Rays Win, Red Sox Lose, AL Wild Card All Tied Up

With only two games remaining in the regular season, the American League Wild-Card is all knotted up between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

Boston found yet another way to lose a ballgame Monday evening, squandering their one-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays with a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. This marks their 17th failure in 22 games, creating a giant sucking sound out of Beantown.

Josh Beckett started for Boston and ended up surrendering seven runs on six hits over six innings, losing to the Orioles for the second time in less than a week. Ouch. An attempted rally in the eighth was thwarted when the Red Sox loaded the bases with one out, missing the opportunity when Pedro Strop struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia (who was hit in the throat with a foul ball in the bottom half of the inning) and retired Marco Scutaro on a grounder to end the threat.

The Red Sox must win their final two games, and at worst, back into the postseason by winning a one-game playoff against the Rays. That would be the most exciting scenario, of course, but either way they control their own destiny. Former Oriole Erik Bedard will face his old team Tuesday night against rookie left-hander Zach Britton, who has a career 10.80 ERA against the Red Sox over two games this season. Looking good for Boston.

Phillies Beat Braves for Win No. 100, Cardinals Lose

The Atlanta Braves were enjoying an early two-tun lead against Cliff Lee Monday night, but the postseason-bound Philadelphia Phillies did what they do best, rallying for their 100th victory of the season with a 4-2 win.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals managed to lose to the last-place Houston Astros 5-4 on a crazy squeeze bunt in the 10th inning, leaving Atlanta's Wild-Card lead at one game over St. Louis. The Braves are on quite the skid at this point, dropping their third straight and seventh of their last 10 for a 9-16 September record with just two games left in the regular season.

This marks the third time in franchise history that the Phillies have earned 100 victories, so that's pretty neat for them. Derek Lowe, who has struggled recently, will pitch for the Braves Tuesday evening against Roy Oswalt while Jake Westbrook (12-9, 4.48 ERA) takes the hill for the Cards against rookie right-hander Henry Sosa, who has never faced St. Louis in real life. Good luck buddy!

[MLB]

Boston Red Sox Cling to One-Game Wild Card Lead

The Boston Red Sox are hanging on for dear life to their one-game lead in the American League Wild Card race.

Thanks to a Jacoby Ellsbury three-run shot with two out in the 14th inning, his Red Sox managed to beat the AL East champion New York Yankees 7-4 during Sunday's doubleheader nightcap after dropping the opener. The outfielder is batting .322 on the season with 31 homers and 103 RBI with 38 stolen bases as well. God, that's sexy.

Cardinals Pull Within One Game of Braves for Wild Card

Exactly a month ago, the St. Louis Cardinals were staring down an autumn without a postseason. Now, in the last week of the season, they have pulled within one game of the Atlanta Braves for the National League Wild Card with just three games to play after Sunday's 3-2 win over those good old fashioned Spoilers, the Chicago Cubs.

Skipper Tony La Russa and the entire team decided to don Hawaiian t-shirts before the game in a showing of unity... I'm not sure I get that, but I guess it's kind of like the Tampa Bay Rays sporting their Rayhawks back in 2008. Whatever happened to old school superstisions like not washing your jock strap or eating turkey sandwiches before every game?

Diamondbacks Win NL West, Giants Fail Miserably

After a pair of 90-loss seasons and just a year after going 65-97, the Arizona Diamondbacks are sitting an impressive 91-66 and heading to the playoffs as the division champions for the first time in four years.

In his first full season as manager, Kirk Gibson watched in amazement as his team celebrated on the field, in the clubhouse, and of course, in the pool out behind the right field fence. Sadly, they still had their uniforms on.

The San Francisco Giants are on a Roll

The San Francisco Giants extended their winning streak to seven games Saturday night after their 6-5 win over the Colorado Rockies, inching them a half-game closer to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West.

The Giants are now just five games behind the Diamondbacks, having gained 4 1/2 games on them in just a week. They're also five games behind the Atlanta Braves and trail the St. Louis Cardinals by a half game in the NL Wild-Card race. Things should get pretty interesting when the reigning World Series champions end this month in Arizona for three games before heading back home to take on the Rockies again.

Anything can happen!

[San Francisco Chronicle]

Phillies Clinch National League East, Business as Usual

Nothing to see here folks. It's just the Philadelphia Phillies fifth straight division title. Carry on.

(Good for you, Hunter Pence.)

[Phillies Nation]

Ryan Braun Becomes 30-30 Player, Way Hotter Now

We've always found Ryan Braun rather attractive. In fact, we included him in our Real Top 10 Hottest Baseball Players list from 2009... we're gonna have to update that soon.

But in all honesty, a smokin' hot bat is always sexier than a smokin' hot body. Take Tony Gwynn, for example. Eight National League batting titles makes for a dead sexy bat.

Braun became only the second player in Milwaukee Brewers history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a single season Friday night during his team's 6-3 win over Cincinnati, which also mathematically eliminated the Reds from playoff contention. Double whammy.

Detroit Tigers Finally Win the American League Central

Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Simpsons cartoon first appears as a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show.

Michael Jackson releases his hit album Bad.

The year was 1987 and it was the last time the Detroit Tigers enjoyed a division title... some of you weren't even born yet.

Is this Prince Fielder's Last Season with the Brewers?

Prince Fielder has had a hell of a season. Heading into his Milwaukee Brewers' road trip Friday night, which begins with the Cincinnati Reds and ends with the Chicago Cubs, he is batting .294 with 32 home runs and 109 RBI.

The husky first baseman, who is facing free agency at the end of the 2011 season, has the devil of Scott Boras on his shoulder. In fact, Boras said in an interview with TBS this week that this is "probably [Fielder's] last season with Milwaukee."

