Tigers Split Twinbill – Thursday Sports Wrap

High School

On the high school baseball schedule today…
• L’Anse welcomes Iron Mountain.

The boys National Invitational Hockey Tournament opens today at Plymouth, Minnesota. Michigan has two teams competing. The junior squad includes Tom Erkkila and Jackson Rilei from Calumet, and will begin play at 6:45 Central Time against North Dakota. The senior team includes Calumet’s Dean Loukus and Hancock’s Austin Salani, and will face off against Colorado tonight at 9:00 Central Time. Round-robin play continues through Saturday, with the semifinals and championship game set for Sunday.

Other high school hockey post-season awards have also been announced. Loukus was selected as one of six players on the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association Dream Team. One of the six will be honored as “Mr. Hockey” early next month. Loukus was also named to the Division Three All-State First Team, along with Rilei, Erkkila, Salani, Houghton’s Camden Markham, and Calumet’s Aksel Loukus. Members of the second team include Noah Jukuri and Cliff Jurmu from Calumet, Mason Mikesch and Chad Nordstrom from Hancock, and Dane Johnson and Jimmy Pietila from Houghton.

College Softball

The Finlandia University softball team visits Gogebic Community College for a doubleheader this afternoon.

NHL

The Detroit Red Wings host the Dallas Stars tonight. Coverage will begin at 7:15 on 99.3 The Lift.

NBA

The Detroit Pistons lost to the Dallas Mavericks 127-117 last night. Jerami Grant led Detroit with 26 points, and Cory Joseph added 24. Mason Plumlee had a double-double, with 13 points and 16 rebounds.

The Pistons visit the San Antonio Spurs tonight.

MLB

The Detroit Tigers split their doubleheader with the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday. In the afternoon game, Michael Fulmer gave up three runs in the fourth inning, as the Tigers fell 3-2. Tarik Skubal pitched the final three innings of the seven-inning contest, giving up three hits and no runs. Zack Short made his major league debut, drawing two walks, and making a good diving stop at third base.

In the nightcap, Spencer Turnbull gave up a run on two hits over five innings in his season debut, as Detroit claimed a 5-2 victory. Niko Goodrum and Jonathan Schoop homered.

The Tigers host the Pirates again this afternoon. José Ureña will pitch against Mitch Keller. Coverage will begin at 12:50 on 99.3 The Lift.

To make room for Short on the roster, the Tigers designated infielder Renato Nuñez for assignment. Pitcher Joe Jiménez was sent to Toledo to open a roster spot for Turnbull.

The Milwaukee Brewers completed a series sweep of the San Diego Padres with a 4-2 victory yesterday. Omar Narváez’ two-run homer in the sixth inning gave Milwaukee the lead, and Jace Peterson’s solo shot later in the inning provided some insurance. Adrian Houser pitched into the fifth inning, and gave up both San Diego runs.

The Brewers have today off, and begin a series against the Cubs in Chicago tomorrow afternoon. Brett Anderson will start for the Crew.

Milwaukee has signed veteran infielder Dee Strange-Gordon to a minor league contract. Strange-Gordon led the National League in batting average, hits and stolen bases in 2015 with the Miami Marlins, and was twice named to the All-Star Team. In recent years, he has battled injuries, and was recently released by the Cincinnati Reds. He’s been assigned to the minor league camp in Appleton.

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