After a rain delay of nearly 4 hours, Frankie Montas was still ready to go for the Reds in Philadelphia last night. The tarp came off the field and they managed to get the game in, but cold rain continued, with winds of more than 20 miles an hour. Frankie said none of it bothered him, because his attitude was that it didn’t matter what time, he still had to pitch. And did he. Over his 2 starts so far, Montas has an ERA of .77, allowing 1 run in 11 and 2/3 innings. The portion of those figures that came last night– he allowed 1 score and 5 hits over 5 2/3 innings, with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. He says he’s thrilled to be healthy after only going one and a third innings for the Yankees all last season. Manager David Bell says the Reds are pretty excited now too. The rainy final from Philly, Cincinnati 4, Phils 1– the Reds take 2 of the 3 games. No game today as the club heads home. Friday night at Great American, Cincy hosts the Mets with Hunter Greene starting, and we’ll bring you the game beginning at 6:10 tomorrow night, on the Sports Voice, 103.9 FM WRBI.
At historic Hinkle Fieldhouse last night, the first WBIT title in the new Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament put on by the folks who run the men’s NIT, went to the Fighting Illini of Illinois. It was the first-ever post-season title for the Illini women, who surged in the second half to take it, 71-57. Makira Cook led Illinois with 27 points, 22 of those in that second half, when she shot 7 of 11 from the floor. Cook also dished off 5 assists, pulled down 2 rebounds, and blocked a shot. Genesis Bryant added 17 Illinois points.
Tonight at Hinkle, it’s the men’s NIT championship game, featuring Robbie Avila and the rest of the Indiana State Sycamores, up against the Pirates from Seton Hall. The Trees beat SMU, Minnesota, Cincinnati, and Utah to get there, and Seton Hall was also a Number 1 seed in the bracket. The game tips tonight at 7:00.
Saturday the NCAA men’s Final Four plays, with UConn facing Alabama, and North Carolina taking on Purdue’s Boilermakers, in Phoenix. The championshp’s Monday night.
NBA action had the Pacers and Nets splitting their 2 games in 3 days home and home. After Indiana won by 22 earlier in the week at Gainbridge, the Nets took it last night in Brooklyn, the final the Nets 115, Pacers 111. The Pacers will be back home tomorrow night, hosting the Thunder.