PHOENIX (AP) — Alek Thomas hit a tying, two-run homer in a three-run eighth inning, Gabriel Moreno followed with a go-ahead single and the Arizona Diamondbacks stunned the Philadelphia Phillies with a 6-5 victory that tied the NL Championship Series at two games apiece. Arizona trailed 5-2 before Orion Kerkering’s bases-loaded walk to Christian Walker with two outs in the seventh. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled leading off the eighth against Craig Kimbrel, who gave up Ketel Marte’s game-ending single in Game 3. Thomas, pinch hitting for Emmanuel Rivera with one out, sent a full-count fastball splashing into the right-center field swimming pool.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning and the Houston Astros, after getting into another bench-clearing scuffle with the Texas Rangers, rallied for a 5-4 victory in a wild and testy Game 5 of the AL Championship Series. After winning all three games at rival Texas, the defending World Series champions head back home to Houston needing one win to capture a third consecutive pennant. They lead 3-2 in the best-of-seven playoff going into Game 6 Sunday night. Adolis García began a slow trot and spiked his bat after his towering three-run homer off Justin Verlander gave Texas a 4-2 lead in the sixth. García got angry when he was hit by a pitch next time up. The benches and bullpens emptied, leading to three ejections.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Houston Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu and manager Dusty Baker were ejected from Game 5 of the AL Championship series after the reliever hit the Texas Rangers’ Adolis García with a pitch in the eighth inning, triggering benches to clear two innings after the slugger’s go-ahead home run. García also was ejected by the umpires during a confrontation that caused a 12-minute delay. Houston trailed 4-2 at the time but rallied for a 5-4 win and a 3-2 series lead behind Jose Altuve’s three-run homer in the ninth off José Leclerc.
No. 2 Michigan has suspended a low-level football program employee a day after disclosing that it is under NCAA investigation for allegedly stealing the play-calling signals used by its opponents. Athletic director Warde Manuel issued a one-sentence statement saying that Connor Stalions had been suspended with pay pending the conclusion of the NCAA investigation. Stalions had not been previously identified by the school but was named in an ESPN report alleging he is a key figure in the probe.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy wanted to clear the air this week about a number of things. Topics included his dust-up with former Panthers receiver and current NFL Network analyst Steve Smith, his lack of production so far and the Broncos' 1-5 start heading into Sunday's game against Green Bay. Jeudy says he didn't know Smith wanted to apologize to him for criticizing him on his podcast earlier this year. Nevertheless, Jeudy defended his actions when he responded to Smith with a vulgarity and didn't want to talk to him in an encounter before the Broncos' loss at Kansas City last week.
UNDATED (AP) — The NFL has fined Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams $50,000 for his “directed verbal remarks” toward a concussion doctor during the team’s Week 6 game against Cincinnati. That's according to a person with knowledge of the fine. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity and said Adams also “made inappropriate physical conduct” with an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant who was preparing to evaluate Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo. It’s the second incident in as many games between Adams and an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant. The consultant is an independent physician assigned to each team’s sideline during games to assist team doctors in evaluating, diagnosing and treating concussions.