Hitting Back

-It was a relatively quiet night in baseball aside from the usual late inning dramatics from David Ortiz. In a game where he hit a solo shot earlier, the Red Sox slugger did it again- hitting a walkoff three-run home run to lift his team to an 8-7 win. It was his third walkoff dinger of the season and seventh such clutch hit this year. Seven of his eight walkoffs have come in 2006. How can you explain Big Papi's flair for the dramatic? It doesn't seem real. This guy has come through so often for Boston the last three years that it makes you wonder how it's possible. The big slugger now leads the majors with 37 homers and 105 RBI's. Here was some reaction from the hero:

"You've got to do what you've got to do. Like I said before, the worst thing that can happen is the pitcher getting you out."

If only every major leaguer had that kind of approach under the most pressure packed situations. Boston now leads the Yankees by 1.5 games. Though they won, the day wasn't all good for them. RF Trot Nixon was placed on the disabled list, C Jason Varitek left the game with a knee injury and SP David Wells was tattooed for eight runs in just 4.2 innings in his return start. Complicating matters, Boston GM Theo Epstein didn't make any deadline moves to bolster their staff or pen. According to him, "they have a longterm plan."

-In other key action, the Twins were 15-2 winners over Texas. Centerfielder Torii Hunter returned from the DL to hit a homer and drive in four and Carlos Silva went seven strong allowing one run to pull Minnesota within a game of the wild card, which both the idle Yankees and White Sox now share after their 8-4 win over the Royals. Alex Cintron went 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI's and Jermaine Dye and Joe Crede went deep to support Jose Contreras' 10th win of the season.

-In a first place AL West battle, the A's pulled 1.5 in front of the Angels thanks to homers from Milton Bradley and Jay Payton in a 3-1 win. A's starter Dan Haren went the distance permitting just ex-Yankee Juan Rivera's 17th homer to notch his eighth win.

-Looks like Alfonso Soriano is happy about staying in Washington. He's celebrated by going 3-for-5 with a two-run double and two runs scored so far in San Francisco. The Nationals lead the Giants 9-4 in the eighth. They've also gotten a bases clearing double from recent acquisition Austin Kearns. Assuming they hang on, it would snap a three-game losing streak.

-The Cubs had their four-game win streak snapped in rude fashion, falling at the hands of Arizona 15-4. The Diamondbacks slammed six homers in the blowout including two from Orlando Hudson. It hasn't been a good year for Mark Prior and last night was no exception. He served up half the home runs and allowed six runs in five innings to fall to 0-5 with an ERA over 7.00. Very ugly numbers for the 25 year-old fromer 2001 second overall selection. This is as gifted a pitcher as there is in the game. He's got such great mechanics. It's ashame what injuries have done lately to his career. One can only hope he'll get back to being one of the best pitchers in the game. The Cubs need it badly.

-According to a published report in the New York Times, recent tests say that some of Floyd Landis' testosterone was synthetic. The recent Tour de France winner claimed it was "caused naturally" and has demanded a backup test be given to prove his innocence. The results of that won't be known for a few days. Still, if the International Cycling Union which detected the results claim it was synthetic, a second test doesn't need to be performed to confirm it. More from Dr. Gary Wadler, who is part of the World Anti-Doping Agency:

"The rules say that it is a violation, but if you can show that the athlete had no fault or no significant fault, there could be a mitigation of the sanction. No matter how it got there, the athlete has to show how it got into his or her body. It could have been sabotage or contaminated dietary supplements, or something else, but they have to prove how the testosterone got there."

Doesn't look too good for Landis. No Tour de France winner has ever been disqualified. If he is, Spain's Oscar Pereiro would be declared the winner.

-In other disturbing news, Justin Gatlin's track coach Trevor Graham could face a ban according to IAAF spokesman Nick Davies. The trainer who helped guide Gatlin to Olympic gold also was responsible for track and field stars Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery, who both were cited during BALCO. With Gatlin about to defend himself, the IAAF is looking very closely at Graham according to Davies:

"Once we have enough evidence to prove it, then we have the power to prosecute him."

As this case unfolds, it should be interesting to see what they find. In the mean time, former Olympic champion Michael Johnson expressed his concern for Gatlin and particular disdain for Graham:

"Not because I have suspected that Justin was doping- I've always had a lot of respect for him- but there has always been one thing about him that has bothered me: his association with coach Trevor Graham...Even if Gatlin is innocent, now he will be suspected forever and he is about to see the danger of his continued association with Graham, because that association almost guarantees that no one will give him the benefit of the doubt."

Pretty strong stuff from one of the best track and field sprint runners of the last decade. It certainly doesn't portray Graham in a good light. Who will speak out next?