95.7 & 1400 WSJM Sports @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Wednesday, April 27, 2016
MLB – Major League Baseball
Yesterday
Oakland Athletics 5, Detroit Tigers 1
Chicago White Sox 10, Toronto Blue Jays 1
Chicago Cubs 4, Milwaukee Brewers 3
A’s 5, Tigers 1 – Hill pitches 7 outstanding innings, A’s beat Tigers 5-1
Rich Hill allowed four hits in seven scoreless innings, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers 5-1 on Tuesday night. Marcus Semien homered for the A’s, and Hill (3-2) breezed through Detroit’s righty-heavy lineup with little trouble. The left-hander struck out eight and wasn’t really in any jams after he escaped the first inning with two on. Mike Pelfrey (0-4) allowed five runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings and remains winless since signing with Detroit this past offseason. He allowed three runs in the fourth inning and then gave up Semien’s two-run shot with two out in the seventh. Justin Upton made a terrific catch in left field in the third, reaching above the wall on a drive by Oakland’s Chris Coghlan. The ball actually popped out of Upton’s glove, but he was able to gather it in before it hit the ground.
White Sox 10, Blue Jays 1 – Sale up to 5-0, White Sox rout Blue Jays for 5th win in row
Chris Sale won again, pitching eight sharp innings and leading the Chicago White Sox over the Toronto Blue Jays 10-1 Tuesday night for their fifth straight win. Sale (5-0) has won all of his starts this season and leads the majors in victories. The lefty ace has a 1.66 ERA. Sale carried a one-hitter into the seventh inning, retiring 13 straight batters before Edwin Encarnacion homered. Sale gave up four hits in eight innings, striking out six and walking two. Dioner Navarro hit a two-run homer and Avisail Garcia and Adam Eaton added solo shots for Chicago. The three home runs, 15 hits and 10 runs were all season highs for the White Sox.
Cubs 4, Brewers 3 – Cubs hold off Brewers 4-3 for best 20-game start since 1907
Addison Russell’s two-out, two-run triple in the sixth inning snapped a tie and the Chicago Cubs held off the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 Thursday night to secure their best 20-game start since 1907. Anthony Rizzo added an RBI single in the seventh and Adam Warren (2-0) struck out three in two scoreless innings as the Cubs improved to 15-5, surpassing the 1969 club’s 14-6 start. The 1907 World Series-winning team began 16-4. Ryan Braun’s pinch-hit, two-run double off Pedro Strop in the eighth got the Brewers within a run. But Hector Rondon pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save. With a 16 mph wind blowing in and the wind chill 34 degrees at first pitch, runs were at a premium, Third baseman Aaron Hill’s fielding error to begin the sixth led to two unearned runs off Jimmy Nelson (3-2) in the Brewers’ fourth loss in five games.
Tonight
Chicago White Sox (Quintana 2-1) at Toronto Blue Jays (Estrada 1-1), 7:07 p.m.
Oakland Athletics (S.Gray 3-1) at Detroit Tigers (Verlander 1-2), 7:10 p.m. WSJM Sports/Cosy-FM 6:45
Milwaukee Brewers (Jungmann 0-3) at Chicago Cubs (Arrieta 4-0), 8:05 p.m.
MLB – NL Cy Young winner Arrieta calls PED whispers “flattering”
Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta calls it “flattering” that some major league players are spreading rumors that he’s used performance-enhancing drugs. Arrieta says teammates have heard the whispers, with manager Joe Maddon saying everyone in baseball has become suspicious on the issue. Arrieta says he’s always thrown up to 98 miles-an-hour and that he’s in good shape because of genetics and his diet.
MLB – Collins won’t face suspension from MLB over gesture at fans
MLB officials say Tigers outfielder Tyler Collins won’t face a suspension after giving the home fans the middle finger Monday night after losing a ball in the lights. Collins apologized after the game, saying he lashed out inappropriately and was embarrassed about the incident. Collins said he could not see the flyball hit by Oakland’s Marcus Semien, and an error charged to left fielder Justin Upton allowed Semien to reach third, bringing on the boos.
NHL – 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Tonight – Round 1
Nashville Predators at Anaheim Ducks, 10:00 p.m. (Series tied 3-3, Game 7)
Tonight – Round 2
New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:00 p.m. (Game 1)
NHL – Blackhawks-Blues Game 7 draws best NBCSN 1st-round audience
Game 7 of the Blackhawks-Blues series drew the largest TV audience for a first-round NHL playoff game on NBCSN. St. Louis’ 3-2 win Monday to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup champions averaged 1.35 million viewers. The telecast on CSN Chicago earned a 19.1 rating, a record for the regional sports network. That means 19.1 percent of homes with televisions in the Chicago area were tuned to the broadcast.
