MLB-SCHEDULE
A Royal coronation…Yanks beat Sox after remembering Yogi
UNDATED (AP) β The Kansas City Royals are the first American League team to wrap up a playoff berth.
The Royals are the AL Central champions following a 10-4 rout of Seattle. Eric Hosmer tied it with a solo shot in the fifth, one inning before Lorenzo Cain put Kansas City ahead to stay with a two-run single. Mike Moustakas (moos-TAH’-kahs) was 3-for-3 with a solo homer, three RBIs and three runs scored to help the Royals claim their first division title since winning the 1985 World Series.
Winning pitcher Johnny Cueto (KWAY’-toh) gave up three runs and seven hits over seven innings of Kansas City’s league-leading 89th victory.
In the Bronx, the New York Yankees cut their deficit in the American League East after remembering one of the team’s all-time greats.
The Yanks honored the memory of Yogi Berra with a moment of silence and a 10-minute ceremony before tonight’s game against the Chicago White Sox.
Both teams were lined up outside their dugouts as Yankees manager Joe Girardi put a wreath of blue and white flowers in the shape of Berra’s No. 8 in the catcher’s box. A Navy bugler played “Taps” in a salute to Berra’s service aboard a Navy gunboat during the D-Day invasion.
The three-time MVP and Hall of Famer died Tuesday at 90.
Carlos Beltran made it a victorious night for the Yankees by belting a three-run homer off Chris Sale in the third inning of a 3-2 triumph over the White Sox. Michael Pineda (pih-NAY’-duh) held the White Sox to just one run despite surrendering eight hits over six innings.
The win puts the Yankees within three games of the AL East-leading Blue Jays and reduces their magic number for clinching a wild-card berth to six.
In other major league finals:
β The New York Mets own a magic number of three for winning the NL East following their 6-4 win at Cincinnati and a little help from the Orioles. Daniel Murphy went 3-for-5 and tripled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh after the Mets squandered a 3-1 lead. Yoenis Cespedes (yoh-EH’-nehs SEHS’-peh-dehs) and Lucas Duda each had two hits and two RBIs to help New York win for just the third time in nine games.
β Baltimore also reduced the Mets’ magic number by beating the Nationals, 5-4, in Washington. The Nationals led 4-3 until Matt Wieters (WEE’-turz) belted a two-run homer in the top of the eighth, allowing the Orioles to complete a three-game sweep. Jonathan Schoop (skohp) hit a two-run homer that put the Birds up 3-0 in the fourth.
β The Cardinals whipped Milwaukee 7-3 to slice their magic number for winning the NL Central to six. The Brewers were ahead 3-0 in the fourth until Jhonny Peralta (JAH’-nee-peh-RAHL’-tah) crushed a three-run homer and Stephen Piscotty added a solo shot two pitches later. Piscotty finished with three hits and four RBIs to support Michael Wacha’s (WAH’-kahz) 17th victory.
β Pedro Alvarez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning to help the Pirates beat Colorado 5-4 and stay four games behind the Cardinals. Starling Marte collected four singles and finished 13 for 20 for the series, the most hits by a Pirate in a four-game set since Pie Traynor had 13 in 1928. The Pirates completed a four-game sweep, picked up their 10,000th victory since joining the National League.
β The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the NL West is down to three after the San Francisco Giants lost and Chris Heisey (HY’-see) launched a grand slam in a six-run fifth that lifted Los Angeles over Arizona, 6-3. Clayton Kershaw left trailing 3-0 before the rally allowed him to improve to 15-7. Kershaw has a major league-leading 281 strikeouts after fanning nine more on Thursday.
β San Diego’s 5-4 win over San Francisco gives the Dodgers a magic number of three for clinching the NL West. Alexi Amarista delivered a walk-off, RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, one inning after Matt Kemp doubled home the tying run. The outcome also cuts the Chicago Cubs’ magic number for clinching a playoff berth to one over the Giants.
β Cole Hamels allowed an unearned run and four hits over six innings to help Texas hammer Oakland 8-1 and stretch their lead in the AL West to 3 Β½ games over Houston. Prince Fielder slammed a two-run homer and Adrian Beltre (BEHL’-tray) provided three RBIs as the Rangers completed a three-game sweep and won for the ninth time in 11 games.
β Carlos Santana hit a three-run homer and Cleveland damaged Minnesota’s playoff chances by downing the Twins, 6-3. Jason Kipnis led off the game with a homer and Lonnie Chisenhall added a two-run single later in the inning. Torii Hunter and Eddie Rosario homered for the Twins, who are 1 Β½ games behind Houston in the race for the final playoff berth in the AL.
β Erasmo Ramirez pitched well in Tampa Bay’s 4-2 win at Boston, holding the Red Sox to a pair of runs and four hits with no walks over seven innings. The Rays trailed in the sixth until Evan Longoria’s solo homer was followed by RBI doubles by Asdrubel (as-DROO’-bul) Cabrera and Steven Souza Jr.
