I will grant you that the Mets game takes the ugly prize, and I wouldn’t want to be the Dodgers. But it’s 4-4 in the top of the 13th in St. Louis, and the explosive Phils have just four hits against nine Cardinals’ relievers (including Wellermeyer, who began the game). They’ve scored runs thanks to 10 walks and a sacrifice fly, but Brett Myers was unable to protect a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 10th (also on a sacrifice).

While Al Hrabosky has predicted a win for the home team almost every inning now, I will say that 14 is my lucky number, and I’ve also got a birthday coming up. But mostly, I just really need to get to work.

Bottom of the 13th now; Pujols (did I mention that he hadn’t played tonight?) batting second in the inning.

Update: Against Jose Mesa. Who has pitched OK. But Pujols is over .500 lifetime against him.

Reluctant, Don’t-Wanna-Jinx-It, Update: Mesa survived, and Rod Barajas plays the hero with a go-ahead single, followed by a two-run three-bagger off the bat of Jayson Werth (his second triple of the night). Oh, who will be lucky pitcher to give Charlie three more outs?

Last Update: “Here’s a base hit, hopefully,” Hrabosky says on a medium-speed chopper to Abe Nunez for out two. I had no idea this guy was so darn hard to listen to.

Congrats to Clay Condrey, who earns his first career major league save during a 20-transaction season. 7-4 the final (and props to Todd Zolecki for the instant game story).

Now who’s looking forward to the next Mike Geffner column?