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.
October 7, 2021 3:52 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) – The San Diego Padres have fired Jayce Tingler, who presided over the biggest collapse in franchise history just a season after finishing second in voting for NL Manager of the Year.
General manager A.J. Preller announced the move three days after the Padres finished 79-83 and in third place in the NL West, 28 games behind San Francisco. Tingler’s fate was sealed during a brutal freefall that saw the Padres go from a one-game lead for the NL’s second wild-card spot on Sept. 9 to being eliminated from playoff contention with seven games left.
October 7, 2021 3:44 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he knows he needs to play better to help the team snap a three-game losing streak. Roethlisberger is ranked 27th in the league in quarterback rating and has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns. The 18-year-veteran also is dealing with a hip injury suffered in a loss to Green Bay. Roethlisberger says he is not quitting on the season and believes the accuracy issues he’s dealing with are fixable. The 1-3 Steelers host the 3-1 Broncos at Heinz Field in Week 5.
October 6, 2021 3:44 am
BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Red Sox have earned themselves a few days in Florida. The Bosox have moved into the AL Division Series by thumping the Yankees, 6-2 in the wild-card game. Xander Bogaerts and Kyle Schwarber belted early homers and Alex Verdugo drove in three runs to back a sterling performance by Nathan Eovaldi. Bogaerts set the tone with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, two innings before Schwarber’s solo blast. Verdugo padded Boston’s lead with an RBI double and a two-run single. Eovaldi allowed a run and four hits while striking out eight over 5 1/3 innings, blanking New York until Anthony Rizzo homered in the sixth. Gerrit Cole was pulled with two on and no out in the third, charged with three runs and four hits. Giancarlo Stanton had three of New York’s six hits, including a ninth-inning homer. The ALDS begins Thursday in St. Petersburg as the Bosox take on the league-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
October 6, 2021 3:42 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington says he is seeing signs of improvement at the major-league level. The Pirates finished in last place in the NL Central for a third straight season while the organization focused on restocking talent at the minor league level. Cherington says the team’s relentlessness and 13-12 record over the final 25 games offered proof manager Derek Shelton’s message is getting through.
