Just chillin'

With the Red Sox battling the Angels on ESPN (in a matchup that will likely be repeated in the playoffs for the fourth time since 2004) and the Phillies trying to beat the Nationals and gain ground on the Dodgers in the chase for home-field advantage, Christine and I took advantage of our home's split levels and multiple TVs.

There hasn't been much news today: Greg Dobbs is back, J.A. Happ probably will be and Tim Wakefield may soon follow. And unlike Joba Chamberlain, no more training wheels for Clay Buchholz.

Downstairs: Paul Byrd pitched decently for a guy who should be retired - three runs in 5 1/3. The game had a playoff feel when the Red Sox rallied and took the lead with five runs in the 6th. But Takashi Saito and Ramon Ramirez coughed it up, giving up four runs in the 7th. The Angels, up 7-5, are rallying again in the 8th.

Upstairs: Rebounding from his worst start of the season, Joe Blanton tossed six scoreless innings, giving up five hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in the 6-1 win over the Nationals.

The Phillies took the lead in the 1st when Ryan Howard stole second base, allowing Chase Utley to steal home. The dynamic duo extended their career-high stolen base totals: seven for the big guy, 20 for Utley. The double steal also gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead over the Red Sox in steals of home this year.

Jayson Werth iced the game with a grand slam in the 7th, right after they showed he has hit .231 in his career with the bases loaded. "Wow, Jayson Werth is the one guy on the team who stinks with the bases loaded," I said before the blast.

Late in the game, Christine asked me to look up the last time the Phillies had three straight shutouts. I'm glad I didn't try when her guy, Tyler Walker, gave up a run in the 9th, ending a scoreless streak that began in the first game on Sunday. Chris Wheeler said the last time the Phillies had three shutouts in a row was 1969.