>>D’backs Hold Off Rockies In NL Wild Card Game
(Phoenix, AZ) — The Diamondbacks are headed to the National League Division Series. They built an early 6-0 lead and hung on to beat the Colorado Rockies 11-8 in the National League wild card game in Arizona. The D’backs advance to play the NL West champion Dodgers in Game One of the NLDS Friday in Los Angeles.
>>American League Division Series Begin Today
(Undated) — Both American League Division Series start today. The Red Sox and Astros play Game One in Houston. Justin Verlander starts for the ‘Stros, while the Sox counter with Chris Sale. That’s followed by the Yankees and Indians in Cleveland. New York advanced by beating the Twins 8-4 in the AL wild card game. Trevor Bauer starts for the Tribe, while the Yanks go with Sonny Gray.
>>Blues Outlast Pens In OT On Opening Night
(Pittsburgh, PA) — Alex Pietrangelo found the back of the net 1:15 into overtime to lift the Blues past the Penguins 5-4 on opening night in Pittsburgh. Pietrangelo finished with two goals in the winning effort. Brayden Schenn, Colton Parayko and Paul Stastny also scored for St. Louis. Jake Allen stopped 29-of-33 shots sent his way for the Blues.
>>Blackhawks Begin Season Tonight Against Penguins
(Chicago, IL) — The Blackhawks drop the puck on the regular season tonight as they host the two-time defending champion Penguins at the United Center. Pittsburgh raised its latest banner before last night’s X-X home loss to St. Louis. Chicago will also host the Blue Jackets on Saturday before venturing out on the road for games at Toronto and Montreal.
>>Lynx Defeat Sparks To Win WNBA Championship
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Lynx are WNBA champions again. They held off a rally from the LA Sparks to win Game Five of the WNBA Finals 85-76 in Minneapolis. Maya Moore led Minnesota with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Regular season and Finals MVP Sylvia Fowles put up 17 points and 20 boards as the Lynx won their fourth title in the last seven seasons.
>>Bank of America 500 Qualifying Tomorrow
(Charlotte, NC) — The Monster Energy Cup Playoffs resume this weekend with the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Round of 12 begins when the checkered flag waves on Sunday. Qualifying begins tomorrow night and practice will run through Saturday
>>Colts Host 49ers
(Indianapolis, IN) — The Colts play their fourth and final NFC West team of the season Sunday as they host the 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium. All three of Indy’s losses this season have come to NFC West teams. The Niners are 0-and-4, while the Colts sit at 1-and-3.
>>Bears, Trubisky Prepping For Vikings
(Lake Forest, IL) — The Bears have an extra day to get ready for their Week Five matchup against the NFC North-rival Vikings. The teams meet on “Monday Night Football” at Soldier Field. Rookie Mitchell Trubisky will make his first NFL start at quarterback for Chicago in place of Mike Glennon. The Bears are 1-and-3 on the season, while the Vikes are 2-and-2.
>>Illini Go Up Against Hawkeyes Saturday
(Iowa City, IA) — Illinois plays its first Big Ten road game Saturday against the Hawkeyes in Iowa City. The Fighting Illini lost their conference opener to Nebraska last Friday. Illinois has dropped two straight to slip to 2-and-2. Iowa is 3-and-2. Elsewhere on Saturday, Northwestern hosts fourth-ranked Penn State and 22nd-ranked Notre Dame plays at North Carolina.
Coming up Friday Night on Talk 101, it’s the Talk 101 High School Game of the Week presented by Landmark of Taylorville as the MacArthur Generals play host to Springfield Southeast. The Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy Pregame Show gets underway at 6:30p.m. and the kickoff follows at 7:00p.m. Join Scott Busboom and Kevin Hale with the call Friday night on Talk 101!