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Illinois Men's Golf Finishes Season At NCAA Championship Semi's

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Defending champion Oregon made it back to the title match in the NCAA men's golf championship when Sulman Raza held on to beat Vanderbilt's best player.
The Ducks will face Oklahoma, which beat Illinois. The Sooners go for their first NCAA title since 1989.
 
John Augenstein of Vanderbilt rolled in a 30-foot putt from the fringe to win his match in 19 holes against Edwin Li of Oregon. That left it to Raza, who was 1 up over Matthias Schwab on the par-5 18th. Raza hit 6-iron to the back of the green. Schwab missed the green to the left, failed to make birdie and conceded the match.
 
Oklahoma, which trailed in all five of its quarterfinal matches before rallying to beat Baylor, had an easier time against Illinois.

Illinois Settles For $250K In Ex-Lineman's Suit

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The University of Illinois has agreed to pay a former football player $250,000 to settle injury claims that helped prompt wider scrutiny of athletics at the school
Simon Cvijanovic (svee-JAHN'-oh-vihk) announced the settlement Monday on Twitter. A news release later from his lawyer, Bob Geimer, says the payment compensates for injuries and for medical costs Cvijanovic incurred as an Illini offensive lineman.
 
Cvijanovic in 2015 first raised allegations then-football coach Tim Beckman pressed him to play through injuries. Beckman was fired later that year.
 
The news release also cites Chancellor Robert Jones as saying he hopes the settlement lets Cvijanovic "focus on his future goals." 

Cards, Cubs, White Sox All Lose Tuesday

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Chase Utley, Logan Forsythe and Chris Taylor combined to reach base 12 times and totaled six runs, helping the streaking Los Angeles Dodgers rally past the St. Louis Cardinals 9-4 on Tuesday night to move atop the NL West.
 
Utley finished a homer shy of the cycle and was hit by a pitch as the Dodgers won their season-high sixth straight game. Forsythe reached five times, including three walks, and Taylor reached three times.
 
Adrian Gonzalez's sacrifice fly and Utley's RBI double started the Dodgers comeback in the third. Enrique Hernandez tied it at 3 with a single, and Paul DeJong's throwing error on the same play scored Utley to give the Dodgers a 4-3 lead.
 
The Dodgers scored three more times behind one hit in the fifth as relievers Tyler Lyons and John Brebbia each walked in a run.
 
Kenta Maeda spotted the Cardinals three first-inning runs for the second straight start, but once again held them scoreless after that to give the Dodgers a chance to come back.
 
Brandon Morrow (1-0) led a parade of six Dodgers relievers. The Dodgers bullpen gave up one run in five innings, the third consecutive game Los Angeles relievers had to get more than nine outs.
 
The Cardinals, who've lost 10 out of their last 13 games, capitalized on a fortunate call and a couple of Dodgers errors to take a 3-0 lead in the first.
 
Dexter Fowler appeared to be thrown out trying to steal second following a strikeout, but umpire Mark Wegner called a close 3-2 pitch to Tommy Pham ball four. Matt Carpenter followed with a single, Taylor's throwing error scored Fowler, and Pham and Carpenter took an extra base on Maeda's throwing error on the same play. Yadier Molina drove them both home with a single.
 
Molina had three RBIs, and his homer off Chris Hatcher in the eighth broke the Dodger bullpen's scoreless innings streak at 24 2/3 innings.
 
Michael Wacha (2-3) needed 77 pitches to get through three innings, the shortest outing for a Cardinals starter this season. Three of the four runs he allowed were earned.
 
Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-5, 4.28 ERA) starts in place of LHP Alex Wood (left shoulder inflammation). Ryu is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in three career appearances against St. Louis.
 
Carlos Martinez (3-4, 3.32 ERA) has received zero run support in his last two starts. He is 2-2 with a 3.55 ERA in seven career games against Los Angeles.
 
>>Red Sox Outslug White Sox
 
Chris Sale had a shaky first start back in his former home, but Deven Marrero hit two of Boston's season-high six home runs in a 13-7 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.
 
Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Mitch Moreland also went deep. The Red Sox won for the seventh time in nine games after an anticipated duel between aces never materialized.
 
Sale (6-2) got a warm reception from the crowd and a rude welcome from his old team. The five-time All-Star gave up six runs and 10 hits - both season highs - over five innings in his first appearance against the White Sox.
 
Marrero drove in five runs and doubled his career home run total. After hitting two in his first 59 major league games, he went back-to-back with Betts in a four-run second inning and chased Jose Quintana (2-7) with a three-run drive in the third that made it 7-3.
 
Bradley bumped the lead to 10-6 in the fifth with a three-run drive off Dan Jennings after Chicago cut it to one.
 
Bogaerts added a solo homer in the eighth and finished with four of Boston's 16 hits. Moreland knocked a two-run homer off Juan Minaya in the ninth to make it 13-7.
 
Craig Kimbrel worked the final 1 1/3 innings for his 14th save in 15 chances, and the Red Sox picked up the win after dropping two in a row.
 
Todd Frazier and Tim Anderson homered for Chicago, but the White Sox took the loss after winning four of five.
 
Jose Quintana got pounded for seven runs and 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings. It was his shortest outing since he lasted one inning against the New York Yankees on Sept. 2, 2013.
 
Mike Pelfrey (2-4, 4.41 ERA) looks to win his third straight start for Chicago, while LHP Drew Pomeranz (4-3, 4.70) tries to build on a dominant win. He tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts against Texas last week.
 
>>Padres Beat Cubs
 
Austin Hedges had a home run and a career-high four RBIs, rookie Dinelson Lamet produced another strong outing and the Padres beat the Cubs 6-2 on Tuesday night, giving Chicago its fifth straight loss.
 
Hedges hit a two-run homer and a two-run double as the Padres clinched the three-game series against the struggling Cubs.
 
Lamet (2-0), one of Padres' top prospects, was making his Petco Park debut and looking to build on his stellar first start. Against the New York Mets on Thursday, the right-hander threw five innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits.
 
He was nearly as good against the potent Cubs, limiting them to two runs, five hits and a walk over five innings. For the second straight start, he struck out eight. He showed three effective pitches in a fastball, slider and changeup.
 
Eddie Butler (2-1) was seeking his third straight win, but he lasted only 4 1/3 innings, charged with six runs and seven hits.
 
He walked three and struck out five as his teammates were no match for Lamet.
 
Hunter Renfroe had a two-run double in the fifth that put the Padres up 4-2 and gave him six RBIs in two games.
 
Hedges got to reliever Brian Duensing for another two-run double into the left field corner, extending the edge to 6-2.
 
Kyle Schwarber burned Lamet on an 0-2 pitch, turning on an elevated fastball for a solo homer in the fifth to tie it at 2 and snap his 0-for-13 skid.
 
Hedges' ninth homer of the season, a two-run shot off Butler's fastball, pushed the Padres ahead 2-1 in the second inning. Franchy Cordero opened with a single.
 
The Cubs struck first when Willson Contreras' bad-hop grounder got past Cory Spangenberg at third for a double in the second for a 1-0 edge, scoring Cordero after he singled.
 
Chicago, which has fallen a game under .500, has nine hits in the series' first two games. They left nine runners on base.
 
Jake Arrieta (5-4, 4.92) has lost three of his last four starts. Against the Padres, Arrieta is 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA. He last faced them in August when he threw eight shutout innings.
 
Luis Perdomo (0-0, 4.19) has lost his last two decisions after setting a franchise mark with six straight no-decisions to start a season. Perdomo has pitched against the Cubs just once, allowing two runs, two hits and two walks in three innings.

Bears Backup QB Sanchez Out For OffSeason

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Bears backup quarterback Mark Sanchez will likely miss the rest of Chicago's offseason program after suffering what the team says is a minor injury on Tuesday.
 
He is expected to be ready for training camp.
 
The Bears signed Sanchez to a one-year deal in March. He spent last season backing up Dallas' Dak Prescott.
 
Earlier in the day, the Bears requested waivers on quarterback Connor Shaw. They rescinded the move after Sanchez was injured.

Tiger Woods Arrested For DUI in Florida

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Tiger Woods was arrested for driving under the influence in Jupiter Island, Florida, early Monday morning.
 
A resident of Jupiter, which is located about 20 minutes away, Woods was arrested at 3 a.m. and booked into Palm Beach County Jail at 7:18 a.m. He was released at 10:50 a.m. on his own recognizance, according to court records.
 
This Memorial Day is not the first holiday incident Woods has had with the police. His famous Thanksgiving 2009 car crash outside his home has lingered over him and his public image for the past nine years. Much of that has faded, of course, as he's stacked up wins (although no majors) and time has passed, but there is a part that probably never goes away.
 
Woods is currently in the middle of resting and rehabilitating his lower back after undergoing a fourth back surgery. He has not played since February when he withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic in Round 2. 

White Sox Top Red Sox; Cubs, Cardinals Lose

Posted About Nine Years Ago

David Price lasted five innings in his season debut in Boston's 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Monday, but the left-hander's encouraging outing took a back seat to another injury for a key teammate.
 
Dustin Pedroia bounced to first in the first inning and Jose Abreu slid into the bag for the out. Pedroia went right over the top of the big first baseman while trying to beat out the grounder for a hit, putting his hands on the ground to brace for the fall .
 
The Red Sox then pulled Pedroia in the second with a sprained wrist, and manager John Farrell said the 2008 AL MVP was headed back to Boston for tests.
 
Melky Cabrera homered and drove in four runs for the White Sox, who rallied for their fourth win in five games. Juan Minaya (1-0) and Tommy Kahnle each pitched a scoreless inning before David Robertson got three outs for his eighth save in nine chances.
 
Boston almost got a tying homer in the eighth, but Mitch Moreland's drive hooked foul in right.
 
Price was in line for the win before Kevan Smith hit an RBI double off Matt Barnes (3-2) in the seventh, tying it at 4. With two outs and Smith still on second, Cabrera hit a soft liner up the middle that landed in between shortstop Xander Bogaerts and second baseman Josh Rutledge.
 
Mookie Betts homered for Boston, which has dropped two in a row after a six-game win streak. Bogaerts had a sacrifice fly and a slick stop that started an inning-ending double play in the fifth.
 
Next up is a fun little Tuesday night when Chris Sale faces his former team for the first time since he was traded to Boston over the winter. Jose Quintana pitches for Chicago in a matchup of All-Star left-handers.
 
>>Padres Rally Past Cubs
 
Rookie Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam off Kyle Hendricks that helped the San Diego Padres overcome the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Monday, handing Chicago its fourth straight loss.
 
The defending World Series champion Cubs have lost six straight road games. They were coming off a three-game sweep at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
 
With one out in the fourth, Hendricks gave up singles to Yangervis Solarte and Wil Myers, and hit Ryan Schimpf with a pitch before Renfroe drove a 1-1 pitch into the seats in left. It was Renfroe's 10th this season and his second career grand slam.
 
Hendricks was charged with five runs and six hits in five innings, struck out five and walked none.
 
San Diego starter Jarred Cosart allowed Jason Heyward's two-run single with two outs in the first.
 
Cosart lasted only four innings, giving up two runs, three hits and five walks and striking out two.
 
Jose Torres (3-2) pitched two scoreless, hitless innings for the win. He walked two and struck out one. Brandon Maurer pitched the ninth for his seventh save.
 
Eddie Butler (2-0, 1.93) is scheduled to start Tuesday night. He's 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA inn in three appearances against San Diego, including two starts. All three appearances have been at Petco Park.
 
Dinelson Lamet (1-0, 1.80) tries to follow up on his brilliant big league debut, when he struck out eight in five innings while allowing one run on three hits in a 4-3 win at the New York Mets on Thursday.
 
>>Dodgers Down Cardinals
 
Cody Bellinger, Chase Utley and Logan Forsythe hit solo home runs, leading Rich Hill and the Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 Monday for their fifth straight victory.
 
Bellinger connected in the fourth - it was his ninth home run in May, tying Joc Pederson and James Loney for the Dodgers rookie record for home runs in a month. Bellinger leads the team with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs, thriving in his first exposure in the major leagues.
 
Hill (2-2) recovered from a bout of wildness in his last start to pitch five innings, giving up one run and two hits. In his previous outing, also against the Cardinals, he permitted five runs on four hits and seven walks in four innings.
 
Hill held the Cardinals hitless until Aledmys Diaz singled to lead off the fifth.
 
Mike Leake (5-3) entered the game leading the majors with a 1.91 ERA, but allowed a season-high four runs in 6 2/3 innings.
 
Los Angeles got all the offense it needed in the third as Utley opened with his third home run of the season and second against St. Louis. Corey Seager later drove in Yasiel Puig with a two-out single.
 
Puig's sacrifice fly in the seventh snapped Leake's streak of nine quality starts to open the season.
 
Paul DeJong got two hits in his first career major league start after making his debut Sunday for the Cardinals.
 
Brandon Morrow pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth in his season debut for the Dodgers after having his contract purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
 
Kenta Maeda (4-2, 5.08 ERA) is scheduled to face the Cardinals for his second straight start. He is 2-0 with a 4.22 ERA in two career starts versus St. Louis.
 
Michael Wacha (2-2, 3.66 ERA) is 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA in five starts at home this season.
 
>>Cardinals Option Grichuk To A-Ball
 
The Cardinals optioned OF Randal Grichuk to High-A Palm Beach before the game. 
 
Grichuk was batting .222 with four home runs and 19 RBIs, and had just five hits in 37 at bats with 14 strikeouts in his last 11 games. He hit 24 homers for St. Louis last year. 
 
The Cardinals want him to work on his plate approach at a lower level, rather than at Triple-A.
 
OF Jose Martinez was activated from the disabled list prior to the game after missing 18 games with a left groin strain sustained on May 6 at Atlanta.
 
LHP Zach Duke threw a side session in extended spring training as he continues to recover from elbow surgery in October.
 
Dodgers LHP Alex Wood was put on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to May 27 with inflammation in a joint in his upper body.
 
>>Bryce Harper, Hunter Strickland Brawl in Nationals-Giants Game
 
Giants reliever Hunter Strickland hit Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper with a pitch on Monday and a pretty nice brawl broke out afterward.
 
Enraged, the Washington slugger charged the mound, wildly fired his helmet and traded punches to the head with reliever Hunter Strickland, setting off a furious brawl Monday during the Nationals' 3-0 win over the San Francisco Giants.
 
 The two players have a history, stemming from two home runs Harper hit off Strickland in the 2014 playoffs.
 
This flashpoint came in their first matchup since then - with two outs in the eighth inning, none on and Washington ahead 2-0, Strickland hit Harper with the first pitch, a 98 mph fastball.
 
Harper didn't wait. The four-time All-Star pointed his bat at Strickland, yelled at him and took off.
 
No one got in Harper's way as he rushed the mound. Giants star catcher Buster Posey stuck near the plate when Harper bolted, and stayed clear of the fracas as things escalated.
 
Harper's eyes were wide as he flung his helmet - it wasn't close to Strickland, it might've slipped, helmets are hard to throw accurately - and they started swinging away.
 
The 6-foot-4 Strickland hit Harper in the face, then they broke apart for a moment before squaring off again. Harper punched Strickland in the head as the benches and bullpen emptied.
 
Giants teammates Michael Morse and Jeff Samardzija collided hard as they tried to get between the two fighters.
 
Three Giants players forcefully dragged Strickland from the middle of the pack all the way into the dugout, while a teammate held back Harper.
 
Harper and Strickland were both ejected, and are certain to face punishment from Major League Baseball.
 
No injuries were reported in either clubhouse. Harper attributed a scratch to Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon pulling him away from the brawl.
 
In the 2014 NL Division Series, Harper hit two home runs off Strickland. Harper watched the second shot sail down the line, in Game 4, and glared at the reliever as he rounded the bases.
 
Strickland said he missed his spot.
 
''I left the ball over the plate a couple of times to him,'' he said. ''He's taken advantage of that, so I went inside. Obviously, I got in a little too far.''
 
Tanner Roark (5-2) struck out six and allowed six hits in seven innings. Koda Glover pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his sixth save.
 
Ryan Zimmerman hit his 14th homer, off Matt Moore (2-6). Murphy hit an RBI double in his first game after missing three games due to illness.

Penguins Open Stanley Cup Finals With 5-3 Win

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Rookie Jake Guentzel fired a shot by Nashville's Pekka Rinne with 3:17 left in regulation to put the Penguins ahead to stay in a flat-out weird 5-3 victory.
 
The Penguins were outshot 26-12 and went 37 minutes without managing to get one puck on Rinne, the best goalie in the playoffs and the main reason the Predators are on their sport's biggest stage for the first time. And yet it didn't matter.
 
When Guentzel ended an eight-game goalless drought and Nick Bonino picked up his second goal on an empty-netter , the Penguins were in control as they try to become the first team since Detroit in 1998 to win back-to-back Cups.
 
Conor Sheary scored his first of the playoffs and Evgeni Malkin collected his eighth . The Penguins won despite putting just 12 shots on goal. Matt Murray finished with 23 saves for the Penguins, who used the first coach's challenge in Final history to wipe out an early Nashville goal and held on despite their astonishing shot drought.
 
Game 2 is Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.

Marquez leads Rockies past Cardinals 8-4

Posted About Nine Years Ago

German Marquez pitched into the sixth inning, Gerardo Parra hit a three-run homer and the Colorado Rockies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-4 Sunday.
 
Marquez (4-2) allowed two runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He went 4-1 in May to help the Rockies' rookie starters finish 12-3 for the month, the most wins by rookie starting pitchers since Oakland got 11 in September 2009, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
 
Parra finished with three hits as the Rockies won a series for the 12th time this season. They have dropped two and split two others.

Lester and Kershaw rocked in Dodgers' 9-4 sweep of Cubs

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Cody Bellinger and Kike Hernandez led an offensive outburst with three-run homers that upstaged the anticipated duel between aces Jon Lester and Clayton Kershaw, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Chicago 9-4 on Sunday to sweep the Cubs in three games at home for the first time since August 2012.
 
