ERST LESEN! » ular-season standings.Michael van G

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Ian Kennedy served up four home runs while striking out eight batters, all in less than five innings, which led the Royals pitcher to sum up his performance quite succinctly.I dont know if Ive ever pitched that bad, he said, and got that many strikeouts.The strikeout total was just about the only highlight in Kansas Citys 11-4 loss to AL Central-leading Cleveland on Wednesday. Tyler Naquin hit two of the Indians five home runs while driving in a career-best six runs, and Carlos Carrasco tossed six shutout innings in a dominant performance.It was kind of a weird game, Kennedy said. When I was falling behind guys, they made me pay for it. But every time I got ahead, I got outs. It was kind of weird.Carrasco (7-3) only allowed one hit, a one-out double by Cheslor Cuthbert in the fourth he followed with back-to-back strikeouts. He walked two in the sixth for his only other baserunners.Mike Napoli, Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana had the Indians other home runs.Kansas City scored all its runs off reliever Austin Adams in the eighth.Its not the way we planned the series to go, said the Royals Eric Hosmer. Weve got to find some way to get hot and turn things around. Were just not getting it done right now.The division-leading Indians, who are 4-5 against the hapless Minnesota Twins this season, improved to 26-8 against the rest of the AL Central. They are 8-5 against the Royals.The Royals are really hard to play here, Indians manager Terry Francona said. We did a really good job here (two win two of three).For the second day in a row, a first-inning homer -- this time by Kipnis, his 16th -- gave them instant offense. Naquin added a solo shot in the third before adding a two-run double in the fourth.Cleveland put away the game with a seven-run fifth inning.With a heat index of 105 degrees at first pitch, Carrasco coolly sliced up a Kansas City offense that scored seven runs in a single inning in the opener. The right-hander retired 17 of the first 18 batters he faced around his lone single, and he struck out six while throwing just 84 pitches.He won for the fifth time in six outings and improved to 6-1 in eight starts in Kansas City.Kennedy wound up allowing seven runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings for the Royals. It was a rare poor start for him at Kauffman Stadium; he entered the game with an AL-best 2.11 ERA at home.Then again, it was also his ninth straight game serving up at least one homer, and hes now allowed 26 of them this season, tied with teammate Chris Young for most in the majors.I guess any time you give up a home run, you try to justify it a little bit, Kennedy said. The ball was flying a little bit, but theyre homers. The curveball to Naquin -- thats a second time Ive given up a home run to a left-hander to left field. You dont see that very often.PRESIDENTIAL VISITThe Royals will meet President Barack Obama at the White House on Thursday during a ceremony to honor their World Series title. It will be the fifth president that manager Ned Yost has met: Jimmy Carter and George Bush used to come to Braves games when Yost coached in Atlanta, George W. Bush threw out the first pitch on opening day once, and Bill Clinton greeted the champion Braves at the White House in 1996. So this will be my fifth president, Yost said, which is kind of cool.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: LF Alex Gordon got the day off as he continues to battle out of a season-long slump. Hes hitting just .200 through 62 games after signing a $72 million, four-year deal in the offseason. He missed several weeks with a fractured wrist in a collision with 3B Mike Moustakas.Indians: OF Michael Brantley was expected to have an MRI exam on his ailing right shoulder Wednesday, though the results were not yet available. Brantley experienced a setback while on a rehab assignment.UP NEXTThe Royals open a three-game set Friday night against Texas. The Indians also have a day off before visiting Baltimore on Friday night.Jalen Beeks Jersey . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. Austin Meadows Rays Jersey .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/1216i-nick-anderson-jersey-rays.html . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Avisail Garcia Rays Jersey . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Mike Zunino Rays Jersey . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing.After Michael van Gerwens thrilling draw with Phil Taylor, we picked out the talking points from night seven in the Premier League.Things are hotting up with the play-off picture taking shape and the battle to avoid elimination set to go to the wire.This weeks trip to Glasgow proved pivotal at both ends of the table, so with Judgement Night just two weeks away, we look back on another terrific evening of tungsten action. Power a major threat Taylor remains level on points with Premier League leader Van Gerwen He may not have won but Phil Taylor showed that he will be very much in the shake up for major titles this year.The Power came from 5-1 and 6-4 down to register a 6-6 draw with Michael van Gerwen, who missed three darts to win the match in the 11th leg.By his own admission the 16-time world champion