LiveBlogging the NBA Draft

BIKE RACE 2007

Follow the on- and off-road action at the bike race with the Daily News! On Sunday, come back to read live updates all day long on the scene in Manayunk and elsewhere from the Daily News' Don Russell.

Just minutes before the start of the Philadelphia International Championship and Women’s Liberty Classic cycling races! It's a beautiful day for a punishing ride...

We're here to bring you updates on the race -- and the spectator scene -- all day. You'll get reports from several knowledgable Daily News staffers: Don Russell, who enjoys cycling and, as beer expert Joe Sixpack, certainly knows "scenes"; Jon Snyder, another cycling enthusiast who is a graphic artist and Web designer at the Daily News (he created our interactive site on the race); Bob Cooney, who is covering the race for the Daily News; and Vance Lehmkuhl, the Daily News' online editor and a resident of Manayunk.

We'll also bring you live pictures from the race and the crowds enjoying it.

That's the start, folks! Nice, overcast day for bike racing...

Women's race start sounds!

In Philadelphia, most eyes will be on the T-Mobile team, featuring Greg Henderson -- the defending champ -- and Australian Bernhard Eisel -- who won the previous two legs of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling.

And, among the women, keep an ear out for T-Mobile again: Ina Teutenberg won in the previous races in Lancaster and Reading, and Regina Schleicher of Germans Gernuernberger-Versicherung is the defending champ.

The crowds are thin but enthusiastic this morning, reports Don Russell from the start line. It is early, after all. However, there was a great turnout for this morning's fun ride, with an rough estimate of 300 people participating. And yes, Don says, he participated and made it up the wall.

The men are climbing the Manyunk wall for the first of 10 (gulp) times, and the neighborhood, as we would expect, is there to noisily escort them up the grade. Yes, there was more cowbell, and I believe I saw a few early-morning glasses (or plastic cups, anyway) raised in tribute.

So the racing experts are talking about the early and quick attacks in the race...given the low humidity and clouds, the riders seem to be taking advantage of conditions to start pushing it early. Attacks and fending off attacks will be the order of the day.

Cycling News (which is liveblogging the play-by-play) reports that the top three men at the Wall were:

1. Lu Macias Hernandez (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad
2. John Freddy Para (Col) Tecos de la Universidad
3. aniel Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast

Here's some news you can use: Ray Scheinfeld, of the non-profit bike advocacy group Neighborhood Bike Works, is running a bike corral at Spring Garden and the Art Museum circle where you can park your bike for free. One of the (few) problems here is as the crowd picks up is that everyone has brought their bike, and there's a lot of barked shins among spectators. So this is a really great idea...

The first three women up the wall, thanks to Cycling News...

1. Kristin Armstrong for (Lipton)
2. Mara Abbot (Webcor)
3. Oneone Wood (T-Mobile)

Results of men's lap 1 -
Lap time: 30:56
1 - Chris Wherry, Toyota-united
2 - Curtis Gunn, Successfull- living.com
3 - Mike Jones, Jelly Belly

The men have climbed the Wall a second time. I imagine the second isn't the hardest time. The eighth, however...

The Daily News' Bob Cooney -- who is covering the race for the paper -- introduced those who might not be as familiar with bike racing. Here's his intro story -- and here are his fun facts to know about the race:

* This is the 23rd race this city has hosted (men only from 1985-95). The first winner in 1985 was a five-time Olympic gold medalist in 1980. Do you know him? (Answer later.)

* In the previous 22 races, weather has never been an issue. With sun and low-80s predicted for Sunday, that streak should improve to 23.

* Individuals aren't so much looking to win for themselves, but for their teams. For example, Ina Teutenberg is one of the best women's sprinters. Her team, T-Mobile, will try to keep her near the front for most of the race so she can try to win it for them with a sprint at the end.

* For the men, Juan Jose Haedo, considered the best sprinter in the world, will be competing for team CSC, while defending champ Greg Henderson will be pedaling for T-Mobile.

* If you feel like hustling, here's a good way to watch the race. Get to the starting line to watch the men (9 a.m.) and the women (9:10 a.m.) get going. Then, grab a shuttle bus (they're available near Logan Circle) and head up to the Manayunk Wall. While up there, enjoy watching the riders, but also enjoy all the fun up there. Head back down to the finish line to catch the end of the women's race, around 11:30. Then, go back up to Manayunk and have some more fun before getting back down to catch the men finish, between 2:30 and 3 p.m.

* If you're into biking even a little bit, there are plenty of vendors around Logan Circle where you can load up on hats, shirts, shoes and all other types of equipment - even pretty good sunglasses for cheap.

* Oddly enough, there has never been a multiple winner in the 22 races for the men.

* Germany's Petra Rossner has won seven of the 11 women's races. But she retired after her win in 2004. Regina Schleicher is the defending champ, and she'll be racing for Nurnberger and wearing No. 1.

* During their 156 miles, the men average speeds of close to 25 miles per hour.

* Average speed up the Manayunk Wall is 8 to 18 mph.

* The average pro rider has about 5 to 8 percent body fat. The person writing this and most of you reading it are at about 20 percent.

