STRETCH DRIVE ACTION

FROSTBITE FALLS 10, BROOKLYN 9

WP: Joe Nathan (5-5, 1.40)
LP: Jose Mijares (3-1, 1.19)

J.J. Hardy hit a pinch-hit home run to snap a 9-9 tie in the top of the ninth, and Joe Nathan got second life after his sixth blown save of the campaign to lift the Squirrels (76-61) one game ahead of the host Moabs in the wild card chase behind Darwin, Worcester and Yuma. Miguel Cabrera had three hits, including his 19th HR of the year, in a losing cause for Brooklyn, which saw rookie reliever Jose Mijares lose for the first time this season.

MADTOWN 4, POTTSYLVANIA 2

WP: A.J. Burnett (8-10, 4.36)
LP: Cliff Lee (13-9, 3.07)
SV: Wood (3)

Prince Fielder doubled in a run and Chris Davis followed with a three-run poke, the rookie’s 28th of the campaign, as the Murlocs scored all the runs they needed in a four-run fourth off Cliff Lee. Aramis Ramirez, off the DL and playing regularly, slammed a two-run shot off Burnett in the eighth to spoil the righthander’s shutout bid. It was small consolation for the Creepers, who have lost four straight, keeping their ‘magic number’ for clinching the division to double figures...and keeping Casselton in the race!

FRESNO 9, WORCESTER 8

WP: Jeremy Affeldt (2-7, 4.33)
LP: Jason McDonald (0-3, 5.40)

Brandon Philips hit a two-out walkoff double in the bottom of the tenth to score Bobby Abreu with the game’s winning run, as the Regulators handed the sagging Eliminators their seventh loss in two weeks. Worcester’s ‘magic number’ for clinching a playoff spot is down to five games, but observers wonder if their lackluster showing in the final month of play will carry over to a postseason. DH (!) Derek Jeter, though, is finishing strong, hitting nearly .400 in the last two weeks.

YUMA 3, ST. FRANCIS 1

WP: David Price (4-2, 2.65)
LP: Kyle Davies (3-11, 7.20)

Rookie David Price took a shutout into the ninth against the expansion team lineup, and Ryan Braun, Lance Berkman and Yunel Escobar all hit RBI doubles to chip away at Davies and the offensively-challenged Friars. Yuma (75-56) moved within one game of West-leading Darwin, their 18th win against 7 losses this month, tops (by far!) in BARB down the stretch. Price might have well had a shutout, but with one out, Felipe Lopez’s grounder was misplayed by Escobar, allowing Ben Zobrist to score from third.

LOS ANGELES 11, DARWIN 3

WP: Edwin Jackson (8-11, 4.71)
LP: Chad Billingsley (8-4, 4.72)

Howie Kendrick hit a pair of doubles to lead a 14-hit attack, as every PF Flier in the lineup had at least one hit against Darwin pitching, sending the West-leading Finches (76-55) to yet another stretch drive loss, keeping their ‘magic number’ for a playoff spot in double figures. While Darwin’s overall pitching depth remains considerable, they are but 15-14 since the end of August due to a lack of offense.