Oct 19 2009
Angels, Phillies Win, 5-4
Jeff Mathis’ double in the 11th inning was the difference as Los Angeles overcame four New York home runs to win, 5-4. Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Jorge Posada all hit solo homers for the Yankees, whose series lead was trimmed to two games to one. Game 4 is Tuesday in Anaheim.
After the Angels trailed 3-0 in the fifth, Howie Kendrick’s solo home run and Vladimir Guerrero’s two-run blast tied the score. Mike Napoli’s triple off Joba Chamberlain put Los Angeles in the lead in the seventh before Posada’s eighth-inning dinger tied the game. Beside the homeruns, New York had trouble generating offense. The Yankees were feast-or-famine in the Division Series against Minnesota as well, batting .225 as a team yet smashing six home runs and sweeping the series in three games.
Jimmy Rollins’ two-run double with two out in the bottom of the ninth lifted Philadelphia to a 5-4 win over Los Angeles in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. Rollins’s double to the right-center gap over Dodger closer Jonathan Broxton enabled Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz to score easily. The Phillies now lead the series, three games to one. Philadelphia can clinch its second straight pennant Wednesday in Game 5.
Los Angeles overcame a two-run home run from Ryan Howard in the first inning to take a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning. Dodger starts Randy Wolf left the game after 5 1/3 innings with a 4-3 advantage. The L.A. middle relievers did well before Broxton blew the save.
Denver ran its record to 6-0 by scoring 17 unanswered points to outlast San Diego, 34-23. The host Chargers fell to 2-3. Darren Sproles’s punt return for a touchdown gave San Diego a 17-10 lead in the second quarter. However, Eddie Royal responded with two touchdowns, one each on a punt return and a kickoff return. The Broncos’ defense got to Charger quarterback Phillip Rivers in the last quarter. Rivers was sacked five times.
The WNBA’s Detroit Shock are headed to Tulsa, according to the Associated Press. There will be a press conference tomorrow. Nolan Richardson, signed to be the coach and general manager of a new team in Tulsa starting next season, told a reporter he didn’t know if he’d be working for an expansion squad or a relocated team. He added that he had no preference.
The UEFA playoff matchups are set after a draw Monday. The first of two legs will be held Nov. 14. Ireland will host France. Russia will entertain Slovenia. Ukraine visits Greece. Bosnia-Herzegovina travels to Portugal. The sites will be reversed for the second leg Nov. 18. The four winners will earn places in next year’s World Cup.
