Wednesday Sports – Tigers/Guardians off; Blackhawks drop season opener

MLB – Major League Baseball Playoffs – Divisional Round – Best of 5
Yesterday
New York Mets 7, Philadelphia Philles 2                                           (NYM leads 2-1)
San Diego Padres 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 5                                      (SDP leads 2-1)

Mets 7, Phillies 2 – Mets beat Phillies 7-2 behind Alonso and Manaea to take 2-1 lead in NLDS
Pete Alonso launched another homer off Aaron Nola, and Sean Manaea took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 in Game 3 of their NL Division Series. Jesse Winker also went deep and Starling Marte had a pivotal two-run single to help the wild-card Mets, playing their first home game in 16 days, grab a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. Game 4 is Wednesday at Citi Field, with All-Star Ranger Suárez scheduled to start for Philadelphia against fellow lefty Jose Quintana. With a win, New York advances to the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres.

Padres 6, Dodgers 5 – Tatis homers again as the Padres beat the Dodgers 6-5 for a 2-1 NLDS lead
Fernando Tatis Jr.‘s towering two-run home run highlighted a six-run second inning, and the San Diego Padres held on to beat Shohei Ohtani and the rival Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 to take a 2-1 lead in a tense NL Division Series. The Padres moved within one victory of eliminating the Dodgers in the NLDS for the second time in three seasons. Game 4 is Wednesday night at Petco Park, which was packed with a loud, rally towel-waving record crowd of 47,744. Tatis’ impressive homer gave the Padres a 6-1 lead, but Teoscar Hernández hit a grand slam with one out in the third.

Today
Cleveland Guardians (Cobb) at Detroit Tigers (TBA), 3:08 p.m.             (Series tied 1-1)  News/Talk Sports 94.9 WSJM 2:40
Philadelphia Phillies (Suarez) at New York Mets (Quintana), 5:08 p.m.    (NYM leads 2-1)
New York Yankees (Schmidt) at Kansas City Royals (Lugo), 7:08 p.m.      (Series tied 1-1)
Los Angeles Dodgers (TBA) at San Diego Padres (Cease), 9:08 p.m.        (SDP leads 2-1)

MLB – Tigers host Guardians in Game 3, bringing MLB playoffs back to Motor City
The Motor City has not hosted a playoff baseball game in a decade. The long wait is almost over. The Detroit Tigers will play the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday in Game 3 of their best-of-five AL Division Series, ending a drought that has dragged on since 2014. The series is tied 1-1. The Guardians have a player making a long-awaited return to the postseason. Right-hander Alex Cobb last appeared in the playoffs in 2013 when he started two games for Tampa Bay, a wild-card win against Cleveland and a loss to Boston in a division series.

NHL – National Hockey League – 2024-25 Season Openers
Last Night
St. Louis Blues 3, Seattle Kraken 2
Florida Panthers 6, Boston Bruins 4
Utah Hockey Club 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2

Utah 5, Blackhawks 2 – Dylan Guenther scores twice, leads Utah to 5-2 win over Chicago
Utah Hockey Club never trailed after getting first-period goals from Dylan Guenther and Clayton Keller and held off a late rally to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 in the season opener for both teams. Guenther finished with two goals after adding an empty netter in the final minute. Barrett Hayton added a second-period goal and an assist for Utah. Ian Cole capped the scoring with 22 seconds remaining. Guenther scored the first goal in Utah’s franchise history after blasting a slap shot down the middle five minutes into the first period.

WNBA – Women’s National Basketball Association Playoffs – Round 2 (best of five)
Last Night
Minnesota Lynx 88, Connecticut Sun 77                                   (MIN wins 3-2)

Lynx 88, Sun 77 – Lynx return to finals with 88-77 win over Sun in Game 5 behind Collier’s 27 points, 11 rebounds
Napheesa Collier had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Courtney Williams contributed 24 points and both-ends-of-the-court energy to lead the Minnesota Lynx past the Connecticut Sun 88-77 and into the WNBA Finals for the first time in seven years. Kayla McBride fueled a strong start with 10 of her 19 points in the first quarter as the Lynx advanced to face the top-seeded New York Liberty. Minnesota finished two games behind New York during the regular season. They have won three of four matchups with New York this year. DiJonai Carrington had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Sun.