NHL – Blackhawks positioned for more success next season
No June hockey for the Chicago Blackhawks this year, not even May. Plenty of time for Chicago to plan for its sticky situation with the salary cap. The Blackhawks’ title defense ended Monday night when they lost 3-2 to the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of their thrilling first-round series. Six of the seven games were decided by one goal, and Brent Seabrook and Andrew Ladd each had a shot go off both goal posts during losses for Chicago. It’s the quickest exit for the Blackhawks since they also dropped their first playoff series in 2012. They won the Stanley Cup the following year, lost to the Los Angeles Kings in an epic Western Conference finals in 2014 and won the championship again last year.
NBA – 2016 NBA Playoffs
Last Night
Toronto Raptors 102, Indiana Pacers 99 (TOR leads 3-2)
Atlanta Hawks 110, Boston Celtics 83 (ATL leads 3-2)
Raptors 102, Pacers 99 – DeRozan scores 34, Raptors rally for 3-2 lead over Pacers
DeMar DeRozan scored 34 points and the Toronto Raptors held on for a 102-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers and a 3-2 lead in their first-round series Tuesday night when Solomon Hill’s 3-pointer was ruled after the buzzer. The Raptors overcame 39 points from Paul George and a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, getting 14 points from Kyle Lowry. Bismack Biyombo had 10 points and 16 rebounds for the second-seeded Raptors, who can clinch the first seven-game playoff series victory in franchise history by beating the Pacers in Indiana on Friday night. George Hill had 15 points and Myles Turner 14 for the Pacers, who led by as many as 17 and never trailed through the first three quarters before coming unglued in the fourth.
Hawks 110, Celtics 83 – Hawks hammer Celtics
The Atlanta Hawks are up 3-2 in their first-round series after they reeled off a 28-8 run to turn a 10-point, second-quarter deficit into a 110-83 rout of Boston. Ken Bazemore sparked the turnaround with three straight 3-pointers in the second period before finishing with 16 points. Jeff Teague also had 16 points and Mike Scott had a team-high 17 points for Atlanta.
Tonight
Charlotte Hornets at Miami Heat, 8:00 p.m. (Series tied 2-2)
Portland Trailblazers at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:00 p.m. (Series tied 2-2)
Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors, 10:30 p.m. (GSW leads 3-1)
NBA – Clippers lose Griffin, Paul
The Los Angeles Clippers’ road to the NBA’s Western Conference finals now has two major potholes. Griffin is out for the remainder of the postseason after aggravating his left quadriceps tendon in Monday’s Game 4 loss at Portland. The prognosis was announced a day after Clippers guard Chris Paul broke his right hand during the second half of Monday’s game. Paul underwent surgery on Tuesday. That means the Clippers are without their two best players as they try to advance to the conference semifinals. Griffin averaged 15.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the first four playoff games. Paul averaged 23.8 points, 7.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds. The Clippers and Trail Blazers are tied at two games apiece.
NCAA Football – Eastern Michigan has `no plans’ to drop football
Eastern Michigan says it has “absolutely no plans” to drop football or move to another division or conference. The school released an open letter Tuesday affirming support for the Mid-American Conference program after the Detroit Free Press reported that there have been calls for EMU to stop playing Division I football. The paper cited a report by faculty and students that advocated dropping out of D-I in football to save money for students. The letter, signed by interim President Donald Loppnow, president-elect James Smith and eight members of the Board of Regents, says EMU is pleased to be in the MAC, and that any suggestion that the school is considering dropping football or moving to another division or conference is “absolutely false.”
MLS – Owners of Pistons, Cavs trying to bring MLS to Detroit
Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert are teaming up to try to bring a Major League Soccer team to downtown Detroit. MLS says Commissioner Don Garber will be in Detroit on Wednesday for meetings with the potential ownership group, and there’s a news conference scheduled for that day. Garber recently said Detroit was a candidate to get a team. Gores and Gilbert, both of whom graduated Michigan State, said in a joint statement: “Detroit is rising and we know firsthand the power of sports to lift a community and drive a civic renaissance. We are very excited about the prospect of bringing Major League Soccer to Detroit and building an ownership group that represents a cross-section of investors.”
NFL – Bengals release Hawk
The Cincinnati Bengals have released linebacker A.J. Hawk, who signed as a free agent last spring. The 32-year-old Hawk started 11 of his 16 games last season, logging 24 tackles and a sack. He also played in the team’s wild card playoff loss to Pittsburgh. Before that, Hawk spent nine seasons with Green Bay and left as the team’s career leader in tackles.
