If you could conjure up the best possible scenario for dropping two out of three games against a team in your own division in a tight race, this would have been it. The Royals actually increased their lead in the A.L. Central, thanks to the Rangers who swept the White Sox this weekend. Meanwhile the Royals avoided a sweep to the Twins with a 5-4 win yesterday. The final result is the Royals extended their lead over Chicago to three games while the Twins cut their deficit to the Royals to three games. Darrell May was the starting pitcher and he lasted into the seventh inning before Tony Pena pulled him. The decision was weather-related, as temperatures soared into triple-digits. May got the win, improving to 6-5 and Curtis Leskanic got his first save as a Royal. Raul Ibanez hit his 16th homer, driving in two runs and Joe Randa hit his 12th homer. Carlos Beltran drove in two runs. Pitcher Runelvys Hernandez, who was blasted for nine runs on Saturday, has been sent to the minors. Jose Lima will take his place.
Carter Wins Charity Classic
Tom Carter won his second Nationwide Tour event of the year with a 21-under par performance at the Charity Classic in Springfield. Carter needs one more win on the Nationwide to earn an immediate promotion to the PGA. He’s currently third on the tour’s money list, which should be good enough to earn him PGA status next year. The top 20 on the money list earn the promotion.
Cards Swept By Phils
The Cardinals fared pretty well considering they were swept over the weekend. They lost to the Phillies 6-4 last night and have slipped into third place in the National League Central. Orlando Palmiero gave the Cards a 1-0 lead in the first with a solo home run, but the Phillies bounced back with two off Brett Tomko in the bottom of the inning. Philadelphia had a 6-2 lead before Tino Martinez hit a homer and Miguel Cairo drove in a run to cut the lead to two in the top of the ninth, but that’s as close as they got. Tomko was charged with all six runs and the loss, dropping to 9-8. Albert Pujols was suffering from flu-like symptoms and didn’t play. His hitting streak stands at 30 games.
Missouri Students Heading Back To School
It’s back to school for many Missouri children and some of those who don’t start classes today will do so later this week. Missouri drivers are being urged to watch out for schoolchildren walking to school and school buses taking them there. St. Louis will actually be reducing the number of school buses on the road this year, an effort to reduce the cost of transportation in the district. An automated route system is being used. It will reduce the number of buses needed by 30-percent. St. Louis had a per-student transportation cost twice as high as comparable districts across the country.
Talent Says U.S. Forces To Stay In Iraq Until Normalcy Returns
Senator Jim Talent is looking ahead to the day when U.S. forces will have completed their mission in Iraq, but he realizes that day might be some time off. Talent says the U.S. will not be able to leave the country until normalcy can be restored and a representative government put into place. Talent says in the interim it is important for the U.S. to continue trying to weed-out the rebel forces that remain loyal to Saddam Hussein.
