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Granderson drives in 5, Mets beat Dodgers 13-7 for 2-1 lead in NLDS; Utley doesn’t play

NEW YORK — With big hits rather than beanballs, the New York Mets wiped out the Los Angeles Dodgers and took control of their testy Division Series.

Curtis Granderson drove in five runs with two doubles off the wall, Travis d'Arnaud and Yoenis Cespedes homered, and New York's dangerous bats busted loose for a 13-7 victory Monday night that gave the Mets a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five NL playoff.

Before a bloodthirsty crowd of 44,276 in the first post-season game at Citi Field, the Mets broke their post-season scoring record as New York public enemy Chase Utley watched from the Los Angeles bench. The NL East champs quickly erased an early three-run deficit and made a winner of a mediocre Matt Harvey in his playoff debut.

Back in the post-season for the first time in nine years, New York can reach the NL Championship Series with another win at home Tuesday night in Game 4.

Trying to save the Dodgers' season, ace lefty Clayton Kershaw will start on three days' rest. Hometown rookie Steven Matz goes for the Mets.

Utley is the subject of scorn in New York after his late takeout slide Saturday night broke the right leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada at Dodger Stadium.

Amid much speculation the Mets would seek revenge, manager Terry Collins said before the game Harvey was told not to.

"This is too big a game. We need to not worry about retaliating," Collins said. "We need to worry about winning. ... We can play angry, but we've got to play under control."

In the end, Utley never got in the game and the Mets saved all their hard hits for when they were at the plate.

Harvey laboured through five innings in his first outing since missing a mandatory post-season workout and apologizing after he arrived.

Los Angeles lefty Brett Anderson took the loss, tagged for six runs and seven hits in three ineffective innings.

Granderson's five RBIs matched a Mets post-season record set by Carlos Delgado in Game 4 of the 2006 NLCS at St. Louis, when New York set its previous post-season high with 12 runs.

Seven seasons after it opened, Citi Field was trimmed in traditional post-season bunting for the Mets' first home playoff game since Carlos Beltran took strike three from Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright to end the 2006 NLCS at Shea Stadium.

Revved-up fans showed up early hungering for payback against Utley, left out of the lineup despite strong career numbers versus Harvey (6 for 18 with a home run).

Regular starter Howie Kendrick remained at second base, and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Utley was on the bench not for safety but solely "baseball reasons."

Utley was eligible to play after appealing a two-game suspension for his slide, deemed illegal after a review by Major League Baseball.

As loud boos rang out during pregame introductions, Utley stared stone-faced straight into the lens while a camera lingered on his face for a few extra seconds.

The 7 Line Army and other fans waving orange towels brought cutouts with Utley's face in the bull's-eye of a target. One sign near the first base dugout read: "Chase Ugly Is Still Philthy," a nod to his 12-plus years playing Mets nemesis for rival Philadelphia. And even New York Mayor Bill de Blasio weighed in, calling Utley "guilty as sin."

Meanwhile, Tejada raised his fist to a rousing ovation when he was introduced in full uniform alongside teammates. With a walking boot and Mets cane, he hobbled out to the baseline as fans — some carrying "WinForRuben" signs with his face on them — chanted the shortstop's name.

Just as Harvey got set to throw first pitch, there was more confusion. Mattingly and Collins each huddled with umpires during a 5-minute delay because the replay phone in the Dodgers' dugout was on the fritz.

In the middle of the first inning came an announcement that the line was fully operational.

And perhaps fittingly, Kendrick, the first batter of the game, hit a grounder to shortstop — where fan-favourite sub Wilmer Flores fielded it flawlessly on his backhand.

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Dodgers: Kershaw has dropped five consecutive post-season decisions, the longest skid in Dodgers history. He was outpitched by Jacob deGrom in a 3-1 defeat at Los Angeles in the series opener. The reigning NL MVP and three-time Cy Young Award winner is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two playoff starts on short rest the past two seasons.

Mets: Matz is a hometown favourite after growing up on Long Island about 50 miles from Citi Field. He went 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA in six major league starts this season but hasn't pitched since Sept. 24 because of a balky back. To sharpen up, he threw approximately 90 pitches during a simulated game Thursday in Florida and worked off the main mound at Citi Field on Sunday. "Really trying to take the emotions out of it," he said Monday. "I have a job to do."

The Associated Press

Chase Utley becomes party tune of Mets’ fans in Dodgers’ 13-7 loss to New York

NEW YORK — Chase Utley joined the ranks of John Rocker and Pete Rose as the object of Mets' fans ire, the focal point of boos and profane chants.

By the fifth inning Monday night his name had become a party tune, with the crowd chirping gleefully, "We Want Utley!" and "Where is Utley?"

Two days after his slide to break up a double play broke the right leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada at Dodger Stadium, Utley remained eligible to appear while appealing his two-game suspension.

But the marked man never got in as the Mets took an eight-run lead by the middle innings and routed Los Angeles 13-7 for a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five NL Division Series.

Impromptu choruses of derision broke out among spectators warming their vocal chords on the No. 7 subway line heading to Citi Field's first post-season contest. The ballpark became a bit of a target field — photos of Utley superimposed over a bullseye were distributed.

Fans booed fiercely when Utley was introduced. Tejada, using a blue cane with an orange Mets logo, was cheered boisterously.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio gave his view earlier Monday, pronouncing Utley "guilty as sin."

Under the sport's collective bargaining agreement, Utley's hearing is to start within 14 days of Major League Baseball receiving the appeal, and penalties are held in abeyance pending a decision.

"I feel like MLB got, you know, maybe a little bit bullied into suspending him. Never happened before. I've seen slides a lot worse," Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw said. "There's a lot of people that have a lot of different opinions about it that probably shouldn't because they're not middle infielders and they have no idea what they're talking about."

John McHale Jr., the baseball executive who will hear the appeal, listened to the positions of management and the players' union on timing and is expected to set a date Tuesday.

Instead of Utley, Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly started Howie Kendrick at second.

"Howie's been swinging the bat good, and we feel like he gives us the best chance to win today," Mattingly said.

Kendrick was 3 for 8 in the first two games of the series, while Utley went 1 for 2 in a pair of appearances as a pinch hitter. Batting leadoff, Kendrick went 2 for 5 with a three-run, ninth-inning homer.

Mets manager Terry Collins did not expect any attempts by his players to retaliate, and his players complied.

"This is too big a game," Collins said. "We can play angry, but we've got to play under control."

Rose became a Mets enemy in Game 3 of the 1973 NL Championship Series at Shea Stadium, when he took out shortstop Bud Harrelson trying to break up a double play, leading to a brawl. Fans later threw beer cans, cups and a whiskey bottle toward Rose's left field position, and Cincinnati manager Sparky Anderson pulled the Reds off the field for almost 20 minutes.

Rocker drew ire after he was quoted in a December 1999 Sports Illustrated story he would rather retire than play in New York. He said "Imagine taking the 7 train ... next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who got out of jail for the fourth time." That drew him a 14-day suspension, and when he returned to Shea with Atlanta, the Mets limited beers sales to two per person at a time instead of four.

Utley was penalized Sunday by Joe Torre, MLB's chief baseball officer, who said Utley's takeout was an "illegal slide."

