AP Thursday Sports Roundup

MLB-PLAYOFFS

Blue Jays take advantage of bizarre seventh to beat Rangers

UNDATED (AP) — The top two teams in the American League this season will square off in the AL championship series. The Toronto Blue Jays have advanced by becoming the third team in major league history to win a best-of-five playoff round after dropping the first two games at home. And the Kansas City Royals are in following their second straight comeback victory against the Astros.

Jose Bautista smashed a tiebreaking homer and the Blue Jays took advantage of a pair of Texas errors while scoring four runs in the seventh inning of a 6-3 win over the Rangers. Texas led 3-2 until errors by shortstop Elvis Andrus and first baseman Mitch Moreland put runners on first and second with nobody out. Andrus immediately made another error to load the bases before Josh Donaldson hit into a fielder's choice that scored the tying run. Bautista followed with a three-run homer, a 442-foot blast over the center field fence.

The Jays' rally came a half-inning after a bizarre play allowed the Rangers to take the lead. With Rougned Odor at third and two out, Toronto catcher Russell Martin's return throw to the pitcher accidentally hit the batter Shin-Soo Choo's bat and ricocheted away. Odor scored and Martin was charged with an error on the play.

The call set off a virulent response by the pro-Toronto crowd at Rogers Centre. Play was delayed for 18 minutes and fans threw cans and objects onto the field. Toronto manager John Gibbons argued the call before letting umpires know his team would play the game under protest.

Aaron Sanchez picked up the win after Jays starter Marcus Stroman gave up two runs and six hits in six innings. Stroman served up Choo's solo homer in the top of the third.

Roberto Osuna struck out four in picking up a five-out save.

Cole Hamels took the loss, charged with five runs — two earned — and just four hits, fanning eight over 6 1/3 innings.

The Jays haven't played in a championship series since 1993, when they knocked off the White Sox before beating the Phillies to win their second straight World Series.

The Royals are back in the ALCS for the second straight year following a 7-2 win over Houston in Game 5 of their division series. Alex Rios supplied a tiebreaking, two-run double in the fifth, Kendrys Morales added a three-run homer and Johnny Cueto was outstanding over his seven innings on the mound.

Kansas City trailed 2-1 in the fifth until Rios hit a two-run double off reliever Mike Fiers. Rios came around to score on Ben Zobrist's sacrifice fly. Morales capped the scoring with a blast off Dallas Keuchel in the eighth, allowing Royals fans to breathe easier.

Cueto held the Astros to two hits while striking out eight over the first seven innings. Cueto's only mistake was a two-run homer to Luis Valbuena in the top of the second. He retired all 16 hitters he faced following the home run.

Astros starter and loser Collin McHugh left the game with two runners on and a 2-1 lead in the fifth. McHugh was charged with three runs on five hits in four-plus innings.

Game 1 of the ALCS is Friday in Kansas City.

MLB-MARINERS-FRONT OFFICE

Dipoto keeps M's braintrust

SEATTLE (AP) — New Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto is keeping assistant GM Jeff Kingston, head of pro scouting Tom Allison and director of amateur scouting Tom McNamara as part of his front office.

Official roles for all three won't be finalized until after Dipoto finishes making additions to Seattle's front office. Dipoto's first priority is hiring a manager after Lloyd McClendon was fired last week following two years in charge.

NFL-INJURIES

Bills safety Williams is out

UNDATED (AP) — Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice for the first time since spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during a win over the Rams at St. Louis last month.

Roethlisberger took part in noncontact seven-on-seven passing drills and appears to be on course to beat the original timetable of missing six weeks. However, he is not expected to play in Sunday's game against the visiting Arizona Cardinals.

In other NFL news:

— New England Patriots left tackle Nate Solder has been placed on season-ending injured reserve, three days after he left the game against the Dallas Cowboys with an arm injury. Solder was hurt on Sunday after a play late in the second quarter in which Cowboys defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford went by him for one of five sacks of Tom Brady. Solder was responsible for protecting quarterback Brady's blindside.

— Bills starting safety Aaron Williams will miss at least eight weeks because of a neck injury after being placed on the reserve-injured designated to return list. The move comes after Williams aggravated the injury and missed a few plays in a 14-13 win at Tennessee on Sunday.

— The Arizona Cardinals have placed safety and special teamer Chris Clemons on season-ending injured reserve after he sustained a hamstring injury in Sunday's win over Detroit.

— Reserve Sean Richardson has been placed on season-ending injured reserve by the Green Bay Packers after the safety suffered his second neck injury in three years.

— Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was making intermediate and long throws in practice as he tries to rebound from an injured shoulder. He's missed the last two games. The Colts play unbeaten New England Sunday night.

— Washington wide receiver DeSean Jackson could return from his hamstring injury to face the New York Jets on Sunday. Head coach Jay Gruden says Jackson is getting "very, very close" and could be available this weekend or next.

— Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio says the MRI on defensive end Justin Tuck's injured shoulder is "not good," but he did not release any other details. Tuck hurt the shoulder in the fourth quarter of Oakland's 16-10 loss to Denver on Sunday.

— The Denver Broncos bolstered their tight end corps by signing five-year veteran Richard Gordon and waiving rookie Mitchell Henry. This is the third AFC West team for Gordon, a 28-year-old who has played in 34 NFL games since being drafted by the Raiders in 2011 out of the University of Miami.

NFL-EX-PLAYER-SUICIDE-BRAIN TEST

Brain disease linked to suicide of former NFL player

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former NFL lineman from Pennsylvania who died of suicide in May at 25 had the brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, researchers have confirmed.

Adrian Robinson Jr.'s diagnosis was confirmed through officials at the NFL brain bank at Boston University.

A family lawyer says Robinson had several concussions during two seasons in the league.

NHL-SCHEDULE

Jackets still winless

UNDATED (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets were expected to be serious Stanley Cup playoff contenders following an injury-plagued season. However, they are still seeking their first victory of the current season following a 7-3 loss to Ottawa.

The Jackets led the game three times before the Senators scored five unanswered goals over the final 30 1/2minutes. Bobby Ryan and Mika Zibanejad each had a goal and two assists, while defenseman Erik Karlsson set up four goals.

Craig Anderson stopped 37 shots to help the Sens improve to 3-1 overall, and 3-0 on the road.

The number of winless teams in the NHL is down to seven following Boston's 5-2 pounding of the Avalanche in Colorado. Jimmy Hayes scored once and set career highs with three assists and four points. Ryan Spooner added a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who entered the game 0-3-0 on the season.

Elsewhere on ice:

— Michal Neuvirth picked up his second straight shutout turning back 30 shots in Philadelphia's 3-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Sam Gagner, Claude Giroux and Matt Read scored to lead the Flyers to their 12th straight regular-season home victory over the Hawks since December 1996.

— Anthony Duclair scored just once in his first 20 NHL games before registering a hat trick in Arizona's 4-0 win at Anaheim. Rookie Max Domi had a goal and an assist for the 3-0 Coyotes. Mike Smith turned back 37 shots in his 28th career shutout.

T25-FLORIDA-PORTER SUSPENDED

Gators suspend DB after gun incident

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida freshman defensive back Deiondre Porter has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest for allegedly firing a gun in the direction of his pregnant girlfriend.

Porter was arrested on four felony charges, including domestic violence enhancements. He is being held on a $160,000 bond.

The incident occurred at 2:15 a.m. on Sept. 29, three days after the eighth-ranked Gators beat rival Tennessee in Gainesville. Florida is set to play at No. 6 LSU Saturday.

LAMAR ODOM

Former NBA star on life support

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Nevada brothel is providing details of Lamar Odom's days-long visit that ended when he was found unconscious there on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Love Ranch owner Dennis Hof, says it was Odom's first visit to the brothel, adding that the former NBA star scheduled his stay more than a week ago and on Saturday asked for a ride, arriving at about 4:30 p.m. Spokesman Richard Hunter says Odom spent an amount beyond five figures, and authorities say Odom took over-the-counter sexual performance enhancers during his stay.

Hunter says Odom reported doing cocaine before his visit and knew the brothel had a strict anti-drug policy. He says the women who work there are trained to "stop the party" if drugs are seen.

Odom is on life support at a Las Vegas hospital after being found unconscious at the Crystal, Nevada, brothel.