Say It Ain’t So is one of my favorite songs and I got to see Weezer 10-11 days ago at MSG. And boy does it apply to Lou Piniella’s Cubs who were unceremoniously swept out by Joe Torre’s Dodgers last night ending yet another disappointing October for the lovable Chicago club who plays in the amazing scenery known as Wrigley Field. It’s now a full century of frustration for friends like John “JPG” Giagnorio and Mike Rosen and I really do feel for them.

Their team gave such an awful account of themselves in the three games getting outscored 20-6 while failing to hit in the clutch or field in Game Two or do anything better when they won the most games (97) in the National League- second to only the 100-win Angels who are about to be swept again by the Red Sox unless they figure out a way to solve Josh Beckett later today. Much easier said than done.

I really want to say so much about the Cubs and the lack of energy they displayed really reminding me of the Torre Yanks from a couple of years ago and how uncompetitive they were in those two losses at Detroit.

I’ll have much more on this later.

-Or maybe I should say Day Two since that really is what it is at this juncture. In case anyone missed it, the Red Sox again took care of the Angels coming back to defeat them 4-1 out on the left coast late last night. The big blow came off the bat of Jason Bay, who delivered a sixth inning go-ahead two out two-run home run off losing Angels’ starter John Lackey. The ex-Pirate was the man they got in return for Manny Ramirez. So, it was a great night for both as they each hit homers and helped lead their respective teams to Game One victories.

The Sox added two runs in the ninth off LA setup man Scot Shields with rookie Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz adding RBI base hits for the final margin giving the defending world champs home field with Josh Beckett waiting to go in Game Three at Fenway. At worst, the Red Sox come away with a split. Game Two isn’t till tomorrow night with Dice-K taking on Ervin Santana.

Boston’s Jon Lester rewarded Terry Francona with a solid seven frames allowing only a run on six hits while walking one and striking out seven to pickup the win.

-Meanwhile for the Angels, the question becomes can they overcome Boston’s psychological edge which has seen them take 10 straight, matching a major league record for consecutive wins in the postseason over one opponent tying Oakland’s dominance over Boston (1988-03). Ironically, it was in 2003 when the Red Sox overcame an 0-2 deficit winning three straight over the A’s including the deciding game on the road advancing to the first of two memorable ALCS versus the archrival Yankees.

Can the Halos recover psychologically to get back in this series or will they continue not to hit in money situations stranding 14 Wednesday. They need Santana to deliver tomorrow but must deliver big hits as well to take pressure off. We’ll see what Mike Scioscia’s ballclub is made of

-The Rays got off to a good start today in their first ever postseason in the franchise’s 11-year history posting a 6-4 Game One home win over the White Sox. The big story was rookie third baseman Evan Longoria, who hit homers in his first two at bats off losing Chicago starter Javier Vazquez. With the game scoreless, he started the second inning by taking Vazquez’ first offering deep to left center for his first career postseason dinger.

The White Sox responded thanks to Dewayne Wise’s three-run homer off Tampa starter James Shields in the third to go ahead 3-1. However, the pesky Rays came right back with three in the bottom frame thanks to Akinori Iwamura’s run scoring triple, replacement first baseman Willy Aybar’s sac fly (came in for Carlos Pena who left with eye injury) and then Longoria drilled a two out solo shot for his second homer in two at bats allowing the Rays to reclaim a 4-3 lead.

The former 2006 No.3 overall pick’s big day wasn’t done. With two runners on, he drove home his third run of the day with an RBI single plating B.J. Upton increasing the lead to 5-3. Carl Crawford singled home Aybar making it a three-run lead. What a brilliant start to Longoria’s playoff career!

