And That Happened

Phillies 4, Braves 3: The hospitality of southerners is profuse. So profuse that taverns are but poorly supported. A traveller, with the garb and the manners of a gentleman, finds a welcome at every door. A stranger is riding on horseback through Virginia or Carolina. It is noon. He sees a plantation, surrounded with trees, a little distance from the road. Without hesitation he rides to the door. The gentleman of the house sees his approach and is ready upon the steps. Conversation flows cheeringly, for the southern gentleman has a particular tact in making a guest happy. After dinner you are urged to pass the afternoon and night, and if you are a gentleman in manners and information, your host will be in reality highly gratified by your so doing. Such is the character of southern hospitality.* In other news, the Phillies have won all nine games they played in Atlanta this year.

Cubs 7, Brewers 6: There are losses -- and believe me, the Brewers have had many of them lately -- and then there are soul-killing, will-crushing, rip-your-heart-out losses, This was one of those. It's to the point where, if you're a Brewers fan, you have to wonder if it would have been better to be out of the race since May. After all, Nietzsche once said that "hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torments of man." I don't personally believe that and hope Milwaukee fans don't either, but you know at least some of them do right now.

Mets 7, Nationals 2: Johan Santana throws seven strong innings, ensuring for at least another couple of days that the Mets' little collapse will play second fiddle to the Brewers' big one.

Dodgers 4, Pirates 3: On Wednesday the Dodgers got 18 hits but were blown out. Last night they only got six but won. Eleven walks will do that for you.

Royals 12, Mariners 0: I've had some fun at the Royals' expense this week, but this performance deserves some straight-up praise. Zack Greinke was dominant (7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 7K), the lineup produced (13 hits and 8 walks), and Kansas City has now won seven in a row. If you're a Royals fan you can wonder where all of this was earlier in the season. Or you could note that this little surge has come against poor teams with diluted rosters. Or you could talk about how it won't last and that it serves as no indicator of what 2009 will hold. But if you're a healthy Royals fan, you can simply enjoy a nice run during which your team has played some nice baseball.

Marlins 8, Astros 1: Speaking of streaks, that's eight for the Marlins and five -- the hard way -- for the Astros.

Blue Jays 3, Orioles 2: The definition of a good team blogger: a guy who you can provide the litany of horribles his team has endured, and end the post with "And we're still here. Let's go, O's."

Angels 6, A's 4: I'm going to go on record and note that "Josh Outman" is the best name I've heard for a pitcher since Eric Plunk retired.

Cardinals 5, Reds 4: It's been a couple of months since I reminded folks that Kyle Lohse (14-6, 3.76 ERA) could have been had by anyone for low money up through the beginning of spring training.

Yankees 9, White Sox 2: The day after word leaked to the Post that the Yankees probably aren't bringing him back, Abreu goes out and whacks 6 RBI. Not that letting him dangle isn't a good move, mind you. I just like it when stuff like that happens.

Twins 11, Rays 8: It took a major bullpen collapse on the part of the Rays to do it, but the Twins finally gained some ground on the Sox.

Diamondbacks 3, Giants 2: 118 pitches for Lincecum as Burch Bochy's quest to put his player's individual accomplishments ahead of team accomplishments continues. Worth noting that Lincecum is now eight strikeouts short of the team record. He should have two more starts left, so that's likely to be reached. Assuming of course his arm doesn't fall off first.


*I'd like to say I wrote that, but I didn't. It's by the 19th century author Jacob Abbot, from his book New England, and Her Institutions.