Apologies for the late issue- technical difficulties with Beehiv today…

Good Morning! Here’s what happened in the world of sports on Thursday, October 3rd.

MLB

Wow! What a game in Milwaukee between the Brewers and the New York Mets. In case you missed it, here’s what happened in this win-or-go-home contest:

• This was a pitcher’s duel for the majority of the ballgame, as starters Jose Quintana and Tobias Myers completely shut down the opposing offenses. The game was scoreless through six innings.

• Quintana left the game after the 6th, and the Brewers made their move. Pinch-hitter Jake Bauers and 23-year old Sal Frelick hit back-to-back home runs, giving the home team a massive 2-0 advantage.

• Milwaukee brought in closer Devin Williams to save the game in the ninth, and let’s just say the odds were in their favor. In 243 career appearances, Williams had only twice given up four or more runs. The 2020 Rookie of the Year and two-time all-star entered a game where the New York Mets had recorded just two hits. Oh, and in winner-take-all postseason games, teams trailing by 2+ runs in the ninth inning were 2-82 all-time. 

• Naturally, Williams walked Francisco Lindor to lead off the inning. And after a strikeout, Brandon Nimmo lined a single to right. Runners were on the corners, the go-ahead run at the plate, and the stage was set…

• On a 3-1 changeup, Pete Alonso became the first player in MLB history to hit a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning of a winner-take-all playoff game with his team trailing. How about that for dramatic?

Starling Marte added a key insurance run on an RBI single, and the Mets eliminated the NL Central champs with a 4-2 victory. In a season of remarkable comebacks, this was New York’s greatest win yet. Next up for the OMG Mets: the National League Division Series on Saturday, where they take on their rival, the Philadelphia Phillies.

NFL

It wasn’t a playoff game, but the atmosphere in Atlanta for Falcons-Buccaneers was electric. Let’s get to some highlights from a back-and-forth affair between these two NFC South opponents:

• How about Kirk Cousins! The veteran QB set an Atlanta Falcons franchise record with 509 passing yards. Cousins was 42/58 and threw for four touchdowns. It’s the best he’s looked all season, connecting with his tight end Kyle Pitts seven times for 88 yards, wide receiver Danrell Mooney nine times for 105 yards and two of the touchdowns, and an incredible 12 completions to Drake London for 154 yards and a score. That’s a lot of yards through the air!

• Baker Mayfield and the Bucs matched Atlanta with an extremely well-played game, and they held a 30-27 lead with 1:14 remaining in the 4th quarter. But just like they have all season, Cousins and the Falcons offense drove the field quickly, setting up kicker Younghoe Koo for a game-tying 52-yard field goal. We went to overtime all square at 30.

• Atlanta’s star receiver London got hurt after making a big catch on the third play of OT. Backup KhaDarel Hodge checked in to the game and… well, I’ll let you watch his winning play for yourself:

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Two-time World Series winner Terry Francona will be the next manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Francona last managed Cleveland in 2023, before he stepped away from baseball for health reasons. This is a fantastic hire by Cincy, who have a supremely talented but very young ballclub.

TODAY’S BIG GAMES (all times Eastern)

WNBA: It’s game three of the WNBA semifinals. The defending champion Aces face an elimination game at home:

• Minnesota Lynx @ Connecticut Sun, 7:30 PM on ESPN2 (series tied 1-1)

• New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9:30 PM on ESPN2, (NY leads 2-0)

NCAA FOOTBALL: Syracuse @ (25) UNLV, 9 PM on FS1

• This is a sneaky great game. 3-1 Syracuse heads to the desert to take on undefeated UNLV. We may look back at this one having huge implications for the college football playoff. (UNLV is tied with Texas A&M at 25 in the AP poll this week)

SATURDAY’S BIG GAMES

NCAA FOOTBALL: Well we don’t have the most eye-popping college football matchups this week, but that doesn’t mean the games won’t be exciting. Plus, the day starts off with quite a big SEC meeting in College Station:

• (9) Missouri @ (25) Texas A&M, Noon on ABC

• Wake Forest @ NC State, Noon on The CW

• Iowa @ (3) Ohio State, 3:30 PM on CBS

• Rutgers @ Nebraska, 4 PM on FS1

• Texas Tech @ Arizona, 11 PM on Fox

MLB PLAYOFFS: The division series begins on Saturday! It’s best-of-five for a chance to stay alive in October:

• Detroit Tigers @ Cleveland Guardians, 1:08 PM on TBS/Max (Remix pick: Detroit in four)

• New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies, 4:08 PM on Fox (Remix pick: Philly in five)

• Kansas City Royals @ New York Yankees, 6:38 PM on TBS/Max (Remix pick: New York in four)

• San Diego Padres @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:38 PM on Fox (Remix pick: I have no clue, but whoever wins will beat Detroit in the World Series)

SUNDAY’S BIG GAMES

WNBA: Game four of the semifinals are scheduled for Sunday at a time TBD– check ESPN during the afternoon football slate and I’m sure you’ll find it:

• Liberty @ Aces (if necessary)

• Lynx @ Sun

MLB: The National League plays their game twos on Sunday. It’s coast-to-coast action all evening:

• Mets @ Phillies, 4:08 on FS1

• Padres @ Dodgers, 8:03 PM on FS1

NFL: Week five in the NFL– at this point, we have an idea on what teams are made of. Here are the key matchups to keep an eye on:

• Jets vs Vikings in London, 9:30 AM on NFL Network

• Ravens @ Bengals, 1 PM on CBS

• Bills @ Texans, 1 PM on CBS

• Cardinals @ 49ers, 4:05 PM on Fox

• Packers @ Rams, 4:05 PM on CBS

• Cowboys @ Steelers, 8:20 PM on NBC

”This is what everyone wanted to see.” –Manny Machado, on his Padres facing the Dodgers…

Enjoy your weekend!