Siberian husky River is playful and full of fun

• October 15, 2023

Breed: Siberian husky

Age: 3 years

Gender: Neutered male

Size: 66 pounds

River’s story: River is full of energy and has a playful personality. He has been at the shelter for more than a year and has spent the time making friends with other dogs, learning tricks and becoming a favorite of staff and volunteers. River will make an excellent companion for an active family who can continue to help him learn. With exercise, training and love, River will be a loyal addition to whoever adopts him. Because of his enthusiastic personality, it’s recommended that River be in a home with kids who are at least 16 and that he be the only pet.

Adoption fee: Throughout the month of October, adoption fees are waived for dogs 25-plus pounds. The waived fee does not include licensing fees.

Adoption procedure: Call OC Animal Care at 714-935-6848 to pre-schedule your adoption visit today. While pre-scheduled visits are available for convenience, walk-ins are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis, at the shelter, 1630 Victory Road, Tustin. Mention River’s ID number, A1781254. To see a video of River, click here.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Lakers’ offense showing significant development during preseason

• October 15, 2023

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers want the identity of their team to be based on what they do defensively. Their success on the defensive end of the floor is what led them to last season’s Western Conference finals.

But through four preseason games, it’s clear the team’s biggest improvements have come offensively – a welcomed sight after multiple seasons of subpar offense.

The Lakers’ players who’ll either start or are expected to be in the Day One rotation haven’t been available for many games together, which is a natural byproduct of preseason play.

But when the main players have been available in the same game, like Monday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets in Las Vegas and Friday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com, high-level offensive success has followed.

The Lakers have scored 177 points in the five quarters (141.6 points per game) they’ve played a semi-normal rotation – the first half against the Nets and the opening three quarters against the Warriors.

The obvious caveat is that it’s preseason and a very small sample. But the process of how the Lakers are scoring stands out just as much, if not more, than the production.

They’ve improved with effectively running multiple actions within a set. They’ve diversified and introduced different sets, especially within the five-out setups they’re using more.

“It’s the habits and the connectivity,” coach Darvin Ham said. “We do a lot of breakdowns, whether it’s two-man pick and rolls, three-man actions, four- and five-man actions, we script a lot and we constantly work on concepts and reads. Having the type of team that we have – everyone can dribble, pass and shoot – just that unselfishness, moving the ball, that all it comes down to.

“As long as that camaraderie, continuity and communication on the offensive side of the ball continues to grow and build, there’s no doubt in my mind the sky’s the limit. There’s not a surprise to me at all. We have a bunch of offensively talented players that are willing passers and unselfish by nature.”

They’ve benefited from the spacing their offseason additions – especially Christian Wood, Gabe Vincent and Taurean Prince – are providing for the main ball handlers and playmakers. They made 16 of 36 3-pointers (44.4%) Friday while also taking 37 free throws (made 23).

It also helps that the Lakers had a full playoff run, offseason and training camp to build off and implement Ham’s concepts and sets.

“Anytime you can play with a group of guys longer, you build that chemistry,” guard Austin Reaves said. “You build just really the feel of playing as a unit. That leads to not a good shot but a great [one]. So we try to preach a lot of good-to-great.”

The offensive success the Lakers have had during the preseason may not be sustainable when the games start to count in the standings, but they’ve been an encouraging sign for what’s to come.

Better two-way play will be needed compared to last season for the Lakers to contend for an NBA title.

Related Articles

“Our offense may be a little bit ahead of our defense right now,” Ham said. “But make no mistake about it, for us to accomplish what we need to accomplish, our defense is going to be our identity.

“Offense is subjective and defense is objective. What I mean is offensively, you’re going to have different guys on different nights step up and carry a huge load for you to put points on the board. But defensively, you have to get that right almost every night. It’s a group effort and it’s a mentality we want to build on that side of the ball.”

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County Cross Country Championships: Evan Noonan, Holly Barker, JSerra girls win sweepstakes titles

• October 15, 2023

SILVERADO — There were no major surprises in the premier races at the Orange County Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Oak Canyon Park.

Evan Noonan of Dana Hills, the county’s top-ranked boys runner, added another highlight to his stellar season with a first-place finish in the Varsity Boys Sweepstakes Race, crossing the finish line in 13 minutes, 59.4 seconds.

Finishing second, seven seconds behind Noonan, was his new teammate, Jayden Hernandez, a transfer from Godinez who was recently cleared to compete for the Dolphins. Hernandez was running in just his second race with the team.

