Detroit, MI
Hurter deals, Torkelson and Greene homer as Tigers clinch series over Red Sox
Detroit — The crowd in Comerica Park felt something brewing.
After being held without a baserunner for the first four innings of Sunday’s rubber match against the Boston Red Sox, Kerry Carpenter opened the bottom of the fifth with a walk, ensuring the Tigers wouldn’t be victims of a perfect game in their own stadium.
Relieved with that — and after Boston lefty Rich Hill got Jace Jung to strike out — the announced crowd of 30,173 in attendance popped at the sound of Spencer Torkelson’s bat sending a second-pitch curveball over the wall in left field and into Detroit’s bullpen.
Torkelson had no doubt, moseying his way out of the batter’s box to admire his work, as he gave the Tigers a lead they’d never relinquish on the way to a series-clinching 4-1 win.
Detroit entered Sunday five games back of the Minnesota Twins for a wild-card spot. But it made up ground on the Red Sox, who are currently the first American League team out and sit just a half-game ahead of the Tigers.
It was a two-homer day for Detroit, as Riley Greene turned on a 92 mph cutter left over the middle of the plate in the sixth inning and smoked a line drive that snuck inside the right-field foul pole. Greene’s shot was also of the two-run variety, scoring Parker Meadows from first base.
Greene has a team-high 20 home runs, the most of his three-year career, and is up to 58 RBIs, which also leads the Tigers. Torkelson now has eight home runs on the season.
For as good as Boston starter Cooper Criswell was — no hits or walks allowed to go along with five strikeouts through four innings — Tigers lefty Brant Hurter kept Detroit in it. Hurter scattered six hits over five innings, allowing one run in the fifth before stranding two runners by forcing a groundout to second base.
Hurter also got the Tigers out of danger in the second frame. After Beau Brieske, who started the game, surrendered back-to-back one-out walks, Hunter was called out of the bullpen and induced an inning-ending double play on his first pitch.
It’s the sixth appearance of Hurter’s career, and the first in which he pitched at least five innings and allowed one or fewer runs; he’s gone for five or more innings on three other occasions, giving up two, two and three runs in outings against the Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, respectively.
Will Vest and Jason Foley combined to pitch a scoreless 2⅔ innings to secure the win. The Tigers, who finish their home stand with a 4-2 record, will now head to California for a six-game road trip against the San Diego Padres from Sept. 2-5 and the Oakland Athletics from Sept. 6-8.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
Detroit, MI
Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams
ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions will be without safety Kerby Joseph again this weekend, while listing seven other players as questionable.
Joseph and fellow safety Brian Branch were the only players ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Branch is out for the season due to an Achilles injury, but has not been placed on injured reserve yet. And Joseph, who will now miss his eighth straight game, suffered a setback and could be a candidate for injured reserve, per Dan Campbell.
The Lions listed tight end Shane Zylstra (knee), running back Sione Vaki (thumb), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle), guard Christian Mahogany (fibula), safety Thomas Harper (concussion protocol), left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder/rest) and guard Kayode Awosika (foot) as questionable.
Decker has not practiced this week. But he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury all season and is coming off playing three games in less than two weeks. Awosika missed last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys due to his foot injury. The veteran guard has practiced in a limited capacity all week long.
Trystan Colon and Miles Frazier split duties at left guard last week for Awosika. The Lions will have a decision to make there between those three options, but perhaps for only another weekend.
Mahogany returned to practice this week. He seems like a longshot to play this weekend based on his injury. But the Lions are listing him as questionable after logging three limited practices in his first action back on the field.
Zylstra has been back at practice for two weeks in his return from injured reserve. Heading into the weekend, the Lions have only one tight end on their 53-man roster (Anthony Firkser) and hope to get Zylstra back.
Campbell said Harper has a chance to play against the Rams despite spending the week in concussion protocol. The Lions could sure use Harper, with Branch and Joseph both out, to hold things down at safety with Avonte Maddox against the high-powered Rams.
“Harper will be out there at practice today, so feel pretty good about him, but we’ll see,” Campbell said on Friday morning. “There again, I can’t give you definitives right now, but that’s kind of where we’re at.
“So, we’ll be good. Look, (Erick) Hallett’s been taking reps, (Daniel Thomas) DT’s been taking reps, Maddox has been taking reps. We’ve got plenty of guys. They’re getting valuable reps, so we’re good.”
Raymond has missed two consecutive games due to an ankle injury suffered against the New York Giants. He has a shot to return after working back into practice, and should reclaim his role returning punts.
Vaki has continued to play through his thumb injury. He hasn’t returned kickoffs since suffering the injury, with Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors taking over.
Detroit, MI
Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades
CONNOR McDAVID. 9. In a quiet first minutes of this one McDavid had the most dangerous shot for, glancing off Talbot’s shoulder and out. Terrific patience on the doorstep before dishing to Hyman for the 1-0. Nearly outwaited Talbot again later in the frame. Dished the disk back to Ekholm on the 2-0. Pranced in and rifled a backhand off Talbot. Hi-lite reel assist on the 3-1, where he knocks down a puck then puts a backhand through his own legs to a waiting Hyman alone in the slot. An assist on the 4-1, for his forty-third four-point game. 63% on faceoffs. Second Star.
Detroit, MI
SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side
Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown on ankle injury recovery
Amon-Ra St. Brown said he started feeling better two days before the Detroit Lions’ game against the Cowboys, after injuring his ankle Thanksgiving.
SAY Detroit had a surprise in store during its 14th annual fundraiser.
The charity founded by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom announced plans for a new SAY Detroit Play Center on the city’s west side during its annual radiothon, taking place on Thursday, Dec. 11. The after-school educational center will be built on the campus of St. Cecilia’s church, which includes the historic St. Cecilia gym, also known as the Mecca of Detroit basketball.
The new facility will be called the SAY Detroit Play Center at St. Cecilia.
This will be the organization’s second play center, with the first opening in 2015 along Van Dyke Avenue on the city’s east side. The center provides educational and recreational opportunities for kids from 8-18 at Lipke Park.
The announcement was made during the foundation’s 15-hour radiothon, which raises money for SAY Detroit and other affiliated charities. Last year’s radiothon raised a record $2.23 million, with the fundraiser bringing in over $16.5 million in total since it was launched in 2012.
SAY Detroit was founded in 2006 by Albom and operates the play center and free family health clinic, along with providing a housing program for Detroit families and other direct efforts with the community.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
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