Randy Wolf Pitches Brewers Past Cardinals in Game 4 to Tie Up NLDS

Randy Wolf did a hell of a job Thursday evening keeping his Milwaukee Brewers in the game, helping to tie up the series and force the National League pennant to eventually be decided at Miller Park.

The 35-year-old lefty went seven solid innings in Game 4, surrendering just two runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts in his team's 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Pretty sure Wolf, who also nailed a double in the third, was excited to end his embarrassing drought of 342 starts without a playoff victory, which was the most among active pitchers. It's a good thing too, because he didn't take his last loss very well:

“You know, I’ll be honest with you, the day after the Diamondbacks start I didn’t eat or shower. I don’t know if they call that depression, but it was tough to swallow."

Now losing St. Louis pitcher Kyle Lohse moves to second on that crappy list with 298 starts, trailing only Ted Lilly’s 318. Speaking of skids, Game 4 marks the Brewers' first road win of the playoffs and their first postseason victory since Game 1 of the 1982 World Series, also in St. Louis... Some of you weren't even born yet.

Matt Holliday gave the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead with a solo shot in the second before Allen Craig added a homer the following inning. The Brewers answered with a two-run fourth to knot it back up when Prince Fielder scored on Jerry Hairston, Jr.'s RBI double and Yuniesky Betancourt drove him home with a shallow base hit to center. Ryan Braun, who now owns a .471 batting average after going 16-for-34 this postseason, brought Nyjer Morgan in on a blooper to left in the fifth before Rickie Weeks scored on a fielding error by Ryan Theriot to complete the scoring.

Wolf tossed 107 pitches before Francisco Rodriguez pitched the scoreless eighth and closer John Axford came in for the save to bring the best-of-seven series even at 2-2.

The two sides will play one more game at Busch Stadium (where the families of Brewers players will be seated God knows where) at 8:05pm ET Friday night on TBS before the series moves back to Milwaukee. Jaime Garcia will face Zack Greinke for the second time this series, the last being Game 1 in which Greinke managed to get the 9-6 win even though he didn't pitch all that well.

[Brew Crew Ball]

Jerry Hairston, Jr. May Be Headed to DL

Texas Rangers infielder Jerry Hairston Jr., who is nursing a pinched nerve, may land on the 15-day disabled list.

Weird, huh.

[Lone Star Ball] | [Rangers Press Release]

You Think Your Friends Are Assholes...

Gerald Laird was escorted out of the Texas Rangers clubhouse in handcuffs by two police officers on Sunday.

There was a rumor floating around that a high school classmate of Laird had claimed she was the mother of his baby, and he was being taken downtown for a paternity test.

As reporters chased after him, asking what was going on, Laird panicked. "There's no way," the confused catcher said, "I have no idea."

"Hey, Gerald, I'll call my attorney for you!" Sammy Sosa yelled from across the clubhouse.

Teammate Jerry Hairston asked permission to give Laird a message, hopping into the backseat of the squad car. That's when he was told he had been the victim of one of the most elaborate practical jokes in Rangers' history.

This may top the stunt pulled two years ago, when a police officer pulled over Hank Blalock in a 35-mph zone, claiming he was clocked at 59, and that he would go straight to the big house if he didn't stop arguing.

Laird immediately began to point fingers, the longest at Hairston. "There will be payback," Laird said. "J-Hair, it's going to be a long year for him."

Calling someone "J-Hair" in public is a good start, but it will be interesting to see what he'll come up with... maybe call Dominican immigration on Sammy?

[MLB News]

Blah Blah Steroids: Jerry Hairston, Jr.

Texas Rangers infielder Jerry Hairston Jr.'s name came up Friday and a ninth person was arrested in a widespread steroids investigation out of upstate New York.

Hairston got a prescription for human growth hormone (HGH) in May 2004 from a doctor jailed in the case. The drugs were sent from Applied Pharmacy Services in Mobile, Alabama, whose owners have been indicted by an Albany County New York grand jury.

Hairston, of course, claims he has never taken steroids. "For proof, just look at me. My body has not changed since I came into the league in 1998." He went on to say that he prepares hard for spring training and for each game by working out in the offseason and throughout the season, adding that he takes baseball very seriously.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., former slugger Jose Canseco and former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield were also on Applied Pharmacy's customer list, according to the Times Union of Albany, which broke the story.

Apparently, drugs were sent to addresses in Arizona and Maryland that were traced to Hairston, but there is no evidence that Hairston actually received and used any of them. "No matter what I say, people assume I'm guilty," he said. "That hurts me tremendously, I just don't know... Just unbelievable."

Illegal steroid distribution networks are being targeted by prosecutors in upstate New York while two pharmacies in Orlando, Florida were raided Tuesday. Nine people in three states have already been arrested and as many as 24 could face felony charges when the investigation is complete.

[Sports Illustrated]