MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night – NL Wild Card
Colorado Rockies 2, Chicago Cubs 1 – 13 Innings
Rockies 2, Cubs 1 – 13 Innings – Rockies top Cubs 2-1 in 13 innings in epic wild-card game
Tony Wolters hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the 13th inning, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on Tuesday night in an epic NL wild-card game. Wolters, a reserve catcher who entered as part of a double switch in the bottom of the 12th, came up with runners at the corners and drove in Trevor Story with a liner back up the middle off Kyle Hendricks, quieting the Wrigley Field crowd of 40,151 on a crisp fall night. Colorado heads to Milwaukee to open a best-of-five Division Series against the NL Central champion Brewers on Thursday. Scott Oberg, the sixth Colorado pitcher, fanned Kris Bryant for the final out of the 12th and then struck out the side in the 13th to end the longest postseason game in Wrigley Field history. Terrance Gore tried to sell that he was hit by a pitch, but was sent back to the plate after a review confirmed the
initial call.
Tonight – AL Wild Card
Oakland (Hendriks 0-1) at New York (Severino 19-8), 8:08 p.m. TBS
MLB – Manfred: No timetable on finishing Russell investigation
Commissioner Rob Manfred says Major League Baseball has no timetable for finishing its investigation of domestic violence allegations against Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell by his ex-wife. Manfred says the league wants to “make sure we have all the facts.” He says it’s “conceivable” a decision is announced before the end of the playoffs, though he would not say if it’s likely. Manfred spoke prior to Tuesday’s wild-card game between Chicago and Colorado. Russell has denied the accusations. He was placed on administrative leave Sept. 21 when after ex-wife, Melisa Reidy, re-iterated claims of domestic abuse. He was not on the wild-card roster.
MLB – Twins fire Molitor
Last year’s American League Manager of the Year is looking for work. The Minnesota Twins have dismissed Paul Molitor following a 78-84 season, one year after he led the team to the AL wild-card game against the Yankees. The Hall of Fame hitter was 305-343 in four seasons at the helm, including an 85-77 mark in 2017. Molitor had two seasons left on his contract and has been offered another position within the organization.
MLB – MLB attendance down 4 percent as 6 ballparks set lows
Major League Baseball’s average attendance dropped 4 percent to 28,830, its lowest since 2003 after 14 consecutive seasons topping 30,000, and six stadiums set record lows. Baltimore’s Camden Yards, Chicago’s Guaranteed Rate Field, Minnesota’s Target Field, Miami’s Marlins Park and Pittsburgh’s PNC Park also drew their smallest attendance since opening as part of a ballpark boom. In a season of unusually cold and wet weather, 17 of the 30 teams experienced drops. The average is down 14.4 percent from its high of 32,785 in 2007, the last year before the Great Recession. It had not been that low since 28,013 in 2003. On-field success and attendance usually are linked, but not always. The NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers set a club record, Colorado drew its biggest crowds since 2001, World Series champion Houston since 2007 and the New York Yankees since 2012 _ including a new Yankee Stadium record 23 sellouts.
NCAAFB – Penn State halts helicopter use after pilot flew over crowd
Penn State is stopping the use of helicopters to make announcements outside the football stadium after a state police chopper flew so low over an unruly tailgating crowd that it sent tents and other items flying. A Penn State Police spokeswoman said Tuesday it won’t use a helicopter to make crowd announcements until the issue can be fully examined. The Federal Aviation Administration says it’s also looking into a complaint about the incident that occurred before last weekend’s game against Ohio State. Video of the helicopter posted on social media shows stunned responses by people on the ground. Police say the pilot was trying to get low enough so people could hear a dispersal order, and increased altitude after seeing debris go flying.
NFL – Lions waive CB Dee Virgin
The Detroit Lions have waived cornerback Dee Virgin. The Lions announced the move Tuesday. Virgin has played in three games for the Lions this season and has been credited with one tackle. Virgin entered the NFL last season as an undrafted free agent out of West Alabama. He spent time on the Houston Texans’ practice squad. The Lions acquired him via waivers shortly before the start of the 2018 regular season.
NFL – Bell’s scheduled return news to Steelers
If Le’Veon Bell is returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers later this month, he hasn’t let his teammates and coaches know. Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he hasn’t heard from the All-Pro running back, who told ESPN on Monday that he will end his standoff with the team around Pittsburgh’s bye week, which begins after the Steelers face the Bengals on Oct. 14. Bell has refused to report to the team since training camp.
