MLB-AL WILD CARD

Yankees and Red Sox meet at Fenway for wild card game

BOSTON (AP) — The major league playoffs have begun with the American League wild-card game between the Boston Red Sox and visiting New York Yankees.

The Red Sox struck quickly as Xander Bogaerts (BOH’-gahrts) launched a two-out, two-run homer off Yankees starter Gerrit Cole in the bottom of the first.

Nathan Eovaldi (eh-VAHL’-dee) started for the Bosox.

The Red Sox were 10-9 versus the Yankees overall this year and 6-4 at Fenway Park, but the Yankees swept a three-game set in Boston late last month.

Designated hitter J.D. Martinez was left off the Red Sox’s wild-card roster, two days after he twisted his ankle running out to the field in a rare defensive appearance. Martinez slipped on second base while taking his position between innings.

The Yankees added outfielder Greg Allen to their roster, along with Rob Brantly as a third catcher. Left-hander Andrew Heaney and right-hander Brody Koerner were designated for assignment to open roster spots.

MLB-PLAYOFFS

Lefty Shane McClanahan to start Game 1 of ALDS for Rays

UNDATED (AP) — Tampa Bay left-hander Shane McClanahan will start Game of 1 of the Rays’ AL Division Series against either the Red Sox or Yankees on Thursday.

Rookie Shane Baz (bahz) will take the mound for Game 2 on Friday night. Depending on bullpen use in the opening two games, manager Kevin Cash said Drew Rasmussen is the “highly likely” Game 3 starter.

In other playoff news:

— Astros left-hander Framber Valdez will start Game 2 of the ALDS against the White Sox, following Game 1 starter Lance McCullers Jr. Valdez won a career-high 11 games this season with 125 strikeouts and a 3.14 ERA in 22 starts. Chicago manager Tony La Russa hasn’t named his starting pitchers.

— Two missing Dodgers pitchers earn nearly as much as the entire Rays’ major league roster heading into the playoffs. The defending champion Dodgers currently have more than three times the payroll of the Rays, the team they beat in last year’s World Series. The Dodgers had a major league-high $260.9 million payroll on Aug. 31.

MLB-NEWS

Rockies work out deals with Senzatela, Cron

UNDATED (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have agreed to deals with right-hander Antonio Senzatela and first-baseman C.J. Cron.

Senzatela’s five-year, $50.5 million contract includes a club option for 2027. He was 4-10 with a 4.42 ERA in 28 starts last season.

Cron will return on a two-year, $14.5 million deal. He hit .281 with a team-leading 28 homers after signing a free-agent deal last February.

Also in the majors:

— Shortstop Alcides (al-SEE’-dehs) Escobar has agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract to stay with the Nationals. Escobar batted .288 with 21 doubles, two triples, four homers and 28 RBIs in 75 games with the Nationals after signing with the club in July. The 2015 All-Star is a lifetime .259 hitter with 245 doubles and 470 RBIs over 12 major league seasons.

— Former major league player and general manager Eddie Robinson has died at age 100. Robinson had been the oldest former big leaguer, the last surviving member of the Cleveland Indians’ 1948 World Series championship team. He played 13 years in the majors and was GM of the Rangers from 1976-82.

NBA-NEWS

Irving misses 1st practice after Nets return to New York

UNDATED (AP) — Kyrie Irving didn’t practice with the Brooklyn Nets, again remaining away from the team amid questions about his availability to play in New York because of the city’s vaccine mandate.

Coach Steve Nash had no further update about the status of his All-Star guard but said the team supports him.

Irving hasn’t said if he has been vaccinated against COVID-19, asking for privacy when pressed about his status during the team’s media day on Sept. 27. He wasn’t with his teammates that day at Barclays Center, instead appearing via Zoom.

New York has a mandate requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for athletes who play in or practice in the city.

Also in the NBA:

— Pau Gasol (pow gah-SAWL’) has announced his retirement from basketball, ending a career of more than two decades that earned him two NBA titles and a world championship gold with Spain’s national team. The 41-year-old Gasol had already announced his farewell from international basketball in August after Spain lost to the United States in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics. Gasol won his two NBA titles with the Lakers.

NFL-NEWS

Chiefs adding wide receiver Josh Gordon to 53-man roster

UNDATED (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are adding Josh Gordon to their 53-man roster and the wide receiver is expected to play in Sunday night’s AFC title game rematch against the Buffalo Bills.

The Chiefs signed Gordon to the practice squad last week with the assumption that he would join the active roster when he learned enough of the playbook. He had just been reinstated by the NFL following his sixth suspension for violations of league policies. The Chiefs hope his size and athleticism provide another option alongside Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce in their passing offense.

In other NFL news:

— Jaguars owner Shad Khan has publicly reprimanded head coach Urban Meyer for what he called “inexcusable” behavior at an Ohio bar over the weekend. Meyer’s actions were captured on video and released on social media, one showing a young woman dancing close to Meyer’s lap as he sits on a bar stool. A second, more damning video appears to show Meyer touching the woman’s behind.

— A person with knowledge of the deal says the Dolphins have traded wide receiver and returner Jakeem Grant to the Bears. Grant for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft.

NCAA-TRANSFERS

NCAA waiver will help football teams replace transfers

UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA Division I Council has approved a one-year waiver that will allow football teams to sign up to seven players to replace those that leave the program. The move is intended to address a growing number of transfers.

Current NCAA rules state a team can sign no more than 25 players to a scholarship in any year. But more players are switching teams and a bonus year of eligibility was granted to athletes who competed during the pandemic last year. That has coaches worried they will not be able to replenish their rosters.

GOLF-LPGA-MAJOR

The ‘Dinah’ leaving desert as LPGA major gets new sponsor

UNDATED (AP) — The LPGA says Chevron has agreed to a six-year deal as title sponsor of the event currently known as the ANA Inspiration. Chevron takes over in 2023 and plans to move the tournament near company headquarters in Houston.

Next April will be the end of 40 years of the only women’s major played on the same course at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California.

INDYCAR-SATO

Rahal dropping Sato

UNDATED (AP) — The IndyCar future of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato is in doubt after Rahal Letterman Lanigan said the Japanese driver won’t return to the team next year.

Sato has raced in IndyCar since 2010 following seven seasons in Formula One. The Tokyo native has driven for Rahal the last four years, capturing the 2020 Indy 500 among his four victories for the team.