* The men (and women) shave their legs because it's easier to rub lotion and ointments on them and, in case of an accident, easier to tend to a wound.

* An average 140-pound rider will burn about 700 calories per hour, and can lose up to 3 liters of fluid per hour.

* Former speed-skater Eric Heiden won the inaugural race.

Our correspondent Don Russell is in the Expo, where all kinds of bike-related companies are giving out water bottles, jelly beans, etc.

He reports there's been one significant change this year: At previous races, local bike shops were in the expo selling remainder jerseys and other merch for great prices...but this year, those local shops seemed to have dried up. Instead, for sale everywhere are quite a few race-sponsored jerseys -- at full price.

The most popular stop in the Expo: The Toyota booth, where a couple of lovely ladies are collecting e-mail addresses on PDAs. Give them your e-mail and they'll give you a cowbell to ring. One of the lovely ladies, Lindsey Glasgow, a student at Phildelphia University, says the cowbells are very popular with the kids.

Don also chatted with Tony Pedulla, a spectator who caught his attention because he was wearing one of the original race's CoreStates hats. He's been coming to every race from the beginning, including when it was the official men's US Pro championship. "The race has lost some of its zest," said Pedulla, "but it's still a great race and I wouldn't miss it, no matter what."

From Cycling News' liveblog:

There was a crash in the women's race. Laura Bowles (Advil/Chapstick) and Brooke Miller hit the curb and went off into the grass. We don't know their post-crash status yet.

The second KOM up the Wall went similarly for the women's race. Kirsten Armstrong led from the bottom again and took the points. She was followed by a Webcor rider Mara Abbot, who took second at the recent World Cup race in Montreal. Third place was an Equipe Nuernberger rider.

From Cycling News:

Men's KOM 1 (the Wall) for Lap #3 was:

1. Neil Shirley (Jittery Joes)
2. Scott Nydam (BMC)
3. Tim Johnson (Health Net)

Women's KOM 2 (Lemon Hill) -- end of Lap 3 into Lap 4
1. Kristin Armstrong
2. Heather LaBance
3. Mara Abbot

On Lyceum Street at the top of the Wall in Manayunk, partiers have issued this challenge to the racers: "10 km vs. 10 kegs."

On Kelly Drive, this missive: "Floyd was framed."

Rumor is that local hero (and subject of controversy) Floyd Landis is here... We are checking that out.

Don Russell is in front of the Art Museum, at the Commerce Bank Family Fun Zone. You can get your own cowbell there at the Zone -- and get your face painted or take a turn on a virtual reality bike ride of the course. (!) Don opted instead for the free neck massage...this tent sounds like a lot of fun, particularly if you are bringing the kids.

Don reports the crowds on the Parkway are pretty light. But one of our other correspondents, Bob Cooney, said Manayunk is packed. And even on the Parkway, there are a number of tourists; Don found a pair of German tourists -- Max and his wife, from Berlin. They said they were here to see the usual tourist events, and were delighted to see the bike race because they are big Tour de France fans.

Despite the race, despite the Liberty Bell, what seemed to delight these two as much as anything was getting their picture taken with the Rocky statue.

The women are about to wrap up, and it's a tough race out there. Looks like a sprint -- albeit a long sprint -- to the end.

The men have hit the wall for the fifth time ... ouch.

Here we go...the women's Liberty Classic are coming into the final miles...the Germans and T-Mobile pushing it hard...

Big sprint at the end of an exciting Women's race -- and this really is the cream of the crop, folks. The leaders are at top speed with the sprinters hidden safely behind the leaders, waiting to make their move...

The Germans are pushing on T-Mobile -- NO! A CRASH!

WOW! The women of Nuernberger are pushing at the end of the Liberty Classic, with T-Mobile pacing right behind...the sprint begins!

And here we are....in an exciting finish, it's Ina Yoko-Teutenberg pulling in front of Regina Scheleicher of Nuernberger..

Wow, that was an amazing finish. Props to the last-minute push of Yoko-Teutenberg of T-Mobile, the German racer wearing number 101, who has now taken all three races..

UPDATED. Thanks, Cycling News:

Women's race - provisional Top 3 Finishers
1. Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile)
2. Regina Schleicher (Equipe Nuernberger)
3. Gina Grain (Can) Team Expresscopy

I know, much is made of the Manayunk Wall, the long hill that the men climb 10 times during their race.

I just think you should ponder this:

The Wall is about a half-mile long. It rises about 250 feet.

The incline of that Wall is 18 degrees.

And it is a lot like hitting a wall: The men ride at an average speed of 25 miles per hour during this race. But when they get to the Wall, their average speed is 8 to 18 mph.

Making matters worse, it's a favorite spot to attack other riders. Welcome to Philadelphia, where the attacks come at the toughest part of the course!

Lemon Hill is officially the place to be today, reports our correspondent Don Russell.

There's lots of picnicking -- much barbequing -- lots of kids out playing and enjoying the day, and plenty of family-friendly imbibing. (Why do I have the sudden urge to leave the office? -- Wendy)

It's a great, all-ages party scene.

