Daily Clips

July 31, 2017

LOCALRoyals' 4-run 8th bounces Sox in rubber gameJuly 31, 2017 By Ian Browne and Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.comhttp://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/245338190/royals-rally-late-for-series-win-over-red-sox/?topicId=27118382

Hammel keeps Royals within striking distanceRighty logs 7 strong innings after laboring early vs. SoxJUly 31, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.comhttp://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/245411620/jason-hammel-delivers-7-strong-innings-for-kc/?topicId=27118382

Melky returns to KC in swap with White SoxRoyals trade Minors pitchers Puckett, Davis; option GoreJuly 31, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.comhttp://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/245339736/royals-trade-for-outfielder-melky-cabrera/?topicId=27118382

Duffy, Royals aiming to reverse trends with O'sJuly 31, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.comhttp://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/245337652/duffy-royals-aim-to-reverse-trends-vs-ubaldo-os/?topicId=26688836

Appreciative of roots, Schuerholz enters HallLongtime exec acknowledges family values that helped carry him to CooperstownJuly 31, 2017 By Mark Bowman/MLB.comhttp://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/245338240/john-schuerholz-inducted-into-hall-of-fame/

Royals’ Alex Gordon completes comeback in 5-3 victory over Red SoxJuly 31, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Starhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article164462562.html

Royals acquire outfielder Melky

Cabrera from White Sox for two minor-league pitchersJuly 31, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Starhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article164440722.html

Royals trade for Melky Cabrera, make one more push toward one more championshipJuly 31, 2017 By Sam Mellinger/MLB.comhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mellinger/article164458857.html

Royals react to trade for outfielder Melky CabreraJuly 31, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Starhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article164482247.html

‘Royals are pulling out all the stops:’ Reaction to Melky Cabrera tradeJuly 31, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Starhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article164453772.html

Melky Moments: Seven of Cabrera’s best games in his first go-round with RoyalsJuly 31, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Starhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article164509652.html

MINORSChasers Mash Fresno 5-2 in Front of 7,472Moon clubs 3-run shot in 1st, Schwindel extends hit streak to 16July 31, 2017 By Andrew Green/Omaha Storm Chasershttps://www.milb.com/storm-chasers/news/chasers-mash-fresno-5-2-in-front-of-7472/c-245484680/t-196093384

Naturals fall in finale as Cardinals win seriesOF Alfredo Escalera hit his fifth home run of the season in the 6-3 defeat to Springfield on Sunday

July 31, 2017 Northwest Arkansas Naturalshttps://www.milb.com/naturals/news/naturals-fall-in-finale-as-cardinals-win-series/c-245439996/t-196093316

Rotten Luck and Strong Pitching Stifle RocksWilmington Drops Series Finale 3-2 Against CarolinaJuly 31, 2017 Wilmington Blue Rockshttps://www.milb.com/blue-rocks/news/rotten-luck-and-strong-pitching-stifle-rocks/c-245418704/t-196097164

Kannapolis takes series finale, 10-3Legends' Davis part of KC-White Sox tradeJuly 31, 2017 Lexington Legendshttps://www.milb.com/legends/news/kannapolis-takes-series-finale-10-3/c-245429062/t-196097274

Royals Blast Past Astros in Series OpenerBurlington pounds out 16 hits in 13-1 shellacking of GreenevilleJuly 31, 2017 By Matt Krause/Burlington Royalshttps://www.milb.com/b-royals/news/royals-blast-past-astros-in-series-opener/c-245481632

NATIONALRoyals continue to add with trade for Melky Cabrera from White SoxJuly 31, 2017 By Chris Cwik/Yahoo Sportshttps://sports.yahoo.com/news/royals-continue-add-trade-melky-cabrera-white-sox-172505208.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

For Perhaps the Last Time, the Royals Are Going for It All, TogetherJuly 31, 2017 By Tyler Kepner/New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/30/sports/baseball/royals-core-free-agency.html

MLB TRANSACTIONSJuly 31, 2017 •.CBSSports.comhttp://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

LOCALRoyals' 4-run 8th bounces Sox in rubber gameJuly 31, 2017 By Ian Browne and Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.comhttp://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/245338190/royals-rally-late-for-series-win-over-red-sox/?topicId=27118382

Alex Gordon's go-ahead two-run triple capped a four-run eighth inning as the Royals rallied for a 5-3 win over the Red Sox in Sunday's rubber game at Fenway Park.

The victory came one day after the Royals had their nine-game winning streak end on a bizarre, walk-off groundout, and just hours after they acquired veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera in advance of Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline. It was the Royals' American League-leading 31st come-from-behind victory, and they now trail the Indians by just two games in the AL Central standings.

"I was just looking for a heater away I could drive," Gordon said. "With no one out, I was trying to pull the ball. I was trying to drive him in, but at the same time get the runner over from second, too."

Added Royals manager Ned Yost, "We just kept grinding, just keep grinding the at-bats. It's just kind of typical of our success. The big guys are getting on base, and [Alcides Escobar] and Gordon, who struggled so much at the beginning of the year, come up with huge hits."

The Royals opened the eighth down, 3-1, but broke through for four runs against Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes, who has been shouldering more responsibility due to the absence of Joe Kelly (left hamstring strain). Though all the runs were charged to Barnes, Gordon's triple came against lefty Robby Scott. Escobar tied it with a two-run single to right.

"They were able to bunch some base hits together, and as they start to get to the bottom of the order, where you see the lefties coming, Gordon at the plate, it's kind of a big blow right there to spread it open further," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

The Red Sox tried to turn the tables on the Royals in the ninth, loading the bases with two out against closer Kelvin Herrera. But Mookie Betts hit a shallow flyout to center to end the game.

Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz turned in another strong game and left in position to get a win, giving up one run over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision. With the loss, Boston remained a half-game behind the Yankees in the AL East.

"I felt pretty good out there. I felt like I had a pretty good mix of pitches. I was getting some early contact," Pomeranz said. "The bullpen's been so good all year. It's just part of baseball. It happens sometimes."

Royals starter Jason Hammel gave up two runs in the second and a solo shot to Red Sox prospect Rafael Devers in the fifth, but Hammel otherwise pitched well, giving up three runs over seven innings.

"Overall, I had good command the whole game," Hammel said. "Just trying to keep us in there and let the boys get some runs on the board. It's obvious we never quit."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Error opens floodgates: An error by shortstop Xander Bogaerts on a leadoff ground ball by Lorenzo Cain helped spur the Royals' pivotal eighth inning. Eric Hosmer then stung a line drive off the right hand of Barnes and the Royals kept rolling from there.

"Well, it opens the door, and then all of a sudden there's life," Farrell said. "Instead of the potential of an out, nobody on, against a team that's aggressive, they're playing with a lot of momentum, that's a crack, and then all of a sudden here's a ball off the chest, and things are starting to build at that point. It changes the whole complexion of the inning to be honest with you."

Fenway first for Devers: Devers displayed a nice opposite-field stroke that will serve him well at Fenway Park, hitting a liner that just cleared the Green Monster for his second home run in the fifth game of his career. Devers stopped at second, as the umpires didn't see that the drive had cleared the Monster. After a crew-chief review, the call was overturned and Devers completed his first Fenway home-run trot. According to Statcast™, the shot by Devers traveled a projected 381 feet.

"It was really cool to be able to hit a home run here with all the Red Sox fans. It was an awesome experience," Devers said.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

At 20 years and 279 days, Devers is the youngest player to homer at Fenway Park since Manny Machado on April 10, 2013, and the youngest Red Sox player at Fenway since Tony Conigliaro in 1965. Devers is the first Red Sox player to hit two homers in his first five Major League games since Will Middlebrooks in 2012.

2007 CHAMPS HONORED

Prior to the game, the Red Sox held a ceremony to honor the 10-year anniversary of the 2007 World Series championship team. Nineteen players from that squad took part in the festivities, including David Ortiz, Mike Lowell, Curt Schilling, Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield and J.D. Drew. Lowell, the World Series MVP, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Varitek.

WHAT'S NEXT

Royals: Left-hander Danny Duffy (7-6, 3.56 ERA) will take the mound as the Royals open a three-game series against the Orioles at Camden Yards on Monday at 6:05 p.m. CT. Duffy gave up one run over 6 1/3 innings in a 3-1 win over Detroit on Tuesday.

Red Sox: Right-hander Doug Fister (0-5, 7.46) makes his return to the rotation on Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET when the Red Sox face the AL Central-leading Indians in the opener of a three-game series at Fenway Park. Fister had been moved to the bullpen last week, but plans changed when David Price had to go on the disabled list with inflammation in his left elbow.

Hammel keeps Royals within striking distance

Righty logs 7 strong innings after laboring early vs. SoxJUly 31, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.comhttp://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/245411620/jason-hammel-delivers-7-strong-innings-for-kc/?topicId=27118382

Right-hander Jason Hammel figured all he had to do was keep the Royals close. After all, even as they trailed by two runs after five innings, they came into the game with an American League-leading 30 comeback victories this season.

No. 31 came soon after Hammel shut down the Red Sox in the sixth and seventh innings. A four-run eighth gave the Royals the lead and a 5-3 win, pulling them within two games of the first-place

Hammel gave up four singles and two runs in the second, but he allowed only one run after that point. He walked none through seven innings and struck out six.

"Overall, I had good command the whole game," Hammel said. "The second inning was kind of the snafu. Just trying to keep us in there and let the boys get some runs on the board. And they did."Hammel's seven-inning outing was his longest since June 19 and the team's longest outing since July 15, when Danny Duffy went 8 1/3 in a 1-0 loss to the Rangers.

"We need to do that a lot more," Hammel said of going deep into the game. "That's our job. It shouldn't be go five innings and then four by the relievers. We're going to need those relievers later."

Hammel and the rest of the team also was bolstered by the pregame news: That the Royals had acquired outfielder Melky Cabrera from the White Sox.

The Royals, Hammel said, have come a long way since their 10-20 start.

"It's obvious we're not a team that quits," Hammel said. "The way we started this season, nothing to write home about. But it's a long season and we believe in the process. It's a very good group of guys. The vibe is good.

"[The trade] shows commitment. We fought back into this. Obviously, it could have been ugly."

Melky returns to KC in swap with White SoxRoyals trade Minors pitchers Puckett, Davis; option GoreJuly 31, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.comhttp://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/245339736/royals-trade-for-outfielder-melky-cabrera/?topicId=27118382

The Royals on Sunday beefed up their offense, acquiring outfielder Melky Cabrera and cash from the White Sox for Minor League pitchers A.J. Puckett and Andre Davis.

Cabrera, 32, played for the Royals in 2011, and he remains popular among the present Royals.

"It's the perfect fit for us," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said by phone from Cooperstown, N.Y., where he

watched John Schuerholz's Hall of Fame induction. "He knows our guys. He will lengthen our lineup."

Cabrera, a switch-hitter, likely will be part of a left-field-right-field-DH rotation with Alex Gordon, Jorge Bonifacio and Brandon Moss. But manager Ned Yost said Cabrera likely will start out playing mostly right field.

"I will go there try to help the team win games," Cabrera told reporters through an interpreter. "They acquired me for a reason. I hope to help them."

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Royals designated for assignment right-handed Minor Leaguer Andrew Edwards. And after Sunday's 5-3 win over the Red Sox, the club optioned Terrance Gore to Triple-A Omaha to make room for Cabrera on the active roster.

Cabrera is hitting .288 with 13 home runs and 56 RBIs. He also has nine outfield assists, tied for the Major League lead.

Cabrera is still owed about $5.16 million of his $15 million deal for 2017. The Royals will have to pay about $2.5 million of that, per an MLB.com source.

Royals players learned of the trade just a few minutes before game time on Sunday. There were still buzzing about the deal after the game. Cabrera is expected to join the team in Baltimore on Monday."It's a good pickup," shortstop Alcides Escobar said. "Everyone knows he can hit. Good guy in the clubhouse, and he wants to play for us."

In 2011 with the Royals, Cabrera set career highs in doubles (44), home runs (18), RBIs (87) and stolen bases (20).

"He's going to help our team a lot," left fielder Alex Gordon said. "He's having a great year. We all know his personality -- smiling, happy-go-lucky guy. Brings a lot of energy to the clubhouse. He's going to be comfortable in this situation. We know what he can do.

"Nothing ever bothers him. With a game like this, it can get you down. But he's always having a good time. Even with the White Sox, you could see him always goofing around. That's what we're about -- having fun."

Puckett, a right-hander who was a second-round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, is 9-7 with a 3.90 ERA at Class A Advanced Wilmington this season. Davis, a left-hander, was an eighth-round pick in '15, and he is 5-4 with a 4.83 ERA at Class A Lexington.

"There were other teams interested [in Cabrera] so we had to step up and be aggressive," Moore said. "You have to be prepared to give up players that will hurt a little, too."

It was the second major deal that Moore pulled off this week: Earlier, the club acquired right-handers Brandon Maurer and Trevor Cahill, and left-hander Ryan Buchter, from the Padres.

"It just shows you how much [owner] Mr. [David] Glass and Dayton are committed to giving us everything that we need," Yost said. "Not only us, but the city. Giving us all everything that we can use to try to win."

Duffy, Royals aiming to reverse trends with O'sJuly 31, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.comhttp://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/245337652/duffy-royals-aim-to-reverse-trends-vs-ubaldo-os/?topicId=26688836

As the Royals prepare to open a three-game set against the Orioles on Monday at Camden Yards, they will seek to end two trends: First, the Royals have lost four straight there, and second, left-hander Danny Duffy has never won there.

Duffy (7-6, 3.56 ERA) is 0-2 in four career outings at Camden Yards, but he has posted a 3.24 ERA in that park.

Duffy, however, is coming off a strong start against the Tigers on Tuesday, going 6 1/3 innings and giving up one run in a 3-1 win. He will be opposed by right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (4-7, 6.93), who is coming off his best start in almost a month. Jimenez gave up three hits and two runs while striking out nine against the Rays on Wednesday.

It could be a big start for Jimenez as the Orioles have some rotation decisions to make with Jeremy Hellickson -- who was acquired in Friday night's trade with the Phillies -- expected to be added to the roster Monday. Hellickson could start as early as Wednesday, though the team hasn't decided yet on who goes from the rotation.

Things to know about this game

• Orioles designated hitter Mark Trumbo was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup at Texas after tweaking his back. The O's are hoping he's available Monday.• Jimenez has stymied Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, who is 5-for-31 (.161) against him with 11 strikeouts.• The Royals were reunited with veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera in Sunday's deal with the White Sox ahead of Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline. The Royals parted with Minor League pitchers A.J. Puckett and Andre Davis.

Appreciative of roots, Schuerholz enters HallLongtime exec acknowledges family values that helped carry him to CooperstownJuly 31, 2017 By Mark Bowman/MLB.comhttp://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/245338240/john-schuerholz-inducted-into-hall-of-fame/

In the process of constructing World Series champions in two cities and the greatest era in Braves history, John Schuerholz was fueled by the discipline and determination instilled in him as he was raised in a blue-collar Baltimore neighborhood that recognized his father, grandfather and uncles as some of the city's top athletes.

As Schuerholz was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday afternoon, he thanked the countless players, managers, coaches, scouts and front-office employees who helped him become one of the greatest general managers the game has ever known. But before

addressing all of the accomplishments he experienced with the Royals and Braves, he appropriately first expressed genuine appreciation for those family values that helped him remain such a fierce competitor and respected leader throughout his career.

"Being born into that Schuerholz family was the first of several events that I believe to have been divine providence, or faith if you will, that has impacted my life in remarkable fashion," Schuerholz said. "Growing up in that family of sportsmen and athletes introduced me early on in my life to the joys and to the challenges of competitive sports, especially baseball. I love baseball."

The son of a father whose three-year professional baseball career ended because of a broken leg, Schuerholz can look at several of his life's decisions as divine providence. He reluctantly followed his mentor Lou Gorman to Kansas City in 1968 to help build an expansion franchise. But this proved to be a wise decision as he was introduced to his wife, Karen, and guided the Royals to a World Series championship in 1985, four years after being named the club's general manager.

When it became clear Bobby Cox was vacating his general manager title to exclusively serve as the Braves' manager at the end of the 1990 season, Schuerholz repeatedly quizzed former Braves president Stan Kasten about his plans. Kasten initially grew excited thinking his top choice would be willing to fill the position.

Schuerholz briefly altered the mood in early October, when he called to say he couldn't leave the comforts of home Kansas City had created. Three days later, divine providence might have once again played a part as he called back to say, "I made a mistake." Kasten said, "Yeah, I know that you did," and then provided the job to a man who would lead the Braves to the first of 14 consecutive division titles in 1991 -- the worst-to-first season that concluded with an extra-inning loss to the Twins in Game 7 of the World Series.

"I could have said, 'He turned us down, he must not really want it,'" Kasten said. "I don't buy that. I thought he was the perfect man for the job. I tell that story to people who are thinking about shutting the door in similar situations."

