Jobu Come, Take Fear From Bats

Fausto Carmona made sure that the only really compelling race in baseball stayed that way on Wednesday. What, Brewers-Cubs? Yankees-Red Sox? This is me yawning. OK, now this is me going to the fridge for an RC Cola. While I'm gone, reflect on Carmona's career-high 10 strikeouts and his 14th win, the Politically Incorrects beating El Tigres 5-2 to draw into a first-place tie with Detroit in the Central once again.

Franklin Gutierrez had a two-run homer for Cleveland, which ended a four-game losing streak. Carmona allowed one earned run and four hits over eight innings. From AP: But staked to an early 3-1 lead, Carmona unleashed his filthy breaking pitches on the Tigers, and picked up his first win since beating Boston 1-0 on July 25. Filthy? AP, you've become so casual. Next you'll be writing about hard cheese. (Ed. Note: The Dugout has noticed how casual the AP has become as well.)

• All Right, Hamilton! Jeff Spicoli was there as Josh Hamilton's pinch two-run homer in the eighth led the Cubs over the Reds Reds over the Cubs 11-9 ... Chicago is now 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Brewers and two ahead of the Cardinals in the NL's version of the Race Nobody Wanted.

• Alou, I Love You Won't You Tell Me Your Name. Moises Alou; bow down before him. Alou's two-run homer in the first led to a 10-8 win over the Pirates ... The Metropolitans stayed 3 1/2 ahead of the Insensitive To Native Americans in the NL East.

• Washington 4, Philadelphia 2. The Phillies could have slipped into second in the East with a win over the Nationals, but nooooo ... they had to lose to Tim Freaking Redding. Your Nook Logan update for today: Fouled out ahead of Redding's two-run double in the second.

• Remember These Teams? Michael Young's two-run double, Ian Kinsler's homer and your indifference were highlights of Wednesday's 4-3 win by the Rangers over the Royals.