Tigers

The Tigers opened a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals with a 5-1 loss Tuesday night at Comerica Park.  Justin Verlander was charged with the loss giving up five runs on ten hits while striking out five in seven innings.  Nick Castellanos went three-for-four at the plate and Victor Martinez had an RBI.  Matt Boyd gets his first start for Detroit against Kansas City's Johnny Cueto tonight. First pitch 7:08 p.m. Boyd was acquired in the deal for David Price.   Broadcast time is 6:40 p.m. on WBCK.

Avila is New Tiger GM

Dave Dombrowski is no longer the Tigers general manager after he was released from his contract Tuesday. In the last 14 years under Dombrowski, Detroit made five trips to the playoffs, including four straight American League Central Division titles and two World Series appearances.  During his tenure he brought in players such as Ivan Rodriquez, Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez, Prince Fielder, David Price and Ian Kinsler. Al Avila, who had been a top assistant to Dombrowski since 2002, will take over as general manager and will report directly to Mike Ilitch.

Bombers

The Battle Creek Bombers take on the Lakeshore Chinooks tonight.   Their overall record is now 26-41 with just five games to play in the season.  Four Bombers played in a showcase game for Major League Scouts in Madison last night.

City League Baseball

The Detroit Jet Box team will join host team HBC Behnke at the NABF World Series in Battle Creek starting on Wednesday. Some other teams coming include The Englewood New Jersey Athletics, the Lombard Orioles, the Cleveland Black Wolves, the Battistoni Diesel, the St. John's Lefty's from Pittsburgh and the Michigan City Lakers.  Other teams include the defending champion Stratford Storm, Cincinnati Chiefs and  Brooklyn Sports Fever.  Jim Demarest will be giving us updates at 6:45 all this week on WBCK.

Lions

The Detroit Lions opened training camp Monday afternoon without defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.  Ngata was placed on the non-football injury list with a hamstring issue and will be able to take part in drills when he is medically cleared. The nine-year NFL veteran was acquired in the offseason after Ndamukong Suh joined the Miami Dolphins. Rookie cornerback Alex Carter was also held out of practice Monday with an ankle injury.

The Lions will have a couple of new players at training camp soon. Tuesday, the team announced they signed cornerback Ethan Davis and claimed Jerel Worthy off waivers. Davis, an undrafted free agent out of Troy, had 29 tackles and an interception in 12 games as a senior last year.

Worthy, a second round pick by Green Bay out of Michigan State in 2012, played in 14 games for the Packers in his rookie year before tearing his ACL. He was traded to New England and then spent time on Kansas City's practice squad last year before he was waived by the Chiefs earlier this week.

The Lions will be on the road for part of their workout today during training camp. The team will hold an open practice at Novi High School at 7:30 tonight. Defensive line coach Jim Washburn has not attended training camp as he deals with health issues. Washburn had knee replacement surgery in the spring. Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek and defensive assistant and defensive ends coach Matt Raich are filling in for Washburn.

Coyotes

The Battle Creek Coyotes will host the Wayne County Bengals this Saturday in a Minor League Football Alliance (MLFA) playoff game at Athens High School. Both teams are 5-3 in the league.  The Coyotes are 6-4 overall, and the Bengals are 7-4.  Battle Creek met Detroit in the first round last year and beat the Bengals.   Kickoff is Saturday at 7 p.m.  The winner of Saturday’s divisional semi-final playoff game will travel to Ligonier, Indiana on Aug. 15 to face off against the No. 1 seed, Michiana Thunderhawks.

MLB Flyaway Baseball Trip!

Congratulations to Wendy Dunham of Hillsdale, who won our MLB Trip.  Two tickets to any park between August 18 and September 10…air fare, hotel for two, and $300 cash.   Wendy was asked which city she’d like to go to, and said “Paris.”  When told they didn’t have a major league team yet, she said it didn’t matter because she only went online at our radio station website to win it for her husband.  He’ll get to pick the game!

 


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