Sports: Tigers win 1-0

The Tigers beat the Pirates 1-0 in Pittsburgh. Alfredo Simon out-pitched Francisco Liriano for his second Tiger win. Simon allowed just two hits and struck out two in eight innings of work. Joakim Soria pitched the ninth and notched his fourth save.

Photo by Jared Wickersham/Getty Images

Rajai Davis provided all the offense Detroit would need with a solo home run in the sixth inning. The Royals finally lost a game, 3-1 to Minnesota, to put the 8-1 Tigers in the lead in the AL Central. The Tigers are off today and start a series Friday afternoon in Detroit against the White Sox.

David Price is scheduled to take the mound for Detroit. Broadcast time is 12:40pm on WBCK.

Tiger Injuries

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander ended his simulated game early yesterday because of shoulder fatigue. Verlander threw 45 pitches over three innings and said it was not pain, but fatigue from not throwing which cut his session short. Earlier this week, manager Brad Ausmus said he expected him to throw at least 60 pitches over four simulated innings. Tigers’ reliever Joe Nathan is making progress as expected. Brad Ausmus also expects that he will return to his role as closer once he's healthy. Nathan did some long tossing in the outfield at PNC Park on Wednesday afternoon and felt good afterward.

Pistons

Reggie Jackson posted 24 points and 11 assists, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 112-90 win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden to wrap up the season for both teams.

All five Detroit starters finished in double figures, with Andre Drummond and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each adding 17. Former Wolverine guard Tim Hardaway Jr. had a game-high 25 points. The Pistons finished 32-and-50. At 17-and-65, New York finished with the second-worst record in the NBA, guaranteeing them a top-five pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings start the playoffs inTampatonight. Petr Mrazek will start in goal. Defenseman Alexey Marchenko and forwards Teemu Pulkkinen and Landon Ferraro will all be making their playoff debuts against the Lightning. Game Two will be played in Tampa Bay Saturday, before the series moves to Detroit for Game Three and Game Four next week.

Wednesday….Montreal Canadiens 4, Ottawa Senators 3

NY Islanders 4, Washington Capitals 1

Chicago Blackhawks 4,Nashville Predators 3 (2 OT)

Calgary Flames 2, Vancouver Canucks 1

Lions work out Johnson Deal with Bucs

The Detroit Lions have traded defensive end George Johnson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after disputing an offer sheet given to the restricted free agent. Detroit will send Johnson and a seventh-round pick to Tampa Bay in exchange for a fifth-round pick in this year's NFL Draft. The Lions disputed the principle terms of the three-year nine-million-dollar deal given to the defensive end last week. The league sent the matter to arbitration, but the Buccaneers agreed to the trade yesterday before the hearing.

Boys’ Golf

Lakeview hosted and won a SMAC East Jamboree. The Spartans were led by Matt Alderink with a 36 and James Staab, who shot 37.

Lumen Christi won the I-8 Jamboree in boys' golf, held at Coldwater Golf Course on Wednesday. Coldwater was second, Marshall was sixth, Pennfield was seventh and Harper Creek placed eighth.

Delton-Kellogg was third at the KVA Jamboree.

Girls’ Track

Battle Creek Central beat Kalamazoo Central 88-59.

Reading beat Springport and Union City.

Boys Track

Kalamazoo Central beat Battle Creek Central, 87-76.

Comstock 83, Delton Kellogg 53.

Springport beat Union City and Reading.

Girls’ Soccer

Harper Creek shutout Battle Creek Central 1-0. Ellie Miller scored only goal of the game and Kelly Klutts recorded her fourth shutout.

High School Softball

Climax-Scotts swept Pittsford, 15-5 and 19-8. Lydia and Harriet Swager each had 5 hits.