But this entire day is a family event. Don witnessed all kinds of lovely moments of families enjoying the day...such as earlier today on Kelly Drive, when a rider tossed a water bottle out to the crowd -- and what fans don't love that? At the urging of his dad, Holman, Byron Copeland, 16, of Mount Airy, picked it up to remember the day.

And, back at Lemon Hill, Don found fan Aidan Fliszar, who is all of two. This Fairmount native was wearing his bike helmet to observe the fun. In fact, his mom, Michelene, reports that he really doesn't like to EVER take it off -- and he certainly wouldn't do so if he was watching a bike race!

Good for you, Aidan.

Our correspondent Bob Cooney has spotted Floyd Landis, local hero (and source of controversy), relaxing with his mom and dad in a VIP area on the Parkway. Floyd's got a nice vantage point, about 30 yards from the start/finish line...

Everyone's seen a number of "Floyd is innocent" shirts today. Seems the home crowd is firmly behind their guy.

By Daily News photographer Jessica Griffin have been posted here. And while you are at it, check out our interactive map of the course -- with all kinds of facts and photos -- created by the Daily News' Jon Snyder here.

That would be Ina-Yoko Teutenberg, winner of the Commerce Bank Liberty Classic, pictured at right.

Ugh. The men have now been up the Manayunk Wall EIGHT times. At least the weather remains good.

Here's the top three currently (thanks to Cycling News)

Men's Race
Ciaran Power (Navigators) and David O'Laughlin (Navigators) leading
Jake Rytlewski (Rite Aide) at 1:15
Hector Hugo Rangel (Tecos de la Unversidad) and Alexander Gonzalez (Caico) at 1:35

The gap to the pack is 2:35.

Several Daily News staffers brought their video cameras to today's bike race. They've posted their video here.

My favorites are Jon Snyder's video of the beginning of the race (the second on the page) and his video of Ina Teutenberg's win (#4) -- and Vance Lehmkul's action video of the peloton crossing the Wissahickon Creek on Ridge Ave. (#5)

Oh boy, the men's race continues to be a tough one...Navigators are looking strong as we are heading into the last two laps...

There are 10 guys or so out in front but in the field the teams are attacking each other, getting ready for the end...

Whew.

And, with the end of the race nearing, this is good timing. It's about 10 riders and 40 seconds ahead of the pack.

Among the group, says Cycling News, are: Cesar Grajales (Jittery Joes), Christian Meier (Symmetrics), Oleg Grishkin (Navigators), Michael Sayers (BMC), Ryder Hesjedal (Health Net Maxxis), Michael Blaudzun (Team CSC), Francois Parisien (Slipstream), Hilton Clarke (Navigators), Cameron Evans (Symmetrics), Roger Hammond (T-Mobile), and Ivan Stevic (Toyota United)

The sun is out now, folks, and that means both more pressure on the racers and more fans standing out on now-packed Lemon Hill, reports Don Russell.

Among them is Hope McAdam, the mom of racer Sara Uhl, who was enjoying the scene after her Cheerwine team came in sixth. Sara came and joined her mom on Lemon Hill to soak in the scene.

Said McAdam: "The last couple of years it's now been that crowded here. It's great to see Lemon Hill get crowded again."

As we wrap up lap nine of 10 -- wow, the Slipstream team is lined up in front of the field in a strong pack -- meanwhile, 6 ABC said the breakaway leaders are "flirting with a record time"

Here we go, preparing to climb the hurdle of the Manayunk Wall for the very last time. And as we go, the gap between the breakaway and the pack is shrinking from a minute to about half that...this is going to be a dramatic finish.

The Manayunk Wall is the place where the riders like to attack, and this is their last chance. Now, the breakaway is caught by the field, and here they go, challenging each other. A dramatic time in a dramatic race...

And here comes HealthNet! With T-Mobile watching!

They are doing 50-60 mph down the hill in Manyunk. And it's Rory Sutherland (Health Net Maaxis), Bernhard Eisel (T-Mobile), and Ryder Hesjedal (Health Net Maxxis)... (thanks, Cycling News) contending...

And its Ryder Hesjedal of Health Net Maxxis alone in the lead!

OK, Ryder Hesjedal is getting caught...but who will attack?

One-hundred fifty-six miles. And it's all coming down to this.

They are sprinting at the last time by Lemon Hill...

We are still looking at a record time at the end of this extremely exciting race. At the end, it remains a competitive, sprinter's race...

We're down to the final times around the Parkway/Lemon Hill. Let's send it to the sprinters...the lead is tossing back and forth among teams...it looks like a rainbow out there as the sprinters from the various teams are jockeying for the lead.

Attack, attack, attack...CSC, Navigators, T-Mobile trying to make something happen...

Successful Living out in front, but the lead has been tossed around like a football...now another attack...T-Mobile hanging in there...

As we are in the end...Lemon Hill and Manaynk are standing room only...watching a real photo finish...

And the race is so fast and extremely dramatic...T-Mobile tries to control the pack without a sprinter...CSC working for an attack...And we're at Lemon Hill for the LAST TIME!

