MLB-ALCS
Royals rolling along
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) β The Kansas City Royals are making the most of their first post-season appearance in 29 years. The wildcard Royals have posted a 6-0 playoff mark heading into Game 3 of the ALCS against Baltimore tonight including the opening two series victories in the Orioles home park.
The Royals became the first team in major league history to win four playoff games in extra innings with their 8-6, 10-inning triumph in Game 1 on Friday night.
Wei-Yin Chen starts for the Orioles against former Baltimore pitcher Jeremy Guthrie. He’ll be starting for the first time since Sept. 26, though he’s thrown simulated games and bullpen sessions to keep sharp.
These are desperate times for the Orioles if past history is any indication. Since the best-of-seven format was adopted 29 years ago, none of the previous 11 teams that dropped the first two games of a league championship series at home rallied to reach the World Series.
MLB-NLCS
Giants, Cards tied up
ST. LOUIS (AP) β San Francisco will be home to the next three games of the NLCS, after St. Louis evened the series at a game each with a dramatic ninth inning win last night. Kolton Wong’s leadoff homer gave the Cardinals a 5-4 win after the Giants tied the game with two outs in the top of the inning on a wild pitch.
Game 3 of the series is on tap tomorrow with John Lackey set to start for St. Louis against Tim Hudson. Lackey has posted wins in his last three playoff series. Hudson is coming off a one run, 7 1-3 inning-outing against Washington in Game 2 of the NLDS.
NFL-SCHEDULE
Rams host Niners
UNDATED (AP) β San Francisco has a chance to vault past Seattle in the NFC West race when the 49ers visit the Rams in St. Louis tonight.
The 3-2 Niners take the NFL’s No. 2 ranked defense into the game against a fill-in quarterback who has shown signs of effectiveness. Austin Davis has posted consecutive 300-yard passing games filling in for the injured Sam Bradford, who’s out for the season. St. Louis is 1-3.
A San Francisco win tonight, moves them to into second place in the division a game behind Arizona.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Perfect Canadiens in action
UNDATED (AP) βMontreal looks to cap off a perfect season-opening road trip when the Canadiens visit Tampa Bay tonight as part of a four-game Columbus Day schedule. The Canadiens have won all three of their games this season including the last two in shootouts. The two teams will be getting reacquainted after Montreal swept the Lightning in the opening round of last season’s playoffs.
The Bruins and Avalanche get the schedule going this afternoon in Boston. It’s a meeting of teams that have one win between them in five games. Colorado is looking for its first win of the season after two losses.
Same thing for Buffalo when it faces off at home against Anaheim.
Ottawa visits Florida tonight to round out the schedule.
PISTORIUS TRIAL
Psychologist: Pistorius a ‘broken man’
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) β Oscar Pistorius is a “broken man” after killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp because he lost her, his reputation, friends, income and sense of self-worth, according to a psychologist.
Dr. Lore Hartzenberg was called by the Olympic runner’s lawyers to testify ahead of Pistorius’ sentencing for culpable homicide. Her testimony was almost immediately characterized by the chief prosecutor as unbalanced.
The punishment for culpable homicide can range from a suspended sentence and a fine to as many as 15 years in prison. The judge found Pistorius not guilty last month of both premeditated murder and murder in the killing of Steenkamp.
