Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
A Nation worries about its ace — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - While New England slept, the Tampa Bays Rays evened the American League Championship Series last night, winning a 5-hour-27-minute marathon, 9-8, on B.J. Upton's sacrifice fly in the 11th at 1:35 this morning.
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Jack Curry / New York Times:
In Long Night of Home Runs, Upton's Sacrifice Pulls Rays Even — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Red Sox pushed, but the Rays shoved back. The Red Sox slapped the Rays, but they smacked back. It was a game the Red Sox wanted to win but one the Rays desperately needed to win.
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
The lineup explained — The Red Sox, as posted previously, made some alterations to their lineup tonight, most notably taking out right fielder J.D. Drew and inserting Coco Crisp. The move had nothing to do with Drew's health, either his long-ailing back or his right shoulder, which was struck by a Grant Balfour fastball last night.
Cliff Corcoran / Sports Illustrated:
Previewing NLCS Game 3 … Phillies at Dodgers — Series: NLCS, Game 3 — TV: FOX — Starters: Jamie Moyer (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Hiroki Kuroda (1-0, 0.00) — The Rays pulled out their must-win game in extra-innings last night. Now, the Dodgers arrive home down 0-2 in the NLCS facing not just one …
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Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES — Colletti walks line between baseball genius and scapegoat — (10-12) 04:00 PDT Los Angeles — Word on the street here a few months ago was that Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti better not sign a long-term lease on his Los Angeles apartment.
Jane Heller / New York Times:
For a Yankees Fan, Playoff Envy — It's hard to be a fan of a noncontender — especially if your team is the Yankees and this is the first time in 13 years that they're not playing October baseball. It's confusing, disorienting, even humiliating. It's like having a standing invitation to a party …
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
Shooting from The Lip: Mets, Yanks should stay away from Manny — Both the Mets and Yankees, who are a little desperate these days as they watch the baseball postseason go on without them, should stay away from Manny Ramirez. Let the Dodgers pay him. And have him.
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Ben Shpigel / Bats:
Manny on the Mets — LOS ANGELES — We're in this brave, new world in which Manny Ramirez actually asks reporters if they have any more questions for him. Seriously. And this came after a session of about 10 minutes by his locker. A few of us stuck around, and when Manny caught wind …
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Beckett received shot — He had injection for oblique injury — Josh Beckett appears to be progressing toward full health, but team sources confirmed that the Red Sox pitcher required an injection of a painkiller and anti-inflammatory medication after injuring his right oblique during …
Ian / SOX & Dawgs:
Please Don't Quit Your Day Jobs — I am not sure there are really any words to explain this from the end of the TBS postgame coverage after Game 2 of the ALCS between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. — At least they all agree they were brutal.
Wallace Matthews / Newsday:
Mets are legends in their own minds — There's a feeling around the Mets that somehow they are the uncrowned champions of the National League, the best team with the worst luck, or some such nonsense. — They tell themselves they should have been in the 2006 World Series …