Currently the Dodgers president, Kasten has now been in Cooperstown three of the past four years. He saw Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Cox inducted in 2014 and returned in 2015 for John Smoltz's induction ceremony. He'll likely return next year to celebrate the career of Chipper Jones, who might be the last of the immortalized members of an era that was significantly influenced by the leadership of Kasten, Schuerholz and Cox.

"The three of us, me and Bobby and John, had different jobs and we respected the job the others did and let them do their job," Kasten said. "We disagreed lots of times on lots of things, but eventually one of us would have to make a decision and the other two respected that decision."

Schuerholz's success was rooted in his ability to surround himself with quality employees, who appreciated his willingness to delegate and allow their voices to be heard. He credits this admirable leadership trait to going deaf in his right ear after acquiring German Measles when he was 5 years old.

"I had to learn to be a more attentive and intentional listener, which I believe worked quite well throughout my life," Schuerholz said. "Divine providence? Faith? You bet."

Schuerholz's longtime assistant general manager in both Kansas City and Atlanta, Dean Taylor was a first-year, entry-level employee in the Royals' baseball operations department in 1981. Still, his opinion was requested when Schuerholz asked staff members whether to take Mark Gubicza or C.L. Penigar with the team's second-round Draft pick. Gubicza is now a member of the Royals' Hall of Fame. Penigar never advanced past Triple-A.

"That was the first example I ever saw of his complete inclusionary management style," Taylor said. "He wanted to get everyone's opinion before the final decision was made. As I went through [my career] with him, I came to find that was John Schuerholz."

Kasten, Taylor and current Royals general manager Dayton Moore were among the many current and former co-workers present as Schuerholz savored the opportunity to stand proudly on a stage filled with fellow Hall of Famers, while looking at the crowd he had been a part of during previous induction ceremonies.

"I really, really did like my seat out there on that lawn, but I must confess, I love my new seat up here on this stage a lot more," Schuerholz said.

Royals’ Alex Gordon completes comeback in 5-3 victory over Red SoxJuly 31, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Starhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article164462562.html

The noise kicked up inside the clubhouse late Sunday afternoon as Alex Gordon sank into a leather couch inside Fenway Park. A plate of food in front of him, a group of teammates crowding around, Gordon peered at the television in front of him.

In a 5-3 Royals victory over the Red Sox, Gordon had supplied the pivotal blow, a two-run triple in a four-run eighth inning. And nearly 20 minutes after closer Kelvin Herrera finished out the win, the Royals had taken to a casual bit of scoreboard watching, settling in for the ninth inning of the Cleveland Indians’ game in Chicago.

In moments, another piece of good news appeared: On the screen, Chicago’s Matt Davidson clubbed a two-run walk-off homer, sending the division-leading Indians to their first loss in 10 games. Inside the visitors’ clubhouse at Fenway, a voice was heard above the din.

“There it is!”

This was Sunday afternoon in Boston, another productive day for a surging team. The Royals had landed White Sox outfielder Melky Cabrera in a predeadline trade. They had erased a 3-1 Red Sox lead with a well-timed blitz in the eighth. And they had won their eighth game this season when trailing after seven innings. (More than the seven they won in 2014 or 2015.)

The victory secured a series victory in Boston and a 10th win in 11 games. And when it was over, the team sat inside the clubhouse and watched Cabrera’s old White Sox team provide a nice favor.

“It’s obvious we’re not a team that quits,” said Royals starter Jason Hammel, who allowed three runs in seven solid innings. “The way we started, nothing to write home about. But it’s a long season and we believe in the process.”

Hammel was talking about the season as a whole, a campaign that once seemed lost after a 10-20 April. But he could have been reflecting on another come-from-behind victory against the Red Sox, one that pushed the Royals (55-48) to seven games over .500 for the first time.

When the day was done, Kansas City possessed a 2 1/2 -game lead in the race for the second wild card spot and sat just two games behind first-place Cleveland in the AL Central. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain finished 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Shortstop Alcides Escobar was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, including a game-tying two-run single in the eighth.

“The big guys are getting on base,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “And Esky and Gordon, who struggled so much at the beginning of the year, come up with huge hits.”

This was the partial story. For seven innings on Sunday, the Royals could do little against Boston starter Drew Pomeranz, falling behind 3-1 when Hammel surrendered two runs in the second and another on a solo homer to Red Sox rookie Rafael Devers in the fifth. In one moment in the sixth, Cain led off the inning with a triple that banged off the center-field wall, only to be stranded at third.

But then Pomeranz exited after seven innings and 106 pitches, reliever Matt Barnes entered, and Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts committed a fielding error that allowed Cain to reach base with nobody out in the eighth.

“It’s just kind of typical of our success,” Yost said.

Eric Hosmer followed by ripping a chopper that staggered Barnes and deflected toward first base for an infield single. Moments later, Salvador Perez fought off a two-strike count and poked a single to right field, loading the bases.

Escobar tied the game at 3-3 with a single to right field, and Red Sox manager John Farrell emerged from the dugout, inserting left-hander Robby Scott to face Gordon with runners at second and third. On deck, third baseman Mike Moustakas prepared to pinch hit for utility man Ramon Torres if Gordon did not come through.

On the first pitch, Scott missed with a sinker. As he dug in, Gordon looked for another fastball, he said.

“I was just looking for a heater away I could drive,” he said.

Scott responded by hurling a fastball on the outside third of the plate. Gordon crushed the pitch to right-center, splitting two outfielders. He cruised into third base with a two-run triple.

“Huge hit,” Yost said.

All season long, Gordon has searched for an answer at the plate, a key to helping him become the hitter he once was. On

the day the Royals acquired another corner outfielder, Gordon delivered a moment.

The Royals’ lead would remain at 5-3. Reliever Brandon Maurer, acquired from San Diego on Monday, worked a scoreless eighth inning before Herrera loaded the bases in an anxious ninth. In the end, Herrera coaxed a fly ball from Mookie Betts. The Royals were headed to Baltimore having won 10 of 11 and 16 of their last 23 on the road.

Hammel (5-8, 4.75 ERA) offered a lifeline to the bullpen, becoming the first Royals starter to go seven innings since July 15. The offense delivered an improbable victory with a four-run eighth.

“We just kept grinding,” Yost said. “Just keep grinding the at-bats.”

Royals acquire outfielder Melky Cabrera from White Sox for two minor-league pitchersJuly 31, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Starhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article164440722.html

There will be hugs.

Melky Cabrera, a veteran outfielder known for his switch-hitting prowess at the plate and on-field displays of affection, is returning to the Royals, the centerpiece of a three-player deal on Sunday afternoon.

On the eve of the non-waiver trade deadline, Kansas City sent minor-league pitchers A.J. Puckett and Andre Davis to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Cabrera, a free agent at the end of the 2017 season. In the hours before a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox, the front office sent another bold message, landing another valuable rental player for the stretch run.

The trade reinforced the Royals’ desire to supplement a championship core with roster upgrades as a collection of players — including Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain — near free agency in the winter. The acquisition punctuated a 12-day period that featured 10 victories and two pivotal moves.

On Monday, the club acquired starting pitcher Trevor Cahill and relievers Brandon Maurer and Ryan Buchter from the San Diego Padres in an attempt to strengthen its pitching staff. Six days later, the Royals turned their attention to Cabrera, a player who can bolster the lineup while playing a corner outfield spot or filling in at designated hitter.

“Perfect,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “We believe Melky is a perfect addition to our team.”

On Sunday evening, Moore spoke by phone from Cooperstown, N.Y., after attending the induction ceremony of former Royals general manager John Schuerholz, his longtime boss with the Atlanta Braves. As Moore spent the weekend catching up with old friends and colleagues, he hammered out a deal with White Sox general manager Rick Hahn.

The conversations began three weeks ago, Moore said. The Royals expressed interest in Cabrera but reiterated that their

first priority was shoring up their pitching staff. When they executed the deal with San Diego, they shifted their focus to the position-player market.

The Royals were attracted to Cabrera’s production, his switch-hitting ability, and his infectious personality, one that would fit in seamlessly inside the Royals’ clubhouse. A few days later, Moore touched base with Hahn.

“Last night, I went back to the hotel room,” Moore said, “and we kind of hashed it out a little bit and got it done.”

The Royals will take on an additional $2.5 million in salary, a sign of good faith and commitment from owner David Glass. The White Sox defrayed some of those costs by covering more than half of Cabrera’s remaining salary. The 32-year-old outfielder is making $15 million in 2017, the last season of a three-year deal.

Cabrera will join the Royals on Monday as they open a three-game series in Baltimore. For now, he will play “mostly right field” while slotting into the second spot in the batting order, manager Ned Yost said.

The club could also test out other combinations as it searches for the right formula. Yost said rookie right fielder Jorge Bonifacio, who has been hitting second, could blend in more at the DH spot as he moves down in the order. Or perhaps left fielder Alex Gordon could see more days off against left-handed pitching. Some of the playing time could be dictated by performance as the team rides the hot bats down the stretch.

“The important thing is to focus on how he’s going to lengthen our lineup,” Moore said of Cabrera. “The fact is that we were searching for a hitter that could hit at the top of the order and get everybody in a more comfortable spot in the order.”

In his 13th major-league season, Cabrera remains a versatile run producer who has been an above-average performer in 2017. In 98 games for the White Sox, he is batting .295 with a .336 on-base percentage and 13 homers. His adjusted OPS-plus is 108, or eight percent above league average.

At the age of 32, Cabrera’s defensive skills have diminished. Yet as the Royals (55-48) prepare for a pennant chase and a possible playoff run, his bat was appealing.

“It’s a bat we can put in the two-hole in our lineup,” Yost said. “It’s a great trade for us. It just shows you how much Mr. Glass and Dayton are committed to giving us everything that we can. Not only us, but the city.”

Cabrera, who spent the 2011 season in Kansas City, projects as an offensive upgrade over Gordon, who is batting .202 with a .296 on-base percentage after finishing 1 for 3 with a two-run triple on Sunday.

Gordon, however, has remained one of the best defensive left fielders in the American League as his offensive skills have eroded. And the Royals’ formula under Moore still places a premium on such skills.

Bonifacio, a 24-year-old rookie, is hitting .258 with a .327 on-base percentage and 14 homers after finishing 1 for 11 with seven strikeouts in his last two games.

The addition of Cabrera could also siphon playing time from designated hitter Brandon Moss, who slumped horribly for

more than three months before finding a groove in the month of July. Moss is batting .271 with an .854 OPS in 48 at-bats after the All-Star break. He hit just .193 with 10 homers during the first half.

To win the bidding for Cabrera, the Royals parted ways with Puckett, their second-round pick in 2016, and Davis, a 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher with a big arm and upside. The loss of Puckett, their top pick last year, offered a measure of pain. Yet club officials emerged from the last week having acquired four players without giving up any of their top young prospects, a group that includes shortstop Raul Mondesi, outfielder Khalil Lee and pitchers Josh Staumont, Foster Griffin and Scott Blewett, among others.

“You’ve got to go win the negotiations for these types of players,” Moore said. “And Melky was somebody where other teams were interested and we had to step up.”

Puckett, 22, is 9-7 with a 3.90 ERA in 20 starts at Class A Wilmington. He has struck out 98 hitters in 108 1/3 innings while issuing 46 walks. Davis, 23, was an eighth-round pick in 2015 who posted a 4.83 ERA in 18 starts at low Class A Lexington this season.

In the end, the deal reunites Cabrera with a collection of former teammates from his first stop in Kansas City. Signed as a free agent in late 2010 after being released from the Atlanta Braves, Cabrera batted .305 with 18 homers and 201 hits in his only season in Kansas City. In one year, he invigorated his career and built lasting relationships inside the Royals’ clubhouse.

He was traded to San Francisco for starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez before the 2012 season, a one-sided deal that was salvaged when Kansas City flipped Sanchez to Colorado for starter Jeremy Guthrie.

“He’s just always smiling,” Gordon said. “Nothing ever bothers him. With a game like this, it can get you down.”

Cabrera returned to Kansas City for the 2012 All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium and won MVP honors before being hit with a 50-game suspension for a positive test of testosterone in August of that year. The next offseason, he signed with the Blue Jays and spent two seasons in Toronto before heading to Chicago in 2015.

On Monday, the sequence will come full circle. Cabrera will be back in a Royals uniform, chasing a playoff spot with his old friends.

“It’s a good pick-up,” shortstop Alcides Escobar said. “Everyone knows he can hit. Good guy in the clubhouse and he want to play for us.”

Royals trade for Melky Cabrera, make one more push toward one more championshipJuly 31, 2017 By Sam Mellinger/MLB.comhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mellinger/article164458857.html

In the last 12 days the Royals have won 10 games, gone over .500, shoved their way into a playoff spot and improved their rotation, bullpen and lineup.

That is a remarkable fact, a surge that many of us thought improbable for this particular group in this particular year, even with their particular history.

But here we are.

The Royals are 2 1/2 games clear of a playoff spot, two shy of the division, and clawing like hell to find one more autumn of magic.

Last week, they filled their biggest needs by acquiring Trevor Cahill — a motivated, talented, veteran upgrade for the fifth rotation spot — and two relievers.

Then on Sunday, general manager Dayton Moore made another significant improvement: old friend Melky Cabrera is back for a modest pair of pitching prospects, A.J. Puckett and Andre Davis.

This is the time of year for all contenders to be aggressive, but it’s hard to imagine any team improving itself more in the standings and roster over that time.

Whether Cabrera plays left field or DH, an offense that is currently 11th in the American League in runs will have seven of nine hitters producing above league average. The rotation is now filled with options that range from terrific (Danny Duffy) to improving (Jason Hammel) and what the bullpen lacks in cyborgs it makes up for in depth.

In a cold examination, they still aren’t as good as the 2015 Royals, or the 2017 Astros, but that’s never been the point.

Because anyone old enough to remember the 2014 Royals knows it doesn’t matter who looked better during the regular season but who plays the best through the pressure of October.

Who among us would bet against this group under pressure?

This core has rewritten a franchise’s sorry history for many reasons, not the least of which has been the grind, stubbornness and resiliency to find good breaks where the men who preceded them by a decade or so consistently found bad breaks.

Most obviously, that’s come with a knack for squeezing every drop from every bloop, but here comes one more.

The White Sox have long been in obvious sell mode. Cabrera is a reliable, veteran switch hitter who is currently hitting .295 with a .336 on-base and .436 slugging percentage. But a strong trade market never developed for him, allowing the Royals to acquire him for a relatively modest pair of prospects.

The deal was good enough that owner David Glass — who, despite his public statements has consistently refused to take on salary with midseason trades — agreed to add around $2.5 million in payroll with the deal.

The phrase “all-in” is shamelessly overused, but once again, the 2017 Royals are throwing elbows and fists for every advantage possible.

This is easy to forget now, after the ground shook at Kauffman Stadium on Sal Perez’s winner and Eric Hosmer bought a round of drinks and half the town showed up for the parade, but it wasn’t too long ago that 2017 was thought to be the most important season in a generation of Royals baseball.

The timeline shifted, and for good reason. Two years ago, the Royals shed four of their top pitching prospects to help what was already the best team in the American League, and those guys stomped their way to a dog pile and champagne party in Queens.

If this core never wins another postseason game they will leave Kansas City a forever success, and there have been times that’s felt like a virtual certainty.

And not just because of Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas running into each other in Chicago, or July 2016, or the Yordano Ventura tragedy, or April 2017.

The Royals have been running against the wind for much of the last two seasons. Baseball’s calibration makes consecutive pennants unlikely, and three consecutive pennants all but impossible.

The Royals’ farm system is generally viewed in the sport’s bottom third, which makes buyers’ trades complicated. Glass wants to win and rebuild simultaneously while limiting payroll, which put the Royals in a difficult spot.

So for the longest time, 2017 felt like the last race for a group that might be out of races.

That’s all changed.

The front office knew that blockbuster deals — like Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist two years ago — would be impossible and spent most of the summer believing that even middle-class deals would be prohibitively difficult.

That changed for at least three important reasons:

▪ The recent surge erased any lingering hesitation within the front office about this group’s readiness for a run and worthiness of support now that may subtract from the future.

▪ The Padres were willing to cover $1.5 million of what was owed to Travis Wood, which helped push the deal across the finish line, in part because it gave the front office the ability to keep shopping.

▪ The lack of a strong market for Cabrera meant the Royals could afford the trade price, and the money saved in trading Wood meant they could afford the cash price.

The whole sequence is entirely and appropriately New Royals. They got more than they expected, gave up less than they thought they would’ve, for reasons that vary from their own timely success on the field to the sport’s trend winds blowing at their backs.

The Royals still have work to do. But the task feels more manageable than it did yesterday, and imminently more manageable than 12 days ago.

Royals react to trade for outfielder Melky CabreraJuly 31, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Starhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article164482247.html

Less than an hour before the Royals’ 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, Alex Gordon caught the news on a television inside Fenway Park. That’s how he found out.

The Royals had acquired outfielder Melky Cabrera for minor-league pitchers A.J. Puckett and Andre Davis. The news sent a charge through the visitors clubhouse.

