Tigers blanked for the first time since Opening Day – Wednesday Morning Sports Update

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MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night
Cleveland Guardians 2, Detroit Tigers 0
Chicago White Sox 4, Kansas City Royals 2
St. Louis Cardinals 6, Chicago Cubs 4

Guardians 2, Tigers 0 – Bieber strikes out 9, Guardians blank Tigers 2-0
Shane Bieber struck out a season-high nine over six innings, Amed Rosario had an RBI triple among his four hits, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Detroit Tigers 2-0. Bieber scattered seven hits and walked one. Relievers James Karinchak, Sam Hentges, Trevor Stephan and Emmanuel Clase completed Cleveland’s third shutout of the season. Clase leads the majors with 13 saves in 16 chances. Rosario singled in each of his three at-bats against Detroit starter Michael Lorenzen, then tripled home Will Brennan in the ninth against José Cisnero. The Tigers were shut out for the first time since opening day.

White Sox 4, Royals 2 – Vaughn’s homer lifts White Sox over Royals, 4-2
Andrew Vaughn’s two-run homer in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie and lifted the Chicago White Sox to a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Lucas Giolito picked up the win in a game that started two hours late because of rain. He allowed two runs on five hits over six innings. Kendall Graveman worked the ninth for his first save. Jordan Lyles threw a complete game, the first by a Royals pitcher in more than two years, allowing four runs on six hits with no walks. Lyles fell to 0-6 on the season.

Cardinals 6, Cubs 4 – DeJong hits tiebreaking homer as Cardinals beat Cubs 6-4
Paul DeJong, Nolan Gorman and Lars Nootbaar homered, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 for their third consecutive win. DeJong put St. Louis in front when he opened the ninth inning with a drive to left-center off Javier Assad for his third homer this season. Dylan Carlson then tripled and scored on Andrew Knizner’s bloop double into shallow right field. Chris Stratton got four outs for the win, and Giovanny Gallegos worked the ninth for his second save. The Cardinals had dropped eight in a row and 15 of 18 overall before their win streak.

Today
Detroit (Rodriguez 3-2) at Cleveland (Battenfield 0-3), 1:10 p.m.         News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 12:45
Chicago White Sox (Lynn 1-4) at Kansas City (Keller 2-3), 7:40 p.m.
St. Louis (Montgomery 2-4) at Chicago Cubs (Steele 5-0), 7:40 p.m.

NBA – National Basketball Association Playoffs – Round 2 (Best of 7)
Last Night
Philadelphia 76ers 115, Boston Celtics 103                            (PHI leads 3-2)
Denver Nuggets 118, Phoenix Suns 102                                   (DEN leads 3-2)

Sixers 115, Celtics 103 – Embiid scores 33, 76ers beat Celtics 115-103 for 3-2 lead
Joel Embiid scored 33 points and the Philadelphia 76ers easily took a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals, beating the Boston Celtics 115-103. It was the third straight game 30-point game of the series for Embiid, who also had seven rebounds and four blocks. Philadelphia will have chance to close out the series and advance to the conference finals when they host Game 6 on Thursday. Tyrese Maxey added 30 points and six 3s. James Harden finished with 17 points and 10 assists and eight rebounds. The 76ers led by as many as 21 in the fourth quarter. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 36 points but was just 11 of 27 from the field. Jaylen Brown finished with 24 points.

Nuggets 118, Suns 102 – Nuggets beat Suns 118-102 in Game 5 to regain series lead
Nikola Jokic had a triple-double after making up with Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Michael Porter Jr. sank five 3-pointers to help the Denver Nuggets beat Phoenix 118-102 on Tuesday night for a 3-2 series lead. Joker had 29 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for his 10th career playoff triple-double, breaking a tie with Wilt Chamberlain for most by a center in NBA history. Game 6 is Thursday night in Phoenix. The home team has won every game in the series. If that holds true again, the decisive winner-take-all clash will come Sunday back in Denver, where the top-seeded Nuggets own the NBA’s best home record at 39-7, including 5-0 in the playoffs.

