Separation Sensations

Credit the Cardinals and Phillies -- and to some extent the Yankees -- for not setting the cruise control.

As the regular season heads into the stretch run, these clubs not only retained a firm hold on their respective division leads, they also created some separation by winning key series after key series while the chasers faltered.

The Cardinals might be the most underrated club in baseball. Since late July -- after being swept by the Astros and losing two of three to Philadelphia -- the Cards haven't lost a series. That's eight series victories and one 2-game split with the Mets. And they're set up well for the postseason. Three Cardinals starters -- Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and Joel Pineiro -- have 13 or more wins, and closer Ryan Franklin is doing what a closer is paid to do -- he's converted 34 of 36 save opportunities while posting a 1.07 ERA.

Meanwhile, the veteran-laden Phils and Yanks have responded to surges from the Marlins and Red Sox, respectively, with solid starting pitching and timely hitting. Neither Philly nor New York looks as though it will be shifting into neutral until the division race is settled.

Tip of the Cup. A belated tip to Giants catcher Bengie Molina for providing the best impression yet of Kirk Gibson circa 1988. With San Francisco trailing Arizona 4-1 in the eighth inning on Wednesday night, Molina, nursing a quadriceps injury, came limping up to the plate as a pinch hitter and smacked a three-run homer. An honorary doff to Giants skipper Bruce Bochy for knowing -- and playing -- the numbers, and sending Molina up there.