Hamels, Phillies send Reds packing
The Cincinnati Reds' long-awaited playoff appearance lasted less than a week. Three ugly losses left them wondering how this could happen, and happen so fast.
The two-time defending NL champion Philadelphia Phillies swept the host Reds right out of the playoffs Sunday night with a 2-0 victory. The league's top offense again failed to do anything against one of the Phillies' trio of aces, this time getting shut down by Cole Hamels' 5-hitter.
The Reds tried to dip into their illustrious past to keep the present going. Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, the second baseman on the Big Red Machine of the 1970s, threw a ceremonial first pitch. Thousands of white towels were twirling in their favor this time at Great American Ball Park.
It all couldn't stop them from getting wiped out again.
Manager Dusty Baker's biggest move in Game 3 quickly backfired. Cabrera aggravated pulled muscles in his left side during Game 2 and was forced to leave, so the Reds considered replacing him on the playoff roster with defensive specialist Paul Janish.
Cabrera took batting practice Sunday and reported that he was OK to play. Baker put him in the lineup, and it cost the Reds. Cabrera sailed a throw high to first base for an error that let in an unearned run in the first inning.
Giants 3, Braves 2: Brooks Conrad bobbled a grounder. Then he dropped a popup. Finally, a hard shot skidded under his glove in the ninth inning for his third error of the game, allowing San Francisco to rally for a victory over host Atlanta.The Braves were within one out of taking control of the NL division series, but a 30-year-old journeyman infielder who wouldn't have been playing if not for season-ending injuries to Chipper Jones and Martin Prado simply couldn't catch the ball.Buster Posey's grounder went under Conrad's glove, his worst miscue yet in a performance that might speed up the retirement of manager Bobby Cox.#8220;It was completely embarrassing, said Conrad, who has made 8 errors in the last seven games going back to the regular season. #8220;Once again, I feel like I let everyone down. I wish I could just dig a hole and sleep in it.Freddy Sanchez raced around with the go-ahead run, and Brian Wilson shut down the Braves in the ninth to give the Giants a 2-1 lead in a tense series in which all three games have been decided by 1 run.Rays 5, Rangers 2: Evan Longoria is still limping. Now he's also hitting, and the Tampa Bay Rays are headed home, 1 victory from an improbable comeback.Longoria snapped out of his postseason slump with a homer and a pair of doubles, Carlos Pena scored twice with a pair of extra-base hits and Tampa Bay escaped elimination again with a victory over host Texas to force a deciding Game 5 Tuesday in the AL division series.#8220;We've really battled to get back to even, Longoria said. #8220;And I think we have a lot of confidence going home, and being able to finish the series in our home ballpark.To do that they'll have to beat Cliff Lee, who matched a postseason best with 10 strikeouts in a 5-1 series-opening victory.