NFL-SCHEDULE
Manning-to-Sanders combo clicks at Mile High
DENVER (AP) β What, you thought Peyton Manning would suddenly stop tossing TD passes just because he’s the all-time record-holder in that department?
Manning, who broke Brett Favre’s (farvz) career TD passing record last Sunday night, tossed three more TDs in leading the Denver Broncos past the San Diego Chargers 35-21. All three of Manning’s TD passes went to Emmanuel Sanders, who caught nine passes for 120 yards. Rookie running back Juwan Thompson added two TD runs for Denver.
Even with a short week of preparation, Manning was in midseason form. Manning was 25 of 35 for 286 yards. He led the Broncos to 77 points in a span of 96 hours this week.
The Broncos improved to 6-1 while the visiting Chargers fell to 5-3. The AFC West-leading Broncos enter a stretch where four of their next five games are away from Mile High.
NFL-BRONCOS
Broncos cut safety after run-in
DENVER (AP) β The Denver Broncos have released safety John Boyett from their practice squad a day after he was charged with assault, theft and harassment.
Police say the 24-year-old Boyett assaulted a cab driver, stole a shovel from a construction site and tried to hide from officers by covering himself in mulch early Wednesday in a Denver suburb.
Police say Boyett drunkenly head-butted and punched a cab driver they had hailed for him after he became belligerent at a bar.
NFL-TITANS
Rookie QB gets the call
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β The Tennessee Titans will start rookie Zach Mettenberger at quarterback against the Houston Texans on Sunday, switching away from Jake Locker who has missed three of the past four games with injuries. Coach Ken Whisenhunt (WIHZ’-en-hunt) says the decision to go with Mettenberger will give the team an opportunity to see what the sixth-round draft pick out of LSU can do.
T25-SCHEDULE
Pirates escape upset-minded UConn
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) β The 18th-ranked East Carolina Pirates started slowly but beat 1-6 UConn 31-21 with 10 points in the fourth quarter. Pirates QB Shane Carden completed 38 of 64 passes for 445 yards and two TDs. Breon Allen ran for two touchdowns
East Carolina’s 6-1 start is its best in 15 years.
WORLD SERIES
Lincecum iffy for rest of Series
UNDATED (AP) β The World Series resumes tonight in San Francisco after Wednesday night’s 7-2 win by the Royals. That victory evened up the best-of-seven series after the Giants won the opening game Tuesday night. Game 2 was tied at 2-2 before the Royals exploded for five runs in the sixth inning.
Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum (LIHN’-sih-kuhm) was sent for an MRI of his tight back to determine whether he can remain on the active roster when the World Series resumes at AT&T Park.
The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner was walked off the field by athletic trainer Dave Groeschner during the eighth inning of San Francisco’s 7-2 loss in Game 2 when his left lower back tightened. Lincecum retired five straight before exiting during Salvador Perez’s at-bat.
The pitching matchup for Game 3 has Tim Hudson scheduled to start for the Giants against Jeremy Guthrie.
If neither team sweeps the three games in San Francisco, the series will shift back to Kansas City for Game 6 next Tuesday.
MLB-NEWS
Hart takes over in Atlanta
ATLANTA (AP) β Former Cleveland and Texas general manager John Hart has been named president of baseball operations by the Atlanta Braves. He had been hired by the club as interim general manager on Sept. 22 and will also continue to serve in that role. It’s unclear if Hart’s new title means the team no longer will seek a full-time replacement for Frank Wren, the former general manager.
The club has announced that the 66-year-old Hart has agreed to a three-year contract that will continue through the team’s first season at its new stadium in Cobb County.
In other baseball news:
β The New York Mets hired Kevin Long as hitting coach. The 47-year-old Long spent the last eight seasons as the Yankees’ hitting coach. The Mets also added Dustin Clarke as major league strength and conditioning coach.
