KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Josh Walker balked home the winning run in the 10th inning and the Kansas City Royals rallied past the New York Mets 7-6 on Tuesday night for their season-best fourth straight victory.

Hours after the retooling Mets traded star pitcher Justin Verlander and two other players to cap a stunning deadline selloff, they blew a 6-4 lead provided by rookie Francisco Álvarez's two-run homer in the top of the 10th.

Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI double in the bottom half and MJ Melendez tied it with a run-scoring single off Brooks Raley.

Following a two-out throwing error by rookie third baseman Brett Baty, Melendez scored when Walker balked with the bases loaded.

Pete Alonso hit his 31st homer for the Mets and added an RBI single in a three-run eighth that gave them a 4-3 lead.

Freddy Fermin’s sacrifice fly off Adam Ottavino in the bottom half tied it.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired pitcher Ryan Yarbrough from the Kansas City Royals after being rebuffed in their pursuit of Detroit Tigers ace Eduardo Rodriguez. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says Rodriguez used his no-trade clause to block a trade. The Dodgers sent minor league infielders Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa to the Royals for Yarbrough. The 31-year-old left-hander was 4-5 with a 4.24 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 14 appearances with the Royals. Roberts says he isn't sure whether Yarbrough will start or work out of the bullpen after he started seven games with Kansas City.

In another trade at the deadline Kansas City sent closer Scott Barlow to San Diego for minor league pitchers Henry Williams and Jesus Rios.

Kansas City will look to continue their hot streak of play against the New York Mets in Game 2 of a three game series in Kansas City.&nbsp; The Royals started is still to be determined and is expected to face the Mets&nbsp;Kodai Senga on Wednesday.&nbsp; First pitch is at 7:10pm with a 6:30 pregame on KFEQ (95.3FM/680AM)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1690949781047.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez, center, is doused by Bobby Witt Jr. (7) after he scored the winning run when New York Mets relief pitcher Josh Walker balked with the bases loaded during the tenth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-6 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez, center, is doused by Bobby Witt Jr. (7) after he scored the winning run when New York Mets relief pitcher Josh Walker balked with the bases loaded during the tenth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-6 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Josh Walker balked home the winning run in the 10th inning and the Kansas City Royals rallied past the New York Mets 7-6 on Tuesday night for their season-best fourth straight victory.Hours after the retooling Mets traded star pitcher Justin Verlander and two other players to cap a stunning deadline selloff, they blew a 6-4 lead provided by rookie Francisco Álvarez's two-run homer in the top of the 10th.Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI double in the bottom half and MJ Melendez tied it with a run-scoring single off Brooks Raley.Following a two-out throwing error by rookie third baseman Brett Baty, Melendez scored when Walker balked with the bases loaded.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Balk it off! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> win! <a href="https://t.co/dbwifnYT6G">pic.twitter.com/dbwifnYT6G</a>&mdash; Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsKC/status/1686579918723776512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Pete Alonso hit his 31st homer for the Mets and added an RBI single in a three-run eighth that gave them a 4-3 lead.Freddy Fermin’s sacrifice fly off Adam Ottavino in the bottom half tied it.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1690951079311.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez (1) runs home to score the winning run after New York Mets relief pitcher Josh Walker balked with the bases loaded during the tenth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-6 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez (1) runs home to score the winning run after New York Mets relief pitcher Josh Walker balked with the bases loaded during the tenth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-6 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>TRADE DEADLINE MOVEMENTLOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired pitcher Ryan Yarbrough from the Kansas City Royals after being rebuffed in their pursuit of Detroit Tigers ace Eduardo Rodriguez. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says Rodriguez used his no-trade clause to block a trade. The Dodgers sent minor league infielders Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa to the Royals for Yarbrough. The 31-year-old left-hander was 4-5 with a 4.24 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 14 appearances with the Royals. Roberts says he isn't sure whether Yarbrough will start or work out of the bullpen after he started seven games with Kansas City.In another trade at the deadline Kansas City sent closer Scott Barlow to San Diego for minor league pitchers Henry Williams and Jesus Rios.NEXT UP Kansas City will look to continue their hot streak of play against the New York Mets in Game 2 of a three game series in Kansas City.&nbsp; The Royals started is still to be determined and is expected to face the Mets&nbsp;Kodai Senga on Wednesday.&nbsp; First pitch is at 7:10pm with a 6:30 pregame on KFEQ (95.3FM/680AM)

Royals win 4th straight, rally past retooling Mets 7-6 on 10th-inning balk

The Kansas City Chiefs were back on the field at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph Monday, despite some morning showers.

The rain subsided as players came down the hill for a lighter, shorter practice after three straight days in full pads. It was the eighth overall training camp practice.

The team worked for just over an hour in what’s known as a 10-10-10 practice - series of 10 plays the first-team offense going against the second-team defense, the first-team defense going against the second-team offense and so on. There were also special teams periods.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says there’s a strategy to throwing in these lighter practices.

"You know we went three (days) in a row with the pads," he said. "I think doing this here gives us a chance to do a little bit more with the mental (side), get the bodies back. We get (Tuesday) off and I'm sure in Coach Reid's mind, we get after it a little bit next time we come back."

Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was back at practice after missing the previous two with illness. Kadarius Toney (knee), Mike Danna (calf) and Jody Forston (shoulder) remain sidelined. Receiver Ty Scott also didn't work Monday, though he wasn't named on the injury list.

 Isaiah Moore and Nazeeh Johnson are on injured reserve, Turk Wharton remains on the PUP list and Chris Jones has not yet reported.

Punter Tommy Townsend appeared to have rolled his ankle during a special teams drill, and he left practice early in the front of a cart after spending some time in the medical tent.

The good news - Townsend was not named in the team's official injury report at the end of practice, so it doesn't appear to be anything serious.

One rookie that hasn’t been talked about a ton yet this training camp is the Chiefs’ first round draft pick - defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah out of Kansas State.

Felix, drafted 31st overall, was slowed by thumb surgery and a hamstring injury in the offseason and was limited during OTAs and minicamp.

But now, Spagnuolo is noticing improvement.

"He's flashing now," Spags said of Felix. "There's still a curve there, a learning curve. But, I think he's doing pretty good right now."

Felix says he’s feeling better as camp rolls on.

"Now I'm here in training camp, and it's a great time to get your footwork and everything down to be ready for the preseason and the season."

The Chiefs have been blessed with some talented receivers in recent years, but they’ve also had talented veterans leave and that's opened the door for newer, younger guys to step in.

That’s again the case this training camp as guys like Richie James, Justyn Ross and rookie Rashee Rice have entered the fold and are getting reps with the first-team offense.

Spagnuolo says these receivers, and their quarterback, provide a good challenge for his players.

 "The whole bunch of those guys, they're a challenge for us. But, our quarterback makes all of those receivers better. So, it's good work for us."

Rice says Mahomes has been a great teacher and mentor to him already.

"He's a great coach," Rice said of Mahomes. "He's a great brother off the field. He's just going to let you know exactly what he's thinking so you can basically be his head on and off the field."

Receiver Nikko Remigio had a particularly flashy punt return Monday.

Receiver Rashee Rice said he's getting more and more acclimated in this camp as a rookie, noting that his confidence is increasing. Rice said he felt like he hit his stride after he caught his first touchdown from Mahomes in camp.

Meanwhile, linebacker Drue Tranquill says this training camp is harder than any other he's participated in. Tranquill is a fifth-year pro who signed with the Chiefs in March. He had spent the previous four seasons with the L.A. Chargers.

"Sometimes, you feel like a turtle walking off the field," Tranquill said when asked about padded practices. "Just slow and steady, but you take it day-by-day and try to make the most of your opportunity."

Tranquill has primarily worked with the second-team defense so far, and has played all three linebacker spots.

The Chiefs are off Tuesday and back at it on Wednesday at 9:15 a.m.

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690826932608.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs were back on the field at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph Monday, despite some morning showers.The rain subsided as players came down the hill for a lighter, shorter practice after three straight days in full pads. It was the eighth overall training camp practice.The team worked for just over an hour in what’s known as a 10-10-10 practice - series of 10 plays the first-team offense going against the second-team defense, the first-team defense going against the second-team offense and so on. There were also special teams periods.Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says there’s a strategy to throwing in these lighter practices."You know we went three (days) in a row with the pads," he said. "I think doing this here gives us a chance to do a little bit more with the mental (side), get the bodies back. We get (Tuesday) off and I'm sure in Coach Reid's mind, we get after it a little bit next time we come back."Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was back at practice after missing the previous two with illness. Kadarius Toney (knee), Mike Danna (calf) and Jody Forston (shoulder) remain sidelined. Receiver Ty Scott also didn't work Monday, though he wasn't named on the injury list. Isaiah Moore and Nazeeh Johnson are on injured reserve, Turk Wharton remains on the PUP list and Chris Jones has not yet reported.Punter Tommy Townsend appeared to have rolled his ankle during a special teams drill, and he left practice early in the front of a cart after spending some time in the medical tent.The good news - Townsend was not named in the team's official injury report at the end of practice, so it doesn't appear to be anything serious.Felix on the riseOne rookie that hasn’t been talked about a ton yet this training camp is the Chiefs’ first round draft pick - defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah out of Kansas State.Felix, drafted 31st overall, was slowed by thumb surgery and a hamstring injury in the offseason and was limited during OTAs and minicamp.But now, Spagnuolo is noticing improvement."He's flashing now," Spags said of Felix. "There's still a curve there, a learning curve. But, I think he's doing pretty good right now."Felix says he’s feeling better as camp rolls on."Now I'm here in training camp, and it's a great time to get your footwork and everything down to be ready for the preseason and the season."Mahomes making them betterThe Chiefs have been blessed with some talented receivers in recent years, but they’ve also had talented veterans leave and that's opened the door for newer, younger guys to step in.That’s again the case this training camp as guys like Richie James, Justyn Ross and rookie Rashee Rice have entered the fold and are getting reps with the first-team offense.Spagnuolo says these receivers, and their quarterback, provide a good challenge for his players. "The whole bunch of those guys, they're a challenge for us. But, our quarterback makes all of those receivers better. So, it's good work for us."Rice says Mahomes has been a great teacher and mentor to him already."He's a great coach," Rice said of Mahomes. "He's a great brother off the field. He's just going to let you know exactly what he's thinking so you can basically be his head on and off the field."Other notesReceiver Nikko Remigio had a particularly flashy punt return Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Nikko Remigio punt return 👀 <a href="https://t.co/304ERfqXzV">pic.twitter.com/304ERfqXzV</a>&mdash; KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCSportsNetwork/status/1686031412921536512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Receiver Rashee Rice said he's getting more and more acclimated in this camp as a rookie, noting that his confidence is increasing. Rice said he felt like he hit his stride after he caught his first touchdown from Mahomes in camp.Meanwhile, linebacker Drue Tranquill says this training camp is harder than any other he's participated in. Tranquill is a fifth-year pro who signed with the Chiefs in March. He had spent the previous four seasons with the L.A. Chargers."Sometimes, you feel like a turtle walking off the field," Tranquill said when asked about padded practices. "Just slow and steady, but you take it day-by-day and try to make the most of your opportunity."Tranquill has primarily worked with the second-team defense so far, and has played all three linebacker spots.Caught on tape<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mahomes with a deep pass to Skyy Moore <a href="https://t.co/ubN3CS4yol">pic.twitter.com/ubN3CS4yol</a>&mdash; KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCSportsNetwork/status/1686025094731014144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>What's nextThe Chiefs are off Tuesday and back at it on Wednesday at 9:15 a.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690826897442.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs complete lighter, shorter practice Monday before an off-day Tuesday

The Kansas City Chiefs completed their seventh practice of training camp on Sunday at Missouri Western in St. Joseph.

It was the third workout in full pads and it was the longest practice of camp thus far, stretching nearly 2.5 hours.

Head coach Andy Reid says it was a productive day.

"Guys pounded through it," he said. "They did a nice job of competing and finishing strong. Back and forth, which is good. Offense, defense, special teams got good work in today."

"This is kind of the meat of the camp here. We have 6-7 two hour and 25-minute practices, so guys have to push through that."

Reid confirmed Sunday that corner Nazeeh Johnson tore his ACL toward the end of practice Saturday, while linebacker Isaiah Moore will have knee surgery, likely ending both of their seasons and putting them on injured reserve.

Johnson, Reid says, is a particularly disappointing loss, given how strong he had been looking this camp.

"He's a good special teams player and a good corner," Reid said of Nazeeh. "He's really developed over the years. It's too bad that it happened. He's had a good attitude about it, and he'll get back when he'll get back."

"(Johnson) is easily one of the closest guys to me in the locker room," fellow corner Joshua Williams said. "It hurt to see that."

Corner L’Jarius Sneed (knee) and linebacker Drue Tranquill (neck) were back to work on Sunday after missing time Saturday.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire was absent for a second straight day due to illness. Jody Forston (shoulder), Mike Danna (calf), Turk Wharton (ACL) and Kadarius Toney (knee) remain sidelined. Chris Jones has not yet reported. Reid noted that Toney is "making progress."

The Chiefs announced Sunday the addition of two new players to the roster - tight end Izaiah Gathings from Middle Tennessee State and corner Anthony Withersone from Merrimack College.

With Moore and Johnson on IR, Gathings and Witherstone fill those empty roster spots. Both were seen at practice Sunday.

Things (still) getting a little chippy

This training camp seems to be a bit more chippy than in recent years.

On Sunday, corner Jaylen Watson and receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette were seen getting into a shoving after a play. Watson's helmet even came off during the exchange.

Travis Kelce was seen swinging for Jack Cochrane on Saturday in a fan video clip that went viral. While Kelce later atoned for his actions on Twitter, Andy Reid doesn’t see these things as a major issue.

"I'm okay with chippy," he said. "It's alright. You have to have an edge and then you've got to maintain that. It's all well and good when it's practice one or two, but you have to keep challenging each other as it goes through."

Sunday's practice featured a lot of 11-on-11 team drills, and it seems like the offense, at times, had their way with the defense. Deneric Prince, who's already made waves this camp, got the majority of first-team reps at running back, and he looked the part.

Prince, an undrafted free agent rookie out of Tulsa, caught everything thrown his way and he had some nice runs on counter plays.

"He's doing a nice job," Reid said of Prince. "He's working hard and doing a nice job. Without (Edwards-Helaire) here today and yesterday, he got some good work."

Justyn Ross likely had his best day of camp so far on Sunday, with several nice catches in the first-team offense. Tight end Matt Bushman has been getting more reps with Jody Forston sidelined, and he's looked very strong so far, catching everything that comes his way.

Tight end Noah Gray also continues to have a great camp, getting an increased number of reps with the first-team offense. He seems to be just a bit faster and stronger this season than in his first two years in Kansas City.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling had his best day of camp Sunday, with some highlight reel-worthy catches. Defensively, it was a pretty solid day for the linebackers, particularly Nick Bolton, Willie Gay and Jack Cochrane.

The defense also held its own against the first-team offense during red zone, coming up with PBUs and forcing consecutive incompletions.

One of the most important additions to the Chiefs roster this offseason was left tackle Donovan Smith - a veteran entering his ninth NFL season.

Smith spent his first eight seasons in Tampa Bay before signing with the Chiefs in May. He takes the spot on the starting O-line left open by the departure of Orlando Brown Jr., who signed a four-year deal with Cincinnati in March.

With the return of starters Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey and Joe Thuney, Smith thinks this position group can be one of the Chiefs' biggest strengths.

"The many things we bring to the table, I would say is our strength," Smith said. "To be able to run and pass the ball, that's big. We have big, athletic, mobile guys, which go a long way."

Watson enjoyed a pretty solid first season with Kansas City in 2022, finishing with 315 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was a free agent in the offseason, and re-signed in April.

With Juju Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman leaving, that has opened the door for guys like Watson and Valdes-Scantling to become bigger leaders in the receiver room.

"MVS and myself are kind of the only vets we've had playing in this system," Watson said. "It's just becoming a leader this year. We have a bunch of young guys who are just chomping at the bit and really pushing everybody. So, it's been a good mix of older guys and young guys so far in camp."

Watson says second-year receiver Skyy Moore has taken a "huge step" forward compared to this time a year ago. Watson also revealed that he and Blaine Gabbert worked out together frequently in the offseason.

Watson and Gabbert were teammates in Tampa Bay from 2019-2021 and became close friends. Once Watson re-signed with the Chiefs, he said he "put the full court press" on Gabbert to sign with Kansas City.

The Chiefs are back to work on Monday at 9:15 a.m. before an off-day on Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690739280523.jpeg" alt="Marquez Valdes-Scantling makes a catch in the end zone during Chiefs' training camp in St. Joseph Sunday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Marquez Valdes-Scantling makes a catch in the end zone during Chiefs' training camp in St. Joseph Sunday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs completed their seventh practice of training camp on Sunday at Missouri Western in St. Joseph.It was the third workout in full pads and it was the longest practice of camp thus far, stretching nearly 2.5 hours.Head coach Andy Reid says it was a productive day."Guys pounded through it," he said. "They did a nice job of competing and finishing strong. Back and forth, which is good. Offense, defense, special teams got good work in today.""This is kind of the meat of the camp here. We have 6-7 two hour and 25-minute practices, so guys have to push through that."Reid confirmed Sunday that corner Nazeeh Johnson tore his ACL toward the end of practice Saturday, while linebacker Isaiah Moore will have knee surgery, likely ending both of their seasons and putting them on injured reserve.Johnson, Reid says, is a particularly disappointing loss, given how strong he had been looking this camp."He's a good special teams player and a good corner," Reid said of Nazeeh. "He's really developed over the years. It's too bad that it happened. He's had a good attitude about it, and he'll get back when he'll get back.""(Johnson) is easily one of the closest guys to me in the locker room," fellow corner Joshua Williams said. "It hurt to see that."Corner L’Jarius Sneed (knee) and linebacker Drue Tranquill (neck) were back to work on Sunday after missing time Saturday.Clyde Edwards-Helaire was absent for a second straight day due to illness. Jody Forston (shoulder), Mike Danna (calf), Turk Wharton (ACL) and Kadarius Toney (knee) remain sidelined. Chris Jones has not yet reported. Reid noted that Toney is "making progress."New playersThe Chiefs announced Sunday the addition of two new players to the roster - tight end Izaiah Gathings from Middle Tennessee State and corner Anthony Withersone from Merrimack College.With Moore and Johnson on IR, Gathings and Witherstone fill those empty roster spots. Both were seen at practice Sunday.Things (still) getting a little chippyThis training camp seems to be a bit more chippy than in recent years.On Sunday, corner Jaylen Watson and receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette were seen getting into a shoving after a play. Watson's helmet even came off during the exchange.Travis Kelce was seen swinging for Jack Cochrane on Saturday in a fan video clip that went viral. While Kelce later atoned for his actions on Twitter, Andy Reid doesn’t see these things as a major issue."I'm okay with chippy," he said. "It's alright. You have to have an edge and then you've got to maintain that. It's all well and good when it's practice one or two, but you have to keep challenging each other as it goes through."Several Sunday standoutsSunday's practice featured a lot of 11-on-11 team drills, and it seems like the offense, at times, had their way with the defense. Deneric Prince, who's already made waves this camp, got the majority of first-team reps at running back, and he looked the part.Prince, an undrafted free agent rookie out of Tulsa, caught everything thrown his way and he had some nice runs on counter plays."He's doing a nice job," Reid said of Prince. "He's working hard and doing a nice job. Without (Edwards-Helaire) here today and yesterday, he got some good work."Justyn Ross likely had his best day of camp so far on Sunday, with several nice catches in the first-team offense. Tight end Matt Bushman has been getting more reps with Jody Forston sidelined, and he's looked very strong so far, catching everything that comes his way.Tight end Noah Gray also continues to have a great camp, getting an increased number of reps with the first-team offense. He seems to be just a bit faster and stronger this season than in his first two years in Kansas City.Marquez Valdes-Scantling had his best day of camp Sunday, with some highlight reel-worthy catches. Defensively, it was a pretty solid day for the linebackers, particularly Nick Bolton, Willie Gay and Jack Cochrane.The defense also held its own against the first-team offense during red zone, coming up with PBUs and forcing consecutive incompletions.Offensive line coming togetherOne of the most important additions to the Chiefs roster this offseason was left tackle Donovan Smith - a veteran entering his ninth NFL season.Smith spent his first eight seasons in Tampa Bay before signing with the Chiefs in May. He takes the spot on the starting O-line left open by the departure of Orlando Brown Jr., who signed a four-year deal with Cincinnati in March.With the return of starters Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey and Joe Thuney, Smith thinks this position group can be one of the Chiefs' biggest strengths."The many things we bring to the table, I would say is our strength," Smith said. "To be able to run and pass the ball, that's big. We have big, athletic, mobile guys, which go a long way."Justin Watson settling inWatson enjoyed a pretty solid first season with Kansas City in 2022, finishing with 315 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was a free agent in the offseason, and re-signed in April.With Juju Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman leaving, that has opened the door for guys like Watson and Valdes-Scantling to become bigger leaders in the receiver room."MVS and myself are kind of the only vets we've had playing in this system," Watson said. "It's just becoming a leader this year. We have a bunch of young guys who are just chomping at the bit and really pushing everybody. So, it's been a good mix of older guys and young guys so far in camp."Watson says second-year receiver Skyy Moore has taken a "huge step" forward compared to this time a year ago. Watson also revealed that he and Blaine Gabbert worked out together frequently in the offseason.Watson and Gabbert were teammates in Tampa Bay from 2019-2021 and became close friends. Once Watson re-signed with the Chiefs, he said he "put the full court press" on Gabbert to sign with Kansas City.Gabbert did just that in April.What's nextThe Chiefs are back to work on Monday at 9:15 a.m. before an off-day on Tuesday.Caught on tape<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s been chippy at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> camp. Lots of guys fighting for spots on the roster. There’s been some intensity to say the least. <a href="https://t.co/K9ZJKj63dP">pic.twitter.com/K9ZJKj63dP</a>&mdash; Chris Roush (@chrisRroush) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisRroush/status/1685703960991080448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mahomes finds Richie James in the end zone <a href="https://t.co/FUz1gh1Ihs">pic.twitter.com/FUz1gh1Ihs</a>&mdash; KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCSportsNetwork/status/1685680639658344448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mahomes with a pass to MVS in the back of the end zone <a href="https://t.co/Xg00Urgu1O">pic.twitter.com/Xg00Urgu1O</a>&mdash; KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCSportsNetwork/status/1685677165768019968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Pictures<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690741865513.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690741921583.jpeg" alt="Jerick McKinnon (1)." />
 <figcaption>Jerick McKinnon (1).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690741938331.jpeg" alt="Richie James (17)." />
 <figcaption>Richie James (17).</figcaption>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690741955376.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690741978150.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs complete long Sunday practice, Reid updates injuries

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. recorded three RBIs with a homer, Kyle Isbel went 4-for-5 and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 10-7 on Saturday night.

