KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Blake Snell struck out nine in six strong innings and the San Francisco Giants completed a three-game series sweep with a 2-0 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Kansas City dropped into a tie with Detroit (82-74) in the race for an AL wild card. Minnesota is a half-game back of Kansas City and the Tigers, pending the outcome of its second game of a doubleheader against Boston.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Blake Snell struck out nine in six strong innings and the San Francisco Giants completed a three-game series sweep with a 2-0 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
San Francisco Giants' Brett Wisely watches his RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals left fielder Tommy Pham catches a fly ball for the out on San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey is hit by a pitch thrown by San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals center fielder Garrett Hampson catches a fly ball for the out on San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
San Francisco Giants' Jerar Encarnacion slides home to score on a triple by Grant McCray during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Blake Snell throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
The Royals were shut out for the second straight game and lost their seventh straight, dropping all six games of their homestand.
“It couldn’t have been a worse homestand,” Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said. “It’s really disappointing.”
Snell (5-3) allowed two singles and a walk and didn’t allow a runner past first base. In his last 14 starts, he is 5-0 with a 1.23 ERA and 114 strikeouts.
Working with an effective curveball, Snell held Royals’ batters to 1 for 13 when throwing a first-pitch strike. Opponents are hitting .121 this season when the 31-year-old left-hander gets ahead in the count.
“I was going to throw change-ups, but they were so on it,” Snell said. “So, I adjusted. (The curveball) was just there more today.”
With one out in the second, Grant McCray lined an RBI triple to right-center and scored on Brett Wisely’s two-out hit. McCray snapped an 0-for-13 skid with his first extra-base hit since Sept. 7.
“That was a huge hit for us because (Seth) Lugo looked like he was on his game,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said.
Lugo (16-9) retired the next 16 batters and finished with five strikeouts and two runs allowed through seven innings.
“His command was impeccable today,” Quatraro said. “His stuff was really good.”
With two out and runners at second and third, the Giants intentionally walked Bobby Witt Jr. to load the bases. Tyler Rogers induced a pop fly from Salvador Perez to end the threat.
“Witt’s numbers against righties are off the charts,” Melvin said. “But it’s still not an easy thing to do because Salvy’s really good.”
Ryan Walker struck out one in the ninth, earning his ninth save.
San Francisco completed its first series sweep of Kansas City and its first series sweep against an American League opponent since April 15-17, 2022, at Cleveland.
“It’s nice to get a sweep against a good team,” Melvin said. “We’re playing pretty good right now.”
The Royals have scored four runs in their last five games and have held a lead in just one of their last 50 innings.
“We’ve got to put ourselves in more opportunities,” Quatraro said. “There’s plenty of ways to score runs.”
Kansas City lost by shutout in consecutive games for the second time this season and the first time since June 22-23 at Texas.
“Every time we lose it’s hard,” Perez said. “We still have one more week. What happened at home, we’ll forget about that and try to win the next two series.”
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Hayden Birdsong (4-5, 4.74 ERA) opposes Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-3, 5.09) in Arizona on Monday.
Royals: LHP Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.24) opposes Nationals LHP Mitchell Parker (7-10, 4.44) in Washington on Tuesday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
San Francisco Giants' Brett Wisely watches his RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals left fielder Tommy Pham catches a fly ball for the out on San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey is hit by a pitch thrown by San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals center fielder Garrett Hampson catches a fly ball for the out on San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
San Francisco Giants' Jerar Encarnacion slides home to score on a triple by Grant McCray during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Blake Snell throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Under extraordinarily tight security, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday visited the Pennsylvania ammunition factory that is producing one of the most critically needed munitions for his country's fight to fend off Russian ground forces.
Rep. Matt Cartwright, a Democrat who was among those who met with Zelenskyy at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, said the president had a simple message: “Thank you. And we need more.”
The Scranton plant is one of the few facilities in the country to manufacture 155 mm artillery shells and has increased production over the past year. Ukraine has already received more than 3 million of them from the U.S.
Zelenskyy's visit kicked off a busy week in the United States as he works tirelessly to shore up support for Ukraine in the war. He will speak at the U.N. General Assembly annual gathering in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday and then travel to Washington for talks on Thursday with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The area around the ammunition plant had been sealed off since Sunday morning, with municipal garbage trucks positioned across several roadblocks and a very heavy presence of city, regional and state police, including troopers on horseback.
As Zelenskyy’s large motorcade made its way to the ammunition plant in the afternoon, a small contingent of supporters waving Ukrainian flags assembled nearby to show their appreciation for his visit.
“It’s unfortunate that we need a plant like this, but it’s here, and it’s here to protect the world," said Vera Kowal Krewson, a first-generation Ukrainian American who was among those who greeted Zelenskyy's motorcade. “And I strongly feel that way.”
She said many of her friends’ parents have worked in the ammunition plant, and she called Zelenskyy’s visit “a wonderful thing.”
Laryssa Salak, 60, whose parents also immigrated from Ukraine, also said she was pleased Zelenskyy came to thank the workers. She said it upsets her that funding for Ukraine’s defense has divided Americans and that even some of her friends oppose the support, saying the money should go to help Americans instead.
“But they don’t understand that that money does not directly go to Ukraine," Salak said. ”It goes to American factories that manufacture, like here, like the ammunition. So that money goes to American workers as well. And a lot of people don’t understand that.”
The 155 mm shells made in the Scranton plant are used in howitzer systems, which are towed large guns with long barrels that can fire at various angles. Howitzers can strike targets up to 15 miles to 20 miles (24 kilometers to 32 kilometers) away and are highly valued by ground forces to take out enemy targets from a protected distance.
With the war now well into its third year, Zelenskyy has been pushing the U.S. for permission to use longer range missile systems to fire deeper inside of Russia.
So far he has not persuaded the Pentagon or White House to loosen those restrictions. The Defense Department has emphasized that Ukraine can already hit Moscow with Ukrainian-produced drones, and there is hesitation on the strategic implications of a U.S.-made missile potentially striking the Russian capital.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia would be “at war” with the United States and its NATO allies if they allow Ukraine to use the long-range weapons.
At one point in the war, Ukraine was firing between 6,000 and 8,000 of the 155 mm shells per day. That rate started to deplete U.S. stockpiles and drew concern that the level on hand was not enough to sustain U.S. military needs if another major conventional war broke out, such as in a potential conflict over Taiwan.
In response the U.S. has invested in restarting production lines and is now manufacturing more than 40,000 155 mm rounds a month, with plans to hit 100,000 rounds a month.
Two of the Pentagon leaders who have pushed that increased production through — Doug Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology and Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon's top weapons buyer — were expected to join Zelenskyy at the plant. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, also joined the Ukrainian president.
The 155 mm rounds are just one of the scores of ammunition, missile, air defense and advanced weapons systems the U.S. has provided Ukraine — everything from small arms bullets to advanced F-16 fighter jets. The U.S. has been the largest donor to Ukraine, providing more than $56 billion of the more than $106 billion NATO and partner countries have collected to aid in its defense.
Even though Ukraine is not a member of NATO, commitment to its defense is seen by many of the European nations as a must to keep Putin from further military aggression that could threaten bordering NATO-member countries and result in a much larger conflict.
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Copp reported from Washington.
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, PA-08, talks to Ukraine supporters before President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's motorcade arrives at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. The plant manufactures artillery ammunition which is used in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Pennsylvania State Police provide security with horses before President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's motorcade arrives at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Maxim Trushin, a native of Ukraine, waves a flag before President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's motorcade arrives at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
FILE - 155 mm M795 artillery projectiles are manufactured at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Scranton, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
FILE - A steel worker moves a 155 mm M795 artillery projectile at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Scranton, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
A key artillery shell in Ukraine's fight against Russia, the 155 mm howitzer shell, is in production at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
FILE -A steel worker moves a 155 mm M795 artillery projectile during the manufacturing process at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., Thursday, April 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
FILE - A key artillery shell in Ukraine's fight against Russia, the 155 mm howitzer shell, is in production at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy waves from the back seat of a U.S. Secret Service vehicle as his motorcade departs the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Pittston Township, Pa., en route to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Christopher Dolan/The Times-Tribune via AP)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's motorcade arrives at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a joint press conference with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (Christoph Soeder, Pool Photo via AP)
Kristina Ramanauskas, a first generation Lithuanian, waves a Ukrainian flag before President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's motorcade arrives at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy waves from the back seat of a U.S. Secret Service vehicle as his motorcade departs the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Pittston Township, Pa. en route to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Christopher Dolan/The Times-Tribune via AP)
