​Hot town, summer in the city. Back of my neck gettin’ dirty and gritty.There’s slim separation in team records with all eight PLL teams either having three or four wins. But look closely. Philadelphia, Boston and Utah are humming. Carolina and New York are cratering. Denver is idling.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe action heads to Connecticut this weekend with two games on ABC.Record: 4-2Last Time: W 15-13 CaliforniaUp Next: UtahThe Waterdogs pulled away from California 15-13 on Friday, grabbing the lead in the fourth quarter behind an epic performance from CJ Kirst. The second-year pro from Cornell is leading the league with five goals per game, shooting above 50% and elevating his team in the process. Kirst has become must-see TV.California sprinted out to a 5-2 lead that was cut to 5-4 at halftime by Silas Richmond, the rookie from Albany. Dog goalie Matt DeLuca made 10 stops in the first half and kept the score within reach. The game noticeably picked up pace in the third quarter. It was 10-10 after three quarters, with Kirst scoring three times as the game featured more transition. California made it 12-10 before critical goals from Michael Sowers, Josh Yago and Kirst’s fifth gave Philly a 13-12 lead. California answered with a Ryder Garnsey goal to tie it at 13 with 3:22 to play. Sowers found the net at 3:08 for the lead, and then CJ Kirst added the winning insurance with one of the most spectacular dodging goals you’ll ever see. His diving dagger gave Philadelphia a 15-13 win with 51 seconds on the clock, cementing the lefty as the MVP favorite. He finished with six goals on nine shots and 31 touches.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPhilly shot 34%, and DeLuca was above 50% in the net. Sowers was 3 & 2, the rookie Yago scored a pair, and Zach Currier had seven groundballs, a goal and two assists.The Waterdogs face Utah in Fairfield on Saturday, where Kirst will be blanketed by the league’s best defense. These teams met on June 28 as Philadelphia won 11-10. Utah committed eight penalties in that game, which slowed their offensive possession time.Record: 3-3Last Time: L 15-13 BostonUp Next: CarolinaThe Outlaws were sluggish in a loss to Boston, once again starting slowly. Denver has been down, isn’t it a pity?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDoesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city. All around, Outlaws lookin’ half dead. Walkin’ on the sideline, hotter than a match head.The Outlaws’ midfield production and assorted injuries, combined with a choppy schedule, are to blame for the inconsistent results. Graham Bundy, Evan Plunkett, Dalton Young and Justin Anderson are where I turn for solutions. With so much attention going to the Tewaraaton quartet, the opportunity continues to loom large for these forgotten middies.Denver remains the team to beat in the West and plays Carolina on Saturday in Connecticut on ABC.All PLL games can be seen on ESPN+.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRecord: 4-3Last Time: W 1