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Associated Press - July 29, 2010 5:34 AM ET
Pujols comes through as Cards beat Mets in 13
NEW YORK (AP) - Albert Pujols drove in the go-ahead run with two outs in the 13th inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals survived a frantic comeback to beat the New York Mets 8-7 on Wednesday night.
Matt Holliday hit a two-run homer and finished with three RBIs, and Jaime Garcia also drove in two runs for the Cardinals, who scored six times off Mets ace Johan Santana in the first inning only to watch their bullpen let the lead slip away.
The Mets scored four times in the eighth to tie the game, and that's where it stood when Pedro Feliciano (2-6) plunked Skip Schumaker and walked Felipe Lopez with one out in the 13th. Jon Jay hit into a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners, and manager Jerry Manuel elected to pitch to Pujols rather than walk the bases loaded.
His grounder through the left side brought in Schumaker with the go-ahead run.
Cardinals call on MacDougal for bullpen help
NEW YORK (AP) - The St. Louis Cardinals have purchased the contract of right-hander Mike MacDougal from AAA Memphis.
MacDougal was 2-0 with one save and a 3.86 ERA in eight games for Memphis, after starting the season in the Washington Nationals system. MacDougal saved 20 games for the Nationals last year, and was an All-Star for the Kansas City Royals in 2003.
He's 14-21 with a 4.09 ERA in 10 seasons, including a stint with the Chicago White Sox.
The Cardinals optioned right-hander Fernando Salas to Memphis to make room for MacDougal.
Young, Repko homer as Twins beat KC 6-4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Delmon Young had a three-run homer and the Minnesota Twins finished off a 3-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 6-4 Wednesday.
Jason Repko also homered for the Twins, who hit 12 during a 6-1 road trip to Baltimore and KC to stay on the heels of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
The Royals, who set a team record by allowing 42 runs and 53 hits in the three previous games, lost for 13th time in 16 games.
Brian Duensing (4-1) went six innings and gave up two runs on eight hits. Brian Bannister (7-10) lost his fifth straight decision, going six innings plus one batter and allowing five runs on 11 hits. Jon Rauch pitched the ninth for his 21st save in 25 chances.
Dodgers get OF Podsednik from Royals
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired outfielder Scott Podsednik from the Kansas City Royals for a pair of minor leaguers.
The trade was announced Wednesday night.
Podsednik hit .310 and stole 30 bases for the Royals this season. He had two hits for Kansas City in its 6-4 loss to Minnesota earlier in the day.
The Royals got catcher Lucas May and pitcher Elisaul Pimentel from the Dodgers.
Chiefs sign 3, including both second-round picks
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Chiefs have signed both of their second-round draft picks, wide receiver Dexter McCluster and defensive back Javier Arenas.
However, as of Wednesday night the Chiefs still hadn't signed first-round selection Eric Berry, a safety who is expected to become an instant starter.
Terms of the contracts for McCluster and Arenas weren't released.
The 5-foot-8, 170-pound McCluster caught 130 passes for 1,703 yards and seven touchdowns for Mississippi.
Arenas had 154 tackles and six interceptions in 52 games for Alabama.
The Chiefs also signed 6-foot-3 tight end Leroy Banks, who was awarded to Kansas City via a waiver claim. Banks entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Atlanta and played 23 games in two seasons at Southern Mississippi, catching 34 passes for 462 yards and four touchdowns.
Rams, OT Saffold agree to contract
ST. LOUIS (AP) - The St. Louis Rams have signed second-round draft pick Rodger Saffold, a tackle expected to be a cornerstone of the offensive line for years to come.
The Rams also signed sixth-round selection Fendi Onobun, a tight end from Houston who played just one season in college. Terms of the deals announced Wednesday were not disclosed.
Saffold, the 33rd overall selection in the April draft, is expected to make a strong push to start at right tackle.
The lone 2010 draft selection still unsigned is No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford. The Rams and representatives for the former Oklahoma quarterback have been meeting for weeks.
Training camp opens Thursday for Rams rookies.
Gill building relationships first at Kansas
IRVING, Texas (AP) - Turner Gill wanted to get to know his new Kansas team and wanted to make sure they knew each other. So he asked questions like who was the most influential person in their lives and why, then had every player and coach stand up and answer.
Will that matter on fourth & goal from the 1 in the closing seconds of a tight game?
It can't hurt, Gill figures.
Gill's soft approach could be just what the Jayhawks need after eight years under Mark Mangino.
Mangino turned Kansas football into the kind of program the basketball team could be proud of.
But things came crashing down late last season. Mangino was accused of physically and verbally abusing players and others around the program. He denied everything, then resigned in December.
Capitals acquire enforcer King from St. Louis
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - The Washington Capitals have acquired enforcer D.J. King from the St. Louis Blues for prospect Stefan Della Rovere.
The deal was announced Wednesday.
King, a left winger, has spent four seasons with the Blues but has played in only 13 games over the last two seasons because of injuries. He dislocated his shoulder in the 2008-09 opener and managed only 12 games last season due to a broken finger.
King has amassed 185 penalty minutes along with four goals and five assists over 101 NHL games.
Della Rovere, a left winger, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Capitals in 2008.
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