Page 2B SPORTS East Oregonian Saturday, October 24, 2015 MLB Jays’ rally falls short, Royals return to World Series By DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jose Bautista gave the Toronto Blue Jays a chance to keep their season alive with two swings of his mighty bat, only to squander ALCS it with one throw from his strong Kansas City right arm. T h e result? The Kansas City Royals are returning to Toronto the World Series for the second straight year, while the Blue Jays are headed home after a heart- breaking 4-3 defeat in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series. “I was able to come 4 3 through twice,” Bautista said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.” Bautista became the ¿rst Blue Jay in postseason history to hit two homers in a game when he followed his solo shot in the fourth inning with a tying, two-run homer in the eighth on Friday night. But it was his throw from right ¿eld in the bottom half of the inning, just after a 45-minute rain delay, that allowed the Royals to score the go-ahead run. Lorenzo Cain had reached base with a hard-earned walk off Roberto Osuna, and Eric Hosmer rapped a single down the line. Bautista ¿elded it cleanly and ¿red to second base, thinking that Hosmer might try to stretch the hit into a double. The longer throw gave Cain the time he needed to score from ¿rst base. “I had a feeling Bautista Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, left, and relief pitcher Wade Davis celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6 of baseball’s American League Championship Series on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 4-3. was going to come up and throw to second base. He’s been doing it,” Royals third base coach Mike Jirschele said. “As soon I saw him release the ball to second, I had Lorenzo coming in. I knew we were going to take a shot at it.” Bautista thought there was enough time to throw to second and still keep Cain at third. “I was wrong,” he said. Toronto nearly bailed him out. Russell Martin and walked Kevin Pillar reached base off Royals closer Wade Davis to start the ninth before pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro struck out. After stolen bases put runners on second and third, Davis struck out Ben Revere, then got Josh Donaldson on a bouncer to third, sending the Royals scurrying on the ¿eld in a wild celebration. They will open the World Series on Tuesday night against the New York Mets, trying to do one win better than they did last year. In their ¿rst trip to the Fall Classic in 29 years, they lost in Game 7 to San Francisco with the tying run standing 90 feet from home. For the Blue Jays, it was a frustrating ending to a late-season surge that ended their own postseason drought dating to 1993. They had rallied from a 2-0 series de¿cit against Te[as in the divisional round, then staved off elimination against the Royals in Game 5 in Toronto. They simply couldn’t win their ¿fth straight elimina- tion game. “They made a run at it,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said. “I really couldn’t be more proud of our guys. They laid it out every day. They’re great competitors and a fun bunch.” Ale[ Rios had an RBI single in the seventh, but only after two marvelous plays by Toronto limited the damage. Ben Revere made a leaping grab at the fence to rob Salvador Perez of a two-run shot to left, and second baseman Ryan Goins made a sliding grab to rob Ale[ Gordon of a single. BULLDOGS: Hunsaker scrambles in from 17 for ¿nal score Continued from 1B Hermiston on both sides of the ball. “We just wanted to by physical,” Hunsaker said. “It all