WORLD SERIES RECAP

The Kansas City Royals, so good in the late innings, broke loose for five runs in the top of the 12^th on Sunday night (actually Monday morning) and beat the New York Mets 7-2 to win the World Series in five games.

Down 2-0, the Royals scored twice in the ninth to force extra innings and then erupted in the 12^th to win their first championship since 1985. Salvador Perez was named World Series MVP. It was sweet relief for the Royals, who lost the Series in seven games last year to the San Francisco Giants.

NFL

The Cincinnati Bengals came from behind for the fourth time in five games to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-10. Their 7-0 start is the best in franchise history. QB Ben Roethlisberger returned after missing four games for the Steelers, but running back Le’Veon Bell is now lost for the season with a knee injury. … The Denver Broncos pasted the Green Bay Packers 29-10, lifting their record to 7-0 and handing the Pack its first defeat. Oddly, neither Peyton Manning nor Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass. … The New Orleans Saints beat the New York Giants 52-49. Drew Brees passed for 511 yards and seven touchdowns for the winners, while Eli Manning tossed six TD passes. The 101 points tied for third most in an NFL game. Both offenses combined for 1,030 yards.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Many of the top 10 teams were off on Saturday but some of the lesser lights enjoyed the day. Columbia got its first Ivy League victory in nearly three years, beating Yale 17-7. … New Mexico State snapped a 17-game losing streak, erasing a 30-7 deficit and beating Idaho 55-48 in overtime. … Miami defeated Duke 30-27 on a bizarre desperation play at the end of the game. It involved eight laterals and several missed calls by the officials, who were then suspended for two games by the Atlantic Coast Conference.

NASCAR

Jeff Gordon, who is retiring at season’s end, grabbed a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship at Homestead by posting his 93^rd career victory, winning the Goody’s Headache Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .