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7 NL teams chasing 4 playoff spots
2007-09-28
How's this for a wild final weekend? With three games to go, seven teams were fighting for the National League's four playoff spots. Muzi.com News 10051218-0 (muzi.com)Philadelphia tied the New York Mets for the NL East lead for the first time since the season began, the Chicago Cubs held a two-game lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central and Arizona was one game in front of San Diego and two ahead of Colorado in the NL West. Muzi.com News 10051218-1 (muzi.com) The East and West teams also were in play for the wild card, which the Padres led by one game over the Mets, Phillies and Rockies. Muzi.com News 10051218-2 (muzi.com) "It's exciting, but we still have work to do," Kyle Kendrick said after pitching the Phillies over Atlanta 6-4 Thursday night for Philadelphia's 11th win in 14 games. Muzi.com News 10051218-3 (muzi.com) The plummeting Mets lost 3-0 at home to the St. Louis Cardinals, the 10th defeat in New York's last 14 games. New York was ahead by seven games with 17 remaining -- a lead no major league team has failed to hold. Muzi.com News 10051218-4 (muzi.com) "There's two choices: Roll over and start making vacation plans for the offseason, or battle like hell and win this thing," Mets third baseman David Wright said. "We still feel like this is our division." Muzi.com News 10051218-5 (muzi.com) Chicago lost its third straight, 6-4 at the Florida Marlins, but maintained its margin because Milwaukee made five errors and dropped its second in a row, 9-5 to the Padres. As always, thoughts of imminent disaster are in the minds of many Cubs' fans. Muzi.com News 10051218-6 (muzi.com) "You can look in their dugout, and it's just like panic mode," Florida's Cody Ross said. "They're pacing up and down. We would be in the same boat if the situation were reversed." Muzi.com News 10051218-7 (muzi.com) Colorado extended its team-record winning streak to 11 games, winning 10-4 at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Muzi.com News 10051218-8 (muzi.com) "We didn't set out to win 11 in a row," said Garrett Atkins, who had four hits including a home run. "We've had good pitching, good hitting, good defense and good luck." Muzi.com News 10051218-9 (muzi.com) Given an ominous weather forecast, Arizona manager Bob Melvin decided less than an hour before game time to hold back ace Brandon Webb (17-10) at Pittsburgh. Micah Owings pitched 6 1-3 innings and went 4-for-4 with three doubles and three RBIs in an 8-0 victory. He became the first pitcher to have two four-hit games in a season since the Yankees' Whitey Ford in 1953. Muzi.com News 10051218-10 (muzi.com) "I was eating breakfast when they told me, and a lot started running through my mind," Owings said. "It got back to the fact I've got to go out and do the best I can, try to help my team and not try to do too much." Muzi.com News 10051218-11 (muzi.com) In the only NL game with no playoff implications, Houston beat Cincinnati 4-3. Muzi.com News 10051218-12 (muzi.com) At Philadelphia, Ryan Howard hit his 44th homer, Pat Burrell also connected and the Phillies roughed up John Smoltz (14-8). Muzi.com News 10051218-13 (muzi.com) Kendrick (10-4) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings, and Brett Myers allowed a leadoff homer to Jeff Francoeur in the ninth before getting three outs for his 21st save. Muzi.com News 10051218-14 (muzi.com) Philadelphia closes at home with three games against Washington. Muzi.com News 10051218-15 (muzi.com) "It's a good feeling," Howard said. "But, really, we haven't done anything. We have three games left. This is what it's all about." Muzi.com News 10051218-16 (muzi.com) Atlanta was eliminated from postseason contention for the second straight year after winning 14 straight division titles. Muzi.com News 10051218-17 (muzi.com) "Everybody here can improve on their year and I'm looking forward to it," Smoltz said. Muzi.com News 10051218-18 (muzi.com) Cardinals 3, Mets 0 Muzi.com News 10051218-19 (muzi.com) Joel Pineiro (6-4) allowed three hits in eight innings and Jason Isringhausen got his 31st save. Muzi.com News 10051218-20 (muzi.com) Skip Schumaker's RBI single gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead in the first against Pedro Martinez (3-1), and the Cardinals pushed across two more runs in the third when Albert Pujols hit an RBI double and scored on Ryan Ludwick's single. Muzi.com News 10051218-21 (muzi.com) Mets manager Willie Randolph held a brief postgame team meeting. New York plays at home against Florida this weekend. Muzi.com News 10051218-22 (muzi.com) "I think we're due to have something special happen to us because in the time I've been here I don't think we've had a little stretch playing games like that," Martinez said. Muzi.com News 10051218-23 (muzi.com) Marlins 6, Cubs 4 Muzi.com News 10051218-24 (muzi.com) Chicago stranded 10 runners and lost its 10th straight game to Florida over two seasons -- the longest active streak between major league teams. Muzi.com News 10051218-25 (muzi.com) Scott Olsen (10-15) gave up four runs, two earned, in 5 1-3 innings and won for the first time since Aug. 5. Muzi.com News 10051218-26 (muzi.com) Aramis Ramirez went 4-for-4 but Steve Trachsel (1-3), making his first start in two weeks, lasted only 4 1-3 innings and allowed five runs. Muzi.com News 10051218-27 (muzi.com) "We're still in the driver's seat," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said before his team headed to Cincinnati. "We've just got to start winning some games." Muzi.com News 10051218-28 (muzi.com) Padres 9, Brewers 5 Muzi.com News 10051218-29 (muzi.com) At Milwaukee, third baseman Ryan Braun made three errors for the bumbling Brewers, who haven't been to the playoffs since 1982, and first baseman Prince Fielder and left fielder Geoff Jenkins made one each. Milwaukee, which allowed four unearned runs, hadn't made five errors in a game since Aug. 1, 1999, against Montreal. Muzi.com News 10051218-30 (muzi.com) "We sit and watch the Cubs lose two nights in a row; not being able to take advantage hurts a lot," said Brewers bench coach Dale Sveum, who filled in while manager Ned Yost served a one-game suspension. "We're in a rough situation." Muzi.com News 10051218-31 (muzi.com) Scott Hairston hit a tiebreaking three-run double in the opener of a four-game series as San Diego took a 4-0 lead in the third. Muzi.com News 10051218-32 (muzi.com) Padres starter Jack Cassel was chased after 4 2-3 innings as Milwaukee closed to 5-2. Joe Thatcher (2-1) relieved with the bases loaded and retired Fielder on a grounder, then pitched a perfect sixth. Muzi.com News 10051218-33 (muzi.com) Rickie Weeks homered twice for the Brewers, who led the NL Central by 8 1/2 games in late June. Muzi.com News 10051218-34 (muzi.com) Rockies 10, Dodgers 4 Muzi.com News 10051218-35 (muzi.com) Brad Hawpe and Todd Helton homered for the Rockies, who host a season-ending, three-game series against Arizona starting Friday. Muzi.com News 10051218-36 (muzi.com) Rookie Franklin Morales (3-2), a 21-year-old left-hander making his eighth big league start, allowed three runs and four hits in five-plus innings to defeat Esteban Loaiza (1-4). Muzi.com News 10051218-37 (muzi.com) Diamondbacks 8, Pirates 0 Muzi.com News 10051218-38 (muzi.com) Owings (8-8) allowed four hits, struck out four and walked none. Muzi.com News 10051218-39 (muzi.com)
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