The Boston Red Sox released infielder Jose Lugo and tabled contract talks with left fielder Jason Bay until season's end, the team said Friday. Lugo, in the third of a four-year, $36 million contract, was batting .284 with one homer and eight RBI in 37 games (109 at-bats) this season. General Manager

Manny Ramirez sent one fan home with a baseball and the rest with a reminder of Boston's last World Series run.

The Boston Red Sox became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot this season, rallying on ninth-inning home runs by Jason Varitek and Julio Lugo to beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 8-6 Saturday. The victory assured the Red Sox of at least the AL wild-card spot.

The Boston Red Sox scored six runs in the first inning and beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-2 Monday behind Josh Beckett's third straight strong outing. The game began two hours, 13 minutes after its originally scheduled starting time of 10:05 a.m.

By Roger Mooney, The Bradenton Herald, Fla. Apr. 7--Jesus Colome began spring training with a chance to be the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' closer. Just two games into the season, and after throwing just four pitches to two batters in his lone appearance, Colome is gone.