Hometown Broadcasting Sports Thursday 9/30/21
30 September 2021 Sports
Sports for September 30th
The Cardinals’ team-record 17-game winning streak ended when Daniel Vogelbach hit a two-run homer that backed Adrian Houser and led the Milwaukee Brewers over St. Louis 4-0 on Wednesday night. St. Louis was given a standing ovation after the defeat by the crowd of 35,283. The streak, the longest in the major leagues since Cleveland won 22 straight in 2017, lifted the Cardinals into next week’s NL wild-card game against the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco. The Cardinals were 71-69 after losing to Cincinnati 6-4 on Sept. 10, their previous defeat. St. Louis is 21-7 in September, tying the 1930 and 1942 Cardinals for most wins in the month.
Manny Piña added a solo homer for the NL Central champion Brewers, who have won four of five.
A night after clinching a postseason berth, the Cardinals did not start regulars Nolan Arenado, Tyler O’Neill and Tommy Edman.
Houser (10-6) allowed three hits in five innings. He has given up one earned run or none in four of his last five starts. Brent Suter, Brad Boxberger and Aaron Ashby finished a three-hitter. Vogelbach homered in the sixth off Miles Mikolas (2-3), who allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
LHP Brett Anderson (4-9, 4.30) will face LHP J.A. Happ (9-8, 5.86) in the finale of the three-game series on Thursday afternoon. Anderson gave up six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings of a 10-2 loss to St. Louis on Sept. 22. Happ is 0-3 in his last five appearances against Milwaukee. First pitch is at 12:10 and the game can be heard on AM 1100/98.3 FM, WISS.
Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams fractured his throwing hand when he punched a wall after his team celebrated its NL Central title, likely knocking him out for the entire postseason. Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said before the Brewers’ Wednesday night game with the St. Louis Cardinals that Williams’ injury likely will require surgery. Stearns said there’s an “outside chance” the 2020 NL rookie of the year could be available for the World Series if the Brewers get that far.
The Brewers clinched the division crown Sunday by beating the New York Mets 8-4 in their regular-season home finale.
“After our celebration, I went out to have a few drinks,” Williams said Wednesday. “On my way home, I was a little frustrated and upset, and I punched a wall. That’s how it happened.”
The injury leaves the Brewers without their main setup man for All-Star closer Josh Hader. Williams, a 27-year-old right-hander, has an 8-2 record with a 2.50 ERA in 58 games this season. He has struck out 87 batters in 54 innings. Opponents are batting .186 against him. Last year as a rookie, Williams went 4-1 with an 0.33 ERA in 22 appearances while striking out 53 batters in 27 innings, and opponents batted .090 against him. Williams initially didn’t realize the severity of his injury.
“Devin actually tried to throw with this yesterday,” Stearns said. “We were not aware of this. He went out and tried to throw. I think at that point, he recognized that he had hurt himself.”
Stearns said Williams then notified the Brewers’ medical staff. Williams received an X-ray during Tuesday’s game that revealed the fracture. Williams apologized to the Brewers and their fans for the circumstances that led to his injury.
The Brewers placed Williams on the injured list. They recalled right-handed pitcher Colin Rea from Triple-A Nashville and designated utilityman Tim Lopes for assignment.
Elsewhere in the NL Central Wednesday the Cubs nipped the Pirates 3-2 and the White Sox beat the Reds 6-1.
The Packers were back on the practice field Wednesday getting ready for the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday afternoon. Aaron Rodgers and Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have not met since they met in Super Bowl 45. Rodgers has missed the last two matchups with broken collar bones.
The Steelers T.J. Watt was reportedly close to playing last week with his groin injury and was limited Wednesday at Pittsburgh’s practice. Watt signed a 4-year extension this summer that made him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. Watt, of course, was available to the Packers with the 29th pick in the 2017, but the team traded back and the Steelers took him with pick #30. Rodgers calls Watt “a difference maker” and says the offensive line has to account for him.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Davante Adams, who made two critical catches Monday night in the Packers final drive to set up a game-winning field goal, says it’s all about practice.
Adams also talked about the development and success of head coach Matt LaFleur, saying he pays close attention to detail and has good communication with his players.
The Packers listed seven players on their injury report Wednesday. Linebacker Krys Barnes (concussion), cornerback Kevin King (concussion), guard Elgton Jenkins (ankle) and wide receiver Marques Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) did not practice. Running back Aaron Jones (ankle) and safety Vernon Scott (hamstring) saw limited duty and center/guard Josh Meyers (finger) was a full participant.
Sunday’s kickoff is at 3:20 at Lambeau Field. You can hear all the action beginning with the pregame at 1:00 on FM 102.3, The Bug.
In Thursday Night Football Jacksonville (0-3) is at Cincinnati (2-1).
Richard Sherman is signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Richard Sherman. The veteran cornerback announced on The Richard Sherman Podcast on Wednesday morning that he’s joining the Buccaneers. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Sherman signed a one-year contract worth $2.25 million. The deal includes $500,000 guaranteed, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero added. The Bucs later announced Sherman’s signing and placed wide receiver Scotty Miller (turf toe) on injured reserve to make room for Sherman on the 53-man roster.
In men’s college soccer Wednesday Lake Forest downed Ripon College 5-1.
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