Post-Tribune

Physical Red Wings top Blackhawks to even series

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:42:31 -0500

Jonathan Toews and Henrik Zetterberg, joined at the hip-check for most of the game, were tangled yet again in front of the Red Wings goal crease midway through the second period of Saturday’s Game 2. Zetterberg wriggled his hands free and whacked Toews in the back of the neck, knocking him to the ice. Toews, shaken and stirred up, glowered as he slowly got to his feet. Before he could, Zetterberg shoved him right back to the ice. As Red Wings coach Mike Babcock so succinctly put it, “Series on.” Detroit’s 4-1 victory on Saturday afternoon did more than simply …

Pacers rally to advance to conference finals

Sat, 18 May 2013 23:52:00 -0500

INDIANAPOLIS — Lance Stephenson scored a playoff career-high 25 points and led a late 11-2 run Saturday night, leading the Indiana Pacers past the New York Knicks, 106-99 and into the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2004. The New York native also had 10 rebounds and the Pacers were spurred by the return of point guard George Hill two days after he was diagnosed with a concussion. Next up is a rematch with Miami, the team that eliminated Indiana last season. Game 1 will be Wednesday at Miami. Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points and Iman Shumpert had …

Scott Feldman keeps rolling as Cubs thump Mets

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:41:08 -0500

How improbable is it for a team with a sub-.500 record to have one of the best starting rotations in baseball, with the possibility it can get better soon? That’s the question for the Cubs (18-24), whose starting staff has a 3.47 ERA, a major league-best .226 opposing batting average and 26 quality starts, tied for third in the National League. Imagine if Matt Garza returns to form quickly when he’s activated from the disabled list this week. ‘‘Potentially, if these guys keep throwing the ball the way they have the first six weeks, and with Garza coming back, once …

Adam Dunn leaves with back spasms as Sox fall to Angels

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:41:30 -0500

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Of all the maddening things that contributed to a 12-9 loss to the Los Angeles Angels that halted the White Sox’ winning streak at four games Saturday, the worst was seeing Adam Dunn leave because of back spasms. While Dunn downplayed the injury, which he suffered bending over in the batter’s box before he sharply singled in two runs in the fourth inning to give the Sox a 4-0 lead, backs issues are never good. Especially for a 260-pound man. Dunn talked as though he would be back in the lineup Sunday if he is able to …

Joel Quenneville pushes right buttons for Blackhawks

Sat, 18 May 2013 02:12:02 -0500

A year ago, depending on whom you asked, Joel Quenneville might have been lucky to still have a job. Two straight first-round playoff exits had the 2010 Stanley Cup feeling like a fading, sepia-toned memory. Now? Quenneville has the league’s top team in the second round as clear favorites to win the Cup, and Friday was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy as the NHL’s best coach. Sure, it helps that he’s got a deep, talented roster laden with stars. But he had virtually the same team last year, and look how far it got him. In the …

Cubs shut down by Mets ace Matt Harvey

Sat, 18 May 2013 02:11:37 -0500

Edwin Jackson is a long-term investment for the Cubs, who signed the veteran right-hander to a four-year, $54 million contract in the offseason. The return on that investment is coming slowly, despite another loss Friday to the New York Mets and their shining ace, Matt Harvey. ‘‘He threw a great ballgame,’’ manager Dale Sveum said of Jackson, who fell to 1-6 with the 3-2 loss at Wrigley Field. ‘‘He threw strikes and did a good job. That’s pretty much two well-pitched games in a row.’’ Jackson won the last one, an 8-2 decision against the Washington Nationals and ace Stephen …

Tyler Flowers has handled job behind plate

Sat, 18 May 2013 02:13:07 -0500

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Six weeks into the Tyler Flowers experience, the White Sox stand firmly behind their catcher. As tempting as it is to lament the loss of A.J. Pierzynski’s bat in light of the team’s awful start offensively, the Sox like what they see from Flowers, despite his .202 batting average and .265 on-base mark. “Catching-wise, he’s done everything we’d hope he’d do,’’ bench coach and former catcher Mark Parent said Friday. “He’s throwing better, and as far as running a game and calling a game, there’s no better guy to have back there.’’ Since taking a shot two …

