KRISTIE RIEKEN

AP Sports Writer
Seattle Mariners' Justin Turner hits a two-run RBI single against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Mariners continue fight for AL wild card with 8-1 win over Astros
Mitch Garver and Julio Rodríguez homered, and the Seattle Mariners took advantage of five Houston errors during an 8-1 victory over the Astros. Seattle won for the fifth time in seven games as it tries to rally into an AL wild card.
 
Houston Astros' Jason Heyward gestures to the dugout as he rounds the bases on his two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Heyward, Bregman and Tucker homer as Astros beat Mariners 4-3 to clinch 4th straight AL West title
Jason Heyward hit a go-ahead, two-run homer and made a dazzling defensive play as the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 to clinch their fourth consecutive AL West championship.
 
Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez, center, pours champagne on himself as the team celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Seattle Mariners 4-3 to clinch the AL West title after a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Astros overcome terrible start to clinch 4th straight AL West title
The Houston Astros have clinched their fourth straight AL West title with a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners, overcoming a terrible start to reach the playoffs for an eighth consecutive year.
 
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Jose Altuve also scored. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston’s Yordan Alvarez improving but isn’t sure when he’ll return from sprained right knee
Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez is feeling better after spraining his right knee this weekend but isn’t sure when he’ll be able to return. “I wish I knew what was going to happen in the next few days,” he said in Spanish through a translator.
 
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Miller throws 7 shutout innings as Mariners prevent Astros from clinching AL West with 6-1 win
Bryce Miller threw seven shutout innings and Julio Rodríguez had three hits and two RBIs to help the Seattle Mariners to a 6-1 win over Houston that prevented the Astros from clinching the AL West title.
 
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Jose Altuve also scored. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston’s Yordan Alvarez has sprained right knee and won’t play in series against Mariners
Yordan Alvarez has a sprained right knee and won’t play in Houston’s series against Seattle, which goes through Wednesday. Alvarez left Sunday’s game against the Angels when he was injured sliding into second base on a double in the third inning.
 
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The Texans’ loss to the Vikings was filled with penalties, mistakes and turnovers
Trailing 14-0 in the second quarter of Sunday’s rout by the Minnesota Vikings, the Houston Texans were trying desperately to put points on the board before halftime to get back into the game.
 
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) looks to pass down field against Bowling Green during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M fails to impress early in first season under Elko after Fisher’s firing
Texas A&M moved on from coach Jimbo Fisher last year with $75 million remaining on his contract after another disappointing season. Early results under coach Mike Elko haven’t seemed like much of an upgrade.
 
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) looks to pass down field against Bowling Green during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Reed throws two TD passes to help No. 25 Texas A&M outlast Bowling Green 26-20
Marcel Reed threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 91 yards as No. 25 Texas A&M outlasted Bowling Green for a 26-20 win Saturday night. Reed got his second collegiate start in place of Conner Weigman, who was out with a shoulder injury.
 
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (28) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Texans running back Joe Mixon won’t play Sunday against Vikings because of ankle injury
The Houston Texans will be without running back Joe Mixon against the Minnesota Vikings because of an ankle injury. The team made the announcement Saturday, saying he would not travel with the team to Minnesota.
 
Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
After latest tough start, Houston’s Verlander says he believes he returned from neck injury too soon
Justin Verlander missed almost two months this summer with a neck injury. After his latest tough start on Friday night in Houston’s 9-7 win over the Angels, the 41-year-old right-hander said he should have taken more time to recover.
 
Houston Astros' Kyle Tucker is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Tucker, Bregman and Meyers homer to help Astros to 9-7 win over Angels
Kyle Tucker had four hits, including a home run, and Jake Meyers and Alex Bregman both hit home runs while combining for six RBIs to help the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-7 on Friday night.
 
Houston Astros' Jon Singleton hits a two-run double during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Jon Singleton’s two-run double in eighth lifts Astros to 3-1 win over Angels
Jon Singleton’s tiebreaking two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning lifted the Houston Astros to a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Houston’s magic number to clinch the AL West dropped to five.
 
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Elko won’t say if Reed or Weigman will start at QB for No. 25 Texas A&M against Bowling Green
Marcel Reed was great in his first collegiate start, accounting for three touchdowns to lead No. 25 Texas A&M to a win at Florida last week.
 
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws under pressure from Chicago Bears defensive lineman Montez Sweat (98) and defensive lineman Zacch Pickens, right, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Texans look to clean up mistakes after opening season 2-0 for first time since 2016
Though they have plenty of work to do, the Houston Texans are feeling good about their 2-0 start after dropping their first two games last season.
 
