Tigers sweep Yanks to reach Fall Classic…Cards take control of NLCS
UNDATED (AP) — The Tigers are headed to their first World Series in six years following last night’s 8-1 pounding in the Yankees that completed a four-game ALCS sweep. It will be Detroit’s 11th appearance in the Fall Classic.
Miguel Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta belted two-run homers off New York ace CC Sabathia in the fourth inning to get things rolling. Sabathia was charged with six runs in three and two-thirds innings of work.
Tigers starter Max Scherzer lost a no-hit bid in the sixth inning. He struck out 10 in his five and two-thirds innings. Scherzer and three relievers combined on a two-hitter.
The Yankees exit the 2012 postseason having batted an anemic .188 overall. They scored in just three of the 39 innings in the ALCS and were outhit by Detroit 46-22.
The Tigers will get some rest before the World Series, which opens Wednesday night in either St. Louis or San Francisco.
The Cardinals are a win away from a return trip to the Fall Classic. The defending champions beat visiting San Francisco 8-3 to grab a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven NLCS.
Adam Wainwright gave up a run and four hits over seven innings and combined with Fernando Salas on a six-hitter.
Matt Holliday, Jon Jay and Yadier Molina had two RBIs apiece to lead a 12-hit outburst by a team that batted just .198 through the first three games of the series.
The Cardinals roughed up Tim Lincecum, who left after four and two-third innings, allowing four runs on six hits.
The Cards will send out 18-game winner Lance Lynn to the mound tonight in hopes of clinching in front of a home crowd. The Giants are going with Barry Zito, who was 15-8 in the regular season.
Surgery for slugger
ANAHEIM Calif. (AP) — Albert Pujols had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last week. The Los Angeles Angels first baseman should be ready for the start of spring training. The Angels on Thursday confirmed the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s report on the surgery, describing it as a minor cleanup procedure.
Pujols overcame a slow start to hit .285 with 30 homers and 105 RBIs in his first season with the Angels after leaving the Cardinals for a 10-year, $240 million deal as a free agent.
Niners take division lead
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The 49ers are alone atop the NFC West, at least for now.
Alex Smith threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Delanie Walker late in the third quarter and San Francisco held on to beat visiting Seattle 13-6 in the NFL’s Week 7 opener.
The Niners improve to 5-2 while the Seahawks fall to 4-3. Division-rival Arizona is 4-2 head into Sunday’s game at Minnesota.
Frank Gore ran for 116 yards and Smith finished 14 of 23 for 140 yards in another subpar performance.
NFC rushing leader Marshawn Lynch finished with 103 yards for Seattle.
No. 2 Ducks overwhelm Sun Devils 43-21
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — There is also Top-25 college football played Thursday night, but it wasn’t much of a contest. The high-flying and second-ranked Oregon Ducks built a 43-7 lead in the second quarter and routed Arizona State 43-21. The 7-0 Ducks kept their unbeaten record and national championship hopes intact. The Sun Devils fell to 5-2 and 3-1 in the Pac-12 South.
The Ducks amassed more than 400 yards on the ground. Kenjon Barner ran for 143 yards and three TDs. Quarterback Marcus Mariota added 135 yards rushing, and an 86-yard touchdown run. He also threw one touchdown and caught a TD pass.
This is the 20th straight game the Ducks have scored at least 30 points.
Heroin killed Reid
EASTON, Pa. (AP) — A coroner says an accidental heroin overdose killed Garrett Reid, the son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid.
Garrett Reid was found dead in his dorm room on Aug. 5 at Lehigh University in Easton, where he was assisting the team’s strength and conditioning coach during training camp.
He was a recovering drug addict who had seemingly turned his life around. His father had indicated that his 29-year-old son may have had a relapse.
Suggs still eyeing 2012 debut
UNDATED (AP) — Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs hasn’t ruled out the possibility of making his season debut Sunday against the Houston Texans.
The notion seems far-fetched, given that Suggs practiced for the first time Wednesday after undergoing surgery in May on his torn right Achilles tendon.
Suggs is the 2011 NFL defensive player of the year and a five-time Pro Bowl performer.
In other NFL news:
— Redskins coach Mike Shanahan says injured receiver Pierre Garcon is a “long shot” to play against the New York Giants on Sunday. Garcon missed practice a second day in a row to get treatment for the painful swelling on the bottom of a right toe.
— The Minnesota Vikings held Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen out of practice as a precaution because of minor injuries, but expect to have both available against Arizona on Sunday. Peterson has been playing through a sprained left ankle for the last few weeks while Allen is bothered by a groin injury.
— Buffalo Bills starting right guard Kraig Urbik will miss his third straight game because of a right ankle injury.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
San Francisco at St. Louis 7:07 p.m.
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PRESEASON
Indiana at Orlando 6:00 p.m.
New York at Toronto 6:00 p.m.
Philadelphia at Brooklyn 6:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Chicago 7:00 p.m.
Phoenix vs Oklahoma City 7:00 p.m., Bank of Oklahoma Center
Golden State at Portland 9:00 p.m.
Sacramento at L-A Lakers 9:00 p.m.
The Nebraska Supreme Court has reversed a lower appeals court’s opinion that a Lincoln man convicted of two counts of attempted sexual assault should get a new trial.
