Braves 7 Marlins 1
WP: Peter Moylan (2-1) LP: Brad Hand  (1-7)
HR: Dan Uggla (34), Brian McCann (24)
SB: Michael Bourn 2 (54)

They were only missing a 44th something kind of production and the Braves had a solid night in the race. A match-up of two pitchers who have yet to live up to pedestrian expectations, became quite the pitcher's duel.  That is until the Braves came up in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Marlins pen folded. Of course, Marlins RP Brian Sanches (IP, 2 H, 3 ER, BB, K) didn't help the fish much. Though neither factored in the decision. Minor (5.1 IP, 4 H, ER, 4 BB, 5 K) pitched well enough for the win, but Hand , (5.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) was not nearly impressive.

-Alex Gonzalez went 3-4 (R)
-Chipper Jones went 2-5 (R, 2 K)

Red Sox 18 Blue Jays 6
WP: Tim Wakefield (7-6) LP: Brandon Morrow (9-11)
HR: Jacoby Ellsbury (27), Dustin Pedroia 2 (20), Jose Bautista (42), J.P. Arencibia (23)
Like the polar opposite of our first game, the Jays and Sox pitchers took turns giving back the game to their opponent.  Just a one run game, at 6-5 Boston, the tides changed in the sixth inning and I mean big. After five innings during the sixth and seventh innings, the Sawx culminated their attack over the Jays in a seven-run eighth for a 12 run win. ONE Jays pitcher, managed to escape unscathed of runs and it was the Sox final out of the game.

-Four players in the Sox lineup 12-17 against Jays pitching
-Ellsbury 4-4, BB, 4 R, 3 RBI
-Pedroia 4-4, 4 R, 5 RBI
-Carl Crawford, BB, 3 R, 2-4
- Marco Scutaro 2-4, BB, R, 2 RBI

O's 4 Rays 2
WP: Troy Patton (1-1) LP: J.P. Howell (2-3) S: Jim Johnson (5)
HR: Evan Longoria (26), Matt Wieters (19)
SB: B.J. Upton 2 (29), Johnny Damon (15), Nolan Reimold (5)

He's been working his way to tonight for months at least, obviously years tho, as it burst out tonight against Price (6.1 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 BB, 6 K) and the Rays. Nonetheless, the O's couldn't manage a 2-2 tie until they scored in the bottom of the 7th inning. Then, just as Simon (7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K) was lifted, they came alive on a pinch-hit by Jake Fox to eventually go on to win the game. J.J. Hardy went 2-4 (R) in the loss

Cardinals 6 Pirates 4
WP: Kyle McClellan (11-6) LP: Joel Hanrahan (0-4) S: Jason Motte (6)
HR: Andrew McCutchen (23), Derrek Lee (5)
SB: Rafael Furcal (8)

Both Chris Carpenter (7 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, BB, 6 K) and Jeff Karstens (4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) have something to prove until seasons' end.  So... 4-2, headed into the bottom of the seventh, worked out well for Carpenter. Then the Pirates scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh and Carpenter was lucky enough to get out with a no-decision. But late in the season Hanrahan (last 1.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R) is giving up more consistently. Though it was Nick Punto (1-1, R, RBI) that knocked in the winning run, Jon Jay (2-5, K, RBI) had the best day in the box for the Cardinals. Pedro Ciriaco (SS) has five hits in has last 11 plate appearances.

Rangers 10  Indians 4
LP :Justin MastersonMatt Harrison
HR: Carlos Santana 2 (23), Josh Hamilton (20), Adrian Beltre (24), David Murphy 2 (11)

Call me a homer, but I was pissed when David Murphy (4-4, 4 R, 2 RBI) didn't get a fifth at bat.  I'm sure it was on Michael Young's (1-5) mind in the clubhouse, he's just that kind of teammate.  Young has become the patient veteran of the league.  Standing idly is no small-feat in the majors.  Mike Napoli (2-3, BB, R, RBI) and Josh Hamilton (3-5, 2 RBI) also added into the assault on Cleveland. Neither starter tonight met their potential. Masterson (5 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K). Indians hitters Carlos Santana (3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI) and Koskue Fukudome (2-4, R) had solid nights in the loss.

Royals 4 Twins 0
WP: Bruce Chen (11-7) LP: Carl Pavano (8-12)
HR: Alex Gordon (22), Mike Moustakas (2)
SB: Ben Revere (27)

This game about sums up the difference between the starting pitcher's this year.  Chen (8 IP, 2 H, BB, 8 K) endured his circumstance quite confidently and Pavano (7 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, BB, 5 K) was finally burned by hits for the first time in three starts. Several Royals hitters Alex Gordon (3-5, K , R, 2 RBI), Melky Cabrera (2-4, K, R) Alcides Escobar (2-4, K) and Johnny Giavotella (2-3, BB) had good nights at the plate.

Tigers 5 White Sox 0
WP: Justin Verlander (23-5) LP: Gavin Floyd (12-11)
HR: Victor Martinez (11)
SB:  Andy Dirks (5)

He helped Jim Leyland win a division, but will he let Verlander  -who went 5-1 against the White Sox this season- go for his 25th win or rest him? The last pitcher to win 25 games... Bob Welch back in 1990 O yeah, Big V (2 BB, 6 K) shut out the White Sox for seven innings, scattering six hits.

Angels 6 Athletics 3
WP: Hisinori Takahashi (4-3) LP: Fautino De Los Santos (2-2) S: Jordan Walden (30)
HR: Howie Kendrick 2 (18)
SB: Bobby Abreu (21), Peter Bourjos (20), Mike Trout (2)

Neither starter, Jerome Williams (4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K) or Guillermo Moscoso (4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 2 K) had an impressive night on the bump. In the end it was Anaheim's (4.2 Ip, 2 BB, 4 K) bullpen that stood strong. Josh Willingham (2-3, BB, 2 RBI) and Kendrick (2-5, 2 R, 4 RBI) are the solid efforts available for the next three weeks?

Yankees 3 Mariners 2
WP: A.J. Burnett (10-11) LP: Charlie Furbush (3-9) S: Mariano Rivera (41)
HR: Robinson Cano (26)
SB: Michael Saunders (5), Dustin Ackley (5)

No, Burnett (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 11 K) will never be that CG kind of guy, but seemingly he gets the job done lately. Furbush (5.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 6 K) wasn't shabby either, but he just didn't keep the Yankees off the board when it counted most. Robinson Cano (R, 2 RBI) and Jesus Montero (R) each went 2-4, while pushing the Yanks one game closer to another A.L. East title.

Astros 5 Phillies 2
WP: J.A. Happ  LP: Cole Hamels
HR: CLint Barmes (11)
SB: Jason Bourgeois (24), J.B. Schuck (2)

I have Hamels (5 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, BB, 6 K) on my more prominent CBS team, I'm far behind in innings pitched and am experimenting with FA nightly pitching on Yahoo!  I have Strasburg and Romero and the rest are expendible.  Happ (6 IP, 4 H, ER, 4 BB, 4 K) became a possibility, and I hate myself for not picking him up. I foresee a strong ending to his season after beating his long-time breeder. But let's see him get through Cincy first, then a smooth close out against the Rockies at home. Chris Barmes (2-4, K, 2 R, 3 RBI). Aside from J.A. Happ, the Killer J's (?), Jason Bourgeois (2-5, R, RBI) and J.B. Schuck (3-3, R) lead the way against the World Series favorites.

Brewers 2 Rockies 1
WP: Kameron Loe (4-7) LP: Matt Lindstrom (2-2)
HR: Ryan Braun (28), Prince Fielder (32)
SB: Mark Ellis (4), Carlos Gonzalez (20)

The end score is indicative of the season these two have had. Neither necessarily lazy, but both had their level of karma. Neither team yielded more than one, two-hit batter.  Both Esmil Rogers (6 IP, 5 H, ER, 4 K)and Zack Greinke (5 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 9 K)  pitched without a savings account, but solidly. The good news for Colorado, Cargo could possibly notch his second consecutive 25/25 season, despite time away from the field. As you've quite possibly seen already, Braun's homer in the bottom of the 11th ended the game.

Nats 3 Mets 2
WP: Craig Stammen (1-1)  LP: Dale Thayer (0-2)  S: Drew Storen (36)

In the end neither Wang (5 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 4 K) nor Gee (5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) had given up much, but there had to be a winner between N.L. East crashing clubs. Although the Nats are still behind the Mets, it's clear the Nationals organization has a better immediate future. Three two hit nights by Ian Desmond (2-5, 2 K, R), Rick Ankiel (2-5, K) and Danny Espinosa (2-3, BB) Two predictable Mets – Jose Reyes (3-4, BB, R) and Lucas Duda 3-5 (K, RBI) talent's continued their fine seasons. Though Storen gave up two hits, he officially struck-out the side.

Reds 2 Cubs 1
WP: Mike Leake (12-9) Ryan Dempster (10-12) S: Francisco Cordero (33)
HR: Brandon Phillips (15)

Going 1-2 usually as impressive as it is when Brandon Phillips does it.  Set aside his homerun tonight, he also had two walks and continues to prove his worth in the first five slots in a lineup. Then there's the ageless Edgar Renteria (3-4 RBI). O' what could have been in Cincy this season. Carlos Pena (2-4 R) and Dawin Barney (2-4) kept this close offensively for the Cubs. Leake (2 BB, 2 K) went 8 IP, allowing one earned run one six hits.  Dempster gave up six hits, lasting seven innings and yielding the winning run. After going 11-24 to start September, Yonder Alonso (2-4) had gone 1-7 in his last four appearances.

Giants 3 Padres 2
WP: Ramon Ramirez (3-3) LP: Brad Brach

-Cory Luebke went six innings, scattering two runs on 10 hits, earning his first win aquality start against the World Series champion. Carlos Beltran (3-5, BB) and Pablo Sandoval (3-6, K, BB, R) had good efforts, but it was Mark DeRosa (1-3) who singled home Cody Ross (2-6, 2 K, 2 R) to end things in the bottom of the 12th inning.

Diamondbacks 5 Dodgers 4
WP: Micah Owings (7-0) LP: Javy Guerra (2-1) S: J.J. Putz (40)
HR: Gerardo Parra (8), Miguel Montero (16)
SB: Parra (12)

Ian Kennedy (6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 4 K) and Chad Billingsley (6.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) had pedestrian nights. In the end it was Guerra finally being broken, walking Chris Young (0-3, 2 BB, RBI) with the bases loaded. Parra (3-5, 3 R, RBI)