TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2020
BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A
Major League
Baseball makes
Late interception corrals Cowboys it to the playoffs
as the Seahawks stay unbeaten
By Noah Trister
AP Baseball Writer
■ Russell Wilson throws five touchdown passes and Seattle nips Dallas
By Tim Booth
AP Sports Writer
SEATTLE — DK Metcalf
made an unforgivable blun-
der by starting his celebra-
tion too soon, a textbook
example of what not to do.
His coach told him so. So
did his quarterback.
“He had that fl uke play
today and I told him, never
do it again,” Russell Wilson
said.
Given the chance to
redeem himself, Metcalf
came through in the fi nal
minutes and this time there
was no question about the
celebration. Metcalf caught a
29-yard touchdown pass from
Wilson with 1:47 remaining,
and the Seattle Seahawks
held off the Dallas Cowboys
38-31 on Sunday.
“The fact that he came
back, of course he did. He’s
such a great competitor,” Se-
attle coach Pete Carroll said.
Wilson threw fi ve touch-
down passes, setting a record
for most scoring passes in the
fi rst three games of a season
with 14. Patrick Mahomes
threw for 13 TDs in three
games to launch his MVP
season in 2018. Wilson be-
came the fi rst QB to have at
least four TD passes in each
of the fi rst three games.
Metcalf appeared to have
a walk-in touchdown after
hauling in a deep pass from
Wilson late in the fi rst quar-
ter. But he was careless with
the ball in the fi nal few steps
before the goal line, and cor-
nerback Trevon Diggs came
Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times-TNS
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) lines up a fi rst-down pass to wide receiver
Freddie Swain in the fi rst quarter as the Seattle Seahawks take on the Dallas Cowboys
Sunday at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
up from behind and knocked
the ball free. It went out of
the end zone for a touchback.
Instead of a touchdown
and 16-3 lead, it was a 62-
yard reception and a forget-
table moment.
“The lesson learned will
help everybody and fortu-
nately we overcame it and
didn’t wreck the game for us,”
Carroll said. “But it’s a ter-
rible play. It really is because
he’s got a touchdown, just
fi nish it off, and he started
celebrating too early.”
Metcalf was mostly quiet
after his mistake as Tyler
Lockett became the favorite
target for Wilson. But when
Seattle needed a big play
late, Wilson fl oated a pass
into the end zone for Metcalf.
Wilson was 27 of 40 for
315 yards. His latest bit of
fourth-quarter magic ruined
Dak Prescott’s attempt at
a second straight major
comeback.
“They made more key
plays than we did,” Dallas
coach Mike McCarthy said.
“We had a lot of production,
but the key plays in the
game, I think you’ve got to
give those guys credit.”
Dallas trailed 30-15 after
Prescott fumbled on the fi rst
play of the second half and
Wilson subsequently threw
his fourth TD pass. But
Prescott threw TD passes of
42 yards to Cedrick Wilson
and 43 yards to Michael
Gallup, and Greg Zuerlein’s
42-yard fi eld goal with 4:03
left gave Dallas a 31-30 lead.
Prescott had one last
chance after Metcalf’s TD
reception. He led the Cow-
boys to the Seattle 22 but
was sacked by rookie Alton
Robinson on second down,
and Dallas had use its fi nal
timeout with 16 seconds left.
On third down, Prescott’s
desperation throw to the
end zone was intercepted by
Ryan Neal.
Prescott fi nished 37 of 57
for 472 yards, with three
touchdowns and two inter-
ceptions.
Timbers blank Whitecaps
us. But crazy things are happening around
AP Sports Writer
the world today.”
PORTLAND — Felipe Mora scored in the
The Whitecaps (5-9-0) were coming off a 6-0
opening minutes and the Timbers held off the loss to LAFC on Wednesday night. It was the
Whitecaps 1-0 on Sunday night in Vancou-
team’s fi fth match in 15 days.
ver’s fi rst “home” match in Portland.
The Timbers (7-4-3) are unbeaten in four
Travel restrictions forced Major League
straight, including a 1-0 victory over rival
Soccer’s Canadian teams to fi nd temporary
Seattle on Wednesday night. Portland, which
homes in the United States for the remainder won the MLS is Back tournament in Florida
of the season. So the Whitecaps will play six
this past summer, was challenging the de-
more of their remaining nine games at Port-
fending MLS Cup champions Sounders for
land’s Providence Park.
the top spot in the Western Conference.
Whitecaps signage, including ads for the
Mora scored on a header off a free kick
team’s sponsors, circled the fi eld Sunday. The from Eryk Williamson to give the Timbers
team is training at the University of Portland the early lead. It was Mora’s fourth goal of the
while isolating at a hotel.
season.
“We are pro football players so we have to
“I felt like it could be better defended by all
adapt to any situation,” Portland defender
of us,” Vancouver coach Marc Dos Santos said
Larrys Mabiala said about playing an away
about the set piece “Unfortunately for us it
match at home. “Of course it’s very weird for
went in.”
