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Page 2B SPORTS East Oregonian Friday, October 20, 2017 NFL Seahawks face a Giants team that has changed By TOM CANAVAN Associated Press Week 7 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Heading into their bye, the Seattle Seahawks had a good idea about the team they would be facing in a couple of weeks. The New York Giants were winless. Their offense relied on Eli Manning and the passing game, and the defense was having a down year after helping new coach Ben McAdoo end a four-year post- season drought. The Seahawks (3-2) are going to see a much different opponent when they face the Giants (1-5) on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. New York obviously has a win after stunning the Broncos 23-10 in Denver last Sunday night. The pass-happy offense has become a run-first group with coordinator Mike Sullivan now calling the plays, and Manning throwing sparingly to young receivers who have replaced the injured Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall and Dwayne Harris. Despite injuries and the suspen- sion of veteran cornerback Domi- nique Rodgers-Cromartie, Steve Spagnuolo’s defense rediscovered itself in Denver. Rodgers-Cromartie is also back this week. “We have players who aren’t selfish,” McAdoo said. “Talented men of integrity who want to win football games, and I believe they Seattle Seahawks (3-2) New York Giants (1-5) • Sunday,1:25 p.m. (TV: CBS) • at MetLife Stadium all see the best way for us to win football games is to be physical in all three phases, heavy-handed, stop the run, run the ball, get timely conversions and timely stops on third down, and play good special teams play.” Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman isn’t ready to say the Giants are now a run-first team, even though they have rushed for 300 yards in the past two games. “It’s the NFL; every week, some teams are totally different in their personnel and the way they attack defenses, so they could go from being a majority 12-personel team (with two tight ends) against Denver to all 11,” Sherman said. The Giants’ passing game might pick up this week if Sterling Shepard returns after missing a game with an ankle injury. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson never had doubts about the Giants’ defense, which blew fourth-quarter leads against the Buccaneers, Eagles and Chargers. AP Photo/File At left, in an Oct. 8, 2017, Seattle Seahawks quarterback (3) Russell Wilson runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles. At right, in a Sept. 10, 2017, New York Giants safety Landon Collins (21) lines up to defend against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. “The reality is all their games have been super close against some tough teams, against some really good players, too,” Wilson said. “They have been right in pretty much every game, and unfortu- nately for them, they have lost a couple tight ones. We know they are going to be ready to roll and they just came off a big win.” Safety Landon Collins isn’t ready to say the Giants’ defense is back. “Not yet. I mean we got to showcase it again,” Collins said. “Once we showcase it again, then we can possibly say that, but not yet. We got to just put it on film one more time.” Things to watch for this weekend: RUN GAME WOES: Seattle is still struggling to find consistency in the run game. It was held to 62 yards on 25 carries in the victory over the Rams prior to the bye. Thomas Rawls led Seattle with 20 yards rushing. Eddie Lacy was mostly ineffective as well. Seattle has been held under 100 yards rushing three times. TOP TARGET: With all the injuries, rookie tight end Evan Engram has emerged as Manning’s top target. He had five of the Giants’ 11 receptions last week for 82 yards and a touchdown. The first-round draft pick has 24 catches for 282 yards and two touchdowns, second best on the team in all three categories. EXCELLENT EARL: Seattle safety Earl Thomas continues to show why he’s one of the best safeties in football. He had seven tackles, a