Lester and Kershaw were rocked for 10 runs and 18 hits in a combined 7 2/3 innings of their first career matchup. The left-handers that own three World Series titles (Lester), three Cy Young Awards (Kershaw) and 10 All-Star nods failed to retire the side in order in any inning.
 
Lester (3-3) gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings for Chicago. Kershaw allowed four runs and a career-high-tying 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Gonzalez pitches White Sox over Tigers 7-3

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Miguel Gonzalez took a perfect game into the seventh inning, Todd Frazier hit a two-run homer and the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 7-3 on Sunday.
 
Melky Cabrera and Matt Davidson also connected, helping the White Sox take three of four in the series. David Robertson got two outs for his seventh save.
 
Gonzalez (4-5) allowed three runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings while snapping a five-start losing streak. The right-hander struck out six and walked none.
 
Gonzalez retired his first 18 batters before Andrew Romine led off the seventh with a hard one-hop liner to shortstop Tim Anderson, who couldn't field the ball cleanly and was originally charged with an error. Alex Avila followed with a single into to right field, and Romine's ball was later changed to a hit.

Jones, Thomas help Sun beat Sky for first win of season

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Jonquel Jones scored 19 of her career-high 23 points in the second half and finished with 21 rebounds to help the Connecticut Sun beat the Chicago Sky 97-79 on Sunday night.
 
Jones, who set her previous career best of 20 rebounds on May 13, became the 12th player in WNBA history with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game. Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals and Lynetta Kizer scored 16 with seven rebounds for Connecticut (1-4), which won its first game of the season.
 
Kizer's jumper midway through the first quarter made it 14-13 and the Sun led the rest of the way. Jessica Breland hit two free throws to pull Chicago (1-5) within four with 4:37 left in the third, but Jones scored seven points during a 10-3 run over the next three-plus minutes and the Sky got no closer.
 
Tamera Young led Chicago with 17 points. She has at least one made 3-pointer in each of the last five games after going nearly five calendar years (June 23, 2011) since her last 3.

Iowa routs Wildcats 13-4 for first Big 10 Tournament title

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Drake Robison held Northwestern to one run in seven innings, Jake Adams homered twice, and Iowa won the Big Ten Tournament for the first time with a 13-4 victory over Northwestern on Sunday.
 
The fifth-seeded Hawkeyes (38-20) earned the Big Ten's automatic NCAA bid and will make their second appearance in the national tournament in three years.
 
Robison (4-2), a senior used mostly as a reliever, limited seventh-seeded Northwestern to four hits and struck out six in the longest outing of his career.
 
Adams homered in the seventh and eighth innings to increase his total to 27, tied with Morehead State's Niko Hulsizer for the national lead.
 
Freshman Matt Gannon (0-4) didn't make it out of the first inning as Iowa took a 5-0 lead. Northwestern (27-30) won eight of its last 10 and finished with 12 more wins than a year ago.

Texas' Scottie Scheffler, Vanderbilt lead NCAA golf

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Texas junior Scottie Scheffler opened a three-stroke lead Sunday in the NCAA individual competition and Vanderbilt topped the team standings at Rich Harvest Farms.
 
Scheffler shot his third straight 4-under 68. Mississippi's Braden Thornberry (69) was second, and Vanderbilt's Matthias Schwab (70) and Illinois' Dylan Meyer (69) were tied for third at 9 under.
 
On Monday, the individual champion will be crowned and the top eight teams will advance to match play.
 
Vanderbilt shot an 8-under 280 to reach 18-under 846. Oklahoma, Southern California and UNLV were a stroke back, Illinois was 14 under, Oklahoma State 12 under and Baylor and Virginia 9 under. The top four scores each round count in the team total for the five-man squads.

Jones omitted from US roster for World Cup qualifiers

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Coach Bruce Arena has called in a mixture of veterans and young players for the U.S. team's training camp in Denver heading into a tuneup match against Venezuela and two World Cup qualifiers.
 
Missing from the 27-man roster is Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Jermaine Jones, often a regular in international games. Jones, bothered by a sprained right knee, might not fit Arena's plans as Michael Bradley is used in more of a defensive midfield role that Jones has filled.
 
Tim Howard, Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando, fixtures guarding the net, were chosen by Arena along with 21-year-old Ethan Horvath of Club Brugge in Belgium. Other mainstays called in included Bradley, Alejandro Bedoya and Dax McCarthy in midfield; Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore at forward; and defenders DaMarcus Beasley, Geoff Cameron, Fabian Johnson and Timmy Chandler.
 
The Americans play Venezuela on Saturday, then have qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago on June 8 and at Mexico three days later.

Clinton Lady Maroons Fall to Rochester

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In a game heard on WHOW, the Clinton Lady Maroons fell to the Rochester Rockets by a score of 11-3 on Saturday morning. Olivia Sanders takes the loss for the Lady Maroons, pitching six innings, allowing 11 runs on 12 hits, striking out five, and walking one. At the plate, the Lady Maroons were led by Aspyn Taylor who was two for four and Destiny Schlesinger who went two for three with an RBI. 

 

Reagan Miles takes the win for Rochester, pitching seven innings, giving up three runs on eight hits, striking out five, and walking two. The Lady Rockets were led at the plate by Nicole Robinson, who was three for four with two RBIs, and three runs. Abby Blatz was three for four.

 

With the loss, the Lady Maroons end their season 18-15. Rochester improves to 27-7 and plays Tuesday night at Chatham Glenwood.

MLB: Cards Lose, Cubs Win, Scoreboard

Posted About Nine Years Ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Kenta Maeda fell into a 3-0 hole in the first inning of his first start for the Dodgers in two weeks coming off the disabled list. Then, the Japanese right-hander rallied Los Angeles to a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals Thursday night in the series finale. The Dodgers took two of three from the Cardinals.
 
CHICAGO (AP) - Kris Bryant, Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist hit solo homers, spot starter Eddie Butler pitched five effective innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 5-1 Thursday for their third straight win. Mike Montgomery followed with four scoreless innings and allowed one hit in his first save.
 
 
Mariners   4
Nationals  2
 
Pirates   9
Braves   4
 
Rockies   1
Phillies   2
 
Angels   0
Rays 4
 
Rangers   2
Red Sox   6
 
Padres   4
Mets 3
 
Diamondbacks   4
Brewers   0
 
Tigers   6
Astros 7

NBA: Wade Expected To Stay A Bull; Warriors Faves

Posted About Nine Years Ago

> Wade Expected To Stay A Bull
       Most teams have entered offseason mode, meaning draft preparation, trade talks and free agency decisions. In addition to the teams, some players have offseason decisions to make as well, such as potential free agent Dwyane Wade. The veteran guard has a player option for next season with the Chicago Bulls, which would be worth nearly $24M. But with his career winding down and the Bulls barely a playoff team, there was question whether Wade would opt out to chase another ring. 
       According to a report from K.C. Johnson, it appears Wade will take the money. Johnson, who is as plugged into the Bulls scene as anyone, said in a recent mailbag that Wade is expected to opt in
 
> Warriors Favorites In Vegas
The NBA Finals are set and shocking nobody it's going to the Warriors taking on the Cavaliers for the third year in a row. The Warriors won it in round one, but Cleveland pulled off an upset storming down from a 3-1 deficit to win the rematch. With a score to settle between the two this is the perfect matchup.
Currently, Vegas has the Warriors as the odds-on favorite. With the addition of Kevin Durant and a more impressive season up to this point it makes sense they would be the favorites, but Cleveland shouldn't be counted out entirely. Having LeBron James is the ultimate equalizer.

NFL: Bears Add Cruz

Posted About Nine Years Ago

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) - The Chicago Bears added some salsa, signing former New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz to a one-year contract Thursday. Cruz has 303 catches for 4,549 yards and 25 touchdowns, many of which he celebrated with a salsa dance. A knee injury and a calf problem caused him to miss most of the 2014 season and all of 2015. Last year, he had 39 catches and one touchdown reception.

UPDATED: Clinton Maroons Fall to Lincoln Railers

Posted About Nine Years Ago

As heard on WHOW, the Clinton Maroons fell to the Lincoln Railers by a score of 6-5 on Thursday afternoon in regional play.  Despite trailing for much of the game, the Maroons pushed three runs across in the top of the 7th to tie the game at 5 each, but Lincoln answered in the bottom of the 7th with the winning run.

 

Jake Wade takes the loss pitching six and a third innings, giving up six runs on seven hits, striking out five, and walking one. Clinton at the plate was led by Jake Wade, who went two for three with three RBIs and two walks. Levi Nettles was one for three with an RBI.

 

Nate Arnold takes the win pitching two and a third innings, giving up three runs on four hits and striking out three. Lincoln at the plate was led by Jacob Conczyk who went two for two with an RBI.

 

With the loss the Maroons fall to 11-15 overall and 6-8 in the Central Illinois Conference. Lincoln improves to 14-18 and will play Chatham Glenwood Saturday for the regional championship.

 

Tune in Saturday, May 27, as the Clinton Lady Maroons take on Rochester for the regional championship. You can hear the game live on the Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW and online at dewittdailynews.com. Game time is at 11am.

 

Other Thursday IHSA Baseball Scores:

 

CLASS 1A BOYS BASEBALL
 
Milford 1 6 Decatur (D. Lutheran) F
Argenta (A.-Oreana) 3 4 Fithian (Oakwood) F
 
CLASS 2A BOYS BASEBALL
 
Mackinaw (Deer Creek-M.) 1 2 Orion F
Aledo (Mercer County) 9 8 El Paso (E.P.-Gridley) F
Paxton (P.-Buckley-Loda) 0 15 St. Joseph (S.J.-Ogden)
Paris 6 0 Downs (Tri-Valley) F
 
CLASS 3A BOYS BASEBALL
 
Mahomet (M.-Seymour) 7 2 Urbana (H.S.) F
Champaign (Central) 4 3 Mattoon F-8

Leake Strong in Cardinals Win; Rizzo Blasts 2 HR in Cubs Win; Sox Lose

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Mike Leake allowed four hits over eight innings and dropped his ERA to 1.91, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 on Wednesday night.
 
Leake (5-2) struck out five and walked none while allowing an earned run. He's yet to allow more than three runs in a start this season.
Yadier Molina hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Molina matched Kolten Wong for the Cardinals' longest streak this season.
 
Jedd Gyorko had three hits and also drew a walk during a two-run second inning that gave the Cardinals the lead for good.
 
Dodgers starter Rich Hill walked seven and allowed five earned runs in four-plus innings. He threw two more balls (42) than strikes (40).
 
Michael Wacha (2-1, 2.74) pitched six scoreless innings against the Giants in his last start. He has pitched at least six innings in all seven of his starts this season.
 
Kenta Maeda (3-2, 5.03) will come off the DL with a hamstring injury to make his start. He pitched a rehab start Friday. In his last start, May 10 against Pittsburgh, he pitched 8 1/3 innings and allowed two runs in the win.
 
>>Rizzo Powers Cubs Past Giants
 
Anthony Rizzo homered twice, Kyle Hendricks tossed seven strong innings and the Cubs hung on to beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 after closer Wade Davis gave up a two-run homer in the ninth inning.
 
Rizzo hit solo homers off Matt Moore (2-5) in the second and fourth innings for his 14th career multihomer game. He has four homers over his last four games and 11 on the season.
 
Javier Baez made it 3-2 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Miguel Montero doubled and scored in the seventh, and Jason Heyward tripled and came around on Jon Jay's sacrifice fly in the eighth after the Giants left the bases loaded.
 
Davis allowed only one unearned run in his first 18 appearances. But things got really tight in his 19th.
 
Called on to start the ninth, he gave up a leadoff single to Eduardo Nunez. With one out, Mac Williamson drove a 2-2 cutter to the right-field basket on the 12th pitch of the at-bat to pull San Francisco to within 5-4.
 
Davis then walked Michael Morse before second baseman Baez raced back to snag Denard Span's bloop. Davis then caught Joe Panik looking at a 3-2 pitch on the outside corner. That gave Davis 10 saves in 10 chances, and the Cubs improved to 6-2 on their nine-game homestand.
 
Giants manager Bruce Bochy, meanwhile, made his feelings clear about the final pitch call from plate umpire Jeff Nelson.
 
''We had them on fumes,'' he said. ''They got the benefit of a bad call. That's not a strike, I'm sorry. But they got the call and that's it.''
 
Span homered for San Francisco after missing two games with a sprained left thumb. But the Giants lost for the third time in four games after winning eight of 10.
 
Matt Moore gave up four runs and seven hits in six-plus innings.
 
Jeff Samardzija (1-5, 4.57 ERA) and Cubs RHP Eddie Butler (1-0, 2.00 ERA) meet in the finale of this four-game series.
 
>>Diamondbacks Outslug White Sox
 
Jake Lamb homered off a left-hander for only the second time this season, five Diamondbacks drove in at least one run and Arizona beat Chicago 8-6 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep of the White Sox.
 
Arizona scored six runs in the fifth inning, chasing starter Jose Quintana and building a six-run lead, but they had to hold off a White Sox rally.
 
Quintana (2-6), who retired the first 10 batters he faced, went just 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs and eight hits, both season highs.
 
Jose Abreu and Leury Garcia homered for the White Sox, who were swept for the second time on a 3-7 road trip. The Los Angeles Angels did it to start the trip.
 
Andrew Chafin (1-0) threw a scoreless fifth inning to get the victory in relief of Randall Delgado.
 
Fernando Rodney walked Melky Cabrera with two outs in the ninth but got Abreu to ground out to end the game for his second straight save and 12th in 14 tries.
 
Abreu was 4 for 5 with three RBIs.
 
Chicago has Thursday off before hosting Detroit in a doubleheader on Friday. The White Sox starting pitcher for the opener has not been announced. RHP Mike Pelfry (1-4, 4.85 ERA) will start the second game. The Tigers have yet to announce their starter for either game.

Big Ten Adjusts Baseball Tournament Scheduling Over Curfew Concerns

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Big Ten has changed its baseball tournament schedule because the length of the Purdue-Nebraska game on Wednesday night would have caused the Iowa-Maryland game to start after the event's predetermined 10 p.m. EDT curfew.
Nebraska beat the Boilermakers 15-9 in a game that lasted 3 hours, 27 minutes.
 
The revised schedule Thursday: Indiana-Michigan loser's bracket game, 10 a.m.; Iowa-Maryland first-round game, 1:30 p.m.; Purdue vs. Iowa-Maryland loser, 5 p.m.; Northwestern-Minnesota winner's bracket game, 8:30 p.m.
 
The new schedule gives top-seeded Nebraska an unexpected day off. The Cornhuskers will play the Iowa-Maryland winner on Friday at a time to be determined.

UPDATED: Lady Maroons Shutout Jacksonville at Regionals

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Lady Maroons defeated the Jacksonville Crimsons by a final score of 14-0 Wednesday afternoon in Class 3A Regional softball semifinal action. 
 
The Maroons were led by Tori Wilson who went 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs. Raymi Dial chipped in with a run and an RBI. There were two runs a piece for Amanda Tool, Destiny Schlesinger, Zoie Polen, and Aspyn Taylor and each Lady Maroons hitter reached base and scored at least once. 
 
Olivia Sanders pitched five shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks.
 
With the win the Lady Maroons move onto the Regional Finals to take on Rochester. 
 
Tune in this Saturday morning at 11am to hear that Regional Final game live on The Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW and streaming online at dewittdailynews.com.
 
Class 3A Regional action from Wednesday:
 
At Macomb
 
Macomb 13 F/5
Peoria 0
 
At Peoria (Notre Dame)
 
Rock Island Alleman 10
Metamora 0
 
Pontiac 1
Peoria Notre Dame 3
 
At Rantoul
 
Chatham Glenwood 6
Mahomet-Seymour 2
 
Class 1A Sectional semifinal action from Wednesday...
 
At LeRoy
 
LeRoy 3
Heyworth 4

ISU's Miller Named To Missouri Valley Second Team

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Illinois State's Owen Miller was an All-MVC Second-Team selection, while John Rave earned All-MVC Honorable Mention status in addition to being named to the league's All-Defensive Team in awards announced by the league office Tuesday. 
Miller, a sophomore shortstop from Fredonia, Wisconsin, ranked among the conference's leaders in several key offensive categories. He tallied the second-most hits (75) and fourth-most doubles (19), with the league's sixth-best batting average (.332), during the 2017 season. Miller led Illinois State in all three categories, as well as: games played and started (51), at-bats (226), runs (32), home runs (6), RBIs (47), total bases (18), slugging percentage (.522) and OPS (.879).
 
Rave, a freshman outfielder from Bloomington, Illinois, became Illinois State's everyday starting center fielder early in the season. His four triples rank as the second most in the Valley, while his 12 stolen bases are good enough for sixth best; both totals lead Illinois State players. Rave also ranks second among Redbird players in hits (54), runs (30) and walks (27), and third in batting average (.276).
 
Miller, Rave and the Illinois State baseball team will head to Springfield, Missouri, for the MVC Tournament, beginning Wednesday. The No. 8 seed Redbirds will open up against top seed and host Missouri State, at 7:30 p.m., at Hammons Field.

Illini Freshman Yalowitz Named To Big Ten First Team

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Big Ten Conference announced its yearly awards Tuesday with Illinois' Jack Yalowitz (first team), Pat McInerney (second team) and Michael Massey (third team) earning spots on All-Big Ten teams. Massey and Casey Dodge were named to the All-Freshman Team and Anthony Drago was a Sportsmanship Award honoree.
 
Yalowitz had a breakout season, batting .335 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs. The sophomore was the only Big Ten player to post double-digit home runs and stolen bases during the regular season.
 
Massey put together one of the best freshman seasons by an Illini in recent years. He hit .330 with six homers and 36 RBIs, while starting every game at second base. Massey made just six errors in 51 games and helped Illinois rank No. 1 in the nation in double plays per game (1.18).
 
Iowa's Jake Adams was player of the year while Maryland's Brian Schaffer was the Pitcher of the Year.

2021 Super Bowl Moved

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The 2021 Super Bowl has been moved by the NFL from Los Angeles to Tampa.
 
Five days after the opening of the $2.6 billion football stadium in Inglewood, California was pushed back to 2020 because of construction delays caused by Los Angeles' uncommonly wet winter, league owners approved the move Tuesday. Owners voted unanimously to give the February 2021 game to Tampa and have the Rams' and Chargers' new home host the 2022 Super Bowl.
 
The NFL would have needed to waive a rule that prohibits a Super Bowl being played at a stadium before it has hosted two full regular seasons. Instead, it chose to move the game to Tampa, runner-up to Los Angeles in the bidding.

Cubs Win; Cards, Sox Lose

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Jon Lester pitched a four-hitter for Chicago's first complete game of the season, and the Cubs beat Cueto and the San Francisco Giants 4-1 on Tuesday in a rematch of last year's playoff opener.
 
Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer as Chicago improved to 5-2 on its nine-game home stand. Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward also connected, helping the Cubs bounce back from their 6-4 loss to the Giants on Monday night.
 
Lester and Cueto hooked up in a memorable pitchers' duel in Game 1 of the NL Division Series last October, with Chicago winning 1-0 on Javier Baez's eighth-inning homer. The Cubs eliminated the Giants in four games and went on to their first World Series title in 108 years.
 
Lester (3-2) was sharp once again in the low-profile reunion. Cueto (4-4) was just OK, striking out eight in six innings, but surrendering Chicago's three homers.
 
Brandon Crawford doubled in Buster Posey in the fifth, and that was it for the Giants. Lester retired the side in order in the ninth, getting Christian Arroyo to foul out to left on his 99th pitch for the final out.
 
Matt Moore (2-4, 5.37 ERA) and Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-2, 3.35 ERA) meet in the third game of the four-game set on Wednesday night. Hendricks is 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA in his last five outings after a rough start to the season. Moore pitched six effective innings in a no-decision on Friday at St. Louis, allowing two runs and five hits.
 
>>Diamondbacks Power Past White Sox
 
JJ Hoover came on with one out and the bases loaded in the eighth inning and struck out Kevan Smith and Yolmer Sanchez to preserve the one-run lead Tuesday night in an Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
 
Jake Lamb and Chris Herrmann homered in the Diamondbacks' seventh win in eight games.
 
Patrick Corbin (4-4) settled down after a tough start to get the victory. The left-hander went six innings plus one batter, allowing three runs and scattering eight hits.
 
Chicago rookie Dylan Covey (0-4), still looking for his first big-league win after eight starts, left the game with one out in the third inning with left oblique soreness.
 
Jose Abreu cut the lead to 5-4 with a leadoff home run of Jorge De La Rosa to start the eighth, his 100th career homer
 
Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save in 13 tries.
 
Melky Cabrera and Todd Frazier also homered for Chicago.
 
The White Sox fell to 3-6 with one to go in a 10-game road trip.
 
Randall Delgado (1-0, 4.05 ERA), normally a long reliever, gets a spot start for Arizona in place of Taijuan Walker, on the DL with a finger blister. Jose Quintana (2-5, 3.92 ERA) starts for Chicago in the finale of its 11-game road trip.
 
>>Dodgers Outduel Cardinals in 13 Inning Marathon
 
Logan Forsythe doubled in a run in the 13th inning to lift the Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 on Tuesday night after a stellar duel between starters Clayton Kershaw and Lance Lynn.
 
Forsythe returned from a DL stint with a broken toe and didn't put a ball in play over the first nine innings. He walked in the 11th, then delivered the winning hit in the 13th, a double off Jonathan Broxton (0-1) that scored Enrique Hernandez.
 
Kershaw and Lynn struck out 10 batters and allowed a run each, with Kershaw going nine innings and Lynn pitching eight. The Cardinals got just three hits against Kershaw, and the Dodgers had two off Lynn, including Yasmani Grandal's homer in the first inning.
 
Joc Pederson left the game after a frightening collision with Yasiel Puig in the 10th inning. Puig made a running catch of Yadier Molina's flyball in the right-center gap before crashing into Pederson, and his left elbow appeared to catch Pederson in the side of the head. Pederson's hat and glove went flying as the center fielder slammed face-first into the outfield wall.
 
Puig monetarily remained on his feet, raising his glove to show he had caught the ball before grabbing his chest and dropping to the track.
 
Both players stayed down for a few moments, and Pederson appeared to have blood on his forehead when he finally stood. Pederson, who the Dodgers said suffered a neck sprain, was lifted for pinch-hitter Chris Taylor in the bottom of the inning, then replaced in center by Hernandez in the 11th. Puig returned to the outfield for the next inning.
 
Yasmani Grandal homered to center, his fifth of the year, on a full count with two outs in the first inning.
 
Mike Leake (4-2, 2.03) has eight quality starts in eight starts this season. He leads the NL with a 2.03 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP.
 
Rich Hill (1-1, 2.77) makes his second start since doing a DL stint with a blister. He will have had eight days off since his last start.

Cavs Surge Past Celtics For 3-1 Series Lead

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Kyrie Irving took over in the second half and finished with 42 points despite playing on a tender ankle, LeBron James added 34 and the Cleveland Cavaliers moved within one win of an almost inevitable third date in the NBA Finals with Golden State by rallying to beat Boston 112-99 on Tuesday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
 
With James in foul trouble, Irving was forced to do more than ever and he delivered, scoring 19 in less than five minutes and 33 in a 19-minute stretch.
 
The defending NBA champions, who shot 71 percent in the second half, opened a 3-1 lead in the series and can wrap up their third straight conference title - and a ''three-match'' against the Warriors - with a win in Game 5 on Thursday night in Boston.
 
Kevin Love added 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Cavs, now 11-1 in the postseason.
 
Avery Bradley scored 19 and Jae Crowder 18 for Boston.

Late Rally Lifts Jacksonville Past Clinton

Posted About Nine Years Ago

After Clinton opened the game with a 4-1 lead, Jacksonville chipped away at the lead and ultimately pulled away, scoring in every inning except the sixth, for a 10-4 non-conference win in boys baseball action from Clinton High School Monday afternoon.
Avery Dugan hit a 2-run home run in a three-run fourth inning, Levi Parkevich had a double and Jacob James finished 2-for-4.
 
The Maroons used five pitchers in their season finale, only Travis Osgood and Levi Nettles threw two innings or more. Logan Peterson took the loss. 
 
Mac Hickman finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and Osgood was 2-for-4. 
 
The Maroons finish the regular season 11-14 overall, while Jacksonville is now 15-15.
 
It's off to Regional play for the Maroons. Wednesday, Clinton will be at the Lincoln Regional taking on the Railsplitters.
 
Hear all the action on The Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW and online at dewittdailynews.com.

White Sox, Cubs Lose

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Zack Greinke struck out a season-high 12 and came within one out of a complete game as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago White Sox 5-1 on Monday night.
The ace right-hander gave up four hits and improved to 5-0 in his last six starts.
 
The crowd booed loudly when manager Torey Lovullo walked to the mound to pull Greinke (6-2) after Jose Abreu's two-out double in the ninth.
 
Daniel Descalso hit a three-run homer and Paul Goldschmidt added a solo shot for the Diamondbacks during their sixth victory in seven games.
 
After totaling 24 runs in their last two games at Seattle over the weekend, the White Sox managed only Leury Garcia's solo homer against Greinke, who walked one in his third double-digit strikeout game this season.
 
>>Giants Too Much For Cubs
 
Joe Panik hit his first career leadoff homer and doubled twice, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 6-4 victory against the Chicago Cubs.
 
Brandon Belt also connected and Ty Blach (2-2) pitched into the eighth inning in the first meeting between the teams since San Francisco was eliminated by Chicago in the NL Division Series last year. Panik, Belt and Justin Ruggiano each had two RBIs as the streaking Giants won for the eighth time in 10 games.
 
Ruggiano's leadoff drive in the eighth made it 6-0.
 
The Cubs responded with four in the bottom half on two-run homers by Javier Baez and Ben Zobrist. But the rally stalled from there.
 
With one out and runners on first and second, Hunter Strickland got Willson Contreras to bounce into an inning-ending double play. Mark Melancon then worked the ninth for his ninth save in 11 chances.
 
Baez finished with three hits for Chicago, which was coming off a 13-6 victory against Milwaukee on Sunday. He singled with two out in the ninth before rookie Ian Happ struck out swinging to end the game.
 
John Lackey (4-4) pitched five shaky innings in his first loss in a month, allowing five runs and seven hits.
 
Ty Blach was pulled after the first three batters reached in the eighth. He was charged with three runs and eight hits.
 
Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto (4-3, 4.50 ERA) and Cubs left-hander Jon Lester (2-2, 3.57) start Tuesday night in a rematch of Game 1 of last year's NL Division Series. Cueto and Lester each pitched eight sparkling innings in that one, with the Cubs winning 1-0 on Javier's Baez's eighth-inning homer.

Warriors Roll With Sweep of Spurs

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Stephen Curry scored 36 points and the Golden State Warriors closed out the Western Conference Final against the injury-ravaged San Antonio Spurs with a 129-115 victory Monday night, becoming the first team in league history to start the playoffs 12-0.
 
Golden State led by as many as 22 points in cruising to its third straight NBA Finals. The Warriors await a possible third straight championship matchup with Cleveland, which leads Boston 2-1 in the East finals.
 
San Antonio's only lead came on the opening possession when Manu Ginobili tossed in a left-handed scoop shot. 
 
Kyle Anderson scored 20 points to lead the Spurs, who were without Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and David Lee.
 
Golden State shot 56 percent and were 14 for 39 on 3-pointers.
 
Draymond Green had 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Warriors.
 
Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge closed out a disappointing series with his second eight-point effort against the Warriors.
 
Ginobili finished with 15 points in 32 minutes.

Predators Stamp Ticket To Stanley Cup Finals

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Colton Sissons scored his third goal with 6:00 left, and the Predators eliminated the Anaheim Ducks with a 6-3 win in Game 6 on Monday night in the Western Conference finals.
 
The Predators, who've never won even a division title in their 19-year history, came in with the fewest points of any team in these playoffs. They lost their top center, Ryan Johansen, for the playoffs after Game 4 because of emergency surgery on his left thigh. Captain Mike Fisher has missed two games with an upper-body injury.
The Predators will play either defending champion Pittsburgh or Ottawa for the Stanley Cup. Game 1 is Monday.
 
Anaheim lost in the conference finals for the second time in three years.
 
Cam Fowler tied it 3-3 at 8:52 of the third for Anaheim as the Ducks tried to rally for the fifth time this season when trailing by multiple goals.
 
But Sissons, who scored on the third shot of the game, scored twice in a wild third period to give the Predators a 3-1 lead at 3:00 and then again 4-3.
 
Austin Watson scored on Nashville's first shot and had an empty-netter with 1:34 to go. Filip Forsberg also had an empty-net goal.
 
Pekka Rinne made 38 saves to improve to 12-4.

Illinois Splits Double-Header With Iowa To End Season

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Illinois baseball team split a doubleheader Friday against Iowa at Illinois Field. The Illini won the opener 12-8 before dropping the final game of the series 8-3.
 
Illinois scored eight runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and beat Iowa 12-8.
Illinois went 7 for 15 (.467) with runners in scoring position and 16 for 38 (.421) overall. Five Illini had multiple hits, led by three-hit games from Michael Massey and Bren Spillane, who each drove in three runs.
 
Ryan Schmitt (5-2) earned the win in 2 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He got the last out of the seventh and stayed in to finish the eighth and ninth while allowing one run on one hit.
 
Pat McInerney hit his team-best 15th home run of the season in the first inning but Iowa's Jake Adams hit two homers as the Hawkeyes beat Illinois 8-3. Adams finished off the Big Ten home runs title with his 23rd and 24th shots of the season.
 
Spillane had his second straight three-hit game to finish the day 6 for 8 with three RBIs. McInerney went 4 for 8 during the two games, including his 28th career homer and five RBIs.
 
Iowa (34-19, 15-9 Big Ten) moves on to next week's Big Ten Tournament.

ISU Splits Series With Missouri State After Saturday Finale Rained Out

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Illinois State baseball team did something no other Missouri Valley Conference team has done this season as the Redbirds topped previously unbeaten No. 12 Missouri State in a MVC game Friday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field. Illinois State won by an 8-4 score.
Collin Braithwaite hit a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning and Redbird starter Matt Walker tossed six shutout innings to propel the Redbirds to victory.
 
Missouri State (37-15, 18-1 MVC) fought back late, with Hunter Steinmetz's three-run home run in the eighth cutting the Redbird lead in half. Two more Bears reached base in the eighth inning to bring the potential game-tying run to the plate, but Redbird reliever Trevor Cross got the Redbirds out of the jam with just one pitch. Cross stuck around for the ninth inning to pick up his second save of the season.
 
Friday's win marked Illinois State's first victory over a ranked opponent since Feb. 27, 2016, when the Redbirds beat then-No. 9 Oregon.

Cardinals, Cubs, White Sox Win Sunday

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Matt Carpenter homered and Adam Wainwright turned in his second successive strong outing to lead St. Louis over the San Francisco Giants 8-3 on Sunday, snapping a four-game skid.
 
Wainwright (4-3) allowed one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Martinez threw nine shutout innings Saturday, and Wacha pitched six scoreless innings Friday.
 
Randal Grichuk drove in four runs for St. Louis, which handed San Francisco only its second loss in nine games.
 
Carpenter hit a two-run homer off Matt Cain (3-2) in the fifth. Cain gave up seven runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.
 
Jhonny Peralta is 4 for 5 since returning from the disabled list Friday. He missed 26 games with an upper respiratory ailment. Peralta singled twice and walked in his first three trips to the plate Sunday.
 
Lance Lynn (4-2, 2.78 ERA) opposes Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.15) in the first of a three-game set Tuesday night at Los Angeles. Lynn has given up two runs or fewer in five of eight starts this season.
 
>>Cubs Outslug Brewers
 
Kris Bryant hit two home runs and Jake Arrieta tossed six steady innings to lead Chicago to a 13-6 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
 
Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist also homered, and Willson Contreras went 3 for 3 with three RBIs as the Cubs won for the fourth time in five games.
 
Bryant went 3 for 3 and was twice hit by a pitch to reach safely in all five plate appearances. It was his second multihomer game of the season and the ninth of his career.
 
Travis Shaw had a two-run homer in the ninth for Milwaukee. Ryan Braun, activated from the 10-day disabled list before the game, went 0 for 5 with an RBI.
 
Eric Thames was 0 for 3 and drove in a run with a groundout before leaving in the bottom of the fifth with leg cramping.
 
Brewers starter Chase Anderson (2-1) yielded six runs and seven hits in four-plus innings for just his second loss since July 25 last season.
 
Saturday's rainout has been rescheduled for July 6.
 
The homestand continues with a four-game series against San Francisco. RHP John Lackey (4-3, 4.37 ERA) starts the opener Monday vs. Giants LHP Ty Blach (1-2, 4.15).
 
>>Holland Sharp Once Again, Sox Beat Mariners
 
Yolmer Sanchez had a two-run single in Chicago's five-run first inning, Holland pitch eight strong innings and the White Sox beat the Mariners 8-1 Sunday.
 
Holland (4-3) gave up a run and six hits while striking out six and walking two. He finished his longest outing of the season by striking out the side in the eighth inning.
 
Seattle starter Chris Heston (0-1), recalled from Triple-A Tacoma before the game to make his first major league start since Oct. 2, 2015, was roughed up for seven runs and seven hits in three innings. He walked the bases loaded in the first before giving up four straight hits.
 
Tim Anderson had three hits and two RBIs for the White Sox, including his fifth home run - a solo shot in the third inning - and Matt Davidson added two hits and two RBIs. Sanchez's single in the first extended his hitting streak to 12 games, tying a career high.
 
Nelson Cruz hit his 11th home run in the seventh for the Mariners, who have lost three straight.
 
The White Sox turned four double plays, equaling the team's season high - set Saturday.
 
Miguel Gonzalez (3-4, 4.29) starts in Chicago's series opener at Arizona. Gonzalez is 0-4 with a 6.94 ERA in his last four starts.

Bears Lock Up Second Round Selection

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Chicago Bears have signed second-round draft pick Adam Shaheen.
 
The 6-foot-6 tight end from Ashland University led all Division II players at his position in receptions (57) and yards (867) last season. He was tops among all college football tight ends with 16 touchdown catches in 11 games.
 
The Bears drafted him with the 45th overall pick. The move announced Friday leaves quarterback Mitchell Trubisky of North Carolina as Chicago's lone unsigned draft pick.

Horschel Holds Off Day At Byron Nelson

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Billy Horschel won for the first time in nearly three years on Sunday when he took the AT&T Byron Nelson in a playoff over Jason Day. Horschel shot a 69 on Sunday to Day's 68 to get into the playoff and watched on as Day missed a 4-foot putt for par that would have sent the tournament to a second playoff hole.
 
The victory was the first for Horschel since he went on a torrid run in the 2014 FedEx Cup Playoffs and took home the Tour Championship. 
 
But on a week when his normally sharp iron play was not as tight as he would have liked (43rd in approach shots), Horschel put on a short game show. He finished first in the field in putting and ninth in shots around the green. It was not a classic Horschel performance, but he left with what he came for: a trophy and a bid into the 2017 U.S. Open and 2018 Masters.
 
He yelped congratulations at his partners Day and James Hahn all day when they hit good shots, scolded himself for putting to bad spots, shook Day by the shoulders when he chipped in for birdie with just three holes to go and fist pumped mightily when he poured in a 59-foot putt for birdie on the back nine.
 
He was rewarded for it on the 16th hole, a par 5 which he reached in two and made birdie. Two pars on the 17th and 18th and an escape from a narrow Day birdie miss on the finale hole, and Horschel was primed to go a few more rounds with the 10-time champ.
 
It ended with a whimper with Day's three-jack on the 18th green in playoff hole No. 1, and despite being excited about the win, Horschel didn't love how the tournament ended.
 
Dustin Johnson tied for 13th and was never really in the mix this week, and he still finished in the top 15. That's the kind of season he's having in 2017. Johnson simply made too many bogeys this week. He was T47 in that category and T8 in birdies. The reason for the bogeys is that he was leaving himself in terrible spots. Johnson finished outside the top 50 in strokes gained on approach shots

Harden, James headline All-NBA first team

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Cleveland's LeBron James has been named to the All-NBA first team for a record-tying 11th time, and Houston's James Harden is the lone player to be a unanimous first-team selection this season.
 
Joining Harden and James on the first team were Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard and New Orleans' Anthony Davis. James and Westbrook each got 99 of a possible 100 first-team votes.
 
Harden made the first team for the third time. Westbrook, Leonard and Davis are now two-time first-teamers.
 
Golden State's Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant were second-team choices, joined by Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, Utah's Rudy Gobert and Boston's Isaiah Thomas.
 
The third All-NBA team includes Chicago's Jimmy Butler, Golden State's Draymond Green, Toronto's DeMar DeRozan, Washington's John Wall and the Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan.

Cubs raise new flag to honor Jackie Robinson

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Chicago Cubs have raised a new flag in honor of Jackie Robinson on the 70th anniversary of his first game at Wrigley Field.
 
His granddaughter Meta Robinson helped raise a white flag with "Robinson 42" in blue letters on the right-field foul pole hours before Thursday's game against the Cincinnati Reds.
 
Robinson's first appearance at Wrigley Field came on May 18, 1947, about a month after he broke the majors' color barrier. He went 0 for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts for the Brooklyn Dodgers before 46,572, the largest paid regular-season crowd ever at the ballpark.
 
Wrigley is the only remaining major league stadium where Robinson played. A "JR 42" flag had flown on the roof after Major League Baseball retired his number 42 in 1997.

Mariners blow lead, rally in 9th to beat White Sox 5-4

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Pinch-hitter Guillermo Heredia's two-out single in the ninth inning scored Jarrod Dyson from second base to give the Seattle Mariners a 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.
 
Batting for Ben Gamel, Heredia looped a breaking ball from Dan Jennings (2-1) into shallow right-center field and allowed the speedy Dyson to race home from second with the winning run after Seattle's bullpen blew a 4-0 lead.
 
Seattle's Jean Segura matched the longest hitting streak in baseball this season with a three-run home run early in the game and Dyson added a solo shot.
 
Chicago rallied also thanks to the long ball. Matt Davidson hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning, and Todd Frazier and Tim Anderson added back-to-back solo shots off Seattle reliever Dan Altavilla with two outs in the eighth to tie it.
 
Seattle reliever Nick Vincent (2-1) settled the shaky bullpen with a perfect ninth inning to get the victory.

Cubs Blast Reds

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Javier Baez hit a grand slam, Kris Bryant homered and the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-5 Thursday to complete a three-game sweep.
 
Baez came through with three hits and a season-high five RBIs. He got the rout going when he capped a five-run first inning against Amir Garrett (3-3) with his third career slam .
 
Bryant hit his eighth homer this season in the fourth, a long solo drive to center , and the Cubs scored three in the fifth to take a 9-0 lead.
 
Jon Lester (2-2) followed up solid starts from John Lackey and Kyle Hendricks by allowing three runs and six hits in six-plus innings. He improved to 11-0 in his last 15 regular-season home starts. Lester left with a 9-1 lead after giving up singles to Jose Peraza, Tucker Barnhart and Arismendy Alcantara in the seventh.
 
Amir Garrett gave up six runs and five hits in four innings. He walked four - three in the first inning.
 
Chicago's Koji Uehara got his first save this season after he entered with the bases loaded and no outs in the ninth. He retired Adam Duvall on a sacrifice fly , then struck out Eugenio Suarez and Stuart Turner, both on three pitches.
 
Eddie Butler (1-0, 0..00) makes his second start of the season as the Cubs open a weekend series against Milwaukee. Butler pitched two-hit ball over six scoreless innings at St. Louis on Friday for his first win since May 14 last year with Colorado.

Missouri State Routs Illinois State

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Bears ran out to a five-out lead early Thursday only to see Illinois State get back within a run of the lead with a four-run fourth inning. Missouri State reliever Jake Fromson helped the Bears recover quickly, though, tossing 4.1 shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out eight batters, as Missouri State's offense tacked on three insurance runs down the stretch.
 
Noah Sadler went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the ninth inning and Joe Butler provided a three-run double to lead Illinois State's offense. Collin Braithwaite went 2-for-4 for the Redbirds.
 
Missouri State maintained its unbeaten status in Missouri Valley Conference play as the visiting Bears secured an 8-5 win over host Illinois State Thursday night at Duffy Bass Field.
 
 
The No. 12-ranked Bears improved to 37-14 overall and a perfect 18-0 in league play with only two games remaining in the regular season. The Bears have already claimed the 2017 MVC regular-season title, the best start to a MVC season in league history and the longest winning streak in Valley history. 
 
The Redbirds return to Duffy Bass Field Friday for a 2 p.m. game with Missouri State. 

Iowa Outslugs Illinois

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Doran Turchin homered twice Thursday and Illinois hit four solo home runs in a 6-5 loss to Iowa at Illinois Field.. The Hawkeyes also hit four solo homers to stay in the hunt for the Big Ten regular season title.
 
Iowa (33-18, 14-8 Big Ten) was led by Robert Neustrom's two-homer day. Jake Adams hit his Big-Ten-best 22nd home run and Mason McCoy added a solo shot, as the wind was blowing out to straight away center field for the entire game.
 
Turchin had three hits, while Casey Dodge, Michael Massey and Ben Troike all had two hits for Illinois.
 
Ty Weber (2-7) took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings. 
 
llinois must beat Iowa twice and have Purdue (3 games) and Michigan State (2 games) lose out in order to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament.
 
Iowa is tied in the Big Ten wins column with Minnesota (14-6), Nebraska (14-7-1) and Michigan (14-8).
 
The two teams are scheduled to play a 2 p.m. CT doubleheader Friday because of a threat of rain on Saturday. 

Sages Outlast Unity in IHSA Regional Action

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Mitch Carr pitched into the sixth inning after being handed a 12-0 lead after two innings and the Monticello Sages advanced in Class 2A boys baseball regional action with a 12-7 over Tolono Unity Wednesday from Champaign St. Thomas More.
Carr struck out nine over 5 1/3 innings and allowed five runs. Jeffery Wileaver and Nick Hopper finished off the victory for the Sages.
 
Carr also finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Alek Bundy and Alex Marquardt each walked twice.
 
The Sages advance to a Regional final Saturday afternoon in a matchup with Okaw Valley rival St. Joe-Ogden, who defeated Champaign St. Thomas More 14-7 Wednesday.
 
Class 2A baseball regional scores:
 
At Bloomington Central Catholic
 
Tri-Valley 11
Olympia 10
 
Bloomington Central Catholic 5
Hoopeston 7
 
At Kewanee Wethersfield
 
Dee-Mack 10
Farmington 9
 
At Maroa-Forsyth
 
Maroa-Forsyth 15
Meridian 0
 
Riverton 1
Sullivan 0
 
At Paris
 
Tuscola 2
Georgetown-Ridge Farm 9
 
Class 1A boys regional scores from Wednesday:
 
At Argenta-Oreana
 
Bethany Okaw Valley17
Decatur St. Teresa 7
 
At Ridgeview
 
Peoria Heights 10
(Ridgeview 0
 
At Cuba
 
Illini Bluffs 10
Illini Central 0
 
Delavan 4
Cuba 1

Cavs Roll Celtics in Game 1

Posted About Nine Years Ago

LeBron James embarrassed every defender Boston threw at him and Cleveland picked up where it left off following a long layoff, rolling to a 117-104 victory Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
James had 38 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
 
Kevin Love added a playoff career-high 32 points and had 12 rebounds to help the Cavaliers improve to 9-0 in the first three rounds of the playoffs. They opened 10-0 last season en route to their first NBA title.
 
James scored at will in the first half and the Cavs built a 26-point lead. Love opened up the floor for James, burying outside jumpers and forcing Boston to leave defenders one-on-one with James.
 
Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder led the Celtics with 21 points each. Isaiah Thomas had 17 points. Coming off a Game 7 victory over Washington on Monday night, Boston missed 11 of its first 14 shots.
 
Since Game 5 of NBA finals, Cleveland has won a franchise-record 12 straight playoff games.
 
Game 2 is Friday night in Boston.

Cubs Win; Cards, Sox Lose; Man Dies in Fall At Wrigley Field

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Long after Kyle Hendricks looked like Kyle Hendricks again and the Chicago Cubs got big hits from Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber, Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price was still upset about the end of the game.
 
The Cubs wrapped up a 7-5 victory over the Reds on Wednesday night when a replay review overturned a safe call on a close play at first that could have brought the potential tying run to the plate.
 
Wade Davis retired the first two batters in the Cincinnati ninth before Joey Votto hit a grounder up the middle that shortstop Addison Russell fielded on the other side of second base. Rizzo had to stretch as far as he could go to bring in Russell's throw, and Votto was ruled safe by first base umpire Ed Hickox.
 
Rizzo and Schwarber each drove in two runs as Chicago improved to 22-5 in its last 27 games against Cincinnati. Hendricks (3-2) pitched six effective innings, Davis got his ninth save and Ben Zobrist reached three times with two hits and a walk in his return to the lineup after missing two games with lower back tightness.
 
Hendricks improved to 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA in his last five starts after going 1-1 with a 6.19 ERA in his first three outings. It's a very encouraging sign for the Cubs after the wiry right-hander blossomed into one of their most dependable starters last year.
 
Zack Cozart had three hits and two RBIs in Cincinnati's season-high fifth straight loss, but Adam Duvall committed a big error in left field and the Reds missed a couple more plays on defense that led to productive innings for the Cubs. Cozart connected for a solo shot in the third that extended his Wrigley Field homer streak to five games, matching a record for any player at the iconic ballpark.
 
Cubs ace Jon Lester (1-2, 3.45 ERA) starts the series finale on Thursday afternoon. Left-hander Amir Garrett (3-2, 4.25 ERA) comes up from Louisville to make his seventh start for the Reds.
 
>>Red Sox Outlast Cardinals in 13 Innings
 
Chris Young drove in the tiebreaking run with a pinch-hit single in the 13th inning, and the Boston Red Sox rallied past the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 to sweep their two-game interleague series.
 
Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run homer in the seventh off starter Mike Leake to begin Boston's comeback from a four-run deficit. The Red Sox tied it in the eighth against reliever Trevor Rosenthal when Xander Bogaerts hit an RBI triple and scored on Andrew Benintendi's sacrifice fly.
 
Mitch Moreland doubled with two outs in the 13th and Bradley was intentionally walked before Young singled to left-center off Sam Tuivailala (2-1).
 
Fernando Abad (1-0) tossed two scoreless innings for the win, and Ben Taylor got three outs for his first major league save.
 
Dexter Fowler hit a leadoff homer for the Cardinals, who had won eight of 10. It was his fifth home run this season and the 22nd leadoff shot of his career.
 
The Cardinals had 12 hits but did not muster one in the final five innings.
 
After an off day, RHP Michael Wacha (2-1, 3.19 ERA) opens a three-game series Friday against visiting San Francisco. He is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA in four home starts this season.
 
>>Angels Outslug White Sox
 
Cameron Maybin had three more hits, Mike Trout homered for the fifth time in six games, and the Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 12-8 victory Wednesday night.
Maybin, batting leadoff for the second time in an Angels uniform, went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and drew a walk a day after a career-best five hits on Tuesday. He's 8 for 10 in his last two games, breaking out of a slump while finding a comfort zone hitting in front of Trout.
 
Trout's 13th homer of the season, a three-run shot, keyed a four-run sixth inning for the Angels.
 
Matt Shoemaker (3-2) gave up two runs in each of the first two innings, but settled down to earn the win. He finished with four runs allowed - three earned - and nine hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in 6 1/3 innings.
 
Miguel Gonzalez (3-4) allowed five runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out two as the White Sox opened their 10-game West Coast road trip on a sour note.
 
The final game of the series featured 20 combined runs, 28 hits and three errors.
 
Jose Abreu hit a two-out, two-run homer in the first inning give the White Sox an early 2-0 lead. Chicago made it 4-0 in the second on Yolmer Sanchez's RBI single and Melky Cabrera's run-scoring fielder's choice.
 
The Angels answered with a four-run second to tie it as Gonzalez walked four in the inning. Ben Revere tripled to drive in a run and scored on Martin Maldonado's groundout. Trout drew a walk to load the bases, and Albert Pujols singled to right to drive in two and tie the game at 4.
 
Los Angeles then scored four times in the sixth, capped by Trout's homer, and four more in the seventh to take a 12-4 lead.
 
The White Sox fell to 17-21 after allowing 24 runs over the last three games. They've lost 14 of their last 15 games at Angel Stadium.
 
Dylan Covey (0-3, 3.83 ERA) has yet to win his first game of the season. This will be his seventh start and fifth on the road, opening the series in Seattle on Thursday. Covey made his major league debut last month. In his last start, he struck out a career-best nine batters and walked two in a no-decision against the Padres.
 
>>Man Dies After Falling At Wrigley Field
 
A man who struck his head after tumbling over a railing at Chicago's Wrigley Field has died.
 
The Cook County medical examiner's office says 42-year-old Richard E. Garrity of Wheaton was pronounced dead Wednesday at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.
 
Authorities say Garrity fell over a railing after Tuesday night's game between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. Police say he suffered head trauma from the fall.
 
The medical examiner has scheduled an autopsy for Thursday to determine the cause of death.

Cubs Pound Reds; Cardinals, White Sox Lose

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Slumping sluggers Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber homered to help the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-5 on Tuesday giving Joe Maddon his 1000 win as a manager.
 
Maddon paired his 1,000th win with a glass of red wine made by Big Smooth wines out of Lodi, California.
 
Ian Happ hit his second homer in his third major league game and Addison Russell also went deep as Chicago returned to .500 after a lackluster road trip. NL MVP Kris Bryant added two hits in his first appearance after missing three games with an illness.
 
Joey Votto, Zack Cozart and Tucker Barnhart connected for Cincinnati on a warm and windy night. Bronson Arroyo (3-3) was hit hard in five innings, allowing five runs and eight hits.
 
The Cubs (19-19) had dropped seven of nine, including four of their last six at division leaders Colorado and St. Louis.
 
Willson Contreras had two hits and two RBIs, and John Lackey (4-3) pitched into the sixth inning in the opener of a 10-game homestand.
 
After Votto's two-run shot got Cincinnati (19-19) within two in the seventh, Russell went deep in the bottom half and Rizzo added his seventh of the season in the eighth. Rizzo went 2 for 16 on Chicago's road trip.
 
Right-handers Kyle Hendricks of the Cubs and Scott Feldman of the Reds face each other Wednesday night. Hendricks (2-2, 3.40 ERA) is 1-1 with a 1.52 ERA in his last four starts. Feldman (2-3, 3.59) also is pitching well, going 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in his last two outings.
 
>>Red Sox Double Up Cardinals
 
Mookie Betts homered and drove in two runs to back six quality innings by Eduardo Rodriguez and the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 on Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game interleague series.
 
Jackie Bradley Jr. had two of Boston's six hits, including a home run, and Rodriguez (2-1) allowed three runs and five hits. Rodriguez walked two, struck out five and threw a season-high 110 pitches.
 
St. Louis made three errors and lost for just the second time in 10 games. Lance Lynn (4-2) gave up four runs, two earned, and three hits in six innings, striking out four and walking one.
 
Betts began the game with his seventh homer and 10th career leadoff shot, tying Jacoby Ellsbury for the franchise record. Bradley added a solo homer in the second for a 2-0 lead.
 
Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances.
 
In the third inning, St. Louis' Dexter Fowler smacked an RBI double off the left field wall, and Tommy Pham and Matt Carpenter followed with sacrifice flies.
 
The Red Sox scored twice in the fifth after a leadoff walk and an error. Bradley scored on an RBI groundout by Betts. Deven Marrero, who reached on an error by Jedd Gyorko, scored on Dustin Pedroia's single to center to make it 4-3.
 
Boston scored twice in the eighth, on Christian Vazquez's sac fly and then a dropped fly ball by Pham that was the third Cardinals error.
 
Rick Porcello (2-5, 4.01) is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in three road starts this season.
 
Mike Leake (4-2, 1.94) is coming off a 3-2 loss to the Cubs in which he allowed two runs on five hits in six innings.
 
>>Angels Rally Past White Sox
 
Cameron Maybin had a career-high five hits, including a tying double in the 11th inning, and Albert Pujols singled home the winning run moments later to give Los Angeles a 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.
 
Maybin doubled in the first inning, singled in the third and fourth, and doubled again in a two-run seventh. He was 5 for 6 with two RBIs and two runs, raising his batting average 34 points to .214.
Chicago erased a three-run deficit in the ninth and went ahead 6-5 on Tim Anderson's solo homer in the top of the 11th. But it was the Angels who pulled off the final comeback.
 
Andrelton Simmons singled leading off the bottom half against closer David Robertson (2-1), and Ben Revere singled with one out before Maybin drove a double to left-center that tied it 6-all.
 
After an intentional walk to Trout loaded the bases, Pujols singled to deep center field for his third RBI of the night. He also had a two-run single in the third.
 
JC Ramirez pitched seven strong innings for the Angels, allowing two runs and five hits. He gave up a two-run homer to Yolmer Sanchez in the sixth but retired his next five batters.
 
Todd Frazier tied it in the ninth with a pop-fly single that scored two runs. David Hernandez failed to get an out in the ninth for the Angels as they wasted a 5-2 lead. He allowed three runs and four hits on 15 pitches.
 
Holland yielded three runs and seven hits in six innings. A double play in the sixth helped him finish on a solid note.
 
Miguel Gonzalez (3-3, 3.83 ERA) has allowed 14 earned runs in losing his last three starts. He's held Trout to a .158 average in 19 at-bats, but Trout's three hits against him have all been home runs.
 
