The cause of death for baseball legend Pete Rose has been revealed.

Rose, MLB’s all-time hits leader who was banned from baseball in 1989 for gambling on Cincinnati Reds games while he served as manager, died Monday at 83, the Reds confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. 

The Clark County (Nevada) Coroner’s Office confirmed to The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network, that Rose died of hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, forces the heart to work harder to pump blood due to the force of the blood pressing on the artery walls, according to the Mayo Clinic, while atherosclerosis is a heart condition where a buildup of plaque blocks blood flow.

Rose made his last public appearance at the Music City Sports Collectibles and Autograph Show in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sunday, one day before he died Monday at his Las Vegas home. At the show, Rose was pictured using a wheelchair as he reunited with former teammates Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Tony Perez and Ken Griffey Sr.

‘Amazing that they all got to see each other one last time,’ the collectibles company wrote in the caption of the photo of the quintet.

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During an appearance on ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ Tuesday, fellow Reds legend Johnny Bench said he attended Saturday’s collectible show and narrowly missed reuniting with Rose on Sunday. Despite not seeing Rose, Bench said he was worried about him after his teammates expressed concern over his health.

‘The guys were very concerned about him on Sunday because they said he just wasn’t the same old Pete,’ Bench said. ‘It’s sad. It really is.’

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Rose disclosed in 2018, during divorce proceedings, that he was ‘currently disabled and can barely walk or travel.’ According to the court documents, Rose’s lawyers revealed his ‘health is deteriorating,’ adding he was on blood thinners and had three heart procedures in five years.

The best part about it, the absolute best part about this small town, cutthroat bubble of a world, is Auburn really is The Loveliest Village on the Plains.

But slithering beneath that bucolic setting of genuine community and cooperation, that Norman Rockwell painting of Americana, lies the beast of envy.

Always feeding, never satiated.

“You can feel it every single day,” former Auburn coach Terry Bowden once told me.

Hugh Freeze is feeling it now. Just like Bryan Harsin and Gus Malzahn and Gene Chizik and Tommy Tuberville and, do I really need to continue?

There’s a reason envy is one of the seven deadly sins.

Whatever Alabama can do, we can and should do better. Money is no object, nor are self-humiliation and degradation.

Wasn’t that long ago that Auburn ran off Harsin because tailback Tank Bigsby forgot to stay inbounds to help run out the clock on an upset of You Know Who. In Harsin’s first year.

Not long after that self-inflicted and painful loss, Harsin suddenly wasn’t “a fit” – and vicious rumors about off-field improprieties sprung up on the cesspool of Twitter months before Year 2 began.  

Wasn’t that long ago that Auburn ran off the one guy who beat Alabama coach Nick Saban more than any other. Now Malzahn is living the good life in Florida as coach at UCF, or as he says, “living where you vacation.”

Chizik was fired two years after winning a national championship.

Tuberville was fired a year after beating Alabama – the source of Auburn’s never-ending and destructive envy – in six consecutive games.

So if you think Auburn won’t pull the trigger on Freeze after two seasons – or in the middle of Year 2 – you obviously haven’t been following along.

If you think power brokers at Auburn (see: deep-pocket boosters who have run the joint for decades) care about public opinion, or the scorn that comes with so many knee-jerk decisions, you haven’t been following along.

If you think buyout money is an obstacle, let me walk you through a field of green prettier than farmland on the outskirts of the Loveliest Village.

Auburn paid Tuberville $5.08 million to not coach after the 2008 season.

Auburn paid Chizik $7.5 million to not coach after the 2012 season.

Auburn paid Malzahn $21.45 million to not coach after the 2020 season.

Auburn paid Bryan Harsin $22.25 million to not coach after the 2022 season.

If you think Auburn is going to balk at another $21.125 million to make Freeze go away — according to USA TODAY coaching contract guru Steve Berkowitz — you obviously haven’t been following along.

It’s Auburn, where anything that can happen more than likely will.

It really isn’t so much that Freeze has botched the quarterback position (he has), or that he hasn’t been the offensive revelation Auburn expected (he hasn’t). Or that he blamed players, which frankly, I have no problem with ― especially in this age of player earning and free movement.

It’s that once fat-cat boosters believe Alabama is out of reach for (choose your coach), it’s time for change. It doesn’t matter what it costs.

After six wins in Year 1 under Freeze included the unspeakable sin of fourth-and-31 against Alabama, Year 2 began with the joyous departure of Nick Saban from Alabama.

Ding, dong, the witch is dead!  

Then the Auburn quarterbacks couldn’t stop throwing the ball to the other team. The Tigers lost to Cal after Payton Thorne threw four interceptions, lost to Arkansas after Thorne and Hank Brown threw four more and lost to Oklahoma last weekend after Thorne threw a pick-six with Auburn leading by three with four minutes remaining.

All three games, all nine interceptions, played out in the Loveliest Village, in front of a loyal, passionate fan base at Jordan-Hare Stadium that begrudgingly accepts the fat-cat booster mechanisms in place because, son of a gun, they just want to beat Aladamnbama.

In that sense, Auburn is not unlike every other major college football program. We don’t want to know what’s in the tailgate casserole, we just know what it tastes like when everything is clicking.

They also see the hard, cold truth of reality when Alabama, four games into the tenure of new coach Kalen DeBoer, is again playing like the best team in college football.

It’s a carousel of self-destruction at Auburn that never stops, the only constant an uncomfortable phone call every few years to super-agent Jimmy Sexton – who, at this point, should be on retainer.

The beast of envy is alive and well in the Loveliest Village on the Plains.

Always feeding, never satiated.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X @MattHayesCFB.

And for 10 Kansas City Royals whose names would dot the box score, Game 1 of their American League wild-card series was their first glimpse of postseason baseball, a battle not only against the talented Orioles but also in regulating their own emotions, calming the heart when needed and letting it rip when the situation dictated.

The youngest team in Major League Baseball passed the test like the savviest of veterans.

You could see it in Cole Ragans, the 26-year-old left-hander who saw former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes hang zero after zero at Camden Yards, and simply strolled to the mound and matched him, inning after inning.

