MLB – Major League Baseball

Yesterday

Detroit Tigers 7, Texas Rangers 5

St. Louis Cardinals 3, Chicago Cubs 2

White Sox were off

Tigers 7, Rangers 5 – Haase, Tigers win 7th straight, finish sweep of Rangers

Eric Haase hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Detroit Tigers extended their winning streak to a season-best seven games by topping the slumping Texas Rangers 7-5. Zack Short and Victor Reyes also homered for the Tigers, who completed a four-game sweep. Texas has lost nine straight, equaling its longest slide this season. David Dahl and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each drove in two runs for the Rangers. Kyle Funkhouser, the fourth Tigers pitcher, gave up one run in two innings to get the win. Gregory Soto got the last three outs for his 11th save and third in as many days.

Cardinals 3, Cubs 2 – Kim earns 5th straight win on birthday, Cards beat Cubs 3-2

Kwang Hyun-Kim earned his fifth straight win on his 34th birthday and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2. Nolan Arenado and Dylan Carlson homered as the Cardinals moved a game over .500 at 49-48. Kim allowed two runs on two hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in six innings. Alex Reyes pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 23rd save after suffering his first career blown save on Tuesday night. Cubs starter Adbert Alzolay allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out eight in six innings. He is winless in his last seven starts.

Today

Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals, 8:10 p.m.       94.9 WSJM/103.7 Cosy-FM 7:50

Chicago White Sox at Milwaukee Brewers, 8:10 p.m.

MLB – No quit: Yermín Mercedes rejoins White Sox Triple-A team

One day after announcing he was stepping away from baseball, Yermín Mercedes was back with the Chicago White Sox’s Triple-A affiliate. The White Sox confirmed Mercedes was in uniform Thursday for the Charlotte Knights’ game against the Durham Bulls. Mercedes also apologized in an Instagram post, writing, “I love everybody. I’m back.” On Wednesday night, Mercedes posted on Instagram that he was walking away from baseball, saying, “It's over.” The 28-year-old rookie carried the White Sox with his booming bat early in the season but got sent to the minors following a prolonged slump.

NFL – NFL threatens forfeits for COVID outbreaks

The NFL has informed teams they could potentially forfeit a game because of a COVID-19 outbreak among nonvaccinated players, and players on both teams wouldn’t get paid that week. The memo was sent to the teams by Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday and obtained by The Associated Press. The memo adds that the league doesn’t anticipate adding a 19th week to accommodate games that can’t be rescheduled within the 18-week regular season. However, forfeits are among the consequences. The league says more than half its teams have COVID-19 vaccination rates greater than 80% of their players, and more than 75% of players are in the process of being vaccinated.

NFL – Jets' Knapp dies after being struck by car while biking

New York Jets assistant coach Greg Knapp died of injuries suffered in an accident when he was struck by a car while riding a bicycle near his home in California. Knapp’s family released a statement through the team that the longtime NFL assistant coach died Thursday afternoon. The family said in the statement that Knapp never regained consciousness after being struck in the city of San Ramon in the San Francisco Bay Area and never regained consciousness. Knapp was hired by the Jets in January as part of new coach Robert Saleh’s staff, serving as the passing game specialist. Among Knapp’s primary roles was to help develop quarterback Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall draft pick.

NBA – Milwaukee Bucks' fans celebrate NBA championship with...