KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ha-Seong Kim hit a go-ahead three-run double, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Kyle Higashioka homered and the San Diego Padres beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Saturday.

Randy Vásquez (1-3) started after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/padres-yu-darvish-joe-musgrove-injured-list-bab334b52c06d354d6d0fe7c0832f935">Joe Musgrove was scratched</a>&nbsp;hours before the first pitch with right elbow inflammation and went five innings, allowing three runs and four hits with five strikeouts and one walk.

With the Padres trailing 3-2 in the fourth inning, Kim cleared cleared the bases with a double to left field off Royals starter Alec Marsh (4-3).

Marsh gave up five earned runs and seven hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Tatis Jr. hit a solo homer in the top of the first to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. But Vinnie Pasquantino, who went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning to put the Royals ahead.

Pasquantino had another chance to get Kansas City closer in the seventh when he came up with two outs and the bases loaded, but Jeremiah Estrada struck him out.

Higashioka homered in the top of the ninth for his second of the season.

The Padres will look for their first sweep of the season Sunday, while the Royals will try to avoid being swept for the first time this year.

Padres: Placed RHPs Musgrove and Yu Darvish (left groin strain) on the 15-day injured list and recalled Vásquez and RHP Logan Gillaspie from Triple-A El Paso.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717284217439.jpeg" alt="San Diego Padres' Ha-Seong Kim hits a three-run double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>San Diego Padres' Ha-Seong Kim hits a three-run double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ha-Seong Kim hit a go-ahead three-run double, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Kyle Higashioka homered and the San Diego Padres beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Saturday.Randy Vásquez (1-3) started after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/padres-yu-darvish-joe-musgrove-injured-list-bab334b52c06d354d6d0fe7c0832f935">Joe Musgrove was scratched</a>&nbsp;hours before the first pitch with right elbow inflammation and went five innings, allowing three runs and four hits with five strikeouts and one walk.With the Padres trailing 3-2 in the fourth inning, Kim cleared cleared the bases with a double to left field off Royals starter Alec Marsh (4-3).Marsh gave up five earned runs and seven hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out three.Tatis Jr. hit a solo homer in the top of the first to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. But Vinnie Pasquantino, who went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning to put the Royals ahead.Pasquantino had another chance to get Kansas City closer in the seventh when he came up with two outs and the bases loaded, but Jeremiah Estrada struck him out.Higashioka homered in the top of the ninth for his second of the season.The Padres will look for their first sweep of the season Sunday, while the Royals will try to avoid being swept for the first time this year.ROSTER MOVESPadres: Placed RHPs Musgrove and Yu Darvish (left groin strain) on the 15-day injured list and recalled Vásquez and RHP Logan Gillaspie from Triple-A El Paso.UP NEXT

⚾️ Kim's 3-run double helps lead Padres past Royals

After having their season-opening game postponed on Thursday, the Junction City Brigade opened up their 2024 season on Friday night in Junction City.

The Topeka Warhawks quickly jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning, but the Brigade stormed back and put up five runs in the fourth inning to grab the lead and never looked back. Junction City added a run in the fifth inning with a home run to extend their lead to 6-2.&nbsp;

The Warhawks rallied in the late innings and even had the tying run on base in the ninth, but the Brigade were able to seal the victory, thanks to an unconventional double play to end the game.&nbsp;

A nice showing of Brigade fans were in attendance for the home opener, with 403 fans attending the first game of the summer at Rathert Field.&nbsp;

Following the Junction City Brigade victory, fans enjoyed a firework show to start off the season.&nbsp;

With the victory, the Brigade are 1-0 on the season and will play the Warhawks again on Saturday night, but this time in Topeka.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostAfter having their season-opening game postponed on Thursday, the Junction City Brigade opened up their 2024 season on Friday night in Junction City.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717212987155.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Topeka Warhawks quickly jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning, but the Brigade stormed back and put up five runs in the fourth inning to grab the lead and never looked back. Junction City added a run in the fifth inning with a home run to extend their lead to 6-2.&nbsp;The Warhawks rallied in the late innings and even had the tying run on base in the ninth, but the Brigade were able to seal the victory, thanks to an unconventional double play to end the game.&nbsp;A nice showing of Brigade fans were in attendance for the home opener, with 403 fans attending the first game of the summer at Rathert Field.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717213154616.jpeg" alt="Beer Garden Crowd" />
 <figcaption>Beer Garden Crowd</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717213210170.jpeg" alt="Fans sitting behind the Brigade dugout" />
 <figcaption>Fans sitting behind the Brigade dugout</figcaption>
 </figure>Following the Junction City Brigade victory, fans enjoyed a firework show to start off the season.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717212683239.jpeg" alt="Postgame Fireworks at Rathert Field" />
 <figcaption>Postgame Fireworks at Rathert Field</figcaption>
 </figure>With the victory, the Brigade are 1-0 on the season and will play the Warhawks again on Saturday night, but this time in Topeka.&nbsp;

Junction City Brigade win home opener over Topeka Warhawks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jake Cronenworth drove in three runs in a nine-run eighth inning, Luis Arraez had four hits and the San Diego Padres beat the Kansas City Royals 11-8 on Friday night.

Cronenworth hit a two-run single in the eighth to give the Padres a 4-3 lead and added an RBI double to make it 11-3. He leads San Diego with 38 RBIs. Luis Arraez had his fifth four-hit game of the season.

“That was amazing,” Arraez said. “When we put the ball in play, good things happen, so we just need to continue to do that so we can win a lot of games."

San Diego took command in the eighth inning, getting seven straight singles before the Royals recorded an out. The Padres totaled 18 hits in the game and had 10 singles and 11 total hits in the eighth inning, a club record for an inning.

“That eighth inning was pretty special and you don’t see many of them,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “We just put together professional at-bats throughout, so it was pretty exciting. The approach was good we were just taking what the game gave us. It was a great inning and we got contributions from all.”

Yuki Matsui (3-0) got the victory with a scoreless seventh.

Dylan Cease gave up three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and one walk. Cease made his 16th career start against the Royals, which is his most against any club in his career. He also added to his strikeout total against Kansas City, eclipsing 104 strikeouts, the most against one opponent.

“I think my outing was good enough to keep us in it, but it wasn’t very dominant," Cease said. “I am not thrilled with it, but I am happy we got the win, and the offense picked it up.”

Michael Wacha pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk. It was his lowest strikeout total of the season and the fewest since June 19, 2023, while with San Diego. John Schreiber (3-1) gave up three runs in the eighth.

Nelson Velázquez hit a solo home run in Kansas City's five-run ninth.

“That’s the nature of baseball," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I wish we could explain the ins and outs of why, but a lot of it has to do with these guys never quitting. When their back is against the wall they know they have to go and keep fighting.”

San Diego reliever Jeremiah Estrada entered the game in the sixth inning, holding a major league record of 13 straight consecutive strikeouts, which came to an end on an intentional walk to Salvador Perez. The record dated to the Expansion Era in 1961 when play-by-play data was available and was broken by Jose Alvarado with 11 straight in 2023.

Royals: LHP Daniel Lynch IV was optioned to Triple-A Omaha after the game on Thursday. In the corresponding move, the Royals recalled RHP Will Klein.

Padres: RHP Yu Darvish (left hamstring tightness) remained in San Diego to receive treatment after an early exit in his last start due to the hamstring tightness on Wednesday against Miami. No move has been made.

Joe Musgrove (3-4, 5.66 ERA) was set to start for San Diego on Saturday against Alec Marsh (4-2, 3.24 ERA).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717212665259.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals left fielder MJ Melendez catches a fly ball for the out on San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 31, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals left fielder MJ Melendez catches a fly ball for the out on San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 31, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jake Cronenworth drove in three runs in a nine-run eighth inning, Luis Arraez had four hits and the San Diego Padres beat the Kansas City Royals 11-8 on Friday night.Cronenworth hit a two-run single in the eighth to give the Padres a 4-3 lead and added an RBI double to make it 11-3. He leads San Diego with 38 RBIs. Luis Arraez had his fifth four-hit game of the season.“That was amazing,” Arraez said. “When we put the ball in play, good things happen, so we just need to continue to do that so we can win a lot of games."San Diego took command in the eighth inning, getting seven straight singles before the Royals recorded an out. The Padres totaled 18 hits in the game and had 10 singles and 11 total hits in the eighth inning, a club record for an inning.“That eighth inning was pretty special and you don’t see many of them,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “We just put together professional at-bats throughout, so it was pretty exciting. The approach was good we were just taking what the game gave us. It was a great inning and we got contributions from all.”Yuki Matsui (3-0) got the victory with a scoreless seventh.Dylan Cease gave up three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and one walk. Cease made his 16th career start against the Royals, which is his most against any club in his career. He also added to his strikeout total against Kansas City, eclipsing 104 strikeouts, the most against one opponent.“I think my outing was good enough to keep us in it, but it wasn’t very dominant," Cease said. “I am not thrilled with it, but I am happy we got the win, and the offense picked it up.”Michael Wacha pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk. It was his lowest strikeout total of the season and the fewest since June 19, 2023, while with San Diego. John Schreiber (3-1) gave up three runs in the eighth.Nelson Velázquez hit a solo home run in Kansas City's five-run ninth.“That’s the nature of baseball," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I wish we could explain the ins and outs of why, but a lot of it has to do with these guys never quitting. When their back is against the wall they know they have to go and keep fighting.”K STREAK ENDSSan Diego reliever Jeremiah Estrada entered the game in the sixth inning, holding a major league record of 13 straight consecutive strikeouts, which came to an end on an intentional walk to Salvador Perez. The record dated to the Expansion Era in 1961 when play-by-play data was available and was broken by Jose Alvarado with 11 straight in 2023.ROSTER MOVESRoyals: LHP Daniel Lynch IV was optioned to Triple-A Omaha after the game on Thursday. In the corresponding move, the Royals recalled RHP Will Klein.TRAINER’S ROOMPadres: RHP Yu Darvish (left hamstring tightness) remained in San Diego to receive treatment after an early exit in his last start due to the hamstring tightness on Wednesday against Miami. No move has been made.UP NEXTJoe Musgrove (3-4, 5.66 ERA) was set to start for San Diego on Saturday against Alec Marsh (4-2, 3.24 ERA).

⚾️ Cronenworth drives in 3 runs in 9-run 8th, Padres beat Royals

Associate Athletics Director for communications

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;<a></a>Kickoff times and television selections for K-State’s first three football games of the 2024 campaign have been announced as the Big 12 Conference and its television partners have made selections for the first three weeks of the season in addition to weeknight contests.

Kansas State opens its 2024 slate on Saturday, August 31 against UT Martin at 6 p.m. in a game shown on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, a timeslot and platform the Wildcats have featured for their home opener now seven of the last eight seasons.

K-State quickly hits the road for the first time in 2024 during week two as the Cats travel to Tulane to face the Green Wave on Saturday, September 7, in an 11 a.m. game that will be broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN2.&nbsp;

As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/news/2024/5/22/k-states-week-three-matchup-set-for-fox-college-football-friday" target="_blank">announced last Wednesday</a>, the Wildcats will kick off the inaugural FOX College Football Friday television package at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 13 when they host new Big 12 foe Arizona in a non-conference game inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

By Ryan LackeyAssociate Athletics Director for communications<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;<a></a>Kickoff times and television selections for K-State’s first three football games of the 2024 campaign have been announced as the Big 12 Conference and its television partners have made selections for the first three weeks of the season in addition to weeknight contests.Kansas State opens its 2024 slate on Saturday, August 31 against UT Martin at 6 p.m. in a game shown on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, a timeslot and platform the Wildcats have featured for their home opener now seven of the last eight seasons.K-State quickly hits the road for the first time in 2024 during week two as the Cats travel to Tulane to face the Green Wave on Saturday, September 7, in an 11 a.m. game that will be broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN2.&nbsp;As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/news/2024/5/22/k-states-week-three-matchup-set-for-fox-college-football-friday" target="_blank">announced last Wednesday</a>, the Wildcats will kick off the inaugural FOX College Football Friday television package at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 13 when they host new Big 12 foe Arizona in a non-conference game inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

K-State’s First Three Football Game Times Set

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ryan Jeffers homered twice and Carlos Correa added a two-out, bases-clearing triple in the sixth inning and the Minnesota Twins rallied from a four-run deficit for a 7-6 win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.

Reliever Chris Stratton (2-3) allowed pinch-hitter Max Kepler's RBI single and walked two batters to load the bases with two outs.

Correa lifted a 3-1 fastball down the right-field line to break a 4-4 tie. It was Correa's second triple of the season.

Jeffers’ first home run of the game, a two-run blast into the left-field bullpen in the bottom of the fourth, cut the Royals’ 4-0 lead in half. Jeffers, who leads the Twins with 12 home runs, had gone 5 for 43 since his previous homer on May 14.

Reliever Caleb Thielbar (2-1) got the win for the Twins, who took three of four in the series.

Vinnie Pasquantino and MJ Melendez each homered for Kansas City. Starting pitcher Daniel Lynch IV allowed two earned runs in five innings just hours after being called up from Triple-A Omaha.

Scheduled Kansas City starter Brady Singer was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-brady-singer-fdf2252d58ab6afb3e253495bbe20999">scratched</a>&nbsp;because of illness shortly before the 12:10 p.m. game. Lynch allowed five hits, including both Jeffers home runs, and struck out two in his second big-league start this season.

Back in the lineup two days after a first-base collision with Byron Buxton, Pasquantino smashed a 1-0 curveball into the second deck of right-field seats to give Kansas City a 2-0 lead in the first. Bobby Witt Jr. added another run with a double to left-center field in the third, and Melendez homered off Twins starter Chris Paddack in the fourth inning over the right-field fence to make it 4-0.

Witt added a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth, but Twins closer Jhoan Duran retired Pasquantino on a grounder to the mound to earn his ninth save.

Paddack allowed four earned runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings for the Twins.

Royals: Optioned Carlos Hernández to Triple-A Omaha to make room on the roster for Lynch.

