State Social Services Director Gary Sherman says Medicaid grew out of good intent, but he adds the state can no longer afford what it has grown into. Sherman tells the Medicaid Reform Commission that Medicaid has become a huge, complex health care program that threatens the state budget. And he tells lawmakers on the Commission that they cannot ignore the federal government as they consider state changes. The Commission has held two days of meetings at the Capitol, discussing its role and hearing testimony. The Commission is composed of both Senators and Representatives, Democrats and Republicans, and will make recommendations to change Medicaid for the Legislature to consider next year.
Walker’s Two Homers Lift Cardinals
June 30, 2005 By
After missing five days with a herniated disc in his neck, Cardinals right fielder Larry Walker blasted two home runs in an 11-3 win for St. Louis. His two-run homer in the second inning tied the game at 2-2. In the third he hit another two-run shot to give the Cardinals a 5-2 advantage. He has nine home runs on the season.
Reggie Sanders hit a solo homer in the fifth and Jim Edmonds nailed a three-run shot in the sixth. Sanders has 17 long balls on the season and Edmonds has 15.
While the Cardinals were pounding out 11 runs off 12 hits, Matt Morris was taking care of business on the mound. Morris (9-1) lasted seven innings and surrendered two runs off six hits and no walks with three strikeouts. 71 of his 96 pitches were strikes. Cal Eldred and Carmen Cali pitched an inning of relief apiece to close out the game.
Reds starter Ramon Ortiz (3-6) completed just two innings and was tagged for six runs off four hits, but only four of those runs were earned as Cincinnati committed three errors on the night.
With the win the Cardinals move to 49-28 on the season and are 21 games over .500 for the second time in 2005.
Royals Win Pitchers Duel, End Losing Streak
June 30, 2005 By
The Royals got an early lead and held on to beat the Twins 3-1 and end an eight-game losing streak Wednesday afternoon. The win also prevented them from going 0-9 on their road trip, which ended yesterday.
Starting pitcher D.J. Carrasco (3-3) was handed a 2-0 lead before he even took his first inning warm-up pitches. Terrence long drove in David DeJesus with a ground–rule double and Matt Stairs singled in Long with a single.
DeJesus, who tied a career high with four base hits, pushed the Royals lead to 3-0 with a single to score Tony Graffanino in the fourth inning.
On the mound, Carrasco got two outs in the seventh inning before being replaced by Jimmy Gobble. The only run Carrasco gave up came in the seventh when Shannon Stewart drove in Jacque Jones with a sacrifice fly. He gave up five Minnesota base hits and walked three batters with five strikeouts.
Gobble gave up a walk in the seventh, but got out of the jam. He left the game with two outs in the eighth and Mike MacDougal entered the game and got the final out of the eighth. He allowed an infield single to Luis Rivas in the ninth inning, but was able to escape with his 9th save of the season.
Springfield Tops Hooks
June 30, 2005 By
The Springfield Cardinals topped the Corpus Christi Hooks 6-3 on Wednesday night as Jeremy Cummings excelled on the mound and at the plate. Cummings lasted seven innings and gave up no runs off four hits, three strikeouts and no walks. He helped guide the Cardinals to a 6-0 lead by the time he left the game.
Cummings also tripled to lead off the fifth inning, but was thrown out at home trying to score on a Papo Bolivar fly ball to right field.
Aaron Herr and Peter Zoccolillio both hit home runs for Springfield in the four inning. Herr finished with two RBI’s on the night.
Reliever Corey Doyne got into some trouble in the ninth inning and allowed two runs off a hit and a two walks, but still earned his fourth save of the season.
Wizards Tie Crew
June 30, 2005 By
The Kansas City Wizards tied the Columbus Crew 1-1 at Arrowhead Stadium Wednesday night. The Crew took at 1-0 lead in the 69th minute with a goal from midfielder Mario Rodriguez, who scored after John Wolyniec’s shot bounced off the lower goalpost.
After Preki was knocked to the ground in the 75th minute, the Wizards were offered a free kick and Jose Burciaga made it 1-1.
The Wizards have 22 points and are seven behind second-place Chicago and nine points behind first place New England.
