I’m not sure that I’ve seen better baseball games than the ones played at Wrigley Field yesterday. For one, neither the Cards nor the Cubs have distinguished themselves through their bullpens this season. Yesterday they did!

The Cubs finally won the first game 4-2 behind Sammy Sosa’s homer in the 15th inning. And I mean 15 tense innings. Both bullpens were outstanding. The Cubs put up eight innings of one hit shut out relief, while the Cards went nine and one third innings of two run (Sosa’s homer), five hit relief.

Moises Alou made an ill advised dash to third with none out on a hit and run single to short left field (being thrown out easily in the ninth), but other than that miscue these teams played superb baseball.

Matt Morris outdueled Kerry Wood 2-0 in the nightcap allowing the Cards to break even on the day.

Matt Clement and Dan Haren today in Wrigley, with another game tomorrow. Both pitchers today will be expected to go at least seven, I think the Cubs have a better chance of winning this game because Clement is a horse while Haren is an untested rookie, but with the St. Louis offense ready to bust loose at any moment, this should be another great game.

Funny thing if the Cubs or Cards win the Wild Card, they will give either the Giants or the Braves all they can handle in the NLDS.

Click below for more!The A’s are halfway to paradise, meaning the 20 game win streak acheived last year. They have five games left with Baltimore and Tampa Bay, then it is on to the divsion.

The difference this season is they have yet to shake the Boston Red Sox from the wild card race. Last year one thing the 20 gamer did, was to get rid of Boston and anyone else who had designs on the extra playoff spot.

With a three game lead on the Red Sox, the A’s need to win out this week because Boston still has to face the White Sox tonight, then deal with the Yankees this weekend.

So, as next Monday approaches the A’s can only feel safe if they have a five game lead over the Sox by then. Anything short of that will make for an interesting final 19 games.

Boston faces Mark Buehrle today in Comiskey. The lefty has not been himself lately and Boston has their best pitcher on the mound in Derek Lowe. The Red Sox bullpen will play a role tonight as Lowe has been hampered by blister issues which prevent him from going deep into the game.

Manny Ramirez is a piece of work. Grady Little obviously benched him last night against Bartolo Colon who threw a great game even though he lost, because Manny abandoned his teammates and the organization during four critical games.

Seattle faces Doug Waechter making his first major league start. This kid has a great arm and Lou Piniella can’t wait to see what he can do. Waechter was a high school QB who turned down a scholarship to the Univ. of South Florida, he is a home grown kid so this game has some interest to the local fans.

Seattle is showing some signs of gritty play which I maintain is necessary to survive in September. Ichiro went 1-7 last night, not a good night for the leadoff man who is so crucial to the M’s offense. He is now hitting .318.

Garret Anderson is now in the top spot in the AL with Derek Jeter at .322.

Joel Pineiro got lit up again last night. If his next start is in Camden Yards, watch out because the Orioles knocked him around big time there last season.

Jimmy Gobble tries again tonight to win a game, he hasn’t done very well lately. John Thomson is on the hill for Texas. Good news for the White Sox and Twins.

Jesse Orosco pitched a scoreless ninth inning for Minnesota yesterday as the Twins are now one game back of the White Sox.

The Marlins lost again as Dontrelle Willis threw 117 pitches in 6.6 innings. Haven’t the Marlins seen enough of Willis to let him rest until next season?

Frank Robinson let Javier Vazquez throw 136 pitches in an eight inning complete game loss to the Phils Tuesday night. Chase Utley broke the game open in the eighth with a two out triple, clearing the sacks, to win the game for Philadelphia. Wasn’t there a fresh arm to replace Vazquez? The last time Robinson let Vazquez throw that many pitches in a game, the righty wasn’t the same for weeks.

The Dodgers are only 1 1/2 back of the Marlins and Phillies and throw Kevin Brown against Jeriome Robertson today. The Astros need a good effort from Robertson, just a rookie, so who knows how he will respond?

Shawn Green has quietly hit 45 doubles this season.

With all the moves the Pirates have made trading key players, they are still giving the contenders fits.

How about the Mets taking two from Atlanta?

Al Leiter is putting a nice season together. Russ Ortiz goes for #19 today against Steve Trachsel in Shea.

Tim Hudson can further enhance his Cy Young credentials with another good game today. The A’s moved Erubiel Durazo down to seventh in the order last night. If Jermaine Dye shows he can hit at all, Durazo may find himself in a platoon at DH.

Jose Guillen has played excellent outfield defense, but has only 11 extra base hits in 123 at bats to go along with a .252 average, somewhat short of what the A’s expected.

Rodrigo Lopez, like Pat Hentgen is no slouch on the mound, but the Orioles haven’t hit the A’s pitching all season, and I don’t think tonight will be the night they break loose.

If the Red Sox win tonight and the Yankees lose to Toronto, not impossible, the AL East comes down to another showdown this weeknd in NY.

Can’t the Curse of the Bambino let up on the Sox just once?

Nothing is decided as of yet in all the races that are still close. Things can change quickly, so don’t count any chickens until they hatch, even if you have won ten games in a row.

You needed them just to get the lead.