Shields, who settled down after Wise’s homer ran into trouble in the seventh walking a couple to load the bases with one out forcing Joe Maddon to go to his pen calling on hard thrower Grant Balfour to get out of it. It proved to be a great move as Balfour dialed up his mid-90’s heater striking out an overmatched Juan Uribe and Orlando Cabrera with the latter allowing the reliever to get extra pumped up due to the White Sox shortstop’s foolish kicking of the dirt after ball one as the two exchanged heated words. Balfour responded by getting him swinging and telling him to take a seat. Good to see such intensity under big circumstances. Though we’re still not sure what provoked it. But it made for entertaining playoff baseball like you’ve seen in Major League I and II.

With veteran closer Troy Percival unavailable for this round, the Rays got a 1-2-3 eighth and two K’s from J.P. Howell and then veteran Dan Wheeler worked around a leadoff Paul Konerko solo blast retiring the next three for the save in their 6-4 win.

The Rays aim to go up 2-0 sending Scott Kazmir against Mark Buehrle in a battle of lefties tomorrow.

-In the second game today, so far it’s been mostly Phillies as they used a Shane Victorino two out second inning grand slam following a Pedro Feliz RBI double to score all five of their runs off Milwaukee ace C.C. Sabathia, who’s shown some exhaustion in his fourth consecutive start on three days rest. Staked to a one-run lead on a J.J. Hardy RBI walk off Philly starter Brett Myers, the potential NL Cy Young ran into trouble having a loss of control with two outs in the second. With a run already in on Feliz’ two-bagger, he lost Myers walking him and then walked Jimmy Rollins on four straight pitches loading them up for scrappy center fielder Victorino. I could tell he was in trouble and when he fell behind, I told buddy Brian Sanborn I felt a bases clearing triple coming. With the count 2-1, Victorino did one better drilling the next pitch over the left field wall for a huge grand slam suddenly making it a five-run inning to put the Phils in control up 5-1.

That’s where they still are after a scoreless fourth from Myers, who settled down after loading the bases early walking in one before getting Corey Hart to chase grounding into a 1-2-3 inning ending twin killing.

Entering the fourth, Sabathia’s thrown 72 pitches. We’ll see if he can keep the deficit at four and give his team a chance.

-In other MLB news, no surprise as both Brian Cashman and Omar Minaya were renewed by the Yanks and Mets respectively a day apart. Yesterday, Cashman re-signed for three years, six million and today, Minaya got his much rumored four-year extension through 2012 that includes options for 2013 and 2014.

After seeing his team miss on the final day of the regular season against the Marlins at home a second straight year blowing another division lead with 17 left, Minaya’s being given yet another opportunity to make fans forget this mess and improve the team enough to finally get back to October and compete for a World Series.

Ditto for Cashman, who saw the Yanks miss the postseason entirely for the first time in 15 years with him passing on Johan Santana, who performed very well in his first season at Shea even overcoming a torn cartilage in his left knee to toss one of the best games in Met history- shutting out Florida on three hits while fanning nine on the second last game of the season giving his team a chance. The 29 year-old veteran southpaw underwent successful knee surgery yesterday and is expected to be ready for Spring Training. He finished 16-7 with an NL best 2.53 ERA with 206 strikeouts in 234 and a third- eclipsing 200 K’s for a fifth straight time.

A quote from Mets owner Jeff Wilpon pretty much applies not just to his team’s situation but to Cashman’s as well as he attempts to restore order in the Bronx moving forward in what promises to be a busy offseason for both NY teams:

“Hopefully, the fans understand that as owners, we’re here as the voice of the fans, and we’re asking all these questions. And after some intense review this offseason, we’re going to find out why we fell short the last two seasons. And it’s up to Omar and his staff to correct that. But we are asking those tough questions.”

-The Phils have them loaded again with a gassed Sabathia coming out. We’ll update what happens later.

-Don’t forget a must win for the Cubs who send Carlos Zambrano to the hill tonight against Dodger 16-game winner Chad Billingsley. Sweet Lou’s club needs a win for their psyche.

Lately, I just haven’t felt like writing about sports. I’ve stopped covering games and just don’t have the passion to write about what everyone knows. The Yanks suck and have zero heart while the Mets are the polar opposite and resilient as ever evidenced by last night’s eighth inning comeback over the Phillies. Kudos to them as they haven’t played like dead men walking as opposed to what’s taken place in the Bronx in what will be a very quiet and sad chapter closing the only Yankee Stadium.
One of these days, I’ll get motivated again and give everything and more. I just don’t want to half ass it. For now, another lyrical writeup waxing poetic which is how it’s gone lately.

-Maybe it hasn’t been echoed before but there really is a huge difference between how the Yankees and Mets go about their business on the field.  In the past, the Yanks were always looked up to as the model franchise doing things the right way and having success on the field making the postseason 13 straight years. It was during last year that we saw the Queens club come apart at the seams in colossal fashion losing the division to the Phillies with key players not performing up to capabilities leading to heavy criticism.

Fast forward a year later and it’s the Mets who are now the primary example of what the Yanks used to be not making excuses after a poor first three months along with injuries. Instead, under new manager Jerry Manuel, they have fought back from seven down and are playing a crisp brand of ball continuing to lead the Phils by a game and a half after rallying for five runs with five outs to go in a 7-4 win over the Braves at Shea last night. Carlos Delgado delivered the big hit with a go-ahead two-run double followed by a Damion Easley two-run hit and then a Ramon Castro base knock as they maintained their lead in the NL East.

Even if Jose Reyes’ celebrations can be a little over the top in the dugout, when’s the last time you saw that sort of fire from the Bronx club? One New York ballclub has heart and edge while the other lacks it which once again rared its ugly head last night in a crushing 2-1 loss in Toronto. This time, Joe Girardi’s Yankees couldn’t support Darrell Rasner, who pitched splendidly matching Yankee killer A.J. Burnett, who as usual had the Yankee lineup baffled due to his blazing heater and wicked curve which froze batters all night to the tune of a season high 13 strikeouts. The ex-Marlin also tossed a season best 120 pitches but never looked worn down in winning his 16th thanks to the Jays pushing across a run in the home eighth on a two out Marco Scutaro gift run scoring two-base hit which center fielder Johnny Damon couldn’t haul in for the final out letting it go off his glove near the wall allowing the run to come in from first. It was Damon’s second bugaboo of the night as he also dropped a routine deep fly in the first putting runners in scoring position with one out but Rasner pitched around it.

You have to question why Girardi chose to keep Damon in center that late in a game which was tied an inning prior on Rasner’s only mistake resulting in an Adam Lind tying blast to right. Especially with Melky Cabrera down with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Still, the first-year Yankee skipper had two defensive choices at his disposal in Brett Gardner and Justin Christian but opted not to make a defensive change. It was Hideki Matsui’s first game back. He DH’d and hit seventh taking the collar in three at bats with a strikeout. Xavier Nady was in left and it forced Damon to center where he’s not as fleet of foot since his injury crashing into a wall.

Every move or non-decision Girardi makes in which his team falls short will continue to be magnified here in NYC. He just hasn’t had the magic touch. Say what you will about all the injuries to the rotation along with the disappointments of Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy but he still had enough in his arsenal to do a better job. You just don’t get that vibe from this veteran-laden club. The middle of the order continues to fail in big spots with A-Rod and Jason Giambi striking out while leaving Bobby Abreu at second after he ledoff the fourth with his second double of the night. It was the No.3 hitter who back in the first on a hit and run drove a Burnett high outside fastball down the left field line for the Yanks’ only run. Then with him on second and one out, Alex Rodriguez was frozen on a curve and Giambi was overmatched on a 2-2 heater.

Speaking of which, how in the world does Girardi get away without explaining why he continued to hit that dynamic dud 4-5 when they rarely deliver big hits with runners on base? If they’re both stinking it up in those spots, isn’t it time to make a lineup change and perhaps move up Xavier Nady, who has torn the cover off the ball since coming over from the Pirates? Sometimes, you wonder if the bulb will go off in Girardi’s head. Just amazing.