pass breakup, an inter- ception and a key forced fumble near the goal line against Rams. His chop on the arm of Todd Gurley as the halfback reached the ball for the pylon caused a touchback and was critical in Seattle’s six-point victory. GIANTS’ O-LINE: After weeks of searching, the Giants seemingly have settled on an offen- sive line. The key was moving Justin Pugh from left guard to right tackle. John Jerry moved from right guard to left guard, and D.J. Fluker took over at right guard. Ereck Flowers has remained the left tackle and Brett Jones has taken over at center with Weston Richburg sidelined by a concussion. Bobby Hart lost his job at right tackle. GOING EAST: Seattle has shown no problems going to the East Coast and playing at MetLife Stadium. The Seahawks are 4-0 at the stadium, including their Super Bowl victory over Denver. They have beaten the Giants twice — 36-25 in 2011 and 23-0 in 2013 — and knocked off the Jets last year 27-17. DODGERS: Ex-Mariner Taylor named NLCS Co-MVP NFL: Lynch ejected Continued from 1B “Every night it is a different guy,” Turner said, “and this is one of the most unbelievable teams I’ve ever been a part of.” Kershaw will be on the mound again when the Dodgers host the New York Yankees or Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night. The Yankees have a 3-2 lead heading into Game 6 of the ALCS at Houston on Friday night, so one more New York win would set up another chapter in an old October rivalry between the Yankees and Dodgers. Los Angeles made the play- offs eight times in the previous 13 seasons and came up short of its 22nd pennant each time, often with Kershaw shoul- dering much of the blame. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner took the loss when his team was eliminated by the Cubs in Game 6 of last year’s NLCS at Wrigley Field. The ace left-hander was just OK during his first two starts in this year’s postseason, but Los Angeles’ offense picked him up each time. Backed by Hernandez’s powerful show in Chicago, Kershaw turned in an efficient three-hit perfor- mance with five strikeouts and improved to 6-7 in the playoffs — matching Burt Hooton’s club record for postseason wins. “To get to be on the mound tonight and get to be going to the World Series on the same night, it’s a special thing,” Kershaw said. “Who knows how many times I’m going to get to go to the World Series? I know more than anybody how hard it is to get there. So, I’m definitely not taking this one for granted.” When Kenley Jansen retired Willson Contreras on a liner to AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh The Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate after Game 5 of baseball’s National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs, Thursday in Chicago. shortstop for the final out, the party was on . The Dodgers poured out of the dugout and mobbed their dominant closer near the mound, and a small but vocal group of Los Angeles fans gathered behind the visitors’ dugout and chanted “Let’s go Dodgers! Let’s go Dodgers!” On the field, manager Dave Roberts hugged Lasorda and told the iconic skipper the win was for him. “I bleed Dodger blue just like you,” Roberts said. “Thank you, Tommy.” Hernandez connected on the first two pitches he saw, belting a solo drive in the second for his first career playoff homer and then a grand slam in the third against Hector Rondon. Hernandez added a two-run shot in the ninth against Mike Montgomery. The 26-year-old Hernandez became the fourth player with a three-homer game in a league championship series, joining Bob Robertson (1971 NLCS), George Brett (1978 ALCS) and Adam Kennedy (2002 ALCS). Hernandez’s seven RBIs tied a postseason record shared by four other players who all did it in a Division Series. Troy O’Leary was the previous player to have seven RBIs in a playoff game, for Boston at Cleveland in the 1999 ALDS. It was a stunning display for a player with 28 career homers who remains concerned about his native Puerto Rico, which is recovering from a devas- tating hurricane. He delivered a historic performance in front of his father, Enrique Hernandez Sr., who was diagnosed with a blood cancer related to leukemia in December 2015, but got word last November that he was in remission. “For me to be able to come here and do something like this is pretty special,” said Hernandez, who also goes by Kiké. “My body’s here, but my mind’s kind of back home. It’s hard being away from home with what’s going on. “All I want to do right now is go to my dad and give him a big hug.” Kris Bryant homered for Chicago, but the NL Central for shoving official champions finished with just four hits in another tough night at the plate. Each of their eight runs in the NLCS came via the long ball, and they batted just .156 for the series with 53 strikeouts. Long playoff runs in each of the last two years and a grueling five-game Division Series against Washington seemed to sap Chicago of some energy, and its pitching faltered against sweet-swinging Los Angeles. Jose Quintana was pulled in the third inning of the final game, and the Cubs never recovered. “They executed their plan,” Bryant said. “They pitched great and the bullpen was lights out. That makes for a tough time scoring runs.” Turner and Taylor helped put it away for Los Angeles, contributing to a 16-hit outburst while closing out a pair of impressive performances. Turner singled home Taylor in the Dodgers’ five-run third, giving him seven RBIs in the series and 24 throughout his postseason career. Taylor finished with two hits and scored two runs as the Dodgers, who have won five straight NL West titles, improved to 7-1 in this postseason. Taylor’s versatility helped Los Angeles cover for the loss of All-Star shortstop Corey Seager, who missed the series with a back injury, but is expected to return in the next round. Coming off a breakout season, the 27-year-old Taylor hit .316 with two homers and scored five times against the Cubs. “I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this and be with these guys,” Taylor said. “It’s been an unbelievable year, and I’m just super excited.” Continued from 1B included Oakland running back Marshawn Lynch getting ejected in the second quarter for shoving an official. HOT TEMPERS: The game took an odd turn midway through the second quarter after Kansas City’s Marcus Peters hit Carr late, angering the Raiders. Offensive linemen Kelechi Osemele and Donald Penn confronted Peters and Lynch sprinted off the Oakland sideline to join the fray. Lynch, a close friend of Peters, ended up shoving line judge Julian Mapp and getting ejected . Peters also was called for a personal foul on the play. Lynch congratulated his teammates in the locker room after the game but didn’t speak to reporters. “I was disappointed he ran out because I knew we had a 15-yard penalty and we’d be in good shape,” Del Rio said. LONG DRIVE: After Marquette King pinned the Chiefs at their own 1 with a perfect punt early in the second quarter, Kansas City needed little time to turn the momentum. Smith hit Demarcus Robinson on a 33-yard pass on the first play of the drive. After a short run, Tyreek Hill beat David Amerson for a 64-yard touchdown pass that gave the Chiefs their first 99-yard drive since doing it Dec. 3, 2006, against Cleveland. DEEP CONNECTION: Carr had not connected on a single deep ball to Amari Cooper all season before the two teamed twice for long TDs in the opening quarter. On the first, Cooper appeared to push Terrance Mitchell but the officials picked up the flag and gave Cooper the 38-yard TD . Later in the quarter Carr and Cooper connected on a 45-yard score, making Cooper the first Raiders receiver with two TD catches in the first quarter since Mervyn Fernandez in 1989. KICKING WOES: The Raiders were hurt last week when a bad snap by Jon Condo led to a missed extra point by Giorgio Tavecchio in a 17-16 loss to the Chargers. That was Tavecchio’s first missed kick of any kind this season but he then had a 53-yarder blocked and missed a 45-yarder wide left in the second quarter. Tavecchio also had a false start on an extra point