Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington is heading to the World Series for the first time in 86 years after the wild-card Nationals used a seven-run first inning and Patrick Corbin’s 12-strikeout performance to hold on and beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 for a sweep of the NL Championship Series. The Nationals were just 19-31 in May but now they will face the Houston Astros or New York Yankees in the Fall Classic.

NEW YORK (AP) — A year after suspicions on sign stealing made headlines when a man associated with the Astros was caught pointing a cellphone into opposing dugouts, Houston is giving pitchers pause again, perhaps with nothing more than the naked eye. There’s nothing illegal about noticing a tipped pitch, and manager AJ Hinch delivered a clear message about who is at fault if Houston knows what’s coming. Hinch said before Game 3 of the AL Championship Series that it’s on pitchers to guard against it.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Derek Mason’s solution with Vanderbilt mired in a horrendous start coming off arguably the worst loss of his six seasons is work harder and stick together. Mason is confident in the coaching staff he’s got. The coach says he’s more worried about making sure his Commodores trust their training heading to their next home game against No. 22 Missouri.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Every returning member of the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues went to the White House several months after a couple of 2018 Cup champion Washington Capitals players opted not to visit President Donald Trump. Alternate captain Alex Steen says the Blues do everything as a team on and off the ice and cited it as one reason they captured the first championship in franchise history. Trump also used the occasion to touch on the situation in Turkey and an agriculture deal with China.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs’ use of the run-pass option is a big reason why their offense has been so successful the past season-plus. It has largely kept defenses uncertain where the ball is going, opening up the field for the Kansas City fleet of fast, athletic wide receivers. Only the past two weeks, the RPO has been more like R-P-Oh no!

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — No. 23 Iowa has lost back-to-back games to Michigan and Penn State, scoring just 15 points in all. The Hawkeyes, who scored in every quarter of their first four games, have had just one touchdown and three field goals in their last eight quarters. They also have six turnovers the last two games after just one in the first four. Iowa faces Purdue this weekend.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State’s success over the past two seasons helped it land freshman running back Breece Hall. Iowa State saw last weekend what it is like to have one of its own players take over a game. Hall ran for 132 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-14 victory at West Virginia. The Cyclones visit Texas Tech this weekend.