Phillies knock out Braves

The Phillies ended the Braves post-season hopes, tying the game in the 9th inning and winning it in the 13th, 4-3, thereby eliminating the Braves from the playoffs, and giving the Cardinals the final spot. St Louis scored 5 in the 1st and pelted the hapless Astros, 8-0 behind Chris Carpenter's 2-hit shut out.

In Atlanta, Ryan Howard had 2 hits and a first inning RBI (finishing with 116 RBI in this "off" season for him), Carlos Ruiz picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly, and a parade of HomeSiders took the mound. Cole Hamels threw 3 innings in relief, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, Vance Worley put up a scoreless frame despite walking 2 and allowing a hit, Mike Stutes threw a 1-2-3 9th and Justin DeFratus picked up his first major league win, making him the 14th different HomeSider to record a win in 2011, for a total of 86 wins this year for former Claws.

Michael Bourn (.294) had 3 hits for the Atlanta, and stole 2 more bases to win his 3rd straight title in that category with 61.

For Philadelphia, it was their 102nd win of the year, a franchise best!

In Baltimore, the Orioles knocked the Red Sox out of the postseason with a 2-run bottom of the 9th inning for a 4-3 win. Alfredo Simon started for Baltimore and looked good early , but allowed 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks in just 4.1 innings. The Rays captured the final spot in the playoffs with a huge comeback from down 7-0 to top the Yankees, 8-7 in 12 innings. Greg Golson was 1 for 3 for New York.

In Milwaukee, Jason Jaramillo (.326) finished off a strong September with a hit and an RBI for the Pirates in their 7-3 loss to the Brewers, and in Seattle, Michael Taylor was 1 for 4 for the Athletics in their 2-0 season ending victory over the Mariners. Gio Gonzalez won his 16th game of the year for Oakland, throwing 8 shut out frames, allowing just 2 hits and 3 walks, and striking out 11.

The American League playoffs start Friday with Tampa @ Texas, and Detroit @ New York, while the National League series start Saturday with St. Louis @ Philadelphia and Arizona @ Milwaukee.