It ended in bizarro world, with the Atlanta Braves 90 feet from tying the game -- and 180 feet from winning it -- despite striking out 16 times, nine in a row.
It ended with Matt Diaz, described by Bobby Cox as the Braves' best
baserunner, paying the price for a moment's indecision on a passed ball
and getting caught between third and home, snuffing a bases-loaded rally.
It ended the Braves' fourth straight failed bid for a playoff berth after an awesome 15-2 run that was derailed this week by the already eliminated Marlins.
It ended with the city paying too-little attention, its sports fans having moved on to football and its baseball devotees reading the more discouraging division standings, not the hopeful wild-card "standings."
It ended Wednesday night with a funereal locker room at Turner Field; a wild celebration in Philadelphia, which nailed its third straight NL East title, and a milder one in Colorado, which clinched a wild-card tie with four games left for each.
It ended with fans wondering about Cox's farewell season in 2010, Chipper Jones' future and which pitcher will be let go.
It ended painfully.
It ended the Braves' fourth straight failed bid for a playoff berth after an awesome 15-2 run that was derailed this week by the already eliminated Marlins.
It ended with the city paying too-little attention, its sports fans having moved on to football and its baseball devotees reading the more discouraging division standings, not the hopeful wild-card "standings."
It ended Wednesday night with a funereal locker room at Turner Field; a wild celebration in Philadelphia, which nailed its third straight NL East title, and a milder one in Colorado, which clinched a wild-card tie with four games left for each.
It ended with fans wondering about Cox's farewell season in 2010, Chipper Jones' future and which pitcher will be let go.
It ended painfully.
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