Bill Gallo, the creator of colorful characters such as General Von Steingrabber, a caricature of the late George Steinbrenner, and Basement Bertha, who radiated good-humored optimism for the fans of the fledgling Mets, dies from complications of pneumonia at the age of 88. The cartoonist’s last drawing, which was published in mid-April in the Daily News, his employer for seven decades, featured Bertha window shopping with the hope of being invited to the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine.

ByTom

Bill Gallo, the creator of colorful characters such as General Von Steingrabber, a caricature of the late George Steinbrenner, and Basement Bertha, who radiated good-humored optimism for the fans of the fledgling Mets, dies from complications of pneumonia at the age of 88. The cartoonist’s last drawing, which was published in mid-April in the Daily News, his employer for seven decades, featured Bertha window shopping with the hope of being invited to the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine.

It’s a battle of aces in Miami as Josh Johnson outpitches his idol Roy Halladay for a 2 – 1 Marlins win over the Phillies. Johnson gives up a solo homer to Ryan Howard over 7 innings, but Halladay gets in trouble in the 3rd by walking Josh, who comes in to score on Emilio Bonifacio’s sacrifice fly. The Fish score an unearned run off Halladay in the 8th for the win.

ByBaseball

It’s a battle of aces in Miami as Josh Johnson outpitches his idol Roy Halladay for a 2 – 1 Marlins win over the Phillies. Johnson gives up a solo homer to Ryan Howard over 7 innings, but Halladay gets in trouble in the 3rd by walking Josh, who comes in to score on Emilio Bonifacio’s sacrifice fly. The Fish score an unearned run off Halladay in the 8th for the win.

The Blue Jays and the Red Sox play a thriller in Toronto. The Jays take an early lead with three runs off struggling starter Jon Lester in the 1st, but Boston comes back with 4 runs off Kyle Drabek, highlighted by homers by David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez. The Jays take back a 5 – 4 lead on homers by Jose Bautista and J.P. Arencibia, but the Sox tie it again. In the bottom of the 8th, David Cooper, who came into the game in the 6th inning as a pinch-runner after Yunel Escobar was hit by a pitch, belts his first major league homer off Daniel Bard to put Toronto back ahead, but Boston ties the game right back when Gonzalez hits his second homer of the game off Frank Francisco. Toronto finally wins the game in the 10th when Rajai Davis hits a single off Matt Albers, steals second and third base on consecutive pitches, and comes in to score on Cooper’s sacrifice fly. The Jays win 7 – 6, although being outhit 16 to 9.

ByBaseball

The Blue Jays and the Red Sox play a thriller in Toronto. The Jays take an early lead with three runs off struggling starter Jon Lester in the 1st, but Boston comes back with 4 runs off Kyle Drabek, highlighted by homers by David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez. The Jays take back a 5 – 4 lead on homers by Jose Bautista and J.P. Arencibia, but the Sox tie it again. In the bottom of the 8th, David Cooper, who came into the game in the 6th inning as a pinch-runner after Yunel Escobar was hit by a pitch, belts his first major league homer off Daniel Bard to put Toronto back ahead, but Boston ties the game right back when Gonzalez hits his second homer of the game off Frank Francisco. Toronto finally wins the game in the 10th when Rajai Davis hits a single off Matt Albers, steals second and third base on consecutive pitches, and comes in to score on Cooper’s sacrifice fly. The Jays win 7 – 6, although being outhit 16 to 9.

Milton Bradley, playing for his eighth club since his Expos debut in 2000, is cut by the Mariners, who still owe him the remaining part of his $13 million deal for this season. Although no specific incident triggers the team’s decision, the 33 year-old slumping outfielder had recently been suspended for a game after bumping an umpire, ejected from another contest for contesting a third strike, and a few days ago he became the target of the Seattle fans’ wrath for what they perceived as his lack of hustle.

ByTom

Milton Bradley, playing for his eighth club since his Expos debut in 2000, is cut by the Mariners, who still owe him the remaining part of his $13 million deal for this season. Although no specific incident triggers the team’s decision, the 33 year-old slumping outfielder had recently been suspended for a game after bumping an umpire, ejected from another contest for contesting a third strike, and a few days ago he became the target of the Seattle fans’ wrath for what they perceived as his lack of hustle.

