Update on the latest sports
APMLB-WHITE SOX-CARDINALS
La Russa faces Cards, Turnbull next after no-no
UNDATED (AP) — Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa will see plenty of familiar faces when his AL Central leaders host his longtime team, the St. Louis Cardinals tonight.
The 76-year-old Hall of Fame skipper guided the Cardinals from 1996-2011, reaching the playoffs nine times and winning two World Series championships. Out of the majors for nearly a decade, he returned to the dugout this season with Chicago.
Lance Lynn is scheduled to start for the White Sox. The 34-year-old righty was a rookie when he pitched in relief in the final game that La Russa managed for the Cardinals — a Game 7 victory over Texas for the 2011 crown.
In other Major League action coming up:
— Spencer Turnbull (3-2, 2.88 ERA) pitches at home for the Detroit Tigers against Cleveland this evening in his first start since throwing a no-hitter last Tuesday in Seattle. The next night, Corey Kluber twirled a gem of his own for the Yankees at Texas — making it six no-hitters in the majors already this year. The most in any season since 1900 is seven. Kluber (4-2, 2.86) goes Tuesday at home against Toronto.
— Fernando Tatis Jr. has been on a tear since Padres manager Jayce Tingler moved the dynamic shortstop into the cleanup spot. Batting fourth in four games since coming back from a case of COVID-19, Tatis has gone 11 for 14 with four homers, 12 RBIs, four doubles, three walks and three stolen bases. Tatis hit a grand slam and solo homer, finishing with six RBIs as San Diego routed Seattle 9-2 Sunday to sweep a nine-game homestand. The Padres took three-game sets from St. Louis, Colorado and the Mariners. Overall, they have won 12 of 13 games. Blake Snell (1-0, 3.79) is scheduled to start the opener of a four-game series at Milwaukee.
— Austin Meadows and the Tampa Bay Rays try for their 11th straight win this afternoon when they close out Toronto’s stay in Dunedin, Florida. Meadows, Manuel Margot and Mike Brosseau drew consecutive bases-loaded walks with two outs in the ninth inning Sunday to rally the Rays past the Blue Jays 6-4. The comeback win lifted Tampa Bay into a first-place tie with Boston in the AL East. The Blue Jays have been playing home games this season at TD Ballpark, going 10-10 at their spring training stadium. After this game, they will relocate to their Triple-A facility in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are not allowed to play in Toronto due to COVID-19 restrictions in Canada.
Avalanche-Kadri Appeal
Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri appealing 8-game suspension
UNDATED (AP) — Colorado forward Nazem Kadri is appealing his eight-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis defenseman Justin Faulk, looking to get it reduced with the Avalanche moving on to the second round.
The NHL Players’ Association filed the appeal Sunday night on Kadri’s behalf. The first appeal goes to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and Kadri could then take his case to a neutral arbitrator if he so chooses.
After the Avalanche finished off a sweep of the Blues, Kadri has six games left to serve on the initial suspension, pending the appeals process. Colorado will face the winner of the Vegas-Minnesota series in the second round.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-JAPAN
Japan opens mass vaccine centers 2 months before Olympics
TOKYO (AP) — Japan is mobilizing military doctors and nurses to give shots to elderly people in Tokyo and Osaka as the government desperately tries to accelerate its vaccination rollout and curb coronavirus infections just two months before hosting the Olympics.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is determined to hold the Olympics and has made an ambitious pledge to finish vaccinating elderly people by the end of July, despite skepticism it’s possible.
Worries about public safety while many Japanese remain unvaccinated have prompted growing protests and calls for canceling the games set to start on July 23. The two mass inoculation centers in Tokyo and Osaka aim to give shots to 15,000 people a day for the next three months.
