Randy Johnson pitches a complete game in defeating the Dodgers, 7 – 1. The Diamondbacks’ ace improves to 20-5 on the year and punches out 8 opponents to give him 300 or more strikeouts for the fourth straight season, the first ever pitcher to do so.
Aaron Myette, ejected yesterday for two pitches thrown behind Melvin Mora, starts today’s game, allowing six of the 11 walks in an 8 – 3 loss to Baltimore. According to the New York Times, it is the first back-to-back starts by a pitcher since Steve McCatty in 1980 (though five pitchers – Dennis Martinez (Baltimore), Bert Blyleven (Cleveland), Pete Vuckovich (Milwaukee), Rick Langford (Oakland), and Juan Eichelberger (San Diego) – made the last start before the 1981 strike and the first start after.
By losing their 15th straight game at Shea Stadium, the Mets pass the dubious mark set by the 1911 Braves to establish a new National League record for consecutive losses at home. The Amazins’ did not win one home game in August, finishing the month 0-13 in New York.
Andy Van Hekken, with a fastball topping out in the mid-80s, becomes the first American Leaguer to throw a complete game shutout in his debut since Mike Norris in 1975, and the first Tiger since Schoolboy Rowe in 1933. He stops Cleveland, 4 – 0. The Holland, MI native was 5-0 at Toledo (AAA) before his promotion.
Pittsburgh P Salomon Torres makes his first major league appearance since 1997 as he defeats the Braves, 3 – 0. Torres retired in 1997, became a coach in the Dominican Republic, then began his comeback in January.
Three Rangers pitchers combine to one-hit the Orioles, winning by a score of 7 – 1. Starter Aaron Myette is ejected after throwing two pitches and replaced by Todd Van Poppel, who throws two hitless innings. Van Poppel is in turn replaced by rookie Joaquin Benoit who does not give up a hit until Jerry Hairston’s leadoff triple in the 9th. Benoit gets credit for a 7-inning save, the longest since saves were first recorded in 1969.
In the top of the ninth inning, Diamondback first baseman Mark Grace hurls an inning of relief with the team trailing the Dodgers, 18-0. The All-Star infielder retires three of the four batters he faces in the Bank One Ballpark, yielding a two-out home run to David Ross.
The Dodgers pummel the Diamondbacks, 19 – 1, with only a 9th-inning score preventing them from tying the team mark for most lopsided shutout ever. The 24 hits ties the mark for the team in Los Angeles. They score eight of their runs in the 7th inning. The last hit for L.A. is the first major league homer by Dave Ross, and it comes off Mark Grace, who pitches the 9th inning.
The Cubs beat the Brewers, 17 – 4, to salvage a split in their doubleheader after Milwaukee takes the opener by a score of 4 – 2 on solo homers by Ron Belliard (2), Eric Young and Jose Hernandez. Glendon Rusch wins his 8th straight over the Cubs. Chicago P Kerry Wood ties a major-league record in the second game by fanning four Brewers in the 4th inning. Wood also homers off Andrew Lorraine, one of five gophers he serves up. Another is Sammy Sosa’s 494th homer, moving him ahead of Lou Gehrig on the all-time list.
The A’s defeat the Royals, 7 – 6, for their 19th straight victory to match the longest winning streak in American League history. The 1906 White Sox and the 1947 Yankees both reached 19.
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