The Sportsletter - Slam Sox & A Titan Stop

BY JEFF YODER

OCT. 19, 2021  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  BROWSER VIEW

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Good Morning,

The Red Sox slammed their way into the record books on Monday night while the Bills and Titans delivered an epic thriller. Tonight also marks the beginning of the NBA season as the October sports special continues.

Letter Rip!

NBA TIP-OFF

The 2021-22 NBA season tips off tonight with a double dose of must-see openers.

Tonight's Schedule

Nets at Bucks (7:30 pm ET, TNT)

Warriors at Lakers (10:00 pm ET, TNT)

MLB

Slam Sox Make Playoff History

Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images

Red Sox Rock Astros in Game 3 (12-3) With Record-Setting 3rd Grand Slam of ALCS (BOS Leads Series 2-1)

The Slam Sox are official! After two grand slams in Game 2, Kyle Schwarber smashed one for Boston in a Game 3 rout of the Astros (12-3) to make MLB Playoff history. The Red Sox are the first team ever to hit three grand slams in a single playoff series. They’re also still undefeated at home this postseason (4-0). The storylines didn’t stop there — Monday was also the 46th birthday for Boston manager Alex Cora.

Game 3 Rewind

Schwarber’s grand slam was part of a six-run 2nd inning that put Boston in complete control. They poured in three more runs in the 3rd to take a 9-0 lead before cruising to a 12-3 victory. They hit four home runs in the game, including Schwarber’s slam and blasts from J.D. Martinez, Christian Arroyo and Rafael Devers.

Boston Bats in the ALCS

The Red Sox have been red-hot in the ALCS with 32 hits and 25 runs. They’ve also hit nine home runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series with Games 4 and 5 in Fenway tonight and tomorrow.

Watch: Schwarber’s Slam Leads Red Sox in Game 3 Win (12-3)

Tonight’s Schedule

NLCS Gm 3: Braves at Dodgers (5:00 pm ET)

(ATL Leads Series 2-0)

ALCS Gm 4: Astros at Red Sox (8:00 pm ET)

(BOS Leads Series 2-1)

Additional Storylines

MLB: Red Sox Make History With Third Slam of ALCS

ESPN: Thrilling, Dramatic and a Little Weird: How Atlanta Has Taken the NLCS Lead

NFL

Titans Top Bills on MNF

Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Monday Night Football: Titans Ride Derrick Henry’s 3 TDs & Last-Minute 4th-Down Stand to Beat Bills (34-31)

The Tennessee Titans are back on track! Monday Night Football’s clash between the Titans and Bills was an instant classic featuring eight lead changes and a fourth-quarter comeback before an epic finish. The Titans stuffed Bills’ QB Josh Allen on 4th-and-1 near the goal line in the final seconds to seal the win (34-31). Buffalo could’ve opted to kick an easy chip shot and play for overtime, but head coach Sean McDermott trusted the legs of his 6-foot-5 quarterback. Tennessee DT Jeffrey Simmons made the game-saving tackle. Both AFC contenders are now 4-2 heading into Week 7.

Top Performers

RB D. Henry (TEN): 20 carries, 143 yards, 3 TDs

QB J. Allen (BUF): 35/47, 353 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT

WR S. Diggs (BUF): 9 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD

WR A. Brown (TEN): 7 receptions, 91 yards

Watch: Titans Ride Henry, 4th-Down Stand to Beat Bills (34-31)

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Henry Provides Offense, But Defense Seals Titans Win on MNF

SI: Bills Roll Dice on 4th Down, Titans Stand Tall in Wild Monday Night Football Finish

NCAAB

Initial College Hoops Rankings

Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images

Gonzaga, UCLA Top Preseason Rankings for 2021-22 College Basketball Season

The Gonzaga Bulldogs open the year with the No. 1 ranking in college basketball for the second straight season. Last year’s Gonzaga team held the top spot through an undefeated campaign all the way to the title game before losing to Baylor. Now, the Zags will attempt to get back after losing Jalen Suggs and Corey Kispert to the NBA. UCLA was the only other team to receive votes for the top spot. The season begins Nov. 9.

Preseason AP Top-25

1. Gonzaga (55)

2. UCLA (8)

3. Kansas

4. Villanova

5. Texas

6. Michigan

7. Purdue

8. Baylor

9. Duke

10. Kentucky

11. Illinois

12. Memphis

13. Oregon

14. Alabama

15. Houston

16. Arkansas

17. Ohio State

18. Tennessee

19. North Carolina

20. Florida State

21. Maryland

22. Auburn

23. St. Bonaventure

24. UConn

25. Virginia

Additional Storylines

NCAA: Gonzaga, UCLA, Kansas Lead Men’s Basketball Preseason AP Top-25 Poll

ESPN: 2021-22 Men’s College Basketball Preview: Preseason Picks, Rankings, Complete Coverage

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THE STORYLINES

🏀  Expert Predictions for the NBA Season

This season was supposed to be a return to normalcy for the NBA. The schedule is back in its proper place. Teams are playing 82 games again. Here's a look at all 30 teams' rosters, key offseason moves and biggest questions. (CBS Sports)

🏒  Assessing NHL Overreactions

We are nearly a week into the 2021-22 NHL regular season. Here's a look a 10 first impressions made since the season started back on Tuesday, and whether they're delusional or harbingers of things to come. (ESPN+)

🏈  College Football Playoff Picture for Week 8

Believe it or not, there are just weeks left in the 2021 college football regular season. Upsets and upheaval have been a leading storyline, but in Week 7, the College Football Playoff picture stayed relatively unchanged. (Sporting News)

📰 THE HEADLINES

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott in Walking Boot After Injury on Final Play of Win vs. Patriots

(CBS Sports)

Memphis Grizzlies Sign Jaren Jackson to 4-Year, $105 Million Contract Extension

(USA Today)

Browns RB Kareem Hunt Hits IR, to Miss Several Weeks With Calf Injury

(Bleacher Report)

Eagles RT Lane Johnson Returns to Team After 2-Week Mental Health Break

(ESPN)

Washington State Football Coach Nick Rolovich Fired for Refusing State Vaccine Mandate

(Yahoo! Sports)

NHL Suspends Sharks’ Evander Kane 21 Games for Fake Vaccination Card

(SportsNet)

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