Giants get jump in NLCS
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A two-run triple from Barry Bonds highlighted a four-run second inning Wednesday night as the San Francisco Giants jumped on Matt Morris early and held on for a 9-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.
After St. Louis seemed to sleepwalk through four innings, an inside pitch from Cardinals reliever Mike Crudale to Kenny Lofton seemed to energize the home team and its fans.
Lofton, who had homered in the third, was buzzed by a tight fastball from Crudale and exchanged words with catcher Mike Matheny. The benches emptied and managers Dusty Baker and Tony La Russa had a heated discussion.
But the emotion came too late for the Cardinals, who trailed 5-0 and 7-1. Morris, St. Louis' unquestioned ace, was the reason for the early deficit. He was hammered for seven runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings.
After besting likely Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson in Game 1 of the Division Series with Arizona, Morris (1-1) walked four and surrendered a pair of home runs.
Giants starter Kirk Rueter (1-1) was not sharp, either, allowing five runs and nine hits in five innings. He also served up two home runs but was backed by a stellar effort from his bullpen.
Felix Rodriguez allowed a hit over two scoreless innings and Tim Worrell surrendered a two-out solo homer in the eighth. With the Giants holding a three-run lead, Baker turned to closer Robb Nen, who worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to notch his third save of the postseason.
Angels draw even with Twins
MINNESOTA, Minn., Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Troy Percival escaped an eighth-inning jam and capped a tremendous effort by the bullpen Wednesday night as the Anaheim Angels recorded a 6-3 triumph over the Minnesota Twins and evened the American League Championship Series at one game apiece.
After starter Ramon Ortiz (1-0) allowed three runs in 5 1/3 shaky innings, Angels manager Mike Scioscia turned to his vaunted bullpen. Brendan Donnelly got the final two outs in the sixth and fellow rookie Francisco Rodriguez cruised through the seventh before struggling in the eighth.
When Rodriguez allowed a two-out single to Doug Mientkiewicz that brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth, Scioscia went to his closer, who had not allowed an earned run in 33 regular-season appearances against Minnesota.
Percival struck out pinch-hitter Bobby Kielty to end the eighth, then fanned two in the ninth to notch his third postseason save.
Minnesota starter Rick Reed (0-2) was tagged for six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He was hit hard for the second straight playoff outing and fell to 1-3 in seven career postseason appearances.
The Twins bullpen held Anaheim in check over the final 3 2/3 innings, but the offense was unable to rally.
Brad Fullmer sparked the Angels' offense with a two-run homer off Reed in the sixth. Darin Erstad also homered for Anaheim.
Avalanche ties Stars in season opener
DENVER, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Radim Vrbata scored with 12:42 remaining in regulation Wednesday night as the Colorado Avalanche rallied for a 1-1, season-opening tie with the Dallas Stars, who got 40 saves from new No. 1 goaltender Marty Turco.
The defending Northwest Division champions trailed virtually throughout as Turco came up with a series of big stops. But a spectacular solo effort by Colorado's Peter Forsberg helped the Avalanche come up with the tying goal.
Forsberg charged across the top of the slot, broke down the right side and circled behind the net before his wraparound attempt failed to click. He tracked down his own rebound and passed to Joe Sakic, whose shot was stopped. But Vrbata, one of the players being counted on to pick up the slack following the trade of Chris Drury, stuffed home the rebound.
Also on opening night in the NHL, the New York Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-1.
Galaxy earns berth in title game, Revs draw near
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Jay Heaps scored in the third minute Wednesday night and the New England Revolution, playing a man down for the second consecutive playoff game, made it stand up for a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew.
New England has collected four points in the, "first-to-five-point," format. The Revolution needs only a tie in Game 3 of the semifinal series Saturday in Foxborok Mass., to reach the championship game.
It was only the third win in Columbus for the Revolution in 14 tries dating to 1996.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, clinched a spot in the championship contest with a 1-0 decision over Colorado.
Steve Jones leads in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Open champions Steve Jones and Lee Janzen were 1-2 on the leaderboard Wednesday after the first round of the Invensys Classic, a five-round marathon played over three courses.