Haren Outduels Sabathia, Angels Creeping on Rangers

Dan Haren was the better pitcher Saturday night when his Los Angeles Angels stomped the New York Yankees by a score of 6-0 in Anaheim, bringing the Halos to within 1 1/2 games of the American League West-leading Texas Rangers.

Haren tossed an impressive four-hitter for his fifth career shutout, retiring 18 straight batters at one point. The three-time All-Star righty struck out seven and walked none for the 13th time in his 31 starts the season, marking the fifteenth time in his career he'd lasted nine whole innings.

Doug Fister Fans 13, Tigers Extend AL Central Lead

While Doug Fister struck out a career-high 13 batters Monday, the Detroit Tigers topped the Cleveland Indians 4-2 to extended their American League Central lead to 7 1/2 games.

The right-hander served up one earned run on four hits over eight solid innings to help complete the sweep to drive a huge wedge between the two teams and five the Indians their largest deficit of the season. Clearly, all the guy needed was a change of scenery, improving to 4-1 over seven starts since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners back in July.

The Tribe has been cursed by injury all year long, leading its division from April 8 until June 14, when the Tigers got hot. Cleveland took the lead again once, but has trailed Detroit since July 22. However, they'll play 11 of their next 14 games on the road, so we'll see how that goes for them. Any predictions for the AL Central?

[The Detroit News]

Nelson Cruz Hurts Hamstring, Out Three Weeks

After injuring his hamstring once again, Nelson Cruz is expected to miss about three weeks of baseball.

The AL West-leading Texas Rangers confirmed a grade 1 strain Monday after reviewing his MRI. So now he gets to have an injection in his left hamstring. Ouch.

Check out the First-Place Milwaukee Brewers

After sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend, the Milwaukee Brewers have snatched first place in the National League Central.

Prince Fielder smoked his 19th longball of the season, the go-ahead homer in the sixth inning of his team's 4-3 win on Sunday to give the Brewers a 38-28 record and a half-game advantage over the Cards.

Fielder went 2-for-3 with a walk and 2 RBI to give him 58 on the year. Also, he's batting .305 so that's pretty neat. The National League Player of the Week's eighth bomb in the last 10 games helped Milwaukee improve its big-league best home record to 25-9, setting a franchise record for the best home start ever.

The Brew Crew's manager, Ron Roenicke, is trying not to get too pumped up about his team's recent play:

"It’s way too early, but I like how we’re playing."

The 38-29 Cardinals had held down first place since May 19, so it's not like they don't have a shot at reclaiming the top slot in their division. They'll end their road trip this week with a three-game series against the Washington Nationals Tuesday while the Brewers visit the Chicago Cubs for four games at Wrigley Field Monday. I can hardly stand the excitement.

[Josh Q. Public ]

Roy Halladay Wins No. 20 for the Phillies

The face of a winner.

That Roy Halladay acquisition is looking better and better for the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies.

The right-hander won his 20th game of the season Tuesday with a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves to give the Phillies a five-game division lead over Atlanta and reduce their magic number to six. Even more impressive is the fact that Halladay became the team's first 20-game winner in 28 years.

It's Always Sunny in St. Petersburg

Evan Longoria, recent AL Player of the Week, had quite a night for the first place Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday.

The 22-year-old third baseman went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs to aid his team in a second sweep of the Boston Red Sox, rallying from a 3-run deficit in the seventh inning for a 7-6 victory.

Try to Keep Up, Arizona Diamondbacks

God, it's like you guys aren't even trying anymore. I'm looking at you, NL West.

Arizona Diamondbacks: 42-42 and in first place... sans Eric Byrnes once again.

[Arizona Premiere Sports] | [Raising Zona] | [Lt. Winslow]

The Rays are For Real

The Tampa Bay Rays slid back into first place in the AL East with Sunday's win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving them a 49-32 record, tops in the American League.

July is in two days and they're still awesome. Do you believe yet?

[The Heater]

No One Cares About Your Fantasy Team

I hope I never claimed to be awesome at fantasy baseball, except that one time I talked trash during the entire draft. Above is a screenshot of one of the Babes Love Baseball fantasy league standings, where I have actually moved up from last place to 13th. That's right! I'm coming for you, Eddie Money-Ball! But not really.

Clearly, the fellas from the Fantasy Baseball Gurus show were unaware of my complete lack of skills when they asked me to join their podcast as a special guest. But, I agreed anyhow, and it ended up being pretty fun, especially when I declared my secret love for Derek Jeter's tight pants from the 90's. I have a feeling I'll be stopping by there for pointers for the remainder of the season.

You can listen here somewhere around the 36:00 mark, then make fun of me here. Whether you suck at fantasy baseball or not, these guys are chock full of excellent advice we all could use.

Also, check out "Our Fantasies" on the left-hand sidebar to find answers to all of your fantasy questions. Except that one, which will never happen, pal.

Bizarro!

I suppose if anyone was going to snap the Tampa Bay Rays 6-game winning streak, it would be the Baltimore Orioles. Naturally.

So there they sit on the second-to-last day of April. The O's, atop the AL East at 15-11. Well, okay. They're tied with the 16-12 Boston Red Sox for first, but have a .006 better winning percentage. Details, details.

Meanwhile, the 14-14 New York Yankees are playing .500 baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays are in the basement at 11-16.

But don't count the sun-shiny Rays out yet! All they need to do is beat Baltimore Wednesday night to boast their very first winning April in the 11-year history of their franchise.

Yay milestones!

[NBC Sports]