Nick Blackburn, who was the winning pitcher for the Twins last night against Tampa Bay, has gone seven innings in his last two outings and allowed just three extra base hits. He’s 2-1 on the season.
Twins third baseman Joe Crede has hit safely in six straight games, batting .292 (7-for-24) with two home runs, five runs scored and three RBI.
Minnesota tennis legend David Wheaton will marry Brodie Hackney on June 20. The two have known each other since they were grade schoolers in suburban Minneapolis. Wheaton, who will also celebrate his 40th birthday in June, is recovering from a shoulder strain but plans to play in the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Invitational Doubles June 30-July 5 in London.
It won’t be surprising if former Timberwolves player and ex-Toronto coach Sam Mitchell is a candidate for the vacant Wolves coaching job.
The Wolves will learn on May 19 where they will be positioned in selection order for the June NBA draft. Results of the NBA draft lottery will be announced at halftime of a televised playoff game. The Wolves have a 7.6% chance of receiving the top overall pick and a 25.5% chance of being among the top three selections.
Hot Rod Hundley, who started his NBA career playing for the Minneapolis Lakers, is retiring as the Utah Jazz radio broadcaster. He’s been broadcasting Jazz games since the organization was an expansion franchise in New Orleans.
The Thunder opens its USL home schedule on Saturday night at the National Sports Center in Blaine against Vancouver. New this year is a large beer garden, 64 feet wide by 96 feet long, adjacent to the field. More at https://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/04/27/thunder-home-opener-at-nsc-will-unveil-new-beer-garden-called-thunder-lounge/.
Lynx star Nicky Anosike will be one of three players featured in a WNBA mini box set of trading cards provided by Rittenhouse Archives. For the first time, WNBA mini box sets will be available featuring limited-edition autograph cards from the Los Angeles Sparks’ Candace Parker, the Washington Mystics’ Matee Ajavon and Anosike. Beginning June 6 the cards will be available at leading hobby shops and the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York. The cards retail at $99 per box.
Concordia College senior catcher Kyle Johnson, from Cambridge, Minnesota, hit five home runs in six games recently and is the MIAC Baseball Player of the Week. Johnson batted .563 last week and had an eye-opening 1.500 slugging percentage. He also had 11 RBI.