Well, the regular season is over. Wait: a correction. the regular season is over for 28 clubs. The Rays and Rangers still need to play one more, and the second AL Wild Card berth is on the line. Both clubs finished 91-71 after winning on Sunday, and their seasons will require an extra game to settle. Once that matter is settled, we're going to move into the Postseason on Tuesday, and things will suddenly begin to get real.
PIC OF THE DAY
Henderson Alvarez gets the Gatorade bath after his no-hitter (Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)
Game of the Day: Giants 7, Padres 6. The Padres had a 6-2 lead, and it looked like they'd be able to hang on and finish ahead of the Giants in the final NL West standings. But then, baseball things happened. A Brandon Belt RBI double in the fifth made it a 6-3 game. In the seventh, Hunter Pence singled in two runs to make it a 6-5 game. Huston Street came in to close the game out in the ninth, and immediately allowed a game-tying solo homer to Francisco Peguero. Street then allowed a single to Tony Abreu, walked Belt, intentionally walked Buster Posey, and gave up a walkoff single to Pence. Some way to celebrate that new contract, right?
Pitching Lines of the Day: That would be Henderson Alvarez, who struck out four and walked one during his no-hitter, which the Marlins won in dramatic fashion. Justin Verlander nearly matched Alvarez step by step, allowing three hits over six scoreless frames, walking one and punching out ten. The Astros fell 5-1 in 14 to the Yankees, but Erik Bedard pitched well for Houston, throwing seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits, and striking out nine without a walk. The Mets beat the Brewers 3-2, but Marco Estrada allowed one run on two hits in seven innings, punching out eight without a walk. Ubaldo Jimenez had a fine start for the Indians to push them past the Twins 5-1 and into the playoffs, giving up one run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out 13 and walking one.
Hitting Lines of the Day: The Pirates beat the Reds 4-2 thanks to Jordy Mercer going 3/4 with a triple, a homer, and two runs scored. In Atlanta's 12-5 win over Philadelphia, Evan Gattis went 3/5 with a homer, two runs, and two RBI, Gerald Laird went a perfect 4/4 with a walk and four runs, and Andrelton Simmons went 3/4 with three runs, an RBI, a walk, two doubles, and a stolen base. The Royals beat the White Sox 4-1 thanks to Sal Perez's 3/4 game with a two run homer. In the Rangers' 6-2 win over the Angels, Geovany Soto went 2/3 with two runs, two RBI, a walk, a double, and a homer.
Other Games: The Rays kept their season alive by beating the Blue Jays 7-6. The Orioles edged the Red Sox 7-6. The Cardinals shut out the Cubs 4-0 to claim home field advantage in the NL Postseason. The A's pounded the Mariners 9-0. The Rockies beat the Dodgers 2-1. The Diamondbacks finished their season by topping the Nationals 3-2.
Today's Game: Rays-Rangers for the AL Wild Card crown. 8 PM on TBS. David Price vs Martin Perez.
Enjoy your extra day of regular season baseball, everyone.
