JI-MAN CHOI

Major League Baseball teams committed to an unprecedented $1.4 billion in salaries Wednesday, hours before the league locked out players following the 11:59 p.m. expiration of the sport's collective bargaining agreement.

Javier Báez agreed to bring his high motor to the Motor City, while other teams around the majors raced to finish up business before Tuesday’s deadline to tender contracts and a likely roster freeze coming when baseball's collective bargaining agreement expires Wednesday.

The AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays saw their record-setting season come to a sudden end when they lost to the Boston Red Sox 6-5 in Game 4 of their Division Series and were eliminated in the best-of-five playoff.

Kiké Hernandez delivered Boston’s second straight walk-off win, scoring pinch-runner Danny Santana with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to send the Red Sox to the AL Championship Series with a 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

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Carlos Correa hit his career-high 25th homer with a three-run shot and the Houston Astros clinched the AL West with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rays Astros Baseball Tampa Bay Rays' Ji-Man Choi (26) celebrates with Brett Phillips after hitting a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Houston. The Astros lost for the fifth time in six games on a night they could have clinched their fourth AL West title in five seasons with a win. With the best record in the AL, the two-time AL East champions secured home-field advantage through the AL Championship Series. Choi’s three-run shot in the fifth pushed Tampa Bay's lead to 6-0 before the Astros got a runner on base. The Astros didn’t get a hit until the fifth inning Wednesday, a night after being held hitless until the sixth before rallying for a 4-3 victory.

Drew Rasmussen and three relievers combined for a three-hitter, Brandon Lowe and Ji-Man Choi both homered and the Tampa Bay Rays coasted past the Houston Astros 7-0, giving them the No. 1 seed in the American League playoffs.

Nelson Cruz homered twice and, at 41 years old, became the oldest player in major league history to hit 30 home runs in a season, powering the Tampa Bay Rays past the Boston Red Sox 12-7.

Austin Meadows hit a tying, inside-the-park homer in the ninth inning, Nelson Cruz had a go-ahead single in the 10th and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied from a six-run deficit to beat the Boston Red Sox 11-10.

Randy Arozarena, rookie Wander Franco and the Tampa Bay Rays won their ninth straight game, breaking away from Boston soon after Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts was pulled because of a positive COVID-19 test.

One day after firing pitching coach Larry Rothschild, the slumping San Diego Padres begin a three-game series Tuesday night against the NL West rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

Orioles Rays Baseball Tampa Bay Rays' Nelson Cruz celebrates with Ji-Man Choi (26) after the Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles during a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays placed designated hitter Nelson Cruz on the COVID-19 injured list. Tampa Bay also lost starting pitcher Chris Archer and first baseman Ji-Man Choi during the first two innings of the game. The 41-year-old Cruz, acquired from Minnesota last month, is hitting .198 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 24 games with Tampa Bay. Choi doubled in the first and scored on Austin Meadow's single but left after the inning with left hamstring tightness. The Rays recalled right-handed pitcher Chris Mazza from Triple-A Durham to take Cruz's place on the roster.

The Tampa Bay Rays have placed slugger Nelson Cruz on the COVID-19 injured list.

Bobby Dalbec drove in a career-high five runs, Xander Bogaerts and Hunter Renfroe each had four RBIs and the Boston Red Sox routed the Tampa Bay Rays 20-8.

Rays Red Sox Baseball Tampa Bay Rays' Francisco Mejia watches the flight of his single during the ninth inning of the team's baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, in Boston. The ball skipped past Renfroe for an error and that allowed all three runners to score, giving Tampa Bay a 7-4 lead. Louis Head shut down Boston in order in the ninth to finish off the Red Sox, who lost for the 10th time in 12 games. The Red Sox blew a game they desperately needed, coming off a 2-8 road trip that started with a three-game sweep by the Rays at Tampa Bay. Schwarber was acquired from the Washington Nationals before the trade deadline and has yet to play for the Red Sox.

Tampa Bay’s Francisco Mejía singled with the bases loaded in the ninth, Boston’s Hunter Renfroe made a costly error on the play, and it helped the Rays rally past the Red Sox 8-4 on Tuesday night.

APTOPIX Red Sox Rays Baseball Boston Red Sox right fielder Hunter Renfroe makes a leaping catch on a fly ball by Tampa Bay Rays' Ji-Man Choi during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 24, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — (AP) — Kevin Kiermaier broke up a combined no-hit bid by the Boston Red Sox with a one-out double in the eighth inning and Manuel Margot scored on a wild pitch in the ninth to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 1-0 victory Thursday night. J.P. Feyereisen (4-1), the fifth Tampa Bay pitcher, worked the ninth inning of a four-hitter. Kiermaier lined his opposite-field double to left off Darwinzon Hernández, the third Red Sox pitcher. Tampa Bay starter Michael Wacha, who took a no-hitter into the fifth, allowed one hit and two walks in five innings. SPECIAL NIGHTThe Red Sox will honor Dustin Pedroia during pregame ceremonies before Friday night’s game against the New York Yankees.

Kevin Kiermaier broke up a combined no-hit bid by the Boston Red Sox with a one-out double in the eighth inning and Manuel Margot scored on a wild pitch in the ninth to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 1-0 victory.

Kevin Kiermaier doubled off reliever Darwinzon Hernández with one out in the eighth inning for Tampa Bay’s first hit against the Boston Red Sox.

Ryan Yarbrough ended a 24-start winless skid with Tampa Bay’s first complete game in more than five years, Austin Meadows homered off shaky Yankees ace Gerrit Cole and drove in five and the Rays beat New York 9-2.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ 11-game winning streak came to an end when Brad Keller pitched seven strong innings and Salvador Perez hit a tiebreaking RBI single to give the Kansas City Royals a 2-1 victory.

Mejía had a 12th-inning grand slam in the Rays' 9-7 win over Toronto on Friday night. Tampa Bay scored twice in the 10th, but Marcus Semien tied it with a two-run homer off Jeffrey Springs (4-1). Blue Jays: Montoyo said CF George Springer (quadriceps) is improving but no date for a rehab assignment has been announced. UP NEXTRays: Tampa Bay LHP Rich Hill (3-1) and Kansas City RHP Brad Keller (3-4) will start Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Blue Jays: LHP Steven Matz (5-2) will go against New York Yankees RHP Corey Kluber (4-2) Tuesday night.

Francisco Mejía hit a tiebreaking, two-run single during a seven-run burst in the 11th inning and the Tampa Bay Rays won their 11th straight game, outlasting the Toronto Blue Jays 14-8.

Austin Meadows, Manuel Margot and Mike Brosseau drew consecutive bases-loaded walks with two outs in the ninth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for their 10th straight win, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4.

Rays Orioles Baseball Tampa Bay Rays' Willy Adames slides into home while scoring on a single by Ji-Man Choi during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Julio Cortez)MILWAUKEE — (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers acquired shortstop Willy Adames in a multiplayer trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. The Brewers also got pitcher Trevor Richards from the Rays for relievers J.P Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen. The acquisition of Adames gives the Brewers some help at shortstop, which had been a growing concern. ___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TWINS 1, ORIOLES 0 (7 INNINGS)Minnesota ace Kenta Maeda allowed one hit in three innings, striking out four in his second start. Baltimore's Dean Kremer fared better in his second start, allowing a hit and a walk in three scoreless innings. Deivi García pitched three shutout innings in his second start for the Yankees. Nick Pivetta made his second start for Boston, allowing a run on three hits with three strikeouts in three innings. Alex Wood worked two innings in the start for San Francisco and gave up a home run to Omar Narvaez.

