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 [...]

Reuters – Civilians fled Sirte on Friday as interim government forces pounded the coastal city in an effort to dislodge fighters loyal to ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi. Read more

Reuters – Syrian security forces shot dead four protesters calling for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad and clashes continued in the center of the country between insurgents and loyalist forces, activists said. Read more

Reuters – The United States moved to ease tensions with Islamabad on Friday, telling Pakistan it would not send ground troops to attack militant positions in North Waziristan even as anti-American protests flared around the country. Read more

Reuters – Cuba plans to close some ministries, create new ones and eliminate some of their business activities by year end in reforms spearheaded by President Raul Castro to modernize the communist island’s economy, government sources said. Read more