The New York Yankees put together six runs on three homers in the third inning to beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 and reach their first World Series since 1981 against St Louis Cardinals or Atlanta Braves.

Roberto Alomar, the Baltimore Orioles' second baseman, will serve his five-game suspension for spitting at an umpire next season after withdrawing his appeal against the ban. However, this still leaves the umpires to decide whether to boycott further matches in the divisional play-offs of the American and National Leagues in protest of what they believe is a too lenient penalty.

A threat by umpires to boycott the play-offs after a player spat at an official was yesterday called off at the last minute.

Baseball

Baseball

Cal Ripken, who has played 2,239 successive games without breaking a bone, broke his nose during a team photo session before the major league All-Star game in Philadelphia yesterday.

Baseball

SPORT IN ANOTHER COUNTRY; John Carlin unravels the American way of disciplining errant baseball players

PEOPLE

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball