Saturday’s 6-pack:
Major League leaders in batting average:
.471— Wilyer Abreu, Bos
.450— Will Smith, LA
.429— George Springer, Tor/Ramon Urias, Balt
.423— Fernando Tatis, SD
.417— Nootbaar StL/Judge NYY/Campbell Bos/Merrill SD
.400— Manny Machado, SD
Quote of the Day
“It’s a big deal. We typically don’t take time to reflect on where we are, but this is an opportunity for this group to reflect on where it is, where it’s come from and what it’s been able to accomplish together.”
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff
Saturday’s quiz
Last time Detroit Pistons made the NBA playoffs, which team swept them in the first round?
Friday’s quiz
Draymond Green played his college basketball at Michigan State.
Thursday’s quiz
Lou Piniella won Rookie of the Year with Kansas City in 1969, five years after he made his major league debut, with the Orioles.
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— Celtics 123, Suns 103
Boston set the all-time record for most 3-pointers made in a season when they sank their 1,364th 3-pointer in this game, passing the previous record, set by Golden State couple of years ago.
— Golden State is 20-2 when Steph Curry/Jimmy Butler both play; they’re 26-28 in all their other games.
Lakers are 12-7 when Lebron James/Luka Doncic have both played, 35-23 when they didn’t.
— Detroit Pistons clinched a playoff spot Friday night, after they went 14-68 last year, one of the best turnarounds in NBA history.
Credit to coach JB Bickerstaff, in his first year coaching the Pistons.
— Saw a note that said since Christmas is on a Thursday this year, we’ll have three NFL games to watch while we drink egg nog and open presents.
— Los Angeles Chargers signed QB Trey Lance for one year, $6.2M; he was the 3rd overall pick in the 2021 draft, by the 49ers, but has started only five games (2-3) in four seasons for the 49ers and last year, with Dallas.
— Arizona Cardinals signed TE Trey McBride to a 4-year, $76M contract extension; he caught 111 passes for 1,146 yards last year, scoring two TD’s. $43M of that $$$ is guaranteed.
— Central Michigan fired basketball coach Tony Barbee, after the Chippewas went 14-17, 7-11 this season, Barbee’s fourth season there (they were 18-14/12-6 last year).
Central Michigan hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2003, has had only two winning seasons in MAC play the last nine years.
— Texas A&M is expected to name Samford coach Bucky McMillan their new coach, replacing Buzz Williams, who bolted to Maryland.
McMillan won five state high school state titles coaching in Alabama, then coached at Samford for five years, going 93-43/52-20 the last four years, getting to the NCAA Tournament last year. The last two years, his Bulldogs played the #8/#24 tempos in the country- very fast.
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Famous birthdays, April 5th:
Michael Moriarity, 84
Oliver Luck, 65
Dale Hatcher, 62
Steven Bardo, 57
Tony Banks, 52
Marc Bulger, 48
Stephen Jackson, 47
Justin Holiday, 36
— Red Sox 13, Cardinals 9
Rafael Devers got on base four times, the top six hitters in Boston’s order all had 2+ hits as they won their home opener.
— Braves 10, Marlins 0
Spencer Schwellenbach allowed only two hits, struck out 10 in 8 IP, as Atlanta took out some frustrations from their 0-7 road trip. Ozuna/Olson hit back/back homers for the Braves.
— Giants 10, Mariners 9 (11)
Willie Adames had a walk-off single in 11th inning as San Francisco won its home opener.
Giants have won five games in a row.
— A’s 6, Rockies 3 (11)
Jacob Wilson homered, had a 2-run single in the 11th inning.
Colorado was 1-15 with runners in scoring position.
Under 3-0-1 in A’s road games; over is 3-0 in their home games.
— Brewers 3, Reds 2
Reds ended a 36-inning scoreless streak, but lost their fourth game in a row, all by one run.
Tyler Alexander didn’t allow a hit in 5.2 IP as Milwaukee’s starter.
— Mets 5, Blue Jays 0
Tylor Megill allowed five baserunners, no runs in 5.1 IP.
Pete Alonso hit a 2-run homer in the first inning.
— Phillies 3, Dodgers 2
Jesus Luzardo tossed 7 shutout IP, giving up two hits.
First loss of the season for the Dodgers, after an 8-0 start.