Eric O’Flaherty, who induces a double play from the only batter he faces in the Braves’ 4-3 loss to Philadelphia, finishes the season with a microscopic 0.98 ERA. The 26 year-old southpaw’s earned run average is the lowest ever posted by a pitcher with 75 or more appearances.

The Cardinals cap a remarkable final month by winning the National League wild card. On the season’s final day, Chris Carpenter shuts out Houston, 8 – 0, while Atlanta loses, 4 – 3, to Philadelphia in 13 innings. Rookie Craig Kimbrel, outstanding all year for Atlanta, falters by blowing a save opportunity in the 9th. The Cards were 10 games back of the Braves on August 25th.

Both wild card races are tied at the end of today’s games, with one day left in the season. Atlanta loses, 7 – 1, to Philadelphia after a poor performance by starting pitcher Derek Lowe, while St. Louis overcomes an early 5 – 0 deficit to beat Houston, 13 – 6. Ryan Theriot delivers a tie-breaking two-run triple as a pinch-hitter in the 7th to open the floodgates for the Cardinals, who use seven relievers in the game after Jake Westbrook leaves early; Eduardo Sanchez is the winner in his first appearance since June 12th. For its part, Atlanta had led the National League wild card race since June 20th.

Meanwhile, in the American League, the Red Sox have to thank third-string catcher Ryan Lavarnway, making his first career start behind the plate because of injuries to Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek, for their 8 – 7 win over Baltimore­. Lavarnway hits his first two major league homers then makes a great defensive play on a squibbler by Matt Wieters as the Orioles are rallying in the 9th. The Rays stay tied with Boston by beating the Yankees, 5 – 3, thanks to home runs by Matt Joyce and Ben Zobrist which account for all of their scoring. The Rays also pull a triple play in the 6th inning in the game.

After giving up five runs in the top of the tenth inning, the Diamondbacks score six times in the bottom of the frame in an amazing 7-6 come-from-behind victory over the Dodgers. Arizona infielder Ryan Roberts delivers the decisive blow in the Chase Field contest, a walk-off grand slam with two outs.

Vladimir Guerrero, with a single up the middle, becomes the all-time career hit leader among players born in the Dominican Republic. The 36 year-old Orioles DH’s 2,587th career hit puts him ahead of Hato Mayor del Rey native Julio Franco.

Ozzie Guillen announces he is stepping down as manager of the Chicago White Sox, which he led to a World Series title in 2005, in order to become manager of the Miami Marlins next season. The White Sox will receive compensation in the form of minor league players as Guillen is under contract for 2012.

The Rays defeat the Yankees, 5 – 2, behind James Shields’ 16th win of the year, and catch the Red Sox in the American League wild card race. The Rays trailed the Red Sox by 9 games as late as September 2nd. For their part, the Sox lose, 6 – 3, to Baltimore and are a woeful 6-19 in September. In the game, Vladimir Guerrero passes Julio Franco for most hits by a player from the Dominican Republic with 2,586. Vlad hits a single off Josh Beckett as part of a four-run outburst which sinks Boston in the 6th inning.

In the National League wild card race, St. Louis beats the Cubs, 3 – 2, on Rafael Furcal’s 8th-inning solo homer. They also pull within a game of the leaders, Atlanta, who are shut out, 3 – 0, by Washington. In the Cards’ win Albert Pujols’ streak of reaching base in 40 consecutive games is stopped with an 0 for 4 day.

Jacoby Ellsbury hits a two-out, three-run homer off Scott Proctor in the 14th inning to give Boston a 7 – 4 win over the Yankees in the second game of a doubleheader at New Yankee Stadium, halting a four-game skid. They lost the first game, 6 – 2, while Tampa Bay won, 5 – 2, over Toronto. As the day ends, the Sox’s lead in the American League wild card race is down to a single game. Ellsbury’s home run, his 30th of the year, makes him the first member of the Red Sox to join the 30-30 club.