MLB Playoffs: Day 5

This was the first day that it really felt like something important was taking place. Tampa Bay and Texas -- who always get stuck with terrible game times because no one wants to watch them -- ended their series this afternoon with a 4-3 victory for the Rangers. Remarkably, in the last two years the Rays have lost five out of five home playoff games to Texas. Then the Phils and Cardinals played a game that was a real thriller, once the sun went down and the players could see the ball. The Phillies' 3-2 victory puts them in the driver's seat in that series. Then the Yankees staved off elimination with a 10-1 victory that was closer than it seemed, and which owed a lot to the spectacular fielding of Curtis Granderson. That series is now tied at 2, and it will be decided on Thursday night in the Bronx.

(Oh, and some guy named Josh Collmenter (10-10, 3.38 ERA) went out for Arizona and held the Brewers to only two hits in seven innings, paving the way for an easy victory by the D-Backs. I should note that since TBS apparently figured that no one outside of Arizona and Milwaukee had any interest in this game, these two teams were forced to play on TNT, and their game didn't start until 9:37 EDT. So they're still playing. But the D-Backs lead 8-1 in the ninth, and I'm calling this game for the Snakes. I'm disappointed that Arizona won because I, like TBS, just want this series to be over as quickly as possible).

National League Championship Series (Best of 5):

Philadelphia leads St. Louis 2-1

Milwaukee leads Arizona 2-1

American League Championship Series (Best of 5):

New York and Detroit are tied 2-2

Texas has defeated Tampa Bay 3-1