Royals: Right-hander Michael Wacha (4-5, 4.31 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday against Padres right-hander Dylan Cease (5-4, 3.29) in the first of a three-game series in Kansas City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717102088823.jpeg" alt="Twins' Ryan Jeffers runs the bases on his solo home run against the Kansas City Royals in the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)" />
 <figcaption>Twins' Ryan Jeffers runs the bases on his solo home run against the Kansas City Royals in the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)</figcaption>
 </figure>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ryan Jeffers homered twice and Carlos Correa added a two-out, bases-clearing triple in the sixth inning and the Minnesota Twins rallied from a four-run deficit for a 7-6 win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.Reliever Chris Stratton (2-3) allowed pinch-hitter Max Kepler's RBI single and walked two batters to load the bases with two outs.Correa lifted a 3-1 fastball down the right-field line to break a 4-4 tie. It was Correa's second triple of the season.Jeffers’ first home run of the game, a two-run blast into the left-field bullpen in the bottom of the fourth, cut the Royals’ 4-0 lead in half. Jeffers, who leads the Twins with 12 home runs, had gone 5 for 43 since his previous homer on May 14.Reliever Caleb Thielbar (2-1) got the win for the Twins, who took three of four in the series.Vinnie Pasquantino and MJ Melendez each homered for Kansas City. Starting pitcher Daniel Lynch IV allowed two earned runs in five innings just hours after being called up from Triple-A Omaha.Scheduled Kansas City starter Brady Singer was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-brady-singer-fdf2252d58ab6afb3e253495bbe20999">scratched</a>&nbsp;because of illness shortly before the 12:10 p.m. game. Lynch allowed five hits, including both Jeffers home runs, and struck out two in his second big-league start this season.Back in the lineup two days after a first-base collision with Byron Buxton, Pasquantino smashed a 1-0 curveball into the second deck of right-field seats to give Kansas City a 2-0 lead in the first. Bobby Witt Jr. added another run with a double to left-center field in the third, and Melendez homered off Twins starter Chris Paddack in the fourth inning over the right-field fence to make it 4-0.Witt added a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth, but Twins closer Jhoan Duran retired Pasquantino on a grounder to the mound to earn his ninth save.Paddack allowed four earned runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings for the Twins.TRAINER'S ROOMRoyals: Optioned Carlos Hernández to Triple-A Omaha to make room on the roster for Lynch.UP NEXTRoyals: Right-hander Michael Wacha (4-5, 4.31 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday against Padres right-hander Dylan Cease (5-4, 3.29) in the first of a three-game series in Kansas City.

⚾️ Ryan Jeffers homers twice as Twins rally for victory over Royals

The Junction City Blue Jay baseball team had six players recognized by the Centennial League. 

Brock Bazan, Chris Coy, and Jamarcus Tyson - Honorable Mention 

The Junction City Lady Jay softball team also had six players recognized by the Centennial League. 

Makenzie Thomas and Sara Rexrode - 1st team

The Junction City Blue Jay baseball team had six players recognized by the Centennial League. Lincoln Upham - 1st team Cael Smith - 2nd teamMuaadh Harris - 2nd teamBrock Bazan, Chris Coy, and Jamarcus Tyson - Honorable Mention The Junction City Lady Jay softball team also had six players recognized by the Centennial League. Makenzie Thomas and Sara Rexrode - 1st teamAnja VonSpreckelsen - 2nd team

Centennial League honors announced for Baseball and Softball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Nelson Velázquez homered twice, Salvador Perez hit his team-leading 10th homer of the season and the Kansas City Royals snapped a three-game skid with a 6-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

Velázquez’s first homer came in Kansas City’s four-run third inning. After Minnesota jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, the Royals countered with four runs off Twins starter Bailey Ober.

Perez drove in the go-ahead run with a double to left, and Veláquez knocked in Perez two batters later with a two-run shot to center for a 4-1 lead.

Perez hit a solo homer in the fifth inning and Veláquez followed with his seventh homer of the season to give the Royals a 6-1 lead.

That was plenty of run support for Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (9-1), who earned his fourth win in as many starts. Lugo allowed one run on six hits in six innings, with his career-best ninth win.

It was the second time this season the Royals roughed up Ober (5-3). The Twins' right-hander also surrendered three homers and eight total runs against Kansas City in his first start of the season on March 31.

Ober allowed six runs on nine hits in five innings on Wednesday.

The victory helped Kansas City avoid what would have been a season-high, four-game losing streak. The Royals have lost three straight games three times this season.

Twins third baseman Jose Miranda drove in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly to deep left field. It was the third straight game in the series that Miranda had the first RBI of the game. He homered in the third inning of Monday’s series opener for a 2-0 lead, and had a two-run single to open the scoring in Tuesday’s win.

Kansas City will send RHP Brady Singer (4-2, 2.70 ERA) to the mound for the series finale. Singer allowed just one earned run in each of his last two starts. Minnesota counters with RHP Chris Paddack (4-2, 4.39), who earned no-decisions in his previous two outings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717035916046.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Nelson Velázquez homered twice, Salvador Perez hit his team-leading 10th homer of the season and the Kansas City Royals snapped a three-game skid with a 6-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.Velázquez’s first homer came in Kansas City’s four-run third inning. After Minnesota jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, the Royals countered with four runs off Twins starter Bailey Ober.Perez drove in the go-ahead run with a double to left, and Veláquez knocked in Perez two batters later with a two-run shot to center for a 4-1 lead.Perez hit a solo homer in the fifth inning and Veláquez followed with his seventh homer of the season to give the Royals a 6-1 lead.That was plenty of run support for Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (9-1), who earned his fourth win in as many starts. Lugo allowed one run on six hits in six innings, with his career-best ninth win.It was the second time this season the Royals roughed up Ober (5-3). The Twins' right-hander also surrendered three homers and eight total runs against Kansas City in his first start of the season on March 31.Ober allowed six runs on nine hits in five innings on Wednesday.The victory helped Kansas City avoid what would have been a season-high, four-game losing streak. The Royals have lost three straight games three times this season.Twins third baseman Jose Miranda drove in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly to deep left field. It was the third straight game in the series that Miranda had the first RBI of the game. He homered in the third inning of Monday’s series opener for a 2-0 lead, and had a two-run single to open the scoring in Tuesday’s win.UP NEXTKansas City will send RHP Brady Singer (4-2, 2.70 ERA) to the mound for the series finale. Singer allowed just one earned run in each of his last two starts. Minnesota counters with RHP Chris Paddack (4-2, 4.39), who earned no-decisions in his previous two outings.___

⚾️ Velázquez hits 2 HRs as Royals snap skid with win over Twins

The Junction City Brigade will open their 2024 season at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Hummer Sports Park in&nbsp; the capitol city against the Topeka Warhawks. They will play their home opener against the Warhawks at 7 p.m. Friday at Rathert Field.

In his message to the team General Manager Cecil Aska pointed to the history of the Brigade that includes being the first team to win a title, and then three titles in a row in the Mid Plains League. They are defending champions this season. "It's about you guys pushing yourself and being the first to do things."

An assistant coach at Barton County Community College, Chandler Bloomer, has been hired to serve as the new head coach for the Brigade. He's excited to learn about the Brigade. "I've heard so many good things about past players and Cecil."

