Robin Ventura, seen by many as a surprise choice, is hired by general manager Ken Williams as the White Sox’s new manager. The former All-Star infielder, who played ten seasons in Chicago after being selected as the team’s first-round pick in 1988, replaces a vocal and often-controversial Ozzie Guillen, who left the Windy City to be the Marlins’ new skipper.

The White Sox name their former third baseman, Robin Ventura, as their new manager, replacing Ozzie Guillen. Ventura, who has no coaching or managerial experience, retired as a player in 2004. He was most recently a special adviser to the club’s director of player development, Buddy Bell.

The Arizona Diamondbacks force their NLDS with Milwaukee to a decisive Game 5 with a 10 – 6 win at home today. The D-Backs use four home runs – a grand slam by Ryan Roberts, two long balls by Chris Young and one by Aaron Hill – to power their way to the win. They jump to a 5 – 0 lead off Randy Wolf in the 1st inning on Roberts’ slam, their second in as many games; the only other team to hit grand slams in back-to-back postseason games was the 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers. Arizona never looks back after its quick start, although starter Joe Saunders struggles and is lifted after three innings; his replacement, Micah Owings, is the winner.

During the fifth turn of Game 4 of the NLDS against the Cardinals, a squirrel runs across home plate just as Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt begins to deliver a pitch to Skip Schumaker. Umpire Angel Hernandez calls the pitch a ball, much to the chagrin of the right-hander and Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel, who believe that “no pitch” should be called due to the distraction caused by the grey rodent, immortalized by the Redbirds fans as the “rally squirrel.”

The Yankees tie their ALDS with Detroit at two games each with a 10 – 1 rout at Comerica Park. Due to the suspension of Game 1 which cost the two teams an off-day, the Yankees have to start the unpredictable A.J. Burnett against Rick Porcello, but he responds with a solid performance. Burnett gives up a run in 5 2/3 innings after issuing three walks in the 1st. New York puts the game away by beating up Detroit’s bullpen for 6 8th-inning runs.

The Rangers end the Rays’ season with a 4 – 3 win in Game 4 of their ALDS. Adrian Beltre hits three homers and Ian Kinsler one to account for all of Texas’s runs. The Rays manage a run off closer Neftali Feliz in the bottom of the 9th but end up short as Feliz picks up his third save of the series.

The Phillies take a 2-1 lead in the other NLDS, beating St. Louis, 3 – 2, on a three-run pinch homer by Ben Francisco off Jaime Garcia in the 7th inning. The Cardinals manage to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the 8th, but Ryan Madson comes in to induce Allen Craig to hit into an inning-ending double play that ends the threat. Cole Hamels is the winner.

The Diamondbacks stave off elimination with an 8 – 1 win at home over Milwaukee in Game 3 of the NLDS. Rookie 1B Paul Goldschmidt hits a 5th-inning grand slam and drives in 5 runs as another rookie, Josh Collmenter, is the winner over Shaun Marcum.