Tigers pull even…Birds lose…Rays stay hot…Braves clinch

UNDATED (AP) — All tied with eight games to play. That’s where the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox find themselves atop the American League Central.

Anibal Sanchez fired a three-hitter and the Tigers pulled even with Chicago by downing the Royals 2-0. Prince Fielder and Delmon Young provided RBI singles in the first inning to support Sanchez’s first shutout in over a year.

The Tigers were given a chance to move into a first-place tie when the Chicago White Sox lost 4-3 to Cleveland in the afternoon. The Indians built a 4-0 lead and hung on despite solo homers by A.J. Pierzynski, Dayan Viciedo and Paul Konerko. The White Sox had the potential tying run in scoring position when Gordon Beckham hit into a game-ending forceout.

Chicago held a three-game division lead the morning of Sept. 19.

The New York Yankees remain a game and a-half ahead of second-place Baltimore in the AL East after both teams lost.

Denard Span hit a two-run double while Minnesota was scoring four times in the seventh to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 5-4 win over the Yankees. The Bombers wasted homers by Nick Swisher, Russell Martin and pinch-hitter Andruw Jones.

Baltimore was shut out by Toronto 4-0 as Aaron Laffey combined with five relievers on a six-hitter. The Orioles loaded the bases in the ninth on an error and a pair of walks before closer Casey Janssen got Ryan Flaherty to pop out.

The AL West race is also a little tighter after George Kottaras led off the 10th inning with a homer to lift Oakland past Texas 3-2. Chris Carter tied it with a fourth-inning solo shot before the Athletics moved within four games behind the division-leading Rangers.

The A’s also moved within a half-game of Baltimore for the first wild-card spot.

The Angels remain two games behind Oakland after Zack Greinke allowed only a run while striking out a season-high 13 over five innings of a 5-4 win over Seattle. Torii Hunter belted a two-run homer and Erick Aybar added a solo shot in the win.

Tampa Bay made it six straight wins as the Rays try to catch Oakland in the wild-card standings. David Price improved to 19-5 after tossing a seven-hitter while striking out 13 in the Rays’ 5-2 verdict over Boston. Jeff Keppinger’s three-run blast was the difference as Tampa Bay ran its winning streak to six games.

Over to the National League, where the Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a dramatic 4-3 win over Florida. Freddie Freeman won it with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, two innings after Donovan Solano’s second homer of the ninth put the Marlins ahead.

Chipper Jones led off the ninth with a double, scored twice and drove in a run for the Braves.

Washington’s lead in the NL East is down to four games over Atlanta following the Nationals’ 6-3 loss at Philadelphia. Homers by Darin Ruf, Carlos Ruiz and Domonic Brown helped Cole Hamels earn his career-high 16th victory. It also kept the Nats’ magic number at five.

Johnny Cueto (KWAY’-toh) picked up his 19th victory by allowing two runs and five hits over seven innings of Cincinnati’s 4-2 triumph over Milwaukee. The outcome put the Brewers 4 ½ games behind St. Louis for the NL’s final wild-card berth.

The Cardinals picked up their fourth consecutive win as Jaime Garcia scattered six hits in seven innings of a 4-0 shutout of Houston. Jon Jay drove in two runs for the defending World Series champs.

The Dodgers were 2-1 losers in San Diego, putting Los Angeles 4 ½ games behind the Redbirds in the wild-card race. Edinson Volquez outpitched Josh Beckett by limiting the Dodgers to six hits in seven scoreless innings.

Also in the NL, Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high five runs as Arizona whipped San Francisco 7-2. Aaron Hill had three hits and scored three times in the Diamondbacks’ seventh victory in nine games.

Pedro Alvarez launched a three-run homer and had four RBIs as Pittsburgh outscored the New York Mets 10-6. Alvarez smacked his 30th homer of the season while the Pirates were scoring seven times in the first two innings.

Reds manager Baker won’t return until next week

CINCINNATI (AP) — Reds manager Dusty Baker has told his players on Tuesday that he had a mini-stroke in addition to his irregular heartbeat last week. Baker will need another week of rest before he’s able to rejoin the team for the final regular season series and the playoffs. The Reds clinched their second NL Central title in the last three years over the weekend while Baker was still in a Chicago hospital.

NFL OK with Monday outcome as labor talks resume

UNDATED (AP) — The NFL has weighed in on the call that allowed the Seattle Seahawks to beat the Green Bay Packers 14-12 on Monday night. So have President Barack Obama and Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, along with numerous players and a host of gamblers.

The league says the replacement officials made the correct call not to overturn Seahawks receiver Golden Tate’s 24-yard scoring reception. However, the NFL also said Tate should have been called for offensive pass interference before the catch but pointed out that penalties can’t be reviewed by instant replay. A flag would have clinched the game for the Packers.

Obama said the disputed call was “terrible” and declared it’s time to get the regular NFL officiating crews back on the job. Obama said — quote — “I’ve been saying for months we’ve got to get our refs back.”

Romney and GOP running mate Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin native, also said it was time to bring back the “real refs.”

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was still angry about the call a day later. He said on his weekly radio show on ESPN 540-AM in Milwaukee that – quote – “Our sport is generated — the multibillion-dollar machine — is generated by people who pay good money to watch us play. And the product that’s on the field is not being complemented by an appropriate set of officials.”

Meanwhile, Tom Brady is staying out of the chorus of complainers about replacement officials, saying they’re doing the best they can. He says the game officials are not responsible for the Patriots’ 1-2 start and puts the blame on himself and the team. The Patriots lost 31-30 at Baltimore Sunday night on a last-play field goal that came close to the right upright.

And Las Vegas oddsmakers say $300 million or more changed hands worldwide on the controversial referee call that decided the Monday Night Football game between Green Bay and Seattle. Gambling expert RJ Bell of Las Vegas-based Pregame.com says he thinks two-thirds of bets worldwide were on the Packers, and that sports books took in at least $150 million because of the call.

The rainbow amid the dark clouds is that the league resumed negotiations with locked-out officials today.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Cleveland 4 Chi White Sox 3
Detroit 2 Kansas City 0
Toronto 4 Baltimore 0
Tampa Bay 5 Boston 2
Oakland 3 Texas 2, 10 Innings
Minnesota 5 N-Y Yankees 4
L.A. Angels 5 Seattle 4

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia 6 Washington 3
Atlanta 4 Miami 3
Cincinnati 4 Milwaukee 2
Pittsburgh 10 N-Y Mets 6
St. Louis 4 Houston 0
Colorado 10 Chi Cubs 5, 6 Innings
San Diego 2 L.A. Dodgers 1
Arizona 7 San Francisco 2

In a game shortened to six and a half innings by rain, the Colorado Rockies defeated the Chicago Cubs 10-5 at Coors Field. The Rockies battled back from a 3-0 first-inning deficit to win their second consecutive game. Josh Rutledge came up with the go-ahead hit, a two-run double in the fourth that put the Rockies in front 6-5. Matt McBride clouted a three-run homer, the second of his career, in the fifth and Chris Nelson singled in a run in the sixth for insurance. Also adding to the Rockies offense were Wilin Rosario, who hit his team-leading 27^th homer of the year, and DJ LeMahieu, a former Cub, who finished the game a home run shy of the cycle. The game was called after a 47-minute rain delay after the top of the sixth inning was completed. The Rockies and Cubs play game two of their three-game series tonight in Denver. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action, with the pregame show at 7:05 and first pitch at 7:40.

Denver Broncos linebacker Joe Mays has been suspended one game and fined $50,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in last Sunday’s game. Mays led with the crown of his helmet on a play in the third quarter, hitting Schaub under the chin and knocking off the quarterback’s helmet. Schaub even lost a piece of his left earlobe due to the force of the hit. Mays had been fined the week before for an unpenalized late hit on Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, so the repeat offense drew the increased fine and the suspension. The Broncos could find themselves perilously short on linebackers for this coming Sunday’s game against Oakland. In addition to Mays’ absence, Nate Irving is questionable for the game after suffering a concussion in the Houston game. DJ Williams remains out, serving his six-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

The sixth-ranked Nebraska volleyball team plays their Big Ten home opener tonight. The Huskers host the twenty-fourth-ranked Michigan State Spartans at the NU Coliseum. The Huskers opened the 2012 Big Ten Conference slate last Wednesday at Penn State, dropping the match 3-1. Nebraska rebounded with a 3-1 victory over Ohio State last Saturday. The match gets underway at 7 PM. It will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.

