Weekday Morning Sports – Friday 6/23/17

95.7 & 1400 WSJM Sports     @wsjmsports     wsjmsports.com     Friday, June 23, 2017

MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night
Seattle Mariners 9, Detroit Tigers 6
Chicago White Sox 9, Minnesota Twins 0
Chicago Cubs 11, Miami Marlins 1

Mariners 9, Tigers 6 – Cano HRs twice, Moore wins debut as Mariners top Tigers 9-6
Robinson Cano hit a grand slam and a two-run homer, Andrew Moore pitched seven effective innings to win in his big league debut, and the Seattle Mariners held off the Detroit Tigers 9-6 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory. Cano’s seventh-inning grand slam off Francisco Rodriguez, his 13th homer, put the Mariners up 9-3. His two-run shot off Daniel Norris (4-5) in the third staked Moore to a 5-1 lead. Moore (1-0), a surprise call-up Wednesday from Triple-A Tacoma, allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings. The 23-year-old right-hander, a second-round pick in 2015 out of Oregon State, struck out four and walked none. He began the season in Double-A, then went 3-1 in eight starts at Tacoma.  The Mariners moved above .500 for the first time this season at 38-37. Detroit got within three runs at 9-6 in the eighth with four consecutive two-out hits against Max Povse, also making his debut. Tony Zych got the final out of the eighth and Steve Cishek pitched a perfect ninth for his first save.

White Sox 9, Twins 0 – White Sox cruise to win after longest rain delay in Twins history
Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier each hit two-run homers in the first inning, Jose Quintana cruised behind the extra support, and the Chicago White Sox beat Minnesota 9-0, after a rain-delayed start of 4 hours and 50 minutes that was the longest in Twins history.  Quintana (4-8) departed with two outs in the seventh inning after throwing 113 pitches. He scattered just five singles while striking out nine without a walk for his second consecutive victory. Rookie Nik Turley (0-2) recorded only two outs, allowing six hits and five runs before the first of five Twins relievers — including backup catcher Chris Gimenez — was summoned. The White Sox had seven runs before the Twins even got eight outs.  Matt Davidson had three hits and a home run, and Adam Engel had four hits and the first two RBIs of his career.

Cubs 11, Marlins 1 – Russell paces Cubs to 11-1 win over Marlins
Addison Russell had four hits, including a home run, to pace the Cubs past the Marlins 11-1.  Kris Bryant had a three-run homer, Willson Contreras added a two-run shot and Ian Happ also had four hits and drove in a pair for the Cubs, who have won four of five. Russell had two RBIs. Jake Arrieta (7-5) pitched seven innings, allowing one run and six hits. He struck out three and also picked up two of the Cubs’ 16 hits. It was the first of an 11-game, 11-day trip for the Cubs, who entered having won six of their previous 22 road games. Jeff Locke (0-3) allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings for the Marlins.

Tonight
Chicago Cubs (Lackey 5-7) at Miami (Urena 5-2), 7:10 p.m.
Oakland (Cotton 4-7) at Chicago White Sox (Pelfrey 3-5), 8:10 p.m.
Detroit (Fulmer 6-5) at San Diego (Perdomo 1-4), 10:10 p.m.       WSJM Sports/Cosy-FM 9:45

MLB – Cubs send struggling Schwarber to Triple-A Iowa
The Chicago Cubs have demoted struggling slugger Kyle Schwarber to Triple-A Iowa. The fourth overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft is batting just .171 with 12 homers and 28 RBIs in 64 games.   Schwarber made his major league debut in 2015 and hit .246 with 16 homers and 43 RBIs in 69 games. He missed most of last season with a leg injury after a frightening outfield collision, then returned in October to help the Cubs win the World Series for the first time since 1908.
 
NCAAFB – MSU’s Robertson will stand trial
Former Michigan State football player Auston Robertson has been ordered to trial on sexual assault charges. A 20-year-old woman testified Thursday that Robertson raped her at her off-campus apartment in April. The defensive end from Fort Wayne, Indiana, was kicked off the team after he was charged. The woman said her boyfriend, a football player, told a coach, who notified police. Defense attorney David Rosenberg says it’s a “weak case.”

