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CHICAGO — The Houston Astros advanced to their fifth consecutive American League Championship Series on Tuesday by beating the Chicago White Sox 10-1 in Game 4 of their best-of-five division series matchup.

The Astros are the third team ever to appear in five straight league championship series, and first to do so since the Atlanta Braves reached eight straight from 1991 to 1999.

For the second time in five days, Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. held the White Sox’s offense in check, giving up just a solo home run, to designated hitter Gavin Sheets, in the second inning.

McCullers pitched only four innings, allowing five hits and three walks. He wasn’t as sharp as he was in Game 1, but nearly as effective. Two double plays turned behind him helped his cause. The Astros bullpen was perfect over the final five innings.

Houston erased a 1-0 deficit in the third inning when shortstop Carlos Correa doubled to left with the bases loaded on an 0-2 pitch by White Sox starter Carlos Rodon. The Astros added to the lead in the fourth when third baseman Alex Bregman doubled on a 3-0 pitch by reliever Garrett Crochet with two men on. Both scored.

Jose Altuve sealed the series with a three-run homer off Chicago closer Liam Hendriks in the top of the ninth.

The Astros were aided by three uncontested stolen bases in the middle innings, two by outfielder Kyle Tucker during one sequence in the fourth.

Warnings were issued to both teams after Astros reliever Kendall Graveman hit White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu in the bottom of the eighth.

After leading the American League in ERA during the regular season, the White Sox rotation struggled over the four games. They’re the fifth rotation ever to compile an ERA over 10.00 (10.22) over the first four games of a playoff series.

Next up for the Astros — looking for the franchise’s second championship after winning it all in 2017 — is Game 1 of the ALCS against former bench coach Alex Cora and the Boston Red Sox on Friday in Houston. The Red Sox eliminated Tampa Bay with a 6-5 victory in Game 4 on Monday night.

“They know how to play the game,” Altuve said of Boston. “They’ve been in the playoffs before, so it’s going to be fun.”

Houston opened as a -150 series favorite at Caesars Sportsbook. The Red Sox are +130.

It’ll be Houston’s second ALCS under 72-year-old manager Dusty Baker, whose club got the best of 77-year-old Chicago skipper Tony La Russa. Baker replaced A.J. Hinch, who was fired in fallout from the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scandal that also resulted in a one-year ban for Cora.

The crowd at Guaranteed Rate Field chanted “Cheater! Cheater!” at times during the two games in Chicago, and White Sox reliever Ryan Tepera implied late Sunday night that Houston may have been stealing signs in Games 1 and 2.

But the Astros, used to dealing with boos ever since the scandal came to light, brushed it all off. Asked about Tepera’s comments after Game 4 was postponed Monday because of rain, Bregman responded: “It’s all good. We’re focused on winning games. That’s it.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Harris return short-lived as Ole Miss WR exits

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Harris return short-lived as Ole Miss WR exits

Ole Miss standout receiver Tre Harris aggravated an injury in the first half at Florida on Saturday and was ruled out for the remainder of the game, a 24-17 Gators win.

Harris initially injured his hip/groin area against LSU on Oct. 12. He returned against Florida, only to go down after a catch late in the second quarter.

During the broadcast, ABC’s Molly McGrath reported it was an aggravation of the original injury.

Harris was seen in street clothes on the sideline to start the second half. He had one catch for 43 yards and a touchdown before exiting.

Harris came into the game as one of the top receivers in the nation, leading the No. 9 Rebels with 987 yards and six touchdowns.

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Ward breaks Kosar’s season passing yards record

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Ward breaks Kosar's season passing yards record

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Another week, another pair of records for Miami quarterback Cam Ward, breaking 40-year-old marks by Bernie Kosar in both cases.

Ward, Miami’s Heisman Trophy contender who already holds the Hurricanes’ single-season record for touchdown passes and is on pace to break the school mark for completion percentage, on Saturday eclipsed Kosar’s school records for both passing yards in a season and completions in a season in the Hurricanes’ 42-14 win over Wake Forest.

Ward completed 27 of 38 passes for 280 yards, plus ran for a score. Ward now has 3,774 yards on 268 completions this season. Kosar threw for 3,642 yards on 262 completions in 1984.

Ward’s 13-yard completion to Damien Martinez with 1:27 left in the second quarter gave him 3,643 yards for the season. Kosar’s mark of 3,642 yards was set in 1984.

Later Saturday, Ward threw a 15-yard pass to Xavier Restrepo for his 263rd completion of the year, topping Kosar’s mark of 262, also set in 1984.

“Congrats #CamWard,” Kosar posted on social media. “U R Awesome.”

Ward is on pace to break Miami’s single-season completion percentage mark of 65.8% set last year by Tyler Van Dyke. He also is on pace to top the Miami career mark (among those with at least 300 attempts) of 64.3% set by D’Eriq King in 2020 and 2021.

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Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

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Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

LOS ANGELES — Chris Woodward has been named first-base coach by the Dodgers, marking his second stint on manager Dave Roberts’ staff.

The Dodgers made the announcement Friday night. Woodward was the Dodgers’ first-base coach from 2016 to 2018 before leaving to take over as manager of the Texas Rangers.

Woodward fills the opening created after former first-base coach Clayton McCullough recently became manager of the Miami Marlins.

Woodward had a 211-287 record in nearly four seasons with the Rangers. He has been a senior adviser on the Dodgers’ major league and player development staff for the past two seasons.

Dodgers executive vice president and general manager Brandon Gomes said Woodward will take over baserunning and infield responsibilities with third-base coach Dino Ebel shifting to outfield duties.

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