Red Sox Take 3-2 Lead In ALCS – MLB Roundup For Oct. 18th

DETROIT (AP) — Mike Napoli (NAH'-poh-lee) homered and the Boston Red Sox held off the Detroit Tigers 4-3 to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven American League championship series.

Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera had a rough night. He was thrown out at the plate in the first inning, halting an early Detroit rally. Then he hit into a double play against with runners at the corners in the seventh. The Tigers scored a run on the grounder, but it was a trade-off the Red Sox were willing to make. Detroit never scored again.

The Red Sox now need to just win one game at Fenway Park to go the World Series.

Game 6 is Saturday. It's Max Scherzer in a must-win game for the Tigers against Boston's Clay Buchholz (BUHK'-ohlts).

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The National League Championship Series moves to St. Louis with the Cards leading the Dodgers 3-2. They will attempt to wrap things up and earn a spot in the World Series when the two clubs square off Friday night at Busch Stadium.

The Game 6 pitching matchup will have Clayton Kershaw going for the Dodgers against Michael Wacha (WAH'-kuh). It's a rematch of the Game 2 starters, which was won by the Cards 1-0.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Nolan Ryan is retiring as CEO of the Texas Rangers. The Hall of Fame pitcher became the 10th president of the Rangers in February 2008 and became chief executive officer three years later. In that span, Texas has made its only two World Series appearances. The 66-year-old Ryan says his resignation may be the final chapter to his baseball career. Ryan is also selling his ownership stake in the team.

Commissioner Bud Selig (SEE'-lihg) says in statement that Ryan's "unique perspective as a legendary player and an accomplished executive has been invaluable" to the Texas franchise.

Ryan is the major league strikeout king with 5,714. He threw seven no-hitters before retiring as a player in 1993.

His No. 34 jersey is the only one worn by a Rangers player to be retired, and there is a statue of the pitcher at Rangers Ballpark. He is the only player in the Hall of Fame whose bust is topped by a Texas cap.