MLB News Blog

The Colorado Rockies pushed across two runs in the first inning of chilly Game 3 on Sunday night when Philadelphia rookie J.A. Happ labored through a 35-pitch inning and took a 3-1 lead over the Phillies after three. Garrett Atkins had an RBI single in the first to go with a run-scoring double in the [...]

After so many October misses, Alex Rodriguez delivered the playoff performance his talent demanded. Rodriguez and Jorge Posada hit seventh-inning home runs to spoil Carl Pavano's opportunity to frustrate New Yorkers one more time, and the Yankees advanced to their first AL championship series in five years with a 4-1 victory and sweep of Minnesota [...]

The Minnesota Twins ran themselves right out of the Metrodome. Nick Punto's baserunning blunder cost the Twins a chance to tie the game in the eighth inning, and the New York Yankees eliminated Minnesota with a 4-1 victory in their division series that shut the doors for good on professional baseball in the raucous, quirky [...]

The Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies bundled up Sunday night for Game 3 of the NL playoffs, wearing stocking caps, gloves and thick, hooded sweat shirts while taking batting practice in the biting cold. The forecast called for a temperature of 33 degrees at first pitch, which would break the record for the coldest postseason [...]

Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy juggled his lineup for Game 3 with Phillies left-hander J.A. Happ on the mound instead of Pedro Martinez. Tracy benched All-Star right fielder Brad Hawpe, who has slumped over the second half of the season, and replaced him on Sunday with Ryan Spilborghs for the game, which was bumped back [...]

Mike Scioscia wants everyone to slow down on that whole Freeway Series thing. The Angels manager — and former Dodgers catcher — had just eliminated the Boston Red Sox in the playoffs when he was reminded that the other L.A. team had also swept through the first round. So, how would he feel about an [...]

Ace closer Jonathan Papelbon couldn't save Boston's season. The intimidating right-hander had never allowed a run in any of his 26 postseason innings before Sunday. But he gave up three in the ninth, capped by Vladimir Guerrero's single. And that rally came after Papelbon inherited a pair of runners from Billy Wagner in the eighth [...]

Tony La Russa's not certain he wants to return for a 15th season as St. Louis Cardinals manager. For one thing, he didn't expect to begin so soon the decision-making process that begins every time his contract expires. The Cardinals were the first National League team to clinch a division title, loaded with star power [...]

Rafael Furcal shrugged his shoulders to his ears, hoping to lessen the chill from the ice bucket being dumped over his head. Yeah, right. Even after the endless dousings of champagne and beer from teammates, the frigid water left Furcal with a dazed-but-happy look, as if his mind was trying to comprehend what had just [...]

Unemployed in August and a star for the Los Angeles Dodgers in October. Once Vicente Padilla got out of the first inning, he slammed the door on the St. Louis Cardinals' season. The second-chance pitcher kept Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday quiet in a 5-1 victory Saturday night that gave Los Angeles a second straight [...]