Not finished yet

UNDATED (AP) — There are still some things to be decided before we get a complete picture of baseball’s fast-approaching playoffs.

The New York Yankees head into tonight’s outing against visiting Boston holding a one-game lead over second-place Baltimore in the AL East with two games left in the regular season. The Orioles take on the Rays at Tampa Bay. The Yanks and O’s have already clinched at least a wild card.

The Oakland Athletics secured at least a wild card berth with last night’s win against Texas and are just one game behind the West-leading Rangers headed into this evening’s matchup in California. The A’s and O’s are tied for the first wild card.

Also tonight in the AL, newly crowned Central champion Detroit is at Kansas City, Chicago plays at Cleveland a night after being eliminated from playoff contention, Toronto hosts Minnesota and the L.A. Angels are at Seattle.

St. Louis can clinch the NL’s second wild card tonight with a win over visiting Cincinnati or a Dodgers loss to West Division champion San Francisco. The Central champion Reds and East-winning Nationals are tied for the best record in the league. Washington hosts Philadelphia.

Elsewhere in the senior circuit, No. 1 wild card Atlanta is at Pittsburgh, the New York Mets play at Miami, Chicago is home to Houston, San Diego is at Milwaukee and Arizona entertains Colorado.

One and done

LONDON (AP) — Jose Maria Olazabal says being European Ryder Cup captain can be “torture” at times and he rules out staying on for another two years in the role.

The Spaniard guided Europe to a 14½-13½ victory over the United States in a stirring comeback Sunday at Medinah (muh-DY’-nuh).

Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley are the favorites to replace the popular Olazabal for the 2014 match in Gleneagles, Scotland.

MLB completes 8-year deal with Fox, Turner Sports 

Nats and Tigers clinch division titles…Athletics in the playoffs…Yanks go one up on Orioles

UNDATED (AP) — The team that is bringing postseason baseball back to our nation’s capital for the first time in 79 years reached another milestone last night. The Washington Nationals captured the National League East crown despite a 2-0 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. The Nats secured the division title when the second-place Atlanta Braves got beat 2-1 in Pittsburgh.

Three years after winning 59 games, Washington is 96-64 and tied with Cincinnati for the top seed in the NL playoffs.

This is 69-year-old Davey Johnson’s 16th season as a big league manager. His teams have finished first or second 13 times.

Also in the National League

— Jaime Garcia homered off Bronson Arroyo and pitched into the seventh inning, helping the St. Louis Cardinals clinch a tie for the second NL wild card and spoil Dusty Baker’s return from a mini-stroke with a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The defending World Series champions have won 11 of 14 and lead the L.A. Dodgers by two games with two games left.

— The Dodgers nipped West champion San Francisco 3-2 to keep their faint wild card hopes alive. Elian Herrera singled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the ninth for the Dodgers’ sixth straight win.

— Giancarlo Stanton hit his 37th homer, and Rob Brantly hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning to help the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 3-2.

— Carlos Gomez, Rickie Weeks and Jonathan Lucroy all hit home runs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres.

— The Chicago Cubs got their 100th loss of the season when Lucas Harrell threw six shutout innings to lead the Houston Astros to a 3-0 win.

Over in the American League:

— Miguel Cabrera had four hits, including a homer during a five-run sixth inning, and the Detroit Tigers held off the Kansas City Royals 6-3 to clinch the AL Central title. The Tigers have made the postseason in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1934-35.

— Oakland is back in the playoffs for the first time in six years. The Athletics beat the first-place Texas Rangers 4-3 to remain in contention for a division crown. Coco Crisp had a go-ahead RBI double in the fifth as Oakland pulled within one game of Texas in the down-to-the-wire AL West race.

— Mike Trout had four hits and drove in three runs in Los Angeles’ 8-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners but it wasn’t enough to keep the Angels in the playoff chase.

— Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Russell Martin and Mark Teixeira homered in a nine-run second inning, and the New York Yankees routed the Boston Red Sox 10-2 Monday night to open a one-game lead over Baltimore in the AL East with two games to play.