Witt went 4-for-5 with three RBIs, a home run and a triple. In his first at-bat of the game after a career-high six RBI night that included a walk-off grand slam, Witt hit a solo homer. He leads the Royals with 60 RBIs and 18 homers.

“I have been just trying to prepare as much as I can to get ready every night, ” Witt said. “I have been working to stay as confident and comfortable as possible to go out there and compete.”

“It is really fun to watch,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You have to stop and appreciate it when you see it because you know how hard it is to be that good for an extended period of time. (Witt) has driven the ball all around the park and he made some defensively. It is fun to watch.”

Jordan Lyles (2-12) tossed five innings and allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts, two walks and a hit batter. It was just the third start this season where the Royals offense gave Lyles at least six runs of support. Scott Barlow earned his 13 save of the year.

“Overall, I am pleased with the start,” Lyles said. “Glad the guys came out and swung it well tonight. That afforded me the chance to get five innings in.”

Six different Royals notched RBIs on a season-high 18 hits. Michael Massey hit a 415-foot homer to right in the second for his eighth of the year. Isbel and Witt have combined for 12 of the 18 Kansas City runs in the series. Maikel Garcia added two RBIs with a sacrifice fly and a single.

Bailey Ober (6-5) gave up six runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts and a hit batter in four innings. The two home runs allowed marked the second consecutive start he has given up two long balls.

Minnesota left five on base which included a bases loaded inning-ending double play by Carlos Correa in the sixth, his 20th of the season. The Twins went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

“There were a lot of things in this game we didn’t do very well," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. ”Shooting ourselves in the foot and things like that, which does take place in our game and every team is going to make mistakes and things aren’t going to go smooth. Overall, that was a hard one to watch because as we got closer, the game seemed to get further away.”

Byron Buxton went 3-for-3 with three doubles and two RBIs. He sparked a three-run fourth with a two-run double. Max Kepler belted a solo homer to lead off the sixth. Christian Vazquez recorded two RBIs. Willi Castro hit an RBI as part of a two-run eighth.

The Royals sealed a series win in the process against a Twins team in a heated battle for the AL Central crown. It is the fifth series win of the season for the Royals and the second time this season Kansas City avoided a rubber game for a series. The last was against San Francisco in April.

LHP Ryan Yarbrough (3-5, 4.70 ERA) will take the mound in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. RHP Kenta Maeda (2-5, 4.62) will get the nod for Minnesota. It is the final meeting of the 2023 season between the two AL Central opponents. First pitch is set for 1:10, with pregame coverage starting at 12:30 on 680 AM 95.3 FM KFEQ.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690730037424.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) slides to third after hitting a triple during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) slides to third after hitting a triple during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. recorded three RBIs with a homer, Kyle Isbel went 4-for-5 and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 10-7 on Saturday night.Witt went 4-for-5 with three RBIs, a home run and a triple. In his first at-bat of the game after a career-high six RBI night that included a walk-off grand slam, Witt hit a solo homer. He leads the Royals with 60 RBIs and 18 homers.“I have been just trying to prepare as much as I can to get ready every night, ” Witt said. “I have been working to stay as confident and comfortable as possible to go out there and compete.”“It is really fun to watch,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You have to stop and appreciate it when you see it because you know how hard it is to be that good for an extended period of time. (Witt) has driven the ball all around the park and he made some defensively. It is fun to watch.”Jordan Lyles (2-12) tossed five innings and allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts, two walks and a hit batter. It was just the third start this season where the Royals offense gave Lyles at least six runs of support. Scott Barlow earned his 13 save of the year.“Overall, I am pleased with the start,” Lyles said. “Glad the guys came out and swung it well tonight. That afforded me the chance to get five innings in.”Six different Royals notched RBIs on a season-high 18 hits. Michael Massey hit a 415-foot homer to right in the second for his eighth of the year. Isbel and Witt have combined for 12 of the 18 Kansas City runs in the series. Maikel Garcia added two RBIs with a sacrifice fly and a single.Bailey Ober (6-5) gave up six runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts and a hit batter in four innings. The two home runs allowed marked the second consecutive start he has given up two long balls.Minnesota left five on base which included a bases loaded inning-ending double play by Carlos Correa in the sixth, his 20th of the season. The Twins went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position.“There were a lot of things in this game we didn’t do very well," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. ”Shooting ourselves in the foot and things like that, which does take place in our game and every team is going to make mistakes and things aren’t going to go smooth. Overall, that was a hard one to watch because as we got closer, the game seemed to get further away.”Byron Buxton went 3-for-3 with three doubles and two RBIs. He sparked a three-run fourth with a two-run double. Max Kepler belted a solo homer to lead off the sixth. Christian Vazquez recorded two RBIs. Willi Castro hit an RBI as part of a two-run eighth.ROYAL FLUSHThe Royals sealed a series win in the process against a Twins team in a heated battle for the AL Central crown. It is the fifth series win of the season for the Royals and the second time this season Kansas City avoided a rubber game for a series. The last was against San Francisco in April.UP NEXTLHP Ryan Yarbrough (3-5, 4.70 ERA) will take the mound in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. RHP Kenta Maeda (2-5, 4.62) will get the nod for Minnesota. It is the final meeting of the 2023 season between the two AL Central opponents. First pitch is set for 1:10, with pregame coverage starting at 12:30 on 680 AM 95.3 FM KFEQ.

Bobby Witt Jr. leads Royals with 3 RBIs in 10-7 win over Twins

Nick Panagos pitched a complete game shutout and the Jefferson City Renegades beat the St. Joseph Mustangs 4-0 at Phil Welch Stadium Saturday in the third and final game of the MINK League Championship Series.

Jefferson City scored their first run in the fourth, two more in the fifth and another in the sixth. The Renegades outhit the Mustangs 10-5 as well.

Panagos, who plays for Drury University, threw 119 pitches in the win, striking out six and walking only two.

Trevor McCollum had a double and walked twice to lead the Mustangs at the plate. Ike Book, Easton Bruce, Mason Holton and Noah Bodenhausen each had a single in the loss.

Michael Infranca took the loss on the mound. He threw the first five innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. He struck out two and walked one.

The Mustangs were held without a hit over the final three innings, making any comeback effort tough in the end.

"When it came down to it, we didn't execute when we needed to," Mustangs coach Johnny Coy said. "I know we had a nice walk-off (Friday), but before that, we weren't swinging the bat too well. That's just the way baseball goes. Sometimes you're hot, sometimes you're not."

St. Joseph ends the season at 33-18 overall. While their streak of consecutive championships ends at three, team owner and president Ky Turner takes pride in what the team achieved, given that they were just one win away from another title.

"We'd love to win," Turner said. "Can't control the score of the game, but what (the team) did for our community can't be understated. We're always hungry for that next Opening Day. I think losing the championship game in the manner in which we did, I don't think we're satisfied with that, but it's going to allow us to come out here next season ready to roll."

"We came up just short, but fought to the very end," Coy added. "Hats off to our guys for continuing to compete each and every day. It's a long summer. You play so many games in a short amount of time. It can be a grueling, long summer and for us to get our guys back in a position to compete for another championship is pretty awesome."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690688487524.jpeg" alt="The Jefferson City Renegades celebrate after winning the MINK League title over the St. Joseph Mustangs at Phil Welch Stadium Saturday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>The Jefferson City Renegades celebrate after winning the MINK League title over the St. Joseph Mustangs at Phil Welch Stadium Saturday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostNick Panagos pitched a complete game shutout and the Jefferson City Renegades beat the St. Joseph Mustangs 4-0 at Phil Welch Stadium Saturday in the third and final game of the MINK League Championship Series.Jefferson City scored their first run in the fourth, two more in the fifth and another in the sixth. The Renegades outhit the Mustangs 10-5 as well.Panagos, who plays for Drury University, threw 119 pitches in the win, striking out six and walking only two.Trevor McCollum had a double and walked twice to lead the Mustangs at the plate. Ike Book, Easton Bruce, Mason Holton and Noah Bodenhausen each had a single in the loss.Michael Infranca took the loss on the mound. He threw the first five innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. He struck out two and walked one.The Mustangs were held without a hit over the final three innings, making any comeback effort tough in the end."When it came down to it, we didn't execute when we needed to," Mustangs coach Johnny Coy said. "I know we had a nice walk-off (Friday), but before that, we weren't swinging the bat too well. That's just the way baseball goes. Sometimes you're hot, sometimes you're not."St. Joseph ends the season at 33-18 overall. While their streak of consecutive championships ends at three, team owner and president Ky Turner takes pride in what the team achieved, given that they were just one win away from another title."We'd love to win," Turner said. "Can't control the score of the game, but what (the team) did for our community can't be understated. We're always hungry for that next Opening Day. I think losing the championship game in the manner in which we did, I don't think we're satisfied with that, but it's going to allow us to come out here next season ready to roll.""We came up just short, but fought to the very end," Coy added. "Hats off to our guys for continuing to compete each and every day. It's a long summer. You play so many games in a short amount of time. It can be a grueling, long summer and for us to get our guys back in a position to compete for another championship is pretty awesome."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690688846991.jpeg" alt="Cole Slibowski slides into second." />
 <figcaption>Cole Slibowski slides into second.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690689131981.jpeg" alt="Mason Holton." />
 <figcaption>Mason Holton.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690689146405.jpeg" alt="Michael Infranca." />
 <figcaption>Michael Infranca.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690689164901.jpeg" alt="Trevor McCollum celebrates after a double." />
 <figcaption>Trevor McCollum celebrates after a double.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Mustangs fall to Jefferson City in MINK League Championship series

The Kansas City Chiefs started training camp practice in full pads on Saturday morning outdoors in the sun.

But shortly after 10 a.m., storm clouds came in from the west, bringing heavy rain and winds with them. The Chiefs moved practice inside the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex by 10:30, and completed practice just after 11.

The Chiefs added a few players to their injured list. Corner Nazeeh Johnson sustained a potentially significant knee injury toward the end of practice Saturday. Corner L’Jarius Sneed didn’t work Saturday due to knee issues.

Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was ill and didn’t practice on Saturday either. Jody Forston (shoulder), Drue Tranquill (neck), Isaiah Moore (knee), Mike Danna (calf), Kadarius Toney (knee) and Turk Wharton (ACL, PUP list) are all sidelined. Chris Jones has not reported yet.

Rookies standing out on special teams

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub spoke for the first time in training camp Saturday, and he says he's been impressed with several rookies who are contributing on special teams. In particular, he mentioned running back Deneric Prince, who's right now the front runner to return kicks this year.

"I think he's a special talent as a returner," Toub said of Prince. "He did a lot in college. He's got a lot of skills. I'm excited to see him in a preseason game. He's looked really good in practice.

Toub also mentioned that Richie James is the leading candidate to return punts, noting James' ability to "catch everything." After inheriting a lot of young players on special teams last year, Toub feels great about where his position group is.

"I thought we had an outstanding OTAs and minicamp," Toub said. "They came in with a purpose and are working hard. Starting with the rookies now and the vets here. The guys are just flying around. It's good to see that they're hungry to get another one."

Travis Kelce was seen getting into a verbal exchange with DiCaprio Bootle and Bryan Cook on Friday. On Saturday, Kelce got into it with linebacker Jack Cochrane.

After Kelce caught a short pass in the end zone, Cochrane made contact with Kelce after the catch, perhaps trying to knock the ball out.

Kelce didn't take kindly to that at all, as he actually took a swing at Cochrane and the two got into a brief shoving match.

Harrison Butker feeling like his old self

It was quite the offseason for Harrison Butker. He and his wife, Isabelle, welcomed their third child and he spoke at his alma mater Georgia Tech's graduation commencement.

After having about a full month off from football, Butker says he's feeling much like he did before the ankle sprain he suffered in the 2022 season opener at Arizona.

"I feel like I'm kicking better this training camp than I did the last training camp before the injury," Butker said. "I'm feeling really good with it. The ball is going through - that's the most important thing. I think I probably have changed some things with my technique. I'm not trying to destroy the ball. I'm just trying to make sure it goes through the uprights."

Butker was asked about the NFL fair catch rule. NFL owners voted back in May to approve a resolution that allows players to fair catch kickoffs, with the resulting possession starting at the team's own 25-yard line.

Butker says they'll start practicing squib kicks more in practice to prepare for this and to try and prevent opponents from taking fair catches on kickoffs. However, Butker says he anticipates most teams will still elect to return kicks if possible.

Danny Shelton is a big man. 6-2, 345 to be exact. He signed with the Chiefs last year and plays defensive tackle primarily. On Saturday, he was seen lined up on the offensive line, almost as a tight end, providing some big blocks during red zone drills.

He also showed off his arm a little bit during warm-ups.

The Chiefs will practice again on Sunday morning at 9:15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690656803969.jpeg" alt="Storm clouds start to roll in at Chiefs training camp at Missouri Western on Saturday. Photo by Tommy Rezac ." />
 <figcaption>Storm clouds start to roll in at Chiefs training camp at Missouri Western on Saturday. Photo by Tommy Rezac .</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs started training camp practice in full pads on Saturday morning outdoors in the sun.But shortly after 10 a.m., storm clouds came in from the west, bringing heavy rain and winds with them. The Chiefs moved practice inside the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex by 10:30, and completed practice just after 11.The Chiefs added a few players to their injured list. Corner Nazeeh Johnson sustained a potentially significant knee injury toward the end of practice Saturday. Corner L’Jarius Sneed didn’t work Saturday due to knee issues.Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was ill and didn’t practice on Saturday either. Jody Forston (shoulder), Drue Tranquill (neck), Isaiah Moore (knee), Mike Danna (calf), Kadarius Toney (knee) and Turk Wharton (ACL, PUP list) are all sidelined. Chris Jones has not reported yet.Rookies standing out on special teamsSpecial teams coordinator Dave Toub spoke for the first time in training camp Saturday, and he says he's been impressed with several rookies who are contributing on special teams. In particular, he mentioned running back Deneric Prince, who's right now the front runner to return kicks this year."I think he's a special talent as a returner," Toub said of Prince. "He did a lot in college. He's got a lot of skills. I'm excited to see him in a preseason game. He's looked really good in practice.Toub also mentioned that Richie James is the leading candidate to return punts, noting James' ability to "catch everything." After inheriting a lot of young players on special teams last year, Toub feels great about where his position group is."I thought we had an outstanding OTAs and minicamp," Toub said. "They came in with a purpose and are working hard. Starting with the rookies now and the vets here. The guys are just flying around. It's good to see that they're hungry to get another one."Kelce fired up againTravis Kelce was seen getting into a verbal exchange with DiCaprio Bootle and Bryan Cook on Friday. On Saturday, Kelce got into it with linebacker Jack Cochrane.After Kelce caught a short pass in the end zone, Cochrane made contact with Kelce after the catch, perhaps trying to knock the ball out.Kelce didn't take kindly to that at all, as he actually took a swing at Cochrane and the two got into a brief shoving match.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mahomes to Kelce, little chirping after the catch <a href="https://t.co/kv56jIyiUH">pic.twitter.com/kv56jIyiUH</a>&mdash; Nick Roesch (@Nicolas_Roesch) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nicolas_Roesch/status/1685306314061443073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kelce himself responded on Twitter.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Gotta be a better teammate gotta be a better leader… plain and simple&mdash; Travis Kelce (@tkelce) <a href="https://twitter.com/tkelce/status/1685341806286794753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Harrison Butker feeling like his old selfIt was quite the offseason for Harrison Butker. He and his wife, Isabelle, welcomed their third child and he spoke at his alma mater Georgia Tech's graduation commencement.After having about a full month off from football, Butker says he's feeling much like he did before the ankle sprain he suffered in the 2022 season opener at Arizona."I feel like I'm kicking better this training camp than I did the last training camp before the injury," Butker said. "I'm feeling really good with it. The ball is going through - that's the most important thing. I think I probably have changed some things with my technique. I'm not trying to destroy the ball. I'm just trying to make sure it goes through the uprights."Butker was asked about the NFL fair catch rule. NFL owners voted back in May to approve a resolution that allows players to fair catch kickoffs, with the resulting possession starting at the team's own 25-yard line.Butker says they'll start practicing squib kicks more in practice to prepare for this and to try and prevent opponents from taking fair catches on kickoffs. However, Butker says he anticipates most teams will still elect to return kicks if possible.Danny Shelton on offenseDanny Shelton is a big man. 6-2, 345 to be exact. He signed with the Chiefs last year and plays defensive tackle primarily. On Saturday, he was seen lined up on the offensive line, almost as a tight end, providing some big blocks during red zone drills.He also showed off his arm a little bit during warm-ups.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Slot receiver Danny Shelton showing off his arm today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> <a href="https://t.co/oUbGxTyQgQ">pic.twitter.com/oUbGxTyQgQ</a>&mdash; Chris Roush (@chrisRroush) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisRroush/status/1685313635076214784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Chiefs will practice again on Sunday morning at 9:15.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs conclude training camp practice indoors Saturday after storms rolled in

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr.'s grand slam in the 10th inning gave the Kansas City Royals an 8-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.

Witt finished 4 for 5 with six RBIs, falling a triple short of the cycle and pulling out the game for the Royals after they blew a 4-2 lead in the ninth.

Brady Singer struck out a season-high 10 in five innings for the Royals, who needed their 13th comeback win of the season after Jorge Polanco's two-run double with two outs in the ninth tied it at 4-all.

Minnesota then went ahead on Kyle Farmer's RBI single in the 10th off Taylor Clarke (2-4) before Witt won it with his 17th homer of the season off Jhoan Duran (2-5).

Kyle Isbel hit a leadoff 400-foot home run off Twins starter Sonny Gray in the third. It was the first homer allowed by Gray against the Royals since August 2014.

Witt also had an RBI double in the sixth and a run-scoring single in the eighth.

Gray pitched six innings and gave up three runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Gray extended a 15-game winless streak dating back to April 30 against Kansas City.

Royals: Nick Pratto (left groin strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Samad Taylor was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in the corresponding move.

RHP Jordan Lyles (1-12, 6.19 ERA) will take the mound for the Royals on Saturday. RHP Bailey Ober (6-4, 2.76 ERA) will counter for Minnesota.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690602644842.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr., right, celebrates with Nicky Lopez at home plate after hitting a grand slam against the Minnesota Twins during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr., right, celebrates with Nicky Lopez at home plate after hitting a grand slam against the Minnesota Twins during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr.'s grand slam in the 10th inning gave the Kansas City Royals an 8-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.Witt finished 4 for 5 with six RBIs, falling a triple short of the cycle and pulling out the game for the Royals after they blew a 4-2 lead in the ninth.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Bobby ballgame!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HEYHEYHEYHEY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HEYHEYHEYHEY</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeToTheCity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WelcomeToTheCity</a> <a href="https://t.co/lknf3JV0Up">pic.twitter.com/lknf3JV0Up</a>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1685130972163932160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Brady Singer struck out a season-high 10 in five innings for the Royals, who needed their 13th comeback win of the season after Jorge Polanco's two-run double with two outs in the ninth tied it at 4-all.Minnesota then went ahead on Kyle Farmer's RBI single in the 10th off Taylor Clarke (2-4) before Witt won it with his 17th homer of the season off Jhoan Duran (2-5).Kyle Isbel hit a leadoff 400-foot home run off Twins starter Sonny Gray in the third. It was the first homer allowed by Gray against the Royals since August 2014.Witt also had an RBI double in the sixth and a run-scoring single in the eighth.Gray pitched six innings and gave up three runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Gray extended a 15-game winless streak dating back to April 30 against Kansas City.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: Nick Pratto (left groin strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Samad Taylor was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in the corresponding move.UP NEXTRHP Jordan Lyles (1-12, 6.19 ERA) will take the mound for the Royals on Saturday. RHP Bailey Ober (6-4, 2.76 ERA) will counter for Minnesota.

Witt's grand slam in the 10th inning gives the Royals an 8-5 victory over the Twins

Friday marked the fifth practice of Chiefs training camp in St. Joseph and the first one in full pads.

Heat indices rose into the mid 90s by the end of the workout that lasted just over 90 minutes. The energy was high, as the team had a fast and physical practice in front of a full house. Up to 8,000 fans were expected at Missouri Western on Friday.

Head coach Andy Reid says it was a strong day of work overall.

"But all-in-all, it was good work today," Reid said. "The guys challenged themselves. It was a little bit of a shorter practice, an hour and 40-minute practice. The guys worked. It was good to get them back in pads and work and challenge each other."

A few players left practice early with injury Friday. Linebacker Drue Tranquill (strained neck), tight end Jody Forston (shoulder) and defensive end Mike Danna (calf).

Linebacker Isaiah Moore (knee) was at practice, but was limited. Receiver Kadarius Toney (knee surgery) and Tershawn Wharton (PUP) weren't present.

Linebacker Nick Bolton was back after missing Wednesday's practice with illness. Defensive tackle Chris Jones has yet to report.

When asked about Jones, Reid says he's had no recent contact with him, and Reid did not give a timeline as to when he might expect the star DT to show up.

Linebacker Willie Gay says his absence leaves a void, but the work hasn't slowed down.

"It'd add a big piece," Gay said. "A big piece that we hope to have. I mean, we can't be out here thinking, 'Dang, I wish Chris were here.' But, we just have to handle things the way they are and roll with it."

It was also plenty hot on Friday during practice, and as it tends to happen at training camp sometimes, things got a bit chippy.

Travis Kelce was seen getting into a verbal exchange with corner DiCaprio Bootle and safety Bryan Cook, as there was some contact made after the play was over.

Cook says it’s nothing to worry about going forward

"Kind of nice for me to get into a scuffle a little bit," Cook said. "I see you Kelce! You have a little fire under you. That stuff also does encourage us to be more passionate about it, because it's a blessing to be out there. It depends on how you look at it, but for me, we're just trying to get to practice, do my job, get the reps as much as possible. Just continue to learn."

