MLB  – Major League Baseball
Yesterday

  Detroit  Tigers 9, Kansas City Royals 4

  Chicago  Cubs 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 3

Texas  Rangers 6, Chicago White Sox 3

Tigers  9, Royals 4 – Zack Short homers, Javier Báez gets 1,000th hit to lead Tigers  over Royals 9-4

  Zack  Short homered and drove in three runs, Javier Báez got his 1,000th hit and  Detroit sent slumping Kansas City to its 15th loss in 18 games. Matthew Boyd  (5-5) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings for Detroit. He struck out  seven without a walk. Brady Singer (4-7) lost his third straight decision,  giving up five runs, seven hits and a walk in seven innings. Báez put the  Tigers ahead 4-2 in the third, driving in Kerry Carpenter with his 1,000th hit.

Cubs  8, Pirates 3 – Hendricks shuts down reeling Pirates as Cubs complete 3-game  sweep with 8-3 victory

  Kyle  Hendricks pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Chicago Cubs beat  the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-3 to complete a three-game sweep. Nico Hoerner homered  and tripled for the Cubs, who have won eight of nine. Ian Happ doubled twice  and drove in three runs for Chicago. Josh Palacios had an RBI double for  Pittsburgh but couldn’t stop the Pirates from dropping their ninth straight  game. Pittsburgh has managed just 20 runs during a slide that’s seen the  Pirates drop from first to fourth in the NL Central.

Rangers  6, White Sox 3 – Heim homers as Rangers beat the White Sox 6-3

  Jonah  Heim hit a three-run homer a night after he was involved in a controversial  play at the plate and the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 6-3.  Ezequiel Duran also connected as Texas won for the fourth time in five games.  Martín Pérez pitched seven effective innings in his first victory in a month.  The AL West leaders bounced back nicely after a frustrating 7-6 loss on Tuesday  night. Chicago scored the winning run in its three-run eighth when Heim was  called for illegally blocking the plate in a replay review that overturned  umpire D.J. Reyburn’s out call.

Today

  Tigers,  Cubs, and White Sox are off

MLB  – MLB sued by 17 ex-scouts who say they were discriminated against because of age

  Seventeen  former Major League Baseball scouts who say they were discriminated against  because of their age have sued the league, its teams and Commissioner Rob  Manfred. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Denver. The  former scouts allege violations of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment  Act of 1967 along with laws in 11 states and New York City. The scouts, ranging  from 55 to 71, allege they were discriminated against from 2020-22. MLB said in  a statement it looks "forward to refuting these claims in court.”

NBA  – NBA-champion Nuggets trade into the 1st round by swapping picks with the  Pacers

  The  NBA-champion Denver Nuggets struck a deal with Indiana to acquire a first-round  round pick in the draft on Thursday night. The teams agreed to a deal that also  gives the Nuggets the 32nd overall pick, according to a person with knowledge  of the situation. The Pacers will receive the 40th pick in this year’s draft  from Denver and a first-round pick in 2024. The person spoke on condition of  anonymity because the trade has yet to be announced.

NBA  – With Wembanyama, there’s no debate at the top of NBA draft

  Victor  Wembanyama’s towering shadow has hung over this NBA draft for months, blocking  much of what is usually part of the process. There has been no debate about who  the San Antonio Spurs should take with the No. 1 pick on Thursday night. When a  player like Wembanyama comes along — and maybe none ever has — there’s no real  reason to drum up any drama. The Spurs are not going to pass up someone who is  listed at 7’4” but has the skills of a player much smaller. The 19-year-old  from France has been called the best prospect since LeBron James came out of  high school in 2003.

NBA  – NBA Draft Picks

  Detroit,  5, 31        

  Chicago:  11 (traded to Orlando), 42 (traded to Washington)

  Indiana:  7, 26 (from Cleveland), 40 (from Dallas), 55 (from Cleveland)

WNBA  – Women’s National Basketball Association
Tonight

  Washington  Mystics at Chicago Sky, 8:00 p.m.

  Indiana  Fever at Seattle Storm, 10:00 p.m.

