Curveballs for Jobu

Curveballs for Jobu is Offbasepercentage's daily trip around the ballparks.

Today's honorary bat boy is Butch Wynegar, whose real name is Harold Delano Wynegar.

Whitesox 11, Twins 0. These are the kind of days Yankees fans live for. Carl Pavano: 6 IP, 15 H, 7 ER.

Indians 7, Royals 3. A Cleveland-Kansas City game is a magical time in sport where the winning team makes five errors and wins by four runs. KC actually led 3-0 heading into the 8th inning, but the Royals decided to hand the ball to Blake Wood, Dusty Hughes and Greg Holland (1 2/3 IP, 6 H, 4 ER). With the win, the Tribe have officially kicked off their run at the 2018 AL pennant.

Marlins 4, Pirates 2. The Buccos fell to 40-81, which means one more loss to clinch an 18th consecutive losing season. And we can also restart the John Russell Countdown to Unemployment at 10 days. Argenis Diaz: 2-for-3, RBI.

Dodgers 2, Rockies 0. As if the Cubs' season wasn't horrifying enough, Ted Lilly pitched a complete game, two-hitter and struck out 11, improving his Dodger numbers to 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA since the trade. Lilly retired 19 batters in a row at one point, and a bewildered Dodger fan, on his way to the parking lot in the sixth inning said "when did the Dodgers trade for Ernie Lilly?"

Astros 3, Mets 2. I apologize to the Lee family, but I didn't know Carlos was still alive. Lee hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the seventh inning and Bud Norris allowed two runs in seven innings on Bud Norris bobblehead night.

Curveballs for Jobu

Curveballs for Jobu is Off Base Percentage's daily trip around the ballparks.

Today's honorary bat boy: Tanner Boyle



Cubs 3, Mariners 2 (13). Maybe it's the late nights and the cheap beer, but it seems like this series started four months ago. Finally, it ended when Marlon Byrd singled in the 13th, spoiling nine innings of two-run ball from Felix Hernandez. The Cubs avoided the sweep, while afterwards Byrd said that Chicago was about to go on a winning streak. I don't know what he's talking about, the Cubs are already on a winning streak: they've won two consecutive games that went 13 innings, dating back to a win over Houston last July 27.

Rangers 6, Pirates 5. I think the John Russell Countdown to Unemployment can begin, yes? The Buccos have lost 15 of 17 with Thursday's loss coming when the bullpen-namely someone called Evan Meek-couldn't hold a two-run lead in the late innings. Vlad won it with a walk-off single and Texas has won 11 consecutive games and leads the West by 4 1/2 games.

Brewers 5, Twins 0. Yovani Gallardo was perfect through 5 1/3, then Jim Joy...Drew Butera singled in the sixth. Gallardo was still masterful, scattering five hits and walking Nilch in a 12-strike out game as Milwaukee swept the three-game series. Jody Gerut: DNP.

Whitesox 2, Braves 0. I'm still not convinced Atlanta has enough offense to be a playoff team and get past the Division Series round for the first time since 2001. Thursday, they were two-hit by a Gavin and a Putz, before Bobby Jenks' goatee pitched a perfect ninth for Chicago, winners of nine consecutive games.

Redsox 13, Rockies 11 (10). Absolute nonsense in Colorado where everyone stunk except Dustin Pedroia, who hit three home runs, including the game-winner in the 10th, and shrunk two more inches. Jonathan Papelbon's days as the Boston closer appear to be winding down. The 7th-ugliest Boston player blew another save when Colorado scored twice to tie it in the ninth. Daniel Bard is the better option for the ninth, but if Boston wouldn't mind keeping Papelbon as the closer until October 3 (last regular season game against the Yankees), that would be appreciated.