The Kansas City Royals have eight games left and almost no margin for error.
Alex Gordon homered, Whit Merrifield drove in three runs and Danny Duffy pitched into the seventh inning on Saturday to lead the Royals over the Chicago White Sox 8-2, keeping Kansas City’s slim playoff hopes alive.
Salvador Perez went 2 for 4 with a pair of run-scoring doubles.
Photo: AP
Kansas City is four games behind the Minnesota Golden Gophers for the second AL wild card, tied with the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Longhorns.
“We just got to win,’” manager Ned Yost said. “We just have to keep playing good, find ways to win ballgames and play it out to the end.”
Minnesota has three games at AL power Cleveland in a series that starts tomorrow.
“Crazier things have happened in this game,” Duffy said. “We just want to continue to try and finish strong and worry about next year when next year comes.”
Duffy (9-9) allowed two runs and eight hits in six-plus innings for his first win since Aug. 22.
Jose Abreu went 1 for 4 and drove in two runs to reach the 100-RBI mark for the fourth straight season. The Chicago slugger is just the third major leaguer to begin his career with four straight seasons of at least 25 homers and 100 RBIs after Joe DiMaggio and Albert Pujols.
“Honestly, I don’t feel as happy as I want to because we lost,” Abreu said through a translator. “But personally, it feels good to get this goal accomplished.”
Tim Anderson went 1 for 4 to extend his career-best hitting streak to 14 games.
Dylan Covey (0-7) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He is seeking his first major league win after 11 starts and six relief appearances.
“I felt like I was maybe pitching from behind in counts too much,” Covey said, “but there were a lot of positive things, too, to carry over into my next start.”
Chicago took the lead on Abreu’s RBI single in the first.
Covey allowed just one hit over the first three innings and retired the first two batters in the fourth, but then Eric Hosmer walked, Salvador Perez followed with an RBI double and Mike Moustakas singled to drive in Perez for a 2-1 Kansas City lead.
Gordon homered in the fifth. Merrifield’s three-run double in the seventh gave the Royals a 6-1 advantage.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely