It was a pitcher’s duel in Houston Saturday night, and looked like it would remain that way until number six stepped to the plate. The behemoth with biceps as big as the trees from which his massive bats were carved was sitting on 56 home runs, six short of the steroid-free single season record. Howard took a massive cut at an offering from Astros pitcher Jason Hirsch and sent it deep to left field, where it was caught, and subsequently dropped, by a 10-year-old.

The kid doing his best Jeffrey Maier (right) impression was Brandon Hilgedick, a young Houston fan who wanted the meatball as a souvenir of his time at Minute Maid Park. And who could blame him? It was hit by baseball’s most scintillating swinger at the moment, and could become a piece of baseball history. Instead, it was incorrectly ruled a ground rule double because Hilgedick couldn’t wait for the ball to land in his lap and tried to catch it.

Brandon Hilgedick, you are on temporary notice. If Howard manages to break the home-run record, and if the Phillies manage to make the playoffs (your indiscretion wasn’t enough to stop the Phils from losing the game), you might find yourself back in my good graces. But tread carefully, young man. The On Notice Board is a slippery slope to infamy.

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