95.7 & 1400 WSJM Sports @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Monday, August 15, 2016
MLB – Major League Baseball
Yesterday
Detroit Tigers 7, Texas Rangers 0
Miami Marlins 5, Chicago White Sox 4
St. Louis Cardinals 6, Chicago Cubs 4
Tigers 7, Rangers 0 – Fulmer, Tigers shut out Rangers for 2nd straight day, 7-0
Michael Fulmer pitched a four-hitter in Detroit’s second straight shutout of Texas, and Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez homered among three hits apiece in the Tigers’ 7-0 victory Sunday. Fulmer (10-3) became the first Detroit rookie to throw a complete-game shutout since Justin Verlander 10 years ago. The 23-year-old right-hander retired 16 of the last 17 hitters he faced as the Tigers kept the AL West-leading Rangers scoreless over the final 21 innings of the three-game series. The gem from Fulmer, whose longest previous outing was eight innings in a no-decision against Kansas City, came a day after a 2-0 victory against Texas ace left-hander Cole Hamels. The AL rookie leader in wins had nine strikeouts and no walks, and all four hits were singles. Ian Kinsler added a solo shot against A.J. Griffin (5-2) after striking out his first three times against the Texas right-hander. Miguel Cabrera hit his team-leading 27th homer in the ninth.
Marlins 5, White Sox 4 – Yelich throws out runner to end game; Marlins beat Sox 5-4
Left fielder Christian Yelich threw out pinch-runner Carlos Sanchez trying to score from second base on a two-out single in the ninth inning, and the Miami Marlins beat the Chicago White Sox 5-4 Sunday. Fernando Rodney got his third save for Miami despite allowing three hits in the ninth, including a solo homer by Tim Anderson. With runners at first and second, Tyler Saladino singled to left, but Yelich charged to field the ball on one hop and threw on the fly to catcher Jeff Mathis, who blocked the plate and tagged Sanchez for the game-ending out. Ichiro Suzuki drove in a runner from second with a sacrifice bunt to help the Marlins transition to small ball without slugger Giancarlo Stanton.
Cardinals 6, Cubs 4 – Piscotty homers in 8th to lead Cards’ comeback over Cubs 6-4
Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer, Brandon Moss followed with a solo shot one out later and the St. Louis Cardinals used a five-run eighth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Sunday night. Piscotty hit his 17th homer off setup man Hector Rondon (2-3), who entered with a 3-1 lead in his first appearance since Aug. 2 following a triceps injury. After pinch-hitter Kolten Wong and Greg Garcia singled, Piscotty lofted a shot to deep left-center field that put the Cardinals ahead 4-3. Moss added his 21st homer, then Randal Grichuk doubled in a run off Travis Wood. The Cardinals split a four-game series with major-league leading Chicago, which dropped its second straight following an 11-game winning streak. Matt Bowman (2-4) got three outs in the seventh in relief of Mike Leake for the win. Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh got the final five outs, including three strikeouts in the ninth, for his 11th save in 12 chances.
Tonight
Kansas City (Kennedy 6-9) at Detroit (Norris 1-0), 7:10 p.m. WSJM Sports/WCSY-FM 6:45
Cubs and White Sox are off
MLB – Cubs starter John Lackey leaves game with injury
Chicago starter John Lackey left the Cubs’ game Sunday night against the St. Louis Cardinals with two outs in the seventh inning because of an apparent injury. With Chicago leading 3-1, the right-hander grimaced in pain after throwing a pitch to Randal Grichuk and the count at 2-2. Cubs manager Joe Maddon, a trainer and infielders came to the mound. Lackey walked off the field and was replaced by Justin Grimm, who struck out Grichuk.
MLB – Miami loses two players
A couple of key injuries could slow the Marlins’ bid for a National League playoff berth Miami has placed hard-hitting Giancarlo Stanton and left-hander Adam Conley on the disabled list. Stanton hurt his groin trying to stretch a single into a double and was tagged out at second base to end Saturday’s 8-7 loss to Chicago. Conley gave up five runs in four innings and said he has been pitching with soreness in his pitching hand that has been getting worse.
Olympics – 100 Meter Dash
Usain Bolt is the first person to win three straight Olympic 100-meter titles, doing it with a time of 9.81 seconds to beat American Justin Gatlin by eight-hundredths of a second. It’s the seventh overall Olympic gold medal for Bolt, who came to Rio not having run a 100 since June 30 due to a bad left hamstring. Bolt started pulling away from Gatlin with about 30 meters left.
Olympics – Gymnastics
Simone Biles will head back from Rio de Janeiro with a least three golds after easily winning the women’s vault final. She averaged 15.966 during her two vaults, well clear of silver medalist Maria Paseka of Russia. Biles will have a chance at more gold later this week when she competes in the event finals on balance beam and floor exercise. But the run of Olympic gold by the U.S. gymnastics team ended when Russia’s Aliya Mustafina edged American Madison Kocian in the uneven bars. Mustafina’s score of 15.900 less than one-tenth better than Kocian’s. The U.S. women’s gymnastics team had won every gold medal available in Rio before Mustafina successfully defended her Olympic title.
Olympics – 400 Meter Run
South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk has won the Olympic 400-meter title in a world-record 43.03 seconds, lowering the mark set by Michael Johnson in 1999. Van Niekerk started from the outside lane and stormed out of the blocks before holding off 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James and 2008 winner LaShawn Merritt of the United States.
