Weekday Morning Sports Report – Friday, 9/26/14

sportsreport

Sports Radio 1400 WSJM     @wsjmsports      wsjmsports.com     Friday, September 26, 2014

MLB – Major League Baseball

Last Night

Detroit Tigers 4, Minnesota Twins 2

Kansas City Royals 6, Chicago White Sox 3

Cubs were off

Tigers 4, Twins 2 – Cabrera homers, Tigers beat Twins 4-2

Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez homered, Max Scherzer made it through six tough innings and the Detroit Tigers moved closer to another AL Central title with a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night. The Tigers, who have already clinched a postseason berth, can wrap up a fourth straight division championship as early as Friday. Martinez hit a two-run homer in the first, and Cabrera added a solo shot in the fourth. Scherzer allowed two runs and five hits. Joakim Soria pitched the seventh, Joba Chamberlain handled the eighth and Joe Nathan finished for his 34th save in 41 chances. The Detroit bullpen retired all nine hitters.

Royals 6, White Sox 3 – Royals close in on playoffs, beat White Sox 6-3

Eric Hosmer homered and drove in two runs as the Kansas City Royals put themselves on the verge of a playoff spot with a 6-3 victory over the White Sox last night. Hosmer had three hits. That includes an RBI single in the first and a solo homer off Jose Quintana that tied it at 3 in the sixth.

Tonight

Minnesota (Swarzak 3-2) at Detroit (Porcello 15-12), 7:08 p.m.          98.3 THE COAST 6:40

Kansas City (Guthrie 12-11) at Chicago White Sox (Noesi 8-11), 8:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs (Jokisch 0-0) at Milwaukee (J.Nelson 2-8), 8:10 p.m.

AL Central

W

L

GB

  NL Central

W

L

GB

x-Tigers

89

70

x-Cardinals

88

71

Royals

87

72

2

x-Pirates

87

72

1

Indians

83

76

Brewers

81

78

5

White Sox

72

87

16

Reds

74

85

14

Twins

68

91

21

Cubs

71

88

17

MLB – Jeter wins his farewell to the Bronx

Derek Jeter made sure he went out a winner in his final game at Yankee Stadium, delivering a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to give the New York Yankees a 6-5 victory over Baltimore. Yankees players rushed out to engulf him as former teammates such as Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, Tino Martinez and Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre lined up near the New York dugout waiting to greet Jeter. He was 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored, giving him a .353 over eight games in his final homestand in the Bronx.

MLB – Konerko figures emotions will hit as career ends

Paul Konerko wasn’t quite sure what to expect this weekend as he prepared to wrap up one of the most successful careers by a Chicago White Sox player. He figured the emotions will hit him. He’s just not quite sure how he will handle them. He is sure of one thing as he wraps up a 16-year run in Chicago and a career that began with the Dodgers in 1997. He has “no doubt” it’s time to put away the bat and glove. He was out of the lineup Thursday as the White Sox opened a four-game series against Kansas City. But, he expected to start the final three games. On Thursday, he thanked the Chicago fans in his own special way, with a video released by the team.

MLB – With end of season, Wrigley Field revamp to start

The Chicago Cubs will begin a $575 million Wrigley Field renovation project any day and will likely start demolishing the outfield bleachers next week, a team spokesman said Thursday. Spokesman Julian Green said the team plans to have seven new outfield signs _ including a massive Jumbotron above the left field bleachers _ in place by the beginning of next season. The project comes despite a legal fight between the owners of the rooftop businesses across the street from Wrigley and the city. The rooftop owners contend in a lawsuit filed last month that the expansion violates a revenue-sharing agreement that prevents the team from taking actions that block their views.  The lawsuit was filed against the city, its landmarks commission and the members of the commission. The Cubs played their last home game of the season Wednesday. Green said the team won city approval and has no plans to delay the construction project. He said it was likely that construction site fencing would be erected over the weekend in anticipation of the renovations, which would likely begin in earnest next week. Ryan McLaughlin, a spokesman for the rooftop owners, would not say if any legal effort will be made to halt construction, nor would he say if the rooftop owners will fight the city’s attempt to move the lawsuit from Cook County Circuit Court to federal court.

