LATEST TEXAS SPORTS

RANGERS WRAPUP

Another strange abrupt ending for Rangers after best record

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – For the second year in a row, the AL West champion Texas Rangers are done for the season after a best-of-five AL Division Series against Toronto. This time, they got swept.

Just like that, with another strange ending in Toronto, the season ended for the Rangers.

Third baseman Adrian Beltre says the Rangers expected to go farther into the postseason but got cold at the “worst moment.”

Shortstop Elis Andrus says the team will take what it did wrong this postseason and use it for next year.

After their early exit, Andrus, Mitch Moreland, Game 3 starter Colby Lewis and Derek Holland are the only Rangers remaining from their first World Series in 2010. While Andrus is signed through 2022, Moreland and Lewis are headed for free agency. The Rangers could elect to pay a $1.5 buyout instead of exercising their $11 million option for Holland, but he could return.

 

COWBOYS-ROMO’S OUTLOOK

Romo’s status uncertain as Prescott question looms larger

FRISCO, Texas (AP) – Tony Romo had an MRI on Monday, with Dallas owner Jerry Jones believing the results will show that his quarterback’s fourth back injury in less than four years has healed.

Coach Jason Garrett didn’t provide an update, but did indicate that the 36-year-old Romo won’t be officially listed as a participant in practice this week. The Cowboys visit Green Bay (3-1) on Sunday before their bye week. Garrett says Romo’s situation is day to day.

It’s been almost seven weeks since Romo broke a bone in his back when he was tackled awkwardly in a preseason game at Seattle. Rookie Dak Prescott has led the Cowboys (4-1) to four straight wins after they went 1-11 without Romo last season.

Romo has been throwing as part of his rehab, but hasn’t practiced since the injury.

 

T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL

AP Top 25: Big Ten has 4 in top 10 for 1st time since 1960

(AP) – The Big Ten has four teams in the top 10 of The Associated Press college football poll during the regular season for the first time since 1960, and No. 24 Western Michigan is ranked for the first time in school history.

No. 8 Wisconsin and No. 10 Nebraska joined No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Michigan in the first 10 of the AP Top 25 released Monday. The poll release was delayed one day because two FBS games were postponed until Sunday due to Hurricane Matthew.

Alabama remains No. 1. The Crimson Tide received 56 first-place votes. Ohio State and No. 3 Clemson each received two first-place votes. Michigan had one first-place vote.

Houston fell 7 spots in the poll, to 13th, after suffering its first loss to Navy. Texas A&M moved up two spots to No. 6 after an overtime win over Tennessee, and Baylor moved up to 11th.

 

TEXANS REGROUP

Osweiler, Texans look to improve, regroup before Colts visit

HOUSTON (AP) – Another lopsided loss on the road has the Houston Texans searching for ways to jumpstart their stalled offense.

The Texans fell to 3-2 with a 31-13 loss at the undefeated Vikings on Sunday in a game that illustrated that quarterback Brock Osweiler has plenty of room for improvement.

Osweiler admits he needs to play and do his job better.

Osweiler has thrown seven interceptions and just six touchdown passes in his first season in Houston after the Texans lured him away from Denver this offseason with a massive $72 million contract.

 

T25-BAYLOR-CANNON

No. 11 Baylor could get big-play WR Cannon back this week

WACO, Texas (AP) – Baylor big-play receiver KD Cannon could be back for the 11th-ranked Bears this week.

Cannon missed Baylor’s win Oct. 1 at Iowa State because of a groin injury that also limited him in the previous game.

Coach Jim Grobe said Monday that the Bears (5-0) were careful with Cannon in practice last week before the open date. But Grobe said the junior receiver should be full speed at practice this week before Baylor hosts Kansas on Saturday.

Cannon has 27 catches for 370 yards and four touchdowns in his four games. After nine catches for 213 yards and two TDs at Rice on Sept. 16, he had only three catches for 18 yards against Oklahoma State the next week before missing the Iowa State game.

 

TEXAS-NOW WHAT

Strong says Texas won’t give up amid 3-game skid

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas coach Charlie Strong took over his defense to get things fixed and save the season.

He designed new coverages. He tried different ways to get pressure on the opposing quarterback. None of it worked.

Strong’s gamble on himself failed and the Longhorns have lost three straight, including an 0-2 start in the Big 12. Strong is facing open speculation that he’ll be out of a job after the season if he doesn’t pull off a miracle run to the end of the season.

So now what?

With a home game Saturday night against Iowa State (1-5, 0-3) Strong pleaded Monday for fans to not give up on his players, noting they have 7 games left and will continue to play hard.

 

SPURS-PISTONS

Leonard scores 20 points in Spurs win vs. Pistons

DETROIT (AP) – Kawhi Leonard continued his strong start to the preseason by scoring 20 points in 25 minutes for the San Antonio Spurs in an 86-81 exhibition win over the Pistons in Detroit last night.

The All-Star forward added eight rebounds, three steals and two assists while leading the Spurs to the victory.

Pau Gasol scored 11 in his third game as a Spur while LaMarcus Aldridge was one rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Andre Drummond remained on his preseason tear with a third consecutive double-double as he tries to build off his first All-Star season. He finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds and has led the Pistons in points and rebounds in all three games. Jon Leuer added 14 off the bench in the loss.

 

STARS-KORPIKOSKI

Dallas Stars bolster depth signing winger Lauri Korpikoski

FRISCO, Texas (AP) – Left wing Lauri Korpikoski has signed a $1 million, one-year contract with the Dallas Stars after the eight-year NHL veteran was released from his professional tryout with the Calgary Flames.

General manager Jim Nill announced the signing Monday, saying it bolsters the Stars’ depth at forward. Nill called the 30-year-old Finn an experienced, disciplined player who can kill penalties.

Korpikoski had 22 points (10 goals) in 71 games for Edmonton last season. He was one of only 10 NHL players to play at least 71 games with 10 penalty minutes or fewer.

A first-round pick in the 2004 NHL draft by the New York Rangers, Korpikoski made his NHL debut for them in 2008-09. He then played six seasons in Arizona before going to Edmonton last year.

 

ASTROS-TAL’S HILL

Astros break ground on renovations to remove Tal’s Hill

HOUSTON (AP) – The Houston Astros began work on renovations to center field at Minute Maid Park on Monday that will remove Tal’s Hill and add field level seating.

The renovations were supposed to be done last offseason but were postponed. The project, which will eliminate the hill and bring in the center field fence from 436 to 409 feet, will be completed by opening day in 2017.

The change will make Houston’s ballpark have the sixth-deepest center field after the old configuration made it the deepest in the majors.

The renovations will also add three bars and four new concession stands as well as the only field-level seating in the ballpark.