Carl Crawford makes spectacular catch while flipping over railing (GIF)

The Los Angeles Dodgers carried a six-run lead into the late innings of NLDS Game 3 against the Braves on Sunday night, thanks in large part to Carl Crawford's three-run homer in the second inning. In the eighth, he contributed with this spectacular play on the field.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly must have been clutching his heart while he watched his star player tumble into the left field stands — especially with a big lead in hand — but knows this is the playoffs.

Crawford was fine.

Here's Crawford's home run and catch on video below:

Red Sox fan takes foul ball to chin (VIDEO)

This is one Red Sox fan who might be a little sore even after his team takes a 2-0 ALDS lead against the Rays into Sunday morning. After Will Middlebrooks' foul ball bounced off the Fenway Park tarp, it hit the guy square in the bottom half of his neatly-trimmed Van-Dyke beard.

Now if the guy had a Mike Napoli-style bush under his jaw, he wouldn't have felt a thing.

A-Rod tells MLB panel he was tricked into taking illegal drugs: Report

Alex Rodriguez said the only dope being taken was himself after claiming he was tricked into taking steroids by Biogenesis proprietor Anthony Bosch.

A-Rod —who is fighting a 211-game suspension by Major League Baseball — claims Bosch duped him into using the banned supplements at Tuesday's arbitration hearing.

According to the N.Y. Daily News, a source with knowledge of Rodriguez’s ongoing hearings in Manhattan, said the embattled Yankee and his lawyers have presented a case based partly on the idea that Rodriguez believed the substances he procured from the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic were innocent legal supplements.

That defense conflicts with the version told by Bosch — the founder and head honcho of the now-shuttered facility — who spent part of Monday and almost all of Tuesday testifying before the three-person panel that will decide on the appropriateness of the 211-game doping ban MLB commissioner Bud Selig imposed upon Rodriguez in August.

Bosch, who is cooperating with MLB, has spent much of that time validating a vast trove of Biogenesis documents as well as his own electronic communications with Rodriguez. The league believes the evidence reflects a deep dealer-source relationship. If the Biogenesis products were legitimate, MLB argues, why were they so expensive and why were the transactions so secretive?

Attorneys for Rodriguez will likely begin their cross-examination of Bosch on Wednesday, attacking his credibility during the closed-door hearing as they have for several months now — pointing out that MLB’s investigators paid Bosch for his evidence and offered to drop him from a lawsuit if he cooperated with their probe. They may also point out that Bosch is the subject of federal and state criminal investigations in Florida, and that he was fined $5,000 by the Florida Department of Health for holding himself out as a doctor.

By claiming that he was given banned drugs when he thought he was getting legal supplements, Rodriguez is tearing a page from the playbook that guided other tainted athletes. Barry Bonds told a grand jury in 2003 that he thought the creams he got from his BALCO-affiliated trainer, Greg Anderson, were something like flaxseed oil. Roger Clemens claimed he thought the intramuscular injections he got from his trainer, Brian McNamee, were shots of vitamin B-12 and lidocaine.

That sort of alibi got Clemens into trouble when he couldn’t explain why the injections took place during furtive visits to supply closets and an upper East Side apartment, and why he needed an unauthorized strength coach to give him shots instead of a team doctor.

Such claims have met minimal success in courtrooms, but they sometimes work in the confidential confines of a sport’s drug program. Olympic sports have the highest standard of what is loosely termed "strict liability," where an athlete is almost always held responsible for substances found in his or her specimen regardless of intent.

A-Rod's post-season hearing is expected to continue through this week but can't continue next week due to scheduling conflicts. They may pick up once again later this month or in November if necessary.

Wife of Reds Mat Latos reportedly attacked by Pirate fans outside PNC Park

The wife of a Cincinnati Reds player is claiming she was attacked by a group of Pittsburgh Pirates fans and punched in the head before Tuesday night's NL wild-card playoff game — while police and security guards virtually ignored her.

Dallas Latos, who is married to Reds starting pitcher Mat Latos, tweeted out that she was punched three times and grabbed by the hair by an angry female fan at a sports bar outside Pittsburgh's PNC Park.

The Reds-Pirates game was Pittsburgh's first appearance in the playoffs since 1992 — and the end of 20 straight losing seasons.

