Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Yadier Molina and Marcell Ozuna homered, Jack Flaherty tossed six effective innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-2. The Cardinals have won four in a row and will try to sweep the four-game series Thursday.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Three-time All-Star infielder Matt Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a contract that adds $37 million in guaranteed money for 2020 and ’21, a deal that includes an option for 2022. The 33-year-old has a $14.5 million salary this season a part of a $52 million, six-year deal that included an $18.5 million club option for 2020 with a $2 million buyout. Under the new deal, he has guaranteed salaries of $18.5 million in both 2020 and ’21.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ is trying to cut down on his strikeouts without thinking about cutting down on his strikeouts. Happ was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in late March after a terrible spring training at the plate. Happ totaled 39 home runs during the past two seasons but struck out 296 times. The 24-year-old utility player has struck out nine times in 27 at-bats so far for the I-Cubs, but has a team-high eight RBIs in six games.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mitch Haniger hit a tiebreaking homer with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the Seattle Mariners over the Royals 6-5 after Whit Merrifield extended his hitting streak to a Kansas City-record 31 games. Merrifield’s RBI bunt single in the seventh tied it at 5 and moved him past Hall of Famer George Brett for the Royals mark. Haniger took Brad Boxberger deep, lifting Seattle to 12-2 following an offseason roster overhaul.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas guard Quentin Grimes announced that he would enter the NBA draft, skipping his final three seasons after a rocky and inconsistent freshman year with the Jayhawks. The five-star prospect struggled to live up to expectations, averaging just 8.4 points and 2.5 rebounds.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Nebraska running back Maurice Washington made his first court appearance on charges of texting a former girlfriend a video of her having sex with two other people. Washington did not enter pleas in Santa Clara County Superior Court after being arraigned on a felony count of possessing a video or photograph of a person under 18 who is engaging in or simulating sexual conduct and a misdemeanor count of distributing that video without consent, leading to the person suffering emotional distress.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State is starting to open things up under new coach Chris Klieman, who was hired from FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. Kansas State is shedding a bit of the secrecy that longtime coach Bill Snyder had developed. Parts of practice are open to reporters and the coaching staff has embraced social media. The result is a palpable buzz around the program. A spring showcase is scheduled for Saturday at the K-State football stadium named for Snyder.