The Sports Mac: The Daily Fives: September 3rd, 2010

Top 5 Stories From Yesterday

1. The 2010 college football season begins with wins by three top-25 teams, but No. 15 Pittsburgh is upset in overtime on the road at Utah. 

2. The Phillies come from behind with a nine run seventh inning and win a wild makeup game in Colorado, 12-11, to gain a game on the NL East leading Braves.

3. The NCAA rules out Alabama DE Marcell Dareus for the first 2 games of the season for accepting improper benefits for a trip to Miami.

4. Roger Federer is among the winners on the men’s side at day four of the U.S. Open as well as American Mardy Fish.

5. The final night of the NFL preseason wraps up with no real major surprises as teams will now get ready for the start of the season.

Top 5 Games From Yesterday

1. Utah 27, #15 Pittsburgh 24, Overtime: Pitt rallies from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but Pitt QB Tino Sunseri is intercepted and the Utes kick the game winning FG.

2. Phillies 12, Rockies 11: Philadelphia trailed 7-3 before scoring nine runs in the seventh inning to take the lead and then had to hold on for the victory.

3. Tigers 10, Twins 9, 13 innings: Detroit rallied from a four run deficit to force extra innings and won it on a Gerald Laird go ahead home run in the top of the 13th.

4. Minnesota 24, Middle Tennessee State 17: The Golden Gophers come from behind with 10 points in the final frame to thwart the upset bid by the Blue Raiders.

5. Florida Atlantic 32, Alabama-Birmingham 31: The Owls put on a furious comeback after trailing by 16 in the 3rd quarter, but had to block the potential game winning FG from the Blazers on the final play for the victory.

Top 5 Performances From Yesterday

1. C.C. Sabathia, Yankees SP: Zero runs on one hit with five K’s over 8 IP and the victory in NYY’s 5-0 win over OAK

2. Matt Barkley, USC QB: 18 for 23 for 257 yards and five TDs in USC’s 49-36 win over Hawaii

3. Chase Utley, Phillies 2B: 2-4 with a HR and 6 RBIs in PHI’s 12-11 win over COL

4. David Isabelle, Alabama-Birmingham QB: 22 carries for 214 yards and three TDs in UAB’s 32-31 loss to Florida Atlantic

5. Curtis Granderson, Yankees CF: 2-3 with two HRs and three RBIs in NYY’s 5-0 win over OAK

5 Performances That Weren’t So Good From Yesterday

1. Joe Beimel, Rockies RP: Three runs on three hits facing three batters in COL’s 12-11 loss to PHI

2. Manny Delcarmen, Rockies RP: Four runs on four hits in 0.1 IP in COL’s 12-11 loss to PHI

3. Chad Durbin, Phillies RP: Three runs on four hits in one IP in PHI’s 12-11 win over COL

4. Jamey Wright, Mariners RP: Two runs on three hits in two IP in SEA’s 6-3 loss to CLE

5. Lucas Duda, Mets LF: 0-5 with a K in NYM’s 4-2 win over ATL

Top 5 Events To Follow Today

1. MLB: White Sox (73-60) at Red Sox (76-58), 7:00 PM: Two teams looking to pull themselves into the AL playoff races; (Good match-up; Danks (CHW) vs. Buchholz (BOS))

2. MLB: Reds (78-55) at Cardinals (69-62), 8:00 PM: St. Louis may need a sweep this weekend to get back into the NL Central race; (Good match-up; (Arroyo (CIN) vs. Garcia (STL))

3. MLB: Rangers (75-58) at Twins (77-57), 8:00 PM: Two division leaders meet in a possible playoff preview: (Holland (TEX) vs. TBD (MIN))

4. MLB: Rockies (69-64) at Padres (76-56), 10:00 PM: San Diego tries to stop its seven game slide facing a hot Colorado team; (Cook (COL) vs. Luebke (SD))

5. MLB: Giants (74-60) at Dodgers (68-66), 10:00 PM: San Francisco looks to creep closer to the Padres as the Giants face their rivals; (Zito (SF) vs. Billingsley (LAD))