Promotions at the ballpark this season will include five fireworks shows Different food vendors will also be serving their products. The Mid Plains League All Star Game will be played July 20 at Rathert Field.

Tickets to the games are $5 for adults, $3 for students, $3 for those with a college ID and children under five will be admitted free.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655811104614.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Junction City Brigade will open their 2024 season at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Hummer Sports Park in&nbsp; the capitol city against the Topeka Warhawks. They will play their home opener against the Warhawks at 7 p.m. Friday at Rathert Field.In his message to the team General Manager Cecil Aska pointed to the history of the Brigade that includes being the first team to win a title, and then three titles in a row in the Mid Plains League. They are defending champions this season. "It's about you guys pushing yourself and being the first to do things."An assistant coach at Barton County Community College, Chandler Bloomer, has been hired to serve as the new head coach for the Brigade. He's excited to learn about the Brigade. "I've heard so many good things about past players and Cecil."Promotions at the ballpark this season will include five fireworks shows Different food vendors will also be serving their products. The Mid Plains League All Star Game will be played July 20 at Rathert Field.Tickets to the games are $5 for adults, $3 for students, $3 for those with a college ID and children under five will be admitted free.

Play ball!

The Junction City Brigade has released the full schedule for the 2024 season.&nbsp;

Ticket information:&nbsp;Home game tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Ages five and under are free. Other ticket discounts are in place for Military and Seniors.&nbsp;

The full 2024 schedule is below - (Home games are in bold)

May 31 (7:00 p.m.) - Topeka Warhawks

June 5 (7:00 p.m.) - Kansas Curves

June 10 (7:00 p.m.) - Topeka Warhawks

June 13 (7:00 p.m.) - Baldwin City Blues

June 15 (7:00 p.m.) -&nbsp;Baldwin City Blues

June 17&nbsp;(7:00 p.m.) -&nbsp;Baldwin City Blues

July 2 (7:00 p.m.) - Baldwin City Blues

July 7 (6:00 p.m.) - US Military WarDogs

July 11 (7:00 p.m.) - Topeka Warhawks

July 13 (7:00 p.m.) -&nbsp;&nbsp;Topeka Warhawks

July 17 (7:00 p.m.) - Great Bend Bat Cats

July 20 (7:00 p.m.) - MPL All Star Game

The Junction City Brigade has released the full schedule for the 2024 season.&nbsp;Ticket information:&nbsp;Home game tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Ages five and under are free. Other ticket discounts are in place for Military and Seniors.&nbsp;The full 2024 schedule is below - (Home games are in bold)May 30 - @ Topeka WarhawksMay 31 (7:00 p.m.) - Topeka WarhawksJune 1 -&nbsp;@ Topeka WarhawksJune 3 (7:00 p.m.) - Blue Wahoo'sJune 5 (7:00 p.m.) - Kansas CurvesJune 6 (7:00 p.m.) - Midwest A'sJune 7 - @ Midwest A'sJune 8 (7:00 p.m.) - Midwest A'sJune 10 (7:00 p.m.) - Topeka WarhawksJune 11 - @ Topeka WarhawksJune 12 - @ KC MonarchsJune 13 (7:00 p.m.) - Baldwin City BluesJune 14 - @ Baldwin City BluesJune 15 (7:00 p.m.) -&nbsp;Baldwin City BluesJune 17&nbsp;(7:00 p.m.) -&nbsp;Baldwin City BluesJune 18 -@ Baldwin City BluesJune 20 - @ Great Bend Bat CatsJune 21 (7:00 p.m.) - KC KnightsJune 22 (7:00 p.m.) - KC MonarchsJune 24 (7:00 p.m.) - Hays LarksJune 26 (7:00 p.m.) - KC MonarchsJune 27 - @ Midwest A'sJune 28 (7:00 p.m.) - Midwest A'sJune 29 - @ Midwest A'sJuly 1 - @ Baldwin City BluesJuly 2 (7:00 p.m.) - Baldwin City BluesJuly 3 -&nbsp;@ Baldwin City BluesJuly 4 - @ Hays LarksJuly 6 (7:00 p.m.) - KC KnightsJuly 7 (6:00 p.m.) - US Military WarDogsJuly 8 (7:00 p.m.) - Midwest A'sJuly 9 - @ Midwest A'sJuly 11 (7:00 p.m.) - Topeka WarhawksJuly 12 - @ Topeka WarhawksJuly 13 (7:00 p.m.) -&nbsp;&nbsp;Topeka WarhawksJuly 17 (7:00 p.m.) - Great Bend Bat CatsJuly 20 (7:00 p.m.) - MPL All Star GameJuly 22-24 Playoffs (TBD)July 26-28 Cowdin Cup (TBD)

Junction City Brigade full 2024 schedule

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Simeon Woods Richardson earned his first win in eight starts, Jose Miranda drove in two runs and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Minnesota, winners of six of their last seven games, got two hits apiece from Manuel Margot, Byron Buxton and Carlos Santana.

Jhoan Duran allowed the first two hitters he faced in the ninth to reach base, but helped by Christian Vazquez throwing out a runner trying to steal second, he didn't allow a run and earned his ninth save.

Kansas City tied a season-low with five hits to lose its third straight after winning eight in a row. The Royals have dropped 15 of their last 16 at Target Field.

Woods Richardson (2-0) allowed three hits and struck out four in five innings for his first win since April 13.

He allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of his past eight starts, and only once did he receive more than two runs of support. His 2.70 ERA is third among rookies with at least 35 innings pitched, trailing Shota Imanaga of the Cubs (0.84) and Luis Gil of the Yankees (2.11).

After cruising through four innings, Woods Richardson found trouble in the fifth. Nick Loftin walked, advanced to third on Hunter Renfroe's double, and scored on Garrett Hampson's single. Kyle Isbel's groundout plated Renfroe to make it 3-2.

Cole Ragans (4-4), who took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning last Wednesday, struggled early for Kansas City but got through five innings. He allowed nine hits and struck out seven.

The left-hander gave up hits to Minnesota’s first two batters: Margot singled and Carlos Correa doubled. Both scored on Miranda's single to end Ragans' 13-inning scoreless streak.

Back-to-back doubles by Vazquez and Margot made it 3-0 in the fourth.

Royals: 1B Vinnie Pasquantino left the game in the third inning with a lower left leg contusion after fully extending to catch a high throw from 3B Maikel Garcia. He is considered day to day.

