Rays Eliminate Tribe – MLB Roundup For Oct. 3rd

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tampa Bay is 2-for-2 in elimination playoff games. After beating Texas to get to the American League wild card matchup, the Rays got a great pitching performance from Alex Cobb and blanked Cleveland 4-0 to reach the AL division series against Boston.

Delmon Young got the Rays on the board early with a solo homer in the third. Desmond Jennings followed with a two-run double in the fourth.

Rays right hander Alex Cobb made those runs stand up. He scattered eight hits in his six and two-thirds innings. But the Indians failed to get the key hit with men on base. Three Rays relievers combined on the nine-hit shutout with Fernando Rodney closing out the Indians in a 1-2-3 ninth.

The Indians, who haven't won a World Series since 1948, were making their first postseason appearance since 2007. They had won 10 straight games at the end of the season to reach the wild card elimination game.

BOSTON (AP) — Boston manager John Farrell says Jon Lester will get the start in the ALDS playoff opener Friday against Tampa Bay. John Lackey will start the second game in the best-of-five series, followed by Clay Buchholz (BUHK'-ohlts). Jake Peavy would start a fourth game if it is necessary.

The Red Sox will pay tribute to victims of the Boston Marathon bombings when the AL division series opens at Fenway Park on Friday with a giant "B Strong" logo mowed into the grass in center field. The logo matches the patch the team has worn since the April 15 explosions that killed three and wounded hundreds more.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — There will be a new coach sitting to the right of Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington during games next season, someone else for him to hug after each victory.

The Rangers said Wednesday that they will not renew the contracts of bench coach Jackie Moore, who has been in professional baseball 56 years and at Washington's side through two World Series, or first base coach Dave Anderson.

Washington is coming back as Rangers manager. He's 611-524 entering his eighth season at the Texas helm.