Reid doesn't condone fighting at training camp, but he's not overly concerned as long as the conflicts remain verbal and don't escalate to physical

"They're gonna jaw," Reid said. "It's hot, humid. They're gonna jaw a little bit. Just as long as there's no punches thrown, we're alright. They're going to talk a little bit, but that happens."

Patrick Mahomes wasted no time getting the crowd energized Friday morning. On the second play of 11-on-11 team drills, he fired a pass deep down the field, which was caught by Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who hauled it in for a score.

Mahomes was also picked off in team drills by Mike Edwards. Edwards was able to get in front of an underthrown ball intended for Skyy Moore.

The Chiefs continued to mix in a lot of personnel at cornerback. Jaylen Watson worked with the first-team defense primarily, while Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson rotated between the first and second team.

Nic Jones also had a solid day Friday. He and Johnson each came up with great pass breakups against the first-team offense.

The Chiefs are back to work on Saturday morning at 9:15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690568984036.jpeg" alt="Richie James (17) and Skyy Moore (24) come down the hill at the start of training camp Friday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Richie James (17) and Skyy Moore (24) come down the hill at the start of training camp Friday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostFriday marked the fifth practice of Chiefs training camp in St. Joseph and the first one in full pads.Heat indices rose into the mid 90s by the end of the workout that lasted just over 90 minutes. The energy was high, as the team had a fast and physical practice in front of a full house. Up to 8,000 fans were expected at Missouri Western on Friday.Head coach Andy Reid says it was a strong day of work overall."But all-in-all, it was good work today," Reid said. "The guys challenged themselves. It was a little bit of a shorter practice, an hour and 40-minute practice. The guys worked. It was good to get them back in pads and work and challenge each other."A few players left practice early with injury Friday. Linebacker Drue Tranquill (strained neck), tight end Jody Forston (shoulder) and defensive end Mike Danna (calf).Linebacker Isaiah Moore (knee) was at practice, but was limited. Receiver Kadarius Toney (knee surgery) and Tershawn Wharton (PUP) weren't present.Linebacker Nick Bolton was back after missing Wednesday's practice with illness. Defensive tackle Chris Jones has yet to report.When asked about Jones, Reid says he's had no recent contact with him, and Reid did not give a timeline as to when he might expect the star DT to show up.Linebacker Willie Gay says his absence leaves a void, but the work hasn't slowed down."It'd add a big piece," Gay said. "A big piece that we hope to have. I mean, we can't be out here thinking, 'Dang, I wish Chris were here.' But, we just have to handle things the way they are and roll with it."Things got a little chippyIt was also plenty hot on Friday during practice, and as it tends to happen at training camp sometimes, things got a bit chippy.Travis Kelce was seen getting into a verbal exchange with corner DiCaprio Bootle and safety Bryan Cook, as there was some contact made after the play was over.Cook says it’s nothing to worry about going forward"Kind of nice for me to get into a scuffle a little bit," Cook said. "I see you Kelce! You have a little fire under you. That stuff also does encourage us to be more passionate about it, because it's a blessing to be out there. It depends on how you look at it, but for me, we're just trying to get to practice, do my job, get the reps as much as possible. Just continue to learn."Reid doesn't condone fighting at training camp, but he's not overly concerned as long as the conflicts remain verbal and don't escalate to physical"They're gonna jaw," Reid said. "It's hot, humid. They're gonna jaw a little bit. Just as long as there's no punches thrown, we're alright. They're going to talk a little bit, but that happens."Other observationsPatrick Mahomes wasted no time getting the crowd energized Friday morning. On the second play of 11-on-11 team drills, he fired a pass deep down the field, which was caught by Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who hauled it in for a score.Mahomes was also picked off in team drills by Mike Edwards. Edwards was able to get in front of an underthrown ball intended for Skyy Moore.The Chiefs continued to mix in a lot of personnel at cornerback. Jaylen Watson worked with the first-team defense primarily, while Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson rotated between the first and second team.Nic Jones also had a solid day Friday. He and Johnson each came up with great pass breakups against the first-team offense.The Chiefs are back to work on Saturday morning at 9:15.Video recap<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F1442930016542183%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Caught on tape<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mahomes with the deep pass to MVS for 6 <a href="https://t.co/AkLSLC6N5T">pic.twitter.com/AkLSLC6N5T</a>&mdash; KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCSportsNetwork/status/1684938626218500096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/PU4I8smM6O">pic.twitter.com/PU4I8smM6O</a>&mdash; PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/PJGreenTV/status/1684956459191209984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690569003378.jpeg" alt="" />
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690569015370.jpeg" alt="" />
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690569030646.jpeg" alt="Jerick McKinnon." />
 <figcaption>Jerick McKinnon.</figcaption>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690569041476.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs complete first fully padded training camp practice Friday, Jones yet to report

The Jefferson City Renegades hit an RBI double in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the St. Joseph Mustangs 8-7 in the first game of the MINK League Championship Series on Thursday night at Vivion Field in Jefferson City.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, but Jeff City tied it with four runs in the third.

St. Joseph led again 7-5 in the top of the seventh, but the Renegades tied it with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth.

The Renegades notched 17 hits, while the Mustangs had 14. Brayden Luikart and Trevor McCollum each had three hits. Ben Click scored three runs, while Cole Slibowski had three RBIs.

Ryker Curry took the loss on the mound, pitching the final 1.2 innings. He allowed two hits, one earned run and three walks. He also struck out two.&nbsp;

Ty Hilsabeck made the start, but Jeff City tallied 10 hits and four earned runs on him in four innings.

The MINK League Championship Series now heads to St. Joseph with game two slated for Friday night at 7 p.m. at Phil Welch Stadium.

The Mustangs must win in order to force a decisive game three, which would be held on Saturday night at Phil Welch at 7 p.m. as well.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Jefferson City Renegades hit an RBI double in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the St. Joseph Mustangs 8-7 in the first game of the MINK League Championship Series on Thursday night at Vivion Field in Jefferson City.The Mustangs jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, but Jeff City tied it with four runs in the third.St. Joseph led again 7-5 in the top of the seventh, but the Renegades tied it with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth.The Renegades notched 17 hits, while the Mustangs had 14. Brayden Luikart and Trevor McCollum each had three hits. Ben Click scored three runs, while Cole Slibowski had three RBIs.Ryker Curry took the loss on the mound, pitching the final 1.2 innings. He allowed two hits, one earned run and three walks. He also struck out two.&nbsp;Ty Hilsabeck made the start, but Jeff City tallied 10 hits and four earned runs on him in four innings.The MINK League Championship Series now heads to St. Joseph with game two slated for Friday night at 7 p.m. at Phil Welch Stadium.The Mustangs must win in order to force a decisive game three, which would be held on Saturday night at Phil Welch at 7 p.m. as well.

Mustangs fall in extra innings Thursday in first MINK League title series game

The Lafayette girls' tennis team had been holding summer practices at the Northside Tennis Courts in Krug Park.

Near those courts is a city-owned storage building, where the team had stored all of their equipment.

Unfortunately, it was discovered this past Tuesday that the team's equipment, everything from ball machines to tennis rackets, had been stolen. Locks on the doors had been apparently cut.

After news of this robbery had been made public on Facebook, many people in St. Joseph have stepped in to help, including the St. Joseph Mustangs.

The Mustangs are holding a 50/50 raffle on Friday night at Phil Welch Stadium during the MINK League Championship Series game with proceeds going toward the Lafayette tennis team.

The team has already agreed to donate $100 to the team up front.

Lafayette head coach Kara Berry was blown away with how fast the Mustangs responded.

"I know there's a lot of Lafayette alumni that work the Mustangs," Berry said. "I don't know how it all came about, but I couldn't believe how quickly everyone came to our rescue. That was really, really nice of everyone and we greatly appreciate that."