Zack Greinke wins his first game for the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 9 batters in 6 innings in a 4 – 3 win over San Diego at Miller Park. Losing pitcher Mat Latos is now 0-5 and has lost his last 10 decisions.

ByBaseball

Zack Greinke wins his first game for the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 9 batters in 6 innings in a 4 – 3 win over San Diego at Miller Park. Losing pitcher Mat Latos is now 0-5 and has lost his last 10 decisions.

The Pirates beat the Dodgers, 4 – 1, at PNC Park, to move their record to 18-17, the first time they have had a winning record this late in the season since 2004. The game turns in the 8th inning; with the score tied, 1 – 1, Pirates LF Jose Tabata dives to catch a line drive off the bat of Jose Uribe, and then doubles Matt Kemp off first base. Uribe and manager Don Mattingly both argue that the ball was trapped, not caught, as television replays confirm, but are ejected by umpire Mike DiMuro for pressing their case too vehemently. In the bottom of the frame, Neil Walker drives in pinch-runner Xavier Paul with a double off Chad Billingsley to break the tie, then Lyle Overbay and Ryan Doumit follow with doubles of their own to put the game away.

ByBaseball

The Pirates beat the Dodgers, 4 – 1, at PNC Park, to move their record to 18-17, the first time they have had a winning record this late in the season since 2004. The game turns in the 8th inning; with the score tied, 1 – 1, Pirates LF Jose Tabata dives to catch a line drive off the bat of Jose Uribe, and then doubles Matt Kemp off first base. Uribe and manager Don Mattingly both argue that the ball was trapped, not caught, as television replays confirm, but are ejected by umpire Mike DiMuro for pressing their case too vehemently. In the bottom of the frame, Neil Walker drives in pinch-runner Xavier Paul with a double off Chad Billingsley to break the tie, then Lyle Overbay and Ryan Doumit follow with doubles of their own to put the game away.

The Angels beat the Indians, 6 – 5, on Erick Aybar’s go-ahead double in the 8th, giving manager Mike Scioscia his 1,000th major league win, all with one team. In a statistical oddity, all seven American League games played today end with one of the teams having scored 5 runs – 4 times by the winning team, and 3 times by the losers. It takes a three-run 10th inning by the White Sox to defeat Seattle, 5 – 2, to complete the slate.

ByBaseball

The Angels beat the Indians, 6 – 5, on Erick Aybar’s go-ahead double in the 8th, giving manager Mike Scioscia his 1,000th major league win, all with one team. In a statistical oddity, all seven American League games played today end with one of the teams having scored 5 runs – 4 times by the winning team, and 3 times by the losers. It takes a three-run 10th inning by the White Sox to defeat Seattle, 5 – 2, to complete the slate.

Every pitcher wants to join the no-hitter act, following those by Francisco Liriano and Justin Verlander over the past week, and bids by three other pitchers thwarted in the 6th inning or later. It’s now Anibal Sanchez’s turn to go deep into a game without allowing a hit, keeping the Nationals hitless until a 7th-inning single by Laynce Nix. Gaby Sanchez gives his namesake, who pitched a no-hitter in 2006 and took one into the 9th inning on April 22nd, all the support he needs with a three-run homer, two doubles, a single and three runs scored as the Marlins cruise to an 8 – 0 win.

ByBaseball

Every pitcher wants to join the no-hitter act, following those by Francisco Liriano and Justin Verlander over the past week, and bids by three other pitchers thwarted in the 6th inning or later. It’s now Anibal Sanchez’s turn to go deep into a game without allowing a hit, keeping the Nationals hitless until a 7th-inning single by Laynce Nix. Gaby Sanchez gives his namesake, who pitched a no-hitter in 2006 and took one into the 9th inning on April 22nd, all the support he needs with a three-run homer, two doubles, a single and three runs scored as the Marlins cruise to an 8 – 0 win.