AP Sports Summary for October 18th, 2024:
Mets look for biggest comeback yet after falling behind Dodgers 3-1 in NLCS
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets insist their greatest rebound of 2024 may be yet to come after they dropped into a 3-1 NL Championship Series deficit with a 10-2 dud against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They dropped six games back of a wild card berth with a 22-33 start and made the playoffs. They were two outs from elimination before Pete Alonso's three-run home run saved them in the Wild Card Series at Milwaukee. They rallied with five runs in the eighth inning of the Division Series opener at Philadelphia.
Fry's 2-run homer in 10th sends Guardians to stunning 7-5 win over Yankees, close to 2-1 in ALCS
CLEVELAND (AP) — Pinch-hitter Jhonkensy Noel tied the score with a two-out home run in the ninth inning and David Fry hit a two-run homer in the 10th, rallying Cleveland over the New York Yankees 7-5 and pulling the Guardians to 2-1 in the AL Championship Series. Cleveland led 3-1 in the eighth inning before Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer off All-Star closer Emanuel Clase and Giancarlo Stanton followed with a solo shot. With the Guardians trailing 5-3 and one out from falling into a 3-0 series deficit, Lane Thomas doubled against Luke Weaver in the ninth and Noel tied the score.
Sean Payton triumphs in return to New Orleans as the Broncos dominate the Saints, 33-10
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Javonte Williams rushed for two touchdowns and the Denver Broncos triumphed in coach Sean Payton's return to New Orleans, beating the banged-up and reeling Saints 33-10. Bo Nix passed for 164 yards and ran for 75 yards for Denver. The Broncos outgained New Orleans 389 yards to 271 while sending the Saints to their fifth straight defeat. Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler made his second straight start for New Orleans and his lack of experience was exacerbated by injuries all across the the offense. The Saints fell to 2-5, while the Broncos improved to 4-3.
Rwanda shrugs off 'sportswashing' criticism in pursuit of a winning development formula
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — He may be the president of a small, landlocked state in central Africa, but Paul Kagame has always had outsize dreams. In recent months, Rwanda's president has embarked on perhaps the biggest of them all by pitching to bring a Formula 1 Grand Prix to a country that was mired in genocide 30 years ago but now sees itself as one of the continent's leaders. Determined to overcome his country's geographical disadvantages, Kagame has relentlessly pursued a political, diplomatic and economic strategy to make Rwanda an African heavyweight. Since 2018, his government has secured sponsorship deals with some of Europe's biggest soccer clubs, developed a partnership with the NBA and spent hundreds of millions of dollars in developing Rwanda's sports facilities.
Shohei Ohtani homers to lead off NLCS Game 4 for Dodgers against Mets
NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani homered against Jose Quintana leading off Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, putting the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the New York Mets. Ohtani took Quintana's first pitch for a ball, then drove a sinker over the middle of the plate 422 feet into the Mets' bullpen in right-center field for his third postseason homer. This one gave Ohtani home runs on consecutive swings, after his three-run shot off Tylor Megill in the eighth inning of the Dodgers' 8-0 win Wednesday night helped give Los Angeles a 2-1 series lead.
Ohtani and Betts lead Dodgers to latest blowout of Mets for 3-1 lead in lopsided NLCS
NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff homer and scored four times, Mookie Betts also went deep and drove in four runs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the New York Mets 10-2 for a 3-1 lead in their lopsided National League Championship Series. Betts had a two-run homer and a two-run double among his four hits. Max Muncy extended his streak of reaching base safely to 12 plate appearances, a postseason record, and the Dodgers moved within one win of their 25th pennant — most in NL history. Game 5 is Friday at Citi Field, with Jack Flaherty expected to pitch for Los Angeles with an opportunity to put his hometown team in the World Series.
Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett is retiring effective immediately
Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett is retiring effective immediately. The program said Thursday that Bennett will announce his retirement at a news conference Friday. No reasons were given for Bennett's abrupt departure less than three weeks before the start of the season. The 55-year-old Bennett led the Cavaliers to the national title in 2019. In his 15 seasons as the coach in Charlottesville, he made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. He just signed an extension in June to keep him in the job through at least 2030.
Patriots to practice on Winston Churchill's old stomping grounds in London
LONDON (AP) — A London game is more than just a typical road trip for NFL teams. It's a chance to learn about local history, too. In fact, the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars who play Sunday at Wembley Stadium don't even need to leave their practice facilities to do so. The Patriots will train Friday at the exclusive Harrow School whose most famous alumni is Winston Churchill. Farther out in the countryside the Jaguars use a practice field that is nearly on top of a maze of World War II air raid shelters.
Justin Fields says he hasn't played well enough for Steelers to not consider Russell Wilson at QB
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields seems to be at peace with the idea of getting benched in favor of Russell Wilson. While Fields believes he's done some positive things during Pittsburgh's 4-2 start, he isn't sure his performance produced a compelling enough case to coach Mike Tomlin that Fields should remain the starter even when Wilson returned to full health. Wilson's calf injury has healed and Tomlin has said the nine-time Pro Bowler is in consideration to start. Fields says he will focus on trying to get better and helping Wilson however he can if Wilson gets the call against the New York Jets.
Browns announce plans to move from their lakefront stadium since 1999 to dome in the suburbs
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns are moving out of their lakefront home. The team officially announced plans to leave their 25-year-old stadium on the shores of Lake Erie when the lease expires in 2028 and move to a domed facility in suburban Brook Park despite the city's efforts to keep it in Cleveland. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb says he met with Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslem, who announced their intent to relocate the NFL team to suburban Brook Park despite the city's efforts to keep it in Cleveland. The Haslams explored several possible sites and considered renovating their current home before deciding the move was their best option.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final Cleveland 7 N.Y. Yankees 5
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NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final L.A. Dodgers 10 N.Y. Mets 2
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PRESEASON
Final OT Indiana 121 Charlotte 116
Final Dallas 109 Milwaukee 84
Final Houston 129 San Antonio 107
Final Oklahoma City 104 Atlanta 99
Final Denver 132 Minnesota 126
Final OT L.A. Lakers 128 Phoenix 122
Final L.A. Clippers 113 Sacramento 91
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final New Jersey 3 Ottawa 1
Final Tampa Bay 4 Vegas 3
Final Los Angeles 4 Montreal 1
Final Columbus 6 Buffalo 4
Final Washington 3 Dallas 2
Final OT Vancouver 3 Florida 2
Final N-Y Rangers 5 Detroit 2
Final OT St. Louis 1 N-Y Islanders 0
Final Edmonton 4 Nashville 2
Final Chicago 4 San Jose 2
Final Seattle 6 Philadelphia 4
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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Denver 33 New Orleans 10
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
N-Y Yankees at Cleveland 8:08 p.m.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
L-A Dodgers at N-Y Mets 5:08 p.m.
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PRESEASON
New York at Washington 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Orlando 7 p.m.
Toronto at Brooklyn 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Chicago 8 p.m.
Miami at Memphis 8 p.m.
Utah at Portland 10 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Golden State 10:30 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Carolina at Pittsburgh 7 p.m.
San Jose at Winnipeg 8 p.m.
Anaheim at Colorado 9 p.m.
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TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
(2)Oregon at Purdue 8 p.m.
Oklahoma St. at (13)BYU 10:15 p.m.
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WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
New York at Minnesota 8 p.m.
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