Upton sharp as Rays eliminate Chicago
CHICAGO (AFP) — B.J. Upton hammered two home runs as the Tampa Bay Rays advanced to Major League Baseball's playoff semi-finals with a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Andy Sonnanstine tossed 5 2/3 innings for the Rays, who now will play for a spot in the World Series against either the Anaheim Angels or the Boston Red Sox.
Those teams play game four of their series later Monday, with the Red Sox holding a two-games-to-one lead.
Three relievers tossed the remaining 3 1/3 innings - including Grant Balfour, who hurled the final two frames for Tampa Bay, which has made an impact in its first playoff.
The Rays had never won more than 70 games prior to this campaign.
Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye both homered for the White Sox, who now will join the crosstown rival Cubs on the golf course for the rest of October.
