Sports Radio 1400 WSJM @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Wednesday, June 03, 2015
MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night
Oakland A’s 5, Detroit Tigers 3
Texas Rangers 15, Chicago White Sox 2
Miami Marlins 5, Chicago Cubs 2
A’s 5, Tigers 3 – Zobrist’s grand slam lifts A’s to 5-3 win over Tigers
Ben Zobrist’s grand slam highlighted a five-run seventh inning for Oakland as the Athletics rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night. Alfredo Simon (5-3) held the A’s to one hit over the first six innings, but the Tigers scuffled defensively in the seventh, and Oakland had the bases loaded with one run already in when the right-hander was pulled. Angel Nesbitt came on in relief, and Zobrist greeted him with a line drive over the wall in right field for his sixth career grand slam. Kendall Graveman (3-2) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings. Evan Scribner pitched two perfect innings of relief, and Tyler Clippard finished for his eighth save. Simon allowed four runs and four hits in 6 1-3 innings. He walked five and struck out six. The Tigers have lost a season-high five straight.
Rangers 15, White Sox 2 – Gallo HR, record 4 RBIs in MLB debut, Texas 15-2 over ChiSox
Joey Gallo hit an upper-deck homer, doubled off the top of the wall and set a Rangers franchise record for a major league debut with four RBIs as Texas beat the Chicago White Sox 15-2 in a series opener Tuesday night. Gallo, the top prospect in the Rangers organization, made the jump from Double-A Frisco for what is supposed to be a short stint while four-time All-Star third baseman Adrian Beltre is on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb. With the bases loaded in the first, Gallo hit a hard shot that got past Gold Glove first baseman Adam LaRoche. It was scored a “bad-hop single” that drove home the first two runs off Jeff Samardzija (4-3). When Gallo came up two innings later, he hit the first pitch into the upper deck in right field _ an estimated 418 feet _ for a 6-2 lead.
Marlins 5, Cubs 2 – Brad Hand pitches Marlins past Cubs 5-2
Brad Hand pitched six innings to earn his fifth victory in 33 career starts, and the Miami Marlins beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 Tuesday. Hand (1-1) improved his career record as a starter to 5-18. Even with the victory, his winning percentage as a starter (.217) is the lowest in the majors among active pitchers with at least 20 decisions, according to STATS. Giancarlo Stanton hit a solo homer, his 16th. He has seven of Miami’s 14 homers at Marlins Park this year. Rookie Addison Russell’s baserunning blunder helped A.J. Ramos earn his fifth save in seven chances. The Cubs had runners at first and second with one out when Chris Coghlan singled to right, but Stanton fielded the ball and threw out Russell taking too big a turn at second. Miguel Montero then struck out to end the game. Marcell Ozuna hit a two-out, three-run double off Kyle Hendricks (1-2) that put Miami ahead to stay in the fifth.
Tonight
Oakland (Gray 6-2) at Detroit (An.Sanchez 3-6), 7:08 p.m. WSJM-AM/WCSY-FM 6:40
Chicago Cubs (Lester 4-3) at Miami (Haren 5-2), 7:10 p.m.
Chicago White Sox (Sale 4-2) at Texas (N.Martinez 4-1), 8:05 p.m.
MLB – Detroit’s Verlander to make another rehab start this weekend
Justin Verlander is making another rehab start Saturday, and Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus is hopeful that will be his last outing before the right-hander returns to the major leagues. Verlander has not pitched for Detroit this season because of a strained triceps. He made a rehab appearance with Triple-A Toledo at Indianapolis on Sunday, pitching 2 2/3 innings. He is slated to pitch for the Mud Hens against Columbus this weekend. The Tigers made several roster moves before Tuesday night’s game against Oakland. Detroit put outfielder Rajai Davis on the paternity list, optioned right-hander Buck Farmer to Toledo, recalled outfielder Daniel Fields from Toledo, selected the contract of infielder Josh Wilson from Toledo and reinstated right-hander Alfredo Simon from the bereavement list. Infielder Hernan Perez was claimed off waivers by Milwaukee.
NHL – 2015 Stanley Cup Finals (Best of 7)
Tonight
Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning, 8:00 p.m. (Game 1) TV: NBC
NHL – Veteran Blackhawks, young Lightning open Stanley Cup Final
The Chicago Blackhawks headed south this week to secure a dynasty, and the Tampa Bay Lightning are the only obstacle left. Jonathan Toews and his teammates have already raised the Stanley Cup twice in the past five seasons. They’re just four wins away from a third NHL title that would establish them as the most accomplished club of their era. The opener of the Stanley Cup Final is tonight at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay.
NCAA Softball – Michigan stays alive as Wagner shuts out Florida 1-0 in WCWS
Haylie Wagner threw a complete game shutout, and Michigan beat Florida and ace Lauren Haeger 1-0 on Tuesday night in the Women’s College World Series to force a deciding third game for the national championship. Wagner, a senior, threw a perfect seventh inning and struck out the final two batters for the Wolverines (60-7), who evened the best-of-three series 1-1. Kelsey Susalla’s single knocked in Sierra Lawrence in the first inning for the game’s only run. Haeger gave up four hits but she got no support and fell to 31-2 on the season. Florida (59-7) could have become the first team to repeat since Arizona in 2006-07. Now, Michigan is still alive for its first title since 2005. The teams meet again Wednesday in a winner-take-all game.
