Phils, Rays keep on rolling

Although the Mets remembered how to win a September game tonight, and the Brewers may follow suit, the Phillies put their blinders on and took care of the task at hand, beating the Braves 6-1.

J.A. Happ earned his first big-league win with a dominant performance - three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in six innings. The Phillies scored four in the 1st and never let the Braves back into it, except for a slight scare in the 8th when Chad Durbin - who has been pitching more like J.D. Durbin lately - got two out then gave up a hit and a walk. J.C. Romero got him out of the inning.

MVP-to-be Ryan Howard knocked in the first run and went 1-3 with two walks. Christine is worried about Shane Victorino, who hurt his thumb and/or finger in a failed bunt attempt. He stayed in the game and went 3-4 with a run.

The win keeps them a half game ahead of the Mets, who - assuming the Brewers hold on to their 6-1 lead against the Cubs - will stay a half game ahead of Milwaukee for the Wild Card.

Red Sox: Everyone loves it when the scrawny little kid lands a haymaker on the bully. That's what the Rays did in these last two sets. I'm not yet conceding the division, but we really needed two out of three this week.

Tim Wakefield got shelled - six earned in 2 1/3 - and the bottom half of the lineup went M.I.A. as the Sox lost 10-3. Mike Lowell is still out of the lineup, and I have a gut feeling he's not going to be a factor in the playoffs, if he plays at all. Jason Bay has deserted the team during the pennant race - OK, he's just going to be a father.

And, Curt Schilling and Lou Merloni gave some insight on the team's experience with Carl Everett, er, Manny Ramirez. Also in the interview, Curt avoids answering the question of why he chose to speak out now. But he does note that he has been robbing payroll all season - as some cynically suggested was his intent when he negotiated his contract in the offseason.

The thing about it for me, is, I haven't thrown a freakin' pitch all year, I've been the biggest waste of space, I've been robbing payroll for the entire season, no one feels worse about not contributing than me.

Injuries happen, and I'm not blaming Curt for anything. But if he truly feels like a thief, shouldn't he give the money back? I know, union rules would forbid that, but there's nothing saying he couldn't give it all to charity - he's been known to support a few.