OREGON QUARTERBACKS
Coach suggests Oregon’s Herbert Prukop is competing for start
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Oregon coach Mark Helfrich suggested that quarterbacks Dakota Prukop and Justin Herbert are competing to start against No. 5 Washington on Saturday.
Prukop has started this season for the Ducks, who have lost their last three games. Last week in a 51-33 loss at Washington State, Herbert led Oregon on its final drive, capping it with a 4-yard keeper for a touchdown.
Helfrich commented on the competition during his weekly press conference Tuesday, following a report on DuckTerritory.com that Herbert, a freshman, would start against the Huskies.
When asked whether Prukop remained the team’s starter, Helfrich said, “Um, yeah, I mean we’re still competing, we’re still competing.”
Prukop, a graduate transfer from Montana State, has thrown for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns this season with two interceptions.
DODGERS
Dodgers will carry 3 catchers on their 25-man roster into NLDS against Washington Nationals
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers will carry three catchers on their 25-man roster in the National League Division Series against Washington.
Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday he likes catcher Austin Barnes’ versatility, while Carlos Ruiz will back up starter Yasmani Grandal behind the plate.
Among those left off the roster are infielder-outfielders Kike Hernandez and Rob Segedin and left-handed reliever J.P. Howell.
Segedin and Howell will travel with the team when it leaves Wednesday for Washington, D.C. Hernandez won’t travel and figures to be part of a group headed to Arizona to get work in in case they’re activated later in the playoffs.
Also making the roster is infielder Charlie Culberson, whose 10th-inning home run against Colorado allowed the Dodgers to clinch their fourth consecutive NL West title, a record for the storied franchise.
ORIOLES-BLUE JAYS
Encarnacion’s 11th-inning HR lifts Jays over O’s, into ALDS
TORONTO (AP) — Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer in the 11th inning off Ubaldo Jimenez, and Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 in Tuesday night’s AL wild card game to advance to a Division Series matchup against Texas.
Jimenez relieved Brian Duensing with one out in the 11th, and Devon Travis singled in a 1-1 pitch. Reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson singled on the next pitch, and Travis went all the way to third as left fielder Nolan Reimold bobbled the ball.
With the infield in, Encarnacion sent the following pitch, a 91 mph fastball, soaring into the second deck in left. Encarnacion immediately knew it was gone and raised both arms in triumph, index fingers pointed skyward.
“We were fortunate we had the last at-bat,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.
Baltimore used seven of its 10 pitchers but closer Zach Britton, who was perfect in 47 save chances with a .0.54 ERA during the regular season, never got in the game.
WNBA FINALS-SPARKS
Parker scores 29 points to lead Los Angeles Sparks over Chicago Sky 95-75 and advance to WNBA Finals
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Candace Parker is finally in the WNBA Finals.
Her first trip to the championship caps off an eventful, and at times difficult, year for the Los Angeles Sparks star.
She was left off the Olympic team despite being a two-time gold medalist and mourned the passing of her college coach, Tennessee’s Pat Summitt. Now she has a chance to win her first WNBA title, the only thing missing from her incredible basketball resume.
Parker scored 29 points and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Chicago Sky 95-75 on Tuesday night to advance to the WNBA Finals.
“It’s been a long journey. We haven’t done anything yet. We haven’t accomplished our goal,” Parker said.
Parker shot 6 of 10 from the field and made 14 of her 15 free throws to lead the Sparks to the finals for the first time since 2003 after they won championships in 2001 and 2002.
WNBA-BROWN
Longtime WNBA director Renee Brown stepping down
Renee Brown has been at the WNBA since its inception. Twenty years after joining the league, the WNBA’s chief of basketball operations and player relations is stepping down this month.
Brown is one of a handful of people still involved in the league since its beginning.
In her current role and through her work with the WNBA’s competition committee, Brown has directly influenced how the game is played. This past season, teams set records for points per game, field goals made and attempted, field goal percentage, free throws made, free throw percentage and assists.
Brown has also been involved with USA Basketball since 1996. She has served on its board of directors and chaired the selection committee of the senior national team. The U.S. hasn’t lost in the Olympics since Brown got involved, winning six consecutive gold medals.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.