The Kansas City Royals fired manager Trey Hillman immediately after pitcher Zack Greinke earned his first win in eight starts, 6-4 over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday.
Alberto Callaspo hit a three-run homer and the Royals snapped a seven-game skid by roughing up Cleveland starter David Huff (1-5) and giving Greinke (1-4) his most run support of the season. The hard-luck right-hander made the most of it, winning for the first time since September last year by allowing up three runs in six innings.
The 47-year-old Hillman was in his third season with Kansas City. Former Brewers manager Ned Yost, who had joined the Royals in January took over the team.
Thursday’s other results:
• Tigers 6, Yankees 0
• Orioles 6, Mariners 5
• Rangers 2, Athletics 1, 12 inns
AP, SAN FRANCISCO
Mat Latos pitched a shutout and also drove in the lone run to give the San Diego Padres a 1-0 win over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, completing a three-game sweep of the clash of National League West leaders.
Latos (3-3) retired the first 15 batters and has not given up a run in 18 innings. The only hit he conceded came when Eli Whiteside opened the sixth inning with a one hopper that rebounded off Latos’ glove hand to shortstop.
He outdueled San Francisco starter Jonathan Sanchez (2-3). Latos completed his first career complete game, striking out six and walking none in a game that lasted only 2 hours, 6 minutes.
It was the first sweep by the Padres at San Francisco since 2005.
Thursday’s other results:
• Nationals 14, Rockies 6
• Marlins 2, Mets 1
• Astros 4, Cardinals 1
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
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