Sports Roundup: Tigers blow it in the 9th

Tigers

The Tigers were going for the series and season sweep against the Red Sox last night at Comerica Park but fell short after a 3-run David Ortiz homer in the 9^th.  Victor Martinez had a key hit to put the Tigers up 2-1, but the Sox Mike Napoli hit a home run to tie it up, and the Tigers went ahead again in the 7^th on a hit by rookie shortstop Eugenio Suarez.  But in the 9^th Joba Chamberlain came on to close it out….and didn’t close it out.  Chamberlain was filling in as the closer for Joe Nathan, who threw a lot of pitches in Friday’s and Saturday’s games.   Starter Anibal Sanchez pitched well again, but left after 6 innings and did not figure in the decision.  Sanchez gave up two runs and struck out 7. The Tigers got good pitching out of relievers Ian Krol, Evan Reed and Phil Coke. Rookie shortstop Eugenio Suarez had two hits and two RBI’s for Detroit. Miguel Cabrera had to leave the game with a hamstring strain.   He’s listed as day-to-day.  The Tigers now play 14 straight games against Central division opponents. Rick Porcello pitches tonight in Chicago against the White Sox, in the first of four there. Broadcast time is 7:45 on WBCK-FM.

Bombers

The Bombers were home Sunday and beat the Madison Mallards 5-4 in 14 innings. Battle Creek scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings at 4-4. The Bombers are home tonight to play the Madison Mallards again.  Kyle Slack is on the mound for Battle Creek.

NBA Playoffs

The Heat beat the Spurs 98-96. LeBron James scoring 35 to even the series in San Antonio at a game each. 

Chris Bosh with a crucial 3-pointer at the end…Game Three is Tuesday in Miami.

NHL Playoffs

The Kings beat the Rangers 5-4 to go up two games to none in the Stanley Cup series.  The two teams play tonight and Wednesday in New York.

Battle Creek Coyotes Home Opener Saturday

The Battle Creek Coyotes lost their home opener Saturday to the Indiana Cardinals 23-8.   Indiana was able to contain Coyotes quarterback James Snyder, who did toss a 30 yard touchdown pass to Devington Halliburton, the former Noble County Wolfpack receiver.  Proceeds for the game went to help longtime fan Ron Ludwa. The Coyotes host the Miami County Blitz this Saturday at Harper Creek High School   Proceeds will go to help Dale Turpin, as the Coyotes continue their long-time mission to help out local individuals and families battling cancer.

Boys Golf

Lakeview sophomore Andrew Walker, Marshall senior Brandon Hawkins and Olivet senior Keagan Carpenter all won individual state honors in golf over the weekend.

High School Baseball

Harper Creek and Gull Lake play in tomorrow’s state quarterfinal at Bailey Park.  Gull Lake is fourth-ranked.  It’s the first time the Beavers have advanced this far in baseball. Joe Stasa and Mickey Barea pitched them into the Quarterfinal.  Tomorrow’s winner will move on to the state semifinals Thursday at MSU.  Lakeview (31-5) advances to Play Saline tomorrow at the University of Michigan. Jake Herbers threw a complete-game shutout and picked up three hits in one of the weekend’s games, to improve to 8-0 on the season. Olivet advances to tomorrow’s state quarterfinal at Hope College, where they will take on Decatur.

Girls’ Soccer

Gull Lake’s girls’ soccer team beat Haslett 3-0 on Saturday to advance to the State semi-final on Wednesday. . Kirsten Taylor scored two goals and Rachel Fouts also scored as Maggie Harma had the shutout in goal.    Gull Lake plays Grand Rapids Christian in Wednesday’s 6 p.m. state semifinal at East Kentwood. If Gull Lake wins, they’ll play for back-to-back state crowns next Saturday, at Williamston High.

Tennis

Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 Sunday to win his ninth French Open championship and fifth in a row, both records.  Maria Sharapova won the women’s title.

NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt Jr. passed Michigan native Brad Keselowski for the lead with five laps to go and then held on at the finish to win Sunday's Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway.  The Sprint Cup heads to Michigan International Speedway for Sunday's Quicken Loans 400.

PGA

Ben Crane led start to finish for a 1-shot win at the St. Jude Classic.

LPGA

Inbee Park had a 3-shot victory at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.

Symetra Tour Event in Battle Creek

The Battle Creek Country Club was the site for the first-ever Fire Keepers Casino Hotel Golf Championship Symetra Tour event.   South Korea’s Min Seo Kwak came from five strokes down entering Sunday’s final 18 holes and shot a tourney-best 7-under-par 65 to win the first-place prize of $15,000.

WVA Recruit Narrows it to MSU, Purdue.

West Virginia transfer Eron Harris did not make a stop in Ann Arbor over the weekend. The guard has two years left of eligibility and is now leaning toward Michigan State over Michigan and Purdue. The Indiana native averaged 17.2 points per game last season with West Virginia.