The Royals sell ten thousand walk-up tickets on the day Royals’ rookie Eric Hosmer makes his much-anticipated major league debut at Kauffman Stadium. The 21 year-old first baseman, who received the largest signing bonus in franchise history, goes hitless in his two official at-bats in a 3-2 loss to the A’s, but he is walked twice and steals a base.

The Braves’ Derek Lowe also flirts with a no-hitter in a 5 – 0 win over the Phillies and Cliff Lee, who strikes out a career-high 16 batters in 7 innings in taking the loss. Lowe is bothered by a blister on his foot starting in the 3rd inning, but keeps the Phillies hitless until the 7th, when he allows a lead-off single to Shane Victorino and a double to Placido Polanco. Lowe departs in favor of Eric O’Flaherty, who also has awesome stuff on the night, striking out Ryan Howard, Ben Francisco and Raul Ibanez in the span of 15 pitches to preserve the shutout.

Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals has a perfect game until the 8th inning before issuing a one-out walk and then settling for a two-hit shutout of the Brewers. Yuniesky Betancourt hits a single on the first pitch following the walk to Casey McGehee to break up the no-hit bid. Albert Pujols drives in three runs in the 6 – 0 win.