Turnbull Leads Tigers to Series Sweep – Monday Sports Wrap

MLB

Spencer Turnbull threw seven strong innings yesterday, as the Detroit Tigers shaded the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1. Turnbull gave up a run on five hits. He left with the game tied, but got the win when Miguel Cabrera singled home Jonathan Schoop on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the top of the eighth.

After sweeping their series with the Pirates, the Tigers open a home set against the Chicago White Sox tonight. Michael Fulmer will start against Dallas Keuchel. Coverage begins at 6:45 on 99.3 The Lift.

Center fielder JaCoby Jones left yesterday’s game after swinging awkwardly in the third inning. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Jones has been fighting some abdominal tightness for a week, and he is considered day-to-day.

The Milwaukee Brewers salvaged one game of their weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds, with a 9-3 victory yesterday. The Crew broke open a tight game with six runs in the sixth inning, then sealed it with homers by Kestin Hiura and Christian Yelich in the seventh. Brandon Woodruff gave up two runs over four innings. Brent Suter got the win in relief.

The Brewers host the Twins tonight. Adrian Houser will pitch against Randy Dobnak.

The Saint Louis Cardinals remain on the sideline, as COVID-19 testing continues. More positive player tests late last week forced cancellation of the Cards’ weekend series against the Cubs, and the three-game set that was supposed to open tonight against the Pirates. Saint Louis has missed 13 games because of the coronavirus. They are scheduled to play a make-up doubleheader against the Tigers Thursday.

NHL

The Stanley Cup playoff field is set. Yesterday, the Blue Jackets blanked the Maple Leafs 3-0, to win their qualifying round series 3-2.

In the final round-robin games yesterday…
• The Stars edged the Blues 2-1 in a shootout.
• The Bruins slipped past the Capitals 2-1.

The playoffs begin tomorrow.

In the Eastern Conference, at Toronto, the Flyers are seeded first, and will face the Canadiens. The Lightning are seeded second, and will meet the Blue Jackets. The Capitals are seeded third, and will play the Islanders. The Bruins are seeded fourth, and will take on the Hurricanes.

In the Western Conference, at Edmonton, the Golden Knights are seeded first, and will play the Blackhawks. The Avalanche are seeded second, and will face the Coyotes. The Stars are seeded third, and will take on the Flames. The Blues are seeded fourth, and will meet the Canucks.

The Detroit Red Wings have signed forward Evgeny Svechnikov to a one-year contract extension. He was their first pick in the 2015 draft, and was a restricted free agent.

NBA

The NBA playoffs begin a week from today, but will be preceded by a play-in series in the Western Conference. This year’s adjusted playoff structure had called for a play-in if there was less than a four-game standings difference between the eighth and ninth-place finishers in either conference. Yesterday, the eighth-place Grizzlies lost to the Raptors, which means the four-game margin won’t happen. Several teams remain in contention. There will be no play-in in the Eastern Conference – the Magic have clinched the final spot.

NFL

The Detroit Lions have traded cornerback Michael Jackson to the New England Patriots. In exchange, the Lions will get a 2022 draft pick. The teams aren’t saying which one. Jackson had originally been on the list of cuts the Lions were going to make to trim their roster to 80 players.

College

It’s looking increasingly as if there will be no college football this autumn. Over the weekend, the Mid-American Conference – which includes Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan Universities – canceled all of its fall sports. Officials say they will try to reschedule football for next spring. The Detroit Free Press is now reporting that Big 10 Commissioner Kevin Warren is also in favor of delaying football until spring. The Power Five conference commissioners met yesterday, but made no decision. The Big 10 presidents and chancellors also held a meeting last night, but, similarly, made no decision.

Horseshoes

The Copper Country Horseshoe League playoffs begin tonight…
• Top-seeded Dreamland One will face eighth-seeded Dreamland Two
• Second-seeded Calumet One will meet seventh-seeded Ahmeek Fire Department.
• Third-seeded L and L will face sixth-seeded Loading Zone.
• Fourth-seeded Harter’s Party Store will play fifth-seeded Rocky’s Bar.

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