MLB-PLAYOFFS
Indians, Blue Jays take series-opening victories
UNDATED (AP) — The Indians won a battle of the long ball in taking Game 1 of their American League Division Series against the Red Sox in Cleveland.
Roberto Perez, Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor (lihn-DOHR') each hit solo homers in the third inning of the Indians' 5-4 triumph over Boston. Perez tied the game by homering in his first career postseason at-bat before Kipnis and Lindor added back-to-back blasts. The power surge occurred shortly after Andrew Benintendi's solo blast gave Boston a 2-1 advantage in the top of the third.
Kipnis was 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Indians' 10-hit attack. Sandy Leon and Brock Holt belted solo shots for the Bosox.
Neither starting pitcher got out of the fifth inning. Bosox hurler Rick Porcello was tagged for five runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings after winning a major league-leading 22 games during the regular season. Trevor Bauer gave up three runs and six hits before he was pulled with two outs in the fifth.
Andre Miller worked two innings of scoreless relief to get the win. Cody Allen closed out the victory with a five-out save. Porcello took the loss.
Friday's Game 2 matchup is a good one with former Cy Young award winners Corey Kluber (KLOO'-bur) taking the mound for the Indians against David Price.
Toronto also took the opener of its AL Division Series against Texas.
Cole Hamels entered the game 7-5 with a tidy 3.03 ERA in 15 career postseason starts before the Blue Jays tagged him for seven runs over 3 1/3 innings of the Blue Jays' 10-1 laugher against the Rangers in Texas. Hamels was lifted after Josh Donaldson's RBI single put Toronto ahead 7-0 in the fourth.
Ian Desmond added to Hamels' misery by misplaying a fly ball into a bases-loaded triple by Troy Tulowitzki (too-loh-IHTS'-kee), capping the Blue Jays' five-run third. Desmond also went 0-for-4 and made the game's final out.
Estrada sailed against the Rangers, carrying a three-hitter into the ninth before Elvis Andrus (AN'-droos) tripled and scored on Shin-Soo Choo's grounder. Estrada was reached for just four hits over 8 1/3 innings and improved to 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA lifetime in the postseason.
Jose Bautista had a productive day at the plate, launching a three-run homer in the ninth to finish with four RBIs. Melvin Upton Jr. hit a solo blast for the Blue Jays, who won a five-game series against Texas in last year's division series.
Game 2 is Friday in Texas. The Blue Jays will start 20-game winner J.A. Happ against Yu Darvish, who went 7-5 this season after recovering from Tommy John surgery and subsequent elbow issues.
NLDS-NATIONALS
Nats expect Murphy to play against Dodgers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals manager Dusty Baker says he expects All-Star second baseman Daniel Murphy to be in his starting lineup this afternoon for Game 1 of the National League Division Series Friday against the visiting Dodgers.
Murphy hasn't started a game since Sept. 17 because of a strained glute muscle. He was the Nats' Triple Crown leader this year, finishing second in the league with a team-high .347 average and pacing the club with 25 home runs and 104 RBIs.
Max Scherzer pitches for Washington against Clayton Kershaw in the opener, and Rich Hill will start for Los Angeles in Game 2 on Saturday. Baker says the Nationals haven't decided who will start the second game.
The San Francisco Gians Face the Chicago Cubs in the night game.
BOSTON (AP) — It's official, Massachusetts has named a bridge in honor of retiring Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a spending bill Thursday that includes the provision designating the span over the Massachusetts Turnpike as the David Ortiz "Big Papi" Bridge. The bridge runs along Brookline Avenue, starting near Fenway Park.
NFL-CARDINALS/49ERS
Cardinals beat mistake-prone Niners
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals are 2-3 after taking advantage of various miscues by the San Francisco 49ers.
The Cardinals scored 17 points off three Niners turnovers to post a 33-21 triumph against San Francisco. Those three scoring drives totaled just 41 yards but were enough to send the 49ers to their fourth loss in five games.
Arizona quarterback Drew Stanton struggled while starting in place of Carson Palmer, who remains in the concussion protocol. Stanton misfired on 17 of his 28 passes but managed to hit Larry Fitzgerald for a pair of touchdowns. Fitzgerald had six catches for 81 yards.
