NL Central (Ted Savage Division):

As Vin Scully likes to say when a division race is very close, "You could cover up the leaders with a napkin." And such is the NL Central. And not a big napkin that you put in your lap. It's one of those little napkins that you get on an airplane when you get a bag of pretzels and a drink.

The Cubs are now in a tie with the Brewers and the Cardinals are just one game back and even in the AILC.

The Cubs blew a 4-2 lead in the eighth and lost to the Dodgers at home 7-4. Alfonso Soriano's two home runs accounted for all four Chicago runs.

The Cardinals won a rain-shortened game over the Pirates 16-4. Rick Ankiel hit two home runs and drove in seven. Did Ankiel have some help though?

Kelvin Jimenez, in relief of Mike Maroth in the second, retired the only batter he faced and he got the win. Thirty-seven other pitchers have done that this year. Jimenez made the earliest appearance for a pitcher pulling off this feat since Brian Holton of the Dodgers did it on June 25, 1988. Holton did it in the first inning.

Anthony Reyes missed out on a save in the 12-run advantage win because the rain kept him from getting the minimum three innings. Dan Quisenberry remains the only Cardinals pitcher to have a +12 run save since 1969. He did it back on July 6, 1989 against the Dodgers.

On the weekend, the Cubs go to Pittsburgh, the Brewers travel to Cincinnati, and the Cardinals go to Arizona.

NL West (Steve Finley Division):

The Dodgers were the only team in the division to play today and they moved to 3 1/2 games behind first place Arizona. The Padres are one game back and the Rockies are 4 1/2 back.

The Padres will play at Colorado. The Dodgers will be at San Francisco. And you should already know who the DBacks will be playing.

NL East (Rico Brogna Division):

Everybody had the day off. The Mets lead by five games and have a magic number of 19.

The Mets will host Houston, which is not a good team. The Phillies will host Florida, which is worse than Houston. The Nationals will be in Atlanta. Please tell Don Sutton to go to the right booth in the press box.

NL Wild Card (Andy Ashby Division):

The Padres lead the Dodgers by 2 1/2 games, the Phillies by 3 games, and the Rockies by 4 games. The Phillies will play the Rockies next week, the same time the Dodgers host the Padres.

AL Central (Vito Valentinetti Division):

The Indians were slowed down by fellow first place team Los Angeles in Anaheim, 10-3. The Indians lead 3-1 and then gave up nine unanswered runs. The Indians fell two games back of the Angels for the #2 spot. The teams have now played seven times and none of the games were in Cleveland.

The Tigers actually picked up a game on the Indians when they scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the White Sox, 3-2. Gary Sheffield came off the DL.

What about the Royals you ask? You really didn't ask did you. Why?

AL East (Pee-Wee Wanninger Division):

The Red Sox dropped their magic number to 16 as they beat Baltimore at Camden Yards, 7-6. Clay Buchholz pitched three innings in relief for the win. Tike Redman became the first Oriole to get a hit off of Buchholz.

Everybody else in the division was off. The Yankees will be in Kansas City and Toronto travels to Tampa Bay.

AL West (John Montague Division):

The Angels won, as you might have heard. Garret Anderson got an RBI in his 11th straight game, two short of the AL record of 13. The Angels lead Seattle by eight games and have a magic number of 16.

The A's and Rangers sat around and tried to look busy before they play each other Friday.

AL Wild Card (Dave Collins Division):

The Yankees lead the Mariners and the Tigers by three games. Seattle will be at Detroit for three games in a series that will likely eliminate one team from playoff contention. Ian Kennedy pitches for New York against Gil Meche. Miguel Batista goes for Seattle against Justin Verlander.