MLB-PLAYOFFS
Giants look to advance
UNDATED (AP) β The Washington Nationals are facing a must-win situation today in San Francisco.
The Giants won the first two games of their best-of-five National League Divisional playoff series with the Nats in Washington. After taking the first game 3-2 they won the second, two nights ago, 2-1 in 18 innings. That was the longest playoff game in baseball history. This afternoon the Giants can close out the series with a win on the home turf.
The Giants are well aware that being up 2-0 in a best-of-five series doesn’t mean much. Two years ago they advanced in the playoffs with three straight wins after losing the first two games at home, just like the Nationals.
Game 4, if needed, will be tomorrow night.
Today’s other game is being played in St. Louis this evening with the Cardinals facing the Dodgers in Game 3 of their best-of-five series. The Cards won the opening game in Los Angeles 10-9 with the Dodgers coming back to win the second contest 3-2.
The starting pitching tonight features John Lackey for the Cards against Hyun-Jin Ryu (hee-YUHN’-jihn YOO). Lackey was obtained mid-season by the Cards because of his postseason experience. He is a two-time World Champion from his days with Boston. Ryu pitched seven scoreless innings last year to beat the Cardinals in Game 3 of the NL championship series. He hasn’t pitched since Sept. 12 because of shoulder inflammation.
The fourth game of the series will be played in St. Louis tomorrow night.
The American League Championship Series will start this Friday in Baltimore as the Orioles will entertain the Kansas city Royals. The O’s swept the Tigers in three games while the Royals eliminated the Angels in three as well.
NFL-SCHEDULE
‘Skins hosting Seahawks
WASHINGTON (AP) β The NFL game tonight has Washington playing host to Seattle. The defending NFL champion Seahawks are 2-1 while the Redskins are 1-3.
Who could have known what lay ahead for these two clubs when they met in the playoffs on January 6, 2013? The game featured two of the hot young quarterbacks in the league in Russell Wilson for the Seahawks and Robert Griffin III for Washington. In the 20 months since that game, Seattle has won the Super Bowl with Wilson maturing into a fine quarterback, while the Redskins have been mired in mediocrity with Griffin suffering several injuries.
Once again he will be on the sidelines for the ‘Skins tonight as he recovers from an ankle injury. In his place, Kirk Cousins is taking the snaps from center for the 1-3 Redskins.
NFL-HGH TESTING
Testing system in place
NEW YORK (AP) β The NFL has begun testing for human growth hormone for the first time, three years after the league and players’ union tentatively agreed to do so.
HGH testing was part of the 2011 labor agreement but was delayed because the NFL Players Association was not comfortable with the procedures or science involved. Both sides agreed last month on the new policy, which took effect Monday.
A total of 950 tests will be performed during the regular season, postseason and preseason. In the offseason, about 385 tests will be done. Less than one tablespoon of blood will be taken from each player.
Each week during the season, five players on eight teams will be chosen randomly for testing as part of the normal testing procedures under the NFL’s performance enhancing drug policy. No tests will occur on game days. Players subject to the blood testing must be on the active roster, practice squad or on injured reserve, and not already subject to reasonable-cause testing.
In the offseason, every player under contract not already undergoing reasonable-cause testing will be tested to a maximum of 90 per team.
NFL-DOLPHINS
Miami suspends Shelby
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) β Miami Dolphins reserve defensive lineman Derrick Shelby has been suspended by the team indefinitely in the wake of his arrest on misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and trespassing at a nightclub. Shelby was suspended hours before Monday’s practice for conduct detrimental to the team.
According to a Fort Lauderdale police report, nightclub security said Shelby was touching women without their permission early Saturday. Shelby appeared intoxicated, was ordered to leave several times by an officer and refused, the report said.
NFL-VIKINGS
Minnesota player arrested
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) β A police report shows Minneapolis officers used a chemical spray and a stun gun on Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson after he refused to leave a downtown club. Johnson, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 288 pounds, was arrested early Sunday after security officials and police repeatedly told him to leave a steakhouse. He was charged with misdemeanor counts of trespassing and disorderly conduct.
The 30-year-old was booked into the Hennepin County jail and released after posting $78 bond.
