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2004 – Given up for dead, the Astros win their fifth straight to creep back within three games of the National League wild card lead. The home run bats go to work in an 8-0 triumph over Cincinnati as Jeff Kent goes deep twice while Carlos Beltran, Jeff Bagwelland Lance Berkman go back-to-back-to-back in the fourth off Aaron Harang. Brandon Backe gets the shutout with help from three relievers. Houston still needs to overtake four other teams in order to get back to the postseason. 

ByTom

2004 – Given up for dead, the Astros win their fifth straight to creep back within three games of the National League wild card lead. The home run bats go to work in an 8-0 triumph over Cincinnati as Jeff Kent goes deep twice while Carlos Beltran, Jeff Bagwelland Lance Berkman go back-to-back-to-back in the fourth off Aaron Harang. Brandon Backe gets the shutout with help from three relievers. Houston still needs to overtake four other teams in order to get back to the postseason. 

Equaling the largest shutout margin of a victory in baseball history, the Indians rout the Yankees, 22-0. The biggest defeat in the 101-year history of the Bronx Bombers matches the 1975 Pirates’ record-setting performance against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

ByBaseball

Equaling the largest shutout margin of a victory in baseball history, the Indians rout the Yankees, 22-0. The biggest defeat in the 101-year history of the Bronx Bombers matches the 1975 Pirates’ record-setting performance against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Omar Vizquel becomes the first player in the 81-year history of Yankee Stadium to collect six hits in a game. The Indians shortstop’s 6-for-7 performance helps pace the Tribe’s 22-0 dismantling of the Bronx Bombers.

ByBaseball

Omar Vizquel becomes the first player in the 81-year history of Yankee Stadium to collect six hits in a game. The Indians shortstop’s 6-for-7 performance helps pace the Tribe’s 22-0 dismantling of the Bronx Bombers.

Chipper Jones and his wife, Sharon, welcome their second child into the world, a 7 pounds, 14 ounces son. The couple names the boy Shea, as a tribute to the New York ballpark where the Braves’ third baseman has enjoyed tremendous success against the Mets.

ByBaseball

Chipper Jones and his wife, Sharon, welcome their second child into the world, a 7 pounds, 14 ounces son. The couple names the boy Shea, as a tribute to the New York ballpark where the Braves’ third baseman has enjoyed tremendous success against the Mets.

In the eighth inning of the Cardinals’ 4-0 victory over the Bucs, Albert Pujols drives in a run with a solo shot at PNC Park, his 40th home run this season, to become only the fourth player to start a major league career with four consecutive seasons with at least 100 RBIs. The 24 year-old St. Louis first baseman joins Hall of Famers Al Simmons, Joe DiMaggio, and Ted Williams in accomplishing the feat.

ByBaseball

In the eighth inning of the Cardinals’ 4-0 victory over the Bucs, Albert Pujols drives in a run with a solo shot at PNC Park, his 40th home run this season, to become only the fourth player to start a major league career with four consecutive seasons with at least 100 RBIs. The 24 year-old St. Louis first baseman joins Hall of Famers Al Simmons, Joe DiMaggio, and Ted Williams in accomplishing the feat.

At Toronto’s SkyDome, Blue Jays broadcaster Tom Cheek joins former players George Bell, Joe Carter, Tony Fernandez, Dave Stieb, and former manager Cito Gaston and former general manager Pat Gillick as the seventh member of the club’s Level of Excellence. The recipient of the team’s highest award for individual achievement, which comes as an emotional surprise for the play-by-play announcer, called 4,306 consecutive regular season games, and another 41 during the postseason during the first 27 1/2 seasons of the franchise’s existence.

ByBaseball

At Toronto’s SkyDome, Blue Jays broadcaster Tom Cheek joins former players George Bell, Joe Carter, Tony Fernandez, Dave Stieb, and former manager Cito Gaston and former general manager Pat Gillick as the seventh member of the club’s Level of Excellence. The recipient of the team’s highest award for individual achievement, which comes as an emotional surprise for the play-by-play announcer, called 4,306 consecutive regular season games, and another 41 during the postseason during the first 27 1/2 seasons of the franchise’s existence.

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Carlos Beltran’s two home runs lead a five-dinger barrage as Houston clubs the Cubs, 15-7

ByTom

2004 – Carlos Beltran’s two home runs lead a five-dinger barrage as Houston clubs the Cubs, 15-7. Jeff Bagwell, Jeff Kent and Lance Berkman also supply the long ball. Roy Oswalt wins his 15th despite harassment from Chicago’s Michael Barrett who is still upset over being hit by Oswalt the previous weekend in Houston. Oswalt is plunked by Kent Mercker but nobody is tossed despite the war of words. 

Ichiro Suzuki becomes the only player to collect at least 200 hits in each of his first four seasons in the big leagues. The milestone hit is a ninth-inning homer in the Mariners’ 7-3 loss to the Royals at Safeco Field.

ByBaseball

Ichiro Suzuki becomes the only player to collect at least 200 hits in each of his first four seasons in the big leagues. The milestone hit is a ninth-inning homer in the Mariners’ 7-3 loss to the Royals at Safeco Field.

In the 21-6 rout of Kansas City at Angel Stadium, Jeff DaVanon becomes the first Anaheim player to hit for the cycle since Dave Winfield accomplished the feat for the Halos in 1991. The DH’s offensive output helps the club to sweep an American League opponent in a season series for the first time in the 44-year history of the franchise.

ByBaseball

In the 21-6 rout of Kansas City at Angel Stadium, Jeff DaVanon becomes the first Anaheim player to hit for the cycle since Dave Winfield accomplished the feat for the Halos in 1991. The DH’s offensive output helps the club to sweep an American League opponent in a season series for the first time in the 44-year history of the franchise.

2004 – Bud Selig, citing how disruptive a delay in the major league schedule would be on pennant races, says it is unlikely that major league players will ever be able to take part in the Olympics. The baseball commissioner hopes a “World Cup”, which begins in 2006, will serve as a substitute for the Summer Games.

ByBaseball

2004 – Bud Selig, citing how disruptive a delay in the major league schedule would be on pennant races, says it is unlikely that major league players will ever be able to take part in the Olympics. The baseball commissioner hopes a “World Cup”, which begins in 2006, will serve as a substitute for the Summer Games.