In an ugly first-inning brawl at Great American Ball Park, Cardinals’ backstop Jason LaRue suffers a mild concussion and bruised ribs, with his batterymate Chris Carpenter also receiving bruises on his back during the seven-minute scrum. Reds’ starting pitcher Johnny Cueto, who will be suspended for seven games for kicking the Redbirds’ catcher and pitcher, draws the wrath of his opponents for lashing out with his spikes during the altercation.

Meanwhile, the AL Central race is also close, but Minnesota now has a one-game lead over the White Sox following tonight’s 12 – 6 win over their rivals. They are propelled by five homers – by Jim Thome, J.J. Hardy, Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel; Scott Baker is the winner.

The second game of the series for the NL Central lead between the Cardinals and Reds is marred by a 1st-inning bench-clearing brawl which starts when St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina has words with Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips about the latter’s earlier statements to the media which Cardinal players found demeaning. After the fracas, the Cards go on to win, 8 – 4, and tie the Reds for the division lead. Jaime Garcia beats Johnny Cueto. Major League Baseball will hand a seven-game suspension to Cueto, who spiked an opposing player during the brawl, and two-game suspensions to managers Dusty Baker and Tony LaRussa for their role in the melee; four players are issued fines, in addition to the two skippers.