NL Central Madness...REDBIRDS beat the M's in EXTRAS and take sole possession of 1st Place..BUCCOS lose to CUBBIES at PNC and RED LEGS falls to the PIWOWARZY in Beer Town..."WEEKEND BENDERS" TGIF Recap #3...Whose going to win the NL Central...the SHOW's toughest Division?

It was set up like this before anyone took the diamond on Friday. The Redbirds and Pirates tied for the NL Central lead while the Red Legs were just 2.5 game back. After all the Scores hit the Books on Friday there was one team that hit the right column which was the win column. Off to the NL Central 2013 Madness...

M's @ REDBIRDS

The Cards win 2-1 in ten innings as the Hero was 8th inning pinch-runner Peter Kozma who scored the game-tying run in the 8th. Then scored the game-winner on a pass-ball in the 10th and just like that the Redbirds stay in first place. M's RHP and Japanese Import Hisashi Iwakuma had a shutout going through seven allowing three hits and striking out two Redbirds. Redbirds Starter Adam Wainright had his on Gem going allowing just one run on six hits while walking two and striking out six M's Hitters.

CUBBIES @ BUCCOS

The Cubs had the Anthony Rizzo and Brian Bogusevic Show going as they combined for 5 for 9 with two runs and four ribbies. It was Rizzo's Two-Run HR off Pirates Captain Save-A-Game Jason Grilli in the top half of the 7th that spelled gloom and doom for the Pirates as they scoreboard watched into the night. Both Starters in Jake Arrieta for the North Siders and Charlie Morton for the Buccos went five inning plus and didn't figure into the decision. The Buccos get Three Solo Bombs from El Toro..Pedro Alvarez, Russell Martin, and Garrett Jones in the loss.

RED LEGS @ PIWOWARZY aka the Brewers in Polish..Haha!

The Piwowarzy's RHP and 2013 FA Pick Up Kyle Lohse throws a Complete Job on the Red Legs as his run support started early in the 1st with two runs. Lohse allowed just one run on four hits as he struck out five Red Legs Hitters and issued just one free pass. The Piwowarzy was led by 2013 All-Stars in SS Jean Segura (2 for 4 w/ 2 runs) and CF Carlos Gomez ( 3 for 4 w/ 5 RBI). Gomez accounted for all five runs for the Piwowarzy as the Red Legs fall to 3.5 games back of the Redbirds and two game back of the Pirates. The Pirates and Red Legs both lead the NL Wild Card and for the rest of the Senior Circuit it's all about the Central until someone else gets in that race.