— Baltimore lost 5-3 at Tampa Bay and dropped into second place. Alex Cobb allowed two hits over seven innings. The Rays have won 11 of 12 but were eliminated from the wild card chase.

— Rookie Hector Santiago allowed just one hit in seven shutout innings as the Chicago White Sox posted an 11-0 win over Cleveland, but were eliminated in the AL Central race.

— Anthony Gose singled home the winning run in the 10th inning as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5.

A beat-down in Big-D

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Charles Tillman returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown and Lance Briggs also returned an interception for a TD as the Chicago Bears routed the Dallas Cowboys 34-18. The Bears are 3-1 at the quarter pole of the NFL season.

Tony Romo threw five interceptions, matching the most in his career. Major Wright had two of the picks as the Cowboys fell to 2-2.

Jay Cutler totally outplayed Romo. The Bears quarterback completed 18 of 24 passes for 275 yards and two TDs.

Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte returned to the Bears lineup after missing the last game with a sprained right ankle and being limited in practice all week. He had 52 yards on 13 carries.

Pagano undergoing cancer treatment

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — It took Chuck Pagano less than nine months to instill his fighter’s mentality and hopeful spirit in the Indianapolis Colts.

He will need both to survive the biggest battle of his life — leukemia.

In a somber news conference Monday, the Colts announced that their new coach had been hospitalized for cancer treatment and probably would not return to full coaching duties this season. He will be replaced on an interim basis by offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

Holmes could miss time

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Santonio Holmes is expected to be sidelined at least a few weeks after injuring his left foot early in the fourth quarter of the New York Jets’ 34-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Coach Rex Ryan says X-rays on the wide receiver’s foot were negative, but the team is awaiting results of an MRI exam. Ryan adds that he’s not sure “how many weeks” Holmes will be out, but says it looks “doubtful” for this week.

With All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis likely out for the season with a torn ligament in his left knee, the Jets signed Aaron Berry to add much-needed depth to their secondary. Detroit terminated Berry’s contract in July after his second arrest of the summer.

New-look Lakers on display

UNDATED (AP) — Dwight Howard says he’s ready to learn about winning from Kobe Bryant.

Howard and Bryant wore their gold uniforms together Monday as the Lakers opened training camp with a revamped roster and sky-high expectations.

Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace joined Howard and Bryant in Los Angeles’ new starting five.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
N-Y Yankees 10 Boston 2
Chi White Sox 11 Cleveland 0
Toronto 6 Minnesota 5, 10 Innings
Tampa Bay 5 Baltimore 3
Detroit 6 Kansas City 3
Oakland 4 Texas 3
L.A. Angels 8 Seattle 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pittsburgh 2 Atlanta 1
Philadelphia 2 Washington 0
Miami 3 N-Y Mets 2
Houston 3 Chi Cubs 0
Milwaukee 5 San Diego 3
St. Louis 4 Cincinnati 2
Colorado 7 Arizona 5, 13 Innings
L.A. Dodgers 3 San Francisco 2
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Chicago 34 Dallas 18

Chris Nelson drove home Tyler Colvin to start a four-run rally in the 13th inning and the Colorado Rockies hung on for a 7-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.

Paul Goldschmidt sent the game into extra innings when he homered off Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt with one out in the ninth to make it 3-3.

Colvin led off the 13th with a ground-rule double off Brad Bergesen (2-1) and Nelson followed with a looping single to center. Charlie Blackmon later added a bases-loaded, RBI single off Mike Zagurski, the Diamondbacks’ seventh pitcher. Nelson scored on a fielder’s choice and Matt McBride came home on a wild pitch to complete the rally.

Josh Outman (1-3) allowed two runs, walked two and struck out two in 2-3 of an inning for the win.

Brett Maher and Taylor Martinez were recognized for their efforts in the comeback win over Wisconsin, as both received honors from the Big Ten Conference on Monday. Maher was named the Big Ten Specialist of the Week and also the Lou Groza Award Star of the Week from the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, while Martinez shared Big Ten Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors with Northwestern’s Kain Colter.

