WORRY
Yankees: Mark Teixeira left last night's game with a groin strain and Rafael Soriano then gave up a two-out, three-run homer in the ninth to Colby Rasmus to give the Blue Jays a 7-6 lead. Then Derek Jeter homered in the ninth to tie it but the Jays won in the 11th after a Derek Lowe error, 8-7. The Yanks are wheezing to the finish.
Pirates: That 19-inning win a week ago Sunday in St. Louis should have been a boost. But like the 19-inning loss last year in Atlanta, it might have been a season killer. They've dropped six of seven, including last night's 4-3 showdown to the Cardinals.
Angels: They start a homestand tonight against Boston 10 games out of the AL West lead and 4 1/2 out of the wild-card. Wonder if this is Mike Scioscia's last stand.
Dodgers: They're 1-2 since the big trade and got drilled, 10-0, last night at Colorado in Josh Beckett's debut. Beckett was charged with just three of the runs, including Tyler Colvin's leadoff homer.
WONDER
Orioles: They're only 3 1/2 out in the AL East and are tied with the Athletics in the wild-card race, a half-game ahead of the Rays. And last night's 4-3 win over the White Sox was their 13th straight one-run win -- and put them at an MLB-best 24-6 in such games for the season.
Cardinals: Here they come again with another late-season rush and they're far ahead of last year's pace, when they didn't kick it into gear until September. They've got a 2 1/2-game lead over the Dodgers and now a three-game edge on the Pirates.
Padres: They've won eight straight and are saving Bud Black's job.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