NFL – Former quarterback indicted
Former Heisman Trophy winner and ex-Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has been indicted by a grand jury in Dallas on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge stemming from a complaint by his ex-girlfriend. Manziel is accused by Colleen Crowley of hitting her and threatening to kill her during a night out on Jan. 30. Crowley said in court documents that Manziel struck her so hard that she temporarily lost hearing in one ear. Manziel faces up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
Lansing Lugnuts 1, Beloit Snappers 0
Cedar Rapids Kernels 1, West Michigan Whitecaps 0
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4, Great Lakes Loons 3
South Bend Cubs 7, Quad Cities River Bandits 5
Tonight
South Bend Cubs at Quad Cities River Bandits, 12:00 p.m.
Lansing Lugnuts at Beloit Snappers, 7:30 p.m.
Great Lakes Loons at Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 7:35 p.m.
West Michigan Whitecaps at Cedar Rapids Kernels, 7:35 p.m.
AHL – 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs – Round 1 (best of 5)
Last Night
Grand Rapids Griffins 4, Milwaukee Admirals 1 (GRG wins 3-0)
Grand Rapids will face Lake Erie in Round 2, schedule TBA
ECHL – 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs – Round 1 (best of 7)
Last Night
Reading Royals 4, Toledo Walleye 1 (REA wins 4-3)
MHSAA – High School Sports
Yesterday
Baseball
St. Joseph 2, Lakeshore 0 – Game 1
Lakeshore 7, St. Joseph 1 – Game 2
Portage Central 3, Benton Harbor 2 – Game 1
Portage Central 11, Benton Harbor 1 – Game 2
Edwardsburg 5, Dowagiac 1 – Game 1
Edwardsburg 6, Dowagiac 3 – Game 2
Three Rivers 2, Sturgis 0 – Game 1
Sturgis 6, Three Rivers 3 – Game 2
Vicksburg 13, Allegan 0 – Game 1
Vicksburg 10, Allegan 1 – Game 2
South Haven 3, Paw Paw 2 – Game 1
South Haven 11, Paw Paw 3 – Game 2
Centreville 13, Cassopolis 4 – Game 1
Centreville 5, Cassopolis 0 – Game 2 (suspended, 2nd)
Lake Michigan Catholic 11, River Valley 4 – Game 1
Lake Michigan Catholic 10, River Valley 0 – Game 2
Softball
Lakeshore 9, St. Joseph 7 – Game 1
Lakeshore 19, St. Joseph 13 – Game 2
Portage Northern 2, Niles 1 – Game 1
Portage Northern 19, Niles 3 – Game 2
Edwardsburg 9, Dowagiac 1 – Game 1
Edwardsburg 13, Dowagiac 4 – Game 2
Three Rivers 15, Sturgis 5 – Game 1
Sturgis 18, Three Rivers 11 – Game 2
Vicksburg 14, Allegan 0 – Game 1
Vicksburg 15, Allegan 0 – Game 2
Buchanan 8, Comstock 1 – Game 1
Buchanan 15, Comstock 0 – Game 2
Cassopolis 4, Centreville 3 – Game 1
Cassopolis 10, Centreville 4 – Game 2
River Valley 12, Lake Michigan Catholic 5 – Game 1
River Valley 13, Lake Michigan Catholic 4 – Game 2
Girls Soccer
Buchanan 8, Berrien Springs 0
Girls Tennis
Buchanan 8, New Buffalo 0
Portage Central 5, Lakeshore 3
Tonight
Girls Soccer
Portage Northern at Lakeshore, 6:45 p.m.
Portage Central at St. Joseph, 6:45 p.m.
Mattawan at Kalamazoo Central, 6:45 p.m.
Lake Michigan Catholic at Bridgman, 5:00 p.m.
New Prairie (IN) at Michigan Lutheran, 5:00 p.m.
Vicksburg at Edwardsburg, 5:30 p.m.
Sturgis at Otsego, 6:45 p.m.
Paw Paw at Plainwell, 6:45 p.m.
Dowagiac at South Haven, 6:45 p.m.
Allegan at Three Rivers, 6:45 p.m.
New Buffalo at Cassopolis, 5:00 p.m.
Parchment at Brandywine, 5:00 p.m.
Watervliet at Coloma, 6:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Christian at Fennville, 6:00 p.m.
Baseball
Portage Northern at Niles, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
Paw Paw at Kalamazoo Hackett, 4:00 p.m.
Softball
Dowagiac at Buchanan, 4:30 p.m.
Paw Paw at Kalamazoo Hackett, 4:00 p.m.
Girls Tennis
Dowagiac at Edwardsburg, 4:00 p.m.
Track and Field
Lakeshore at Benton Harbor, 4:00 p.m.
St. Joseph at Portage Central, 4:00 p.m.
BCS Jamboree at Brandywine, 4:30 p.m.
