MLB:
In baseball, in the National League, the Cubs bested St. Louis 6-4 to advance to the National League Championship Series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Mets 3-1 last night to force a deciding Game 5 in the NL Division series. Clayton Kershaw ended his five-game postseason skid with seven brilliant innings while pitching on three days' rest for the Dodgers. The series shifts back to Dodger Stadium tomorrow night.
In the ALDS in two separate game 5s, Toronto takes on Texas in Canada at 4 and Houston faces the Royals in Kansas City at 8.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno says initial talks have been held with the owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox about the possibility of moving the minor league baseball team to the western Massachusetts city. The mayor said Tuesday during an editorial meeting with The Republican newspaper (http://bit.ly/1LMwZ5w ) that he could envision a stadium for the Triple-A franchise being built in the city's North End.
But he added that any deal would have to make sense financially and logistically for Springfield. The team recently ended its pursuit of waterfront land in downtown Providence for a new stadium. Sarno said the early discussions were with PawSox co-owner Larry Lucchino and Sam Kennedy, chief operating officer of the team's parent club, the Boston Red Sox. Springfield has not hosted professional baseball in 50 years.
In other news:
A person familiar with the process tells The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that Chase Utley's appeal hearing on his two-game suspension has been scheduled for Monday. Major League Baseball suspended the Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman for his rough slide in Game 2 that broke the right leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. Utley was on the bench and didn't play in the Dodgers' 13-7 loss on Monday night.
The Boston Red Sox are counting on shortstop-turned-outfielder Hanley Ramirez to play yet another new position next season: first base. New Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski says the team is committed to playing Ramirez at first. The shift would allow the club to get some value out of the three years and $66 million remaining on Ramirez's contract.
NHL:
In the NHL, Winnipeg beat the Rangers 4-1, Nashville won against New Jersey 3-1, Montreal skated past Pittsburgh 3-2, Florida bested Carolina 4-1, San Jose blanked Washington 5-0, Dallas doubled up Edmonton 4-2, St. Louis edged Calgary 4-3, and it was Vancouver over Los Angeles 3-0.
NBA:
In NBA preseason play, Indiana beat Detroit 101-97, Orlando topped Miami in overtime 95-92, Milwaukee won against Cleveland 110-101, Oklahoma City defeated Dallas 100-88, Houston bested Phoenix in overtime 135-129, Sacramento beat the Lakers 107-100, and it was Denver over Golden State 114-103.
Authorities say former NBA star Lamar Odom was hospitalized after he was found unconscious Tuesday at a Nevada brothel. The 35-year-old Odom was in a Las Vegas hospital Tuesday night and there was no immediate word on his condition, officials said.
The Nye County Sheriff's Department was called at about 3:15 p.m. to Love Ranch in Crystal, Nevada about 70 miles outside of Las Vegas for a report of an unresponsive man needing an ambulance. The 35-year-old played most of his 14-year career in Los Angeles with the Clippers and Lakers. He was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2011, two years before his final game. Odom saw reality TV fame through his four-year marriage to Khloe Kardashian.
Soccer:
Costa Rica beat the listless U.S. 1-0 in an exhibition last night in Harrison, New Jersey. Tim Howard made his first appearance in goal for the United States in 15 months, but was unable to stop the Americans' slide. Joel Campbell scored in the 70th minute for Costa Rica.
NFL:
The Buffalo Bills have signed free-agent quarterback Josh Johnson in a move that raises questions regarding the status of banged-up starter Tyrod Taylor.
Johnson was signed Tuesday, a day after coach Rex Ryan said Taylor was "beat up" following a 14-13 win against Tennessee. Ryan didn't go into specifics, but noted the quarterback will be monitored through the week as Buffalo (3-2) prepares to host Cincinnati (5-0) on Sunday.
Taylor missed one play against Tennessee after turning his left ankle while being tackled after a 24-yard run. Taylor's backup is former starter EJ Manuel.
Johnson was signed a day after being released by Indianapolis. In seven seasons, he has 1,042 yards passing, five touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 29 games, including five starts. The Bills also cut kicker Billy Cundiff.
NCAAF:
Steve Spurrier is now a former football coach.
The 70-year-old Spurrier officially announced his resignation as head coach at South Carolina, saying it was time to leave. The decision comes after the Gamecocks got off to a 2-4 start that includes an 0-4 mark in the SEC.
It caps a half-century in which he won the 1966 Heisman Trophy with Florida, quarterbacked the first 0-14 team in NFL history, revived a moribund Duke program as a first-time head coach, won a national championship with his alma mater and led the Gamecocks to their greatest successes.
South Carolina posted three straight 11-win seasons under Spurrier after never winning more than 10 before his arrival. He went 11-2 as late as 2013, but the Gamecocks followed that with a 6-6 season that caused Spurrier to ponder retirement last winter.
Spurrier was 86-49 with the Gamecocks. He had his greatest success at his alma mater, going 122-27-1 with a national championship at Florida. Spurrier was 228-89-2 in 319 games as a college head coach.
Spurrier has been replaced on an interim basis by co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Shawn Elliott.
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