just reality. I think as they gain confidence, theyll continue to grow and ou

Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Tuesday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- SAN FRANCISCO -- John Lackey is on the mound for the Chicago Cubs, who try again to reach the NL Championship Series after losing 6-5 in 13 innings to the Giants in Game 3. Game starts 8:40 p.m.- LOS ANGELES -- The Washington Nationals, yet to win a postseason series, can make the NLCS with a Game 4 victory over Los Angeles. Game 1 winner Clayton Kershaw starts for the Dodgers on short rest. Game starts 5:05 p.m.- CLEVELAND -- Terry Francona has made all the right moves this season for the Indians. Clevelands manager was never better than during a three-game sweep of Boston that sends the Indians into the ALCS for the first time since 2007.- BOSTON -- After providing so many huge hits for the Red Sox, winning three World Series titles and becoming a beloved figure in Boston, David Ortiz closes his 20-year career with the Fenway Park chanting Thank you, Pa-pi!- ATLANTA -- Brian Snitker will return as manager of the Braves in 2017. Atlanta finished last in the NL East but won 20 of its final 30 games.- CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- They made it to the Super Bowl last season. Now everything is fast unraveling for the Carolina Panthers, who are 1-4 and in danger of not making the playoffs.- ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Broncos, coming off their first loss, are without coach Gary Kubiak but hoping quarterback Trevor Siemian, tight end Virgil Green and tackle Donald Stephenson can play Thursday night at San Diego.- PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles tackle Lane Johnson is suspended for 10 games for violating the NFLs policy on performance-enhancing substances. This is his second suspension and one more would cost him two years.- CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The Penguins raise their fourth Stanley Cup banner Thursday night at their season opener, but theyll do it without Sidney Crosby. The two-time MVP again has a concussion and is out indefinitely.- Connor McDavid dazzled during the World Cup of Hockey and reminded people he might be one of the best players in the NHL at just 19. His season with the Edmonton Oilers begins Wednesday night.- The challenge for Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson as he chases the Heisman Trophy is to maintain front-runner status while playing games that will not be drawing much attention.- MINNEAPOLIS -- The Los Angeles Sparks play the Minnesota Lynx in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals. Los Angeles won the opener of the best-of-five series 78-76. Game starts 8 p.m.- ROME -- Romes bid for the 2024 Olympics is over, with Italys Olympic committee yielding because of staunch opposition from the citys mayor and city council. Three candidates remain: Los Angeles; Paris; Budapest, Hungary.- MOSCOW -- Vladimir Putin says exemptions for banned drugs for therapeutic reasons give an unfair advantage. The Russian president suggests that athletes who use them should be excluded from major competitions.- CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Joel Berry II might have been North Carolinas best guard for the final month or so of last season. Now hes the guy in charge in the backcourt for a team with aspirations of making it back to the Final Four.Custom Baseball Jerseys . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Wholesale Custom Jerseys . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. http://www.baseballjerseyscustom.com/ . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Cheap Custom Jerseys Online . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. Custom Jerseys Sale .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.ALAMEDA, Calif. -- A thorough beating by the Kansas City Chiefs did little to change coach Jack Del Rios opinion of his Oakland Raiders team.We have a real good team, he said Monday. Had a bad day yesterday.Boy, did they ever.For the first time since Del Rios first game as coach, the Raiders (4-2) never really had a chance late as they played their first fourth quarter without being within one score at any point since a 33-13 loss to Cincinnati to open the 2015 season.The defense got gashed by Spencer Ware and Alex Smith in the latest in a run of bad performances, Derek Carr and the offense managed just one field goal after scoring a touchdown on the opening drive, usually reliable kicker Sebastian Janikowski missed a 52-yard field goal and the punt coverage unit allowed Tyreek Hill to have a 50-yard return that set up a Kansas City score.Add it all up and the Raiders fell 26-10 to the Chiefs and failed in their opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the AFC West.When things dont go the way you want, each man looks and sees what he can do better, Del Rio said. Were going to ask each guy, every play, every coach to do something, do one thing better this week than you did last week.Del Rio said he believes it is easier to make corrections following a loss instead of a win, when players might get complacent.It all starts with a defense that is on pace to allow the most yards per play (6.9) in the NFL since the 1970 merger. It has been an equal opportunity defense that ranks 30th in yards per carry allowed (4.81) and 31st in yards per pass attempt (8.9).Del Rio said the issues start with communication: getting the play from the sidelinee to the huddle quickly enough and then passing that information on to the 11 defenders on the field.ddddddddddddThe Raiders are using three rookie starters on defense -- defensive lineman Jihad Ward, linebacker Cory James and safety Karl Joseph -- and three other starters in their first year with the team, possibly adding to the issues.When that cleans up, it will alleviate a lot of the issues were having, Del Rio said. Thats why I remain very confident in this football team and our ability to grow as the year goes on. There are young players. Thats not an alibi, thats just reality. I think as they gain confidence, theyll continue to grow and our communication will be better and better.Despite the myriad problems, the Raiders head into a two-week road trip to Florida tied for first with Denver, a half-game ahead of the Chiefs. The offense has frequently bailed out the struggling defense with Carr leading second-half comebacks to beat New Orleans, Baltimore and San Diego.Carr just couldnt deliver on Sunday , committing two turnovers in the loss.We cant dismiss the fact that yesterday didnt go the way we wanted, Del Rio said. But we are after six games sitting here 4-2 tied atop our division.Game notesDL Mario Edwards Jr. (hip) will start running on the side this week and will return to practice for the first time since training camp once he is cleared by doctors. ... Del Rio said RB Latavius Murray (toe) is getting healthier and is anxious to return.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '