The Braves extend their winning streak to 9 games with a 4 – 3 win in Los Angeles. The Dodgers come into the game with a record of 18-8 at home, but an excellent start by Kris Medlen, coupled with Troy Glaus’s fourth homer in 5 games, propels Atlanta to the win. Jonny Venters, filling in for the unavailable Billy Wagner and an injured Takashi Saito, records his first major league save.

ByBaseball

The Braves extend their winning streak to 9 games with a 4 – 3 win in Los Angeles. The Dodgers come into the game with a record of 18-8 at home, but an excellent start by Kris Medlen, coupled with Troy Glaus’s fourth homer in 5 games, propels Atlanta to the win. Jonny Venters, filling in for the unavailable Billy Wagner and an injured Takashi Saito, records his first major league save.

A few days before he is expected to become the first overall selection in the 2010 amateur draft, Bryce Harper, playing for Southern Nevada, is ejected from a game in the National Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, CO for showing up an umpire and arguing balls and strikes. The ejection comes with an automatic two-game suspension, meaning Harper’s amateur career is over unless his team manages to reach the tournament final without its star hitter. While Harper’s playing talent has never been in doubt, there have been frequent questions about the make-up and maturity of the 17-year-old catcher.

ByBaseball

A few days before he is expected to become the first overall selection in the 2010 amateur draft, Bryce Harper, playing for Southern Nevada, is ejected from a game in the National Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, CO for showing up an umpire and arguing balls and strikes. The ejection comes with an automatic two-game suspension, meaning Harper’s amateur career is over unless his team manages to reach the tournament final without its star hitter. While Harper’s playing talent has never been in doubt, there have been frequent questions about the make-up and maturity of the 17-year-old catcher.

Ken Griffey Jr. announces his retirement after 22 seasons in the major leagues. Hitting only .184 in part-time duty for the Mariners, he retires with 630 career home runs and six seasons of 40 or more homers. Most of his career was spent with Seattle and the Cincinnati Reds.

ByTom

Ken Griffey Jr. announces his retirement after 22 seasons in the major leagues. Hitting only .184 in part-time duty for the Mariners, he retires with 630 career home runs and six seasons of 40 or more homers. Most of his career was spent with Seattle and the Cincinnati Reds.

In San Diego, Adrian Gonzalez hits a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning to lead the Padres to a 5 – 1 win over the Mets. San Diego’s David Eckstein had tied the game at 1 with a single with two outs in the bottom of the 9th against Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, after 8 scoreless innings by Johan Santana. It’s not the only late-game grand slam hit today: in Toronto, Carl Crawford of the Rays also hits one, capping a six-run 9th inning, to beat the Blue Jays, 7 – 3, and give David Price his American League-leading 8th win of the year.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In San Diego, Adrian Gonzalez hits a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning to lead the Padres to a 5 – 1 win over the Mets. San Diego’s David Eckstein had tied the game at 1 with a single with two outs in the bottom of the 9th against Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, after 8 scoreless innings by Johan Santana. It’s not the only late-game grand slam hit today: in Toronto, Carl Crawford of the Rays also hits one, capping a six-run 9th inning, to beat the Blue Jays, 7 – 3, and give David Price his American League-leading 8th win of the year.

Chris Carpenter improves to 75-25 with the St. Louis Cardinals with a 4 – 1 win over the Reds. Only two other pitchers since 1900 had won 75% or more of their first 100 decisions with a team – Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox (78-22) and Cy Young (75-25), also with Boston.

ByTom

Chris Carpenter improves to 75-25 with the St. Louis Cardinals with a 4 – 1 win over the Reds. Only two other pitchers since 1900 had won 75% or more of their first 100 decisions with a team – Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox (78-22) and Cy Young (75-25), also with Boston.

