The World Series is tied at a game apiece after Brandon Lowe broke out of a three-week slump. Lowe homered twice and had three RBIs as the Rays downed the Dodgers, 6-4.
He put the Rays ahead with a first-inning blast and added a two-run shot that made it 5-0 in the fifth. Lowe was hitting just .107 this postseason, including an 0-for-4 performance in Game 1. Joey Wendle laced a two-run double and a sacrifice fly for Tampa Bay, which bounced back from Tuesday's 8-3 loss. Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell had a no-hitter until Chris Taylor unloaded a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth. Snell followed that with a walk and another hit before leaving the game without a chance to pick up the victory. Will Smith hit a solo homer in the sixth and Corey Seager did likewise in the eighth before the Rays' bullpen closed it out. Diego Castillo struck out the only batter he faced to pick up the save. Tony Gonsolin took the loss. The series continues Friday.
NFL
Jets quarterback Sam Darnold returned to practice for the first time since spraining his throwing shoulder. He could have a chance to play Sunday against the Bills after missing the last two games. And a person with direct knowledge of the deal says the Jets have traded outside linebacker Jordan Willis to the 49ers. The Jets are also sending a 2021 seventh-round draft pick to the 49ers for a sixth-round selection in 2022.
The Mafia is becoming legitimate in Buffalo — the Bills Mafia that is. The NFL team last week filed an application to trademark its fan base’s adopted nickname in preparation to launch a series of branded merchandise and apparel available at its store and sold online. The nickname first became popular in 2011 and for years was considered taboo by the Bills and NFL because of its connotation of organized crime. Now, the phrase will be featured on everything from T-shirts to potentially pajamas, and available as early as this week.
In other NFL news:
The Carolina Panthers have added kicker Joey Slye and offensive tackle Trent Scott to the COVID-19 reserve list, bringing their total number of players on the list to four. Scott becomes the third reserve offensive lineman to be placed on the COVID-19/reserve list in the last six days, joining Tyler Larsen and Michael Schofield. The moves don't necessarily mean those players have tested positive; they could have come in close contact with someone who has tested positive. The Panthers practiced as usual Wednesday in preparation for their game Sunday at New Orleans.
The Raiders sent all five starting offensive linemen home as part of coronavirus contact tracing after right tackle Trent Brown was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list with a positive test. The Raiders held practice without their starting five as they prepare for a home game against Tampa Bay.
A'Shawn Robinson has been designated to return to practice with the Rams this week. He's been on the non-football injury list for unspecified reasons at the start of training camp. The decision moves the new defensive tackle closer to his debut for Los Angeles.
Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores says he regrets that his players found out about the team's switch to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa through social media rather than from him. Tagovailoa, the fifth pick in the April draft, will make his first NFL start on Nov. 1 against the Los Angeles Rams after the Dolphins' bye this week.
Washington will allow only friends and family in attendance at FedEx Field on Sunday against the Cowboys, even after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan allowed teams to fill outdoor stadiums to 10% capacity. At 10% capacity, roughly 8,000 fans would be allowed, something that remains possible later this season.
Veteran defensive end/linebacker Aaron Lynch has unretired and been reinstated to Jacksonville's roster. Lynch walked away in August after just a few days of training camp.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
LSU has self-imposed penalties for NCAA rules violations by the football program that include a reduction of scholarships and a two-year ban from its athletic facilities for Browns star and former Tigers receiver Odell Beckham Jr. That's according to a report by Sports Illustrated. LSU acknowledged it was working with the NCAA and had self-imposed penalties but provided no other details. Beckham was seen handing out cash to LSU players on the field after last year's College Football Playoff national championship game, a violation that is considered minor. A more serious violation involves an LSU booster paying $180,000 that was embezzled from a charity to the father of a former LSU football player.
NBA
Stan Van Gundy has agreed to become the next coach of the New Orleans Pelicans. He will replace Alvin Gentry, who was let go after the Pelicans went 30-42 this season and missed the playoffs. Van Gundy spent parts of 12 seasons coaching Miami, Orlando and Detroit, winning 58% of his games and going to the playoffs eight times. Now, he gets the chance to work with No. 1 overall draft pick Zion Williamson.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Penn State's Pat Chambers has resigned following an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct by the Nittany Lions' basketball coach. The 49-year-old Chambers had been at the school for nine years and was coming off the team's best season under his directions. Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour said in a statement that assistant coach Jim Ferry was being elevated to interim coach for the coming season. NCAA basketball season starts Nov. 25.
Also, Kentucky has announced that the NCAA and Southeastern Conference have granted transfers Olivier Sarr and Jacob Toppin immediate eligibility to play this season. Both post players provide experience for the Wildcats, whose only returning regular is sophomore forward Keion Brooks Jr. The 7-foot Sarr played three years at Wake Forest and averaged 13.7 points, nine rebounds and 1.2 blocks last season.
GOLF
Former Masters champion Adam Scott has tested positive for the coronavirus and has pulled out of the Zozo Championship at Sherwood. Scott is the second high-profile golfer to test positive in as many weeks. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson tested positive last week in Las Vegas.
In other virus-related developments:
Phil Mickelson was planning to play the Houston Open a week before the Masters. That was before the tournament announced it was selling 2,000 tickets a day. That was enough for Mickelson to say he probably would play on the PGA Champions Tour that week in Phoenix. Mickelson says if the Charles Schwab Cup Championship also has limited spectators, then he probably would go to Houston.
Maria Torres has withdrawn from the LPGA Tour event in Georgia this week because her caddie tested positive for the coronavirus. Torres says she has no symptoms but is self-isolating because of their contact.
NASCAR
Richard Petty Motorsports will enter the next chapter of its storied history with driver Erik Jones. The pairing gives Petty a proven winner to replace Bubba Wallace, who is leaving at the end of the season. His departure could have crippled the cash-strapped Petty organization, but the team instead landed one of the top available talents. Jones was dropped by megateam Joe Gibbs Racing in August after six seasons.
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