Cards take 2-1 series lead…Yanks-Tigers rained out in Detroit
UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have taken a 2-1 lead in the NL Championship Series by outlasting the San Francisco Giants 3-1 in a game that was interrupted by a three and a-half hour rain delay at Busch Stadium.
The big hit was a Matt Carpenter two-run homer for the Cards in the third inning. Carpenter entered the game as a replacement for Carlos Beltran, who was taken out after grounding out in the first inning. The Cards say Beltran has a strained knee and his status is uncertain for Game 4.
Cards starter Kyle Lohse got the win despite a ragged start. He allowed seven hits and five walks and one run in five and two-thirds innings. The Cards bullpen was lights out. Four Cards relievers hurled three and a-third shutout innings, with Jason Motte getting the two-inning save.
Game 4 is tonight at Busch Stadium. Tim Lincecum, who was 10-15 in the regular season, opposes the Cards’ Adam Wainwright, who was 14-13 during the year.
The Detroit Tigers can clinch a spot in the World Series with a win over the Yankees in the Motor City this afternoon when Game 4 of the ALCS is scheduled after last night’s rainout. It’s CC Sabathia for the New Yorkers against Max Scherzer of the Tigers, who hold a 3-0 series lead.
Yankee manager Joe Girardi’s lineup for Game 3 had Alex Rodriguez and center fielder Curtis Granderson out of the starting lineup. Eric Chavez was scheduled in place of A-Rod at third base. Brett Gardner was scheduled to start in place of Granderson. Girardi’s lineup also had Nick Swisher back in right field after being benched in Game 3.
Lewis could return
UNDATED (AP) — Ray Lewis has been placed on injured reserve with the “designated to return” tag, which provides him the chance to play again this season. The Pro Bowl veteran tore his right triceps in Sunday’s game against Dallas. His return this season is unlikely, but by being designated to return, the 37-year-old is eligible to come back in six weeks.
The loss of Lewis was balanced somewhat by the return of linebacker Terrell Suggs, who practiced yesterday for the first time this season. Suggs has been out with a torn right Achillies tendon.
Love out up to two months…Kings retain two young stars
UNDATED (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Love will miss the next six to eight weeks after breaking his right hand in a workout. The team says the two-time All-Star broke the third and fourth metacarpals on his shooting hand during a morning workout. It’s a crushing blow to the Timberwolves, who already will be without point guard Ricky Rubio for at least the first six weeks while he recovers from a torn ACL in his left knee.
In other NBA news:
— The Sacramento Kings exercised the 2013-14 contract options of center DeMarcus Cousins and guard Jimmer Fredette. Cousins is entering his third NBA season and averaged 18.1 points and a team-high 11.0 rebounds per game last season. Fredette averaged 7.6 points per game as a rookie out of BYU last season.
Irish QB returns…Spurrier may bench tackle after punch
UNDATED (AP) — Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson has been cleared by doctors to practice after he sustained a concussion in last week’s Stanford game. Now that he’s cleared to practice, Golson is expected to start Saturday when the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish play BYU in South Bend.
Golson left Notre Dame’s 20-13 overtime victory against Stanford on Saturday late in the fourth quarter when he took a helmet-to-helmet hit.
In other college football news:
— South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier says he’ll discipline defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles for throwing a punch at an LSU player last week. Spurrier said in his weekly teleconference that the discipline would probably involve missing game time. A video on YouTube shows Quarles punching LSU center P.J. Lonergan in the facemask after a first-quarter play in the Tigers’ 23-21 victory.
Earnhardt may soon be back behind the wheel
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s sister says NASCAR’s most popular driver could be back racing next week at Martinsville Speedway. Earnhardt will miss his second consecutive race Sunday at Kansas because of two concussions suffered in a six-week span.
Kelley Earnhardt Miller wrote in a post on JRNation.com that Earnhardt is on schedule to test a car early next week. If all goes well, she says he can race again Oct. 28 at Martinsville.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
St. Louis 3 San Francisco 1
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PRESEASON
Philadelphia 113 Cleveland 99
Toronto 104 Washington 101
Houston 109 Memphis 102
Phoenix 100 Dallas 94
Portland 97 Denver 80
Golden State 98 Sacramento 88
L-A Clippers 96 Utah 94