News of the day

HOUSTON (AP) – The Latest on the World Series (all times local):

8:41 p.m.

Justin Verlander and Stephen Strasburg both have settled in nicely through four innings. They haven’t given up a lot since each gave up two runs in the first.

Aiming for his first World Series win, Verlander at least ensured his place on future blooper reels. Rushing to field Ryan Zimmerman’s tapper toward the third base side, he slipped – he tried to make a throw, but it hit his left leg and harmlessly bounced away, giving Zimmerman an infield single.

The veteran pros each smiled. Even in a tense matchup, it’s still a kid’s game.

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8:25 p.m.

Houston threatened in the third inning, putting runners at the corners. Shortstop Trea Turner bobbled and then bounced his throw to first for an error on José Altuve’s two-out grounder and Michael Brantley singled to right.

Alex Bregman grounded to shortstop on the next play for a forceout.

Washington’s Stephen Strasburg gave up four hits in the first three innings, striking out four and walking none. He threw 58 pitches: 25 two-seam fastballs, eight four-seamers, 15 curveballs and 10 changeups.

Houston’s Justin Verlander was at 51 pitches through three innings throwing 24 fastballs, 18 sliders, eight curveballs and one changeup. He allowed four hits and one walk with four strikeouts.

Washington’s Juan Soto, playing his last game as a 20-year-old, doubled with two outs in the third for the Nationals’ fourth hit. Soto was stranded when Howie Kendrick popped out, dropping the Nationals to 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position.

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7:55 p.m.

Justin Verlander has become the first pitcher with 200 career strikeouts in the postseason.

The Houston Astros starter has four strikeouts through the first two innings against the Nationals, and the game is tied at 2-2.

After the first three Nationals in the game reached base, and two of them scored, Verlander struck out four of the next six.

John Smoltz, the big right-hander who was working the game on the Fox television broadcast, had been the postseason leader with 199 strikeouts.

Washington starter Stephen Strasburg has three strikeouts through the first two innings.

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7:50 p.m.

Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers are both second-time winners of the Hank Aaron Awards that recognize the most outstanding offensive performer in each league.

Yelich took home the National League honor for the second year in a row. Trout also won the American League’s award in 2014.

The awards were …read more

Source:: Daily Times

Fourth inning – Verlander, Strasburg settle in through 4

Justin Verlander and Stephen Strasburg both have settled in nicely through four innings. They haven’t given up a lot since each gave up two runs in the first.

Aiming for his first World Series win, Verlander at least ensured his place on future blooper reels. Rushing to field Ryan Zimmerman’s tapper toward the third base side, he slipped – he tried to make a throw, but it hit his left leg and harmlessly bounced away, giving Zimmerman an infield single.

The veteran pros each smiled. Even in a tense matchup, it’s still a kid’s game.

Come back here for inning-by-inning updates and social media highlights as the game goes on. You can watch all the 2019 World Series action on FOX 5. Third inning – Game still tied 2-2

Houston threatened in the third inning, putting runners at the corners. Shortstop Trea Turner bobbled and then bounced his throw to first for an error on José Altuve’s two-out grounder and Michael Brantley singled to right.

Alex Bregman grounded to shortstop on the next play for a forceout.

Washington’s Stephen Strasburg gave up four hits in the first three innings, striking out four and walking none. He threw 58 pitches: 25 two-seam fastballs, eight four-seamers, 15 curveballs and 10 changeups.

Houston’s Justin Verlander was at 51 pitches through three innings throwing 24 fastballs, 18 sliders, eight curveballs and one changeup. He allowed four hits and one walk with four strikeouts.

Washington’s Juan Soto, playing his last game as a 20-year-old, doubled with two outs in the third for the Nationals’ fourth hit. Soto was stranded when Howie Kendrick popped out, dropping the Nationals to 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position.

Second inning – Game remains tied 2-2

Justin Verlander has become the first pitcher with 200 career strikeouts in the postseason.

The Houston Astros starter has four strikeouts through the first two innings against the Nationals, and the game is tied at 2-2.

After the first three Nationals in the game reached base, and two of them scored, Verlander struck out four of the next six.

John Smoltz, the big right-hander who was working the game on the Fox television broadcast, had been the postseason leader with 199 strikeouts.

Washington starter Stephen Strasburg has three strikeouts through the first two innings.

First inning – Game tied at 2-2 after one inning

Game 2 is off to a flying start.

Anthony Rendon got things going, …read more

Source:: Daily Times

This was not supposed to happen.

The Bulls looked a step slow on defense and sluggish and disjointed at times on offense and lost 126-125 on Wednesday night to a rebuilding Hornets team that lost its top two scorers in the offseason.

Since Day 1 of the offseason, the Bulls wanted to make themselves into a team that’s known for running the floor, a real threat to knock down a 3-pointer or slash to the basket in transition.

Above all, they wanted to show enough toughness defending the paint and guarding the perimeter to distance themselves from the league’s cellar-dwellers in defensive rating.

Instead, the Bulls struggled to make 3-pointers (9 for 30, 30%) while the Hornets drained them all game long (23 for 44, 52.3%).

Cody Zeller seemed to dunk at will, and Miles Bridges putting a spin move on a flat-footed Lauri Markkanen struck the perfect picture of the Bulls’ defensive woes. The Bulls wasted a 35-point, 17-rebound effort by Markkanen.

The Bulls trailed 63-47 with 2 minutes, 47 seconds left in the second quarter before closing the half on an 8-0 run.

They outscored the Hornets 40-33 in the third quarter, took the lead early in the fourth, and increased it to 115-105 with 7 minutes to play.

The fourth quarter got a lot more tense when Dwayne Bacon hit a 3 and the Bulls responded with a shot clock violation. Coach Jim Boylen stepped to midcourt and tried to fire them up from the sideline.

Another Zeller dunk put the Hornets up 120-119.

Wendell Carter traveled – another unforced error – and Bacon nailed another 3.

Down 126-123, LaVine drove to the basket – for two. The Bulls played for the foul, but the Hornets inbounded into the backcourt and played keep-away until the final 4.5 seconds ticked away.

How seriously did the Bulls take a team going through a full rebuild and missing departed scorers Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb?

Boylen’s concerns about the Hornets on Tuesday seem prophetic now.

“I worry about their athleticism, I worry about their speed. They have multi-handlers just like we do. They have multiple guys bringing up that attack.

“I thought they played very hard in the preseason. I’ve always had great respect for Zeller, he’s one of the most underrated guys in the league. Miles Bridges’ athleticism has overpowered teams in the preseason and Bacon and (Malik) …read more

Source:: Daily Times