Rodgers, Bears Blow Past Bears on TNF
The Green Bay Packers had to wait out a bit of a storm on Thursday night, but that did not interfere with their groove in a 35-14 win over the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football. Aaron Rodgers threw for just 179 yards, but finished with four touchdown passes, as the Packers overcame multiple injuries that they are dealing with. That list got a little bit longer on Thursday night, as wide receiver Davante Adams left on a stretcher in the third quarter after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Danny Trevathan. Adams was able to give a thumbs up on his way out and was said to be feeling all of his extremities later in the night. Green Bay also lost running back Ty Montgomery to a chest injury in the win. They were able to jump out to a 21-0 lead before the game was delayed 45 minutes due to lightning. They led by as many as 28 on the night, as Rodgers connected with Jordy Nelson twice in the end zone, and Randall Cobb and Adams once each. The Packers' defense was not only able to keep the Bears off the scoreboard, but also gave their offense more chances by forcing four turnovers. That is what Bears quarterback Mike Glennon pointed to as the difference, as the QB finished with 218 yards passing and two interceptions. The Packers will hit the road next week to battle the Dallas Cowboys, while the Bears return home for a Monday night showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.
Astros Pound Red Sox to Prevent Division Title
The Boston Red Sox had every intention of clinching the American League East Division Title heading in to Thursday night, but the Houston Astros had other things in mind. The AL-West Champions recorded 17 hits, three of which came from Jose Altuve, in a 12-2 win at Fenway Park. Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez was charged with five earned runs in 1.2 innings in what was his seventh loss of the year, Marwin Gonzaelz's three-run double got things going in the first, while Alex Bregman's two-run long ball in the second ended Rodriguez's night. The Astros kept on rolling against Boston's bullpen, including four runs in the fourth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh. Brian McCann and Carlos Correa went deep to add to Houston's barrage, which saw them record 30 total bases on the night. Alutve's three hits included two singles and his 39th double of the year, which raised his batting average to an AL-leading .350. Brad Peacock enjoyed the run support in his 13th win, as he finished with four runs allowed over five innings. Mitch Moreland went deep in the loss for Boston, whose magic number dropped to one with the New York Yankees' 9-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox can clinch with a win or a Yankees loss on Friday night.
Indians Down Twins For 100th Win of Season
The Cleveland Indians have clinched the American League Central Division title and hold the American League's best record, so there is not much left for them to accomplish before the end of the regular season. Although, "The Tribe" beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-2, on Thursday afternoon to reach 100 wins in a season for the third time in franchise history. Carlos Carrasco was dealing while pitching into the ninth inning, as he struck out 14 with only one run charged against him. The right-hander walked just one in his 18th win of the season, as the Indians took advantage of a Twins team that was clearly hungover from celebrating their playoff berth late Wednesday night. Jason Kipnis and Roberto Perez went deep for two-run home runs to help Cleveland join the 1954 and 1995 clubs as the only ones to reach the century mark. Both of those teams lost in the World Series those years. The defending American League Champions have gone 31-3 since August 24th, as they are joined by the Los Angeles Dodgers with 100-win seasons this year. It is the first time since 2004 that two teams reached that plateau in the same season. Cleveland became the seventh team in the past decade with 100 wins, but they still have work to do with one final home series this weekend against the Chicago White Sox.
The Green Bay Packers had to wait out a bit of a storm on Thursday night, but that did not interfere with their groove in a 35-14 win over the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football. Aaron Rodgers threw for just 179 yards, but finished with four touchdown passes, as the Packers overcame multiple injuries that they are dealing with. That list got a little bit longer on Thursday night, as wide receiver Davante Adams left on a stretcher in the third quarter after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Danny Trevathan. Adams was able to give a thumbs up on his way out and was said to be feeling all of his extremities later in the night. Green Bay also lost running back Ty Montgomery to a chest injury in the win. They were able to jump out to a 21-0 lead before the game was delayed 45 minutes due to lightning. They led by as many as 28 on the night, as Rodgers connected with Jordy Nelson twice in the end zone, and Randall Cobb and Adams once each. The Packers' defense was not only able to keep the Bears off the scoreboard, but also gave their offense more chances by forcing four turnovers. That is what Bears quarterback Mike Glennon pointed to as the difference, as the QB finished with 218 yards passing and two interceptions. The Packers will hit the road next week to battle the Dallas Cowboys, while the Bears return home for a Monday night showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.
Astros Pound Red Sox to Prevent Division Title
The Boston Red Sox had every intention of clinching the American League East Division Title heading in to Thursday night, but the Houston Astros had other things in mind. The AL-West Champions recorded 17 hits, three of which came from Jose Altuve, in a 12-2 win at Fenway Park. Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez was charged with five earned runs in 1.2 innings in what was his seventh loss of the year, Marwin Gonzaelz's three-run double got things going in the first, while Alex Bregman's two-run long ball in the second ended Rodriguez's night. The Astros kept on rolling against Boston's bullpen, including four runs in the fourth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh. Brian McCann and Carlos Correa went deep to add to Houston's barrage, which saw them record 30 total bases on the night. Alutve's three hits included two singles and his 39th double of the year, which raised his batting average to an AL-leading .350. Brad Peacock enjoyed the run support in his 13th win, as he finished with four runs allowed over five innings. Mitch Moreland went deep in the loss for Boston, whose magic number dropped to one with the New York Yankees' 9-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox can clinch with a win or a Yankees loss on Friday night.
Indians Down Twins For 100th Win of Season
The Cleveland Indians have clinched the American League Central Division title and hold the American League's best record, so there is not much left for them to accomplish before the end of the regular season. Although, "The Tribe" beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-2, on Thursday afternoon to reach 100 wins in a season for the third time in franchise history. Carlos Carrasco was dealing while pitching into the ninth inning, as he struck out 14 with only one run charged against him. The right-hander walked just one in his 18th win of the season, as the Indians took advantage of a Twins team that was clearly hungover from celebrating their playoff berth late Wednesday night. Jason Kipnis and Roberto Perez went deep for two-run home runs to help Cleveland join the 1954 and 1995 clubs as the only ones to reach the century mark. Both of those teams lost in the World Series those years. The defending American League Champions have gone 31-3 since August 24th, as they are joined by the Los Angeles Dodgers with 100-win seasons this year. It is the first time since 2004 that two teams reached that plateau in the same season. Cleveland became the seventh team in the past decade with 100 wins, but they still have work to do with one final home series this weekend against the Chicago White Sox.