Tonight
Miami Heat at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m.                                (MIA leads 3-1)
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:00 p.m.          (LAL leads 3-1)

NHL – National Hockey League – 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Round 2 (Best of 7)
Last Night
Carolina Hurricanes 6, New Jersey Devils 1                             (CAR leads 3-1)
Dallas Stars 6, Seattle Kraken 3                                           (Series tied 2-2)

Hurricanes 6, Devils 1 – Hurricanes have 5-goal 2nd, rout Devils 6-1 for 3-1 lead
Jordan Martinook had a goal and two assists and the Carolina Hurricanes scored five times in the second period to beat the New Jersey Devils 6-1 on Tuesday night for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal. Martin Necas scored twice and Brett Pesce, Jesper Fast and Brent Burns added goals as the Hurricanes routed the young Devils for the third time in four games. Frederik Andersen made 21 saves in a relatively easy game after giving up an early goal to Jack Hughes. The Hurricanes have outscored New Jersey 17-3 in their three wins. The five goals in the second period were the most the Devils have given up in a period this season.

Stars 6, Kraken 3 – Joe Pavelski scores 6th of series, Stars top Kraken 6-3
Joe Pavelski scored his sixth goal of the series as part of a four-goal second period for Dallas, and the Stars routed the Seattle Kraken 6-3 on Tuesday night in Game 4 to even the Western Conference semifinal series. After a pair of tight games in Dallas to open the series, Games 3 and 4 in Seattle were blowouts. The Kraken rolled to a 7-2 win in Game 3 and the Stars responded with their best performance of the series in a dominant Game 4 victory. Game 5 is Thursday night in Dallas. Pavelski scored four goals in the series opener, added a fifth in Game 2 and gave the Stars a 4-0 lead midway through the second period of Game 4.

Tonight
Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers, 7:00 p.m.                   (FLA leads 3-0)
Vegas Golden Knights at Edmonton Oilers, 10:00 p.m.               (VGK leads 2-1)

NHL – Inside NHL draft lottery Blackhawks won for Connor Bedard
The Chicago Blackhawks won the NHL draft lottery and the chance to take Connor Bedard long before Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly revealed it on national television. The final lottery ball giving the Blackhawks the opportunity to draft Bedard popped out of a machine 80 minutes earlier. The roughly 20 people in the room to witness the drawing were sequestered there without access to phones or other communication devices until Daly revealed the card with the Blackhawks logo. The entire process emceed by Commissioner Gary Bettman is filmed for posterity. Anaheim, San Jose, Arizona, Washington and St. Louis also had a chance down to the final lottery ball.

NFL – Bears get QB Justin Fields assistance on draft’s last day
The Chicago Bears completed their draft with more help for quarterback Justin Fields but no defensive ends to help the pass rush. They drafted Texas running back Roschon Johnson in Round 4 and then speedy Cincinnati slot Tyler Johnson in the same round before turning their attention to defense for the rest of the draft. Minnesota cornerback Terell Smith and Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell went in Round 5 and Kennesaw State defensive tackle Travis Bell and Stanford safety Kendall Williamson were next. GM Ryan Poles said they’ll keep an eye out for chances to acquire a needed defensive end.

Golf – Judge seems skeptical of Tiger Woods’ ex-girlfriend’s claims
A Florida judge appeared skeptical during a court hearing of claims made by Tiger Woods’ ex-girlfriend. Florida Judge Elizabeth Metzger repeatedly questioned Erica Herman’s attorney during Tuesday’s hearing. Benjamin Hodas tried to argue that a nondisclosure agreement between the two should be invalidated, questioning whether her signature on the 2017 contract was legitimate or forged. Metzger appeared to side with Woods’ attorney that the agreement requires that any legal disputes between the two be handled in private by an arbitrator, not in court. Herman is seeking $30 million, saying she was illegally evicted from Woods’ mansion after their breakup last October. She has also claimed sexual harassment, an allegation Woods’ attorney denies.

MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
Great Lakes 4, Lake County 1
West Michigan 14, Lansing 5
South Bend 10, Wisconsin 1

Today
Great Lakes Loons at Lake County Captains, 11:00 a.m.
Lansing Lugnuts at West Michigan Whitecaps, 6:35 p.m.
South Bend Cubs at Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 7:40 p.m.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Yesterday
Baseball
Brandywine 12, Benton Harbor 0 – Game 1
Brandywine 19, Benton Harbor 0 – Game 2
Michigan Lutheran 12, Eau Claire 0 – Game 1
Michigan Lutheran 19, Eau Claire 0 – Game 2
Our Lady of the Lake 7, New Buffalo 1 – Game 1
Our Lady of the Lake 12, New Buffalo 1 – Game 2
Watervliet 15, South Haven 0 – Game 1
Watervliet 4, South Haven 3 – Game 2
Allegan 2, Coloma 1 – Game 1
Allegan 5, Coloma 2 – Game 1
Plainwell 10, Otsego 7 – Game 1
Plainwell 4, Otsego 1 – Game 2
Vicksburg 6, Sturgis 5 – Game 1
Vicksburg 13, Sturgis 0 – Game 2
Three Rivers 8, Paw Paw 7 – Game 1
Three Rivers 7, Paw Paw 2 – Game 2
Berrien Springs 3, Dowagiac 0 – Game 1
Berrien Springs 8, Dowagiac 4 – Game 2
Kalamazoo Hackett 10, Lawton 0 – Game 1
Kalamazoo Hackett 12, Lawton 2 – Game 2
Marcellus 16, White Pigeon 6 – Game 1
White Pigeon 16, Marcellus 8 – Game 2

Softball
Watervliet 9, South Haven 0 – Game 1
South Haven 16, Watervliet 4 – Game 2
Edwardsburg 5, Niles 0 – Game 1
Edwardsburg 3, Niles 0 – Game 2
Three Rivers 6, Paw Paw 5 – Game 1
Three Rivers 11, Paw Paw 0 – Game 2
Dowagiac 9, Berrien Springs 4 – Game 1
Dowagiac 14, Berrien Springs 4 – Game 2
Kalamazoo Christian 9, Constantine 3 – Game 1
Kalamazoo Christian 13, Constantine 3 – Game 2
Lawton 5, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 1
Lawton 15, Kalamazoo Hackett 8 – Game 2

Girls Tennis
Otsego 7, Paw Paw 1
Edwardsburg 7, Three Rivers 1
Sturgis 7, Three Rivers 1

Girls Soccer
Mattawan 0, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 0 – TIE
Lowell 1, Allegan 0
Bangor 2, Bloomingdale 1

Today
Girls Soccer
St. Joseph at Portage Central, 6:30 p.m.
Kalamazoo Central at Lakeshore, 6:30 p.m.
Michigan Lutheran at Our Lady of the Lake, 5:00 p.m.
Buchanan at Dowagiac, 5:00 p.m.
Parchment at Brandywine, 5:00 p.m.
South Haven at Schoolcraft, 5:00 p.m.
Edwardsburg at Niles, 6:30 p.m.
Plainwell at Otsego, 6:30 p.m.
Three Rivers at Paw Paw, 6:00 p.m.
Sturgis at Vicksburg, 6:30 p.m.
Fennville at Constantine, 5:00 p.m.
Bridgman at Delton-Kellogg, 6:00 p.m.
Marcellus at Bloomingdale, 6:30 p.m.
Bangor at Wyoming-Lee, 6:00 p.m.
Saugatuck at Kalamazoo Hackett, 5:00 p.m.
Battle Creek Central at BC Lakeview, 6:30 p.m.
Gull Lake at Portage Northern, 6:30 p.m.

Softball
Buchanan at Kalamazoo Central, 4:30 p.m.
River Valley at Otsego, 4:00 p.m.
Constantine at Three Rivers, 4:00 p.m.
Lansing Waverly at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m.
Saugatuck at Schoolcraft, 4:30 p.m.

Girls Tennis
St. Joseph at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 4:00 p.m.

Boys Golf
SMAC at Bedford Valley, 10:00 a.m. (Gull Lake)