Tyler Mahle is pitching well in June. Then again Oren Burks Color Rush Jersey , most everyone is pitching well against the Kansas City Royals this month.

Mahle allowed three hits while working into the seventh, Adam Duvall hit a ninth-inning grand slam and the Cincinnati Reds beat the skidding Royals 7-0 on Wednesday night.

Mahle (5-6) allowed only one runner to touch second base in 6 1/3 innings, matching his career longest start. He is 2-0 in June, allowing two earned runs and 14 hits in 16 1/3 innings.

”I was able to make big pitches, get weak contact and guys were able to make plays behind me, and I was able to hold them off long enough for us to score some runs,” Mahle said.

The Royals have lost nine of 10 and have dropped 23 of 33 home games. They have scored 11 runs in their last eight games and 23 in 12 June games. They have scored one run in the past 25 innings.

”We’ve got to be better than that Kalen Ballage Color Rush Jersey ,” losing pitcher Jason Hammel said. ”This losing is getting old.”

Kansas City is hitting .147 this month with runners in scoring position, including 1 for 25 in the past six games.

Duvall greeted rookie reliever Jason Adam with his second grand slam in two weeks, driving a 2-2 pitch over the left-center wall.

”He threw me a couple of curveballs earlier in that at-bat, but I knew he liked his heater,” Duvall said. ”That’s what I was looking for there. It’s a good feeling to come in here and win two.”

Hammel (2-7) allowed three runs on seven hits over 7 1/3 innings. The Royals committed three errors, including two in the seventh helping the Reds score two runs.

”I know guys are not trying to kick the ball, not try to misplay it http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-alex-mcgough-jersey , but at this level those things affect the outcome,” Hammel said. ”That’s the game in a nutshell.”

Alex Gordon, a five-time American League Gold Glove winner, made two defensive gems in the sixth inning. Curt Casali singled off the left-field bullpen fence and tried to stretch it into a double. Gordon threw him out from the warning track for his fifth outfield assist this season and the 85th of his career.

Two pitches later, Gordon made a diving head-first catch of Billy Hamilton’s liner to rob him of a hit.

”The first thing that went through my mind, is no wonder he’s a gold, platinum glove winner Kyle Lauletta Color Rush Jersey ,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. ”He’s just so fantastic out there.”

Salvador Perez and Hunter Dozier grounded into double plays to end the first two Royals innings.

Mahle retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced after Gordon walked in the second inning.

The Royals didn’t have a runner touch second base until Whit Merrifield doubled with two out in the sixth.

STREAKING REDS

Scooter Gennett had two singles, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. … Jose Peraza has reached base in 15 consecutive games. … Reliever Jared Hughes, who pitched a scoreless inning, has not allowed a run in 15 straight appearances.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: 1B Lucas Duda (right foot plantar fasciitis) is doing on-the-field activity. Yost said he is hopeful Duda will go out on a minor league rehab assignment this weekend.

UP NEXT

Reds: They are off Thursday before RHP Matt Harvey will start Friday in Pittsburgh.

Royals: After an off-day Thursday, the Royals will open a three-game home series Friday with the Houston Astros. RHP Jakob Junis will be the KC starter for the opener.

SALT LAKE CITY — Being a playoff novice isn’t preventing Utah Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio from making a major impact on the court.

Rubio turned in one of the finest performances of his career while sparking the Jazz to a 115-102 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. He tallied 26 points on 9-for-18 shooting, 10 assists, 11 rebounds and two steals to help Utah claim a 2-1 series lead over Oklahoma City. The Thunder will look to even the series again when the two teams square off again on Monday night.

Rubio became the first Jazz player to earn a triple-double in the postseason since John Stockton did it in 2001. Being in the same company as an NBA Hall of Famer meant a great deal to Rubio.

“Having my name next to his name is an honor http://www.saintsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-tre_quan-smith-jersey ,” Rubio said. “I don’t know what else to say. It’s huge. I have huge respect for him.”

Rubio’s efforts rescued Utah when the Jazz dug a hole late in the first quarter and early in the second quarter. Oklahoma City took a 45-33 lead on a driving layup from Russell Westbrook about five minutes into the quarter. Rubio suddenly took over and imposed his will on both ends of the court.

Over the final 7:13 of the first half, Rubio ripped off 15 points on 4 of 8 shooting, collected six rebounds, dished out a pair of assists and had a steal. It turned a 12-point deficit into 58-53 halftime lead for the Jazz.

“Ricky attacked,” Utah coach Quin Snyder said. “He attacked, but with poise and he was making some shots. I thought he took good shots and it really stabilized our group during that time.”

Utah never trailed in the second half and the team’s latest win has put Oklahoma City in a desperate position going into Game 4. The Thunder need a victory to avoid going back to Oklahoma facing an elimination game on Wednesday.

“Game 4 is going to be a test of what type of team we are and who we are as a team,” forward Carmelo Anthony said. “We look forward to these type of challenges.”

The Thunder put tons of defensive pressure on the Jazz at times. Oklahoma City forced 19 turnovers and turned those turnovers into 33 points. But the Thunder could not take care of the ball when it mattered as the game progressed.

Oklahoma City coughed up 17 turnovers Mike Marjama Seattle Mariners Jersey , leading to 15 points for the Jazz. Six of them came in the third quarter and led to 10 points for Utah. It allowed the Jazz to build an 89-75 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

“We did a nice job midway through that second quarter and then I thought our turnovers came back and really caused a problem for us,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “I felt like our guys were working hard to get back, but it’s hard to recover when you turn the ball over like that.”

For Oklahoma City, snapping a two-game skid might come down to figuring out how to gain an edge around the basket. The Jazz have imposed their will in the post during the series.

In three games, Utah has outscored the Thunder 140-108 in the paint. The Jazz also have a 37-25 advantage in offensive rebounds and a 49-36 edge in second-chance points.
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