isn’t this fun?

Of the 14 games with postseason implications played in the big leagues on Friday, the one deserving the most attention took place in Oakland. Mississippi State product Kendall Graveman threw six perfect innings for the A’s before Texas put together a rally in the seventh and went on to a 3-0 win that clinched the American League West title. Ex-Bulldogs star Mitch Moreland took an 0-for-3 for the Rangers, but we can assume that didn’t put a damper on his celebration. … In Chicago, former Ole Miss standout Chris Coghlan contributed an RBI double for the Cubs as they clinched home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs by beating wild card contender St. Louis 5-0. … In Pittsburgh, the wild card hopeful Pirates, with State product Adam Frazier driving in two runs, knocked off Washington 6-5 in 11 innings, denying the Nationals in their bid to clinch the NL East. … At Tampa Bay, former Ole Miss star Drew Pomeranz worked five strong innings for Boston as the red-hot Red Sox, closing in on the AL East title, beat the Rays 2-1 for their ninth straight win. Pomeranz is now 3-5 for the BoSox. … In Detroit, Southwest Mississippi Community College alum Jarrod Dyson smacked his seventh triple of the year and picked up two RBIs, but Kansas City was dealt a crushing blow by Detroit in an 8-3 loss. Jackson Mets alum Ned Yost’s defending World Series champs appear to be toast in 2016. The Tigers, meanwhile, remain very much in the playoff hunt. … In Toronto, former JaxMets star John Gibbons watched his Blue Jays pummel the New York Yankees 9-0, and in Baltimore, ex-State standout Buck Showalter and his Orioles got a lift from Mark Trumbo’s walk-off homer in a 3-2 win against Arizona. And in Miami, Brian Snitker’s surging Atlanta Braves won their seventh straight, damaging the Marlins’ NL wild card chances with a 3-2 victory. Former Mississippi Braves closer Mauricio Cabrera got the save, with ex-M-Braves star Mallex Smith making a diving catch in left field to end the game. Snitker, who managed the first M-Braves team in 2005, has done a good job with the last-place Braves and is building a strong case for returning as manager in 2017.