As for A-Rod getting nailed trying to get the extra base on a perfect defensive play by Lyle Overbay to start the ninth, what can ya do? Initially, I yelled probably just like every other Yankee fan. But really, it was the right play on what was a dunker just over the first baseman’s head and rolling to the wall before Overbay dove and then in one motion made a perfect throw to get Rodriguez. Chalk it up to just bad luck which sums things up. Not surprisingly, the Yanks went out with a whimper as B.J. Ryan K’d Giambi and then got Nady to harmlessly fly out to right putting them six and a half behind the Red Sox, who got Kevin Youkilis’ 24th dinger in a 7-2 win over the Orioles extending their lead.

The Twins also won and remained a game behind both Boston and the White Sox. And the Rays won again despite not having certain AL Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford rallying for three to get past the Angels for a second straight day. Want to know why? Cause they got plenty of heart.

Sadly, the Yanks have morphed into a bunch of Tinmen. A word I once used to describe Peyton Manning before he stood up and rallied the Colts past the Patriots and then won a Super Bowl MVP. That’s how a once proud franchise rich in history and tradition looks like it will bow out in the final season at the House That Ruth Built. They now trail Tampa by 11. And really, what’s the point of even tracking it? They’re deader than the people who were on The Titanic.

Ya know what also gets me. How a Girardi managed team could be so unclutch despite what’s supposed to be a tougher manager. You would’ve thought he’d lace into them and they’d snap out of it. But that’s never been the case. Apparently, all they had was that strong second half start where they even got within three of the Rays making us believe they could again turn it on and make a 14th straight October. But that was all. Even if you point to Joba Chamberlain on the DL, the Yanks have gotten plenty from retread Sidney Ponson and even Rasner gave them every opportunity to win last night. But again, the offense came up small which has been the broken record all season.

When they write the obituary for this team, it should mention how an offense led by a three-time MVP fizzled and not talk much about a banged up staff which for the most part kept them in games. Whoever would’ve believed it? Not even the biggest Yankee hater.

-Whatever happened to Pudge Rodriguez putting the Yankees over the top?!?!?!?!?!?! They should’ve just kept Kyle Farnsworth. Guess the message never got through that Pudge is done as a productive player now that he’s off the juice.

-I’ve seen more intensity from Brett Favre in his press conferences with the Jets than the Yankees.

-Considering how shaky their pen remains without closer Billy Wagner, perhaps the Mets should dial up 1986 hero Jesse Orosco.

-It was nice to see the USA gymnastics tandem of Shawn Johnson and all-around champion Nastia Liukin finish 1-2 in the final competition on the balance beam. Both were terrific as usual and for once, the scoring was about right with the 16 year-old Johnson taking home her first ever Olympic gold while Liukin added another silver to an impressive list making it five total medals. Congrats to both!

-Speaking of Liukin, we came across an interesting piece featuring former NFL star corner Deion Sanders swinging by her family house in Texas to follow a day in the life of her Olympic training which included two gym workouts over three hours between four half hour sessions at school. Talk about dedication. Definitely worth the watch.

-Whoever thought it was a novel idea to roast Bob Saget and why? The man’s never been funny even if he did star on Full House with Dave Coulier and John Stamos. It’s also just a tad weird for them to be cracking jokes about the Olsen twins all these years later. Still, if they’re roasting the guy who hosted America’s Funniest Home Videos and is just very dull, then you know it’s completely gone to Hell in Hollywood.

-I’m not a big NFL preseason guy but that was quite a first half performance by Domenik Hixon the other night in Big Blue’s 37-34 home win over the Browns. Speaking of which, should Cleveland be concerned when former Heisman candidate Ken Dorsey is outperforming Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn?!?!?!?!?!?! Just saying.

-I have to admit that it’s still a little odd seeing Roger Federer’s name as the No.2 seed at the upcoming U.S. Open while Rafa Nadal assumes No.1. And when you see a No.8 next to former 2003 champ Andy Roddick, this isn’t quite how you pictured it five years later.

-I like how those quirky NBC announcers stole my Usain “Lightning” Bolt nickname before the 200 M semi-heat. It’s my opinion that this time, he could be pushed by defending Olympic champion Shawn Crawford and Churandy Martina in the final. We’ll just have to anxiously wait and see later today.

-I like Method Man but what the heck’s he doing on a SC set for a stupid fantasy football draft discussion? Talk about a wasted segment. Click.

-If you haven’t caught Little Children, see it.

-Can anyone explain that lineup Joe Girardi put out last night versus Twins lefty Glen Perkins, who previously was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA against the Yankees before becoming a new Dad and baffling them for eight scoreless on just four hits in a 4-0 win- sending the Bronx Bombers to their fourth straight defeat?!?!?!?!?! With his ballclub struggling and continuing to lose ground in the AL East race, Girardi inexplicably sat out lefty hitters Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi against the first place Twins and then helplessly watched as his lifeless team did nothing bouncing into two inning ending double plays while wasting another good outing from Sidney Ponson (7.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 K). They left 12 men on base and struck out seven times including the side being K’d by Minny closer Joe Nathan to end another frustrating night. To top it all off lefty Bobby Abreu had half the Yanks’ hits. What on earth convinced Girardi to start Justin Christian in left as the leadoff hitter? And why would he play Richie Sexson over Giambi? If anything, playing Christian in center over the struggling Melky Cabrera who grounded into one of the DPs would’ve made more sense. He could’ve then had Damon bat first and hit Christian ninth.

-With the first place Rays and Red Sox continuing to play well, it looks more and more like the Yanks are done. They trail Boston by five for the wild card with the White Sox ahead of them as well. Meanwhile, Tampa even with injuries to key starters Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford has a four game lead on Boston and leads the Pinstripes by nine.

Does anyone aside from WFAN’s Mike Francesa believe this bunch have it in them to make a run? It’s sure looking grim.

-While we’re on the subject, how is it that Mike Lupica can actually believe Girardi’s done a good job? Even with all the injuries to key players, his in game managing has been very lackluster. Some of his decision making has been baffling. Last night wasn’t the first time he put in a weak lineup basically giving the opponent a win. It also happened against Lupica’s Mets which allowed Oliver Perez an easy ‘W.’ From these decisions to the bullpen follies, Girardi hasn’t distinguished himself. If he really was doing such a solid job, why hasn’t he been able to get through and motivate his still talented club to perform up to capability? There are no excuses.

-Watching Michael Phelps swim is like watching someone play a video game because that’s how easy the USA Olympic gold medalist makes it look. He just glides out there and turns it on. We have to agree with record holder Mark Spitz that it’s a travesty that he wasn’t invited to Beijing. Especially if Phelps gets the elusive eight golds and breaks his record.

-Could someone please tell NBC that Americans aren’t the best at everything? There are other good countries as evidenced by China’s display in the men’s gymnastics yesterday easily taking gold while Japan got silver with the USA finishing with a bronze without both Hamms. It’s not always a disaster when our country gets beat. This is the Olympics. Where the competition aside from men’s basketball which our redeem team should win at is fairly balanced.

-Just to illustrate the big difference between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, have a gather at yahoo’s Martin Rogers’ piece on how differently each is treating their Olympic experience. It also gives you an idea of Federer’s suddenly fragile psyche while the soon to be new No.1 is having as much fun as possible.

-Serena Williams looked pretty good in her second round win this morning. It says here she’s taking gold.

-How come nobody ever criticizes Omar Minaya for not going out and getting a reliever when his pen resembles more of one filled with mud and pigs? Just wondering.

-Weezer comes to play the Garden Sept.24. Who else can’t wait?

