Sports Roundup: Tigers win 8-4 in rookie debut

Tigers

The Detroit Tigers rallied for an 8-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night, snapping a four-game losing streak. Nick Castellanos homered and tripled in the game.  Alex Avila hit a home run for the second straight game. Victor Martinez went 3 for 4 and knocked in 3 runs. Joe Nathan walked two in the 9th, but got out of it with a double play.  Buck Farmer’s major league debut was a good one.   The rookie, who pitched most of this year in Grand Rapids, gave up 4 runs over 5 innings.   Blaine Hardy followed with two scoreless innings of relief to get the win. Max Scherzer goes for his 14^th win today.  Broadcast time is 12:40 on WBCK.

 Pure Michigan 400

Martin Truex Jr. will miss NASCAR Sprint Cup practice and qualifying session Friday at Michigan to support his cancer-stricken girlfriend, Sherry Pollex. She was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  Matt Crafton will drive Truex's No. 78 car Friday.  Truex will rejoin the team Saturday and race Sunday.

Tiger out of Ryder Cup

Tiger Woods has toldU.S.captain Tom Watson not to consider him for the Ryder Cup.Woods said on his website Wednesday that he's been told by doctors the muscles in his back "need to be rehabilitated and healed" and that he should not play or practice golf. He said he plans to return to competition in December at his World Challenge event in Orlando,Florida.

LaVert on the Mend

Michiganguard Caris LeVert is playing again after surgery for a stress fracture in his foot. LeVert's operation was back in May. Coach John Beilein says LeVert started playing last week. It's just a question of how quickly he can get back in game shape.

Lions 
The Lions head to the west coast to play the Oakland Raiders this Friday night.

Little League

The Little League World Series begins today. This parody of the iconic baseball song is all about how the stress of adult life makes men yearn for those carefree days of being a kid playing ball.

Pistons

The Detroit Pistons will host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 27th and February 24th. The Pistons released their 2014-15 schedule yesterday. They begin the season on the road against Denver on October 29th. The home opener is against Brooklyn on November 1st.

NABF Regional 

The NABF World Series got underway last night in Battle Creek.

Host team HBC Behnke lost to the defending champion Pittsburgh/St. Johns Lefties, 5-0.

Starter Jimmy Jackson kept the Lefties at bay for the first 6, but they finally got to him in the 7^th.  Meanwhile, Lefties’ starter Greg Frederick pitched a complete-game shutout with 10 strikeouts.

HBC/Behnke takes on the Cincinnati Chiefs tonight at C.O. Brown Stadium. HBC/Behnke plays the Brunswick Orioles on Friday night. The top 8 teams through Friday will advance to Saturday’s games.