Weekend Wake Up: Ichiro’s Repeat Winners, Tightening Races, Marquee Rematches and Leafs Load Up

Giants, Twins creep closer. Minnesota blanked the Tigers to draw within two and a half in the AL Central. The Rockies dropped their fifth in six games while the Giants have won four of five to move three games back in the NL Wild Card. In a game less significant to the standings, Ichiro belted a two-out two-run walkoff homer off Mariano Rivera for his second game-winning hit in as many games.
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↵Saturday, it’s a Saturday. Texas Tech travels to no. 2 Texas (8 p.m., ET) in a highly anticipated follow-up to one of last year’s most memorable games. Lane Kiffin and the Vols get to try to back their words in the Swamp at no. 1 Florida (3:30 p.m.). Elsewhere, no. 19 Nebraska visits no. 13 Va. Tech and no. 3 USC meets former assistant Steve Sarkisian at Washington to start Pac-10 play.
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↵Kessel Runs. The Maple Leafs parted with two first-round picks and a second to acquire the 21-year-old Bruins wing in the hopes of ending a four-year playoff drought.
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LaDainian Tomlinson has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Chargers, marking only the second game he’s missed in his career but the second in three games. Donovan McNabb is still listed as doubtful for the game against the Saints, but few expect him to play.
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