-The Yanks were swept by the Angels this weekend falling to 2-5 on their road trip with a tough three coming in the Twin Cities next. It really couldn’t have gone any worse for Joe Girardi’s struggling club, who came apart at the seams Saturday blowing a 3-1 lead and then pouring gasoline on the fire by letting seven more Angels come around to score before even recording an out in a disastrous eighth. So much for a reliable pen without Kyle Farnsworth. Then came Sunday as they fell 4-3 on a Chone Figgins walkoff hit off Mariano Rivera, who just can’t seem to get anyone out in tie games. But if you’re Girardi there after Damaso Marte puts two on, what are you supposed to do there but go with your best in that spot? Aside from that, Alex Rodriguez tried to swipe third in the eighth after doubling but was ruled out by umpire Bill Welke leading to mild protests from the star third baseman and Girardi. Here was A-Rod’s reaction afterwards following his team’s 10th loss in their last 15 keeping them four behind Boston and eight and a half behind Tampa Bay:

“It was 100 percent the right move to make. I mean, on the road, you have to play to win. I had a good jump, the catcher made a perfect throw, I stole the base—and everyone knows that. The umpire had great position on it. He just simply missed it.”

Before I leave:

-Why in God’s name did Joe Girardi take out Dan Giese on just 83 pitches after six innings?!?!?!?!?!?! The Angels were held to one run and trailing 3-1 but then the clueless Yankee skipper pulled him in favor of Jose Veras, who promptly gave it up allowing Garrett Anderson and Mike Napoli to go deep tying the game. Unbelievable!

-Aside from that, the unclutchness of Alex Rodriguez rared its ugly head again. With a chance to maybe put the game out of reach with runners on at the corners, the third baseman predictably struck out chasing a high heater out of the zone.

Just another moment where the so-called best player in the game came up short. Oh well.

I’m just guessing but those two innings weren’t exactly what the Yankees were looking for from Ian Kennedy. Does this mean <gasp> Carl Pavano might actually see a start again in the Bronx. You remember him. The $40 million investment which went all haywire since he helped the Marlins beat the Yanks in 2003. Easiest money anyone’s ever made stolen. At least Barry “Baked” Zito pitches every fifth day for the Giants.

-The Yanks placed Joba Chamberlain on the 15-day DL. Not surprisingly, they didn’t specify what was wrong with the ailing starter. Is this really what it’s come down to with this team? Where the hierarchy who runs it is so paranoid about what could be a serious injury/setback to one of their future stars that they can’t even come out and inform the media what the injury is. It’s just gotten silly. This regime hates criticism so much and many are already counting the Yankees out of October because if their rising ace is out for an extended period or even done, then it becomes awfully difficult to see them making it 14 straight postseasons. As of right now, it appears veteran righty Dan Giese will fill his spot in the rotation later this week out West.

-Already, the first place Rays had a stirring come from behind 10-7 walkoff home victory over the Indians scoring six in the ninth. Eric Hinske’s run scoring double got the comeback started. Gabe Gross followed with a tying two-run home run off no-name Edward Mujica. Masa Kobayashi fared no better retiring nobody and then serving one up to first base slugger Carlos Pena, who hit his 20th sending Tampa Bay to a thrilling win. A night prior, rookie Evan Longoria was the hero hitting his 22nd highlighting a four-run seventh in an 8-4 win. This team shows no signs of slowing down. They’re awfully resilient and deservedly boast the majors’ second best record (68-45)- one half game better than the Cubs only trailing the Angels (70-43) by two. Who thinks they’re not making it?  Something magical is happening in St. Pete.

-Given their rotation troubles, do you think the Yankees wish they had retained Jeff Karstens and dealt away another pitcher instead in the Xavier Nady deal given how unbelievably he’s pitched thus far with the Pirates, having a perfect game broken up in the eighth by Arizona’s Chris Young. Maybe he just needed to get out of New York.

-I still can’t get over how the Twins can be 11 over tied atop the AL Central with the White Sox while Johan Santana hasn’t won 10 games yet with the Mets a couple of games worse in third place two behind the Phillies.

-Alfonso Soriano stayed hot hitting his club-leading 21st driving in three in an 11-4 rout of the Astros. Utility man Mark DeRosa hit a grand slam knocking in five. Remember when he was a bad signing? Not so anymore. He’s hitting .278 with 12 homers and 63 RBI’s. Not bad production.

-If you were Brett Favre, who would you rather play on? The Jets, who remain very much in flux or the Bucs, who were a playoff team the year before. Seems like an easy enough choice.

The Staten Island Yankee bats continue to remain hot. They bounced back from a 5-2 home defeat to Brooklyn by outslugging the Lowell Spinners 8-6 in Massachusetts last night.

Baby Bomber shortstop Addison Maruszak got the scoring started with a leadoff home run to tie teammate Brian Baisley for the club lead with his fourth. It was part of a big night in which the 21 year-old from South Florida finished 3-for-5 with three runs and three knocked in.

After starter Casey Erickson got the Spinners in order getting the last two swinging, the S.I. Yanks batted around for five runs off Matt Goodson. With the bases stacked and one out, Maruszak delivered a two-run base hit KO-ing the Lowell starter. Second baseman David Adams greeted losing reliever Drake Britton by depositing a three-run home run over the left field wall for his second of the summer and a six-run lead.

Erickson continued to dominate striking out the side in the second en route to a season best nine K’s in four innings of one-run ball. The performance followed up five scoreless and six K’s at Jamestown.

However, with the starter replaced by Nick Asselin, Lowell spun back with a five-run fifth to tie it off the ineffective reliever who lasted only one third being charged with all five after permitting three hits and plunking two batsmen. A Rafael Cabrera two-run single cut it to 6-3. Two batters later, Kade Keowen followed suit with a run scoring hit forcing Pat McMahon to opt for Andy Shive. After a walk and a strikeout, Shive allowed a Rafael Gil two-run single which tied it at six. He got out of further trouble by fanning Ryan Dent.

Shive settled down tossing a 1-2-3 sixth finishing with one and two thirds scoreless on a hit, walk and three K’s to pickup his fifth win.

With the contest knotted, the McNamara Division-leading Bombers plated a couple in the seventh off Britton, who was in his fifth inning of relief. Maruszak and Baisley each singled putting runners on first and second but moved up a base on third baseman Mike Lyon’s fielder’s choice for the second out. Left fielder Dan Brewer came through with a clutch two out base hit to right scoring the go-ahead run.

Catcher Mitch Abeita delivered an insurance tally off new pitcher Seth Garrison with an RBI single to left scoring Baisley but Lyon was pegged out at home 7-2 trying for more. Garrison got Melky Mesa swinging to end it.

Daniel Kapala worked two effective scoreless frames setting up Brad Rulon, who pitched around a single to strikeout the side for his second save.

Notes: The Bombers improved to 25-16, staying three up on Hudson Valley, who also were 7-3 winners over Tri-City. With a 4-3 road win at Vermont, Brooklyn remained five back while Aberdeen dropped to last six out after being doubled up 10-5 by Oneonta. … Five Baby Bombers had at least two hits with Maruszak, Adams, Baisley, Brewer and Abeita combining for 11 of the team’s 14 scoring six and knocking in all eight runs. … In a losing effort, Lowell’s Cabreja and Dent each had a pair of hits. … Goodson went only one and a third permitting five earned on five hits, walking and fanning a batter. Britton took the loss falling to 0-2 despite working five giving up three earned on six hits while walking one and striking out three. … The game took three hours and 23 minutes to complete. … Staten Island plays two more in Lowell before returning home Friday night to host the Cyclones for the start of another big four-game series concluding in Coney Island next Monday before Tuesday’s day off.