The Closer: 19 Innings Of Stockings

Notes from a day of baseball ...

• 1. 570 Pitches, But Only One Counts. That's how many pitches they threw in yesterday's 19-inning White Sox-Red Sox tilt, but the one Tadahito Iguchi knocked for a game-winning single is the only one that counted in Chicago's 6-5 victory. The game went so long that everyone forgot the rare Jonathan Papelbon blown save in the ninth inning; it was the first run he'd given up on the road all season.

• 2. Do Not Anger Miguel Cabrera. The Marlins' Scott Olsen is one fiery fellow. He was punched early this season by a teammate and thrown against the wall by manager Joe Girardi. Yesterday, he had a dugout tussle with Miguel Cabrera after yelling at Miggy for an arguably misplayed grounder. The Marlins lost to the Mets 7-6, and the cooler head of Joe Girardi prevailed. That guy's head sure is cool.

• 3. The West Is Vaguely Wild. Everyone keeps waiting for the A's to run away with the American League West, but here we are at the All-Star Break, and it still hasn't happened. Oakland lost to the surging Angels yesterday, dropping them into a tie with Texas for first place. The Angels are two games back, and the Mariners are 2 1/2.

• 4. Stay Classy, Mike Piazza. We'll admit that we think Mike Piazza looks a little silly in a Padres uniform, though that's nothing compared to that two weeks or so when he played for the Marlins. Anyway, he homered in the ninth inning yesterday to help the Padres beat the Nationals 10-9 and remain in first place in the NL West. The Padres have never lost at RFK Stadium.

• 5. Aaron Miles Owns Brad Lidge. Have we mentioned that Aaron Miles owns Brad Lidge?