The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • D1

Angeles imes NFL PRESEASON RAMS 13, DALLAS 10 Holton struggles to let go of season of glory K.C.ALFRED San Diego Union-Tribune THE RAMS TURNED this lemon of a play into lemonade to score a first-quarter touchdown. Receiver Robert Woods fumbled when hit by Dallas' Anthony Hitchens after catching a Jared Goff pass, but Rams rookie Cooper Kupp recovered the ball in the end zone. Normal's a new thing Key reliever in the Dodgers' run to 1988 World Series title still is caught in the past. BILL PLASCHKE As Brian Holton lay in a Wisconsin hospital preparing for surgery a few days ago, he was comforted by a number on his medical chart. It is a number that, while legendary among Dodgers fans, has held an even greater importance to the team's former relief pitcher.

It has defined both the best six months of his life and the disillusioning 29-year journey to relive it. It has chased him through homelessness, ail and substance abuse. Yet, for all the pain it has caused, it still fills Holton with blinding hope. "On my chart, for whatever reason, there was the number 88," said Holton. "I saw that and said, 'Doc, this See Plaschke, D3 DOUGLAS C.

PlZAC Associated Pres: BRIAN HOLTON finished the 1988 season with 1723 scoreless innings for the Dodgers. Dodgers results have new meaning By Bill Shaikin The sellout crowd packed Dodger Stadium on Saturday, ready to enjoy a warm evening of little consequence. The countdown to the postseason is on, and the results of August are becoming analyzed in the context of what they mean for October. The Washington Nationals might be the most formidable team standing between the Dodgers and their first World Series since 1988. But the crowd at Nationals Park on Saturday went silent as Bryce Harper slipped on first base, fell and grabbed his left knee in pain.

There was no immediate word about how serious his injury might be, but Harper might be the best player in the National League. The Chicago Cubs could stand in the Dodgers' way too. The Cubs have played sluggishly all summer, but the defending World Series champions finally surged into first place July 26. Yet, barely more than two weeks later, the Cubs no longer are the sole occupants of first place in the NL Central. They now are tied with the St.

Louis Cardinals, the winners of eight straight games and the proprietors of the Dodgers' greatest Octo-See Dodgers, D3 LYNNE Goff embraces calm routine of first exhibition game after last year's hoopla By Gary Klein A much less nerve-racking scene surrounded Rams quarterback Jared Goff on Saturday night against the Dallas Cowboys. A year ago, an eager crowd filled the Coliseum to see the Rams play the Cowboy in the first NFL game in Southern California in more than two decades and to see Goff, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft. Goff came off the bench and played two forgettable series "There was 90,000 people at a preseason game, so I was a little wide-eyed at first," Goff recalled this week. He looked more relaxed Saturday.

He again played only two series but this time produced a touchdown in the Rams' 2017 preseason opener, a 13-10 victory over the Cowboys in a stadium that featured large swaths of empty seats. "Just like any other game, you take good things from it and you take bad things See Rams, D6 New era begins for Chargers They open exhibition season today against Seattle in Carson. D6 NO LONGER an NFL member in good standing, quarterback Colin Kaepernick stirred controversy last year by kneeling during the national anthem to protest social injustice. WOUNDED BY A KNEE Colin Kaepernick remains unemployed since anthem protests. Is the NFL freezing him out? There's a diversity of opinion.

SAM FARMER one thing," Sherman told the newspaper. "But Tampa Bay backup RyanFitzpatrick, Baltimore backup Ryan Mallett or whoever is playing for the Jets right now whoever is starting for the Jets is terrible have jobs. You're telling me fans would rather you lose and put a worse player out there because a guy took a stand? That's where it's so troublesome to me." Pointing out Kaepernick had 16 touchdown passes and four interceptions in Chip Kelly's offense last season, Sherman said the reason the quarterback doesn't have a job is the protests. "What is it about?" Sherman said. "It's not about football or color.

It's about, 'Boy, stay in your While I do believe the kneeling protest and others the Fidel Castro T-shirt, the socks depicting police officers as pigs have completely dissuaded some NFL owners from signing Kaepernick, See Farmer, D7 SLADKY Associated Press Third -round leaderboard PGA Championship Quail Hollow Club Charlotte, N.C. Par 71 1 7,600 yards He's the most talked-about NFL player, yet free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick doesn't even have a team. He remains a polarizing figure, a martyr to some, malcontent to others, and lightning rod for virtually everyone since he took a knee during the national anthem in the name of protesting social injustices. Earlier this month, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman told USA Today that the former San Francisco 49ers star "may not be the best, but he's better than a lot of these dudes starting." "Now if you told me this guy threw eight pick-sixes last year and played like a bum, had no talent, that's On moving day at PGA, leaders go backward Cfc" great bounce off a bridge on No. 18 that kept his bogey from being worse.

Kisner shot a one-over 72 Matsuyama, with bogeys on 12 and 13, a 73; Stroud, with bogeys on 17 and 18, a 71. Day, who seemed in perfect position after those three consecutive birdies, shot 77. The one who conquered Quail Hollow was Canadian Graham DeLaet, who went birdie, eagle, eagle, birdie on the back nine, shot 68 and is tied for seventh. "I had a chance to run away from guys and take See Golf, D9 Every hole is an adventure. Or a disaster.

Jason Day was rolling along close to the lead in Saturday's round, having birdied 14, 15 and 16. He closed bogey, quadruple bogey, hitting shots everywhere on No. 18. Even the leader, Kevin Kisner, wasn't immune. He double-bogeyed 16 and bo-geyed 18.

And the only reason Kisner still is in first by one shot he's at 206, seven under par is that the two men tied for second, Chris Stroud and Hideki Matsu-yama lost strokes on the back nine. Also, Kisner got a Kisner has a one-shot edge at Quail Hollow, which shows its teeth late in the third round. By Art Spander CHARLOTTE, N.C. It's called Quail Hollow, bringing visions of a golfing Eden deep in the Carolina woods. Do not be fooled.

The pros in the 99th PGA haven't been. They've learned exactly how nasty the place can be. 1st 2nd 3rd Par Kisner I 67 I 67 I 72 7 Stroud 68 68 71 -6 Matsuyama 70 64 73 -6 Thomas 73 66 69 -5 Oosthuizen 70 67 71 -5 No Slam for you: Spieth is disappointed as he is unable to get anything going at Quail Hollow. D9 Stuart Franklin Getty images KEVIN KISNER is counting on his course knowledge in final round..