Sports: Tigers pound A’s 9-4

From the Associated Press...

Tigers

The Tigers beat the Oakland Athletics 9-4 on Wednesday night.  Justin Verlander pitched impressively into the seventh inning to even his record at 2-2. Verlander allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings, his third straight quality start.  Detroit manager Brad Ausmus shuffled his lineup before the game, moving J.D. Martinez from fifth to second in the batting order as he switched spots with Justin Upton. The moves paid off when J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer in the second inning. Victor Martinez added a three-run shot of his own in the sixth.  A’s starter Sonny Gray lasted only two innings in the shortest start of his big league career.   It’s a day game today with Anibal Sanchez on the mound in Detroit.  Broadcast time is 12:45 on WBCK.

Tiger Moves

The Tigers have called up their top prospect in Toledo, hard-throwing right handed pitcher Michael Fulmer. Shane Greene goes on the 15-day disabled list with a blister on his pitching hand.  Fulmer, acquired from the Mets in last summer’s deal for Yoenis Cespedes, will start Friday against the Twins.   The Tigers have optioned outfielder Tyler Collins to Triple-A Toledo, although manager Brad Ausmus said the move was not related to the obscene gesture Collins directed at booing home fans Monday.

Ausmus said Collins was sent down because he's been scuffling and the team thought it could use an extra pitcher right now.  Detroit activated closer Francisco Rodriguez from the family medical emergency list.  “K-Rod” pitched a perfect 9^th in the game on Wednesday.

NBA

The Golden State Warriors advanced to the NBA's Western Conference semifinals by crushing Houston 114-81.  Klay Thompson scored 27 points as star Steph Curry watched from the sidelines.

Portland is up 3-2 in its opening-round series after a 108-98 victory over the Clippers in Los Angeles.

Charlotte beat Miami 90-88, as the Hornets take a 3-2 series lead.

The Atlanta Hawks have a three-games-to-two over the Celtics.  Boston coach Brad Stevens says that all signs point toward Isaiah Thomas being able to play in Game 6 tonight against the Hawks. Thomas limped to the locker room with a mild left ankle sprain in the closing minutes of Tuesday's loss in Atlanta.

The Raptors lead Indiana 3-2.

NHL

The Nashville Predators scored twice in the first period to eliminate the Ducks 2-1 in Anaheim.

The New York Islanders grabbed the opener of their second-round series with Tampa Bay with a 5-3 win over the Lightning.

Pittsburgh plays at Washington tonight in game 1 of their second-round series.

Goalie Award Finalists

Tampa Bay's Ben Bishop, Washington's Braden Holtby and Jonathan Quick of Los Angeles are the finalists for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie.

Girls Tennis

St. Phillip 7, Onsted 1.

Baseball

Bronson swept Union City 15-0 and 11-4.

Detroit Soccer

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert were in Detroit on Wednesday promoting the possibility of building a soccer stadium as part a massive downtown development near where the Tigers, Lions and Red Wings play.   Gilbert and Pistons owner Tom Gores are trying to bring an MLS franchise to Detroit. They're proposing a stadium as part of a larger project that could also include fitness facilities, an office tower, covered parking, a residential tower, open and covered plazas, a hotel, restaurants and retail. The total investment could be around $1 billion.  Gilbert, Gores and MLS want to build on the site where a jail construction was abandoned in 2013, but Wayne County Executive Warren Evans says he remains  interested in reviving the jail project there.

Harbaugh Touts Satellite Camps

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh says he hopes members of the Division I Board of Directors "get it right" and allow satellite camps in college football.  "It benefits who we're supposed to be benefiting here," Harbaugh said. "I can't look you in the eye and say I'm expecting one thing or another."  Harbaugh was at Comerica Park on Wednesday night, with the Oakland Athletics in town to play the Detroit Tigers.  The ban on satellite camps was passed earlier this month by the Division I Council, but it is no certainty to sail through the Board of Directors on Thursday.  Harbaugh has become perhaps the most high-profile practitioner of the camps, using them to lift his school's presence in the talent-rich Deep South.