Sports: Tigers Win on Walkoff

Tigers

The Tigers beat the Royals 8-6 in Detroit. Ian Kinsler hit a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the 9^th for the Tiger win. Victor Martinez went two-for-four at the plate, hitting a three-run homer in the third and a two-run shot in the fifth.  Starter Anibal Sanchez did not figure in the decision after giving up four runs on five hits while walking four and striking out six in six innings.  Alex Wilson got the win after loading the bases but pitching a scoreless ninth.  The Red Sox come to town for three games this weekend. Rookie left-hander Daniel Norris gets the start for the Tigers.   Broadcast time is 6:40 p.m. on WBCK.

Cabrera to Return Soon?

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus says Miguel Cabrera may be ready to return to the line up in the next two weeks. Yesterday Ausmus said he could be back on the field by the end of Detroit's next road trip or by the beginning of the next home stand. The Tigers begin an eight-game road trip against the Royals, Astros and Cubs Monday before returning to Comerica Park on the 20th. Cabrera has been on the disabled list with a calf strain since July 4.

Bombers

The Battle Creek Bombers lost to the Mallards 13-5 in Madison last night.   The Mallards touched up starter Griffin Weir for 10 runs in just 2/3  of an inning.   The lone bright spot was Fred Manke who pitched 6.1 innings in relief while allowing just 1 earned run. The Bombers have three games remaining.   Tonight they’re in Madison, and they end the season Friday and Saturday against the Wisconsin Woodchucks in Wausau.

NABF World Series Baseball

The NABF World Series continued Thursday as host team HBC Behnke beat the Cleveland Black Wolves 4-2 at C.O. Brown Stadium.  Nine games were played Thursday at the Bailey Park complex with a full schedule starting again at 11 today.   HBC Behnke is now 2-0 in the tournament and plays the Michigan City Lakers tonight at 7pm at C.O. Brown Stadium.

In other action on Thursday:

The Michigan City Lakers defeated the Stratford Storm (Conn.), 7-6.

Detroit Jetbox defeated Brooklyn Sports Fever, 5-4.

The St. Johns Leftys (Penn.) defeated the Thermaxx Jackets, 4-0.

Buffalo Battistoni Deisel defeated Lombard Orioles (Ill.), 5-2.

The Cincinnati Chiefs defeated the Englewood Atheletics (N.J.), 4-0.

Lions

The Detroit Lions continue training camp in Allen Park. Yesterday, tight end Joseph Fauria injured his knee during practice and linebacker DeAndre Levy sat out of drills with an undisclosed injury. Head coach Jim Caldwell says he doesn't believe either injury is serious.

Rookie cornerback Alex Carter has yet to practice with the team during training camp because of a sprained ankle, but worked out on the sidelines yesterday. Detroit opens preseason play next Thursday as they host the New York Jets at Ford Field.

The figures are out for DeAndre Levy's contract and the Detroit Lions got themselves a bargain.  According to the NFL Network, Levy's four-year deal is valued at $33.72 million, with $20 million guaranteed. That's significantly less than the four-year, $43 million pact inked by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner days earlier. The deal makes Levy the second-highest paid 4-3 outside linebacker (by average salary), behind only Thomas Davis of the Carolina Panthers. Levy's deal is the largest by total compensation.  Levy, 28, is coming off back-to-back stellar seasons. In 2013, he recorded 119 tackles and six interceptions. He followed it up with 151 tackles last season, racking second in the league in the category.

NFL Pre-Season

The NFL begins its preseason this weekend in Canton, Ohio at Fawcett Stadium. Sunday sees the Minnesota Vikings squaring off with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Hall of Fame Game. Each team featured plays five preseason games compared to four for all others. The exhibition slate goes into full swing on next Thursday with six games being played. There are another six games on Friday, three on Saturday, and one on Sunday.

Coyotes

The Battle Creek Coyotes will host the Wayne County Bengals this Saturday in a 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.

College Football

Sports Illustrated has weighed in on college football's top 25 teams, and Michigan State comes in at No. 7 according to the rankings that will appear in the upcoming Aug. 10 issue of the celebrated magazine.

Author Brian Hamilton provided a scouting report on the Spartans, who were ranked No. 6 in the Amway coaches preseason poll that came out last Thursday.

Golf

Danny Lee is atop the leader board after the first day of the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.