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Albany, NY – Well the Cardinals have put the Phillies postseason aspirations on ice...
Last night in St. Louis, David Freese hit a two-run double in the fourth, and a two-run shot in the sixth, sparking the Red Birds to a 5-3 win over the Phillies. With the series even at two games apiece, the clubs return to Philadelphia for Game 5 tomorrow night. Roy Halladay, the Game 1 winner, will face Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter.
In the other NLDS, in Phoenix, the Diamondbacks slammed four home runs, including Ryan Roberts' first-inning grand slam, as they knocked around the Brewers 10-6 in Game 4. That sends the series back to Miller Park in Milwaukee for a decisive Game 5 tomorrow night. Arizona's 21-game winner Ian Kennedy takes on Brew Crews' Yovani Gallardo.
In other baseball news, yesterday was travel day for the Yankees and Tigers, as their ALDS heads back to the Bronx tied at two games apiece. Game 5 is set for tonight with New York's Ivan Nova getting the start against Tigers right-hander Doug Fister. The winner of this series advances to the ALCS to take on the Texas Rangers.
Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona has a new job offer from the Laconia Muskrats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League for $6,000 per year. Some unique benefits are included in the other, such as a parking spot, 25 percent off a burrito restaurant, a free gym membership, and 25 tokens to an area arcade. Francona will be in the broadcast booth this weekend, filling in for Fox analyst Tim McCarver, who's undergoing a medical procedure.
In NHL news, the Devils have signed Petr Sykora to a one-year deal, completing his bid to return to the NHL after an 18-month absence. The 34-year-old right winger has 302 goals in 935 NHL games.
In NBA news, Tony Parker is headed to France. The Spurs point guard becomes the latest NBA player to sign on with a European team, with the NBA mired in a lockout. Parker tells the sports daily L'Equipe that the decision is "logical."
In golf, Tiger Woods has his first major endorsement since his downfall two years ago. The former top ranked golfer has signed on with Rolex.
I'm Tristan O'Neill, WAMC News.