The tying run scored on the play, the first of four runs in the inning, and the Dodgers went on to win 5-2 and tie the series at one game apiece. If umpires had ruled the slide illegal, they could have called an inning-ending double play, which would have left the Mets ahead 2-1.

"I feel terrible about Ruben's injury," Utley said in a statement Monday. "Now my teammates and I are focused on Game 3 and doing everything we can to win this series."

McHale had been MLB's executive vice-president of administration from 2002 until April, when he received his new title. He has continued his role of hearing appeals of on-field discipline.

Before joining the commissioner's office, McHale had been Colorado's executive vice-president of baseball operations, Detroit's chief executive officer and Tampa Bay's chief operating officer.

Ronald Blum, The Associated Press

Bell’s 1-yard TD run at buzzer lifts Vick, Steelers over Chargers 24-20 in prime-time stunner

SAN DIEGO — Five seconds left, down by three points and the ball inside the 1.

The Pittsburgh Steelers needed a gutsy play against the San Diego Chargers.

They got it for a stunning victory.

Le'Veon Bell scored on a wildcat run as time expired to give Mike Vick and the Steelers a rousing 24-20 victory Monday night.

Bell took the direct snap, ran left and was slowed in traffic before diving for the end zone and getting the ball across the line as Donald Butler dragged him down.

"'I got to get it in," Bell said. "We still had a timeout left. I was thinking we still have a timeout left, so I'm thinking, 'OK, maybe if I get stopped, maybe run like 4 seconds off and get a timeout and we could kick a field goal. I wanted to end the game right there.

Bell said it was the most meaningful touchdown of his three-year career. "The game-winner on the last play of the game, that's what you dream about," he said.

Tens of thousands of Pittsburgh fans waving Terrible Towels roared as the Steelers improved to 3-2. San Diego dropped to 2-3.

Vick, having an awful game until the fourth quarter, kept the drive alive with a 24-yard scramble up the middle on third-and-6 from the 41 and then a 16-yard pass to Heath Miller to 1 a play before Bell's big run. An unnecessary roughness call against San Diego's Jahleel Addae moved the ball a half-yard closer to the end zone and stopped the clock.

"It's not how you start. It's how you finish," Vick said.

San Diego called a timeout before Pittsburgh ran the gutsy play.

Bell ran 21 times for 111 yards.

San Diego rookie Josh Lambo kicked a go-ahead, 54-yard field goal with 2: 56 left.

Vick, making his second straight start in place of injured Ben Roethlisberger, couldn't get much going until he and Markus Wheaton hooked up on a 72-yard touchdown on a stop-and-go route to tie it at 17 with 7:42 left.

The Chargers then moved down the field for Lambo's kick. Eight days earlier, the rookie kicked a 34-yarder as time expired for a 30-27 win over Cleveland. Lambo also was short and left on a 60-yard attempt just before halftime against the Steelers.

Antonio Gates returned from a four-game PED suspension and caught a 12-yard scoring pass from Philip Rivers in the first quarter and then had an 11-yard grab with 8:02 left to give the Chargers a 17-10 lead. Gates has 101 career TDs, joining Tony Gonzalez (111) as the only tight ends to reach that milestone.

Rivers has thrown 74 touchdown passes to Gates, the most from a QB to a tight end in NFL history.

Gates was suspended without pay for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug in the off-season.

Rivers didn't waste any time going to Gates on San Diego's first possession, completing passes of 10 and 12 yards to the tight end. A 31-yard completion to Danny Woodhead and a 15-yard facemask penalty on the Steelers moved the ball to the 16. Two plays later, Rivers hit the wide-open Gates for a 12-yard TD.

Antwon Blake intercepted Rivers' pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown to give the Steelers a 10-7 lead late in the third quarter. Receiver Malcom Floyd broke off a crossing route that led to the pickoff.

It was Rivers' third pick-six of the season. He has turnovers in 10 of his last 11 games.

San Diego came right back and tied it on Lambo's 40-yard field goal.

Rivers was 35 of 48 for 365 yards.

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Bernie Wilson, The Associated Press

Cubs hit post-season-record 6 homers, beat Cardinals 8-6 to take 2-1 lead in NL Division Series

CHICAGO — The young sluggers of the Chicago Cubs are making themselves at home in the playoffs.

On a rare off night for Jake Arrieta, the Windy City kids bashed their way to the brink of the NL Championship Series — and a spot in the record book.

Jorge Soler, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber connected as the Cubs set a post-season mark with six home runs and beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-6 on Monday for a 2-1 lead in the NL Division Series. Arrieta struck out nine before departing in the sixth inning, and the bullpen finished the job in the first playoff game at Wrigley Field in seven years.

"To see the ball fly out of the yard as many times as it did was incredible," Arrieta said.

Starlin Castro, Anthony Rizzo and Dexter Fowler also went deep for Chicago, which held a share of the previous post-season record with five homers in Game 1 of the 1984 NLCS against San Diego.

"Pretty impressive," manager Joe Maddon said. "You know, I know the wind was blowing out — we'll concede that — but most of them were properly struck. We are definitely capable of that."

A third straight win for the Cubs on Tuesday afternoon, and the once woebegone franchise will advance to the NLCS for the first time in 12 years. The Cardinals, who led the majors with 100 wins this season, have won at least one playoff series in each of the last four years.

Jason Hammel starts at home in Game 4. John Lackey, who won the opener, pitches for the Cardinals.

"I want to win championships. I want to be on good teams," Lackey said. "Got a chance here, still, and try to keep it moving."

Jason Heyward and Stephen Piscotty homered for St. Louis, which got to Arrieta for four runs in his worst start in four months. But the Cardinals were unable to keep the Cubs in the ballpark.

St. Louis trailed 8-4 before Piscotty hit a two-run shot with two out in the ninth, a scary moment for a towel-waving crowd of 42,411 used to playoff heartache. But Hector Rondon retired Matt Holliday on a harmless bouncer to second, and the party was on.

"We were grinding against Arrieta all night and we did have opportunities," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "They just kept adding on."

Arrieta improved to 18-1 with a 1.00 ERA in his last 22 starts dating to June 21, but he was far from his usual dominant self. He hadn't allowed more than three runs in a game since a June 16 loss to Cleveland.

And it didn't matter, not one bit.

"Today we got his back — just like he always got our backs," Castro said.

Schwarber, Castro and Bryant homered against Michael Wacha in his first playoff appearance since he threw the final pitch of the 2014 post-season for the Cardinals, a game-ending, three-run shot for Travis Ishikawa in the NLCS against the Giants.

Bryant's two-run drive made it 4-2 with one out in the fifth and chased Wacha in favour of Kevin Siegrist. But Rizzo followed another long ball, a drive to right for his first hit of the playoffs.

Even Adam Wainwright got into the act, serving up Soler's two-run shot in the sixth. Soler, who struggled with injuries for much of the year, is 4 for 4 with two homers, four RBIs and five walks in the series. He is the first player in major league history to reach safely in his first nine post-season plate appearances.

The final homer for Chicago went to Fowler, practically an elder statesman in Maddon's youthful lineup. Fowler doesn't turns 30 until March, but Soler, Bryant, Rizzo, Schwarber and Castro are all 26 or younger.

