Cardinals Knot Series, Dodgers Clinch

Uribe Lifts Dodgers Past Braves, Into NLCS

(Los Angeles, CA) -- Juan Uribe hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Dodgers to a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves and into the National League Championship Series. Los Angeles clinched the best-of-five NLDS three-games-to-one. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly says this is just one more accomplishment, but they aren't done yet.

Jose Constanza had given Atlanta the 3-2 lead with an RBI single in the seventh inning after the Braves had tied the game at two with a pair of runs in the fourth.  Carl Crawford hit solo homers in the first and third innings to give L.A. the early lead. Clayton Kershaw allowed two unearned runs over six innings while pitching on three days rest for the first time in his career. Brian Wilson was credited with the win while Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the ninth for the save. Freddy Garcia struck out six and allowed two runs in six innings for the Braves and was in line for the win, but David Carpenter was charged with the loss. The Dodgers will play the winner of Wednesday's Game Five between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates for the right to go to the World Series.

Cardinals Beat Bucs Behind Wacha No-Hit Bid

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- Michael Wacha took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and the Cardinals held on to beat the Pirates 2-1 in Game Four of their National League Division Series at PNC Park. Wacha set down the first 15 batters before surrendering a leadoff walk in the sixth. He bounced back to retire the next seven hitters before Pedro Alvarez broke up the no-no with a one-out homer in the eighth. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny says Michael Wacha came through in the biggest of spots.

Matt Holliday hit a two-run shot in the sixth for St. Louis, which evened the best-of-five series at two games apiece. Wacha struck out nine over seven and a third innings of one-run ball for the win. Trevor Rosenthal pitched the ninth for the save.  Charlie Morton took the loss for the Bucs. The Cardinals will host the deciding Game Five Wednesday at Busch Stadium.

A's Double Up Tigers For 2-1 ALDS Lead

(Detroit, MI) -- The Oakland A's are just a win away from advancing to the American League Championship Series. Josh Reddick, Brandon Moss and Seth Smith all homered to power the A's to a 6-3 win over the Tigers in Game Three of their AL Division Series in Detroit. Coco Crisp went 3-for-4 with an RBI for Oakland, which leads the best-of-five series two-games-to-one.  Jarrod Parker pitched five innings of three-run ball for the win. Grant Balfour closed it out for the save, but not before jawing with the Tigers' Victor Martinez in the ninth. The benches emptied, but cooler heads prevailed.  Anibal Sanchez didn't survive the fifth inning and took the loss for Detroit. Martinez had an RBI double and Jhonny Peralta singled in two for the Tigers. Detroit hosts Game Four Tuesday.

Lobaton Lifts Rays Over Red Sox

(St. Petersburg, FL) -- Jose Lobaton lifted a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to send the Rays to a 5-4 win over the Red Sox in Game Three of the ALDS from Tropicana Field. Lobaton's blast came after Dustin Pedroia tied the game for Boston in the top-half of the inning on an RBI groundout. Evan Longoria lifted a three-run homer for Tampa Bay, which elimination in the best-of-five series. Fernando Rodney blew the save but recorded the win for the Rays, who will host Game Four Tuesday.  Koji Uehara gave up the blast to Lobaton and suffered the loss for the Red Sox, who still have a 2-1 series lead. Jacoby Ellsbury was 3-for-5 with two runs while David Ortiz went 1-for-1 with three walks and an RBI in defeat.

Cubs Interviewing Acta, Renteria For Managerial Job

(Chicago, IL) -- The Cubs are reportedly no longer waiting around for Joe Girardi. The "Sun-Times" reports that Chicago interviewed Manny Acta for its managerial job yesterday. The report also says Padres bench coach Rick Renteria will get an interview. It's also believed that former D-backs manager A.J. Hinch was already interviewed.
 

Monday, October 7 Scoreboard

MLB Playoffs

Oakland Athletics 6, Detroit Tigers 3
(Athletics lead best-of-five ALDS, 2-1)

St. Louis Cardinals 2, Pittsburgh Pirates 1
(Best-of-five NLDS tied, 2-2)

Tampa Bay Rays 5, Boston Red Sox 4
(Red Sox lead best-of-five ALDS, 2-1)

Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Atlanta Braves 3
(Dodgers win best-of-five NLDS, 3-1)

Tuesday, October 8 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB Playoffs

4:07 p.m. - Oakland Athletics at Detroit Tigers
(Athletics lead best-of-five ALDS, 2-1)

7:37 p.m. - Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays
(Red Sox lead best-of-five ALDS, 2-1)