PROGRAMMING NOTE:  My weekly “Things that would drive me crazy if I let them” section, full of random thoughts and ideas, will move to Wednesdays.  Catch it tomorrow.

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Baltimore Orioles did what they needed to do yesterday and evened their series at one game apiece before heading to enemy territory for the next three games.  

The Yankees fell to the Orioles last night, 3-2.  Wei-Yin Chen out-dueled Andy Pettitte and O’s closer Jim Johnson, who gave up five runs in the ninth inning the night before, retired the Yankees 1, 2, 3 to close out the game.  Chris Davis drove in two runs in the win.  The teams now head to Yankee Stadium, tied at one game apiece, for game three tomorrow.  In the other AL series, the Oakland A’s are with their backs against the wall, down two games to none and on the brink of elimination.  Tonight, at 9:00 pm, in Oakland, Anibal Sanchez will try to close out the series against Brett Anderson.  

The Cardinals slugged four home runs, including two by Carlos Beltran, and they pummeled the Washington Nationals, 12-4.  Daniel Descalso and Allen Craig also went yard and Columbus High and University of Miami standout Jon Jay singled and tripled and drove in three runs.  These two teams will enjoy a day of rest today and they will renew the series tomorrow, in Washington.  In the other NL series, the Cincinnati Reds look to close out their series against San Francisco today at home.  Homer Bailey will take the mound for the Reds, while the Giants counter with Ryan Vogelsong.  Game time in Cincinnati is 5:30 pm, and you can watch the game on TBS on your cable or satellite. 

TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  What player (more than 120 AB’s) led MLB baseball in batting average with runners in scoring position this past season?  Who was the worst?  Tell you later, alligator. 

In college football this weekend, FIU takes on Middle Tennessee in their Homecoming game at 6:00 pm on Saturday at the Cage.  Don’t miss the game broadcast (in English) on your smartphone or on the computer at www.fiusports.com.  I will be handling the play-by-play, and Pete Pelegrin will be handling the color analysis.  The University of Miami Hurricanes are licking their woulds after getting mauled by Notre Dame last week, and return home to the Seven Names Stadium to take on the Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina.  Game time is 2:30 pm, and you can watch the game on ESPN-U on your cable or satellite system.  In other games involving the top-ranked teams, #1 Alabama is at Missouri, #3 South Carolina visits #9 LSU, #4 Florida travels to Vanderbilt, #5 West Virginia goes to Texas Tech, #6 Kansas State is on the road at Iowa State, #7 Notre Dame hosts #17 Stanford, #8 Ohio State is at Indiana, and #10 Oregon State travels to BYU.  #2 Oregon is off this week. 

Last night, in the Monday Night Football extravaganza, the Houston Texans remained unbeaten after beating the New York Jets 23-17.  The Texans and the Atlanta Falcons are both 5-0.  Atlanta is at home on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders and the Texans host the Green Bay Packers.  The Miami Dolphins return home to take on the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.  Game time is 1:00 pm and if the blackout is lifted, the game will be televised by FOX, Channel 7 in Miami.  

Reviewing the complete schedule this week in the NFL,

THURSDAY

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans Tenn +5 NFL Network 8:20 pm

SUNDAY

St. Louis Rams @ Miami Dolphins Mia -3 1:00 pm FOX Ch. 7

Oakland Raiders @ Atlanta Falcons Atl -9.5 1:00 pm

Dallas Cowboys @ Baltimore Ravens Bal -3.5 1:00 pm

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns Cle +1 1:00 pm

Indianapolis Colts @ NY Jets NY -3 1:00 pm

Detroit Lions @ Philadelphia Eagles Phi -5.5 1:00 pm

Kansas City Chiefs @ Tampa Bay Bucs TB -3.5 1:00 pm

Buffalo Bills @ Arizona Cardinals Ari -5 4:05 pm

NE Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks            Sea +3.5 4:05 pm

NY Giants @ San Francisco 49ers SF -5 4:15 pm

Minnesota Vikings @ Washington Redskins Was -2.5 4:15 pm

Green Bay Packers @ Houston Texans Hou -5 8:20 pm NBC Ch. 6

MONDAY

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers SD -1 8:30 pm    ESPN

THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  What player (more than 120 AB’s) led MLB baseball in batting average with runners in scoring position this past season?  None other than Allen Craig of the St. Louis Cardinals.  Craig batted .400 in 125 ABs with runners in scoring position, with 8 home runs and 74 RBI.  The worst?  Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann, who hit only .167 in 120 AB’s in 2012.       

The Miami Heat travels to China for their next two exhibition games in Beijing against the Los Angeles Clippers.  Game times (Miami) for the China games are 7:30 am on Thursday, and 12:30 am on Sunday, October 14.  Both of those games will be televised on NBA-TV on your cable or satellite system.

Don’t miss my two “Descarga Deportiva” segments (for the Spanish-challenged, “Sports Jam Session”) every day, Monday through Friday, at 9:25 am and 12:15 pm on Radio Esperanza, 1550 AM or on the internet on www.miradioesperanza.com.  

Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.