CINCINNATI (AP) — Mike Moustakas drove in four runs in an emphatic first impression, and Cincinnati’s trio of high-priced newcomers turned the Reds’ long-delayed opener into a 7-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. The Reds tried to make themselves relevant again by spending $165 million on free agents in the offseason. Moustakas and Nick Castellanos each got $64 million as cornerstones of the rebuild. They teamed up on Cincinnati’s first three runs. Completing the trilogy of newcomers, Shogo Akiyama — signed as a free agent after a stellar career in Japan — singled home a run in his first at-bat.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers will play soon at Comerica Park, one of three sporting venues clustered within a mile of each other in the Motor City. The Lions roam next door at Ford Field. The Red Wings and Pistons share the same home across the street at Little Caesars Arena. There’s no other downtown city in the United States quite like it, with professional teams from four major leagues playing so close to each other. That makes the COVID-19 pandemic hit a little harder here. When the Tigers host Kansas City on Monday night, no one will be in the stands.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Lady Vols have signed Jordan Walker from Western Michigan as the second graduate transfer this year for coach Kellie Harper. Tennessee confirmed the signing Friday. The 5-foot-8 guard led Western Michigan in scoring last season, and Walker will have two seasons of eligibility after graduating in three years with a political science degree. She has started 54 of 64 games in her career, scoring in double figures in 38 of those games. Harper also signed Keyen Green as a graduate transfer in April. Walker is the fourth graduate transfer in Lady Vols’ history.
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan State University football team has suspended workouts and its players will quarantine for 14 days after a second staff member and a player tested positive for the coronavirus. Meanwhile, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has extended a ban on family visitors at nursing homes and congregate care sites through Aug. 31. There’s an exception for people who want to see someone in serious or critical condition or in hospice care. Facilities must make “best efforts” to help residents communicate with people by phone or electronic devices. The state health department reported 594 new cases and three additional deaths Friday. About 3.7% of tests have been positive this week.
WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Police in southeastern Michigan are investigating the death of a professional poker player whose burned body was found in a recreation area a month after she returned from Los Angeles to live with family. Susie Zhao was 33 years old and known to other players as Susie Q. Police say her death could be related to her travels on the poker circuit. Zhao’s body was discovered July 13 at the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area in Oakland County, Michigan. Investigators have declined to go into detail about how she was killed. On her Twitter page, Zhao said she plays “high stakes poker for a living.” She had earnings of at least $187,441, according to the World Series of Poker website.