It was evident in closer Lucas Erceg, who entered with the tying and winning runs on base in the eighth inning and stranded them by retiring 44-home run man Anthony Santander and shrugging off a leadoff walk and a flurry of pinch-hitters in the ninth.

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And none too surprisingly, the game’s decisive tally was provided by transcendent shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., whose first playoff heroics from what will be a long and decorated career came on a modestly struck but well-placed soft line drive to left field, plating the game’s only run in the sixth inning.

The Royals survived the Orioles and their 41,506 full-throated fans, survived the efficient and remarkable Burnes, and notched their first playoff victory since winning the 2015 World Series. Their 1-0 triumph means that, behind veteran Seth Lugo, they can sweep this series in Game 2 Wednesday and ensure playoff baseball comes to Kauffman Stadium next week in the AL Division Series.

And when they take the field at Camden Yards for the 4:38 p.m. ET start, they will no longer be postseason newbies.

“It’s my first playoff experience,” says Erceg, acquired from the Oakland Athletics at the trade deadline and thrust into the highest-leverage role in the Royals bullpen.

“And now I know.”

Don’t they all.

Game 1 delivered a classic, thanks almost entirely to Burnes and Ragans, who was acquired from the Texas Rangers in June 2023 and has only raised expectations and exceeded them in the 15 months since.

Tuesday, he brought the most devastating version of his five-pitch mix, most notably a 96-mph fastball that had more crackle than usual Tuesday. It only made his knuckle curve, slider and a changeup he constantly buried to Orioles hitters all the more effective.

Yet it wasn’t the pitch mix so much as the, oh, shall we say, moxie he showed in the game’s biggest moments.

It seemed Kansas City gave the Orioles the opening they needed when, in a scoreless game, left fielder MJ Melendez misplayed a Ramon Urias fly ball into a one-out double in the fifth. Cedric Mullins dropped a gentle single into center, putting runners at the corners.

Ragans was undeterred.

Striking out No. 9 hitter James McCann was one thing. But when the lineup flipped and shortstop Gunnar Henderson came to the plate, Ragans would be asked to dig deeper.

He did not blink in the face of Henderson’s 37 homers and .893 OPS, pounding him with three consecutive fastballs before throwing perhaps his best pitch of the day – a slider that started high and ducked below the zone, Henderson flailing at it to end the threat.

Ragans, an All-Star this year whose gentle Florida Panhandle mien generally delivers calm and thoughtful insights, let loose with a roar. Threat over.

“I mean, you could tell he was bearing down right there,” says Royals manager Matt Quatraro. “And we know how good Henderson is at the plate, and to get the strikeout there, that’s enormous for us, and you could see the emotion on Cole’s face.

“You know, it gave the dugout a huge boost.”

Says Ragans: “Got out of a jam right there. Let a little bit out, yeah.”

Perhaps it was just coincidence, but the Royals – arguably the most offensively challenged among the dozen clubs in these playoffs – finally scratched up a run. Burnes helped by finally blinking, issuing a one-out walk to No. 9 hitter Maikel Garcia, who promptly stole second against the slow-to-the-plate right-hander.

One out later, it was Witt’s turn. Earlier Tuesday, designated hitter Vinnie Pasquantino was activated after missing five weeks for thumb surgery. Minus Pasquantino, perhaps Witt doesn’t get a pitch to hit.

But Burnes went after him. And Witt – the AL’s batting champion at 24, the man with 109 RBI this year – drove in the biggest run of his career. Just a little bingle – but nothing more would be needed on this day.

“As Tommy Pham says,” Witt says of his sage teammate playing in his fifth postseason, “whenever you allow the other team to score 0 runs, you have a 99.999% chance to win that game.

“I like our odds whenever we do that.”

Oh, but there were still 12 more outs to go. And Ragans, after providing a shutdown sixth inning after Witt’s RBI, felt cramping in his left calf.

So lower-leverage guys Sammy Long and Kris Bubic each were asked to eat an inning, but Bubic only got the first two outs of the eighth before giving up a walk to Henderson and a single to Jordan Westburg.

Erceg, who saved 14 games this year, 11 for the Royals, would be asked to get four outs.

“It was kind of indescribable,” says Erceg. “You feel the presence of the crowd, the culmination of a season-long effort to get to this point. Just to be in that situation is really special.”

After retiring Santander on a second-pitch grounder, Erceg stormed off the mound – and right past the third base umpire seeking to check his pitching hand for banned substances. Adrenaline, man.

It became his enemy when Erceg started the ninth with a full-count walk to pinch-hitter Ryan O’Hearn. Enter veteran catcher Salvador Perez, the last remaining member of Kansas City’s 2015 titlists, to pay him a visit.

“I kind of lost my process. I noticed I was going a little too fast on the mound,” says Erceg. “I’m glad I picked up on that and kind of hit the reset button. Salvy came out to the mound and kind of reset me.”

Says Quatraro: “You know, (Perez) is a tremendous person, a tremendous leader, but in those instances, that’s the guy we want out there to understand what’s happening.”

And so Erceg locked it in. He ran the count full to Adley Rutschman and then nicked the very bottom of the zone with a changeup. Colton Cowser flied out to center.

Finally, Erceg finished it, fanning pinch hitter Heston Kjerstad to put the Royals on the brink of advancing.

It was the first 1-0 playoff game since Houston’s 18-inning victory over Seattle in the 2022 AL Division Series. And the first of what the Royals hope are many times they ride Ragans – who struck out eight and walked none – this October.

“Six innings, no runs? You tell me,” Perez said playfully. “Amazing, man. He was good today.”

Says Erceg: ‘Pure electricity. The guy wants it. We all want it but he proved it by going out on the mound and absolutely shoving.’

And Ragans, in a sense, already knew the key to playoff baseball before even throwing a pitch.

“What we’ve done as a team to get to this point, it’s good enough,” he says. “It’s what’s got us here.”

Soon, it may send them back home. The grim reality for the second and third wild cards is they are not guaranteed a home playoff game. But now they have two shots to win one game at Camden Yards, punch it for New York and take on the Yankees in the ALDS.

And then, finally, back to Kauffman Stadium.

“Hearing the crowd here,” Witt says of the Camden Yards throng, “I can’t imagine it at the K.”

The Orioles, meanwhile, are suddenly facing another playoff sweep after Texas beat them 3-0 in the 2023 ALDS. Baltimore has lost nine consecutive postseason games, dating to when Kansas City swept them in the 2014 ALCS.

“It’s win or go home,” says Burnes, who pitched into the ninth, needing just 84 pitches, in what could be his last start for Baltimore before hitting the free agent market.

“I think this is a team that I’d be willing to run out there against anyone.”

Yet the Royals already felt that way coming in – and the vibes are only getting better after snatching Game 1. Sure, it’s too soon to say they’re just getting started.

But that is the goal, and one they proved more than capable of reaching in their first playoff encounter.

“We want to play baseball,” says Ragans, “for another month.”

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Are Davante Adams and the Las Vegas Raiders headed toward a divorce?

Adams informed the Raiders that he would prefer to be traded, according to NFL Network. The Raiders reportedly would consider trading the six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver.

Adams’ contract runs through the 2026 season, but his contract isn’t fully guaranteed after this year. Could another team acquire the 11-year veteran? USA TODAY Sports examines potential five landing sports for Adams.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers had trade parameters in place to acquire 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk before Aiyuk decided to re-up in San Francisco. The Steelers want another threat out wide opposite George Pickens, who is the only Steelers wide receiver with more than eight receptions entering Week 5.

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The continued development of Justin Fields as a passer and his comfort in Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s scheme could entice the club to aggressively pursue a wide receiver.

The Steelers have roughly $10.5 million is cap space, per Over The Cap.

New York Jets

A reunion between Adams and Aaron Rodgers?

Their chemistry and success on the field is undeniable; Adams and Rodgers played eight seasons together with the Packers. He had three seasons with at least 100 receptions and 1,000 yards while in Green Bay.

Rodgers has publicly lobbied to reunite with Adams in July.

Adams wouldn’t mind playing alongside the QB again.

“If I’m gonna be reunited with anybody, it would be Aaron,’ Adams said this offseason on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast.

Add in the fact that Rodgers and Garrett Wilson have had trouble getting on the same page in 2024 could force the Jets into making a move.

The Jets have $16.8 million available in cap space, via Over the Cap.

Kansas City Chiefs

Injuries have depleted the Chiefs wide receiver corps. Adams would drastically improve Kansas City’s wide receiver room upon arrival. His route running and pass catching ability would make the Chiefs offense even more dynamic.

Would the Raiders trade Adams within the division? The chances of Las Vegas sending Adams to an AFC West rival are miniscule.

The Chiefs have won the AFC West for eight consecutive seasons, the second-longest streak of division championships for any team since 1970. The Chiefs already have a two-game lead in the division this year. Adams would springboard Kansas City to a ninth straight AFC West title and make them the prohibitive favorite to be the first team ever to three-peat as Super Bowl champions.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys don’t have a reliable wide receiver outside of CeeDee Lamb.

Receivers Jalen Tolbert and Brandin Cooks have combined for 22 catches and 251 receiving yards. Lamb has 20 receptions and 316 receiving yards by himself. The Cowboys did virtually nothing to improve their offense during the offseason.

Jerry Jones could significantly jumpstart Dallas’ offense with the addition of Adams. The Cowboys haven’t had a smooth route runner like Adams since Amari Cooper.

The Cowboys recently signed Lamb and Dak Prescott to lucrative contract extensions, but the franchise still has over $23.7 million in available salary cap space.

Keep in mind, however, the Cowboys have to prioritize a Micah Parsons extension in the near future.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers don’t have a No. 1 wide receiver after they let Mike Williams walk out the door and traded Keenan Allen. Adams would instantly give the Chargers a bonafide true X wide receiver for Justin Herbert.

Los Angeles has the second-worst passing offense in the NFL entering Week 5, with just 544 passing yards on the season.

The Raiders might be hesitant to trade Adams to an AFC West rival. But Raiders GM Tom Telesco and the Chargers might be willing to negotiate a favorable deal for both parties. Telesco was the Chargers GM from 2013–2023.

The Chargers have approximately $7.8 million in cap space available, per Over the Cap.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

A federal judge has issued another ruling in the bankruptcy case of Colorado football player Shilo Sanders, once again denying Sanders’ attempt to fully dismiss a complaint from the former school security guard whom Sanders still owes $11 million.

This is the second time since June that the judge has ruled on a request by Sanders to dismiss one of the complaints filed by the former security guard, John Darjean. The first time, Judge Michael Romero dismissed some parts of Darjean’s complaint but allowed Darjean to amend those parts and try again. He did, leading Sanders’ attorneys to ask the court to dismiss Darjean’s amended complaint as well.

But the judge didn’t grant Sanders’ full request in his new ruling Monday. As a result, much of Darjean’s complaint in this case can proceed to trial as he tries to prevent Sanders from getting off the hook of his $11 million debt to him. Sanders, 24, filed for bankruptcy last October and is the son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders.

“Darjean sufficiently identified assets that were at one time owned by the Sanders but are no longer available to pay creditors because they are not listed in the schedules,” the judge wrote in the ruling Monday. “As to those specific omitted assets, the Court finds Darjean has sufficiently stated a claim under (the law).”

Judge rules on Shilo Sanders’ NIL issues

The ruling took on several issues raised by Darjean about Sanders’ compensation from his name, image and likeness deals (NIL) and whether Sanders has improperly concealed or omitted assets from them in the bankruptcy case.

Darjean argued that deletion of these records can serve as a basis to deny Sanders a discharge of his debt. Under the law, debtors are not allowed to conceal or destroy records of their financial situation.

“Darjean asserts in the Amended Complaint that Sanders made certain social media posts about paid promotional appearances and displaying certain jewelry and other assets, which he later deleted,” the judge wrote.

The judge denied Sanders’ attempt to dismiss this particular claim, too. He noted the trustee in this bankruptcy proceeding previously asked Sanders to turn over some records but didn’t produce them, according to the trustee. Sanders’ attorneys have said Sanders has cooperated.