Maher was 3-of-4 in field goals, connecting on field goals of 26, 38 and 41 yards, as the final one with 9:41 remaining gave the Huskers the winning margin in the 30-27 win. It was Maher’s second three-field goal game of the season and fourth of his career. In addition, he averaged 46.7 yards per punt on three punts and had touchbacks on five of his six kickoffs with the other one pinning the Badgers at their 10-yard line. It is the fourth time he has received the Big Ten Specialist of the Week.

Martinez led Nebraska back from a 27-10 third-quarter deficit against Wisconsin, completing 17-of-29 passes for 181 yards and two TDs, while rushing 13 times for 107 yards and a score. His 107 yards rushing marked his 10th career 100-yard game, and he moved into Nebraska’s career top five in both touchdown passes and passing yards. The 17-point comeback tied for the second largest in school history, as Martinez guided an offense which racked up 259 yards rushing against a Wisconsin team that was allowing just over 80 rushing yards per game as a unit. It is the second time this season and fifth time in Martinez’s career he has earned conference offensive player-of-the-week honors.

— Shamus McKnight, Nebraska Sports Information

The Husker football team had every right to be satisfied on Saturday night after completing one of the largest comebacks in school history in beating Wisconsin 30-27. But the afterglow always fades when a new week of practice begins. The Huskers started preparations yesterday for their first Big Ten road game this season. They’re heading to Columbus to take on the unbeaten Ohio State Buckeyes. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck says his group still has plenty of room for improvement. “We are not as consistent as I would like us to be,” Beck said. “We’ve got to learn how to get out of our own way and not turn the ball over and not have penalties.” The Huskers fumbled six times in Saturday’s game, losing two inside their own 30 yard line. Saturday’s game has been announced as a night game. It will kick off at 7 PM and be broadcast live nationally on ABC.

To listen to Tim Beck’s post practice comments, press play.

Denver Broncos center JD Walton will miss the rest of the 2012 season. Walton was placed on injured reserve yesterday after fracturing and dislocating his left ankle in the second quarter of Sunday’s 37-6 win over the Oakland Raiders. The third-year pro had only missed one snap in his career before the injury. Veteran Dan Koppen will replace Walton in the lineup. Linebacker Joe Mays, who was suspended for Sunday’s game, will take Walton’s place on the 53-man active roster.

Selected as the best and brightest from the college gridiron, The National Football  Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the 147 candidates for the 2012 NFF National  Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments®, a leading provider of not-for-profit workplace retirement savings plans in higher education. The 147 nominees also comprise the list of
semifinalists for the 2012 William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.

Peru State College senior running back Joel Woodhead of North Platte is among the semi-finalists, one of nine nominees from the NAIA level. Woodhead was pleased with being named a semi-finalist and said, “To be considered for this honor is outstanding just by itself. However, to be considered along with such outstanding players such as Rex Burkhead of Nebraska, Matt Barkley of USC, and other big names, is really an honor.”

Peru State nominated Woodhead because of his outstanding academic performance and his community  service commitments. Woodhead is an exercise science major with a business minor and has maintained a 3.83 cumulative grade point average at Peru State. Last fall, Woodhead was named a 2011 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete and will once again earn the same recognition this year. A dean’s list honoree for six semesters, Woodhead was selected this year to serve as a tutor for biomechanics and exercise physiology courses.

Woodhead’s community and campus involvement includes participation in PEAKS (Physical Education, Activity and Kinesiology Students), TeamMates mentor, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In addition, Woodhead has volunteered for a wide variety of events both in Peru and back in his hometown of North Platte.

Steve Schneider, Peru State’s athletic director and head football coach was pleased to learn Woodhead was a semi-finalist. Schneider

said, “Obviously, we know Joel is disappointed that his injuries have kept him from playing as much as he would like over the last two years. However, Joel still is there encouraging his teammates. In addition, he is a good role model for our younger players in all aspects, so it is great he is listed as a semi-finalist for this top honor.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.

— Ted Harshbarger, Peru State Sports Information