MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night
Detroit Tigers 4, Kansas City Royals 3
Chicago White Sox 4, Minnesota Twins 2
Cubs were off
Tigers 4, Royals 3 – Tigers beat Royals 4-3, KC’s skid reaches 11 games
Michael Fulmer shut down Kansas City’s ninth-inning rally for his second save, and the Detroit Tigers’ won 4-3 to extend the Royals’ losing streak to 11 games. Detroit led 4-1 entering the ninth, but Kansas City scored twice of Gregory Soto on a groundout by Carlos Santana and an RBI single from Salvador Perez. Fulmer relieved Soto and got a popout from Jorge Soler and struck out Andrew Benintendi swinging to end it. The Royals led the AL Central at the start of this skid but are now 16-20.
White Sox 4, Twins 2 – White Sox beat Twins 4-2, stretch winning streak to 6
Tim Anderson and Jake Lamb homered, Billy Hamilton made a leaping catch at the wall to end a bases-loaded threat and the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 for their sixth straight win. Lance Lynn struck out nine in five innings for Chicago, which has won seven of eight while sweeping two straight series. Liam Hendriks retired the last five Minnesota batters for his seventh save in nine chances. Max Kepler homered for the Twins, who have lost four straight and eight of nine to fall 10 games behind the AL Central leaders.
Today
Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox, 3:10 p.m. – Game 1
Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 p.m. – Game 2
Chicago Cubs at Detroit Tigers, 7:10 p.m. 94.9 WSJM/103.7 Cosy-FM 6:50
MLB – ESPN, MLB agree to 7-year rights extension through 2028
ESPN could be rewarded with additional playoff games under its new deal with Major League Baseball. Walt Disney Company and MLB announced a seven-year extension of their rights agreement Thursday. ESPN has aired games since 1990 and the new deal means that will continue until at least 2028. ESPN will exclusively air 30 regular-season games, with 25 taking place on Sunday nights. The other five will include a broadcast on opening day. ESPN also retains the rights to the Home Run Derby, which takes place the night before the All-Star Game.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Chicago Bulls 114, Toronto Raptors 102
Milwaukee Bucks 142, Indiana Pacers 133
Bulls 114, Raptors 102 – LaVine, Markkanen lead Bulls past Raptors, 114-102
Zach LaVine scored 24 points, Lauri Markkanen added 20 and the Chicago Bulls beat the short-handed Toronto Raptors 114-102. The Bulls pulled within two games of idle Washington with two remaining for 10th place in the Eastern Conference and the final play-in spot. They led by 24 in the third quarter, with the Raptors holding out their best players, and came away with the win despite a big effort by Stanley Johnson. LaVine scored 16 in the second half. Markkanen made six 3-pointers — one shy of his season high. Johnson led Toronto with a career-high 35 points.
Bucks 142, Pacers 133 – Antetokounmpo, Bucks roll past short-handed Pacers, 142-133
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 40 points, 15 rebounds and six assists and the Milwaukee Bucks wore down the short-handed Indiana Pacers in a 142-133 victory Thursday night. Indiana dressed just 10 players due to injuries and didn’t have a defensive answer for Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP who made 14 of 18 shots from the field — six on uncontested dunks — and hit 11 of 16 free throws. The Bucks moved within a game of the Brooklyn Nets for the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 playoff seed. Justin Holiday led the Pacers with 26 points.
Tonight
Denver Nuggets at Detroit Pistons, 8:00 p.m.
NFL – Bears coach Nagy going remote for minicamp
Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy will participate virtually in the team’s rookie minicamp this weekend rather than in person because a close contact tested positive for COVID-19. Nagy will not be on the field when quarterback Justin Fields and the team’s other rookies get to work on Friday. They’re also scheduled to practice Saturday and Sunday. Nagy will be able to observe remotely and communicate with coaches. He will also be able to lead team meetings, which are conducted via Zoom.
