A Nation worries about its ace  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - While New England slept, the Tampa Bays Rays evened the American League Championship Series last night, winning a 5-hour-27-minute marathon, 9-8, on B.J. Upton's sacrifice fly in the 11th at 1:35 this morning.

HANK: I'M STILL IN CHARGE HERE!  —  TAMPA - Sitting behind his desk at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Hank Steinbrenner yesterday spit on the notion he has taken a step back in running the Yankees.  —  “There is one very important point here,” Steinbrenner told The Post during an exclusive half-hour session.

Mets are legends in their own minds  —  There's a feeling around the Mets that somehow they are the uncrowned champions of the National League, the best team with the worst luck, or some such nonsense.  —  They tell themselves they should have been in the 2006 World Series …

Shooting from The Lip: Mets, Yanks should stay away from Manny  —  Both the Mets and Yankees, who are a little desperate these days as they watch the baseball postseason go on without them, should stay away from Manny Ramirez.  Let the Dodgers pay him.  And have him.

The lineup explained  —  The Red Sox, as posted previously, made some alterations to their lineup tonight, most notably taking out right fielder J.D. Drew and inserting Coco Crisp.  The move had nothing to do with Drew's health, either his long-ailing back or his right shoulder, which was struck by a Grant Balfour fastball last night.

Whispers: Helms pays off for Marlins  —  The Marlins, who have 17 players eligible for salary arbitration, have signed only two to multiyear contracts since getting Carlos Delgado as a free agent almost four years ago: Hanley Ramirez and Wes Helms, who agreed to a two-year contract rather than become a free agent.

Dodgers leave Philly down 0-2 in NLCS  —  Manny homers, but starter Billingsley exits after 2 1/3 innings  —  PHILADELPHIA — Before the Dodgers went down in order in the first inning, Russell Martin had to pull himself out of the dirt after being flipped by a 94-mph fastball under the chin …

Yanks mull coach switches  —  ST. PETERSBURG - The Yankees haven't held their organizational meetings yet, but a change in Joe Girardi's coaching staff could come before the team's brass meets later this month in Tampa.  —  According to a source, Brian Cashman has been asking some players …

An Ebbets Field Confession From That ‘Brennan’ Kid  —  If confession is good for the soul, it's even more healing when it occurs after more than 60 years and some 3,000 miles from the site of the dastardly deeds.  —  Bob Natiello, who grew up in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn …