AL playoffs news stories on Newser

Gutsy Red Sox Force Game 7

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 04:28:00 CDT

The Boston Red Sox, playing like the defending champs they are, came out swinging and beat Tampa Bay 4-2 last night to force a seventh game in an American League championship series that the Rays had all but wrapped up two days ago. "We went out there and played like...

Red Sox Alive After Miracle Rally

John Johnson — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:31:21 CDT

The Red Sox stayed alive tonight with a stunning 8-run rally over the last 3 innings, the Globe reports. Boston trailed Tampa 7-0 after 6 innings but scored 4 in the 7th and 3 in the 8th to tie the game. In the bottom of the 9th, a base hit...

Rays Rout Boston, 13-4; Lead Series 3-1

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:32:19 CDT

Tampa Bay rocked Tim Wakefield and the Boston Red Sox tonight in a 13-4 victory at Fenway that put the defending champs on the brink of elimination. Evan Longoria hit his rookie-record fifth home run of the playoffs, and Carlos Pena and Willie Aybar also homered off aging knuckleballer Wakefield....

Red Sox Send Angels Packing

M. Morris — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:02:09 CDT

When it turns to October, no one dominates like Boston. Jason Bay slid headfirst into home plate to score on Jed Lowrie's two-out single in the ninth inning tonight as the defending World Series champs beat Los Angeles, 3-2, in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. The Sox advance...

Rays Win 6-2, Earn ALCS Berth

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:49:17 CDT

B.J. Upton and these Tampa Bay Rays are headed home — to get ready for the American League championship series. Worst in the majors last year, the Rays will play for a spot in the World Series after finishing off the Chicago White Sox 6-2 today in Game 4 of...

Byrd's HGH Use Was News to Mitchell

Doug Sweeney — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:13:48 CDT

Baseball investigator George Mitchell denied a report that he leaked information on Cleveland pitcher Paul Byrd’s use of human growth hormone. News broke before Cleveland lost Game 7 to Boston that Byrd had bought HGH online; he said it was used to treat a pituitary tumor. Mitchell said he learned...

Pedroia Powers Sox Into Series

Chip Bayers — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:02:00 CDT

The smallest guy on the field struck the biggest blows last night as the Red Sox turned a tense ALCS Game 7 into a late-inning laugher. With the Sox leading the Indians 3-2, rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia hit a 2-run HR in the 7th inning, then a bases-loaded double...

Red Sox Cruise Behind Beckett

Lev Weinstein — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:53:07 CDT

Game 1 of the ALCS did not prove to be the pitching duel between Cy Young candidates that many had expected, as the Red Sox battered Cleveland starter C.C. Sabathia en-route to a 10-3 victory, the Providence Journal reports. Sabathia was rocked for eight runs in four and a...

Ramirez, Sox Walk Off With Win

Lev Weinstein — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 01:18:43 CDT

Manny Ramirez sent a 96-mph Francisco Rodriguez fastball hurtling out of Fenway Park for a walk off home run, and game 2 of the Red Sox-Angels ALDS ended in a 6-3 Sox victory. The Sox now lead the series 2-0. "Man, it feels great. This is the best time ever,...