INJURED RUSSELL

Cubs shortstop Addison Russell left in the fourth with tightness in his left hamstring. He said he is day to day.

"It feels fine now so we're just going to have to wait, see how it goes overnight," he said.

BANGED-UP CARDINALS

St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina winced on a swing-and-miss in the fourth inning, and then was checked on by a trainer and Matheny. Molina missed the last part of the regular season due to a strained ligament in his left thumb. Piscotty and second baseman Kolten Wong were shaken up after a collision in foul territory in the fifth.

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Facing elimination, Matheny decided to go to Lackey on short rest. He pitched 7 1-3 innings of two-hit ball in the Cardinals' 4-0 victory on Friday. Hammel pitched five shutout innings in his final start of the regular season on Oct. 1 at Cincinnati. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.80 ERA in four career playoff games.

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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press

Trio charged with killing Quebec backpacker, hiker

SAN FRANCISCO — A California prosecutor said Monday he has filed murder charges that could lead to the death penalty for three young transients accused of gunning down a backpacker from Quebec and a yoga instructor walking his dog.

The three arrived in California on Monday evening and were taken to Marin County jail, the Marin County Sheriff's Office said. They were arrested last week in Oregon.

Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian said each suspect is charged with two counts of murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait. The suspects are 24-year-old Sean Michael Angold, 23-year-old Morrison Haze Lampley and 18-year-old Lila Scott Alligood.

An arraignment hearing for the three suspects has been set for Wednesday, authorities said. It's unclear if they have retained lawyers.

The body of 23-year-old Audrey Carey was discovered in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park the morning of Oct. 3. She was shot once in the head, police said.

Investigators believe Carey was camping in the park, which was hosting a free, three-day bluegrass festival.

Tantric yoga instructor Steve Carter, 67, was found dead two days later along a popular hiking trail in Marin County, 20 miles (32 kilometres) north of San Francisco. He was still clutching the leash of his dog, the Marin County Sheriff's Office said. The dog also was shot but is expected to survive.

San Francisco Police Commander Toney Chaplin said the same gun was used in both killings.

Authorities found the weapon when they arrested the suspects Wednesday outside a Portland, Oregon, soup kitchen, he said. The three also were found in possession of Carter's car and some of Carey's camping gear.

Chaplin said the gun was reported stolen from an unlocked car parked in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf neighbourhood.

The Marin County district attorney added a special circumstance of multiple killings to each of the transient's murder charges, enabling him to prosecute both shooting deaths in one trial.

"We will be monitoring the prosecution and will be co-operating with the Marin County DA's office to bring justice to these victims' families," San Francisco district attorney spokesman Alex Bastian said.

Carey had just left Quebec to go backpacking in the U.S. and Europe when she was killed.

Carter lived near the hiking trail where he was shot and drove there to walk his dog. He was living with friends while caring for his wife, who has cancer.

— With files from The Associated Press

 

Paul Elias, The Associated Press

Lowry pours in pre-season team-record 40 points in Raptors’ win over T’Wolves

TORONTO — When Kyle Lowry drilled his sixth three-pointer of the night Monday, he shot a grin at his bench.

The Toronto Raptors point guard, who showed up at training camp significantly more trim and fit, poured in 40 points — a franchise record for the pre-season — to lift the Raptors to a 112-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"I'll tell you what, I want him to save some of those, he's hot as a firecracker," said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. 

Cory Joseph added 14, Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points, while Luis Scola had 12 and DeMarre Carroll finished with 11 for Toronto (3-1).

Andrew Wiggins, the reigning NBA rookie of the year from Vaughan, Ont., led the T'Wolves (0-3) with 21 points in 18 minutes

Lowry, who was terrific early on last season but struggled down the stretch, worked hard on his body in the off-season, and the results have been obvious.

"He was unbelievable tonight, he was making everything," Joseph said. "He could probably have turned backwards and threw it at the rim, it probably would have went in."

Lowry racked up his points in just 28 minutes, shooting 13-for-18 from the field, 6-for-9 from behind the arc, and hit all eight free throws.

Lowry, wearing a Blue Jays jacket in the post-game locker-room, shrugged off his prolific night, saying the record meant "not a damn thing."

"I've felt pretty comfortable every game. For me it's about maintaining, start off well, finish well," he added. "It's only pre-season."

Vince Carter held the previous pre-season record of 38 points. 

The game was a homecoming, not just for Wiggins, who purchased 16 courtside seats for the game, but for Raptors Joseph and Anthony Bennett — both were playing their first games in Toronto for their hometown team.

"I was excited to play in front of my family, fans, friends," Joseph said. "Thanksgiving, so happy Thanksgiving to all the Canadians out there. We had our Thanksgiving the other night, they came out here to support me. A lot of love floating around here."

Bennett, whose defence has been impressive thus far, had five rebounds to go with three points in 19 minutes.

Wiggins' older brother Nick, signed by Minnesota last month, also got into the game, scoring four points in the final five minutes.

"It was huge for the city and for the country, four Canadians on the floor," Joseph said. "Even though it's pre-season. . . it's unbelievable, it just goes to show how much talent we have here in Canada and we're moving up the ranks."

Andrew Wiggins scored the game's first five points, on a three-pointer then a dunk and had 10 points in a quarter that saw the T'Wolves lead 26-25. 

Lowry had 22 points and Wiggins had 21 by the time the two teams headed to the locker-room at halftime, with the Raptors up 60-59.

Lowry poured in 19 in the third quarter as the Raptors started to pull away, taking a 96-90 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Raptors rested DeMar DeRozan while Kevin Garnett didn't play for the T'Wolves, for the same reason.

The Raptors game tipped off just as the Blue Jays were sealing their victory against the Texas Rangers to force a Game 5 of their American League Division Series.

Casey said he would have forgiven a sparse crowd, but 19,277 fans showed up.

"If there's nobody here tonight, they've got a good excuse," Casey said prior to tipoff.

"I'm a baseball man, grew up playing baseball, coaching it. . . I think all our players, they're all in (the locker-room) watching it so, don't let them tell you they don't like baseball."

The Raptors and T'Wolves meet again in Ottawa on Wednesday as part of the NBA's Canada Series, which featured sold-out games in Winnipeg and Vancouver, and then Ottawa and Montreal. The Raptors play the Washington Wizards in Montreal to cap the series on Oct. 23.

 

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press

Blue Jays pitching strategy works in Texas win but doesn’t seem that popular

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Blue Jays are headed back to Toronto, alive and most certainly kicking after a second straight win in Texas.

Backed by early Josh Donaldson, Chris Colabello and Kevin Pillar home runs, R.A. Dickey and David Price combined for 7 2/3 innings as Toronto defeated the Texas Rangers 8-4 to tie their American League Division Series at two games apiece.

The rubber match goes Wednesday at the Rogers Centre, with hope of a happy ending for Toronto's first foray into the playoffs in 22 years.

"The fact we're going back is everything," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "We've been good at home all year ... That's where we're best."

The Jays were 53-28 at home this season and 40-41 on the road. Still the home team has yet to win in this series.

