In Houston, Jorge Sosa and Roy Oswalt survived some early struggles and duelled through six innings, with the Astros leading 3-2 on Mike Lamb's third inning homer. The Braves, trailing, then pinch hit for Sosa (who had actually come through with an RBI single earlier in the game). This brought on the Atlanta bullpen, and just as in the first game of this series, that's where it all fell apart for the Braves. Three runs scored before the Braves third reliever of the inning could register an out.

Julio Franco came up with a pinch-hit single off Brad Lidge in the ninth. That would be a new record for oldest player to get a hit in the post-season. He'll try to set a new record tomorrow.

In the late game, that Cardinals chased Woody Williams early, scoring four runs after two were out in the second inning. That was pretty much sealed the Padres' fate: they were down 7-0 before they got their first base hit. To their credit, they didn't roll over and die. They chipped away at the Cardinals' big lead, and by the eighth inning actually had the tying run in the on-deck circle. In the ninth, they brought the tying run to the plate with one out. But Jason Isringhausen retired Brian Giles and Ryan Klesko, to send them home for the year.

I'm pretty sure that the San Diego Padres are the first team in major league history who lost more games than they won if, but only if, you include their post-season games: 82-83.

Someone had to be first...

The Padres now join the Red Sox on the outside. The Padres, the Red Sox... and the twenty-two teams that didn't make it to the dance.

Everybody have a happy Thanksgiving, OK?

Today's games:

Atlanta (Hudson 14-9, 3.52) at Houston (Backe 10-8, 4.76) 1:00 PM
Los Angeles (Washburn (8-8, 3.20) at New York (Chacon 8-10, 3.44) 7:30