Several Lafayette alums play for the Mustangs, including Brayden Luikart, Ike Book, Jayden Little and Cole Slibowski. Jennifer Koch, the team's host family coordinator, works at the high school and Phil Welch Stadium operations director Stan Weston was once the head baseball coach at Lafayette.

Berry says there have been others outside the Mustangs who have contacted her about donating equipment.

"It's so great that everyone is rushing to help us right away," she said. "People have contacted me separately that have donated things. My brother teaches (tennis) lessons and he immediately sent us four used rackets. Anything is helpful, especially when our kids don't have the funds to go out and purchase nice, new rackets."

Benton and Maryville's tennis teams have contacted Lafayette, asking if there's anything they can donate. Lafayette is coming off of a district runner-up finish in 2022. They also sent a doubles team,&nbsp;Erinn Lotspeich and Brooklyn Lorenz, to state last year as well.

As unfortunate as the circumstance is, Berry says the generosity from the community has been a silver lining.

"I really appreciate the St. Joseph coming together and helping us out with everything."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690540675205.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Lafayette girls' tennis team had been holding summer practices at the Northside Tennis Courts in Krug Park.Near those courts is a city-owned storage building, where the team had stored all of their equipment.Unfortunately, it was discovered this past Tuesday that the team's equipment, everything from ball machines to tennis rackets, had been stolen. Locks on the doors had been apparently cut.After news of this robbery had been made public on Facebook, many people in St. Joseph have stepped in to help, including the St. Joseph Mustangs.The Mustangs are holding a 50/50 raffle on Friday night at Phil Welch Stadium during the MINK League Championship Series game with proceeds going toward the Lafayette tennis team.The team has already agreed to donate $100 to the team up front.Lafayette head coach Kara Berry was blown away with how fast the Mustangs responded."I know there's a lot of Lafayette alumni that work the Mustangs," Berry said. "I don't know how it all came about, but I couldn't believe how quickly everyone came to our rescue. That was really, really nice of everyone and we greatly appreciate that."Several Lafayette alums play for the Mustangs, including Brayden Luikart, Ike Book, Jayden Little and Cole Slibowski. Jennifer Koch, the team's host family coordinator, works at the high school and Phil Welch Stadium operations director Stan Weston was once the head baseball coach at Lafayette.Berry says there have been others outside the Mustangs who have contacted her about donating equipment."It's so great that everyone is rushing to help us right away," she said. "People have contacted me separately that have donated things. My brother teaches (tennis) lessons and he immediately sent us four used rackets. Anything is helpful, especially when our kids don't have the funds to go out and purchase nice, new rackets."Benton and Maryville's tennis teams have contacted Lafayette, asking if there's anything they can donate. Lafayette is coming off of a district runner-up finish in 2022. They also sent a doubles team,&nbsp;Erinn Lotspeich and Brooklyn Lorenz, to state last year as well.As unfortunate as the circumstance is, Berry says the generosity from the community has been a silver lining."I really appreciate the St. Joseph coming together and helping us out with everything."<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/LHS-tennis-coach-Kara-Berry-e27ff54" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Mustangs raising money for Lafayette tennis team that had equipment stolen

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a solo shot in the fourth, leading the Cleveland Guardians past the Kansas City Royals 8-3 on Wednesday.

Ramírez has 22 multi-homer games in his career, including two this season. He homered into the right field seats in the first and cleared the wall in center in the fourth for his 16th of the season.

Ramírez was 3 for 4 with a check-swing infield hit in the sixth and a walk in the second followed by a stolen base, and he scored three runs. He was finally retired on a groundout in the eighth.

David Fry hit a two-run homer in the fourth and Steven Kwan had two RBIs. Cleveland moved to 51-51 and trails Minnesota by two games in the AL Central.

Cleveland starter Gavin Williams pitched four scoreless innings but was pulled after throwing 85 pitches. It was his first start since developing a blister on his middle finger Friday against Philadelphia. The rookie right-hander threw 31 pitches and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first.

Nick Sandlin (5-3) allowed a run in the fifth.

Kansas City starter Alec Marsh (0-5) allowed four runs in 2 2/3 innings. The rookie right-hander has lost each of his five major league starts. Marsh has allowed nine home runs in 23 innings.

MJ Melendez hit a solo homer in the ninth for Kansas City. Maikel Garcia had an RBI single in the fifth and Dairon Blanco drove in a run with an eighth-inning single. Kansas City loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but failed to score.

Cleveland has won three straight series for the first time since ending the 2022 season with five straight series wins.

Ramírez’s first-inning homer followed a walk to Andrés Giménez. Kwan had an RBI single in the second and drew a bases-loaded walk in the third.

Williams dodged trouble in the first. Center fielder Myles Straw made a leaping catch at the wall on a drive hit by Bobby Witt Jr. for the second out. Two singles and a walk followed. The inning ended when Freddy Fermin popped out to Giménez at second base.

Williams struck out five and allowed three hits. The Guardians are closely monitoring the workloads of Williams and rookies Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen. Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie and Cal Quantrill are on Cleveland’s injured list.

Royals: RHP Brad Keller (shoulder impingement) is nearing the conclusion of a 30-day minor league rehab assignment that began June 28. He hasn’t pitched for Kansas City since May 15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690403853334.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Maikel Garcia (11) throws his bat after lining out to first base in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Maikel Garcia (11) throws his bat after lining out to first base in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)</figcaption>
 </figure>CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a solo shot in the fourth, leading the Cleveland Guardians past the Kansas City Royals 8-3 on Wednesday.Ramírez has 22 multi-homer games in his career, including two this season. He homered into the right field seats in the first and cleared the wall in center in the fourth for his 16th of the season.Ramírez was 3 for 4 with a check-swing infield hit in the sixth and a walk in the second followed by a stolen base, and he scored three runs. He was finally retired on a groundout in the eighth.David Fry hit a two-run homer in the fourth and Steven Kwan had two RBIs. Cleveland moved to 51-51 and trails Minnesota by two games in the AL Central.Cleveland starter Gavin Williams pitched four scoreless innings but was pulled after throwing 85 pitches. It was his first start since developing a blister on his middle finger Friday against Philadelphia. The rookie right-hander threw 31 pitches and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first.Nick Sandlin (5-3) allowed a run in the fifth.Kansas City starter Alec Marsh (0-5) allowed four runs in 2 2/3 innings. The rookie right-hander has lost each of his five major league starts. Marsh has allowed nine home runs in 23 innings.MJ Melendez hit a solo homer in the ninth for Kansas City. Maikel Garcia had an RBI single in the fifth and Dairon Blanco drove in a run with an eighth-inning single. Kansas City loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but failed to score.Cleveland has won three straight series for the first time since ending the 2022 season with five straight series wins.Ramírez’s first-inning homer followed a walk to Andrés Giménez. Kwan had an RBI single in the second and drew a bases-loaded walk in the third.Williams dodged trouble in the first. Center fielder Myles Straw made a leaping catch at the wall on a drive hit by Bobby Witt Jr. for the second out. Two singles and a walk followed. The inning ended when Freddy Fermin popped out to Giménez at second base.Williams struck out five and allowed three hits. The Guardians are closely monitoring the workloads of Williams and rookies Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen. Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie and Cal Quantrill are on Cleveland’s injured list.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: RHP Brad Keller (shoulder impingement) is nearing the conclusion of a 30-day minor league rehab assignment that began June 28. He hasn’t pitched for Kansas City since May 15.UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Brady Singer (6-8, 5.55 ERA) is the scheduled starter Friday night at home against Minnesota.