Sports Radio 1400 WSJM @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Thursday, April 09, 2015
MLB – Major League Baseball – Regular Season Opening Night/Day
Last Night
Chicago Cubs 2, St. Louis Cardinals 0
Detroit Tigers 11, Minnesota Twins 0
Kansas City Royals 7, Chicago White Sox 5
Cubs 2, Cardinals 0 – Arrieta, Castro lead Cubs over Cardinals 2-0
Jake Arrieta allowed three hits over seven innings and Starlin Castro had a go-ahead RBI single in a two-run seventh inning, leading the Chicago Cubs over the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 Wednesday for their first win this season. Arrieta (1-0) struck out seven and walked three. He was 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA in a breakout 2014 and improved to 3-0 with a 0.74 ERA in six career starts against St. Louis. Phil Coke, Neil Ramirez, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon combined for hitless relief. Rendon pitched a perfect ninth for his first save with the Cubs, who lost 3-0 to St. Louis on Sunday night’s opener. Lance Lynn (0-1) struck out nine in six-plus innings, allowing both runs _ one earned _ and two hits.
Tigers 11, Twins 0 – Tigers shut out Minnesota again in 11-0 rout
Anibal Sanchez helped Detroit blank Minnesota for the second straight game, Jose Iglesias had four hits and Alex Avila scored four runs as the Tigers routed the Twins 11-0 Wednesday. Ian Kinsler drove in four runs for Detroit, which had beaten Minnesota 4-0 on opening day behind star left-hander David Price. Sanchez (1-0) was impressive, as well, allowing three hits and two walks in 6 2-3 innings while striking out six. It was the right-hander’s first start since Aug. 8. He was limited over the last two months of last season by a pectoral issue. Ricky Nolasco (0-1) gave up six runs and six hits in three-plus innings, walked four and struck out two. Avila and Iglesias, hitting eighth and ninth in the order, reached base every time they came up _ Avila had three walks and a single.
Royals 7, White Sox 5 – Cain comes through in 8th with 2-run homer for Royals
Lorenzo Cain hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning for his third hit and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 7-5 Wednesday night. Cain homered off Zach Putnam (0-1), the fourth White Sox pitcher, after Alcides Escobar led off the inning with a single for his third hit. Wade Davis (1-0) struck out two in a scoreless eighth. Greg Holland, who had 46 saves last year, worked the ninth for his first save. Royals relievers Jason Frasor, Kelvin Herrera, Davis and Holland combined for four scoreless innings, striking out five, after Danny Duffy exited.
Today
Minnesota (Gibson 0-0) at Detroit (Greene 0-0), 1:08 p.m. WSJM-AM/WCSY-FM 12:40
Chicago White Sox (Danks 0-0) at Kansas City (Volquez 0-0), 2:10 p.m.
MLB – Tigers putting closer Nathan on DL with elbow strain
Joe Nathan is headed to the disabled list with a strained right elbow. The Detroit closer struck out the only batter he faced in Monday’s opener, getting the save in a 4-0 victory over Minnesota, but general manager Dave Dombrowski said after Wednesday’s game a flexor problem has bothered Nathan since around the end of last week. The Tigers will recall left-hander Blaine Hardy from Triple-A Toledo for Thursday’s game against the Twins. Joakim Soria will take over as Detroit’s closer in Nathan’s absence. The 40-year-old Nathan is beginning his second season with the Tigers. He struggled in 2014, blowing seven saves and finishing with a 4.81 ERA.
MLB – Verlander heads to DL officially, Tigers call up Lobstein
Justin Verlander is officially headed to the 15-day disabled list, and the Detroit Tigers have called up left-hander Kyle Lobstein to take his place in the starting rotation. The Tigers announced almost a week ago that Verlander would be going on the DL for the first time in his career, but they did not make the move official until Wednesday. The right-hander has a strained right triceps. The team initially thought Verlander might be able to start Sunday at Cleveland, so Detroit wouldn’t have to bring up a replacement starter. But manager Brad Ausmus now says he won’t be able to pitch in that game. Verlander says his level of concern is “very low” and he hopes he won’t need
to miss more than one start.
NHL – National Hockey League
Tonight
Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
NHL – Detroit’s Cole out for season with spine injury
Red Wings forward Erik Cole will miss the rest of the season because of a spine contusion. A team spokesman said Wednesday that Cole has been advised by doctors not to play the remainder of the regular season and playoffs because of the contusion suffered March 24 against Arizona. The 36-year-old Cole was acquired by Detroit in a deadline deal with Dallas. He has played 11 games for the Red Wings, scoring three goals with adding three assists. Detroit is part of a logjam of teams trying to secure playoff spots in the Eastern Conference as the regular season winds down. The Red Wings can clinch their 24th consecutive postseason berth with a win at Montreal tonight.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Orlando Magic 105, Chicago Bulls 103
Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons, 7:00 p.m.
