MLB WEEKLY

In 1964, the Philadelphia Phillies were 47- 28 and had an 11-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals on the day after the all- star break. When Jim Bunning beat the Dodgers 3- 2 on Sept. 20, Philadelphia improved to 90-60 and had a 61/ 2- game lead on St. Louis. But then came the major leagues’ most famous swoon as the Phillies lost their next 10 games ( three to the Reds and four to the Braves, all at home, and another three to the Cardinals in St. Louis), falling into third place. Winning the last two games of the season brought them back into second but the damage was irreparable. All this is to say that it ain’t over till it’s over, and here are five series worth watching as the division and wildcard leaders try desperately not to get caught. Indians at White Sox ( Yesterday through tomorrow) Cleveland was 47-41, 11 games back and in third place in the AL Central at the all- star break. Chicago was 57- 29 then and, before last night, 23- 29 since. The White Sox, clinging to a 31/ 2game lead as this series opened, are trying not to give Chicago something else to hang a curse upon. Phillies at Braves

(Today through Thursday) With the Cardinals having clinched the NL Central and San Diego certain to finish with the worst record among the four NL playoff teams, Atlanta will have to face the wildcard team in the opening round, and it could be the surging Phillies, who took three of four from the Braves last week. Atlanta, coming off a 4-6 road trip, needs to get back on the good foot. Angels at Athletics ( Sept. 2629) The top two teams in the AL West face each other in the secondseries of the season. L.A. has a two-game lead over Oakland and chances are the series will decide who takes the division. The loser will probably be too far out of the wild-card race. White Sox at Indians ( Sept. 30Oct. 2) If Cleveland is able to make some hay this week, the series between the two on the final weekend could be memorable. Yankees at Red Sox

( Sept. 30Oct. 2) It wouldn’t be baseball season in the new millennium if the year didn’t come down to a matchup between MLB’s uberteams. Right now, the Yankees are just as far behind Boston in the AL East as they are behind Cleveland in the wild card. Will one succumb to the Yankees’ pressure?