bases-Loaded HBP in 8th Helps Dodgers Beat KC 5-4

Posted on June 25, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Wade Davis plunked A.J. Ellis of the Dodgers with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning Wednesday night, sending Los Angeles to a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

Jamey Wright (3-2) threw 2 2-3 scoreless innings in relief of Dan Haren to pick up the win.

Davis (5-2) had not allowed a run in 22 1-3 innings spanning his last 20 outings. But after nearly escaping a jam by catching Adrian Gonzalez in a rundown between third base and home for the second out of the eighth, the reliever walked Scott Van Slyke to load the bases.

Davis then had a 1-2 count on Ellis before hitting him in the shoulder.

J.P. Howell and Brandon League worked the bottom of the eighth for the Dodgers, and Brian Wilson handled the ninth in place of closer Kenley Jansen for his first save since April 12, 2012.

The First Nationals get back on the Winning Track against Overton

Posted on June 25, 2014

The North Platte First Nationals returned home to Bill Wood Field and beat Overton 7-2 Wednesday night.

North Platte (21-11) scored in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead and held that score through three innings. Overton tied the game in the top of the fourth inning before the First Nationals scored one in the bottom half of the fourth to regain the lead, 2-1. North Platte added one more in the fifth inning and four in the sixth inning to go up 7-1. Overton scored one run in the seventh inning for the final run of the game.

The First Nationals called up some members of the Junior team and played a season-high 17 players in the game. Austin Chitty pitched a complete game to earn the win and gave up just two unearned runs on five hits. He also struck out four batters while walking five.

Luke Volz led the way for North Platte at the plate by going 1-1 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored.

The First Nationals return to the diamond Thursday for a Cornhusker League doubleheader against Columbus. The first game is scheduled for 4:00 pm with the first pitch of game two set to be thrown at 6:30 pm at Bill Wood Field.

The North Platte First Nationals Juniors also beat Overton Wednesday night, 10-3. The North Platte Juniors team is now 18-6 on the season and next plays Saturday on the road in a doubleheader against Norfolk.

Adams Homers, Cardinals Rally to Beat Rockies 9-6

Posted on June 25, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Matt Adams homered and drove in two runs, Matt Holliday had three hits, and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied to beat the Colorado Rockies 9-6 on Wednesday.

Drew Stubbs homered, and Justin Morneau had two hits for the Rockies, who finished their homestand 1-5.

The game featured the major league debuts of both starting pitchers. St. Louis’ Marco Gonzales was sharp early before faltering. Colorado’s Yohan Flande also started well before getting hit hard in his last inning.

Pat Neshek (2-0) pitched an inning in relief to earn the win. Trevor Rosenthal got four outs for his 23rd save in 26 chances.

The Cardinals scored twice in the eighth off Adam Ottavino (0-2) on RBI doubles by Daniel Descalso and Matt Carpenter to take a win away from Flande.