That's more like it

These last two games against the Marlins have had a playoff feel to them. I don't mind the extra juice - although it can unnerve Christine - especially when the game works out like today.

Behind Jamie Moyer's one run in six innings, the Phillies beat the Fish, 5-2. Christine was actually worried about the Marlins making a miraculous run, but now the best they can do is tie the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins had three hits today, which is funny, because I was working around the house when the game was on. Early on, long before J-Roll, had three at-bats, I thought I heard Harry Kalas say he had three hits. I misheard; maybe it was a premonition.

The big blow was Chase Utley's two run homer in the 3rd, his first blast since Aug. 22. Pedro Feliz added a two-run homer in the 8th.

Chad Durbin continues to struggle a bit, but his bullpen mates bailed him out. Brad Lidge put a couple of batters on, but earned save No. 40.

The Mets bullpen remembered that it is the Mets bullpen and blew one against the Braves. The Brewers (I think Christine is fully back on board rooting for them) won to climb 1.5 games behind the Mets. The Phils are 1.5 games up on the Mets for the division.

Red Sox: Nice game by 18-2 Daisuke Matsuzaka - seven shutout innings with two walks, two hits and six strikeouts to beat the Blue Jays 3-0. Let's hope he has a couple of those left for the playoffs, which the Sox can clinch tonight. Jacoby Ellsbury scored two of the Sox's three runs, on a sacrifice fly by Dustin Pedroia and on a two-run homer by David Ortiz. Jonathan Papelbon matched Lidge's 40 saves.

The Red Sox can clinch tonight if the Orioles can ruin the big farewell to Yankee stadium. That would be fitting. Unfortunately, the Yankees are up 5-3 in the 7th.

Favorite in-person Yankee Stadium memories (obviously 2004 would top all-time moments):

1. Meeting Mickey Mantle before a random game in the mid 1980s.
2. Catching a ball in batting practice in the 1990s.
3. My first road game for the Red Sox, sitting behind home plate, someone jumped on the protective netting. Highly touted Yankees prospect Hensley Meulens debuted, and I met Rick Cerone afterward.