Monday's victory was almost overshadowed by Gibbons' pitching strategy, which worked but didn't seem that popular.

The Jays were leading 7-1 when Price relieved Dickey with two outs and one man on in the fifth.

That meant the 40-year-old knuckleballer was denied a win in his first post-season start. And that Price, Toronto's ace, won't start in the deciding game. Instead Marcus Stroman will face Cole Hamels in a rematch of Game 2.

With the season on the line Monday, Gibbons was not going to allow anything to go south.

"Probably not a relationship-building move," he saw wryly of the pitching change. "But a team win, that's what I was looking for."

Dickey, who became the oldest starting pitcher in MLB history to make his post-season debut, was diplomatic although he made it clear he wanted to continue.

"Gibby's the manager and what he says goes. I'm an employee and sometimes you don't necessarily like what your boss wants you to do. But I respect him.

"So am I disappointed? Sure, I think any competitor should be," he added. "But at the end of the day, I've said this before and I mean it, it's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit. And we won today and so we're going back to Toronto with a chance."

He said it helped that he was yielding to a "bazooka" like Price, a fellow Nashville native who shares the same agent.

"Has there ever been a game where one Cy Young (winner) has handed the ball to another one? That's kind of cool," Dickey said. 

But asked if he would have been so understanding earlier in his career, Dickey said: "No."

Gibbons said he made the move to have Price pitch to Shin-Soo Choo.

"One thing I've learned over the years is sometimes the best way you win games is don't let a team get back into it," he said.

"I know what kind of offence they have," he added of Texas.

Price dispatched Choo with one pitch to end the inning.

The big left-hander threw 50 pitches over three innings, giving up three runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna finished it off for the Jays.

Gibbons said the outing meant Price was not in consideration to pitch Wednesday. Price saw it differently, saying he would be ready — deflecting praise to Dickey while making a point about his preferred role.

"R.A. threw the ball much better than I did. ... He threw the ball fantastic and I wish the scorekeeper would just give him a win because he's the guy that deserves it, not me.

"That's not the way I want to win games. I definitely want to help this team win in any way possible, but I want to be out there for 27 outs, not three outs, 4 2/3  (innings). Like R.A. said, we want to win, that's the main goal. That's what everybody says every single day. Just win today and worry about tomorrow later. That's what we did today and we did it well."

The Rangers said they too will be ready.

"There's no quit in this ball club. No quit in any one of those players in that locker room," said Texas manager Jeff Banister.

"Obviously we would have loved to have done it right here in our house," he added. "Well, that's not the case. We're going to have to go do it in another location, and we're going to play a baseball game."

It was Price's first relief outing in five years. He made five playoff relief appearances in 2008 with Tampa Bay.

The six-foot-six left-hander, the losing pitcher in Game 1, is now 2-6 all-time in the post-season. The two wins are both as a reliever and the six losses all as a starter. 

After losing the first two games 5-3 and 6-4 in 14 innings in Toronto, the Jays had taken one step out of the hole they had dug themselves when they defeated Texas 5-1 Sunday on the strength of Troy Tulowitzki's three-run homer. 

On Monday, they smacked the Rangers about from the get-go. Texas' ever present NeverEverQuit Twitter hashtag suddenly was the Jays' domain.

Toronto led 3-0 before Dickey set foot on the mound. It was 4-0 after two innings and 7-1 after three.

The Jays, who managed three home runs in the first three games, matched that total in two innings Monday for a franchise playoff record. It marked the first time the Blue Jays have hit three homers in a post-season game.

Toronto led the majors with 232 homers during the regular season.

Globe Life Park, a steamy sea of Rangers red and blue with white rally towels twirling, rocked as a ZZ Top track teed up the first inning in 32-degree Celsius heat. But the sellout crowd of 47,679 fell quiet very quickly and some left early.

Donaldson made it 2-0 five pitches into the game when he deposited a 1-0 Derek Holland pitch into the right-field seats for a 381-foot homer with Ben Revere on base. Two outs later, Colabello hit a solo shot 373 feet into right-field.

It was Donaldson's second homer in the series, with both coming in the first inning. The Jays' MVP candidate led the majors with 13 first-inning homers during the regular season.

Pillar upped the lead with a 412-foot solo shot in the second inning that was caught by Price in the Jays bullpen in left-centre.

The Jays bats were alive.

"Look, when you make mistakes over the middle of the plate, bats have a tendency to come alive," said Banister.

Toronto added three more runs while sending eight to the plate in the third to chase Holland, who faced 12 batters in all, getting just six outs.

Texas finally got on the board in the third on a pair of singles and a Dickey wild pitch.

The teams traded runs in the seventh for an 8-2 Jays lead with Texas adding another two runs off Price in the eighth.

Adrian Beltre, the Rangers third baseman, returned to the lineup after leaving Game 1 with a lower back strain. He went 2-for-4.

Jays reliever Aaron Loup was unavailable for the game, leaving to attend to a family matter. Gibbons said he would be back for Wednesday's decider.

 

Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

USC fires Steve Sarkisian 1 day after putting troubled football coach on leave

LOS ANGELES — Southern California fired Steve Sarkisian on Monday, one day after the troubled football coach was put on leave.

Athletic director Pat Haden made the move one day after determining Sarkisian showed up at school in no condition to lead practice, although Haden refused to reveal specifics about the coach's condition. Offensive co-ordinator Clay Helton was appointed interim coach Sunday.

USC hasn't elaborated on Sarkisian's problems, but the second-year coach had an embarrassing public display in August at a pep rally where he appeared to be intoxicated while giving a speech. Sarkisian later apologized and said he had combined alcohol and medication, but promised not to drink again during the season.

Sarkisian's unsteady appearance Sunday prompted Haden to make the program's fourth coaching change in just over two years.

"After careful consideration of what is in the best interest of the university and our student-athletes, I have made the decision to terminate Steve Sarkisian, effective immediately," Haden said in a statement.

"I want to add how proud I am of our coaching staff and players and the way they are responding to this difficult situation. Through all of this we remain concerned for Steve and hope that it will give him the opportunity to focus on his personal well-being."

Helton, Sarkisian's offensive co-ordinator, will officially lead his first practice Tuesday as the Trojans (3-2, 1-2 Pac-12) prepare for their annual rivalry game at No. 14 Notre Dame.

Sarkisian went 12-6 at USC, where he started as an assistant coach under Pete Carroll with the program's dominant teams of the past decade.

"This is an opportunity for Sark to get right and to get well," Carroll said Monday. "We're pulling for him. He's up against some big challenges and he's got to go ahead and take care of it. It's not about coaching now. It's about his personal life and getting things in order. I know he's committed to taking the right steps to do that, and it's hugely important for him."

Carroll said he had communicated with Sarkisian recently.

"I'll be there to support him," Carroll said. "I knew him before, and (he has) a lot to offer the world. It's been hard on him, and he's made it hard on people around him, too. He knows that. He's got to take the steps to take care of business now."

Sarkisian spent five years as Washington's head coach until 2013, when he left the Huskies for a reported five-year contract to return to his native Southern California, describing it as "a dream come true to be back in the Trojan family."

