Red Sox Eliminate Rays, Cardinals in NLCS Final Tonight

Red Sox Advance To ALCS, Eliminate Rays

(St. Petersburg, FL) -- The Boston Red Sox are moving on to the American League Championship Series after a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game Four of the AL Division Series. Shane Victorino singled in Jacoby Ellsbury in a two-run seventh inning and Dustin Pedroia added a sac-fly for insurance in the ninth as Boston won the best-of-five series three-games-to-one. Victorino says they are pleased with what they've done, but the work is not over.

Jake Peavy allowed one run over five-and-two-thirds innings in the start while Craig Breslow recorded the win in relief. Koji Uehara notched a four-out save for Boston, which will host Game One of the ALCS Saturday. The Sox will face either the Oakland Athletics or Detroit Tigers, who play a deciding Game Five of their ALDS on Thursday. Jake McGee took the loss for Tampa Bay, which sent nine pitchers to the mound.  David DeJesus knocked in the lone run for the Rays in defeat.

Tigers Force Game Five With A's

(Detroit, MI) -- Omar Infante's two-run double in the eighth inning proved to be the difference as the Tigers edged the Athletics 8-6 at Comerica Park to force a decisive Game Five in their American League Division Series. Game One winner Max Scherzer tossed two scoreless innings in relief to pick up the victory, and worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the eighth.  Scherzer says pulling through in that spot was a memorable moment for him.

Victor Martinez hit a game-tying solo homer in the seventh and Austin Jackson's RBI-single later in the inning gave the Tigers a 5-4 lead. Detroit tacked on three more in the eighth before Yoenis Cespedes hit a two-run single in the ninth to pull the A's within one. Jhonny Peralta added a three-run homer for the Tigers, who evened the best-of-five series at two games apiece. Jed Lowrie hit a two-run blast for the A's, who had won the previous two games in the series.  Sean Doolittle suffered the loss. Game Five will be Thursday in Oakland.

Cardinals, Pirates Play For Spot In NLCS

(St. Louis, MO) -- The Cardinals will host the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight in St. Louis in a decisive Game Five of their NL Division Series.  The winner will advance to play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series. The Dodgers ousted the Atlanta Braves on Monday night. Tonight's first pitch is set for 7:07 p.m. Central.

Yankees Want Girardi Decision

(Bronx, NY) -- The Yankees say they want an answer from Joe Girardi. Yanks owner Hal Steinbrenner spoke on "The Michael Kay Show" on ESPN New York 98.7 FM on Tuesday and says he wants to resolve the issue of Girardi's contract "sooner rather than later." The Cubs are reportedly interested in having Girardi replace Dale Sveum.

Cubs Bring Back Sweeney

(Chicago, IL) -- The Cubs are bringing back outfielder Ryan Sweeney. MLB.com reports the 28-year-old has signed a two-year deal worth $3 1/2 million. Sweeney batted .266 with six homers and 19 RBI for Chicago last season. He started the year at Triple-A Iowa before being recalled in May.

Famous Cubs outfielder Andy Pafko has passed away. The 92-year-old died in a nursing home in Stevensville, Michigan Tuesday. Pafko started his professional baseball career with the Cubs back in 1943 and played on the 1945 World Series team. He was named to the Cubs’ All-Century team in 1999.

White Sox To Play At Birmingham Next Spring

(Birmingham, AL) -- The White Sox will play an exhibition in March against the Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League.  The contest will take place March 28th at Regions Field, three days before the regular season opener against the Twins. The teams last played an exhibition in Birmingham in 2007.

Tuesday, October 8 Scoreboard

MLB Playoffs

Detroit Tigers 8, Oakland Athletics 6
(Best-of-five ALDS tied, 2-2)

Boston Red Sox 3, Tampa Bay Rays 1
(Red Sox win best-of-five ALDS, 3-1)

Wednesday, October 9 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB Playoffs

7:07 p.m. - Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals
(Best-of-five NLDS tied, 2-2)