Gas prices in the state and across the nation have spiked conspicuously close to a big travel weekend. But officials with the auto club deny there’s any connection. Gas prices in Missouri are up – sharply. Triple A Missouri reports the average price of a gallon of gas is up 20 cents since just the beginning of August, about 30 cents higher than a year ago. The group’s spokesman Mike Right says low supplies are partly to blame. He says they have been brought about by the blackouts in the northeastern United States that shut down some refining operations and some imports of gas and oil are not arriving as anticipated. Throw in more people using more fuel and it all adds up to the current price spikes. Right denies it’s any conspiracy by the oil companies to raise prices right before the start of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year – Labor Day Weekend. Right says one thing America can do is get a more stable source of oil … maybe less dependancy on foreign sources.
Big Inning Downs Cards
The Cardinals fell from first to third place in the National League Central with a 7-4 loss to the Cubs. Chicago torched St. Louis with a six-run rally in the third inning. Starting pitcher Garrett Stephenson was down 2-0 before giving up back-to-back home runs to Randall Simon and Aramis Ramirez. That was it for Stephenson. Sterling Hitchcock stopped the bleeding, allowing one run and five hits over the next five innings. Meanwhile Mark Prior cruised through the Cardinal lineup for eight innings and gave up just three hits and struck out six. Prior’s only hiccup was Albert Pujols 35th home run in the sixth inning, which snapped an 0-13 skid by Pujols. St. Louis rallied for three runs off Kyle Farnsworth and Mike Remlinger, but fell short.
Anderson Wins In Royal Debut
It was out of the frying pan and into the fire for Brian Anderson. Luckily for him he came away unburned. Anderson was traded to the Royals on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday night he pitched six innings and gave up two runs off four hits to earn his 19th win of the season. Anderson’s game is control and he had it on Tuesday, striking out three and walking none. Meanwhile he got plenty of help from the guys who swing bats for a living. Aaron Guiel and Mike Sweeney drove in four apiece, both hitting two-run homers. The win allowed the Royals to not lose any ground to the White Sox, who pounded the Yankees 13-2. Chicago holds a one-game lead over the Royals in the American League Central. The Royals made another late-season acquisition, trading two minor leaguers to the Padres for left fielder Rondell White. He’s hitting .278 with 18 homers and 66 RBI’s. The Royals have also shut down Runelvys Hernandez’s season. He’ll undergo Tommy John surgery and will no be back until at least mid-way through the 2004 season.
Gonzalez Hurts Knee, Says It’s Not Serious
Chief’s tight end Tony Gonzalez hurt his knee in practice yesterday. It’s not considered serious, but it will probably keep him out of tomorrow’s pre season finale against the Rams. Wide Receiver Sylvester Morris has been placed on Injured reserve and will miss his third season in a row. The Chiefs made six cuts yesterday including punter Leo Araguz.
