Weekday Morning Sports Report – Friday 6/21/19

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sportsreport-300x207-50

MLB – Major League Baseball
Yesterday
Chicago Cubs 7, New York Mets 4
Tigers and White Sox were off

Cubs 7, Mets 4 – Alzolay’s strong debut, 6-run 3rd lead Cubs over Mets 7-4
Cubs top pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay tossed four innings of dazzling relief in his major league debut and the offense broke through with a six-run third as Chicago beat the New York Mets 7-4 on Thursday night.  Javier Báez homered and tripled, and Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run double as the NL Central leaders improved to 26-12 at Wrigley Field.  Rookie slugger Pete Alonso hit his 25th homer and Todd Frazier connected for the 200th of his career for the Mets, who dropped to 15-26 on the road. Before the game, they fired pitching coach Dave Eiland and bullpen coach Chuck Hernández — but it made little difference on this night.  Alzolay (1-0) replaced starter Tyler Chatwood to begin the fifth. The right-hander struck out five and didn’t allow a hit until Frazier’s leadoff homer in the ninth. Alzolay was replaced after walking the next batter, Wilson Ramos.  The 24-year-old was recalled before the game from Triple-A Iowa, where he went 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA in six starts this season. He had 46 strikeouts in 32 innings with a WHIP of 0.94.  Steve Cishek got three outs for his seventh save.

Today
N.Y. Mets (Vargas 3-3) at Chicago Cubs (Darvish 2-3), 2:20 p.m.
Detroit (Boyd 5-5) at Cleveland (Bauer 5-6), 7:10 p.m.      WSJM Sports/Cosy-FM 6:45
Chicago White Sox (Lopez 4-7) at Texas (Jurado 4-3), 8:05 p.m.

MLB – Rays gets OK from MLB to explore Montreal
Major League Baseball could be returning to Montreal on a part-time basis. Commissioner Rob Manfred says the Tampa Bay Rays have been given the go-ahead to explore the possibility of playing a split season between St. Petersburg and Montreal. There is no timetable for the possible plan. An idea under consideration is for the Rays to play early in the season in Tampa Bay and later in Montreal. Tampa Bay is averaging fewer than 14,600 fans per home game, ahead of only the Miami Marlins. The Expos played in Montreal from 1969-2004 before leaving Quebec for Washington.

NBA – Pelicans take Zion with top pick
Zion Williamson is coming to New Orleans. The Pelicans took the Duke freshman forward with the first overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft. Williamson average 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 68% from the field for the Blue Devils last season. The Grizzlies have wasted no time replacing veteran point guard Mike Conley by selecting Murray State sophomore Ja Morant with the second overall selection. Morant was seventh among Division I scorers last season, averaging 24.5 points while also handing out 10 assists and grabbing 5.7 rebounds. RJ Barrett became the second Duke frosh to be chosen when the Knicks grabbed the swingman with the third pick. Barrett led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring at 22.8 points per game.

NBA – Pistons getting Snell, pick from Bucks for Leuer
A person with knowledge of the deal says the Pistons and Bucks have agreed to a trade that would send Jon Leuer to Milwaukee for Tony Snell and the 30th pick. Trades can’t be completed until the new league year starts on July 6. The 6-foot-7 Snell played the past three seasons with the Bucks and was a regular starter until 2018-19, when he mostly came off the bench. Leuer spent three seasons with Detroit, but he had surgery on his left ankle and missed most of 2017-18.

NBA – Pistons – Pistons take international prospect Doumbouya at No. 15
The Detroit Pistons have drafted Sekou Doumbouya with the No. 15 pick of the NBA draft.  The 6-foot-9, 230-pound Doumbouya played last season in France’s top pro league. He does not turn 19 until December, but he could develop into a contributor for the Pistons at both ends of the floor.  A native of Conakry, Guinea, Doumbouya moved to France when he was a year old. He began playing basketball when he was 12, and he averaged 17.8 points per game for France at the 2016 FIBA U18 European Championship.

