Sports Radio 1400 WSJM @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Friday, April 10, 2015
MLB – Major League Baseball – Regular Season Opening Night/Day
Last Night
Detroit Tigers 7, Minnesota Twins 1
Kansas City Royals 4, Chicago White Sox 1
Tigers 7, Twins 1 – Tigers set AL shutout record to start season, beat Twins 7-1
Shane Greene and the Detroit Tigers set the modern AL record for the longest shutout streak to start a season, extending their string to 24 innings while beating the Minnesota Twins 7-1 on a rainy Thursday. After the start was delayed by rain for over 3 ½ hours, new Twins manager Paul Molitor’s team dropped to 0-3. And when Minnesota scored its lone run in the seventh, it was unearned. Detroit broke the AL mark of 22 innings set by the 1947 Chicago White Sox, STATS said. The longest such streak in the majors since 1912 is 32 innings by the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals. Greene (1-0) gave up four hits in eight innings and struck out five. Kyle Gibson (0-1) allowed six runs on eight hits and five walks in 3 2/3 innings.
Royals 4, White Sox 1 – Royals beat White Sox 4-1 for season-opening 3-game sweep
Edinson Volquez dazzled for eight innings in his Royals debut, Lorenzo Cain made a pair of spectacular catches after driving in a run, and Kansas City beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 Thursday to finish a season-opening sweep. Salvador Perez added a two-run homer, Kendrys Morales also drove in a run and the AL champion Royals improved to 3-0 for the first time since an opening sweep of Detroit in 2008. Volquez (1-0) allowed four hits, including Alexei Ramirez’s RBI single, in validating the $20 million, two-year deal he signed in the offseason. Volquez struck out five while walking one. Greg Holland worked a perfect 9th for his 2nd save in less than 24 hours.
Today
Detroit (Simon 0-0) at Cleveland (McAllister 0-0), 4:10 p.m. WSJM-AM/WCSY-FM 3:45
Minnesota (Milone 0-0) at Chicago White Sox (Noesi 0-0), 4:10 p.m.
Chicago Cubs (T.Wood 0-0) at Colorado (Matzek 0-0), 4:10 p.m.
MLB – Tigers set AL record for shutout streak to open season
The Detroit Tigers set a modern-day American League record Thursday by extending their season-starting shutout streak to 23 innings. After blanking Minnesota in the first two games of the season _ started by David Price and Anibal Sanchez _ Shane Greene shut out Minnesota for the first five innings to break the record held by the 1947 Chicago White Sox. According to STATS, the longest such streak in the majors since 1912 is 32 innings by the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals. The 1943 Cincinnati Reds had a 26-inning streak, while the 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers and 1994 San Francisco Giants each went 23 innings before allowing a run. The Tigers led 6-0 after the top of the fifth. The Twins are playing their first season under manager Paul Molitor.
MLB – White Sox hope to put on show for fans in home opener
Jose Abreu hopes the Chicago White Sox put on a show for their fans when they meet the Minnesota Twins in Friday’s home opener. He says the White Sox want to show them “we have a good team this year.” Ten years after the 2005 team won the World Series, the White Sox believe they are once again poised for big things. They injected some pop into their lineup by signing Adam LaRoche from Washington and brought in Melky Cabrera to solidify the No. 2 spot in the lineup behind Adam Eaton. They boosted their rotation by adding Jeff Samardzija and overhauled their bullpen, landing closer David Robertson.
NCAA Football – Iowa QB Rudock transfers to Michigan and is eligible in 2015
Former Iowa quarterback Jake Rudock is joining Michigan as a graduate transfer and is expected to compete for a starting job this season. Rudock immediately becomes the most experienced quarterback on coach Jim Harbaugh’s roster. Rudock made 25 starts at Iowa and the Hawkeyes were 15-10 in those games. Last season, he passed for 2,436 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions, but he was listed behind C.J. Beathard on the depth chart in January. Rudock received a waiver from the Big Ten, which normally requires transfers within conference to sit out a season. After Michigan held its spring game on Saturday, Harbaugh said quarterback Shane Morris was the leading candidate to start. Morris served as Devin Gardner’s backup the last two seasons, making two starts.to miss more than one start.
NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Montreal Canadiens 4, Detroit Red Wings 3 – OT
St. Louis Blues 2, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Canadiens 4, Red Wings 3 – OT – Despite OT loss Red Wings, clinch 24th straight playoff berth
Lars Eller scored 1:21 into overtime to lift the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night, giving Carey Price a team record with his 43rd win of the season. Andrei Markov, Jeff Petry and Tomas Plekanec also scored for Montreal (49-22-10), which played its final home game. The Canadiens play their final regular-season game Saturday night in Toronto. Tomas Tatar, Pavel Datsyuk and Darren Helm scored in regulation for the Red Wings (42-25-14), who reached the postseason for a 24th consecutive season despite the defeat. Detroit qualified by earning a point while Boston lost to Florida. Eller scored on a shot from the left side that dribbled through goalie Jimmy Howard.
