95.7 & 1400 WSJM Sports @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Wednesday, May 24, 2017
MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night
Houston Astros 6, Detroit Tigers 2
Arizona Diamondbacks 5, Chicago White Sox 4
Chicago Cubs 4, San Francisco Giants 1
Astros 6, Tigers 2 – Centeno’s homer helps Astros over Tigers 6-2
Juan Centeno and Yuli Gurriel homered to help the Houston Astros to a 6-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night. Centeno was making his debut with the Astros by filling in for catcher Brian McCann, who is on the 7-day concussion list. His solo home run made it 3-0 in the fourth. The Tigers cut the lead to one on a two-run homer by Mikie Mahtook in the seventh inning before Centeno singled and scored as Houston tacked on two runs in the bottom of that inning to push the lead to 5-2. Houston starter Lance McCullers (5-1) allowed a season-low one hit in five innings to extend his American League-leading streak of scoreless innings to 22. But his early exit came after he needed 96 pitches to get through the fifth in what was his third straight start without allowing a run. Jordan Zimmermann (4-3), who turned 31 on Tuesday, yielded five hits and four runs, two earned, in six-plus innings for the loss.
Diamondbacks 5, White Sox 4 – Lamb, Herrmann hit HRs, D-backs hold off White Sox 5-4
Jake Lamb and Chris Herrmann homered and Arizona held off the Chicago White Sox 5-4 on Tuesday night for the Diamondbacks’ seventh win in eight games. Patrick Corbin (4-4) settled down after a tough start to get the victory. The left-hander went six innings plus one batter, allowing three runs and scattering eight hits. Chicago rookie Dylan Covey (0-4), still looking for his first big-league win after eight starts, left the game with one out in the third inning with left oblique soreness. Jose Abreu cut the lead to 5-4 with a leadoff home run of Jorge De La Rosa to start the eighth. It was his 100th career homer and all nine of them this season have come on the road. But J.J. Hoover came on with one out and the bases loaded to strikeout Kevan Smith and Yolmer Sanchez to preserve the lead. Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save in 13 tries. Melky Cabrera and Todd Frazier also homered for Chicago.
Cubs 4, Giants 1 – Lester pitches 4-hitter as Cubs beat Cueto, Giants 4-1
Jon Lester pitched a four-hitter for Chicago’s first complete game of the season, and the Cubs beat Johnny Cueto and the San Francisco Giants 4-1 on Tuesday night in a rainy rematch of last year’s playoff opener. Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer as Chicago improved to 5-2 on its nine-game home stand. Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward also connected, helping the Cubs bounce back from their 6-4 loss to the Giants on Monday night. Lester and Cueto hooked up in a memorable pitchers’ duel in Game 1 of the NL Division Series last October, with Chicago winning 1-0 on Javier Baez’s eighth-inning homer. The Cubs eliminated the Giants in four games and went on to their first World Series title in 108 years. Lester (3-2) was sharp once again in the low-profile reunion. Cueto (4-4) was just OK, striking out eight in six innings, but surrendering each of Chicago’s three homers.
Tonight
Chicago White Sox (Quintana 2-5) at Arizona (Delgado 1-0), 3:40 p.m.
San Francisco (Moore 2-4) at Chicago Cubs (Hendricks 3-2), 8:05 p.m.
Detroit (Norris 2-3) at Houston (Morton 5-3), 8:10 p.m. WSJM Sports/Cosy-FM 7:40
NBA – 2017 NBA Playoffs – Conference Finals (best of 7)
Last Night
Cleveland Cavaliers 112, Boston Celtics 99 (CLE leads 3-1)
Cavaliers 112, Celtics 99 – Cavaliers overtake Celtics
The Cleveland Cavaliers are within one victory of their third straight NBA Finals meeting with Golden State following a 112-99 win over the visiting Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. Kyrie Irving scored 19 of his game-high 42 points in less than five minutes of the third quarter. LeBron James added 34 points, while Kevin Love had 17 points and 17 rebounds for Cleveland.
