Nationals Rally to Even Series With Cubs
The last thing the Washington Nationals could afford was a 2-0 series deficit heading back to Wrigley Field for the NLDS. They looked to be on their way to that scenario before the comeback began, sparked by home runs from Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman, leading to a 6-3 victory in Game 2. Harper tied the game with a two-run shot in the eighth inning, A few batters later, Zimmerman gave his team the lead for good with a three-run shot, helping Washington come back from a 3-0 deficit. Washington had only recorded one run on four hits in the first 16 innings of the series before the comeback, this after a shutout loss in Game 1 on Friday. It wasn't looking good early on, as Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras went deep to give Chicago the early lead. Jon Lester was sharp through six innings, allowing just one run on two hits. The Cubs' bullpen would then haunt them late, as Carl Edwards Jr. surrendered Harper's tying blast, followed by Mike Montgomery giving up Zimmerman's go-ahead shot. Oliver Perez got the win in relief after facing just one batter for the NL East Division Champions, who will send Max Scherzer to the hill in Monday's Game 3 in Chicago. The Cubs will retaliate with Jose Quintana, as both teams have no wish of a Game 5 back in D.C.
Dodgers Go Up 2-0 on Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks seemed to be the most formidable foe for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, although baseball's best team is proving that it just doesn't matter. Yasiel Puig had three hits and drove in two runs, leading the Dodgers past the D-backs 8-5 in Game 2 of the series for a 2-0 series lead. Austin Barnes had a big hit with a two-run double in the fifth, increasing the Dodgers' lead and putting the game out of reach. The Dodgers' offense has gone off in the first two games, recording 17 runs on 24 hits, helping their struggling starting rotation. Kenley Jansen came in on Saturday for a five-out save and was perfect against Arizona, who has put up five runs in each of the first two games, both of which were losses. Paul Goldschmidt and Brandon Drury both connected with long balls in the loss for the D-backs, who are in a win or go home situation from here on out. They have gone deep six times in the series, compared to the Dodgers' one, but L.A. is getting the job done another way. They will look to do the same on the road in Monday's Game 3, where they can complete the sweep at Chase Field, as Yu Darvish matches up with Zack Greinke.
Oklahoma, Michigan Fall in Upset Losses
The new AP Top 25 is going to look very different in the college football world, as two top-10 teams fell in conference play on Saturday. First, the third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners could not survive the dog fight they were in, as Allen Lazard caught the game-winning 25-yard touchdown pass to give Iowa State a 38-31 upset win. The touchdown pass was the third of the game for Cyclones quarterback, Kyle Kempt, who finished with 343 yards through the air. This all came from a guy who had two pass attempts in his career, as the backup got the start for Jacob Park, who is on undisclosed medical leave. This was one heck of a first start, as it snapped Iowa State's 20-game losing streak against ranked opponents. Their last win over a ranked team came against TCU in 2012, as Saturday was also their first road win over a top-5 team. Meanwhile, no matter what your ranked, if you turn the ball over five times in a game, odds are in won't end well. That is especially true in a rivalry contest, as No. 7 Michigan did just that and fell to Michigan State, 14-10, at The Big House. The win for the Spartans was their eighth in the past 10 games against the Wolverines, as they took the Paul Bunyan Trophy back after giving it up last year in East Lansing. Both of MSU's touchdowns came in the first half, as quarterback Brian Lewerke threw for a score and ran for another, while the Spartan defense did the rest. Michigan State did not turn the ball over, as their defense held Michigan to just 252 total yards in the first primetime game in series history. John O'Korn struggled in his first start since the injury to starter Wilton Speight and threw three interceptions on the night. The loss for the maize and blue most likely knocks them out of the national title picture, while also giving their "little brother bragging rights for the next year.
The last thing the Washington Nationals could afford was a 2-0 series deficit heading back to Wrigley Field for the NLDS. They looked to be on their way to that scenario before the comeback began, sparked by home runs from Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman, leading to a 6-3 victory in Game 2. Harper tied the game with a two-run shot in the eighth inning, A few batters later, Zimmerman gave his team the lead for good with a three-run shot, helping Washington come back from a 3-0 deficit. Washington had only recorded one run on four hits in the first 16 innings of the series before the comeback, this after a shutout loss in Game 1 on Friday. It wasn't looking good early on, as Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras went deep to give Chicago the early lead. Jon Lester was sharp through six innings, allowing just one run on two hits. The Cubs' bullpen would then haunt them late, as Carl Edwards Jr. surrendered Harper's tying blast, followed by Mike Montgomery giving up Zimmerman's go-ahead shot. Oliver Perez got the win in relief after facing just one batter for the NL East Division Champions, who will send Max Scherzer to the hill in Monday's Game 3 in Chicago. The Cubs will retaliate with Jose Quintana, as both teams have no wish of a Game 5 back in D.C.
Dodgers Go Up 2-0 on Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks seemed to be the most formidable foe for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, although baseball's best team is proving that it just doesn't matter. Yasiel Puig had three hits and drove in two runs, leading the Dodgers past the D-backs 8-5 in Game 2 of the series for a 2-0 series lead. Austin Barnes had a big hit with a two-run double in the fifth, increasing the Dodgers' lead and putting the game out of reach. The Dodgers' offense has gone off in the first two games, recording 17 runs on 24 hits, helping their struggling starting rotation. Kenley Jansen came in on Saturday for a five-out save and was perfect against Arizona, who has put up five runs in each of the first two games, both of which were losses. Paul Goldschmidt and Brandon Drury both connected with long balls in the loss for the D-backs, who are in a win or go home situation from here on out. They have gone deep six times in the series, compared to the Dodgers' one, but L.A. is getting the job done another way. They will look to do the same on the road in Monday's Game 3, where they can complete the sweep at Chase Field, as Yu Darvish matches up with Zack Greinke.
Oklahoma, Michigan Fall in Upset Losses
The new AP Top 25 is going to look very different in the college football world, as two top-10 teams fell in conference play on Saturday. First, the third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners could not survive the dog fight they were in, as Allen Lazard caught the game-winning 25-yard touchdown pass to give Iowa State a 38-31 upset win. The touchdown pass was the third of the game for Cyclones quarterback, Kyle Kempt, who finished with 343 yards through the air. This all came from a guy who had two pass attempts in his career, as the backup got the start for Jacob Park, who is on undisclosed medical leave. This was one heck of a first start, as it snapped Iowa State's 20-game losing streak against ranked opponents. Their last win over a ranked team came against TCU in 2012, as Saturday was also their first road win over a top-5 team. Meanwhile, no matter what your ranked, if you turn the ball over five times in a game, odds are in won't end well. That is especially true in a rivalry contest, as No. 7 Michigan did just that and fell to Michigan State, 14-10, at The Big House. The win for the Spartans was their eighth in the past 10 games against the Wolverines, as they took the Paul Bunyan Trophy back after giving it up last year in East Lansing. Both of MSU's touchdowns came in the first half, as quarterback Brian Lewerke threw for a score and ran for another, while the Spartan defense did the rest. Michigan State did not turn the ball over, as their defense held Michigan to just 252 total yards in the first primetime game in series history. John O'Korn struggled in his first start since the injury to starter Wilton Speight and threw three interceptions on the night. The loss for the maize and blue most likely knocks them out of the national title picture, while also giving their "little brother bragging rights for the next year.
