Red Sox and Rays advance to AL Championship Series

Rays beat White Sox 6-2 to advance to ALCS

By Nam Y. Huh (AP)

They rushed toward the mound, these remarkable Rays, and immediately formed a circle. Jumping together like fraternity brothers, they resembled party regulars in the postseason.

Worst in the majors last year, Tampa Bay will play for a spot in the World Series.

\"It means everything. We\'ve been at the bottom of the barrel for so long,\" B.J. Upton said Monday after homering twice in a 6-2 win over Chicago that clinched their AL playoff. \"I think there was a point in time where people didn\'t even know who we were.\"

They do now, for sure.

Andy Sonnanstine pitched...

Hamlin released from hospital day after hard wreck

By Greg McWilliams (AP)

Denny Hamlin was released from a hospital Monday, a day after a tire failure led to a hard crash at Talladega Superspeedway.

Hamlin was kept overnight for observation at a Birmingham hospital after his car slammed into a wall. He was alert and awake when he was transported to the UAB Medical Center on Sunday, but was complaining of a headache and possibly had a concussion. He was also favoring his right foot after a slow exit from his crumpled car.

Hamlin, one of 12 drivers racing for the Sprint Cup title, was leading midway through the race when his right front tire failed...

No Shocker Detroit wins third title in 6 seasons

By Jerry S. Mendoza (AP)

Katie Smith missed almost the entire second quarter because of foul trouble. Cheryl Ford has been out since the summer with a knee injury. And the Detroit Shock had to play in a college gym half the size of their regular home court.

In the end, none of it mattered.

The Shock overcame all of that in winning their third WNBA title in six seasons on Sunday, beating the San Antonio Silver Stars 76-60 in Game 3.

Vikings overcome 2 TDs by Bush, beat Saints 30-27

By Brian Lawdermilk (AP)

Ryan Longwell\'s 30-yard field goal with 13 seconds left lifted the Minnesota Vikings to a 30-27 comeback victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night, spoiling a record-tying performance by Reggie Bush.

Bush returned two punts for touchdowns _ one 71 yards, one 64 _ as the Saints, who trailed by 10 points in the second quarter, took a 27-20 lead in the fourth quarter.

But Gus Frerotte led the Vikings (2-3) back into a tie with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian.

Martin Gramatica, who had a blocked field goal returned 59 yards for a touchdown in the...

IIHF Radulov was wrong to sign with Russian club

By John Russell (AP)

Russian forward Alexander Radulov was wrong to sign with a club in his home country while under contract with the Nashville Predators, ice hockey\'s world governing body ruled Wednesday.

But the International Ice Hockey Federation said it had no legal basis to suspend him because there is no agreement in place to regulate international transfers. The ruling indicated Radulov had a binding agreement to serve the one year remaining on his Predators\' contract.

The Radulov case has been at the center of a wider dispute between the NHL and Russia\'s new Continental Hockey League...

Womens soccer league on Fox network

By (AP)

The new Women\'s Professional Soccer league that launches next year will have a live Sunday night broadcast each week on the Fox Soccer Channel.

The deal announced Monday runs through the 2011 season and includes a 2012 option for both sides.

\"In addition to live and exclusive match telecasts, Fox Soccer Channel will give WPS added exposure through our multi-platform offerings, including original studio shows,\" FSC executive vice president David Sternberg said.

FSC also has U.S. broadcast rights to the English Premier League and Italy\'s Serie A, and it shares Major...

Roddick upset by Berdych at Japan Open

By Itsuo Inouye (AP)

Andy Roddick was upset by Tomas Berdych 6-7 (2), 7-5, 7-6 (3) Saturday in the semifinals of the Japan Open, ending his bid for a second straight title in Asia.

The ninth-seeded Berdych will face fifth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in Sunday\'s final. Del Potro defeated No. 4 Richard Gasquet 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the other semifinal.

Roddick, coming off a win at the China Open last Sunday, broke Berdych to take a 2-0 lead in the final set and looked set for another trip to the finals after building a 5-2 lead.

\"It\'s disappointing,\" Roddick said. \"I don\'t know...

Phelps honored by Baltimore with parade and salute

By Rob Carr (AP)

Michael Phelps was honored by his hometown Saturday with a parade attended by thousands eager to pay homage to the record-setting Olympian.

Phelps was the focal point of the \"Parade of Gold\", which served as a homecoming for Maryland\'s Olympic heroes, most notably the swimmer who won a record-setting eight gold medals at the Beijing Games this summer.

An estimated 5,000 people attended the event, according to Baltimore County police.

Wearing sunglasses, jeans, a T-shirt and a brightly colored jacket, Phelps waved to admiring fans from within an open-air military...

Tuberville Auburn still searching for answers

By Mark Humphrey (AP)

No. 20 Auburn woke up Sunday morning to several harsh realities.

The Tigers lost to Vanderbilt for the first time since 1955, have already dropped two Southeastern Conference games and the offense is showing few signs of breaking out of its struggles.

\"We\'re pretty down right now,\" center Ryan Pugh said Sunday. \"It\'s a loss to Vanderbilt. I don\'t remember the last time I saw a team at Auburn get beat by Vanderbilt, probably because I wasn\'t alive.

\"It\'s disappointing. You feel a little embarrassed after the game the way you played.\"

The Tigers\' 14-13...

Roddick upset by Berdych at Japan Open

By Itsuo Inouye (AP)

Andy Roddick was upset by Tomas Berdych 6-7 (2), 7-5, 7-6 (3) Saturday in the semifinals of the Japan Open, ending his bid for a second straight title in Asia.

The ninth-seeded Berdych will face fifth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in Sunday\'s final. Del Potro defeated No. 4 Richard Gasquet 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the other semifinal.

Roddick, coming off a win at the China Open last Sunday, broke Berdych to take a 2-0 lead in the final set and looked set for another trip to the finals after building a 5-2 lead.

\"It\'s disappointing,\" Roddick said. \"I don\'t know...

Rookie Johnson stuns Allenby at Turning Stone

By Kevin Rivoli (AP)

Long-hitting rookie Dustin Johnson won the Turning Stone Resort Championship for his first PGA Tour title, holing an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday for a 3-under 69 and a one-stroke victory over Robert Allenby.

Johnson finished at 9-under 279 to take the $1.08 million first-place prize in the $6 million event, the richest of the Fall Series, catapulted him from 128th to 41st on the money list. The top 125 at the end of the year retain full exemption for 2009.

Allenby (70), seeking his fifth victory and first since 2001, had a chance to tie at 18, but the...