Add another “L” for Tigers, Sox, and Cubs – Monday Morning Sports Update

blue-jays-tigers-baseball

MLB – Major League Baseball
Yesterday
Toronto Blue Jays 6, Detroit Tigers 0
Texas Rangers 8, Chicago White Sox 6 – 12 innings
New York Yankees 18, Chicago Cubs 4

Blue Jays 6, Tigers 0 – Guerrero homers, leads Stripling, Blue Jays over Tigers 6-0
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered, Ross Stripling pitched one-hit ball for six innings and the Toronto Blue Jays went on to beat the Detroit Tigers 6-0. The Blue Jays took two of three from Detroit, giving them 13 victories in 17 games. Toronto has the third-best record in the American League, trailing the East-leading New York Yankees in its division and West-leading Houston.

Rangers 8, White Sox 6 – F/12 – Rangers end 12-inning win over White Sox on 7-5 double play
Jonah Heim hit a two-run single in the 12th inning and the Texas Rangers turned a double play on a ball hit to the warning track to end an 8-6 win over the Chicago White Sox. Embattled manager Tony La Russa and the White Sox have lost four of five. This one began with right-hander Michael Kopech leaving with right knee discomfort after 13 pitches and ended with an unusual double play in the 12th. José Abreu struck out looking against Kolby Allard leading off, then Jake Burger hit a fly to the warning track in left. Charlie Culberson caught the ball, then threw out automatic runner Luis Robert trying to tag up and take third.

Yankees 18, Cubs 4 – Carpenter hammers Cubs; 2 HRs, 7 RBIs in Yanks’ 18-4 rout
Matt Carpenter homered twice and tied his career high with seven RBIs, powering the New York Yankees to complete a weekend sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 18-4 rout for their 11th win in 12 games. The 36-year-old Carpenter was signed on May 26 after spending the first seven weeks at Texas’ Triple-A Round Rock. Carpenter became the second player since 1900 to hit six home runs in his first 10 games for a team after Colorado’s Trevor Story in 2016. Chicago’s six-game losing streak is its longest this year, dropping the Cubs a season-worst 13 games under .500 at 23-36.

Tonight
Chicago White Sox (TBD) at Detroit (García 0-1), 7:10 p.m.                 WSJM/WCSY 6:50
San Diego (Darvish 5-3) at Chicago Cubs (Steele 1-5), 8:05 p.m.

NBA – National Basketball Association – 2022 NBA Finals
Tonight
Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors, 9:00 p.m.         (Series Tied 2-2)

NBA – With NBA Finals tied at 2, Celtics try to stop Stephen Curry
The Boston Celtics realize they must find an answer to Stephen Curry and do a better job making things difficult for the two-time MVP. Curry scored 43 points in Golden State’s 107-97 victory in Game 4 on Friday night to even the NBA Finals at 2 wins apiece heading into Game 5 back in San Francisco on Monday. Boston coach Ime Udoka is counting on everybody getting involved defensively to put more pressure on Curry all over the floor and also to be more physical with the all-time 3-point leader.

NBA – Green looks to make impact for Warriors even without scoring
When the Golden State Warriors made their fourth-quarter push to get back into the NBA Finals, Draymond Green had the unusual role as spectator. The versatile Green who has been one of the stalwarts of Golden State’s dynasty got pulled in crunch time of Game 4 in what was a and effective decision by coach Steve Kerr. Now with the series shifting back to California tied heading into Game 5, Kerr said he has no concerns about what he’ll get out of Green the rest of the way.

NHL – Avalanche, Lightning set for anticipated Stanley Cup clash
The two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning face the best in the West Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final beginning Wednesday in Denver. Tampa Bay is the first team since Wayne Gretzky’s Edmonton Oilers from 1983-85 to make the final in three consecutive years. The Lightning are looking to be the NHL’s first three-peat champions since the New York Islanders won the Cup four times in a row from 1980-83. Colorado’s core led by Nathan MacKinnon used depth and speed to break through to the final for the first time after several disappointing playoff performances. The Avalanche are going for the franchise’s first championship since 2001.

WNBA – Women’s National Basketball Association
Yesterday
Indiana Fever 84, Minnesota Lynx 80
Chicago Sky 88, New York Liberty 86 – OT

Fever 84, Lynx 80 – Smith has 21 points, 14 rebounds; Fever beat Lynx 84-80
NaLyssa Smith had 21 points and 14 rebounds and Indiana closed the game on a 11-4 run to beat the Minnesota Lynx 84-80. Victoria Vivians added 15 points and hit two 3-pointers during the game-ending run to help the Fever end a five-game skid. Danielle Robinson scored 16 points and Kelsey Mitchell added 15 for the Fever (4-12). Nikolina Milic had a career-high 23 points on 11-of-19 shooting for Minnesota and Aerial Powers added 15 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

Sky 88, Liberty 86 – OT – Sky overcome triple-double by Ionescu with late 3
Courtney Vandersloot hit a 3-pointer from the wing with 0.9 seconds left to help the Chicago Sky overcome Sabrina Ionescu’s second career triple-double and beat the New York Liberty 88-86. Ionescu tied the WNBA record for triple doubles with the second of her career when she finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, accomplishing the feat by the end of the third quarter — the fastest in league history. It wasn’t enough for New York (5-9), which had won four of its past five games. Trailing 86-85, Vandersloot took a pass from Candace Parker on the wing and drained the 3. New York had one last chance, but couldn’t get a shot off.

