Estimated read time: 9-10 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WORLD SERIES
Nationals force Game 7; Scherzer set to start vs Greinke
HOUSTON (AP) _ It’s Game 7 in the World Series tonight with Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee) starting for the Astros and Max Scherzer in for the Nationals. Scherzer was scratched from Game 5 due to a nerve irritation near his neck but now says he’s ready to go after a cortisone shot, heat applications and a couple of chiropractic treatments “freed up” his neck.
Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki was scratched from Washington's starting lineup tonight. Suzuki hasn't played the last three games while dealing with a hip flexor strain. He was initially listed in Washington's starting lineup, but was scratched after that. Catcher Yan Gomes is in again for the Nats.
Washington forced a Game 7 with a 7-2 win over the Astros Tuesday night.
It’s the first World Series where the road teams have won all six Games. Houston is looking to end that streak.
The Astros won the last time there was a Game 7 of the World Series, when they beat the Dodgers in Los Angeles in 2017.
MLB NEWS:
Ex-All-Star slugger Josh Hamilton charged with child injury
UNDATED (AP) _ Former All-Star slugger Josh Hamilton has been charged with injury to a child after his 14-year-old daughter told his ex-wife that he'd struck her.
Hamilton turned himself Wednesday to the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, Texas, and was released on $35,000 bond.
According to a police affidavit, Hamilton's daughter told Keller police that he went on a rampage Sept. 30th. She says she made a comment to Hamilton that upset him, so he threw a full bottle overhand at her, hitting her in the chest, then began cursing and shouting at her.
She says he finally threw her over his shoulder, carried her to her room, dumped her on her bed, pressed her head against the mattress and hit her legs.
Hamilton played for the Rangers, Reds and Angels.
In other MLB news:
_ The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed reliever Sam Howard off waivers from Colorado. The 26-year-old left-hander is 2-0 with 24 strikeouts, 13 walks and a 5.87 ERA in 24 career appearances since making his major league debut in 2018. He spent the majority of 2019 with Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, going 4-1 with a 3.91 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 42 games.
NFL-NEWS
Chiefs remain hopeful Mahomes will play Sunday
UNDATED (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs remain hopeful that injured quarterback Patrick Mahomes (mah-HOHMZ') will be available when they play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mahomes dislocated his right kneecap two weeks ago in Denver. He practiced on a limited basis last week before he was declared out on Friday. The Chiefs started Matt Moore in his place against Green Bay and lost 31-24 to the Packers on Sunday night.
Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland missed practice Wednesday with a sprained shoulder, defensive end Frank Clark was out with a lingering neck injury and defensive tackle Alex Okafor was held out with a high ankle sprain. On offense, right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was dealing with a sprained ankle and left tackle Eric Fisher was held out as he recovers from core muscle surgery. Also on the injury report was punter Dustin Colquitt, who is dealing with a quad strain.
In other NFL news:
— Veteran cornerback Josh Robinson abruptly retired Wednesday, leaving the Jacksonville Jaguars in the middle of his eighth NFL season. Robinson told coach Doug Marrone about his decision before the team's morning meeting. The Jaguars placed Robinson on the reserve/retired list. Robinson had played in every game this season, all on special teams. He had 148 tackles and five interceptions while playing for Minnesota, Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Jacksonville.
— Misdemeanor charges have been dropped against Pittsburgh Steelers backup linebacker Anthony Chickillo, who had been accused of injuring his girlfriend during a fight in their western Pennsylvania hotel room this month. Chickillo had been charged with simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment after the Oct. 20 fight. The Fayette County district attorney said Wednesday that the woman no longer wanted to pursue charges.
_ The Jacksonville Jaguars have added rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew to the injury report with right shoulder soreness. The team listed Minshew as a full participant in practice and said he took 100% of his normal repetitions.
_ New York Jets safety Jamal Adams says he is still miffed that general manager Joe Douglas listened to trade offers for him before the NFL's deadline to deal players. Adams say he told Douglas last Friday he wanted to remain with the Jets and was then angered when people Adams says he trusts told him the GM was answering calls from other teams inquiring about the safety's availability. Adams wrote on Twitter on Tuesday that Douglas went behind his back by entertaining trade talk.
_ The Detroit Lions have signed cornerback Michael Jackson. Detroit needs depth at the position while Darius Slay is slowed by an injury. The Lions signed Jackson off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad and released running Paul Perkins. Dallas drafted Jackson in the fifth round this year out of Miami. Slay was limited with a hamstring injury that kept him out of Detroit's previous game, a win over the New York Giants.
T25 FOOTBALL-NEWS
Tagovailoa is returning to practice, Forristall out 6 weeks
UNDATED (AP) — Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (TOO'-ah tuhng-ah-vy-LOH'-ah) is returning to practice after spraining his right ankle, but tight end Miller Forristall could be out for the next six weeks. Coach Nick Saban says Forristall got hit in the throat in the Arkansas game and had surgery to repair an injury to his voice box.
Second-ranked Alabama is off this week before playing No. 1 LSU.
In other Top 25 football news:
— Auburn backup quarterback Joey Gatewood has left the team and plans to transfer. Tigers coach Gus Malzahn said Wednesday Gatewood opted to enter the NCAA's transfer portal to give himself more time to find a school to compete for a starting job. Malzahn says Gatewood informed him of his decision before Tuesday's practice. The 6-foot-5, 233-pound redshirt freshman lost a battle for the starting job to freshman Bo Nix. Gatewood is a former four-star recruit from Jacksonville, Florida. He has played in seven games and been used at times as a Wildcat quarterback, running for 148 yards and three touchdowns while throwing for a fourth score.
— The University of Alabama fan convicted of poisoning Auburn University's oak trees has failed to attend a hearing on why he hasn't paid court-ordered restitution. The Opelika-Auburn news reports Harvey Updyke didn't show up for a hearing before Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker on Wednesday. Prosecutors are seeking a warrant on Updyke for failing to appear, and the judge will decide later whether to order his arrest. Updyke pleaded guilty in 2013 to poisoning trees at Auburn's Toomer's Corner. Court records show Updyke has paid only $6,900 of about $800,000 he was ordered to pay in penalties and restitution.
ARENA FOOTBALL-OPERATIONS
Arena Football League closes team operations; future unclear
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Arena Football League is closing its business operations in its six local markets, calling it a "difficult, but necessary decision."
The league hasn't decided what the next step will be.
Commissioner Randall Boe says the decision to close team services and business operations in the local markets was caused by "extensive legacy liabilities" and a recent multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed against the indoor league by its former insurance carrier.
NBA-HAWKS-YOUNG
Hawks G Young to miss Thursday game with sprained ankle
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has been ruled out of Thursday night's game against the Miami Heat with a sprained right ankle. Young underwent treatment at the team's training complex after being hurt in a 112-97 loss to the Heat _ the first of two straight games between the division rivals. He will be re-evaluated at the beginning of next week to determine if he'll miss any additional games.
The Hawks have four days off before facing the San Antonio Spurs next Tuesday.
Over Atlanta's first three games, Young averaged 34 points and earned Eastern Conference player of the week honors. Young played in 81 of 82 games as a rookie.
FORMER NBA PLAYER-HUMAN TRAFFICKING ARREST
Former NBA, Alabama player Farmer arrested on sex charges
SMYRNA, Tenn. (AP) — Former NBA player and one-time University of Alabama basketball standout Jim Farmer has been arrested on human trafficking charges in Tennessee.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says the 55-year-old resident of Franklin, Tennessee, was among 16 men arrested on charges of seeking sex from minors. A statement from the agency says the men were arrested during a two-day sting operation.
Farmer was a leading scorer at Alabama before being picked in the first round of the NBA draft in 1987. He has worked as a country music singer and model since last playing in the NBA in 1994, when he was with Denver. He also played for Dallas, Utah, Seattle and Philadelphia over six total seasons.
NHL-OBIT-GREGORY
Longtime NHL executive Jim Gregory dies at 83
TORONTO (AP) — Hockey Hall of Famer and longtime NHL executive Jim Gregory has died at the age of 83.
A league official says Gregory died Wednesday at his home in Toronto. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Gregory spent a decade as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs from the late 1960s until the late 1970s and was one of the first to bring European players over to the NHL. He spent almost 40 years with the NHL as director of central scouting, executive director of hockey operations and senior vice president of hockey operations and supervision.
Gregory served as chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee from 1998-2014 and was a fixture at the NHL draft and other league events.
USA HOCKEY-RACIAL SLURS-PENALTY
USA Hockey increases penalty for racial or derogatory slurs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) _ USA Hockey has increased the punishment for racial or derogatory slurs from a game misconduct to a match penalty. The directive from USA Hockey President Jim Smith means any youth player caught using a slur will be penalized five minutes, thrown out of the game and suspended from further action until the matter is reviewed. Currently, it is just an ejection.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
