MLB-PLAYOFFS
ALCS starts tomorrow
BALTIMORE (AP) β The opening game of the American League Championship Series will be played tomorrow night in Baltimore as the Orioles face the Royals. The Game 1 pitching matchup is set with James Shields going for Kansas City against Chris Tillman. Shields was 2-0 against the Orioles this season while Tillman tossed a five-hitter against the Royals back in May.
Each club is well rested after sweeping its divisional playoff. The Royals eliminated the Angels in three games while the Orioles got rid of the Tigers in three.
The clubs met seven times during the regular season with KC coming out on top four times.
Game 2 will be played in Baltimore Saturday afternoon.
The first game of the National League Championship Series between the Cardinals and Giants will be played Saturday night in St. Louis. Adam Wainwright will be on the mound for the home team against Madison Bumgarner.
NHL-SCHEDULE
First busy night of play
UNDATED (AP) β Following four games last night on opening night in the NHL, there’s a much busier schedule of games this evening with many of the top names in the game on the ice.
A check of the schedule shows Columbus skating in Buffalo against the Sabres, the Flyers at home to the Devils, Anaheim in Pittsburgh, the Capitals playing host to Montreal, the Bruins at Detroit, the Lightning home to the Panthers, New York’s Rangers in St. Louis to play the Blues, Nashville on home ice for a game with Ottawa, the Blackhawks at Dallas, Colorado skating at Minnesota, the Oilers home to the Flames and Winnipeg at Arizona.
NASCAR-BANK OF AMERICA 500
Going for the pole
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) β Qualifying for Saturday night’s Sprint Cup race is taking place this evening at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The winner of the race a year ago was Brad Keselowski.
This is the fifth race in the 10-race, four-round Chase. The championship field was cut from 16 to 12 after the third race and will be reduced to eight after the sixth race and then to four after the ninth.
PGA
Men’s tour starts new year of play today
NAPA, Calif. (AP) β The opening round of the opening tournament of the 2014-15 PGA Tour is on tap today in Napa, California. This is the Frys.Com Open and the field features several players who took part in the recent Ryder Cup in Scotland. Jimmy Walker was the winner of the event a year ago.
LPGA-MALAYSIA
Lewis takes the lead
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) β World No. 1 Stacy Lewis of the U.S. shot an opening-round 6-under 65 in an LPGA event in Malaysia to grab a one-shot lead after 18 holes. Lewis birdied the par-5 16th hole to break away from the pack and lead a quartet of players from South Korea.
A check of how other Americans did in the first round shows Natalie Gulbis shot 69, Karrie (KAHR’-ee) Webb 70 and Lexi Thompson, who won by four strokes a year ago, a 71.
This event is the second in the six-event Asian swing on the LPGA Tour.
