1. "U-S-A, U-S-A!": So went the chants at Citizens Bank Park as news trickled in about the reported killing of terrorist Osama bin Laden. To celebrate, the Mets and Phillies played the American pastime well into the night. Chris Young outperformed Cliff Lee and such UNTIL ... Ronnie Paulino lined a tie-breaking RBI double in the 14th inning, sending the Mets to a 2-1 victory.
The Phillies, having run out of position players, even tried pitcher Cole Hamels as a pinch hitter ? something manager Charlie Manuel has a history of doing ? in the bottom of the 14th. He grounded out to second after the Mets put a defensive shift on him. The shift! For a pitcher!
In case you wondered what Lee thought about the fans chanting, and the news of Osama's assassination, his words might mirror your own:
"I didn't really understand what was going on there for a minute," said Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee, who was watching the game from the dugout. "Then someone came up and said bin Laden had been killed over there.
"Took them long enough."
2. How? In the words of closer Chris Perez, I don't think anybody could see the Indians starting the season 19-8, or winning 13 straight at home. But that's where they are after Michael Brantley singled home the go-ahead run, keying a three-run eighth, to beat the Tigers 5-4.
3. Hey, Bud, let's party: Bud Norris fact: He and three relievers combined on a three-hitter in the Houston Astros 3-0 victory against the Brewers. Carlos Lee fact: He hit a three-run homer but collided on defense with infielder Angel Sanchez ? taking a shot to the ribcage ? and was sent to the hospital. He's expected to be OK, but ow.
4. #TeamCoco: In leading the Athletics to a 7-2 victory against the Rangers, Coco Crisp ? back in the lineup after missing a few games with sore quad ? went 2 for 5 with an RBI. More importantly, he freed his hair again.
5. Raising the Jolly Roger, sir!: The Pirates took the rubber match against the Rockies, 8-4, and knocked around Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez. He threw three wild pitches and his ERA rose to 7.20 over four starts. Charlie Morton got the victory, but he's lucky we're still handing those out to pitchers because the stats that actually reflect how well he pitched were not good.
6. Hey, Verne ? head's up play there: So far, Vernon Wells' top contribution to the Angels has been this rundown, which took so long it allowed Torii Hunter to score the go-ahead run from third base in a 6-5 victory at Tampa Bay.
7. Just hide his glove: Brooks Conrad got the big hit ? like he's done before ? driving in the winning run with a pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth, helping the Braves down the Cardinals 6-5.
8. Bad dugout! The Kansas City Royals swept the Twins, beating Carl Pavano and Co. 10-3. This puts the defending AL Central champs TEN GAMES out of first place. Pavano did get a few good whacks in, though.
9. Andre at 27 and counting: The Padres routed the Dodgers 7-0, but Andre Ethier's hitting streak reached 27 thanks to an infield single in the seventh. I'd rule it a hit, too, but Ethier is lucky that the Padres are making Brad Hawpe play first base, because an actual first baseman might have made the play with ease. Ethier is four games short of tying Willie Davis for the club record.
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