TREASURE
VALLEY
STEEL, INC.
By Anne M. Peterson
Seattle returns
to WNBA finals
By Doug Feinberg
AP Basketball Writer
Sue Bird remembers think-
ing when she was younger as
Seattle was winning its fi rst
championship in 2004 that it
was easy to get there and the
Storm would be back often.
The WNBA’s career assist
leader, who is a few weeks
shy of turning 40, has the
Storm back in the fi nals for
the fourth time in her illustri-
ous career after the team
swept Minnesota in the best-
of-fi ve semifi nals, winning
Game 3 by 92-71 on Sunday.
“When you’re younger,
you think it’s always going
to happen,” said Bird after a
16-point, nine-assist perfor-
mance in the win. “You start
to realize how hard it is.
When you’re in the moment,
you start to grab at it. Right
now, I’m thinking I’m super
excited to be in the fi nal.”
Bird is 3-0 in championship
rounds, helping the Storm
win the title in 2004, 2010
and 2018. She missed last
season while recovering from
knee surgery.
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME
ASSESSMENT TODAY!
877-557-1912
7-Year Extended Warranty*
A $695 Value!
Off er valid March 16, 2020 - June 30, 2020
Special Financing Available
*Terms & Conditions Apply
Subject to Credit Approval
Manufacturing Zee & Cee Purlins
In-HouseCustom Cut Exact Lengths
• 24 Colors
• Custom Trim
• 2 1/2” Corrugated
• Delivery Available
• Full Soffitt Line
• 3 ft. Gulf Coast Panel
• 3 ft. PBR Panel
• 3 ft. Mesa Panel
• 3 ft. Tuff Rib Panel
• Standing Seam
DELIVERY
• 2 ft. Delta Rib
AVAILABLE
• 3 ft. Pro Panel
Prepare for unexpected
power outages with a
Generac home standby
generator
FREE
The 2020 baseball season began with Juan Soto
testing positive for COVID-19. Now, he’s a 21-year-old
batting champion — after beating out another player
who went through his own ordeal with the coronavi-
rus.
Perhaps it was fi tting.
Soto fi nished atop the National League with a .351
average Sunday, becoming the youngest person to win
the batting title in the NL. The Washington outfi elder
outlasted Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman, who hit .341.
The fact that either player was in a position for this
type of accomplishment was emblematic of a regular
season that felt chaotic and uncertain at times — but
ultimately reached the fi nish line.
Soto missed baseball’s season opener between the
Nationals and New York Yankees back in July, but
he ultimately played in 47 games and was one of few
bright spots as the defending champions struggled.
Freeman played in all 60 games for the Braves, but
only after a scary battle with COVID-19. He said he
had a fever of 104.5 degrees and prayed for his life.
There have been other sobering moments as well.
Boston pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez missed the whole
season after coronavirus follow-up tests showed a
heart issue.
But although it seemed initially that the season
might fall apart because of postponements and posi-
tive tests, every team except St. Louis and Detroit
managed to play the full 60 games. The Cardinals and
Miami Marlins — the two teams hit particularly hard
by the virus — both made the expanded postseason.
Teams played shortened doubleheaders and the extra-
inning rules were different, but in some small ways
this season did feel at least a little bit normal.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had the best record in
baseball — no shock there. Trea Turner led the major
leagues in hits, Jose Abreu topped the list in RBIs
and Adalberto Mondesi had the most steals. Mike
Trout was phenomenal, but his team didn’t make the
playoffs.
None of that would have seemed out of the ordinary
in a 162-game campaign.
The postseason, now with 16 teams, could create
its own wacky outcomes. The Milwaukee Brewers
haven’t spent a day above .500 this year, but they’re
now a well-timed hot streak from a pennant or even
a World Series title. What happens over the next few
weeks will go a long way toward determining how
this season is remembered — and how fl uky it ends
up feeling.
For now, baseball can be relieved to have made it
this far.
Imagine The Difference You Can Make
DONATE YOUR CAR
1-844-533-9173
FREE TOWING
TAX DEDUCTIBLE
40 Year Full Paint Warranty • WeatherX Paint System
Help Prevent Blindness
Get A Vision Screening Annually
Ask About A FREE 3 Day
Vacation Voucher To Over
20 Destinations!!!
Blazing Fast
Internet!
ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY
19 . 99
$
/mo.
where available
2-YEAR TV PRICE GUARANTEE
America’s Top 120 Package
MO.
190 CHANNELS
Including Local Channels!
CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100
for 12 Mos.
1-866-373-9175
Offer ends 7/15/20.
All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or
Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.
ONTARIO
541-889-4214
BOISE
208-336-7505
1460 N. Verde Dr.
Toll Free 1-866-887-8335
6619 S. Supply Way
Toll Free 1-888-717-8335
WWW.TREASUREVALLEYSTEEL.COM