As expected Tuesday’s baseball results shed some light on how this 2003 story will end for the playoff contenders.

Esteban Loiaza was outpitched by Brad Radke in Minnesota last night. Radke carried the Twins last season all the way to the ALCS with his excellent work against the A’s in the ALDS.

Radke has been on the top of his game now for about one month (13-10 overall with a 4.67 ERA doesn’t tell the story of how he is pitching today). The White Sox are now one back in the loss column, with 12 to play. No big deal, but seeing your ace get trumped by your biggest rival now puts the pressure on Jon Garland to pitch effectively for at least six innings today. Minnesota comes back with Kenny Rogers, a notorious choker in big games. If Minnesota wins today, it will be because its bullpen rescues Rogers around the fifth inning.

The White Sox held Shannon Stewart in check at 0-3, but walked him twice in five at bats. In fact, Loiaza’s five walks in 2 1/3 innings really led to his downfall. Sayanora to Loiaza’s Cy Young award chances, the spotlight now goes onto Roy Halladay who is looking for victory number 21 today against Detroit.

Click below for more!The Phillies pounded Miami behind Vincente Padilla to close to within 1/2 game of the Marlins.

We’ve been waiting all season for the Phils bats to explode and for one of the first times this year the whole lineup got hot in the same game. Jim Thome hit number 41 (he is worth the dough they pay him), Marlon Byrd and Jimmy Rollins had six hits at the top of the order, and Mike Lieberthal drove in six runs. Heck, even Pat Burrell had two hits, raising his average to .214.

Mark Redman, a smart lefty, 12-9, tries to slow the Phillies today against hot shot young pitcher Brett Myers. I think someone on the Marlins needs to step up today and take charge of this game if Miami is to have a chance taking this series. I said it last week, the Phils are an angry mob, they are veterans who have galvinized against the manager, they have a purpose, and if Miami is to beat this bunch over the next two weeks they better get tough starting tonight. No one is going to finesse the Phils, you have to play tough baseball to beat them, they have starting pitching, not a great bullpen, but they are gamers and in September character counts for something.

The A’s lost reliever Keith Foulke to back spasms last night, not a good sign for the next few days. The A’s have ridden Foulke hard over the last month and the overwork has finally caught up with their ace reliever. With a nice lead going into this weekend, there is no reason to use Foulke until he is 100%.

Scott Spiezio will be a free agent this winter. The A’s should look at Spiezio especially if they don’t tender Erubiel Durazo a contract as some have suggested might happen.

Today the A’s throw Barry Zito (he is the key to the rest of the season in my opinion) against Scott Shields a pitcher the A’s torched last Thursday afternoon in Oakland. Shields is tired, so the A’s might rake him again today in Anaheim.

Derrick Turnbow can bring it. In fact, he might be the eighth ining man for the Angels next season, he is that powerful.

Angel Berroa had five hits for KC last night in its win. Remember the Royals see the White Sox six more times starting this weekend. If I’m a Royals fan I’m rooting for the Sox today and tomorrow and then hope I can knock the socks off Chicago head to head. Hey, they can dream can’t they.

Today’s pitcher Paul Abbott has been a pleasant surprise for KC since coming up in August.

Is there anyone better in a big game (unless it is against the Yankees, a team he doesn’t beat) than Pedro Martinez. The Sox got a complete game from Pedro in a tense contest with Tampa, final score: 3-2. The bulked up Martinez had to throw122 pitches in subduing the Rays. More than he wanted I’m sure, so one must watch his next start which should be this coming Sunday at Cleveland.

Tampa Bay can be counted on for one surprsie each series, and today might be the day as Victor Zambrano faces Jeff Suppan who has pitched more effectively lately. This one has bullpen written all over it and you know what that means for Boston (Kim time).

Intersting Nomar hit second last night and Todd Walker third in the Sox lineup. A little late in the season for experiments wouldn’t you say?

Gil Meche has done an outstanding job for Seattle coming back from two years of injuries to win 15 games so far in 2003. Last night, he got pounded in Texas as the Mariners fell 2 1/2 behind Boston in the wild card race. Seattle has now put itself into a position where they have to sweep the A’s this weekend in Oakland to have any hope in the West and that my friends ain’t going to happen.

The bats for the Mariners did wake up last night as Bret Boone and Edgar went five for ten combined.

Tonight it is Jamie Moyer (40 yrs. old and 18-7 this season) against Ryan Drese who made it into the sixth inning against the A’s in fine shape before running out of gas last Friday night.

Greg Maddux looked like a lock to get his 16th win last night leaving in the eighth with a 4-1 lead. Without John Smoltz in the wings, the Braves late inning troubles continued as the Expos rallied to win 5-4 in ten against a host of Atlanta relievers. This is a problem that will not go away for the Braves unfortunately and might sink them in the playoffs.

The Dodgers didn’t help themselves last night losing to Arizona by a 3-2 score. We know they can’t hit, but the pitching is still there, so they will live to fight another day with Odalis Perez on the hill tonight.

Mark Prior threw 124 pitches against the Mets Tuesday night, more than he wanted to I’m sure (like Pedro). Prior looks and pitches like a ten year veteran, but keep in mind this is still uncharted territory for the big righthander who may be close to being the best pitcher in the NL right now.

The Cubs are grinders and have a favorable schedule, but it would helpful to at least catch up to Houston before the pressure packed last week begins Monday.

With Mike Piazza in a deep slump, the Mets might as well turn to their rookies in an effort to generate some offense today against Kerry Wood and company. At least, Al Leiter should keep the Mets in this game.

Houston got three homers from Mr. September Richard Hidalgo last night in Colorado. Hidalgo a lifetime .400 hitter in September might have a tougher time today against Darren Oliver, a lefty who believe it or not is effective in Coors Field. Big start for Ron Villone because the Cubbies are not going away.

A’s magic number is seven. To me it looks like a clinch by Sunday or Monday at the latest.

Giants need to look no further than Jerome Williams for the third spot in the playoffs off of his perfromance last night, very poised and completely in control all night.

Phils can make another statement today against Miami, the White Sox need to assert themselves in Minnesota because the Tigers aren’t going to help them when the Twins see them seven times beginning Friday night.

So, there are key games for the losers last night. With only ten or eleven games to go, there isn’t much room for error.

One thought to remember: 1964, the Phils led by 6 1/2 with 10 to go and blew the lead to the Cards.

I just have the feeling one of these races will bring that memory back next weekend.