Boston 8, Tampa Bay 6  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — No speeches.  A toast.  And then it was back to work for the Boston Red Sox.  —  The Red Sox became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot, rallying on ninth-inning home runs by Jason Varitek and Julio Lugo to beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 8-6 Saturday.

A-ROD AGENT A 'CUB $COUT'  —  STAR COULD BE PART OWNER: MAG  —  A new report says Alex Rodriguez's agent has spoken to a potential new owner of the Chicago Cubs about a bank-breaking deal that could give A-Rod a cut of the team.  —  The powerful Yankee third baseman is eligible to opt …

Cleveland 6, Oakland 2  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — From shoveling snow to spraying champagne.  —  The Cleveland Indians, who slipped and slid around April's home opener during a freakish spring storm, capped an unforgettable season at Jacobs Field on Sunday with a sun-soaked championship.

Bucs rethinking GM pick?  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates' general manager search may not be over after all as Chairman Bob Nutting and President Frank Coonelly are rethinking their decision to offer the job to Neal Huntington after word of their choice leaked to the media last Thursday night.

Relievers Are Specialists, All Right ... in Shoddy Finishes  —  As if a new curse had infected the Red Sox' relief corps, the cream of the Boston bullpen imploded three times in six days and cost the Red Sox victories they needed to stay comfortably ahead of the belated charge by the dreaded Yankees.

The Ninth in Cleveland  —  With a 6-2 lead in the top of the ninth, the Indians are three outs away to returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2001.  Betancourt is on to nail down the win.  —  Update: Cust strikes out looking on a pitch that looked out of the strike zone.  One out.

Nats waste chances in defeat  —  As Washington Nationals reliever Chris Schroder strode to the mound to begin extra innings, it seemed as if the final night game at RFK Stadium might last well into the morning.  Since knotting the score at one in the sixth, the Nationals had swapped scoreless innings with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Phils' Howard ties MLB strikeout record with 195th  —  WASHINGTON — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard struck out Sunday for the 195th time this season to tie the major league record.  —  In the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals, Howard swung at and missed …

These players choked down the stretch  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  As hard as it might be to believe now, less than a month ago the Tigers, Dodgers, Cardinals and Mariners were in playoff contention.  —  But then came the September swoons.  And teams don't fade without individuals failing.

Notes: Francoeur displays discipline  —  More patient approach helps Braves right fielder raise average  —  ATLANTA — As the regular season heads into its final week and the Braves' postseason hopes grow dimmer, Jeff Francoeur knows that at least one goal will likely go unfulfilled.

Boras urges Rays to be prepared to overspend  —  The Rays likely aren't going to sign free-agent-to-be Barry Bonds, whose surliness and greater-than-thou attitude wouldn't be a fit in their young impressionable clubhouse, though it would be an interesting issue if, unable to find work elsewhere …

Notes: Hernandez returns to lineup  —  Catcher, manager Trembley discuss veteran's role with club  —  ARLINGTON — Baltimore catcher Ramon Hernandez returned to the starting lineup on Saturday after a two-day absence and a private meeting with manager Dave Trembley to discuss some outstanding issues.