FRIDAY EYE-OPENER

It’ll be two wild card teams battling for the 2014 World Series. Travis Ishikawa hit a three-run, walk-off homer in the ninth, lifting the San Francisco Giants into the World Series with a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the NLCS. San Francisco will be up against the red-hot Kansas City Royals for baseball’s biggest prize starting Tuesday.

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Madison Bumgarner is the N-L Championship Series’ MVP after his latest display of post-season poise for San Francisco. Bumgarner tossed eight solid innings in the Giants’ Game 5 win.

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Brendan Gallagher and P-A Parenteau made sure Montreal fans left Bell Centre happy in the Canadiens home opener. Both players scored twice to lead the Habs to a 6-4 victory over their bitter rivals, the Boston Bruins. It was the first meeting between the two teams since Montreal eliminated the Bruins in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last spring.

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The Colorado Avalanche got out to a hot start, but it was Ottawa who finished strong. Bobby Ryan, Clarke McArthur and Chris Neil scored in the third period to lift the Senators to a 5-3 win over Colorado in their home opener at Canadian Tire Centre. McArthur’s goal midway through the third broke a 3-3 tie. The Avalanche scored all three of their goals in the first period.

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Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes and New England held off the New York Jets for a 27-25 victory. Nick Folk’s 58-yard field goal attempt was blocked on the last play to send the Jets to their sixth straight loss.

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Wrigley Field’s famous ivy-covered outfield wall is safe from demolition. But construction equipment is starting to take big bites out of the historic ballpark’s other exterior walls. The demolition of Wrigley’s bleachers is part of a project to build a large electronic sign and six other outfield signs. A Cubs spokesman said the affected walls won’t be rebuilt for several weeks.

(Canadian Press)