Best 15 Minutes

Best 15-Minutes in Sports-Thursday

……….(Baseball)…………

Rockies-L-Diamondbacks (11-8)…Arizona scores 4-runs early knocking out ace Jon Gray…then scores 3-runs in 8th inning off closer Greg Holland to win play in game…Diamondbacks used long ball all night to get early lead and blunt Colorado comebacks…AJ Pollock 2-run triple…Doug Descales 2R-HR…Kel Marte 2R-triple…Archie Bradley 2-run triple….Paul Goldschmidt 3R-HR…..Rockies got HRs from Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado….Rockies used 8-pitchers trying to shut off Arizona lineup…Dbacks ace Zack Greinke go knocked out in 4th inning in Coloarad comeback…..Arizona plays Dodgers in NLDS game.

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Red Sox-Houston…AL Division series starts in Minute Maid Park in Houston…Chris Sale (17-8)-308K-2.90ERA starts for Sox..Astros counter with Justin Verlander (15-8) 3.36…but (5-0) 1.06-ERA since arriving in Houston….Teams met 6-times during season…(3-3) in series.

Astros…Slugged way to 100-win season…(.282-238HR)….Hit better on road (.284) than at home (.279)…Batting champ Jose Altuve (.346-24HR)…Cazrlos Correa (.315-24HR)….Yuli Gurriell (.299)….George Springer led team 34-HRs.

Red Sox…Newcomers Eduardo Nunez (.321) and rookie Raf Deevers (.284) rallied team late…Dustin Pedroia (.293)…Xander Bogarts (.284)…Mookie Betts (.264-24HR)…Andrew Benetendi (20HR)…Sox ailing with Betts wrist issues-Pedroia knee issues…

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Yankees-Indians…AL Division series starts in Cleveland…Trevor Bauer (17-9) surprise first game starter instead of Corey Klueber….Yankees may start Sonny Gray instead of Masahiro Tanaka (13-12) or CC Sabathia (14-5) in opening game-.

Yankees come in with shaky starting pitching after wildcard win….NY has hit (245HRs) this year…Aaron Judge (53HRs)…Gary Sanchez (33HR)….Yankees hit (.258) in road games…..

Indians…won 5-of-7 games vs New York….Jose Ramirez leads Cleveland (.318-29HR)…Edwin Encarnarcion strong 2nd half finished with (38HR)….Francisco Lindor (33HR).

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(MLB Teams)

Cubs…Playoff rotation will have Kyle Hendricks starting first game…followed by Jon Lester..Jose Quintana and Jake Arrieta….John Lackey will pitch long relief.

Wasihngton…Nats will start Stephen Strasburg in game one.

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(MLB)

Miami…Marlins incoming CEO Derek Jeter changes his mind..says he will reinstate Jack McKeon-Tony Perez-Andre Dawson…retaining them in new roles with club….had been told they would be let go just last week.

Texas…Pick up option manager Jeff Bannister to return next year…fire bullpen coaches after (78-84) pitching troubled season.

Texas..Going to convert reliever Matt Bush to starter in off season..had 10-saves and (3.78-ERA)

Giants..Manager Bruce Bochy to have 3rd heart oblation procedure.

Milwaukee..Bubba Derby-ex Aztecs pitcher..credited with saving 2-girls during Las Vegas shooting…covered them during gunfire and led them to safety…then helped with EMS doctors

(Roster)

Yankees..Joba Chamberlain-announces retirement-ex Yankees closer..spent 10Y in majors with Indians-Tigers-Phillies…never bounced back from elbow surgery.

Cubs..Acquire P-Luke Farrell from Reds.

Toronto..Will not pick up 17M-option for DH-Jose Bautista.

White Sox..outright OF-Rymer Liriano to AAA-will not protect once promising prospect.

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…………(Football)………….

Chargers…RB-Melvin Gordon says he needs more touches to get in flow of game….has (54C-168Y) rushing in 4-games.

Chargers…OT-Joe Barksdale..RB-Brandon Oliver sit out Wednesday practice with injuries.

Chargers…Drop banner “Fight for LA” from team website.

