Ramirez Slam Extends ChiSox Season; Twins-White Sox in Tuesday Elimination Game

Players of the Day from Monday, September 29, 2008 American League Alexei Ramirez blasted a 6th inning grand slam to lead the White Sox to an 8-2 win over Detroit forcing a one-game playoff with the Minnesota Twins to determine the winner of the AL Central. Ramirez set a rookie record with his 4th grand slam in a make-up game played because the White Sox trailed the Twins by 1/2 game in the division. Now tied, the Twins must travel to Chicago - where the White Sox are 7-2 against the Twins this season - to play an elimination game Tuesday night. The winner will play Tampa on Wednesday in the first game of a five-game playoff series. The loser will go home. Ramirez also singled, stole second and scored a run in the 8th. Notes: John Danks (11-9, 3.47 ERA) will start for the White Sox, facing Minnesota's Nick Blackburn (11-10, 4.14 ERA). The Twins are 35-46 on the road this season; the White Sox have compiled a 53-28 at US Cellular Field in 2008. Game time is 7:35 ET. National League There should be little argument that Ryan Howard is the National League MVP. In the final month of the season, Howard simply blew the competition away, blasting 10 homers and driving in 34 runs in the final month of the season. His final stats - .251 batting average, 48 home runs, 146 RBI - were easily the best in the league, and the majors.