Red Sox 4 Braves 3

The mound giveth, the mound...well, you know the rest. The good guys were in the midst of a rousing 9th inning comeback -- with the score 4-1, Chipper doubled off the Monster (then gave the dugout a smirk that said "wow, that sure seems easy to do"), then LaRoche cued one to Renteria for an out. Andruw, quien esta en fuego, tripled to center. Estrada came up with one out and hit a grounder that hit off the right side of the mound, turning an easy play into a hit, as Bellhorn, not a great fielder, couldn't come up with it. Andruw scored to make it 4-3. Then Julio hit a patented scorched-earth grounder, which looked like it would get through. Unfortunately, the mound intervened once again, this time slowing up the ball in time for Renteria to grab it and start a game ending double play.

So, the mound played a neutral role in the outcome. I can't say the same first base umpire Andy Fletcher, who called Giles out swinging in the eighth on a play in which the bat never got THREE INCHES OFF HIS SHOULDER. Giles barked something at him as they went to commercial, and I bet my dad that he would be gone by the time the game came back on. Sure enough, he made a "baseball charge" at the ump and got tossed.

(For those unfamiliar, a baseball charge is when you sprint menacingly toward your target, seemingly with murderous intent, only just slowly enough to allow someone to grab onto you before you get there)

The rookie versus old nemesis Wakefield tomorrow. If Timlin gets into the game, it will seem just like the 1992 postseason....

(Braves now 0-4 since the inception of Brave-O-Matic. Is it something we said?)