Dana Hills’ Evan Noonan, left, won the Boys Varsity Sweepstakes Race at the Orange CountyChampionships, and his teammate, Jayden Hernandez, finished second. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

The one-two finish, combined with a sixth-place finish from Dana Hills’ Garett Woodruff, helped the Dolphins capture the team title with a score of 48 points, five points ahead of second-place San Clemente, which won the 2022 sweepstakes race.

“We had goals last night, talking about how we wanted to go one and two,” said Noonan, who was coming off a third-place finish in the prestigious Clovis Invitational on Oct. 7. “We needed our third man to be top five. Everyone PR’d by a minimum of 10 seconds all across the board, so I’m super proud of everyone. Can’t ask for more, and just glad that we can take back that county title.”

Junior Holly Barker of Trabuco Hills won the Girls Sweepstakes Race at the Orange County Championships for the third year in a row. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

Trabuco Hills’ Holly Barker, the top girls runner in Orange County, won the Girls Sweepstakes Race for the third year in a row.

Barker won the race in her freshman and sophomore years while at Laguna Hills before transferring to Trabuco Hills during the summer.

She stumbled at the start and came close to falling, but Barker regained her footing, took the lead about 200 meters into the race and never looked back.

“Honestly, it kind of helped me,” Barker said of the stumble. “Because I feel like you always want that perfect start, you always want your foot to lift off, you want to feel strong, you want to get going. And to have your foot just kind of give out, it’s like, whoa, did I just get injured? But I think it just eases your pressure, it lets you get in the moment. Running’s not perfect. Neither is your start sometimes. You just got to get back up, keep going, and have fun with it.”

The JSerra girls cross country team placed five runners among the top 20 to run away with the championship of the Girls Sweepstakes Race at the Orange County Championships. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

The JSerra girls won the Sweepstakes race, adding to their list of top finishes this season in several high-level meets.

Sophie Polay, a transfer from Santa Margarita, finished third for the Lions, who placed five runners among the top 20 to finish first with 46 points, 64 points better than second-place Trabuco Hills.

“I knew our team had a lot of good people coming in and our returners were just really, really strong,” said JSerra’s Brynn Garcia, who finished eighth. “But honestly, I’ve been shocked at how high we’ve been placing. It’s put a little bit of pressure on our team but you know pressure is a privilege. That’s been our motto this year. I think we just come into each race focused. We know what goals we want to hit, and we keep ourselves to high standards.”

Senior Diego Mejia of Godinez won the Boys Medium Schools Division race in 15:14.1 at the Orange County Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 14. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

Senior Diego Mejia of Godinez won the Boys Medium Schools Division race in 15:14.1. Mejia was in a pack of 15 at the first mile, about seventh place at the second mile and then passed Capistrano Valley’s Angel Perez, who finished second.

“In the last mile, I saw the kid from Capo Valley, and that’s when I started smiling a little bit because I knew I still had a lot in the tank,” Mejia said. “And I started catching up to him and little by little, I caught up to him and in the last 800 I left him.”

Perez’s second-place finish led the Cougars to a first-place finish in the team race.

Avery Williams of Edison won the Girls Medium Schools Division race at the Orange County Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 13. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

A pair of freshmen, Avery Williams of Edison and Anneliese Watrous of El Dorado, finished first and second, respectively, in the Girls Medium Schools Division race.

Fullerton won the team portion of the race.

The Fullerton girls cross country team finished first in the team competition of the varsity medium schools race at the Orange County Championships. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

In the first day of competition on Friday, Servite sophomore Emanuel Lopez finished first in the Boys Varsity Small Schools Division race, leading the Friars to a first-place finish as a team.

Grace Toriz of Western won the Girls Varsity Small Schools Division and Laguna Beach won the team portion of the race.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Placentia, La Habra gather for annual festivals

• October 15, 2023

The strong community ties of two north Orange County cities were on display Saturday.

Crowds lined streets in La Habra and Placentia for beloved community parades and then gathered in nearby parks for festivals.

Marching bands, a convoy honoring veterans, floats and community members paraded down Kraemer Boulevard in Placentia before cheering residents.

The parade kicked off the Placentia’s Heritage Festival, now in its 58th year, which filled Tri-City Park into the afternoon with fun for families, showcases of local businesses and nonprofits and a car show.

In La Habra, the Corn Festival that started Friday night continues through Sunday, Oct. 15.

