The Giants doubled the Cubs 6-3. Buster Posey hit a three-run first inning homer that proved to be the difference. The series concludes this afternoon as right-hander Kyle Hendricks is on the hill for the Cubs as the Giants give the ball to lefty Madison Bumgarner.
The White Sox beat the Astros 8-5 to end a six-game losing streak. Rookie Kevan Smith smashed a homer and drove in four runs for the Sox. The series continues tonight at Guaranteed Rate Field with right-handers Collin McHugh for the Astros and Miguel Gonzalez for the Sox on the bump.
The Cardinals routed the Royals for the second straight night in a 10-3 win on Tuesday in Kansas City. Jedd Gyorko smacked a three-run homer and Yadier Molina drove in three including a solo home run. The series shifts to St. Louis for the remaining two games. Trevor Cahill goes to the mound for KC against Mike Leake for the Cardinals.
The CornBelters won their second straight contest with a 2-0 win at Southern Illinois. Matt Portland, Anthony Herrera and Chad Gendron held the Miners to just six hits. Herrera picked up the win and Gendron the save. Nolan Meadows drove in both CornBelters runs with a lead-off homer in the second and a sacrifice fly in the third. The Belters are now two games below .500 at 35-37 and are 4 1/2 games out of a playoff spot with 24 games remaining. Former closer Shawn Blackwell starts tonight for the Belters against Zach Cooper for the Miners in a pitching match-up of right-handers.
Illinois State football is ranked 18th in the preseason FCS coaches poll released yesterday.
Former NHL forward and coach and current broadcaster Eddie Olczyk has been diagnosed with colon cancer. Blackhawks team physician Dr. Michael Terry says Olczyk will undergo further treatment in coming weeks after having surgery last week. Olczyk says he expects to return to the broadcast booths for the Blackhawks and NBC after he completes treatment.
The PGA Championship is moving in 2019. The major has been a mid-summer event for a half-century, but is moving to the week after Mother’s Day. PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua said the sports landscape is changing partly because of the Olympics and changes to the FedEx Cup.