NFL – Bortles inks deal with Packers
The Green Bay Packers have signed Blake Bortles as they attempt to add quarterback depth while MVP Aaron Rodgers’ future with the team remains uncertain. The third overall pick in the 2014 draft will be reunited with Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. The 29-year-old Bortles started 73 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2014-18. Rodgers has reportedly expressed his desire not to return to Green Bay. He had been one of two quarterbacks on the roster along with 2020 first-round draft pick Jordan Love.
Golf – PGA – TPC Craig Ranch can’t tame field
The TPC Craig Ranch course was easy pickings for players in the opening round of the Byron Nelson Classic. Jordan Spieth (speeth) sank a 55-foot putt for eagle on 18 en route to a 9-under 63 and a share of the first-round lead with J.J. Spaun. Spieth, Spaun and plenty of others had little trouble with the suburban Dallas course. Of the 156 players in the field, 132 were under par and 94 shot in the 60s on the third venue in the past four Nelsons. Aaron Wise said the course played as easy as it can get. Wise is one shot off the lead, along with Rafa Cabrera Bello, Doc Redman and Joseph Bramlett.
MCCAA – Junior College Sports
Yesterday
Baseball
NJCAA Region XII Quarterfinals – Cisar Field, Solon, Ohio – Best of three
Lake Michigan College 7, Bryant & Stratton (OH) 3 – Game 1
Lake Michigan College 6. Bryant & Stratton (OH) 3 – Game 2 (LMC wins series 2-0)
Today
Softball
NJCAA Great Lakes District A – Best of three
Lake Michigan College at Muskegon Community College, 1:00 p.m. – Game 1
Lake Michigan College at Muskegon Community College, 3:00 p.m. – Game 2
Lake Michigan College at Muskegon Community College, 5:00 p.m. – Game 3 (If Necessary)
Women’s Soccer
Delta College at Lake Michigan College, 5:30 p.m.
MWL – Minor League Baseball – Midwest League
Last Night
Great Lakes Loons 4, West Michigan Whitecaps 1
Dayton Dragons 4, Lansing Lugnuts 2
Beloit Snappers 10, South Bend Cubs 1
Tonight
Great Lakes Loons at West Michigan Whitecaps, 6:35 p.m.
Lansing Lugnuts at Dayton Dragons, 7:05 p.m.
South Bend Cubs at Beloit Snappers, 7:35 p.m.
AHL – American Hockey League
Tonight
Grand Rapids Griffins at Cleveland Monsters, 7:00 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Yesterday
Baseball
Portage Central 8, St. Joseph 2 – Game 1
Portage Central 6, St. Joseph 0 – Game 2
Edwardsburg 11, Berrien Springs 1 – Game 1
Edwardsburg 9, Berrien Springs 7 – Game 2
Bridgman 3, River Valley 0 – Game 1
Bridgman 9, River Valley 5 – Game 2
Centreville 20, Hartford 1 – Game 1
Centreville 10, Hartford 0 – Game 2
Bloomingdale 12, Marcellus 2 – Game 1
Bloomingdale 12, Marcellus 11 – Game 2
Decatur 18, Mendon 3 – Game 1
Decatur 21, Mendon 14 – Game 2
Mattawan 15, Kal. Loy Norrix 0 – Game 1
Mattawan 11, Kal. Loy Norrix 0 – Game 2
Portage Northern 9, Gull Lake 3 – Game 1
Portage Northern 13, Gull Lake 5 – Game 2
