Tigers Drop 18th Straight to Cleveland – Saturday Sports Wrap

MLB

The Detroit Tigers lost to the Cleveland Indians 10-5 last night. Starter Ivan Nova gave up two runs in the second inning, then left as Cleveland scored six times in the fourth. Niko Goodrum and Cameron Maybin homered for Detroit.

Maybin’s homer came in his first game back from the injured list. It made him just the ninth player to homer in three different decades for the Tigers. Travis Demeritte was sent down to make room on the roster.

The Tigers have now lost 18 straight contests to the Indians. They’ll try to break the streak this afternoon in the Motor City. Spencer Turnbull will pitch against Shane Bieber – ironically, the same pitchers who started the first game of the streak April 11, 2019. Coverage will begin at 5:45 on 99.3 The Lift.

Christian Yelich’s three-run homer powered the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs last night. His sixth-inning blast came just after the Cubs had scored three times in the bottom of the fifth. They were threatening to score more, but Freddy Peralta replaced Brandon Woodruff, and struck out Javier Báez and Kyle Schwarber to end the inning.

The Brewers face the Cubs in Chicago again this afternoon. Adrian Houser will start against Colin Rea.

After a long layoff caused by positive COVID-19 tests, the Saint Louis Cardinals will return to the field today, with a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. It will be the Cards’ first game since July 29th. To try to make up some of the lost games, Saint Louis will play at least 10 doubleheaders in the next six weeks.

The Cincinnati Reds are the latest team to be bitten by the COVID-19 virus. One player has reportedly tested positive. Tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates could be canceled.

NFL

Former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Herb Orvis has died. Orvis graduated from Flint Beecher High School. After a stint in the army, he starred at the University of Colorado. Detroit chose him with their first pick in the 1972 draft. He played six seasons in the Motor City, and four with the Baltimore Colts. He was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015. Herb Orvis was 73, and had suffered from Parkinson’s Disease.

The Lions have brought defensive end Romeo Okwara off the COVID-19 list.

NBA

Former Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has been named interim general manager of the Sacramento Kings. He’ll fill the gap created when Vlade Divac stepped down.

The Chicago Bulls fired head coach Jim Boylen yesterday. Boylan is a former Michigan State University assistant, and a native of East Grand Rapids. The move came after the regular NBA season ended, and the Bulls missed the playoffs.

The playoffs begin Monday. The last team to make the field will be determined beginning today. The Portland Trail Blazers, who finished eighth in the Western Conference, will play the Memphis Grizzlies, who finished ninth, in a one or two-game play-in series. If the Blazers win one game, they advance. The Grizzlies need to win both games to move on.

NHL

In the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs yesterday… in the Eastern Conference at Toronto…
• The Canadiens blanked the Flyers 5-0 to tie that series at a win per team.
• The Islanders downed the Capitals 5-2, to take a 2-0 series lead.

In Toronto today…
• The Bruins face the Hurricanes. That series is knotted 1-1.
• The Lightning play the Blue Jackets. That set is tied 1-1.

In the Western Conference at Edmonton…
• The Canucks edged the Blues 4-3 in overtime, and lead that series 2-0.
• The Flames shot down the Stars 2-0, to take a 2-1 lead in that series.

In Edmonton today…
• The Avalanche play the Coyotes. Colorado is up 2-0 in that series.
• The Golden Knights face the Blackhawks. Vegas leads that set 2-0.

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