“In this case, Sanders’s business and income is derived from his NIL rights,” the judge wrote. “If Sanders does monetize his NIL rights through social media posts, as alleged by Darjean, those posts could be construed as business records. Thus, Darjean’s allegations about deletion of social media posts may support his… claim. The Court will therefore deny Sanders’s Renewed Motion to dismiss the… claim to the extent it is based on records in the Trustee’s Motion for Turnover and social media posts.”

What else did the ruling say and why is this happening?

The judge officially granted in part and denied in part Sanders’ motion to dismiss the renewed complaint by Darjean. But the judge only fully threw out one of Darjean’s five remaining claims – a request by Darjean to recover attorneys’ fees from Sanders. The judge also dismissed part of one of Darjean’s claims, which had alleged Sanders had fraudulently transferred his NIL rights or NIL compensation. The judge said there wasn’t sufficient detail to sustain that part of the claim but otherwise allowed Darjean’s claims to proceed.

Shilo Sanders filed for bankruptcy after Darjean attempted to collect on Sanders’ $11 million debt to him stemming from an incident in 2015, when Shilo was in ninth grade. Darjean alleged that Shilo gave him permanent injuries after Sanders swung a roundhouse elbow into his upper chest when Darjean was trying to confiscate his phone at school.

Darjean then sued Sanders for damages but the case didn’t go to trial until 2022. Sanders didn’t show up to defend himself at trial, but the court still heard evidence in the case and entered an $11 million default judgment against Sanders.  

What is Shilo Sanders hoping to achieve in this case?

By filing for bankruptcy, Sanders is hoping to get that debt discharged so he can get a “fresh start in life, free from the oppressive burden of his debts,” according to Sanders’ attorneys.

In response, Darjean is fighting to keep Sanders on the hook for that debt and has filed two complaints in bankruptcy court to prevent the discharge of it. One is the complaint the judge ruled on Monday, which alleges that Sanders improperly concealed or omitted assets from the bankruptcy proceeding.

The other complaint also remains pending and argues that the law prevents Sanders from discharging this debt because it stems from a willful and malicious injury.

Sanders is a graduate student at Colorado and recently has been sidelined by a forearm injury. He is expected to return to the field for the Buffaloes’ next game Oct. 12 against Kansas State.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

The Major League Baseball playoffs began Tuesday with four games in the best-of-three wild-card series, with the winners already on the verge of advancing to the Division Series.

The Detroit Tigers defeated the Astros in the first game of the day, putting Houston on the brink of elimination after seven consecutive trips to the ALCS. In Baltimore, Royals lefty Cole Ragans tossed five shutout innings and the bullpen got 12 outs in Kansas City’s 1-0 win over the Orioles. The New York Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-4 and the San Diego Padres took the opener against the Atlanta Braves in Tuesday’s nightcap.

All four series will be back in action Wednesday, with winner-take-all Game 3s scheduled for Thursday if necessary.

Here’s how Tuesday unfolded:

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FINAL: Padres 4, Braves 0

Padres starter Michael King struck out 12 in seven scoreless innings, a dominant outing against the Braves on Tuesday night at Petco Park that moved San Diego to the brink of the NLDS.

Fernando Tatis Jr. started the party with a monstrous two-run homer in the first inning off Atlanta starter AJ Smith-Shawver, the 21-year-old starting on short notice after his team had to wait until Monday to clinch a playoff berth.

The two teams will go at it again on Wednesday at 8:38 p.m. ET with a win sending the Padres to an NLDS showdown with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 3 will be played Thursday if the Braves come out on top in Game 2.

Michael King dominating: Padres up 3-0 through six

San Diego starter Michael King is through six shutout innings, striking out 10 Braves in the process. King, acquired in the Juan Soto trade last winter, has given up five hits with no walks and is at 80 pitches.

Padres score again in the second: San Diego leads 3-0

Braves starter AJ Smith-Shawver was pulled after getting just four outs, surrendering a sacrifice fly to Kyle Higashioka after plunking Jake Cronenworth and giving up a single to Donovan Solano to start the second inning.

Aaron Bummer came out of the bullpen and forced NL batting champion Luis Arraez into an inning-ending double play to limit the damage.

Fernando Tatis Jr. home run puts Padres ahead

Fernando Tatis Jr. absolutely crushed a two-run homer off Braves starter AJ Smith-Shawver in the first inning to give the Padres an early 2-0 lead.

Braves vs. Padres underway in San Diego

Michael King starts for the Padres against the Braves, with 21-year-old AJ Smith-Shawver getting the nod for Atlanta.

The Braves had to win a game Monday in Atlanta to get into the wild-card series, and now play Game 1 on the West Coast just 24 hours after an emotional doubleheader against the Mets.

Mets beat Brewers: 8-4 final in Milwaukee

The Mets kicked it into gear with a feverish, five-run two-out rally to launch past the Brewers, 8-4, and grab Game 1 in front of 40,022 fans on Tuesday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee.

The Mets will now have an opportunity to move into the National League Division Series for the first time since 2015 when Sean Manaea takes the mound in Game 2 at 8:38 p.m. on Wednesday.

– Andrew Tredinnick, NorthJersey.com

Mets-Brewers: Both teams go three-up, three-down before bottom of the eighth

This game has been rather quiet since New York’s big fifth inning, but it’s been especially quiet the last full inning as both the Brewers and the Mets went down in order. Heading into the bottom of the eighth, it’s still 8-4 Mets.

Mets-Brewers: Civale gets through seventh unscathed

It wasn’t pretty, with Vientos and Nimmo each hitting the ball hard, but Civale was able to do what no other Brewers’ pitcher was, namely get through the middle of the Mets order without giving up a run. It’s still 8-4 as we head into the seventh inning stretch.

Mets-Brewers: Severino over 100 pitches

Another strong inning for Severino as he went three-up, three-down for the second consecutive inning. The Mets would love to keep Severino in the game as long as possible, but his pitch count did creep into the triple digits in the bottom of the sixth. He may return to the mound in the seventh, but he’ll likely be on a very short leash.

Mets-Brewers: Mets go quietly in sixth

The sixth inning went by without much fuss. After a five-run fifth, the Mets failed to secure a single baserunner in the sixth, not that they needed more runs as it stands. Heading into the bottom of the sixth, it’s 8-4 Mets.

Mets-Brewers: Severino doesn’t allow an inch

Despite working with a four-run lead now, Luis Severino did not allow the Brewers to get any momentum going. He went three-up, three-down getting Adams and Hoskins to pop out and Bauers to strike out. Heading into the sixth, it’s 8-4 Mets.

Mets-Brewers: J.D. Martinez pinch-hit single drives in two more

The fifth inning just won’t end for Milwaukee, and the Mets knew it. In order to capitalize on their incredible inning, the Mets brought in J.D. Martinez with the bases loaded and two outs. Martinez knocked in both runners in scoring position to widen the gap even further. It’s 8-4 Mets.

Mets-Brewres: Vientos knocks in two more

The Brewers had an opportunity to end the inning, but a ground ball to short was just tricky enough to force a botched transfer from Willy Adames. That loaded the bases for Vientos, who drilled a single to right field, his second hit of the ball game. Two runners came in and the Mets have turned this game on its head. They lead 6-4.

Mets-Brewers: Chourio’s mistake costs the Brewers

With runners on first and second, Jose Iglesias laced a sharp ground ball to first, and was able to beat the throw. Taylor, who reached second base thanks to Chourio’s mistake in left, took advantage, hustling around third and heading home during all the confusion.

Payamps was brought out afterwards. It’s 4-4 in the fifth inning.

Mets-Brewers: Chourio brings one back, lets one go

Chourio, the youngest player in MLB isn’t just doing it with his bat. He’s also flashing leather. With Joel Payamps entering the game for Milwaukee, the first batter he faced laced a fly ball to deep left field, but Chourio saw it all the way, jumping against the wall to rob Starling Marte of an extra-base hit.

The very next batter, Tyrone Taylor, also drilled a line drive to left, but this time Chourio could not make the play. The baseball went off Chourio’s glove, allowing Taylor to reach second base with just one out.

Mets-Brewers: Turang scores to make it 4-3

After Chourio’s double, Willy Adames bounced out to short, but that was enough to drive in Brice Turang from third. The inning ended shortly after. The Brewers lead 4-3 heading into the fifth inning.

Mets-Brewers: Chourio ties it up for Milwaukee

With runners at first and second, Jackson Chourio singled (it was ruled a double, but it shouldn’t have been) back up the middle to tie the game. However, Milwaukee was aggressive with their baserunning. A slot bobble from Tyrone Taylor in center field allowed the runners to reach second and third. After all was said and done, the Mets had two runners in scoring position with only one out in a tie ballgame.

Mets-Brewers: Peralta, Severino have settled down after rough early frames

Both the Brewers’ and Mets’ starters, Freddy Peralta and Luis Severino respectively, struggled in the early goings of Game 1. Severino allowed two runs to start the game. Meanwhile, Peralta waited until the second inning to surrender three runs. Since then though, both pitchers have settled down. Heading into the bottom of the fourth, it’s still 3-2 Mets and Peralta just recorded three straight outs in the top half of the inning.

FINAL: Royals 1 – Orioles 0 (KC leads series 1-0)

Although the Orioles led off the innings with a walk to Ryan O’Hearn, Royals’ closer Lucas Erceg was able to set Adley Rutschmann, Colton Cowser, and Heston Kjerstad down in order to earn the save. 1-0, the final, Kansas City wins.

Royals vs. Orioles: Royals threaten to extend lead

A one-run lead isn’t a very comforting lead, and the Royals were looking to add at least one more run before the bottom of the ninth inning. Following a Maikel Garcia single and Vinnie Pasquantino walk, the Royals had two runners on with two outs. The opportunity fell to Salvador Perez facing Seranthony Dominguez.

Perez quickly fell behind in an 0-2 count. Dominguez put Perez away with a slider way outside. Perez chased, and the lead remained 1-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Mets-Brewers: Mets strike back

After a very strong first inning for Freddy Peralta, the Mets got to him quickly to lead off the second. Mark Vientos led off the inning with a single back up the middle.

The Mets started working Peralta deep into counts afterwards. Alonso and Winker both worked full counts before walking and tripling down the right field line respectively.

Winker’s triple would drive in both Vientos and Alonso still with no outs in the inning. It’s knotted at 2.

Starling Marte followed the triple up with a sac fly to give New York the lead, 3-2.

Royals vs. Orioles: Ragans leaves with cramp

Kansas City was dealt a blow as Cole Ragans, who was dealing, leaves the game with what was called left leg cramps. Sam Long gets the call to the bump.

Ragans leaves with eight strikeouts and four hits through six innings.

Mets-Brewers: Milwaukee gets offensive

Freddy Peralta started the game with a couple of strikeouts but took 17 pitches to get things started. Luis Severino wasn’t as fortunate.

The Brewers got on the board early thanks to a Turang double to start the festivities for Milwaukee. A William Contreras single scored Turang to get New York into a quick hole.

FINAL: Tigers 3 – Astros 1 (DET leads series 1-0)

Although the Astros threatened in the bottom of the ninth, putting two men in scoring position with only one out, and loading the bases with two outs, Tigers’ reliever Beau Brieske was able to secure the victory by getting veteran outfielder Jason Heyward to line out to first baseman Spencer Torkelson.

Off the bat, it looked like Heyward had at least tied the game, but Torkelson was there to snag the ball. It wasn’t pretty, but Detroit got the win. 3-1 the final.

Royals vs. Orioles: Royals break through in sixth

After five scoreless innings, the Royals finally got through to Corbin Burnes after an RBI single by Bobby Witt Jr. Who else could it be in the Royals’ biggest game of the season?

Tigers vs. Astros: Foley out, Beau Brieske in

Although Foley is the Tigers’ closer, Hinch opted for a favorable matchup in Brieske. Brieske is not a great strikeout pitcher though, and with two runners in scoring position and only one out, the Tigers could use a strikeout now more than ever.

Tigers vs. Astros: Yainer Diaz puts the Astros on the board

After eight scoreless innings, the Astros have started cooking in the bottom of the ninth, an opposite field single from Yainer Diaz scores Dezenzo, and the Astros are down just two with two men on and no outs.