NHL – National Hockey League – Opening Night
Tonight
Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:00 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals, 7:30 p.m.
Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks, 10:00 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
NHL – Red Wings assign 3 players to Grand Rapids
The Detroit Red Wings have assigned right wing Luke Witkowski and defensemen Joe Hicketts and Filip Hronek to Grand Rapids of the AHL. The Red Wings announced the moves Tuesday. Detroit’s active roster is now down to 22 players, and the Red Wings open the regular season Thursday night against Columbus. Hronek had 11 goals and 28 assists in 67 games for the Griffins last season.
NHL – NHL moving forward with Seattle expansion bid
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the Board of Governors’ executive committee has recommended moving forward with plans to add a team in Seattle. The final vote on whether to approve the franchise could come in December. Bettman says there is still more information to be gathered before the board next meets Dec. 3-4. At that point, there could be more clarity on whether the team would begin play in 2020 or 2021, though that decision could be made later. The nine-owner executive committee heard from Seattle stakeholders at a meeting earlier Tuesday. Barring an unforeseen obstacle, which would most likely come from work on the downtown arena, Bettman expects the board to be ready to vote in two months.
NBA – National Basketball Association Preseason
Tonight
Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks, 8:00 p.m.
Detroit Pistons at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:00 p.m.
NASCAR – NASCAR to remove restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega
NASCAR will use two primary rules packages next season and race at Daytona and Talladega without restrictor plates for the first time since 1987. The rules packages revealed Tuesday will be tailored to specific tracks and designed to slow Cup Series cars to create more passing for the lead. At Daytona and Talladega, the two fastest tracks in NASCAR were horsepower-sapping plates are used on the engines, NASCAR will now use a thicker tapered spacer with tapered holes aimed to restrict air flow. NASCAR next year wants to lower the horsepower in Cup cars at 21 races, all on ovals larger than 1.2 miles, from 750hp to 550hp. The 14 races on tracks shorter than 1.2 miles in length will use the same sized spacers from this season. The season-opening Daytona 500 next year will be run under current configurations that combine the restrictor plate with a tapered spacer. NASCAR will go to just a spacer at Daytona and Talladega after the 500. NASCAR believes the adjustments will create more passing, more drafting and afford a better throttle response for the drivers. NASCAR executive vice president Steve O’Donnell insisted the idea is not to create pack racing at every track, but instead tighter competition.
MCCAA – Junior College Sports
Last Night
Women’s Volleyball
Lansing Community College 3, Lake Michigan College 0
Today
Women’s Soccer
Ancilla College at Lake Michigan College, 4:00 p.m.
Men’s Soccer
Lake Michigan College at Ancilla College, 4:00 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Soccer
Gull Lake 3, St. Joseph 1
Lakeshore 3, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 1
Mattawan 8, Niles 0
Girls Swimming and Diving
Portage Northern 103, St. Joseph 80
Girls Volleyball
Marcellus 3, Bangor 1
Centreville 3, Eau Claire 0
Watervliet 3, Gobles 1
Boys Tennis
Coloma 6, Three Rivers 1
Tonight
Boys Soccer
Lakeshore at St. Joseph, 6:30 p.m. (SMAC Tournament – Round 1)
Michigan Lutheran at Lake Michigan Catholic, 5:00 p.m.
Covert at Countryside/Eau Claire, 5:30 p.m.
Berrien Springs at Bridgman, 5:00 p.m.
Buchanan at Brandywine, 5:00 p.m.
Otsego at Dowagiac, 5:00 p.m.
Paw Paw at Allegan, 6:00 p.m.
Three Rivers at Edwardsburg, 5:00 p.m.
South Haven at Vicksburg, 6:00 p.m.
Lawton at Marcellus, 5:00 p.m.
Girls Volleyball
Mattawan at Lakeshore, 6:30 p.m.
Portage Central at St. Joseph, 6:30 p.m.
Niles at Portage Northern, 6:30 p.m.
Lake Michigan Catholic at River Valley, 6:00 p.m.
Covert at Michigan Lutheran, 6:30 p.m.
Berrien Springs at Bridgman, 6:00 p.m.
Countryside at New Buffalo, 6:00 p.m.
Buchanan at Brandywine, 6:00 p.m.
Cross Country
SMAC West Jamboree at Portage Northern, 5:00 p.m.