Happ asked for a raise from $624,000 to $4.1 million during a Zoom session Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, and the Cubs argued he should be paid $3.25 million. Teams finished with a 5-4 advantage in cases that went to a hearing, their second straight winning record after two consecutive years in which players had an advantage. A day after hearing arguments, arbitrators Frederic Horowitz, Steven Wolf and Jules Bloch decided in favor of Happ's figure rather than the team's $3.25 million. St. Louis pitcher Jack Flaherty ($3.9 million), Braves pitcher Mike Soroka ($2.8 million) and Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi ($2.45 million) also won their cases. Teams beat Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson ($6 million), San Francisco infielder Donovan Solano ($3.25 million), Tampa Bay pitcher Ryan Yarbrough ($2.3 million), New York Mets third baseman/outfielder J.D.

Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson, center, is unable to make the throw as Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, left, breaks up the double play as Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) is shown during the fourth inning in Game 6 Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)The Atlanta Braves beat Dansby Swanson in salary arbitration, and the shortstop will earn $6 million rather than his request for $6.7 million. The 27-year-old Swanson hit .274 with 10 homers and 35 RBIs last season in an NL-high 237 at-bats. Atlanta pitcher Mike Soroka ($2.8 million) won, as did St. Louis pitcher Jack Flaherty ($3.9 million) and Tampa Bay first baseman Ji-Man Choi ($2.45 million). Davis ($2.1 million) and Baltimore outfielder Anthony Santander ($2.1 million) lost.

FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2020, file photo, New York Mets third baseman J.D. Davis and the Mets argued the first of 13 scheduled salary arbitration cases this month. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)NEW YORK – The New York Mets defeated third baseman and outfielder J.D. Davis, the Baltimore Orioles beat outfielder Anthony Santander and first baseman Ji-Man Choi defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the first three of 13 scheduled salary arbitration cases this month. Santander gets a raise from $572,500 to $2.1 million rather than his $2,475,000 request, the same figures exchanged by Davis and the Mets.

Lindor, the star shortstop acquired last week by the New York Mets from Cleveland, got the largest of the deals at $22.3 million. Bellinger and Seager got big raises after helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win heir first World Series title since 1988. New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, coming off his second straight injury-wrecked season, agreed at $10,175,000. Ace pitcher Walker Buehler asked for $4.15 million and was offered $3.3 million, and catcher Austin Barnes asked for $2 million and was offered $1.5 million. Also exchanging were New York Mets third baseman-outfielder J.D.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell leaves the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game 6 of the baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)ARLINGTON, Texas – Blake Snell turned away from his manager and yelled an expletive as Kevin Cash headed to the mound. The team that reached the World Series leaning largely on analytics was undone by the data — and a decision sure to become part of October lore. I’m not going to ask any questions, but he was pitching a great game," Betts said. It was the Cy Young Snell that pitched tonight.”Count Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, himself a frequent target for criticism over pulling starters, among those happy to see Snell go.

He wasn't on the field initially as the Dodgers enjoyed the spoils of a title earned during a most unusual season. The 35-year-old Turner has been a staple in the Dodgers’ lineup for seven of their eight consecutive NL West titles. Los Angeles had come up short in the World Series twice in the previous three years. The Rays had 16 Ks and the Dodgers 11, the most combined strikeouts in a nine-inning World Series game. “This year has been crazy, but no matter what, we’ll look back on this and we’re World Series champs.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner flies out against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays a baseball World Series Game 6 Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. ___10:10 p.m.With postseason star Julio Urías on the mound, the Los Angeles Dodgers are clinging to a 2-1 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays heading into the eighth inning. The Los Angeles Dodgers took a 3-2 World Series lead into Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night, one win from their first title since 1988. “I don’t know if we’ve got any Tampa Bay Rays fans here in Orlando,” Obama said. The Globe Life Field roof will be closed for Game 6 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)ARLINGTON, Texas – Clayton Kershaw could take the mound Sunday night with a chance to close out the Los Angeles Dodgers’ first World Series title since 1988. Now the 6-foot-1, 260-pound Rays first baseman is doing full splits in the World Series. Choi is the first Korean-born position player to appear in a World Series game, which he called an honor while crediting the “special group of guy” — his teammates and them getting there together. Clayton felt the same way.”Betts is a four-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner who helped the Red Sox beat the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series. “Just understanding that if we do things the right way in spring training, we’ll do those things all the way through the World Series.

