Ben Zobrist

Be careful, John It will be interesting to see where John Lackey throws his first pitch tonight. The Angels righthander will make his second start of the season tonight in Seattle after his season debut ended after two pitches Friday. Lackey, who was fresh off the disabled list, threw his first pitch behind Texas Rangers leadoff man Ian Kinsler. When his second pitch hit Kinsler square in the ribs, plate umpire Bob Davidson stepped forward and threw Lackey out of the game, even though there had been no warning between pitches.

Once again, David Price had all the answers against the New York Yankees. Fastball. Curve. Slider. Changeup. Whatever Tampa Bay's young lefty threw last night, the visiting Yankees had trouble hitting him in the Rays' 9-3 victory. "He really didn't make any mistakes," New York slugger Mark Teixeira said. "We hit a couple balls hard, but he pitched pretty darn well. " Price allowed three runs and seven hits in a career-best 7 2/3 innings - taking up where he left off last season, when he won his last three decisions, including an impressive performance against the eventual World Series champions.

Carlos Pena and Ben Zobrist each homered and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays handed Toronto's Roy Halladay his worst loss in more than 2 years, beating the slumping Blue Jays, 12-7, last night. Rod Barajas hit a grand slam to help Toronto build an early 6-3 lead, but Halladay allowed eight runs - seven earned - in six innings to lose for the third time in five starts against the Rays this season. Zobrist finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and Jason Bartlett had three hits with an RBI, raising his average to .343, as the Rays won for the seventh time in nine games.

David Price allowed four hits in eight dominant innings and the host Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago White Sox, 5-0, last night. Price (2-2) struck out nine and walked two. The lefthander entered 0-4 with a 4.88 ERA in four starts against the White Sox. "It was a big game for me . . . The White Sox have had my number ever since I've been in the big leagues," Price said. Felipe Lopez homered and drove in three runs, helping Tampa Bay win for sixth time in seven games. Ben Zobrist had a two-run homer.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Tampa Bay Rays utility player Ben Zobrist received welcome news when he arrived at Tropicana Field about four hours before last night's Game 1 of the World Series. Zobrist, who had not started any of the Rays' previous 11 postseason games, was in the starting lineup, batting eighth and playing right field. Not bad for somebody who had appeared in three of Tampa Bay's postseason games and was 0 for 4. The Rays don't have a true regular at the position.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Matt Moore was the ultimate wild card. Making only his second major-league start, Moore looked like an ace in pitching seven innings of two-hit ball Friday as the improbable Tampa Bay Rays opened the real playoffs with a 9-0 victory over the defending AL champion Texas Rangers. Kelly Shoppach homered twice and drove in five runs, and Johnny Damon also homered as Tampa Bay dominated the whole way behind their 22-year-old rookie pitcher. The Rays played for the first time since their dramatic rally on the final day of the regular season.

The Tampa Bay Rays rewarded super utility player Ben Zobrist for his breakout season with a $18 million, 3-year contract extension that includes two club option years and could be worth $30 million over five seasons. The club announced the agreement with the 28-year-old infielder-outfielder yesterday, when the Rays returned home to Tropicana Field after the most successful trip - 9-1 - in team history. "The Rays gave me my first chance to be in the big leagues . . . There's no better clubhouse atmosphere," said Zobrist.

FORMER World Series MVP Manny Ramirez was arrested yesterday after a domestic dispute at his South Florida home and charged with battery, police said. Ramirez, 39, and his wife were arguing in their bedroom when he allegedly slapped her face, causing her to hit her head on their bed's headboard, according to a police report. She told the deputy she was afraid the situation would escalate and called police. Ramirez denied hitting his wife, according to the report, telling a deputy she hit her head after he shrugged her. Police said Ramirez' wife, Juliana, had injuries consistent with her story, but did not want medical treatment.

Former Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez will retire on Monday as a member of the team he spent most of his career with, ESPN.com reported. The Rangers declined to comment. Rodriguez, who won the 1999 American League MVP and went to 10 straight All-Star Games with the Rangers, was not able to find a job this spring. The 40-year-old affectionately known as "Pudge" began his major league career with the Rangers in 1991. Rodriguez was also a four-time All-Star with the Detroit Tigers and won a World Series as a member of the 2003 Florida Marlins.

Former Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez will retire on Monday as a member of the team he spent most of his career with, ESPN.com reported. The Rangers declined to comment. Rodriguez, who won the 1999 American League MVP and went to 10 straight All-Star Games with the Rangers, was not able to find a job this spring. The 40-year-old affectionately known as "Pudge" began his major league career with the Rangers in 1991. Rodriguez was also a four-time All-Star with the Detroit Tigers and won a World Series as a member of the 2003 Florida Marlins.

Ian Kinsler and the Texas Rangers finalized a new $75 million, 5-year contract Wednesday that locks up another one of their key players and makes the leadoff hitter one of the best-paid second basemen in the majors. The player, who had stops at three different schools while in college before being drafted by the Rangers, is now in his seventh season with Texas. His new deal begins next year and includes a club option for 2018. "I had one backpack, one pair of shoes, hiked from college to college.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Matt Moore was the ultimate wild card. Making only his second major-league start, Moore looked like an ace in pitching seven innings of two-hit ball Friday as the improbable Tampa Bay Rays opened the real playoffs with a 9-0 victory over the defending AL champion Texas Rangers. Kelly Shoppach homered twice and drove in five runs, and Johnny Damon also homered as Tampa Bay dominated the whole way behind their 22-year-old rookie pitcher. The Rays played for the first time since their dramatic rally on the final day of the regular season.

FORMER World Series MVP Manny Ramirez was arrested yesterday after a domestic dispute at his South Florida home and charged with battery, police said. Ramirez, 39, and his wife were arguing in their bedroom when he allegedly slapped her face, causing her to hit her head on their bed's headboard, according to a police report. She told the deputy she was afraid the situation would escalate and called police. Ramirez denied hitting his wife, according to the report, telling a deputy she hit her head after he shrugged her. Police said Ramirez' wife, Juliana, had injuries consistent with her story, but did not want medical treatment.

NEW YORK - Jeff Niemann gave up Derek Jeter's 2,998th hit but little else, and B.J. Upton homered and drove in three runs as the Tampa Bay Rays beat New York, 5-1, Thursday night to help knock the Yankees out of first place in the AL East. Ben Zobrist homered, tripled, and singled for the Rays, who tagged Bartolo Colon early in one of the worst outings of his surprising comeback season. Evan Longoria had an RBI single and the Rays won the first of 11 straight games against New York and Boston, the two teams they trail in the East.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - An outstanding pitching duel Saturday ended on one errant pitch. Matt Joyce scored from third on a wild pitch with two outs in the 10th inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels, 2-1. Joyce opened the 10th with a double off Fernando Rodney (0-1). After Ben Zobrist lined out and Casey Kotchman moved Joyce to third with a grounder, Rodney threw a 1-2 pitch into the dirt well off the plate that eluded catcher Hank Conger. "Hank did all he could," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Ben Zobrist had a good week all in 1 day for the Tampa Bay Rays. Zobrist hit a two-run homer to give him 10 RBI yesterday and Jeff Niemann carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning as Tampa Bay swept a day-night doubleheader with a 6-1 victory over the host Minnesota Twins. Zobrist went 7-for-10 with two homers and three doubles in the doubleheader. He set a club record with eight RBI in the opener, hitting a home run and two doubles. "I really had no idea what was happening," Zobrist said.

David Price allowed four hits in eight dominant innings and the host Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago White Sox, 5-0, last night. Price (2-2) struck out nine and walked two. The lefthander entered 0-4 with a 4.88 ERA in four starts against the White Sox. "It was a big game for me . . . The White Sox have had my number ever since I've been in the big leagues," Price said. Felipe Lopez homered and drove in three runs, helping Tampa Bay win for sixth time in seven games. Ben Zobrist had a two-run homer.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Johnny Damon hit a two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night. Carl Pavano pitched eight shutout innings for the Twins, but was denied the victory when closer Joe Nathan gave up a two-run double to Matt Joyce in the ninth. Minnesota regained the lead in the 10th on Danny Valencia's RBI single off Kyle Farnsworth (0-1). Sam Fuld singled with one out in Tampa Bay 10th off Matt Capps (1-1)

The Tampa Bay Rays rewarded super utility player Ben Zobrist for his breakout season with a $18 million, 3-year contract extension that includes two club option years and could be worth $30 million over five seasons. The club announced the agreement with the 28-year-old infielder-outfielder yesterday, when the Rays returned home to Tropicana Field after the most successful trip - 9-1 - in team history. "The Rays gave me my first chance to be in the big leagues . . . There's no better clubhouse atmosphere," said Zobrist.