Now let's look at the action for Tuesday, April 18. We begin with Joe Ray's report:
Rockies 6, Expos 2
W- Marvin Freeman (4-8)
L: Carlos Perez (12-9)
HR- COL: Vinny Castilla (35)
The Rockies picked up a win they desperately needed thanks to Vinny Castilla's three hits (including a fourth-inning solo homer) and Walt Weiss' two-run double in the sixth that gave them the lead for good.
The Rox are still barely hanging on in the West; they need to keep winning and hope the Dodgers and Padres in front of them fall flat on their faces. Meanwhile, the Spos are officially eliminated from postseason contention.
Cubs 1, Phillies 0 (10 innings)
W- Mike Perez (5-6)
L- Toby Borland (2-5)
S- Randy Myers (41)
Sammy Sosa's tenth-inning solo dinger was the only scoring in a very important win for the Cubs, who are still clinging to life in the wild card race. Steve Trachsel no-hit the Phils through six, and Randy Myers picked up the save, his forty-first of the year.
The Cubs will be eliminated from postseason contention with the Astros' next win.
Mets 3, Pirates 2
W- Blas Minor (6-2)
L- Jim Gott (3-5)
S- John Franco (33)
HR- NYM: Rico Brogna (26)
Rico Brogna's homer established the margin of victory as the Mets stayed within hailing distance of the Stros in the wild card race. Starter Al Leiter lasted just an inning and a third for the Mets; there's no official word on why he left the game.
The Mets trail Houston by two and a half games, with the Padres-Astros result yet to come from the Astrodome.
Reds 4, Dodgers 3 (ESPN; Brent Musburger, Jim Kaat)
The Reds knocked their magic number to clinch the Central down to two with their come-from-behind victory over the Dodgers. It was 3-2 in the seventh when Barry Larkin took starter Chan Ho Park deep to tie it up. Then in the eighth, Hal Morris belted one over the right field wall for the game-winner. Jeff Branson also homered in victory for the Reds. For the Dodgers, Mike Piazza went three for four, including a home run.
The Dodgers' magic number to clinch the West remains at four, pending the Padres-Astros result.
W- Carrasco (3-8)
S- Brantley (31)
L- Astacio (8-9)
HR- CIN: Morris (13), Branson (14), Larkin (17)
LA: Piazza (35)
Astros 1, Padres 0 (10 innings)
Shane Reynolds threw nine stellar innings, giving up only two hits and striking out ten, but four Padre pitchers combined to shut out the Stros as well. In spite of Reynolds' vehement objection, manager Terry Collins brought in Dave Veres to pitch the tenth, and he held the Friars scoreless. In the bottom of the inning, pinch hitter John Cangelosi singled to left and moved to second on a groundout. That brought up Craig Biggio. Here's Milo Hamilton:
"Scoreless tie, bottom of the tenth. Biggio one for four, singled in the fifth. We could sure use another one of those right now, after Shane pitched his heart out. Williams gets the sign from Ausmus, first pitch swinging........ base hit right field! Cangy's comin' home, Gwynn's got a cannon, let's see what happens! To the plate. Ausmus waiting, look out Cangy....... right underneath his glove! Cangy snuck underneath Ausmus's glove! The throw was on the money, but Cangy ducked down as he crossed home plate! What a move by Cangy! The Astros win and stay in the Central race, and obviously keep their lead over the Mets in the wild card race, where their magic number is now down to two. Catch your breath and we'll do it again tomorrow night! Final score in ten innings: Astros 1, Padres 0. Back with the totals after this word from your local Astros affiliate."
The Stros' elimination number in the Central thus stays at two. Meanwhile, the Pads missed a chance to gain ground on the Dodgers and saw their elimination number in the West shrink to three.
W- Veres (6-1)
L- Williams (3-12)
Now for your up-to-the-second standings, beginning in the East:
Braves: 90-63 (clinched)
Mets: 84-74- 8.5 GB
Expos: 81-77- 11.5 GB
Marlins: 77-79- 14.5 GB
Phillies: 76-84- 17.5 GB
In the Central:
Reds: 90-69 (Magic Number: 2)
Astros: 87-71- 2.5 GB
Cubs: 83-76- 7 GB
Pirates: 66-89- 22 GB
Cardinals: 65-92- 24 GB
In the West:
Dodgers: 81-77 (Magic Number: 3)
Padres: 79-79- 2 GB
Rockies: 78-79- 2.5 GB
Giants: 66-90- 14 GB
In the Wild Card:
Astros: 87-71 (Magic Number: 2)
Mets: 84-74- 3 GB
Next: Our look at April 19.