Golf – PGA Tour will appear before a Senate panel  investigating its deal with LIV

  A Senate subcommittee is asking executives from the  PGA Tour, Saudi golf interests and LIV Golf to testify as Congress investigates  the shocking business deal that upended the sport. Sen. Richard Blumenthal  announced Wednesday that the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations  would hold a hearing on July 11 to examine the stunning agreement the PGA Tour  now has with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and the European tour. He  invited PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Public Investment Fund Governor  Yasir Al-Rumayyan and LIV CEO Greg Norman to testify. The PGA Tour said in a  statement that it looked forward to appearing to answer questions about the  “framework agreement.”

Golf – Zhang seeking to follow win in pro debut with a  win at a major 

  Rose Zhang turned professional with many expecting  great things and she didn’t disappoint, winning the Mizuho Americas Open in her  debut. The 20-year-old, two-time NCAA individual champion will look to keep it  going this week when she takes on the best in women’s golf in the Women’s PGA  Championship at Baltustol in Springfield, New Jersey. The task will be tougher  this week with all 11 winners on the LPGA Tour and 19 of the top 20 players in  the world entered in the event. Zhang said the biggest change for her has been  the demands on her time.

Hockey – Henrik Lundqvist headlines the Hockey Hall of  Fame’s goalie-heavy class of 2023

  Henrik Lundqvist headlines the Hockey Hall of Fame’s  goaltender-heavy class of 2023. Fellow netminders Tom Barrasso and Red Wing Mike  Vernon were also among the five players elected. Former NHL forward Pierre  Turgeon and Canadian women’s hockey star Caroline Ouellette were also chosen.  Stanley Cup-winning coach Ken Hitchcock and late executive Pierre Lacroix were  picked in the builder category. Lundqvist is set to be inducted into the Hall  in his first year of eligibility after winning Olympic gold for Sweden in 2006  and a pro career that included backstopping the New York Rangers to 11 playoff  appearances in 12 seasons.  Vernon was so  surprised he thought board chairman Lanny McDonald, a teammate when they won  the Cup together with Calgary in 1989, was calling to ask him to play golf. The  two-time Cup champion who was also playoff MVP when he won it in 1997 with  Detroit had been eligible since 2005.  "The  game has meant a lot to me throughout my life," Vernon said. “It is an  emotional time for me. Might be a long time coming, but it’s still worth it.”

FIFA – WWC – Morgan and Rapinoe selected for the US  Women’s World Cup roster

  Eighteen-year-old Alyssa Thompson is among the 23  players selected for the United States team that will defend its title at the  Women’s World Cup next month. Thompson is among a mix of veteran and newcomers  named Wednesday to the team by head coach Vlatko Andonovski. Among the  experienced players are Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, who will each be making  a fourth World Cup appearance in Australia and New Zealand. Thompson is joined  by fellow up-and-coming stars Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, who is the  daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman.

Olympics – IOC warns Afghanistan about Olympic status  over denying sports to women

  The Afghanistan team’s status for the 2024 Paris  Olympics has been put in question by the IOC over growing frustration with the  Taliban blocking access to sport for women and girls. The International Olympic  Committee says it “continues to be extremely concerned” about the sports  situation in Afghanistan despite its repeated calls for action. The IOC says it  has the right to take further measures. And it notes details for an Afghanistan  delegation going to the Paris Games haven’t been decided. The IOC could suspend  Afghanistan’s Olympic body for government interference and support athletes to  compete as an independent team.

MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Yesterday

  Lansing 7, Wisconsin 1

  Great Lakes 8, West  Michigan 3

Fort Wayne 7, South  Bend 1

  Today

  Great Lakes Loons at  West Michigan Whitecaps, 6:35 p.m.

  Fort Wayne Tin Caps at  South Bend Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

Lansing Lugnuts at  Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 7:40 p.m.