“He’s going to help our team a lot,” Gordon said. “He’s having a great year. We all know his personality — smiling, happy-go-lucky guy. Brings a lot of energy to the clubhouse.

“He’s going to be comfortable in this situation. We know what he can do.”

The details of the trade can be found here. But here is more reaction from the Royals’ clubhouse:

“Perfect. We believe Melky is a perfect addition to our team. Not only from a production standpoint, versatility, the switch-hitting, but also with regard to the chemistry. He’ll fit in extremely well.” — Royals general manager Dayton Moore

“(He’ll play) probably mostly right field for right now. We’ll mix and match Boni (Jorge Bonifacio) and Mossy (Brandon Moss) and see how it all works out. But it’s a quality bat, it’s a switch-hitting bat. It’s a bat we can put in the two-hole in our lineup. It’s a great trade for us.

“It just shows you how much Mr. (David) Glass and Dayton are committed to giving us everything that we can. Not only us, but the city. Giving us all everything that we can use to try to win.” — Royals manager Ned Yost.

“It’s a good pickup. Everyone knows he can hit. Good guy in the clubhouse and he want to play for us.” — shortstop Alcides Escobar

“It’s obvious we’re not a team that quits. The way we started, nothing to write home about. But it’s a long season and we believe in the process. It’s a very good group of guys. The vibe is good.” — starting pitcher Jason Hammel

‘Royals are pulling out all the stops:’ Reaction to Melky Cabrera tradeJuly 31, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Starhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article164453772.html

The Royals’ winning streak ended at nine games on Saturday night in Boston, but obviously that’s not why general manager Dayton Moore made a big trade Sunday.

The goal remains the same for Moore: a third playoff appearance in four season for the Royals.

On Sunday, the Royals traded for outfielder Melky Cabrera, sending a pair of minor-league pitchers to the Chicago White Sox.

The consensus from experts is that the Royals made a good addition to the team.

Josh Norris of Baseball America wrote: “After winning the World Series in 2015, the Royals are pulling out all the stops

to reach the pinnacle once more. Earlier this month they fortified their pitching staff by adding Ryan Buchter, Brandon Maurer and Trevor Cahill from San Diego, and on Sunday afternoon added a little bit of punch to their lagging outfield.

“With Alex Gordon and Brandon Moss slumping this year, the Royals pulled the trigger and welcomed outfielder Melky Cabrera back into the fold...”

Yahoo’s Chris Cwik wrote: “The Royals could use a boost on offense. The club ranks 22nd in the majors with a 90 wRC+, an advanced stat that measures offensive performance. Cabrera has typically been used in left field, and could cut into Alex Gordon’s playing time. Gordon, 33, is hitting just .201/.294/.296 over 362 plate appearances. He’s been one of the worst regulars in the majors this season.”

Matthew Trueblood of Baseball Prospectus wrote: “Kansas City is threading a needle here, and if they don’t get it exactly right, there are a fair few losing seasons between them and the playoffs again. Of course, if they do get it exactly right, they might end up in the playoffs again this year, and then everything feels a little bit different. ...

“After this season, Royals fans will still have Salvador Perez, Danny Duffy, and (perhaps to their chagrin) Alex Gordon to remind them of those World Series runs, but the rest of the stars will likely be gone. While they’re still around—while this team whose commitment to winning the fans reciprocated, and then some, is still mostly out there in the home colors at Kauffman Stadium—the front office and ownership groups have to be sensitive to what any move means. Even if they were only on the very fringe of contention, selling off the core like spare parts would have been a bad look, and since they’re legitimate contenders now, failing to support them with additions to the roster would also have gone over like a lead balloon.”

Melky Moments: Seven of Cabrera’s best games in his first go-round with RoyalsJuly 31, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Starhttp://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article164509652.html

Royals fans can only hope that outfielder Melky Cabrera 2.0 is as good as the first version.

Cabrera is returning to the Royals, who acquired him in a trade Sunday with the Chicago White Sox. His first time with the Royals was in 2011, and there is nothing memorable about Royals’ 71-91 record that year.

However, Cabrera had a fantastic season, with a triple slash line of .305/.339/.470 and he collected 44 doubles, 18 home runs and 20 stolen bases while scoring 102 runs.

Here are seven of his top moments from that 2011 season:

Walk-off single beats Indians, April 21

The Royals trailed 2-1 in the ninth, but Kila Ka’aihue opened the inning with a double. Pinch runner Mike Aviles took third when Mitch Maier singled, but Aviles was cut down at home when he tried to score on Alcides Escobar’s grounder to third. However, Chris Getz walked and loaded the bases.

Cabrera followed with a two-run single to left and made a winner of Aaron Crow.

“All I was thinking about was trying to hit a sacrifice fly to tie the ballgame,” Cabrera said through an interpreter after the game. “Thank God I was able to get that line-drive base hit.”

A four RBI game, May 5

The Royals rolled over the Orioles and Cabrera had a heck of a game: three hits, three runs scored, four RBIs and a home run.

“It feels good because I contributed,” Cabrera said afterward, “but there were other players who played their part. Everybody contributed offensively. The first inning was impressive, as was the way Bruce Chen pitched.”

A home run in the 14th inning, May 27

The Royals looked destined to lose a sixth straight game as they trailed the Rangers in Arlington, Texas. But Alex Gordon hit a homer in the ninth to tie the game. In the 14th inning, Cabrera and first baseman Eric Hosmer hit back-to-back homers and took the lead. Later in the inning, Brayan Peña hit a home run and the Royals won 12-7.

Grand slam, July 29

The Royals routed the Indians 12-0 in Cleveland, and Cabrera had a the biggest hit: a grand slam in the fourth inning against Carlos Carrasco. That made it 7-0, and Cabrera admired his shot before rounding. This didn’t please Carrasco, who threw a pitch at the head of the next batter: Billy Butler. That led to the dugouts emptying and an ejection for Carrasco.

“Be a man,” left fielder Alex Gordon said afterward. “Throw at his back. Not his head.”

Five RBI game, Aug. 10

This game was memorable for a variety of reasons. First the good. Cabrera had five RBIs against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., including a double against Tampa Bay starter Wade Davis. Cabrera had a three-run homer in the ninth inning that staked the Royals to a 7-3 lead. But then came the bad: Although Greg Holland got credit for a hold, Crow and Joakim Soria coughed up the lead in the ninth inning, and the Rays got a walk-off 8-7 win.

One other good thing: Royals rookie Salvador Perez made his major-league debut and went 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI. He also picked off a runner at first and third base.

Four-hit game, Sept. 15

The Royals pounded out 16 hits in a 7-2 win over the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium in support of starter Jeff Francis. Cabrera had four hits in the game, including a home run in the first inning. It was the second four-hit game of the season for Cabrera, but the other came in 14 innings in Boston in July.

200th hit of season, Sept. 26

It wasn’t the most impressive hit of the season, but Cabrera got the 200th of the 2011 season on a slow grounder to short in the first inning against the Twins at Target Field.

“It all goes back to the opportunity they gave me here,” Cabrera said afterward. “That’s why I’m thankful to the Royals’ organization; especially Ned (Yost), for giving me the opportunity to play every day.”

MINORSChasers Mash Fresno 5-2 in Front of 7,472Moon clubs 3-run shot in 1st, Schwindel extends hit streak to 16July 31, 2017 By Andrew Green/Omaha Storm Chasershttps://www.milb.com/storm-chasers/news/chasers-mash-fresno-5-2-in-front-of-7472/c-245484680/t-196093384

Omaha right fielder Logan Moon blasted a three-run homer as part of a four-run first inning and a trio of Storm Chasers relievers joined forces for the final three-plus innings of hitless ball, while designated hitter Frank Schwindel extended his hit streak to 16 games in a 5-2 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies in front of 7,472 fans on Sunday evening at Werner Park.

Omaha's offense powered ahead courtesy of a four-run first frame, which began on 2B Dean Anna 's RBI double to center. Moon would later mash his third big fly of the season, a three-run shot to left, to extend the lead to 4-0. After Grizzlies 3B J.D. Davis ' two-run blast in the fourth narrowed the margin to two, the Storm Chasers added an insurance run in the seventh thanks to a Fresno fielding miscue in the seventh, capping the scoring.

Moon (2-4, R, HR, 3 RBI), Anna (2-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB) and CF Billy Burns (2-4, R) each recorded multi-hit efforts in the triumph. Schwindel dropped a single into left field in the sixth to extend his hit streak to 16 games, during which he owns a .429 batting average (30-70). No Grizzlies hitters managed more than one knock in the contest.