It's the end of a dramatic race...The T-Mobile team tries to set up in front...

(Who are these people anyway? Check here for the Team Listing...)

At the back of the leaders! A sprint by T-Mobile down the Parkway! And at the end, it's T-Mobile and CSC....

AND IT'S CSC at the end!!!

It's J J Haedo of CSC!

After the crash at the finish, we have several injured riders. Medics are attending to one who is still down.

J J Haedo's time was 5:45:51 -- a record!

Official results:
1. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team CSC
2. Matthew Goss (Aus) Team CSC
3. Bernhard Eisel (Ger) T-Mobile
4. Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Rite Aid
5. Dominique Rollin (Can) Kodak Gallery

6 ABC says the injuries are not serious. That's good to hear. They looked nasty.

At Lemon Hill. Tents are folding, and people are picking up their bikes from where they've lain in giant piles all day, which really is the safest way to keep them, when you think of it.

But the party is not over. Don Russell just saw someone putting burgers on the grill now. And the crowd is a little beer-addled. They all rang their cowbells for one poor soul who came up Lemon Hill well after the race...and had nothing to do with it whatsoever. Still, she tried to pick up her hands as the racers do -- and almost fell off her bike.

He also found one guy who wins our Endurance Award: Chris LaPierre pulled up to Lemon Hill... on his bike... with a cooler and a keg in a trailer.

And on that note, we'll call it a race. Thanks for reading -- and don't forget to check out our pictures of the day and videos of the day!

Nice to wake up this morning and see the Phils just three games back of the slumping (and hobbling) Mets, who lost again last night.

On the bump for the Phillies today will be young righthander Kyle Kendrick, who was called up from Double-A Reading to take Freddy Garcia's spot in the rotation.
John Danks, a young lefty and former Rangers prospect acquired by the White Sox in the deal that sent Brandon McCarthy to Texas, is on the mound for Chicago. Supposedly, he has a nasty curveball.

Can't wait to see what kind of reception Jim Thome gets when he comes to the plate for the White Sox and, more importantly, how Kendrick handles him.

As expected, Jim Thome is hitting third and playing first base for the White Sox today. Thome has hit 25 homers in 335 career ABs at Citizens Bank Park and eight in 114 ABs this year. Obviously, he's never faced Kyle Kendrick and five will get you 10 that he probably never heard of him until the last day or so.

Chicago's lineup: 1. Jerry Owens, LF; 2. Alex Cintron, 2B; 3. Jim Thome, 1B; 4. Jermaine Dye, RF; 5. A.J. Pierzynski C; 6. Luis Terrero, CF; 7. Josh Fields, 3B; 8. Juan Uribe, SS; 9. John Danks, LHP.

Phillies lineup: 1. Jimmy Rollins, SS; 2.Shane Victorino, CF; 3. Chase Utley, 2B; 4. Ryan Howard, 1B; 5.Pat Burrell, LF; 6. Jayson Werth, RF; 7. Wes Helms, 3B; 8. Rod Barajas, C; 9. Kyle Kendrick, RHP.

The skies are cloudy, but the sun is trying to break through. The outfield flags indicate the wind is blowing across the field, from rightfield to left.

OK ... Thome update, lineups, weather report ... what's am i missing? Oh yeah, BEER MAN! (Just kidding, boss.)

The first pitch of Kyle Kendrick's career was low for a ball to Jerry Owens. Owens worked a full count before grounding out to Jimmy Rollins. After an Alex Cintron double down the first base line, Jim Thome was greeted with a rousing ovation.

Thome, with that familiar pre-pitch point of the bat toward the mound, nubs a grounder in the dirt just in front of the plate. Catcher Rod Barajas easily throws him out as Kyle Kendrick takes a huge sigh of relief.

Jermaine Dye picks up Thome by drilling a double just over the glove of Shane Victorino, 1-0 Chicago. Victorino appeared to have the ball tracked, but couldn't make the play; making his first start of the season in center probably didn't help.

The next hitter, A.J. Pierzynski, hit a long, loud foul ball before grounding out to short to end the inning. When the score changes, it'll be noted in the header.

Jimmy Rollins popped out, but Shane Victorino worked a walk. Victorino definitely has the young Danks' attention as the pitcher has thrown over to first several times.

Sure enough, Victorino steals second - his 20th of the season already - and Chase Utley sends him home with a single to right. That's the way this lineup is supposed to work.

Ryan Howard popped out and Pat Burrell grounded out to end the inning.

Tough start for the youngster, Kendrick. Luis Terrero leads off with a hit by pitch and promptly steals his first base of the season. Josh Fields, playing because Joe Crede is injured, follows with an RBI single.

Answer: Juan Uribe. Question: Who was the first strikeout victim of Kyle Kendrick? That was an out he needed. Kendrick followed that up with his second career whiff by getting opposing pitcher John Danks swinging. The inning ends on a flyout to left.

Wes Helms just homered with one out. It's the first HR for Helms this season and colleague Paul Hagen points out just the third for a Phils third baseman all season.

