The Rays beat the Astros, 14 – 10, in an old-fashioned slugfest. Evan Longoria is given a game-tying two-run home run in the 6th, after initially being ruled out at second for attempting to stretch a single off the wall into a double; the instant replay shows the ball in fact bounced in the stands before falling back on the field. Longoria finishes the day 4 fo 6, adding a second homer in the 9th, a towering three-run shot that leaves no doubt as to its status.

ByBaseball

The Rays beat the Astros, 14 – 10, in an old-fashioned slugfest. Evan Longoria is given a game-tying two-run home run in the 6th, after initially being ruled out at second for attempting to stretch a single off the wall into a double; the instant replay shows the ball in fact bounced in the stands before falling back on the field. Longoria finishes the day 4 fo 6, adding a second homer in the 9th, a towering three-run shot that leaves no doubt as to its status.

The Nationals confirm the hiring of Davey Johnson as their new manager, three days after the sudden resignation of Jim Riggleman. Johnson, who last managed in 2000 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, will take over tomorrow against the Angels. Meanwhile, interim manager John McLaren goes out a winner, as the Nats beat the White Sox, 2 – 1, to give him a 2-1 record during his stint as skipper; he is offered a job as a scout within the organization. Rookie 2B Danny Espinosa hits the key homer in the 7th inning while Livan Hernandez is the winner. The 68 year-old former skipper compiled an 1148-888 (.564) record during his 14 years in the dugout with the Mets, Dodgers, Reds, and Orioles, finishing lower than third place on only three occasions.

ByBaseball

The Nationals confirm the hiring of Davey Johnson as their new manager, three days after the sudden resignation of Jim Riggleman. Johnson, who last managed in 2000 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, will take over tomorrow against the Angels. Meanwhile, interim manager John McLaren goes out a winner, as the Nats beat the White Sox, 2 – 1, to give him a 2-1 record during his stint as skipper; he is offered a job as a scout within the organization. Rookie 2B Danny Espinosa hits the key homer in the 7th inning while Livan Hernandez is the winner. The 68 year-old former skipper compiled an 1148-888 (.564) record during his 14 years in the dugout with the Mets, Dodgers, Reds, and Orioles, finishing lower than third place on only three occasions.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 42,130 fans at AT&T Park, the Giants beat the Indians, 1-0, with the game’s lone run scoring on a bases-loaded seventh-inning balk. In an inning that features a stand-up triple by Nate Schierholtz and two errors by Tribe second baseman Cord Phelps, Cleveland southpaw Tony Sipp allows the run to score when he flinches his throwing arm just prior to delivering a pitch to Emmanuel Burriss, balking home Miguel Tejada.

ByTom

In front of a sold-out crowd of 42,130 fans at AT&T Park, the Giants beat the Indians, 1-0, with the game’s lone run scoring on a bases-loaded seventh-inning balk. In an inning that features a stand-up triple by Nate Schierholtz and two errors by Tribe second baseman Cord Phelps, Cleveland southpaw Tony Sipp allows the run to score when he flinches his throwing arm just prior to delivering a pitch to Emmanuel Burriss, balking home Miguel Tejada.

The Giants may not score a ton of runs, but they have a knack for winnin’ ugly. Today, they score the game’s lone run in the 7th on a bases-loaded balk by Cleveland’s Tony Sipp. The inning begins poorly for San Francisco, with Nate Schierholtz hitting a lead-off double, then slipping between second and third base in trying to stetch it to a triple and being tagged out easily; Miguel Tejada then reaches on a throwing error by 2B Cord Phelps, who later commits a second error on a ground ball by pitcher Matt Cain, before reliever Sipp commits the fateful mistake. Cain is the winner over Justin Masterson, who deserved a better fate.

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On June 25, 2011 The Giants may not score a ton of runs, but they have a knack for winnin’ ugly. Today, they score the game’s lone run in the 7th on a bases-loaded balk by Cleveland’s Tony Sipp. The inning begins poorly for San Francisco, with Nate Schierholtz hitting a lead-off double, then slipping between second and third base in trying to…

Both leagues get their first 10-game winners of the season today. CC Sabathia reaches the magic number with the Yankees in an 8 – 3 win over the Rockies, and is joined by the Tigers’ Justin Verlander, who strikes out a career-best 14 over 8 innings in beating Arizona, 6 – 0, and the Braves’ Jair Jurrjens, a 10 – 1 winner over the Padres.