Matt Shoemaker (2-2, 4.50) had his best start of the season with six scoreless innings in a victory against his hometown team, the Tigers, on Friday. He is 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox. He threw his first shutout in his last start against Chicago, at Angel Stadium in 2015.
 
>>Cubs, Cardinals  Getting Healthier
 
Cubs OF Jason Heyward took live batting practice on the field. Heyward is on the 10-day disabled list with a sore knuckle on his right hand. 
 
2B Ben Zobrist (back) was out of the starting lineup, but Maddon said Zobrist could have played. 
 
''His back is still not 100 percent,'' Maddon said. ''I just want to be very careful with him, quite frankly.'' 
 
OF Jon Jay (back) pinch hit in the seventh and lined out to center.
 
General manager John Mozeliak said INF Jhonny Peralta (upper respiratory) could be activated Friday and RF Stephen Piscotty (right hamstring) sometime over the weekend. 
 
LHP Tyler Lyons (right intercostal strain) is expected to make one more rehab start. RHP John Gant (groin) has been activated from the DL and optioned to Triple-A Memphis.

Bulls Valentine Has Ankle Surgery; Celtics Get No. 1 Pick

Posted About Nine Years Ago

A person familiar with the situation says Chicago Bulls guard Denzel Valentine had arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle.
 
He is expected to play for the Bulls in the summer league in Las Vegas in July.
 
Drafted with the No. 14 overall pick last year, Valentine had issues with the ankle at several points in his rookie season. He averaged 5.1 points in 57 games and played a total of 22 minutes in Chicago's first-round playoff loss to Boston.
 
>>Celtics, Lakers Get Top 2 Picks in NBA Draft
 
The Celtics had the best chance to win the NBA lottery and that's just what they did. 
 
Thanks to having the Nets pick, the Celtics will pick No. 1 overall in this year's NBA Draft followed by the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers. This is the second year in a row that the team with the best chances to win the lottery has won it. Last year, when the Sixers won it, was the first time the team with the best odds had won since 2004.
 
The Celtics now gain a very powerful asset. A No. 1 overall pick can change the entire path of a bad franchise, but Boston is currently preparing to play in the Eastern Conference finals. They have a solid roster that many predict is going to continue getting better. The Celtics have the choice to either trade the pick for great return, or hold onto it and continue to keep their roster young while relying on some of their veterans. The sky is the limit for Danny Ainge and the Celtics organization.
 
Here's the official NBA Draft Lottery order:
 
1 Boston Celtics (via Nets)
2 Los Angeles Lakers
3 Philadelphia 76ers
4 Phoenix Suns
5 Sacramento Kings
6 Orlando Magic
7 Minnesota Timberwolves
8 New York Knicks
9 Dallas Mavericks
10 Sacramento Kings (via New Orleans)
11 Charlotte Hornets
12 Detroit Pistons
13 Denver Nuggets
14 Miami Heat

HS BOYS BASEBALL: Maroons Drop Rantoul

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Clinton Maroons scored four runs in the second and third innings and that would be enough as they held off Rantoul 9-7 in non-conference boys baseball action Monday afternoon from Clinton High School. 
Travis Osgood pitched four innings for the win. He allowed five runs, only three were earned, permitting two hits and issuing four walks. He struck out two.
 
Levi Nettles finished the final three innings allowing two runs on two hits with a walk.
 
Mac Hickman paced the Maroons offense, going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in. Wesley Conn was 2-for-2 with a double and three runs batted in. Travis Osgood, Logan Petersen, Matthew Overton, and Cameron Wertz each finished with a pair of hits.
 
John Frerichs drove in four for the Eagles. 
 
Clinton is 11-13 overall. 

Trout Leads Angels Past White Sox

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Mike Trout homered for the fourth consecutive game, helping the Los Angeles Angels top the Chicago White Sox 5-3 on Monday night.
 
The Angels scored each of their runs via the long ball. Kole Calhoun hit a three-run homer to right in the fifth inning and Trout followed with a drive to left. Martin Maldonado homered in the seventh inning.
 
It was the first set of back-to-back homers this season for Los Angeles. Trout became the first Angel to hit a home run in four consecutive days since Mark Trumbo in May 2012.

Celtics Outlast Wizards

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Isaiah Thomas scored 29 points and had 12 assists, Kelly Olynyk scored a career-playoff high 26 points and the Celtics used a big fourth quarter to outlast the Washington Wizards 115-105 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night.
 
Led by Olynyk the Celtics got a huge lift from their bench, outscoring their Wizards' counterparts 48-5. Boston also connected on 11 3-pointers, including 8 of 13 in the second half.
Bradley Beal led the Wizards - which was playing it its first Game 7 since 1979 - with 38 points, including 24 in the second half.
 
Otto Porter added 20 points. John Wall and Markieff Morris each finished with 18. But Washington also had 15 turnovers, leading to 17 Celtics' points.
 
Boston trailed 76-72 late in the third quarter before ending the period on a 13-3 spurt . The run grew to 22-5 in the opening minutes of the fourth as the Celtics' lead became 94-81.
 
But Washington quickly responded, scoring seven straight in just 51 seconds to get back within six.
 
Washington stayed close as Beal continued to score, including a four-point play . But Olynyk then took over. He scored 11 of 13 points for Boston as the Celtics stretched their advantage to 110-100.
 
Boston advances to the Eastern Conference finals, where it will host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 on Wednesday. It's the Celtics first appearance in the conference finals since 2012.

The Lady Maroons Fall to SJO Spartans

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Clinton Lady Maroons fell to St. Joe Ogden by a final score of 7-1. Clinton was led by Player of the Game, Rayni Dial who went 1-for-3 at the plate. Ryty Dupont-Barlow also went 1-for-3 with an RBI double.
 
The Spartans were led by Bailey Dowling at the plate. She went 3-for-4 with three doubles. and Katelyn Burch went 2-for-4 with a double and a 2-run homer.
 
With the loss the Maroons fall to 16-14.
 
Tune in next Wednesday as the Lady Maroons take on Jacksonville. You can hear the game live on The Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW and streamed online at dewittdailynews.com.

Rutgers Walks Off Illinois For Series Win

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Rutgers scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday to beat the Illinois baseball team 8-7 at Bainton Field. The Scarlet Knights clinched the series 2-1 with the win.
 
Rutgers (19-29, 7-11 Big Ten) scored its four ninth-inning runs on two walks and three singles off of Illini closer Joey Gerber (2-1). Christian Campbell finished the game with a walk-off single to right center field to score Mike Martinez with two outs.
 
Illinois (22-26, 8-13 Big Ten) is still alive in the race to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament, but needs help going into the final weekend of regular season play.
 
Mark Skonieczny led the lineup with two hits and a career-high three RBIs. He blasted a two-run triple in the first and plated another run on a ground out in the third.
 
Skonieczny was one of four Illini with multiple hits, along with Ben Troike, Michael Massey and Bren Spillane. Doran Turchin hit his sixth home run of the season in the second inning.
 
Illinois returns to Illinois Field next weekend for a three-game series against Iowa starting on Thursday.

Southern Illinois Sweep Illinois State

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Illinois State baseball team took a one-run lead in the top of the ninth inning but Southern Illinois scored two runs in the bottom to earn a walk-off win and a series sweep Sunday at Itchy Jones Stadium. Southern Illinois won the Missouri Valley Conference thriller by a 10-9 score.
 
Illinois State (12-37, 1-17) tied the game with an Owen Miller sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth, and then took the lead with a two-out RBI double from Derek Parola.
 
But Southern Illinois (26-26, 9-9) rallied with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as Ryan Smith singled on an 0-2 count to plate Addi Fuggit and tie the game. Greg Lambert then provided the game-winner, a double down the left-field line on the next pitch from Redbird reliever Jeff Lindgren.
 
Illinois State was led offensively by Parola and Nick Zouras, who tallied three hits apiece. Parola plated two runs, while Zouras drove in three. Collin Braithwaite and John Rave added two hits each.
 
Monticello High School graduate, Jacob Williams, threw a third of an inning for the win. 
 
The Redbirds return to Duffy Bass Field for their final home series of the season, against 2017 MVC regular-season champion Missouri State, beginning Thursday. 

Warriors Escape Spurs

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Steph Curry scored 40 points and hit a tying 3-pointer with 1:48 remaining, and the Warriors rallied from way behind after Kawhi Leonard was lost to an ankle injury to beat the San Antonio Spurs 113-111 on Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
Draymond Green gave Golden State the lead for good on a three-point play after the Warriors trailed by as many as 25 points.
 
Leonard left in the third quarter after he re-injured his left ankle, and the Warriors capitalized with an 18-0 run.
 
Durant scored 10 straight points during a key fourth-quarter stretch on the way to 34 points, while Zaza Pachulia had 11 points and nine rebounds.
 
Leonard had 26 points and eight rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge produced another clutch playoff performance with 28 points and eight boards.
 
Game 2 in the series is Tuesday night back at Oracle Arena.

Wainwright, Cardinals Blank Cubs; White Sox Win Big

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Matt Carpenter slammed a two-run homer, Yadier Molina homered twice and Adam Wainwright threw seven shutout innings to lead the Cardinals to a 5-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
 
Randal Grichuk added three hits for St. Louis, which won for the eighth time in nine games. Chicago has lost three of four.
 
Wainwright (3-3) allowed four hits in a 102-pitch stint. He struck out three and walked four. Wainwright had given up four earned run in each of his last three starts.
 
Trevor Rosenthal and Kevin Siegrist each pitched a perfect inning to complete the four-hitter.
 
Chicago had runners on in six of the first seven innings.
 
John Lackey (3-3, 4.29) opens up a three-game series against Cincinnati on Tuesday in the first game of a 10-game homestand. Bronson Arroyo (3-2, 5.94) will start for the Reds.
 
Lance Lynn (4-1, 2.75) takes on Boston LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-1, 2.80) in the first of a two-game series on Tuesday.
 
>>White Sox Rally Past Padres
 
Pinch hitter Melky Cabrera had a key two-run single in Chicago's eight-run eighth inning, helping the White Sox beat the San Diego Padres 9-3 on Sunday.
 
Cabrera, whose hit went through the right side of the infield, was one of 14 batters in the inning against three San Diego relievers.
 
The rally denied Jered Weaver his first win with the Padres after his best outing of the season.
 
The White Sox sent 14 batters to the plate. Willy Garcia, Leury Garcia and Yolmer Sanchez each came up with big hits as the White Sox earned their second straight win after a six-game slide.
 
Ryan Buchter (2-2) took the loss, walking three batters while recording only one out. Shortstop Luis Sardinas committed an error on a potential double-play ball that could have made it a scoreless inning for the Padres.
 
Jose Quintana was working on a shutout for the White Sox before he got into trouble in the seventh. Yangervis Solarte walked, Austin Hedges singled and Hunter Renfroe drove a high fastball just over the right-field fence for a 3-1 lead.
 
Quintana allowed five hits and walked four in seven innings. Michael Ynoa (1-0) earned the win with a scoreless eighth.
 
Mike Pelfrey (0-3, 5.21 ERA) starts Monday night against the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of a 10-game trip.

Ducks Get By Predators

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Nick Ritchie broke a tie late in the second period, and Anaheim roared back from that early two-goal deficit for a 5-3 victory Sunday night.
Vatanen, Jakob Silfverberg and Ondrej Kase also scored for the Ducks before Antoine Vermette added an empty-netter. The Predators hadn't allowed four goals in any game during their excellent Stanley Cup playoff run before Anaheim got five in front of its sellout crowd.
 
Pekka Rinne made 22 saves and Ryan Johansen, James Neal and Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators. They faced relatively little adversity while steamrolling Chicago and St. Louis in the first two rounds on the way to the first conference finals in franchise history.

Si Woo Kim Wins Players Championship

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Si Woo Kim (-10) had just one bogey all weekend as he became the youngest Players Championship winner, outlasting a course that caused so many to post big numbers at one of the PGA Tour's signature event. 
 
He played the course no worse than even (Round 2) with three sub-70 rounds. Kim was hitting driver off the deck on Saturday and driving the green at 12 on Sunday, playing phenomenal golf and riding a nine-hole par train all the way to his historic win. 
 
The other player to get hot this weekend was Ian Poulter, who moved into position to win after just getting his PGA Tour status firmed up. Poulter's story was an easy one to root for on Sunday, but bogeys on the 12th and 18th left him as a runner-up along with Louis Oosthuizen. 

Mt. Zion Surges Past Monticello

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Mt. Zion Braves offense came alive late to put away the Monticello Sages 8-2 on senior day from Monticello High School in non-conference boys baseball action.

 

Leading 2-1 entering action in the fifth inning, the Braves tacked on two in the fifth, three in the sixth and then another in the seventh to open an 8-1.

 

Trevor Durand finished 3-for-3 with two runs batted in. Merrick Eddington finished 1-for-2 with two RBI. Mitchell Binder finished 1-for-4 with a two-run single in the fifth as every Braves batter recorded a hit.

 

Monticello was led by Nate Graham who finished 3-for-4 with a double and a run. Alek Bundy finished 2-for-4. Mitch Rhoades got hit by pitches twice.

 

Jeffery Wileaver took the loss for Monticello while Daniel Chausse picked up the win.

 

Mt. Zion improved to 20-8 on their season. They will conclude their 3A season next week.


Monticello drops to 17-8 overall and will take on Tolono Unity at the Champaign St. Thomas More Regional Wednesday.

Tuscola Blanks Maroons

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Noah Pierce threw five innings of one-hit ball as the Tuscola Warriors blanked the Clinton Maroons 5-0 in Central Illinois Conference boys baseball action Thursday afternoon at Tuscola.
 
Because of field conditions in Clinton, the game was moved to Tuscola, however, the Maroons remained the home team.
 
Pierce struck out eight and walked four in his five shutout innings. Cole Thomas finished the final two innings with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Jake Wade and Travis Osgood had the only Maroons hits.
 
Lukas Kresin, Andrew Erickson and Haden Cothron each recorded a pair of hits for Tuscola. Brayden VonLakanken had a double.
 
Wade went five innings for Clinton allowing five runs, three earned with three walks and two strikeouts. 
 
Levi Nettles threw two shut out innings. 
 
The Maroons are 10-13 overall and 6-8 in the CIC.

Twins Hold Off White Sox

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Eduardo Escobar hit a three-run homer then added a fourth RBI with a double as the Minnesota Twins outlasted the struggling Chicago White Sox 7-6 on Thursday night.
 
Brian Dozier and Miguel Sano crushed solo shots and Joe Mauer singled in a run for Minnesota, which hung on to deal the White Sox a season-high fifth straight loss after jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning.
 
Melky Cabrera launched a three-run homer off Twins starter Phil Hughes in the fifth. Chicago's Matt Davidson drove in two runs, on a solo homer and a groundout.
 
Ryan Pressley (1-2), the third of five Twins relievers, pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the win.
 
Brandon Kintzler pitched the final five outs for his eighth save in nine chances. He struck out Omar Narvaez and Leury Garcia in the eighth with the tying run on third and go-ahead run on second.
 
Chicago starter Derek Holland (3-3) permitted seven runs, but just three earned, and six hits in five innings in taking the loss. Four White Sox relievers followed with four hitless innings.

Bears Release Veteran WR Royal

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Chicago Bears have released veteran receiver Eddie Royal.
Royal was limited to nine games in each of his two seasons in Chicago because of injuries after agreeing to a three-year deal in March 2015. He caught 33 passes for 369 yards this year after finishing with 37 receptions for 238 yards and a TD last season.
 
Royal has 408 catches for 4,357 yards and 28 touchdowns in nine seasons with Denver, San Diego and Chicago.
 
The Bears also waived defensive lineman Will Sutton, fullback Paul Lasike and offensive lineman Cornelius Edison on Thursday.

Blackhawks Ink Panik To 2-Year Extension

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Blackhawks have rewarded Richard Panik for a breakout season by re-signing him to a two-year deal that runs through 2018-19.
 
The 26-year-old Panik set career highs with 22 goals, 22 assists and 44 points in his first full season in Chicago.
 
Panik showed he could play on the top line and scored 18 even-strength goals, fourth on the team, and general manager Stan Bowman applauded the Slovak forward's consistency throughout the season.
 
He had 19 goals and 20 assists in 151 NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs before being demoted to the American Hockey League and traded to Chicago. With the Blackhawks he has 28 goals and 24 assists in 112 games.
 
Bowman announced the contract Thursday.

Crowded Players Championship Leaderboard After Day 1

Posted About Nine Years Ago

A hot and muggy day at TPC Sawgrass saw 82 double-bogeys or worse as most players finished at or around par in the first round of the 2017 Players Championship. 
The highlight of the day was Sergio Garcia carding the eighth hole-in-one in the history of the 17th hole at The Players in his first action since winning his only major at the Masters last month. 
 
The other big story of the day is Adam Scott, who stepped to the 17th tee as the solo leader and then lost it with back-to-back double bogeys on the course's final two holes. He finished the day as one of more than a dozen players tied at two-under, outside the top 15 on the leaderboard. 
 
A couple of circus putts on back nine eagles powered another great first round from William McGirt, who is five-under and tied for the lead. After matching his strong early round in the Masters, the key here will be keeping it going into Friday and then the weekend. 
 
A bogey-free round with three birdies on the back nine powered Mackenzie Hughes' late climb up the leaderboard and is tied for first at five-under. The young Canadian will be one of the first players out on the course on Friday with a chance to remain out of the spotlight while in the chase for the title. 
 
J.B. Holmes, Alex Noren and Chez Reavie are tied for third at four-under. 12 players are tied for seventh at three-under after day one. 

Spurs Eliminate Rockets

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The San Antonio Spurs eliminated the sluggish James Harden and Houston Rockets with a 114-75 victory in Game 6 on Thursday night, and they didn't even need Kawhi Leonard to do it.
 