NBA – National Basketball Association Preseason
Last Night
Phoenix Suns 105, Detroit Pistons 97                 (at MSU)
Chicago Bulls 116, Cleveland Cavaliers 112
Atlanta Hawks 131, Indiana Pacers 130

NFL – Jets owner says firing of Saleh will bring ‘new energy’ to ‘most talented teams’
Woody Johnson sensed his struggling New York Jets needed a change and now. So the owner made the stunning decision Tuesday to fire coach Robert Saleh just five games into his fourth season after the team’s 2-3 start following a 23-17 loss to Minnesota in London on Sunday. Johnson said the current Jets squad is one of the most talented in the franchise’s history. Saleh was 20-36 as coach of the Jets. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season.

NFL – Patriots will go with first-round draft pick Drake Maye, bench QB Jacoby Brissett
A person with knowledge of the decision says the New England Patriots are planning to give first-round draft pick Drake Maye his first pro start in the hopes of ending a four-game losing streak under veteran journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the switch. NFL Network first reported Maye’s promotion. The Patriots host the Houston Texans on Sunday. Maye made one previous appearance for New England, coming in at the end of a Week 3 loss to the New York Jets and going 4 for 8 with 22 yards. Brissett was 79 for 135 with two touchdowns and one interception in five starts this season.

Milton – Hurricane Milton forces Bucs and Lightning to leave Florida early
The NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning have left Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton to practice the rest of the week. The Bucs departed Tuesday morning, relocating to New Orleans, where they’ll face the Saints on Sunday. The Lightning left Monday night for Raleigh, North Carolina, to continue preparations for their season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. Milton, currently a Category 5 hurricane, is projected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday night. The Lightning’s home opener against Carolina is set for Saturday night and is on as scheduled for now.

NCAAFB – Man arrested in Michigan, charged with slaying of former Clemson receiver
A 20-year-old man has been arrested in Michigan and charged with first-degree murder in last month’s fatal shooting of former Clemson receiver Diondre Overton. Jeremiah Diago Blanks is believed to have slain Overton at a gathering in the former player’s hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina, last month. That’s according to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Danny H. Rogers said in a statement Tuesday that detectives traveled to Michigan and got help from the U.S. Marshals Service in arresting Blanks. Police did not disclose further information about Blanks or a potential motive for the slaying.

NCAAWBB – ND’s Olivia Miles has fought back from a knee injury
Notre Dame is getting a major boost with the return of point guard Olivia Miles. Miles hasn’t played since suffering a serious knee injury in February 2023. She sat out last season and focused on her recovery while the Fighting Irish won an Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title. Miles was an Associated Press second-team All-American in 2023. Now she’s returning to a backcourt that features Hannah Hidalgo. Hidalgo was a freshman who became an AP first-team All-American last year. Miles said Tuesday at the league’s preseason media days that she has worked to come back stronger “both physically and mentally.”

MCCAA – Michigan Community College Athletic Association
Last Night
Women’s Volleyball
Lake Michigan College 3, Kellogg Community College 0
Southwestern Michigan College 3, Marian University Ancilla 0

Today
Women’s Soccer
Lake Michigan College at Schoolcraft College, 1:00 p.m.

Men’s Soccer
Lake Michigan College at Schoolcraft College, 3:00 p.m.

MHSAA – Michigan High School Athletic Association
Last Night
Boys Soccer (Regular Season)
Howardsville Christian 3, Covert 2
Kalamazoo Central 2, Gull Lake 1

Boys Soccer (District Quarterfinals)
Division 3 at Fennville
Parchment 5, Hopkins 1

Girls Golf (Regionals)
Division 2 at Gull Lake (Bedford Hills GC)

Today
Boys Soccer (District Quarterfinals)
Division 1 at Portage Northern
Grand Ledge at Kalamazoo Central 5:30 p.m.

Division 2 at Edwardsburg
Vicksburg at St. Joseph, 5:00 p.m.
Niles at Edwardsburg, 4:30 p.m.

Division 2 at Grand Rapids Christian
Otsego at Wayland, 6:00 p.m.
Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg at Grand Rapids Christian, 7:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Harper Creek
Battle Creek Central vs. Parma Western, 6:00 p.m. (at Harper Creek)

Division 3 at Berrien Springs
Coloma at Buchanan, 5:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Fennville
Comstock at South Haven, 6:00 p.m.
Allegan at Delton-Kellogg, 6:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Quincy
Battle Creek Pennfield at Constantine, 5:00 p.m.

