Yanks and Nats take openers…Tigers and Reds gain 2-0 leads
UNDATED (AP) — After waiting out a lengthy rain delay, the New York Yankees pinned a 7-2 loss on the Orioles in Game 1 of their AL Division Series.
It was a lot closer than the score might indicate.
Russell Martin’s leadoff home run in the top of the ninth inning snapped a 2-2 tie and triggered a five-run outburst.
Yankee ace CC Sabathia allowed two runs and eight hits in 8 2-3 innings to help the Bronx Bombers take the edge off Baltimore’s first home playoff game since 1997.
The two teams will be back on the field in Camden Yards tonight for Game 2 in the best-of-seven series. Yanks starter Andy Pettitte will bring 42 games of playoff experience into tonight’s outing. Orioles rookie Wei-Yin Chen will be making his postseason debut.
The Tigers overcame three A’s leads and beat the Athletics 5-4 to grab a 2-0 advantage in their best-of-five AL Division Series.
The outcome was in doubt until the last swing of the bat. Detroit’s Don Kelly snapped a 4-4 tie with a ninth-inning sacrifice fly after the Athletics intentionally walked Prince Fielder to load the bases. Kelly was inserted as a pinch runner in the eighth inning and scored the tying run on a wild pitch.
Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera doubled twice for the Tigers, hit a fly ball in the seventh inning that resulted in a two-run error by A’s outfielder Coco Crisp and singled in the ninth.
The Tigers will go for the sweep on Tuesday in Oakland, where they’ll also play games 4 and 5, if necessary.
The Nationals rallied to a 3-2 victory over the Cardinals in Game 1 of their National League Division Series. Tyler Moore’s two-run pinch-hit single in the top of the eighth proved to be the game winner. It’s the first postseason victory for a Washington-based baseball team since 1933.
The Nationals overcame a wild start by 21-game winner Gio Gonzalez, then watched their bullpen shut down St. Louis in the late innings. Gonzalez walked seven and hit a batter in his five innings. But the Cardinals managed just three hits all day.
Game 2 of this series is scheduled for this afternoon in Busch Stadium. The Nats send Jordan Zimmermann to the mound against Jaime Garcia.
The visiting Reds routed the Giants 9-zip to grab a 2-0 lead in their NLDS. Bronson Arroyo and two relievers combined on the two-hitter.
Arroyo limited San Francisco to one hit over seven dominating innings. Ryan Ludwick homered and Ryan Hanigan drove in three runs for Cincinnati. They’ll play Game 3 in the Queen City on Tuesday.
Falcons fly to 5-0…Brees gets TD record and a victory
UNDATED (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are 5-0 for the first time in franchise history. Michael Turner ran for a 13-yard touchdown with 2:46 left to give the Falcons a hard-fought 24-17 win at Washington. The Redskins eighth straight home loss leaves them at 2-3.
Winning quarterback Matt Ryan completed 34 of 52 pass attempts for 345 yards. Tight end Tony Gonzalez caught 13 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Redskins signal caller Robert Griffin III left the game early in the third quarter after being hit in the head. Coach Mike Shanahan said RGIII suffered a mild concussion and he will be re-evaluated Monday.
Besides Atlanta, the only other undefeated team is Houston. The Texans play at the New York Jets on Monday night.
In other Week 5 action:
__ In the Sunday night game, New Orleans QB Drew Brees tossed four TD passes in the Saints’ 31-24 win over San Diego, their first win of the season. In the process, Brees set an NFL record with touchdown passes in 48 straight games, breaking the mark set by Johnny Unitas a half-century ago. The record-setting scoring strike was a 40-yard pass to Devery Henderson in the first quarter. Brees finished 29 of 45 for 370 yards.
__ With their coach Chuck Pagano being treated for leukemia, the Indianapolis Colts gutted out a 30-27 win over Green Bay. Rookie QB Andrew Luck hit Reggie Wayne with a 4-yard TD pass with 35 seconds left for the winning score. The Colts are 2-2.
__ The San Francisco 49ers put it all together in their 45-3 rout of Buffalo. The Niners amassed a franchise-record 621 yards total offense, with Alex Smith throwing for 303 and three TDs. Frank Gore ran for 106 yards and a TD.
__ The New York Giants roared back from an early 14-0 hole to wallop Cleveland 41-27. Victor Cruz caught three TDs. Ahmad Bradshaw ran for a season-high 200 yards for the 3-2 Giants.
__Minnesota is a surprising 4-1 after routing Tennessee 30-7, dropping the Titans to 1-3. Percy Harvin had one TD rushing and caught a TD pass.
__ Pittsburgh won Pennsylvania bragging rights after beating visiting Philadelphia 16-14 on Shaun Suisham’s 34-yard field goal as time expired. The Steelers are 2-2.
__ In a low-scoring tussle, Baltimore used three Justin Tucker field goals to beat Kansas City to improve to 4-1.
__ After suffering back-to-back overtime losses, the visiting Dolphins hung on to beat the Bengals 17-14. Rookie Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill threw for 223 yards.
— Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs returned interceptions for touchdowns — their second in six days — and the Chicago Bears used stifling defense to overwhelm the Jacksonville Jaguars 41-3.
__ Seattle improved to 3-2 by rallying for a 16-12 road victory at Carolina. Russell Wilson threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate with 35 seconds left in the third quarter.
Wild finish at Talladega
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — A spectacular last-lap crash allowed Matt Kenseth to grab the checkered flag at Talladega Superspeedway. Defending NASCAR champion Tony Stewart triggered a 25-car pileup as he tried to protect the lead. His bid to block a long line of traffic on the last lap backfired, and his car was sent sailing through the air in a chaotic crash that collected 10 of the 12 title contenders.
Jeff Gordon finished second and Kyle Busch was third.
Points leader Brad Keselowski was seventh, increasing his advantage over Jimmie Johnson to 14 points.
AP source: talks resuming this week
NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL and the players’ association are expected to resume labor negotiations this week in New York.
The sides are likely to meet Wednesday and Thursday in New York, a union spokesman told The Associated Press in an email. The plans and the agenda are expected to be worked out Monday.
Officials on both sides were in contact over the weekend, leading to the meetings.
The lockout is entering its fourth week. The NHL canceled the first two weeks of the regular season Thursday, wiping out 82 games from Oct. 11-24.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Detroit 5 Oakland 4
N-Y Yankees 7 Baltimore 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Washington 3 St. Louis 2
Cincinnati 9 San Francisco 0
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Atlanta 24 Washington 17
Baltimore 9 Kansas City 6
N-Y Giants 41 Cleveland 27
Indianapolis 30 Green Bay 27
Miami 17 Cincinnati 13
Pittsburgh 16 Philadelphia 14
Chicago 41 Jacksonville 3
Seattle 16 Carolina 12
San Francisco 45 Buffalo 3
New England 31 Denver 21
Minnesota 30 Tennessee 7
New Orleans 31 San Diego 24
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PRESEASON
Charlotte 100 Washington 88
Atlanta 92 Miami 79
New Orleans 85 Orlando 80
Golden State 110 L-A Lakers 83