WORLD SERIES
Scene shifts to California…Butler hits the bench with no DH
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) β Game 3 of the World Series is tonight in San Francisco with the Royals and Giants tied at one-all after a split in KC. While the Royals send Jeremy Guthrie to the hill, the Giants go with Tim Hudson, who at age 39 makes it to baseball’s biggest stage for the first time. That’s after 16 years, 214 regular-season wins and seven failed trips to the postseason.
Guthrie has also had a long wait just to get to the playoffs. He made his first postseason appearance at age 35 when he allowed one run in five innings of a no-decision against Baltimore in Game 3 of the ALCS. That start is Guthrie’s only outing the past four weeks; he did not pitch in the division series sweep against the Angels.
And there’s been a lineup change for KC. Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain has been moved from center field to right to boost defense in one of AT&T Park’s trickiest positions. Usual right fielder Nori Aoki is not in the starting lineup, while Jarrod Dyson is starting in center field and batting eighth.
There’s no DH because the game is in the National League city. So that means Billy Butler, normally the Royals’ designated hitter, rides the pine for at least this game and perhaps for all three games at AT&T Park.
MLB-RAYS
Maddon leaves
UNDATED (AP) β The Tampa Bay Rays have announced that manager Joe Maddon has exercised an opt-out in his contract, which was due to expire after next season. Owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement: “We tried diligently and aggressively to sign Joe to a third contract extension prior to his decision. As of yesterday afternoon, Joe enabled himself to explore opportunities throughout major league baseball. He will not be managing the Rays in 2015.”
Maddon has managed the Rays for nine seasons, compiling a 754-705 record. He led took Tampa Bay to the playoffs four times and won the AL pennant in 2008.
Also in the majors:
β Retiring White Sox star Paul Konerko and Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins are the first co-winners of Major League Baseball’s Roberto Clemente Award. The annual honor is given for contributions on and off the field that best represent the sport. Konerko founded the “Bring Me Home Campaign,” that assists foster children in Illinois, and Rollins developed JRoll’s Aces in 2007 through The Rollins Family Foundation to provide tickets to children in disadvantaged areas who excel in academics.
β The Detroit Tigers say slugger Miguel Cabrera has undergone successful surgery to remove bone spurs in his right ankle and to repair a stress fracture. Cabrera dealt with ankle problems during the Tigers season, which ended with the team eliminated from the AL Division Series by Baltimore.
β St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright has undergone what the team describes as minor elbow surgery that should not set him back for next season. The Cardinals say it was an arthroscopic procedure to trim a small piece of cartilage from the right elbow.
NFL-RICE
Union says little cooperation coming from NFL, Ravens on Rice
UNDATED (AP) β The attorney leading the NFL players’ union investigation into the Ray Rice domestic violence case tells The Associated Press the league has not provided documents and witnesses requested by the NFLPA’s investigators, while the Baltimore Ravens have refused any cooperation. Attorney Richard Craig Smith is questioning the NFL’s sincerity in calling for transparency, saying all parties should cooperate in both investigations. Commissioner Roger Goodell originally gave Rice a two-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, then made it an indefinite suspension once video of Rice hitting his then-fiancee was released publicly.
NFL-INJURIES
Wayne won’t play for Colts Sunday
UNDATED (AP) β Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne will not play in the team’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday because of an elbow injury. Wayne was initially listed as day-to-day before being ruled out today by coach Chuck Pagano.
Wayne has caught 38 passes for 434 yards and one touchdown this season.
In other NFL injury news:
β Bengals receiver A.J. Green is expected to miss Sunday’s big AFC North matchup against the Baltimore Ravens because of an injured right big toe. He’s missed the last two games with the injury, suffered during a season-opening win in Baltimore. Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict was listed as probable with a strained neck after sitting out two games because of concussions.
β New England Patriots sacks leader and defensive end Chandler Jones will not play Sunday against the Chicago Bears because of a hip injury that is expected to keep him sidelined about a month. The third-year pro has 4 1/2 sacks this season after recording 11 1/2 last season.
β Buffalo Bills receiver Marquise Goodwin is in jeopardy of missing his second straight game because of a hamstring injury. The speedy second-year player has not practiced since getting hurt during practice last week.
NHL-BRUINS
Bruins lose Chara for 4-6 weeks with knee injury
UNDATED (AP) β The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders each lost key regulars because of injuries suffered in the Isles’ 3-2 win on Thursday.
Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (zeh-DAY’-noh CHAH’-ruh) tore a ligament in his knee and will miss four to six weeks. General manager Peter Chiarelli said the 2009 Norris Trophy winner will not need surgery on the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Newsday is reporting that Islanders winger Josh Bailey will be out several weeks after suffering a broken hand in Thursday’s game.
TENNIS-PARIS MASTERS
Nadal out
PARIS (AP) β Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-ehl nah-DAHL’) says he will have season-ending appendicitis surgery next month, ruling him out of the upcoming Paris Masters and the ATP finals in London.
Nadal announced the decision after losing to 17-year-old Borna Coric in a sub-par performance in the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors in Basel. He said he will undergo surgery on Nov. 3, and that his 2014 season is over.
Paris Masters organizers had earlier said Nadal pulled out of the tournament next week for “personal reasons.”
The Spaniard needed treatment for appendicitis this month in Shanghai.
NASCAR-QUALIFYING
McMurray on Martinsville pole
RIDGEWAY, Va. (AP) β Jamie McMurray will start from the pole for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway after posting a qualifying time of 99.905 mph.
Joey Logano will join McMurray in the front row, ahead of Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart. Logano and Kenseth are two of the eight drivers still in contention for the Sprint Cup championship.
Kevin Harvick will start 33rd, worst of all drivers still left in the Chase for the championship.
PGA TOUR
Henley leads through 36
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) β Russell Henley is the leader at the midway mark of the PGA’s McGladrey Classic.
He managed to turn a horrible drive into a birdie on the 18th hole at the turn, the start of six birdies over his last 10 holes.
Henley one-putted 10 greens on the Seaside course at Sea Island and tied his personal best on the PGA Tour with a 7-under 63 for a 9-under total, one stroke better than Brendon de Jonge, Brian Harman and Andrew Svoboda.
Will MacKenzie, Mark Wilson and Fabian Gomez are two shots behind.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Cook, Dawson share lead
SAN ANTONIO (AP) β John Cook and Marco Dawson each shot 7-under 65s for a share of the first-round lead in the Champions Tour’s AT&T Championship, the final full-field event of the season.
Scott Dunlap was a stroke back at TPC San Antonio. Nine others are at minus-5.
PGA-POULTER FLAP
Bishop out at PGA of America
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) β Ted Bishop has been removed as president of the PGA of America over a sexist tweet directed at Ian Poulter.
Bishop was unhappy about comments Poulter made in his book about the Ryder Cup captaincy of Nick Faldo in 2008 and Tom Watson last month. Bishop said Faldo’s record stands by itself. Comparing it with Poulter’s achievements, he referred to Poulter as “Lil Girl.”
He had one month left on his two-year term.
SPORTS-GAMBLING
Court KO’s New Jersey bookie bid
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) β A federal judge has granted a request from the four major U.S. professional sports leagues and the NCAA to temporarily stop New Jersey from allowing legalized sports betting, two days before Monmouth Park was to begin accepting bets. U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp issued a temporary restraining order after a request by the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, Major League Baseball and the NCAA. He said the leagues have shown that they would be irreparably harmed if the state’s casinos and racetracks were permitted to allow sports betting.
Republican Gov. Chris Christie signed the law on Oct. 17.
