Albert Pujols’s 40th home run, a seventh inning grand slam against the Reds, makes him the first Cardinal in the 114-year history of the team to hit that many home runs in three consecutive seasons. The homer, which was also the 200th of his career, makes the first baseman the third-youngest player to reach the milestone, with only Mel Ott and Eddie Mathews accomplishing it sooner.

The Devil Rays announce the team will buy out the last year of manager Lou Piniella’s $13 million, four-year deal signed in 2002. The agreement, which pays ‘Sweet Lou’ $2.2 million of the $4.4 million he is owed, allows the 62 year-old skipper to seek employment with another team.

Delta Air Lines names one of its Boeing 757s ‘Big Papi’ in honor of the Red Sox designated hitter. David Ortiz attends at the dedication ceremony at Logan International Airport, where the company unveils the newly lettered jet, a Song Plane.

Mariner outfielder Ichiro Suzuki becomes the first player in baseball history to collect 200 hits each of his first five seasons in the big leagues. The Japanese native, who was last season’s AL batting champ, joins Willie Keeler (1894-1901), Wade Boggs (1983-89), Chuck Klein (1929-33), Al Simmons (1929-33), and Charlie Gehringer (1933-37) as the sixth major leaguer to have reached this plateau for at least five consecutive seasons.

Staving off what would have been one of the worst collapses in baseball history, the White Sox clinch their first American League Central title since 2000, beating the Tigers at Detroit’s Comerica Park, 4-2. The Pale Hose had watched their 15-game lead on August 1 shrink to only a game and a half over the rampaging Indians.

Jhonny Peralta sets a new club record for home runs hit by an Indian shortstop. The 24 year-old’s third-inning blast against the Devil Rays gives the Dominican his 24th round-tripper of the season, one more than Woodie Held hit in 1961.

The San Diego Padres clinch the fourth division title in their 37-year history, beating the San Francisco Giants, 9 – 1. The Padres (79-79) need to win three of their last four games to finish above .500. Since 1969, and excluding strike years, the 1973 Mets own the lowest winning percentage of a division champion by going 82-79 (.509) to win the NL East that year.

With the lowest winning percentage ever compiled by a division champion during a non-strike year, the Padres (79-79) win their fourth division flag in the 37-year history of the franchise. San Diego, which needs to win three of their last four games just to finish above .500, accomplishes the feat, surpassing the Mets, who previously possessed the dubious record by going 82-79 (.509) to win the NL East in 1973.

With a seventh inning single off Mets reliever Juan Padilla, Jimmy Rollins extends his hitting streak to 32 games. The Philadelphia shortstop breaks the 106-year Phillies record, surpassing Ed Delahanty, who hit in 31 games in a row in 1899.