At Enron Field, Padres SS Damian Jackson shatters a bat on a Wade Miller pitch, but still reaches the LF seats for a grand slam. The Pads win, 8 – 6.

Mets C Mike Piazza hits his 300th career home run in New York’s 3 – 1 loss to Boston.

Ichiro Suzuki and Kazuhiro Sasaki announce a boycott of members of the Japanese press who have been hounding them all season.

Pittsburgh P Todd Ritchie hurls a one-hitter against the Royals. Kansas City’s Luis Alicea hits a single for the Royals’ only hit in the Pirates’ 1 – 0 win.

Three Minnesota players homer twice in the Twins’ 13 – 5 defeat of Milwaukee. Jacque Jones, Torii Hunter and Corey Koskie each hit a pair of four-baggers to tie a major league record.

Dodgers P Darren Dreifort undergoes reconstructive arm surgery and is expected to be out until at least this time next season.

In his final All-Star appearance, Cal Ripken is named the MVP of the game. His home run, along with consecutive dingers from Derek Jeter and Magglio Ordonez, power the AL to its fifth victory in a row, beating the National League at Seattle’s Safeco Field, 4-1.

The American League defeats the National League, 4 – 1, in the All-Star Game. Baltimore’s Cal Ripken Jr. thrills the crowd by hitting a home run and winning the MVP award at the affair. Derek Jeter and Magglio Ordonez also homer for the Junior Circuit.

Luis Gonzalez, first Diamondback player to participate in the Home Run Debry, wins the All-Star long ball contest at Seattle’s Safeco Field. The Arizona outfielder, who will hit 57 home runs this season, almost double the amount he will compile in any other year, defeats 2000 Derby Champ Sammy Sosa in the final round, 6-2.