Mrs Latos tweeted: "Look. Check the police report. I was ambushed in the Budweiser bar, grabbed by the hair, drug down & punched in the head multiple times."

A Pittsburgh police desk officer could not confirm whether Mrs Latos had filed a report of an assault on Tuesday night. 

"Got punched in the head at least 3 times by a pirates fan so this has been cool," Latos tweeted.

Got punched in the head at least 3 times by a pirates fan so this has been cool.
— Dallas Latos (@DallasLatos) October 2, 2013

She claims she was threatened by the boyfriend of the woman who attacked her. Latos, who married her husband in 2010, says she was appalled by how poorly the security at PNC Park and Pittsburgh police handled the alleged attack.

"Every opportunity was given to pirates security to deal with this before it happened. Unbelievable," she said.

"Only said something bc I’m shocked by how s****y that was handled by PNC security. Beyond," she added.

Mat Latos did not play in Tuesday night's Wildcard playoff game. The Reds lost 6-2, moving Pittsburgh into the NL Divisional Series against St. Louis — while Cincinnati's season is over.

Elliot Johnson takes scary tumble into dugout (VIDEO)

The Atlanta Braves' Elliot Johnson makes a tremendous effort chasing a foul pop-up, sending him flying into the Phillies' dugout during the sixth inning of Sunday's game.

The third baseman chased a foul ball right through an opening in the dugout and got nary a hand from his Philadelphia counterparts as he tumbled down the stairs. But after the scary-looking play, Johnson did get a nice round of applause from the Turner Field crowd when he climbed back out to the field.

Beach ball at Marlins Park causes umpire to change called strike (VIDEO)

Victor Martinez takes a strike Saturday against the Tigers, but then has it called back after a beach ball lands on the Marlins Park field.

After the umpire signaled a called strike, the distracted Martinez pointed towards the outfield fence where a beach ball was bouncing around. After some conversation between Tigers manager Jim Leyland and the ump, the man-behind-the-plate changes the call to a no pitch.

It's the Miami Marlins. What'd you expect ... a baseball?

Girardi says Mariano playing center field is not going to happen: Report

It looks like all of the speculation regarding Mariano Rivera living out a career-long dream of playing center field in a major league game can finally be put to rest. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Saturday that his closer will not get penciled in at CF and may not even pitch at all this weekend against the Houston Astros, according to YES Network's Sweeny Murti.

There have been reports that Rivera's knee has been bothering him and whispers that the reverent closer didn't want to disrespect the game by going in as a novelty.

Of playing in the outfield Sunday, Rivera said: "I did consider it strongly. If it would have been a few years earlier, then I would have done it. But now my knee is not cooperating. I'm not going to make a fool of myself out there. I respect the game too much for me to do something that I'm not supposed to be doing.''

Rivera had said in spring training that he wanted to "empty the tank'' this season. The 43-year-old said he did exactly that.

"Oh my God, yes,'' he said. "I think I spent every ounce of fuel that I had in my tank. It's empty. I had nothing left. I gave everything that I had. I can go home. I can say, 'You know what, I used every talent that the Lord gave me.' ''

If that is the case, it means Thursday's symbolic four-out relief appearance against the Rays at Yankee Stadium might have been the last time fans got to see Rivera play in a major league game.

Wow.

While it was a fun thought, Joe Girardi said Mariano playing CF is not going to happen. Still possible that Thur was his last game.
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) September 28, 2013

Girardi: Playing centerfield is now Mariano's call

It's not hard to believe that throughout all of the season-long tributes and "farewell" swag piling up in his living room, the gift that Mariano Rivera might end up holding most dearly to his heart after he retires was the opportunity to play center field in a major-league game just once.

Now that the Yankees season is officially kaput, there is a real possibility that Mariano Rivera will be granted his last baseball wish and play center field this weekend against the long out-of-it Astros in Minute Maid Park.

Manager Joe Girardi said before last night's series opener against Houston that it still is possible that the Yankees' retiring closer will fulfill his longtime dream of playing in the outfield in a major-league game —but it's up to Mo.

"I'll talk to him every day to see what he wants to do,'' Girardi said. "I know he's talked about playing some centerfield, but I know he has some concern about his [knee] running out there. So that's really up to him. If he wants to do it, he can do it. I'm OK with it.''