The Omaha relief corps of Kyle Zimmer (0.2 IP, 2 BB, 2 K), Eric Stout (0.2 IP, K) and Kevin McCarthy (2.0 IP, K) maintained the advantage with 3.1 innings of shutout ball, holding the Grizzlies without a base hit. Zimmer and Stout each received holds, while McCarthy notched his first save in support of Storm Chasers starter Onelki Garcia (5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 5 K), who earned his fourth victory of 2017.

Fresno starter David Martinez (5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 3 K) suffered the defeat to fall to 6-9 on the year. Relief man Dayan Diaz (1.1 IP, 3 K) retired all four batters faced, including three punchouts in support of Martinez.

The two teams are set to face off in the third game of their four-game set on Monday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. LHP Eric Skoglund (4-5, 4.62) is set to toe the rubber for the Storm Chasers, with the Grizzlies anticipated to give the nod to RHP Trent Thornton (6-2, 4.67).

Naturals fall in finale as Cardinals win series

OF Alfredo Escalera hit his fifth home run of the season in the 6-3 defeat to Springfield on SundayJuly 31, 2017 Northwest Arkansas Naturalshttps://www.milb.com/naturals/news/naturals-fall-in-finale-as-cardinals-win-series/c-245439996/t-196093316

In search of a second consecutive win, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (14-23/53-54) scored first in Sunday's finale but would ultimately fall by the score of 6-3 as the Springfield Cardinals (24-13/58-49) win the series.

The Naturals took an early 1-0 lead in the fourth on a solo home run by Alfredo Escalera . Escalera led off the frame by jumping on the first pitch he saw from LHP Austin Gomber and hit a towering shot to left field for his fifth big fly of the season. The one-run advantage was short-lived though as the Cardinals responded with two runs in the fifth to take the lead. Jacob Wilson started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a balk. Then with one out, Jesse Jenner brought Wilson home with a run-scoring single and then scored on a RBI double down the left field line by Tommy Edman to put Springfield out in front, 2-1.

The visitors would go on to add two more runs in the eighth to extend their lead to 4-1 as Darren Seferina hit a solo home run while Wilson brought home John Nogowski with a sacrifice fly. Northwest Arkansas proved resilient and would not go down quietly as they fought back with two runs in the home half of the frame. Donnie Dewees, Jr. delivered the first run as he lined a RBI single to right field to plate Cody Jones , whom had singled to begin the inning. After Dewees moved to second base on a groundout, Samir Duenez came through with a clutch, two-out single to score Dewees to bring the Naturals within one at 4-3.

The late rally would not be enough as the North Division leading Cardinals countered with two runs of their own in the ninth to put the game out of reach. Oscar Mercado delivered the crucial blow as he launched a two-run home run to set the final at 6-3.

Gomber (W, 5-7), the Springfield starter, earned the win by limiting Northwest Arkansas to only a run on three hits through 7.0 innings of work. Meanwhile, hard-throwing reliever RHP Rowan Wick (S, 4) earned the save. On the other side, LHP Jake Kalish (L, 0-6) took the hard-luck loss as he threw well again on Sunday afternoon. The lefty made his seventh start of the year and twirled 7.0 frames of two-run ball. In his last two starts, he is 0-1 but has only allowed two runs through 12.0 innings.

On the day, the Cardinals out-hit Northwest Arkansas by a 12-to-6 margin. Jones led the way offensively for Northwest Arkansas with two hits while the top of the order in Dewees, Escalera, and Duenez accounted for the three RBIs.

Northwest Arkansas will continue their 7-game homestand tomorrow night - Monday, July 31 - by welcoming the Arkansas Travelers (Double-A Seattle Mariners) to Arvest Ballpark for a 3-game series. Monday's 7:05 p.m. game is another Ozarks Electric Monday Night Lights featuring Dollar Hot Dogs by Tyson Foods and Indigo Sky Casino Baseball Bingo. The Naturals will send RHP Corey Ray (6-8, 4.63 ERA) to the mound in the series opener and he'll be opposed by RHP Justin DeFratus (4-5, 4.70 ERA) of the Travelers. Catch all of the live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on KQSM - 92.1 The

Ticket, your home for Naturals baseball, at 6:45 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch.

Rotten Luck and Strong Pitching Stifle RocksWilmington Drops Series Finale 3-2 Against CarolinaJuly 31, 2017 Wilmington Blue Rockshttps://www.milb.com/blue-rocks/news/rotten-luck-and-strong-pitching-stifle-rocks/c-245418704/t-196097164

Great pitching and a bit of bad luck stifled the Wilmington Blue Rocks (57-50, 18-19), who dropped Sunday's game 3-2 against the Carolina Mudcats (54-51, 18-19) at Five County Stadium. Carolina starter Kodi Medeiros was brilliant for Carolina, allowing two runs on three hits while recording career-highs with nine strikeouts over seven innings. The Rocks could not mustard a hit in any inning besides the third frame and fell on the wrong side of luck several times during the contest. The loss is the third in the last four games for Wilmington, who is now 4.5 games behind Salem for first place in the Northern Division.

Carolina opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning by stringing together four straight base hits. With the bases loaded, Jose Cuas hit a ground ball that took an odd hop past Chris DeVito at first base and sent in two runs, while Trent Clark's sacrifice fly a batter later gave the Mudcats a 3-0 lead. Wilmington responded a half inning later and scored a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly form Travis Maezes and a run-scoring single from Jecksson Flores that brought the Rocks within a run, 3-2. That was it for both teams, who offensively were stifled by some great pitching on both sides. The Rocks were able to put the tying run aboard in the final three frames, but were unable to muster a baserunner past first.

Jace Vines (0-2) fared well in his second start with Wilmington despite picking up the loss. He surrendered three runs on six hits, three walks, and struck out three batters over five innings of work. Grant Gavin was fantastic in relief, throwing three shutout innings while striking out five batters and escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the eighth inning.

The Blue Rocks return to Wilmington and start a seven-game home stand beginning Monday, July 31 against Buies Creek, with first pitch slated for 6:35p.m. RHP Jared Ruxer (5-4, 3.22 ERA) will take the hill for the Rocks. Fans can listen to the game as Matt Janus and Cory Nidoh have the call on 89.7 WGLS FM.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Just before first pitch on Sunday a major trade was announced by Kansas City that directly impacted the Wilmington Blue Rocks roster. Blue Crew hurler A.J. Puckett was sent to the Chicago White Sox along with fellow minor leaguer Andre Davis in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera. Puckett made his last start with Wilmington in the front end of Saturday's doubleheader, earning the win by allowing three runs on seven hits at Carolina. The 2016 second-round pick finished his Wilmington tenure with a 9-7 record and a 3.90 ERA. Puckett struck out 98 in 108.1 innings pitched and went 3-0 with a scant 2.90 ERA in the month of July. The mid-season Carolina League All-Star's command also improved markedly during his final two months. After walking 30 batters over his first nine starts,

Puckett issued just 16 free passes in his last 11 outings with Wilmington.

The Rocks have struggled away from Frawley recently, with a combined 1-7 record during their last two road series. In that span, the Blue Rocks have tallied a total of 17 runs, averaging just over two runs per game. Against Carolina, Wilmington's offense scored just eight runs on 15 hits spread across four games. The Rocks are 9-15 on the road in the second half as opposed to an 11-4 mark at home. The Rocks have two, six-game road trips left in the second half, and play 20 of the final 32 games of the season in the friendly confines of Frawley Stadium.

Grant Gavin pitched well out of the bullpen on Sunday afternoon, tossing three scoreless innings while striking out five batters. The Rocks bullpen was a bright spot on the road trip, combining to throw six shutout frames against Carolina. In the last eight games, the Rocks bullpen has let up just two runs over 16.2 innings, good for a minuscule 1.10 ERA. In that span, Gavin has racked up nine strikeouts in five innings and earned a save. Luis Rico and Jacob Bodner have combined to pitch eight of those innings as well, with a save and a win recorded between them.

The Rocks return to the friendly confines of Frawley Stadium on Monday, July 31 and will kick off a three-game series with the Buies Creek Astros. The two teams last saw each other on June 11, when the Rocks lost 4-0 to split the four-game series in Wilmington. Overall, Buies Creek owns the season-series record 4-3. The Frederick Keys come to town for a four-game set following Buies Creek. The Keys also have a one game lead in the overall series against the Blue Rocks 8-7 after sweeping Wilmington in Frederick during a four-game series a week ago. The Rocks, however, are 3-0 at home against the Keys this year.