Armando Galarraga throws a one-hitter in a 3 – 0 win over Cleveland but in the eyes of most observers, he has pitched a perfect game: the only baserunner he gives up comes with two outs in the 9th inning, when Jason Donald is called safe on an infield hit by umpire Jim Joyce; however, replays show that the throw from 1B Miguel Cabrera to Galarraga beat Donald to the bag. The Tigers starter thus comes agonizingly close to pitching the third major league perfect game in only a month.

ByTom

Armando Galarraga throws a one-hitter in a 3 – 0 win over Cleveland but in the eyes of most observers, he has pitched a perfect game: the only baserunner he gives up comes with two outs in the 9th inning, when Jason Donald is called safe on an infield hit by umpire Jim Joyce; however, replays show that the throw from 1B Miguel Cabrera to Galarraga beat Donald to the bag. The Tigers starter thus comes agonizingly close to pitching the third major league perfect game in only a month.

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2010 – Lance Berkman drives in five, including the game-winner with two out in the bottom of the ninth to nip the Nationals, 8-7  . Berkman had a two-run double and an RBI single before his two-run liner to left won the game. Jeff Keppinger added three hits and Michael Bourn scored three times. 

ByTom

2010 – Lance Berkman drives in five, including the game-winner with two out in the bottom of the ninth to nip the Nationals, 8-7  . Berkman had a two-run double and an RBI single before his two-run liner to left won the game. Jeff Keppinger added three hits and Michael Bourn scored three times. 

Victor Martinez goes 5 for 5 with four doubles in Boston’s 9 – 4 win over Oakland. He ties the major league record for doubles in a game by a catcher, set by Sandy Alomar in 1997.

ByTom

Victor Martinez goes 5 for 5 with four doubles in Boston’s 9 – 4 win over Oakland. He ties the major league record for doubles in a game by a catcher, set by Sandy Alomar in 1997.

Tampa Bay scores four runs in the 9th inning on only one hit – a bases-loaded double by Sean Rodriguez – to beat Toronto, 7 – 6. Jays closer Kevin Gregg issues five walks and throws a wild pitch in the inning, then is ejected by umpire Angel Hernandez for complaining about his calls. His ouster follows shortly after that of Rays manager Joe Maddon, thrown out for disputing a third strike call on Carlos Pena earlier in the inning. The Jays come within an inch of tying the game in the bottom of the 9th, when a drive by Vernon Wells hits the top of the outfield fence but bounces back on the field.

ByTom

Tampa Bay scores four runs in the 9th inning on only one hit – a bases-loaded double by Sean Rodriguez – to beat Toronto, 7 – 6. Jays closer Kevin Gregg issues five walks and throws a wild pitch in the inning, then is ejected by umpire Angel Hernandez for complaining about his calls. His ouster follows shortly after that of Rays manager Joe Maddon, thrown out for disputing a third strike call on Carlos Pena earlier in the inning. The Jays come within an inch of tying the game in the bottom of the 9th, when a drive by Vernon Wells hits the top of the outfield fence but bounces back on the field.

Scott Rolen hits two homers and a double and drives in four runs against his former team as Cincinnati defeats St. Louis, 9 – 8, in a wild game that leaves the Reds in sole possession of first place in the NL Central. Also swinging a hot bat is Joey Votto, who collects four hits including a homer, but Johnny Cueto blows leads of 3 – 0 and 7 – 3. It takes a sacrifice fly by Drew Stubbs against Blake Hawksworth in the 7th to decide the game in Cincinnati’s favor.

ByTom

Scott Rolen hits two homers and a double and drives in four runs against his former team as Cincinnati defeats St. Louis, 9 – 8, in a wild game that leaves the Reds in sole possession of first place in the NL Central. Also swinging a hot bat is Joey Votto, who collects four hits including a homer, but Johnny Cueto blows leads of 3 – 0 and 7 – 3. It takes a sacrifice fly by Drew Stubbs against Blake Hawksworth in the 7th to decide the game in Cincinnati’s favor.