The first game today is at 5:30PM Eastern. It pits the Giants v. Reds at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. The Reds lead the series two games to none. It’ll be Homer Bailey (13-10, 3.68 ERA and a no-hitter this season) for the home team against Ryan Vogelsong (14-9, 3.37 ERA) for the visitors.

Obviously the Giants are fighting for their playoff lives, while the Reds have the luxury of knowing they only need to win one of potentially three games in their home ball park. If the Giants don’t solve Bailey or his successors on the mound, they’re done. They’re hitting an awful 9 for 63 (.143). If that doesn’t improve and quickly, they’ll be on the way back to Baghdad-by-the-Bay tomorrow.

The second game today is at 9:00PM Eastern and features the Tigers v. As. The As are in a similar position to the Giants, down two games to none, but at least they’re playing at home. They’ll go with the left-handed Brett Anderson, who pitched well (4-2, 2.57 ERA) after returning from Tommy John surgery. He’ll face Anibal Sanchez, who posted a combined 9-13 record with a 3.94 ERA for the Marlins and the Tigers.

Aside for the Dodgers fans: Adam Duritz of Counting Crows is an As fan and remembers the Gibson home run in 1988.

“The worst moment ever,” Duritz said of the famed 1988 World Series homer Gibson hit against Oakland. “I was at my friend Mike’s house, one of my best friends, and we were going to all the A’s games together and we were at his place for that game. God, Eckersley hadn’t walked anybody the entire year, he walked that guy — that was the worst moment ever. I’ve never watched another moment at Mike’s house ever.”

Ah, superstition. I know it well.

Update: Both Bay Area teams won, fending off the end of the season for another day.