In Atlanta, Ryan Klesko belts two homers and drives in six runs to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 15 – 10 drubbing of the Florida Marlins. Jeff Conine has a pair of home runs for the Fish.
In Seattle, Ken Griffey Jr. returns to the Seattle Mariners’ lineup after missing 20 games and drives in three runs with a homer and double. Bob Wells (8-2) pitches a 4-hitter to beat the California Angels, 8 – 0.
In Cincinnati, Reggie Sanders hits two homers and P Dave Burba launches his first major league home run as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 7 – 6. The Reds get the deciding runs in the 7th with Sanders’ second home run and Eduardo Perez, son of Reds star Tony Perez, hits his first major league homer, off Steve Parris.
The Indians score four runs in the 4th, five runs in the 5th, and six runs in the 6th as they defeat the Twins, 19 – 11. The Tribe counts 12 doubles and 3 home runs among its 22 hits. The 12 doubles tie an American League record set in 1990, and the two teams combine for 18 doubles, a new AL record (the National League mark is 23). OF Rich Becker gets four hits, including a double and two homers, and drives home six runs for Minnesota.
The Giants’ top prospect, Shawn Estes, throws his first game of the season, pitching seven scoreless innings and striking out 11 Dodgers for his first win, 7 – 0.
Down 9 – 2 as they bat in the last half of the 7th inning in Colorado, the Rockies score 11 times and hold on for a 13 – 12 win over the Padres. 3B Vinny Castilla’s grand slam – his second homer of the game – is the big blow of the inning.
Montreal defeats the Cubs by a score of 3 – 2. Throughout the game, Expo 1B David Segui shares his mitt with Chicago’s Mark Grace as Grace’s glove did not arrive at the ballpark due to a shipping mix-up. The players leave the mitt in the field between innings, as players did at the turn of the century.
On July 12, 1996, longtime Minnesota Twins star and future Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett announces his retirement due to glaucoma in his right eye. Over a 12-year career, the popular Puckett batted .318 with 207 home runs and 1,085 RBIs. He also helped the Twins to World Championships in 1987 and 1991.
The United States Postal Service issues ‘Mighty Casey”, a commemorative stamp which depicts the title character of Ernest L. Thayer’s immortal poem, ‘Casey at the Bat.’ The maligned Mudville outfielder joins Paul Bunyan, John Henry, and Pecos Bill as part of a set commemorating American folk heroes.
July 9, 1996 – The N.L. blanks the AL 6-0 in the All-Star Game at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium in a game that nearly saw the end to Cal Ripken’s consecutive game streak. Fellow All Star teammate Roberto Hernandez accidentally breaks Ripken’s nose the night before during a group photo mishap. Much to Hernandez’ relief, and…
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