Rays Down Rangers, Cubs Fire Sveum, ML News

Price Pitches Rays Past Rangers, Into Postseason

(Arlington, TX) -- David Price went the distance in leading the Rays to a 5-2 win over the Rangers in the AL tiebreaker game from Arlington. Price allowed two runs and scattered seven hits to improve to 10-8 on the season.  Rays manager Joe Maddon says this was Price's shining moment.

Evan Longoria went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer for Tampa Bay, which will travel to Cleveland to face the Indians in Wednesday's AL Wild Card Game.  Martin Perez allowed three runs in five-and-a-third innings to fall to 10-6 for Texas.  Ian Kinsler was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Alex Rios doubled in a run but the Rangers came up short for the second straight season in a win-or-go-home game after losing to the Orioles in the Wild Card round last year.

Cubs Fire Dale Sveum

(Chicago, IL) -- Dale Sveum is the first managerial casualty of the offseason. The Chicago Cubs have dismissed the skipper after two seasons. Cubs general manager Theo Epstein says they are hiring a new manager at a very crucial time.

The Cubs finished last in the National League Central with a 66-96 record this season. That was a five-game improvement over his first year when the Cubs went 61-101.

Following Monday's firing of Dale Sveum, the Cubs are in search of a new manager. Rumors have started to circulate about the future of Joe Girardi as Yankees manager. Girardi says he's unsure if he will return to New York next season. He previously had played down any speculation of returning to his hometown of Chicago to manage the Cubs.

Mets Give Collins Two-Year Extension

(Flushing, NY) -- Terry Collins will be back manning the dugout next season for the New York Mets. The Mets have given Collins a two-year contract extension through 2015. The deal includes a club option for 2016. The Mets finished third in the National League East this season at 74-88. Collins is 225-261 over his first three seasons in Queens.

Twins To Bring Gardenhire Back

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Ron Gardenhire is returning as manager of the Minnesota Twins. The "Pioneer Press" reports "Gardy" has received a two-year contract to return to the dugout for 2014 and 2015. The Twins finished fourth in the AL Central this season at 66-96, 27 games behind division-winning Detroit. Gardenhire has been manager of the Twins since 2002.

Monday, September 30 Scoreboard

MLB

Tampa Bay Rays 5, Texas Rangers 2

Tuesday, October 1 Schedule (Time Central)

NL Wild Card Game

7:07 p.m. - Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates