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UNDATED (AP) — MLB-PLAYOFFS
Indians reach World Series
UNDATED (AP) — The city of Cleveland had gone 52 years without a sports championship before the Cavaliers downed the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals last spring. The Indians are four wins away from giving Cleveland its second title in four months.
The Indians have captured their first American League pennant since 1997 by blanking the Toronto Blue Jays for the second time in the AL Championship Series. Rookie Ryan Merritt combined with three relievers on a six-hitter as Cleveland posted a 3-0 shutout in Game 5 at Toronto.
Merritt's major league resume had consisted of 11 innings before he limited the Blue Jays to two hits and no walks while striking out three over 4 1/3 innings. He threw 49 pitches in his playoff debut and his first action since Sept. 30 against Kansas City.
Cleveland's bullpen was equally impressive. Bryan Shaw followed Merritt and worked in and out of a first-and-second jam in the fifth. Andrew Miller replaced Shaw and needed just one pitch to induce an inning-ending double play before working two more shutout innings. Cody Allen got the final three outs for his third save of the series.
Carlos Santana and Coco Crisp belted solo homers off losing pitcher Marco Estrada, who was reached for two earned runs and five hits over six innings. Santana's blast made it 2-0 in the third, one inning before Crisp went deep.
Francisco Lindor (lihn-DOHR') provided half of the Indians' six hits and scored the first run on an error by left fielder Ezequiel Carrera in the top of the first.
Miller was named the series MVP after the game. The lefty struck out 14 and held the Jays to three hits over 7 1/3 innings.
The Blue Jays' offense did little against the Indians in the series, scoring just eight runs and batting .201. Toronto hit .266 with 22 runs scored during their three-game sweep of Texas in the division series.
The Indians' 1.43 ERA in the series more than made up for the team's .168 batting average. The Indians will face either the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers as they try to win their first World Series crown since 1948.
The Cubs certainly didn't look like a ballclub that had been shut out for two consecutive games. Chicago has evened the NL Championship Series at two games apiece with a 10-2 drubbing of the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
The Cubs had gone 21 consecutive scoreless innings before erupting for four runs in the top of the fourth. Willson Contreras ended the drought with an RBI single and Addison Russell capped the rally with a two-run homer.
Anthony Rizzo also had a big night at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a solo blast and three RBIs.
Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery got the victory despite allowing Justin Turner's two-run single in the fifth. Montgomery entered after starter John Lackey, who was charged with two runs after giving up three hits and three walks over four-plus innings.
Julio Urias took the loss, surrendering four runs on four hits over 3 2/3 innings. The 20-year-old Urias became the youngest starting pitcher in postseason history.
Game 5 will be in Los Angeles Thursday night. Jon Lester will start for Chicago against Kenta Maeda (mah-AY'-duh).
NBA-DERRICK ROSE LAWSUIT
Jury clears NBA's Derrick Rose in rape lawsuit
LOS ANGELES (AP) —Jurors have cleared NBA star Derrick Rose and two friends in a lawsuit that accused them of gang raping his ex-girlfriend when she was incapacitated from drugs or alcohol.
Neither side denied the three men had sex with the woman in August 2013, but the issue was whether she consented or was too intoxicated to do so.
Defense lawyers tarred the woman as a liar who tried to sway jurors through her tears to get at Rose's fortune. They claimed she was angry he had dumped her and set him up so she could bring the lawsuit in hopes of a big payoff.
The woman's lawyer called the men "sexual deviants" and said they conspired to gang-rape her after she was drunk and incapable of consenting to sex.
NFL-RAIDERS-DAVIS
Davis pitches move to Vegas
HOUSTON (AP) — Raiders owner Mark Davis says Oakland has an inside track on keeping the NFL team, but "couldn't put anything together."
So he updated his fellow owners on his desire to move the team to Las Vegas.
Nevada lawmakers passed a bill last week that would increase hotel taxes to raise $750 million for a new stadium in the gambling capital.
Billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson is putting $650 million toward the project, while the Raiders and the NFL will kick in $500 million.
Several owners insisted it's far too early to reach any conclusions in the Raiders' relocation issue, and none of them wanted to touch the relationship an NFL team might have with a casino mogul.
NFL-INJURIES AND MOVES
Seahawks could be without Chancellor again
UNDATED (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks still aren't sure strong safety Kam Chancellor will be able to play Sunday against Arizona.
Coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that Chancellor remained day-to-day with a groin injury suffered last week during practice. He missed last Sunday's win over Atlanta.
Elsewhere around the NFL:
— Jets coach Todd Bowles has announced that Geno Smith will start at quarterback against the Ravens this week instead of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick has thrown a league-high 11 interceptions and just five touchdowns during the Jets' 1-5 start.
— Bills running back LeSean McCoy left practice early due to tightness in his hamstring. His availability for Sunday's game at Miami is uncertain. McCoy has rushed for 470 yards and scored six touchdowns during Buffalo's current four-game winning streak.
— Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy returned to practice after the three-time Pro Bowl selection missed the team's win over the Panthers with a calf injury. However, running back Doug Martin, defensive linemen Robert Ayers and Clinton McDonald still aren't practicing and could miss Sunday's matchup with the 49ers.
— Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (FLAK'-oh) missed practice with a right shoulder injury but says he expects to play Sunday against the Jets. Coach John Harbaugh says the quarterback could play even if he doesn't practice this week. The injury occurred last Sunday during a 27-23 loss to the New York Giants.
— Dolphins safety Reshad Jones is done the season with a shoulder injury suffered in Sunday's win over the Steelers. The seven-year veteran hasn't missed a game because of injury in the past five seasons.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Wings, Jets rally for wins
UNDATED (AP) — It was a light night in the NHL, but a good one for the Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets.
Jimmy Howard turned back 32 shots as the Red Wings rallied for a 2-1 triumph over the New York Rangers. Howard blanked the Rangers after Mika Zibanejad (MEE'-kuh zih-BAH'-nih-zhad) beat him just over a minute into the first period.
Drew Miller snapped a 1-1 deadlock 59 seconds into the third period. Thomas Vanek followed his three-assist effort in Monday's victory with the game-tying goal in the second period.
The Wings have won two straight since an 0-2 start.
The Jets also evened their record at 2-2 by turning a 4-0, second-period deficit into a 5-4 overtime win against Toronto. The second player taken in this year's draft outplayed the top pick as Patrik Laine capped his hat trick by scoring 2:40 into the extra session. Laine also scored twice in the third period, including the equalizer with 55 seconds left in regulation.
Nazem Kadri (NAH'-zehm KAH'-dree) scored twice and first overall pick Auston Matthews had one assist for the Maple Leafs.
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