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(Injuries)

Cowboys..LB-Anthony Hitchens returns to practice-out since camp
Cowboys..CB-Nolan Carroll full practice-been out with concussion
Cowboys..LB-Sean Lee..remains out with hamstring
Cowboys..DE-Charles Tapper breaks for in practice.
Cowboys..Activate DE-David Irving from suspended list

Lions..LB-Paul Warrilow-out sprained knee

Giants..CB-Janoris Jenkins-miss practice-ankle
Giants..DE-Jason Pierre Paul-out practice-shoulder-knee issues
Giants..DT-Olivier Vernon-still out-ankle

Raiders..WR-Michael Crabtree practices-had been out bruised lung

Seahawks..OT-Rees Ohdhaimbo-practices-had a bruised chest
Seahawks..CB-Jeremy Lane-out groin issues

Tampa Bay..S-TJ Ward out of practice-hip
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(Roster)

Saints..Sign FA-OG-John Greco-ex Browns
Ravens..Sign FA-CB-Jean Stanley Baptiste-ex Saints
Browns..Sign FA-WR-Bryce Treggs-ex Eagles
Houston..Sign FA-CB-Marcus Cromartie-ex Chargers
Jets…Sign FA-DT-Ed Stinson-ex Arizona

(Schedule)

NFL..Thursday night football…Patriots-Tampa Bay…New England pass defense collapsed-ranked 32nd in NFL…face Jameis Winston and WRs Mike Evans-DeSean Jackson. .

(Notes)

Steelers..WR-Antonio Brown-apologizes for “noise” in game with sideline tantrum.

Chiefs..CB-Marcus Peters lectured for shouting obscenity to KC fans at Arrowhead Stadium.

Houston..report GM-Rick Smith overruled coach Bill O’Brien who wanted to start Deshaun Watson at QB opening day.

Browns..GM-Sashi Brown says team (0-4) start is because of injuries to top 3-defensive players-Myles Garrett-Danny Shelton-Jaime Collins plus the growth of QB-DeShaun Kizer.

Tampa Bay…ex-Patriots running back Jonas Gray-arrested-owed (7,900) back child support..spent night in jail.

CFL…Saskatchewan Roughriders say former 1st round NFL pick Trent Richardson will start this weekend –

(College)

LSU…AD meets with Coach Ed Ogeron and then meets with Coordinators after devastating losses to Mississippi State and Troy State….Team holds 2-players only meetings to discuss troubles on both offense and defense..

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……..(Basketball)………..

Lakers-L-Denver. (122-104)……NBA preseason game in Ontario..Lakers give up 41-points in 1st quarter and 74-in opening half… .Jamaal Murray 20P-for Nuggets-beating LA for 2nd time in a week…Ken Faried had 12 points off bench….Lakers did not dress Lonzo Ball, Bandon Ingram nor Larry Nance with injuries.

Clippers-W-Toronto. (98-84)..Blake Griffin scores 17P i 24-minutes in first start coming off surgeries….Backup C-Willie Reed 12-points in 12-minutes in win.

Phoenix….Markus and Markeiff Morris found not guilty in jury trial of assaulting man who had made comments about their mother…man had changed story of who was in fight multiple times.

Oklahoma City…Thunder dream team wins first game against Houston…Carmelo Anthony (19P)..Paul George (15) in debut game.

Aztecs pick up verbal commitment from another player in Ghana….6’10 center Nathan Mensah…from Prep school in Nevada…will sign in late fall….Already landed another player from Ghana, Thomas Mensah-no relation….3rd verbal commitment for Coach Brian Dutcher.

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…………(Hockey)……….

NHL-Opening night
..Calgary-L-Edmonton..Oilers star Connor McDavis scores 3-goals in win
..Leafs-W-Winnipeg..Pat Marleau 2-goals in first game for Toronto
..Penguins-L-Blues..Battered St Louis pulls off upset in Pittsburgh..Alex Pietrbngelo scores in OT
..San Jose-Flyers…Kevin LeBlanc scores 2-goals for Sharks

Anaheim Ducks-Arizona Coyotes…opening game tonight in Honda Center….Ducks without veterans Ryan Kesler-Hampus Lindholm-Sammi Vatanen-all recovering from surgery in off season….Gulls rookie D-Jaycob Megna did make opening night roster.

Kings-Flyers..LA debuts under new coach John Stevens…..Rookies Johnny Brodzinski-Adrian Kemp…Oscar Fantenberg-Kris McDermid part of roster…Veteeran goal scorer Mike Cammalleri returns as free agent.

Sabres-Candiens…Trade…Buffalo ships F-Nic Deslauriers to Montreal for D-Zach Redmond.

Chicago..Sign FA-F-Cody Franson-ex Sabres

Las Vegas..Surprise roster cuts..D-Shea Theodore and Russian C-Vadim Shipachyov sent to Chicago of AHL

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………..(General)………

Indy Car…Veteran driver Helio Castroneves leaving Team Penske to drive in IMSA road series..Won Indy 500-3 times and won 30-Indy car races.

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