MLB PLAYOFFS

Correa, Alvarez help Astros take 2-0 lead over Sox in ALDS

UNDATED (AP) — Carlos Correa hit a two-run double during Houston’s five-run seventh inning, and the Astros beat the Chicago White Sox 9-4 for a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series. Kyle Tucker homered and drove in three runs as the Astros moved within one win of their fifth straight appearance in the AL Championship Series.

Alex Bregman had two hits and scored twice, and Jose Altuve made a couple of big plays.

Game 3 of the best-of-five series is Sunday night in Chicago.

In upcoming action:

– Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez was back in Boston’s starting lineup for Game 2 of their AL Division Series against Tampa Bay. Martinez was slated to bat sixth as the designated hitter after missing Tuesday’s night’s AL wild-card win over the Yankees and Thursday’s 5-0 Game 1 loss to the Rays due to a sprained left ankle. Over his previous 21 postseason games, Martinez is hitting .286 with six homers and 20 RBIs. Martinez stumbled over second base while heading to the outfield in Sunday’s regular-season finale at Washington.

— Right-hander Johnny Cueto is not on the Giants’ roster for the NL Division Series as manager Gabe Kapler went with his established bullpen and after Cueto missed time through the season with elbow troubles. San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt is sidelined by a broken left thumb that he hopes will heal in time for a return in the NLCS should the Giants advance.

NFL-NEWS

Seattle’s Russell Wilson seeing specialist for finger injury

UNDATED (AP) — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was seeing a hand specialist regarding his injured right middle finger suffered in the Thursday night loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll declined to go into many specifics regarding the injury until after Wilson saw a specialist in the Los Angeles area. Carroll said Wilson did have an initial set of X-rays after the 26-17 loss the Rams. Wilson was injured in the third quarter when his fingers hit the arm of Aaron Donald on the follow through of a pass attempt.

In other NFL news:

— Jaylon Smith has joined the Green Bay Packers, one day after the Dallas Cowboys released the veteran linebacker. The Packers officially announced that they had signed Smith. Smith made the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement in 2019 and led the Cowboys in tackles each of the past two seasons, but his play had dipped over the past year. Packers coach Matt LaFleur says it’s very unlikely that Smith plays Sunday against the Bengals.

— Broncos starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has returned to practice for the first time since he was knocked out of Denver’s game against Baltimore last weekend with a concussion. Bridgewater worked with the starters and was listed as limited on the injury report. If Bridgewater doesn’t have any setbacks he could be cleared for Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh.

—Browns star defensive end and NFL sacks leader Myles Garrett expects to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers despite missing his second practice of the week due to soreness. Garrett is listed as questionable — a 50/50 chance of playing — by the Browns, who are dealing with numerous injuries across their second-ranked defense and continue to downplay quarterback Baker Mayfield’s shoulder injury.

— The NFL is accusing Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman La’el Collins of trying to bribe a drug-testing official before the player was suspended five games for a violation of the substance-abuse policy. The allegation has surfaced in a federal court case after Collins sued the league, its management council and Commissioner Roger Goodell while seeking an injunction to stop the suspension with two games remaining. The NFL says Collins has a long history of violations. The lineman’s representatives deny the allegation of bribery and say the league wrongfully imposed suspensions in violation of the labor agreement.

— Rookie quarterback Trey Lance will make his first start for the San Francisco 49ers after Jimmy Garoppolo was ruled out of this week’s game with a calf injury. Garoppolo hurt his calf in the first half of last week’s loss to Seattle and left the game at halftime. Coach Kyle Shanahan says Garoppolo would have played if he was healthy and will regain his starting role as soon as he is recovered.

NBA-NETS-IRVING

Celtics guard Jaylen Brown tests positive for COVID-19, Nets’ Irving ineligible

UNDATED (AP) — Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the team’s exhibition game against the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics said he was asymptomatic and entering isolation. The third overall pick in the 2016 draft, Brown averaged nearly 25 points and six rebounds last season. Asked about vaccines at media day last month, Brown said: “I think it’s a personal choice.”

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets are listing Kyrie Irving as ineligible to play in their home exhibition game Friday against Milwaukee. It’s another strong indication he has not met New York’s vaccination requirement.

NHL-NEWS

Panthers, Barkov agree on 8-year, $80M extension

UNDATED (AP) — Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers have agreed on an $80 million, eight-year contract extension with an annual cap hit of $10 million.

That’s according to two people with direct knowledge of the negotiations. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the financial terms were not immediately released by the team. The contract is the largest in total value in Panthers history. Barkov and the Panthers had been working for several days to complete the deal.

In other NHL news:

— The NHL season is coming up next week and the stalemate between Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres is still going on. The former team captain and the Sabres disagree over over how to treat his herniated disk. The situation has drawn attention from the NHL commissioner, other players and legal scholars debating whether Eichel is being treated fairly. The crux of the dispute revolves around the long-standing right of NHL teams having the final say over treating player injuries.

— The Chicago Blackhawks lost another young defenseman when the team announced Caleb Jones has a sprained left wrist. The 24-year-old Jones, the younger brother of Chicago defenseman Seth Jones, is expected to miss approximately six weeks. Caleb Jones was acquired in a July trade with Edmonton that moved Duncan Keith to the Oilers. The Blackhawks said Wednesday that defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk will be out for two to four weeks with a sprained right ankle.

FIFA-CLUB WORLD CUP DELAY

FIFA plans to postpone Club World Cup until 2022

LONDON (AP) — People familiar with the planning say FIFA plans to postpone the Club World Cup until early next year due to hosting challenges linked to the pandemic.

The people say FIFA is now exploring staging the event in January or February. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing talks. Coronavirus restrictions led to Japan withdrawing from staging the seven-team tournament this December and South Africa then abandoned a bid due to the need to get more of the country vaccinated. Qatar is an option to help the Gulf nation test venues for the men’s national teams’ World Cup that starts in November 2022.

RUSSIAN DOPING-WADA

WADA concerned by board changes at Russia anti-doping agency

MONTREAL (AP) — The World Anti-Doping Agency has expressed concern over the “sudden” replacement of three out of seven board members at the suspended Russian anti-doping agency.

WADA says it will look into the process by which three new supervisory board members were appointed Wednesday after three others resigned. WADA says it is concerned by the resignations and has asked for more information on the new board members and how they were appointed. Last month WADA president Witold Banka warned against interference in the operations of the Russian agency.

GOLF-SCOTTISH OPEN

Frustrated with fans, Rahm near the lead at Spanish Open

MADRID (AP) — The big crowds following Jon Rahm in his return to Spain are starting to bother the world’s top-ranked golfer.

Rahm couldn’t hide his frustration with some of the fans after a lackluster second round at the Spanish Open on Friday. He expressed his frustration on the course after phone cameras went off in the middle of his swing off the tee on the 18th hole. He carded a 4-under 67 to stay one shot behind leader Wil Besseling going into the weekend at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

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