American Legion Baseball
The Copper Country Flames Legion Post 186 baseball team fell to Escanaba 14-7 in the Zone Five tournament semifinals Saturday. Nick Horning started for the Flames, but was forced from the game in the first inning because of an injury. The Cubs built a 7-0 lead by the end of the second. Copper Country responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, helped by a timely hit from Dylan Horning. Escanaba put the game away with seven in the top of the fifth.
The Cubs went on to lose to Marquette in the championship game. Both Marquette and Escanaba earned places in the state tournament.
MLB
The Tigers lost to the Twins 8-4 last evening. Starter Michael Pineda gave up two early runs, and left the game after three innings, with forearm tightness. Tyler Alexander turned in three scoreless innings, but Minnesota plated three in the seventh off Andrew Chafin and Joe Jiménez, and three more in the eighth off Will Vest to put the game away.
The Tigers host the Twins again this afternoon. Rony Garcia will return from the injured list to start against Sonny Gray. Coverage begins at 1:20 on 99.3 The Lift.
To make room on the roster, infielder Zach Short was sent down to Toledo.
Pineda will undergo an MRI today, and is expected to miss at least his next start. And, there was more bad news for Detroit’s beleaguered pitching staff. Alex Faedo and Kyle Funkhauser will miss the rest of the season. Both may face surgery – Faedo for a hip injury, and Funkhauser for a shoulder problem. On the positive side, Matt Manning could return next weekend, if a rehab start at Toledo on Wednesday goes well.
The Brewers cruised past the Rockies 9-4 last night. Brandon Woodruff allowed a run in the first inning, then pitched shutout ball through six frames. He truck out eight. Hunter Renfroe hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth, and the Crew took control with five runs in the sixth.
The Brewers host the Rockies again this afternoon. Eric Lauer will start against Chad Kuhl.
Milwaukee has placed infielder Jace Peterson on the injured list with a left elbow sprain. He’s expected to miss a month or more.
Milwaukee has signed pitcher Aaron Ashby to a five-year contract extension. The Crew also signed free agent reliever Jake McGee, who was recently cut by the Giants.
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