Tigers vs. Astros: Jason Foley surrenders leadoff double

Foley got the nod from Tigers’ manager A.J. Hinch to close out Game 1. However, he’d have to get through Houston’s gauntlet of Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, and Yainer Diaz to get the win. Things did not get off to a hot start, surrendering a double to Alvarez, who left the game afterwards for pinch-runner Zach Dezenzo. Bregman would secure an infield single, pushing Dezenzo to third and suddenly, Tigers’ fans were biting their nails.

Royals vs. Orioles: Baltimore threatens, fails to score

A double from Ramon Urias and a single from Cedric Mullins put runners on the corners with only one out. Ragans stuck out James McCann though, passing the burden of driving in the game’s first runs to Baltimore’s leadoff man Gunnar Henderson.

Ragans wasted no time setting down Henderson. Back-to-back punchouts to keep this one scoreless heading into the sixth.

Tigers vs. Astros: Josh Hader takes over

After just one out from Caleb Ferguson, the Astros turned to their stud lefty reliever, Josh Hader. Hader was quick to get Kerry Carpenter to ground out, but Riley Greene took the first pitch he saw to deep right field, earning a ground-rule double.

Greene would wind up at third following a groundout from Colt Keith, but Wenceel Perez was unable to drive him home. Hader got Perez to pop out to first base. We head to the bottom of the ninth, Tigers lead 3-0.

Royals vs. Orioles: Burnes sets them down in order again

Offense has been hard to come by in Game 1 between the Royals and Orioles. Orioles’ starter Corbin Burnes has allowed only two hits through five innings. The fifth inning got off to a good start for the Royals after Yuli Gurrield led off the innings with a single to center field. After MJ Melendez lined into a double play though, Burnes set down Pham on strikes to finish off the inning. The game is still scoreless heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Tigers vs. Astros: Will Vest’s 1.2 perfect innings keeps Tigers ahead

Coming into Game 1, everyone assumed the Tigers would have the advantage with Tarik Skubal taking the mound. However, after Skubal’s departure following the sixth inning, the future was uncertain. Well, Will Vest was arguably better than Skubal, facing five hitters and striking out four. He exited the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. In his stead comes Tyler Holton who will look to get the final four outs of this one.

Royals vs. Orioles: Pitcher’s duel in Baltimore

Cole Ragans and Corbin Burnes are trading three-up, three-down innings with one another. In the bottom of the fourth, Ragans set down Anthony Santander, Ryan Mountcastle, and Adley Rutschmann with relative ease. He’s allowed only two baserunners all game and struck out five. Through four full innings, it’s still scoreless.

Tigers vs. Astros: Blanco out, Caleb Ferguson in

After two solid, scoreless innings from Ronel Blanco, the Astros have opted for right-hander Caleb Ferguson following a walk to Matt Vierling. The Tigers are not threatening, per se, with only a runner on first and two outs, but with Kerry Carpenter at the plate, Ferguson was the play.

Ferguson didn’t stay on the mound long. One pitch in the dirt, and Vierling took off for second. He was thrown out, and the inning was over. Heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers still lead 3-0.

Royals vs. Orioles: Corbin Burnes with quick fourth

After a quick two outs to lead off the top of the fourth, Corbin Burnes gave Orioles’ fans a bit of a scare surrendering a very deep fly ball to Salvador Perez. However, that deep, deep left field wall in Camden Yards remains undefeated, as Perez wound up flying out just before the warning track. Heading into the bottom of the fourth, it’s still a scoreless ball game.

Royals vs. Orioles: Mullins leads off bottom of the third with a double

Fans were unsure whether or not Mullins would be in the Orioles’ starting lineup after a lackluster season. However, that decision seems to have paid off early on. Mullins led off the bottom of the third with a double off the top of the right field wall. Mullins is now 1-for-1 in his career against Cole Ragans with a double and two walks. Game is still tied 0-0, but the Orioles have a man in scoring position with no outs in the bottom of the third.

Tigers vs. Astros: Blanco escapes jam

A brief two-out rally for Detroit wound up loading the bases, but Ronel Blanco was able to get Parker Meadows to strike out, holding Detroit’s lead to just three runs. It’s time for the stretch in Houston, as the Astros look to muster any offense.

Royals vs. Orioles: Tommy Pham takes a hit from Mountcastle

Although many of the Royals’ young stars have no postseason experience, Tommy Pham remains one of the veterans on the team who knows what to expect in October. He wasted no time displaying his calm nerves, diving to rob the Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle of a base hit to lead off the bottom of the second inning.

Tigers vs. Astros: Skubal fired up

After giving up a shot off the left-field wall to Alex Bregman, Skubal finished the inning with a strikeout on Diaz with a 99-mph fastball.

Skubal was noticeably amped and should be as he concludes six shutout innings on just four hits.

Royals vs. Orioles: Burnes and Ragans come on

Corbin Burnes and Cole Ragans share the bump for the Orioles and Royals, respectively. The first inning had some excitement but both pitchers were able to start the game.

Burnes induced a couple of pop outs and a fielder’s choice ground ball. Ragans then came on and dealt with a formidable Orioles lineup. No score after one.

Tigers vs. Astros: Ronel Blanco comes in, gets strikeout

Houston keeps the bullpen churning, with Ronel Blanco coming on with two outs and one on in the sixth inning. He gets Vierling on a 93-mph to end the threat.

Royals vs. Orioles begins

The Kansas City Royals face Corbin Burnes to kick off the second game in a packed schedule for MLB wild card series on Tuesday.

Bryan King in for the Astros

Houston makes another change to start the sixth. Left-hander Bryan King comes on and will face Parker Meadows, Jake Rogers and Trey Sweeney.

Skubal makes quick work of the Astros

Welp, so much for making Skubal work.

The Tigers ace really could have used smooth sailing after an exhausting fourth. The Astros obliged with some quick at-bats to the end the inning. Skubal needed just five pitches and is now sitting on 67 pitches on the afternoon.

Neris gets it done in the fifth

This call to the bullpen was brought to you by timely decisions.

Working his fastball-splitter combo, Neris made quick work of Perez and Torkelson, getting both batters with swinging strikes to end the inning. No damage done as the Astros now try to whittle away at the deficit before the later innings.

Framber Valdez comes out, Neris comes in

After pitching 78 pitches and getting a strikeout on Greene the Astros welcome Hector Neris into the game with Justyn-Henry Malloy on first and one out.

