Sports Roundup: Hello David Price, Goodbye Austin Jackson

Tigers Trade

The Major League trading deadline was Thursday, and the Tigers pulled of one of the biggest trades, just minutes before the 4pm deadline.  Detroit acquired Tampa Bay’s ace lefty David Price, and gave up lefty Drew Smyly, center fielder Austin Jackson, and minor league infielder Willy Adames, who is hitting .269 with the West Michigan Whitecaps.  Besides Smyly, Tampa Bay also got infielder Nick Franklin from Seattle, Austin Jackson going to the Mariners. The announcement came in the 7^th inning of yesterday’s game in Detroit, and Jackson was pulled off the field.  He received a standing ovation from the fans a tComericaPark. The trade joins Price with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander in the Tigers rotation to give them the last three American League Cy Young winners, along with Anibal Sanchez and Rick Porcello.  The Tigers are expected to call up centerfielder Ezequiel Carrera fromToledo, where he is hitting .307.

MLB Trade Deadline

In another big trade, the Tigers likely opponent in the playoffs, the Oakland A’s, traded outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox for their ace lefty Jon Lester. Boston also got rid of No. 2 starter John Lackey and his high salary, dealing him to St. Louis.

Tigers

The Tigers lost to the White Sox 7-4 in Detroit, as the Sox take 2 out of 3.  Drew Smyly struggled through 5 innings, in his last start as a Tiger, but left with the game tied at 4.  Smyly scattered 11 hits. New setup man Joakim Soria loaded the bases in the 7^th and then hit a guy to force in the go-ahead and eventual winning run.   Joba Chamberlain was touched up for two more runs in the 8^th.  Centerfielder and leadoff man Austin Jackson went two for four in his final game as a Tiger.  Torii Hunter and J.D. Martinez each had three hits for the Tigers.Detroit leads the division by 4 games over second placeKansas City.  Justin Verlander will pitch for Detroit against the Colorado Rockies tonight at Comerica Park. TheRockies are in last place in the National League West.   Broadcast time is 6:40 on WBCK.

Bombers

The Bombers edged the the La Crosse Loggers 8-7 last night in Battle Creek.  The Bombers chipped away at a 4-0 loggers lead with one in the 3^rd, 3 in the 5^th and single runs in each inning the rest of the way.  MSU’s Anthony Cheky stayed red-hot, going 3 for 3 with 3 RBI’s.  Cody Kuzniczci was three for 5.  The Bombers and Loggers go at it again tonight at C.O. Brown Stadium.

HBC Behnke’s to the Finals

It’ll be he Battle Creek Merchants versus HBC Behnke at Nichols Field for two games on tonight as they battle for an automatic berth in the NABF tournament, coming up August 13^th-17^th in Battle Creek.  It’s a best of 3, so they’ll play tomorrow if it’s a split tonight.   The losing team will still have a chance to play their way into NABF World Series at the regional qualifier next weekend in Saginaw.

Tigers Reed in Court

Tigers’ Minor league pitcher Evan Reed says he passed a polygraph test earlier this year after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a downtown Detroit hotel.  Reed was arraigned on two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. A not guilty plea was entered for Reed, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 12.  His lawyer has said Reed and the woman had consensual sex, and Reed echoed that today during a news conference after the hearing.

Coyotes on the Road

The Battle Creek Coyotes Football team is home on Saturday to play the Toledo Raiders atAthensHigh School. The Coyotes' game day beneficiary will be Chrissy Castellanos, a local woman who is battling cancer.

PGA Golf

Marc Leishman fired a 6-under 64 on Thursday and grabbed a 1-stroke lead after the opening round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Golfer Dustin Johnson is taking a leave of absence from the PGA Tour…. effective immediately and he will use the time to seek professional help for personal challenges he has faced.

MIS Text to Win

You can win tickets to Michigan International Speedway for the upcoming August 17th NASCAR Sprint Cup Race, The Pure Michigan 400.  Just text 69050 with MISWBCK to enter!  And be listening to WBCK mornings with Richard Piet for your chance to win a pair of tickets and pit passes to MIS!  Tickets are on sale at M-I Speedway dot com.