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, right, scrambles away from Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Williams struggles in second NFL game as Bears fall to Texans
Caleb Williams and Chicago’s offense was bailed out by defense and special-teams scoring to get a win over Tennessee in their opener last week. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft wasn’t as fortunate Sunday night against the Houston Texans.
 
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws under pressure from Chicago Bears defensive lineman Montez Sweat (98) and defensive lineman Zacch Pickens, right, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Stroud throws a TD pass and Fairbairn kicks 4 field goals to help the Texans top the Bears 19-13
C.J. Stroud threw for 260 yards and a touchdown and Ka′imi Fairbairn kicked four field goals to help the Houston Texans top the Chicago Bears 19-13.
 
A member of the sideline chain crew is taken off the field on a cart after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Chicago Bears Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
A member of the sideline chain crew carted off after a fall in third quarter of Bears-Texans game
A man who was holding the chains on the sideline at Sunday night’s Bears-Texans game was carted off the field after tripping and falling to the ground in the third quarter.
 
Houston Astros' Jason Heyward mugs for the dugout camera as he celebrates his two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Heyward homers, Singleton has 3 hits to help Astros avoid sweep and beat A’s 6-3
Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer early and Jon Singleton had three hits, capped by a tiebreaking RBI single in Houston’s four-run eighth inning, and the Astros got a 6-3 win over the Oakland Athletics.
 
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws as he is pressured by Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Stroud, Texans look to build on strong offensive performance against Bears and top pick Williams
The Houston Texans had the most yards rushing in the NFL with 213 in a Week 1 win over Indianapolis and their 417 total yards ranked second.
 
Oakland Athletics' Jacob Wilson lays down a sacrifice bunt against the Houston Astros during the 10th inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Oakland Athletics score 2 runs in 12th to outlast Houston Astros 4-3
Zack Gelof homered early, Max Schuemann and Nick Allen drove in runs with 12th-inning bunts and the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 4-3.
 
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (28) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mixon has 159 yards and TD in Houston debut to help Texans to win over Colts
The Houston Texans have had a revolving door at running back over the past few seasons with no one able to solidify the position, much reach 1,000 yards rushing.
 
Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman (15) scrambles out of the pocket during the first half of an NCAA college football game against McNeese State, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Weigman throws 2 TD passes, Moss runs for 2 scores before halftime and A&M routs McNeese State 52-10
Conner Weigman threw two touchdown passes and Le’Veon Moss ran for two more scores before halftime as Texas A&M built a huge lead and rolled to a 52-10 win over McNeese State.
 
Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) flips his bat as he watches his three-run home run in front of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera, left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Alvarez hits 2 3-run homers to back strong start by Valdez as Astros rout Arizona 8-0
Yordan Alvarez hit two three-run homers and Framber Valdez pitched seven innings in the Houston Astros’ 8-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. The AL West leaders got back on track after being swept at Cincinnati.
 
Umpire Mark Ripperger (90) reaches for Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera, center, who was hit in the head on the backswing by Houston Astros designated hitter Kyle Tucker, right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Arizona catcher Herrera leaves after being hit on top of head on follow-through
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera left Friday night against the Houston Astros after Kyle Tucker struck him on top of the head on a follow-through in the fifth inning.
 
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte celebrates his single off Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Manuel Rodriguez during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Houston’s Kyle Tucker, Arizona’s Ketel Marte reinstated from IL before start of series
Houston and Arizona got an All-Star back from injury Friday before the start of a three-game series, with right fielder Kyle Tucker returning for the Astros and second baseman Ketel Marte coming off the injured list for the Diamondbacks.
 
Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs walks along the sideline watchig play against the New York Giants in the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
As Diggs awaits debut with Texans, star receiver delights in being named a team captain
Stefon Diggs doesn’t really set personal goals before each season, instead preferring to focus on the team. But this season, his first with the Houston Texans after a trade from Buffalo, there was one individual honor he had in his sights.
 
Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Yordan Alvarez homers twice as Astros complete 4-game sweep of Royals with 7-2 win
Yordan Alvarez homered twice and Jon Singleton added a two-run shot as the Houston Astros completed a four-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 7-2 win.
 
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) passes the ball against the Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Riley Leonard displays poise, leadership in No. 7 Notre Dame’s 23-13 win over No. 20 Texas A&M
Tied with Texas A&M late in the fourth quarter of his Notre Dame debut Saturday night, quarterback Riley Leonard had no doubt in his ability to lead the Fighting Irish to victory.
 
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks free from Texas A&M linebacker Daymion Sanford (27) for a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
No. 7 Notre Dame pulls away late to beat No. 20 Texas A&M 23-13
Jeremiyah Love broke a tie with a 21-yard touchdown run with 1:54 left and No. 7 Notre Dame beat No. 20 Texas A&M 23-13 on Saturday night in the opener for both teams.
 
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