Saturday morning, residents watched the festival’s annual parade and then filled El Centro Lions Park enjoying carnival rides and games, shopping, corn eating contests and concerts.

The entertainment continues Sunday until 9 p.m.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

High school football: Orange County’s Week 8 stat leaders and top performers

• October 15, 2023

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

The top performances from the Orange County high school football games in Week 8.

Click here for details about sending your team’s scores and stats to OCVarsity.

WEEK 8 LEADERS

Passing yards

Alonza Esparza, Los Alamitos          346

Jaden O’Neal, Newport Harbor         339

Cash O’Byrne, Tesoro                       318

Jackson Kollock, Laguna Beach       290

Anthony Luna, Western                    288

Nate Richie, Capo Valley Christian    281

John Gazzaniga, Santa Margarita     277

Jacob Perry, Trabuco Hills                244

MJ Fernandez, Anaheim                   238

TJ Lateef, Orange Lutheran              210

Noah Puertas, Esperanza                 195

Ethan Nguyễn, Bolsa Grande           190

Aidan Houston Cypress                    185

Jace Lowe, Dana Hills                      168

Daniel Joya, Century                         159

Kevin Contreras, Godinez                 134

Dylan Draft, Valencia                         127

Benny Burns, Westminster                126

Jeremiah Finaly, Crean Lutheran       110

Nate Bento, El Dorado                       108

Bode Stefano, Newport Harbor          100

Rushing yards

Aiden Rubin, San Clemente               262

Aaron Forsgren, Esperanza               172

Travis Wood, Tesoro                           158

Nate Bento, El Dorado                        140

Steve Chavez, Orange Lutheran        123

Eduardo Guardado, Anaheim             112

J.P. Murray, El Dorado                        108

Declan Kai Healey, Troy                     104

Diego Benitez, Anaheim                     102

Caleb Huss, Troy                                  99

Clayton Corbett, Western                     96

Redmond Chesley, Laguna Beach       95

David Nguyen, Bolsa Grande               90

Trent Mosley, Santa Margarita              87

Taylor Bowie, Trabuco Hills                  86

Joshua Faulkner, Western                    85

Daniel Joya, Century                            77

Owen Walz, Dana Hills                         71

Zayne Lee, Beckman                           70

A. Shepard, Beckman                          69

Blake Fleming, Beckman                     69

Receiving yards

Trent Mosley, Santa Margarita            230

Jordan Anderson, Newport Harbor     166

Todd Nelson, Tesoro                           160

Max Krosky, Capo Valley Christian     120

Ryan Luce, Trabuco Hills                    118

Josiah Lamarque, Newport Harbor     115

Marc Navarro, Bolsa Grande              103

Nicholas Bland, Orange Lutheran         98

C. Schamel, Tesoro                               95

D. Joshway-Fairley, Western                95

Owen Walz, Dana Hills                         90

Cade Fegel, Newport Harbor                86

Alex Kiernan, Trabuco Hills                   76

JJ Amezcua, Western                           76

Jason Garrett, Anaheim                        73

Heath Carlson, Capo Valley Christian   71

Keigan Munoz, Valencia                       70

Jose Jimenez, Century                         69

Ryner Swanson, Laguna Beach           69

Jake Porteneuve, Cypress                    68

Jeremiah Castro, Anaheim                    68

Nick Rogers, Laguna Beach                  66

J. Rodriguez, Century                            65

Tackles

Eddie Zarate, Bolsa Grande                  16

Cooper Walsh, Dana Hills                      13

Dominic Hadrous, Western                    13

A’marri Hopwood, Westminster             12

Dillon Ninh, Bolsa Grande                     12

N. Fiaputa, Bolsa Grande                      12

Levar Talley, Santa Margarita                12

Noah Sulick, Santa Margarita                12

Rocco Burdett, Cypress                         11

Ryan Manda, Trabuco Hills                    11

Eric Lopez, Western                               11

Jack Gallo, Capo Valley Christian          11

Valentin Mota, Godinez                          10

Ethan Mundt, Troy                                  10

Cayleb Quiroz, Troy                                10

Zayne Lee, Beckman                              10

Samuel Amaya, Western                        10

​ Orange County Register 

While the world is watching Gaza, violence fuels growing tensions in the occupied West Bank

• October 15, 2023

By JULIA FRANKEL and JOSEPH KRAUSS

JERUSALEM — While the world is focused on the war in Gaza, tensions have risen in the occupied West Bank, where 55 Palestinians were killed over the past week in clashes with Israeli troops, arrest raids and attacks by Jewish settlers. U.N. monitors said it was the deadliest week for Palestinians in the territory since at least 2005.

