KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Brandon Jones raced to his first career Xfinity Series victory Saturday at Kansas Speedway after a lapped car wrecked what was shaping up as an entertaining duel between playoff contenders Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell.

HOUSTON — Jose Altuve, the 5-foot-6 driving force of Houston, delivered a swing that will play in Astros' highlights forever.

LANCASTER — It turns out that the third time wasn’t a charm for the Antelope Valley College football team.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Chargers are near mirror images of each other.

ATLANTA — There is no guarantee that a Super Bowl appearance will generate long-term momentum.

WASHINGTON — Doing a little research ahead of the World Series, Washington Nationals second baseman Brian Dozier came across some numbers that made him feel OK about his team’s long layoff.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Daniel Hemric wasn’t exactly fired. David Ragan isn’t quite yet retired.

NEW YORK — Megan Rapinoe is enjoying the whirlwind of a two-time World Cup winner.

ANAHEIM— Adam Henrique and Troy Terry scored in the first period, Ryan Miller made 22 saves and the Anaheim Ducks remained unbeaten at home with a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.

THOUSAND OAKS — Time is moving much faster for Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman David Edwards.

Stephen Curry knew roster change was inevitable.

NEW YORK — DJ LeMahieu drove Justin Verlander’s second pitch over the wall, then Aaron Hicks sent the fans at Yankee Stadium into a frenzy with a three-run homer off the foul pole later in the first inning.

LOS ANGELES — Southern California emerged from the difficult first half of its schedule with a fairly brutal record, at least by the Trojans’ perennially lofty standards.

ACTON — The Vasquez football team opened its new league, but it wasn’t the auspicious start that the Mustangs had hoped for.

PALMDALE — Players from both the Palmdale and Highland football teams lay on the field after the final play of the game, including Palmdale senior safety Tyjoun Cavins.

NEW YORK — George Springer and Carlos Correa each hit three-run homers and the Houston Astros got another wild ace off the hook to beat the sloppy New York Yankees 8-3 Thursday night and reach the cusp of a second World Series visit in three years.

STANFORD — Dorian Thompson-Robinson passed for two touchdowns and ran for another in helping UCLA end an 11-year drought against Stanford with a 34-16 victory over the Cardinal on Thursday.

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s national soccer team described their World Cup qualifier against North Korea in Pyongyang as a “rough” match played under strange conditions that may be raised with FIFA.

LOS ANGELES — Carter Hutton made 47 saves for his second straight shutout, Casey Mittelstadt scored twice and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-0 on Thursday night.

DENVER — Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes injured his right knee in a pileup near the goal line before his Kansas City teammates rallied around their fallen superstar for a 30-6 thrashing of Denver on Thursday night.

Except for South Carolina’s stunning overtime win at Georgia, there haven’t been many results so far this season that figure to shape the College Football Playoffs standings.

COSTA MESA — Russell Okung didn’t hold back in describing what the past four months have been like for him and his family.

THOUSAND OAKS — Thanks to two injures and a couple of major trades, the Los Angeles Rams will be without three regular starters in their secondary this weekend in Atlanta.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Chinese officials wanted Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to be fired for his tweet supporting anti-government protesters in Hong Kong, and the league emphatically dismissed the request.

TAMPA, Fla. — Lauren Holtkamp and Jonathan Sterling first met a few years ago at a meeting of college basketball referees in Virginia, and when the group when out for some socializing that night she asked him to dance.

The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops, and local fishermen we contact. Anglers catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone 909-887-3444, so it can be included in thi…

Josef Martinez is back just in time to help Atlanta United try to defend its MLS Cup title.

TWIN PEAKS — The Palmdale Blue Stockings ended their inaugural season in the So Cal Vintage Base Ball League last Saturday after dropping their playoff game to the still-undefeated Crestline Highlanders 17-8. 

QUARTZ HILL — The school colors for Quartz Hill and Knight faded to the background on Thursday afternoon, as pink was the color of the day during the Golden League girls tennis match.

ANAHEIM — Joe Maddon is back under the halo.

 Fourth Saturday Classic Car Show: 4 to 8 p.m. the fourth Saturday of each month in the Rancho Vista shopping center at 30th Street West and Rancho Vista Boulevard (Avenue P). Registration is a $5 donation. For details, call (661) 816-2216.

COSTA MESA — Getting behind by two touchdowns early doesn’t help any team’s running game, but early deficits are just one reason why the Los Angeles Chargers’ ground game has been stuck in neutral the past two weeks.

Here are some things to watch this week in the Pac-12 Conference:

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Steve Prater can recall only one time in more than 30 years as a PGA professional that he refused payment for a golf lesson.

From one corner of a sullen clubhouse came the glass half full view of the St. Louis Cardinals’ season.

Both Jacoby Brissett and Deshaun Watson have managed to outduel reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes in consecutive weeks — on his home turf no less.

NEW YORK — A rainy day in the Bronx has left a most daunting October test for the New York Yankees vaunted bullpen: four games, four days and already a deficit to overcome against the Houston Astros in their AL Championship Series.