October 16, 2020 3:43 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The longtime rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers will feature something new this time around: actual stakes. The unbeaten Steelers are off to their best start in 41 years while the Browns have won four straight games heading into their showdown at Heinz Field. The matchup is the first against Pittsburgh for Browns defensive end Myles Garrett since he infamously ripped off the helmet of Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and slugged him with it last year. Both teams say they’re focused on the game and not any potential melodrama involving Garrett. Cleveland hasn’t beaten the Steelers in Pittsburgh since 2003.
October 16, 2020 3:49 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Atlanta Falcons say they have shut their facility following one new positive test for COVID-19. Defensive tackle Marlon Davidson was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list this week. The addition of a second unidentified person caused the Falcons to act out of caution. A team spokesman said the second person was not a player. The spokesman added that, barring any changes, the Falcons are expected to be back at their facility on Friday.
October 15, 2020 3:55 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) – Randy Arozarena is having an undeniably incredible postseason, but he can’t always carry the Tampa Bay Rays’ offense all by himself. When nobody stepped up to help Tampa Bay’s surprising slugger until the ninth inning of Game 4 of the AL Championship Series, the Rays were forced to extend their stay in San Diego by at least a day. Arozarena hit a two-run shot in the fourth inning for his fifth homer of the postseason, but the Rays didn’t score again until Willy Adames’ two-out double in the ninth. Adames was stranded on third to end Tampa Bay’s 4-3 loss.
October 15, 2020 3:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Chase Claypool expects defenses to play him differently following his four-touchdown performance in a win over the Eagles. Claypool says he’s fine with the extra attention if that means it helps his teammates get open. Claypool became just the third rookie in league history to catch three touchdown passes and run for another when he helped the Steelers improve to 4-0 by outlasting Philadelphia 38-29. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says the challenge for Claypool will be to find new ways to be productive now that he can no longer sneak up on opponents.
October 14, 2020 3:52 am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee Titans have won a battle of unbeatens. The Titans showed no rust after a two-week layoff caused by two dozen positive COVID-19 tests within the organization, cruising to a 42-16 win over the Bills. Derrick Henry ran for a pair of touchdowns and had a scoring grab for the 4-0 Titans. Ryan Tannehill rushed 10 yards for a touchdown and completed 21 of his 28 passes for 195 yards and three TDs. Tannehill wasn’t intercepted or sacked. Henry finished with 57 yards on the ground in addition to his three touchdowns. Josh Allen threw for 263 yards and two scores but was picked off twice as the Bills fell to 4-1.
October 14, 2020 3:49 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) – The Tampa Bay Rays are one victory away from their first World Series appearance in 12 years after grabbing a three-games-to-none lead in the AL Championship Series. The Rays posted a 5-2 victory over the Astros by erupting for five runs in the sixth inning with help from another error by second baseman Jose Altuve. Joey Wendle put Tampa Bay on top with a two-run single and pinch-hitter Hunter Renfroe came through with a two-run double to close out the rally. Ryan Yarbrough picked up the victory, leaving the game after Michael Brantley led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run. Altuve also homered in the first for the Astros, but his third miscue in two games helped Tampa Bay take command of the series. Diego Castillo issued one-out walks to Abraham Toro and George Springer before fanning Altuve. Brantley’s fly ball to center allowed Castillo to pick up the save. Losing pitcher Jose Urquidy left the game during the Rays’ rally, charged with one earned run and four hits over five-plus innings.