NBA – Draft – Sixers take Fultz
A pair of Pac-12 guards were the first players taken in the NBA Draft. The Philadelphia 76ers used the first pick to take Washington’s Markelle Fultz before UCLA’s Lonzo Ball went to the Los Angeles Lakers with the second selection. Boston grabbed Duke forward Jayson Tatum with the third choice, Kansas guard Josh Jackson went to the Suns with the No. 4 pick and the Kings grabbed Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox at No. 5.

NBA – Bulls trade Butler to T-Wolves
The Chicago Bulls are sending three-time All-Star Jimmy Butler and the 16th overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Zach LaVine (lah-veen’), Kris Dunn and the rights to seventh overall pick Lauri Markkanen of Arizona. Butler set career highs with 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5 1/2 assists for the Bulls last season. The trade brings together Butler and Wolves coach and president Thibodeau, who coached the Bulls for five seasons before being fired in 2015.

NBA – Pistons grab Duke guard Luke Kennard with number 12 pick
The Detroit Pistons have drafted Duke guard Luke Kennard with the 12th pick in the NBA draft. Kennard turned pro after averaging 19.5 points a game during his sophomore season. He could give Detroit some help offensively _ he shot 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range in 2016-17.  The question is whether he can defend in the NBA.

NBA – Michigan’s Wilson off to Milwaukee
The Milwaukee Bucks have added another young, tall player to their frontcourt after drafting Michigan’s D.J. Wilson with the 17th overall pick in the NBA draft. The 6-foot-10 Wilson, who had two years of college eligibility left, averaged 11 points in 2016-17. Wilson joins an already lengthy Bucks frontcourt led by 6-foot-11 All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

NBA – 2017 NBA Draft

NHL – NHL 2017-18 Schedules Released
The National Hockey League released the full schedule for the 2017-18 season on Thursday.

NHL – Blackhawks unsure how they’ll address Hossa’s absence
Marian Hossa has been a key performer for the Chicago Blackhawks for the last nine years. They aren’t exactly sure what they are going to do without him. Hossa announced Wednesday he won’t play next season because of severe side effects from medication to treat a progressive skin disorder. The decision creates questions for the Blackhawks, ranging from how they might go about replacing the rugged forward to what they might do with any cap space created by his absence.  It’s also unclear if the 38-year-old Hossa will play again. Speaking Thursday ahead of this weekend’s NHL draft, general manager Stan Bowman says it’s “a little bit early” to predict what they are going to do in the wake of Hossa’s absence.

NHL – Oilers and Islanders make a tradeThe New York Islanders hope they’ve found a productive winger for leading scorer and team captain John Tavares.  The Isles have acquired right wing Jordan Eberle (EB’-ur-lee) from the Oilers for center Ryan Strome (strohm). Eberle provided 20 goals and 51 points as the Oilers reached the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. He has produced four 20-goal seasons since joining the NHL in 2010, including a career-high 34 in 2011-12.  Strome had 13 goals and 30 points in 69 games for the Islanders last season and is two years removed from his best NHL season, a 50-point campaign. Strome has 45 goals and 81 assists in 258 career games.

Golf – Spieth leads through 18
Spieth is the leader through one round of the PGA’s Travelers Championship in Connecticut.  Spieth hit a wedge to four feet for birdie on the final hole to complete a 7-under 63 for a one-stroke lead over Johnson Wagner and Brett Stegmaier.  Rory McIlroy shot a 67 and Jason Day carded a 2-over 72 after missing the cut at the U.S. Open last Friday.

Testimony nears end in crucial hearing for sports doctor
A judge will hear more testimony before deciding whether to send a Michigan sports doctor to trial on sexual assault charges.  The third day of a crucial hearing for Larry Nassar is scheduled Friday at a court near Lansing, Michigan. He’s charged with using his hands to molest seven young gymnasts who saw him for back, foot and hip injuries.  Judge Donald Allen Jr. has so far heard from six of the alleged victims. Nassar is facing three more criminal cases, including one in federal court alleging he possessed child pornography. He’s pleaded not guilty. Separately, he’s being sued by dozens of women and girls.  Nassar was a longtime doctor at Michigan State University and Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians.

MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
West Michigan Whitecaps 5, Lansing Lugnuts 4 – 10 innings
South Bend 1, Great Lakes 1 – Suspended – Bot 7th (will be completed today)

Tonight
Lansing at West Michigan, 7:00 p.m.
South Bend at Great Lakes, 7:05 p.m. (Completion of suspended game and then regular game)