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)ARLINGTON, Texas – Walker Buehler pitched in the World Series like the Los Angeles Dodgers' aces of old. Buehler struck out 10 over six innings in a pulsating performance, and Los Angeles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Friday night for a 2-1 World Series lead. He became just the second player to drive in runs with both a homer and a sacrifice bunt in the same Series game. Steely-eyed like Hershiser, who won MVP honors of the 1988 Series, Buehler has supplanted Kershaw as the Dodgers’ ace. He has allowed one run in 13 Series innings that include seven scoreless in Game 3 against Boston two years ago.

Justin Turner and Austin Barnes homered for Los Angeles, and Max Muncy had two hits and two RBIs heading into the eighth. ___7:25 p.m.Justin Turner put the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead 1-0 in the first inning, homering on Charlie Morton’s 14th pitch. That tied the team record set by Duke Snider over 36 games with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1954 to 1959. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the visiting team for Game 3 of the World Series, and batting first. An average of 10.42 runs have been scored in the postseason games in Arlington, including 21 total runs in the first two World Series games.

Tampa Bay is looking to even the Fall Classic after Los Angeles won 8-3 in the opener. ___7:26 p.m.Brandon Lowe hit a home run in the first inning to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 1-0 lead, the first time they have been ahead in this World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers try to take a 2-0 World Series lead against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Los Angeles Dodgers have certainly settled into the new ballpark deep in the heart of Texas. Game 2 of the World Series will be the Dodgers’ 15th game at the $1.2 billion Globe Life Field.

The Astros defeated the Rays 4-3 and the Rays lead the series 3-2 games. A pair of losses to Houston has narrowed Tampa Bay’s lead in the AL Championship Series to 3-2 at Petco Park in San Diego. Game 6 will be a rematch of the opener when Blake Snell pitched the Rays past Framber Valdéz and the Astros 2-1. GUSTY GAMEBraves slugger Freddie Freeman and Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw seemed to having trouble seeing in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series because of windy conditions in a stadium with a retractable roof. The roof has been open for all seven postseason games at Globe Life Field.

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)SAN DIEGO – Except for an occasional homer, the Tampa Bay Rays’ offense has fallen largely silent on the brink of the World Series. “That big hit has continued to elude us with guys on base,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. Tampa Bay went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position in Game 5 after going 1 for 4 in Game 4. “We’ve been streaky throughout the course of these playoffs,” Tampa Bay outfielder Kevin Kiermaier said. That's something of a rarity in this postseason, when Tampa Bay has been practically perfect in each game.

The Astros defeated the Rays 4-3 and the Rays lead the series 3-2 games. The Astros forced Game 6 on Friday, a rematch of the first game started by left-handers Blake Snell of Tampa Bay and Valdéz. Otherwise, big league clubs leading 3-0 in a best-of-seven postseason series are 37-1. Correa also hit a walkoff homer in Game 2 of the 2017 ALCS off Aroldis Chapman of the New York Yankees. Houston became the first team with a leadoff and walk-off home run in a postseason game.

With Altuve atoning for his poor defense this series, the Astros finally got their offense going after being pushed to the brink of a sweep. Altuve hit a solo homer in the first and an RBI double in the third for a 2-0 lead. He and Springer are tied for the most homers in Astros postseason history, 18. It was the third of the postseason for Springer, the MVP of the 2017 World Series. THE CUBAN ROCKETArozarena’s 19 hits are the fourth-most by a rookie in a single postseason and his nine extra-base hits are the most in Rays postseason history.