MLB – Major League Baseball 
 Yesterday 
 Detroit Tigers 9, Kansas City Royals 4 
 Chicago Cubs 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 3 
Texas Rangers 6, Chicago White Sox 3
Tigers 9, Royals 4 – Zack Short homers, Javier Báez gets 1,000th hit to lead Tigers over Royals 9-4 
 Zack Short homered and drove in three runs, Javier Báez got his 1,000th hit and Detroit sent slumping Kansas City to its 15th loss in 18 games. Matthew Boyd (5-5) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings for Detroit. He struck out seven without a walk. Brady Singer (4-7) lost his third straight decision, giving up five runs, seven hits and a walk in seven innings. Báez put the Tigers ahead 4-2 in the third, driving in Kerry Carpenter with his 1,000th hit.
Cubs 8, Pirates 3 – Hendricks shuts down reeling Pirates as Cubs complete 3-game sweep with 8-3 victory 
 Kyle Hendricks pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-3 to complete a three-game sweep. Nico Hoerner homered and tripled for the Cubs, who have won eight of nine. Ian Happ doubled twice and drove in three runs for Chicago. Josh Palacios had an RBI double for Pittsburgh but couldn&#8217;t stop the Pirates from dropping their ninth straight game. Pittsburgh has managed just 20 runs during a slide that&#8217;s seen the Pirates drop from first to fourth in the NL Central.
Rangers 6, White Sox 3 – Heim homers as Rangers beat the White Sox 6-3 
 Jonah Heim hit a three-run homer a night after he was involved in a controversial play at the plate and the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 6-3. Ezequiel Duran also connected as Texas won for the fourth time in five games. Martín Pérez pitched seven effective innings in his first victory in a month. The AL West leaders bounced back nicely after a frustrating 7-6 loss on Tuesday night. Chicago scored the winning run in its three-run eighth when Heim was called for illegally blocking the plate in a replay review that overturned umpire D.J. Reyburn&rsquo;s out call.
Today 
 Tigers, Cubs, and White Sox are off
MLB – MLB sued by 17 ex-scouts who say they were discriminated against because of age 
 Seventeen former Major League Baseball scouts who say they were discriminated against because of their age have sued the league, its teams and Commissioner Rob Manfred. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Denver. The former scouts allege violations of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 along with laws in 11 states and New York City. The scouts, ranging from 55 to 71, allege they were discriminated against from 2020-22. MLB said in a statement it looks &quot;forward to refuting these claims in court.&rdquo;
NBA – NBA-champion Nuggets trade into the 1st round by swapping picks with the Pacers 
 The NBA-champion Denver Nuggets struck a deal with Indiana to acquire a first-round round pick in the draft on Thursday night. The teams agreed to a deal that also gives the Nuggets the 32nd overall pick, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The Pacers will receive the 40th pick in this year&rsquo;s draft from Denver and a first-round pick in 2024. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade has yet to be announced.
NBA – With Wembanyama, there&#8217;s no debate at the top of NBA draft 
 Victor Wembanyama&rsquo;s towering shadow has hung over this NBA draft for months, blocking much of what is usually part of the process. There has been no debate about who the San Antonio Spurs should take with the No. 1 pick on Thursday night. When a player like Wembanyama comes along — and maybe none ever has — there&rsquo;s no real reason to drum up any drama. The Spurs are not going to pass up someone who is listed at 7&rsquo;4&rdquo; but has the skills of a player much smaller. The 19-year-old from France has been called the best prospect since LeBron James came out of high school in 2003.
NBA – NBA Draft Picks 
 Detroit, 5, 31        
 Chicago: 11 (traded to Orlando), 42 (traded to Washington) 
 Indiana: 7, 26 (from Cleveland), 40 (from Dallas), 55 (from Cleveland)
WNBA – Women&rsquo;s National Basketball Association 
 Tonight 
 Washington Mystics at Chicago Sky, 8:00 p.m. 
 Indiana Fever at Seattle Storm, 10:00 p.m.
Golf – PGA Tour will appear before a Senate panel investigating its deal with LIV 
 A Senate subcommittee is asking executives from the PGA Tour, Saudi golf interests and LIV Golf to testify as Congress investigates the shocking business deal that upended the sport. Sen. Richard Blumenthal announced Wednesday that the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations would hold a hearing on July 11 to examine the stunning agreement the PGA Tour now has with Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s sovereign wealth fund and the European tour. He invited PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and LIV CEO Greg Norman to testify. The PGA Tour said in a statement that it looked forward to appearing to answer questions about the &ldquo;framework agreement.&rdquo;
Golf – Zhang seeking to follow win in pro debut with a win at a major 
 Rose Zhang turned professional with many expecting great things and she didn&#8217;t disappoint, winning the Mizuho Americas Open in her debut. The 20-year-old, two-time NCAA individual champion will look to keep it going this week when she takes on the best in women&#8217;s golf in the Women&#8217;s PGA Championship at Baltustol in Springfield, New Jersey. The task will be tougher this week with all 11 winners on the LPGA Tour and 19 of the top 20 players in the world entered in the event. Zhang said the biggest change for her has been the demands on her time.
Hockey – Henrik Lundqvist headlines the Hockey Hall of Fame&#8217;s goalie-heavy class of 2023 
 Henrik Lundqvist headlines the Hockey Hall of Fame&#8217;s goaltender-heavy class of 2023. Fellow netminders Tom Barrasso and Red Wing Mike Vernon were also among the five players elected. Former NHL forward Pierre Turgeon and Canadian women&#8217;s hockey star Caroline Ouellette were also chosen. Stanley Cup-winning coach Ken Hitchcock and late executive Pierre Lacroix were picked in the builder category. Lundqvist is set to be inducted into the Hall in his first year of eligibility after winning Olympic gold for Sweden in 2006 and a pro career that included backstopping the New York Rangers to 11 playoff appearances in 12 seasons.  Vernon was so surprised he thought board chairman Lanny McDonald, a teammate when they won the Cup together with Calgary in 1989, was calling to ask him to play golf. The two-time Cup champion who was also playoff MVP when he won it in 1997 with Detroit had been eligible since 2005.  &quot;The game has meant a lot to me throughout my life,&quot; Vernon said. &ldquo;It is an emotional time for me. Might be a long time coming, but it&rsquo;s still worth it.&rdquo;
FIFA – WWC – Morgan and Rapinoe selected for the US Women&#8217;s World Cup roster 
 Eighteen-year-old Alyssa Thompson is among the 23 players selected for the United States team that will defend its title at the Women&rsquo;s World Cup next month. Thompson is among a mix of veteran and newcomers named Wednesday to the team by head coach Vlatko Andonovski. Among the experienced players are Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, who will each be making a fourth World Cup appearance in Australia and New Zealand. Thompson is joined by fellow up-and-coming stars Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, who is the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman.
Olympics – IOC warns Afghanistan about Olympic status over denying sports to women 
 The Afghanistan team&rsquo;s status for the 2024 Paris Olympics has been put in question by the IOC over growing frustration with the Taliban blocking access to sport for women and girls. The International Olympic Committee says it &ldquo;continues to be extremely concerned&rdquo; about the sports situation in Afghanistan despite its repeated calls for action. The IOC says it has the right to take further measures. And it notes details for an Afghanistan delegation going to the Paris Games haven&#8217;t been decided. The IOC could suspend Afghanistan&rsquo;s Olympic body for government interference and support athletes to compete as an independent team.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball 
 Yesterday 
 Lansing 7, Wisconsin 1 
 Great Lakes 8, West Michigan 3 
Fort Wayne 7, South Bend 1
 Today 
 Great Lakes Loons at West Michigan Whitecaps, 6:35 p.m. 
 Fort Wayne Tin Caps at South Bend Cubs, 7:05 p.m. 
Lansing Lugnuts at Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 7:40 p.m.

Southwest Michigan's Sports Leader

WSJM Sports

MLB – Major League Baseball Yesterday Detroit Tigers 9, Kansas City Royals 4 Chicago Cubs 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 3 Texas Rangers 6, Chicago White Sox 3 Tigers 9, Royals 4 – Zack Short homers, Javier Báez gets