Baseball purists have called an outfield stint by Rivera a trivialisation of the game. And it was not clear if Rivera was still keen on the idea after mentioning his wobbly knee and need to respect the game.  It was not even known if Rivera will pitch this weekend. After Thursday night's emotional send-off at Yankee Stadium, Girardi said he will take it day-by-day.

"I have to talk to Mo,'' he said. "See what he wants to do.''

Still, don't bet against Mo tackling Tal's Hill Sunday afternoon as a well-deserved wrap up to his illustrious career. Purists be damned.

DeLorean appears in McCovey Cove during Giants game (VIDEO)

A Giants fan in McCovey Cove activates the flux capacitor on his DeLorean and spins some donuts in the Bay during the Giants' game against the Padres.

We've all become accustomed to seeing weird things (i.e. UFO's and hotdog kayaks) floating out in the bay but at least Dr. Emmett Brown and his time machine might have some real value to Giants fans. Let's say... transporting the team back to last year's World Series run.

Cardinals rookie Kolten Wong gets trashed after team clinches NL Central title

While the St. Louis Cardinals players celebrated the team's first NL Central title since 2009, rookie Kolten Wong got a little trashed — albeit not in that sense of the word.

Wong's teammates decided to stuff the diminutive second baseman into a garbage can all in the name of fun.

One way the @Cardinals celebrated their NL Central title? Stuffing rookie @KoltenWong into a trash can. pic.twitter.com/5cWFYyveff
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 28, 2013

Andy Pettitte got a standing ovation at Yankee Stadium too (VIDEO)

Almost lost in all of the unforgettable show of love during Mariano Rivera's last moments as a player at Yankee Stadium Thursday night was the fact that another Yankee great was spending his last days in pinstripes as well.

Andy Pettitte — who announced his retirement last week in the midst of all the Mariano hoopla — finally got chance to play the of reliever of sorts to his long time teammate. The Yankees pitcher emerged from the dugout to his own curtain call and warm ovation from Yankees fans one last time.

At the urging of the crowd, Pettitte stepped out and tipped his hat to the sold-out Yankee Stadium while the overwhelmed Rivera — lost in his own emotional moment — stood and gave him a hand.

Pettitte will get one more chance to take the mound when he starts against the Astros on Sunday. Expect one final tribute for Pettitte when he leaves the mound in his hometown of Houston.

A-Rod had awkward run-in with Hank Aaron: Report

Just before Alex Rodriguez broke Lou Gehrig’s grand slam record last weekend, the beleaguered Yankees ball player had an awkward run-in with one of baseball's truly all-time greats — Hank Aaron.

Rodriguez was dining at the celebrated Manhattan restaurant Nobu when he spotted Aaron at a nearby table, reports Page Six of the N.Y. Post.  A-Rod approached the legendary Hammerin’ Hank —who was dining with New York Lizards owner Andrew Murstein — and said, "Mr. Aaron, I just wanted to introduce myself. I think about you every day when I play. You’re an inspiration to me."

(In case Aaron didn’t know who he was, he added, "My name is Alex Rodriguez," claims the Post.)

Aaron said in August of A-Rod, "I just want [him] to get his life straightened out. Forget about baseball, get back on the path on being the young man I saw maybe 15 or 16 years ago."

Wonder if A-Rod recommended the red herring?

Longoria concedes strike after knocking helmet over eyes (VIDEO)

Evan Longoria takes a strike from Phil Hughes after knocking his helmet over his eyes while at the plate Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. The Rays' slugger apparently tapped the back of his lid with his bat right before the pitch.

Hughes is the one who should have been hiding his face after two disastrous innings.

Longoria?  He went 3-for-5 and blasted two home runs to help beat the Yankees 8-3.

Mariano Rivera bobblehead delay causes chaos during Yankees giveaway

A New York Yankees giveaway resulted in mayhem after a shipment of Mariano Rivera bobblehead dolls showed up late in the Bronx causing long lines and complaints at Yankee Stadium before Tuesday's game against the Rays.

The Yankees' decision to pass out 18,000 bobbleheads on "Mariano Rivera Bobblehead Night" turned into a promotional nightmare after a shipping snafu kept the valued souvenirs from arriving by 5 p.m. —when the gates were scheduled to open — after thousands of fans lined up outside the Stadium.

The gates opened more than 30 minutes later than usual, and the Yankees handed out vouchers instead, reported CBS New York. An announcement was made during the middle of the third inning that vouchers for the Little Mos could be redeemed from that point until 30 minutes after the game.