Since Hamas’ deadly mass incursion into southern Israel, in which militants killed over 1,300 people and captured around 150, Israeli forces have held the West Bank under a tight grip, closing crossings into the territory and checkpoints between cities, measures they say are aimed at preventing attacks.

Friday was a particularly deadly day, with 16 Palestinians killed in different incidents in the West Bank.

LATEST IN ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: Gaza’s desperate civilians flee or huddle in hopes of safety, as warnings of Israeli offensive mount

The military says it has arrested 220 people in raids across the West Bank, including 130 Hamas operatives, since last weekend’s attack. Hamas militants are present in the West Bank, but largely operate underground because of Israel’s tight grip on the territory.

The renewed crackdown comes as Israel is concerned about the conflict escalating into a multi-front war, particularly the possibility of Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia also joining the battle.

But Palestinians say the latest Israeli measures in the West Bank have only further blurred the line between security forces and radical, violent settlers. Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right settler with a long history of anti-Arab incitement, responded to the Hamas attack by distributing more weapons to the already well-armed settler population and tasking settlers with security.

In a statement earlier this week, he said his office is distributing 10,000 firearms, as well as combat gear, protective vests and helmets, to Israeli civilians — with a particular focus on residents of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

“We will change the world so that the settlements will be protected,” he said. “I have ordered the massive arming of the civilian standby units in order to protect the settlements and the cities.”

Related Articles

On Friday, a video showed a settler with an assault rifle walking into the village of Al-Tuwani in the southern West Bank and shooting a Palestinian point blank.

Two days earlier, settlers shot dead three Palestinians in the village of Qusra, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus. On Thursday, settlers attacked their funeral, killing another two men, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Video footage showed the settlers swerving their cars into the funeral procession before stopping and opening fire.

On Thursday, settlers arrived at Wadi Seeq, a small Bedouin village home to around 200 people in the central West Bank, as Palestinians there packed up their belongings. They had already moved all of the women, children and livestock to a safer area in recent days because of rising threats, a resident of the village said. Witnesses said that the settlers opened fire, wounding three Palestinians and driving the rest out of the village.

Abdelrahman Kaabni, the head of the Wadi Seeq village council, said that soldiers and police had taken part in the attack, beating and arresting residents. As the villagers of Wadi Seeq fled settler violence, they left behind cisterns, livestock, solar panels and two vehicles. “The settlers took everything, and now they’re squatting in our homes,” Kaabni said.

Wadi Seeq is the sixth Bedouin village to have pulled up stakes in the last year in response to an uptick in settler attacks. Many more are in danger of being completely displaced, according to the West Bank Protection Consortium, a coalition of aid groups and donor countries, including the European Union, that support Palestinian communities.

Neither COGAT, the Israeli defense body responsible for civilian affairs, nor the Israeli military responded to requests for comment. In the past, authorities have said troops only open fire in response to threats or to disperse violent protests and that soldiers protect Palestinians from settler attacks.

The U.N. said last month that 1,100 Palestinians had been displaced by settler violence in the last year, an unprecedented figure. Over just the last few days, around 200 to 300 Palestinians have been displaced in Wadi Seeq and other areas, the consortium said — often by settlers who are armed.

“They’re leaving now because they feel completely unprotected. They’re so scared of those settlers who have come in and threatened them,” said Allegra Pacheco, who heads the consortium.

Most of the attacks come from settler outposts established without government authorization but protected by the Israeli army. Over 500,000 Jewish settlers live in nearly 150 settlements across the West Bank, which is home to some 2.5 million Palestinians. The international community overwhelmingly views settlements as illegal and a major obstacle to peace. Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 war. The Palestinians want the territories for their future state.

On Saturday, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari appeared to be calling on settlers to stand down, saying: “The responsibility for security in the settlements and on the roads lies with the army alone.”

But messages continued to circulate on WhatsApp groups that Jewish settlers have created since the start of the war to coordinate operations in the West Bank. A description of one chat group with over 800 participants told residents to prepare for “the possibility of mobilizing for a joint activity with the security forces for the immediate demolition of terrorist houses.”

The message urged residents to “eliminate” any Palestinian approaching a settlement.

“From the stories flowing in from the Gaza Strip, it is clear that we cannot rely on the army alone to be able to protect us in a time of chaos,” it read. “Are you ready for war?”

