ChiSox Stay Alive With 5-3 Win

(AP) - Akinori Iwamura hit a go-ahead, two-run homer as Tampa Bay beat the Chicago White Sox 6-2 today for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five American League division playoff series, the AP reports. The young, resilient Rays are one win from breezing into the American League championship series. "This is just awesome," said Rocco Baldelli, who singled in a run. More»

Winner gets day off, begins series against Tampa Bay on Thursday

(NEWSER) - Jim Thome’s seventh-inning home run propelled the Chicago White Sox to a 1-0 victory tonight over the visiting Minnesota Twins in a one-game playoff to decide the American League’s Central Division. The White Sox bullpen made it stand up in clinching the South Siders a berth in a first-round series against Tampa Bay, to begin Thursday in St. Petersburg, Fla., the Tribune reports. More»

Oakland ace tosses majors' 19th perfecto

(AP) - Dallas Braden pitched the Athletics' first perfect game in 42 years and just the 19th in major league history today, dazzling the majors' hottest team in recording a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Oakland. Braden threw his arms in the air after Gabe Kapler grounded out to shortstop for the final out. The closest the Rays got to a hit was Jason Bartlett's liner to third leading off the game. Evan Longoria tried to bunt against Braden leading off the fifth, drawing boos from the small crowd. More»

(NEWSER) - White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle retired 27 consecutive Tampa Bay Rays today for a perfect game and a 5-0 win, the Chicago Tribune reports. There were a couple of dicey moments, particularly in the ninth inning, when center fielder DeWayne Wise barely caught a drive by Gabe Kapler destined for the stands, the AP adds. It’s the first perfect game since Randy Johnson’s in 2004, and the 16th since 1900. More»

Both win easily, with Tampa star a unanimous choice in AL

(NEWSER) - Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto and Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria were named the rookies of the year today in the National and American leagues, respectively. Soto, 25, was voted an All-Star Game starter and finished the season with a .285 batting average, 23 home runs, and 86 RBI, the Tribune reports. He easily beat out Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto. More»