A.J. Pierzynski’s sixth-inning blast makes the White Sox the first club in major league history to hit at least 200 home runs for seven consecutive seasons. The catcher’s two-run homer isn’t enough as Chicago loses to the Devil Rays at Comiskey Park, 5-3.

With his major league-leading 49th home run, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard establishes a new club record for home runs in a single season. Last year’s Rookie of the Year’s fourth-inning long ball at RFK Stadium puts him ahead of Hall Famer Michael Schmidt, who hit 48 dingers in 1980.

Adam LaRoche’s nine total bases and three RBIs help the Braves beat the Giants at Turner Field, 5-3. The 26 year-old first baseman’s offensive output includes three doubles and a triple.

In an effort to bolster their starting rotation as they pursue the NL wild card, the Padres obtain hometown favorite southpaw David Wells from the Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The 43 year-old ‘Boomer,’ who had played for San Diego in 2004, posted a 2-3 record with a 4.98 ERA during an injury-plagued (knee) campaign in Beantown.

Roy Oswalt and the Astros reach agreement on a $73 million contract extension, keeping the two-time 20-game winner in Houston for the next five years. The deal, the largest multi-season deal in franchise history, is signed on the right-hander’s 29th birthday.

The Astros center fielder Willy Taveras’ consecutive game hitting streak is stopped at 30, establishing a new franchise record. The 24 year-old Houston leadoff hitter, who is plunked twice by Brewer starter Tomo Ohka, goes 0-for-3 in the team’s 10-3 victory at Minute Maid Park.

With his two homers (726, 727) in a 13-8 losing effort to the Braves at Miller Park, Giants slugger Barry Bonds passes Sammy Sosa into second place with 69 career multi-homer games. Babe Ruth hit two or more homers on 72 occasions during his 22-year career in the majors.

In a pregame ceremony at Coors Field, the Rockies unveil a five-sided commemorative plaque which will be placed in the parking lot at the exact spot where home plate was located at Mile High Stadium. Although the team played just two seasons at the old ballpark before it was torn down to make room to park cars, the structure, built in 1948, served as the home for the popular minor league Denver Bears, the precursor to a major league team arriving in 1993.