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THURSDAY. AUGUST 28, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Long Davis homer lifts Pirates over Cardinals 3-1
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH — Ike Davis wasn't able to play meaningful late-season games during his time with the New York Mets. He's making the most of his chance with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“It's the first time he's been involved in games that have this kind of significance this late in the season," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Wednesday after Davis' long home run keyed a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. "He's showing up to the ball-park ready contribute any way he can."
Davis hit a two-run drive off a speaker above the seats in right-center field in the second inning. A day earlier, Davis had a pinch-hit, tiebreaking, three-run homer in the eighth inning of Pittsburgh's 5-2 win.
Davis arrived in the major leagues with the New York Mets in 2010 and was traded to Pittsburgh in April. The Mets finished with losing records in all of his seasons in New York.
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"It's hard when you're mathematically eliminated," Davis said. "You hit a home run and it's a great feeling still, but it's kind of like it didn't really matter. If you're still in it, it definitely feels a little sweeter."
Davis hit his 10th homer after Adam Wainwright (15-9) plunked Russell Martin on the left elbow with a pitch that Martin barely tried to avoid. Davis sent an 88 mph cutter clanking off a speaker raised on a pole, about 15 feet above the seats, a drive estimated at about 433 feet.
"Right now, he's not at his best, but he showed some good signs today."
MIKE MATHENY
Cardinals manager
"I just got the barrel on it," Davis said. "It just carried out today."
Wainwright knew he made a mistake when he saw where his pitch was headed.
"I threw it right into Ike's swing path, and he made a good swing on it," Wainwright said. "I wanted to get the pitch higher, but I got it and down and in, and that's a left-handed hitter's honey spot right there."
Davis also had an inning-ending lineout that left the bases loaded in the fifth.
Pittsburgh took two of three from the defending NL champions and has won five of seven overall. St. Louis (71-61) leads the NL wild-card race, with San Francisco (69-62) trailing by 1 1/2 games and the Pirates (69-64) one game back of the Giants for the second wild-card berth.
Jeff Locke (6-3) allowed one run and six hits in 7 1-3 innings, giving up Matt Holiday's third-inning homer. Locke also singled in the third and scored on Andrew Mc-Cutchen's sacrifice fly, just the 11th hit for the pitcher in 98 career at-bats.
Locke escaped trouble in the third, stranding Daniel Descalso on third when Josh Harrison made a diving stop on Randal Grichuk's two-out grounder down the line and threw to first
Mark Melancon pitched a one-hit ninth for his 24th save in 28 chances.
Wainwright allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings. He gave up five runs to Philadelphia on Aug. 22 and has gone winless in consecutive starts for just the second time this season.
"You're not going to be at your best all time." Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Right now, he's not at his best, but he showed some good signs today."
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Senior forward Ali Kimura races down the field in a game against Wyoming at Rock Chalk Park on Aug. 22.
Kansas hopes to push winning streak further
LIZ KUHLMANN
@LizKuhlmannUDK
After an undefeated opening weekend, Coach Mark Francis and his team will attempt to continue their winning streak this weekend against the University of Texas at San Antonio and Wake Forest University.
While Kansas and UTSA have never faced off, the Jayhawks played ranked Wake Forest two years ago — the game ended in a 1-1 tie. Kansas is looking to take the lead in the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
After ending their season with a 5-12-2 record last
year, UTSA started strong with a 2-0 opening weekend against Houston Baptist and Sam Houston State. The Roadrunners were averaging about 15 shots per game, so in order to succeed tomorrow, the Jayhawks' defense needs to tighten up and allow fewer shots on the goal.
Similarly, the Mustangs were allowing an average of 14 shots per game, meaning Kansas must capitalize on the chances they are given. Francis' new offense — a strategy he deems rather untraditional — should present the Jayhawks with such an opportunity so long as they minimize offside calls.
Kansas will have additional help this weekend as the team is expected to welcome back sophomore defender Aurélie Gagnet, who has yet to play in a Jayhawk uniform this year. Gagnet was playing for France's U20 National team. Gagnet was deemed Big 12 All-Newcomer last season, averaged 74 minutes and finished with 13 starts.
"We have to stay focused," freshman Eli Mayr said after Kansas' victory against SMU. "To win the first two games is really important and we want to continue it [tomorrow]."
Edited by Emily Brown
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