Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 6-16-23.
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Lynx at Sparks tonight, Loons off this weekend. College World Series starts today.
Ugly situation at the Concacaf Nations League semifinal between the U.S. and Mexico last night, as the Americans won 3-0 in a game ended early by the referee among anti-gay chants at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
If you think anyone can own a sports team, anyone doesn’t include Antonio Brown, whose arena football team was booted out of its league for non payment of league dues. That really was the least of their issues.
Twins’ Pitching Can’t Hold 4-1 Lead
Staked to a 4-1 lead, Twins alleged ace Sonny Gray couldn’t make it to the fifth inning (okay, Rocco Baldelli had something to do with that). Minnesota also managed just four baserunners after the second inning as Detroit rallied for an ugly 8-4 win at Target Field.
Every time but once since the beginning of May, the Twins’ haven’t been able to turn a two-game winning streak into three. With the Twins’ top three starters, you’re supposed to be able to string wins together.
Gray didn’t have his best outing - he’s now winless in nine straight starts. He wasn’t bad either, despite walking four. He’d thrown just 79 pitches in four innings, and Baldelli lifted the righthander with a 4-2 lead.
We all know what happened next. Jovani Moran allowed three runs and the Tigers to take the lead, and with the Twins down just a run in the ninth, Baldelli left Jorge Lopez in for a second inning, and he gave up three runs to seal it.
Said Gray in a rambling, emotional session with reporters after the game. “All I ask is the opportunity to fight through it.” Remember, Gray is a guy who didn’t appreciate early hooks from Baldelli last year.
Actual ace Joe Ryan toes the rubber for the Twins tonight in game 2 of the four-game set. Byron Buxton returned last night - he went 0-for-4, will he play back-to-back?
Fowler, Schauffele Light Up L.A. Country Club
The U.S. Open annually makes pro golfers look like the rest of us.
Not the case yesterday for Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele. Since the first U.S. Open in 1895 (that’s an 8), there had been zero 62’s. There were two in Thursday’s Round 1, just three groups apart. Fowler and Schauffele share a two-stroke lead after 18 holes at the L.A. Country Club.
I love the U.S. Open. Primetime Sunday for a Father’s Day final round. Throw some meat on the smoker. Nothing better.
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