That was one wild night. The O's beating the Yankees by a Ravens-Giants margin, the White Sox and Indians losing.
But the biggest newsflash was the one Aaron Hill sent out at 9:57 p.m. Eastern time -- a Blue Jay executing a sacrifice bunt when they needed just that kind of thing, and if you've followed them at all this season you know this is not something they do well. Heck, it's something they almost don't do at all. Take a bow, Mr. Hill.
Hill's set up the go-ahead run in a 7-5 nightcap win over the Red Sox. It was the quietest highlight among a night of bombs -- and I mean that in every sense of the word, with all four AL wild-card and East-Central title chasers losing, and if you want to add the Leafs, go right ahead (over to the Hockey Page for some more of that).
As the Jays do not go gently into that good night-game, this one was enough to make me think that better days might be ahead. There was Hill's line -- a couple of singles, a sac fly and that perfectly weighted bunt. There was the one-two-three ninth to end the Sox, Scott Schoenweis handing over to Miguel Batista. There was Russ Adams' lovely/tough turn at second in the middle of an 8th-inning double play with the Jays nursing a one-run lead.
A shortstop, a situational hitter, a bullpen -- it's something to go on.
As for the Red Sox, Schilling's ankle doesn't look like the miniseries in the making it was a year ago. Just a fastball, belt-high, that fellows like Gregg Zaun and Frank Catalanotto were jumping all over. Schilling somehow lasted into the seventh -- but that says as much about the battered Boston bullpen as anything.
And speaking of battered, we give you the Yankees. This is one race that's leaking oil all over, and figures to spill a lot more of it before it's over.
Pennant races: Yankees lose, Red Sox split a pair (tied with five games to play); White Sox and Indians lose (Chicago up by two games with five to play); Angels clinch AL West; Wild-card: Indians, Boston and New York all tied.
Elsewhere, some links for you:
Former Argo Hutch had a wish, and Jennifer Quinn reports on how it all came true. Just lovely.
USA Today has three coaches already on the bubble. Hey, what took you so long?
Sven-Goran Eriksson is talking tough. Well, for him, anyway.
Emperor Manager Jose Mourinho has decreed Liverpool undeserving of their Euro Cup title as the sides meet again today, while Rangers have something to prove.
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