NHL – 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs – Conference Finals (best of 7)
Last Night
Ottawa Senators 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 (Series tied 3-3)
Senators 2, Penguins 1 – Desperate Ottawa tries to avoid elimination by Penguins
Craig Anderson turned back 45 shots and the Ottawa Senators forced a Game 7 in the NHL’s Eastern Conference finals by topping Pittsburgh, 2-1. Anderson was perfect after Evgeni Malkin scored early in the second period to put the Penguins ahead. Bobby Ryan tied it late in the second period and Mike Hoffman snapped a 1-1 deadlock 1:34 into the third. Game 7 is Thursday night back in Pittsburgh with the winner facing Nashville in the Stanley Finals starting Monday.
AHL – American Hockey League – 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs – Western Conference Finals
Tonight
San Jose Barracuda at Grand Rapids Griffins, 7:05 p.m. (Series tied 1-1)
NCAAFB – 3 Michigan State players accused of assault violated policy
A lawyer says three Michigan State University football players have been found in violation of campus policy after a sexual assault investigation. Michigan State says federal law bars it from releasing the report or discussing the findings. But the report was shared with attorney Karen Truszkowski, who represents the alleged victim. Truszkowski said Tuesday that the players will go through a campus penalty phase. The most severe penalty would be expulsion. Separately, a prosecutor still is reviewing a police report for possible criminal charges. Federal law requires Michigan State to investigate campus complaints about sexual harassment, apart from any police investigation. Truszkowski says she thinks the school’s investigation was “fair and reasonable.” The names of the three players haven’t been released, but they’ve been suspended from team activities since February.
NFL – New quarterback Glennon says 2017 is his year with Bears
Quarterback Mike Glennon was as shocked as anyone when the Chicago Bears drafted Mitchell Trubisky with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. A call from general manager Ryan Pace about 10 minutes later eased his mind. So did another one the next morning. Glennon says “the 2017 season is my year” and that he is not worried about his future. He says he did not discuss the possibility of Chicago drafting a quarterback in the first round with the team prior to signing in March, and he says he still would have left Tampa Bay for the Bears even if he knew they would pick Trubisky.
NFL – NFL cuts OT from 15 minutes to 10, citing player safety
NFL owners cut the overtime period from 15 minutes to 10 minutes to address coaches’ concerns too many players were exhausted and risking injuries at the end of the extra period. The change covers preseason and regular-season contests. Playoff games will also use 10-minute time blocks in overtime, but won’t end in ties. Research suggests the number of games that will go into overtime and end up tied will climb slightly. Over the last five years, with the 15-minute period in use, the league has averaged about one tie game each season. Projections show that could climb to three. “We don’t think it will lead to more ties,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said, joining a number of coaches who said they expect a more aggressive strategy during the shorter extra period.
NFL – Calvin Johnson a guest practice instructor with Raiders for a week
When Amari Cooper arrived at practice this week for the Oakland Raiders, he immediately was drawn to a special guest instructor: former Detroit Lions great Calvin Johnson. “My first reaction was he’s huge. I can understand why they call him Megatron,” Cooper said. “He definitely lives up to that.” Johnson is spending a week with the Raiders as the guest of offensive coordinator Todd Downing. And Johnson is giving tips to Cooper and the team’s other receivers as they practice, answering questions about what made him so successful in his NFL career. Downing was an assistant in Detroit for five seasons when Johnson was one of the league’s most feared receivers. Johnson finished with 731 career receptions for 11,619 yards, a league-record 86.1 yards receiving per game, and 83 touchdowns against defenses often geared to stop him. He also set the single-season record with 1,964 yards receiving in 2012. Still, the Raiders memorably passed up the chance to draft him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2007.
