>>Team USA Shuts Out Puerto Rico In WBC Title Game
(Los Angeles, CA) — Team USA is celebrating its first-ever World Baseball Classic championship. Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer and the Americans went on to pound Puerto Rico 8-0 in the title game at Dodger Stadium. U.S. starting pitcher Marcus Stroman took a no-hitter into the seventh inning.
>>Cardinals Cruise Past Nationals Behind Carpenter, Martinez
(Jupiter, FL) — Matt Carpenter went 2-for-3 with four RBI to lead the Cardinals to a 6-1 win over the Nationals at Roger Dean Stadium. Greg Garcia went 3-for-4 with an RBI for St. Louis. Carlos Martinez started and allowed just three hits in five shutout innings for the win. The Cards host the Marlins today.
>>Cactus League Roundup
(Undated) — In Cactus League play yesterday, the Reds cut down the Cubs, 5-2, in a rain-shortened affair. The game was called in the fifth inning. The A’s topped the White Sox, 5-3. Carlos Sanchez hit a solo homer in the loss. Today, the Cubs face the D’backs and the Sox take on the Reds.
>>Former Phillies Manager, Cubs GM Dallas Green Dies
(Undated) — The baseball world is mourning the loss of former Cubs general manager Dallas Green. He passed away yesterday at 82. Green served as president and GM of the Cubs from 1982 to 1987. He won a World Series title as skipper of the Phillies in 1980.
>>Matheny Names Martinez Opening Night Starter
(Jupiter, FL) — Carlos Martinez will be on the mound when the Cardinals open the regular season. Manager Mike Matheny says the 16-game winner from a year ago will start April 2nd against the World Series champion Cubs in Chicago. Adam Wainwright, who started the last four openers, will follow.
>>Illinois Falls Short Against UCF In NIT Quarters
(Orlando, FL) — The season is over the for the Illinois basketball team. The Fighting Illini were eliminated from the NIT with a 68-58 loss at UCF in the quarterfinals. Malcolm Hill had 29 points for Illinois, which trailed by 15 at the half. The Illini shot just 30.6-percent and end the season 20-and-15.
>>Bulls Blast Pistons
(Chicago, IL) — Nikola Mirotic netted 28 points as the Bulls blasted the Pistons 117-95. Jimmy Butler had 16 points and 12 assists for Chicago, which moved into a tie with Detroit for ninth in the East. The Bulls host the 76ers tomorrow night.
>>Bulls Honor Krause With Moment Of Silence
(Chicago, IL) — The Bulls paid tribute to former general manager Jerry Krause before last night’s game against Detroit. The team held a moment of silence for Krause, who passed away at the age of 77 on Tuesday.
>>Lopez Suspended One Game For Skirmish
(Chicago, IL) — The Bulls were without center Robin Lopez in last night’s win over the Pistons. Lopez served a one-game suspension for his involvement in an altercation with Toronto’s Serge Ibaka on Tuesday. Ibaka was also hit with a one-game ban.
>>Westbrook Posts 35th Triple-Double In Win
(Oklahoma City, OK) — Russell Westbrook’s 35th triple-double of the season is in the books. Westbrook put up 18 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists in the Thunder’s 122-97 rout of the 76ers. Westbrook was 6-of-6 from the floor, 6-of-6 from the free-throw line and played less than 30 minutes in the victory.
>>Lopez, Ibaka Suspended After Skirmish
(New York, NY) — The NBA is punishing Raptors forward Serge Ibaka and Bulls center Robin Lopez. Each player was hit with a one-game suspension a day after the duo came to blows during Tuesday’s game in Toronto. Lopez served his suspension last night.
>>NCAA Tournament Resumes Tonight
(Undated) — The NCAA Tournament resumes with four Sweet 16 games this evening. In the Midwest Regional, top-seeded Kansas takes on Purdue and Oregon meets Michigan. In the West Region semis, top-seeded Gonzaga faces West Virginia and Arizona squares off with Xavier.
>>NFL Owners Could Vote On Raiders Relocation Next Week
(Undated) — NFL owners could vote on the proposed relocation of the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas as early as next week. Multiple report say the potential move is on the agenda at the league meetings that begin Sunday in Phoenix. The Raiders need the approval of 24 of the 32 owners to relocate to Vegas.