Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/735672
JULIEJACOBSON—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS The San Francisco Giants' Conor Gillaspie reacts as he rounds the bases a er hitting a three-run home run against the New York Mets during the ninth inning of the National League wild-card game Wednesday in New York. ByAndrewBaggarly BayAreaNewsGroup NEWYORK MadisonBumgarnerhas worked the ranch. He has seen the rodeo. He understands the inherent danger of an open gate. In this most rugged of seasons, Bumgarner did not allow the bull- pen gate to open. He added to his postseason legend with another Rio Bravo performance, Conor Gillaspie stunned a sellout crowd with a three- run home run in the ninth inning, and the San Francisco Giants snuck past the New York Mets in the NL wild-card game Wednesday night at Citi Field. The Giants survived the fire and fury of Noah Syndergaard's seven in- nings. But the Mets could not out- last Bumgarner, who snuffed out their season and carried the Giants through to an NL Division Series against the Chicago Cubs. Johnny Cueto is scheduled to oppose left- hander Jon Lester in Game 1 on Fri- day at Wrigley Field. Gillaspie, a former first-round pick who came back to the Giants as a minor league free agent this spring, joined a list of improbable October legends that includes Cody Ross and Travis Ishikawa. Gillaspie wasn't supposed to start at third base, but with Eduardo Núñez's strained hamstring too sore to go, he received a chance and thrust his way into franchise lore. Brandon Crawford started the ninth inning with a leadoff double and Joe Panik worked a seven-pitch walk to extend the inning for Gillaspie, who connected against Mets closer Jeu- rys Familia. Although Jarrett Parker had re- placed Bumgarner in the on-deck cir- cle, there was little doubt that Bruce Bochy would send his indomitable NL WILD-CARD GAME Bumgarneraddstohislegend Firesshutout,Gillaspie hits 3-run homer to li Giants to win over Mets GIANTS3,METS0 Up next: San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs, 6:15p.m. Friday, TV on FS1. THESCORE By Chip Thompson editor@redbluffdailynews.com @editorchip on Twitter RED BLUFF The Lady Spartans traded sets with the Chico Pan- thers on Tuesday night on their home court and midway through the deciding set it looked as though they were finished, but a final surge gave Red Bluff the win 3 sets to 2. Logan Wheeler was named player of the match for the Spar- tans, with 14 kills, three aces, four blocks and 25 digs. Kylee Kitchell had four kills, four aces, three blocks and 24 digs; freshman Sarah Reineman had three kills, four aces, five blocks, 10 digs and 12 assists; Aurora Carnes had two kills, 20 blocks and two assists; McKenzie Colgate had two aces and 10 digs; and Ashley Tignore had 10 digs. The Spartans led the entire first set, going up 13-7 midway through before cruising to a 25- 15 win. Chico bounced back in the sec- ond set, taking its first lead at 7-6 followed by two long rallies that went the Panthers' way, put- ting them up by three. Red Bluff came back to tie it at 14, but Chico would pull away and take the set 25-19. The third set was much like the first, with the Spartans in front the entire way, eventually taking another 25-15 win. Again the Panthers came back, jumping in front by as much as 16-5 before the Spartans mounted a comeback to pull within five at 18-13. It wouldn't be enough and Chico took the win 25-20. VOLLEYBALL LADY SPARTANS GET BY CHICO IN 5 SETS Wheeler delivers 14 kills, 25 digs for Red Bluff in home victory; Mercy falls to Burney in 5 sets Red Bluff's Kylee Kitchell gets a kill against Chico on Tuesday night. PHOTOS BY CHIP THOMPSON — DAILY NEWS Red Bluff's Emily Tatro gets a dig Tuesday against the Chico Panthers. Staff Report REDDING The Red Bluff Lady Spartans tennis team kept its undefeated season intact Tues- day, getting past a depleted En- terprise Hornets team in a road match, 6-1. Maggie Winning fell to Laura Danarova 6-1, 6-0 on court 1 for the Spartans' only defeat. No. 2 Cleo DuFrain beat No. 6 Cindy Pham of the Hornets 6-0, 6-0 on court 2 and the matches on courts 3 and 4 were forfeited by Enterprise. In doubles action, the Spar- tans' No. 3 Megan Boone and No. 4 Rylee DuFrain beat En- terprise's No. 2 Marie Ashley Gauldo and No. 3 Chloe Lee 7-6, 6-1; No. 5 Victoria Yates and No. 6 Audra Brown beat No. 4 Dae- lynne Silkwood and No. 5 Mon- ica Perry 6-0, 6-0; and No. 7 Jo- elle Alexander and No. 10 Lind- say Harrison beat No. 7 Linda Thor and No. 8 Ashley Vang 6-0, 6-0. The Spartans are scheduled to host the Chico Panthers at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. It will be the team's last home match of the season. TENNIS Lady Spartans remain unbeaten on the court RED BLUFF 6, ENTERPRISE 1 Up next: Chico at Red Bluff, 3:30p.m. Thursday. THESCORE By Janie McCauley The Associated Press OAKLAND At Warriors team headquarters, Zaza Pachulia sits alongside Kevin Durant in the locker room as they dress for practice or ice down each day af- terward. They chat about life, not just basketball. It's these very mo- ments and conversations, face to face and a few minutes with- out the distraction of their smart- phones, that Pachulia is counting on to help new-look, star-stud- ded Golden State begin to find a chemistry that will carry the group deep into the postseason once more. And, they hope, an- other championship. Pachulia is so passionate about it that he spoke up the other day, reiterating to his new teammates the importance of building rela- tionships to reach the top. "Understanding that it's only been a week since we've been to- gether, so we're still trying to get to know each other on and off the court," said Pachulia, who accepted just $2.9 million to join the Warriors. "It's very impor- tant. This team so far has been successful for a couple reasons — obviously talent that we have and the chemistry they had be- fore. That's why I'm mentioning on and off the court. Seven days you can't make everything hap- pen but we've got to understand and we're working on steps to move forward." Shortly before tipoff of Tues- day night's preseason blowout of the Clippers, Durant and Dray- mond Green briefly chatted dur- ing warmups and exchanged a snazzy handshake. Before the jump, Durant pointed to the crowd on either side of the court. Then, he im- mediately showed the Warriors and their adoring crowd at Ora- cle Arena just what he brings on both ends with that 7-foot-5 wing- span and ability to score and cre- ate shots for others. Durant has already said he expects a nightly double-double from himself. "That's the goal," he said. "I'm not saying it would be a for-sure thing. If you set your mind to something you can always do it. Nothing's impossible. My team- mates believe I can do it, the coaches believe I can do it. It's a matter of me going out and try- ing every night." He is challenging himself "to do a better" job rebounding to take pressure off Pachulia and fel- low newcomer David West. Coach Steve Kerr, reign- ing NBA Coach of the Year, has warned it will take time for this All-Star Warriors bunch to find its way. He doesn't expect Durant to be perfectly comfortable yet, not a week into the preseason with only a limited number of prac- tices with fellow starters Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Green and Pachulia. Kerr has pulled KD aside a few times to check in or go over a quick video clip as a learning NBA Warriors work at building chemistry VOLLEYBALL PAGE 4 WARRIORS PAGE 4 GIANTS PAGE 4 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, October 6, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1