The Vikings have said the team is investigating and will have additional comment when appropriate.
NFL-CARDINALS
Cards Dwyer says he is not guilty of assaulting his wife
PHOENIX (AP) β Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer pleaded not guilty to charges that he assaulted his wife during two arguments in July at their Phoenix apartment. Dwyer, who is charged with felony aggravated assault and eight misdemeanors, including assault, appeared at an arraignment.
Investigators say Dwyer allegedly broke his wife’s nose with a head-butt during a July 21 argument and engaged in a dispute the following day in which he punched his wife and threw a shoe at his 17-month-old son, who wasn’t injured.
Dwyer has denied that he committed assault.
NHL-BLUE JACKETS
Johansen agrees to deal
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) β Center Ryan Johansen ended his lengthy holdout by reaching a 3-year agreement with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 22-year-old, who was a restricted free agent, put up career numbers last season, scoring 33 goals with 30 assists in 82 games after totaling 14 goals and 19 assists in his first 107 NHL games.
The club opens the season Thursday at Buffalo.
T25 FOOTBALL-FLORIDA STATE
Top team may be short handed
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) β Top-ranked Florida State could be missing three starters when the Seminoles play at Syracuse on Saturday. Coach Jimbo Fisher has announced that center Austin Barron is out with an arm injury, leading receiver Rashad Greene has not been cleared to play after suffering a concussion last week and running back Karlos Williams is in a walking boot after injuring his ankle during last weekend’s game.
T25 FOOTBALL-MISSISSIPPI
No. 3 Mississippi won’t have a player this week
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) β Mississippi safety Trae Elston has been suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game against Texas A&M after kicking Alabama running back Kenyan Drake following a play during last weekend’s game. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze announced the suspension and Southeastern Conference official Chuck Dunlap said in an email that the conference will take no further action.
Drake suffered a broken leg on the play after being tackled and landing awkwardly. Elston’s foot swiped Drake after the play was over.
Third-ranked Ole Miss, which is 5-0, travels to face No. 14 Texas A&M on Saturrday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Syracuse loses quarterback
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) β Syracuse quarterback Terrel Hunt broke his shin against Louisville and will miss at least a month of play. Coach Scott Shafer says Hunt, who was injured the previous week in a loss to Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, broke his fibula in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s game against Louisville in the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse, which has lost three straight, faces top-ranked Florida State at home on Saturday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Florida quarterback investigated for alleged sexual assault
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) β Florida freshman quarterback Treon Harris has been suspended while he is being investigated for sexual assault. The school says Harris is accused of sexually assaulting a female student early Sunday, hours after he helped Florida rally to beat Tennessee 10-9 in Knoxville.
The alleged attack took place in a residence hall on campus. The University Police Department is investigating the incident and working with the Gainesville Police Department to assist with collection and analysis of forensic evidence.
NBA-TV DEALS
League extends contracts
NEW YORK (AP) β The NBA has extended its television deals with ESPN and TNT for nine years. The league has announced that the new contracts will run through the 2024-25 season. The previous eight-year agreements end after the 2015-16 season. Under the old deals the NBA received $930 million annually.
The NBA Finals remain on ABC, ESPN’s broadcast partner. ESPN/ABC and TNT will continue to split the conference finals.
ESPN and ABC are adding 10 regular-season games, bringing their total to 100. TNT will air an additional 12 games over the second half of the season on nights other than its traditional Thursday, bringing its total to 64.
MLB-DRUGS
Bosch heads to jail
MIAMI (AP) β The former owner of the clinic at center of Major League Baseball’s recent drug scandal has had his bail revoked because of recent positive tests for cocaine use. U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles has ordered Anthony Bosch jailed immediately.
Bosch tested positive twice in August for cocaine use, after he was released on $100,000 bail under conditions including no use of illegal drugs. Gayles also found Bosch wasn’t regularly attending voluntary drug treatment.
Prosecutors say Bosch’s clinic, Biogenesis of America, was involved in a conspiracy to provide performance-enhancing drugs to MLB players and even high school athletes. Fourteen MLB players were suspended, including a season-long suspension for New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez.
Bosch is scheduled to plead guilty to the charges next week.