Now Kyle Kendrick just bloops one to rightfield for his first major league hit. He stuttered as he reached first base as if he had never been there before. Oh, that's right. He hadn't. Clutch move by White Sox first baseman Jim Thome to be sure to retrieve the ball for the youngster.

Jimmy Rollins grounds out to end it, but it's been an interesting first couple innings. Now, the clouds are rolling in.

Cole Hamels and Adam Eaton are on the top step of the dugout checking out Kyle Kendrick and making quite a mess with their sunflower seeds. You could only imagine what they're talking about.

They've just witnessed a couple stinging line drive singles - one from Alex Cintron, the other from Jim Thome - as Chicago has first and third. The Thome single was a play that an above-average first baseman would have made. Unfortunately, Ryan Howard is not an above-average first baseman.

The Phillies just traded a doubleplay for a White Sox run as Jermaine Dye grounded into a 6-4-3. The White Sox continue the see-saw by ending the inning up again by a run.

Victorino and Utley pop out, but Ryan Howard hits a seeing-eye single to center to keep the inning alive. Pat Burrell follows with a walk.

Jayson Werth strikes out and we have our first scoreless half inning.

Terrero leads off with a lazy fly out to center. Kendrick has thrown 56 pitches, 23 for strikes. He's give up five hits, but hasn't walked any one yet.

The Daily News Live Blog jinx lives! Josh Fields just walked.

Kendrick induces Juan Uribe into a 6-4-3 double play (as I fix a couple typos in the previous sentences) to end the inning.

Congratulations, Pat Burrell. Seems Rod Barajas has replaced you as the primary target of the fans' wrath. Barajas struck out for the second time today to incur some hostility from the crowd. They still are smarting over that play a few weeks ago when he stood up rather than block the plate. For who, for what?

Phils go quietly in the inning, but will have the top of the lineup leading off the fifth.\

Mike from Seattle asks what type of pitcher Kendrick is. Power? Finesse?

He’s definitely not a power pitcher. His fastball has been in the low 90s. He’s getting guys out by spotting his fastball and chasing his off-speed pitches. I’m impressed by his aggressiveness. He’s been around the plate most of the day, so far.

With two on and two out, Jayson Werth makes a diving catch in right-center to rob Jermaine Dye of extra bases and keep at least one run from scoring. The Phillies defense hasn't been great today, but that was a sparkling play. Jimmy Rollins will lead off. Let's see if they can carry the momentum.

Victorino singles with one out. Will he steal? Would you send him with Utley and Howard due up against the lefty Danks? ... The Sox have a righthander warming up.

Victorino holds his place as Utley works a walk. Pitching coach Don Cooper is out for a visit to Danks, who has thrown 98 pitches as Ryan Howard steps to the plate.

Howard strikes out swinging. Chisox manager Ozzie Guillen comes in to pull Danks from the game. Righthander Ryan Bukvich will come in to face Pat Burrell.

I was feeling bad that I had never heard of Ryan Bukvich until I read that this is just his fifth game of the year. The youngster had appeared in 48 games in his career entering the year, most with Kansas City (another reason I never heard of him).

Give him credit, though. He got out of the inning when Pat Burrell hit a tracer that was gobbled up by third baseman Josh Fields.

Danks has his first 1-2-3 inning, ending it with a strikeout of Fields. This could be it for the young righty, who is due to hit fourth in the bottom half of the frame. Not even Charlie would send him out to hit, would he?

Jayson Werth gets it going by beating out an infield single and then perfectly reading a bloop Wes Helms single to get to third base with no out. Barajas is up.

Barajas strikes out looking. Mike from Seattle can probably hear the boos from there.

Aaron Rowand, pinch hitting for Kendrick, hits a soft grounder to third that drives Werth home. The score is now tied as Ozzie Guillen goes to lefty Matt Thornton to face Jimmy Rollins.

Rollins actually is hitting .301 as a righty, .282 as a lefty. His power numbers, though, are better as a lefty. He'll hit righthanded against Thornton.

Rollins walked; first and second, two outs. Victorino grounded out on a play that Jim Thome had to dig out of the dirt. Good job by the boys to take Kyle Kendrick off the hook. He'll get a no-decision. Ryan Madson is coming in.

Double-switch by Charlie. Rowand stays in to play center. Victorino moves to right. Madson will replace Werth in the lineup.

Juan Uribe leads off and reaches on an error by Wes Helms. The error allows the White Sox to roll the dice and leave Matt Thornton in the game to bunt. The move doesn’t work as Thornton strikes out. But he remains in the game and will face lefties Utley and Howard in the bottom of the inning.

Madson gets consecutive ground outs to end the frame, including the inning-ender by Alex Cintron who had been 3-for-3 with a couple doubles.

Madson's due to hit fourth in the bottom of the seventh. Mike Zagurski has been warming up.

Utley leads off with a classic Chase Utley double. He hits a liner that handcuffs third baseman Josh Fields and rolls into leftfield. Busting it out of the box the whole way, Utley easily beats the throw into the second.

At this point, it appears the White Sox are not walking Ryan Howard. Good move. Howard struck out swinging on some high heat from Thornton.

