Dodgers Top Verlander, Astros to Force Game 7
The Houston Astros' best chance at their first World Series title in franchise history quite possibly could've been on Tuesday night with Justin Verlander on the hill. Unfortunately for them, they could not give him the run support he needed, as they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-1, setting up a Game 7 on Wednesday night. Verlander allowed just two runs over six innings, both of which came in the Dodgers' sixth-inning rally. The right-hander struck out nine, but suffered the loss, and remains without a World Series win in his career. Chris Taylor doubled home the tying run and was followed by a Corey Seager sacrifice fly, which brought home the eventual winning run. Joc Pederson added a solo home run in the seventh inning off of Joe Musgrove for insurance. The lone Astros' run came on George Springer's fifth home run of the postseason off of Rich Hill in the third. The Dodgers' bullpen came through with 4.1 innings of shutout baseball, with Kenley Jansen retiring six straight batters on 19 pitches for the two-inning save. Yu Darvish and Lance McCullers Jr. are set to toe the slab for the start of the Game-7 showdown on Wednesday. Although, there is much speculation that both Verlander and Clayton Kershaw could be available out of the bullpen, as both teams are expected to pull out all the stops in the final game of the 2017 Major League Baseball season.
Westbrook, Thunder Top Giannis, Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo is being billed as an MVP favorite early on in the NBA season, so it's only fitting that he prove himself against the reigning MVP winner, Russell Westbrook. The Greek Freak scored a game-high 28 points, but his Milwaukee Bucks fell at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-91. Paul George led OKC with 20 points and helped lead the charge during an early 16-0 run to give the Thunder an early advantage. Westbrook added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, and chipped in nine assists, helping his team finish 49 percent from the floor, including 43 percent from three-point range. George shot 8-of-17 from the field and 4-for-8 from beyond the arc, while Carmelo Anthony topped off the Big Three's performance with 17 points. The Thunder were also helped out by Steven Adams' 17 points and 11 rebounds, as well as Jeremi Grant's 17 points off the bench. Despite Antetokounmpo's big night, he was on the bench for most of the Thunder's big early run with two fouls. He will look to help his team bounce back when they hit the road to face the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. The Thunder are also back at it on Friday, when they play host to the Boston Celtics.
Bills, Eagles Make Big Moves at Trade Deadline
The NFL Trade Deadline normally doesn't feature too many major moves, but Tuesday was a different story for the 2017 season. First, the Buffalo Bills made it clear that they have full intentions of competing with the New England Patriots in the AFC East. The 5-2, second place team acquired wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin from the Carolina Panthers in a surprising move due to the Panthers' second-place position in the NFC South. The Panthers received a third and seventh round pick in the deal, the latter of which was acquired from the Los Angeles Chargers in a July trade for Cardale Jones. The move was explained by Carolina as them preventing the repetition in their receivers corps with the tall built of both Benjamin and Devin Funchess, while giving them the chance to add speed to their passing game. The Bills now have the combination of Tyrod Taylor and Benjamin to lead their offense, which could increase their playoff chances from the current 61 percent that it stands. It would be their first postseason appearance since 1999. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are going for it all as the owners of the NFL's top record, as they added to their run game by acquiring Jay Ajayi from the Miami Dolphins. The Eagles got this deal done by sending a fourth-round pick to Miami, who believed Ajayi's best days are behind him due to his knee issues, stemming back to surgery he underwent in 2011. He has rushed 138 times for 465 yards in seven games this season, coming off a 1,200-yard season with eight touchdowns in 2016. One down note is the fact that he has the most attempts by a running back without a touchdown this season. Many in the Eagles' organization believe a change of scenery to a more improved team will boost him back to what he once was.
The Houston Astros' best chance at their first World Series title in franchise history quite possibly could've been on Tuesday night with Justin Verlander on the hill. Unfortunately for them, they could not give him the run support he needed, as they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-1, setting up a Game 7 on Wednesday night. Verlander allowed just two runs over six innings, both of which came in the Dodgers' sixth-inning rally. The right-hander struck out nine, but suffered the loss, and remains without a World Series win in his career. Chris Taylor doubled home the tying run and was followed by a Corey Seager sacrifice fly, which brought home the eventual winning run. Joc Pederson added a solo home run in the seventh inning off of Joe Musgrove for insurance. The lone Astros' run came on George Springer's fifth home run of the postseason off of Rich Hill in the third. The Dodgers' bullpen came through with 4.1 innings of shutout baseball, with Kenley Jansen retiring six straight batters on 19 pitches for the two-inning save. Yu Darvish and Lance McCullers Jr. are set to toe the slab for the start of the Game-7 showdown on Wednesday. Although, there is much speculation that both Verlander and Clayton Kershaw could be available out of the bullpen, as both teams are expected to pull out all the stops in the final game of the 2017 Major League Baseball season.
Westbrook, Thunder Top Giannis, Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo is being billed as an MVP favorite early on in the NBA season, so it's only fitting that he prove himself against the reigning MVP winner, Russell Westbrook. The Greek Freak scored a game-high 28 points, but his Milwaukee Bucks fell at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-91. Paul George led OKC with 20 points and helped lead the charge during an early 16-0 run to give the Thunder an early advantage. Westbrook added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, and chipped in nine assists, helping his team finish 49 percent from the floor, including 43 percent from three-point range. George shot 8-of-17 from the field and 4-for-8 from beyond the arc, while Carmelo Anthony topped off the Big Three's performance with 17 points. The Thunder were also helped out by Steven Adams' 17 points and 11 rebounds, as well as Jeremi Grant's 17 points off the bench. Despite Antetokounmpo's big night, he was on the bench for most of the Thunder's big early run with two fouls. He will look to help his team bounce back when they hit the road to face the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. The Thunder are also back at it on Friday, when they play host to the Boston Celtics.
Bills, Eagles Make Big Moves at Trade Deadline
The NFL Trade Deadline normally doesn't feature too many major moves, but Tuesday was a different story for the 2017 season. First, the Buffalo Bills made it clear that they have full intentions of competing with the New England Patriots in the AFC East. The 5-2, second place team acquired wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin from the Carolina Panthers in a surprising move due to the Panthers' second-place position in the NFC South. The Panthers received a third and seventh round pick in the deal, the latter of which was acquired from the Los Angeles Chargers in a July trade for Cardale Jones. The move was explained by Carolina as them preventing the repetition in their receivers corps with the tall built of both Benjamin and Devin Funchess, while giving them the chance to add speed to their passing game. The Bills now have the combination of Tyrod Taylor and Benjamin to lead their offense, which could increase their playoff chances from the current 61 percent that it stands. It would be their first postseason appearance since 1999. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are going for it all as the owners of the NFL's top record, as they added to their run game by acquiring Jay Ajayi from the Miami Dolphins. The Eagles got this deal done by sending a fourth-round pick to Miami, who believed Ajayi's best days are behind him due to his knee issues, stemming back to surgery he underwent in 2011. He has rushed 138 times for 465 yards in seven games this season, coming off a 1,200-yard season with eight touchdowns in 2016. One down note is the fact that he has the most attempts by a running back without a touchdown this season. Many in the Eagles' organization believe a change of scenery to a more improved team will boost him back to what he once was.
