Nationals 11, Dodgers 2: Cristian Guzman hit for the cycle and drove in three while Elijah Dukes hit two homers and had four RBI in the finale of the Nationals three game sweep of the Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw earned a AAA demotion after giving up five runs, five hits and three walks before the end of the 3rd inning. I hope he doesn’t actually leave the clubhouse given that whole September call-up thing.

Cubs 6, Phillies 4: Cole Hamels gave up a run in seven innings but bullpen friends Madson and Durbin gave up a five-spot, with four coming on one Aramis Ramirez swing. It was the first game EVER to allow instant replay to be used for home run calls. The call in the stands stands.

Rays 3, Jays 2: Edwin Jackson took a shutout into the 8th inning and got run support from Willy Aybar and Cliff Floyd solo homers to guarantee the first non-losing season in Rays history. Tampa is an AL best 49-19 at home — and a crowd of 14,039 attended Thursday’s game. Maybe they should start catering to the retirement community. How about the team ships a busload of retirees to Denny’s before the game and then gives away Golden Girls or Matlock dvds to the first 15,000 with a paid admission.

Braves 4, Marlins 2: Florida is 10-15 in August and hasn’t won two games in a row since July. Interestingly, they haven’t won three games in a row in the month of August, either. Brian McCann hit a three run homer in to provide enough offense for Charlie Morton, the best Atlanta pitcher named Charlie since Liebrandt in ‘91/’92.

Angels 7, Rangers 5: Texas jumped out to 4-0 lead in the first after Milton Bradley nailed a three run homer and Chris Davis doubled in a run, but Mark Teixeira homered for Anaheim to get the Angels on the board. Anaheim came back with five in the 8th to get F. Rodriguez his 51st save.