31.   Lofton fouled off the next pitch, then took strike three.

32.   Leiter, who missed his previous start with a strained right hip flexor, stood back, ready to take his strikes.

33.   Mo took a strike on the outside corner.

34.   That explains why airline executives held their ground and took a strike that they had said they could not afford.

35.   The crowd quieted a little when Root threw two balls on the next two pitches, but the crescendo increased anew when Ruth took strike two.

36.   Then Mitchell took a strike.

37.   They told us they would take their strike calling out of the mystery section and put it back in science, where it belongs.

38.   Torre took the bunt sign off and Posada took a strike.

39.   Vaughn takes strike three.

40.   We can either cave in and give the pilots union exactly what it wants, or we can take a strike.