NFL upholds Seahawks’ disputed win over Packers 

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has upheld the Seahawks’ 14-12 win over the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll: ‘Game over, we win’ 

SEATTLE (AP) — Pete Carroll says he doesn’t care about sentiments that the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Green Bay Packers is a tainted victory because of a disputed call on the final play of the game.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Cleveland at Chi White Sox 1:10 p.m.
Kansas City at Detroit 6:05 p.m.
Toronto at Baltimore 6:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Boston 6:10 p.m.
Oakland at Texas 7:05 p.m.
N-Y Yankees at Minnesota 7:10 p.m.
Seattle at L.A. Angels 9:05 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Washington at Philadelphia 6:05 p.m.
Miami at Atlanta 6:10 p.m.
Milwaukee at Cincinnati 6:10 p.m.
Pittsburgh at N-Y Mets 6:10 p.m.
St. Louis at Houston 7:05 p.m.
Chi Cubs at Colorado 7:40 p.m.
L.A. Dodgers at San Diego 9:05 p.m.
Arizona at San Francisco 9:15 p.m.

Seahawks get controversial win

SEATTLE (AP) — The furor over the work of the NHL’s replacement referees has been stoked by last night’s game-winning play at the end of the Seahawks-Packers matchup.

Seattle beat visiting Green Bay 14-12 on Russell Wilson’s disputed 24-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate on the game’s final play. Tate appeared to push off on the play in the end zone, and Green Bay’s M.D. Jennings got both hands on the ball. But Tate wrestled Jennings for possession before one of the officials signaled a touchdown while another waved his hands. After a lengthy review, referee Wayne Elliott announced “the ruling on the field stands.”

Wilson had been just 9-of-20 for 106 yards before hitting Tate for the last-second touchdown. It was their second scoring hook-up of the game.

Green Bay counterpart Aaron Rodgers completed 26 of his 39 passes for 223 yards. Rodgers failed to engineer a scoring drive until Cedric Benson scored on a one-yard run to put the Packers ahead 12-7 with 8:44 left.

The Seahawks are 2-1 following their second straight win. The 1-2 Packers already have one more loss than they had the entire 2011 regular season.

Jets get bad news

UNDATED (AP) — The New York Jets likely will spend the rest of the season without one of the NFL’s top defensive players.

All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis will need surgery after tearing the ACL in his left knee during Sunday’s 23-20 overtime win at Miami. He fell awkwardly and grabbed at his knee even before he hit the ground.

Coach Rex Ryan calls it a “horrible” thing but won’t definitely rule Revis out for the season.

In other NFL news:

— Tampa Bay defensive end Adrian Clayborn will miss the rest of the season because of a right knee injury that will require surgery. Clayborn was injured during the second half of Sunday’s 16-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

— Reggie Bush says he’s received great news about his left knee, which he injured in Sunday’s loss to the Jets. Tests performed on Bush’s left knee on Monday showed no serious injury, meaning the Dolphins may have their top offensive player available this weekend when they travel to face unbeaten Arizona.

— Oakland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey has been released from the hospital after being knocked out by a helmet-to-helmet hit during Sunday’s win over visiting Pittsburgh. The replacement officials did not call a penalty on the play. The team says he has a concussion and neck strain and is expected to make a full recovery.

— Denver Broncos head coach John Fox has been fined $30,000 and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has been docked $25,000 for verbal abuse of the replacement officials during last Monday night’s loss in Atlanta. NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson says he is reviewing incidents from Sunday night’s New England-Baltimore game involving Patriots coach Bill Belichick and the Ravens’ John Harbaugh.

— Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham has been arrested on two misdemeanor obstruction charges and remained in custody on Monday night. WAGA-TV reports Abraham allegedly entered a taped-off area where a woman was threatening to jump off a building. Abraham was arrested after refusing to leave the area.

— A federal magistrate has ordered attorneys for the NFL and Jonathan Vilma to hold a status conference on Thursday to discuss the league’s efforts to block Vilma’s demands for evidence in the NFL’s bounty investigation of the Saints. The NFL filed a motion on Monday arguing that attempts to initiate discovery are premature because another motion to dismiss Vilma’s defamation lawsuit against Commissioner Roger Goodell is still pending.

Yanks win, Birds split…Tigers keep heat in Chisox…Rangers pad lead

UNDATED (AP) — The New York Yankees have added a half-game to their lead in the American League East by winning at Minnesota on Monday while the Baltimore Orioles were settling for a doubleheader split of the last-place Blue Jays.

Andy Pettitte allowed seven hits in six shutout innings as the Yankees downed the Twins 6-3 to move 1 ½ games ahead of the Orioles. Nick Swisher belted a two-run homer before Curtis Granderson, Raul Ibanez and Eric Chavez hit solo shots.