had a disappointing 2015 but told Sky Sports this week that he has got his love and appetite for the game back and that was evident on stage in Glasgow. Van Gerwen missed three match darts as Taylor came from 5-1 behind to draw And perhaps the shorter forms of the game are where the Power can add to his major tally - the Premier League final is played over no more than 21 legs and that might just suit Taylor.The draining format of the World Championship can take its toll but the Matchplay in Blackpool and the quickfire Premier League may just suit a rejuvenated Taylor, who has already admitted the top four is his target in order to be back at the O2.Taylor last won the title in 2012 and after missing out on Finals Night last year, few would bet against him being in contention this yearWelcome home champ Gary Anderson picked up four points in front of his Scottish fans The Glasgow crowd were in attendance in their thousands as they welcomed home the back-to-back world champion and defending Premer League champion Gary Anderson.The Flying Scotsman now resides in Somerset but is always assured of rousing reception when the Premier League heads north of the border and the Hydro crowd did not disappoint as they welcomed him with one of the best atmospheres weve experienced this season.After Anderson missed the opening night in Leeds, the 10,000 strong crowd had their champ on stage twice and he kicked off with a repeat of the World Championship final against Adrian Lewis. Premier League recap Look back on night seven of the Premier League Anderson had won the last four Premier League meetings between the two and he made it five with a dominant display against an inconsistent Lewis for a 7-4 win.MC John McDonald cranked up atmosphere and when House of Pains Jump Around kicked in the welcome for Anderson was rapturous.A 13-darter followed by an early break of throw delighted the masses, who responded a chorus of Oh Gary Gary.Anderson was back for more in the last match of the night. In a battle of Scotsmen, his victory over Peter Wright sent the masses into the Glasgow night happy and Anderson into the play-off places for the first time this season with a second win of the night and fifth straight win in the format.Whats gone wrong for Chizzy? Dave Chisnall suffered his third straight loss (Pic by Lawrence Lustig) Its three straight defeats for Dave Chisnall after losing a crunch clash with Raymond van Barneveld - both men have been in free fall of late but it was Barney who produced a five-leg surge from 3-2 down for a 7-4 win that should keep him in the competition for an extra few weeks.dddddddddddd.Chisnalls 7-0 win over Robert Thornton seems light years away and its now four defeats in a row for the man from St Helens, who only has a two-point advantage over the Scotsman and Michael Smith.Chisnall faces Anderson next week before a Judgement Night showdown with Wright - he may need at least two points in some capacity to preserve his Premier League status.Signs of life from ThornThornton remains bottom of the table but there were signs of life from the Scot in Glasgow that suggest he is up for the battle to avoid relegation.Despite a fifth defeat from six matches the Thorn averaged 101 and hit more than two 180s for the first time in the competition as he went down to a battling 7-4 defeat to James Wade. Robert Thornton (right) can draw confidence from his defeat to James Wade A single break was enough for the Machine, who moved into the top four, while Thornton is two points adrift at the foot of the table but with a game in hand over Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall. He plays Smith next week before Judgement Night.Rod Harrington believes there was improvement from the two-time major winner.The first six legs he held on to his throw at three legs apiece, Harrington told Sky Sports.You thought then he just needs to put one really good leg together to nick the throw and he would have a chance of his first win.But all of a sudden it was him who had the bad leg, Wadey stuck in a good leg and you have to give James credit - he is playing so solidly at the moment and he got over the line.There was improvement from Thornton but just a few too many edgy legs.Top spot up for grabs Van Gerwen will be determined to hold off the chasing pack The battle for the next two weeks will be at the bottom as the scrap to avoid relegation goes to the wire, but a quick glance at the top of the table suggests there could be a new name on top of the regular-season standings.Michael van Gerwen has topped the last three renewals and before him Taylor had topped the first eight editions of the tournament.The Dutchman currently sits top of the pile by one leg from The Power, with the pair just one point clear of Anderson and Wade, who complete the top four. Taylor had a message for Van Gerwen after their Premier League draw Anderson and Wade are previous winners of the competition and will pose a huge threat to the big two - Taylor would love to pinch top spot, MVG admits he wants to finish top. Lewis, despite his inconsistency, is only three points back and would be a threat if he can find his best on a more regular basis.It could be quite a battle before we even get to the O2.Also See:MVG and Taylor duke out drawWATCH: MVGs 170 checkoutFixtures/ResultsPrem Table ' ' '