95.7 & 1400 WSJM Sports @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Wednesday, September 21, 2016
MLB – Major League Baseball
Yesterday
Detroit Tigers 8, Minnesota Twins 1
Philadelphia Phillies 7, Chicago White Sox 6
Chicago Cubs 6, Cincinnati Reds 1
Tigers 8, Twins 1 – Boyd, Tigers beat Twins 8-1 with homers by McCann, Cabrera
Matt Boyd breezed through eight innings, backed by home runs from James McCann and Miguel Cabrera as the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 8-1 on Tuesday night to step forward in the AL wild card race. With Baltimore’s loss to Boston, the Tigers cut the deficit between them and the second spot to 1 ½ games with 12 games to go. Boyd (6-4) bounced back from an 8-1 defeat by the Twins at home last week, giving up a homer to Robbie Grossman in the seventh among only three hits allowed. He matched his career best with seven strikeouts and walked just one, after being pounded by Minnesota for seven runs in 3 2/3 innings on Sept. 13. McCann, in the designated hitter role for the injured Victor Martinez, sent a three-run shot into second deck above left-center in a four-run sixth against Hector Santiago (12-9). Cabrera hit his 34th homer the following inning, a two-run drive against Michael Tonkin.
Phillies 7, White Sox 6 – Herrera helps Phillies hold off White Sox, 7-6
Odubel Herrera kept up his hitting surge with three hits and three RBIs, and the Philadelphia Phillies held off a late Chicago White Sox rally in a 7-6 win Tuesday night. Tommy Joseph and Roman Quinn added two hits apiece and combined to drive in three runs for the Phillies. Herrera is 15 for 28 in his last seven games. Melky Cabrera hit a three-run home run for the White Sox, who have lost four straight. Struggling veteran James Shields (5-18), winless since July 26, allowed six earned runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. Trailing 7-3 in the ninth, the White Sox pulled within one on a two-out wild pitch and a two-run double from Adam Eaton. However, Michael Mariot came on and got Tim Anderson to ground out to short to end the game and pick up his first career save. Jake Thompson (3-5) gave up three runs and four hits over five innings.
Cubs 6, Reds 1 – Lester wins 18th, Rizzo drives in 104th as Cubs top Reds 6-1
Jon Lester overcame an injury scare to throw seven strong innings, Anthony Rizzo drove in three runs and the Chicago Cubs moved closer to securing the NL’s best record with a 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. Lester (18-4) extended his scoreless streak to 21 innings before Jose Peraza’s RBI triple in the fifth. He allowed six hits, struck out five, walked none and added an RBI double. Rizzo had a two-run single in a four-run fourth and a run-scoring single in the sixth to give him 104 RBIs. The Cubs’ 96th win reduced their magic number to three over Washington for clinching home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs.
Tonight
Chicago White Sox (Chris Sale 16-8) at Philadelphia (Jerad Eickhoff 10-14), 7:05 p.m.
Cincinnati (Robert Stephenson 2-1) at Chicago Cubs (John Lackey 9-8), 8:05 p.m.
Detroit (Buck Farmer 0-0) at Minnesota (Jose Berrios 2-7), 8:10 p.m. WSJM Sports/Cosy-FM 7:45
MLB – Tigers keep Kinsler, Martinez out following hit by pitches
The Detroit Tigers held second baseman Ian Kinsler and designated hitter Victor Martinez out of the lineup last night at Minnesota. Both have injuries stemming from being hit by pitches in their previous game. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Kinsler still felt “a little foggy” two days after a beaning by Cleveland right-hander Trevor Bauer knocked his helmet off and triggered concussion-like symptoms. Martinez was also hit by Bauer in the same inning on the knee, which remained purple and swollen on Tuesday. Andrew Romine was playing second base and James McCann was the designated hitter for the start of the three-game series with the Twins.
MLB – Strop ready to go
Cubs right-hander Pedro Strop is set to be activated off the disabled list Friday, giving Chicago’s bullpen another valuable arm for the playoffs. Strop threw about 20 pitches without difficulty in a simulated game Tuesday and declared himself pain-free following knee and groin injuries. He is 2-2 with a 2.89 ERA in 43 2/3 innings over 50 appearances this year.
