81.   He also has an edge in pitching for a first-place team, which means a higher profile during the pennant race.

82.   He did not appear in any rush to grant an audience to a contingent trying to soft-soap him into three months of a pennant race in New York.

83.   He admitted he would like to see more playing time, but he knows he has to be patient, particularly in the heat of a pennant race.

84.   Hamilton did not stick the Dodgers with the ultimate disgrace, but he did enough to baffle them nonetheless and keep the wonder in this wonderful pennant race.

85.   He lost Tuesday, in the teeth of a pennant race, and afterward he seemed to chalk it up to fate.

86.   He said he is trying to use the pressure of the pennant race to his advantage.

87.   He laid out for them how this pennant race is going to unfold, and then Friday he put them in pads, a rarity for a Friday.

88.   He was extremely important to our pennant race this season.

89.   He will not be able to defend his two consecutive AL batting titles, but Garciaparra has returned to a team in the middle of a pennant race.

90.   He regrets having missed the noble pennant race of his beloved Red Sox.