October 14, 2020 3:45 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – The Atlanta Braves have taken a two-games-to-none lead in the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Freddie Freeman homered and had three RBIs as the Braves built a seven-run lead before holding off the Dodgers, 8-7. The Braves went ahead on Freeman’s two-run homer in the fourth, one inning before a four-run rally put them in control. Dodgers emergency starter and loser Tony Gonsolin was sailing until Ronald Acuna Jr. led off the fourth with a walk and scored on Freeman’s second homer of the postseason. Gonsolin was charged with five runs on three hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings. Clayton Kershaw was supposed to start for L.A., but he was scratched due to back spasms. Manager Dave Roberts hopes to use his ace in Game 4. Things got worse for the Dodgers in the fifth as Cristian Pache laced an RBI double and scored on Freeman’s single. Travis d’Arnaud followed with a bases-loaded walk against Pedro Baez, who also surrendered a sacrifice fly by Ozzie Albies. Cody Bellinger made a great catch to prevent Albies’ ball from clearing the bases. Albies later belted a ninth-inning home run to make it 8-3. The round-tripper proved to be the winning margin after the Braves’ bullpen surrendered four runs in the ninth. The Dodgers trailed 7-0 until Corey Seager blasted a three-run homer in the seventh. Seager also doubled home a ninth-inning run before Max Muncy’s two-run blast off Josh Tomlin got Los Angeles within 8-6. Braves closer Mark Melancon entered to pick up the last out, but he surrendered an RBI triple by Cody Bellinger before retiring A.J. Pollock to end the game. Game 3 is Wednesday.
October 13, 2020 3:52 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – It was another heart-breaking loss for rookie quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. Will Lutz nailed a 36-yard field goal with 5:08 left in overtime before New Orleans stopped Chargers receiver Mike Williams just short on fourth down to preserve a 30-27 victory. The Chargers blew a 17-point lead for the second straight game and dropped to 1-4. Herbert’s fourth touchdown pass of the game was a 64-yarder to Michael Williams that gave Los Angeles a 27-20 lead in the fourth quarter. But the 3-2 Saints tied it on Taysom Hill’s 9-yard run with 52 seconds left in regulation. Chargers kicker Michael Badgley missed an extra point and had a chance to end it with a field goal, but his 50-yard kick clanged off the right upright as the fourth quarter expired. Saints QB Drew Brees (breez) rushed for a 1-yard touchdown and hit tight end Jared Cook for a 41-yard score.
October 13, 2020 3:49 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – A pair of ninth-inning homers have allowed the Atlanta Braves to take Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Austin Riley led off the ninth with a homer off Blake Treinen to spark a four-run ninth in the Braves’ 5-1 win over the Dodgers. Ronald Acuna Jr. followed with a double and scored on Marcell Ozuna’s single to right before Ozzie Albies unloaded a two-run blast to cap the rally. Freddie Freeman belted a solo shot in the first inning, and the lead held up until Kike Hernandez went deep off Braves starter Max Fried. Fried was sharp over six innings, striking out nine and allowing four hits. Dodgers starter Walker Buehler looked good as well, yielding three hits while fanning nine over five frames. Atlanta finished the game without left fielder Adam Duvall, who hurt his left oblique in his first at-bat during the second inning. It’s the first postseason loss for the Dodgers. It’s also the first game to be played in front of fans this season. A crowd of about 11,500 were allowed to sit in the stands in socially-distant groups of four. Game 2 is Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.
October 13, 2020 3:51 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) – A Gold Glove winner made a critical error that helped the Tampa Bay Rays take a two-games-to-none lead in the American League Championship Series. Manuel Margot launched a three-run homer and Mike Zunino added a solo shot as the Rays downed the Houston Astros, 4-2. Margot’s first-inning blast came two pitches after second baseman Jose Altuve threw away a potential inning-ending grounder. Altuve also had a throwing error in the third inning without creating any damage. The 2016 Gold Glove winner didn’t have an error this entire season until Monday. Zunino also went deep off starter and loser Lance McCullers, who gave up just four hits while striking out 11 over seven innings. Charlie Morton tossed five shutout innings to get the win as Houston continued to turn hard contact into loud outs. Nick Anderson loaded the bases with nobody out in the ninth before getting out of the jam with just one run scoring. Anderson also filled the bags with two out but got Alex Bregman to line out to Kevin Kiermaier near the warning track. Game 3 is Tuesday in San Diego, where the Astros will serve as the home team for the next three contests.