Lines formed immediately and stretched from beyond the right-field foul pole to third base on the main level, then up a ramp to another level and back down to the first level, as some fans waited several innings to scoop up their gifts. Pushing and arguing broke out among the anxious fans waiting for the freebies.

Deborah Tymon, the Yankees’ senior VP of marketing, said the shipment arrived shortly after 6 p.m., adding "everyone with a voucher will be receiving a bobblehead tonight."

According to Tymon, the shipment originated in Seattle and traveled by train through Chicago, before the truck transporting the dolls broke down in New Jersey.

Tymon added that the Yanks typically receive giveaway shipments on the day of a game due to storage restrictions at the Stadium. But fans were in no mood to hear excuses.

Before the game was over, some of the bobbleheads showed up on eBay with a $250 asking price.

Brian Wilson gets wild reception in return to AT&T Park as a Dodger (VIDEO)

After spending his first seven seasons as a member of the San Francisco Giants, Brian Wilson returned to AT&T Park on Tuesday wearing Dodger blue. The 30-second ovation was a smattering of boos and cheers for the former fan favorite — with the cheers mostly coming from visiting L.A. fans.

Wilson was perfect and struck out two batters in one inning of work.

As usual, Vin Scully succinctly put the whole scenario into perspective.

Fan shows off awesome painting of Todd Helton as a centaur (VIDEO)

A fan at Coors Field showed off a painting of Todd Helton as a centaur or — as the reporter in the stands sees it — "Todd on the horse."

The Rockies first baseman recently announced his retirement without any bells and whistles or farewell gifts. But it's nice to see some fans paying tribute to career-long Rockies great with small gestures such as this impressive image of Helton posing as the chiseled creature of legend — or fabled Yankees rumor — depending how you remember it.

A-Rod, eat your heart out.

Swarm of bees delays Mariners-Angels Game for 23 minutes (VIDEO)

A swarm of bees invaded the outfield of Angels Stadium during the Mariners-Angels game sending players and fans scattering around the park and delaying the ballgame for 23 minutes.

Listen as the announcers become concerned when they spot an innocent fan strolling around the foul line with a puff of cotton candy. Just picture that potential disaster and not chuckle.

When it comes to cries of "Bees," it's hard not to think about the phony bee attack from the classic movie "Tommy Boy." Holy schnikes.

Diamondbacks' Adam Eaton gets tagged out on a high-five (GIF)

Adam Eaton swung and missed on a dropped third strike against the Dodgers on Thursday and then the Diamondbacks leftfielder just fell down. And at that point, well, he didn't feel like getting back up again. So he pulled a Brandon Phillips and just high-fived the catcher for  the inevitable out.

Giancarlo Stanton sends home run to another planet — ‘Planet Hoagie’ (VIDEO)

Giancarlo Stanton has hit some long long home runs during his four years with the Marlins.

But Wednesday night in Philadelphia, he sent a baseball to another planet — Planet Hoagie.

With his team trailing 3-1 in the sixth inning, Stanton crushed Evan Martin's 1-1 pitch so far over the left-center field wall it ended up hitting a concession stand with a sign that says "Planet Hoagie" in one of the upper decks of Citizens Bank Park.

Who ordered the No. 6 with mayo and a Rawlings?

ESPN's Home Run Tracker estimated the blast at 463 feet, but watching the video with the naked eye it looks like it was hit twice as far.

If the distance is accurate, Stanton's would be tied for 11th longest homer in the Majors this season.

Stanton has missed time due to injury this season, but now 23 home runs in 106 games. It was the 116th homer of his four-year career.

The 57-98 Marlins won the game 4-3 in 10 innings. 

Dan Uggla makes backwards throw and still gets out (GIF)

One 2013's funnier plays happened during the Braves-Nationals game Tuesday night when Dan Uggla actually threw the ball backwards on fielder's choice to first, but the team still got the out at home.

Confused? Here's the breakdown:

Uggla whiffs on the throw, then picks up the ball. His relay throw to Freddie Freeman led to Denard Span being thrown out at home on a 3-6-4-3-2 double play. Or 3-6-4-4-3-2 —depending how you look at it.

Washington still won 4-0, though, and swept the doubleheader. They've now won 27 of their last 37.