BlackAmericans.com

The Mets and the Phillies are right back where they were when they began this series Tuesday, sharing a record and the same coveted spot atop the National League East.

The Florida Marlins tightened the National League East race by beating the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, 3-2.

Erick Aybar had a pinch-hit, bases-clearing triple to highlight a four-run seventh, and the Los Angeles Angels rallied to beat the Boston Red Sox.

A two-run homer in the ninth rallied the Mets to their 10th straight victory Thursday night and moved New York back into first place in the National League East.

Billy Wagner, the Mets’ closer, entered the All-Star Game with two outs, no one on base and his team held a one-run lead. He left three batters later with the score tied.

Major League Baseball officials insisted that the All-Star Game end with a win, even if Mets third baseman David Wright and Boston Red Sox right fielder J. D. Drew had to pitch the final innings.

Tuesday night’s 15-inning All-Star Game exhausted viewers, many of whom tuned out as the game wore on into the morning.

From 1959 to 1962, the American and National Leagues played two All-Star Games each year. There was a simple and obvious reason: money.

Aramis Ramírez broke a scoreless tie with a three-run homer in the eighth to lift Chicago against the Giants, and a veteran scout has been linked to a betting probe.

For once, Wrigley Field was nicer to a visiting team.