THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11. 2007
SPORTS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
3B
Kansas City topples Toronto 6-3
Aaron Harris/ ASSOCIATED PRESS
Royals put end to early season three-game losing streak
Kansas City Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, left, bobbles the ball as Toronto Blue Jays' Aaron Hill slides safely into second base during seventh inning baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday. The Royals beat the Blue Jays 6-3.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TORONTO — Alex Gordon showed his power for the first time, and Zack Greinke was the beneficiary.
Gordon hit his first career home run, helping the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 Tuesday night to stop a three-game losing streak.
Gordon was hitless in 13 at bats and 1-for-24 this season when the rookie hit a two-run homer in the sixth against Josh Towers (0-1) that boosted Kansas City's lead to 4-1.
Greinke (1-1), who pitched in just three games last season because of depression and social anxiety, allowed one run and six hits in six innings, struck out five and walked none. Joakim Soria pitched two perfect innings for his first career save, ending Toronto's three-game winning streak.
Towers allowed six runs — three earned — and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings, struck out six and walked
none. Last year, he lost his first nine decisions and finished 2-10 with an 8.42 ERA.
One night after a sellout crowd of 50,125 watched Toronto's home opener, the game drew 22,106 to Rogers Centre.
Mike Sweeney's sacrifice fly put Kansas City ahead in the first. Greinke escaped trouble in the
bottom half after Alex Rios led off with a double and moved to third on a Lyle Overbay's grounder, with Vernon Wells flying out and Frank Thomas taking a called third strike.
David DeJesus tripled in the third and scored on Mark Grudzianalek's single, but Alex Rios had a two-out RBI single in the fifth.
Gordon homered after Mike Sweeney reached on a throwing error by third baseman Troy Glaus, and Tony Pena Jr. hit a run-scoring triple that chased Towers. DeJesus, who had three hits, add an RBI single.
Gregg Zaun hit a two-run pinch-hit homer in the seventh off Joel Peralta.
Cardinals rally best Pirates in 12th
Brad Thompson (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory before Jason Isringhausen came on for his third save in as many opportunities and second in as many days in Pittsburgh.
BY ALAN ROBINSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
Schumaker was credited with a sacrifice fly, even though it appeared Bennett would have been out if Paulino held onto the ball.
PITTSBURGH — Gary Bennett successfully gambled by running on a short fly ball to score the winning run in the 12th inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied from two runs down in the ninth to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on Tuesday night.
The Cardinals did nothing against Tom Gorzelanny who pitched seven shutout innings in his second effective start in a row, or reliever Matt Cappus in the eighth. But the Pirates
Bennett singled and Aaron Miles doubled with one out in the 12th against John Wassin (0-1), the fifth Pirates pitcher. Yadier Molina was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up the double-play opportunity. But Skip Schumaker lifted a fly ball to left fielder Jason Bay, whose throw to the plate beat Bennett only to have catcher Ronny Paulino drop the ball.
After David Eckstein singled and Chris Duncan walked, Albert Pujols missed a home run by several feet on a long fly ball that Bay tracked down several feet from the wall. The drive was deep enough that both runners tagged up, allowing last-minute lineup replacement Scott Spiezio to tie it with a two-run single to right.
The left-handed Gorzelanny struck out five, walked none and retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced. Gorzelanny had to be sharp against Cardinals replacement starter Scott Keisler, who limited the Pirates to two runs in six innings in his first major league start since 2005 with Cincinnati.
couldn't hold a 2-0 lead in the ninth as Salomon Torres blew his first save opportunity in five chances.
BASKETBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Keisler couldn't have been much better in replacing the injured Chris Carpenter until Jose Bautista hit a one-out homer in the fifth for the game's first run.
The Cardinals have had trouble scoring runs — they have been held to three runs or fewer in all but two of their eight games — but have made up for it with productive starting pitching. Their starters had thrown 21 consecutive scoreless innings until Bautista drove a 1-1 pitch by Keisler over the center field wall.
Aside from the lack of individual awards, the event was different in another way as well. It was held at the Holiday Inn Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive, where a meal was served in the large banquet room. In previous years, the event was held in an auditorium and did not include food.
it." Self said. "But if you come back, I'll line up and play against anybody, anywhere. Because we're going to be good."
Self said he enjoyed the new format because it provided an intimate environment for fans and players to mingle.
The master of ceremonies for the evening was broadcaster Dave Armstrong, who began by saluting former broadcaster Max Falkenstein, who turned 83 years old on Tuesday.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
"I want all my guys to become head coaches." Self said.
When Self took the microphone, he first recognized the assistant coaches. Tim Jankovich was not on hand, as he was preparing for his new job at Southern Illinois, a job for which Self said the former assistant coach was well-suited.
An especially loud ovation went to the man who will take Jankovich's place, former Jayhawk great Danny Manning. Self said that a lot of NBA greats wouldn't do the dirty work that Manning did on a daily basis when he worked with the team.
Self made his announcement that none would be given.
Instead of beginning the awards,
Kansan senior sportswriter Michael Phillips can be contacted at mphillips@kansan.com.
He cited several examples of awards that would have to be split between several players. He said that an academic award would have to be split between Sasha Kaun, a computer science major, and Matt Kleinmann, an architecture major. Both are on pace to graduate a semester early and are maintaining a grade point average well above 3.0.
Edited by Katie Sullivan
"I don't think I've ever enjoyed being around a group of guys and a staff more than I have this year," he said.
A free-throw award would go to sophomore guard Mario Chalmers, but freshman guard Sherron Collins finished just one free-throw away from tying.
Self said that if a most valuable player award was given, it would be shared among sophomores Rush, Chalmers and Julian Wright.
The evening ended with fans and boosters being cleared out of the room, giving the players the opportunity to enjoy each other's company for the remainder of the evening. It was something Self was looking forward to.
FOOTBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
and added some new wrinkles to the lavahawk offense this spring.
With just several spring practices open to media and fans, the struggle between Meier and Reesing has not been obvious up to this point. But fans will get the chance to watch
"The new system helps with learning." Mangino said. "It should take some of the pressure off of the quarterback."
the quarterbacks make their cases at the spring game this Sunday. The game will be played at 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Parking and admission to the scrimmage is free.
Kansan sportswriter Asher Fusco can be contacted at afusco@kansan.com.
Edited by Stacey Couch
SARRAF (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
In other words, expect Self to sign a few lottery picks in the class of 2008.
there that want to experience the same kind of success and do some things similar to what Julian did," Self said.
The last team to win a national championship without an early entry lottery pick was Michigan State in 2000, led by seniors Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson. Kansas nearly pulled off the feat in 2003 with Hinrich and Collison. If a player stays in college for four years, he likely is not good enough to lead a team to a national championship.
the outstanding senior class for Kansas in 2005. Wayne Simien, Aaron Miles, Keith Langford and Michael Lee were all great representatives for Kansas but they were not good enough to bring in a title.
As Self said, Monday was not a sad day for Kansas basketball fans. It was a day that signaled the strength of the program. If the program hopes to maintain this strength, expect several similar news conferences in the next few years.
For example, take a look at
Sarraf is a Lawrence senior in journalism.
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