WASHINGTON, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - The 2008 Major League Baseball playoffs League Championship Series schedule (best-of-seven):

FRI., OCT. 10 -- BOSTON AT TAMPA BAY

SAT., OCT. 11 -- BOSTON AT TAMPA BAY

MON., OCT. 13 -- TAMPA BAY AT BOSTON

TUE., OCT. 14 -- TAMPA BAY AT BOSTON

THU., OCT. 16 -- TAMPA BAY AT BOSTON (if necessary)

CHICAGO, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - The Chicago Cubs beat a Wednesday deadline to pick up the seven million-dollar option on righthanded hurler Rich Harden, despite his late-season battle with injury.

Harden received a cortisone shot in his right shoulder in early September, and the speed of his pitches dropped after his start against the Washington Nationals on August 24.

NEW YORK, Oct 7, 2008 (AFP) - New York Yankees ace pitcher Mariano Rivera underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday and is expected to need the full offseason to recover.

The surgery was performed by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - The Boston Red Sox will send 18-game winner Daisuke Matsuzaka to the mound on Friday for game one of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Japanese import will be followed by Josh Beckett in game two of the best-of-seven series, which will send one team to the World Series.

TAIPEI, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - Ten people were questioned here Wednesday after their homes and offices were searched over their alleged role in a match-fixing scandal that rocked Taiwan's professional baseball league, officials said.

CHICAGO, Oct 6, 2008 (AFP) - B.J. Upton hammered two home runs as the Tampa Bay Rays advanced to Major League Baseball's playoff semi-finals with a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Monday.

Andy Sonnanstine tossed 5 2/3 innings for the Rays, who now will play for a spot in the World Series against either the Anaheim Angels or the Boston Red Sox.

BOSTON, Oct 6, 2008 (AFP) - Boston's Jed Lowrie singled in Jason Bay for the game-winning run as the Red Sox defeated Anaheim 3-2 to advance to the American League Championship series on Monday.

'I got a curve ball down in the zone and I was able get the barrel on it and find a hole,' rookie Lowrie said.

'It doesn't feel any better than to be able to do it here in Boston.'

BOSTON, Oct 6, 2008 (AFP) - Boston's Jed Lowrie singled in the game winning run as Jason Bay beat the throw to home and the Red Sox defeated Anaheim 3-2 to advance to the American League Championship series on Monday.

'I got a curve ball down in the zone and I was able get barrel on it and find a hole,' rookie Lowrie said.

CHICAGO, Oct 5, 2008 (AFP) - John Danks struck out seven batters in 6 2/3 innings Sunday as the Chicago White Sox staved off elimination with a 5-3 win over Tampa Bay in game three of their American League opening round series.

BOSTON, Oct 5, 2008 (AFP) - Anaheim and Chicago fought off elimination Sunday as the Angels went the distance to beat Boston in a marathon contest and the White Sox batters broke out of a mini-slump to put Tampa's party on hold.