They Said It: Jonathan McCray, Outfielder

"I'm glad to be back (in Wilmington). I was given the opportunity to come back and play for this team when I was down in Idaho Falls. I played well and I'm just glad I have the opportunity to come back and play for the Blue Rocks. Playing every day and getting consistent at-bats (helped in Idaho Falls). The first two years, I wasn't playing on a consistent basis, and when I got to Idaho Falls I got to play every day and things just started clicking for me.

"(On jump from Rookie Ball to High-A) You have to lay off balls and get good pitches to hit. Guys are throwing you curveballs and changeups in the dirt and you have to be able to lay off those pitches. Get the pitches up in the zone and swing at those pitches.

"I'm not sure how close we are in the standings (to Salem) but I know every game from here on out is huge. We have to go back home and handle business there. Every game, every inning, every run is so important (in the midst of a playoff race). It's just fun. In Idaho Fall, we weren't in too many games, but with Wilmington, we are actually in a race. It's just crazy because every run is so much more important. Every little thing is just much more important."

Kannapolis takes series finale, 10-3Legends' Davis part of KC-White Sox trade

July 31, 2017 Lexington Legendshttps://www.milb.com/legends/news/kannapolis-takes-series-finale-10-3/c-245429062/t-196097274

Alex Call homered and drove in four runs as the Kannapolis intimidators took a 10-3 win over the Lexington Legends Sunday afternoon at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Kannapolis starter Luis Martinez struck out 10 batters and walked none in eight innings.

The Legends opened the scoring with a run in the third inning. Manny Olloque led off with a single, moved to third on a ground rule double by Vance Vizcaino, and scored on a wild pitch.

Kannapolis responded with two runs in the fourth. Blake Rutherford led off with a single, and with one out, stole second. A double by Gavin Sheets scored Rutherford, and Sheets scored on a double by Zach Remillard.

In the fifth, a triple by former University of Kentucky player Casey Schroeder, a walk to Call, a single by Rutherford and a double by Sheets produced two more runs.

The Intimidators added three in the sixth, the last two coming on Call's home run to left field, for 7-1 margin.

A triple by John Brontsema and a ground out by Yeison Melo gave the Legends a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Kannapolis scored three more runs in the eighth for a 10-2 lead. Call drove in two with a single.

The Legends' Joe Dudek hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth for the game's final run.

Martinez (5-1) allowed five hits and two earned runs over eight innings to get the win. Lane Hobbs pitched the ninth.

Lexington starter Travis Eckert (4-7) was the losing pitcher. Luis Villegas, a catcher, pitched a scoreless ninth inning for Lexington. Villegas has not allowed a run in three innings of work on the mound for Lexington this season.

Kannapolis won three out of four games in the series.

The Legends will remain at home to play a four-game series against the West Virginia Power, beginning with a doubleheader Monday night. The doubleheader will allow the teams to make up a game that was rained out in Lexington July 6.

The first of two seven-inning games will begin at 5:35 p.m.

Legends' Davis traded: Legends pitcher Andre Davis was part of a trade completed Sunday between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox. Major league veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera goes from Chicago to Kansas City, and Davis and pitcher A.J. Puckett will go to the White Sox' organization. If the White Sox keep Davis in the South Atlantic League, he will join Kannapolis, the Legends opponent today (Sunday). Davis, 23, a left-hander, was an eighth round choice by the Royals in the 2015 draft. He was 5-4 with an earned run average of 4.83 in 18 starts for Lexington this season. Davis was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for April 17-23 after allowing three hits and no runs and striking out eight batters in seven innings in a start at Columbia April 20.

Puckett, 22, was the Royals' second-round selection in 2016 and had spent the entire 2017 season at advanced-A

Wilmington of the Carolina League. With Lexington in 2016, he had a record of 2-3 with 3.68 ERA in 11 starts.

Royals Blast Past Astros in Series OpenerBurlington pounds out 16 hits in 13-1 shellacking of GreenevilleJuly 31, 2017 By Matt Krause/Burlington Royalshttps://www.milb.com/b-royals/news/royals-blast-past-astros-in-series-opener/c-245481632

The Burlington Royals scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back, taking a 13-1 win over the Greeneville Astros in the opening game of the clubs' Appalachian League series at Burlington Athletic Stadium. The Royals have now won five consecutive home games.

Greeneville (20-16) scored their lone run in the top of the first when CF Gilberto Celestino hit a solo homer to right, but it was all Royals from there.

Burlington (17-21) kick-started the offense early. CF Michael Gigliotti led off with a double, and LF Cal Jones reached on an error. With one out, 1B Reed Rohlman laced an RBI double, beginning a trend of three straight RBI knocks. DH Dennicher Carrasco and SS Jeison Guzman followed by singling home Jones and Rohlman, respectively. 2B Jose Marquez hit a blooper to shallow left field that dropped in for a two-RBI single that scored Carrasco and Guzman and put the Royals up 5-1.

The Royals would score again with five runs in the fourth inning. Marquez and 3B Oliver Nunez hit back-to-back bunt singles, and a Gigliotti single loaded the bases for Jones. With Jones at the plate, a balk scored Marquez and the Royals led 6-1. Jones hit a single to drive in Nunez, and Gigliotti would score on a passed ball. Jones advanced to third on a flyout by RF Seuly Matias , setting himself up to score when Rohlman reached on an error. Rohlman would score the inning's final run on an RBI single from Guzman. When the dust settled, the Royals were up 10-1.

LHP J.C. Cloney was effective in his start. Over five innings, the lefty scattered four hits, and did not walk a batter. He struck out three en route to earning the win. RHP Luis Alcantara followed with three dominant innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out four in keeping the Astros off the board.

Burlington added to their lead in the seventh inning, when Rivero led off with a single, moved up when Marquez picked up his third hit of the game, and subsequently took third on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly from Nunez scored Rivero to push the lead to 11-1.

The Royals' final two runs scored an inning later. Matias drew a leadoff walk, and Rohlman followed with a single. Guzman singled home Matias, and a Rivero RBI groundout scored Rohlman, who was at third thanks in part to a wild pitch.

LHP Felix Familia worked around two ninth-inning hits to shut the door on the Astros.

Marquez, Gigliotti, and Guzman all had three-hit games for the Royals, who pounded out 16 hits. Nunez had a multi-hit game with two hits.

The Royals will go for a series win on Monday at 7:00 p.m. RHP Sal Biasi (1-0, 1.80) faces Astros RHP Felipe Tejada (0-1, 4.12). Coverage with Matt Krause begins at 7:00 p.m. on the Burlington Royals Broadcast Network at www.burlingtonroyals.com.

NATIONALRoyals continue to add with trade for Melky Cabrera from White SoxJuly 31, 2017 By Chris Cwik/Yahoo Sportshttps://sports.yahoo.com/news/royals-continue-add-trade-melky-cabrera-white-sox-172505208.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

The Kansas City Royals are trying to make one last push for the playoffs with their current core. The team continued to add Sunday, picking up Chicago White Sox outfielder Melky Cabrera in exchange for two pitchers.

The 32-year-old Cabrera has posted a .295/.336/.436 slash line, with 13 home runs, over 428 plate appearances this season. Cabrera is in the final year of his contract, and will be the free-agent at the end of the year.

The Royals could use a boost on offense. The club ranks 22nd in the majors with a 90 wRC+, an advanced stat that measures offensive performance. Cabrera has typically been used in left field, and could cut into Alex Gordon’s playing time. Gordon, 33, is hitting just .201/.294/.296 over 362 plate appearances. He’s been one of the worst regulars in the majors this season.

Gordon is still owed over $40 million from the Royals, so the team may opt to keep playing him and hope he gets back on track. In that instance, Cabrera could see time as the team’s designated hitter. Brandon Moss has filled that role this season, and is hitting .210/289/.410 over 256 plate appearances.

The White Sox continued their extensive rebuild, picking up pitchers A.J. Puckett and Andre Davis. Puckett, 22, has a 4.40 ERA over 108 1/3 innings at High-A. The right-hander the season as the Royals’ No. 5 prospect.

Davis, 23, has a 4.83 ERA in Single-A over 18 starts. The lefty has struck out 87 hitters in 85 2/3 innings. Davis did not rate among the team’s top-30 prospects at the beginning of the year, according to Baseball America. Neither player is considered a top-100 prospect currently.

After a middling start, the Royals have come on strong. Fueled by an eight-game winning streak, the club propelled its way into the second wild card spot. Though the Royals have a number of players set to hit free agency in a few months, the team has decided to make one final push while Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer are still around.

Cabrera is the team’s most significant add, though not the only player they’ve acquired at the deadline. Kansas City was also involved in a six-player swap with the San Diego Padres that netted them three pitchers.

