Admitting to a blown call, which led to the decisive run in the Rockies’ 6-5 Game 2 NLDS loss to the Phillies at a very chilly Coors Field, home plate umpire Jerry Meals, after watching a post-game replay, states the ball that glanced off Chase Utley’s leg should not have been in play. To make matters worse, in the same at-bat in which the ball was really foul, umpire Ron Kulpa rules the runner safe on a close call which appeared to have the Philadelphia infielder beat at first base.

The Phillies take a 2 games to 1 lead in their NLDS with a 6 – 5 win over the Rockies in frigid conditions at Coors Field. Chase Utley hits a 1st-inning home run and benefits from a dubious umpiring call that leads to the winning run in the 9th. Much-maligned Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge picks up the save after placing the tying and winning runs on base via walks in the bottom of the 9th.

On a rainy mid-week afternoon in Manhattan, Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor Tyler Stanger die as their four-seat plane crashes into an Upper East Side high-rise building. Manny Acta, the Mets third base coach, is not sure he will be able to go to his home after tonight’s scheduled Game 1 of the NLCS at Shea Stadium, due to damage to the Belaire Condominiums caused by the crash.

The Pirates name Jim Tracy as the team’s manager to replace the recently-fired Lloyd McClendon. The selection of the former Dodger skipper marks the first time in nearly two decades Pittsburgh has looked outside the organization to hire its field boss.

In Game 4, the Cubs (6) and Marlins (8) tie the NLCS homer record by hitting 14 dingers in the championship series. The mark, which the teams will expand to 23 in the five-game series, was established by the Giants and Cardinals last year.

Buck Showalter, who compiled a 563-504 (.527) managerial record in six seasons with the Yankees and Diamondback, is hired by the last-place Rangers to replace Jerry Narron, let go two days ago as the team’s skipper. The Cubs, Mets, Devil Rays, and Brewers had also expressed an interest in the 46 year-old ESPN commentator.

The Yankees’ eight hits in the eighth inning in Game 2 set an ALCS record and contribute to the Bronx Bombers’ 7-1 victory over the Mariners. The new mark surpasses the accomplishments of the Orioles (Game 1 – 1970), the Yankees (Game 2 – 1981), and the Blue Jays (Game 3 – 1985), who each had seven hits in one inning of a championship series.