Red Sox strike early, hold off Yankees in 1st ALDS meeting

Kershaw, Dodgers blank Braves for 2-0 NLDS lead

Los Angeles Kings’ Tyler Toffoli (73) is defended by San Jose Sharks’ Brent Burns during the second period of an NHL hockey game

on Oct 5 in Los Angeles. (AP)

contenders that many are expecting this season.

The Sharks used Kevin Labanc’s goal 2:53 into overtime to beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 Friday night.

San Jose was defeated by Anaheim 5-2 in its opener on Wednesday, but looked better in its second game. Meanwhile, the Kings struggled to put the puck into the net, which has been a theme of the past couple seasons. They were outshot 33-21 and came up empty in five power-play opportunities.

The Sharks took a 2-0 first-period lead before Los Angeles rallied and forced the overtime.

Martin Jones made 19 saves as San Jose beat the Kings for the fourth time in its last five meetings.

BOSTON, Oct 6, (RTRS): Chris Sale pitched effectively into the sixth inning, J.D. Martinez hit a three-run home run in the first and the Boston Red Sox opened the American League Division Series by holding on for a 5-4 victory over the visiting New York Yankees on Friday night.

Game 2 is Saturday night. David Price starts for Boston and opposes Masahiro Tanaka.

In his second career postseason start, Sale (1-0) allowed two runs on five hits in 5-1/3 innings. Limited to about 100 pitches, Sale threw 93 while getting eight strikeouts and issuing a pair of walks.

The ace left-hander was lifted after allowing a single to Giancarlo Stanton in the sixth, and the Red Sox’s bullpen held on for the final 11 outs.

Ryan Brasier pitched in relief first and allowed an RBI single to Luke Voit and a run-scoring groundout to Didi Gregorius before throwing a wild pitch to advance Gregorius to second.

After Brasier walked Miguel Andujar, Brandon Workman took over and walked Gary Sanchez on four pitches to load the bases. Workman Steve Pearce #25 of the Boston Red Sox hits an RBI single in the third inning against the New York Yankees during

Game One of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on Oct 5, in Boston, Massachusetts. (AFP)