For Perhaps the Last Time, the Royals Are Going for It All, TogetherJuly 31, 2017 By Tyler Kepner/New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/30/sports/baseball/royals-core-free-agency.html

Mike Moustakas was out of the Kansas City Royals’ lineup Sunday, on the eve of the nonwaiver trading deadline. Under different circumstances, this might have been alarming. Moustakas is approaching free agency, and his breakout season — including 30 home runs so far — will most likely price him out of the Royals’ range.

But there was no hug watch here at Fenway Park. There were no cameras trained on Moustakas waiting to capture his farewell hugs with teammates. He was taking a routine day off to rest his legs after an extra-inning slog the night before. The Royals indeed made a trade on Sunday, but not to subtract. They added a veteran outfielder, Melky Cabrera, by shipping two Class A pitchers to the Chicago White Sox.

“Early in the season, everyone was saying we should sell and get rid of everybody,” said Moustakas, an All-Star third baseman. “Now we’re at the deadline, and we’re all together — and we’re, what, two or three games out? And we’re in the wild-card hunt. All we need is a chance, all we need is some life, and we’re a dangerous team.”

The Royals had won nine games in a row through Friday, and they stood at 55-48 after Sunday’s 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox. They lead in the race for the second American League wild-card spot, and they trail Cleveland by two games in the Central division. They have made a thorough recovery from a troubling start.

After finishing April with nine losses in a row, the Royals fell to 10-20 in early May. Around that time, Manager Ned Yost called a meeting with his veterans. The guts of the team — Moustakas, first baseman Eric Hosmer, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and shortstop Alcides Escobar — are all eligible for free agency after this season. Yost asked if they were worried about their contracts.

Not at all, the players said. But they were frustrated by playing so poorly. They did not want to squander their last chance to win as teammates.

“We all know the situation, we all know we’re gonna be free agents at the end of the year, we understand that,” Cain said. “I don’t think anyone’s going up there saying, ‘We need to do this or that.’ But it’s a meeting that needed to be held. We needed to sit down and talk and try to figure out a game plan to turn things around. We didn’t do it right away, but we continued to get stronger together.”

The Royals have won 33 of 51 games since June 1, the second-best record in the majors in that span. The only team to do better is the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have gone 29 years since their last World Series appearance. If that sounds familiar, it could be because that was the same drought the Royals endured before 2014, when they swept through the A.L. playoffs.

That season ended with a one-run loss to the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the World Series, but the Royals staged

a stirring follow-up against the Mets in 2015. While the Mets led for more innings of that World Series, the Royals won in five games, underscoring their resilience. Even after a .500 finish last season, the front office would not give up on a group like that.

“That’s the way we feel,” Yost said. “They earned it. They built a legacy here, and we want to give them one more chance to finish it out together.”

General Manager Dayton Moore did trade two veterans last winter, sending closer Wade Davis to the Chicago Cubs and outfielder Jarrod Dyson to the Seattle Mariners. Neither move has helped much yet, but Moore said he never seriously considered dealing his core stars. The Royals had already passed up their best chance for a strong return on trades.

“If you were going to maximize value of our free agents, the time to do that would have been after the ’15 season, when they had two years of control left,” Moore said. “That’s when you’re going to strike really good deals. Well, we’d just won a World Series. We simply were not going to do that. And there was no reason to do that, because you’re trying to continue to win, be a special part of the history of the game.”

Moore joined the Royals in 2006, devising a plan to build around speed and defense to fit a spacious home stadium and a modest budget. He has executed the strategy with patience, discipline and a deep sense of duty to the players. In December 2012 — after the Royals’ ninth losing season in a row — he sent four top prospects to Tampa Bay for Davis and a top starter, James Shields.

Moore was widely criticized for that deal, but he said he owed it to the players to show faith in their progress. They responded, and appreciate the continuing support. Sunday’s deal was Moore’s second in a week; he also acquired pitchers Ryan Buchter, Trevor Cahill and Brandon Maurer from the San Diego Padres last Monday.

“That’s what everybody loves about Dayton,” Cain said. “He’s never given up on us. He’s always believed in us, and he’s stayed strong to his word.”

The players showed the same traits on Sunday, trailing in the eighth inning and storming ahead with a four-run rally, capped by an Alex Gordon triple. Later, they watched on television as Matt Davidson of the White Sox hit a homer to beat the Indians, nudging the Royals closer to first. The clubhouse erupted in cheers.

The Royals are going for it again, together, one last time.

“If we’re struggling and we’re not really in it as a team, it’s easier for guys to think about maybe leaving or getting traded away,” Hosmer said. “But we’ve put ourselves in a position where we’re all in the same boat individually. We’re all fighting towards a pennant right now, so it’s easy to put that stuff past you.”

MLB TRANSACTIONSJuly 31, 2017 •.CBSSports.comhttp://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Chicago

Cubs

Jeimer

Candelario

Called Up from

Minors, - Not to

Report

Chicago

CubsDylan Floro

Designated for

Assignment

Chicago

CubsJustin Wilson

Traded From from

Tigers, Detroit (for 3B

Jeimer Candelario, 5-

player deal)

Chicago

CubsAlex Avila

Traded From from

Tigers, Detroit (for 3B

Jeimer Candelario, 5-

player deal)

Detroit

TigersJohn Hicks Called Up from Minors

Detroit

TigersJoe Jimenez Called Up from Minors

Kansas City

Royals

Al

Alburquerque

Cleared Waivers and

Became a Free Agent

Minnesota

TwinsCraig Breslow

Cleared Waivers and

Became a Free Agent

Baltimore

OriolesCraig Gentry

Purchased From

Minors

Chicago

White SoxLeury Garcia

Removed From 10-

Day DL, (Sprained left

finger)

Chicago

White SoxLeury Garcia

Recalled From Minors,

Rehab Assignment

Colorado

RockiesZac Rosscup Called Up from Minors

Colorado

Rockies

Carlos

EstévezReturn of 26th man

Colorado

Rockies

Carlos

Estévez

Called Up from

Minors, (recalled as

26th roster player)

Colorado

Rockies

Jonathan

Lucroy

Traded From from

Rangers, Texas (for

player to be named)

Colorado

RockiesJake McGee

Placed on 10-Day DL,

(Mid-back strain)

Houston

AstrosWill Harris

Placed on 10-Day DL,

(Right shoulder

inflammation)

Houston

Astros

Reymin

GuduanCalled Up from Minors

Los Angeles

DodgersRob Segedin

Sent to Minors, For

Rehabilitation

Milwaukee

Brewers

Wei-Chung

Wang

Purchased From

Minors

Milwaukee

BrewersJunior Guerra Sent to Minors

New York

MetsJosh Edgin

Designated for

Assignment

New York

YankeesCaleb Smith Sent to Minors

New York

Yankees

Chasen

ShreveCalled Up from Minors

New York

YankeesLuis Cessa Sent to Minors

Oakland

AthleticsJohn Axford Released

Oakland

AthleticsJharel Cotton

Removed From 10-

Day DL, (Blister on

right thumb)

Oakland

AthleticsJharel Cotton

Recalled From Minors,

Rehab Assignment

Oakland Frankie Sent to Minors

Athletics Montas

Philadelphia

PhilliesMark Leiter Jr. Called Up from Minors

Philadelphia

PhilliesPedro Beato

Placed on 10-Day DL,

(Strained left

hamstring)

San Diego

Padres

Austin

Hedges

Removed From 10-

Day DL, (Concussion)

San Diego

Padres

Austin

Hedges

Recalled From Minors,

Rehab Assignment

San Diego

PadresJabari Blash Sent to Minors

San Diego

Padres

Yangervis

Solarte

Removed From 10-

Day DL, (Strained

right oblique)

San Diego

Padres

Yangervis

Solarte

Recalled From Minors,

Rehab Assignment

San Diego

Padres

Kevin

QuackenbushSent to Minors

San

Francisco

Giants

Mark

Melancon

Sent to Minors, For

Rehabilitation

Seattle

MarinersCody Martin Sent to Minors

Seattle

MarinersMitch Haniger

Placed on 10-Day DL,

(Facial laceration)

Seattle

MarinersLeonys Martin

Purchased From

Minors

Texas

RangersTyler Smith

Acquired Off Waivers

From from Mariners,

Seattle

Texas

RangersTyler Smith Sent to Minors

Washington

NationalsChris Heisey

Removed From 10-

Day DL, (Left groin

strain)

Washington

NationalsChris Heisey Released

Washington

NationalsErick Fedde

Purchased From

Minors

Washington

Nationals

Pedro

SeverinoReturn of 26th man

Washington

Nationals

Pedro

Severino

Called Up from

Minors, (recalled as

26th roster player)