Welcome to Wednesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
WEDNESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
MLB: Red Sox at Indians, 6:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Mariners at Rangers, 2:05 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB: Phillies at Reds, 7:10 p.m. (ESPN2)
MLB: White Sox at Athletics, 10:05 p.m. (ESPN2)
NBA: Pelicans at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE)
NBA: Cavaliers at Pacers, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Rockets at Mavericks, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
NHL: Flyers at Red Wings, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)
Soccer: Women’s exhibition, Colombia at United States, 7:30 p.m. (FS1)
Soccer: UEFA Champions, Manchester City at Paris Saint-Germain, 2:30 p.m. (FS1)
AROUND THE WEB:
— Baseball’s new double-play slide rule played a key role in Tuesday’s Blue Jays-Rays game, and Toronto manager John Gibbons is not happy about it.
“It turned the game into a joke,” Gibbons said. “That’s flat-out embarrassing. That cost us a chance to win a major league game.”
Added Gibbons: “Maybe we’ll come out wearing dresses tomorrow. Maybe that’s what everybody’s looking for.”
In the ninth inning of the Jays’ 3-2 loss, Jose Bautista was called for hindering Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe after a short video review. Instead of the Rays scoring the tying and go-ahead runs, the game ended on the call.
As evident on the video, Bautista slid over the bag, but he stuck out his left hand and made contact with Forsythe’s right foot.
“I felt something on the slide,” Forsythe said. “When I first saw him coming in, I thought he was going over the bag, but then I didn’t know if he kicked his foot out to try and catch a back foot. He kind of swung me around a little bit, the throw went a little left.”
Bautista, however, had a different viewpoint.
“I feel like I respect the rule, that it was an absolutely clean slide,” Bautista said. “And it’s just disappointing to lose a major league baseball game, with so much at stake every day here. We put a lot into the game since we were little kids and then to all of a sudden have everything taken away like that is just strange.”
— To no one’s surprise, UConn captured its fourth straight national championship Tuesday night, routing Syracuse 82-51 for its 75th consecutive victory — all of which have been by double figures.
The title is the 11th for UConn coach Geno Auriemma, giving him one more than legendary UCLA men’s coach John Wooden.
“What those 11 championships mean to me is how many great players I’ve had the opportunity to coach,” Auriemma said. “How many great people have come through the program. It doesn’t matter whose name is above, or whose name I’m under. As long as I have those players in my memory, I’m good.”
Brianna Stewart was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player for the fourth straight year, also a record. She’s also a three-time Associated Press Player of the Year.
“I’ll say this: She’s the greatest NCAA Tournament player I’ve ever been around,” Auriemma said. “When the lights were the brightest, that’s [when] she was at her best.”
— The Warriors’ quest for a record 73 wins hit an unexpected obstacle Tuesday in the form of the lowly Timberwolves. Even more surprising, Minnesota’s 124-117 overtime victory came in Oakland, where the Warriors had been undefeated this season until the Celtics upset them Friday night.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr was on the Michael Jordan-led Bulls team that won a record 72 games in 1995-96, and he said he sees a familiar trend in the way both teams stumbled to the finish — both lost two home games late in the season.
“You have so much media attention and everybody talking about breaking the record and you lose focus a little bit,” Kerr said. “The same thing happened 20 years ago. We didn’t play well down the stretch. This doesn’t surprise me. It’s easy to get lost in all this stuff. We haven’t been very dialed in of late.”
Steph Curry hit just 7-of-25 shots and the Warriors, who committed 24 turnovers, squandered an early 17-point lead.
Golden State needs to win its final four games to finish with 73 wins.
“We put ourselves in a position where it’s a realistic goal,” Curry said. “We have to embrace the challenge. Obviously it’s not easy to get it done. We’re proving that right now.”
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On April 6, 1973, the designated hitter made its major league debut in the Opening Day game between the Red Sox and Yankees. Ron Blomberg of the Yankees was the first DH to get a plate appearance. Who was the Red Sox’ first-ever DH?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s the beginning of the season. When the light goes on, Papi goes on.” — David Ortiz, after hitting a home run in the Red Sox’ 6-2 Opening Day victory over the Indians
STAT OF THE DAY: 0 — Goals for the Bruins in Tuesday’s shootout vs. the Hurricanes, who scored on their fifth attempt to take a 2-1 victory
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): Jordy Mercer delivers a base hit with one out in the 11th inning to give the Pirates a 6-5 walk-off win over the Cardinals.
A fan at Tuesday’s Kings game hits a halfcourt shot to win a new car.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Orlando Cepeda, who went 0-for-6 in the Sox’ 15-5 victory
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Merle Haggard was born on this day in 1937.
