Cinderella Twins and Braves try to avoid final bell

The clock has not yet struck midnight on the Twinkies, or the Braves, as they are putting the "most" in my "almost" predictions to the test.

A day night Twin Bill with Tigers hosting Minnesota, Twin Bill or Twin Killing, the result

of Game # 1 was a tense pitchers duel and a 3-2 ( in 10 innings ) win by the Twins, so the lead slips to 1, but the Tigers were here a week ago but a Sunday special by Ryan Rayburn pushed the stripped ones back to the 3 game lead.

As for Hot Lanta , the Bravos have rattled off 7 straight in the W column and have whittled the Rockies lead to 2 games for the NL wild card. This was largely over until Atlanta's rotation of Vazquez, Lowe, Jurrjens & Co. refused to lose a game, and the Rox were just pure mortals.

I am sure the Rocky Mountain Boys thought they had dusted the SF Giants, and could ease into the post season. Wrongo Jimmy, the Braves with their swan song for Bobby Cox (who will retire from managing after this season) are gelling like orange Jello with fruit inside. Nicely.

The schedule favours the Braves, who get Nats and the Fish, while Colorado must face Prince Fielder and the Brew Crew, and the Dodgers.

Sometimes Id' rather face good teams who have something to play for, rather than also rans, but we'll see whether the schedule works against either club.

Back to the AL Central, and while it's admirable what the Twins are doing, it's largely going to boost ratings for TV in both cities, and nothing else. The winner is fodder for the Red Sox.

Home field will mean nothing to Boston, unless John Lester cannot start Game 2.

Night game update, Tigers eke out the 6-5 win, lead back to 2 games, 5 games left, and Fish are tight against the Braves, so maybe these races will be back to the land of "almost " once again.

Maybe Cinderella will still get to the dance, but the clock is beginning to strike 12, and in the distance the choir of hefty ladies is beginning to clear their throats.

Final 11:30 PM update, Marlins edge the Braves and the Rox win over the Brewers in extras, Braves now 3 back. "Start speading the news", the girls can start warbling their tunes. "Turn out the lights, the parties over"................Oooh Baby, the clock has begun striking midnight.