​ Orange County Register 

Police temporarily close stretch of 405 freeway as thousands march in pro-Palestinian demonstration

• October 15, 2023

Thousands marched from the Israeli Consulate in West Los Angeles to the Federal Building in Westwood on Saturday, Oct. 14, forcing the temporary shutdown of part of the 405 Freeway as demonstrators called for Palestinian rights and Israel prepared for a large-scale, coordinated attack against Hamas in the Gaza strip.

The protesters joined planned demonstrations in other U.S. cities calling for the liberation of Gaza and of Palestinians.

A rally held by the Palestinian Youth Movement and other organizations are in front of the Consulate General of Israel on Saturday, Oct. 14. Scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. there are already over 100 people rallying in support of the Palestinian people. @ladailynews pic.twitter.com/SuAYwzDMzn

— Christina Merino (@christinam_love) October 14, 2023

As local protesters held up signs demanding to “free Palestine” and chanted “Israel, Israel you can’t hide,” Palestinians in Gaza struggled Saturday to flee from areas of their city targeted by the Israeli military. They were grappling with a growing water and medical supply shortage ahead of the expected land offensive a week after Hamas’ bloody, wide-ranging attack into Israel targeting civilians.

From the consulate, Saturday’s demonstration became a march to the Federal Building, with thousands filling Wilshire Boulevard and holding up Palestinian flags.

While the violence represents a new war in a region that has seen many, their demand was the same as it has been for generations — to free the Palestinian Territories from what the United Nations considers Israeli occupation, despite Israel’s claim otherwise.

Hamas rejects a proposed “two-state solution” — the peace initiative that seeks a Palestinian state established in territory that Israel captured in 1967 — and is sworn to Israel’s destruction. Israel has said a Palestinian state must be demilitarized so as not to threaten Israel.

During the march to the Federal Building, police in riot gear held off marchers from walking onto the 405 after about a dozen tried to get onto the busy freeway. A group of five or so appeared to get access to the top of a hill and started waving a flag.

I want to give you an idea of the sheer size of this crowd as it’s coming up Wilshire, a very trafficked street on a busy afternoon. It’s been months since there was a protest that approached this size, showing just how strongly people feel about this major conflict. pic.twitter.com/Gr3LSwIHNn

— Emily Holshouser (@emilyytayylor) October 14, 2023

In another encounter, a car waving an Israeli flag drove past and people threw objects at it, grabbed the flag and trampled it.

By 3 p.m., LAPD officers had formed a riot line. But tensions with police appeared to flare again when a man holding an Israeli flag approached some people. Police separated everyone after a few minutes.

A small group of counterprotesters were present on Saturday in West L.A, representing Jewish communities in the U.S., France and elsewhere, which have held rallies and vigils in solidarity with Israel after the Hamas attack, the deadliest killing spree against Israeli civilians in the country’s 75-year history.

Jews also gathered at synagogues this weekend for Shabbat services held amid the ongoing war ignited by Hamas militants. Rabbis led prayers of peace and grieved with their congregations. At many synagogues, security was tight.

And across the world, where the war is taking place, the violence did not appear to be easing. A humanitarian disaster was looming, United Nations officials warned.

In an update Saturday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said 2,215 civilians, including 724 children and 458 women, have been killed since the conflict broke out one week ago.

Israel’s military said Hamas’ attack and ongoing rocket fire from Gaza had killed more than 1,300 people and left at least 3,200 wounded as of Friday. At least 29 Americans are known to be among the dead, a State Department spokesperson confirmed Saturday

Related links

CSUN gathering shows support for Israel in Northridge
Biden speaks with families of Americans unaccounted for in Israel
Rallies across Los Angeles County stand in memory of those killed in Israel and Gaza
Gaza’s desperate civilians flee or huddle in hopes of safety, as warnings of Israeli offensive mount

The attacks continued Saturday, with Hamas launching rockets into Israel and Israel carrying out strikes in Gaza.

An Israeli airstrike near the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza killed at least 27 people and wounded another 80, Gaza health authorities said. Most of the victims were women and children, the authorities said. Doctors from Kamal Edwan Hospital shared chaotic footage of charred and disfigured bodies.

It was not clear how many Palestinians remained in northern Gaza by Saturday afternoon, said Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. An estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza in one week, she said.

The is a developing story. Check back for updates.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

​ Orange County Register 

ALCS: Astros look to continue Lone Star dominance of Rangers

• October 15, 2023

HOUSTON — Houston dominated Texas during the regular season, winning nine of 13 matchups.

