Sports briefs
Pens’ Cullen fined
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cullen has been fined $1,000 by the NHL for a dangerous trip of Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Miller.
The infraction came during the first period of Thursday night’s game, a 4-3 victory by Tampa Bay. Cullen was assessed a minor penalty for tripping.
In announcing the fine, the league said Friday the money will go the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Wild Things
make trade
The Wild Things acquired infielder Nathaniel Maggio from the Sioux Fall Canaries of the American Association in a trade. Washington gave up infielder Jordan Ebert and a player to be named.
Washington received Ebert last month in a trade with Winnipeg. The Wild Things sent outfielder James Harris, last season’s Frontier League Most Valuable Player, to the Goldeyes in exchange for Ebert.
“There was some disconnect between Winnipeg, Jordan’s agent and Jordan. His agenda for 2019 might have been misrepresented during the process and we learned about personal factors that were driving him to return to the American Association,.” Wild Things assistant general manager Tony Buccilli explained.
Maggio (6-5, 235) began his college career at the University of Tennessee before transffering to Division II North Greeneville, where he hit 26 home runs and 33 doubles. He played two seasons of professional baseball in the American Association, split between Lincoln and St. Paul. He hit played in the postseason each year and was recently traded to Sioux Falls.
“Acquiring a proven offensive contributor to this degree is substantial and he should be an easy plug and play for the middle of our lineup,” Buccilli said. “Moving Ebert was not easy but we received an All-Star caliber player and worker in Maggio.”
Busch leads qualifying
Kyle Busch thought he got the jump on the competition with a pole-winning run at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Then he was bumped by teammate Denny Hamlin and the politics began.
Hamlin gets the first pick of pit stalls for winning the pole, but Busch wants that spot. Busch is one of four drivers racing Sunday for the championship and Hamlin is not one of them.
“It’s a discussion,” Hamlin said about the strategy the Joe Gibbs Racing camp will use. “I mean, my pit crew is a second slower than Kyle’s. Everything is earned, nothing is given. We’ll have the discussion.”
Reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr. was in a similar position last year and asked Hamlin, a fellow Toyota driver, to give him the first pit stall but Hamlin declined. Busch didn’t think his luck would be any better.
“That’s probably too far, but it would sure be nice,” Busch said.
Hamlin turned a lap at 173.863 mph in the closing seconds of Friday qualifying to bump Busch from the top starting spot. Busch thought his lap at 173.622 was enough for the pole, but it only put him ahead of the other three title contenders.
Truex qualified third to put three Toyotas at the front of the field. It’s his final race with Furniture Row Racing because a loss of sponsorship is forcing the team to close following the finale.
Joey Logano qualified fifth for Team Penske. Kevin Harvick was 12th, lowest of the title contenders, but not overly concerned about where he’s starting.