starts on the line.” The Bulldogs committed to the run early. Mitch Brown was the ¿rst to get the load, then Bob Coleman and Hayden Simon took turns blasting into the Eagles defense. The power run game, which wasn’t really a power run game but inside zones instead, ate up almost the entirety of the third quarter on a 20-play 79-yard drive that took eight minutes off the clock but only resulted in a ¿eld goal. That left the door open for the Eagles and their aggres- sive, high-powered offense. Buckley dove in from seven yards out early in the fourth quarter to cut Hermiston’s 10-point lead to two at 30-28. Then the Bulldogs took a shot down ¿eld and appeared to wrap up the ballgame. Hunsaker had been accurate all night with hitting wide receiver tunnel screens and running back leak-out screens all night. On 3rd and 12 from its own 30 yard line, Tucker Salinas faked like he was catching a screen pass, and Ena ran right past the defense down the sideline, and Hunsaker found him perfectly for a 70-yard touch- down, and Hermiston was back up ten. Cue the ever-scoring Eagles. Five plays later, Duffy was running down the oppo- site sideline the opposite direction and Hood River was (again) right back in it with a 48-yard touchdown pass. But Hunsaker and the Bulldogs were the group to respond this time. But Hunsaker led a drive starting at his own 32 that ended with him scampering in 17 yards for the game’s ¿nal score. Buckley’s third INT of the day to Ena sealed it for the Bulldogs. Hermiston now sits with rival Pendleton as the top team in the CRC. Simon isn’t surprised. “We knew we should beat all the conference teams,” he said. “I’m not really shocked. Maybe (it’s a surprise to others). I can see that.” ——— HERMISTON 36, HOOD RIVER 28 HRV (4-4, 2-1) 0 7 7 14 — 28 HHS 3-5, 3-0) 14 6 3 13 — 36 First Quarter Hermiston — B. Coleman 1-yard run (Extra Point Good), 6:38 Hermiston D. Gossett 34-yard intercep- tion return (Extra Point Good), 1:28 Second Quarter Hood River Valley — M. Jones 54-yard pass from D. Buckley (Extra Point Good), 9:59 Hood River Valley — K. Duffy 51-yard pass from D. Buckley (Extra Point Good), 6:39 Hermiston — J. Ramirez 22-yard pass from N. Hunsaker (Extra Point No Good), 1:49 Third Quarter Hermiston — F. Rodriguez 21-yard field goal, 4:00 Fourth Quarter Hood River Valley — D. Buckley 7-yard run (Extra Point Good), 9:42 Hermiston — V. Ena 70-yard pass from N. Hunsaker (Extra Point Good), 5:58 Hood River Valley — K. Duffy 48-yard pass from D. Buckley (Extra Point Good), 5:58 Hermiston — N. Hunsaker 17-yard run (Extra Point No Good), 3:10 Statistics RUSHING — HRV (29-47, 1 TD): D. Buck- ley 24-46, 1 TD; M. Jones 3-1; B. Ostler 2-0. HHS (59-270, 2 TD): B. Coleman 17-95, TD; H. Simon 15-87; N. Hunsaker 13-35, TD; M. Brown 11-53; K. Mendez 1-0. PASSING — HRV (21-39-3, 308 yards, 3 TD): D. Buckley 21-39-3, 308, 3 TD. HHS (5- 12-1, 114 yards, 2 TD): N. Hunsaker 5-12-1, 114, 2 TD. RECEIVING — HRV: K. Duffy 6-155, TD; T. Stinzi 5-48, M. Jones 5-93, TD; B. Ostler 2-11; P. Irusta 1-0; K. Sorenson 2-1. HHS: J. Ramirez 2-47, TD; V. Ena 1-70, TD; M. Brown 1-(-)2; A. Horn 1-(-)1. Hood Riv- er’s Cody Wheat and two Dawgs, Brady Christen- son and Vaemu Ena, battle for the ball Friday in Hermis- ton. The pass was incom- plete to Wheat, the intended receiver. Staff photo by Kathy Aney BUCKS: Lani breaks out, ¿nishes with four catches for 192 yards Continued from 1B starting at their own three yard line. As the Bucks were set up for the snap, quarterback Kai Quinn scanned the defense and audibled into a different play — which proved to be smart. Quinn took the snap and tossed a quick pass into the right Àat where Lani caught the pass and outran the Riverhawks defense 97 yards to the house for a touchdown to put Pendleton up 7-0 in the ¿rst quarter. “We were in a bunch set and (the Riverhawks) were playing back and (Nick) just got out in the Àat,” said Quinn, “And we’re going to take what they give us every time, get it in our specialists’ hands and let them do their thing. They make me look a lot better.” The audible was a power that Davis and the Bucks’ coaches had given to Quinn just this week, and after the game Davis was all smiles about that decision. “I had a run play called and we knew if we would get a certain front I told Kai I wanted him to check out of it,” Davis said. “He made the right read, made the right change at the line of scrim- mage and made a good throw and it worked out.” Pendleton scored on each of their ne[t two possessions, as Quinn scampered into the end zone on a read-op- Staff photo by E.J. Harris Pendleton’s Cade Anderson sacks The Dalles quarterback Dominique Seufalemua in the Bucks’ win against the Riverhawks on Friday in Pendleton. tion keeper and then later connected with receiver Devon Roe for a si[-yard touchdown pass to give the Bucks a 21-0 lead with 10:25 left in the second quarter. But the best drive of the game for the Bucks came with a hair under one minute to play in the second quarter — once again starting from their own three. Quinn ¿rst completed a pass to Sebaztian Corona for 14 yards up to the Bucks’ 17 yard line. And then Quinn used some play action to draw in the defense before he rolled to his left and tossed a touch pass to Lani who caught it and ran 74 yards down to the Riverhawks’ 14 yard line. Lani had a big game, catching four passes for 192 yards and one touchdown. Then two plays later Quinn found Dakota McCambridge for a nine-yard touchdown pass with just ¿ve seconds on the clock to put the Bucks up 28-0 heading into halftime. Quinn ¿nished with his best game of the season, completing 12 of 21 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns, as well as si[ rushes for 58 yards and the touchdown. “The line did great, gave me plenty of time,” Quinn said. “The receivers made catches when they needed to which was good to see. It seems like everything came just came together.” But he still had more points to score. On The Dalles’ second possession in the third quarter, Quinn jumped in front of a swing pass to the right side of the ¿eld for an interception and ran it back 20 yards for the touchdown — his ¿fth score accounted for in the game. “The coaches were giving me a hard time because I couldn’t get to the previous ones, and they told me they had me there for a reason and to go make the play,” he said with a smile, “and I came out and got it and it was fun.” The Riverhawks (1-6, 0-2 CRC) did not get on the scoreboard until late in the third quarter, and used some trickery to do so. At the 4:20 mark of the third quarter, quarterback Domi- nique Seufalemua completed a pass to receiver Colton Walker for what appeared would be a 10 yard gain. But Walker then Àipped the ball to his left to Damion Morris who ran untouched 57 yards to the house for a successful hook- and-ladder touchdown to cut the Bucks’ lead to 35-6. And after a blocked punt on their ne[t defen- sive possession set the Riverhawks deep in Bucks territory, Seufalemua later plunged into the end zone from three yards out to make the score 35-14 in favor of Pendleton. “I’d like to see them ¿nish better,” said Davis. “I tried a couple of different things and partly that’s my fault for prob- ably letting off the gas a little bit but we played a good game.” The offensive plays were pretty balanced for Pendleton, as the Bucks had 22 pass attempts and 23 rush attempts. Deven Page and Jamal Vann combined for 123 yards on 16 carries and each scored a touchdown in the game. For Vann, his touchdown had teammates and fans alike having some Àashbacks to Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn ‘Beastmode’ Lynch, as he broke ¿ve or si[ tackles and carried a pile of River- hawks defenders 10 yards into the end zone for Pendleton’s ¿nal touchdown of the night. “To see a run like that is unreal,” said Davis. “The kid kept his feet moving through however many broken tackles and stayed on his feet into the end zone, so kudos to him and receivers blocking down¿eld.” Along with the defense, it was by far the best offensive performance the Bucks have had this season as the 49 points were the most scored this season — and the ¿rst time Pendleton has broke 30 points all season. Overall, it was the kind performance and the kind of win that the Bucks needed heading into the last week of the season. “I think it gives us a launching pad into a great week of practice,” said Davis. “It’s not hard to get up for Hermiston week, but we’re playing for something now.” SCOREBOARD Local Slate PREP BOYS SOCCER Today’s Games Riverside at City Christian, 1 p.m. Umatilla at Irrigon, 1 p.m. Ontario at Mac-Hi, 2 p.m. PREP GIRLS SOCCER Today’s Games Ontario at Mac-Hi, Noon PREP VOLLEYBALL Today’s Games Helix, Echo at Old Oregon district tourna- ment (La Grande) vs. TBD, 9 a.m. Ione at Big Sky district tournament (The Dalles) vs. TBD, 10 a.m. Weston-McEwen, Heppner, Stanfield at Columbia Basin district tournament (Culver) vs. TBD, Noon PREP CROSS COUNTRY Today Hermiston, Pendleton at CRC District Meet (The Dalles), 10 a.m. COLLEGE FOOTBALL Today’s Game Eastern Oregon at Montana St.-Northern, Noon COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER Today’s Game Northwest Christian at Eastern Oregon, 3 p.m. COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER Today’s Game Northwest Christian at Eastern Oregon, 1 p.m. COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL Today’s Games Yakima Valley at Blue Mountain, 2 p.m. Warner at Eastern Oregon, 7 p.m. COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL Today’s Game Eastern Oregon at Simpson, 3 p.m. Baseball MLB Playoffs LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (Best-of-7; x-if necessary) WORLD SERIES (Best-of-7) All games televised by Fox Tuesday, Oct. 27: N.Y. Mets at Kansas City, 5:07 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28: N.Y. Mets at Kansas City, 5:07 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30: Kansas City at N.Y. Mets, 5:07 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31: Kansas City at N.Y. Mets, 5:07 p.m. x-Sunday, Nov. 1: Kansas City at N.Y. Mets, 5:15 p.m. x-Tuesday, Nov. 3: N.Y. Mets at Kansas City, 5:07 p.m. x-Wednesday, Nov. 4: N.Y. Mets at Kansas City, 5:07 p.m. Football NFL AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA New England 5 0 0 1.000 183 103 N.Y. Jets 4 1 0 .800 129 75 Buffalo Miami South 3 2 3 3 0 .500 145 139 0 .400 103 111 W 3 2 1 1 L 3 4 4 5 T Pct PF 0 .500 126 0 .333 128 0 .200 112 0 .167 113 PA 147 155 129 176 W 6 4 2 1 L 0 2 4 5 T Pct PF 0 1.000 182 0 .667 145 0 .333 141 0 .167 143 PA 122 108 158 162 W L T Pct PF Denver 6 0 0 1.000 139 Oakland 2 3 0 .400 107 San Diego 2 4 0 .333 136 Kansas City 1 5 0 .167 127 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF Philadelphia 3 3 0 .500 144 N.Y. Giants 3 3 0 .500 139 Dallas 2 3 0 .400 101 Washington 2 4 0 .333 117 South W L T Pct PF Carolina 5 0 0 1.000 135 Atlanta 5 1 0 .833 183 Tampa Bay 2 3 0 .400 110 New Orleans 2 4 0 .333 134 North W L T Pct PF Green Bay 6 0 0 1.000 164 Minnesota 3 2 0 .600 96 Chicago 2 4 0 .333 120 Detroit 1 5 0 .167 120 West W L T Pct PF PA 102 124 161 159 Indianapolis Houston Tennessee Jacksonville North Cincinnati Pittsburgh Cleveland Baltimore West PA 110 136 131 138 PA 94 143 148 164 PA 101 83 179 172 PA Arizona 4 2 0 .667 203 115 Seattle 3 4 0 .429 154 128 St. Louis 2 3 0 .400 84 113 San Francisco 2 5 0 .286 103 180 ——— Thursday’s Game Seattle 20, San Francisco 3 Sunday’s Games Buffalo vs. Jacksonville at London, 6:30 a.m. Atlanta at Tennessee, 10 a.m. Pittsburgh at Kansas City, 10 a.m. Cleveland at St. Louis, 10 a.m. Tampa Bay at Washington, 10 a.m. Minnesota at Detroit, 10 a.m. Houston at Miami, 10 a.m. New Orleans at Indianapolis, 10 a.m. N.Y. Jets at New England, 10 a.m. Oakland at San Diego, 1:05 p.m. Dallas at N.Y. Giants, 1:25 p.m. Philadelphia at Carolina, 5:30 p.m. Open: Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Green Bay Monday’s Game Baltimore at Arizona, 5:30 p.m. NCAA Saturday No. 1 Ohio State at Rutgers, 5 p.m. No. 2 Baylor vs. Iowa State, 9 a.m. No. 3 Utah at Southern Cal, 4:30 p.m. No. 5 LSU vs. Western Kentucky, 4 p.m. No. 6 Clemson at Miami, 9 a.m. No. 7 Michigan State vs. Indiana, 12:30 p.m. No. 8 Alabama vs. Tennessee, 12:30 p.m. No. 9 Florida State at Georgia Tech, 4 p.m. No. 10 Stanford vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m. No. 14 Oklahoma State vs. Kansas, 12:30 p.m. No. 15 Texas A&M at No. 24 Mississippi, 4 p.m. No. 17 Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech, 12:30 p.m. No. 19 Toledo at UMass, Noon No. 21 Houston at UCF, 9 a.m. No. 23 Duke at Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m. No. 25 Pittsburgh at Syracuse, 9 a.m. Basketball NBA Preseason Friday’s Games Orlando 86, Memphis 76 Boston 81, Philadelphia 65 Toronto 92, Washington 82 Detroit 115, Atlanta 87 Chicago 103, Dallas 102 New Orleans 93, Miami 90 Minnesota 112, Milwaukee 108 San Antonio 111, Houston 86 End of Preseason Hockey NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Montreal 8 8 0 0 Tampa Bay 8 5 2 1 Ottawa 7 3 2 2 Florida 7 3 3 1 Detroit 7 3 3 1 Boston 7 3 3 1 Toronto 6 1 3 2 Buffalo 7 2 5 0 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Washington 7 6 1 0 N.Y. Rangers 8 5 2 1 N.Y. Islanders 7 4 2 1 Philadelphia 6 3 2 1 New Jersey 7 3 3 1 Pittsburgh 7 3 4 0 Carolina 7 2 5 0 Columbus 8 0 8 0 Pts 16 11 8 7 7 7 4 4 GF 30 27 23 20 18 27 13 13 GA 9 23 22 15 19 29 19 22 Pts 12 11 9 7 7 6 4 0 GF 29 22 24 13 16 11 12 15 GA 18 16 20 16 20 15 20 37 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Dallas 7 6 1 0 Nashville 7 6 1 0 St. Louis 7 5 2 0 Minnesota 6 4 1 1 Winnipeg 7 4 2 1 Chicago 7 4 3 0 Colorado 6 2 3 1 Pacific Division GP W L OT Los Angeles 7 4 3 0 San Jose 7 4 3 0 Vancouver 7 3 2 2 Arizona 7 3 3 1 Edmonton 8 3 5 0 Calgary 7 2 5 0 Anaheim 6 1 4 1 Pts 12 12 10 9 9 8 5 GF 25 24 21 17 23 17 16 GA 15 14 17 17 17 16 17 Pts 8 8 8 7 6 4 3 GF 13 18 18 19 19 15 6 GA 15 16 14 18 24 27 17 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. ——— Friday’s Games Montreal 7, Buffalo 2 Boston 5, N.Y. Islanders 3 Tampa Bay 4, Winnipeg 3, OT Calgary 3, Detroit 2, OT Washington 7, Edmonton 4 Los Angeles 3, Carolina 0 Saturday’s Games Anaheim at Minnesota, 3 p.m. New Jersey at Buffalo, 4 p.m. Toronto at Montreal, 4 p.m. Arizona at Ottawa, 4 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at St. Louis, 5 p.m. Pittsburgh at Nashville, 5 p.m. Florida at Dallas, 5 p.m. Tampa Bay at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. Columbus at Colorado, 6 p.m. Detroit at Vancouver, 7 p.m.