Sunday Success on Baseball Diamond; Pistons, Griffins Fall

Dingler powers Tigers to win, Hoerner lifts Cubs, Schultz earns first MLB victory, Banchero leads Magic past Pistons, Whitecaps sweep Lugnuts, Monsters rally past Griffins

Apr. 20, 2026 at 6:54am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in vibrant shades of blue, red, and yellow, conceptually representing the competitive spirit and varied outcomes of local sports matches.A cubist interpretation of the highs and lows of Sunday's local sports action, capturing the dynamic energy of the games through fragmented, geometric forms.Lansing Today

The Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox all picked up wins on Sunday, while the Orlando Magic upset the Detroit Pistons in the NBA playoffs and the Grand Rapids Griffins fell to the Cleveland Monsters in hockey. In minor league baseball, the West Michigan Whitecaps swept the Lansing Lugnuts.

Why it matters

These results highlight the ups and downs of the local sports scene, with the Tigers, Cubs, and White Sox all picking up important wins, while the Pistons and Griffins suffered tough losses. The Whitecaps' sweep of the Lugnuts showcases the strength of the local minor league baseball team.

The details

In Major League Baseball, Dillon Dingler homered and drove in four runs to lead the Tigers to a 6-2 win over the Red Sox in Boston. Nico Hoerner's 10th-inning sacrifice fly lifted the Cubs to a 2-1 win over the Mets, while White Sox rookie Noah Schultz earned his first big league win in a 7-4 victory over the Athletics. In the NBA playoffs, Paolo Banchero scored 23 points to lead the Magic to a 112-101 win over the Pistons. In the minors, Cristian Santana hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the Whitecaps swept the Lugnuts 12-4, while the Griffins fell 6-4 to the Monsters despite a late rally.

  • The Tigers-Red Sox series concludes this morning, with coverage starting at 10:45 AM on WHTC Holland's Cool FM.
  • The Cubs host the Phillies at Wrigley Field this evening.
  • The White Sox face the Diamondbacks in Phoenix tomorrow evening.
  • Game two of the Pistons-Magic playoff series is slated for Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Wednesday evening.
  • The Whitecaps welcome the Lake County Captains to LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park tomorrow evening.

The players

Dillon Dingler

A Detroit Tigers player who homered and drove in four runs in the team's 6-2 win over the Red Sox.

Nico Hoerner

A Chicago Cubs player whose 10th-inning sacrifice fly lifted the team to a 2-1 win over the Mets.

Noah Schultz

A Chicago White Sox rookie pitcher who earned his first big league win in a 7-4 victory over the Athletics.

Paolo Banchero

An Orlando Magic player who scored 23 points to lead his team to a 112-101 upset win over the Detroit Pistons in the NBA playoffs.

Cristian Santana

A West Michigan Whitecaps player who hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in the team's 12-4 sweep of the Lansing Lugnuts.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play with the same energy and focus that we showed today.”

— Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers Player

“That was a huge win for us against a tough Mets team. We're really starting to click at the right time.”

— Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs Player

What’s next

The judge in the Pistons-Magic playoff series will decide on Tuesday whether to allow any changes to the game schedule or venue for Game 2.

The takeaway

Sunday's mixed results showcase the ups and downs of the local sports landscape, with the Tigers, Cubs, and White Sox all picking up important wins, while the Pistons and Griffins suffered tough losses. The Whitecaps' dominant performance against the Lugnuts is a bright spot for minor league baseball fans in the region.