Can the Giants do it again?
UNDATED (AP) — Major League Baseball is going to have a third winner-take-all game in four postseason series, and it’ll be played tonight in San Francisco.
The Giants pushed the NLCS to a decisive seventh game by beating the visiting Cardinals 6-1. It’s San Francisco’s second straight win with their backs to the wall and fifth elimination-game victory of the playoffs. They spotted the Reds a 2-00 lead in the best-of-five NLDS before sweeping the final three games in Cincinnati.
The Giants send Matt Cain to the mound. The veteran right-hander got the win in the decisive fifth game of the NLDS but lost to St. Louis in Game 3 of the NLCS in his last appearance.
The Cards are going with Game 3 winner Kyle Lohse.
Panthers boot general manager
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have fired general manager Marty Hurney following the team’s 1-5 start this season.
Panthers owner Jerry Richardson says in release that it was an “extremely difficult decision” and that “Marty made every effort to bring success to the Panthers and took the team to a Super Bowl and two NFC championship games.” He says “unfortunately, we have not enjoyed the success we hoped for in recent years.”
Carolina has not made the playoffs since 2008.
Hurney, the Panthers’ GM since 2002, took responsibility for the team’s failures in the release saying, “I am responsible for everybody in coaching, the players, the scouts and everybody in football operations. After six weeks, we are 1-5 coming off a 6-10 season.”
Longstanding rivals close out Week 7
CHICAGO (AP) — The Bears will be trying to solidify their spot atop the NFC North tonight when they host the division-rival Lions. Chicago is 4-1 coming off its bye week. The Lions halted a three-game losing streak last week by rallying for an overtime victory against Philadelphia and are 2-3.
Emotions boiled over the last time these two teams met at Soldier Field while the Bears were beating the Lions 37-13, and it’s a good bet sparks will be flying again tonight.
Taking care of the ball will be one of Detroit’s biggest priorities. Chicago’s opportunistic defense is tied with undefeated Atlanta for most takeaways in the league, with 13 interceptions and four fumble recoveries. The Bears overall defense is tops in the conference while their offense is dead last. The Lions have the second-best defense in the NFC and their offense is ranked 11th in the 16-team conference.
Wildcats pass Ducks
NEW YORK (AP) — Kansas State has moved ahead of Oregon for No. 3 in the new BCS poll, behind SEC rivals Alabama and Florida.
The Wildcats’ big victory Saturday at West Virginia was enough to nudge them past the Ducks, who are No. 2 in both polls but are getting held back by computer ratings that lag behind the other highly ranked teams.
The Crimson Tide is still solidly in first, and Florida grabbed a firmer grip on second with a 44-11 victory over South Carolina on Saturday.
The Gators are tops in the computer ratings and Kansas State is second. The Wildcats beat West Virginia 55-14 for their third Big 12 road victory.
Fourth-place Oregon is coming off a 43-21 win at Arizona State and sits sixth in the computer ratings.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
St. Louis at San Francisco 7:07 p.m.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Detroit at Chicago 7:30 p.m.
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PRESEASON
Milwaukee at Toronto 6:00 p.m.
New York at Philadelphia 6:00 p.m.
New Orleans at Dallas 7:30 p.m.
Sacramento at Phoenix 9:00 p.m.
Utah at Portland 9:00 p.m.
Golden State at L-A Clippers 9:30 p.m.