in the third quarter. SCOREBOARD Local slate PREP FOOTBALL Friday Redmond at Hermiston, 7 p.m. Pendleton at Bend, 7 p.m. Baker at Mac-Hi, 7 p.m. Nyssa at Riverside, 7 p.m. Irrigon at Umatilla, 7 p.m. Heppner at Stanfield, 7 p.m. Pilot Rock at Dufur, 7 p.m. Echo at Cove, 7 p.m. Arlington at Sherman, 7 p.m. PREP VOLLEYBALL Saturday Condon/Wheeler vs. TBD (Big Sky District tournament at The Dalles), 10 a.m. Helix vs. Joseph (Old Oregon districts at La Grande), 10:30 a.m. Ione vs. TBD (Big Sky District tournament at Sherman), Noon Weston-McEwen at Pilot Rock (CBC districts at Pilot Rock), Noon Echo vs. TBD (Old Oregon League dis- tricts at La Grande), TBD PREP BOYS SOCCER Saturday Mac-Hi at Baker, 1:30 p.m. Umatilla at Irrigon, 3 p.m. Riverside at Nyssa, 3 p.m. PREP GIRLS SOCCER Saturday Mac-Hi at Baker, Noon Umatilla at Irrigon, 1 p.m. Riverside at Nyssa, 1 p.m. COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL Friday Northwest at EOU, 7 p.m. Saturday BMCC at Grays Harbor Tournament, TBA Evergreen at EOU, 5 p.m. Sunday BMCC at Grays Harbor Tournament, TBA COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER Friday EOU at College of Idaho, Noon Saturday BMCC at Wenatchee Valley, 2:15 p.m. Sunday EOU at Rocky Mountain, Noon COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER Friday EOU at College of Idaho, 2:30 p.m. Saturday BMCC at Wenatchee Valley, Noon Sunday EOU at Rocky Mountain, 2 p.m. COLLEGE FOOTBALL Saturday EOU at Montana-Western, 1 p.m. Baseball MLB Postseason LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (Best-of-7; x-if necessary) American League New York 3, Houston 2 Oct. 13: Houston 2, New York 1 Oct. 14: Houston 2, New York 1 Oct. 16: New York 8, Houston 1 Oct. 17: New York 6, Houston 4 Wednesday: New York 5, Houston 0 Friday: New York at Houston, 5:08 p.m. (FS1) x-Saturday, Oct. 21: New York at Houston, 5:08 p.m. (FS1) National League Los Angeles 4, Chicago 1 Oct. 14: Los Angeles 5, Chicago 2 Oct. 15: Los Angeles 4, Chicago 1 Oct. 16 Los Angeles 6, Chicago 1 Oct. 18: Chicago 3, Los Angeles 2 Thursday: Los Angeles 11, Chicago 1, LA advances to World Series Football NFL AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF New England 4 2 0 .667 172 Buffalo 3 2 0 .600 89 Miami 3 2 0 .600 61 N.Y. Jets 3 3 0 .500 109 South W L T Pct PF Jacksonville 3 3 0 .500 156 Houston 3 3 0 .500 177 Tennessee 2 3 0 .400 110 Indianapolis 2 3 0 .400 97 North W L T Pct PF Pittsburgh 4 2 0 .667 118 PA 159 74 84 130 PA 110 147 142 159 PA 102 Baltimore Cincinnati Cleveland West 3 2 0 3 3 6 0 .500 114 124 0 .400 84 83 0 .000 94 157 W L T Pct PF PA Kansas City 5 2 0 .714 207 161 Denver 3 2 0 .600 108 97 Oakland 3 4 0 .429 155 156 L.A. Chargers 2 4 0 .333 116 131 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA Philadelphia 5 1 0 .833 165 122 Washington 3 2 0 .600 117 113 Dallas 2 3 0 .400 125 132 N.Y. Giants 1 5 0 .167 105 132 South W L T Pct PF PA Carolina 4 2 0 .667 128 122 New Orleans 3 2 0 .600 145 116 Atlanta 3 2 0 .600 121 109 Tampa Bay 2 3 0 .400 118 121 North W L T Pct PF PA Minnesota 4 2 0 .667 122 103 Green Bay 4 2 0 .667 147 135 Detroit 3 3 0 .500 161 149 Chicago 2 4 0 .333 105 148 West W L T Pct PF PA L.A. Rams 4 2 0 .667 179 138 Seattle 3 2 0 .600 110 87 Arizona 3 3 0 .500 119 158 San Francisco 0 6 0 .000 113 146 ——— Week 7 Thursday’s Game Oakland 31, Kansas City 30 Sunday’s Games Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 10 a.m. New Orleans at Green Bay, 10 a.m. Baltimore at Minnesota, 10 a.m. Tennessee at Cleveland, 10 a.m. N.Y. Jets at Miami, 10 a.m. Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 10 a.m. Arizona vs L.A. Rams at London, UK, 10 a.m. Carolina at Chicago, 10 a.m. Dallas at San Francisco, 1:05 p.m. Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 1:25 p.m. Seattle at N.Y. Giants, 1:25 p.m. Denver at L.A. Chargers, 1:25 p.m. Atlanta at New England, 5:30 p.m. Open: Detroit, Houston Monday’s Game Washington at Philadelphia, 5:30 p.m. NCAA Top 25 Schedule Thursday No. 25 Memphis at Houston, 5 p.m. (ESPN) Saturday No. 1 Alabama vs. Tennessee, 12:30 p.m. (CBS) No. 2 Penn State vs. No. 19 Michigan, 4:30 p.m. (ABC) No. 4 TCU vs. Kansas, 5 p.m. (FOX) No. 5 Wisconsin vs. Maryland, 9 a.m. (FOX) No. 8 Miami vs. Syracuse, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN) No. 9 Oklahoma at Kansas State, 1 p.m. (FOX) No. 10 Oklahoma State at Texas, 9 a.m. (ABC) No. 11 USC at No. 13 Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m. (NBC) No. 14 Virginia Tech vs. North Carolina, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN2) No. 15 Washington State vs. Colorado, 7:45 p.m. (ESPN) No. 16 So. Florida at Tulane, 4 p.m. (ESPN2) No. 18 Michigan State vs. Indiana, 12:30 p.m. (ABC) No. 20 UCF at Navy, 12:30 p.m. No. 21 Auburn at Arkansas, 4:30 p.m. No. 23 West Virginia at Baylor, 5 p.m. No. 24 LSU at Mississippi, 4:15 p.m. Hockey NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Tampa Bay 8 6 1 1 Toronto 7 6 1 0 Ottawa 7 3 1 3 Detroit 7 4 3 0 Boston 6 3 3 0 Florida 5 2 3 0 Buffalo 7 1 4 2 Montreal 7 1 5 1 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT New Jersey 7 6 1 0 Columbus 7 5 2 0 Pittsburgh 7 4 2 1 Philadelphia 7 4 3 0 Carolina 5 3 1 1 N.Y. Islanders 7 3 3 1 Pts 13 12 9 8 6 4 4 3 GF 29 34 24 23 20 17 18 11 GA 23 22 18 21 21 20 28 27 Pts 12 10 9 8 7 7 GF 31 21 25 26 14 19 GA 21 15 29 17 12 21 Washington 7 N.Y. Rangers 8 3 1 3 5 1 2 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT St. Louis 8 6 2 0 Chicago 8 4 2 2 Nashville 7 4 2 1 Dallas 7 4 3 0 Colorado 8 4 4 0 Winnipeg 6 3 3 0 Minnesota 4 1 1 2 Pacific Division GP W L OT Los Angeles 6 5 0 1 Vegas 6 5 1 0 Calgary 7 4 3 0 Anaheim 6 2 3 1 Vancouver 6 2 3 1 San Jose 5 2 3 0 Edmonton 6 2 4 0 Arizona 7 0 6 1 7 23 24 4 20 30 Pts 12 10 9 8 8 6 4 GF 27 28 19 19 23 18 15 GA 21 20 17 18 21 23 16 Pts 11 10 8 5 5 4 4 1 GF 21 20 18 12 15 13 13 16 GA 10 15 19 17 20 16 20 30 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. ———— Thursday’s Games Tampa Bay 2, Columbus 0 Boston 6, Vancouver 3 N.Y. Islanders 4, N.Y. Rangers 3, SO Nashville 1, Philadelphia 0 New Jersey 5, Ottawa 4, OT Edmonton 2, Chicago 1, OT St. Louis 4, Colorado 3 Carolina 2, Calgary 1 Dallas 5, Arizona 4 Friday’s Games Vancouver at Buffalo, 4 p.m. San Jose at New Jersey, 4 p.m. Pittsburgh at Florida, 4:30 p.m. Washington at Detroit, 4:30 p.m. Minnesota at Winnipeg, 5 p.m. Montreal at Anaheim, 7 p.m. Soccer MLS EASTERN CONFERENCE W L Toronto FC 20 5 New York City FC 16 9 Chicago 16 10 Atlanta United FC 15 9 Columbus 16 12 New York 13 12 T 8 8 7 9 5 8 Pts 68 56 55 54 53 47 GF 72 54 61 68 51 51 GA 35 41 44 38 47 46 New England Philadelphia Montreal Orlando City D.C. United 12 10 11 10 9 15 14 16 14 19 6 9 6 9 5 42 39 39 39 32 50 44 50 38 30 59 46 55 52 58 WESTERN CONFERENCE W L T Vancouver 15 11 7 Seattle 13 9 11 Portland 14 11 8 Sporting K.C. 12 8 13 Houston 12 10 11 San Jose 12 14 7 FC Dallas 10 10 13 Real Salt Lake 12 15 6 Minnesota United 10 17 6 Colorado 9 18 6 Los Angeles 8 17 8 Pts 52 50 50 49 47 43 43 42 36 33 32 GF 49 49 58 39 54 36 43 47 45 31 44 GA 47 39 49 27 45 58 47 54 67 48 62 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie. ——— Sunday’s Games Chicago at Houston, 1 p.m. Colorado at Seattle, 1 p.m. Columbus at New York City FC, 1 p.m. Los Angeles at FC Dallas, 1 p.m. Minnesota United at San Jose, 1 p.m. New England at Montreal, 1 p.m. New York at D.C. United, 1 p.m. Orlando City at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. Sporting Kansas City at Real Salt Lake, 1 p.m. Toronto FC at Atlanta United FC, 1 p.m. Vancouver at Portland, 1 p.m. Basketball NBA Thursday’s Games Toronto 117, Chicago 101 Oklahoma City 105, New York 84 L.A. Clippers 108, L.A. Lakers 92 Friday’s Games Atlanta at Charlotte, 4 p.m. Boston at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Cleveland at Milwaukee, 4 p.m. Detroit at Washington, 4 p.m. Portland at Indiana, 4 p.m. Orlando at Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m. Utah at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Sacramento at Dallas, 5:30 p.m. Golden State at New Orleans, 6:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 7 p.m.
