October 27, 2021 3:52 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Ondrej Palat and Ryan McDonagh scored 10 seconds apart in the second period and the Tampa Bay Lightning picked up their first regulation victory of the season with a 5-1 win over Pittsburgh. Brayden Point’s backhand 31 seconds into the second also gave the Lightning their first lead in regulation. Mikhail Sergachev and Alex Killorn added third-period goals for Tampa Bay. Jason Zucker scored Pittsburgh’s lone goal late in the third as the Penguins fell in regulation for the first time in six games this season.
October 27, 2021 3:48 am
HOUSTON (AP) -Making his first start since testing positive for COVID-19, Jorge Soler became the first player to begin a World Series with a home run and the Atlanta Braves, despite the loss of pitcher Charlie Morton to a broken leg, hushed the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game 1. Boosted by a strong bullpen effort, a two-run homer by Adam Duvall and a late sacrifice fly from Freddie Freeman, the Braves coasted in their first Series appearance since Chipper Jones and the Big Three aces ascended in 1999. Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and the Astros mostly looked lost at the plate. This is their third World Series in five seasons – and first since their illegal sign-stealing scheme was revealed.
October 27, 2021 3:50 am
HOUSTON (AP) – Atlanta Braves pitcher Charlie Morton is done for the World Series after leaving with a broken right calf bone in the third inning of the opener. With the Braves leading 5-0, Morton came up hobbling on the mound after striking out Jose Altuve on a 2-2 curveball to begin the bottom of the third. The right-hander grabbed at his leg and was replaced by lefty reliever A.J. Minter, who was given as much time as he needed to warm up. Morton was hit on the leg by Yuli Gurriel’s grounder leading off the second inning but remained in the game. Morton completed the inning and started the third, but by then the leg began to swell.
October 27, 2021 2:31 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he considers it a “joke” that his name has been linked to open college jobs at USC and LSU. Tomlin says he has one of the best jobs in professional sports and has no interest in leaving. Former USC star quarterback Carson Palmer said on a radio program that Tomlin was a “wild card” in the search for the next Trojans head coach. Tomlin said there isn’t a booster check big enough for him to consider leaving the Steelers.
October 26, 2021 3:46 am
SEATTLE (AP) – Brian Johnson kicked a 33-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in his NFL debut, and the New Orleans Saints capitalized on a series of Seattle mistakes for a 13-10 win over the Seahawks. Alvin Kamara carried the load for New Orleans and Jameis Winston made a handful of plays when needed. But the Saints escaped Seattle thanks largely to a series of blunders by the home team. Seattle was flagged for two crucial penalties on New Orleans’ deciding drive. The Seahawks lost their third straight game for the first time since 2011 and fell to 0-3 at home.
October 26, 2021 3:47 am
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield remains out with a left shoulder injury that could sideline him for this week’s game against Pittsburgh. Mayfield was not on the practice field during the portion of practice open to reporters. He didn’t play against Denver on Thursday, when it was disclosed he also has a fracture in his non-throwing shoulder along with a completely torn labrum.
October 26, 2021 3:51 am
HOUSTON (AP) – The Houston Astros are in the World Series for the third time in five years. They go into Game 1 against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night as the betting favorites in Las Vegas and sure to be cheered at home at Minute Maid Park. But everywhere else, they’re seen as villains, considered baseball’s biggest cheaters after using an illegal sign-stealing scheme on their way to winning the 2017 championship. Astros star Carlos Correa says the outside noise doesn’t motivate the team. There sure is a lot of it when they go on the road, where the team has been heckled, cursed and taunted all season.
October 25, 2021 4:01 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Baltimore Ravens have company atop the AFC North. Joe Burrow threw for a career-high 416 yards and three touchdowns, including a pivotal 82-yarder to rookie Ja’Marr Chase in the third quarter of Cincinnati’s 41-17 dismantling of the Ravens in Baltimore. Chase had eight catches for 201 yards, easily the most productive performance of his impressive debut season. He also set an NFL record for most yards receiving over his first seven career games. Lamar Jackson threw for 257 yards and ran for 88, but he was sacked five times as the Ravens had their five-game winning streak snapped. Both teams are 5-2, but the Bengals hold the tiebreaker after beating Baltimore.
October 25, 2021 3:56 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh finds itself in control of its own destiny in the ACC’s Coastal Division following a 27-17 win over Clemson. The 17th-ranked Panthers are 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference after downing the Tigers. Pitt has won four straight since a stunning home upset loss to Western Michigan last month. Senior quarterback Kenny Pickett helped organize a players-only meeting in the aftermath of the defeat. Pickett says the team talked about not letting an opportunity for a special season go to waste. Next up for Pitt is a visit from Miami.
October 25, 2021 3:57 am
UNDATED (AP) – Alabama inched up to No. 3 in The Associated Press college football behind top-ranked Georgia and No. 2 Cincinnati. The Bulldogs are a unanimous No. 1 for the third straight week in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank and the Bearcats remain second. The Crimson Tide jumped up a spot past Oklahoma after blowing out Tennessee. The now fourth-ranked Sooners were shut out in the first half against Kansas before scoring 35 in the second half and pulling away late. No. 5 Ohio State and No. 6 Michigan both held their spots. Penn State dropped 12 spots to No. 20 after losing in a record nine overtime periods to Illinois. Oklahoma State fell from No. 8 to 15th after losing at Iowa State.
