October 10, 2021 7:41 am
SAN FRANCISCO — With some mighty swings, solid pitching and defensive gems that have defined the Dodgers’ success the past decade, the defending World Series champions are headed home in prime playoff position having grabbed momentum away from the division-winning Giants. Fittingly, this NL Division Series between rivals has become a back-and-forth fight. Julio Urías shut down San Francisco and contributed an RBI single for his cause, Cody Bellinger and AJ Pollock delivered two-run doubles to break it open in the sixth, and Los Angeles pounded the Giants 9-2 on Saturday night to even the series between baseball’s two winningest teams at one game apiece. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts declared earlier in the day, “We’re going to play this game essentially like a do or die,” and the reigning champs did just that by continuing to add on all game, including Will Smith’s leadoff homer in the eighth.
October 10, 2021 7:40 am
MILWAUKEE — Max Fried says his strategy in pressure situations is to avoid making too much of the moment. The approach that worked so well for the Atlanta Braves left-hander in the regular season also is paying dividends in the playoffs. Fried pitched six sharp innings and Atlanta’s bullpen held on after manager Brian Snitker’s quick hook, sending the Braves over the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 Saturday to tie their NL Division Series at a game apiece. The best-of-five series heads to Atlanta for Game 3 on Monday. Once Fried was pulled, it got more dicey for the Braves. The Brewers brought the tying run to the plate against Atlanta’s bullpen in each of the last three innings but couldn’t get a key hit. They couldn’t do much of anything against Fried, who has allowed just one earned run over 29 innings in his last four starts. Fried struck out nine, gave up three hits and didn’t walk anybody. The Brewers didn’t get a runner in scoring position until Willy Adames hit a two-out double in the sixth, and Fried responded by striking out Eduardo Escobar.
October 9, 2021 2:35 am
The Moon/Peters Township game played into the early third quarter Friday and was suspended due to lightning. The game resumed Saturday morning with #1 Moon winning, putting Peters Township into a three-way tie for the fourth and final playoff spot, two games back of the leaders. Canon-McMillan led 14-6 with less than five minutes to play but couldn’t hold off Seneca Valley in two overtimes. McGuffey scored on five of its first six possessions and rolled past Waynesburg to remain unbeaten in the Century Conference. Chartiers-Houston easily handled Frazier, setting up a big showdown with McGuffey next Friday night. Beth-Center picked up its first win of the year, snapping an 11-game losing streak.
Week 6 schedule/results (Friday, 7 pm unless noted):
6A Seneca Valley 24, Canon-McMillan 17 2OT
5A Moon Area 29, Peters Township 26
4A Belle Vernon 35, Ringgold 14
2A Beth-Center 39, Charleroi 22
2A Chartiers-Houston 34, Frazier 7
2A McGuffey 55, Waynesburg 22
1A Rochester 35, Ft. Cherry 0
1A West Greene 56, Bentworth 0
1A California 47, Jeff-Morgan 12
1A Mapletown 45, Avella 16
1A Carmichaels 40, Monessen 6
Non-Conference: Clearfield 30, Trinity 0
Non-Conference: Uniontown at Washington, canceled (COVID)
Saturday
1A Cornell 34, Burgettstown 14
October 9, 2021 4:42 am
UNDATED (AP) – The San Francisco Giants literally made quick work of the Los Angeles Dodgers to take Game 1 of their NL Division Series. Logan Webb pitched beautifully into the eighth inning and the Giants belted three home runs in a 4-0 shutout of the Dodgers. Webb struck out 10 and scattered five hits over 7 2/3s innings of a game that took just 2:39, 96 minutes shorter than the Dodgers’ wild-card win. San Francisco went ahead five batters into the bottom of the first on Buster Posey’s two-run blast off losing pitcher Walker Buehler. Kris Bryant and Brandon Crawford also went deep in the victory. Buehler was lifted shortly after Bryant’s home run, charged with three runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings. Game 2 is Saturday in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, The Milwaukee Brewers have won their NL Division Series opener. Rowdy Tellez homered and threw out a runner at the plate to help the Brewers down the Braves, 2-1. Neither team scored until Tellez launched a two-run blast off Charlie Morton in the seventh inning. Morton hit Avisail Garcia with a pitch leading off the seventh before Tellez went deep, chasing the Atlanta starter. Morton allowed just two other hits. The Milwaukee first baseman also snuffed out a first-inning threat by nailing Jorge Soler at home. Corbin Burnes was outstanding in holding the Braves to two hits and three walks with six strikeouts over six innings. Pinch-hitter Joc Pederson homered for the Braves in the eighth. Game 2 is Saturday in Milwaukee.
October 9, 2021 4:46 am
The Houston Astros have posted their second consecutive 5-run victory over the Chicago White Sox to take a 2-0 lead in the AL Division Series. The Astros followed Thursday’s 6-1 win by scoring five times in the seventh inning to beat the Pale Hose, 9-4. The game was tied 4-4 until Yordan Alvarez hit an RBI single in the seventh. Carlos Correa provided a two-run double during the big rally, and Kyle Tucker had a homer and three RBIs. The Astros can close out the series on Sunday in Chicago. In St. Petersburg, J.D. Martinez made his presence known by slamming a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the fifth inning of the Red Sox’s 14-6 win over the Rays. Martinez was 4-for-5 after missing Boston’s previous three games with an ankle injury. Xander Bogaerts, Alex Verdugo, Kike Hernandez and Rafael Devers also homered as the Red Sox tied the AL Division Series at a game apiece. Hernandez delivered five hits and three ribbies. The Bosox rallied after Jordan Luplow belted a grand slam that put the Rays ahead, 5-2 in the first inning. Game 3 is Sunday at Fenway Park.
October 8, 2021 3:45 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays were winners in the first two AL Division Series games. The Astros coasted to a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox before the Rays blanked the Boston Red Sox, 5-0. Houston’s Lance McCullers was sharp over 6 2/3 innings, blanking the Sox on four hits and no walks. The 28-year-old McCullers didn’t allow a hit until Yoan Moncada singled with one out in the fourth. Yordan Alvarez hit an RBI double in the third and a solo homer in the fifth. Michael Brantley added two hits and two RBIs for the AL West champions.
The Astros got to Lance Lynn for five runs and six hits over just 3 2/3 innings. Jose Abreu had two hits and an RBI for the White Sox. Game 2 is Friday in Houston. Lucas Giolito starts for Chicago against Framber Valdez.
In St. Petersburg, Wander Franco put Tampa Bay ahead with an RBI double in the first and scored on an RBI single by Yandy Diaz later in the inning. Randy Arozarena add a solo homer and stole home. Nelson Cruz also went deep for the Rays. The Red Sox loaded the bases against J.P Feyereisen in the eighth inning before the Tampa reliever fanned Rafael Devers and retired Hunter Renfroe on a popup for the final out. Rays starter and winner Shane McClanahan allowed five hits and no walks over five innings. Losing pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, two hits and two walks. Game 2 is Friday in St. Petersburg. Pitcher Chris Sale will try to help the Red Sox even the series. Rookie Shane Baz will start for Tampa Bay.
October 8, 2021 3:51 am
SEATTLE (AP) – The Los Angeles Rams have rebounded from their first loss of the season. Matthew Stafford threw for 365 yards and a touchdown as the Rams defeated the Seahawks, 26-17 to improve to 4-1. Robert Woods grabbed 12 passes for 150 yards, and Cooper Kupp racked up 92 yards on seven receptions. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson missed significant game time due to injury for the first time. He appeared to hurt the middle finger on his throwing hand midway through the third quarter and attempted to direct one more drive before turning the game over to backup Geno Smith. Both Wilson and Smith threw for one touchdown and an interception for the 2-3 Seahawks.
October 8, 2021 3:41 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos are dealing with quarterback issues heading into their Week 5 meeting. The Steelers are 1-3 and 18-year veteran Ben Roethlisberger is in the midst of a deep slump. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin remains adamant that Roethlisberger is “absolutely” capable of playing at a high level. Roethlisberger was a full participant in practice on Thursday despite a hip injury suffered last weekend in Green Bay. Denver starter Teddy Bridgewater has spent the week in the concussion protocol after being injured last week against Baltimore. If Bridgewater can’t play, the Broncos will turn to Drew Lock.
October 8, 2021 3:49 am
MONTREAL (AP) – Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has voluntarily entered the NHL/NHL Players’ Association joint player assistance program. The move comes less than a week before the season begins and just three months after he backstopped Montreal to the Stanley Cup Final. The 34-year-old Price will be away from the team while he takes part in the program for at least 30 days.
Price’s wife says on social media that Price is putting his mental health and family first. Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin says the teams backs Price and would urge anyone needing help to get it.
October 7, 2021 3:46 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Chris Taylor has put the Los Angeles Dodgers into the NL Division Series. Taylor slammed a two-out, two-run homer off Alex Reyes in the bottom of the ninth to give the Dodgers a 3-1 triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals. Reyes entered the game after Cody Bellinger was issued a two-out walk by losing pitcher T.J. McFarland. A wild pitch by Max Scherzer scored Tommy Edman and gave the Cardinals the lead in the first inning. It remained 1-0 until Justin Turner unloaded a home run off Adam Wainwright in the bottom of the fourth. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts put the outcome in the hands of his bullpen after Scherzer was lifted with two on and one out in the fifth. The LA bullpen came through with 4 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just two hits while fanning six. Wainwright allowed four hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. The two clubs were a combined 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position until Taylor’s blast. The Dodgers get to face the 107-win San Francisco Giants, who say Logan Webb will start Game 1 on Friday. Webb won the NL West clincher on Sunday, hitting a two-run homer and working into the eighth inning. Kevin Gausman gets the starting nod for the Giants in Game 2.
