PHOENIX (AP) — Corey Seager launched a two-run homer and made a slick defensive play in the eighth inning to start a crucial double play, Max Scherzer combined with four relievers for a gem on the mound and the Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the World Series. Texas overcame injuries to Scherzer and slugger Adolis García in improving to 9-0 on the road this postseason, this time in front of more than 48,000 fans at Chase Field. The 29-year-old Seager once again showed he was worth every penny of his $325 million contract on the game’s biggest stage. Game 4 is Tuesday in Arizona.
PHOENIX (AP) — Texas Rangers slugger Adolis García left Game 3 of the World Series against Arizona in the eighth inning after hurting his left side on a swing. He went to a hospital for an MRI. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy says: "We’re being optimistic there but we’ll know more tomorrow.” The AL Championship Series MVP grabbed his left side while coming out of the batter’s box on his flyout against Luis Frías. When García got to first base, he bent over and put both hands on his knees.
PHOENIX (AP) — Christian Walker ran through a stop sign and right into a costly out in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 3-1 loss to the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the World Series. Missing a late signal from third base coach Tony Perezchica, Walker was cut down out at the plate by a perfect throw from Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis García in the second inning. Walker has been struggling at the plate, but he was encouraged by a standing ovation when he came to bat and answered with Arizona’s first hit off Texas starter Max Scherzer.
PHOENIX (AP) — Texas starter Max Scherzer left his World Series Game 3 outing against Arizona after three innings because of back tightness. Scherzer was grimacing and stretching even before he came out of the dugout for the bottom of the fourth inning with a 3-0 lead. The 39-year-old right-hander winced after each warmup, causing Rangers manager Bruce Bochy and head athletic trainer Matt Lucero to come out to the mound. Scherzer headed to the dugout with a disappointed expression and was replaced by Jon Gray. Scherzer allowed two hits in three innings with two walks and one strikeout.
PHOENIX (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Mookie Betts says he hopes major league teams consider signing pitcher Trevor Bauer this winter. Betts told the Los Angeles Times at the World Series in Phoenix that such a move is “something to think about.” Betts was at the World Series at the invitation of Major League Baseball to provide content for its social media platforms. The Dodgers released Bauer in January after he was suspended 194 games for violating baseball's policy on domestic violence and sexual assault. Betts says Bauer is “an awesome pitcher." Betts says his personal experience with Bauer “is not anything remotely close to what everyone else's experience is. I love him.”
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The first College Football Playoff rankings of the season will be released Tuesday and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is doing his bit to promote the Longhorns’ resume. He wants everyone to remember that 34-24 win over No. 8 Alabama back on Sept. 9. Sarkisian calls that the “best win in the country.” Texas has never made the playoff but the Longhorns are 7-1 in a five-way tie for first in the Big 12. Texas plays No. 25 Kansas State this week.
UNDATED (AP) — The College Football Playoff rankings will be released for the first time this season on Tuesday night and one unbeaten team is guaranteed to be left out. No. 23 James Madison is ineligible for postseason play as it completes an NCAA-required transition period into the highest level of Division I football. School officials are hoping the NCAA will make an exeception for the Dukes. The most likely road to a bowl will be as a replacement team in a lower-level postseason game. As for the CFP, the Dukes aren't even in the discussion.
UNDATED (AP) — This time of the season, those head-to-head results can become challenging for voters in The Associated Press college football poll. Oklahoma slipped to No. 10 after losing to a good Kansas, that jumped into the rankings at No. 23. That put Oklahoma behind Texas, which landed at No. 7. Just a few weeks ago, the Sooners knocked off the Longhorns in a Red River Rivalry thriller. That’s Texas’ only loss of the season. No. 5 Washington stayed ahead of No. 6 Oregon, with the Pac-12 teams' rankings matching the head-to-head result.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs were unable to overcome five turnovers in a loss to the Broncos, which ended their 16-game winning streak against their AFC West rival. In fact, Chiefs coach Andy Reid couldn't recall seeing a game in which a team turned it over five times, though it happens every few years in the NFL. Patrick Mahomes was fighting an illness and played one of the worst games of his career. Skyy Moore dropped a fourth-down touchdown reception that would have gotten the Chiefs within 21-16 midway through the fourth quarter. The running game was bottled up again, gaining just 62 yards on 16 attempts. And the offensive line allowed three more sacks.
DETROIT (AP) — Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs ran for a season-high 152 yards and a touchdown, Jared Goff threw for 272 yards with a score, and the Detroit Lions beat the Las Vegas Raiders 26-14. The NFC North-leading Lions stalled on three early drives, settling for field goals, before Goff threw an 18-yard strike to rookie Sam LaPorta to put them ahead 16-7 late in the first half. Goff threw a pick-6 to Marcus Peters early in the third quarter, allowing Las Vegas to pull within two points. But Detroit went back ahead by two scores on Gibbs' 27-yard touchdown run. Jimmy Garoppolo threw for just 126 yards for the Raiders.
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Kirk Cousins is out for the rest of the season with a torn right Achilles tendon. The Minnesota Vikings announced the news after his first career injury put a somber tone on their three-game winning streak. The Vikings said the MRI exam on Cousins confirmed their initial fear. The 12th-year quarterback went down in pain in the fourth quarter at Green Bay after planting his foot in the grass to try to avoid a sack. He limped off the field and was unable to put weight on his right leg.
NEW YORK (AP) — Defending national champion UConn will play at least five games at Madison Square Garden this season, highlighting the 2023-24 college basketball schedule at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” Duke, North Carolina, Texas, Baylor, Illinois and Indiana are among the other high-profile programs set to make a stop in Midtown Manhattan. In all, 10 teams ranked in the AP Top 25 preseason poll are on the docket at MSG. No. 10 Florida Atlantic returns to The Garden, where coach Dusty May and the surprising Owls won the East Regional in March to advance to their first Final Four. St. John’s, playing its first season under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, has doubled its number of regular-season Garden appearances to eight — including six Big East home games.
GENEVA (AP) — Saudi Arabia is all but certain to host the men’s 2034 World Cup after the Australian soccer federation declined to enter the bidding contest. FIFA had set a Tuesday deadline to submit a bid to host the tournament, but Australia’s decision to pull out leaves Saudi Arabia as the only declared candidate. FIFA still needs to rubber stamp Saudi Arabia as the host — a decision that is likely to be made next year — but victory now seems a formality for the oil-rich kingdom. It would be the culmination of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious drive to become a major player in global sports.
MONDAY SCORES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
Final Texas 3 Arizona 1
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Detroit 26 Las Vegas 14
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Boston 126 Washington 107
Final Brooklyn 133 Charlotte 121
Final Chicago 112 Indiana 105
Final Portland 99 Toronto 91
Final Atlanta 127 Minnesota 113
Final Golden State 130 New Orleans 102
Final Dallas 125 Memphis 110
Final Oklahoma City 124 Detroit 112
Final Milwaukee 122 Miami 114
Final Denver 110 Utah 102
Final L.A. Lakers 106 Orlando 103
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Carolina 3 Philadelphia 2
Final OT Seattle 4 Tampa Bay 3
Final OT Boston 3 Florida 2
Final Anaheim 4 Pittsburgh 3
Final OT N-Y Rangers 3 Winnipeg 2
Final OT Detroit 4 N-Y Islanders 3
Final Dallas 5 Columbus 3
Final Arizona 8 Chicago 1