Last night, in Baltimore, Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton became just the 16^th player in the history of Major League Baseball to hit 4 home runs in a single game. Hamilton also became the American League’s all-time, single game leader in total bases (with 18…Hamilton added a double in between his home runs).

The story of Josh Hamilton, the first-overall pick in the 1999 MLB Draft continues to get better. Most people are aware that after being drafted, Hamilton’s life spiraled out of control. He became addicted to drugs and alcohol and was suspended multiple times by Major League Baseball. Hamilton found God in the depths of his struggle and returned to baseball in 2007 and is now, very likely, the most feared hitter in the American League. His life is mostly on track (he has had two alcohol relapses, for which he has apologized). 

Hamilton currently leads the American League in each of the triple crown categories (Batting Avg, Home Runs, and Runs Batted In) and his Texas Rangers are a favorite to return to the World Series for the third consecutive year. Hamilton is a free agent after this season.

A number of Game 5s last night in both the NHL and NBA. The Indiana Pacers finished off the Orlando Magic in the NBA (winning their series 4-1). Over in the NHL, the New Jersey Devils defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in their Game 5, winning that series 4-1 and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

A number of teams were not able to close out their series last night, however. That number is two. The Lakers and Celtics were both unable to close out their opponents. One team (the Lakers) were able to get a couple of last second shots off against Denver, but Kobe Bryant and Ramon Sessions both missed threes that would have sent the game to overtime. Meanwhile, in Atlanta, the Celtics could not get a single shot off in the game’s final 10 seconds and fell by one point to the Hawks.

There was also a game in Chicago. Two teams played. One won. The other lost. Life continued.

Adam LaRoche stepped to the plate in the Top of the 9^thinning last night with Ryan Zimmerman on base and the Nationals trailing by one run. LaRoche proceeded to deposit a Joel Hanrahan pitch deep into the Pittsburgh night. The Nationals led 4-3.

Enter Henry Rodriguez. The Nats closer has been unstoppable in Washington. Away from Washington, he cannot be stopped from blowing saves. Last night was no different. With pinch-hitter Alex Presley on 3^rd, following two wild pitches, Rodriguez, having only one pitch to throw, laid a fastball up in the zone that Pirates catcher Rod Barajas (a .127 hitter at the time) laced over the left-field wall. The Pirates won 5-4. Rodriguez blew another save on the road.

The Nats and Pirates continue their series tonight in Pittsburgh. Ross Detwiler will face Erik Bedard. Game time is 7:05. Folks in Washington might be a little busy though, because…

New York Rangers @ Washington Capitals (7:30/NBC Sports Network). The Capitals face elimination tonight in what has been the only close series in the NHL’s second round. The Rangers hold a two goal lead in the series. Only Game 1 was decided by more than one goal. Two games have gone to overtime (New York won both). In short, this should be a great game.