The Closer: Escape From New York

Notes from a day in baseball:

• 1. Let The Griping Begin. We have our problems with Curt Schilling at times, but there's no doubt the man can deal. Schilling became the AL's first nine-game winner on Thursday with a fairly strong eight-inning effort, and the Red Sox supported him with 15 hits in a 9-3 win over the Yankees. Typically, the result did not put Yankee bloggers in the most upbeat of moods, especially considering the announcement that Gary Sheffield will require surgery and be out an estimated three months.

• 2. Introducing Your First-Place Cincinnati Reds. Ah, 1999. The year of Beanie Babies, Jar Jar Binks and the Backstreet Boys. You had all that rice stored in your basement due to Y2K, remember that? Oh, and the Cincinnati Reds were in contention all season, losing a one-game playoff with the Mets for an NL wild-card berth. They also had a 10-game win streak that year, something they haven't approached again until Thursday, when Brandon Phillips' two-run homer led the Reds to a 7-1 win over the Cubs. It's Cincinnati's eighth straight win, and puts them (!) alone in first place (!) in the NL Central. • 3. Capital Gains. Don't look now, but the Washington Nationals have the best record in baseball over the past three weeks. Anyone notice that Alfonso Soriano has homered in 11 consecutive series, with 23 total for the seasonm, putting him second in the majors? He homered, stole a base and scored four runs.

• 4. Whacking Day. Remember when Orlando Hernandez pitched for Arizona? You should; it was only a month ago. Anyway, they traded him to the Mets, and in his first meeting with his old team El Duque threw a three-hitter — his first complete game in six years — as the Mets won 7-1. Not a great week for the Diamondbacks, really.

• 5. Royals lose again win!. We like to point out positive Kansas City Royals news whenever it occurs, even if it involves a bizarre, 16-12 win after being down by seven runs. Matt Stairs had a three-run homer in the victory over the Rangers.