Note: Baseball Before Bedtime will no longer be seen on Walkoff Walk in 2008 so that we may bring you short and mildly amusing recaps about games that made a goddamn difference in the race for the postseason. Sorry, Marlins fans.
Twins 9, White Sox 3: Javy Vazquez flopped harder than Paul Simon's The Capeman, getting knocked around for five runs in four innings and giving up a ding dong and triple to Jason Kubel. Koobs added another dong in the seventh, going back-to-back with Delmon Young. Twinkies are now but 1.5 games out of first
Braves 3, Phillies 2: Casey Kotchman's solo ding-dong pushed Atlanta to three runs, just enough to record the Braves third win against the Phils this year and only their second one-run road victory. Starter Cole Hamels wasn't very effective and threw a ball away that led to an unearned run. Losing this game wouldn't be so painful if it wasn't to Mike Hampton's corpse.
Mets 6, Cubs 2: The New York Metros pick up a game on the Phillies thanks to a strong eight-inning stint from Johan Santana and some Metsian bullpen woes from Cub Chad Gaudin. Jose Reyes' bases-bloated triple was the nail in this game's coffin; Luis Ayala picked up a save, his ninth in fifteen opportunities.
Brewers some, Pirates less: Messy defensive errors by Nate McLouth and Nyjer Morgan led to two unearned runs that led to a ninth inning tie game that led to a Prince Fielder walkoff tater tot. Brewers stay within a game of the Wild Card. CC Sabathia takes the mound on three days rest for the second time in a row today because the Brewers rotation is a veritable M*A*S*H unit.
Yankees 3, Blue Jays 1: Nineteen-game winner Mike Mussina picked up his end of the deal, combining with a handful of relievers to strike out 14 Blue Jays. Whifferoni!
Red Sox 5, Indians 4: Too bad it was all for naught as the Red Sox clinch a postseason invitation and eliminate the Yanks from October fun. More on this later, kids.
In other news, the Rays swept a doubleheader with the O's thanks to a six run eighth inning in the nightcap. The Diamondbacks did themselves no favors in losing to the Cards and the Dodgers' magic number is three after their big win.
Damn, Cliff just can't get another win. At least I can hope that Fausto drills Youkilis tonight.
games that made a goddamn difference in the race for the postseason.
So why is the Yankees/Jays game recapped here? Sorry, Rob, I feel your pain.
When the game ended, it mattered.
That Prince blast was so big it wiped out the score.