Magic 105, Bulls 103 – Magic, Oladipo spoil Rose’s return in 105-103 win over Bulls
Victor Oladipo had 23 points and scored on a layup with 1.5 seconds left to give the Orlando Magic a 105-103 victory over Chicago on Wednesday night, spoiling Derrick Rose’s return to the Bulls. Nik Vucevic added 22 points in the Magic’s third straight win. Rose started and played for the first time in more than a month since undergoing surgery on his right knee. The point guard was 3 of 9 from the field and finished with nine points in 19 minutes. The Bulls had a final chance with 1.5 seconds remaining, but an inbounds pass by Mike Dunleavy to Pau Gasol at the rim sailed out of bounds. Jimmy Butler had 19 points for Chicago. Gasol, Taj Gibson and Nik Mirotic each added 15.
Celtics 113, Pistons 103 – Celtics eliminate Pistons from race, 113-103
Isaiah Thomas had a season-high 34 points as the Boston Celtics picked up a key victory and eliminated Detroit from playoff contention, beating the Pistons 113-103 Wednesday night. Thomas needed only 17 shots to put up his huge numbers, going 10 for 17 from the floor. He hit four of his eight 3-pointers, and went 10 for 11 from the line. The victory kept Boston in the Eastern Conference’s eighth spot. Detroit’s Stan Van Gundy, who had already been guaranteed the first losing season of his coaching career, will also miss the postseason for the first time. Jae Crowder added 17 for Boston, while Reggie Jackson had 21 points and 15 assists. Greg Monroe had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, and Andre Drummond added 22 points and 14 rebounds.
Tonight
Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat, 8:00 p.m.
NBA – Rose makes return from latest knee injury vs. Magic
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is back from his latest knee injury. The Bulls star started Wednesday against the Orlando Magic played just over 6 minutes in the first quarter before taking his first break. He has missed 20 games since undergoing a minor operation Feb. 27 on his right knee. Rose scored five points in his first stint Wednesday, connecting on two of his first four field goals _ both jump shots. He also had one rebound and a turnover. Guard Kirk Hinrich also was activated after missing two games because of a hyperextended left knee. A torn meniscus in his right knee sidelined Rose most of last season. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the 2012 playoff opener.
NBA – Pacers’ Copeland stabbed
Authorities say Pacers forward Chris Copeland, his girlfriend and another woman have been hospitalized after being stabbed outside a Manhattan nightclub early Wednesday morning following an argument. Police say the player was stabbed in the abdomen and his girlfriend was slashed in the arm and across the breast. The second woman was believed to be with the attacker and was slashed in the abdomen. All are listed in stable condition, and the 22-year-old suspected attacker has been arrested. Copeland’s driver grabbed the suspect and held him until officers arrived. Police say Atlanta Hawks players Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha (tah-BOH’ sehf-ah-LOH’-shuh) were arrested for obstructing the crime scene. Team officials say they are investigating.
Golf – Masters – Streelman wins Par-3 tourney at August
Kevin Streelman beat Camilo Villegas on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Par 3 tournament at Augusta National. Villegas had two holes-in-one through his first eight holes en route to a 5 under, one shot ahead of Cameron Tringale, Ben Martin and Ryan Moore. Jack Nicklaus had a hole in one on the fourth hole.
NCAA – Michigan’s Albrecht has hip surgery, faces 4-5 month rehab
Michigan guard Spike Albrecht faces 4 to 5 months of rehab after having surgery on his right hip. The Wolverines announced Wednesday that Albrecht had the operation at University of Michigan hospital. He may consider a similar procedure on his left hip later in the offseason. Coach John Beilein says Albrecht played through pain in both hips this past season. Albrecht started 18 games last season, averaging 7.5 points and 32 minutes. He carried more responsibility because of fellow point guard Derrick Walton’s injury problems. Albrecht has been a backup for most of his three seasons at Michigan, and he’s probably best known for his 17-point performance in a losing effort against Louisville in the 2013 NCAA title game.
