Sports Roundup: Tigers lose first half finale

Tigers

The Tigers lost the final game before the All-Star Break, 5-2 in Kansas City.   Detroit got the early lead, scoring twice off crafty left-hander Bruce Chen, making his first start since April.   Tigers' starter Justin Verlander cruised through 6 innings, but the Royals manages some cheap singles in the 7^th, and scored their first run when Verlander slipped trying to field a weak ground ball. The Royals continued to chip away, on an RBI groundout and a two-run single by former Tiger Omar Infante. The Royals capped the scoring when Eric Hosmer got a hold of a Phil Coke pitch, a ball that barely stayed in the park for an RBI ground rule double.  The loss breaks the Tigers’ 5-game win streak.  They finish the first half with a 53-38 record, the third best in all of baseball behind the A’s and Angels.  Detroit has a 6  ½ game lead over the Royals in the AL Central.

All-Star Game

Four Tigers will be at Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Minnesota.   Miguel Cabrera will start at first base.   Max Scherzer is expected to pitch an inning.  Ian Kinsler is on the squad, replacing the injured Victor Martinez who will also be in the Twin Cities. The game is tomorrow at Minnesota's Target Field.   The Home Run Derby will be held tonight.  Rangers prospect Joey Gallo launched a two-run home run to give the USA the lead and eventual 3-2 win over the World at the Futures Game from Target Field.  Tigers prospect Jake Thompson grabbed the win in relief

World Cup Soccer

Germany won the World Cup in Soccer, beating Argentina 1-0.  The game was deadlocked at 0-0 after regulation, but at the 113-minute mark in overtime, Mario Götze, a substitute, scored the winning goal. Brazil played The Netherlands on Saturday in the third place playoff at the World Cup.  And they gave up another early score, and got blown out again.  The final score was 3-0.

Bombers

The Wisconsin Woodchucks beat the Bombers 6-5 Sunday at C.O. Brown Stadium.  Austen Thrailkill gave up 5 runs in four innings, after waking 7 Woodchucks.  But the Bombers battled back, as Matt Dacey went 3 for 5 with a home run. Kyle Slack quieted the Woodchuck bats for two innings and then Alden Cartwright gave up an unearned run in three innings of relief, and that was the difference in the game.     It’s a rare off-night tonight for the Bombers, who stay at home to host the Kenosha Kingfish on Tuesday and Wednesday night.  They head to Wisconsin to play the Woodchucks on Thursday and Friday.   Next weekend, the Kalamazoo Growlers come in to Battle Creek.

NASCAR

Brad Keselowski dominated Sunday's Camping World RV Sales 301, scoring a weekend sweep at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with his third Sprint Cup victory of the season. Kyle Busch finished second, followed by Kyle Larson.

Coyotes Win

The Battle Creek Coyotes Football team beat the Allen County Lions 41-6 at Harper Creek High School on Saturday. QB Jake Hart (Bellevue HS) overcame two first quarter interceptions to throw five TD passes.   Proceeds from the gate admissions, donation jars, and 50/50 raffle were donated to help four-year old Nattaly Marie Brown in her battle against cancer.   This weekend, the 4-2 Coyotes hit the road to play the Michiana Thunderhawks, Saturday at 4pm.  Their next home game is August 2^nd at Athens High School against the Toledo Raiders.   Proceeds will go to help out Athens resident Crissy Castellanos.

Golf

Mo Martin eagled the 18^th hole to win Women's British Open and her first career major.   Brian Harman used three straight birdies down the stretch to hold off Zach Johnson by one stroke and win the John Deere Classic on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title.  The 27-year-old Georgian in his third full season on the PGA Tour earned $846,000 and the last exemption for next week's British Open.  Scotland's Colin Montgomerie beat American Gene Sauers in a three-hole playoff to decide the U.S. Senior Open in Edmond, Oklahoma on Sunday.

Pistons/NBA

The Detroit Pistons continue to try to improve their three-point shooting.  Multiple outlets report Detroit agreed to a contract with small forward Caron Butler. ESPN had the terms of the deal two years for around 10-million-dollars.  Butler shot 44-percent from three last year in 22 games with the Thunder. The Pistons have also added Jodie Meeks and D.J. Augustin this offseason.  Yahoo Sports reports the Pistons have agreed to a two-year, six-million-dollar contract with Augustin. He resurrected his career with the Bulls last season, averaging 14.9 points with five assists in 30 minutes per game over 61 contests.  Augustin was picked ninth overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 2008.  After days of intense speculation concerning his future, Carmelo Anthony broke his silence on Sunday, announcing that he will indeed re-sign with the New York Knicks.