Twins: To make room on the 40-man roster for RHP Diego Castillo, whose contract was selected from Triple-A St. Paul, RHP Justin Toba was transferred to the 60-day injured list. He’s been out since March 25 with left patellar tendinitis.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Simeon Woods Richardson earned his first win in eight starts, Jose Miranda drove in two runs and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Tuesday night.Minnesota, winners of six of their last seven games, got two hits apiece from Manuel Margot, Byron Buxton and Carlos Santana.Jhoan Duran allowed the first two hitters he faced in the ninth to reach base, but helped by Christian Vazquez throwing out a runner trying to steal second, he didn't allow a run and earned his ninth save.Kansas City tied a season-low with five hits to lose its third straight after winning eight in a row. The Royals have dropped 15 of their last 16 at Target Field.Woods Richardson (2-0) allowed three hits and struck out four in five innings for his first win since April 13.He allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of his past eight starts, and only once did he receive more than two runs of support. His 2.70 ERA is third among rookies with at least 35 innings pitched, trailing Shota Imanaga of the Cubs (0.84) and Luis Gil of the Yankees (2.11).After cruising through four innings, Woods Richardson found trouble in the fifth. Nick Loftin walked, advanced to third on Hunter Renfroe's double, and scored on Garrett Hampson's single. Kyle Isbel's groundout plated Renfroe to make it 3-2.Cole Ragans (4-4), who took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning last Wednesday, struggled early for Kansas City but got through five innings. He allowed nine hits and struck out seven.The left-hander gave up hits to Minnesota’s first two batters: Margot singled and Carlos Correa doubled. Both scored on Miranda's single to end Ragans' 13-inning scoreless streak.Back-to-back doubles by Vazquez and Margot made it 3-0 in the fourth.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: 1B Vinnie Pasquantino left the game in the third inning with a lower left leg contusion after fully extending to catch a high throw from 3B Maikel Garcia. He is considered day to day.Twins: To make room on the 40-man roster for RHP Diego Castillo, whose contract was selected from Triple-A St. Paul, RHP Justin Toba was transferred to the 60-day injured list. He’s been out since March 25 with left patellar tendinitis.UP NEXT

⚾️ Woods Richardson gets first win in 8 starts as Twins top Royals

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Ryan pitched seven smooth innings for the Minnesota Twins, who got a two-run homer by Jose Miranda and a three-run shot from Trevor Larnach before hanging on for a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday in the opener of a four-game series.

Ryan allowed one run and four singles while lowering his team-leading ERA to 2.96. The right-hander struck out nine and walked none, getting 15 swings and misses while topping his four-seam fastball out at 96.6 mph, according to MLB's Statcast. He threw 44 of 52 fastballs above his average velocity (93.7).

“He’s a different animal when he’s throwing that hard,” Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers said.

Ryan (4-3) has pitched into at least the sixth in each of his 11 starts.

“The ball’s coming out well, and it’s not just like he’s throwing hard,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “He’s locating his pitches. He’s putting them in great places, and that’s a good combination for him.”

Alex Kirilloff’s two-out RBI single in the eighth inning gave the Twins (29-24) enough insurance to improve to 5-1 since a seven-game losing streak.

Hunter Renfroe’s two-out RBI double in the ninth off Cole Sands put men on second and third for the Royals (34-21), before Jhoan Duran was summoned for the final out.

Duran hit M.J. Melendez on the foot with an 0-2 curveball, and Dairon Blanco reached on a slow-rolling single to third base that cut the lead to three. Maikel Garcia hit a similar ball up the line that Willi Castro fielded but threw off balance and off the bag for an error that allowed a second run to score.

With Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. at the plate, Duran induced a bouncer back to the mound to record his seventh save.

Miranda took Alec Marsh (4-2) deep to the bullpen beyond left-center in the third inning. Larnach hit a two-out fastball&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1795174599807668361">into the upper deck above right field</a>&nbsp;in the fifth, a smash measured at 441 feet and 109.1 mph that gave the Twins a 5-0 lead.

Marsh finished five innings with seven strikeouts. He allowed three other hits — all singles — beside the home runs. But his only two walks came in the fifth, preceding Larnach's blast.

“Other than that I thought I was fine. Just unfortunate that out of the (five) hits, two of them were big flies with guys on,” Marsh said.

The Royals have their first losing streak since a two-game skid from May 4-5 and just their second since April 30. Their eight-game winning streak was stopped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-rays-score-1c65a6b4c9681c6b6eb9740bab33bf44">on Sunday in Tampa Bay</a>.

Ryan's previous outing was a three-hit gem of seven shutout innings that stopped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twins-losing-streak-players-meeting-fb7d04e8c417e2710aa5cd04fe0635cf">the seven-game skid</a>. He improved to 6-0 with a 1.50 ERA in eight career starts against the Royals.

“They’re a really good team, so it was just good to get a win,” Ryan said. “The offense scoring so many runs allows me to be a little bit free-er in there, (get) a little bit more rest in between innings."

Royals CF Kyle Isbel was cleared for action after a full pregame workout but remained on the bench as a precaution, two days after fouling a ball off his face that caused a small fracture in his upper nose.

Royals: LHP Cole Ragans (4-3, 3.34 ERA) takes the mound on Tuesday night with a 13-inning scoreless streak over his last two starts with 19 strikeouts and just three hits allowed.

Twins: RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 2.57 ERA) pitches the second game of the series. In two starts at home this season, he has allowed only two runs over 11 innings with 14 strikeouts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716890046456.jpeg" alt="Minnesota Twins' Jose Miranda hits a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, May 27, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)" />
 <figcaption>Minnesota Twins' Jose Miranda hits a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, May 27, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)</figcaption>
 </figure>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Ryan pitched seven smooth innings for the Minnesota Twins, who got a two-run homer by Jose Miranda and a three-run shot from Trevor Larnach before hanging on for a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday in the opener of a four-game series.Ryan allowed one run and four singles while lowering his team-leading ERA to 2.96. The right-hander struck out nine and walked none, getting 15 swings and misses while topping his four-seam fastball out at 96.6 mph, according to MLB's Statcast. He threw 44 of 52 fastballs above his average velocity (93.7).“He’s a different animal when he’s throwing that hard,” Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers said.Ryan (4-3) has pitched into at least the sixth in each of his 11 starts.“The ball’s coming out well, and it’s not just like he’s throwing hard,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “He’s locating his pitches. He’s putting them in great places, and that’s a good combination for him.”Alex Kirilloff’s two-out RBI single in the eighth inning gave the Twins (29-24) enough insurance to improve to 5-1 since a seven-game losing streak.Hunter Renfroe’s two-out RBI double in the ninth off Cole Sands put men on second and third for the Royals (34-21), before Jhoan Duran was summoned for the final out.Duran hit M.J. Melendez on the foot with an 0-2 curveball, and Dairon Blanco reached on a slow-rolling single to third base that cut the lead to three. Maikel Garcia hit a similar ball up the line that Willi Castro fielded but threw off balance and off the bag for an error that allowed a second run to score.With Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. at the plate, Duran induced a bouncer back to the mound to record his seventh save.Miranda took Alec Marsh (4-2) deep to the bullpen beyond left-center in the third inning. Larnach hit a two-out fastball&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1795174599807668361">into the upper deck above right field</a>&nbsp;in the fifth, a smash measured at 441 feet and 109.1 mph that gave the Twins a 5-0 lead.Marsh finished five innings with seven strikeouts. He allowed three other hits — all singles — beside the home runs. But his only two walks came in the fifth, preceding Larnach's blast.“Other than that I thought I was fine. Just unfortunate that out of the (five) hits, two of them were big flies with guys on,” Marsh said.The Royals have their first losing streak since a two-game skid from May 4-5 and just their second since April 30. Their eight-game winning streak was stopped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-rays-score-1c65a6b4c9681c6b6eb9740bab33bf44">on Sunday in Tampa Bay</a>.Ryan's previous outing was a three-hit gem of seven shutout innings that stopped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twins-losing-streak-players-meeting-fb7d04e8c417e2710aa5cd04fe0635cf">the seven-game skid</a>. He improved to 6-0 with a 1.50 ERA in eight career starts against the Royals.“They’re a really good team, so it was just good to get a win,” Ryan said. “The offense scoring so many runs allows me to be a little bit free-er in there, (get) a little bit more rest in between innings."TRAINER'S ROOMRoyals CF Kyle Isbel was cleared for action after a full pregame workout but remained on the bench as a precaution, two days after fouling a ball off his face that caused a small fracture in his upper nose.UP NEXTRoyals: LHP Cole Ragans (4-3, 3.34 ERA) takes the mound on Tuesday night with a 13-inning scoreless streak over his last two starts with 19 strikeouts and just three hits allowed.Twins: RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 2.57 ERA) pitches the second game of the series. In two starts at home this season, he has allowed only two runs over 11 innings with 14 strikeouts.

