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

CINCINNATI (AP) — Dexter Fowler delivered again, getting three hits and driving in two runs as the St. Louis Cardinals overcame Scott Schebler’s two home runs to beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-5 for a three-game sweep. The Cardinals began the day 2 ½ games behind Colorado for the second NL wild-card spot and five games behind the Central-leading Chicago Cubs.

TORONTO (AP) — Jason Vargas and four relievers combined on a two-hitter, Melky Cabrera had three hits and the game’s only RBI, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0. Vargas struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings to win his third straight start. None of the three batters he walked advanced beyond first base. The Blue Jays did not have a runner reach scoring position.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is off to the best start of his career, making it harder on the organization to consider moving on from him next year. The 33-year-old Smith is near the top of the NFL in almost every statistical category, and most importantly, has Kansas City off to a 2-0 start.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has fired athletic director Shawn Eichorst, citing a failure to improve the “on-field performance” by the Cornhuskers. Chancellor Ronnie Green announced the move. Eichorst and football coach Mike Riley have been under increased scrutiny. Riley is just 16-13 at Nebraska, a school that has won five national championships but has not won a conference title since 1999. The Huskers are off to a second 1-2 start in three seasons.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The firing of Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst has turned up the pressure on coach Mike Riley as the Cornhuskers go into their Big Ten opener against Rutgers. Riley, whose team has opened with losses in two of the first three games, said he’s leaning on his decades of experience in dealing with the highs and lows of coaching to help his team get through this rough patch. Rutgers enters the game on a 14-game conference losing streak but with confidence after improved performances so far.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chargers have lost a slew of close games the past couple of years, including a heartbreaker in overtime to open last season in Kansas City. They hope to change their fortunes when the Chiefs travel to Los Angeles on Sunday. It won’t be easy with the Chiefs off to a roaring start following wins over New England and Philadelphia.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Big 12 boasts some of the nation’s top quarterbacks, whether it’s Baker Mayfield at Oklahoma, Mason Rudolph at Oklahoma State or Will Grier at West Virginia. And perhaps not surprisingly, the league’s best QBs have their teams off to the best starts. There are other quarterbacks tearing things up, too. The Horned Frogs’ Kenny Hill, Iowa State’s Jacob Park, Nic Shimonek at Texas Tech and Peyton Bender of Kansas are all playing well.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Things were supposed to be better this season for Missouri under second-year coach Barry Odom. After struggling to defeat an FCS opponent in the opener and then back-to-back blowout losses, it’s been more of the same for the woeful Tigers. Missouri hosts No. 15 Auburn on Saturday.