Detroit 4, Chicago 0 (top of the 5)
Though the White Sox will tangle with the Twins during the final weekend, at the moment, it doesn’t look as if those games will matter. Minnesota jumped all over Craig Hanson, and if their 5-2 lead over the Red Sox holds up, the Twins will have a 5.5 game advantage in the AL Wild Card race. Back at The Cell, Curtis Ganderson has been torturing Jon Garland (3 for 3, double, RBI, run scored) as has Brandon Inge (2 for 3, double) while Chicago has managed just a Scotty Pods double and A.J. Jerkface single off Jeremy Bonderman.
(UPDATE : solo HR’s by Uribe and Iguchi narrowed the gap to 4-2 ; after a quick sniff of Jimmy Leyland’s nicotine breath, the suitably inspired Bonderman left Jermaine Dye stranded on 2nd after whiffing Jim Thome and inducing Paul Konerko to ground into a fielder’s choice)
Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez might not even make the Mets’ playoff roster, but if the pair did, they’d have to be pretty happy they won’t be pitching to Dontrelle Willis in the postseason. The D-Train (above) has hit a pair of loooooong home runs against New York tonight, in addition to pitching 8 efficient innings. The Fish are up, 6-3, but at least Jose Reyes impressed Howie Rose by sliding home feet first.
Luke Scott and Craig Biggio each homered in the Astros’ 7-2 win over the Reds today, a victory that kept Houston’s faint playoff hopes alive. Roger Clemens struck out 6 over a half dozen shutout innings in what might’ve been his final appearance at Ken Lay Field. The Astros’ broadcast crew speculated the Rocket might not make Houston’s last road trip of the season. After all, he’s not being paid enough to show up. Didn’t Sammy Sosa lose a boombox over that kind of work ethic?
Despite losing to the Blue Jays, 3-2, the Yankees can still clinch the AL East tonight, assuming the Red Sox aren’t coming back against the totally clean Juan Rincon. The Jays’ Roy Halladay left in the 4th inning, suffering an apparent forearm injury.