Jones fired a 9-under-par 62 at the par-71 TPC at The Canyons while Janzen had a 9-under 63 at TPC at Summerlin, the host course and a par-72 layout.
Reigning PGA Championship winner Rich Beem and J.L. Lewis were tied for third after opening-round 64s. Beem had two eagles and four birdies at Southern Highlands while Lewis had birdie streaks of three and four holes at Summerlin.
Neither Jones nor Janzen has won since 1998. But they collected birdies in bunches on a placid day.
Rockets set to sign Yao Ming
HOUSTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The Houston Rockets have reached a verbal contract agreement with 7-5 center Yao Ming, the top overall pick in this year's NBA draft.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday that Yao will receive more than $3.8 million during his rookie season in an $18 million deal that includes a team option for a fourth year.
Under terms of the league's collective bargaining agreement, Yao, 22, will collect a minimum of $10.26 million over three years for being the top draft pick. All players taken in the first round have a club option for a fourth season.
The reported deal is subject to approval by the China Basketball Association, which indicated it would address the issue after the Asian Games. Ming is playing for China in Korea at the tournament, which is set to end Oct. 14.
Trammell becomes Tigers manager
DETROIT, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Alan Trammell, one of only three Detroit Tigers to spend 20 years with the team and the Most Valuable Player of the 1984 World Series, was named the franchise's manager Wednesday.
A six-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove-winning shortstop with Detroit from 1977-96, Trammell has not managed at any level. He served as Tigers hitting coach in 1998 and San Diego's first base coach from 2000-02.
The Tigers suffered through their ninth straight losing season in 2002, going 55-106. They have little to build on, especially after trading their best player --pitcher Jeff Weaver -- to the New York Yankees this season.
Playing in cavernous Comerica Park, the Tigers were last in the American League with 124 home runs and 575 runs scored and next-to-last with a .248 batting average. Their pitching staff was 11th in the AL with a 4.93 ERA and last with 794 strikeouts.
ARCA driver killed at Lowe's Motor Speedway
CONCORD, N.C., Oct. 10 (UPI) -- ARCA driver Eric Martin was killed at Lowe's Motor Speedway Wednesday in a horrific crash during practice for the EasyCare 150, the circuit's final race of the season.
A day short of the one-year anniversary of Blaise Alexander's death, Martin crashed into the turn 4 wall, where he sat for 10-15 seconds before being slammed by Deborah Renshaw's car.
Martin, who was wearing an ARCA-required head-and-neck restraint system, was pronounced dead at Northeast Medical Center in Concord. He was 33.
Renshaw, 25, was taken to University Medical Center in Charlotte, where she was conscious and alert, according to ARCA.
The cars have been impounded by ARCA -- a training series for drivers hoping to move up to NASCAR -- for an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Favre named NFC Player of the Week
NEW YORK, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre was named Wednesday as onee of the NFL Players of the Week for games played last Sunday and Monday.
Favre was named NFC Player of the Week after leading the Packers to a 34-21 victory over the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Favre completed 22 of 33 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns, improving to 17-4 lifetime against the Bears.
Among Favre's touchdown passes was an 85-yard strike to Donald Driver, the second-longest of his career and the longest play from scrimmage in the NFL this season.
Favre also became the eighth player in NFL history -- and the third-fastest -- to reach 40,000 passing yards. It was the seventh time in his 12-year career that Favre has won the award.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth time.
The NFL's leading rusher accounted for 72 of 78 yards on the Chiefs winning drive in a 29-25 victory over the New York Jets, capping it with a 19-yard touchdown reception. It was his league-leading 10th score.
Holmes became the second Chief in as many weeks to win the award, following quarterback Trent Green. It is the first time that Kansas City teammates have captured consecutive weekly honors.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Phillip Buchanon continued his impressive rookie season by winning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He returned a fourth-quarter pass 81 yards for a touchdown to help seal a 49-31 win over the Buffalo Bills.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Derrick Brooks captured the award in the NFC after becoming the first linebacker in NFL history to return three interceptions for touchdowns in the same season. He took a lateral from Warren Sapp and ran 15 yards in a 20-6 triumph over the Atlanta Falcons.