WNBA – Taylor calls for Griner’s release at Hall of Fame induction
Penny Taylor used her induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame to call for the release of her former Phoenix Mercury teammate Brittney Griner. Taylor noted it’s been 114 days since the seven-time WNBA All-Star was detained in Russia. Taylor called for President Joe Biden’s help freeing Griner, saying “BG is our family.” Taylor also said the entire global sports community needs to come together and insist that freeing Griner be a priority. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has been detained since Feb. 17. DeLisha Milton-Jones wrapped up her acceptance speech with a call to bring Griner home. DePaul coach Doug Bruno also called for Griner’s release saying, “Enough is enough."

NCAABSB – Notre Dame stuns No. 1 Tennessee 7-3, advances to CWS
Freshman Jack Findlay threw five shutout innings in relief and back-to-back home runs by catcher David LaManna and Jack Brannigan in the seventh sparked Notre Dame to a 7-3 victory over No. 1 overall seed Tennessee in the championship game of the Knoxville Super Regional.  Notre Dame (40-15) will be making just its third College World Series appearance. The Fighting Irish’s other trips came in 1957 and 2002.  Findlay (6-2) worked out of a jam after entering the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with nobody out, a run in and a runner on second, trailing 3-1. Findlay held the Volunteers in check from there, allowing a single and two walks, while striking out four to get the win.

Golf – LIV/PGA – PGA chief slams Saudi-funded league as series of exhibitions
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is blasting the Saudi-based LIV Golf league as a series of exhibitions that spends billions to recruit players without getting a return on the investment. He also says players unaware they might face criticism for taking Saudi money are “living under a rock.” They’re his first public comments since he suspended PGA Tour members who signed up for Greg Norman’s new league and played in the first LIV event last week outside London. Monahan spoke during the CBS telecast of the Canadian Open and pointed out that was “pure competition" that creates stars.

Golf – PGA – McIlroy defends Canadian Open title in strong LIV response
Rory McIlroy won the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday and gave the PGA Tour a strong response to the start of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational, closing with an 8-under 62 to win a wild race to the finish with Justin Thomas and Tony Finau.  McIlroy finished at 19-under 261 at St. George’s for a two-stroke victory. Finau shot a 64 to finish second alone. Thomas bogeyed the final two holes for a 64 to finish third at 14 under. Justin Rose matched the tournament- and course-record with a 60 — with three eagles and three bogeys — to tie for fourth.

NASCAR – Suarez gets historic win at Sonoma
Daniel Suárez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday on Sonoma Raceway.  The 30-year-old Mexican driver held off Chris Buescher to claim his first victory in his 195th career start.  He also drove his Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet to the third Cup Series victory for this 2-year-old team co-owned by former driver Justin Marks and music star Pitbull. Suárez got past Buescher and took charge on this hilly road course in Northern California wine country early in the final stage. He persevered through a pit stop and a caution to emerge with his lead intact with 23 laps to go.

NASCAR – NASCAR’s preseason Clash returns to LA Coliseum in 2023
NASCAR’s season-opening exhibition Clash race is rolling back to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2023. NASCAR announced Sunday it will return to the Southern California sports landmark next season after The Clash’s highly successful debut there four months ago.  NASCAR got some of its best reviews in years for the 2022 Clash, which took place on a temporary 0.25-mile track inside the venerable Coliseum.

Boxing – Floyd Mayweather Jr. touched by Hall of Fame induction
Floyd Mayweather Jr. was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in a ceremony that included the past three classes. Mayweather credited his mom, dad and sister for much of his success and said his dad, who trained him, would get his Hall of Fame ring. The pandemic forced the postponement of the previous two induction ceremonies, making 2022 a crowded affair. The ceremony was moved from the Hall of Fame’s home in Canastota, New York, to Turning Stone Resort and Casino in nearby Verona to accommodate the 36 honorees. Former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko was not there. He’s in Ukraine helping his brother, the mayor of Kyiv, but sent a short video.

MILB – Midwest League Baseball
Yesterday
Great Lakes Loons 9, Dayton Dragons 5
Lansing Lugnuts 3, West Michigan Whitecaps 2
Cedar Rapids Kernels 9, South Bend Cubs 0

MHSAA – High School Sports
Saturday
Baseball – Regional Final/Quarterfinal
Division 1 at Coldwater
Northville 9, Brighton 3
Battle Creek Lakeview 7, Monroe 2
Quarterfinal
BC Lakeview 7, Northville 2

Division 1 at Mt. Pleasant
Mattawan 7, Midland 6
Forest Hills Northern 6, Grandville 5
Quarterfinal
Forest Hills Northern 7, Mattawan 6

Division 2 at Hope College
Hamilton 8, Charlotte 3
Grand Rapids Christian 2, Vicksburg 1
Quarterfinal
Grand Rapids Christian 14, Hamilton 2

Division 3 at Adrian College
Buchanan 10, Onsted 0
Clinton 7, Hudson 0
Quarterfinal
Buchanan 9, Clinton 0

Division 4 at Kalamazoo College
Britton-Deerfield 6, Gobles 4
Whitmore Lake 3, Decatur 1
Quarterfinal
Whitmore Lake 11, Britton-Deerfield 5

Softball – Regional Semifinal/Final
Division 1 at Portage Northern
Mattawan 2, Holt 0
Coldwater 3, DeWitt 2
Regional Final
Mattawan 4, Coldwater 2

Division 2 at Wayland
Wayland 2, Vicksburg 0
Lakeshore 6, Otsego 1
Regional Final
Lakeshore 2, Wayland 1 – 8 Innings

Division 3 at Parchment
Watervliet 8, Centreville 2
Parchment 1, Buchanan 0
Regional Final
Parchment 6, Watervliet 2

Division 4 at Mendon
River Valley 2, Athens 0
Kalamazoo Christian 8, Mendon 0
Regional Final
Kalamazoo Christian 12, River Valley 11 – 8 Innings