Now they're walking Pat Burrell. Interesting move. It gets Madson out of the game and forces the Phillies to use Abraham Nunez as a pinch-hitter.

The move backfires as Nunez flares one into rightfield to score Utley. Phils lead.

Helms pops out to second, but Barajas walks. Aaron Rowand is up with the bases juiced.

Grand slam, Aaron Rowand. 8-3 Phils. He drilled an 0-2 pitch into the leftfield seats for his ninth homer of the season and second of his career. The other came off Jeremy Bonderman, who oddly enough is scheduled to start Friday when the Tigers visit.

Jimmy Rollins ends the inning with a flyout to center, but not before the 42,677 at Citizens Bank Park give Rowand a curtain call.

Mike Zagurski comes in to relieve Ryan Madson. Jim Thome, who led off, dumped a single to right. He's now 2-for-3 with two singles and an intentional walk.

Never got around to passing along Kyle Kendrick's stats for the day:
6 IP, 6 H, 3 R (all earned), 2 BB, 4 Ks ... He threw 92 pitches, 55 for strikes.

Jermaine Dye rockets a Zagurski pitch to the top of the fence in right-center; second and third with no outs.

After an RBI ground out, Charlie Manuel summons righthander Yoel Hernandez, who gets out of the inning.

Some dude named Boone Logan is coming in to pitch for the White Sox. Love these Inter League games. I couldn't get a Tom Glavine-Cole Hamels pitching duel. I have to get John Danks, Ryan Bukvich and Boone Logan.

Victorino-Utley-Howard for the Phils in the bottom of the inning.

So I bust on Boone Logan and tout that the meat of the Phillies lineup is looming. Naturally, Logan strikes out the side.

Antonio Alfonseca will come on to pitch the ninth for the Phils.

Alfonseca starts off by walking Juan Uribe and has a brief meltdown. After the fourth ball, Alfonseca turns away from home plate umpire Adrian Johnson and flips his glove in the air disgustedly.

Umpires don’t dig that kind of stuff and Chase Utley quickly scurries in to calm down Alfonseca. Rich Dubee comes out as well. The mound session ends with what looks like Alfonseca apologizing to Johnson.

Alfonseca gets Rob Macowiak to ground into a doubleplay and a fly out a batter later to end it.

The Phils win and close the Mets lead to 2 1/2 games. It’s the first home sweep of the year and improves the Phils to 31-20 since April 20, best mark in the majors over that time span. The Mets are at the Dodgers tonight (10:10 p.m. EST start).

Oh, and for the third consecutive game, Jim Thome was on-deck when the game ended.

Thanks to all for the kind words. It was fun and hopefully something my bosses consider in the future. I also appreciated the feedback during the game.

Someone asked about the pitching matchups for the Tigers series. Friday: Jeremy Bonderman vs. Jon Lieber. Saturday: Andrew Miller vs. Jaime Moyer. Sunday: Justin Verlander vs. Adam Eaton.

-- Ed B.

Welcome, everybody. This is Bob Cooney and I'll be at the Wachovia Center tonight watching the NBA draft and giving my take on how it plays out, and the atmosphere as the Sixers look to improve with all their draft picks.

We'll get started tonight at 7. Come and check us out, and in the meantime feel free to share your predictions for tonight in the comments.

Young averaged 14.4 a game last season, my bad, at G. Tech. Rumors are getting larger that this might not be the guy the Sixers keep.

Doesn't seem to be a lot of positive reaction down here to the pick of Young. Still could be a trade swirling out there so stay tuned.

Thaddeus Young from Georgia Tech, a 6-7 lefthanded forward is the Sixers first pick. The pick was met with confusion, then more boos than cheers by the crowd at the Center. About 1/3 of the crowd got up and left, but they may have only been staying for the first pick anyway. Young played just one season, and did average 20 a game in the ACC. The common question around was: Isn't he just like Andre Iguodala? Time will tell.

Atlanta addressed a big need by taking point guard Acie Law. Some had the Sixers getting Law at 21. Who will they get at 12? Answer very soon

I think the Bulls getting Joakim Noah is a great pick. With Luol Deng, Nocioni, and the good guards of Gordon and Hinrich, Noah seems to be an absolutely perfect fit.

Well, we'll never know if the Sixers would have gone for Hawes as he was taken 10th by the Sacramento Kings. They are rebuilding out there, and this kid only played one year in college, so that a pretty good pick for them. They compare him to Brad Miller, who had some good years with the Kings. The Sixers have to have a trade in the works, no?

The Sixers still might get Yi. Don't forget, Milwaukee drafted Andrew Bogut first overall just two years ago. That gives them two seven-footers. We'll see. Thanks for chiming in, Connor or Bernadette.

The ninth pick by the Bulls of Joakim Noah brought some cheers throughout the crowd at the Center, as if they were glad he wasn't going to be there for the Sixers. I get the feeling if he's still there, the Sixers will go with Spencer Hawes, a 7-foot center out of Washington.

Is it a surprise that the Bobcats took North Carolina's Brandon Wright? Don't forget, Michael Jordan is now running the show there. How long before Larry Brown is coaching the Bobcats?
Who are the Sixers gonna grab?

Corey Brewer becomes the second Florida player taken as he goes seventh to Minnesota. They're building a nice young group up in Minn. It will be interesting to see if Kevin Garnett is there to see it come to fruition.

Sorry, Rob. I meant to say Memphis is rumored to make some trades. Or maybe Conley at two guard>?

A very good question from a very good person asks what is the future of former nova star Kyle Lowry, now that Memphis has taken Mike Conley. Well, Rob, I don't know. Minnesota is one of the teams rumored to be looking to trade people, Lowry might be one of them. Can't see him being a teacher to Conley, as the two have about the same amount of pro time.

Milwaukee grabs Yi Jianlian from China, the 7-footer with the finesse game. With six picks until the Sixers go, the top names still out there are Joakim Noah, Brandan Wright, Julian Wright, Corey Brewer.

Okay, we've had time to look it up. Wally's last name is spelled Szczerbiak. Yeah, we had to look it up. But off the top of my head, I know the coach of Duke is spelled Krzyzewski.

Trade has been announced with the Celtics giving the fifth pick (Jeff Green) to Seattle along with Sczerbiak and West for Ray Allen. Seems like way too much for Allen. If the Sixers are gonna make a move, it might be here.

Memphis surprises no one by taking Mike Conley, Jr., also out of Ohio St.. Talk about skyrocketing up the draft board. How many people knew a lot about Conley coming into the college season, other than he and Oden played in high school together. When he's out on the break with the ball in his hands, he makes great subtle moves to get himself into good position.

Atlanta take Al Horford from Florida with the third pick. This guy might be more ready for the NBA right now than the first two picks. Has everything you want in a power forward in the NBA. I wouldn't be surprised if he's the Rookie of the Year. How's that for bold predictions?

A little trouble with the wireless hookup down here at the Center, but it's fixed and we're ready to roll.
Mumblings among media may be the Sixers and Milwaukee, who holds the sixth pick. Stay tuned. Trade ideas, anyone?

The Sixers may be looking to give Milwaukee the 12th and 21st for Milwaukee's 6th. Just a rumor going around here. Anyone like that?

Looks like about 1,500 people at the Center, watching the draft, hoping the Sixers do something impressive.

Greg Oden goes No. 1 to Portland, no surprise there. He joins other centers taken by the Trail Blazers at No. 1 that includes Bill Walton and Mychal Thompson. Will he be a better pro than Walton?

Durant goes second to Seattle. It appears Boston has traded the fifth pick, along with Wally Sczerbiak (Sp?) and Delonte West to Seattle for Ray Allen. If true, Is that good or bad for the Sixers.

I think too much has been made of Durant not being able to bench 185 pounds. If you really watch this guy play, he's 6-10 but plays a 6-5 game. In that, I mean that he is as mobile as a smaller player but has the extra height and nows how to use it to his advantage. He will be a scoring machine in the league for many years to come.

If you keep someone overseas, I don't think they come off your cap. Still, I think they're gonna go with Davis.

Glen Big Baby Davis was taken by Seattle at No. 35, which will be traded to the Celtics.
Still out there for the Sixers are Josh McRoberts from Duke, Pitt's Aaron Gray....others?

I'm NOT in favor of losing games, that's just my opinion. You can make the argument both ways, I just think good rarely comes from bad.

It looks like Charlotte is going to trade the No. 8 pick (Brandan Wright) for Golden State's Jason Richardson.

The Sixers do go with a foreign player, taking Petteri Koponen, a 6-4 point guard from Finland. It appears Koponen will stay overseas. He is 19 years old.

Arron Afflalo went to the Pistons at 27 and Tiago Splitter, a 6-11 forward from Brazil, went to the Spurs.

Thaddeus Young on a conference call says he thinks he impressed the Sixers with his good work ethic and that he was surprised that he was taken "this high" but that he's good enough to be the 12th player taken. He said he's looking forward to coming to Philly and is excited the team got Jason Smith with the second pick.

I'm not a fan of telling a team to tank games. I think you do that, you have a hard time getting back that winning mentality. Plus, it doesn't always work out for the best. But that's just my opinion. And i'd think that way for any organization, whether I was covering them or not.

At 25 Utah took Morris Almond, a 6-6 shooting guard from Rice, and the Rockets took Aaron Brooks, 6-foot point guard from Oregon.

Obviously, not many seem happy with the SIxers draft. Is it because they didn't trade up from No. 12 or just who they took at No. 12.

Was waiting to see if anything came about on Young being traded, but nothing happening. Until they have the press conference, we have to assume he's here.

I saw Afflalo in person at the Regionals in San Jose, and he really impressed me. A real leader, tough as nails and a very good defender. He is listed as 6-5, 215. Very strong upper body.

They could go with a foreign player, and always keep him overseas to "groom him".

I'd say the odds on favorite for the Sixers pick at No. 30 is Afflalo, especially since Rudy Fernandez just went to the Suns. Other point guards out there include Gabe Pruitt (USC), Aaron Brooks of Oregon and Taurean Green of Florida. If not a point guard, I'll stick with Glen "Big Baby" Davis of LSU.