Division 4 at Cassopolis
Michigan Lutheran at Cassopolis, 5:00 p.m.
Eau Claire at Bridgman, 5:00 p.m.
Our Lady of the Lake at New Buffalo, 5:00 p.m.

Division 4 at Kalamazoo Hackett
Kalamazoo Phoenix at Kalamazoo Hackett, 5:00 p.m.
Lawton at Schoolcraft, 5:00 p.m.

Division 4 at Bryon Center Zion Christian
Holland Black River at Saugatuck, 6:30 p.m.

Girls Volleyball
Lakeshore at St. Joseph, 6:30 p.m.
Kalamazoo Central at Mattawan, 6:30 p.m.
Loy Norrix at Battle Creek Central, 6:30 p.m.
Portage Central at Portage Northern, 6:30 p.m.
Battle Creek Lakeview at Gull Lake, 6:30 p.m.
Eau Claire at New Buffalo, 6:00 p.m.
Watervliet Grace Christian at Our Lady of the Lake, 6:00 p.m.
Michigan Lutheran at River Valley, 6:00 p.m.
South Haven at Fennville, 6:30 p.m.

MHSAA – High School Football AP Rankings
Division 1
1.     Belleville (5)                                  (6-0)     50         1
2.     Macomb Dakota                                (6-0)     43         2
3.     Detroit Catholic Central                  (6-0)     42         3
4.     Saline                                            (3-3)     27         4
5.     Davison                                          (5-1)     26         9
6.     Howell                                           (6-0)     23         7
7.     Hudsonville                                    (5-1)     22         6
8.     Clarkston                                       (4-2)     11         NR
9.     Utica Eisenhower                            (5-1)     10         5
10.   Detroit Cass Tech                            (4-2)     8          NR
Others receiving votes: 11, Rochester Adams 5. 12, Rockford 5. 13, Grand Blanc 3.

Division 2
1.     Birmingham Groves (2)                      (6-0)     47         2
2.     Muskegon Mona Shores (2)                (6-0)     46         1
3.     Byron Center                                  (5-1)     33         3
4.     Warren De La Salle (1)                      (3-2)     31         4
5.     Grosse Pointe South                        (6-0)     29         5
6.     Grand Rapids Northview                   (6-0)     25         6
7.     Orchard Lake St. Mary’s                    (4-2)     19         7
8.     Dexter                                           (6-0)     17         9
9.     Allen Park                                      (6-0)     14         T10
10.   Midland                                          (5-1)     5          NR
Others receiving votes: 11, Birmingham Seaholm 4. 12, Muskegon 2. 13, Gibraltar Carlson 2. 14, East Lansing 1.

Division 3
1.     DeWitt (4)                                      (6-0)     40         1
2.     Walled Lake Western                        (6-0)     36         2
3.     Detroit King                                   (5-1)     31         3
4.     Zeeland West                                  (5-1)     27         6
5.     St. Joseph                                      (6-0)    26        4
6.     Mason                                            (5-1)     16         10
(tie)  Fenton                                           (6-0)     16         T7
8.     Petoskey                                        (6-0)     10         NR
9.     Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central      (4-2)     6          5
10.   Cedar Springs                                  (5-1)     4          NR
(tie)  Coopersville                                   (5-1)     4          NR
(tie)  Riverview                                        (5-1)     4          T7
Others receiving votes: none.

Division 4
1.     Hudsonville Unity Christian (4)          (6-0)     40         1
2.     Freeland                                         (6-0)     33         2
3.     Paw Paw                                        (6-0)    31        3
4.     Portland                                        (6-0)     28         4
5.     Hastings                                         (6-0)     24         5
6.     Goodrich                                        (5-1)     17         7
7.     Grand Rapids South Christian            (4-2)     10         6
8.     Big Rapids                                       (5-1)     9          NR
9.     Ludington                                       (5-1)     8          NR
10.   Battle Creek Harper Creek              (5-1)    7          NR
Others receiving votes: 11, GR Forest Hills Eastern 5. 12, Madison Heights Lamphere 3. 13, North Branch 3. 14, Chelsea 1. 15, Edwardsburg 1.

