Friday Sports Update – Cubs Blast Rangers In Opener
(Arlington, TX) — Left-hander Mike Minor did not make it out of a six-run fifth inning in the Rangers’ 12-4 loss to the Cubs in the season opener at Globe Life Park. Minor, who made his first career Opening Day start, allowed six runs on five hits, two walks and a hit batter. Elvis Andrus and Nomar Mazara belted two-run homers for the Texas runs.
Volquez Will Start Tomorrow For Rangers
(Arlington, TX) — After an off-day, the Rangers and Cubs will resume this three-game series tomorrow night. Edinson Volquez will pitch for the Rangers, his first start since July 5th, 2017 and undergoing Tommy John surgery. He is 8-and-8 with a 3.10 ERA in 12 career starts against the Cubs. Former-Ranger Yu Darvish will start for the Cubs.
Astros Open Season With Win Over Rays
(St. Petersburg, FL) — Justin Verlander allowed one run and three hits, while striking out nine over seven innings, in the Astros’ 5-1 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field to start the season. George Springer blasted a three-run homer in the third inning, his third straight Opening Day homer. Michael Brantley homered in his Houston debut. Jose Altuve also homered. Carlos Correa did not play because of a stiff neck.
MLB American League
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New York Yankees 7, Baltimore Orioles 2
Detroit Tigers 2, Toronto Blue Jays 0 (10 INN)
Houston Astros 5, Tampa Bay Rays 1
Oakland Athletics 4, Los Angeles Angels 0
Minnesota Twins 2, Cleveland Indians 0
Kansas City Royals 5, Chicago White Sox 3
Seattle Mariners 12, Boston Red Sox 4
MLB National League
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New York Mets 2, Washington Nationals 0
Milwaukee Brewers 5, St. Louis Cardinals 4
Philadelphia Phillies 10, Atlanta Braves 4
Colorado Rockies 6, Miami Marlins 3
San Diego Padres 2, San Francisco Giants 0
Los Angeles Dodgers 12, Arizona Diamondbacks 5
Cincinnati Reds 5, Pittsburgh Pirates 3
MLB Interleague
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Chicago Cubs 12, Texas Rangers 4
Mavs Stumble To Heat
(Miami, FL) — The Mavericks were outscored by 13 points in the fourth quarter in a 105-99 loss to the Heat in Miami. Luka Doncicled Dallas with 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. The Mavs have lost 17 of their last 20 games. They will play Sunday in Oklahoma City before returning home Monday to start a three-game homestand.
Rockets Rip Nuggets
(Houston, TX) — James Harden scored 38 points as the Rockets trampled the Nuggets 112-85 in Houston. Clint Capela contributed 17 points and 15 rebounds to the win. Eric Gordon tossed in 18 points for Houston, which is percentage points behind Portland for the third-seed in the West. Denver holds the second-seed with a 50-and-24 record. The Rockets are 48-and-28. Houston will host the Sacramento Kings tomorrow.
Spurs Defeat Cavaliers On Manu Ginobili Jersey Retirement Night
(San Antonio, TX) — DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points to lead the Spurs to a 116-110 win over the Cavaliers on Manu Ginobili jersey retirement night in San Antonio. Bryn Forbes added 19 for San Antonio, which used a 40-point third quarter to take command. Marco Belinelli added 16 off the bench for the Spurs, who have won two of their last three. Collin Sexton led the Cavaliers with 24 points. Kevin Love added 18 for Cleveland, which has lost four straight.
NBA
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Philadelphia 76ers 123, Brooklyn Nets 110
Detroit Pistons 115, Orlando Magic 98
Toronto Raptors 117, New York Knicks 92
Miami Heat 105, Dallas Mavericks 99
Milwaukee Bucks 128, LA Clippers 118
Houston Rockets 112, Denver Nuggets 85
New Orleans Pelicans 121, Sacramento Kings 118
San Antonio Spurs 116 Cleveland Cavaliers 110
Stars Win In Shootout
(Edmonton, Alberta) — Jamie Benn scored the game-winner in a shootout as the Stars beat the Oilers 3-2 in Edmonton. Dallas picked up two points and leads the Western Conference wild-card standings with 88 points, five in front of Colorado and seven ahead of Arizona. Miro Heiskanen scored in the third period for Dallas to force overtime. The Stars are 3-and-0 on this four-game Canadian trip, which concludes tomorrow in Vancouver.
NHL
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Columbus Blue Jackets 6, Montreal Canadiens 2
Washington Capitals 3, Carolina Hurricanes 2
Detroit Red Wings 5, Buffalo Sabres 4 (OT)
Florida Panthers 5, Ottawa Senators 2
New York Islanders 5, Winnipeg Jets 4
Dallas Stars 3, Edmonton Oilers 2 (SO)
Vancouver Canucks 3, Los Angeles Kings 2 (SO)
Chicago Blackhawks 5, San Jose Sharks 4
Texas Tech In Elite Eight, Take Down Michigan
(Anaheim, CA) — Third-seeded Texas Tech smothered Michigan 63-44 in a Sweet 16 matchup in Anaheim. The Red Raiders will play top-seeded Gonzaga Saturday with the winner advancing to the Final Four. James Culver led Tech with 22 points. The Tech defense limited the Wolverines to one three-pointer on 19 attempts. The Red Raiders improved to 29-and-6. The Zags beat Florida State 72-58 to advance.
Cougars Meet Kentucky Tonight
(Kansas City, MO) — The third-seeded Houston Cougars and second-seeded Kentucky will meet for the first time ever tonight in Kansas City with the winner advancing to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars have not made it to the Sweet 16 since 1984 when they were led by Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon. Houston is 33-and-3 and eliminated Georgia State and Ohio State in the first two rounds. This is Kentucky’s eighth Sweet 16 appearance in the John Calipari era. The Wildcats are 29-and-6.
NCAA Basketball:
South Region
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#3 Purdue Boilermakers 99, #2 Tennessee Volunteers 94 (OT) (at Louisville, KY)
#1 Virginia Cavaliers 53, #12 Oregon Ducks 49 (at Louisville, KY)
West Region
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#1 Gonzaga Bulldogs 72, #4 Florida State Seminoles 58 (at Anaheim, CA)
#3 Texas Tech Red Raiders 63, #2 Michigan Wolverines 44 (at Anaheim, CA)
Frogs, Longhorns Rematch In NIT Final Four
(Fort Worth, TX) — TCU will be facing a familiar opponent in the NIT Final Four on Tuesday. The Horned Frogs will play Big-12 rival Texas in a semifinal game at Madison Square Garden. TCU won the first two encounters. The Longhorns advanced with a quarterfinal 68-55 win over Colorado in Austin.
Baylor Women Face South Carolina Tomorrow
(Greensboro, NC) — Number-one ranked Baylor will play South Carolina tomorrow afternoon in a NCAA Women’s Tournament Sweet 16 game in Greensboro. It is the 11th consecutive year the Lady Bears have reached the Sweet 16. Baylor beat the Gamecocks 94-69 on December 2nd at South Carolina. In the WNIT, TCU won 82-78 at Arkansas. The Frogs will host Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon in the next round.
Cowboys Trade For Quinn
(Frisco, TX) — The Cowboys acquired defensive end Robert Quinn from the Dolphins for a 2020 sixth-round draft pick. Quinn signed a one-year contract worth just more than nine-million dollars. The 29-year-old was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013-and-14 and has started 92 games in the NFL over nine seasons.