Sarkisian never faced significant public scrutiny for alcohol use in Seattle, although his enthusiasm for nights out became part of his identity among fans and boosters. An AP review of Sarkisian's expense reports from his years at Washington showed a steady acquisition of alcohol on his trips, ranging from mild indulgences to lavish liquor purchases, sometimes before lunch.

Washington athletic director Scott Woodward issued a brief statement: "It is evident that Steve is dealing with a serious personal matter and we wish him the best in facing whatever challenges lay ahead."

The 41-year-old Sarkisian is in the midst of a divorce from his wife, Stephanie, and he recently sold a palatial house south of Los Angeles. They have three children.

The hallowed USC football program has five AP national championships and more than a century of proud history, but it has endured turmoil for most of the past six years since Carroll left the school for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks in 2009.

The well-liked Haden, a former USC quarterback, is facing increasing public condemnation for his oversight of the entire athletic department, but particularly a football team with a national championship pedigree in upheaval for yet another season.

After the tumultuous 3 1/2-year tenure of fired coach Lane Kiffin, Sarkisian and his players have made several public missteps during his short tenure. Sarkisian's coaching also received widespread scrutiny after a 17-12 loss to Washington last week dropped the preseason No. 8 team out of the AP Top 25.

Sarkisian's former colleagues and opponents offered words of compassion and encouragement Monday after he began his leave. The school hasn't said whether Sarkisian is seeking treatment.

Chris Petersen was a candidate for the USC job won by Sarkisian, and the former Boise State coach replaced Sarkisian at Washington shortly afterward. Petersen's unranked Huskies then beat USC in the coaches' first meeting last Thursday.

"This is a tough job," Petersen said Monday. "You just feel bad for the whole situation for everybody. We could talk a long time about that. It's hard enough to lose. It's a hard enough job when you're doing well, and when something doesn't go right in your situation and everybody piles on, I think it's very tough."

The talent-rich, well-funded USC football program won national titles in 2003 and 2004 before falling one game short in 2005, but the Trojans have been roiling in trouble ever since a lengthy NCAA investigation of extra benefits given to Heisman Trophy-winning tailback Reggie Bush neared a conclusion six years ago.

After Carroll jumped to the NFL, former athletic director Mike Garrett hired Kiffin away from Tennessee shortly before the NCAA hit USC with heavy sanctions that included three years of scholarship reductions.

Kiffin created or endured numerous controversies before getting fired by Haden at the airport shortly after a terrible loss in 2013. Most of Kiffin's woes were confined to amateurish gamesmanship, such as players switching jersey numbers during a game and a student manager underinflating footballs.

The Trojans then had four head coaches in 2013, with interim coach Ed Orgeron quitting in disappointment after Sarkisian was hired over him. Helton coached the Las Vegas Bowl and then joined Sarkisian's staff.

Ever since Sarkisian's arrival, the Trojans seemingly can't get through a month without some sort of drama — some of it having nothing to do with the coach.

Senior cornerback Josh Shaw bizarrely concocted a heroic story about getting injured while saving a child from drowning, only to be suspended for most of last season after confessing the lie. Haden made headlines early last season by going down to the sideline to yell at officials during a game at Stanford at Sarkisian's request.

Sarkisian's behaviour at the Salute to Troy pep rally in August was an embarrassment, but the coach appeared to move past it in September after a contrite public statement.

But then the losing started: Stanford racked up 41 points while beating then-No. 6 USC at the Coliseum last month, and Sarkisian's offence was terrible against the Huskies.

___

AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Seattle contributed to this report.

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press

Royals rally on Correa’s error, get 5 in 8th to beat Astros 9-6, force ALDS to decisive Game 5

HOUSTON — Astros shortstop Carlos Correa couldn't handle a deflected grounder that might have been a double-play ball, helping the Kansas City Royals rally for five runs in the eighth inning to beat Houston 9-6 Monday and force their playoff series to a decisive Game 5.

Correa homered twice, doubled, singled and drove in four runs in Game 4 of the AL Division Series. Houston took a 6-2 lead into the eighth, but a tough error charged to the 21-year-old rookie keyed the Royals' comeback to even the matchup at two games apiece.

Game 5 will be back in Kansas City on Wednesday night. Johnny Cueto is set to start for the Royals against Collin McHugh.

"Everyone that watched that game, everybody that was a part of that game knows how difficult it is to feel like that game was closing in our favour and then have it not go our way," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.

"But it's big boy sport. We'll adjust, and we will be ready to play," he said.

Late in the game, a tweet from the account of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott congratulated the Astros on advancing to the AL Championship Series.

But the defending AL champion Royals had other ideas.

Kansas City opened the eighth with five straight singles off relievers Will Harris and Tony Sipp, with RBI hits by Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer making it 6-4 and leaving the bases with no outs.

Kendrys Morales followed with a hard, one-bouncer off Sipp's glove. The ball took two more hops and got past the top of Correa's mitt, rolling into centre field as two runs scored to tie it at 6.

Alex Gordon's RBI groundout off Luke Gregerson later in the inning put Kansas City ahead.

Hosmer launched a long, two-run homer in the ninth for insurance.

"We always feel that we're still in games, and we still have a chance," Hosmer said. "That's the mentality for this whole entire team. It's never quit, and the character we showed today. That's what a championship ballclub does."

Ryan Madson (1-0) gave up two home runs in the seventh and still got the win. Wade Davis pitched two scoreless innings for his second save.

Sipp took the loss.

Colby Rasmus homered for Houston, his fourth in five playoff games this October. Carlos Gomez also connected for the Astros.

Correa went 4 for 4 and was hit by a pitch.

Plunked by Yordano Ventura his first time up, Correa answered with a solo homer to tie it in the third. He put Houston on top with an RBI double in the fifth and became the youngest player with a multihomer game in AL playoff history with a two-run shot off Ryan Madson in the seventh for a 6-2 lead.

At 21 years and 20 days old, Correa became the youngest player in franchise history to homer in the playoffs, the youngest shortstop to do it in the post-season in Major League history and sixth-youngest player overall.

Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer in the second to give the Royals an early lead. But Houston starter Lance McCullers retired 15 of the next 18 batters, eaving after hitting Perez with a pitch with one out in the seventh.

Ventura yielded four hits and three runs in five innings. He was pitching on short rest after taking the loss in a start limited to two innings because of a rain delay in Houston's 5-2 win in the opener.

He's just the second player in franchise history to hit two homers in a post-season game, joining Carlos Beltran, who did it in 2004.

Rasmus, who homered in the AL wild-card win over the Yankees, hit his third home run of the ALDS when he followed Correa's second shot with a home run off the foul pole in right field in the seventh.

GLAD HE'S OK: Two pitches before his home run, Perez fouled a ball into the stands down the first base line and it struck a young boy. Perez looked concerned and took a second to get back in the box. Later, a team official said the boy was fine after being treated by first aid at the ballpark.

Kristie Rieken, The Associated Press

Spencer, Gurley with TD catches as Argos win third straight 25-17 over Alouettes

MONTREAL — The Toronto Argonauts have become the road warriors of the Canadian Football League.

Trevor Harris threw touchdown passes to Diontae Spencer and Tori Gurley as the Argonauts stretched their winning run to three games, all away from home, with a 25-17 victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Monday afternoon.

Their win in Ottawa last week was supposed to have been a home game, but they were forced out of the Rogers Centre by the Blue Jays playoff run. Their next game, Saturday against the Calgary Stampeders, may be moved to Tim Horton's Field in Hamilton.

"Of course, we'd much rather be in the dome than playing at Tim Horton's, but that's what it us.," said coach Scott Milanovich, whose team is 5-4 away from the Rogers Centre. "That's the hand we've been dealt and we're going to play to win."

Brandon Whitaker ran in a touchdown and Justin Palardy kicked a field goal for Toronto (9-5), now tied with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats atop the East Division.

Milanovic feels his team cannot lose more than one of their four remaining regular-season games to take first place in the division and may even have to run the table because the Ticats have the edge in the season series between them.

Tyrell Sutton and B.J. Cunningham scored TDs and Boris Bede had a field goal for Montreal (5-9), which lost a third game in a row before 21,536 at Percival Molson Stadium.

The Alouettes lost yet another quarterback as Rakeem Cato suffered a suspected concussion on a Thomas Miles sack just ahead of halftime and did not return. That brought in Anthony Boone, the sixth QB they have used this season.

When Boone couldn't move the ball, Tanner Marsh took over in the fourth quarter.

Coach Jim Popp wasn't sure yet which quarterback will start Sunday at home against Hamilton.

He said Boone and Marsh "will get all the reps in practice, a lot more than they had this week. For them to come in and play was difficult."

Cato was good on nine of 12 passes for 72 yards and had a 9-7 lead when he left the game. Boone was 6-for-12 with an interception and Marsh was 9-for-14 for 119 yards, a touchdown and a pick.

Harris, who went 16-for-21 for 182 yards, 2 TDs and an interception, led scoring drives when Toronto needed them.

The Argos marched 70 yards on four plays to score on the opening drive of the game, with Spencer hauling in a 20-yard TD pass at 1:49.

Momentum swung on the opening play of the second quarter when Henoc Muamba, playing his first game since signing as a free agent, picked off a Harris pass and brought it to the Toronto 32. Bede kicked a 25-yard field goal.

A shanked Anthony Alix punt gave Montreal the ball on the Argos 21 and, five plays later, Sutton ran in from the three to put the Alouettes ahead 9-7.

Akwasi Owusu-Ansah picked off a Boone pass and ran it 63 yards to the Montreal 41 to set up Palardy's 36-yard field goal 14:17 into the third quarter.

A 55-yard single on a Bede punt tied it 10-10 5:41 into the fourth, but Harris marched back for a 27-yard TD pass to Gurley.

Marsh fumbled, then was picked off, leading to a Toronto single and Whitaker's nine-yard TD run with 2:14 left in the game.

Montreal made it interesting as a drive led to a 10-yard TD pass from Marsh to Cunningham at 14:06 and Kyries Hebert recovered the short kickoff to give them a last-minute drive that fell short.

Alix, who muffed three punts, left with an injury and Milanovich said there will be a new punter next game. Palardy went 1-for-3 on field goals on a poor Argos kicking day overall.

 

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

Pacquiao says shoulder 80-90 per cent healed, expects to start training in November or December

NEW YORK — Manny Pacquiao said Monday that his surgically repaired shoulder is 80-90 per cent healed and he expects to resume training in November or December, with a return to the ring in March.

Pacquiao acknowledged that Amir Khan was a possible opponent, but added no determination had been made.

Pacquiao had surgery on his right shoulder four days after he lost by unanimous decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in boxing's richest fight ever in May. Mayweather says he's retiring, though Pacquiao recognizes that in boxing, those vows don't always hold up.

"If you ask me, of course, I want a rematch," Pacquiao said. "I heard that he retired already. If he really retired, then there's no rematch. But if not..."

Pacquiao injured his shoulder three weeks before the fight. He later said he aggravated it in the fourth round, when he landed some of his best punches of the night against Mayweather.

"He kept moving around and didn't want to fight toe to toe with me, exchanging punches," Pacquiao said Monday.

Asked if he could change that in a rematch, Pacquiao said, "I think so, especially (after) I fixed my shoulder."

Pacquiao, a congressman in the Philippines, was in Manhattan to be honoured with the Asia Society's Asia Game Changer of the Year Award. He is running for the Philippines' 24-seat Senate, a national position that has been used as a springboard for vice-president or president.

The Associated Press

4 schools to change mascots after California governor bans name offensive to Native Americans

LOS ANGELES — Four California high schools will be forced to change mascots after Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation barring public schools from using the Redskins name for sports teams.

It was one of three sports-related bills approved by Brown in the last week. He also signed a measure that bans players and coaches from using smokeless tobacco at professional baseball parks and another that recognizes competitive cheerleading as a high school sport.

The mascot legislation signed Sunday will prevent public schools from using a term that American Indians regard as offensive and goes into effect in 2017.

Only four public schools still use the name, including Tulare Union High south of Fresno. Dr. Sarah Koligian, superintendent of Tulare Joint Union High School District, said officials were "disappointed" by Brown's decision but will change their team name.

"We will adhere to the law as it is written," Koligian said in a statement Monday. "Together with our Board of Trustees, school community and our Tulare community we will seek their input to determine our new mascot."

The Chowchilla Union High School District in the Central Valley will begin seeking public comment on a new mascot — but not happily, Superintendent Ronald V. Seals said.

The district's lone high school, which has about 1,000 students, has used the Redskins mascot and Indian chief logo since 1928 and there never have been complaints, he said.

"I have Choctaw Indian blood in my veins. I'm not offended by it," Seals said.

"You don't pick a mascot that you don't respect, dignify, love, honour, all those things," he said. "It's just taking away something that's so near and dear to their hearts...and by people who don't even live here."

American Indian groups have protested the name's continued use amid their court fight with the NFL's Washington Redskins. A federal panel ruled last year that the team's trademark should be cancelled, but the team is challenging that decision in court. Washington owner Dan Snyder is facing unprecedented opposition from those who consider his team's name a racial slur.

"This landmark legislation eliminating the R-word in California schools clearly demonstrates that this issue is not going away, and that opposition to the Washington team on this issue is only intensifying," said Evan Nierman, founder of the group Change The Mascot, which supported the bill. "The NFL should act immediately to press the team to change the name."

California schools Gustine High in Merced County, Calaveras High in Calaveras County and Chowchilla Union High in Madera County also use the name. Messages seeking comment from school officials were not immediately returned Monday, a federal holiday.

The measure Brown approved Sunday that bars players and coaches from using — or even having — smokeless tobacco on the playing field at ballparks expands on local bans passed by San Francisco and Los Angeles. It wasn't immediately clear how the statewide ban would be enforced.

Public health officials who backed the proposal cited the prevalence of youths using smokeless tobacco, even while cigarette use drops. They say smokeless products contribute to oral, pancreatic and esophageal cancers as well as other diseases.

Major League Baseball said it supported banning smokeless tobacco when the proposal was introduced earlier this year, but the league didn't immediately comment on the statewide prohibition. Chewing tobacco, known as dipping, is already prohibited in minor leagues.

The Los Angeles Dodgers issued a statement of support after city officials approved a tobacco ban last month.

