MLB-ALDS

Red Sox, White Sox return home

UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Red Sox certainly will be glad to be back home for Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the Rays with the best-of-five matchup tied at 1-all.

Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe might not mind, either. Lowe batted .455 with eight walks at Fenway Park this season and is a career .444 hitter in Boston, where the next two games of the ALDS will be played.

Boston’s going with right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, who has been the mound in some of the franchise’s biggest Game 3s in recent memory. That includes Game 3 of the 2018 World Series, when Eovaldi took over in the 12th inning and battled until the 18th, when the Dodgers’ Max Muncy finally tagged him for a walk-off homer.

The Rays will go with right-hander Drew Rasmussen, whose only previous postseason appearance was last season when he was with Milwaukee.

Trying to avoid a sweep, the White Sox will start Dylan Cease in Game 3 of the ALDS against Houston. The Astros won the first two games at home, outscoring Chicago 15-5.

Houston will end Rookie of the Year candidate Luis Garcia to the mound. The White Sox opted to go with Dylan Cease over Carlos Rodón. Manager Tony La Russa said Rodón might pitch a potential Game 4 on Monday after being limited down the regular-season stretch because of shoulder soreness and fatigue.

The Astros are on the verge of their fifth straight AL Championship Series appearance. The run includes two pennants and a World Series championship in 2017 marred by a sign-stealing scandal.

MLB-NLDS

NLDS series both tied, resume Monday

UNDATED (AP) — It’s a day off for the two National League Division Series, each one tied at a game apiece.

Giants left-hander Alex Wood will start Game 3 on Monday. San Francisco was 12-2 with Wood on the mound following a loss in the regular season. For the Dodgers, Max Scherzer makes his second postseason start after pitching one-run ball over 4 1/3 innings in the wild-card win over St. Louis.

Righthander Ian Anderson pitches for the Braves on Monday when their series against the Brewers moves to Atlanta from Milwaukee. The Brewers haven’t announced their Game 3 starter.

The Braves are hitting just .175 in the series. Milwaukee isn’t doing much better at .183.

NFL-SCHEDULE

Falcons beat Jets in NFL’s return to London

LONDON (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons finally closed one out as Matt Ryan threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-20 win over the New York Jets in the NFL’s return to London.

The Falcons (2-3) built a 20-3 halftime lead and eventually ground out the victory despite handing a lifeline to the Jets by losing two fumbles. But Zach Wilson and the Jets had trouble moving the ball, which has been the story of the season for the rookie quarterback. He finished 19 of 32 for 192 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

In other Sunday action in the NFL:

— Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is active, and so is one of his favorite targets for Denver’s visit to Pittsburgh. Bridgewater had to leave last week’s loss to Baltimore due to a concussion. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton is also active despite being listed as questionable after turning an ankle in practice on Friday.

— The Minnesota Vikings are holding star running back Dalvin Cook out for a second time in three games due to a sprained ankle. Cook was listed as questionable to play against Detroit.

— Tight end Sammis Reyes is active for Washington against New Orleans, getting his chance to be the first Chilean player to appear in an NFL game.

NFL-GRUDEN-RACIST COMMENT

Watchdog group may seek discipline for Gruden

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The leader of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, a watchdog group that champions diversity in the NFL, says Jon Gruden’s 2011 remark about players’ union leader DeMaurice Smith is indicative of the racism at many levels of professional sports. Rod Graves, the Alliance’s executive director, also hinted at seeking discipline for Gruden.

A Wall Street Journal story noted that Gruden, then working for ESPN and now coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, referred in a racist way to Smith’s facial features. The league is looking into the matter and a person familiar with that probe told The Associated Press that disciplinary action is possible for Gruden.

NHL-RANGERS-ZIBANEJAD

Rangers reach eight-year deal with Zibanejad

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Rangers and top center Mika Zibanejad have agreed to an eight-year contract worth $68 million.

Zibanejad will count $8.5 million against the salary cap beginning next season and through 2029-30.

The 28-year-old Swede was almost a point-a-game player last season with 24 goals and 26 assists in 50 games. Zibanejad has 283 points in 323 regular-season games since the Rangers acquired him from Ottawa in 2016.

First-year general manager Chris Drury says Zibanejad has emerged as one of the premier players in the NHL.

CHICAGO MARATHON

Seifu Tura Abdiwak wins 2021 Chicago Marathon

CHICAGO (AP) — Seifu Tura Abdiwak of Ethiopia and Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya have won in the return of the Chicago Marathon, which was scrapped last year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Abdiwak finished in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 12 seconds. Galen Rupp was second in 2:06:35, followed by Kenya’s Eric Kiptanui with a time of 2:06:51.

Chepngetich took the women’s race, finishing in 2:22:31. Emma Bates of the U.S. was second at 2:24:20.

Around 35,000 runners competed in the 26.2-mile event. Organizers canceled last year’s event due to health concerns for runners, spectators and volunteers.

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