NBA – Bulls draft North Carolina’s Coby White with No. 7 pick
The Chicago Bulls drafted North Carolina point guard Coby White with the No. 7 overall pick on Thursday.  Executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson had said the Bulls would look for an upgrade at the position after Kris Dunn took a step back in his third season. He backed that up by taking the dynamic White, whose wild hairdo is as impressive as his game.  A McDonald’s All-American in high school, White made a big impact in his lone season at North Carolina. He averaged 16.1 points and 4.1 assists, helping the senior-laden Tar Heels reach the Sweet Sixteen. Chicago also has a second-round pick at No. 38 overall.

NBA – 2019 NBA Draft Results
1-1        Zion Williamson (NOR)
1-2        Ja Morant (MEM)
1-3        R. J. Barrett (NYK)
1-4        De’Andre Hunter (ATL)
1-5        Darius Garland (CLE)
1-6        Jarrett Culver (MIN)
1-7         Coby White (CHI)
1-8        Jaxson Hayes (NOR)
1-9        Rui Hachimura (WAS)
1-10      Cam Reddish (ATL)
1-11      Cameron Johnson (PHX)
1-12      P. J. Washington (CHA)
1-13      Tyler Herro (MIA)
1-14      Romeo Langford (BOS)
1-15       Sekou Doumbouya (DET)
1-16      Chuma Okeke (ORL)
1-17      Nickeil Alexander-Walker (NOR)
1-18       Goga Bitadze (IND)
1-19      Luka Šamanić (SAS)
1-20      Matisse Thybulle (BOS)
1-21      Brandon Clarke (MEM)
1-22      Grant Williams (BOS)
1-23      Darius Bazley (MEM)
1-24      Ty Jerome (PHI)
1-25      Nassir Little (POR)
1-26      Dylan Windler (CLE)
1-27      Mfiondu Kabengele (BKN)
1-28      Jordan Poole (GSW)
1-29      Keldon Johnson (SAS)
1-30       Kevin Porter Jr. (DET)
2-31      Nicolas Claxton (BKN)
2-32      KZ Okpala (PHX)
2-33      Carsen Edwards (PHI)
2-34      Bruno Fernando (PHI)
2-35      Marcos Louzada Silva (NOR)
2-36      Cody Martin (CHA)
2-37      Deividas Sirvydis (DAL)
2-38       Daniel Gafford (CHI)
2-39      Alen Smailagić (NOR)
2-40      Justin James (SAC)
2-41      Eric Paschall (GSW)
2-42      Admiral Schofield (PHI)
2-43      Jaylen Nowell (MIN)
2-44      Bol Bol (MIA)
2-45       Isaiah Roby (DET)
2-46      Talen Horton-Tucker (ORL)
2-47      Ignas Brazdeikis (SAC)
2-48      Terance Mann (LAC)
2-49      Quinndary Weatherspoon (SAS)
2-50       Jarrell Brantley (IND)
2-51      Tremont Waters (BOS)
2-52      Jalen McDaniels (CHA)
2-53      Justin Wright-Foreman (UTA)
2-54      Marial Shayok (PHI)
2-55      Kyle Guy (NYK)
2-56      Jaylen Hands (LAC)
2-57      Jordan Bone (NOR)
2-58      Miye Oni (GSW)
2-59      Dewan Hernandez (TOR)
2-60      Vanja Marinković (SAC)

NCAABSB – NCAA Baseball – College World Series
Yesterday
Louisville 4, Mississippi State 3           (Mississippi State eliminated)

Louisville 4, Miss. State 3 – Cardinals eliminate Bulldogs
Louisville has advanced in the College World Series while eliminating Mississippi State. Drew Campbell singled home Danny Oriente in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Cardinals a 4-3 victory against the Bulldogs. Mississippi State led 3-2 in the ninth until Oriente singled home the tying run. Louisville made up a three-run deficit to advance past a third game for the first time in their five CWS appearances. They’ll play No. 2 national seed Vanderbilt in the Bracket 2 final on Friday.

Today
Michigan vs. Texas Tech, 2:00 p.m.
Vanderbilt vs. Louisville, 7:00 p.m.

NFL – No change to pass interference rule by competition committee
The NFL competition committee has decided against making any changes to the new rule for reviewing pass interference. That means the rule stands as approved by NFL owners in March. During the rule’s one-year trial this season, coaches still can challenge until the two-minute warning of each half or overtime when a replay official will be responsible for reviews.

