Blue Jays beat Indians, stave off elimination in ALCS

October 19, 2016

TORONTO (AP) - Josh Donaldson homered to give Toronto a long-awaited lead, and the Blue Jays finally broke through with the bats, beating the Cleveland Indians 5-1 on Tuesday to avert a sweep in the AL Championship Series.The Indians still lead the matchup 3-1, but Donaldson and a poised Aaron Sanchez handed them their first loss of this postseason.Edwin Encarnacion later hit a two-run single, a welcome sight for a raucous Rogers Centre crowd that had fallen silent watching its team reach the brink of elimination because of a slumbering offense.Donaldson's solo shot to left-center field ...

Penn State awaits word on LBs as No. 2 Buckeyes loom on Saturday

October 19, 2016

STATE COLLEGE (AP) - Coming off their biggest win under head coach James Franklin with some extra rest, Penn State players have had plenty of time to contemplate their looming game against No. 2 Ohio State.During the open weekend, they watched as Wisconsin nearly toppled the Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) on Saturday. But the Nittany Lions will need to use their own approach to stop Ohio State's fourth-ranked scoring offense backed by the third-ranked scoring defense in the nation."Wisconsin played them extremely well," Franklin said. "But they are traditional pro-style, pound-you offense ...

Canadiens blank Penguins, 4-0

October 19, 2016

MONTREAL (AP) - David Desharnais scored twice and Al Montoya made 36 saves as the Montreal Canadiens won their home opener, 4-0 over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.Off-season signing Alexander Radulov got his first goal as a Canadien - with Montoya picking up an assist - while Max Pacioretty also scored for Montreal, which has started the season 2-0-1. Montoya, signed from the Florida Panthers this summer, picked up his sixth career shutout.The Penguins, coming off an overtime loss at home Monday night, played their first road game of the season.While the ailing Carey Price got ...

Indians close in on Central title; Pirates fall

September 23, 2016

CLEVELAND (AP) - Carlos Santana's three-run homer pushed the Cleveland Indians to a 5-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night and nearer to their first AL Central championship since 2007.Santana's shot in the sixth inning off Dillon Gee (7-9) snapped a 2-2 tie as the Indians improved to 9-1 against the Royals this season.Kansas City's chances of making the postseason took another blow. The defending World Series champions began the night behind six teams in the wild-card chase.Brewers 3, Pirates 1MILWAUKEE (AP) - Chris Carter hit his 37th home run, matching his career high ...

Steelers looking to extend success vs. rookie QBs

September 23, 2016

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The list of rookie quarterbacks the Pittsburgh Steelers have provided lesson after lesson to over the past 12 years is long if not always distinguished.For every Eli Manning, Joe Flacco and Andy Dalton that Pittsburgh's defense has taken to task since the start of the 2004 season there's a Charlie Frye, John Beck and E.J. Manuel.Only time will tell which group Philadelphia's Carson Wentz fits into. At the moment, the Steelers (2-0) don't particularly care.While they've been impressed as anyone by Wentz's preternatural calm while getting the Philadelphia Eagles off to a ...

Penn State LB Wartman-White lost for season with injury

September 21, 2016

STATE COLLEGE (AP) - Brandon Smith spent early weekdays last year studying opposing defenses so he could copy players' characteristics and mimic tactics as the leader of Penn State's scout team defense.Now, he'll lead the real thing.The former walk-on linebacker is expected to make his first start in the middle of a banged up defense that's lost all three starting linebackers to injuries when Penn State (2-1) plays at No. 4 Michigan (3-0) on Saturday. Penn State coach James Franklin announced Tuesday that Nyeem Wartman-White will miss the remainder of the season with a right knee injury ...