Every year at this time as a Reds' fan I find some pennant race to grab onto and take a hold of. It is what us REAL baseball fans in Cincinnati are forced to do if we want to enjoy the sport we love. The problem is every year more and more Reds' fans just stop watching altogether as they gear up for high school, college, and pro football. Sadly, the game of baseball loses more fans every year in this city and other perpetually losing franchises small markets.

With that in mind, I am clinching onto the NL East this year, where once again its a dogfight beteween the Mets and the Phillies. Currently, Philadelphia leads the Mets by 0.5 game. That lead didn't come easy though. The Phillies rallied back from a 7-0 deficit in the fourth inning to beat the Mets 8-7 in a marathon game at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday.

It was unbelievable! This year looks just like last year. We all know about the Mets' collapse down the stretch last season, one that led to the eventuall firing of Willie Randolph this year. The Phillies are back at it again.

Jim Salisbury, of the Philadelphia Inquirer penned it perfectly, in words that as I as Reds' fan can only dream of:

"Citizens Bank Park, filled with electricity and victories, became the place to be in Philadelphia.

It has continued this season. Contenders once again - and back in first place after last night/this morning's surreal win - the Phillies have had 44 sellouts. You can bet on number 45 tonight, because the Bank is still the place to be, and the New York Mets are in town for one more game.

The two teams renewed their entertaining rivalry - it isn't Yankees-Red Sox but it ain't bad, either - with a first-place showdown that twisted stomachs until 12:24 this morning, when Chris Coste gave the Phils an 8-7 win with a bases-loaded hit in the bottom of the 13th inning.

MLB nl east, phillies, mets