Weekday Morning Sports Report – Tuesday 9/25/18

sportsreport
sportsreport

MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night
Cleveland Indians 4, Chicago White Sox 0
Pittsburgh Pirates 5, Chicago Cubs 1
Tigers were off

Indians 4, White Sox 0 – Kluber wins his 20th as Indians beat White Sox 4-0
Corey Kluber struck out 11 in seven scoreless innings and won his 20th, and Brandon Guyer hit a go-ahead solo homer in the seventh inning as the Cleveland Indians shut out the Chicago White Sox 4-0 on Monday night.  Kluber (20-7) hit 20 victories for the first time after recording 18 wins in three of the four previous seasons. The reigning Cy Young award winner is the first 20-game winner for the Central Division champions since Cliff Lee went 22-3 in 2008, and the first Indians pitcher to win 20 games with 200 or more strikeouts since Gaylord Perry did it in 1974. Adam Rosales gave the Indians an insurance run with a home run off reliever Nate Jones to left for his first of the season in the ninth inning. Brandon Barnes and Edwin Encarnacion then added RBI singles. It was Rosales’ first home run since Sept. 4, 2017, when he was with Arizona. Indians relievers Andrew Miller and Cody Allen pitched a perfect eighth and ninth, respectively, and combined with Kluber to retire the final 17 batters.

Pirates 5, Cubs 1 – Taillon outpitches Hamels, Pirates beat Cubs 5-1
Jameson Taillon outpitched Cole Hamels, Francisco Cervelli hit a two-run homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cubs 5-1 on Monday night.  The Cubs needed a win plus a loss by Colorado to Philadelphia to assure a franchise-record fourth straight trip to the playoffs, a run that includes a drought-busting World Series championship in 2016. Instead, they lost for the third time in five games, and the Rockies defeated the Phillies 10-1.  Seeking its third straight NL Central championship, Chicago saw its lead over second-place Milwaukee shrink to 1½ games when the Brewers beat the Cardinals 6-4. Hamels (4-2) had the fans and the dugout rocking when he connected leading off the third inning. But he lost his second straight start after going 4-0 in his first nine following a trade from Texas. The left-hander gave up three runs — two earned — and five hits in six innings.   Hamels’ drive to center on a 3-1 pitch sure was impressive, though.  Taillon (14-9) gave up one run and five hits in seven innings, improving to 5-0 in his past seven starts. The right-hander has not allowed more than three earned runs in his past 21 outings.

Tonight
Pittsburgh (Archer 5-8) at Chicago Cubs (Montgomery 5-5), 8:05 p.m.
Cleveland (Bauer 12-6) at Chicago White Sox (Shields 7-16), 8:10 p.m.
Detroit (Turnbull 0-1) at Minnesota (Stewart 2-1), 8:10 p.m.                WSJM Sports/Cosy-FM 7:45

MLB – Ballpark worker arrested after video shows spitting on pizza
A 20-year-old food service worker at Comerica Park in Detroit has been arrested after a video was posted online that appeared to show him spitting on a pizza intended for customers during a Major League Baseball game.  The man was taken into police custody Sunday and his arrest "stems from a video going around," said Officer Dan Donakowski, a spokesman for the Detroit Police Department. The video appeared on Instagram over the weekend and shows someone spitting on the pizza, according to WXYZ-TV.  Comerica Park officials determined the video was recorded Friday, when the Detroit Tigers hosted the Kansas City Royals, WWJ-AM reported.  The head of security at Comerica Park reported the spitting incident to police on Friday, Donakowski told The Associated Press.  Charges against the man were being reviewed Monday, according to Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for the Wayne County prosecutor’s office.  Detroit Sportservice, which provides food service at the ballpark, said in a statement that it "immediately closed that food stand and disposed of all the product" after learning about the incident. It says food safety is the "top priority" and that it will take any appropriate action to protect guests.  The Tigers played their final home game of the season on Sunday.

NFL – National Football League – Week 3
Last Night
Pittsburgh Steelers 30, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27

Steelers 30, Buccaneers 27 – Roethlisberger shines, Steelers hold off Buccaneers 30-27
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns in the Steelers’ 30-27 victory at Tampa. Vance McDonald scored on a 75-yard pass play and finished with four catches for 112 yards. Antonio Brown and Ryan Switzer also had first-half TD receptions for Pittsburgh, which led 30-10 at halftime and picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick three times.

NFL – Browns pick Mayfield to start
The Cleveland Browns have gone through 29 starting quarterbacks since returning to the NFL in 1999. Baker Mayfield will become the 30th when he takes the field in Oakland on Sunday.  The first player taken in this year’s draft got the job following a brilliant relief effort in Thursday’s 21-17 win over the New York Jets, the Browns’ first victory since 2016. He entered for an injured Tyrod Taylor late in the first half and completed 17 of his 23 passes for 201 yards to lead Cleveland from a 14-0 deficit.

