PAGE 6
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KANSAS 8,IOWA 3
EARLY AND OFTEN
Jayhawks' early runs, defense put pressure on Iowa
TREVOR GRAFF
tgraff@kansan.com
Sophonore outfielder Michael
Suiter led
the Jayhawks
through frigid
temperatures
and unyielding
wind to an 8-3
win over the
Iowa Hawkeyes
last night in
Iowa City, Iowa.
Suiter
the sophomore posted a 2-4 night at the plate alongside two stolen bases, three runs and an RBI on a night in which the layhawks
jumped to the early lead with 12 hits for the game.
"We've been putting more emphasis on putting pressure on a team early in the game," Suiter said. "It definitely pays off later in games just like it did today."
Suiter singled in the Jayhawks' first run of the game with a shot up the middle to center field that scored sophomore second baseman Justin Protocio. Senior shortstop Kevin Kuntz advanced to third on the play and later scored on a throwing error committed by Iowa freshman catcher Blake Hickman on a Suiter stolen base.
"His bat is hot," Kansas coach Ritch Price said, "He's playing like
one of the better players in our great conference right now."
Kansas continued to score in the top of the second as Justin Protacio singled in sophomore rightfielder Connor McKay.
"We did a really good job of executing our short game on offense again," Price said. "We ran the bases well, and guys clutched up with runners in scoring position early in the game and gave us some breathing room."
Kansas pitching stepped up in the shadow of a recent change in the pitching rotation that gave sophomore right-hander Robert Kahana, usually a late-inning reliever, the opportunity to start.
Kahana responded well to the challenge by submitting a fiveinning performance. He gave up two earned runs on seven hits while sending two Hawkeyes to the bench on strikes.
"I really enjoy starting," Kahana said. "Just knowing that the team is relying on you to fill up the zones and continue to get out."
For most relievers moving to a starting role, higher pitch counts are a cause for concern. For Kahana, the extended performance showed few effects.
"My arm feels good right now," Kahan said. "It wasn't anything different."
Sophomore right-hander Drew
Morovick closed the game with a four-inning save, his first of the season, giving up one run on two hits with three strikeouts.
Kansas pitching benefited from another solid defensive day for Jayhawk middle infielders.
"Our middle infield was fabulous today,"
Price said. "The two double plays that were turned were outstanding. Protocacio is turning double plays as good as anyone in the country."
Kahana
Yesterday, the Jayhawks added
nonconference games against Ottawa University on April 17 and Baker University on April 24.
Game two of the midweek series is set for first pitch at 4 p.m. with Kansas' senior right-handed pitcher Tanner Poppe (1-2, 5.23 ERA, 11 BB, 17 K) taking on Iowa sophomore left-handed pitcher Sasha Kuebel (1-6, 6.28 ERA, 17 BB, 26 K).
Edited by Dylan Lysen
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
KANSAS 3 1 0 3 0 0 0 1 8
IOWA 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 3
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Senior catcher Alex DeLeon bats against Iowa at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, Iowa yesterday. The Jayhawks beat the Hawkeyes 8-3 in Iowa City. (The Daily Iowan/Sarah Sebetka)
MLB
Royals win as Guthrie snags seventh straight
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Royals, who had not scored in the first two innings in their first seven games, sent nine to the plate in a five-run first. Mike Pelfrey (1-1) gave up hits to the first five batters he faced.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jeremy Guthrie won his career-best seven straight decision, dating to last season, and Alcides Escobar had three hits and an RBI as the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 7-4 Tuesday night.
Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham and Eduardo Escobar — the first of his career — each hit solo homers to keep the Twins close.
Guthrie (2-0) has a 2.37 ERA during the stretch, allowed four runs on six hits, including the three home runs, in 6 2/3 innings.
Greg Holland picked up the save. Holland struck out Mauer to end the game, logging his second save in three chances.
After Mauer gave the Twins a 1-0 lead in the first, Alex Gordon and Escobar got things started for the Royals with singles. Billy Butler doubled down the left-field line to score Gordon, Mike Moustakas singled home Escobar, and Salvador Perez doubled home Butler.
Eric Hosmer's groundout scored Moustrak, and Lorenzo Cain's two-out single scored Perez.
Escobar drove in a run in the second to make it 5-2, but Gordon opened the Royals' half of the second with a triple and scored on Alcides Escobar's single.
After Willingham's homer in the third, the Royals scored their final run on Jeff Francoeur's double that scored Hosmer.
Eduardo Escobar went deep in the fifth to cap the scoring.
The Royals, who had a 12-game losing streak last April, have won three straight and five of six.
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