Take 2 Roundup: Games of Sat, 5/3/08

[bernieh]

[size=24:3d5366df9a][b:3d5366df9a]I AM IRON MAN (part 2)[/b:3d5366df9a][/size:3d5366df9a]
[size=18:3d5366df9a]Ripken's 3 HRs Knock Tigers Out
Yanks, Astros Clinch[/size:3d5366df9a]

<img src="http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/images/baseball/stratomatic/1986/story_photos/cal_ripken_4_150x225.jpg" align="left" border="1" width="150" height="225" style="margin-right: 10px;" /> The very next night after launching a walkoff, 10th inning homerun to put the Tigers 2 games behind the Yankees with 2 to play, Baltimore shortstop [b:3d5366df9a]Cal Ripken[/b:3d5366df9a] delivered a devastating knockout blow - 3 of them, in fact - launching 3 more homers in an [url=http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/1986/scores/boxscore.php?id=2091]embarrassing 18-1 rout of Detroit[/url], dropping them out of contention in the AL East race and clinching it for the Yankees, who back in to the division title with a [url=http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/1986/scores/boxscore.php?id=2090]5-3 loss to Oil Can Boyd and the Red Sox[/url].

[b:3d5366df9a]The Houston Astros also clinched their postseason berth[/b:3d5366df9a], [url=http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/1986/scores/boxscore.php?id=2088]pounding the lowly Braves 11-2[/url] and then watching the [url=http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/1986/scores/boxscore.php?id=2087]Padres fall to the Reds, 15-7[/url]. Credit must be given to San Diego, who always seemed like they were going to fall hopelessly out of the NL West race, but hung around long enough to make it interesting 'til the end.

Saving the best for last, of course, we bring you the lone remaining undecided division race - [b:3d5366df9a]the NL East, where the Mets, Cardinals and Phillies[/b:3d5366df9a] ALL have a very real shot at the title coming down to the last official day of the season. With New York and St. Louis tied for first and Philadelphia 1 game back, we're treated to the very real possibility of a [b:3d5366df9a]3-way tie[/b:3d5366df9a], of which, honestly, we hope we won't have to figure out the logistics.

[b:3d5366df9a]SUNDAY'S NL EAST SHOWDOWN:[/b:3d5366df9a]<br/>
- Pirates (Reuschel, R.) at [b:3d5366df9a]Mets[/b:3d5366df9a] (Ojeda, B.)<br/>
- [b:3d5366df9a]Cardinals[/b:3d5366df9a] (Tudor, J.) at Cubs (Sanderson, S.)<br/>
- Expos (Youmans, F.) at [b:3d5366df9a]Phillies[/b:3d5366df9a] (Ruffin, B.)

[i:3d5366df9a]photo: SN Archives[/i:3d5366df9a]