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On June 25, 2011 Both leagues get their first 10-game winners of the season today. CC Sabathia reaches the magic number with the Yankees in an 8 – 3 win over the Rockies, and is joined by the Tigers’ Justin Verlander, who strikes out a career-best 14 over 8 innings in beating Arizona, 6 – 0, and the Braves’ Jair Jurrjens, a 10 – 1…

In New York’s 4-2 loss to Colorado, A.J. Burnett becomes the first Yankee hurler to strike out four hitters in one inning. The right-hander starts the sixth frame by whiffing Rockies batters Chris Iannetta and Carlos Gonzalez, and when Chris Nelson reaches first base after swinging at a wild pitch for a third strike, he faces Todd Helton and strikes him out swinging to end the inning.

ByTom

In New York’s 4-2 loss to Colorado, A.J. Burnett becomes the first Yankee hurler to strike out four hitters in one inning. The right-hander starts the sixth frame by whiffing Rockies batters Chris Iannetta and Carlos Gonzalez, and when Chris Nelson reaches first base after swinging at a wild pitch for a third strike, he faces Todd Helton and strikes him out swinging to end the inning.

The complete game may be threatened with extinction, but no one told Tampa Bay’s James Shields. He throws his third consecutive complete game in beating Houston, 5 – 1. Evan Longoria homers and drives in three in support of his strong performance on the mound, and B.J. Upton adds a solo shot. Shields is now 8-4 and leads the majors with 6 complete games.

ByBaseball

The complete game may be threatened with extinction, but no one told Tampa Bay’s James Shields. He throws his third consecutive complete game in beating Houston, 5 – 1. Evan Longoria homers and drives in three in support of his strong performance on the mound, and B.J. Upton adds a solo shot. Shields is now 8-4 and leads the majors with 6 complete games.

With stories circulating that the Nationals will soon name veteran Davey Johnson, who last managed in the big leagues in 2000, as their new skipper, John McLaren wins his debut as interim manager, although he’s long gone by the time the game is decided. With the Nats holding a 2 – 0 lead over the White Sox in the 8th, McLaren is tossed after disputing home plate umpire Jeff Nelson’s decision to overturn a call made by crewmate Mike Estabrook at first base. The Nationals add another run in the top of the 9th, but Tyler Clippard coughs up a three-run pinch homer to Mark Teahen in the bottom of the frame to send the game into extra innings. Washington then blows one-run leads in the 10th and 12th innings before putting up a four-spot against Matt Thornton in the 14th to win, 9 – 5. Collin Balester picks up his first victory of the season as Washington wins its 12th game in its last 13.

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With stories circulating that the Nationals will soon name veteran Davey Johnson, who last managed in the big leagues in 2000, as their new skipper, John McLaren wins his debut as interim manager, although he’s long gone by the time the game is decided. With the Nats holding a 2 – 0 lead over the White Sox in the 8th, McLaren is tossed after disputing home plate umpire Jeff Nelson’s decision to overturn a call made by crewmate Mike Estabrook at first base. The Nationals add another run in the top of the 9th, but Tyler Clippard coughs up a three-run pinch homer to Mark Teahen in the bottom of the frame to send the game into extra innings. Washington then blows one-run leads in the 10th and 12th innings before putting up a four-spot against Matt Thornton in the 14th to win, 9 – 5. Collin Balester picks up his first victory of the season as Washington wins its 12th game in its last 13.

For the second time in two years, a club plays as a road team in its own ballpark when the Marlins’ three-game series with the Mariners is shifted to Safeco Field due to preparations at Sun Life Stadium for a U2 concert to be held in Miami. Last season, MLB moved the Blue Jays home series against the Phillies, scheduled to be played at Rogers Centre, due to security concerns raised because of protests at the G20 Summit that was being held near the Toronto stadium.

ByNational

For the second time in two years, a club plays as a road team in its own ballpark when the Marlins’ three-game series with the Mariners is shifted to Safeco Field due to preparations at Sun Life Stadium for a U2 concert to be held in Miami. Last season, MLB moved the Blue Jays home series against the Phillies, scheduled to be played at Rogers Centre, due to security concerns raised because of protests at the G20 Summit that was being held near the Toronto stadium.

The Nationals name bench coach John McLaren as the interim manager to replace the departed Jim Riggleman, who surprised the team by quitting yesterday. Washington GM Mike Rizzo indicates the appointment is just for a few games, and will name Davey Johnson as the long-term replacement in the next few days.

ByNational

The Nationals name bench coach John McLaren as the interim manager to replace the departed Jim Riggleman, who surprised the team by quitting yesterday. Washington GM Mike Rizzo indicates the appointment is just for a few games, and will name Davey Johnson as the long-term replacement in the next few days.