 ⚾️ Twins take opener from Royals with strong start from Ryan 

NEW YORK (AP)—Bill Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Famer for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting, died Monday, the league announced on behalf of his family. Walton, who had a prolonged fight with cancer, was 71.

He was the NBA's MVP in the 1977-78 season, a two-time champion and a member of both the NBA's 50th anniversary and 75th anniversary teams. That followed a college career in which he was a two-time champion at UCLA and a three-time national player of the year.

“Bill Walton,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “was truly one of a kind.”

Walton, who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1993, was larger than life, on the court and off. His NBA career — disrupted by chronic foot injuries — lasted only 468 games with Portland, the San Diego and eventually Los Angeles Clippers and Boston. He averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in those games, neither of those numbers exactly record-setting.

Still, his impact on the game was massive.

His most famous game was the 1973 NCAA title game, UCLA against Memphis, in which he shot an incredible 21 for 22 from the field and led the Bruins to another national championship.

“One of my guards said, ’Let’s try something else,” Wooden told The Associated Press in 2008 for a 35th anniversary retrospective on that game.

Wooden’s response during that timeout: “Why? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

They kept giving the ball to Walton, and he kept delivering in a performance for the ages.

“It’s very hard to put into words what he has meant to UCLA’s program, as well as his tremendous impact on college basketball," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said Monday. "Beyond his remarkable accomplishments as a player, it’s his relentless energy, enthusiasm for the game and unwavering candor that have been the hallmarks of his larger than life personality.

“As a passionate UCLA alumnus and broadcaster, he loved being around our players, hearing their stories and sharing his wisdom and advice. For me as a coach, he was honest, kind and always had his heart in the right place. I will miss him very much. It’s hard to imagine a season in Pauley Pavilion without him.”

Walton retired from the NBA and turned to broadcasting, something he never thought he could be good at — and an avenue he sometimes wondered would be possible for him, because he had a pronounced stutter at times in his life.

Turns out, he was excellent at that, too: Walton was an Emmy winner.

“In life, being so self-conscious, red hair, big nose, freckles and goofy, nerdy-looking face and can’t talk at all. I was incredibly shy and never said a word,” Walton told The Oregonian newspaper in 2017. “Then, when I was 28 I learned how to speak. It’s become my greatest accomplishment of my life and everybody else’s biggest nightmare.”

The last part of that was just Walton hyperbole. He was beloved for his on-air tangents.

He sometimes appeared on-air in Grateful Dead T-shirts; Walton was a huge fan of the band and referenced it often, even sometimes recording satellite radio specials celebrating what it meant to be a “Deadhead.”

And the Pac-12 Conference, which has basically evaporated in many ways now because of college realignment, was another of his many loves. He always referred to it as the “Conference of Champions” and loved it all the way to the end.

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” he once said on a broadcast, tie-dyed T-shirt on, a Hawaiian lei around his neck.

“What I will remember most about him was his zest for life,” Silver said. “He was a regular presence at league events — always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.”

Walton died surrounded by his loved ones, his family said. He is survived by wife Lori and sons Adam, Nate, Chris and Luke — a former NBA player and now a coach.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716834153461.png" alt="FILE - Basketball Hall of Fame legend Bill Walton, left, jokes with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during a practice session for the NBA All-Star basketball game in Cleveland, Feb. 19, 2022. Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Basketball Hall of Famer and one of the biggest stars of basketball broadcasting, died Monday, May 27, 2024, the league announced on behalf of his family. He was 71. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Basketball Hall of Fame legend Bill Walton, left, jokes with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during a practice session for the NBA All-Star basketball game in Cleveland, Feb. 19, 2022. Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Basketball Hall of Famer and one of the biggest stars of basketball broadcasting, died Monday, May 27, 2024, the league announced on behalf of his family. He was 71. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP)—Bill Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Famer for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting, died Monday, the league announced on behalf of his family. Walton, who had a prolonged fight with cancer, was 71.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The following has been released by the NBA. <a href="https://t.co/fdlty5X3F5">pic.twitter.com/fdlty5X3F5</a>&mdash; NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1795140623239926129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He was the NBA's MVP in the 1977-78 season, a two-time champion and a member of both the NBA's 50th anniversary and 75th anniversary teams. That followed a college career in which he was a two-time champion at UCLA and a three-time national player of the year.“Bill Walton,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “was truly one of a kind.”Walton, who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1993, was larger than life, on the court and off. His NBA career — disrupted by chronic foot injuries — lasted only 468 games with Portland, the San Diego and eventually Los Angeles Clippers and Boston. He averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in those games, neither of those numbers exactly record-setting.Still, his impact on the game was massive.His most famous game was the 1973 NCAA title game, UCLA against Memphis, in which he shot an incredible 21 for 22 from the field and led the Bruins to another national championship.“One of my guards said, ’Let’s try something else,” Wooden told The Associated Press in 2008 for a 35th anniversary retrospective on that game.Wooden’s response during that timeout: “Why? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”They kept giving the ball to Walton, and he kept delivering in a performance for the ages.“It’s very hard to put into words what he has meant to UCLA’s program, as well as his tremendous impact on college basketball," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said Monday. "Beyond his remarkable accomplishments as a player, it’s his relentless energy, enthusiasm for the game and unwavering candor that have been the hallmarks of his larger than life personality.“As a passionate UCLA alumnus and broadcaster, he loved being around our players, hearing their stories and sharing his wisdom and advice. For me as a coach, he was honest, kind and always had his heart in the right place. I will miss him very much. It’s hard to imagine a season in Pauley Pavilion without him.”Walton retired from the NBA and turned to broadcasting, something he never thought he could be good at — and an avenue he sometimes wondered would be possible for him, because he had a pronounced stutter at times in his life.Turns out, he was excellent at that, too: Walton was an Emmy winner.“In life, being so self-conscious, red hair, big nose, freckles and goofy, nerdy-looking face and can’t talk at all. I was incredibly shy and never said a word,” Walton told The Oregonian newspaper in 2017. “Then, when I was 28 I learned how to speak. It’s become my greatest accomplishment of my life and everybody else’s biggest nightmare.”The last part of that was just Walton hyperbole. He was beloved for his on-air tangents.He sometimes appeared on-air in Grateful Dead T-shirts; Walton was a huge fan of the band and referenced it often, even sometimes recording satellite radio specials celebrating what it meant to be a “Deadhead.”And the Pac-12 Conference, which has basically evaporated in many ways now because of college realignment, was another of his many loves. He always referred to it as the “Conference of Champions” and loved it all the way to the end.“It doesn’t get any better than this,” he once said on a broadcast, tie-dyed T-shirt on, a Hawaiian lei around his neck.“What I will remember most about him was his zest for life,” Silver said. “He was a regular presence at league events — always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.”Walton died surrounded by his loved ones, his family said. He is survived by wife Lori and sons Adam, Nate, Chris and Luke — a former NBA player and now a coach.