LaMarcus Aldridge had a season-high 34 points and added 12 rebounds in his second big game of the of the Western Conference semifinal series to pick up the scoring slack with Leonard out after rolling his ankle in San Antonio's overtime victory in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
 
The Spurs were up by 19 by halftime in a game that was over quickly, and didn't let up to reach the Western Conference finals for the first time since winning the title in 2014. The 4-2 series win sends them to conference finals against the Golden State Warriors.
 
Trevor Ariza led Houston with 20 points on a night when MVP hopeful Harden capped his stellar season by tying a season low with 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting before fouling out with 3:15 left.
 
Jonathon Simmons filled in nicely for Leonard, scoring 18 points and hounding the Rockets on defense.

Unity Outlasts Monticello in 8 Innings

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Monticello Lady Sages could not solve the Unity Lady Rockets defense Thursday afternoon as they fell 5-4 in eight innings in the regular season finale at Monticello High School.

 

Unity made several terrific defensive plays to keep the Lady Sages offense off the scoreboard late and got a run across in the extra frame to hold on.

Each team rallied from a 2-run deficit on separate occasions.

 

Lauren Wendling hit a solo home run for the Lady Rockets and Meagan Steinman hit a two-run home run to pace the Lady Rockets offense.

 

Emmy Messman finished 2-for-4 with a double and triple and Jalyn Powell had an RBI.

 

Carly Wichus and Cameryn Menacher each were hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, recording the only two runs batted in for Monticello.

 

Steinman picked up the win for Unity while Taylor Wunderlich took the loss.


The Lady Sages finish their regular season 12-15 overall. They will start postseason play next week hosting GCMS as a part of the Olympia Regional.

3 Illinois Football Players Arrested in Alleged Robbery

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Three University of Illinois football players have been arrested for allegedly robbing a man of cash in a residence hall.
Police told the Champaign News-Gazette (https://bit.ly/2r2e8KT) that Darta Lee, Zarrian Holcombe and Howard Watkins will be formally charged Thursday.
 
Coach Lovie Smith has issued a statement saying they are suspended from team activities.
 
Police say the three entered an apartment early Wednesday with masks on. When the victim pulled one mask off, one suspect pulled out what apparently was a fake gun and demanded cash. The trio left with an undisclosed amount of cash.
 
Lee played in six games last season as an offensive lineman. Holcombe played in seven games mainly on special teams. Watkins joined the team with the 2017 recruiting class and participated in spring practices.

Cardinals Win; Cubs Lose; White Sox Rained Out

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Dexter Fowler hit a pinch-hit, go-ahead triple and St. Louis overcame a four-run deficit for the second game in a row, rallying past Miami 7-5 to conclude a trip that by one measure ranked as the franchise's best ever.
The Cardinals went 6-0 on their swing through Atlanta and Miami. It's the first time they've gone undefeated on a trip of at least six games in their 126-year history, the team said, citing information from Elias.
 
Lance Lynn gave up four runs in the first inning on homers by Christian Yelich and Justin Bour, but for the second consecutive game, Fowler came off the bench to give the Cardinals the lead. His two-run triple in the sixth put them ahead to stay, 5-4.
 
Fowler, out of the starting lineup for the past six games because of a sore lat, drove in the winning run in the ninth inning Tuesday after St. Louis rallied from a 5-1 eighth-inning deficit.
 
Jedd Gyorko had three hits and two RBIs, scored a run and stole a base for St. Louis. Rookie sensation Magneuris Sierra singled, walked and scored twice.
 
Miami's Tom Koehler couldn't hold the early lead, allowing four runs in 5 1/3 innings. Jarlin Garcia (0-1) gave up two runs in the sixth for the Marlins, who have blown leads of four runs or more to lose three times in the past week.
 
Lynn needed 104 pitches to get through four innings, his shortest outing of the season. He left trailing 4-3 and his ERA rose from 2.04, second-best in the NL, to 2.75.
 
But Lynn and six relievers limited Miami to one run over the final 8 1/3 innings. Sam Tuivailala (2-0) pitched a scoreless fifth, and Seung Hwan Oh escaped a two-on, no-out situation in the ninth for his ninth save.
 
St. Louis opens an 11-day, eight-game home stand Friday when NL ERA leader Mike Leake (4-1, 1.79) starts against the Cubs.
 
>>Rockies Blank Cubs
 
German Marquez allowed three hits over eight innings and got his first major league hit with a two-run single in the seventh to lead the Colorado Rockies over the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Wednesday.
Marquez had a no-hit bid going until Kris Bryant's double leading off the seventh inning. He walked Kyle Schwarber in the first and retired 16 straight before Bryant's hit to left.
 
The 22-year-old Marquez (1-2) struck out eight by mixing in a mid-90s fastball with an assortment of breaking pitches. With two on and two outs in the seventh, Marquez broke opener the game with his liner to left. The Rockies bench gave him an ovation.
 
Greg Holland threw a perfect ninth for his 14th save in as many chances to help the Rockies take two of three from Chicago.
 
>>Twins, White Sox Rained Out
 
The Minnesota Twins' game at the Chicago White Sox has been postponed.
There was light rain for much of the afternoon in the Chicago area and more precipitation in the forecast for Wednesday night.
 
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 21.
 
The Twins won the series opener 7-2 on Tuesday night. The teams y play again on Thursday night.

Penguins Blank Caps For Game 7 Win

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 29 shots in a turn-back-the-clock performance to shut out the Washington Capitals 2-0 in Game 7 on Wednesday night, sending Pittsburgh to the Eastern Conference finals to face the Ottawa Senators.
 
This was the Fleury who backstopped the Penguins to the Cup in 2009 and was almost unbeatable early in the second-round series, and his return was all they needed to eliminate the Presidents' Trophy winners in a meeting of the NHL's top two teams.
 
Mistakes by Alex Ovechkin and defensemen Matt Niskanen and Kevin Shattenkirk in clearing the puck out of the defensive zone led to Bryan Rust's goal 8:49 into the second and Patric Hornqvist's 4:14 into the third. Ovechkin had one of the Capitals' best scoring chances of the game from the slot, and his shot went off the shaft of Fleury's stick.
 
Braden Holtby stopped 26 of 28 shots for Washington. 

Clinton Maroons Fall to Central A&M

Posted About Nine Years Ago

As heard on WHOW, the Clinton Maroons fell to the Central A&M Raiders by a score of 11-7 on Wednesday afternoon. The Maroons were led by Country Financial representative Stephan York Maroons Player of the Game Keaton Thayer. Thayer pitched for five innings, allowed three hits on three runs, four walks, five strikeouts, and took a no decision. Jake Wade was three for four and Logan Peterson was two for three with an RBI. Wesley Conn takes the loss pitching for one inning and allowing five runs on three hits.

 

For the Raiders, Johnny Vidmar takes the win pitching one and a third innings, allowing no runs, one walk, two strikeouts, and one hit. Keaton Garner was three for five with a double and two RBIs. Jackson Buggs was one for two with two runs and a home run.

 

With the loss the Maroons fall to 10-12 overall and 6-7 in the CIC. Tuscola improves to 18-3 overall and 8-5 in conference action.

 

The Maroons play Tuscola Thursday at home. Tune in Monday, May 15, as the Lady Maroons take on Mt. Zion. You can hear the game live on the Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW and online at dewittdailynews.com.

Missouri Valley Invites Valpraiso To Join League

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Missouri Valley Conference has invited Valparaiso to join the league, replacing Wichita State.
The league Tuesday that its nine members voted unanimously to extend an invite to the Crusaders, who currently play in the Horizon League, effective on July 1. The Valley said it have no further comment on the move pending the negotiation of terms.
 
The Valley, once among the nation's top mid-major programs, has been stung in recent years by the loss of two top men's basketball programs. Creighton bolted for the Big East and the Shockers, who've been upset about the NCAA Tournament seeds of late, left for the American Athletic earlier this year.

Cardinals Rally Past Marlins; Cubs Split DH With Rockies

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Dexter Fowler singled home the tiebreaking run as a pinch hitter with one out in the ninth inning, and the Cardinals rallied from a late four-run deficit for their fifth consecutive victory by beating the Miami Marlins 6-5 Tuesday.
 
The game was tied when rookie sensation Magneuris Sierra reached on an infield single with one out in the ninth, and he continued to second on an errant throw to first by A.J. Ramos (1-2). Fowler followed with a sharp single to right field , and the speedy Sierra slid home ahead of Giancarlo Stanton's throw.
 
The Cardinals overcame a 5-1 deficit with four runs against Kyle Barraclough in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Matt Adams had an RBI single, and Jedd Gyorko's two-run single off Brad Ziegler tied the game.
 
Trevor Rosenthal (1-1) pitched around a leadoff walk in the eighth. Seung Hwan Oh pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save in nine chances.
 
The Cardinals' winning streak is their longest this season and has vaulted them into the NL Central lead. They have won eight in a row on the road.
 
Adam Wainwright shut out the Marlins for the first four innings but failed to make it through their four-run sixth. Derek Dietrich hit a two-run double and scored twice for Miami.
 
The Marlins' Dan Straily allowed one run and left after seven innings with a four-run lead but remained winless since April 11.
 
Lance Lynn (4-1, 2.04) is scheduled to start the series finale Wednesday against RHP Tom Koehler (1-1, 5.40). Lynn has won all four of his career starts against the Marlins.
 
>>Cubs, Rockies Split Double-Header
 
John Lackey struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings and added an RBI single, helping the Chicago Cubs stop a four-game skid by beating the Colorado Rockies 8-1 on Tuesday for a day-night doubleheader split.
 
Chicago gave Lackey plenty of cushion with a five-run second inning. Javier Baez added a two-run homer in the eighth and Kris Bryant a solo shot in the ninth.
 
Lackey (3-3) allowed just four singles, a sharp contrast to his previous start at Coors Field, when he surrendered 10 runs on June 8, 2015.
 
Kyle Freeland (3-2) had one bad stretch in the nightcap. He allowed five runs, three earned, and four hits - all in a second inning that was compounded by two errors. The rookie left-hander finished with four walks and six strikeouts over six innings.
 
Ryan Hanigan hit a two-out, bases-clearing bloop single as part of a six-run third inning, Mark Reynolds homered for a fourth straight game and the Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 10-4 on Tuesday in a day-night doubleheader opener.
 
Reynolds also added two RBI singles as every player in the starting lineup, including Senzatela, had a hit for the NL West-leading Rockies.
 
Senzatela (5-1) wrestled with his command over six innings but wiggled out of several tough spots to keep the damage to just two runs. The hard-throwing rookie had three walks and four strikeouts.
 
Jake Arrieta (4-2) couldn't find his groove and was removed after 3 2/3 innings - his shortest start since 2012. He surrendered nine hits and nine runs, but just five were earned.
 
Kyle Hendricks (2-1, 3.51 ERA) is 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA over his last three starts. German Marquez (0-2, 7.31) has an 11.70 ERA in two home starts this season.
 
>>Santiago Leads Twins Past Sox
 
Hector Santiago beat his former team once again, Byron Buxton had three hits and the Minnesota Twins rolled over the Chicago White Sox 7-2 on Tuesday night.
Santiago (4-1) allowed two runs, three hits and five walks over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out six and dropped his ERA to 2.76. The left-hander is 5-1 with a 1.59 ERA against the White Sox, who drafted him in the 30th round in 2006 and traded him in 2013 to the Los Angeles Angels.
 
Chicago scored twice in the third inning but did not have another hit until two outs in the ninth. Tyler Duffey and Taylor Rogers closed out Minnesota's four-hitter.
 
Kennys Vargas hit a two-run shot off Mike Pelfrey (0-3) in the fourth inning.

NBA, NHL Playoff Recaps

Posted About Nine Years Ago

>>Spurs Hold Off Rockets
 
Danny Green scored seven of his 16 points in overtime, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame an injury to Kawhi Leonard to beat James Harden and the Houston Rockets 110-107 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their second-playoff series.
 
Leonard had 22 points and 15 rebounds in 38 minutes before exiting with an injured right ankle. Leonard stepped on Harden's foot with 5:37 left in the third quarter and then played limited minutes before sitting out overtime.
 
Harden had 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He had a chance at potential tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of OT, but was blocked from behind by Manu Ginobili.
 
Game 6 is Thursday in Houston.
 
>>Senators Eliminate Rangers
 
Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist, Craig Anderson made 37 saves and the Senators eliminated the Rangers with a 4-2 victory in Game 6 of their second-round series Tuesday night.
Trailing 3-1 after two periods, New York pulled within one on Chris Kreider's goal 53 seconds into the third. The Rangers outshot the Senators 15-5 in the final period, but couldn't find the equalizer.
 
Jean-Gabriel Pageau clinched the series for Ottawa with an empty-netter with 6.2 seconds left for his seventh goal of the postseason.
 
Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman scored in the first period for Ottawa, and Clarke MacArthur finished with two assists.
 
The Senators, headed to the conference finals for the first time since their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007, will face Pittsburgh or Washington in the next round. Their series is headed to Game 7 on Wednesday night.
 
Mika Zibanejad also scored for New York, and Henrik Lundqvist had 22 saves.

The Players Pairings Announced

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass has seen a significant number of renovations, and it is prepared for what should be another outstanding Players Championship. The tournament starts on Thursday, but the pairings were released on Monday, and there are some absolute gems. 
The toughest field in golf also boasts some of the best threesomes on Thursday and Friday with a "should we alert NASA" trio of Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas leading the charge.
 
 Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas (1:52 p.m. on Thursday): Hide the children, call the international space station and prepare the rocket emojis because this is going to be a show. 
 
Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson, Jason Day (8:16 a.m.): A group of three Players Championship winners including the last two in Fowler and Day. Stenson won in 2009. All three, though, are coming into the week without their best form. Stenson has missed four cuts in a row and Day and Fowler missed the cut as a team at the Zurich Classic a few weeks ago.
 
Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Hideki Matsuyama (8:27 a.m.): This group will be an entertaining threesome between Spieth barking, Matsuyama club-dropping and Mickelson trying to hole everything he looks at. 

Slow Start Dooms Maroons

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Warrensburg-Latham Cardinals scored four first inning runs, and it would be all the offense they would need as they beat the Clinton Maroons 8-3 Monday afternoon in Central Illinois boys baseball action from Clinton High School.
Reis Kendrick pitched three run ball over six innings, though two runs were earned. He permitted six hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
 
Travis Osgood took the loss, though he was hurt by four errors. He allowed six runs, only two were earned over five innings. He struck out nine, walking three and allowed six hits.
 
Kendrick, Kyle Goeckner, Weston Campbell and Andrew Lung each had a pair of hits for the Cardinals.
 
Jake Wade finished 2-for-3 with an RBI double.
 
The Cardinals improve to 13-9 overall and 8-5 in the Central Illinois Conference. 
 
The Maroons drop to 10-11 overall and are 6-6 in the CIC.

Martinez's Big Day Leads Cardinals Over Marlins; Cubs Washed Out; Pirates Pitcher Treated For Potential Cancer

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Carlos Martinez hit a three-run double for his first hit of the year and later added an RBI single, more than compensating for the two homers he allowed to Marcell Ozuna and leading the Cardinals over the Miami Marlins 9-4 Monday for their season-best fourth consecutive win.
 
The Cardinals totaled 10 hits, and Martinez's double was the biggest blow. He had been 0 for 11 this year.
Martinez (2-3) also pitched six innings and allowed three runs, all on Ozuna's homers. He struck out seven and walked two.
 
Miguel Socolovich pitched three innings to earn his first career save. He gave up Giancarlo Stanton's 11th homer in the ninth, his third in two days.
 
Ozuna also has 11 homers. He limped off the field with a tight hamstring after flying out in the ninth but said he doesn't think the issue is serious.
 
Matt Carpenter had a two-run triple for the Cardinals. Teammate Magneuris Sierra, called up Sunday from Class A Palm Beach, contributed two hits and scored twice.
 
By the fourth, Martinez had a 7-0 lead, a big change for the right-hander. The Cardinals had scored only seven runs while he was on the mound previously this year.
 
The Cardinals have outscored opponents 30-11 during the winning streak and have won seven consecutive road games since April 21.
 
Conley (2-3) allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings, hiking his ERA to 7.53. He said the hits by Martinez were the toughest to stomach.
 
Adam Wainwright (2-3, 6.30) is scheduled to start Tuesday against RHP Dan Straily (1-3, 4.65). Wainwright faced Miami once last year and pitched a three-hit shutout.
 
>>Cubs, Rockies Rained Out; Double-Header Today
 
The game between the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies on Monday night has been postponed because of rain.
 
It will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Tuesday, with the first game at 12:10 p.m. MT and the second at 6:40 p.m. The game was delayed for about 75 minutes before being called.
 
This comes as welcomed news for the Cubs, who can now get a good night's rest. The team arrived at their Denver hotel around 5 a.m. Monday after a 5-4, 18-inning loss to the New York Yankees.
 
There was so much hail in the afternoon that it had to be swept off the tarp covering the field. The rain persisted as the crowd gathered under the overhang trying to wait out the delay.
 
>>Cubs Place OF Heyward on DL, Trade Szczur
 
The Chicago Cubs have placed outfielder Jason Heyward on the 10-day disabled list with a sore knuckle on his right hand.
The move is retroactive to Saturday. Heyward is hitting .253 with three homers and 17 RBIs.
 
In another transaction Monday before their game against Colorado, the Cubs traded outfielder Matt Szczur to San Diego for minor league right-hander Justin Hancock. Szczur was designated for assignment Saturday to make roster room for a fresh arm in an overworked bullpen, a difficult choice for the Cubs. He hit .211 with three RBIs for Chicago this season.
 
The Cubs also selected the contract of right-hander Dylan Floro from Triple-A Iowa. Floro was 1-0 with a 5.06 ERA in eight appearances with Iowa this season.
 
The 26-year-old Floro was signed to a minor league deal by Chicago in the offseason.
 
Hancock, also 26, was 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in 10 relief appearances for Double-A San Antonio.
 
