5
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18. 2005
SPORTS
NFL
Dick Whipple/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 9A
Left tackle Willem Roaf defends as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green looks for a receiver during the third quarter against the Washington Redskins on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Roaf returned to the starting lineup on Sunday after being injured in the Chiefs' season opening against the Jets.
Chiefs ready for injured, suspended players to return
BY STEVE BRISENDINE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The limp? Pay no mind.
It's not a recurrence of the hamstring injury that caused him to miss three games, Willie Roaf said, but a natural consequence of the years he's spent crushing his 6-foot-5, 320-pound — and, let's not forget, 35-year-old — body into opposing defenders.
"The hamstring was not bothering me," the Kansas City Chiefs' left tackle said after returning to the starting lineup in Sunday's 28-21 victory against the Washington Redskins. "I just limp around anyway. May be after I retire, it will go away. I've just got to do everything I can every week to help the team win."
Roaf, a 10-time Pro Bowler, was hurt early in Kansas City's season opener against the New York Jets. It was his first injury since a torn ligament in his right knee forced him to miss the last nine games of the New Orleans
Saints' season in 2001.
His return Sunday was unspectacular, as the Chiefs' offense managed only 274 yards. But he was out front on Kansas City's only rush touchdown, Priest Holmes' 6-yard sweep in the third quarter.
"I felt all right," Roaf said. "I've been playing football a long time. I felt better as the game went on, especially in the fourth quarter."
Roaf's return came at a critical time for the Chiefs (3-2), who had lost two straight and were coming off their bye week. On Oct. 6, right tackle Kevin Sampson was hospitalized with seizures while staying in New Jersey.
Tests showed no heart or neurological problems, and Sampson came back to Kansas City last week. He did not play against the Redskins, but Roaf's return allowed the Chiefs to move Jordan Black, who had been filling in at left tackle, to the right side.
Roaf acknowledged some
rust, though, and coach Dick Vermill agreed.
"Hamstring-wise, his injury was at 100 percent," Vermell said Sunday. "Was he 100 percent in terms of football playing? No. He'll have to play some and get back into it."
"You don't really rotate offensive linemen like you do defensive linemen," Vermeil said. "Right now, he's in a backup role getting ready to play. He had a great week of practice last week.
John Welbourn also returned Sunday, after a four-game suspension for violating the league's steroid policy. He worked out last week at all line positions except center, but was limited to special teams duty against the Redskins.
"He was very impressive on the field, and we know he's ready to play." Vermei added. "Whether he will play or nor is dependent on our injury factor."
Sampson is expected to return to practice Wednesday.
He was eligible to play Sunday, after serving a four-game suspension for his felony DUI arrest earlier this year.
On Monday, Vermeil made it clear he's tired of discussing the situation.
More likely to return, Vermeil said, is cornerback Eric Warfield.
"People want to make a big deal of Eric Warfield," he said. "Leave the guy alone. Let him come back and play football. He's gone through his suspension. He did a great job working out physically and doing what he was allowed to do. Now he's got to get back to playing football and getting back into football shape."
And that, Vermeil said,takes time.
"He was gone for four weeks. He didn't make a tackle or cover a receiver or do anything," Vereli said. "Carrying that over to the field and the speed of the game, that's tough to do."
MLB
Pujols sends Cards back to St. Louis with last-gasp blast
BY MIKE FITZPATRICK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Whoa there, Astros, Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals aren't ready to hand over that NL pennant just yet.
With Houston only one tantalizing out from its first World Series, Pujols saved St. Louis by hitting a stunning three-run homer off Brad Lidge in the ninth inning, and the Cardinals rallied for a 5-4 victory Monday night in Game 5 of the NL championship series.
Pujols' shot over the train tracks high above the left-field wall sent the series back to St. Louis for Game 6 on Wednesday night, with Mark Mulder set to face Houston's Roy Oswalt. The Cardinals also staved off the wrecking ball at Busch Stadium, scheduled for demolition as soon as their season is over.
One strike from ecstasy before David Eckstein's ninth-inning single, the Astros dropped to an agonizing 0-5 with a chance to clinch the NLCS.
One moment, Minute Maid Park was buzzing. The next, it was silent.
Lance Berkman's three-run homer in the seventh off Chris Carpenter gave Houston a 4-2 lead, sending the crowd into a deafening roar.
The Astros then put the series in Lidge's normally sure hands. But, trying for his fourth straight save in the series, he couldn't come through.
After Lidge retired his first two batters in the ninth, the pesky Eckstein grounded a single to left on a 1-2 pitch. Jim Edmonds worked out a walk and Pujols, who failed to deliver with runners on all night, drove an 0-1 pitch over the limestone facade.
Astros starter Andy Pettitte, in the dugout and ready to celebrate with his teammates, mouthed the words "Oh, my" as the ball left the park. Pujols took a moment to watch it sail while Lidge sunk into a crouch on the mound.
When Pujols got back to the dugout, manager Tony La Russa grabbed him for a huge hug.
"He just told me, 'The Great Pujols,' the slugger said. "They're going to be ready in St. Louis. We just need to win two
before we lose one."
It was a crushing loss for the Astros and the "Killer B's." Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell are still trying to reach the World Series for the first time after 15 years as teammates.
"It's terrible. You're high as a kite one minute," manager Phil Garner said. "We were feeling pretty good, but you have to play every out."
With a chance to reach the World Series for the first time in their 44-season history, the wildcard Astros drew a revved-up crowd that was ready to party. Some wore those bright, old rainbow jerseys, and even owner Drayton McLane was jumping out of his box seat now and then.
When they went ahead late, a nice touch of symmetry seemed to be in store: Exactly 45 years ago Monday, Houston was awarded an expansion franchise at an NL meeting in Chicago.
That's where the winner of this series will go — to face the White Sox — but it's not over yet, thanks to Puiols.
Biggio's broken-bat RBI single with two outs gave Houston a lead in the second.
Drawing on all his postseason experience, Petitte pitched out of trouble in the first two innings — but couldn't escape in the third.
Eckstein singled, stole second and moved to third on Edmonds' single. After Pujols and Reggie Sanders struck out, the left-hander walked Larry Walker, loading the bases.
Mark Grudzielanek, batting .138 in the postseason when he stepped to the plate, looped a soft single to right, driving in two runs for a 2-1 lead.
Peering over his glove in familiar fashion, Pettitt gave up two runs and seven hits in 61 1-3 innings. He was tagged for five runs in a Game 1 loss, when he pitched with a swollen right knee after getting struck with a sharply hit ball while running the bases during batting practice.
Notes: Edmonds' seventh-ning popup hit the roof and was a foul ball by rule even though it was caught in fair territory by SS Adam Everett. In a nod to hockey tradition, Pettit sported a playoff beard, just as many of his teammates have lately. The only pitcher to save four games in an LCS was Oakland's Dennis Eckersley against Boston in 1988.