DETROIT (AP) β Nelson Cruz smacked a two-run homer and Bud Norris pitched shutout ball for 6 1/3 innings as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tigers 2-1 in Detroit to complete a three-game sweep of the American League Division Series. Cruz snapped a scoreless tie with a drive in the sixth off loser David Price, who allowed just five hits in eight innings. Zach Britton allowed back-to-back doubles by Victor Martinez to open the bottom of the ninth, but he struck out Bryan Holliday and issued an intentional walk before getting Hernan Perez to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end the series.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) β The Kansas City Royals are in the American League Championship Series for the first time since 1985 following an 8-3 rout of the Los Angeles Angels. Alex Gordon put the Royals ahead to stay with a three-run double in the bottom of the first before Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer added home runs. Winning pitcher James Shields allowed two runs and six hits with six strikeouts in six innings before the Royals’ bullpen made the big lead hold up.
DENVER (AP) β Peyton Manning has joined Brett Favre (fahrv) as the only quarterbacks to throw for 500 career touchdowns, finishing with 479 yards and four TDs as the 3-1 Denver Broncos clobbered the Arizona Cardinals 41-20. Manning now has 503 career touchdown passes, five off Favre’s all-time record. Demaryius (deh-MAR’-ee-uhs) Thomas had a team-record 226 receiving yards on eight receptions, including an 86-yard scoring grab near halftime.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) β The wife of Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr says in a statement that he is recovering from two strokes and a mild heart attack and is making progress in rehabilitation. Cherry Starr provided an update on her husband’s condition through a statement released on the Green Bay Packers website. She says Starr’s doctors confirmed that the 80-year-old suffered two strokes in early September, as well as a mild heart attack.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) β Joey Logano has grabbed the first berth into the next round of NASCAR’s championship chase with a victory at Kansas Speedway. It was Logano’s career-best fifth win of the season and ties with him Team Penske teammate Brad Keselowski for most in the Sprint Cup Series this year. Kyle Larson was second, followed by Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Carl Edwards.