BC Lakeview 4, Kalamazoo Central 2 – Game 1
BC Lakeview 12, Kalamazoo Central 2 – Game 2
Otsego 5, Harper Creek 4 – Game 1
Harper Creek 5, Otsego 1 – Game 2
Watervliet 5, Lawton 1 – Game 1
Watervliet 15, Lawton 0 – Game 2
Coloma 9, Fennville 1 – Game 1
Coloma 14, Fennville 4 – Game 2
Parchment 4, Galesburg-Augusta 1 – Game 1
Parchment 17, Galesburg-Augusta 2 – Game 2
Kal. Hackett 10, Constantine 9 – Game 1
Kal. Hackett 16, Constantine 15 – Game 2
Schoolcraft 16, Gobles 1 – Game 1
Schoolcraft 13, Gobles 1 – Game 2
Kal. Christian 15, Delton-Kellogg 0 – Game 1
Kal. Christian 15, Delton-Kellogg 3 – Game 2
Saugatuck 10, Martin 3 – Game 1
Saugatuck 16, Martin 0 – Game 2
Softball
St. Joseph 1, Portage Central 0 – Game 1
St. Joseph 13, Portage Central 12 – Game 2
New Buffalo 13, Howardsville Chr. 0 – Game 1
New Buffalo 16, Howardsville Chr. 1 – Game 2
Centreville 4, Hartford 2 – Game 1
Centreville 11, Hartford 5 – Game 2
Marcellus 17, Bloomingdale 2 – Game 1
Marcellus 17, Bloomingdale 2 – Game 2
Mendon 11, Decatur 1 – Game 1
Mendon 10, Decatur 2 – Game 2
Mattawan 17, Kal. Loy Norrix 3 – Game 1
Mattawan 19, Kal. Loy Norrix 11 – Game 2
Portage Northern 11, Gull Lake 1 – Game 1
Portage Northern 6, Gull Lake 4 – Game 2
Parchment 17, Galesburg-Augusta 0 – Game 1
Parchment 18, Galesburg-Augusta 0 – Game 2
Watervliet 15, Lawton 0 – Game 1
Watervliet 15, Lawton 0 – Game 2
Constantine 11, Kal. Hackett 6 – Game 1
Constantine 18, Kal. Hackett 4 – Game 2
Schoolcraft 22, Gobles 0 – Game 1
Schoolcraft 24, Gobles 1 – Game 2
Delton-Kellogg 13, Kal. Christian 3 – Game 1
Delton-Kellogg 18, Kal. Christian 8 – Game 2
Girls Soccer
Schoolcraft 10, Bronson 1
Grand Rapids Union 5, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 2
Today
Baseball
Michigan Lutheran at Eau Claire, 4:15 p.m.
Lake Mich. Catholic at Lawrence, 4:15 p.m.
Watervliet at South Haven, 4:30 p.m.
Buchanan at New Buffalo, 4:15 p.m.
Paw Paw at Dowagiac, 4:00 p.m.
Allegan at Edwardsburg, 4:00 p.m.
Otsego at Sturgis, 4:00 p.m.
Plainwell at Vicksburg, 4:00 p.m.
Softball
New Prairie (IN) at Lakeshore, 5:00 p.m.
Michigan Lutheran at Eau Claire, 4:15 p.m.
Lake Mich. Catholic at Lawrence, 4:15 p.m.
Watervliet at South Haven, 4:30 p.m.
Buchanan at New Buffalo, 4:15 p.m.
Bridgman at River Valley, 4:15 p.m.
Paw Paw at Dowagiac, 4:00 p.m.
Allegan at Edwardsburg, 4:00 p.m.
Otsego at Sturgis, 4:00 p.m.
Plainwell at Vicksburg, 4:00 p.m.
Three Rivers at Gull Lake, 4:30 p.m.
Track and Field
SMAC Championships at Portage Central, 12:00 p.m.
Girls Soccer
Coloma at Lake Michigan Catholic, 5:00 p.m.
Bangor at Michigan Lutheran, 5:00 p.m.
Brandywine at Dowagiac, 5:00 p.m.
Niles at Buchanan, 5:00 p.m.
Hartford at Bridgman, 5:00 p.m.
Mattawan at Otsego, 6:00 p.m.
South Haven at Allegan, 6:30 p.m.
Three Rivers at Harper Creek, 5:30 p.m.
Bronson at Battle Creek Central, 5:00 p.m.
Saugatuck at GR Covenant Chr., 5:00 p.m.
GR Cath. Central at Kal. Christian, 5:00 p.m.