The push for the ban comes after the death last June of former San Diego Padres All-Star Tony Gwynn, who believed his oral cancer was linked to longtime use of chewing tobacco.

The governor also approved a bill last week that requires the California Interscholastic Federation to oversee competitive cheerleading as it does other high school sports by 2017-18.

The formal recognition will give cheerleading the respect and safety standards that athletes deserve, said Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego, who introduced the bill. At least eight other states treat competitive cheerleading as a sport, said Gonzalez, a former high school and college cheerleader.

___

This story has been corrected to show the bills were approved recently, not all on Sunday.

Christopher Weber, The Associated Press

2,000 sightings prompt Sudbury officials to create nuisance bear committee

SUDBURY, Ont. — Residents of Sudbury, Ont., just can't bear it anymore.

City officials have set up a committee of experts in an effort to find a solution to an influx of unwelcome black bears, known as "nuisance bears."

Coun. Al Sizer, a member of the committee, said Monday that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has received 2,200 reports of bear-sightings in the city, and police said they've received an additional 1,700 bear complaints, four times more than the previous summer.

Sizer said Sudbury accounted for nearly half of the province's complaints about nuisance bears this summer. In fact, reporting nuisance bears is the first option in the phone directory at the Sudbury office of the Ministry.

He said the committee is made up of 10 people, including representatives from the police force and the ministry, as well as local environmentalists. They even have a member with a PhD in the history of bears.

So far, the committee has met three times since it was formed last month.

And while nobody in Sudbury has been hurt by bears this year, Sizer said it's always a risk.

"You don't know what kind of a day the bear's having," Sizer said. "I mean, if it's having a toothache and it encounters somebody, it may not be real friendly."

Sudbury police only dispatch officers when they determine there's a risk to the public, said Staff Sgt. Craig Maki. That's happened 500 times this year, and it's eaten up 225 hours of police time. They've had to kill eight bears.

The committee is chalking the invasion up to a poor blueberry crop, Maki said. Bears are left with no option but to look for alternate food sources, and human food is all too convenient.

"If you can eliminate the human food sources, then you're solving some of your problems," he said.

But Maki isn't part of the city's bear committee.

"Thank goodness," he added. "I've had my fill of bears this summer, to be honest."

Maki said he's had two bears in his backyard this summer, and estimates they weighed about 175 kilograms each.

— By Nicole Thompson in Toronto.

 

The Canadian Press

Chase Utley not in Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup for Game 3 vs New York Mets

NEW YORK — Chase Utley was not in the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting lineup for Game 3 of their NL Division Series against the New York Mets on Monday night.

Instead of Utley, Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly started Howie Kendrick at second.

Utley appealed his two-game suspension assessed by Major League Baseball on Sunday night for an illegal slide in Game 2, which broke the right leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. The appeal meant the penalty could not start until after a hearing and a decision.

Kendrick is 1 for 6 against Mets Game 3 starter Matt Harvey, while Utley is 6 for 18.

Ronald Blum, The Associated Press

Tavares has goal, 2 assists and Isles earn 1st win of the season with 4-2 victory over Jets

NEW YORK — John Tavares had a power-play goal and added two assists, Thomas Greiss made 22 saves and the Islanders beat the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 for their first win of the season and the first in their new Brooklyn home.

The Islanders came out with purpose after losing their opening two games of the season to the defending champion Blackhawks, one in overtime at home and the other in regulation in Chicago.

The home team outshot the visitors 16-6 in the opening period and had a 20-9 shots advantage in the second. Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec made a number of key saves in the first as the Islanders had four power-play chances.

Ryan Strome banged in a rebound with a man advantage at 19:48 of the first, giving the Brooklyn matinee crowd a chance to launch their standard "Yes! Yes! Yes!" chant. Tavares and Kyle Okposo assisted on Strome's first of the season.

Brock Nelson made it 2-0 on a wrist shot from the right wing at 6:46 of the second after Tavares slid him the puck from the left side. Defenceman Johnny Boychuk also assisted on Nelson's first goal of the season.

Tavares increased the margin to 3-0 at 10:45 of the second after Pavelec stopped Marek Zidlicky's shot from the point and the rebound came to Tavares perched to the goaltender's left.

Tavares also scored the Islanders' first goal at Barclays Center in their 3-2 overtime loss last Friday. He has four points in three games. He was denied by Pavelec on a penalty shot with 2:15 left in the third.

Josh Bailey added an empty-net goal with 19 seconds left.

Greiss — starting in place of Jaroslav Halak for the second time in three games — wasn't especially tested. But he was steady when he had to be, only allowing a late second-period goal to Mark Scheifele and power-play goal by Dustin Byfuglien at 11:52 of the third.

The Jets — starting their season with a four-game Eastern road trip — opened with wins over the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils. They were seeking the first 3-0 start in franchise and will conclude the trip against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

Pavelec did make a number of key saves early in the first. His best was a toe stop on Tavares just over seven minutes in as the Islanders captain eluded the Jets defence and was alone in front. Pavelec also denied defenceman Travis Hamonic on a breakaway midway through the second.

Halak missed the game with an upper-body injury. Islanders coach Jack Capuano said before the game that his starting goaltender was still "day to day."

The Islanders have two more home games this week against Nashville on Thursday and San Jose on Saturday. They are playing 10 of their first 15 games at Barclays Center.

NOTES: The Islanders are 8-3-1 in 12 games against the Jets since the franchise relocated from Atlanta. ... Last season, the Islanders were 40-8-4 when they scored at least three goals (including shootout winners) and 7-20-3 when they didn't.

Allan Kreda, The Associated Press

Spencer, Gurley with TD catches as Argos win third straight 25-10 over Alouettes

MONTREAL — Trevor Harris threw touchdown passes to Diontae Spencer and Tori Gurley as the Toronto Argonauts stretched their winning run to three games with a 25-17 victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Monday afternoon.

Brandon Whitaker ran in a touchdown and Justin Palardy kicked a field goal for Toronto (9-5), now tied with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for top spot in the East Division.

Tyrell Sutton and B.J. Cunningham scored TDs and Boris Bede had a field goal for Montreal (5-9), who lost a third in a row before 21,536 at Percival Molson Stadium on a warm, sunny afternoon.

The Alouettes lost yet another quarterback as Rakeem Cato was hurt on a Thomas Miles sack just ahead of halftime and did not return with what the team called an upper body injury. That brought in Anthony Boone, the sixth QB they have used this season.

When Boone couldn't move the ball, Tanner Marsh took over in the fourth quarter.

The Argos marched 70 yards on four plays to score on the opening drive of the game, with Spencer hauling in a 20-yard TD pass at 1:49.

Momentum swung on the opening play of the second quarter when Henoc Muamba, playing his first game since signing as a free agent, picked off a Harris pass and brought it to the Toronto 32. Bede kicked a 25 yard field goal.

A shanked Anthony Alix punt gave Montreal the ball on the Argos 21 and, five plays later, Sutton ran in untouched from the three to put the Alouettes ahead 9-7 at 12:17.

Akwasi Owusu-Ansah picked off a Boone pass and ran it 63 yards to the Montreal 41 to set up Palardy's 36-yard field goal 14:17 into the third quarter to put Toronto in front.

A 55-yard single on a Bede punt tied it 10-10 5:41 into the fourth, but Harris marched back for a 27-yard TD pass Gurley 7:43 into the fourth.

Marsh came in an fumbled to Daryk Maud. Palardy missed the boot but got a single.

Then Marsh was picked off by Travis Hawkins, setting up Whitaker's nine-yard TD run with 2:14 left in the game.

Montreal made it interesting, as a drive led to a 10-yard TD pass from Marsh to Cunningham at 14:06 and Kyries Hebert recovered the short kickoff to give them a last-minute drive.

Catches by S.J. Green and Sanuel Giguere got the Alouettes inside the 25, but couldn't get another score.

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

Blue Jays feeling good ahead of another must-win game in steamy Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas — After losing Game 1 to the Texas Rangers, veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkins made sure the music blared in the Toronto locker-room.

"Most clubhouses you go in, you lose a game it's like dead silence. But I (put) the music on," the 42-year-old Hawkins said prior to Game 4 Monday. "Because that's part of us, that's part of the team. That's what gets these guys going.

"They're unbelievable. I've been on a lot of teams but not on teams with this much energy. And particularly Josh Donaldson. A lot of energy."

The Blue Jays hope to harness that energy Monday facing another must-win game, trailing Texas 2-1 in the best-of-five American League Division Series. Win and the series returns to Toronto for one final showdown Wednesday at the Rogers Centre.

Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre returned to the lineup Monday, after leaving Game 1 with a lower back strain.

Marco Estrada, with a strong start, and Tulo Tulowitzki, with four RBI, led Toronto from the brink of playoff extinction in a 5-1 win Sunday at Globe Life Park. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey got the start Monday, with some high-powered help behind him.

Toronto manager John Gibbons said David Price and Marcus Stroman will be available to pitch if Dickey falters. And there may be a short leash on the knuckleballer, given the high stakes.

Price is likely to see action ahead of Stroman out of the bullpen, manager John Gibbons said.

Price warmed up during Game 3 on Sunday night but did not see action. Hawkins said the six-foot-six Price was ready.

"I asked him ... 'Are you live?' and he was like 'Damn right I'm live.' And I'm like 'All righty then, that's cool.' And then I  was like 'Stro, you're live also?' And he was like 'Oh yeah. We're in it to win it.' And I'm like 'All right, let's have some fun boys."

Hawkins says the Jays have a saying: "Now we go." And it got plenty of use after Tulowitzki's three-run homer gave Toronto a 5-1 lead.

"Everyone in the bullpen was saying' Now we go.' That's what we needed to get us going."

Gibbons says the mood among the Jays is positive.

"It's a fun-loving bunch," he said. "They enjoy being around each other, which doesn't always happen. It really feels like a normal day in a 162-game season, so that's a good sign. They feel good, we had to have that win last night, we got it. Now we need this one today, let's see if we can get that one."

It will be another hot one at the ballpark, with 35 degrees Celsius forecast.

Derek Holland starts for the Rangers. 

___

Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

While fans would love Wiggins in Toronto, he’s learning from legend in Minnesota

TORONTO — The Minnesota Timberwolves were practising in Toronto, and off to one side, Andrew Wiggins was leaning, head bent to one side, listening to Kevin Garnett.

It's become a common sight since Garnett returned to the T'Wolves in February of last season, a mentoring partnership between one of the league's oldest and greatest players and Wiggins, the game's future.

"Just in those couple of minutes, he teaches me and tells me stuff that can help me for the rest of my career," Wiggins said.

The 20-year-old from Vaughan, Ont., was back home for Minnesota's pre-season game against the Toronto Raptors on Monday. As of Monday morning, he was attempting to purchase 16 courtside seats for family and friends at the Air Canada Centre.

Both the Raptors and their fans would undoubtedly rather see the reigning NBA rookie of the year in a Toronto jersey, but the young star is in a good place in Minnesota, according to T'Wolves interim head coach Sam Mitchell.

"Our veteran guys have pitched in trying to mentor our young guys and trying to make them understand just how difficult this league is and how hard you have to work, and most important how to prepare for games," said the former Raptors coach. "We have a nice mix of guys."

The T'Wolves also signed veterans Andre Miller (39) and Tayshaun Prince (35) in the off-season, and the blend of young and old has made for an "exciting" camp, said Wiggins. 

"The vets on our team love to teach, whenever we do something wrong or right, or a good play, they're always telling us why you should do this, why you should do that. . .," Wiggins said. "So it's been a lot of learning and also been very exciting for young players,'

Raptors coach Dwane Casey, who's watched Wiggins from afar, said the young star delivered as advertised in his rookie season.

"He's done exactly what everyone had thought, he's a talented young man, the game is easy for him, he's learning to take what the game is giving him offensively, defensively he's gotten better, using his length, speed and quickness defensively. . .," Casey said. "He's right on path to being a great player."

Casey agreed Wiggins' relationship with the 39-year-old Garnett, a 20-year NBA veteran, will be invaluable. 

"If he watches KG in practice and listens to what he says, how hard KG practises even at his age is unbelievable," Casey said. "The way KG talks on defence, all the players can watch and learn from that."

Wiggins, who's fresh off playing for Canada at the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament in Mexico last month, said he's a lot more comfortable in his second NBA training camp than he was last season.

"I know what to expect, I know what I was good at before, and what I wasn't good at. Just learned a lot," he said. "I worked hard this summer, so everything I was good at last year, everything I was bad at, I'm trying to get better at this year."

Monday's game was to feature four Canadians in Wiggins and his brother Nick, signed by the T'Wolves last month, and Toronto's Cory Joseph and Anthony Bennett.

Bennett, the No. 1 draft pick in 2013, played with Wiggins in Minnesota last season, but was waived in September and subsequently signed by Toronto.

Casey said Bennett's defence has impressed both the coaching staff and Bennett's teammates.

'I didn't know he was as good of a defender as he's shown since we've had him, which is very impressive," Casey said. "The main thing for him is to relax and play, enjoy the game and get that No. 1 pick necklace off his neck and just play basketball. Have fun.

"Just forget everything else, clean slate, start from scratch and go from there."

The Raptors and T'Wolves meet again in Ottawa on Wednesday as part of the NBA's Canada Series, with games in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Montreal. The Raptors play the Washington Wizards in Montreal on Oct. 23.

 

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press

California governor bans public schools from using sports mascot offensive to Native Americans

LOS ANGELES — Four California schools will be forced to change mascots after Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation barring public schools from using the Redskins name for sports teams.

It was one of three sports-related bills Brown recently approved. He also signed a measure that bans using or possessing smokeless tobacco on the playing field at professional baseball parks and another that recognizes competitive cheerleading as a high school sport.

The mascot legislation will prevent public schools from using a term that American Indians regard as offensive. It goes into effect in 2017.

Only four schools still use the name. Messages seeking comment from school officials were not immediately returned Monday, a federal holiday.

Brown rejected separate legislation that bans naming parks, schools and other public property after Confederate leaders.

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This story has been corrected to show the bills were approved recently, not all on Sunday.

The Associated Press