NCAAMBB – Michigan adds graduate transfer Jaaron Simmons from Ohio U
Michigan added a graduate transfer while waiting to find out if two players are going to keep their names in the NBA draft. Coach John Beilein announced Tuesday that guard Jaaron Simmons will join the team after graduating from Ohio University. Simmons averaged 15.9 points and 6.5 assists last season, earning all-conference honors. Beilein isn’t sure yet if he will be without Moe Wagner and D.J. Wilson next season. Both players entered the NBA draft and have until Wednesday to withdraw. Ali Abdur-Rahkman would be the Wolverines’ only returning starter next season if Wagner and Wilson don’t choose to return to school. Mark Donnal, a key reserve last season, graduated and decided to use his last year of eligibility at Clemson.
NASCAR – NASCAR shakes up schedule for 2018 and adds road course
NASCAR has announced several changes to its 2018 schedule, including new tracks in the final 11 races of the season. Under the schedule released Tuesday, Indianapolis Motor Speedway will become the 26th race of the Cup season and final chance to set the playoff field. Las Vegas Motor Speedway will replace Chicagoland Speedway as the opening event in the 10-race playoff series. Chicago moves to a regular-season race in July. Richmond International Raceway, which had been the playoff cutoff race since the format debuted in 2004, will move into the playoffs. Charlotte Motor Speedway’s playoff race will now be run on the venue’s road course instead of its 1.5-mile oval. The opening three-race playoff round will be Las Vegas-Richmond-Charlotte. The next round will be Dover-Talladega-Kansas. The third round is Martinsville-Texas-Phoenix, with the championship finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 18. The season will open Feb. 18 with the Daytona 500.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
Lansing 5, Lake County 3
West Michigan 2, Fort Wayne 1, 10 innings
Dayton at Great Lakes, ppd.
South Bend 4, Bowling Green 1, 10 innings
Last Night
Fort Wayne at West Michigan, 11 a.m.
Dayton at Great Lakes, 7:05 p.m.
Lake County at Lansing, 7:05 p.m.
South Bend at Bowling Green, 7:35 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Yesterday
Baseball
Portage Central 3, St. Joseph 2 – Game 1
St. Joseph 2, Portage Central 0 – Game 2
Berrien Springs 5, Lake Michigan Catholic 1 – Game 1
Lake Michigan Catholic 2, Berrien Springs 1 – Game 2
Dowagiac 5, Benton Harbor 4 – Game 1
Dowagiac 4, Benton Harbor 3 – Game 2
Girls Soccer
Michigan Lutheran 4, Lake Michigan Catholic 1
Allegan 9, South Haven 1
Vicksburg 4, Three Rivers 3
Kalamazoo Christian 4, Portage Northern 0
Buchanan 5, Dowagiac 0
Softball
Portage Central 11, St. Joseph 0 – Game 1
Portage Central 11, St. Joseph 1- Game 2
Lake Mich. Catholic 13, Berrien Springs 1 – Game 1
Lake Mich. Catholic 15, Berrien Springs 14 – Game 2
River Valley 15, Marcellus 0 – Game 1
River Valley 15, Marcellus 3 – Game 2
Edwardsburg 8, Buchanan 2 – Game 1
Edwardsburg 2, Buchanan 0 – Game 2
Cassopolis 9, White Pigeon 1 – Game 1
Cassopolis 9, White Pigeon 4 – Game 2
Three Rivers 10, Marshall 0 – Game 1
Three Rivers 18, Marshall 5 – Game 2
Tonight
Girls Soccer
Edwardsburg at St. Joseph, 6:00 p.m.
Paw Paw at Mattawan, 6:00 p.m.
Vicksburg at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 6:45 p.m.
Fennville at Hartford, 5:00 p.m.
Watervliet at Lawton, 6:00 p.m.
Bangor at Saugatuck, 6:00 p.m.
Baseball
Bangor at Benton Harbor, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
Hartford at Bridgman, 4:15 p.m.
Schoolcraft at Paw Paw, 4:00 p.m. (DH)
River Valley at New Buffalo, 4:30 p.m.
Softball
Bangor at Benton Harbor, 4:30 p.m. (DH)
Hartford at Bridgman, 4:15 p.m.
Paw Paw at Coloma, 4:00 p.m.
Watervliet at Comstock, 4:30 p.m.
Dowagiac at Schoolcraft, 4:15 p.m.
