The Closer: Endy's Game

Notes from a day in baseball:

• 1. "What You Do Not Know, Is That I Am Not Left-Handed". Not to get all mushy here, but this is why we love baseball. A pitchers' duel that reminded one of the swordfight in Princess Bride. Dramatic, extra-inning goings-on. A rookie who blunders in the field, only to strike later for sweet redemption. Ultimately, it was the perfectly named Endy Chavez whose single in the 13th drove home the only run of the game, as the Mets beat the Diamondbacks in one for the time capsule. Brandon Webb threw seven shutout innings to run his scoreless streak to 25, longest in the majors. He allowed four hits and struck out five. Pedro Martinez gave up five hits in eight shutout innings, striking out eight. And Mets right fielder Lastings Milledge, playing in his second major league game, dropped a fly ball in the second, then in the third threw out Craig Counsell at third base to blunt a rally. But really, you had to be there.

• 2. Papelbon. Learn It. Know It. Live It. The Red Sox are tied with the Yankees atop the AL East, and if Boston is to win this thing, we'd have to say that Jonathan Papelbon will be the deciding factor. The Closer earned his 19th save in as many attempts, and Boston got home runs from David Ortiz, Mark Loretta, Trot Nixon and Manny Ramirez in an 8-6 win over Toronto.

More Daily Closer after the jump.

• 3. Save The Tiger. This just in: Tigers not for real. Mike Mussina (7-1) proved it, throwing his first complete game of the season, taking a shutout into the ninth to lead the Yankees to a 6-1 win. The Yankees go for the four-game sweep tonight.

• 4. Attention: Indians Now At .500. Just like in the midway point of the movie Major League, Cleveland is starting to win. Jake Westbrook threw seven innings and the Indians got their third shutout in seven games in a 5-0 win over the White Sox — the first time Chicago has been shut out this season. Grady Sizemore went 3-for-4 with two RBI, a triple and a steal.

• 5. This Meeting Of The Ryan Freel Fan Club Will Come To Order. Eric Milton took a shutout into the eighth, Ken Griffey Jr. had a home run and Ryan Freel had two hits and scored a run as the Reds beat the Cubs 3-2.