National Sports

GENEVA (AP) — The first World Cup in the Middle East is one month away, nearing the conclusion of an often bumpy 12-year journey for Qatar that has transformed the nation.

OTTAWA — Two dozen complaints about abuse and mistreatment have been filed with Canada's new sport integrity commissioner, but she cannot investigate most of them because so few national sporting bodies have agreed to work with her office.

Wednesday's Scoreboard MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (Best-of-seven series) National League | Championship Series San Diego 8 Philadelphia 5 (Series tied at 1-1) American League | Championship Series Houston 4 New York 2 (Houston leads series 1-0) --- NHL Fl

LANGLEY, B.C. — A goal and an assist from Connor Geekie lifted the Winnipeg Ice to a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Giants in Western Hockey League play on Wednesday.

DENVER (AP) — Neal Pionk scored his second goal of the game 31 seconds into overtime and the Winnipeg Jets regrouped after squandering a two-goal lead to beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 on Wednesday night.

Toronto's all-star guard Fred VanVleet addressed delighted fans before tip-off at Wednesday's season opener, telling them: "Let's have some fun." The Raptors made sure they did.

OWEN SOUND, Ont. — Colby Barlow scored twice and contributed a pair of assists, leading the Owen Sound Attack to a 7-2 dismantling of the London Knights in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday.

BATHURST, N.B. — A hat trick from Ben Allison powered the Acadie-Bathurst Titan to a 6-4 victory over the Val-d'Or Foreurs in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action on Wednesday.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Canada's Eugenie Bouchard has been ousted from the Guadalajara Open in the second round after a three-set loss (7-5, 2-6, 6-1) to Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia on Wednesday.

MONTREAL — S.J. Green will retire Friday as a member of the Montreal Alouettes. The CFL club announced Wednesday that Green will sign a one-day contract with the Alouettes in Montreal, and then call it a career.