CLEVELAND -- The squirrel was fearless.
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Zach McAllister wasnt nervous, either.
Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley hit two-run homers to back McAllister,
powering the Cleveland Indians over the Kansas City Royals 4-3 Monday
night when a trespassing squirrel ran around Progressive Field and
provided some extra entertainment.
Kipnis connected in the sixth inning off Jeremy Guthrie (2-1), helping
the Indians overcome a 3-2 deficit. Brantley provided Cleveland a 2-0
lead in the fourth.
McAllister (3-0) gave up six hits and overcame three errors -- one on
his errant throw in the fifth. Marc Rzepczynski and Cody Allen pitched a
hitless inning each, and closer John Axford worked a 1-2-3 ninth for
his seventh save.
After the Royals scored three times, McAllister got out of the fifth
with an inning-ending double play and then shook off third baseman
Lonnie Chisenhalls error in the sixth and notched his third straight
win.
"He didnt let anything rattle him," Indians manager Terry Francona said.
"He worked to execute pitches. He was strong."
McAllister also withstood a brief delay in the second when a squirrel
ventured onto the field and eluded members of the grounds crew before
finally leaving for the night.
"He was right in front of me," McAllister said.
Indians first baseman Nick Swisher motioned for the critter to run to
him, but it darted past and into the outfield grass.
"I was like, Cmon over here and sit in my glove," Swisher said. "I
thought maybe hed sit on my shoulder like a parrot. I tell you what,
that squirrel is eating, bro. That was a big squirrel."
The squirrel was directed inside the Royals bullpen by some of the
grounds staff, but the slippery rodent escaped and returned for another
scamper to the delight of the crowd of 10,789. The pesky intruder hung
around for another inning before it was shooed into the Indians
centre-field bullpen.
The squirrel perched on a ledge for several minutes before jumping the
wall into the Heritage Park monument area.
"That little joker was frolicking," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "They
could have arrested him for trespassing because he didnt have a ticket."
Alex Gordon and Omar Infante each had two of the Royals six hits.
Indians designated hitter Jason Giambi went hitless in four at-bats in
his season debut. He missed Clevelands first 18 games with a broken rib.
Swisher led off the sixth with his second double, and Kipnis followed
with his third homer, a drive into the seats in right-centre. Kipnis is 8
of 13 (.615) with two homers and six RBIs off Guthrie, who except for
the home runs pitched effectively for 6 1-3 innings.
Helped by McAllisters throwing error, the Royals scored three runs in
the fifth to take a 3-2 lead.
Mike Moustakas doubled to open the inning and scored when diving centre
fielder Michael Bourn couldnt squeeze a sinking liner by
Alcides Escobar. Jarrod Dyson followed with a bunt toward third that
McAllister fielded cleanly before throwing wildly past first, allowing
Escobar to score. One out later, Infantes RBI single put the Royals in
front.
Brantley connected in the fourth for his team-leading fourth homer, and
second in two days.
Kipnis led off with a double, and with one out, Brantley drove a 2-1
pitch from Guthrie over the wall in right. Brantley only hit 10 homers
last season, and Francona believes the 26-year-old could develop into a
more potent power hitter because "he gives himself a chance every
at-bat."
NOTES: Royals 1B coach Rusty Kuntz broke his left arm when he struck by a
line drive hit by Salvador Perez during batting practice. Kuntz, who
will undergo surgery on Wednesday, was replaced by Mike Jirschele. ...
The Indians entered the week as one of four teams -- the Reds, Rockies
and Padres are the others -- yet to play an extra-inning game. ... With
Giambi available, Francona gave struggling DH/3B Carlos Santana the
night off. Santana was just 2 for 38 in his past 10 games. ... Royals
LHPs Tim Collins (strained hip) and Francisley Bueno (sprained finger)
is to throw a simulated game Tuesday. Manager Ned Yost said both will go
on a minor league rehab before being activated.
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Pironkova, who was ranked outside the top 100 despite reaching the
Wimbledon semifinals in 2010, beat three top 10 players in Sydney, 2012
French Open finalist Sara Errani, 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova
and Kerber.
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"Youre not really spending time to sit back and analyze what your
competitions doing and things like that," Anthopoulos said. "Youre so
focused on what were trying to get done."
Ultimately, while the landscape around them changed with trades both
major and minor, the Blue Jays did nothing before Thursdays non-waiver
deadline.ST. LOUIS -- Jack Clarks comments implying that Albert Pujols
used steroids were too vague to do any real harm and a court should
dismiss the lawsuit pitting the two former St. Louis Cardinals stars
against each other, Clarks attorney said Tuesday.
A motion filed Monday on behalf of Clark seeks dismissal of the
defamation lawsuit filed by Pujols in October. The suit followed
comments Clark made on his St. Louis radio show, "The King and the
Ripper Show," in August. Among other things, Clark said he knew "for a
fact" that Pujols was "a juicer."
Pujols has vehemently denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
Clark and his WGNU-AM show co-host Kevin Slaten were fired within days
of the comments, and the stations owner broadcast a lengthy apology and
posted similarly contrite statements on its website. The lawsuit names
Clark but does not name the radio station or Slaten.
Clarks attorney, Albert Watkins, said Clarks on-air comments were too
vague to cause real harm to Pujols.
"You call someone a juicer, in fact, there are multiple definitions of
juicer," Watkins said. "It could mean illegal perrformance enhancing
drugs, legal performance enhancing drugs.
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"Simply saying that my client asserted that Mr. Pujols was a juicer,
under the law that governs defamation actions, is not enough," Watkins
said.
Pujols attorney, Martin Singer of Los Angeles, did not return a phone
message seeking comment.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages that would be donated to charity
and asks for a determination and declaration that Clarks statements are
false. Pujols now plays for the Los Angeles Angels but maintains a home
in St. Louis County. Clark also lives in the St. Louis area.
The lawsuit said Pujols "character and reputation are impeccable and
beyond reproach" and cites his charitable work with the Pujols Family
Foundation. The suit calls calling Clark "a struggling radio talk show
host" who was chasing ratings in the first week his new show was on the
air when the comments were made.
Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, played for the Cardinals from 2001-11,
before signing a 10-year, $240 million deal with the Angels.
Clark played for the Cardinals from 1985-87 and was a four-time
All-Star.
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