In an effort to bolster their injured pitching rotation, the Yankees acquire recently released Al Leiter, formerly of the Marlins. The 39-year-old, $8-million, southpaw, who posted a disappointing 3-7 record and a 6.64 ERA with the Fish, will quickly pay dividends limiting the Red Sox to one run and three hits in his first start back as a Bronx Bomber.

Mike Stanton’s first appearance since being waived by the Yankees is a memorable one for the Nationals when the southpaw balks home the winning run without throwing a pitch, giving the Brewers a 4-3 victory at Miller Park. Chris Magruder scores the winning run from third base in the bottom of the tenth, thanks to the call made by first base ump Paul Schrieber, who saw the lefty step toward home plate as he threw over to first in an attempt to pick off Rickie Weeks.

With an RBI double off Joel Pineiro at Safeco Field, Rafael Palmeiro becomes the 26th player to collect 3,000 career hits. The Orioles first baseman joins Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Eddie Murray as one of only four major leaguers to record 3,000 hits and 500 home runs during their career. Within the next couple of weeks, Palmeiro will test positive for steroid use, greatly tarnishing his accomplishments.

The Royals establish the longest losing streak by any big league franchise to play in Kansas City. Their 16th consecutive loss, an 11 – 3 decision to the Mariners, is one more than the 1884 Unions, the first team to play professionally in the “City of Fountains.”

At Miller Park, Mike Stanton’s first appearance in a Washington Nationals uniform is a memorable one as the southpaw balks home the winning run. Chris Magruder scores from third base in the bottom of the 10th, giving the Brewers a 4 – 3 victory thanks to the call made by first base umpire Paul Schreiber.

The first-known baseball card, which is part of a children’s educational game, illustrating several boys playing together in a field as one pitches a ball to another holding a bat, makes its public debut at the Smithsonian Institution. The discovery of the historic card, discovered in a Maine attic, dates back to the early 19th century, predating other known cards by several decades.

Defeating their historical arch rivals, the Giants become the first team to win 10,000 games as a franchise by edging the Dodgers in LA, 4-3. The Giants, who started as the New York Gothams in 1899, have posted a 10,000-8,511 record during the club’s 123 seasons in the National League.

At the Home Run Derby in Detroit, Bobby Abreu shatters the records for a single round, the championship round and the grand total for all three rounds of the derby by hitting 41 dingers into every part of Comerica Park. The Phillies outfielder, who is representing Venezuela in the event’s new international format, goes deep 24 times in the first round, tacks on six more in the second round and finishes with 11 more in the championship round.

During the All-Star Game Town Hall discussion, Bud Selig, believing the designated hitter is a big part of the game, states the rule will remain in use for the foreseeable future. The commissioner however makes it clear the National League will not adopt the 1973 addition to the American League rule book.

In his first big league at-bat, Cubs pinch hitter Adam Greenberg is struck in the back of the head by the first pitch he sees from Marlin hurler Valerio de los Santos. The 24-year old Guilford, Connecticut native is forced to leave the game, but will be okay after the dizziness and headaches caused by a mild concussion wear off. The at-bat will remain his only taste of major league action until the Miami Marlins give him a chance to have the “at-bat he never completed” on the last day of the 2012 season.