Tigers, Skubal maintain momentum after tiring fourth

After a smooth top of the fourth for Valdez, Skubal went back to work. The lefty gave up a single to Alvarez to start the inning.

The story of this half-inning was about workload as the Astros got Skubal to increase that pitch count. The Bregman hit and a walk to Diaz brought the Tigers pitcher to 62 pitches through four.

But Detroit comes away unscathed.

Score: Tigers 3, Astros 0

Tarik Skubal on fire, Tigers jump out to early lead

Talk about efficient.

American League Cy Young candidate and Tigers ace Tarik Skubal needed just five pitches − all strikes − to get through the first inning against the Astros.

Meanwhile, the Tigers got back-to-back-to-back RBI singles off Astros starter Framber Valdez to give Detroit an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning.

Tigers fans must be resting a little easy with Skubal in control and an early lead.

Braves leave Chris Sale off roster

National League Cy Young favorite and Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale was left off the wild card roster against the San Diego Padres. He was a late scratch from an elimination game start Monday due to back spasms.

Hours before Game 1, the Braves said Sale (18-3, 2.38 ERA) wouldn’t be available until at least the division series. He hasn’t pitched since Sept. 19, when his velocity dropped.

Right-handers Bryce Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver are candidates to start Game 1 vs. the Padres tonight.

Sale could be added to the roster for the divisional round if the Braves advance.

Vinnie Pasquantino back in Kansas City’s lineup

‘Is it ever sunny here? I don’t think I’ve seen the sun in Baltimore,’ the Kansas City Royals designated hitter mused.

Yet Tuesday morning was, in fact, quite bright for the left-handed slugger: He woke up before 7, discovered his surgically repaired thumb felt just fine and texted such to a club trainer. And after five weeks of recovery, Pasquantino just beat the deadline to earn inclusion on the Royals’ wild-card series roster.

Pasquantino will bat third against the Orioles.

‘We’re here now,’ says Pasquantino, ‘and the rehab is not over. But the games can start.’ 

And not a moment too soon for the Royals. They posted an 11-16 record without Pasquantino in the lineup, this after going 75-60 when he was healthy. Yet the Royals overcame a late seven-game losing streak to win four of six in the final week, just as Pasquantino began hitting against a machine, and on the field, and determined he was ready just before Game 1.

He grew up about three hours away, near Richmond, Va., and had to tell friends he had no tickets. Getting there one year after the club lost 106 games was good enough; now, he’ll have an impact.

‘To get here now, and the cherry on top is that I get to play,’ he said.  − Gabe Lacques

Astros wild card roster: Alvarez on, Verlander left off

Great news for the Astros: Slugger Yordan Alvarez, who has been nursing a sore knee, is on the wild-card series roster and batting third. 

Mildly surprising news: Justin Verlander was excluded from the roster.

Verlander, the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer, has struggled since returning from a neck injury, posting an 8.10 ERA in eight starts since August. He’s given up at least five earned runs in four of those starts. 

Verlander has made 37 career starts, and earned his first World Series win during the Astros’ run to the 2022 championship. 

‘Justin Verlander is a professional,’ Astros manager Joe Espada said before Game 1 against the Detroit Tigers. ‘He knows how well our starting pitchers have to perform throughout the season. So when we had this conversation, he was all in. He’ll do what’s best for this team. So I appreciated his feedback and how he evaluated his season and his last few starts.’

Left-hander Framber Valdez will start Game 1. − Gabe Lacques

2024 MLB wild card series umpire schedule

Note: Umpires rotate from right field to left and then clockwise around the bases starting at third during an MLB postseason series, so the ump at second base for the opener will be behind the plate for a potential Game 3 in the wild card round.

Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros

Alfonso Marquez (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
Tony Randazzo: Home plate for Game 1
Jordan Baker: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
Will Little: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
Jeremie Rehak: Left field for Game 1
Junior Valentine: Right field for Game 1

Kansas City Royals at Baltimore Orioles

Bill Miller (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
Ryan Additon: Home plate for Game 1
Ben May: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
Nic Lentz: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
David Rackley: Left field for Game 1
Malachi Moore: Right field for Game 1

New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers

Alan Porter (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
Alex Tosi: Home plate for Game 1
Chris Segal: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
Vic Carapazza: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
Mike Estabrook: Left field for Game 1
Brennan Miller: Right field for Game 1

Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres

Dan Iassogna (crew chief): Third base for Game 1
Nestor Ceja: Home plate for Game 1
Phil Cuzzi: First base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 2
Jansen Visconti: Second base for Game 1; Home plate for Game 3
Mark Wegner: Left field for Game 1
Erich Bacchus: Right field for Game 1

Game 1 lineups: Royals vs. Orioles

Game 1 lineups: Tigers vs. Astros

Astros lineup

Jose Altuve, 2B
Kyle Tucker, RF
Yordan Alvarez, DH
Alex Bregman, 3B
Yainer Diaz, C
Jeremy Peña, SS
Victor Caratini, 1B
Mauricio Dubón, LF
Jake Meyers, CF

MLB wild card schedule Tuesday

All times Eastern

No. 6 Detroit Tigers at No. 3 Houston Astros – 2:32 p.m.
No. 5 Kansas City Royals at No. 4 Baltimore Orioles – 4:07 p.m.
No. 6 New York Mets at No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers – 5:32 p.m.
No. 5 Atlanta Braves at No. 4 San Diego Padres – 8:38 p.m.

Probable pitchers

Tigers vs. Astros: LHP Tarik Skubal (18-4, 2.39 ERA) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (15-7, 2.91 ERA)
Royals vs. Orioles: LHP Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14 ERA) vs. RHP Corbin Burnes (15-9, 2.92 ERA)
Mets vs. Brewers: RHP Luis Severino (11-7, 3.91 ERA) vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (11-9, 3.68 ERA)
Braves vs. Padres: TBD vs. RHP Michael King (13-9, 2.95 ERA)

MLB wild card predictions

Who will move on? Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports MLB team sees this week playing out.