Tennis – French Open – Day 10 play
Roger Federer has been ousted from the French Open. The second-seed was eliminated by his Swiss Davis Cup teammate Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 7-6, 7-6. This marks the third straight year Federer, the winner of 17 Grand Slam titles, has bowed out in the quarterfinals in Paris. Federer had won 16 of their previous 18 matchups, but 2014 Australian Open champion Wawrinka was in control from the start of this one. In the other men’s quarterfinal match France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advanced with a 6-1, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 victory over No. 5-seeded Kei Nishikori. On the women’s side 2008 champ Ana Ivanovic advanced to the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. And Lucie Safarova moved into the semis with a 7-6, 6-3 win over Garbine Muguruza.
IndyCar – IndyCar mandates closure panels to keep cars on the ground
IndyCar has mandated the use of closure panels to the rear wheel guards for the remaining three superspeedway races after three cars went airborne during preparation for the Indianapolis 500. The panels will be required for both Chevrolet and Honda and will debut Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway. They also will be used at Auto Club Speedway in California and Pocono Raceway later this season. IndyCar has tried various different rule changes since Ed Carpenter went airborne on qualifying day for the Indy 500. Helio Castroneves and Josef Newgarden also went airborne in separate incidents. IndyCar vice president of technology Will Phillips said Tuesday the closure panels will be a blocker that prevents air from flowing through the wheel guards.
FIFA – Newly re-elected president resigns
FIFA President Sepp Blatter is stepping down as head of soccer’s governing body. The action comes just days after he was elected to another term amid a widening corruption scandal. He has promised to call for fresh elections to choose a successor. Elections are expected to take place sometime between December and March. In the interim Blatter says he will continue to rule the sport. The U.S. Department of Justice indicted 14 men last Wednesday, including the seven arrested in dawn raids on a luxury Zurich hotel. The Swiss attorney general said Blatter was not under investigation in Switzerland, but authorities said last week they have opened a criminal probe into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding votes.
NFL – Goodell to hear Brady appeal
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made it official, saying he will hear Tom Brady’s appeal of his four-game suspension. The league suspended the Patriots quarterback for his alleged role in the use of deflated footballs by New England in its AFC championship game victory over Indianapolis in January. The players’ union said Goodell should recuse himself from hearing the appeal because he can’t be impartial and could be called as a witness. The appeal will be heard June 23.
NCAA Basketball – Michigan grad decides to finish career at Indiana
Forward Max Bielfeldt will finish his college basketball career at Indiana after recently graduating from Michigan. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound Illinois native made the announcement Tuesday night on his Twitter account. Last season, the undersized Hoosiers lacked depth inside. Adding Bielfeldt should give Indiana more size and more experience on a front line that took another hit in May when starting forward Hanner Mosquera-Perea was booted off the team for what coach Tom Crean described as not meeting their “responsibilities to the program.” Bielfeldt will have one year of eligibility. He played in 30 games with the Wolverines last season, starting three while averaging 5.1 points and 3.6 rebounds. In 69 career games with the Wolverines, he averaged 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds.
Horse Racing – American Pharoah reaches New York
American Pharoah has arrived in New York to begin final preparations for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner will be trying to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978. Affirmed was the last of the eleven previous Triple Crown winners.
Fundraiser in conjunction with Belle Isle race raises $1.1M
An event to support the Belle Isle Conservancy in conjunction with this weekend’s Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix raised nearly $1.2 million. The 2015 PwC Grand Prixmiere took place Friday night at the island park. The sold-out fundraiser was presented by Chevrolet and more than 500 guests traveled on the race course to a trackside celebration. Organizers announced Tuesday that more than $600,000 was raised through a live auction. The General Motors Foundation also donated $50,000. The nonprofit Belle Isle Conservancy is dedicated to preserving and improving Belle Isle. The state assumed management of the park from Detroit last year.
AHL – American Hockey League – 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs – Conf. Finals (Best of 7)
Last Night
Utica Comets 2, Grand Rapids Griffins 0 (UTI Wins 4-2)
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
No Games Yesterday
Today
Quad Cities at West Michigan, 11 a.m.
Peoria at Great Lakes, 7:05 p.m.
Burlington at Lansing, 7:05 p.m.
Cedar Rapids at South Bend, 7:05 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Yesterday
Girls Soccer – Regionals
Division 2 at Vicksburg
Holland Christian 1, Lakeshore 0
Gull Lake 2, Mason 1 – Shootout
Division 3 at Hope College
Grand Rapids South Christian 3, Paw Paw 0
Hudsonville Unity Christian 4, Muskegon Oakridge 0
Division 4 at Kalamazoo College
Holland Black River 2, Lake Michigan Catholic 1
Kalamazoo Christian 4, Manchester 1