NCAA – NCAA Tourney head says refs should have been more patient
NCAA vice president of men’s basketball Dan Gavitt says the referees Monday night in the national championship game had access to television replays on a crucial play in the last 2 minutes but had already decided to give the ball to Duke when CBS showed a magnified view of the play. The NCAA Tournament head says the referees should have been a little more “patient” before making the ruling after Wisconsin’s Bronson Koenig missed a layup with 1:54 left and the Badgers trailing 63-58. In a scramble for the rebound, the referees initially ruled it went off a Wisconsin player even though replays appeared to show the ball was clearly touched by a Duke play. But the call was not reversed, and the Blue Devils went on to win 68-63.
NCAA – AP Newsbreak: Jewell Loyd declares for WNBA Draft
Notre Dame junior Jewell Loyd declared herself eligible for the WNBA draft on Wednesday, a night after the Irish lost in the national championship game to UConn. Loyd could be the top pick in the April 16 WNBA draft and had until Wednesday night to declare. She has up until five days before the draft to return to Notre Dame if she changes her mind. The WNBA has strict rules about who may leave school early for the draft. Loyd is eligible because she will turn 22 during the calendar year of the draft. Loyd’s choice to turn pro came two days after Minnesota sophomore Amanda Zahui B. also decided to leave school early. They aren’t the first female players to leave school early to turn pro. Candace Parker left Tennessee after her junior year and was the No. 1 pick in the draft in 2008.
NCAA – Notre Dame expects to make another run at title next season
About two dozen fans cheered as Notre Dame players returned to campus with a police escort after losing to Connecticut in the national championship game. The Irish players high-fived fans as they got off the bus Wednesday and signed a “Play like a champion” sign one fan was holding. Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw became emotional at the sight, saying Notre Dame’s inability to bring home a championship for the fans was one of the biggest disappointments. The Irish have lost in the title game four of the past five seasons. But McGraw says the future looks bright, with five starters and key reserve players returning and the Irish adding three McDonald’s All-Americans. She thinks it’s going to take one special player to get the Irish over the hump.
NFL – NFL breaks ground with female official
The NFL has hired Sarah Thomas to be its first female full-time game official. The 41-year old will be a line judge for the coming season. Thomas has been in the league’s officiating development program and worked some team minicamps last year. She was the first female official to work games on the FBS level and the first to officiate a bowl game, the 2009 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball – Opening Day
Today
Fort Wayne Tin Caps at Great Lakes Loons, 6:05 p.m.
Dayton Dragons at West Michigan Whitecaps , 6:35 p.m.
Bowling Green at South Bend, 7:05 p.m.
AHL – American Hockey League
Last Night
Grand Rapids Griffins 6, Milwaukee Admirals 2
ECHL – East Coast Hockey League
Tonight
Indy Fuel 4, Kalamazoo Wings 3 – OT
MHSAA – High School Sports
Yesterday
Baseball
St. Joseph 11, Bridgman 0
Tommy Moore and Bret Cohoon each had two RBI’s as St. Joseph beat Bridgman 11-0. Jake Mavis threw 3 no hit innings and struck out 6 to earn the win. St. Joe jumped out to an 8-0 lead after the first inning.
Berrien Springs 3, Brandywine 2
Brian Engler had 2 RBI’s and tied the game in the bottom of the 7th and then Bryce Evans had an RBI single to give Berrien Springs a 3-2 win in game 1. In the second game, Brandywine scored 5 runs in the 4th inning to take a commanding lead as Brandywine won the second game 10-3.
Girls Soccer
St. Joseph 11, Bridgman 0
St. Joseph opened the season with a dominating 11-0 win over Bridgman. Corel Carmichael had three goals in the first five minutes, while Dominique Thomas recorded another hat trick and added an assist. Jessie Armstrong scored twice and had two assists. The Bears also got single goals from Emma Vaughn, Alyssa Berry, and Shivani Jain. St. Joe outshot Bridgman 20-0.
Girls Tennis
Brandywine 8, Niles 0
Berrien Springs 5, Lake Michigan Catholic 3
Today
Baseball
Lawrence at Benton Harbor, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Buchanan at Niles, 4:00 p.m.
Lake Michigan Catholic at New Buffalo, 4:15 p.m. (DH)
Coloma at Decatur, 4:30 p.m.
Bridgman at Watervliet, 4:30 p.m.
Softball
Buchanan at Lakeshore, 4:00 p.m.
Brandywine at Berrien Springs, 4:00 p.m.
Bridgman at Watervliet, 4:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer
Michigan Lutheran at River Valley, 5:00 p.m.
Cassopolis at Bridgman, 5:00 p.m.
Lake Michigan Catholic at New Buffalo, 6:00 p.m.
