Weekday Morning Sports Report – Wednesday 3/20/19

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sportsreport-605

MLB – Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer may need Tommy John surgery
Detroit Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer may need Tommy John surgery. The Tigers said Tuesday on Twitter that surgery to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow has been recommended following an MRI exam and a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews. Fulmer, who experienced elbow soreness during a recent bullpen session, will seek a third opinion. Fulmer won AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2016 but has struggled to return to that form. He was 3-12 with a 4.69 ERA last year, his season cut short in mid-September because of knee problems.

MLB – Trout, Angels close to record $432M, 12-year deal
A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels are close to finalizing a $432 million, 12-year contract that would shatter the record for the largest deal in North American sports history. The deal was disclosed Tuesday by a person familiar with the negotiations. Trout would top the new $330 million, 12-year contract between Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies, and his $36 million average annual value would surpass Zack Greinke’s $34.4 million in a six-year deal with Arizona that started in 2016. Trout’s deal includes a signing bonus and would supersede the $144.5 million, six-year contract that had been set to pay him $66.5 million over the next two seasons.

MLB – MLB Spring Training
Yesterday
Pittsburgh Pirates 3, Detroit Tigers 1
Chicago Cubs (ss) 6, Seattle Mariners (ss) 4
Cincinnati Reds 6, Chicago White Sox 5
Kansas City Royals 8, Chicago Cubs (ss) 6

Today
Detroit vs. Philadelphia at Clearwater, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Arizona vs. Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.
L.A. Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., 10:05 p.m.

NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Detroit Red Wings 3, New York Rangers 2

Red Wings 3, Rangers 2 – Athanasiou scores twice, Red Wings top Rangers 3-2
Detroit got two goals from Andreas Athanasiou on Tuesday night for its second straight victory, 3-2 over the New York Rangers, who are on the brink of elimination from the playoffs.  Frans Nielsen also scored and Taro Hirose recorded an assist during his NHL debut for Detroit. Jimmy Howard stopped 41 shots and improved to 10-3-3 in 16 career appearances against the Rangers.  The Red Wings signed Hirose as a college free agent out of Michigan State, where he led the NCAA with 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists) as a junior, and became the Spartans’ highest-scoring player since 2002-03.  Ryan Strome and Brendan Smith scored for the Rangers, who dropped their fifth straight game. Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Los Angeles Clippers 115, Indiana pacers 109

Clippers 115, Pacers 109 – Clippers edge Pacers 115-109 at home for 1st time since 2014
Danilo Gallinari scored 24 points, Montrezl Harrell had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers held off Indiana 115-109 on Tuesday night, preventing the Pacers from clinching a playoff berth. Tyreke Evans and Bojan Bogdanovic scored 19 points each for the Pacers, whose road skid is now at seven straight. Doug McDermott added 17 points and Domantas Sabonis had 13 points and a career-high-tying 16 rebounds playing the second night of a back-to-back.

Tonight
Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m.

NCAAMBB – NCAA First Four
Last Night
NCAA First Four – University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH
#16 Fairleigh Dickinson 82, #16 Prairie View A&M 76
#11 Belmont 80, #11 Temple 71

Tonight
NCAA First Four – University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH
#16 North Carolina Central vs. #16 North Dakota State, 6:40 p.m.          106.1 & 1400 WSJM Sports
#11 St. John’s vs. #11 Arizona State, 9:10 p.m.                                    106.1 & 1400 WSJM Sports

NCAA – NCAA can’t keep tournament games away from legal gambling
The NCAA says it won’t move future tournament games away from states or venues where gambling is legal.  Although the organization remains opposed to gambling on its events, NCAA officials say they can’t do anything to stop the spread of legal sports betting.  This year’s NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will be the first since the Supreme Court allowed sports betting in any state that wants it.

NFL – Lions sign wide receiver Tommylee Lewis
The Detroit Lions have signed wide receiver Tommylee Lewis.  Lewis spent his first three NFL seasons with New Orleans, playing in 34 games. He has 20 receptions for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He has also returned 36 punts and 24 kickoffs. Lewis had three catches last season. Lewis went to Northern Illinois. He joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

NFL – Patriots owner Kraft offered plea deal in prostitution case
Florida prosecutors have offered a plea deal to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and other men charged with paying for illicit sex at a massage parlor.  The Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office confirmed it has offered Kraft and 24 other men charged with soliciting prostitution the standard diversion program offered to first-time offenders. The men must concede they would be found guilty, perform 100 hours community service, attend a class on the dangers of prostitution and pay $5,000 per count, spokesman Mike Edmondon said. Kraft was charged with two counts last month. In return, the charges of misdemeanor soliciting prostitution would be dropped.  None have accepted so far.

MCCAA – Junior College Sports
Yesterday
Women’s Basketball
NJCAA National Tournament – Round 1 – North Arkansas College – Harrison, AR
Pima Community College 81, Lake Michigan College 79

  • The Lake Michigan College Redhawks dropped their opening game in the 2019 NJCAA National Tournament with a 81-79 loss to Pima Community College.   The Redhawks got a chance at a game winning triple from Aymia Flowers as time expired, but the shot hit off the back of the rim and fell out giving Pima the victory.   Samantha Jenkins and Jayla Bibbs each had 21 points to lead LMC, Monae Palmer scored 16 and Flowers finished with 11.  Jacqulynn Nakai had a game high 25 points for Pima.   The Redhawks will face Chesapeake College in the Consolation Bracket today at 4:00 p.m.

Today
Women’s Basketball
NJCAA National Tournament – Consolation Bracket – North Arkansas College – Harrison, AR
Lake Michigan College vs. Chesapeake College, 4:00 p.m.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Girls Basketball – Quarterfinals
Division 3 at Middleville Thornapple Kellogg
Pewamo-Westphalia 43, Brandywine 19

Today
Boys Baseball
Fennville at Benton Harbor, 4:30 p.m.
Dowagiac at Mishawaka Marian (IN) at, 5:00 p.m.

Girls Soccer
Lawton at Dowagiac, 5:00 p.m.
Marshall at Paw Paw, 6:00 p.m.
Caledonia at Plainwell, 6:00 p.m.