Dodgers 11, Padres 10 (10 innings)
T’was a super ugly scorecard for tonight’s battle for the NL West ; early showers for Peavy and Penny, 13 pitchers combined, 34 hits, both closers pouring kerosene on the flames (4 9th inning homers for L.A., back-to-back X 2), David Roberts going 0-for-6…and what appeared to be scads of empty seats during the last two innings.
Those who stuck around saw Nomar Garciaparra strap on the Superman cape and clobber a game-winning, 2-run HR off Rudy Seanez (exactly the man you want to see on the mound in a pennant race).
Detroit’s 8-2 win over Chicago extended the Tigers’ narrow lead over the Twins to a game and a half. Kenny Rogers picked up his 16th win, going 6 shutout innings, while Magglio Ordonez (above) punished his former club with a pair of home runs off Mark Buehrle.