September 15, 2006
Good Day for the Massive Tie
It was a pretty good day for the massive tie scenario. Cincinnati took their game this afternoon. Tonight, the Marlins defeated the Braves 6-4. MIguel Cabrera keeps making his MVP bid as he goes 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Dontrelle Willis continues to pitch well down the stretch, allowing four runs in 7 1/3 innings, plus picking up a hit and a walk.
The Phillies took advantage of a bad first inning by Roger Clemens to win 4-3 over the Astros. The Astros kept Philadelphia scoreless, but Myers and the pen kept the game under control. With the Giants losing 14-4 to St. Louis, Philadelphia takes sole possession of second place in the NL Wild Card race. So three of the four teams trailing in the playoff race will move up on either San Diego or Los Angeles.
Wild bottom of the 9th in the Phils/Astros game with Flash Gordon on the mound.
Aubrey Huff hit a hard grounder that somehow got through Ryan Howard at first base. . Michael Bourn in RF didn't get to it as fast as he should have (considering he was named the fastest player in the Phils' system last year), allowing Huff to take second, who was subsequently replaced by pinch runner Charlton Jimerson. Should have been an error on Howard, but was somehow scored a double.
Luke Scott then popped up, for the only routine play of the inning.
Chris Burke then grounds softly to the 3B side of the mound. Abraham Nunez, who was guarding the line with Huff at 2B, dove and caught the ball, but his throw to 1B was weak, and Burke beat it out. Jimerson inexplicably didn't take off for 3B as soon as Nunez threw, so it's now 1st and 2nd, 1 out.
Jason Lane, hitting for Brad Ausmus, hits a routine fly to LF, but as I said, there's nothing routine about this inning. Jeff Conine, perhaps thinking ahead to the throw, boots the ball, although he recovered quickly and nearly got Jimerson at 3B anyway. Burke moved to 2B also. 2nd and 3rd, 1 out.
Then Humberto Quintero, batting for Chad Qualls, grounds right to Chase Utley, who seemed to have a little trouble getting the ball out of his glove, but nevertheless starts the game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
The Phillies win at Minute Maid for the first time since 2003.
Uh, I'm dumb.
Lane of course reached base on Conine's error, loading the bases with one out.