NHL – National Hockey League Preseason
Tonight
Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.

NHL – Seattle one step closer to acquiring expansion team
The Seattle City Council has unanimously approved plans for a privately funded $700 million renovation of KeyArena, clearing one of the last major hurdles in the city’s bid to land an expansion NHL franchise. The next phase in the process comes next week when the ownership group attempting to land the expansion team presents before the NHL Board of Governors’ Executive Committee.

NCAAFB – Northwestern RB Larkin retires due to neck/spine condition
Northwestern leading rusher Jeremy Larkin is retiring from football after being diagnosed with cervical stenosis, a condition that causes narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck and upper back. Northwestern said Monday that Larkin’s condition is not life threatening, but prevents him from playing.  Larkin, a sophomore, is in his first season as the top running back for the Wildcats (1-2). He is fifth in the Big Ten in rushing at 115.33 yards per game. He has 346 yards rushing, 19 catches for 127 yards and has scored five touchdowns for an offense that has otherwise struggled. The Cincinnati native had 618 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns last season as a freshman backup.  Coach Pat Fitzgerald said Larkin will serve as a student assistant coach.  Northwestern hosts No. 14 Michigan on Saturday.

NCAAFB – Lawrence to start over Bryant
Clemson head coach Dabo (DA’-boh) Swinney is changing starting quarterbacks for Saturday’s game against Syracuse, electing to play freshman Trevor Lawrence over senior Kelly Bryant.  Lawrence replaced Bryant after two series of Saturday’s 49-21 drubbing of Georgia Tech in Atlanta, leading the Tigers on four TD drives in a five-series span in the second and third quarters. He completed 13 of 18 passes for 176 yards and a career-high four touchdown throws to rally the Tigers offense after a slow start with Bryant behind center.

NCAAFB – New redshirt policy makes it more tempting to transfer
A new NCAA policy that makes it easier to redshirt football players comes with an unintended consequence: Players can now choose to save their eligibility by leaving teams after participating in four games, with plans to transfer and use the saved year at a new school.  Several upperclassmen who would have been out of eligibility had they kept playing this season have already taken this route. That includes Oklahoma State senior receiver Jalen McCleskey, who is transferring after 167 career catches.  The new rule took effect this year and was universally praised by coaches. In the past, playing just one game could cost a player a full year of eligibility. Football players have five years to play four seasons and take one redshirt year.

MCCAA – Junior College Sports
Tonight
Women’s Volleyball
Jackson College at Lake Michigan College, 6:30 p.m.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Soccer
Lake Michigan Catholic 8, Countryside/Eau Claire 1
Lawrence 2, Michigan Lutheran 1
Fennville 4, Coloma 0
Edwardsburg 3, Dowagiac 0
Paw Paw 5, South Haven 1
Plainwell 2, Allegan 1
Otsego 4, Three Rivers 1
Sturgis 6, Vicksburg 0
Hartford 2, Bloomingdale 1

Girls Volleyball
Three Rivers 3, St. Joseph 1
Edwardsburg 3, Buchanan 0
Berrien Springs 3, Lawrence 1

Boys Tennis
Buchanan 7, Coloma 1
Paw Paw 7, South Haven 1
Sturgis 8, Three Rivers 0

Tonight
Boys Soccer
Kalamazoo Central at St. Joseph 6:30 p.m.
Lakeshore at Mattawan, 6:30 p.m.
Niles at Battle Creek Central, 6:30 p.m.

Girls Volleyball
Saugatuck at Watervliet, 6:30 p.m.
Lawton at Kalamazoo Christian, 6:30 p.m.
Gobles at Fennville, 6:30 p.m.
Schoolcraft at Constantine, 6:30 p.m.
Bangor at Centreville, 7:00 p.m.
Bloomingdale at Marcellus, 7:00 p.m.

Cross Country
BCS Jamboree at Comstock, 5:30 p.m.

Boys Tennis
Portage Northern at St. Joseph, 4:00 p.m.
Portage Central at Lakeshore, 4:00 p.m.
Niles at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m.

Girls Swimming and Diving
Coldwater at St. Joseph, 6:00 p.m.
Bridgman/Lakeshore at Portage Central, 6:00 p.m.


MHSAA – High School Football Rankings
Division 1
1. Detroit Cass Tech (5)                         (5-0)    50
2. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley       (5-0)    43
3. Belleville                                         (5-0)    38
4. Clarkston                                         (5-0)    35
5. Detroit Catholic Central                   (4-1)    32
6. East Kentwood                                  (4-1)    22
7. West Bloomfield                                (4-1)    18
8. Davison                                            (5-0)    11
9. Lapeer                                               (5-0)    7
10. Dearborn Fordson                           (5-0)    6
Others receiving votes: Grosse Pointe South 4. Macomb Dakota 4. Brighton 3. Hudsonville 2.