Thoughts?
Rockies 6, Expos 2
W- Marvin Freeman (4-8)
L: Carlos Perez (12-9)
HR- COL: Vinny Castilla (35)
The Rockies picked up a win they desperately needed thanks to Vinny Castilla's three hits (including a fourth-inning solo homer) and Walt Weiss' two-run double in the sixth that gave them the lead for good.
The Rox are still barely hanging on in the West; they need to keep winning and hope the Dodgers and Padres in front of them fall flat on their faces. Meanwhile, the Spos are officially eliminated from postseason contention.
Cubs 1, Phillies 0 (10 innings)
W- Mike Perez (5-6)
L- Toby Borland (2-5)
S- Randy Myers (41)
Sammy Sosa's tenth-inning solo dinger was the only scoring in a very important win for the Cubs, who are still clinging to life in the wild card race. Steve Trachsel no-hit the Phils through six, and Randy Myers picked up the save, his forty-first of the year.
The Cubs will be eliminated from postseason contention with the Astros' next win.
Mets 3, Pirates 2
W- Blas Minor (6-2)
L- Jim Gott (3-5)
S- John Franco (33)
HR- NYM: Rico Brogna (26)
Rico Brogna's homer established the margin of victory as the Mets stayed within hailing distance of the Stros in the wild card race. Starter Al Leiter lasted just an inning and a third for the Mets; there's no official word on why he left the game.
The Mets trail Houston by two and a half games, with the Padres-Astros result yet to come from the Astrodome.
Reds 4, Dodgers 3 (ESPN; Brent Musburger, Jim Kaat)
The Reds knocked their magic number to clinch the Central down to two with their come-from-behind victory over the Dodgers. It was 3-2 in the seventh when Barry Larkin took starter Chan Ho Park deep to tie it up. Then in the eighth, Hal Morris belted one over the right field wall for the game-winner. Jeff Branson also homered in victory for the Reds. For the Dodgers, Mike Piazza went three for four, including a home run.
The Dodgers' magic number to clinch the West remains at four, pending the Padres-Astros result.
W- Carrasco (3-8)
S- Brantley (31)
L- Astacio (8-9)
HR- CIN: Morris (13), Branson (14), Larkin (17)
LA: Piazza (35)
Astros 1, Padres 0 (10 innings)
Shane Reynolds threw nine stellar innings, giving up only two hits and striking out ten, but four Padre pitchers combined to shut out the Stros as well. In spite of Reynolds' vehement objection, manager Terry Collins brought in Dave Veres to pitch the tenth, and he held the Friars scoreless. In the bottom of the inning, pinch hitter John Cangelosi singled to left and moved to second on a groundout. That brought up Craig Biggio. Here's Milo Hamilton:
"Scoreless tie, bottom of the tenth. Biggio one for four, singled in the fifth. We could sure use another one of those right now, after Shane pitched his heart out. Williams gets the sign from Ausmus, first pitch swinging........ base hit right field! Cangy's comin' home, Gwynn's got a cannon, let's see what happens! To the plate. Ausmus waiting, look out Cangy....... right underneath his glove! Cangy snuck underneath Ausmus's glove! The throw was on the money, but Cangy ducked down as he crossed home plate! What a move by Cangy! The Astros win and stay in the Central race, and obviously keep their lead over the Mets in the wild card race, where their magic number is now down to two. Catch your breath and we'll do it again tomorrow night! Final score in ten innings: Astros 1, Padres 0. Back with the totals after this word from your local Astros affiliate."
The Stros' elimination number in the Central thus stays at two. Meanwhile, the Pads missed a chance to gain ground on the Dodgers and saw their elimination number in the West shrink to three.
W- Veres (6-1)
L- Williams (3-12)
Now for your up-to-the-second standings, beginning in the East:
Braves: 90-63 (clinched)
Mets: 84-74- 8.5 GB
Expos: 81-77- 11.5 GB
Marlins: 77-79- 14.5 GB
Phillies: 76-84- 17.5 GB
In the Central:
Reds: 90-69 (Magic Number: 2)
Astros: 87-71- 2.5 GB
Cubs: 83-76- 7 GB
Pirates: 66-89- 22 GB
Cardinals: 65-92- 24 GB
In the West:
Dodgers: 81-77 (Magic Number: 3)
Padres: 79-79- 2 GB
Rockies: 78-79- 2.5 GB
Giants: 66-90- 14 GB
In the Wild Card:
Astros: 87-71 (Magic Number: 2)
Mets: 84-74- 3 GB
Next: Our look at April 19.
Thoughts?
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