In an attempt to upgrade their starting rotation, the first-place Phillies obtain Cliff Lee from the Indians. The defending World champs, who also get outfielder Ben Francisco in the deal, trade pitching prospects Carlos Carrasco and Jason Knapp, infielder Jason Donald, and catcher Lou Marson to get last season’s AL Cy Young Award Winner.

ByTom

In an attempt to upgrade their starting rotation, the first-place Phillies obtain Cliff Lee from the Indians. The defending World champs, who also get outfielder Ben Francisco in the deal, trade pitching prospects Carlos Carrasco and Jason Knapp, infielder Jason Donald, and catcher Lou Marson to get last season’s AL Cy Young Award Winner.

The Royals play an entire game without registering a single defensive assist for the first time in franchise history in their 7-3 loss to Baltimore at Camden Yards. During Kansas City’s eight innings in the field, the team records 24 outs via nine strikeouts, 13 fly outs, and two unassisted groundouts handled by first baseman Billy Butler.

ByBaseball

The Royals play an entire game without registering a single defensive assist for the first time in franchise history in their 7-3 loss to Baltimore at Camden Yards. During Kansas City’s eight innings in the field, the team records 24 outs via nine strikeouts, 13 fly outs, and two unassisted groundouts handled by first baseman Billy Butler.

The Pirates spend a busy day on the trading block, sending 2006 batting champ Freddy Sanchez to the Giants for 20 year-old former first-round draft pick Tim Alderson, a right-hander with excellent control. The Bucs also deal shortstop Jack Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell to the Mariners for shortstop Ronny Cedeno and four minor leaguers, including triple-A catcher-first baseman Jeff Clement.

ByBaseball

The Pirates spend a busy day on the trading block, sending 2006 batting champ Freddy Sanchez to the Giants for 20 year-old former first-round draft pick Tim Alderson, a right-hander with excellent control. The Bucs also deal shortstop Jack Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell to the Mariners for shortstop Ronny Cedeno and four minor leaguers, including triple-A catcher-first baseman Jeff Clement.

In a thriller in St. Louis, the Cardinals rally from a 1 – 0 deficit with two outs in the 9th against Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton. A broken-bat single by Colby Rasmus sends the game into extra innings, negating a great start by Clayton Kershaw, who pitches 8 scoreless innings for Los Angeles, helped by a magnificent leaping catch by slugger Manny Ramirez at the LF fence that robs St. Louis of at least two runs in the 7th. Both teams score in the 11th, then in the 15th, Brendan Ryan leads off with a triple, and, two outs later, Albert Pujols hits a single off Jeff Weaver to end the marathon, handing Blake Hawksworth the 3 – 2 victory, his first in the big leagues.

ByBaseball

In a thriller in St. Louis, the Cardinals rally from a 1 – 0 deficit with two outs in the 9th against Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton. A broken-bat single by Colby Rasmus sends the game into extra innings, negating a great start by Clayton Kershaw, who pitches 8 scoreless innings for Los Angeles, helped by a magnificent leaping catch by slugger Manny Ramirez at the LF fence that robs St. Louis of at least two runs in the 7th. Both teams score in the 11th, then in the 15th, Brendan Ryan leads off with a triple, and, two outs later, Albert Pujols hits a single off Jeff Weaver to end the marathon, handing Blake Hawksworth the 3 – 2 victory, his first in the big leagues.