β The Phillies and Grady Sizemore have agreed to a one year, $2 million contract, not counting performance bonuses. Sizemore would have been eligible for free agency after the World Series. Sizemore split the 2014 season between the Red Sox and Phillies, hitting .233 with five home runs and 27 RBIs in 112 combined games.
β The Arizona Diamondbacks added Bryan Minniti as assistant general manager and Mike Russell as professional scouting coordinator.
β Darnell Coles is the new hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers, a team that missed the playoffs in large part because of problems at the plate.
NBA-LAKERS/NASH
Freak back injury shelves 40-year-old guard for season
LOS ANGELES (AP) β A freak back injury has put the career of 40-year-old Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash in limbo. The two-time NBA MVP has been ruled out for the season after suffering this latest injury a few days ago carrying his bags.
The Lakers and Nash announced their joint decision Thursday, less than a week before the start of what would have been Nash’s 19th NBA season. He played in just 15 games last year with nerve root irritation, but hoped for a comeback season after several months of rehabilitation.
Instead, the Canadian point guard played in just three preseason games before feeling more back pain.
Nash has played in just 65 games since the Lakers traded four draft picks for him in 2012. He is due $9 million this season.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Bruins lose game and Chara…Quick record in L.A.
UNDATED (AP) β On NHL ice, the Boston Bruins lost the game to the New York Islanders 3-2 and then waited to find out how long they will be without their captain and No. 1 defenseman, Zdeno Chara (ZAY’-noh CHAH’-rah).
The 2009 Norris Trophy winner left in the first period with an undisclosed injury and didn’t return. Coach Claude Julien (ZHOO’-lee-ehn) said after the game he had no update, but inside the Boston locker room, Chara’s teammates seemed resigned to a long absence.
Former Bruins backup Chad Johnson stopped 30 shots, and Kyle Okposo scored the go-ahead goal in the second period for the Isles.
In other hockey:
β Jonathan Quick made 29 saves to set the Kings franchise record with his 33rd career shutout, and Los Angeles beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 for its fifth consecutive victory.
β Detroit nipped Pittsburgh 4-3. Justin Abdelkader’s (ahb-dehl-KAY’durz) goal 4:16 into overtime capped a dramatic Detroit rally. The Red Wings scored twice with their goalie pulled in the final 2:39 of regulation, tying the game on Niklas Kronwall’s goal with 38.9 seconds to play.
β James Neal scored a natural hat trick on his bobble head night, and the Nashville Predators edged the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 to become the last NHL team still unbeaten in regulation this season.
β Ryan Miller made 31 saves in his return to St. Louis and the Vancouver Canucks scored three times in the third period to beat the Blues 4-1.
__Minnesota blanked Arizona 2-0. Darcy Kuemper (KEHM’-pur) made 26 saves for his third shutout of the season for the Wild.
β Calgary blanked Carolina 5-0. Jonas (YOH’-nahs) Hiller got the shutout with 16 saves.
β Columbus rallied for a 5-4 win at San Jose. Mark Letestu (leh-TEHS’-too) scored twice, including the game-winner with 20.7 seconds left.
PGA
Crowded at the top
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Georgia (AP) β There’s a four-way tie for the lead after the opening round at the PGA’s McGladrey Classic in Georgia. Brian Harman, Michael Thompson Will MacKenzie and Erik Compton are all tied at 5-under after shooting 65’s.
Several players are tied at minus-4.
LPGA-CHINA
Heavy rain washes out play
HAINAN ISLAND, China (AP) β Heavy rain washed out play Friday in the Blue Bay LPGA, forcing tour officials to cut the inaugural tournament from 72 to 54 holes.
Jessica Korda topped the leaderboard after the first round at 6-under 66. The 21-year-old American had yet to start the second round when play was called off.
Michelle Wie and Chinese star Shanshan Feng were a stroke back long with American Brittany Lang, South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, England’s Jodi Ewart-Shadoff and Germany’s Caroline Masson.
The start of play was delayed 2 1/2 hours and the first group was only able to complete six holes before play was suspended.