NFL – National Football League – Week 4

Last Night

New York Giants at Washington Redskins, 8:25 p.m.

Giants 45, Redskins 14 – Giants blow out Washington

Larry Donnell grabbed three short touchdown passes while the New York Giants were building a 24-7 halftime lead in a 45-14 rout of Washington. Eli Manning was 28 of 39 for 300 yards, four touchdowns and one interception as the Giants improved to 2-2 while dropping Washington to 1-3. New York’s defense picked off Kirk Cousins four times, forced six turnovers and was on the field for just 23 minutes.

Sunday

Detroit Lions at New York Jets, 1:00 p.m.                WSJM-AM/WCSY-FM 12:00

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 1:00 p.m.

NFL – Just business: Packers’ Peppers preps for Chicago

Julius Peppers is headed back to Chicago with the team that ended his season last year. The veteran pass rusher visits Soldier Field on Sunday with the Green Bay Packers after four seasons with the Bears. The last time Peppers was in Chicago, the Packers beat the Bears 33-28, winning the NFC North title on Aaron Rodgers’ fourth-down touchdown pass to Randall Cobb with 38 seconds left.  The Packers signed Peppers after he became a salary cap casualty in the offseason. Peppers says going back isn’t a big deal, and that it’s part of the business. He says there are no hard feelings. The addition of Peppers also allows the Packers to use more four-linemen looks after playing mainly a 3-4 defense in recent years.

NCAA Football – Saturday’s Schedule

Saturday

Wyoming at (9) Michigan State, 12:00 p.m.              WCSY-FM 10:30

Western Michigan at Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Michigan, 3:30 p.m.                            WSJM-AM/FM 2:30

Central Michigan at Toledo, 7:00 p.m.

(8) Notre Dame at Syracuse, 8:00 p.m.                      (Met Life Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ)

NHL – National Hockey League Preseason

Last Night

Detroit Red Wings 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2

Red Wings 3, Blackhawks 2 – Red Wings hold off Blackhawks 3-2

Andrej Nestrasil and Tomas Nosek each had a goal and an assist and the Detroit Red Wings held off the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in an exhibition game Thursday night. Tomas Tatar also scored for Detroit, Justin Abdelkader had two assists, and Jimmy Howard made 26 saves. Bryan Bickell and Garret Ross scored for Chicago. Antti Raanta stopped 21 of 22 shots in the first period and half, and Michael Leighton made 17 saves on 19 shots. Tatar scored his second goal of the preseason late in the first period, and Nosek scored early in the third. Bickell put the Blackhawks on the board at 6:28, and Nestrasil got his goal midway through the third period.  Ross scored in the final minute. The start of the game was delayed for 48 minutes because of a mechanical problem with Chicago’s plane.

Tonight

New York Rangers at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.

NHL – Groundbreaking held for new Detroit hockey arena

Officials held a groundbreaking for a new 18,000-seat hockey arena and 45-block entertainment complex in Detroit. Gov. Rick Snyder and Mayor Mike Duggan spoke at the Thursday afternoon ceremony just north of downtown. Olympia Entertainment and the Detroit Red Wings also will host a block party beginning at 6 p.m. A $450 million bond financing plan was approved last week for the arena and entertainment district. Olympia Development is committed to investing another $200 million in new residential, retail and office space in the district. The company is owned by Red Wings’ owners Mike and Marian Ilitch. The Red Wings now play at the Joe Louis Arena, which opened in 1979. Mike Ilitch has said the new hockey arena will open in 2017.

Golf – Ryder Cup under way amid boisterous atmosphere

The 40th Ryder Cup is under way after Webb Simpson mishit the first tee shot for the Americans in Friday’s opening fourballs. Amid raucous scenes at Gleneagles, Simpson hit a three-wood that traveled 190 yards, barely reaching the fairway. Then Bubba Watson tried to rile up the crowd, cupping his hand to his ear and waving to encourage more noise from the heavily outnumbered U.S. fans. With cheers ringing out, he hit his drive into the rough. The European pair of Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson hit the fairway with their drives. It was a boisterous atmosphere amid soccer-style songs and chants from the crowd, including “10-6 _ and you still can’t win.” That was a reference to the 2012 Ryder Cup in Medinah, where the U.S. blew a final day lead.

MWL – South Bend minor league club adopts Cubs name

The South Bend Midwest League baseball club has changed its name to the Cubs.  South Bend Cubs owner Andrew Berlin announced the change Thursday, one week after announcing a new affiliation with the Chicago Cubs. A new logo and colors also will match those of the Chicago Cubs.  Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said at a news conference Thursday that the parent club was “extremely excited about this new partnership.” The South Bend Tribune reports the local team signed a four-year player development contract with the Chicago Cubs. It had been affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks and carried the name Silver Hawks.

MCCAA – Junior College Sports

Last Night

Women’s Volleyball

(2) Grand Rapids CC 3, Lake Michigan College 0

MHSAA – High School Sports

Last Night

Boys Soccer

St. Joseph 2, Niles 2 – TIE

Portage Central 5, Lakeshore 0

Brandywine 4, Lake Michigan Catholic 3

Howardsville Christian 4, Michigan Lutheran 1

Buchanan 3, Edwardsburg 2

Mattawan 5, Gull Lake 1

Girls Volleyball

Michigan Lutheran 3, New Buffalo 0

South Haven 3, Dowagiac 1

Coloma 3, Berrien Springs 0

Howarsdville Christian 3, Eau Claire 0

Cross Country

Boys Girls
1.  St. Joseph (24)2.  Sturgis (35)

3.  Lakeshore (84)

1.  St. Joseph (16)2.  Lakeshore (57)

3.  Sturgis 67)

Boys Tennis

St. Joseph 5, Allegan 3

Buchanan 6, Coloma 1

Girls Golf

Wolverine Conference Jamboree at Vicksburg (Angels Crossing GC)

1.  Sturgis (191)

2.  Plainwell (202)

3.  Vicksburg (210)

4.  Three Rivers (213)

5.  South Haven (228)

6.  Dowagiac (242)

7.  Otsego (244)

8.  Allegan (272)

MHSAA – High School Football

TonightAll Games start at 7:00

SMAC

Battle Creek Central (2-2) at St. Joseph (3-1)

Lakeshore (4-0) at Battle Creek Lakeview (2-1)

Mattawan (1-3) at Benton Harbor (0-4)

Kalamazoo Central (0-4) at Niles (3-1)

Portage Central (2-1) at Gull lake (2-2)

Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (1-3) at Portage Northern (3-1)

WOLVERINE

Dowagiac (2-2) at South Haven (1-3)

Berrien Springs (2-2) at Coloma (1-3)

Edwardsburg (3-1) at Paw Paw (3-1)

Three Rivers (2-2) at Otsego (2-2)

Sturgis (1-3) at Allegan (0-4)

Plainwell (3-1) at Vicksburg (4-0)

SAC

Watervliet (3-1) at Hartford (2-2)

Lawton (2-2) at Decatur (4-0)

Gobles (3-1) at Bangor (2-2)

Saugatuck (2-2) at Bloomingdale (1-3)

Fennville (2-2) at Martin (1-3)

BCS

Lake Michigan Catholic (2-1) at Bridgman (2-1)

Cassopolis (2-2) at Brandywine (3-1)

White Pigeon (2-2) at Centreville (2-2)

Mendon (3-1) at Bronson (0-4)

Non Conference

New Buffalo (1-3) at River Valley (1-3)

Buchanan (1-3) at Comstock (0-4)

Marcellus (1-3) at Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian (0-4)

8-Man Football

Lawrence (4-0) at Eau Claire (2-2)

Saturday

8-Man Football

Battle Creek St. Philip (4-0) at Michigan Lutheran (0-4)   at River Valley