MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Alex Kirilloff hit the first two home runs of his major league career, including a three-run drive that broke open the game in the third inning and led the Minnesota Twins over the AL Central-leading Kansas City Royals 9-1. Kirilloff, who debuted last Sept. 30, hit his first home run in his 28th plate appearance, an opposite-field drive to left off reliever Tyler Zuber that put the Twins ahead 4-0 and set off fireworks at Target Field. The 23-year-old hit a solo homer to center off Ervin Santana in the fifth inning.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Matt Carpenter hit his second pinch, three-run home run in as many days and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3. Carpenter connected off Duane Underwood Jr. in the sixth inning to put the Cardinals ahead 6-1. Carpenter took the Philadelphia Phillies’ Aaron Nola deep Thursday in a game the Cardinals won 4-3 in 10 innings. St. Louis' Tyler O’Neill had three hits, including a leadoff home run in the fourth inning. Nolan Arenado hit two run-scoring bloop doubles as St. Louis won for the sixth time in eight games.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs selected Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton with the No. 58 overall pick in the NFL draft. They added Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey five selections later. The Chiefs did not have a first-round pick after dealing it to Baltimore this week in a package for two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Orlando Brown, filling their biggest offensive need. Humphrey continues an effort by the Chiefs to rebuild their offensive line — their biggest need this offseason.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos addressed their thin offensive backfield by moving up in Round 2 of the NFL draft and selecting North Carolina running back Javonte Williams. Then general manager George Paton picked up an extra third-round pick by twice trading down in the third. He selected O-lineman Quinn Meinerz of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Ohio State linebacker Baron Browning with those third-rounders. Meinerz's nickname is ‘The Gut’ for his propensity to stick out his belly. But he did lose 20 pounds to get ready for the Senior Bowl, where he was the hit of the all-star game.
UNDATED (AP) — Two days down, but the NFL Draft is only half done and there are still plenty of celebrated college players available to be picked. The defensive players of the year in both the Big Ten and Pac-12 are still available heading into Saturday's fourth through seventh rounds. Looking for a quarterback? There are multiyear starters from which to choose. And several decorated offensive playmakers are still left to fill the remaining 154 picks.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals are hopeful of getting Adam Wainwright back from the COVID-19 injured list on Monday. The veteran right-hander was placed on the IL Thursday. Though Wainwright has been vaccinated, he came in close contact with a family member who has tested positive for the virus. Manager Mike Shildt declined to go into detail about Wainwright’s situation, citing privacy issues, but said he expects the 39-year-old Wainwright to start Monday night when the Cardinals host the New York Mets. Wainwright was originally scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has hired Buffalo's Lance Leipold as its next football coach. The Jayhawks are turning over one of college football’s worst programs to a longtime Division III coach with Midwestern roots. Leipold signed a six-year contract and takes over for Les Miles. Miles, who won a title at LSU, parted with the Jayhawks after two losing seasons amid allegations of sexual harassment dating to his time with the Tigers. Leipold won six Division III national titles in eight seasons before going to the Bulls, where he was 37-33 the past six years.
FRIDAY SCORES
INTERLEAGUE
Final Toronto 13 Atlanta 5
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final N.Y. Yankees 10 Detroit 0
Final Houston 9 Tampa Bay 2
Final Boston 6 Texas 1
Final Cleveland 5 Chicago White Sox 3
Final Minnesota 9 Kansas City 1
Final Baltimore 3 Oakland 2
Final Seattle 7 L.A. Angels 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final St. Louis 7 Pittsburgh 3
Final Washington 2 Miami 1
Final Philadelphia 2 N.Y. Mets 1
Final Cincinnati 8 Chicago Cubs 6
Final Milwaukee 3 L.A. Dodgers 1
Final Arizona 7 Colorado 2
Final San Diego 3 San Francisco 2
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Philadelphia 126 Atlanta 104
Final Washington 122 Cleveland 93
Final Portland 128 Brooklyn 109
Final Memphis 92 Orlando 75
Final OT Boston 143 San Antonio 140
Final Milwaukee 108 Chicago 98
Final Phoenix 121 Utah 100
Final Sacramento 110 L.A. Lakers 106