Bill Walton, Hall of Fame player and star broadcaster, dies at 71

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Lowe drove in three runs with a pinch-hit triple during Tampa Bay's four-run seventh inning, and the Rays stopped Kansas City's eight-game win streak with a 4-1 victory over the Royals on Sunday.

The Rays had lost a season-high six straight.

“To get a win that way, to show up in those high stress situations, it feels good and I feel like it really ignites everybody around it," Lowe said.

Kansas City's Michael Wacha (4-5) lost his perfect-game bid in the sixth, and was pulled after Harold Ramírez singled and Isaac Paredes had a double to start the seventh. John Schreiber then hit Randy Arozarena and permitted a fielder’s choice grounder before Lowe delivered on the first pitch he saw.

It was Lowe's second hit in 17 at-bats since returning from a strained right oblique.

Garrett Cleavinger (4-0) got three outs for the win, and Pete Fairbanks handled the ninth for his fifth save in six chances.

Batting with the bases loaded, Bobby Witt Jr. bounced to second for the final out of the game.

“It was a good ballgame," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Really well pitched game. They came up with a big hit when they needed it, and we fought back and just came up a little bit short.”

Wacha retired his first 15 batters on 54 pitches before José Caballero grounded a leadoff double down the third base line in the sixth. After a strikeout and grounder, Yandy Díaz drew a 10-pitch walk before Wacha struck out Jonny DeLuca to complete a 33-pitch inning.

“Those are always tough decisions," Quatraro said about sending Wacha back out for the seventh. "Some of them work. Some of them don’t. That one stings because it didn’t.”

Witt extended his hitting streak to nine games and put the Royals up 1-0 on a sixth-inning homer off Rays reliever Shawn Armstrong. He has homered four times in his last five games.

Witt was thrown out by Arozarena when he tried to score from second in the eighth on Salvador Perez’s one-out single to left.

“Look, we don’t get an out right there that rally just keeps going,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Tampa Bay’s Taj Bradley allowed Adam Frazier’s opposite-field flare single to left in the second and walked three over five innings. After a pair of two-out walks in the fifth, the right-hander fanned Maikel Garcia for his sixth strikeout on his season-high 95th pitch.

Royals: OF Kyle Isbel has a small nose fracture to go with facial lacerations after fouling a ball off his face Saturday, but he avoided going on the 10-day injured list. “He’s very fortunate because the ball grazed the bat, grazed the helmet and (then) hit him,” Quatraro said. “But nothing that needs any time other than just the swelling to go down and get him back out there.” ... INF Michael Massey (lower back sprain) went on the 10-day IL.

Rays: Opening-day starter Zach Eflin (lower back inflammation) has resumed playing catch.

Royals: RHP Alec Marsh (4-1, 2.72 ERA) and Minnesota RHP Joe Ryan (3-3, 3.15 ERA) are Monday’s starters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716760605243.jpeg" alt="Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley throws against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)" />
 <figcaption>Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley throws against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Lowe drove in three runs with a pinch-hit triple during Tampa Bay's four-run seventh inning, and the Rays stopped Kansas City's eight-game win streak with a 4-1 victory over the Royals on Sunday.The Rays had lost a season-high six straight.“To get a win that way, to show up in those high stress situations, it feels good and I feel like it really ignites everybody around it," Lowe said.Kansas City's Michael Wacha (4-5) lost his perfect-game bid in the sixth, and was pulled after Harold Ramírez singled and Isaac Paredes had a double to start the seventh. John Schreiber then hit Randy Arozarena and permitted a fielder’s choice grounder before Lowe delivered on the first pitch he saw.It was Lowe's second hit in 17 at-bats since returning from a strained right oblique.Garrett Cleavinger (4-0) got three outs for the win, and Pete Fairbanks handled the ninth for his fifth save in six chances.Batting with the bases loaded, Bobby Witt Jr. bounced to second for the final out of the game.“It was a good ballgame," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Really well pitched game. They came up with a big hit when they needed it, and we fought back and just came up a little bit short.”Wacha retired his first 15 batters on 54 pitches before José Caballero grounded a leadoff double down the third base line in the sixth. After a strikeout and grounder, Yandy Díaz drew a 10-pitch walk before Wacha struck out Jonny DeLuca to complete a 33-pitch inning.“Those are always tough decisions," Quatraro said about sending Wacha back out for the seventh. "Some of them work. Some of them don’t. That one stings because it didn’t.”Witt extended his hitting streak to nine games and put the Royals up 1-0 on a sixth-inning homer off Rays reliever Shawn Armstrong. He has homered four times in his last five games.Witt was thrown out by Arozarena when he tried to score from second in the eighth on Salvador Perez’s one-out single to left.“Look, we don’t get an out right there that rally just keeps going,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.Tampa Bay’s Taj Bradley allowed Adam Frazier’s opposite-field flare single to left in the second and walked three over five innings. After a pair of two-out walks in the fifth, the right-hander fanned Maikel Garcia for his sixth strikeout on his season-high 95th pitch.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: OF Kyle Isbel has a small nose fracture to go with facial lacerations after fouling a ball off his face Saturday, but he avoided going on the 10-day injured list. “He’s very fortunate because the ball grazed the bat, grazed the helmet and (then) hit him,” Quatraro said. “But nothing that needs any time other than just the swelling to go down and get him back out there.” ... INF Michael Massey (lower back sprain) went on the 10-day IL.Rays: Opening-day starter Zach Eflin (lower back inflammation) has resumed playing catch.UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Alec Marsh (4-1, 2.72 ERA) and Minnesota RHP Joe Ryan (3-3, 3.15 ERA) are Monday’s starters.

⚾️ Lowe hits a 3-run triple as the Rays stop the Royals' 8-game win streak

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Nelson Velázquez homered and had an RBI double in a three-run 11th inning as the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 on Saturday for their eighth straight victory.

After both teams scored once in the 10th, Velázquez opened the 11th with his hit and scored on Adam Frazier's run-scoring single off Richard Lovelady (0-3). Maikel Garcia also drove in a run with a hit.

James McArthur (2-2) allowed one run in two innings, and Nick Anderson worked a scoreless 11th to get his first save.

Kansas City's Kyle Isbel left in the seventh after a pitch by reliever Garrett Cleavinger hit him in the face while swinging. Isabel remained on his feet and walked off with a trainer holding a towel on his face. The team announced that Isbel has facial lacerations and will undergo additional tests.

