Shilo Shaacke hit a home run and a double to help lead the Junction City Brigade ( 9-4 ) past the Sabetha Lobos ( 6-9 ) 10-5 in summer collegiate baseball at Rathert Field Thursday night.

Shaacke hit a three-run home run in the third inning and connected for a double in the fifth inning for the Brigade. Nick Sloan picked up the pitching win for Junction City, while Reiner Mendez was the losing pitcher.

The two teams play again Friday night at 7 p.m. at Rathert Field. It will be Baseball, Apple Pie & Jim Clark Chevrolet – Cadillac Night at the ballpark. Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska reported that a mini-apple pie will be given to the first 250 fans to arrive for the game. It will also be Coors Light Night at Rathert Field. There will be a fireworks display sponsored by Jim Clark Chevrolet – Cadillac.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Royals designated infielder Omar Infante for assignment before Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Indians, likely ending his rather unproductive tenure in Kansas City.

Infante has struggled with injuries since signing a $30.25 million, four-year deal prior to the 2014 season. Unless he is traded or claimed on waivers, both unlikely, the Royals would owe him the remainder of $7.75 million due this season, $8 million on his contract next season and a $2 million buyout for the 2018 season.

The 34-year-old Infante has gradually lost playing time to Whit Merrifield and others, and was hitting just .239 with 11 RBIs in 39 games. He hit .220 in 124 games last season, when an injury sidelined him during the Royals’ run to the World Series title.

Kansas City recalled left-hander Brian Flynn to take his roster spot.

The Junction City Brigade will open a three-game home series against the Sabetha Lobos Thursday evening at Rathert Field.

Game time is 7 p.m.

Junction City will host Sabetha at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Weather impacted the Junction City Hawks – Salina Hawks baseball doubleheader at Rathert Field Wednesday evening.

According to Junction City coach Derek Scott lighting resulted in the first game being stopped in the bottom of the fifth inning with Junction City leading 5-3. The second game was cancelled.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Salvador Perez homered for the second straight night, Ian Kennedy kept the Cleveland Indians quiet and the Kansas City Royals finished off a three-game sweep with a 9-4 victory Wednesday.

Perez hit a three-run shot during a go-ahead fifth inning against Corey Kluber (6-7), while Eric Hosmer added two RBIs and Whit Merrifield remained hot to help Kansas City win its fifth straight.

The Royals have won nine straight at home, their best stretch since 2003.

Kennedy (5-5) allowed just five hits, including two-run homers by Rajai Davis and Michael Martinez, as he pitched into the seventh inning. He won for the first time since beating Cleveland on May 7th.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles was on the practice field for the start of a three-day minicamp, though All-Pro safety Eric Berry was absent as his representatives negotiate a long-term contract.

Charles has been ahead of schedule after having surgery last season to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. He has been involved in some of the voluntary workouts prior to Tuesday, and has insisted all along that he intends to be ready by the start of training camp.

Charles was hurt in a Week 5 game against the Bears.

Berry has been absent all offseason after getting the franchise tag, which would pay him about $10.8 million next season. Since he has not signed the franchise tender, he is not under contract and obligated to attend the mandatory minicamp.

The Junction City Brigade ( 8-4 )  split a doubleheader with the Baldwin City Blues ( 6-6 ) Monday night at Rathert Field.

In game one two runs in the top of the seventh inning proved crucial for the Blues as they held off a Brigade rally in the bottom of the seventh to win 5-4. In the fifth inning of that contest Junction City left the bases loaded, and in the seventh two men were left on base when the final out occurred.

In game two Junction City claimed a 4-2 lead in the third inning and then put three runs on the board in the fourth, four more in the fifth, and one in the sixth to defeat the Blues 12-2 in a game called in the bottom of the sixth due to the 10-run margin.

The Brigade host the Sabetha Lobos in a single nine-inning contest at 7 p.m. Thursday.

 

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Whit Merrifield hit his first career homer, Edinson Volquez tossed seven innings of two-hit ball and the Kansas City Royals beat Cleveland 2-1 on Monday night to end a five-game skid against the Indians.

Alcides Esocbar also drove in a run for the Royals, who have won three in a row after an eight-game losing streak. They also won their seventh consecutive game at Kauffman Stadium.

Volquez (6-6) walked the bases loaded in the first inning before settling down, allowing only a double to Jason Kipnis and a single to Lonnie Chisenhall. Volquez also hit a batter with a pitch and worked around an error, but ultimately kept the Indians from pushing a run across.

The Junction City Brigade defeated the Topeka Golden Giants 12-10 Saturday night in the capitol city.

The win left Junction City with a record of 7-3.

The Brigade will host Baldwin City in a doubleheader at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Monday at Rathert Field.

CHICAGO (AP) – Yordano Ventura pitched seven sharp innings for Kansas City in his first start since he brawled with Manny Machado in Baltimore, and the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on Sunday for their second straight win following an eight-game losing streak.

Ventura (5-4) struck out a season-high 10 and walked one in his first win since May 17 against Boston, making the most of Kansas City’s run-scoring singles in the first and second. Salvador Perez added a leadoff homer down the left-field line in the ninth.

The 25-year-old Ventura had been 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in his previous four starts. The right-hander was suspended for nine games by Major League Baseball after he hit Machado in the back with a 99 mph fastball in the fifth inning of a 9-1 loss Tuesday, leading to a benches-clearing fight. But he appealed the punishment and is allowed to pitch until the process is complete.