Division 2
1. Detroit King (4)                    (4-1)    49
2. Muskegon Mona Shores          (5-0)    43
3. Oak Park (1)                          (5-0)    40
4. Warren De La Salle                (4-1)    38
5. Walled Lake Western             (4-1)    30
6. Fenton                                  (4-1)    20
(tie) Jenison                              (4-1)    20
8. Portage Central                  (4-1)   10
9. Traverse City Central             (4-1)    7
10. Birmingham Brother Rice      (3-2)    4
(tie) Port Huron Northern         (4-1)    4
Others receiving votes: Livonia Churchill 3. Jackson 3. Ypsilanti Lincoln 2. Warren Mott 1. South Lyon 1.

Division 3
1. Muskegon (5)                         (5-0)    50
2. DeWitt                                 (5-0)    45
3. Farmington Hills Harrison     (4-1)    40
4. River Rouge                           (4-1)    30
5. Grand Rapids Christian          (4-1)    24
6. Mount Pleasant                     (5-0)    22
7. Spring Lake                           (5-0)    17
8. Warren Woods Tower             (5-0)    15
9. East Lansing                          (4-1)    13
10. Zeeland East                       (4-1)    8
Others receiving votes: Middleville Thornapple Kellogg 7. Cedar Springs 2. Gibraltar Carlson 2.

Division 4
1. Edwardsburg (5)                (5-0)   50
2. GR Catholic Central              (4-1)    44
3. Three Rivers                       (5-0)   38
4. Alma                                     (5-0)    34
5. Hudsonville Unity Christian   (5-0)    33
6. Williamston                          (4-1)    23
7. Grosse Ile                             (5-0)    18
8. Harper Woods                       (4-1)    13
(tie) Blmfield Hills Cranbrook    (4-1)    13
10. Goodrich                            (4-1)    3
(tie) GR South Christian            (3-2)    3
Others receiving votes: Milan 2. Lake Odessa Lakewood 1.

Division 5
1. Saginaw Swan Valley (4)        (5-0)    40
2. Portland                               (5-0)    35
3. Muskegon Oakridge                (5-0)    32
4. Reed City                               (5-0)    29
5. Kalamazoo United               (5-0)   22
6. Olivet                                   (5-0)    20
7. Lansing Catholic                   (4-1)    17
8. Frankenmuth                         (4-1)    10
9. Hillsdale                              (5-0)    9
10. Montague                            (4-1)    4
Others receiving votes: Marine City 2.

Division 6
1. Jackson Lumen Christi (4)      (5-0)    40
2. Traverse City St. Francis       (5-0)    36
3. Warren Michigan Collegiate   (5-0)    32
4. Ithaca                                   (4-1)    28       
5. Lake City                               (5-0)    24
6. Constantine                         (5-0)   20
7. Grass Lake                            (5-0)    16
8. Kent City                               (5-0)    9
9. Calumet                                (5-0)    6
10. Millington                          (4-1)    4
Others receiving votes: Hemlock 2. Schoolcraft 2. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 1.

Division 7
1. Pewamo-Westphalia (4)          (5-0)    49
2. New Lothrop                          (5-0)    40
3. Ottawa Lake Whiteford (1)     (5-0)    34
4. Ishpeming                              (5-0)    28
5. Madison Heights Madison       (5-0)    24
6. Reading                                 (5-0)    22
7. Saugatuck                           (4-1)   19
8. Detroit Loyola                       (3-2)    12
9. West Iron County                  (4-1)    9
10. Sandusky                             (5-0)    7
Others receiving votes: Hudson 6. Iron Mountain 5. Sand Creek 5. Hartford 3. Clinton 3. Concord 3. Ubly 2. Cassopolis 2. Manton 1. Elkton-Pigeon Bay Port Laker 1.

Division 8
1. Pittsford (2)                         (5-0)    38
2. Breckenridge (1)                   (5-0)    36
(tie) Clarkston Everest (1)        (5-0)    36
4. Adrian Lenawee Christian       (5-0)    31
(tie) Saginaw Mi. Lutheran (1)    (5-0)    31
6. Sterling Heights Parkway       (5-0)    26
7. Johannesburg-Lewiston         (4-1)    17
8. Mendon                                (3-2)   11
9. Rogers City                           (4-1)    10
10. St. Ignace LaSalle               (2-3)    9
Others receiving votes: Harbor Beach 6. Eau Claire 5. Saginaw Nouvel 4. Waterford Our Lady 2. Petersburg Summerfield 2. Fowler 1. Frankfort 1. Martin 1.

8-Man Football
1. Pickford (7)                          (5-0)    70
2. Colon                                   (5-0)    61
3. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian   (5-0)    43
4. Morrice                                (5-0)    38
5. Stephenson                           (4-1)    34
Others receiving votes: Au Gres-Sims 13. Onekama 13. Crystal Falls Forest Park 8.