PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cristian Javier and Houston’s bullpen combined on just the second no-hitter in World Series history, silencing a booming lineup and boisterous ballpark as the Astros blanked the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 Wednesday night to even the matchup at two games each. The only previous no-hitter in the World Series was a perfect game by Don Larsen of the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956. Javier and three relievers weren’t perfect, but they were close. Plus, they’d done this before: Javier, the starter in a combined no-hitter against the New York Yankees in June, was pulled with a no-hitter in progress after six innings and 97 pitches this time.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros are set to play Game 5 of the World Series on Thursday night. Here's the catch. The Philadelphia Eagles travel to Texas to play the Houston Texans at the same time. This is the seventh time a World Series and NFL game take place on the same day, involving the same two metro areas and first since 2011. It's never been easier to watch both games at once. The takeover of social media, streaming services and an explosion of second screens that made viewing multiple events a snap.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Justin Verlander has a very tough act to follow. Not only will he again be seeking his first World Series win Thursday night, he’ll take the mound after four Houston teammates combined on the Fall Classic’s second no-hitter. Verlander failed to hold a five-run lead in the opener, a 6-5, 10-inning loss for the Astros that left him 0-6 with a 6.07 ERA in eight World Series starts. The 39-year-old ace, expected to win his third Cy Young Award in a few weeks, has the highest ERA of any pitcher to throw at least 30 innings in the Fall Classic.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs expect to have newly acquired wide receiver Kadarius Toney on the field Sunday night when they face the Tennessee Titans in what could become a pivotal game in the race for AFC playoff seeding. They also plan to have first-round draft pick Trent McDuffie back at cornerback following his hamstring injury. The Chiefs acquired Toney last week from the New York Giants for third- and sixth-round picks in next year’s draft, hoping to upgrade a wide receiver room that has produced mixed results this season. They also wanted another wide receiver who will be under contract next season, when players such as JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman are free agents.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has suspended Hall of Fame coach Bill Self and top assistant Kurtis Townsend for the first four games of the season. The Jayhawks also imposed several recruiting restrictions as part of the fallout from a lengthy FBI investigation into college basketball corruption. Norm Roberts will be the acting coach for the defending national champions beginning with their opener Monday night against Omaha. Self and Townsend also will miss games against North Dakota State and Southern Utah along with a high-profile showdown between the No. 5 Jayhawks and No. 7 Duke in the Champions Classic.
UNDATED (AP) — The College Football Playoff and the Bowl Championship Series before it have made the No. 1 vs. No. 2 rather routine in the postseason. Back in the days of the old bowl system, everything needed to fall into place just right so No. 1 could play No. 2 for a national title. Then the postseason was rebuilt to create that outcome — which was a good idea. The No. 1 vs. No. 2 regular-season game is still fairly rare. No. 1 Georgia faces No. 2 Tennessee in the 25th meeting between AP’s top two teams in the regular season, and fifth this century. Overall, No. 1 is 16-6-2 against No. 2 in regular-season games.
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry expects suspended quarterback Deshaun Watson to start on Dec. 4 in Houston — against his former team — when his 11-game ban ends for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Watson, who played four seasons with the Texans, was suspended in August when he settled with the league after being accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women in massage therapy sessions. Watson can begin practicing on Nov. 14, and as long as he meets provisions in his deal with the league, he’ll return to face the Texans. It will be Watson's first regular-season game in 700 days.
WEDNESDAY SCORES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
Final Houston 5 Philadelphia 0
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Washington 121 Philadelphia 111
Final Atlanta 112 New York 99
Final Miami 110 Sacramento 107
Final Toronto 143 San Antonio 100
Final OT Cleveland 114 Boston 113
Final Chicago 106 Charlotte 88
Final L.A. Clippers 109 Houston 101
Final Milwaukee 116 Detroit 91
Final Dallas 103 Utah 100
Final Memphis 111 Portland 106
Final OT L.A. Lakers 120 New Orleans 117
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Toronto 5 Philadelphia 2
Final Buffalo 6 Pittsburgh 3