Around the Horn - 8/16

4 games in 2 - MLB witnessed some unusual history last night. Not one, but two games went 18 innings before a winner was decided. Roger Clemens wasn't at his best last, but finally got some run support and departed after 6 innings with a 6-5 lead. But the Cubbie's Matt Murton took Brad Lidge deep in the 9th to tie the game. And the goose eggs started. The Cubs used all 25 men on their roster for the first time in 20 years. Their 10th pitcher, Rich Hill, picked up the victory when Murton came through again in the 18th with a 2-run single. The game has a lasting effect as the Cubs had to call a player up from the minors to start today's game. The game took 5:36 and poor Willie Taveras went 1-9.

The 2nd double-game occurred between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies. The Rocks tied the game up in the 5th and that's the way it would stay for 13 more innings. Luis Gonzalez finally singled in the go-ahead run in the 18th off Ramon Ramirez. The game was ended in 5:21 and Jamey Carroll had the big oh-fer in 8 at-bats.

The Detroit Tigers run for the pennant took a serious blow last night when 2nd baseman Placido Polanco separated his left shoulder making a diving catch in the Tigers game with the Red Sox. Polanco could miss the remainder of the season. The Tigers substitution was an unexpected one - Ivan Rodriguez.

Pedro Astacio has been on the disabled list more than the pitcher's mound in recent years. But last night Astacio got up off the scrap heap for the Washington Nationals and threw a complete game shut out against Atlanta. Making it even remarkable was the fact that he threw just 89 pitches. The game only took 2:01 to play.

Apparently the Toronto Blue Jays are conceding the playoff race. Today they dealt left-hander Scott Schoenweis to the Cincy Reds for a player to be named and cash. It must be the Reds hope to acquire every reliever in MLB by the end of the year.

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