Dairon Blanco pinch-hit for Isbel and put the Royals ahead 3-2 on a sacrifice fly.

Velázquez had a second-inning homer and Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to a season-high eight games with an RBI single off Aaron Civale in the third.

Kansas City reliever Chris Stratton got the first out in the seventh with a nifty reach behind-the-back grab on Amed Rosario's comeback. The right-hander then hit a batter and issued a walk, and was replaced by Angel Zerpa, who allowed pinch-hitter Harold Ramírez's game-tying RBI single.

Kansas City’s Hunter Renfroe hit a towering fly with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth that Ramírez lost sight of in left field, but center fielder Jose Siri was backing up the play and made the catch.

Jonathan Aranda hit a solo homer in fourth off Royals starter Brady Singer.

Both Civale and Singer gave up two runs and four hits over five innings.

Royals: INF Michael Massey, who left Friday’s game with lower back tightness, didn’t play. Massey has had occasional back issues since spring training.

Rays: OF Josh Lowe went on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. Lowe has played in just 14 games after starting the season on the IL with an injury in the same area.

Royals RHP Michael Wacha (4-4. 4.35 ERA) and Rays RHP Taj Bradley (1-2, 4.00 ERA) are Sunday’s starters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716680537166.png" alt="Nelson Velázquez homered and had an RBI double in a three-run 11th inning-image Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Nelson Velázquez homered and had an RBI double in a three-run 11th inning-image Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Nelson Velázquez homered and had an RBI double in a three-run 11th inning as the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 on Saturday for their eighth straight victory.After both teams scored once in the 10th, Velázquez opened the 11th with his hit and scored on Adam Frazier's run-scoring single off Richard Lovelady (0-3). Maikel Garcia also drove in a run with a hit.James McArthur (2-2) allowed one run in two innings, and Nick Anderson worked a scoreless 11th to get his first save.The Rays have lost six in a row.Kansas City's Kyle Isbel left in the seventh after a pitch by reliever Garrett Cleavinger hit him in the face while swinging. Isabel remained on his feet and walked off with a trainer holding a towel on his face. The team announced that Isbel has facial lacerations and will undergo additional tests.Dairon Blanco pinch-hit for Isbel and put the Royals ahead 3-2 on a sacrifice fly.Velázquez had a second-inning homer and Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to a season-high eight games with an RBI single off Aaron Civale in the third.Kansas City reliever Chris Stratton got the first out in the seventh with a nifty reach behind-the-back grab on Amed Rosario's comeback. The right-hander then hit a batter and issued a walk, and was replaced by Angel Zerpa, who allowed pinch-hitter Harold Ramírez's game-tying RBI single.Kansas City’s Hunter Renfroe hit a towering fly with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth that Ramírez lost sight of in left field, but center fielder Jose Siri was backing up the play and made the catch.Jonathan Aranda hit a solo homer in fourth off Royals starter Brady Singer.Both Civale and Singer gave up two runs and four hits over five innings.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: INF Michael Massey, who left Friday’s game with lower back tightness, didn’t play. Massey has had occasional back issues since spring training.Rays: OF Josh Lowe went on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. Lowe has played in just 14 games after starting the season on the IL with an injury in the same area.UP NEXTRoyals RHP Michael Wacha (4-4. 4.35 ERA) and Rays RHP Taj Bradley (1-2, 4.00 ERA) are Sunday’s starters.

⚾️ Velázquez homers as Royals beat Rays for 8th consecutive win

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Seth Lugo became the American League's first eight-game winner, Michael Massey and Bobby Witt Jr, homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-1 on Friday night for their seventh consecutive victory.

Lugo (8-1) allowed one run and four hits, lowering his AL-best ERA from 1.79 to to 1.74. Only Philadelphia's Ranger Suárez has more victories in the majors with nine.

The Royals are a season-best 14-game over .500 at 33-19. Kansas City was 15-37 after 52 games last season and did not get to 33 wins until Aug. 1.

Massey put Kansas City ahead 5-1 in the fifth with a three-run homer off Tyler Alexander (2-3). Massey, who has 21 RBIs in his last 21 games, left in the sixth due to lower back tightness.

Witt extended his hitting streak to seven games with a solo homer against Alexander in a two-run seventh that made it 8-1. Both dugouts were warned by the umpires after Alexander hit the next batter after Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino, with a 90.3 mph fastball.

Tampa Bay has lost a season-high five in a row to fall to 25-27.

The Rays loaded the bases with one out in the first against Lugo, but scored just once on Jonathan Aranda’s fielder’s choice grounder.

After opener Shawn Armstrong went two perfect innings. Alexander gave up eight runs and 11 hits in five innings. Alexander took a perfect game into the eighth in his previous outing, a start May 17 at Toronto.

Royals: Reliever Carlos Hernández (right shoulder impingement) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list. The righty had been out since opening day. To clear a roster spot, RHP Tyler Duffey was designated for assignment.

Rays: OF Josh Lowe (right side strain) received a cortisone shot in an attempt to avoid going on the injured list. … RHP Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery) was optioned to Triple-A Durham after making four minor league rehab starts.

Royals RHP Brady Singer (4-2, 2.70 ERA) and Rays RHP Aaron Civale (2-4, 5.92 ERA) are set to start Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716600609530.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 24, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 24, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Seth Lugo became the American League's first eight-game winner, Michael Massey and Bobby Witt Jr, homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-1 on Friday night for their seventh consecutive victory.Lugo (8-1) allowed one run and four hits, lowering his AL-best ERA from 1.79 to to 1.74. Only Philadelphia's Ranger Suárez has more victories in the majors with nine.The Royals are a season-best 14-game over .500 at 33-19. Kansas City was 15-37 after 52 games last season and did not get to 33 wins until Aug. 1.Massey put Kansas City ahead 5-1 in the fifth with a three-run homer off Tyler Alexander (2-3). Massey, who has 21 RBIs in his last 21 games, left in the sixth due to lower back tightness.Witt extended his hitting streak to seven games with a solo homer against Alexander in a two-run seventh that made it 8-1. Both dugouts were warned by the umpires after Alexander hit the next batter after Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino, with a 90.3 mph fastball.Tampa Bay has lost a season-high five in a row to fall to 25-27.The Rays loaded the bases with one out in the first against Lugo, but scored just once on Jonathan Aranda’s fielder’s choice grounder.After opener Shawn Armstrong went two perfect innings. Alexander gave up eight runs and 11 hits in five innings. Alexander took a perfect game into the eighth in his previous outing, a start May 17 at Toronto.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: Reliever Carlos Hernández (right shoulder impingement) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list. The righty had been out since opening day. To clear a roster spot, RHP Tyler Duffey was designated for assignment.Rays: OF Josh Lowe (right side strain) received a cortisone shot in an attempt to avoid going on the injured list. … RHP Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery) was optioned to Triple-A Durham after making four minor league rehab starts.UP NEXTRoyals RHP Brady Singer (4-2, 2.70 ERA) and Rays RHP Aaron Civale (2-4, 5.92 ERA) are set to start Saturday.