Alcoa presents: Fantastic Adjustments! Today's---Tim Keefe, 1880.
Now, on with the games . . .
San Diego Padres (Adjusted NL West) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (Adjusted NL East), Game Three
PHI 12 14 0
SDP 1 9 0
WP: Lieber (1-0)
LP: Williams (0-1)
Recap: Tonight on "Wings"---ah, who cares?
Series Status: Philadelphia wins, 3-0.
New York Mets (NL Adjusted Wild Card) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (Adjusted NL Central), Game Three
STL 0 5 0
NYM 3 7 0
WP: Martinez (1-0)
LP: Morris (0-1)
Recap: Faced with an impossible choice---the ghost of Grady Little or the actual Braden Looper---Willie Randolph allowed Pedro Martinez to gut through a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning. Randolph's faith was rewarded, as Martinez struck out the side, on his way to fifteen strikeouts in a 132-pitch, complete game effort.
Series Status: New York leads, 2-1.
Oakland Athletics (Adjusted AL West) vs. New York Yankees (Adjusted AL East), Game Four
NYY 5 12 1
OAK 4 3 0
WP: Small (1-0)
LP: Duchscherer (0-1)
SV: Rivera (2)
Recap: Derek Jeter's clutch, weakly-hit fielder's choice grounder in the eighth inning majestically drove home Bubba Crosby for what proved to be the game-winner, as the Yankees evened the series. The teams will fly across-country for the elimination game; the loser will be forced to nominate a player to join Tim McCarver in the broadcast booth for the Adjusted ALCS. No greater motivation to win is imaginable.
Series Status: Series tied, 2-2.