The Orioles took Game 1 of their twinbill 4-1 before the Blue Jays came back to beat the Birds 9-5 in the nightcap. Adam Jones went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer to support Steve Johnson, who tossed five shutout innings in the opener. J.P. Arencibia provided the big blow in Game 2, a grand slam in the seventh inning after the O’s pulled within 5-4.

Chicago still tops the AL Central by one game over Detroit after both teams won on Monday.

Adam Dunn’s second homer of the night was a go-ahead, three-run blast with two out in the eighth inning of the White Sox’s 5-4 comeback win against Cleveland. Dunn hit a solo shot in the sixth, a half-inning after Russ Canzler’s two-run blast put the Indians ahead 3-1. Dunn and Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton share the AL home run lead.

In Detroit, Justin Verlander improved to 16-8 by allowing two runs and nine hits over eight innings of the Tigers’ 6-2 triumph over Kansas City. Andy Dirks drove in two runs, Prince Fielder hit a solo homer and Austin Jackson went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

It’s now a five-game lead for Texas in the AL West after the Rangers rallied to beat the second-place Oakland Athletics 5-4. Adrian Beltre tied the game with a two-run homer in the seventh and won it with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.

Josh Hamilton smacked his 43rd homer of the year after missing the previous five games. Hamilton was diagnosed Monday with a cornea problem caused by caffeine that he described as a sugar high “times 10.”

The outcome allows the Angels to climb within two games of Baltimore and Oakland for one of the two wild-card berths.

Washington’s magic number to clinch the National League East is down to five after the Nationals clobbered Milwaukee 12-2. Ryan Zimmerman was 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and four RBIs to lead the Nats’ 14-hit attack. Zimmerman’s 24th home run of the year was part of a six-run fourth that put the Nationals ahead 7-1.

The Nationals improved to a majors-best 93-60 and increased their division lead over Atlanta to five games with nine to play. The Braves had the day off.

Also in the National League, the Cardinals knocked off Houston 6-1 on Monday to move 3 ½ games ahead of Milwaukee and Los Angeles for the second National League wild-card berth. Pete Kozma hit a two-run homer, Yadier Molina added a solo shot and Matt Holiday drove in a pair for the Cardinals. Lance Lynn allowed a run and five hits while striking out nine in seven innings to improve to 17-7.

Ike Davis hit a three-run homer and a two-run shot as the New York Mets won their fourth in a row, 6-2 over Pittsburgh. Jenrry Mejia tossed five shutout innings for his first major league victory.

Bell critical of Guillen

MIAMI (AP) — Marlins reliever Heath Bell apparently isn’t a big fan of his manager.

Bell told a Miami radio station that “it’s been an interesting year” with skipper Ozzie Guillen. He also said the team needs a manager “that everyone respects.”

Bell signed a three-year, $27 million contract last winter to become the team’s closer but lost the job by recording an 8.47 ERA in his first 21 appearances.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore 4 Toronto 1 (first game)
Toronto 9 Baltimore 5 (second game)
Detroit 6 Kansas City 2
Texas 5 Oakland 4
Chi White Sox 5 Cleveland 4
N-Y Yankees 6 Minnesota 3

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Washington 12 Milwaukee 2
N-Y Mets 6 Pittsburgh 2
St. Louis 6 Houston 1
Colorado 4 Arizona 2

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Seattle 14 Green Bay 12

Tonight on ESPN Radio 1410, it’s the regular season home finale for the North Platte Bulldogs softball team. With an opportunity to potentially host a district next weekend, there’s plenty on the line for the Bulldogs as the Gothenburg Swedes come to town. The Swedes are ranked second in Class C and played North Platte tough at the McCook Invitational on September 1, with the Bulldogs pulling out a 3-1 win. ESPN Radio 1410’s coverage begins at approximately 6:15 with the first pitch scheduled for 6:30.

The Colorado Rockies avoided a sweep and snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. Former Husker star Andrew Brown drove in a pair of runs, one of them on a solo home run in the ninth inning, to pace the offense. Tyler Colvin and DJ LeMaiheu also drove in runs and Charlie Blackmon had two hits. The Rockies got a strong outing from starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood. The right-hander went 5.2 innings allowing just two runs on three hits. Three Rockies relievers pitched shutout ball to follow Chatwood, with Rafael Betancourt stranding two runners in the ninth inning to secure his 30^th save of the season. The Rockies open their final home series of the season tonight with the first of three games against the Chicago Cubs. First pitch is set for 7:40.