Detroit Tigers (86-76) at Houston Astros (88-73)

Bob Nightengale: Astros in 3
Gabe Lacques: Tigers in 2
Steve Gardner Astros in 3
Jesse Yomtov: Astros in 3
Scott Boeck: Tigers in 3

Kansas City Royals (86-76) at Baltimore Orioles (91-71)

Bob Nightengale: Orioles in 3
Gabe Lacques: Orioles in 2
Steve Gardner: Orioles in 3
Jesse Yomtov: Orioles in 2
Scott Boeck: Orioles in 3

New York Mets (89-73) at Milwaukee Brewers (93-69)

Bob Nightengale: Brewers in 2
Gabe Lacques: Brewers in 2
Steve Gardner: Brewers in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Mets in 3
Scott Boeck: Brewers in 2

Atlanta Braves (89-73) at San Diego Padres (93-69)

Bob Nightengale: Padres in 2
Gabe Lacques: Padres in 2
Steve Gardner: Padres in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Braves in 3
Scott Boeck: Padres in 2

How to watch MLB playoffs

Astros vs Tigers

Time: 2:32 p.m.
TV: ABC
Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)

Orioles vs. Royals

Time: 4:08 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)

Brewers vs. Mets

Time: 5:32 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)

Padres vs. Braves

Time: 8:38 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)

MLB playoffs bracket

ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ is heading to a new location.

For the first time in the show’s history, it will head to Berkley, California, to broadcast from the campus of the University of California, Berkley ahead of the Golden Bears’ ACC matchup against the No. 8 Miami Hurricanes. Miami is coming off of a wild, last second victory against Virginia Tech, while Cal had the week off. Previously, the Golden Bears had lost to Florida State.

Miami (5-0) is currently sitting at No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, while Cal (3-1) is unranked.

Here’s what to know for the sixth ‘College GameDay’ of the season.

Where is ESPN College GameDay this week?

‘College GameDay’ will be held on Memorial Glade in Berkley, California, for the Week 6 game between the No. 8 Miami Hurricanes and the Cal Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium.

Who is the College GameDay celebrity guest picker this week?

ESPN has not yet announced the guest picker for Week 6. Terry Saban, the wife of former Alabama coach and current GameDay analyst Nick Saban, appeared as the guest picker last week.

When is ESPN College GameDay?

‘College GameDay’ will air from 9 a.m. to noon ET on Saturday, Oct. 5. 

How to watch ESPN College GameDay

‘College GameDay’ will air on ESPN and ESPNU. It is also available through ESPN+ streaming. 

ESPN College GameDay crew

Recently retired Alabama coach Nick Saban is a new addition on ‘College GameDay’ for the 2024 season. The crew now includes: 

Rece Davis
Kirk Herbstreit 
Lee Corso
Desmond Howard
Pat McAfee
Nick Saban
‘Stanford’ Steve Coughlin

NEW YORK — Rinse. Repeat — the New York Liberty are one victory away from redemption and a return trip to the WNBA Finals.

Sabrina Ionescu scored 24 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 1:15 left, leading four players in double figures as the Liberty pushed the Las Vegas Aces to the brink of elimination, taking a commanding 2-0 lead with an 88-84 victory in the best-of-five WNBA semifinals on Tuesday.

Game 3 is Friday night in Las Vegas.

The Liberty used a 15-4 second-quarter run and the same formula that earned them a 10-point victory in Game 1. They perfected it on Tuesday.

After New York built a 10-point third-quarter lead, the Aces began to chip away slowly and finally tied the score at 81 when Alysha Clark’s corner 3 hit nothing but nylon with 1:31 remaining. But Ionescu nailed the game-winning basket seconds later.

The Aces had a chance to tie the score, but the ball went out on the sideline with 10 seconds left. Initially ruled Aces ball, a Liberty challenge turned the ball over to them, leading Ionescu to hit two free throws to seal the win.

Still smarting from a four-game defeat in last year’s Finals, a familiar scenario played out in the Liberty’s fifth straight win over their rivals this season. Clutch shooting by Ionescu, untimely turnovers for Las Vegas, and defensive breakdowns that led to easy buckets allowed another sellout Barclays Center crowd — with plenty of celebrities in the stands — to get into the game.

“Being up 2-0 is great,” said Ionescu, who added nine rebounds, five assists and made at least three 3-pointers in her sixth straight game. “We haven’t won anything. We did what we were supposed to. This isn’t what we came to do. We are a hungry group. We battled, they came out swinging. We got big stops when we needed to.

‘We don’t take them lightly, and we grinded out a good win.’

Brenna Stewart, who scored 34 points in Game 1, scored 15 points, with eight assists and seven rebounds. Jonquel Jones had 14 points, and Courtney Vandersloot scored 12 points off the bench.

The Aces shot out to an eight-point first-quarter lead, with Clark scoring eight of the team’s first 10 points. But there were signs of trouble brewing, starting when guard Kelsey Plum picked up her second foul just two minutes into the game. Plum scored only six points after leading the Aces in scoring with 24 in Game 1.

Three minutes into the second quarter, Liberty forward Kayla Thornton drove right around Plum for an easy layup. Aces head coach Becky Hammon immediately called timeout and gave her team an animated tongue-lashing on the bench.

Hammon left plenty of additional scorn for her players (and the officials) as the Aces allowed New York to shoot 55% en route to a 46-40 deficit, capped by two long 3-pointers from Ionescu. There were nine lead changes in the first half.

The Aces had no answer for New York’s inside game, allowing 44 points in the post, and their 13 turnovers led to 22 Liberty points.

League MVP A’ja Wilson had 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Las Vegas, which had five players in double figures. Jackie Young scored 17, Chelsea Gray added 14, and Tiffany Hayes had 10 off the bench.

The Aces have a tough hill to climb. There is no precedent for a WNBA team overcoming a 2-0 deficit in any best-of-five series. If they can win both games at home, they will become only the second team to even force a Game 5.

‘We have neither lost or won a championship. Nothing has been won tonight,’ Hammon said after the game, per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.

‘Let there be no doubt, we’re in for a war,’ Hammon added.

The availability of Aces starting center Kiah Stokes is also unknown after she left in the third quarter with a concussion sustained while trying to chase down a loose ball. She stayed down on the court for a few minutes and did not return after being helped to the locker room.

This story was updated to add new information.