95.7 & 1400 WSJM Sports @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Friday, June 30, 2017
MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night
Detroit Tigers 7, Kansas City Royals 3
Chicago White Sox 4, New York Yankees 3
Chicago Cubs 5, Washington Nationals 4
Tigers 7, Royals 3 – Fulmer outstanding in Detroit’s 7-3 win over Royals
Michael Fulmer came within one out of a shutout, and the Detroit Tigers hit three home runs in a 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. Justin Upton, Ian Kinsler and Andrew Romine went deep for the Tigers. Fulmer (7-6) appeared headed for his second big league shutout, but Ramon Torres and Jorge Bonifacio singled with two out in the ninth, then Lorenzo Cain drove them in with a double. Upton dropped Eric Hosmer’s soft liner to left field for an error, allowing another run to come in. The crowd booed when manager Brad Ausmus pulled Fulmer after 104 pitches. Jakob Junis (2-2) allowed a three-run homer to Upton in the first, as well as a solo shot by Kinsler in the third and a two-run drive by Romine in the fourth.
White Sox 4, Yankees 3 – ChiSox stop Judge, Yankees after Fowler’s scary moment
Following a frightening moment for Yankees outfielder Dustin Fowler in the first inning of his major league debut, Melky Cabrera and David Robertson combined to foil Aaron Judge, and the Chicago White Sox beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Thursday night. Fowler was set to have surgery for an open rupture of the patellar tendon in his right knee after being carted off the field. The 22-year-old started in right field and slammed into the short sidewall near the corner trying to catch Jose Abreu’s foul ball with one out. Fowler calmly tried to stand and walk after hitting the wall, but his right leg buckled twice before he sat down on the warning track and waited for help. Cabrera robbed Judge of what would have been his major league-leading 28th homer in the fifth inning. Cabrera leapt at the wall, reeled in the high drive and then momentarily pretended he hadn’t caught it before pulling the ball from his glove. Robertson then halted Judge in the ninth, striking out the slugger with Brett Gardner at first base to cap his 12th save.
Cubs 5, Nationals 4 – Cubs rally in 9th, beat Nats 5-4 on Jay’s double
The Nationals’ bullpen faltered once again as the Cubs put together a three-run ninth to earn a 5-4 comeback win at Washington. The Nats were one out from a 4-2 victory until Tommy La Stella hit an RBI single and scored on Jon Jay’s two-run double. Anthony Rendon’s two-run homer snapped a 2-2 tie in the seventh, but the Nationals blew a save for the 13th time this season. Wade Davis struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 16th save after Felix Pena (1-0) worked the eighth. Rookie Jeimer Candelario, who started for the injured Kris Bryant at third base, broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh by launching his first career homer off starter Joe Ross. The win split the four-game series and kept the defending World Series champions from falling under .500.
Tonight
Cleveland (Tomlin 4-9) at Detroit (Sanchez 0-0), 7:10 p.m. WSJM Sports/Cosy-FM 6:45
Chicago Cubs (Montgomery 1-4) at Cincinnati (Feldman 6-5), 7:10 p.m.
Texas (Bibens-Dirkx 3-0) at Chicago White Sox (Pelfrey 3-6), 8:10 p.m.
MLB – Cubs’ Bryant could be sidelined until next week
Kris Bryant was out of the Chicago Cubs’ starting lineup for a series finale at Washington, a day after spraining his right ankle, and could be sidelined until next week. The reigning NL MVP turned his ankle on third base while catching a foul popup in the sixth inning Wednesday. X-rays Wednesday were negative.
MLB – Braves designate Colon for assignment
The Atlanta Braves have designated 44-year-old pitcher Bartolo Colon for assignment, one day after he was tagged for six runs and eight hits in four innings of a loss at San Diego. The right-hander was 2-8 with an 8.14 ERA in 13 starts for Atlanta. Colon had just completed a three-year run with the Mets, where he was 44-34 with a 3.90 ERA before signing a free-agent pact with the Braves.
WNBA – Women’s National Basketball Association
Tonight
Chicago Sky at San Antonio Silver Stars, 8:00 p.m.
NBA – Pistons hire Walters as assistant coach
The Detroit Pistons have hired Rex Walters as an assistant coach. The team announced the move Thursday. The Pistons also named Rob Werdann coach of the Grand Rapids Drive, and agreed to a two-year extension with the Drive as their G League affiliate. Walters spent last season as coach of the Drive. Prior to that, he spent eight seasons as the coach at the University of San Francisco. He led the Dons to two 20-win seasons and two postseason appearances. Walters was also the coach at Florida Atlantic for two seasons.
NBA – Free Agency – AP sources: Durant opts out of contract
One of the best players in the NBA’s Western Conference is about to become unrestricted free agent. He is expected to re-sign with the NBA champions. A person with direct knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that Kevin Durant has declined to opt in for the second year of his contract with Golden State. Durant has said he plans to re-sign with the team he led to a title earlier this month, his first as a pro. He would now have to reach a new deal after free agency begins Saturday. Durant is expected to earn about $31.8 million a season under the new deal, a 20 percent raise over the $26.5 million he made last season. Durant averaged 25 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season, his first as a Warrior.
NHL – Free Agency – Rangers agree to terms with defenseman Brendan Smith
The New York Rangers have agreed to terms on a new deal with defenseman Brendan Smith, two days before he would have become an unrestricted free agent. Smith would have been one of the top blueliners available in free agency after the Rangers acquired him as a rental at the trade deadline from the Detroit Red Wings. Smith had three goals and nine points in 51 games, averaging a career-high 19:14 of ice time.
NFL – Justice Department gives up Washington Redskins name fight<
The Justice Department is giving up the legal fight over the name of the Washington Redskins. In a letter to a federal appeals court, the department said last week’s Supreme Court decision in favor of an Asian-American band calling itself the Slants means the NFL team will prevail in a legal battle to cancel the team’s trademarks because the name is disparaging to Native Americans. Mark Freeman, an attorney for the Justice Department’s civil division, wrote on Wednesday to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals that the court “should reverse the judgment of the district court and remand the case with instructions to enter judgment in favor of Pro-Football.” The Redskins case had been on hold in the federal appeals court while the Slants decision was rendered.
Tennis – Police say Venus Williams caused fatal wreck
Palm Beach Gardens police say tennis star Venus Williams caused a car crash that led to the death of a passenger in another vehicle. Police say witnesses told investigators that Williams ran a red light, causing a June 9 wreck that injured 79-year-old Jerome Barson, who died two weeks later. The 37-year-old Williams lives in the area of the accident and has not been charged or cited, although the accident remains under investigation.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
West Michigan 3, Dayton 0
Great Lakes 10, Lake County 4
Bowling Green 11, Lansing 9 – 10 innings
Fort Wayne 7, South Bend 4
Tonight
West Michigan at Great Lakes, 7:05 p.m.
Lansing at South Bend, 7:35 p.m.