>>Pirates P Taillon Has Surgery For Suspected Cancer
 
When the Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-handed starter Jameson Taillon on the disabled list over the weekend, it seemed like a routine event. Taillon's injury, described as "groin discomfort," is fairly mundane so far as baseball injuries go. Yet it appears Taillon's condition might've been more severe than believed.
That's because the Pirates announced that Taillon, who was scheduled to start Monday against the Dodgers, was treated at Allegheny General Hospital for suspected testicular cancer.
 
If Taillon is battling testicular cancer, he'll join Colorado Rockies starter Chad Bettis in the fight. Bettis suffered a setback late in spring , and has since been undergoing chemotherapy to rid his body of the cancer. Our best wishes go to both Taillon and Bettis.
 
Baseball is unimportant in these cases, but for a reference on how this will hurt the Pirates: Taillon had posted a 129 ERA+ and 2.31 strikeout-to-walk ratio in six starts. Pittsburgh will move Trevor Williams from the bullpen to take Taillon's place in the rotation.

Bears LB Skuta

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Veteran linebacker Dan Skuta has signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears.
The 31-year-old Skuta - released by Jacksonville last month - has appeared in 112 games, including 26 with the Jaguars. Skuta signed a five-year contract worth $20.5 million in 2015 that included a little more than $8 million guaranteed.
 
He totaled 55 tackles and 1½ sacks in two seasons in Jacksonville. His role was marginalized after the drafting of linebacker Myles Jack last year. Skuta previously played for San Francisco (2013-14) and Cincinnati (2009-12).
 
The Bears announced the signing on Monday. Chicago is coming off a last-place finish in the NFC North at 3-13.

Warriors Sweep Jazz

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Stephen Curry scored 30 points and the Warriors completed a second-round sweep of the Utah Jazz with a 121-95 victory Monday night.
 
Klay Thompson finished with 21, Kevin Durant scored 18 and Draymond Green posted his third career postseason triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
 
Gordon Hayward led the Jazz with 25 points and Shelvin Mack chipped in 18.
 
The Jazz started 3 for 16 from the field as Golden State hit from all areas and finished shooting 57.1 percent in the first quarter.
 
The Jazz tried to put off their vacation. They used a 14-0 run early in the second quarter, sparked by the suddenly active Dante Exum and Derrick Favors, to cut the lead to 10 points. Utah closed the half with a 12-2 run to trail 60-52 at halftime, but every time the Jazz made a significant run the rest of the way, the Warriors answered and pushed the lead back to double digits.
 
The Jazz never led Monday and in three of the four games against the Warriors.
 
Utah ended a four-year playoff drought. Hayward developed into an All-Star and Rudy Gobert became a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. The addition of veterans George Hill, Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw to the young corps of Hayward, Gobert, Favors, Hood and Joe Ingles turned into the team's first second-round appearance since 2010.
 
Warriors coach Steve Kerr remains out after having a spinal cord leak procedure at Duke University on Friday. There is no timetable for his return. Kerr had back surgery about two years ago and has been dealing with complications. Brown took over as acting coach for Game 3 of the first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Romo Misses US Open Qualifier Cut

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Tony Romo was among the nearly 10,000 golfers trying to qualify for the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills this year, and his first test was on Monday at Split Rail Links & Golf Club in Aledo, Texas, against 116 other professional and amateur golfers (2013 Wells Fargo Championship winner Derek Ernst was in the field).
 
Romo shot a 3-over 75, missing out on a playoff by six strokes and failing to advance to sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open. The top seven advanced, and Romo finished T40. Even if he had made it into sectionals, Romo still would've had to finish at the top of that tournament against more seasoned professionals to make his way to Erin Hills.
 
After a poor start on the front nine, Romo tried to mount a charge down the stretch. He birdied the 10th hole and eagled the 14th before he was undone by a triple bogey on the par-4 15th and his hopes faded.
 
This is not the first time the now-retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS Sports broadcaster has failed to get into the U.S. Open. Romo shot a 75 back in 2008 when he tried to qualify and missed out on a playoff at his local qualifier by four strokes. 

Caps, Penguins Headed To Game 7

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Andre Burakovsky scored twice, Nicklas Backstrom got his sixth of the playoffs and Washington beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Monday night to force a Game 7 in their seesaw Eastern Conference semifinal.
This is the fourth time the two teams will meet in a winner-take-all. The Penguins have won each of the previous three. Not that it bothers the Capitals.
 
The Capitals are as close as they've been to their first appearance in the conference finals in 19 years after rallying from a 3-1 series deficit by sprinting by Pittsburgh in the third period at home in Game 5 and then delivering a masterful performance 48 hours later in a city that's often been a burial ground for once-promising seasons.
 
A year ago, Washington trailed Pittsburgh 3-1 in the second round, won Game 5 at home only to fall in overtime of Game 6. Intent on not repeating history yet again, the Capitals jumped on the defending Stanley Cup champions early and didn't relent until the things were well in hand and a once raucous arena was largely empty.
 
Jake Guentzel picked up his playoff-leading ninth goal and Evgeni Malkin added another 52 seconds later late in the third period to make the score look cosmetically better, but the Penguins were never in it. The Capitals controlled play throughout. Marc-Andre Fleury finished with 21 saves and received little help in front him.

Illini Walk Off Maryland For Weekend Series Win

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Mark Skonieczny hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth Sunday to give the Illinois baseball team an 8-6 win over No. 24 Maryland in the deciding game of a three-game series. Skonieczny's second homer of the season came with two outs on a 0-2 count and the teams already seven minutes past Maryland's predetermined travel curfew.
No half inning would have started after the bottom of the ninth due to the curfew. Without Skonieczny's home run off of Maryland reliever Andrew Miller, who entered with a season ERA below 1.00, the game would have ended in a tie.
 
Illinois (21-24, 7-11 Big Ten) climbed back to within one game of eighth place in the Big Ten standings, the final spot to make the Big Ten Tournament. The Illini are 7-11 in conference play, while Northwestern and Michigan State are tied for eighth at 8-10.
 
Illini starter Matthew James allowed two earned runs on seven hits through six innings while striking out six and only walking one. He was in line for the win until Maryland's half of the ninth but had to settle for a no-decision.
 
Maryland left nine runners on base and went 4 for 22 with runners on.
 
Illinois has won two straight Big Ten series and three of its last four. Illinois is 15-8 since March 31 after a 6-16 start to the season.
 
The Illini are at Rutgers next weekend for a three-game series, the team's last regular season road trip.

Indiana State Sweeps ISU

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Indiana State broke a 3-3 tie with a run in the top of the ninth inning and Sycamore closer Austin Conway nailed down his 11th save of the season to secure a 4-3 win and a series sweep for the visitors Sunday at Duffy Bass Field.
Three Indiana State pitchers limited the Redbirds to just five hits, the final a one-out single from Ryan Hutchinson that put runners on first and second base for the Redbirds with one out in the bottom of the ninth. But John Rave struck out and Owen Miller flied out to center to end the game.
 
Miller and Joe Butler collected two hits each for the Redbirds, while Hutchinson tallied the Redbirds' only other hit in the game. Miller extended his hitting streak to 12 games and his RBI streak to nine games.
 
Redbird starter Matt Walker cruised through four scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fifth, where he allowed three runs, though only one was of the earned variety. 
 
The Redbirds return to action next weekend with a three-game series at Valley foe Southern Illinois.

Preds Eliminate Blues

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Ryan Johansen scored 3:15 into the third, and the Predators advanced to the conference finals in their fourth try by beating the St. Louis Blues 3-1 to take the series in six games.
 
The Predators won their ninth straight playoff game in Nashville going back to last postseason.
 
Goalie Pekka Rinne made 23 saves and had an assist. Josi had a goal and an assist, and Calle Jarnkrok added an empty-netter with 60 seconds left.
 
Nashville will play either Anaheim or Edmonton, who will play Game 7 on Wednesday night.
 
Paul Stastny scored for St. Louis, which fell short of a second straight conference final.
 
The Predators and Blues were tied through the first 40 minutes for a third straight game and fourth overall in this series when Johansen skated up the slot for a pass from Viktor Arvidsson and beat Allen with a backhand .
 
Allen kept the Blues close as he had all series, stopping Filip Forsberg on a breakaway with 13:31 left. But Jarnkrok scored with a minute to go to clinch it, amping up Nashville's celebration.

Cardinals Win in 14 Innings, Cubs Lose in 18, Sox Lose

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Tommy Pham hit two homers, including a two-run drive in the 14th inning, and St. Louis recovered after blowing a four-run lead to beat Atlanta 6-4 on Sunday and complete a three-game sweep.
 
Pham's long home run in the 14th off Josh Collmenter (0-1) drove in rookie Magneuris Sierra, who reached on second baseman Jace Peterson's fielding error.
 
Freddie Freeman's 11th homer off Brett Cecil in the eighth tied the game, completing Atlanta's comeback from a 4-0 deficit.
 
Matt Carpenter had a first-inning homer for St. Louis. He went deep in all three games during the series, giving him seven home runs this season.
 
Sam Tuivailala (1-0), the Cardinals' seventh pitcher, allowed one hit in two scoreless innings. Kevin Siegrist worked the 14th for his first save.
 
The Braves used nine pitchers and the Cardinals eight in a game that lasted 4 hours, 6 minutes.
 
Atlanta loaded the bases against closer Seung Hwan Oh in the 11th but couldn't score. With two outs, Carpenter fielded Ender Inciarte's grounder behind first base before flipping the ball to Oh. A review confirmed the on-field call that Oh barely beat Inciarte to the bag.
 
Michael Wacha allowed two runs on five hits and two walks in six innings for St. Louis.
 
Atlanta knuckleballer R.A. Dickey gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings. The Braves began the game ranked last in the majors with their 4.91 ERA.
 
Carlos Martinez (1-3, 3.75 ERA) looks for his second straight victory in Monday night's series opener at Miami.
 
>>Yankees Beat Cubs in 18 Innings
 
Starlin Castro drove in Aaron Hicks with a fielder's choice in the 18th inning, and the New York Yankees beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 early Monday morning in the majors' longest interleague game ever by innings.
The teams combined for a major league-record 48 strikeouts in baseball's longest game of the season by innings, wrapping up in 6 hours, 5 minutes.
 
Hicks struck out four times, but he came up with a huge play in the final inning. He led off with a bunt single against Pedro Strop (0-2) and advanced to second when catcher Willson Contreras threw it into right field for an error.
 
With one out and Hicks on third, Castro hit a bouncer up the middle. Shortstop Addison Russell tried to throw home, but it was wide and Hicks scored easily.
 
Chasen Shreve (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings, striking out pinch-hitting pitcher Kyle Hendricks with runners on first and second for the final out in New York's fifth straight win. The Yankees (20-9) improved to 19-5 since they opened the season with four losses in five games. They also matched their high-water mark from last season at 11 games over. 500.
 
Jake Arrieta (4-1, 4.63 ERA) starts for the Cubs on Monday in the opener of a three-game series at Colorado. Right-hander Antonio Senzatela (4-1, 2.84 ERA) pitches for the Rockies.
 
>>Chris Tillman Returns from DL, Beats White Sox
 
Chris Tillman pitched five sharp innings in his season debut, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 4-0 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.
Trey Mancini had three hits and drove in a run for the Orioles, who took an early 4-0 lead against Jose Quintana (2-5) and coasted to their fourth straight victory.
 
Sidelined since March with right shoulder bursitis, Tillman came off the disabled list to join an unstable rotation in need of another arm. After walking the first two batters, Tillman bounced back nicely in his first appearance since the 2016 AL wild-card game.
 
Tillman (1-0) gave up three singles, walked three and struck out four. The right-hander was lifted after throwing 93 pitches, but not before proving he's still got the stuff that enabled him to go 16-6 last season.
 
Alec Asher followed, and Brad Brach got two outs for his seventh save.
 
After taking Monday off, Chicago opens a three-game series against the visiting Minnesota Twins. The teams have thus far split six games.

Brian Harman Spoils DJ's Return With Win At Wells Fargo

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Down the stretch of the Wells Fargo Championship, Brian Harman started to do what guys like Brian Harman are supposed to do when looking up at Dustin Johnson on a leaderboard. He was beginning to fade.
 
Harman made a three-putt bogey on the par-3 15th hole to drop to 8 under and looked as if he would become a footnote to Johnson's history as the world's No. 1 player tried for his fourth consecutive victory. 
 
Already in the clubhouse at 9 under, Johnson (who shot his second-straight 67 on Sunday) was yukking it up with Pat Perez (also 9 under) as they watched to see if Harman could birdie one of the final two holes to join them in a playoff after fending off most of the rest of a tightly-bunched leaderboard. 
 
But Harman birdied them both and swiped the Wells Fargo Championship for victory No. 2 on the PGA Tour. And he did it about as dramatically as one can do it.
Harman hit a shot from 143 yards out to five feet on the 17th hole for an easy birdie to get back to 9 under with a hole to play. Then on the 72nd hole of the tournament, staring at history sitting in the clubhouse, Harman stole the show. The little lefty pushed his second shot over the back left of the green and flubbed the chip on the long par 5.
 
Harman buried the 28-foot putt and fist pumped harder than any of the whimsical blows Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. threw on Saturday night in his fight against Canelo Alvarez.

Bears Sign DL Howard

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Chicago Bears have signed veteran defensive lineman Jaye Howard to a one-year contract.
Howard was waived by Kansas City with a failed physical designation late last month after being limited to eight games by a hip injury last season.
 
The 28-year-old Howard started 13 of the 16 games he played in two years ago, racking up 36 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks. He parlayed that into a $12 million, two-year contract prior to last season.
 
Drafted by Seattle in 2012, Howard spent the past four seasons in Kansas City.
 
Chicago announced the move Thursday.

Cubs, Sox Win; Cardinals Lose

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Albert Almora Jr. doubled leading off the 13th inning and scored on a throwing error by shortstop Freddy Galvis, giving the Chicago Cubs a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.
Kris Bryant had four hits, Miguel Montero homered and drove in two runs, and Matt Szczur and Addison Russell hit run-scoring doubles as the Cubs extended their winning streak to three.
 
Almora doubled off Joely Rodriguez (1-1) to begin the 13th and held as Javier Baez hit a comebacker. Ben Zobrist was intentionally walked, and Szczur grounded sharply to second baseman Cesar Hernandez, who threw to Galvis for the forceout. Trying to complete an inning-ending double play, Galvis bounced his throw to first, which went to the outside side of the based and skipped into foul territory.
 
Koji Uehara (1-2), Chicago's eighth pitcher, got three straight outs.
 
>>Holland Strong Again, White Sox Down Royals
 
Derek Holland scattered three hits while pitching into the seventh inning, Jose Abreu and Matt Davidson went deep off Ian Kennedy and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 8-3 Thursday to split their four-game series.
 
Holland (3-2) exited with two outs in the seventh after giving up two runs, only one of them earned. He also struck out seven with only one walk in his latest dominant start for Chicago.
 
The left-hander has allowed two earned runs or fewer in his first six outings this season.
 
Kennedy (0-3) surrendered five runs on six hits and a walk before leaving with a strained right hamstring with one out in the fifth. The Royals said that Kennedy will be evaluated Friday to determine the severity of the injury.
 
Kennedy struggled from the onset, giving up a one-out single to Melky Cabrera and a 427-foot homer to Abreu in the first. Davidson added his solo shot into the fountains in left in the second.
 
>>Brewers Hold On Against Cardinals
 
Jesus Aguilar's first major league home run broke a seventh-inning tie, leading the Milwaukee Brewers over the banged-up St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Thursday night. He's giving the ball to his mother.
Cardinals right fielder Stephen Piscotty left after the second inning with a strained right hamstring and center fielder Dexter Fowler came out following the third with a strained right shoulder.
 
Fowler was being evaluated postgame, and Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Piscotty would remain in St. Louis while the team travels to Atlanta for a series starting Friday night.
 
Piscotty pulled up after crossing first base on his grounder to third. Fowler was hurt in an unsuccessful attempt for a diving catch on Hernan Perez's third-inning drive.
 
With the score 4-4, Aguilar pinch hit for pitcher Oliver Drake (2-0) and homered against Matt Bowman (1-1) in his 100th career big league at-bat over four seasons.
 
Lance Lynn (3-1, 2.45 ERA) is to pitch the first game of a three-game series at Atlanta.

Blues Try To Avoid Elimination Tonight

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Pekka Rinne was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the eighth round in 2004, back when the franchise was celebrating its first playoff appearance.
 
Thirteen years, 11 NHL seasons and 564 games later, Rinne and the team that drafted him in a round that no longer exists are a win away from reaching a place they've never been before.
If Nashville can eliminate the St. Louis Blues in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal Friday night at Scottrade Center, it will earn its first conference final spot.
 
Nashville proved to be superb closers in the first round, sending the Chicago Blackhawks home in four straight games, including a 4-1 victory in Game 4. While it has been the better team in this round as well, evidence suggests this closeout game might not go as smoothly as the first one.
 
St. Louis played well for most of Game 4, doing most of what it pledged to do after a 3-1 defeat in Game 3 which wasn't close. It played more physically, outshot the Predators for the first time in the series and won 53 percent of faceoffs.
 
But Rinne, Ryan Ellis and James Neal offset the Blues' solid performance with their heroics. Rinne improved to 7-1 in the playoffs with a microscopic 1.33 goals-against average, upping his save percentage to .953.
 
Should the Blues stave off elimination, Game 6 would occur Sunday in Nashville.

Molinari Leads At Wells Fargo Championship, DJ Back

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The big story this week was supposed to be Dustin Johnson's return to golf. Johnson withdrew from the Masters right before the first round a month ago after falling down the stairs of his rental home. He has not played since, but he teed it up this week at Eagle Point in Wilmington, North Carolina for the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship.
Johnson shot a 2-under 70 in his return which, all things considered, was pretty good. He was four back of leader Francesco Molinari at the time he finished up. Most of Johnson's rust showed itself around the green where he was outside the top 100 in strokes gained. He made four birdies, though, and bogeyed his final hole for 70.
 
