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A16 SPORTS
Wednesday 7 OctOber 2020

Stanton, Yankees power way to 9-3 win against Rays in opener

By BERNIE WILSON the middle of our lineup.
AP Sports Writer When he's controlling the
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Giancar- strike zone, he's as deadly
lo Stanton and the Bronx as anyone."
Bombers made themselves New York has 11 homers
right at home in Petco Park in three playoff games this
on a warm October eve- year. They are the most for
ning in Southern California. any team in the first three
Stanton hit a grand slam games of a postseason.
in the ninth inning for New Teams that have outhom-
York's fourth home run of ered the opposition are
the game, and the Yan- 13-0 in these playoffs.
kees beat the Tampa Bay Tampa Bay dominated the
Rays 9-3 on Monday in the contentious regular-season
opener of their AL Division series, going 8-2 against
Series at Petco Park. the rival Yankees and win-
Stanton homered to ning the AL East by seven
straightaway center field games over second-place
on a 2-2 pitch from John New York.
Curtiss. The slugger took With the calendar flipped
several steps with his bat still to October, it was a differ-
in his hands as he watched ent story in their first post-
the ball sail through the season meeting.
pleasant San Diego eve- New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, center, celebrates with teammates after "They can hit, there's no se-
ning air before beginning hitting a grand slam home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning in Game one of cret in that," Rays manager
his trot. a baseball American League Division Series Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in San Diego. Kevin Cash said. "There's
A few fans chanted "Let's Associated Press nothing that was unex-
Go Yankees!" from a bal- pected with them. They've
cony on an office building ner Gerrit Cole. Clint Frazier "This is the first game my cause of the coronavirus. just got some guys back
just beyond right field of the hit an impressive shot into parents were able to come The Yankees set a franchise that are healthier. There
mostly empty ballpark. the second deck in left in to as well. That's huge. My record by hitting at least were a handful of players
"That SoCal air, man. That the third. dad for sure doesn't miss three home runs in three who didn't have consistent
SoCal weather. That's what The Bronx Bombers be- more than a month at a consecutive postseason reps against us or through-
it is," said Stanton, who came the first team in time, and we're in October games. They are the sec- out the 60-game season
is from Los Angeles and American League history now," he said. ond team to do it in base- due to injuries. They looked
won the Home Run Derby to hit a grand slam in back- Game 2 in the best-of-five ball history after the Rays healthy tonight."
at Petco Park in 2016. He to-back playoff games. series is Tuesday night, with did it in four straight in 2008. The ball was flying for the
spent his first eight seasons Gio Urshela connected in 21-year-old rookie Deivi Stanton has played in only Rays as well against Cole
with the Marlins and has Game 2 of the first-round García set to become the 41 games over the past two in downtown San Diego.
nine homers in 20 games at sweep against Cleveland. youngest Yankees pitcher seasons because of injuries. Randy Arozarena homered
Petco Park. Two NL teams have done it, to make a postseason start. "I feel great for him be- in the first and Ji-Man Choi
Kyle Higashioka, another the 1977 Dodgers and 2011 Tyler Glasnow goes for the cause I know this is what muscled an opposite-field,
SoCal native, and Aaron Diamondbacks. Rays. I envisioned for him last two-run shot in the fourth
Judge hit the tying and go- Judge said he's comfort- Beginning with this round, year," Yankees manager into the Rays bullpen in left-
ahead home runs off Blake able in San Diego, and his all postseason series were Aaron Boone said. "He's center to give Tampa Bay
Snell in the fifth to back win- parents were at the game. moved to neutral sites be- such a dangerous hitter in a 3-2 lead.q

Columbus, Montreal open trading with Domi-Anderson swap

the NHL draft Tuesday with playoff performance. It will and really good person."
an intriguing swap of for- be the 25-year-old Domi's Columbus gambled on
wards. third NHL organization af- keeping Anderson in the
The Blue Jackets acquired ter being drafted by and 2017 Vegas expansion
center Max Domi and a debuting with the Arizona draft and lost William Karls-
third-round pick from the Coyotes before two sea- son, who went on to be-
Canadiens for winger Josh sons with Montreal. come a top-line center for
Anderson, who had hasn't "Strengthening our center the Golden Knights.
played since December ice position has been a pri- This move recoups some of
and had his 2019-20 sea- ority for our club, and we his value. The third-round
son ended by surgery to re- are extremely excited to pick the Blue Jackets are
pair a torn labrum in his left add a player of Max Domi's getting is the 78th overall
shoulder. talent and character," Blue in this year's draft, which
Each player is a restricted Jackets general manager continues Wednesday with
free agent who needs a Jarmo Kekalainen said. "He rounds 2-7. Kekalainen last
Montreal Canadiens center Max Domi (13) during the first pe-
riod of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning new contract for next sea- is a skilled playmaker that week forecast a flurry of
Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. son. also brings grit and com- trades leading up to and
Associated Press Domi joins Columbus after petitiveness, and we think especially after the draft
putting up 44 points during he will be a great addition before free agency opens
By STEPHEN WHYNO and Montreal Canadiens the shortened regular sea- to our team." Friday. The salary cap re-
AP Hockey Writer got a jump on the trading son and just three during 10 Kekalainen called Ander- maining flat at $81.5 million
The Columbus Blue Jackets action before the start of games of a disappointing son "a terrific hockey player is one reason for that.q