Division 5
1.     Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (4)               (6-0)     48         1
2.     Frankenmuth (1)                              (6-0)     45         2
3.     Grand Rapids Catholic Central           (5-1)     35         T3
4.     West Branch Ogemaw Heights            (6-0)     33         5
5.     Grand Rapids West Catholic               (4-2)     29         7
6.     Kingsford                                      (6-0)     26         6
7.     Clare                                             (5-1)     17         9
8.     Corunna                                        (5-1)     16         T3
9.     Kalamazoo-United                         (5-1)    11        10
10.   Armada                                           (5-1)     7          8
Others receiving votes: 11, Flat Rock 6. 12, Gladwin 1. 13, Romulus Summit Academy 1.

Division 6
1.     Jackson Lumen Christi (5)                  (5-1)     50         1
2.     Almont                                           (6-0)     45         2
3.     Ovid-Elsie                                       (6-0)     38         4
4.     Chesaning                                       (6-0)     35         7
5.     Negaunee                                        (5-1)     28         6
6.     Reed City                                        (4-2)     16         5
(tie) Constantine                                  (5-1)    16        3
8.     Warren Michigan Collegiate              (5-1)     14         T10
9.     Newaygo                                         (5-1)     8          T10
10.   Mason County Central                      (5-1)     5          NR
(tie)  Ida                                                (5-1)     5          NR
(tie)  Kingsley                                         (4-2)     5          NR
(tie)  Lansing Catholic                             (4-2)     5          T10
Others receiving votes: 14, Marine City 3. 15, Stanton Central Montcalm 1. 16, Parchment 1.

Division 7
1.     Ithaca (1)                                       (6-0)     44         2
1.     Menominee (2)                                 (6-0)     44         3
3.     Millington (2)                                 (5-0)     42         1
4.     McBain                                           (6-0)     34         4
5.     Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central      (6-0)     25         6
6.     Traverse City St. Francis                   (5-1)     23         7
7.     North Muskegon                              (5-1)     15         9
8.     Hanover-Horton                              (6-0)     12         8
9.     Pewamo-Westphalia                          (5-1)     10         5
10.   Schoolcraft                                  (6-1)    9          10
(tie)  Leslie                                             (6-0)     9          NR
Others receiving votes: 12, Harrison 5. 13, Hudson 3.

Division 8
1.     Fowler (4)                                      (6-0)     49         1
2.     Iron Mountain                                 (6-0)     41         2
3.     Riverview Gabriel Richard (1)             (6-0)     38         3
4.     Beal City                                        (5-1)     30         4
5.     Harbor Beach                                  (6-0)     26         T5
(tie)  Saginaw Nouvel                               (6-0)     26         7
(tie)  Clarkston Everest Catholic               (6-0)     26         T5
8.     White Pigeon                                 (6-0)    17        8
9.     Maple City Glen Lake                         (5-1)     11         9
10.   Springport                                      (6-0)     6          10
Others receiving votes: 11, Decatur 2. 12, East Jordan 2. 13, Petersburg Summerfield 1.

Division 1 (8-player)
1.     Martin (5)                                     (6-0)    50        1
2.     Indian River-Inland Lakes                  (6-0)     43         2
3.     Pickford                                         (6-0)     40         3
4.     Gobles                                          (6-0)    36        4
5.     Deckerville                                     (6-0)     30         5
6.     Mendon                                         (6-0)    24        6
7.     Norway                                          (5-1)     15         10
8.     Lincoln-Alcona                                (6-0)     13         8
9.     Brown City                                     (5-1)     8          9
10.   Munising                                         (5-1)     5          7
Others receiving votes: 11, Alcona County 4. 12, Bay City All Saints 2. 13, Kingston 2. 14, Ishpeming 1. 15, Climax-Scotts 1. 16, Fulton-Middleton 1.

Division 2 (8-player)
1.     Marion (3)                                      (6-0)     47         1
2.     Portland St Patrick (1)                     (6-0)     45         2
3.     Crystal Falls Forest Park (1)             (6-0)     43         3
4.     Grand Rapids Sacred Heart                (6-0)     32         4
5.     Au Gres-Sims                                  (5-1)     27         7
(tie)  Morrice                                          (5-1)     27         5
7.     Powers North Central                      (5-1)     19         9
8.     Gaylord St. Mary                             (5-1)     14         8
9.     Britton-Deerfield                            (5-1)     8          NR
10.   Onekama                                         (5-1)     6          NR
Others receiving votes: 11, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 4. 12, Pittsford 2. 13, Burr Oak 1.