Sports Roundup: New Relief Pitcher Soria Bombed

Tigers

The Tigers lost to the White Sox 11-4  in the first of three in Detroit.   The Tigers grabbed the early lead on a JD Martinez RBI Triple.  It was 2-0 after two innings of play.  Anibal Sanchez pitched well until the 7^th when the Sox erupted for 7 runs.  Sanchez ended up five runs in 6 1/3 and Joakim Soria was touched up for four runs on six hits including two home runs in a third of an inning in his home debut. Detroit still leads the division now by 5 games over second placeKansas City and 6 ½ overCleveland.   Max Scherzer will pitch forDetroit against the White Sox tonight.  Broadcast time is 6:40 on WBCK.

Bombers

The Bombers beat the Green Bay Bullfrogs again, 4-2 for a two-game sweep. Dillion Engle got his second start of the year for the Bombers and went six strong innings and gave up just one run.Battle Creektied the game on a sacrifice bunt by Brendan Collins and MSU’s Anthony Cheky singled up the middle to score two runs and put the Bombers up 4-2. Sebastian Diaz had three hits in the win forBattle Creek. It’s a home and home doubleheader today with theKalamazooGrowlers…..11am at C.O. Brown, and then tonight inKalamazoo.

HBC Behnke’s to the Finals

The Battle Creek Merchants beat the Hurricanes 7-2 to advance to the City League finals Friday at Bailey Park against HBC Behnke.  .Michael Bauman threw a complete-game two-hitter to earn the 7-2 win for the Merchants.  Mitch Galloway had two RBIs for the Merchants, while Paul Stuchell had an RBI and a run scored.   It’ll be a doubleheader Friday between the Merchants and HBC Behnke at Nichols Field.   It’s a best of 3, so they’ll play Saturday if it’s a split on Friday.   The winner gets and automatic berth to the NABF tournament, coming up August 13^th-17^th in Battle Creek.  The losing team will still have a chance to play their way into NABF World Series at the regional qualifier in Saginaw

Lions

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is looking to bounce back after a late three-game skid last season that dropped the team out of playoff contention.Staffordfinished last season with 17,457 career passing yards to surpass Hall of Famer Bobby Layne's team record. Guard Rob Sims says there's pressure onStaffordevery year, but "he's really stepping up."

Tigers Reed Subject of Review

A Detroit-area prosecutor plans to talk to reporters about an investigation involving former Detroit Tigers pitcher Evan Reed and allegations of sexual assault. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says she'll announce the results of her review this morning. Reed was with the Tigers when the allegations became public in April.

NASCAR

NASCAR is coming down hard on Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin's number-11 team.  Hamlin drove to a third-place finish Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway but infractions were discovered in a post-race inspection.  The team has been stripped of 75 points in the series' owner championship standings and Hamlin will lose 75 points in the drivers' standings.  Additionally, crew chief Darian Grubb will be suspended for the next six Sprint Cup events and be fined 125-thousand dollars.  Car chief Wesley Sherrill will also serve a six-race suspension and both he and Grubb will be on probation for six months.

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.

Scully to Return

Vin Scully is staying in the booth for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 86-year-old Hall of Fame announcer will return for his record 66th season with the team in 2015. The announcement was made on the Dodger Stadium video board in the second inning of Tuesday night's game againstAtlanta.  The news was greeted with loud cheers and a prolonged standing ovation for Scully, who stood and waved to fans from his booth. Scully's consecutive years of service make him the longest-tenured broadcaster with one team in sports history.  He calls all nine innings of the team's home games and road games inCaliforniaandArizonafor the Dodgers' new television home on SportsNet LA, while the first three innings of his games are simulcast on the radio.

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.

No Word on Dirks Return

The Tigers have not yet decided when Andy Dirks will return to the field as he works his way back to the lineup. According to manager Brad Ausmus, the team does not have a date when Dirks will continue his rehab. The outfielder had been on assignment with Class-A Lakeland earlier this month, but that was put on hold because of inflammation in his lower back.  He has returned to working out inLakeland. Dirks underwent back surgery in March and has missed the entire season.