Now the Rangers get another chance at the Astros when they meet for the first time in the playoffs in a Texas-sized showdown with a trip to the World Series on the line starting Sunday night in Houston.

The Astros completed the regular season matchup against the Rangers with a three-game sweep at the beginning of September. Houston hit 16 homers to sweep that series by a combined score of 39-10.

But despite the lopsided results this season, both teams say they’ll start with a clean slate for the American League Championship Series.

“Regular season doesn’t mean anything anymore,” Houston Game 1 starter Justin Verlander said. “And I think it’s a different game. Playoffs is a different brand of baseball.”

That series in September was during the worst slump of the season for the Rangers, who were without third baseman Josh Jung and who lost Adolis García during the series.

Texas first baseman Nathaniel Lowe also noted that 21-year-old outfielder Evan Carter wasn’t even in the majors the last time the Rangers met the Astros.

“I think we were missing two or three bats, two or three starting bats. Evan was still in high school,” Lowe joked. “We had a couple pieces that weren’t fully, fully firing on all pistons.”

Houston’s success in the head-to-head matchup allowed the Astros to win the AL West while the Rangers had to play in the Wild Card Series after both teams finished with 90-72 records.

Now both teams are back to full strength and prepared to fight for the Lone Star state crown.

This isn’t the first time Houston manager Dusty Baker has experienced a high stakes, in-state postseason matchup.

As manager of the San Francisco Giants in 2002, he lost the World Series to the Anaheim Angels.

“In California, we were in the World Series, two teams, us and the Angels, battling for bragging rights in California,” he said. “But everything is bigger in Texas. I’ve learned that since I’ve been here.”

Outfielder Robbie Grossman is in his first season with the Rangers but is well-acquainted with the rivalry, after going to high school in suburban Houston and spending his first three big league seasons with the Astros.

“It’s huge for baseball, but it’s even bigger for the state of Texas,” he said. “Just being a Texan, I know how much both these teams mean to the state.”

Verlander will face left-hander Jordan Montgomery on Sunday night.

Verlander, who returned to Houston in a July trade from the Mets, will make his 36th playoff start. The three-time Cy Young Award winner pitched six scoreless innings in the Division Series opener against Minnesota to extend his franchise record with his 10th postseason win.

This will be the fourth playoff start for Montgomery and third this season. Montgomery, acquired from St. Louis this summer, has had an up-and-down postseason after throwing seven shutout innings in the Wild Card Series before allowing four earned runs and nine hits in just four innings in Game 2 of the ALDS.

He talked about his struggles against the Orioles.

“Everything was a little un-synced up,” he said. “So just got to find my timing and execute more pitches.”Houston’s Framber Valdez opposes Nathan Eovaldi in Game 2 on Monday.

MAD MAX BACK?

Texas starter Max Scherzer is expected to return for this series after being out since Sept. 12 because of a muscle strain in his shoulder.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner, also traded from the Mets this summer, said he was “ready to go” after throwing a bullpen session and doing fielding drills Friday.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy was asked if Scherzer would be included on the ALCS roster Saturday.

“Max is doing well,” Bochy said. “He’s done well. After workout today, we get together, we’ll get the staff, of course, (general manager) Chris Young and his staff, and we’ll talk about the roster. But he’s doing really well.”

Scherzer is 7-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 27 postseason games that include 22 starts. If he appears for Rangers, it would be the fifth team he has pitched for in the postseason after Detroit, Washington, the Dodgers and Mets.

ABREU’S STREAK

Houston reliever Bryan Abreu enters the ALCS with a 31-inning scoreless streak in his last 30 appearances.

Abreu, who hasn’t allowed a run since July 18, hasn’t been scored on in the postseason in 14 2/3 innings, which spans 14 appearances dating back to last year.

Abreu, who normally pitches the eighth inning before handing things off to closer Ryan Pressly, has allowed two hits in 3 1/3 innings over three appearances this postseason.

“As a pitcher you just have to be calm and be ready to execute every single pitch and keep attacking the strike zone,” he said. “If you let everything outside go through your head … you’ll lose focus.”

FRIENDLY WAGER

Arlington Mayor Jim Ross proposed a wager to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner that the loser of the series would have to wear the winner’s jersey to a city council meeting.

Turner quickly agreed and wrote on X: “Since I’ve been mayor, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the Astros win the World Series… twice, so I accept.”

​ Orange County Register