“We were down 0-2 in the World Series last year with (ALCS Game 3 starter) José Urquidy and (ALCS Game 4 starter Zack) Greinke coming up next to pitch for us,” shortstop Carlos Correa said. The Astros have made three errors in two games, while the Rays have played sparkling defense all across the diamond. I’m sure he’ll do that.”After the second error, Correa moved into the spot normally occupied by Altuve in the shift. Altuve's first error put the Astros in a hole they never escaped, even with a superb start from McCullers. After getting nine hits and just one run in Game 1, the Astros ended their 13-inning scoreless streak with Correa's homer.

Asked which was bigger in the 4-2 victory against the Houston Astros, Margot said through a translator: “Definitely the home run. He played one game in right field in 2016 and the rest of his time in San Diego was spent in center. “To have the ability to know where you’re at, and kind of be able to say, ‘Forget it, I know I’m going to hit something but I’m going in,’ and still hang on to the ball, was really, really impressive,” manager Kevin Cash said. It was an unbelievable play that he made on the right field line, putting himself in a dangerous place. “Everybody is really, really supportive of him and just so happy for what he's accomplished.”Morton improved to 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA in the last two postseasons.

Stanton hit a grand slam in the ninth inning for New York's fourth home run of the game, and the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-3 on Monday in the opener of their AL Division Series at Petco Park. Beginning with this round, all postseason series were moved to neutral sites because of the coronavirus. The Yankees set a franchise record by hitting at least three home runs in three consecutive postseason games. Tampa Bay dominated the contentious regular-season series, going 8-2 against the rival Yankees and winning the AL East by seven games over second-place New York. Cole beat Tampa Bay twice in last year’s ALDS with Houston.

That’s probably the worst thing we can do as a team,” Blue Jays third baseman Cavan Biggio said. Diego Castillo, Nick Anderson and Pete Fairbanks followed the starter, limiting the Blue Jays to two singles, two doubles and Bo Bichette's eighth-inning sacrifice fly the rest of the way. The wild-card Blue Jays broke through in the eighth against Anderson, didn't allow a run in 18 of 19 regular season appearances. He’s pretty good,” said Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo, who served on Cash's staff with the Rays from 2015-18. UP NEXTLefty Hyun Jin Ryu starts for the Blue Jays against right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who’s been Tampa Bay’s best pitcher.

Minnesota has a couple of ailing hitters in third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf) and center fielder Byron Buxton (mild concussion symptoms). Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton is improving and the team hopes he’ll be ready for the postseason opener. Brett Phillips exited Sunday’s game with right hamstring tightness, and fellow outfielder Manuel Margot (sore foot) was scratched from the lineup. Acuña was scratched Sunday with renewed irritation in his left wrist. Because of the reworked schedule caused by the virus outbreak, the Yankees didn’t play in Cleveland this year.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow winds up during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK After a decade spent chasing their big-budget AL East rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays are pummeling the New York Yankees. The AL East leaders improved to 7-1 against the Yankees this season and stretched their division cushion to 4 1/2 games. TRAINER'S ROOMRays: 3B Yandy Daz was pulled with left hamstring tightness in the fifth and is day to day. UP NEXTYankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka (0-1, 3.48 ERA) will start on extended five days' rest against Rays RHP Trevor Richards (0-0, 4.71).

With two outs and a runner on, Cole had a 1-2 count on Ji-Man Choi, who came back to hit an RBI double. Jose Martinez followed with a two-run homer on the 107th pitch from a clearly tiring Cole. Cole was bidding to tie Roger Clemens, Jake Arrieta and Rube Marquard for the third-longest streak ever. His only loss since May 2019 came in Game 1 of the World Series last October, pitching for Houston against Washington. ... Rays C Mike Zunino was mired in an 0 for 23 slide before doubling off Cole during the fifth.