In baseball, the Boston Red Sox have played themselves into the American League Championship Series for the 10th time, doing it with excellent pitching and a few timely hits.
Shane Victorino singled home the tiebreaking run and Xander Bogaerts scored twice as the Red Sox pulled out a 3-1 win over Tampa Bay in Game 4 of the division series. The Rays led 1-0 until Bogaerts scored the tying run on a wild pitch, moments before Victorino drove in Jacoby Ellsbury. Dustin Pedroia added a sacrifice fly in the ninth to cap the scoring.
The Detroit Tigers forced a fifth game in the American League Division Series rallying for an 8-6 win over the Oakland Athletics. The game turned on Jhonny Peralta's game-tying, three-run homer in the fifth inning after Detroit collected back-to-back singles.
New York Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner wants Joe Girardi to remain with the team and is awaiting the manager's decision on a new contract. Girardi's current deal expires at the end of the month, and the team offered a new agreement last week.
In the NHL, the NY Islanders beat Phoenix 6-1. It was San Jose over the NY Rangers 9-2. Philadelphia beat Florida 2-1. Tampa Bay topped Buffalo 3-2 in overtime. Pittsburgh defeated Carolina 5-2. Colorado trumped Toronto 2-1. Nashville won against Minnesota 3-2 and New Jersey fell to Vancouver 3-2 in overtime.
Checking NBA preseason action, Brooklyn passed Washington 111-106 in overtime. Oklahoma City beat Philadelphia 103-99. Cleveland edged Milwaukee 99-87. Atlanta defeated Charlotte 87-85. Utah cruised past Golden State 101-78 and the Lakers won against Denver 90-88.
Finally, a pre-trial hearing in Massachusetts is scheduled today in Fall River Superior Court for former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez.
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