Bears, top pick Kyle Long agree to four-year deal

Sat, 18 May 2013 02:11:13 -0500

The Bears agreed to terms Friday with first-round pick Kyle Long, the 20th overall selection, on a four-year contract with an option. Long was the final draft pick of their 2013 class to reach a deal. “I just know that Chicago is one of the most historic football towns in the country,” Long said after he was drafted. “There are Chicago Bears fans everywhere in the world. The ‘C’ on the helmet is synonymous with success and tremendous football.” Details of the deal aren’t known, but it’s expected to be similar to what receiver Kendall Wright, the 20th overall pick …

Matt Garza puts in eye-popping rehab stint

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:18:44 -0500

Could the Cubs get a big boost to their starting rotation next week? Matt Garza might have made that decision easy with six scoreless innings Thursday for Class AAA Iowa. He allowed two hits and struck out six without a walk. Garza needed 75 pitches in what likely was his final minor-league rehab start. If so, the Cubs could activate him from the disabled list to start Tuesday in Pittsburgh. “Obviously, he’s a great pitcher with everything he does on the mound,” starter Jeff Samardzija said. “He’s also a leader in the clubhouse and leader with the younger guys in …

Taj Gibson predicts that Derrick Rose will silence his critics when he returns

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:08:25 -0500

Taj Gibson still is getting ripped by Bulls fans for his ejection in Game 2 against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals. So the reserve power forward couldn’t even imagine what venom has built up toward Derrick Rose, who missed the season while recovering from surgery to his left knee. “That’s what comes with the job we do,’’ Gibson said Thursday, one day after the Bulls’ postseason came to an end in Miami. “I’m still recovering from the Game 2 [ejection]. I still have fans basically ripping me to shreds. But you just have to take it with …

Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane finalist for Lady Byng Trophy

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:14:49 -0500

The announcement that Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane is a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy elicited some expected snickers — and some pretty funny tweets — from the NHL’s peanut gallery. But let the record show that Kane, who is still years away from living down his reputation as a hard-partying wild child, is a more-than-deserving candidate for the on-ice award, which honors sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct. If anything, Kane’s candidacy is tacit acknowledgment that his maturation off the ice proved beneficial to his 2012-13 performance. Kane finished fifth in the NHL in scoring with 55 points, and his eight …

Blackhawks score three in third for 4-1 win over Red Wings in Game 1

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:34:56 -0500

The familiar anti-Detroit chants started hours before the game as the crowd gathered outside Gates 2 and 3 along Madison Street, continued through pregame warmups and spilled into the start of the first period — interrupted only by a sustained United Center-shaking roar through the national anthem.

Bulls eliminated from playoffs after 94-91 Game 5 Heat win

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:23:33 -0500

MIAMI – Nate Robinson was hoping to someday tell his kids a “beautiful story.’’ It would start with the 2012-13 Bulls down 3-1 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals against the defending champs, and facing elimination, stage one of the best comebacks in franchise history. “One thing about it is you never know when that beautiful story is going to happen,’’ Robinson said. It wouldn’t happen on Wednesday, as the Bulls watched their season come to an end in the 94-91 loss, after a Jimmy Butler game-tying attempt missed late. What it means now is Miami will play in its …

Samardzija does it all in 6-3 Cubs’ win over Rockies

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:37:01 -0500

It took a month, but the Cubs finally shed the last-place label they’ve been wearing most of the season. Their 6-3 victory Wednesday night over the Colorado Rockies behind eight powerful innings from Opening Day starter Jeff Samardzija lifted them into a tie for fourth place in the National League Central with the Milwaukee Brewers – who lost Wednesday to Pittsburgh. “It’s a good feeling,” said new millionaire Anthony Rizzo, whose second hit drove in a run during the Cubs’ three-run seventh. Whether they can keep up this mini surge long enough to keep the team intact through the trading …

Adam Dunn powers White Sox past Twins 9-4

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:11:08 -0500

Adam Dunn hit two opposite-field home runs and a double, and Dayan Viciedo also homered to the opposite field as the White Sox offense continued to display signs of a pulse in their 9-4 victory against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.