Game 1: 9-0 W. WP-Whitley (3-2). Starter-Patino (2 2 0 0 0 2). HR-Schmitt (26), Tucker (35), Franco (13). Luis Patino had to leave early with a minor oblique strain but won't miss his next start and the bats had a big night with Schmitt driving in 4 to give the rookie 106 while Tucker's 3-run shot has him at 111. Five pitchers combined on the shutout.
Game 2: 4-14 L. LP-Baz (2-4, 3.1 7 6 6 2 4). HR-J.Jackson (7). Don't think there's much mystery as to who the 4th playoff starter behind McClanahan, Rasmussen and Swanda will be as Baz has been horrible while Patino has shone of late. After a team shutout the staff couldn't get anyone out today.
Game 3: 4-11 L. LP-McClanahan (11-6, 3 6 6 2 4 3). HR-Pinto (5). Another shellacking of the staff, it took Mac 90 pitches to get through those 3 innings. Not sure a team has allowed 25 runs in a 3-game series while still pitching a shutout. Rene Pinto at least had a good day with an RBI single and 2-run homer.
Team record: 90-59. Magic number is down to 8 for the division, and we're still 2 1/2 up on the free-falling Royals for a bye. Next up: An off-day then the Cubs come to town. Chicago is in the thick of a race that puts the "wild" in wild card over in the NL:
