MLB PLAYOFFS

Astros up 2-0

UNDATED (AP) — The Houston Astros have posted their second consecutive 5-run victory over the Chicago White Sox to take a 2-0 lead in the AL Division Series.

The Astros followed Thursday’s 6-1 win by scoring five times in the seventh inning to beat the Pale Hose, 9-4. The game was tied 4-4 until Yordan (yohr-DAHN’) Alvarez hit an RBI single in the seventh.

Carlos Correa provided a two-run double during the big rally, and Kyle Tucker had a homer and three RBIs.

The Astros can close out the series on Sunday in Chicago.

Meanwhile, The Milwaukee Brewers have won their NL Division Series opener.

Rowdy Tellez homered and threw out a runner at the plate to help the Brewers down the Braves, 2-1. Neither team scored until Tellez launched a two-run blast off Charlie Morton in the seventh inning.

Morton hit Avisail (av-ih-sah-EEL’) Garcia with a pitch leading off the seventh before Tellez went deep, chasing the Atlanta starter. Morton allowed just two other hits.

The Milwaukee first baseman also snuffed out a first-inning threat by nailing Jorge Soler (HOHR’-hay soh-LEHR’) at home.

Corbin Burnes was outstanding in holding the Braves to two hits and three walks with six strikeouts over six innings.

Pinch-hitter Joc Pederson homered for the Braves in the eighth.

Game 2 is Saturday in Milwaukee.

In other news coming out of the division series:

— Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez is back in the lineup tonight for Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Martinez missed the regular-season finale, the AL wild-card game and the opener of the ALDS because of an ankle injury. He is hitting .286 with six homers and 20 RBIs in 77 at-bats over his last 21 postseason games.

— Right-hander Johnny Cueto is not on the Giants’ roster for the NL Division Series as manager Gabe Kapler went with his established bullpen. 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:

— Teddy Bridgewater is trending toward starting Sunday against the Steelers one week after suffering a concussion in the Broncos’ loss to Baltimore. He could be without his top target, however. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton turned an ankle at practice Friday and was added to the injury report as questionable.

— Browns star defensive end and NFL sacks leader Myles Garrett expects to play Sunday against the Chargers despite missing his second practice of the week due to soreness. Garrett is listed as questionable by the Browns, who are dealing with numerous injuries across their second-ranked defense.

— A report that Jon Gruden used a racist comment about NFL Players Association leader DeMaurice Smith in an email 10 years ago has drawn a strong and quick rebuke from the NFL. A Wall Street Journal story noted that the current Raiders head coach referred in a racist way to Smith’s facial features while employed by ESPN. A league spokesperson called the slur “appalling, abhorrent and wholly contrary to the NFL’s values.”

— The NFL is accusing 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. That’s according to court documents that also state that Collins offered the testing official $5,000 and then $10,000. The allegation 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.

— Rookie quarterback Trey Lance will make his first start for the 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-NEWS

Celtics’ Brown tests positive for COVID-19

UNDATED (AP) — Kyrie Irving could join the Brooklyn Nets at practice this weekend.

The Nets have been told their training center is considered a private facility and doesn’t fall under a New York coronavirus vaccination mandate.

The city’s vaccine mandate requires pro athletes practicing or playing in public venues to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Though he can practice with the team in New York, Irving still wouldn’t be able to play in home games if he doesn’t meet the vaccination requirement.

Also in the NBA:

— Celtics guard Jaylen Brown has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Saturday’s exhibition game against the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics said Brown was asymptomatic and entering isolation. The third overall pick in the 2016 draft averaged nearly 25 points and six rebounds last season.

NHL-NEWS

Barkov gets team-record deal

UNDATED (AP) — Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov has accepted the largest contract in team history.

Two people with direct knowledge of the negotiations tell The Associated Press that the Panthers and their top scorer have worked out an eight-year, $80 million extension with an annual cap hit of $10 million.

The center scored team highs of 26 goals and 58 points in 50 games for the Cats last season. He has totaled 108 goals and 294 points in 277 games over the last four seasons.

In other NHL news:

— Blackhawks defenseman Caleb Jones has a sprained left wrist that is expected to keep him out about six weeks. The 24-year-old brother of Chicago defenseman Seth Jones was acquired in a July trade with Edmonton that moved Duncan Keith to the Oilers.

— Ontario’s major indoor professional sports teams have been given the green light to host capacity crowds. That means the Maple Leafs and Senators will be able to play in front of full arenas when their seasons start this month, as well the NBA’s Raptors. The move leaves the Canucks as the only NHL team without full-capacity crowds.

LPGA-COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

Ko leads suspended LPGA event

WEST CALDWELL, N.J. (AP) — Jin Young Ko had a three-stroke lead with four holes left Friday when second-round play in the LPGA Tour’s Cognizant Founders Cup was suspended because of darkness.

Play was delayed at the start because of fog for the second straight day, with 63 players unable to finish.

Lindsey Weaver, So Yeon Ryu and Perrine Delacour were tied for second at 7 under.

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS-FURYK & FRIENDS

Mickelson, Gogel are co-leaders

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Phil Mickelson shot a 6-under 66 for a share of the first-round lead with Matt Gogel in the PGA Tour Champions’ Constellation Furyk & Friends Invitational.

Mickelson had seven birdies and a bogey in a round interrupted by a rain delay. He’s trying to win for the third time in four career starts on the 50-and-over tour.

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. Coronavirus restrictions led to Japan withdrawing from staging the seven-team tournament this December. South Africa then abandoned a bid due to the need to get more of the country vaccinated.

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 has asked for more information on the new board members and how they were appointed.