MLB-DODGERS
Report: Mattingly out
LOS ANGELES (AP) β It looks like winning the National League West wasn’t enough for the ownership team of the Los Angeles Dodgers. A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press that Don Mattingly is out as manager of the team. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not announced his departure. That person says Mattingly, who had managed the team for five years, agreed with the Dodgers to mutually part ways.
Los Angeles was 446-363 under Mattingly, finishing with a winning record in every season and winning the last three NL West titles. But the Dodgers have not reached the World Series since winning the title in 1988.
The 54-year-old former Yankees star ranks sixth in wins among Dodgers managers.
MLB-ALCS
Jays force a sixth game
UNDATED (AP) β The best of seven American League Championship Series has moved from Toronto back to Kansas City for Game 6. The Jays forced a sixth game by beating the Royals in a must-win situation yesterday 7-1. The Royals head home with a 3-2 series lead. If they can’t close it out with a win tomorrow night the seventh deciding game will be played in KC on Saturday.
The pitching matchup for Game 6 has David Price going for the Jays against Yordano Ventura.
To the winner of the series goes a spot in the World Series against the National League champion New York Mets. They completed a four-game sweep of the Cubs last night with an 8-3 win in Wrigley Field. The opening game of the Fall Classic will be next Tuesday in the home of the AL champion.
NFL-SCHEDULE
Niners hosting Seahawks
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) βThe NFL game this evening is an NFC West battle between the Seahawks and 49ers with the game being played in Santa Clara, California. Each team comes in with a record of 2-4, tied for last in the division. Last week the Seahawks were beaten by unbeaten Carolina 27-23 while the Niners stopped the Ravens 25-20.
Seattle has dominated the series of late, winning three straight and five of six. The fourth quarter has been the downfall for the defending NFC champion Seahawks this season as they have been outscored in the final period 61-27. They’ve led in the fourth quarter of all six games this year only to lose four times.
Niners’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick (KAP’-ur-nihk) is 1-5 in six starts against the Seahawks with nine interceptions and 18 sacks. Against everybody else he is 30-15.
T25-SCHEDULE
A pair of ranked teams in action tonight
UNDATED (AP) β There are two Top-25 games this evening with No. 20 California playing at UCLA and 22nd-ranked Temple at East Carolina. Cal enters its game with the previously ranked Bruins with a record of 5-1, while Temple’s Owls are new to the poll this week with wins in all six games they’ve played.
The once proud UCLA defense has fallen apart of late, yielding 124 points in its last three games. Cal’s only loss came at the hands of highly ranked Utah. The Utes are currently third in the AP poll.
The ranking is the first in 35 years for Temple. A year ago East Carolina had two upsets of ranked schools, Virginia Tech and North Carolina.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Tortorella takes over
UNDATED (AP) β New Columbus coach John Tortorella makes his debut this evening as the Blue Jackets are on the road for a game with Minnesota. He took over the club yesterday after the Jackets fired Todd Richards.
The season isn’t even a month old, and the Stars and Penguins are slated to meet for the final time this season tonight. In Pittsburgh the Pens are entertaining the Stars who won the first meeting, Oct. 8 in Dallas, 3-0.
Stanley Cup champion Chicago is back in action tonight with a home game against Florida. This will be the Hawks’ first game without defenseman Duncan Keith who is out 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing right knee surgery.
Pacific Division rivals San Jose and Los Angeles are meeting on the Sharks’ ice tonight. This is the second of five meetings for these teams this season, with the Sharks coming out on top in their first game in L.A.
The Ducks start a five-game road trip tonight in Nashville. A year ago the Ducks swept the Predators.
Washington has won three straight, and tonight the Caps are at Vancouver, while Arizona plays the Rangers in New York and New Jersey is at Ottawa with Senators’ goalie Andrew Hammond expected to make first start of season after recovering from a groin injury.
PGA-SHRINERS
Round 1
LAS VEGAS (AP) β The opening round of the PGA’s Shriners’ Hospitals tournament in Las Vegas is taking place today. The winner a year ago was Ben Martin, who earned his first PGA Tour title.
Next up for the PGA is an event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next week.
LPGA-TAIWAN
First round complete
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) β South Korean Ji Eun-hee shot a 6-under 66 in windy conditions to take a one-stroke lead in the LPGA Taiwan Championship. The winner of the 2008 LPGA Championship and 2009 U.S. Women’s Open leads a player from China.
American Morgan Pressel, England’s Charley Hull, Germany’s Sandra Gal and South Korea’s Sun Young Yoo are two back after opening with 68s.
