• White Sox win, force playoff vs. Twins (AP)

  

  Alexei Ramirez spread his arms wide, raced around the bases like a little kid and jumped into Paul Konerko's embrace at home plate. No wonder they were so happy. The White Sox would play one more day. Ramirez set a rookie record with his fourth grand slam of the season, and Chicago beat Detroit 8-2 in a rainout makeup Monday, forcing a one-game tiebreaker against Minnesota for the AL Central title.

  
  

• Gallardo to start Game 1 for Brewers (AP)

  Yovani Gallardo will start Game 1 for the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL playoffs against Philadelphia, followed by ace CC Sabathia for Game 2. "I don't know how to explain it. I'm very excited, just ready to go," Gallardo said Monday. "I'm just going to give my team the opportunity to win." Gallardo returned from a torn knee ligament and pitched four innings last Thursday against Pittsburgh in his...

• Cardinals give Lohse $41M over 4 years (AP)

  

  Pitcher Kyle Lohse and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed Monday to a $41 million, four-year contract. Lohse was 15-6 with a 3.78 ERA this season and led the staff with 200 innings. He agreed to a $4.25 million, one-year contract on March 14. His new deal contract calls for a $1.25 million signing bonus and salaries of $7,125,000 next year, $8,875,000 in 2009 and $11,875,000 in each of the final two...

  
  

• Twins ready for showdown vs. White Sox (AP)

  

  While the Chicago White Sox played and won, the Minnesota Twins could only wait and watch. It's not what the Twins hoped would happen on their strange day off, a rain-delayed 8-2 victory by the White Sox in their makeup game with the Detroit Tigers on Monday. Instead of traveling to Tampa Bay to start the first round of the playoffs as AL Central champions, the Twins instead were forced to point...

  
  

• Lowell, Drew could play in opener (AP)

  Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew took batting practice on an overcast day at Fenway Park. When they were done, the outlook for Boston's two injured hitters was brighter. Both could be ready for Wednesday night's opener of the AL division series against the Los Angeles Angels. The Red Sox can use the power that Lowell and Drew bring to the plate and that Josh Beckett, recovering from an injured side muscle,...

• Black to return as Padres manager (AP)

  

  Manager Bud Black won't be made a scapegoat for the San Diego Padres' worst finish in 15 years. The Padres announced late Monday afternoon that Black and most of his staff will return in 2009. The Padres finished last in the NL West this year at 63-99, 21 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was their worst finish since going 61-101 in 1993.

  
  

• Yankees' Rivera to have shoulder surgery (AP)

  Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will have offseason surgery on his sore right shoulder but should be ready to throw by spring training. Manager Joe Girardi said Monday that the procedure will shave down calcification of the A.C. joint on the top of Rivera's shoulder. The surgery hasn't been scheduled, but Girardi said it doesn't appear to be a serious injury and there is no structural damage.

• Confident Rays expect playoff success (AP)

  Playoff novices or not, the Tampa Bay Rays see no reason why they can't keep winning. "When you believe, and you've got the talent to do it," veteran designated hitter Cliff Floyd said, "anything can happen." The surprising AL East champions won 97 games, 31 more than a year ago when they were the team formerly known as the perennial last-place Devil Rays, and finished with the worst record in the...

• Howard carries Phillies into playoffs (AP)

  

  Ryan Howard was leaving the field after taking batting practice before a game in early May when he spotted a group of young fans standing near the Phillies dugout frantically trying to get his attention. The slugger went over to the kids, chatted with them for several minutes and signed an assortment of caps, balls and cards.

  
  

• Mets ponder impact of another collapse (AP)

  

  For 145 games, the New York Mets mean business. The first six or seven innings each night, no trouble at all. Finding a way to finish -- that's the problem. After their second consecutive late-season collapse, the Mets began clearing out of Shea Stadium on Monday and looking ahead to an uncertain winter with one persistent question in mind.

  
  

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