SEATTLE (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer woke up Toronto’s offense as the Blue Jays hit five home runs to rebound from an early deficit, routing the Seattle Mariners 13-4 and closing to 2-1 in the AL Championship Series. Julio Rodríguez’s two-run, first-inning homer off Shane Bieber put Seattle ahead and stirred thoughts of a possible sweep, but Andrés Giménez sparked the comeback with a tying, two-run homer in a five-run third against George Kirby. Springer, Guerrero, Alejandro Kirk and Addison Barger went deep as the Blue Jays totaled 2,004 feet of homers among 18 hits.
SEATTLE (AP) — Two of Toronto’s biggest stars led the way for the Blue Jays in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series. Springer and Guerrero each hit a solo shot as Toronto finished with five homers overall. Springer had three hits, and Guerrero went 4 for 4 and scored three times in a 13-4 victory over the Mariners. The Blue Jays dropped the first two games of the best-of-seven series in Toronto, ramping up the pressure on the AL East champions for Game 3. Springer went 2 for 8 with a solo homer in the first two games, and Guerrero was 0 for 7 with a walk. The two stars played a major role in a fast start for Toronto in Seattle.
NEW YORK (AP) — The one-game suspension of Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was upheld on Wednesday by a hearing officer appointed by the NFL and the NFL Players’ Association. Jordy Nelson, the hearing officer, denied the appeal by Branch, who was suspended for a game without pay by the league on Monday for unsportsmanlike conduct following a loss at Kansas City. Branch punched Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Sunday night, setting off a postgame melee. Detroit (4-2) will host NFC South-leading Tampa Bay (5-1) without Branch, another blow for a team with a banged-up secondary.
BOSTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has threatened to relocate World Cup matches set to be played next year in suburban Boston, but it's not really up to him. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who Trump decried as part of the “radical left,” says she's looking forward to hosting the matches and questioned how he could take the matches away. FIFA officials maintain that they decide where the matches will be held. Trump is tight with FIFA head Gianni Infantino, and that relationship might become a factor. Seven matches are scheduled to be played in the Boston suburb of Foxborough.
Cheryl Miller, Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker are among a select group named the best to ever play the game during the 50 years of the women's basketball poll. As part of the season-long anniversary, a group of 13 former players and Associated Press sportswriters voted based on what players accomplished during their collegiate careers. The first team included the frontcourt of USC's Miller, Parker from Tennessee and Breanna Stewart of UConn. Taurasi, another UConn great, and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark are the first-team guards. The second-team consists of UConn's Sue Bird and Virginia's Dawn Staley in the backcourt, Delta State's Lusia Harris, Tennessee's Chamique Holdsclaw and UConn's Maya Moore in the frontcourt.
The NBA has reminded teams to focus on addressing inappropriate fan behavior at games this season. In a memo sent to all 30 clubs, the league emphasizes the need for consistent enforcement of the NBA Fan Code of Conduct. This move comes after several incidents last season, including ejections of fans in Dallas and Minnesota for misconduct. The memo, obtained Wednesday, highlights the importance of training arena staff to identify and respond to rule violations. The NBA season opens Tuesday with games featuring Houston at Oklahoma City and Golden State visiting the Los Angeles Lakers.
Former MVP Russell Westbrook is joining the Sacramento Kings, a person familiar with the agreement tells The Associated Press. The team hasn’t officially announced the deal. Westbrook's agent, Jeff Schwartz, confirmed the move to ESPN earlier Wednesday. The 36-year-old Westbrook is entering his 18th NBA season. He holds the record for the most triple-doubles and ranks high in points and assists in NBA history. Westbrook began his career with Oklahoma City and won the MVP award after Kevin Durant's departure. He has since played for several teams, including Houston, Washington, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dave Roberts has found a way to navigate the Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen struggles by leaning heavily on starting pitching. The Dodgers have taken a 2-0 lead against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Championship Series. Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered standout performances, allowing just one run over 17 innings. Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani are set to start the next two games. Ohtani, despite a postseason slump at the plate, remains a key contributor. The Brewers, facing a nine-game road playoff losing streak, need to win in Los Angeles to extend the best-of-seven series.
Tennessee's decision to draft quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick was meant to pair him with head coach Brian Callahan for long-term success. However, Callahan was fired after just six games. This trend isn't new. Over the past decade, NFL coaches often face the hot seat after a team drafts a quarterback high. Ward is the fourth consecutive No. 1 pick whose coach was fired before the end of the rookie season. Only Joe Burrow remains with his original coach. This pattern raises concerns about the impact on young quarterbacks' development.
The Philadelphia Eagles had a few extra days off to seethe and regroup after a humiliating loss to the Giants. The Minnesota Vikings (3-2) had an extra week off to rest, prepare and let their ailing quarterbacks heal up. Critics were bashing Philadelphia (4-2) after a 4-0 start because an offense featuring Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown looked stagnant and predictable. The defending Super Bowl champions are hearing even more criticism following losses to Denver and New York. It won’t get easier for Hurts and Co. against Minnesota’s defense.
Finals
AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final Toronto 13 Seattle 4