Pena grand slam lifts Rays over Yankees (AP)

Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena hit a grand slam in the first then completed a ninth-inning comeback that lifted the Rays to a season-opening 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday. New York closer Mariano Rivera (0-1) had been 60 of 61 in save chances against the Rays. But after Desmond Jennings opened the ninth with a single against baseball's career saves leader, Ben Zobrist tripled...

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Tigers overcome Valverde slip, beat Red Sox 3-2 (AP)

Jose Valverde figured this day was coming. At some point, the jovial closer was finally going to blow a save and end a streak that dated to 2010. When he gave up a ninth-inning lead Thursday in Detroit's season opener against Boston, the Tigers recovered and won anyway. "The only thing that matters right now is the win," Valverde said.

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Red Sox miss Andrew Bailey already, blowing the season opener to the Tigers in the ninth inning (Yahoo! Sports)

Jose Valverde blew his save opportunity for Detroit but Boston's Mark Melancon and Alfredo Acevas returned the favor.

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Heyward homers in ninth to help Braves tie Yankees (PA SportsTicker)

Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning and Brandon Beachy pitched a spring-high six solid innings as the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees tied 5-5 in 10 innings on Wednesday.

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Sweeney scores on squeeze as BoSox and Yankees tie (AP)

Bobby Valentine still wasn't happy even after Ryan Sweeney scored on a squeeze bunt in the ninth inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 4-4 tie against the rival New York Yankees on Thursday night. "It was regretful that (Clayton) Mortensen warmed up, though, and then we were told they weren't going to play an extra inning," Valentine said.

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2011 Cardinals’ offense compares well to ’04 (Yahoo! Sports)

2011 Cardinals' offense compares well to '04 ARLINGTON, Texas -- First baseman Albert Pujols created a contretemps of sorts when he didn't make himself available to the media after he committed a key error in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the World Series.

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2011 Cardinals’ offense compares well to ’04 (Yahoo! Sports)

2011 Cardinals' offense compares well to '04 ARLINGTON, Texas -- First baseman Albert Pujols created a contretemps of sorts when he didn't make himself available to the media after he committed a key error in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the World Series.

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Kinsler steals bag and Game 2 for Rangers (Yahoo! Sports)

Ian Kinsler's ninth-inning single was followed by a gutsy stolen base that led to two runs and a win over the Cards.

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Wrong type shoe may have doomed Beltre on ground out call (Yahoo! Sports)

The velcro-type shoes worn by Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers may have been the reason a ball he claimed hit off his shoe turned into a ground out in the ninth inning of Wednesday's Game 1 of the World Series. It recalled the shoe-polish incidents of 1957 and 1969, but...

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Valverde, Tigers stop Yanks in 9th, tie series (AP)

Jose Valverde and the Detroit Tigers nearly let this one slip away. Instead, they're on solid footing with ace Justin Verlander set to start back home at Comerica Park. The Tigers and their excitable closer somehow held off the Yankees' furious rain-soaked rally in the ninth inning and Detroit beat New York 5-3 on Sunday, evening their best-of-five AL playoff series at one game apiece.

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