NFL – Sprained thumb could leave struggling Bears without Cutler
The struggling Chicago Bears might have to get by without quarterback Jay Cutler. Coach John Fox tells WBBM-AM Cutler has a sprained right thumb that does not appear to require surgery. Fox wouldn’t rule him out for this weekend’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. If he is not ready, Brian Hoyer will start. Fox says Cutler will be re-evaluated today. Cutler has not played in all 16 games since 2009, his first season in Chicago, and if he is sidelined, that would be a big blow for the Bears. They are 0-2 in their second season under Fox after finishing last in the NFC North a year ago, and the last thing they need is to have to get by without their quarterback. Cutler topped a long list of players injured in Monday’s 29-14 loss to Philadelphia. Linebacker Danny Trevathan is scheduled for surgery this morning on a sprained thumb.
NFL – Bears’ Houston tears ACL, out for rest of year
Chicago Bears linebacker Lamarr Houston will miss the rest of the season because of a torn ACL in his left knee. Coach John Fox confirmed the injury to WBBM-AM on Tuesday night. Houston was one of a long line of Bears hurt in Monday’s 29-14 loss to Philadelphia, along with quarterback Jay Cutler (sprained right thumb). Houston clutched his knee and was tended to on the field after trying to rush the quarterback in the second quarter. He tore the ACL in his right knee celebrating a late sack in a blowout loss at New England in October 2014.
NCAA Football – Spartans look dangerous again after another big road win
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio doesn’t act all that surprised these days when the Spartans beat a big-name opponent on the road. They’ve now done it three times in last 12 months _ against rivals Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame. He says the Spartans won’t win every game but they are competitive and understand they can sometimes lift their level of play when the opponent demands it. The eighth-ranked Spartans may expect to win games like these, but there are still plenty of doubters whenever Michigan State takes on some of the top opponents in its region. Notre Dame was favored by about a touchdown Saturday night, but Michigan State won 36-28. Next up for the Spartans is their conference opener Saturday, at home against No. 11 Wisconsin.
NCAA Football – Big deficits leave Notre Dame in an early season hole
Notre Dame has played well when games against good opponents appear out of reach. The Fighting Irish (1-2) trailed Texas by 17 before taking the lead and then losing in overtime in the opener. They were down 29 to No. 8 Michigan State before scoring three straight touchdowns and losing 36-28 on Saturday. Coach Brian Kelly says the Irish need to get going sooner, starting against Duke (1-2) on Saturday. Kelly spoke repeatedly yesterday about the need to play with urgency. He pointed particularly to the play of quarterback DeShone Kizer, saying there was a 7-play stretch in the third quarter where the Irish either lost yardage or were held for no gain. He says that is simply unacceptable. Kelly also was peppered with more questions about the Irish defense, which ranks 102nd in the nation and is giving up 439.3 yards a game. After the game on Saturday, he shot down a question about whether with the Irish were going to have to count on Kizer to carry the load because of the defensive struggles.
NCAA Football – Maryland, Ohio State take a break as Big Ten plays opens
There is something to be said about having a week off before delving into Big Ten play. That’s how the schedule falls for Maryland first-year coach DJ Durkin, whose surprising Terrapins are idle this Saturday after opening 3-0. When Maryland returns, it will host Purdue on Oct. 1. Until then, Durkin plans to work on improving a squad that needed double overtime to get past Central Florida last weekend. The Big Ten currently has five teams in the Top 25 and four in the top 11. Nebraska (3-0) jumped into the Top 25 after rallying to beat Oregon 35-32. Now ranked No. 20, the Cornhuskers hope to build on that comeback in a matchup against Northwestern (1-2) on Saturday.
NBA – Judge rules Rose accuser must reveal her name publicly
A Los Angeles federal judge has ruled a woman accusing NBA star Derrick Rose of rape cannot remain anonymous at her upcoming civil trial. The 30-year-old woman has only been identified in documents as “Jane Doe” and says the former MVP and two of his friends raped her in 2013 while she was incapacitated from drinking. Rose denies her claims and contends he had consensual sex with the woman.
