Sports: Bombers split; Tigers lose 4th straight

The Battle Creek Bombers and the Kalamazoo Growlers split a home and home series on Tuesday.  The Bombers were bombed in game in Battle Creek, 13-1.  Battle Creek bounced back to win the evening game 4-1 in Kalamazoo.  Battle Creek was led in game two by starter Trent Johnson, who picked up his first win of the season.  Johnson lasted 6.2 innings giving up the Growlers lone run on four hits while striking out seven.  BC would plate two of their runs on a two-run home run from Jordan Getzelman.   The Bombers hit the road and play the Lakeshore Chinooks tonight.   Battle Creek is 14-8 on the season and are in second place in the South Division of the Northwoods League.  Lakeshore is 10-12.

Lions

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Khyri Thornton has been suspended for the first six games of the 2017 season for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Thornton will be eligible to play Oct. 29 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound Thornton has played in 19 games the previous two seasons with the Lions, starting six games last season.  Thornton was probably going to be a backup this season behind defensive tackles Haloti Ngata and A’Shawn Robinson.

Pistons’ Baynes a Free Agent

Detroit backup center Aron Baynes is becoming a free agent.  Piston’s Coach Stan Van Gundy confirmed the move, which was expected. The 30-year-old Baynes declined his player option for next season.  He averaged 4.9 points in 75 games last season as a backup to Detroit star Andre Drummond.

NHL Expansion Draft

Hockey’s new expansion team in Vegas will announce their draft selections tonight; they could choose five Red Wings’ players, left unprotected by the team.  Goalie Petr Mrazek, Riley Sheahan, Darren Helm, Xavier Ouellet and Luke Glendening are all available to the new Golden Knights.

Tigers

The Tigers tied the game twice to send the game to extra innings, but lost in the 10th inning to the Seattle Mariners 5-4 in the second game of their four-game series.  Game 3 of the series takes place at Safeco Field Wednesday night. Justin Verlander (4-4, 4.50) takes to the mound for the Tigers.  The Tigers look to break their four-game slide at 9:45pm on 95.3 WBCK.