E.K. NATION

Edgardo Alfonzo dropped a granny on the Astros to cap a 10-run second inning and the Giants kept pace with the Braves for home-field in the National League, beating the Astros 10-3. Jason Schmidt picked up another win to go 17-5. It's not enough to beat Eric Gagne for the Cy Young Award, but it's still sweet. Is he going to pitch any more this regular season?

Looks like the Giants will be hooking up with the Fish in the first round. I've noticed a couple of other Giants bloggers talking about getting revenge on the Braves for 1993 and the Cards for 1987 during last year's World Series run, and I too think it will be great to pay back Florida. Good thing we'll get home-field advantage this time. I'm still trying to figure out how the Marlins managed to get two of three home games in that 1997 series as the wild card. Then again, I'm still trying to figure out most of the wild card stuff.

Also, as a Portlander sick of Seattle-ites, I was very happy to see the A's come back from a ninth-inning deficit to win in 10 last night and then to see Tim Salmon shove a walk-off up the Mariners' asses, ending their division title hopes and putting one more nail in the wild-card coffin. Partially in tribute to the A's, E.K. Sports is sporting a green-and-yellow mast today.