David Johnson ran for 157 yards and a pair of Cardinals touchdowns on 27 carries to highlight either team's offense. Arizona also took advantage of a fumbled kickoff return by Chris Davis, leading to Johnson's four-yard TD that put the Cardinals ahead to stay.
Niners QB Blaine Gabbert threw a touchdown pass and ran for another but was picked off twice. Gabbert also was sacked in the end zone for a safety.
Sunday’s NFL matchups include Tom Brady’s return to the Patriots and the take on The Browns in Cleveland, the Jets face the Steelers, The Bills face the Rams and the Giants battle the Packers in the night game.
NFL-FINES
NFL fines three Bills
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Three Buffalo defensive backs say they have been fined by the NFL for their involvement in a pregame, on-field altercation with members of the Patriots last weekend.
Safety Robert Blanton says he was fined $21,000, while cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman says he was fined $10,000. Safety Aaron Williams hasn't disclosed how much he was fined.
Several punches were thrown during a shoving match between players and coaches that erupted about an hour before kickoff.
The Bills handed the Pats their first loss of the season, 16-0, New England's first-ever shutout loss at Gillette Stadium.
T25-FOOTBALL
Gators, Tigers postponed
UNDATED (AP) — Saturday's Top-25 game between No. 18 Florida and LSU has been postponed because of Hurricane Matthew. The storm has already been blamed for more than 100 deaths and is threatening the southeastern U.S. coast.
The Southeastern Conference says efforts will be made to reschedule the Florida home game, though the Gators and Tigers do not have a common open date.
Also in the SEC, South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said his team's home game with Georgia has been moved from Saturday night to Sunday because of Hurricane Matthew.
Meanwhile, Saturday's game between Florida Atlantic and Charlotte has been pushed back to Sunday. The Tulane at Central Florida game will be played next month instead of Friday. And Saturday night's ACC battle between 23rd-ranked Florida State and No. 10 Miami remains on the top-25 docket but could be moved.
NASCAR-CHARLOTTE QUALIFYING
Harvick takes top spot
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Harvick has earned the pole for Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Harvick turned a lap at 196.029 mph to earn the top starting spot. He nosed out Alex Bowman, the replacement driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Chase Elliott qualified third, followed by Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart and AJ Allmendinger.
It's the opening race of the second round of NASCAR's playoffs.
NHL-KINGS-GABORIK
Kings Gaborik sidelined
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Kings have placed right wing Marian Gaborik (GA'-bor-ihk) on injured reserve with a broken right foot.
He's expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks, keeping the Slovak goal-scorer out of the Kings' lineup until late November.
The 34-year old Gaborik was injured while playing for Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey last month.
NHL-PENS VISIT OBAMA
President welcomes NHL champs
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has welcomed the NHL champion Pittsburgh Penguins to the White House.
He noted how the Pens were closer to last place in late December than first before turning their season around. He also pointed out that in his eight years of welcoming Stanley Cup champions to the White House, all of the teams have been based in the U.S., a point he has kidded Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (troo-DOH') about.
LPGA-TAIWAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Japan's Yokomine has the lead
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Japan's Sakura Yokomine shot a 5-under 67 to take the lead after the opening round of the LPGA's Taiwan Championship.
She has a one-shot edge over Paula Creamer, Amy Yang and Brooke Henderson.
The 30-year-old Yokomine is winless in two seasons on the LPGA Tour after winning 23 times on the Japan LPGA Tour.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
AMERICAN LEAGUE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Toronto | 10 | Texas | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Cleveland | 5 | Boston | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PRESEASON | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Indiana | 115 | Chicago | 108 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Final 2OT | Washington | 125 | Philadelphia | 119 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Boston | 107 | Charlotte | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Brooklyn | 101 | Detroit | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Atlanta | 104 | Memphis | 83 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Golden State | 105 | Sacramento | 96 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PRESEASON | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Boston | 2 | Columbus | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Philadelphia | 4 | N-Y Rangers | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Montreal | 6 | Toronto | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Edmonton | 5 | Winnipeg | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Final | Vancouver | 4 | Calgary | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tampa Bay | at | Florida | 7:30 p.m. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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