CHICAGO (AP) — J.J. McCarthy threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes and ran for another in his long-awaited NFL debut, and the Minnesota Vikings rallied for a season-opening 27-24 win over the Chicago Bears. Chicago’s Caleb Williams had his first career rushing touchdown and threw for a score in Ben Johnson’s first game as the Bears’ coach. McCarthy delivered down the stretch after struggling through the first three quarters. The Vikings and coach Kevin O’Connell are counting on the former Michigan star after he missed his rookie season due to a knee injury, and he delivered when it mattered.
(Arlington, TX) — Texas Rangers centerfielder Michael Helman homered and doubled, and drove in all five of his team’s runs Monday night. At the same time, Brewers hitters were shut out in a 5-0 loss. Jose Quintana was Milwaukee’s losing pitcher. The offense was mostly quiet, with Blake Perkins getting two of his team’s six hits. Chad Patrick starts the second game of the series for the Brewers tonight (Tuesday).
Pregame at 6:30pm. First pitch at 7:05pm on AM1240 & 96.5FM
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Christian Yelich is back in the Milwaukee Brewers starting lineup after missing five games because of lower back soreness. Yelich was batting fourth as the designated hitter for the MLB-best Brewers in the opener of a three-game series at Texas. The 33-year-old Yelich had played in 132 of Milwaukee’s 144 games this season before the opener in Texas, hitting .268 with team highs of 27 home runs and 92 RBIs. He played in only 73 games last season before season-ending back surgery that August.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Royce Lewis homered twice and drove in four runs as the Minnesota Twins beat the sloppy Los Angeles Angels 12-3. James Outman also went deep as the Twins moved to 4-0 against the Angels this season, outscoring them 33-7. Los Angeles committed four errors, including two by third baseman Yoan Moncada. Lewis’ first homer grazed off the tip of Bryce Teodosio’s glove at the center field wall in the second. Simeon Woods Richardson allowed three runs and struck out six in five innings to get the win.
(Green Bay, WI) — The Packers just don’t lose NFL season openers played at Lambeau Field. Sunday’s 27-13 win over the Detroit Lions ties a league record with 13 straight victories on the home field. The record was first set by the Miami Dolphins between 1976 and 1988. Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur led his team to seven of those season-opening wins.
(Madison, WI) — Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell won’t rule out Billy Edwards Junior as his starting quarterback for this Saturday’s game against Alabama. Edwards was knocked out of action with a lower leg injury two weeks ago. Fickell says the coaches will have to “protect him from himself.” He tells Sports Illustrated the transfer QB “always wants to go.” The Badgers have a pretty good fallback position after backup Danny O’Neil’s outstanding performance against Middle Tennessee in the last game.
(Riga, LV) — Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading Greece to an 84-79 win over Israel in the EuroBasket tournament. Greece is tied with Italy for first place in its tournament Group. Antetokounmpo’s native country meets Lithuania next. The game will tip off at 5:00 a-m Milwaukee time, 1:00 p-m in Latvia Tuesday.