Sports Roundup: Cabrera All-Star Starter; No to HR Derby.

Tigers

The Tigers lost 3 of 4 to the Rays over the weekend.  Matt Joyce and Desmond Jennings each hit a two-run homers to power the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-3 win over the Detroit Tigers last night at Comerica Park.  Rick Porcello gave up three runs after the first three batters, and ended up allowing seven runs in five-and-two-thirds innings to take the loss.  Torii Hunter and J.D. Martinez each hit a homer for Detroit, which lost the final three of the four-game series.  The Tigers didn’t do much against Rays’ ace David Price.  Detroit has today off today.  Justin Verlander pitches against the Dodgers at Comerica Park on Tuesday night.  It’ll be a 2-game series with a day game Wednesday (12:40pm).   Tuesday’s game is 6:40pm on WBCK-FM.  The Tigers head to Kansas City for four games before the All-Star Break.

Tiger All-Stars Announced

Three Tigers are heading to Minnesota for the All-Star Game. Miguel Cabrera is starting at first base while DH Victor Martinez made it as a reserve. Starting pitcher Max Scherzer is also going to the game a week from tomorrow.  Cabrera will not participate in the Homer Run Derby. He says he doesn't want to mess with his swing.  Fellow All-Star starter Mike Trout will also miss the Derby, saying he just wants to watch the event.

Tigers and Cubs Align for All-Star Final Picks

The Tigers and Cubs are partnering to encourage fans to vote to #PickRick and #VoteRizzo for Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello and Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo for the 2014 MLB All-Star Game Final Vote.   Fans can vote for Porcello and Rizzo online at www.tigers.com/vote or www.cubs.com/vote, or text “A3” for Porcello and “N4” for Rizzo to 89269. Fans have until 4 p.m. Thursday to vote. There is NO LIMIT to the number of times fans may vote in All-Star Game Final Vote. The winners will be chosen exclusively by fan voting totals.

Bombers

The Battle Creek Bombers beat the Lacrosse Loggers 9-6 Sunday.  Cody Kuzniczci and Henri Lartigue hit home runs for Battle Creek.  David Richards the 4^th went 3 for 5 in the leadoff spot.  Hunter Jobe got the win in relief.  Kyle Slack went the final 1 2/3 and got the save. The Bombers play in Lacrosse tonight.  They’re on an 8-game road trip.

Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic captured the Wimbledon title for the second time and denied Roger Federer a piece of history on Sunday at the All England Club.  Djokovic dropped the first set in the blockbuster final and failed to serve it out in the fourth, but recovered win the battle.  He also won the 2011 Wimbledon championship and now has seven career Grand Slam titles.  Federer, meanwhile, was denied an unprecedented eighth Wimbledon crown. The Swiss superstar remains tied with Pete Sampras for the most men's titles in the Open Era on the famed lawns of the London suburb.

Pistons Win

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons topped the Memphis Grizzlies 85-82 in the Orlando Summer League. Peyton Siva added 12 points, seven assists and five boards in the win. The Pistons play the Heat Tuesday.

NASCAR

Aric Almirola is being declared the winner of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway after rain shortened the race on Sunday. Almirola captured his first career Sprint Cup Series victory after the race was called with 48 laps to go. Rain had postponed the race from its originally scheduled start on Saturday night.  Brian Vickers finished second, followed by Kurt Busch, Casey Mears and Austin Dillon.  Almirola is the tenth different winner of a race this season, securing his spot in the Chase. That leaves five more open spots in the Chase with eight races to go before it starts.

World Cup

Four teams left in the World Cup with the Semi’s on Tuesday: Brazil takes on Germany.  The Netherlands plays Argentina.  The two winners play for the Championship on Sunday.

PGA

Forty-four-year-old Angel Cabrera closed with a 6-under 64 on Sunday, rallying to win the Greenbrier Classic by two strokes.

Pitcher Hits Bird in Minor League Game

A minor league pitcher for the West Michigan Whitecaps hit a bird with a pitch Sunday during a game in Fort Wayne.  Unfortunately, the bird did not make it.