This playoff derby among the Rangers, Astros and Mariners is going to go right down to the wire. The ‘Stros have a one-game lead over the M’s with two games left in the race to secure the final AL Wild Card following Friday night’s 2-1 win at Arizona. Jose Urquidy was brilliant in an emergency start, giving up just two hits and three walks in six innings. Urquidy had been used exclusively as a reliever for the past month, but took the ball after Friday’s scheduled starter, J.P. France, had to leave the team because of what is described as a “family emergency.” That clutch performance saved the Astros’ bacon, and maybe their season.
Justin Verlander will be on the mound for Houston tonight in Game Two of this regular season-ending three-game set.
The ‘Stros are now within a game of the Rangers atop the AL West, since Texas got shut out 8-0 in Seattle. Mariners’ shortstop J.P. Crawford hit his third career grand slam, and is now 11 for 16 and has driven in 26 runs with the bases loaded this season. Say WHAT?
Some jobs come with lofty expectations. Being the manager of the San Francisco Giants is one of them, as Gabe Kapler will attest after getting fired Friday. Kapler got the Giants to only one playoff appearance in four years. That doesn’t cut in in SF.
That was a big win for Oregon State Friday night in Corvallis as the 19th ranked Beavers turned back number ten Utah 21-7. That’s Utah’s first loss. The Utes have had trouble moving the ball of late. The offense struggled in last week’s win over UCLA, and Friday night scored only once and gained just 198 yards.
Yeah, those are some gaudy stats, all right. I’m talking about the numbers posted by Timpson, Texas High School superstar Terry Bussey, who Thursday committed to the Aggies. A&M won out over Texas, Au Jus, LSU and Alabama. Bussey is a stud on both sides of the ball, and the Aggies say they are open to using him as both a receiver and defensive back. Last year as a junior at Timpson, Bussey played quarterback, throwing for over 2,100 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for almost 2,600 yards and 46 touches. Oh, that was when he wasn’t also playing defense and special teams, recording five interceptions and returning four kicks for scores. That earned Bussey “Mr. Texas Football” honors. The Young Man also shines in the classroom, and will graduate from Timpson having already earned an associate’s degree.
Why does the NFL continue to confuse players with its ever-evolving gambling rules? Here would be my rule. You can’t gamble on sports. Any sport. Ever.
It’s back to the WNBA Finals for the defending champion Las Vegas Aces following Friday night’s 64-61 win over the Dallas Wings. The Aces scored the game’s final eleven points to reach the finals for the third time in four years. Las Vegas will face either New York or Connecticut for the title.
Oh, I’d rather take a shot of Drano than watch a second of the Ryder Cup. Get out of here with that contrived lameness.
Are You Ready for Some (Saturday) Football? Paul’s Peerless Picks
(Home team in caps)
USC 44 COLORADO 21
KENTUCKY 27 Florida 24 (Upset Special)
Clemson 31 SYRACUSE 27
Michigan 34 NEBRASKA 20
LSU 38 OLE MISS 27
Alabama 31 MISSISSIPPI STATE 20
Texas State 38 SOUTHERN MISS 31
Notre Dame 28 DUKE 27
TEXAS TECH 38 Houston 35
TCU 35 West Virginia 21
RICE 31 East Carolina 28
TEXAS 37 Kansas 24