β J.T. Realmuto’s (ree-al-MOO’-tohz) RBI triple in the seventh was just enough offense for Miami in a 1-0 win over Philadelphia. The Marlins’ bullpen worked five innings of one-hit relief.
MLB-INJURIES
Royals Holland done for the season
UNDATED (AP) β Kansas City reliever Greg Holland will not pitch again this year due to a right elbow injury that is scheduled to be examined by a specialist next week.
The 29-year old leads the Royals with 32 saves in 37 opportunities but has been erratic this season. His fastball velocity has dipped to the upper 80s and lower 90s mph since the All-Star break.
In other injury news:
β New Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski has promoted 39-year old Mike Hazen to general manager. Hazen’s promotion from assistant GM is the first big move by Dombrowski since he took over in August. The Red Sox have been last in the AL East for the past two seasons.
β Washington Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa is likely done for the season because of a torn right hamstring. He is hitting .240 with 13 homers and 37 RBIs.
NFL-GIANTS/REDSKINS
Giants don’t blow lead, get first win
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) β The New York Giants finally have a victory after blowing 10-point leads in the fourth quarter of their first two games.
Eli Manning threw a pair of long touchdown passes in the final period to secure the Giants’ 32-21 triumph over Washington. Manning connected with Ruben Randle for a 41-yard touchdown with 3:21 remaining after hitting Odell Beckham Jr. for a 30-yard score early in the fourth.
Manning completed 23 of his 32 passes for 279 yards and no interceptions. Randle finished with 116 yards on seven receptions, while Beckham grabbed seven passes for 79 yards.
Redskins returner Rashad Ross brought back a kickoff 101 yards for a TD after Randle’s TD.
Kirk Cousins was 30 of 49 for 315 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the 1-2 Redskins. Cousins couldn’t get the Redskins into the end zone until he threw a four-yard scoring strike to Chris Thompson with 3:40 to play.
NFL-LONDON
British NFL plans
LONDON (AP) β The NFL says it would only put a full-time franchise in London if all operational issues are worked out and the league is sure the team would be competitive. Mark Waller, NFL executive vice president of its international division, says there is no time frame for possibly placing a team in London, adding that a decision will come “when we’re ready.”
The NFL has played 11 regular-season games in London since 2007. Wembley Stadium will host three more games this season, starting with the Miami Dolphins against the New York Jets on Oct. 4.
T25 FOOTBALL-WISCONSIN-CLEMENT
Badgers lose running back
MADISON, Wis. (AP) β No. 22 Wisconsin will need to get its running game going without starting tailback Corey Clement.
Coach Paul Chryst says the junior will miss four to six weeks to have sports hernia surgery. Clement missed the last two games, and he played sparingly in the season opener against Alabama after hurting his groin in practice.
Clement says an ultrasound Wednesday showed two hernias.
NBA-HAWKS
Richardson retires
ATLANTA (AP) β Jason Richardson is calling it a career after 13 years in the NBA. The 34-year-old swingman signed with the Atlanta Hawks in August after playing in just 19 games with the Philadelphia 76ers last season because of a knee injury.
Richardson also played with Golden State, Phoenix, Orlando and Charlotte.
NBA-HEAT
Good news on Bosh
MIAMI (AP) β Forward Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat says he no longer needs to take blood-thinning medication as part of his treatment regimen for a blood clot, meaning he will be able to fully participate when training camp opens next week. Bosh missed the final 30 games of last season after a clot was discovered on his left lung. He says he has been cleared and released for contact again.
NBA-FINALS
New format for final series
NEW YORK (AP) β The NBA is adding additional rest days to its NBA Finals schedule, putting two days in between every game where travel is necessary. Continuing one of Commissioner Adam Silver’s goals of finding extra time off for players, the 2016 finals will begin June 2 and would end June 19 if a Game 7 is necessary.
The latest change moves Game 3 and Game 5 back a day. Last year, there was only one off day when teams changed cities, and they played again the night after arriving.
PGA-TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Stenson is in front
ATLANTA (AP) β Henrik Stenson shot a 7-under 63 to take the lead after the first round of the Tour Championship. The Swede is one of five golfers that can wrap up the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus if he wins the final event of the four-tournament playoff series. He holds a two shot lead over Paul Casey, with Rory McIlory and Zach Johnson three back.
The others that can claim the FedEx Cup title with a win this week are Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson.
Spieth finished with a 68, Day and Fowler shot 69s, and Watson posted a 70.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS-TEXAS
Deal reached with former AD
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) β University of Texas regents have approved a financial settlement with former athletic director Steve Patterson. He resigned under pressure on Sept. 15 after 22 months on the job.
Patterson had a guaranteed contract through 2019 worth at least $1.4 million per year. The settlement is expected to be worth less than that.
