Rays Win 6-2, Earn ALCS Berth

B.J. Upton and these Tampa Bay Rays are headed home — to get ready for the American League championship series. Worst in the majors last year, the Rays will play for a spot in the World Series after finishing off the Chicago White Sox 6-2 today in Game 4 of the AL playoffs. Ray-markable!

Upton homered twice, Andy Sonnanstine pitched a solid 5 2/3 innings and manager Joe Maddon's surprising Rays won 3-1 in the best-of-five series — their first trip to the postseason. Next up, the Boston Red Sox or the Los Angeles Angels starting Friday. The loss dashed Chicago's hope for a championship — only days ago, local fans were thinking the Cubs and White Sox might meet in a Windy City Classic. (More baseball stories.)