Realistically, what can the Sixers do to make fans happy about this draft?

Philly.com poll shows 538 people say they don't like the Sixers first pick, and 131 say they do.
Down here among fans, the second pick of getting Smith is much more popular than the first pick of Young.
The Knicks just took Wilson Chandler of DePaul. Who do you want the Sixers to grab at 30, or does it matter.

Charlotte takes Jared Dudley, from Boston College with the 22 pick. This kid is a monster, with a very powerful inside game.

Smith averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds this season at Col. St. Not a power-type player, but a guy who can run the floor and has good hands. I like the pick. Arron Afflalo or Glen Davis at 30?

Sixers drafted Daequan Cook of Ohio State at 21, then trade him to Miami for Jason Smith, who was taken at 20. Reaction by the 200 or so remaining fans was very, very positive. Whether they know anything about Smith or are just happy the Sixers made a trade, who knows? Smith is a 7-foot, 233 pounder power forward from Colorado St.

Well, Jason Smith just went to the Heat, so he won't be a Sixer. Point guard from Spain, Rudy Fernandez?

Young is a very good kid, by all accouonts. Had a 4.3 GPA in high school at Mitchell High in Memphis.

Many thought the Sixers might address the point guard position in this draft. Well, they won't get Javaris Crittenton. The former teammate of Thaddeus Young at Georgia Tech went to the Lakers at the 19th pick.

I wonder what the mood was in the Sixers draft room when Sean Williams was taken. They loved his athleticism and his rugged inside game is something the team needs desperately. I had a strong feeling for him at No. 21.

Well, who do you go with at 21 if you're the Sixers?
Marco Belinelli, a 6-6 shooting guard from Italy, was taken by the Warriors. That's one guy if the Sixers took, i think it would empty the stands.

Poll question of first page of Philly.com asks: Do you like the Sixers pick? So far, 212 say no to 47 saying yes.

Sean Williams, whom the Sixers had in twice for workouts and who was thrown off the Boston College team, was scooped up by the Nets at 17.
Is Corey Brewer also a similar game to Iguodala? Was this a three-man draft?

Steve Francis and Channing Fry have been traded by the Knicks to the Trail Blazers for Zack Randolph.

The Pistons went with point guard Rodney Stuckey from E. Washington, while the Wizards took Nick Young from Southern Cal.
About 75 percent of the fans have left the Wachovia Center, and the ones remaining don't seem real happy.

It's getting louder and louder down here at the Wachovia Center that the Sixers might not be done, meaning Young might not be the guy the keep. Of the players taken before him, who would you like, realistically? Noah, Brewer, Yi, Brandan Wright?

Julian Wright from Kansas went to the Hornets at 13 and Al Thornton, from Florida State, went to the Clippers at 14. Many thought Thornton, who played four years and is 23, would be a Sixer. I saw Wright play during the tournament this season in San Jose, and, although you can see there is a ton of talent, I didn't like the fact that he wasn't overly aggressive in taking control of the game. Three Eastern teams, Detroit, Washington and New Jersey are next.

He is said to be a terrific offensive rebounder who has long arms and is very tough. Isn't afraid to post up and is a good defender on the perimeter. Sure does sound like Iguodala.

Fesenko is no longer a Sixer. Billy King just came out and said that the Sixers have made a trade and picked up Herbert Hill from Providence.
Well, maybe when Sixers fans sleep on this draft, they'll wake up happier. Or maybe not. As it stands now, Thaddeus Young and a couple of seven footers sum up the Sixers draft. Moving up didn't happen. Improvement? That is the question. Season's just about four months away. We shall see. Thanks for all your comments and thanks for reading.

Don't think there's a trade in the works, but it seems odd that Billy King hasn't addressed the media yet. No, he's not hiding. He's good about coming out. Just curious nothing from him, yet.

Jared Jordan, a point guard from Marist, went to the Clippers at No. 45. Jordan was coached at Marist by Matt Brady, former longtime assistant at St. Joe's.

The banter in the press room is if the Sixers improved their team tonight. One questioner emailed if the Sixers picks at 21 and 30 were as good as their pick at No. 12?

Derrick Byars was taking by Portland at 42, but it looks like he'll be coming to Philly. Probably the best guy out there at this pick. A 23-year old who played two years at Virginia before transferring to Vanderbilt. Averaged 17 points and five rebounds. Big kid who goes 6-7, 230 pounds. He was named first team, all SEC. Can play both guard and forward.

I don't think the 42nd pick will change minds much, so what grade do you give the sixers on this draft.

With the 38th pick the Sixers got Kyrylo Fesenko, a 7-foot, 240 pound forward from the Ukrain. There are virtually no fans left in attendance, so reaction is very, very light. Sixers were really impressed with Fesenko, saying after he worked out for them that he "was a first-round pick". He is a tough player with an NBA body. Foul trouble might come easily to this 20-year old.

Sixers, not Flyers, gave up the Fin, trading Petteri Koponen to the Trail Blazers for Portland's 42nd pick. Josh McRoberts just went to the Trail Blazers with the 37th pick. Sixers next.