The Junction City Brigade will host the Topeka Golden Giants in summer collegiate baseball at Rathert Field Wednesday night.

The first pitch is scheduled at 7 p.m.

These two teams split a doubleheader this past Sunday, with the Golden Giants winning game one 6-3 and the Brigade taking the nightcap 5-1.

And just a reminder, the Mid Plains League All-Star Game featuring the Mid Plains League All Stars against an All-Star team from Puerto Rico is scheduled at 7 p.m. Sunday at Rathert Field.

HOUSTON (AP) – Dallas Keuchel allowed seven hits in eight innings to lead the Houston Astros a 4-0 win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

The performance comes after Keuchel (10-3) threw a six-hit shutout in a win over the New York Yankees in his previous start. Keuchel struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter to lower his ERA to 2.03. Pat Neshek allowed one hit in the ninth.

George Springer had a two-run homer in the third inning. Jose Altuve drove in a run in the fifth to help Houston to the victory.

The Astros have taken the first two games of this matchup of teams with the best records in the American League. Houston is 46-34 and Kansas City is 44-30.

Kansas City starter Danny Duffy (2-4) allowed six hits and four runs in 6 2-3 innings in his second start since returning from the disabled list.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Kansas has added North Carolina transfer guard Jessica Washington.

Washington spent two seasons with the Tar Heels. She will sit out next season and have two years of eligibility remaining. Coach Brandon Schneider said in a statement that Washington “is a floor general with great vision and a high basketball I.Q.”

Washington averaged 7.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per game as a sophomore. She announced in May she was leaving in pursuit of more playing time in what UNC called a mutual decision.

Washington was a McDonald’s All-American and part of UNC’s four-player recruiting class ranked No. 1 nationally in 2013, a class that has dissolved in two seasons.

HOUSTON (AP) – Chris Carter and Jose Altuve homered to back a solid start by rookie Lance McCullers, and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 on Monday night.

In a matchup of teams with the best records in the American League, Houston snapped Kansas City’s four-game winning streak. The Royals are 44-29 and the Astros are 45-34.

McCullers (4-2) allowed four hits and a run with six strikeouts in seven innings in his ninth major league start.

The Astros jumped on Joe Blanton (2-1) for five runs in the first three innings and Carter added a solo home run in the fifth to help them to the win.

The Junction City Brigade collected four hits and one walk in the fifth inning and turned that into four runs.  Junction City then went on to defeat the Baldwin City Blues 8-4 at Rathert Field Monday night.

Zack Litchen started on the mound for Junction City and gave way to Brett Harris in the fifth inning. Phil Muldrow pitched the ninth inning and gave up one run to the Blues. who left the bases loaded in the top of the ninth.

Junction City doubles from Bret Nickle and Alex Forge’t in the win.

Junction City ( 16-9 ) will host the Topeka Golden Giants at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Rathert Field.

 

HOUSTON (AP) – Kansas City shortstop Alcides Escobar was scratched from the Royals game against the Houston Astros with a finger injury Monday night.

Escobar left the game on Sunday after suffering the injury, but was originally in Monday’s lineup. He was scratched about an hour before game time.

He was replaced at shortstop by Christian Colon.

First baseman Eric Hosmer was also out of the lineup with a sprained left ring finger. He was injured on Saturday and left Sunday’s game early with the problem.

Manager Ned Yost isn’t sure when Hosmer will return, but it likely won’t be in this series, which ends Wednesday.

NEW YORK (AP) – Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson and Seattle designated hitter Nelson Cruz have moved ahead in fan voting for starting spots in the All-Star Game, leaving five Kansas City Royals still in the lead.

Major League Baseball released the results Monday, and voting continues through Thursday night. MLB said more than 500 million votes had been cast.

The starters will be announced Sunday, with the pitchers, reserves and candidates for the final spot to be presented Monday. The game is July 14 in Cincinnati.

Royals outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon, catcher Salvador Perez, shortstop Alcides Escobar and second baseman Omar Infante hold leads. Infante is about 230,000 votes ahead of Houston’s Jose Altuve.

The 12 and Under Junction City Brigade baseball team is raising funds for their trip to the USSSA World Series in Branson.

There will be a fundraiser Monday night ( June 29th ) at Coach’s Grill and Bar and Tuesday ( June 30th ) at Froyo Junction.

The Junction City Blues American Legion baseball team lost to El Dorado 7-1 on Sunday on the final day of a weekend tournament in McPherson.

The loss left Junction City 11-5 on the season and 2-2 in the tournament.

Junction City will host Buhler and McPherson in a triangular on Tuesday at Rathert Field. The Blues will play Buhler at 3 p.m.    McPherson and Buhler will then play at 5 p.m., and Junction City will meet McPherson at 7 p.m.