AP Thursday Sports Roundup

Mets sweep into the World Series...Blue Jays send ALCS back to Kansas City

CHICAGO (AP) — With clinical efficiency, the New York Mets have swept the Chicago Cubs and are going to the World Series for the first time in 15 years. The Mets topped the Cubs 8-3 to finish a four-game sweep of the National League Championship Series in which they never trailed once in a game.

They jumped ahead of the Cubs early in the finale. Lucas Duda launched a three-run home run and Travis d'Arnaud followed with a solo shot in the top of the first to give the Mets an early 4-0 lead. Duda added a two-run double in the second to make it 6-0. Duda had five RBIs.

NLCS MVP Daniel Murphy iced it by setting a major league record by hitting a home run in six straight postseason games — a two-run shot in the eighth.

Cubs starter Jason Hammel gave up five runs in his inning-and-a-third. The win went to Bartolo Colon, who took over when Mets rookie Steven Matz was pulled after four-and-two-thirds innings.

Cubs' postseason futility continues for a franchise that has not won a World Series since 1908. The Cubs are 0-4 in league championship series.

The Mets now have off until the World Series starts Tuesday at either Kansas City or Toronto.

TORONTO (AP) — The American League Championship Series is going back to Kansas City for at least one more game.

The Toronto Blue Jays forced a Game 6 in Kansas City by mauling the Royals 7-1. That cuts the Royals' lead in the best-of-seven ALCS to 3-2.

Chris Colabello put Toronto on top with his first homer of the post-season in the second inning off of Royals starter Edinson Volquez. He later walked Edwin Encarnacion with the bases loaded in the sixth before being lifted. Then Troy Tulowitzki cleared the bases with a double, and the rout was on.

Marcos Estrada held the Royals to one run on three hits through seven and two-thirds innings. He and two relievers combined on the four-hitter.

Game 6 is Friday night — David Price goes for Toronto against Yordano Ventura of the Royals.

NHL-SCHEDULE

Flyers work overtime in Boston

UNDATED (AP)— — Claude Giroux's second goal, on a power play 2:09 into overtime, rallied the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-4 win over the Boston Bruins. The Flyers overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period before Giroux one-timed a shot past Tuukka Rask from the left circle for the game-winner.

The Bruins have lost their first four home games of the season.

In other hockey:

— Edmonton beat Detroit 3-1. Connor McDavid, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, scored his fourth goal of the season.

— The Carolina Hurricanes blanked Colorado 1-0 in overtime. Victor Rask scored in the extra period. Cam Ward gets the shutout with 24 saves.

— Evander Kane tied it with 4:29 left with his first goal for Buffalo and the Sabres beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in a shootout. Matt Moulson and Tyler Ennis scored in the shootout. Chad Johnson made 23 saves as Buffalo improved to 2-4.

NHL-BLUE JACKETS

Torts in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — John Tortorella is back in the NHL as a head coach. The Columbus Blue Jackets named Tortorella their bench boss after firing Todd Richards, who has led the team to an 0-7 start this season.

Tortorella won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 and took the New York Rangers to the verge of a championship. He's been out of the NHL since the Canucks fired him in May 2014 after one season in Vancouver.

Richards had been with the Blue Jackets since 2012 and led them to only their second NHL playoff appearance in 2013-14.

NHL-BLUES

St. Louis loses Statsny

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Blues forward Paul Stastny will be sidelined at least five weeks with a broken right foot. The 29-year-old was injured in the victory in Vancouver on Friday. He has a goal, four assists and a plus-four rating in five games.

NFL-LATE HIT FINE

Miami's Vernon hit with fine

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon says he has been fined by the NFL for a late, low hit on Titan's quarterback Marcus Mariota. Vernon declined to tell reporters how much he was fined but says he plans to appeal.

He hit the Tennessee rookie's knee Sunday and was criticized afterward by Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt, who said it appeared Vernon was trying to hurt Mariota.

NBA-NEWS

Spurs waive Fredette...Cavs agreed on 5-year deal with Thompson

UNDATED (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs have waived guard Jimmer Fredette among four cuts. Fredette was the 10th overall pick by Sacramento in 2011 after a sensational career at BYU. He has struggled in the NBA, bouncing around to Chicago and New Orleans as well before landing the tryout with San Antonio.

In other NBA news:

— The Cavaliers and free-agent forward Tristan Thompson have agreed in principle on a five-year, $82 million contract, ending his holdout. Thompson helped the Cavs get to the NBA Finals last season when he filled in for an injured Kevin Love during the playoffs. He had been seeking a maximum deal. The sides had been at a stalemate, but reached a verbal agreement Wednesday, less than a week before the season opener.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-UNC

Carolina's Hughes reinstated, will play against Virginia

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina coach Larry Fedora has lifted the indefinite suspension for one player and will reinstate a second this weekend after the two were charged with misdemeanor assault tied to an altercation near campus this month. Freshman cornerback Mike Hughes will play against Virginia on Saturday, and Fedora said he will reinstate starting sophomore cornerback M.J. Stewart on Sunday.

NCAA-DAILY FANTASY GAMES

NCAA distancing itself from fantasy games

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA is pulling the plug on daily fantasy sports games.

College sports' largest governing body has notified executives from DraftKings and FanDuel it would cancel future meetings and ban advertising from the two popular websites during NCAA championship events such as the men's basketball tournament.

The NCAA believes the fantasy games meet the definition of gambling.

ESPN-JOB REDUCTIONS

Cable cutting costs jobs

NEW YORK (AP) — ESPN is cutting about 300 jobs, or 4 percent of its staff, amid signs that the traditional cable bundle is less far-reaching than it once was.

The Disney company, which owns ESPN, is one of the linchpins of the traditional cable bundle of hundreds of channels. That business model is under pressure from viewers migrating online.