Wichita Eagle: Baseball

Fielder’s arrival could spell trouble for Royals

RUSTIN DODD — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:31 CST

It’s now been seven days and counting since the Detroit Tigers shook up the American League by agreeing to a nine-year deal, $214 million deal with free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder.

The mega-contract for the former Brewers slugger came nearly a week after the Tigers lost designated hitter Victor Martinez to a season-ending knee injury. And if there was any doubt before, the addition of Fielder made things quite clear: Detroit will be favored to win the AL Central for a second straight year.

This, of course, is not good news for the Royals, who had emerged during the offseason as a 2012 sleeper after a solid finish in 2011. Still, general manager Dayton Moore says, the Royals won’t make any reactionary moves.

Pinch-hit decision gives Cardinals win in first World Series game

BEN WALKER — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:31 CDT

ST. LOUIS — Nobody plays a hunch like Tony La Russa. Not this October, anyway.

The St. Louis manager once again looked like a genius, especially when Allen Craig pinch-hit for ace Chris Carpenter and delivered a go-ahead single that sent the Cardinals past the Texas Rangers 3-2 on Wednesday night in the World Series opener.

Craig's slicing hit in the sixth inning fell inches in front of sliding right fielder Nelson Cruz. Game 1 was just that tight throughout a cold, damp evening.

Rangers know World Series success could be figuring out Pujols and Co.

R.B. FALLSTROM — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:36 CDT

ST. LOUIS — If this is Albert Pujols' farewell tour with the St. Louis Cardinals, it's coming on the grandest of stages.

The three-time National League MVP has consistently avoided discussing free agency and was not making exceptions on the eve of the World Series. Swatting aside questions about his future not once but three times Tuesday, the big bat for the wild-card Cardinals was insistent on staying in the moment.

"Let's talk about something else," Pujols said. "Let's talk about baseball. I don't concentrate about that."

World Series features seldom-seen matchup

BEN WALKER — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:08 CDT

Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton in a matchup of MVP sluggers. Nelson Cruz and David Freese becoming bigger names with each home run swing. Pitching staffs full of shaky starters and shutdown relievers.

Plus a Rally Squirrel and the Claw.

The Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals with a lot symmetry, all set to get acquainted in the World Series.

Baseball

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:09 CDT

WSU Scrimmage

Gold 10, Black 1

WSU Gold001 230 130 — 10 12 0 WSU Black001 000 000 — 1 6 5

Cardinals remain in business

R.B. FALLSTROM — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 07:25 CDT

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals stayed alive in the NL wild-card race by keeping their bat on their shoulders.

Carlos Marmol forced home the tying run with a bases-loaded walk to Ryan Theriot with two outs in the ninth inning and followed with a game-ending wild pitch, giving St. Louis a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

Recovering from two painful losses, the Cardinals are two games behind the Braves with four to play. Atlanta lost to Washington 4-1 on Saturday.

Wild-card lead shrinks for Boston

Associated Press — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:07 CDT

BOSTON — Boston pitcher Jon Lester has been a part of teams that have had late-season success. So he has a sense how the Tampa Bay Rays are feeling now.

"This isn't our first go-round at this. We've got plenty of guys in that clubhouse that have been through it," he said after the Red Sox fell to Tampa Bay 4-3 on Saturday, slicing their once-large wild-card lead to three games.

"It's easier when you're coming from behind than where we're at. There's no pressure. Obviously they're doing a good job," he said. "We've just got to grind it out. That's the attitude in the clubhouse. We've got to stay working and grind. We can't worry about what's being said about us or what's going on."

Royals fall to Rays on walk-off

BOB DUTTON — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:08 CDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —Maybe Blake Wood had a premonition early Monday afternoon in proclaiming there were "no more good birthdays." Because this one, his 26th, sure wasn't.

Wood saw his first pitch turn into a walk-off homer by Casey Kotchman in the ninth inning — a blast that lifted the Tampa Bay Rays to a 2-1 victory over the Royals at Tropicana Field.

"What a present," Wood observed. "It's unbelievable. It's the first time I've ever been walked off. Not a whole lot to say. One pitch, and that's all she wrote."

Cards deal Rasmus for pitching

Associated Press — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:09 CDT

The St. Louis Cardinals addressed a pitching shortage that dates to spring training Wednesday, acquiring right-hander Edwin Jackson in a three-team trade that cost them starting center fielder Colby Rasmus.

The Cardinals sent Rasmus and two relievers to Toronto.

"He's a power arm, a different look from what we roll out there," general manager John Mozeliak said of Jackson, who threw a 149-pitch no-hitter last season for Arizona. "He has the capability of being a dominant pitcher."

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:09 CDT

El Dorado 2, Liberal 1

Liberal000 000 001 — 1 6 2 El Dorado000 001 001 — 2 2 2

W—Haines. L—Elam.

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:09 CDT

Liberal 8, El Dorado 3

Liberal111 010 004— 8 13 0 El Dorado200 100 000 — 3 5 3

W—Smith. L—Gifford. S—Elam. HR—El Dorado, A. Rea.

Late runs lift Derby over Broncos

Eagle staff — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:34 CDT

Derby scored two runs in the top of the 12th inning to defeat the El Dorado Broncos 6-4 on Monday in the National Baseball Congress Midwest Regional at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Derby's Ryan Walterhouse went 2 for 5 with a home run.

Derby Twins000 001 200 102 —6 14 3 El Dora. Broncos100 000 020 100 — 4 12 3

Wheatkings open with victory

Eagle staff — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:34 CDT

Tabor College's Matt Weger led the Wichita Wheatkings by going 3 for 5 with an RBI in a 7-2 victory over the Kansas Cannons in National Baseball Congress Midwest Regional play on Friday at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Wichita Wheatkings001 022 002 — 7 11 1 Kansas Cannons010 001 000 — 2 6 1

W—Reif 1-0. L—Palmer 0-1. S—Ayers (1).

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:33 CDT

Wednesday's Game

El Dorado 7, Dodge City 6

Dodge City002 021 100 0 — 6 13 1 El Dorado020 300 010 1 — 7 18 0

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:33 CDT

Derby 5, Liberal 3

Liberal000 210 000 — 3 8 3 Derby000 230 00x — 5 11 1

W—Harris 1-1. L—Ingram. S—Guerra.

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:07 CDT

Dodge City 14, El Dorado 6

Dodge City440 004 200 — 14 15 1 El Dorado001 020 300 — 6 14 4

W—Richburg. L—Kinman.

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:08 CDT

Hays 5, El Dorado 4

El Dorado010 030 000 — 4 9 2 Hays200 121 00x — 5 10 0

W—Doerr. L—Gardner. S—Burchette.

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:08 CDT

Hays 5, El Dorado 3

El Dorado000 300 000 — 3 6 2 Hays032 000 00x — 5 9 0

W—Ziegler. L—Gifford. S—Burthett.

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:08 CDT

Derby 3, Haysville 2

Haysville000 020 000 00 — 2 8 1 Derby000 010 100 01 — 3 15 1

No outs when the winning run scored

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 06:25 CDT

Broncos 12, Rangers 2

Park City Rangers000 020 0 — 2 4 1 El Dorado Broncos102 009 x — 12 10 2

Game halted by 10-run rule