LDN - Sports

MLB notebook: Cardinals looking for lucky cat

[August 11, 2017] The Sports Xchange

The St. Louis Cardinals received an unexpected assist from a stray cat en route to winning their fifth straight game on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Cardinals attempted to return the favor by issuing a statement asking for anyone to contact the team should they find the mysterious -- and now missing -- feline.

The cat made his presence felt by running onto the field and interrupting play in the sixth inning of St. Louis' game against the Kansas City Royals.

Grounds crew member Lucas Hackmann retrieved the kitten and Yadier Molina promptly blasted the next pitch out of the park for a grand slam to highlight the Cardinals' 8-5 victory.

"At that point, as our ushers tried to contain the cat, a fan grabbed it and claimed it was hers," the Cardinals said in a statement. "As she left the ballpark, our security team caught up with her and asked her some questions. She then abruptly left with the cat.

"We understand from media accounts that the woman intended to take it home and care for it, but lost track of it in City Garden. We are hopeful someone will find the cat and contact us so we can properly care for it. Our grounds crew is working on developing a stray animal protocol to ensure the safety of both crew and animal should this happen again.

"In the meantime, the Cardinals are looking to scratch and claw their way back to the top of the division standings."

--The New York Yankees activated Aaron Hicks from the disabled list on Thursday and placed fellow outfielder Clint Frazier on the 10-day DL.

Hicks has been sidelined since June 25 with a ribcage injury. The 27-year-old was hitting .290 with 10 homers and 37 RBIs in 60 games this season with the Yankees.

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Frazier was a late scratch from Wednesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays after experiencing tightness in his oblique during batting practice.

--Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Taylor Cole was put on the 10-day disabled list after suffering a broken right toe when he was hit by a comebacker during his major-league debut against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.

The Blue Jays recalled right-hander Chris Smith from Triple-A Buffalo to take his place.

Also, Blue Jays designated hitter Kendrys Morales was a late scratch from Thursday's game against the Yankees because of illness.

--Kansas City Royals right-hander Trevor Cahill was placed on the 10-disabled list due to a shoulder impingement, the club announced.

Cahill struggled while pitching 2 1/3 innings on Wednesday in the team's loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He gave up three runs, four hits and five walks.

Right-handed reliever Kevin McCarthy was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to fill the roster opening. McCarthy is 1-0 with a 2.14 in 21 innings over two previous stints with the Royals this season.

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