world series mvp

October turned into salad days for the Phillies, thanks to the mound mastery of World Series MVP Cole Hamels.

Daisuke Matsuzaka has been picked by the Boston Red Sox to open the AL championship series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The 18-game winner will start Friday night in St. Petersburg, Fla., and will be followed in the rotation by 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett.

Jon Lester, who pitched a no-hitter against Kansas City on May 19, starts Game 3 when the series moves to Fenway Park on Monday.

Tim Wakefield, Boston's 42-year-old knuckleballer, is to start Game 4.

Daisuke Matsuzaka has been picked by the Boston Red Sox to open the AL championship series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The 18-game winner will start Friday night in St. Petersburg, Fla., and will be followed in the rotation by 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett.

Jon Lester, who pitched a no-hitter against Kansas City on May 19, starts Game 3 when the series moves to Fenway Park on Monday.

Injured Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling said former teammate Manny Ramirez's behavior in Boston was a drain on his teammates and disrespectful to manager Terry Francona.

Speaking on a Boston radio station Wednesday, Schilling said Ramirez's "level of disrespect to teammates and people was unfathomable." Although he was the first Red Sox World Series MVP in franchise history, Ramirez caused more...

World Series MVP Mike Lowell was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday with a sprained left thumb, and the Boston Red Sox purchased the contract of infielder Jed Lowrie from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace him.

Lowell was injured on the first at-bat of Wednesday's game when he fielded Ivan Rodriguez's grounder and threw him out.