Sports: Tigers Opening Day; Pistons Eliminated from Playoffs

The Tigers host the Red Sox today in the home opener.  It’s the first of four straight afternoon games at Comerica Park with Boston. Broadcast time is 12:45 each day on 95.3 WBCK.   Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez will throw out the first pitch today.  Gates open at 11 this morning.  Opening ceremonies start at 12:30.

Detroit lost 11-2 to the White Sox on Thursday.  The Tigers has just 4 hits and the Sox hit pitchers Matt Boyd and Anibal Sanchez hard.   Tyler Collins led off the second inning with a solo shot to right center field.  Boyd struggled with his control, and walked four in just 2 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits.   Anibal Sanchez gave up another 5 runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Pistons

The Pistons won’t make the playoffs.   The Pacers and Bulls both won last night to move a half-game ahead of Miami for the NBA's last two Eastern Conference playoff slots.  Those wins eliminated the Pistons, who were pre-season favorites to make the playoffs.    Detroit is expected to look at players like Boban Marjanovic and Henry Ellenson over their final four games.  Back-up center Aron Baynes is expected to opt out of his contract and leave the team after the season.  Detroit plays at Houston tonight.  The Pistons play at Memphis on Sunday, and the final home game ever at the Palace is Monday at 8 against the Wizards.  The final game of the season is at Orlando next Wednesday.

Red Wings

The Red Wings have 2 games left this season and both are at Joe Louis Arena.   They host Montreal on Saturday night, and say goodbye to The Joe on Sunday at 5 against the New Jersey Devils.  The team says they’ll have “enhanced security in place” for the final game, as they try to discourage fans from trying to sneak off with a keepsake from the old barn.

Women’s World Hockey

Team USA beat Germany 11-0 in the women's hockey world championship semi-finals at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth.   Canada beat Finland 4-0.    The Germans will face Finland in the bronze-medal game today.  Team USA plays Canada in the gold-medal game.

NCAA Hockey

Minnesota- Duluth beat Harvard 2-1 in the Frozen Four hockey semifinals Thursday night.  Minnesota-Duluth and Denver will square off in Saturday's championship game.

Golf-Masters

Charley Hoffman has a four-stroke lead over William McGirt through one round of the Masters.  Hoffman had seven birdies in one 11-hole span.  He ended the round with a 7-under-65 for the largest first-round lead at the Masters in 62 years.  Lee Westwood is five shots back.  World No. 1 golfer Dustin Johnson withdrew from the Masters.  Johnson fell on the stairs at a home he’s renting in Augusta, Georgia and was in obvious back pain as he hit some balls before his round was scheduled to begin.