Sports: Verlander Strikes Out 10 in Tigers’ 3-1 Win

The Tigers beat the Phillies 3-1.  Justin Verlander struck out 10 in eight scoreless innings.  Verlander (4-4) has allowed only four runs over his last four starts. He gave up three hits and two walks in a 108-pitch effort Tuesday.  Miguel Cabrera drove in two runs for Detroit.  Victor Martinez drove in the Tigers’ third run. Francisco Rodriguez held on for his 400th save. Rodriguez allowed a run in the ninth but closed the game out for his 14th save in 15 chances this year.  Since losing 11 of 12 earlier this month, the Tigers have now won eight of nine.  The Tigers close out their 9-game home stand this afternoon against the Phillies. Anibal Sanchez starts for Detroit.  Broadcast time is 12:45 on WBCK.

Tiger Injuries

Outfielder Justin Upton was again out of the lineup for the Tigers last night because of right quadriceps tightness with manager Brad Ausmus saying Upton likely will also be held out today. Ausmus also scratched Ian Kinsler from last night's lineup because of flu-like symptoms.  Ausmus says they’ll make a decision on whether to send starter Jordan Zimmerman to the disabled list on Sunday.   He’s recovering from a minor groin pull.

NHL

Matt Murray stopped 28 shots and the Penguins forced a seventh game by defeating the Lightning 5-2 in Tampa.  Game 7 is Thursday night, when the Penguins will try to secure their first Stanley Cup finals appearance in seven years.

The San Jose Sharks beat have a 3-2 series lead over St. Louis and head back to San Jose for Game 6 tonight.  With one more win, the Sharks can advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in their team history.

NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder lead the Western Conference finals three games to one after their second straight blowout win over the Warriors. Russell Westbrook had a triple-double of 36 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds as the Thunder rolled to a 118-94 rout of Golden State. Kevin Durant finished with 26 points and 11 boards, while Andre Roberson delivered 17 points and 12 boards.   Oklahoma City torched the Warriors for 72 points by halftime for the second consecutive game.  The Thunder can close out the series Thursday in Oakland.

Toronto and Cleveland are tied at two games each in the Eastern Conference final.  Game 5 is tonight in Cleveland.

Michigan Back Run Over by a Forklift

Michigan running back Drake Johnson was run over by a forklift in a bizarre accident last month at the Wolverines' indoor track building.  Reports say the forklift driver felt a bump and thought he'd run over a starting block. He then realized he'd run over Johnson, who was on the floor stretching.  The incident occurred April 13. Coach Jim Harbaugh said the next day on a Big Ten teleconference that Johnson was "doing well" and that it didn't appear he would miss much time, but he did not go into specifics about what happened.

French Open

Second-round play begins during Day 4 of the French Open. Men's second seed Andy Murray and No. 3 Stan Wawrinka are part of Wednesday's schedule.

Pitcher Hit by Pitch

Pittsburgh pitcher Ryan Vogelsong remained hospitalized with swelling and multiple facial fractures, a day after he was hit in the head by a 92 mph fastball from Colorado's Jordan Lyles.  Pirates trainer Todd Tomczyk says Vogelsong is in good spirits but adds that doctors won't be able to determine the extent of the damage around the left eye until the swelling subsides.

Super Bowls Awarded

The NFL has awarded the 2019 through 2021 Super Bowls to three cities that have significant financial investments in new stadiums or recently upgraded an existing one.

Atlanta will host the 2019 game in its soon-to-be completed, $1.4 billion stadium, and Miami gets the 2020 game following its $450 million stadium renovation. Los Angeles will handle the 2021 Super Bowl, to be played at a $2.6 billion facility in nearby Inglewood.

NFL Reviews

There will be more reviewable plays in the NFL this coming season. The plays include penalty enforcement, proper down, spot of the foul and status of the game clock.

ACC Challenge

Duke will host Michigan State and Michigan will host Virginia Tech as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in late November. The conferences have announced the lineup of 14 games over three days -- including North Carolina playing at Indiana. Start times were not announced.

NFL Concussions

A senior House Democrat has found that National Football League officials improperly sought to influence a government study on the link between football and brain disease. The report by New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone says the league tried to strong-arm the National Institutes of Health into taking the project away from a researcher that the NFL feared was biased.  The NFL had agreed to donate $30 million to the NIH to fund brain research but backed out after the NIH refused to take a $16 million grant away from Boston University researcher Robert Stern, who is a leading expert on the link between football and brain diseases.

Bubba Smith died from CTE

Former NFL and Michigan State defensive standout Bubba Smith had the brain disease CTE. The Concussion Legacy Foundation says researchers were able to make the diagnosis. Smith, who died in 2011, is one of 90 former NFL players diagnosed with CTS since 2008 at a brain bank affiliated with the foundation.

Derby Winner Won’t Race at Belmont

Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist will not run in the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the horse racing Triple Crown. Trainer Doug O'Neill says the horse has a fever and elevated white blood cell count.  Nyquist saw his unbeaten record come to an end in the Preakness Stakes Saturday, which was won by Exaggerator.

Girls’ Soccer

Interstate Eight co-champions Marshall and Jackson Lumen Christi will meet on Thursday for the Gold Cup finals.