Blues 2, Blackhawks 1 – Jaskin, Allen lead Blues past Blackhawks 2-1
Paul Stastny scored the game-winner, Dmitrij Jaskin broke a 16-game scoreless string, and Jake Allen made 21 saves to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in a Central Division showdown on Thursday night. The Blues clinched the division title and home-ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with their second win over Chicago in five days. It’s their first division title since 2011-2012 and only the third since 1986-87. Jaskin poked a rebound past Alex Pietrangelo at 17:10 of the second period to break a scoreless tie. It was the Blues’ first goal in 121 minutes, 58 seconds. Jaskin’s last goal came March 1 in a 6-5 overtime loss to Vancouver. Andrew Shaw scored for Chicago, which has lost three in a row but is guaranteed of opening the playoffs on the road and will finish third in the division.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Chicago Bulls 89, Miami Heat 78
Bulls 89, Heat 78 – Bulls pull off a staggering comeback, beat Heat 89-78
Pau Gasol had 16 points and 15 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls easily wiped out a 19-point halftime deficit to beat Miami 89-78 on Thursday night, dealing a huge blow to the Heat’s playoff hopes. Aaron Brooks and Taj Gibson each scored 14 points for the Bulls, who were outscored 33-12 in the second quarter _ then went on a staggering 39-8 run to open the second half. Miami missed its first 12 shots after halftime, and the freefall never stopped. Mike Dunleavy and Derrick Rose each had 12 for Chicago, which moved back into the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Hassan Whiteside had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Heat. Dwyane Wade scored nine points, shooting just 4 for 20. The Heat were outscored 57-27 after halftime.
Tonight
Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m.
NBA – Pacers’ Copeland issues apology, listed in stable condition
Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland is apologizing for making a “bad choice” and promised to work toward a full recovery after being stabbed outside a New York nightclub early Wednesday. The team provided an update Thursday, saying Copeland is in stable condition following surgery on his abdomen and left elbow. The Pacers say there is no timetable for Copeland to be released. On Thursday, Copeland thanked teammates, the organization and Pacers fans for their support while acknowledging he should not have been out that late the night before a game. Copeland’s girlfriend and another woman were also stabbed. A 22-year-old suspect was in custody. Two Atlanta Hawks players, Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha, were arrested for allegedly obstructing authorities. Their attorney expects charges to be dismissed.
NCAA – MSU equipment coordinator retiring after over 3 decades
Bob Knickerbocker is retiring after more than three decades as Michigan State’s head athletic equipment coordinator. He’s been the head equipment coordinator since 1983. Football coach Mark Dantonio says Knickerbocker has been a mainstay in the football program.
NCAA Basketball – Izzo says this Michigan State team was special
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has had a chance to reflect on a team he now views as an inspiration. Izzo spoke for about an hour Thursday at his season-ending news conference _ an event that took place a couple weeks later than a lot of people would have expected. A No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans reached the Final Four thanks to an upset of Virginia and wins over Oklahoma and Louisville. The run finally ended in the national semifinals last weekend, when Michigan State lost 81-61 to Duke. Izzo says his players are “role models” for the way they worked through their struggles and turned this season into a memorable one.
MWL – 1st wave of $13.5M ballpark renovation nearly complete
The first wave of a roughly $13.5 million renovation project to a minor league baseball park in downtown Lansing is nearly complete. The Lansing State Journal reports the project at the home of the Lansing Lugnuts includes updated restrooms, team locker rooms, batting cages, fan seats, suites, picnic areas and playground equipment, concessions areas, stadium lighting and scoreboard. The work at Cooley Law School Stadium is being paid for with city-issued bonds. It’s the biggest renovation project in the stadium’s 20-year history. About $4 million was spent between 2006 and 2008 on new seats, roof repairs, mechanical work and fresh paint and carpeting. Since 2008, between $100,000 and $150,000 was spent annually. By next year, the stadium also will have a four-story apartment building along the outfield.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball – Opening Day
Yesterday
Fort Wayne Tin Caps at Great Lakes Loons – PPD, Rain
Dayton Dragons at West Michigan Whitecaps – PPD, Rain
South Bend Cubs 2, Bowling Green Hot Rods 1
Today
Fort Wayne Tin Caps at Great Lakes Loons, 5:05 p.m., (doubleheader)
Dayton Dragons at West Michigan Whitecaps, 6:35 p.m.
Lake County Captains at Lansing Lugnuts, 7:05 p.m.
Bowling Green Hot Rods at South Bend Cubs, 7:35 p.m.
AHL – American Hockey League
Last Night
Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:00 p.m.
Grand Rapids at San Antonio, 8:00 p.m.
ECHL – East Coast Hockey League
Tonight
Cincinnati at Toledo, 7:15 p.m.
Fort Wayne at Kalamazoo, 7:30 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Yesterday
Girls Soccer
Lake Michigan Catholic 8, New Buffalo 0
Emily Kryska had two goals and an assist while Andy Ives also scored twice as Lake Michigan Catholic shut out New Buffalo 8-0 in BCS play. Sarah McCoy had a goal and three assists, Ally Sullivan, Dana Ives, and Frannie Valenziano also added goals.
Today
Baseball
Coloma at Buchanan, 4:15 p.m.
Lake Michigan Catholic at New Buffalo, 4:15 p.m.
Lakeshore at Laporte (IN) Invitational, 5:00 p.m.
Softball
Brandywine at Berrien Springs, 4:15 p.m.
Lake Michigan Catholic at New Buffalo, 4:15 p.m.
Coloma at Eau Claire, 4:15 p.m.
Watervliet Grace Christian at Michigan Lutheran, 4:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer
New Prairie (IN) at Niles, 5:30 p.m.
