Seager still going deep in Texas, helps send Rangers to ALCS with sweep of 101-win Orioles
Corey Seager and Adolis Garcรญa homered early, Nathan Eovaldi pitched seven smooth innings in another playoff clincher and the Texas Rangers completed an AL Division Series sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 7-1 victory in Game 3.
Seager still going deep in Texas, helps send Rangers to ALCS with sweep of 101-win Orioles
Corey Seager and Adolis Garcรญa homered early, Nathan Eovaldi pitched seven smooth innings in another playoff clincher and the Texas Rangers completed an AL Division Series sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 7-1 victory in Game 3.
AP Exclusive: MLB suspends political donations after DC riot
The National Football League said it will reconsider its donations but did not commit to suspending them. โWe are re-evaluating our political giving policies through the Gridiron PAC,โ NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the AP in a statement Wednesday. Others, like MLB, have postponed political giving to both political parties altogether. The Office of The Commissioner of Major League Baseball Political Action Committee has donated $669,375 to Senate and House candidates since the 2016 election cycle, with 52.4% of that money going to Republican candidates, according to The Center for Responsive Politics. Since the 2016 election cycle, MLB has made contributions to two senators and nine representatives who were among those opposing certification of Biden's victory.
Bad-boy Astros, fun-loving Rays set to face off in ALCS
The Astros are in the ALCS for the fourth straight year, looking for a third trip to the World Series in that span. The Rays are trying to get to their second World Series after losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. You start fresh and go from there,โ said George Springer, MVP of the 2017 World Series. Bakerโs San Francisco Giants lost to the Angels in seven games in the 2002 World Series. The former big league catcher played parts of eight seasons with five teams, including 20 games with the Astros in 2010.
Yankees come up short again in Game 5 loss to Rays
(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)SAN DIEGO โ When the New York Yankees needed their star-studded lineup to produce runs in an elimination playoff game, they got three hits. And when the Yankees needed their superstar closer to shut down the Tampa Bay Rays, Aroldis Chapman gave up a homer to an undrafted infielder who had never gone yard in a playoff game. New York's season came to a crashing end in San Diego on Friday night with a 2-1 loss in Game 5 of the AL Division Series. LeMahieu, Stanton, Luke Voit, Gio Urshela and Brett Gardner all went hitless in the Yankees' biggest game of the season. Brosseau and the Rays got the definitive last laugh, and the Yankees won't be able to answer until next year.
Brosseau homer off Chapman lifts Rays over Yanks, into ALCS
(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)SAN DIEGO โ Mike Brosseau said he wasn't seeking revenge against hard-throwing Aroldis Chapman, just the chance to keep playing. Brosseau drove a 100 mph fastball into the left field seats at Petco Park for the Rays' third hit. Brosseau and Chapman have a history: Chapman threw a 101 mph fastball near Brosseauโs head Sept. 1 in the ninth inning of a Raysโ 5-3 victory. After winning the AL Division Series 3-2, Tampa Bay will stay in San Diego to face the Houston Astros in the AL Championship Series starting Sunday night. Tampa Bay was eliminated by the Astros in the ALDS last year.
LEADING OFF: Rays thwart Yankees, seek revenge vs Astros
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow celebrates after Game 5 of the baseball team's AL Division Series against the New York Yankees, Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, in San Diego. Tampa Bay won 2-1 to advance to the AL Championship Series. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:___REVENGE RAYSThe Tampa Bay Rays have more revenge in mind heading to the AL Championship Series. FINAL PREPARATIONSBaseball's postseason gets a full day off from games before the AL Championship Series opens Sunday. Tickets are already sold out for the opener of the neutral-site NL Championship Series between the Braves and Dodgers, although plenty are available on the secondary market.
LEADING OFF: Yanks' Cole, Rays' Glasnow tabbed for Game 5
A look at what's happening around the majors today:___WINNER-TAKE-ALLYankees ace Gerrit Cole and towering Tampa Bay righty Tyler Glasnow will both pitch on short rest in the deciding Game 5 of their AL Division Series. Cole earned the victory in Game 1 despite allowing two home runs, and heโll appear on three daysโ rest after throwing 97 pitches. The 6-foot-8 Glasnow will be pitching on two daysโ rest after striking out 10 in Game 2. โI havenโt really talked about innings or anything like that,โ Glasnow said after New York won 5-1 Thursday to force Game 5. The Rays are trying to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2008, when they made it to their only World Series.
Correa powers Astros past Aโs 11-6 to clinch ALDS
Carlos Correa hit a go-ahead, three-run homer after Michael Brantleyโs two-run shot in the fourth inning, helping the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 11-6 on Thursday to clinch their home-run heavy AL Division Series in four games. The Astros and Aโs combined for 24 homers โ 12 each โ the most in a postseason series of five games or less. The Astros' sign-stealing scheme used during their title run was revealed last year by former teammate and current Aโs pitcher Mike Fiers, who didnโt pitch in this postseason series. The scandal led to season-long suspensions of Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch, who both were fired. Brantley added a solo shot in the fifth and Altuve had a two-run blast in the seventh that extended the Astros' lead to 11-4.
Springer hits 2 HRs, Astros beat Aโs 5-2 for 2-0 ALDS lead
Springer put Houston ahead to stay with a two-run, two-out drive in the third on a second straight 90-degree day at Dodger Stadium. Yusmeiro Petit came in and promptly gave up Springerโs second homer of the game, extending Houstonโs lead to 5-2. Springerโs 17 postseason homers tied Nelson Cruz and Jim Thome for most through a playerโs first 54 career postseason games. Five of Springerโs postseason homers have come at Dodger Stadium, where the Astros beat the Dodgers in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. Chris Bassitt didnโt get out of the fourth in Game 1, allowing three runs and nine hits in Wednesdayโs defeat.
LEADING OFF: Garcรญa youngest Yankees postseason starter
Heโll surpass Hall of Famer Whitey Ford, who was nearly 22 when he started Game 4 of the 1950 World Series against the Phillies, as the youngest postseason starter for New York. LONG AND SHORTCarlos Correa and the Houston Astros look to grab a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five Division Series against AL West champion Oakland. The Padres hadn't said whether starters Dinelson Lamet and Mike Clevinger will be healthy enough to crack their NL Division Series roster and pitch against the Dodgers. BRAVE NEW WORLDThe Braves are back in the NL Division Series for a third straight year but havenโt advanced to the NL Championship Series since 2001. Theyโre hoping they can hold off the upstart Marlins, who have never lost a postseason series.
LEADING OFF: Cubs' Darvish tries to save season vs Marlins
A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:___TRY AGAINThe Cubs and Marlins resume their series a day after poor weather caused a postponement at Wrigley Field. He wasnโt in the starting lineup for Thursdayโs postponed game, but manager Don Mattingly had not ruled out using him. The ace right-hander was a steady presence for the Cubs throughout the pandemic-shortened season, joining the NL Cy Young Award conversation. The Marlins will counter with 22-year-old Sixto Sรกnchez, who debuted Aug. 22 and posted a 3.46 ERA in seven starts. โThatโs the thing.โThe Braves wonโt play again until Tuesday, when theyโll open an NL Division Series against either the Cubs or Marlins in Houston.