Another golfer who should be around on Sunday is Molinari who shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday. He was No. 1 in the field in strokes gained tee to green and made a ridiculous eight birdies. This is nothing new for Molinari, though, who came into the week ranked No. 13 on the PGA Tour in strokes gained from tee to green.
 
Molinari has never won on the PGA Tour, but he is a ball-striking fiend, and as long as he properly manages his game around the greens, he should contend well into the weekend.
 
There were 30 golfers within four of Molinari's lead. Those included Johnson, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed and J.B. Holmes.

Cubs Rally Past Phillies

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Pinch hitters Willson Contreras and Matt Szczur had consecutive two-out RBIs in the sixth inning, helping the Chicago Cubs edge the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 on Wednesday night.
Another rally by Chicago handed a win to Jake Arrieta (4-1), who finished strong after continuing the Cubs' trend of bad first innings. Wade Davis worked the ninth for his seventh save in seven tries after being acquired in an offseason trade with Kansas City.
 
Maikel Franco got Philadelphia within one with an RBI single in the eighth, but the Cubs bullpen closed the door. Hector Rondon got Odubel Herrera to strike out swinging on a full count to end the inning.
 
With one out and a runner on second in the ninth, Davis got Andrew Knapp to fly out to center and struck out Tommy Joseph to end the game.

Kansas Transfer Chooses Arizona State Over Illinois

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Former Kansas player Carlton Bragg Jr., a sophomore transfer, will play at Arizona State, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. 
Bragg will have to sit out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer protocol but will have two years of on-court eligibility remaining when he suits up for the Sun Devils in the fall of 2018. 
 
A McDonald's All-American in the Class of 2015, Bragg averaged just 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 69 games at Kansas. He was unable to find consistency or expanded impact in two seasons under Bill Self, and in fact the biggest headlines for Bragg came away from basketball last season.
 
The ASU choice for Bragg came over Illinois, Xavier, Cincinnati and North Carolina State. 

Karns Leads Royals Past White Sox

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Nate Karns pitched six innings of one-hit ball, striking out four in his final frame, and the Kansas City Royals cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Karns (1-2) wound up striking out seven with only one walk in his best performance of the season, one that helped Kansas City assure itself at least a split of the four-game series with the finale Thursday afternoon.
 
Mike Pelfrey (0-2) kept the White Sox in it until the sixth, when he gave up a single, double and triple in succession. Eric Hosmer followed with a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead, a shot to center that came within about 5 feet of giving the Royals a team natural cycle.

Cardinals, Brewers Rained Out, Will Play Tonight

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The St. Louis Cardinals' home game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night was postponed by bad weather.
A makeup date was not immediately announced. Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals and Chase Anderson of the Brewers had been set to start the game.
 
The Cardinals said Thursday's game against the Brewers, originally scheduled for 12:45 p.m., had been pushed back to 6:15 p.m. because of the weather forecast.
 
Heavy rains have swollen many rivers to record levels in parts of Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Hundreds of people have been displaced and thousands more are potentially in harm's way.

Maroons Rout Meridian

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Clinton Maroons offense came alive Tuesday afternoon for a 13-1 ten-run rule, five inning victory from Meridian High School in Central Illinois Conference boys baseball action.
Jake Wade jacked a two run home run in the third inning and finished 3-for-4 with four runs batted in. Travis Osgood finished 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI as the Maroons pounded out 12 hits. Logan Peterson tallied a pair of hits.
 
Osgood picked up the victory, firing 4.2 innings with eight strikeouts but issued six walks. He allowed an unearned run and three hits.
 
Keaton Thayer got the final.
 
The Maroons are now 9-10 overall with a 5-5 mark in Central Illinois Conference action. 

Sages Walk Off Tolono Unity in Nine Innings

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Alex Marquardt singled to center scoring Mitch Rhoades in the bottom of the ninth inning and Monticello walked off Unity in Okaw Valley boys baseball action Tuesday afternoon from Monticello High School.
 
The two sides shared a run in the first extra frame in the eighth inning and then the Rockets went down in order in the top of the ninth. 
Rhoades was hit below the inside of his left shoulder to lead off the bottom of the half of the inning and Nate Graham and Alek Bundy drew back-to-back walks in the to load the bases. 
 
Marquardt bunted the first pitch of the at bat foul on a safety squeeze attempt. After showing bunt on an 0-1 pitch from left handed reliever Jon Fisher, Marquardt pulled back and lined the game winning single to center field and the Sages overcame two late deficits for their fifth conference victory.
 
With Monticello leading 2-1 in the top of the sixth inning, the Unity offense, which had been no-hit by Cam Wittig, rallied to tie the score at 2-all, then scored two more in the top of the seventh inning for their first lead of the game at 4-2. 
 
Asher Bradd led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single, stole second, then pinch hitter Jeffery Wileaver double to left-center field to score Bradd. Logan Hislope bunted Wileaver to third and Jakob Pakorny missed a game winning home run by just a few feet, but the fly ball allowed Wileaver to score and tie the game. 
 
Each side rallied for a run in the eighth and Wittig retired Unity in order in the ninth to keep the score tied at five. 
 
Wittig went the distance, tossing nine innings, allowing five runs, three were earned, on seven hits with nine strikeouts and one walks. 
 
Alek Bundy finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Marquardt finished with two RBI for the game and Rhoades had an RBI as well. 
 
Bobby Barnard threw eight innings for Unity, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits and had five strikeouts and one walk. 
 
Fisher took the loss for Unity. 
 
The Rockets drop to 11-11 overall while the Sages are now 15-5 and 5-2 in the Okaw Valley.
 
The two sides are scheduled to play again Thursday at Unity High School.

Cardinals, Cubs, White Sox Lose Monday

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Tommy Joseph hit an early three-run homer, Aaron Altherr had three RBIs and the Philadelphia Phillies routed the Chicago Cubs 10-2 on Monday night.
Michael Saunders and Freddy Galvis also homered in support of starter Vince Velasquez (2-2) to help the Phillies stop a three-game losing streak.
 
Chicago opened a seven-game homestand with its fourth loss in five games.
 
After rain delayed the start for 85 minutes, Philadelphia jumped on Brett Anderson (2-1) for seven runs on seven hits and one walk in 1 1/3 innings. The start was his shortest since August last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
 
Cesar Hernandez singled to open the game before Altherr doubled him home. Maikel Franco walked and, one out later, Joseph lined a hanging slider into the left-field bleachers for a 4-0 lead.
 
>>Royals Drop Sox
 
Eric Hosmer and Jorge Bonifacio hit two-run homers, and the Kansas City Royals snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
Bonifacio homered with two outs in the fourth after Alex Gordon doubled. It was his second home run in eight games since being promoted April 21 from Triple-A Omaha.
 
Hosmer's two-out homer in the seventh inning with Christian Colon aboard finished the night for White Sox rookie starter Dylan Covey (0-2).
 
Salvador Perez's single in the fifth struck the third base bag and scored Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas with two outs.
 
Left-hander Jason Vargas (4-1) allowed one run on five hits and three walks over six innings to pick up the win. Vargas has a 1.42 ERA in five starts.
 
>>Brewers Outlast Cardinals
 
Travis Shaw and Jonathan Villar each hit a tape-measure home run, and the Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 in 10 innings Monday night.
Shaw's three-run shot off Seung Hwan Oh (0-2) traveled an estimated 451 feet and broke a 4-all tie with two outs in the top of the 10th. Villar's two-run drive in the third soared 450 feet to right-center and gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead.
 
Jedd Gyorko hit two late homers for the Cardinals and finished with four hits. Aledmys Diaz and Matt Carpenter connected back-to-back in the fifth.
 
Oliver Drake (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth and Neftali Feliz earned his seventh save.
 
Milwaukee starter Zach Davies allowed at least one runner in every inning. He gave up two runs and seven hits in five innings, stranding six. The Brewers turned two of their four double plays behind him, and center fielder Keon Broxton made a diving catch in the third.
 
Domingo Santana led off the fourth with a double and scored his fifth run in two games on Manny Pina's single to make it 3-0.
 
Eric Thames doubled home Villar in the fifth to make it 4-0. Thames has reached safely in 23 of 24 games this season.
 
Diaz and Carpenter homered in the fifth to cut the Brewers' lead to 4-2. It was the first set of back-to-back home runs for the Cardinals this season.
 
Gyorko led off the eighth and 10th with home runs to give him six this season - all solo shots.
 
Cardinals starter Michael Wacha gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings.
 
Wily Peralta (4-1, 5.19 ERA) looks for his third quality start Tuesday night. He is 4-11 with a 5.10 ERA in his career against St. Louis, including 0-8 with a 5.46 ERA over his last eight starts vs. the Cardinals.
 
Carlos Martinez (0-3, 4.71) is still seeking his first win since Sept. 30, 2016. He is 4-2 with a 1.95 ERA in 20 career appearances against Milwaukee.

Cavs Open Series With Big Win Over Toronto

Posted About Nine Years Ago

LeBron James scored 35 points, Kyrie Irving added 24 and the Cleveland Cavaliers picked up where they left off following a long layoff and throttled Toronto 116-105 on Monday night in the opener of their Eastern Conference semifinal.
Toronto dropped to 1-12 in playoff openers, and the Raptors got blown out in the playoffs for the fourth straight time in Cleveland.
 
Game 2 is Wednesday night.
 
Kyle Lowry scored 20 and DeMar DeRozan 19 for the Raptors, who were within seven in the third quarter before James dropped a 3-pointer, converted a three-point play, drained another 3.
 
In the first half, the Cavs built an 18-point lead only to watch the Raptors go on a 19-3 burst to pull within 41-39.
 
But Cleveland regrouped and, playing a turnover-free second quarter, led 62-48 at half.

Caps Back In Series With OT Win

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Kevin Shattenkirk's goal 3:13 into overtime lifted the Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins to cut Pittsburgh's lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinal, one that could go on without Penguins star Sidney Crosby.
 
The Pittsburgh captain left just over 5 minutes into the game after getting cross-checked to the head by Washington's Matt Niskanen. The NHL's leading scorer and one of the game's best players did not return and his status for Wednesday's Game 4 - and maybe the rest of the postseason - is uncertain.
 
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Crosby will be evaluated on Tuesday. Even without Crosby, Pittsburgh pushed Washington to the limit. Evgeni Malkin and Justin Schultz scored in a 48-second span with less than 2 minutes left in regulation to force overtime.
 
The game was scoreless early in the first period when Crosby skated just outside the Capitals' crease. Washington's Alex Ovechkin slashed Crosby along the upper body and Crosby slid awkwardly trying to maintain his balance when he collided with Niskanen, who had his stick raised.
 
The stick caught Crosby flush across the mouth and the two-time Hart Trophy winner laid on the ice in pain for several moments before slowly skating off under his own power as Pittsburgh trainers searched the area for Crosby's teeth.
 
Niskanen earned a major penalty for cross-checking and was given a game misconduct. Washington coach Barry Trotz called it ''a hockey play.'' Niskanen allowed it looked ''really bad'' when he caught the replay, but stressed there was no malicious intent.

Redbirds Swept At Wichita State

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Wichita State scored seven runs in the sixth inning to turn a two-run deficit into a five-run lead as the host Shockers earned a 12-7 win and a series sweep of the Illinois State baseball team Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium.
Wichita State took advantage of five hits, three walks and three Redbird errors in the sixth inning to plate seven runs and take control for good. Paired with its doubleheader sweep of the Redbirds on Friday, the Shockers were able to take all three games in the Missouri Valley Conference series.
 
Owen Miller and Noah Sadler collected two hits each for Illinois State, and Collin Braithwaite hit a two-run home run, but it wasn't enough to overcome Wichita State's late offense on Saturday.
 
Redbird starter Jeffrey Barton allowed five runs over the first four innings Saturday. Mitch Vogrin allowed two hits but no runs over two-thirds of an inning to follow. Colton Johnson suffered the pitching loss after surrendering seven runs (five earned) over one inning of work. Jeff Lindgren and Michael Sebby posted scoreless appearances to finish out the game.
 
The Redbirds return to Duffy Bass Field on Tuesday to host Milwaukee at 4:30 p.m.

Illini Sweep Double Saturday Double Header From Minnesota

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Illinois scored 17 runs over the span of four innings of a doubleheader at Minnesota to come from behind and win Game 1 before blowing out the Gophers in Game 2. The Illini won by 9-5 and 14-1 scores to take the series from Minnesota 2-1.
Michael Massey led Illinois with six hits on the day, including a homer in the nightcap, to extend his career-best hitting streak to 13 games. Jack Yalowitz smashed a game-winning grand slam in Game 1 and followed with a leadoff homer in Game 2. Bren Spillane hit the Illini's second grand slam of the day in the fifth inning of the second game.
 
Illinois (18-23, 5-10 Big Ten) won its second Big Ten series out of its last three three-game sets.
 
Minnesota (25-14, 9-6 Big Ten) lost for the sixth time in its last eight Big Ten games.
 
The Illini will play Tuesday at Southern Illinois.

Six Illini Sign NFL Free Agent Deals, Smoot To Jacksonville

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Former University of Illinois defensive end Dawuane Smoot was selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft on Friday night in Philadelphia. Smoot was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 68th overall pick.
Smoot, a 6-3, 264-pound defensive end and team captain for the Illini, posted 56 tackles, 15.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, 10 QB hurries and two forced fumbles in 2016 to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors. In 2016, he racked up 15.0 TFLs and 8.0 sacks. The Groveport, Ohio, native finished his UI career ranked sixth in program history in career TFLs (38.5) and eighth in career sacks (16.5), while collecting 137 tackles, five passes defended and five forced fumbles. He played in the 2017 Senior Bowl and participated in the 2017 NFL Combine. 
 
Six former Illinois football players, in addition to third-round draft pick Dawuane Smoot, will have a shot to make their NFL dreams a reality in 2017. Five former Fighting Illini signed undrafted free agent (UDFA) contracts following the completion of the 2017 NFL Draft on Saturday – WR Justin Hardee (Houston Texans), QB Wes Lunt (Minnesota Vikings), LB Hardy Nickerson (Cincinnati Bengals), DE/OLB Carroll Phillips (Jacksonville Jaguars) and DE/OLB Gimel President (Texans), while DT Rob Bain (Jets) received a tryout invite to the Jets' rookie-mini camp. Rookie mini-camps begin early May. 

Tigers Beat White Sox

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Jose Iglesias doubled and drove in three runs, and the Detroit Tigers ended a four-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
Jordan Zimmermann (3-1) picked up a sloppy victory, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in five-plus innings. He struck out five and gave up one homer.
 
Miguel Gonzalez (3-1) allowed seven runs on a career-high 14 hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out one as the White Sox lost their six-game winning streak.
 
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first when Melky Cabrera singled with two outs and Jose Abreu followed with a triple off the out-of-town scoreboard in deep right-center.
 
Justin Upton's fifth homer tied the game in the second. He then led off the fourth with a single, moved to second on Alex Avila's hit and scored on Jim Adduci's double to left-center field.

Red Sox Drop Cubs

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Marco Hernandez scored the go-ahead run on Pedro Strop's wild pitch in Boston's four-run eighth inning, helping the Red Sox beat the sloppy Chicago Cubs 6-2 on Sunday night.
The Red Sox took two of three in the lively weekend series that featured a strong showing for Cubs fans, chants in support of each side and the World Series trophies that ended long title droughts for the once-frustrated franchises.
 
Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer for Boston, and the Red Sox got two more runs on shortstop Addison Russell's throwing error in the eighth.
 
Kris Bryant hit a solo homer for Chicago, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. The Cubs closed a nine-game road trip at 5-4.

Reds Edge Cardinals

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Adam Duvall broke out of a slump and hit three doubles and a single Sunday, helping the Reds to a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
 
Duvall began the day in a 4-for-35 skid. He spent several hours working in the indoor batting cage after Saturday's game was postponed by rain - and discovered a flaw.
 
Joey Votto hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning for the Reds, who had lost eight of their previous nine games.
 
Wandy Peralta (1-0) picked up the win by tossing a scoreless seventh inning. Closer Raisel Iglesias threw two innings to record his fourth save in as many chances. It was his second two-inning save of the season.
 
Duvall, Eugenio Suarez and Scott Schebler drove in runs in the three-run seventh to tie the game.
 
Devin Mesoraco singled sandwiched around walks to Tucker Barnhart and Billy Hamilton to load the bases against Rosenthal in the eighth. Votto followed with a two-strike single up the middle.
 
St. Louis starter Mike Leake gave up one run on eight hits over seven innings. He is 0-3 against his former team in six career starts.
 
Michael Wacha (2-1, 2.55) will take on Milwaukee RHP Zach Davies (2-2, 6.57) in the first of a four-game set on Monday in St. Louis. Wacha is 4-0 in his career against the Brewers.

Bears Decline Option on CB Fuller

Posted About Nine Years Ago

The Chicago Bears will decline their fifth-year option on cornerback Kyle Fuller for the 2018 season.
General manager Ryan Pace confirmed the decision Saturday.
 
Fuller, the 14th overall pick in 2014, sat out last season after having arthroscopic knee surgery. The Bears were hoping to activate him late in the year, but he was unable to return.
 
With the Bears signing cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper in free agency, Fuller might not make the roster in 2017. He had six interceptions through his first two seasons but never seemed to mesh with coach John Fox the past two years.

Preds Even Series With Blues

Posted About Nine Years Ago

Cody McLeod scored the game-winner early in the second period, and the Predators beat the St. Louis Blues 3-1 Sunday to grab a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal.
Defensemen Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi also scored, and Colton Sissons added two assists. The Predators outshot St. Louis 34-23, and they now are 6-1 this postseason.
 
Alexander Steen scored for the Blues, who lost for the first time on the road this postseason.
 
Blues goalie Jake Allen kept St. Louis in this game before being pulled by coach Mike Yeo for the extra attacker with more than 4 minutes remaining and took his timeout with 1:25 left.
 
Rinne finished with 22 saves, including a flurry of stops to preserve the win.
 
Game 3 is Tuesday night.

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