NFL – Bears sign sixth-round pick CB Duke Shelley to 4-year deal
The Chicago Bears have signed sixth-round draft pick Duke Shelley to a four-year contract. The cornerback from Kansas State recorded 165 tackles and eight interceptions over four seasons for the Wildcats. He started the first seven games last year before suffering a season-ending toe injury. With the move announced Thursday, the Bears have all five draft picks under contract. Running back David Montgomery (third round), receiver Riley Ridley (fourth round), running back Kerrith Whyte Jr. (seventh round) and cornerback Stephen Denmark (seventh round) previously signed.

WNBA – Women’s National Basketball Association
Tonight
Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky, 8:00 p.m.

NCAAWHKY – Suit seeking to reinstate North Dakota women’s hockey tossed
A judge has thrown out a discrimination lawsuit by 11 former University of North Dakota women’s hockey players seeking to have the program reinstated. The complaint filed last summer alleges the university violated Title IX laws that prohibit women from being treated differently because of gender. School administrators cited budget woes when the program was dropped in the spring of 2017. U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland said the players did not prove a “substantial disproportionality” between men’s and women’s athletic opportunities. Attorney Daniel Siegel, who represents the players, says he’s unhappy with the ruling and is considering whether to appeal. The team reached the NCAA quarterfinals two straight years when twin sisters and U.S. Olympic stars Monique and Jocelyne Lamoureux were on the roster.

Olympics – USOC changes name to US Olympic & Paralympic Committee
The U.S. Olympic Committee is changing its name to include the Paralympic movement.  The organization will be known as the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee under a change approved Thursday by the board of directors. The name will be seen immediately on social media platforms and soon in signs at the U.S. training center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, along with other properties. CEO Sarah Hirshland says the decision reflects a “continuation of our long-standing commitment to create an inclusive environment for Team USA athletes.” Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee, called it a “historic moment” for the Paralympic movement in the U.S. In September, the board voted to increase the monetary awards for medal-earning U.S. Paralympic athletes to match those of U.S. Olympic athletes who win medals.

NHL – 2019 NHL Entry Draft – Vancouver, BC – 6:00 p.m.  
Round 1 (Fri.), Rd.2-7 (Sat.)
1 New Jersey Devils
2 New York Rangers
3 Chicago Blackhawks
4 Colorado Avalanche (from Ottawa)
5 Los Angeles Kings
6 Detroit Red Wings
7 Buffalo Sabres
8 Edmonton Oilers
9 Anaheim Ducks
10 Vancouver Canucks
11 Philadelphia Flyers
12 Minnesota Wild
13 Florida Panthers
14 Arizona Coyotes
15 Montreal Canadiens
16 Colorado Avalanche
17 Vegas Golden Knights
18 Dallas Stars
19 Ottawa Senators (from Columbus)
20 Winnipeg Jets (from Winnipeg)
21 Pittsburgh Penguins
22 Los Angeles Kings (from Toronto)
23 New York Islanders
24 Nashville Predators
25 Washington Capitals
26 Calgary Flames
27 Tampa Bay Lightning
28 Carolina Hurricanes
29 Anaheim Ducks (from San Jose)
30 Boston Bruins
31 Buffalo Sabres (from St. Louis)

FIFA – 2019 Women’s World Cup – France
Yesterday
United States 2, Sweden 0
Cameroon 2, New Zealand 1
Netherlands 2, Canada 1
Chile 2, Thailand 0

Today
No games today

USA 2, Sweden 0 – USA completes group play with shutout of Sweden
The U.S. faced its toughest test of the Women’s World Cup and dominated in a 2-0 victory over Sweden, the rivals that stunned them in the last Olympics. Lindsey Horan scored within the first three minutes, the fastest goal of this tournament. The United States went up 2-0 on an own goal off Jonna Andersson in the 50th minute. The Americans went undefeated in the group stage, outscoring their opponents, 18-0.

MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
West Michigan at Lake County, PPD
Dayton 7, Lansing 2
Bowling Green 2, South Bend 0
Fort Wayne 6, Great Lakes 0

Tonight
West Michigan at Lake County, 5:30 p.m. (DH)
Lansing at Dayton, 7 p.m.
Bowling Green at South Bend, 7:05 p.m.
Fort Wayne at Great Lakes, 7:05 p.m.