In the very likely event that one day a Major League team calls me to manage their squad one of the first rules would be that you don't walk a guy with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth or extra innings in a tie game. Give up a homer or a stroked double but the time for nibbling is long gone when you put yourself into that position. Throw strikes like a man or get used to riding buses in the sticks. So Michael Wuertz, the Cub hurler who walked Carlos Delgado to lose a game 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, is not someone who I'd like on my team. Wuertz was actually even worse than that. He walked the two guys before Delgado with two outs in the ninth, something I'll bet endears him to Lou Piniella even more than to me and my theoretical club. My other rules? No-pants Wednesdays, no bunting unless you're the pitcher and the mascot needs to steal signs.
- Daisuke Matsuzaka had no walks for the first time in the U.S. and went the distance in a 7-1 victory over the Tigers. He struck out five and limited the Tigers to six hits only one of which, Curtis Granderson's third-inning homer, did any real damage. I wonder what Jim Leyland thinks of him now. Before the game he was all "I don't give a (expletive) about him," I think the expletive was cockfart, afterwards he just stared silently through the haze of an Kool. Julio Lugo drove in three runs for the Sox and stole his 12th base.
- 7-1 complete game wins were all the rage last night. Greg Maddux duplicated Dice-K's feat in San Diego's win against Cincinnati. Maddux still has 331 more wins than Matsuzaka though, so take that you fuzzy little foreigner. He needed only 96 pitches to do away with the Reds, striking out five and only Ken Griffey's sacrifice fly kept him from a shutout.
- The Brewers, formerly ensconced on top of these rundowns, are steadily slipping down the ledger. They've lost three of four so I've dropped them three of four, I'm mad petulant like that. The Phillies rallied for six runs in the eighth and dropped the Crew 8-6 with a Wes Helms single providing the go-ahead run. Brett Myers nailed down his fourth save since moving into the closer role and Derrick Turnbow proved that even though he's not a closer anymore he hasn't forgotten how to blow a ballgame.
- Jason Bergmann took a no-hitter into the eighth inning but his bid to become the least likely no-no author since Bud Smith ended when Brian McCann homered to lead off that frame. Bergmann had to buckle right down, his stellar offense had only provided him with two runs, and got the next three batters in order and the Nats got a 2-1 win. Jesus Colome, replacing the bereavement-listed Chad Cordero, struck out Andruw Jones with two on in the ninth to nail down his first save.
(AP Photo/Ed Betz)
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