Olympics – Tennis
The Olympic tennis champ is Britain’s Andy Murray, who was a 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 winners against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina. Murray is the first period to win two Olympic singles titles. Venus Williams was denied her record fifth tennis gold medal when she and partner Rajeev Ram lost to fellow Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock 10-7 in a tiebreak.
Olympics – Golf
Justin Rose of Great Britain won the gold medal in men’s golf, the first one awarded since 1904 in St. Louis. Rose closed with a 3-foot birdie on 18 for a 4-under 67 and a two-stroke victory over Henrik Stenson. Matt Kuchar of the U.S. won the bronze with a final-round 63.
Olympics – Basketball
The U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams remain unbeaten at Rio. The men’s team squeezed out a 100-97 triumph over France as Klay Thompson drained seven 3-pointers in scoring a team-high 30 points. The U.S. squad has won its last three games by an average of just five points. The women’s team had an easier time of it as Tina Charles scored 12 of her 18 points in the first quarter of a 105-62 rout of China. The Americans won their five group games by an average of 40.8 points.
Olympics – Beach Volleyball
Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross are in the Olympic beach volleyball semifinals. They’ll play defending world champions Agatha and Barbara on the Brazilians’ home sand to clinch a medal. The Americans beat Australia 21-14, 21-16 on Sunday night to advance. Walsh Jennings is going for her fourth straight Olympic gold medal, and Ross won silver in London in 2012. Walsh turned 38 at midnight, and the U.S. fans serenaded her with “Happy Birthday” during the match.
Olympics – Pool
The green water has been replaced with more appropriate blue in one of Rio’s pools. Officials worked through the night to replace the murky green water and swimmers were greeted with clear, blue water when they arrived yesterday morning. Organizers have insisted there were no health risks posed by the discolored water that was seen in the pool during water polo competition and in a different diving pool.
NFL – Bears anticipate improved offense with injured players back
Gradually, piece by piece, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is getting his receivers back on the field. It couldn’t come fast enough, especially after the Bears opened preseason play Thursday by losing 22-0 to the Denver Broncos. The Bears never advanced beyond the Denver 44-yard line. It was the first time since 1981 Chicago suffered a preseason shutout. On Saturday, the Bears got starting tight end Zach Miller back on the field on a limited basis after he missed every practice in August with a concussion suffered at a July 31 practice. Seeking a backup tight end from a large group on the roster, the Bears looked forward to seeing the reserves perform with Miller sidelined. No tight ends caught a pass as the passing game struggled to 146 yards. In Thursday’s loss, Cutler had starting wide receiver Alshon Jeffery back after a week away with a pulled hamstring. Still to return is wide receiver Eddie Royal, who remained sidelined Saturday in the concussion protocol.
NCAA Football – Michigan is dreaming big in coach Jim Harbaugh’s 2nd season
If anyone makes jokes about Michigan aiming to win its first Big Ten title since 2004 and national championship since 1997, that’s exactly the reaction Jim Harbaugh wants. “If people aren’t making fun of you for what your dreams are and what your goals are, then you haven’t set those goals and dreams high enough,” Harbaugh said. Michigan went 10-3 last season, doubling its wins from the previous year in coach Brady Hoke’s final season. The Wolverines surpassed modest expectations, but were humbled by losing to Ohio State for the 11th time in 12 years and heartbroken by a seventh setback in eight games to Michigan State. The Wolverines have a daunting road schedule that includes the Buckeyes, Spartans and Iowa. They do get to host five teams to open the season and play a total of eight games at the Big House. Michigan might be 7-0 on Oct. 29 when it faces Michigan State in East Lansing, where the Wolverines haven’t won since 2007. Michigan will close the regular season Nov. 26 at Ohio State, where the Wolverines are winless since 2000.
NCAA Football – Notre Dame has worries other than starting quarterback
Who will be Notre Dame’s starting quarterback isn’t the biggest concern facing coach Brian Kelly. Kelly knows DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire can both play at a high level. That isn’t necessarily the case elsewhere. The Irish have holes to fill at linebacker, along the offensive and defensive lines, at defensive back and at receiver. Most of those vying for starting positions don’t have a lot of experience. Kelly said the competition between Kizer, the returning starter, and Zaire, who was the starter last season until breaking his right ankle in the second game, is close. Kelly has said he doesn’t know when he will make a decision and hasn’t ruled out using both players. He said both have looked sharp in practice and neither has an advantage. Kelly said coaches already know what each can do.
Golf – PGA – Ryan Moore wins John Deere Classic for 5th PGA Tour title
Ryan Moore picked up his fifth PGA Tour title by closing with a 4-under 67 in the John Deere Classic. Moore posted a 22-under total for a two-stroke edge over Ben Martin. Moore opened with three straight 65s in the event thrown off schedule by rain Thursday and Friday. Robert Allenby failed to make the cut on Friday and early Saturday morning was arrested outside of a casino in Rock Island, Illinois. According to police department arrest reports he was arrested at about 2:30 a.m. for disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Yesterday
Lansing 4, West Michigan 2
Dayton 6, South Bend 5, 10 innings
Great Lakes 3, Lake County 0
Tonight
West Michigan at Lake County, 7 p.m.
Great Lakes at Lansing, 7 p.m.
South Bend at Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