WNBA – WNBA playoffs open
The WNBA playoffs open tonight with a pair of games showcasing the league’s revamped playoff format. First up will be the single elimination games as fifth-seeded Indiana hosts No. 8 Phoenix and seventh-seed Seattle at No. 6 Atlanta. The second round begins Saturday with New York and Chicago waiting _ and it will also be single elimination. The eight teams with the best record qualified for the playoffs, regardless of conference affiliation. And they were seeded according to their record. Los Angeles’ Nneka Ogwumike was yesterday named the AP’s WNBA Player of the Year, chosen by a media panel.
Tonight
Phoenix Mercury at Indiana Fever, 6:00 p.m.
Hockey – Canada eliminates US
It will be three-and-out for the U.S. hockey team. The Americans have been eliminated in the round-robin competition following a 4-2 loss to Canada. The United States ended Price’s shutout streak at 228:41 when Ryan McDonagh opened the scoring 4:22 into the game, but Matt Duchene tallied twice later in the first period before Patrice Bergeron made it 4-1 midway through the game. The outcome leaves Canada 2-0 and drops the U.S. to 0-2 with one game remaining. Also on Tuesday, Henrik Lundqvist turned back 36 shots as Sweden blanked Finland 2-0 to improve to 2-0. The Finns are 0-2.
Minor league ballpark transformed into miniature golf course
With the Midwest League’s season wrapped up, the stadium for the Lansing Lugnuts has been transformed into an 18-hole miniature golf course this week. The Lansing State Journal reports the course will be open to the public through the weekend. The stadium is having its field replaced next week and that opened up the chance for the temporary course.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Soccer
Lakeshore 1, Niles 0
Mattawan 3, Battle Creek Central 0
Howardsville Christian 3, Michigan Lutheran 2
Boys Tennis
Portage Central 5, St. Joseph 3
Lakeshore 5, Niles 3
Girls Swimming
St. Joseph 114, Mattawan 67
Lakeshore/Bridgman 110, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 76
Girls Volleyball
Coloma 3, Hartford 0
Watervliet 3, Saugatuck 0
Marcellus 3, Bloomingdale 0
Lawrence 3, Eau Claire 1
Vicksburg 3, Dowagiac 0
Tonight
Boys Soccer
Portage Central at Lakeshore, 6:45 p.m.
Cassopolis at Lake Michigan Catholic, 5:00 p.m.
Plainwell at South Haven, 6:45 p.m.
Edwardsburg at Otsego, 6:00 p.m.
Dowagiac at Three Rivers, 6:45 p.m.
Allegan at Vicksburg, 6:45 p.m.
Sturgis at Paw Paw, 6:45 p.m.
Berrien Springs at Buchanan, 5:00 p.m.
Bridgman at Comstock, 5:00 p.m.
Michigan Lutheran at New Buffalo, 6:00 p.m.
Brandywine at Parchment, 6:00 p.m.
Saugatuck at Bangor, 5:00 p.m.
Fennville at Bloomingdale, 7:00 p.m.
Marcellus at Delton-Kellogg, 6:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Christian at Gobles, 5:00 p.m.
Lawton at Hartford, 5:00 p.m.
Schoolcraft at Kalamazoo Hackett, 6:00 p.m.
Girls Volleyball
Portage Northern at St. Joseph, 6:30 p.m.
Portage Central at Lakeshore, 6:30 p.m.
Gull Lake at Mattawan, 6:30 p.m.
Brandywine at Berrien Springs, 6:00 p.m.
Bridgman at Buchanan, 7:00 p.m.
New Buffalo at Centreville, 7:00 p.m.
Bronson at Mendon, 7:00 p.m.
Countryside at Lake Michigan Catholic, 6:45 p.m.
Watervliet Grace Christian at River Valley, 6:00 p.m.
Cassopolis at White Pigeon, 7:00 p.m.
