Michael Kacer, a 29 year-old veteran who lost his arm during a rocket attack in Afghanistan, makes an amazing grab of Curtis Granderson’s foul ball at Yankee Stadium. The event attracts national attention when the video of the catch becomes viral on the web, and with ESPN including it in its top plays segment on SportsCenter.

ByNational

Michael Kacer, a 29 year-old veteran who lost his arm during a rocket attack in Afghanistan, makes an amazing grab of Curtis Granderson’s foul ball at Yankee Stadium. The event attracts national attention when the video of the catch becomes viral on the web, and with ESPN including it in its top plays segment on SportsCenter.

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.

ByNational

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.

In their 5-1 inter-league loss to the Rays at Minute Maid Park, the Astros become the first team to use three pitchers with the same last name in a single game. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez is followed to the mound by Fernando Rodriguez in the seventh and eighth, with Aneury Rodriguez tossing a scoreless ninth frame.

ByNational

In their 5-1 inter-league loss to the Rays at Minute Maid Park, the Astros become the first team to use three pitchers with the same last name in a single game. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez is followed to the mound by Fernando Rodriguez in the seventh and eighth, with Aneury Rodriguez tossing a scoreless ninth frame.

The Washington Nationals win another game, completing a three-game sweep of the Mariners with a 1 – 0 victory. Nats starter Jason Marquis takes a no-hitter into the 6th, which is broken up by his opponent Michael Pineda’s first major league hit. The only run scores in the bottom of the 9th off Chris Ray, thanks to a single by Michael Morse, a bunt single by Danny Espinosa, followed by another bunt by Ivan Rodriguez which loads the bases as 1B Adam Kennedy unwisely attempts to cut down pinch-runner Brian Bixler at third base instead of settling for the sure out. Jerry Hairston then forces out Bixler at home on a hard-hit grounder to short, but Jayson Nix follows with a game-ending sacrifice fly, scoring Espinosa. Following the game, in a stunning turn of events, Washington manager Jim Riggleman hands in his resignation. He justifies his decision by GM Mike Rizzo’s refusal to negotiate an extension of his contract for 2012. Bench coach John McLaren takes over as interim manager with the team one game above .500, its best record since 2005, the result of having won 11 of its last 12 games. Rizzo expresses his disappointment at the turn of events, stating: “I was always taught that one of the cardinal rules of baseball was that no individual can put his interests before those of the team.”

ByTom

The Washington Nationals win another game, completing a three-game sweep of the Mariners with a 1 – 0 victory. Nats starter Jason Marquis takes a no-hitter into the 6th, which is broken up by his opponent Michael Pineda’s first major league hit. The only run scores in the bottom of the 9th off Chris Ray, thanks to a single by Michael Morse, a bunt single by Danny Espinosa, followed by another bunt by Ivan Rodriguez which loads the bases as 1B Adam Kennedy unwisely attempts to cut down pinch-runner Brian Bixler at third base instead of settling for the sure out. Jerry Hairston then forces out Bixler at home on a hard-hit grounder to short, but Jayson Nix follows with a game-ending sacrifice fly, scoring Espinosa. Following the game, in a stunning turn of events, Washington manager Jim Riggleman hands in his resignation. He justifies his decision by GM Mike Rizzo’s refusal to negotiate an extension of his contract for 2012. Bench coach John McLaren takes over as interim manager with the team one game above .500, its best record since 2005, the result of having won 11 of its last 12 games. Rizzo expresses his disappointment at the turn of events, stating: “I was always taught that one of the cardinal rules of baseball was that no individual can put his interests before those of the team.”

It’s not always easy being (furry and) green. The Phillie Phanatic, making a special appearance at a Lehigh Valley IronPigs game in Allentown, PA, is struck by a foul ball while entertaining the fans from the top of the first-base dugout in the 3rd inning. He is taken to hospital but released shortly afterwards. Tom Burgoyne, the man inside the costume, suffers only a bruise above the eye.

ByTom

It’s not always easy being (furry and) green. The Phillie Phanatic, making a special appearance at a Lehigh Valley IronPigs game in Allentown, PA, is struck by a foul ball while entertaining the fans from the top of the first-base dugout in the 3rd inning. He is taken to hospital but released shortly afterwards. Tom Burgoyne, the man inside the costume, suffers only a bruise above the eye.

In the nightcap of a twin bill split with New York, Chris Heisey blasts three homers and drives in half of the Reds’ runs in the team’s 10-2 interleague rout of the Bronx Bombers. The Cincinnati leadoff hitter goes deep off Brian Gordon in the first and fifth, and in the eighth frame connects off Hector Noesi in the Great American Ball Park contest.

ByTom

In the nightcap of a twin bill split with New York, Chris Heisey blasts three homers and drives in half of the Reds’ runs in the team’s 10-2 interleague rout of the Bronx Bombers. The Cincinnati leadoff hitter goes deep off Brian Gordon in the first and fifth, and in the eighth frame connects off Hector Noesi in the Great American Ball Park contest.

The Marlins tie the franchise record for most losses in a month when they are beaten by the Angels in 10 innings, 6-5. The defeat is the team’s 20th out of 22 decisions in June.

ByTom

The Marlins tie the franchise record for most losses in a month when they are beaten by the Angels in 10 innings, 6-5. The defeat is the team’s 20th out of 22 decisions in June.

The Reds split a doubleheader with the Yankees as Chris Heisey hits three homers in the nitecap for a 10 – 2 win. Johnny Cueto is the winner against journeyman starter Brian Gordon. The Cincinnati leadoff hitter goes deep off Gordon in the first and fifth, and in the eighth frame connects off Hector Noesi in the Great American Ball Park. The Yanks win the opener, 4 – 2, when Jorge Posada, making a rare start at first base, hits a two-run homer, his first long ball since April 23rd

ByBaseball

The Reds split a doubleheader with the Yankees as Chris Heisey hits three homers in the nitecap for a 10 – 2 win. Johnny Cueto is the winner against journeyman starter Brian Gordon. The Cincinnati leadoff hitter goes deep off Gordon in the first and fifth, and in the eighth frame connects off Hector Noesi in the Great American Ball Park. The Yanks win the opener, 4 – 2, when Jorge Posada, making a rare start at first base, hits a two-run homer, his first long ball since April 23rd

Two teams who have not been used to playing .500 ball in recent years reach the mark today. The Nationals even their record with a 2 – 1 win over Seattle as John Lannan outduels Erik Bedard thanks to a pair of unearned runs. It is the latest the Nats have been at .500 since their inaugural season in Washington in 2005; they have reached the mark by going 10-1 over their last 11 games. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, the Pirates also reach the magic number as Kevin Correia picks up his 9th win, 5 – 4, over the Orioles, thanks to a costly error by the O’s Blake Davis in his major league debut. Brandon Wood and Michael McKenry both score when Josh Harrison’s 5th-inning ground ball with two outs passes between the second baseman’s legs. Closer Joel Hanrahan remains perfect for the season, registering his 20th save in as many opportunities. Pittsburgh has hovered around the .500 mark all year so far, in a bid to end an 18-year streak of losing seasons.

ByBaseball

Two teams who have not been used to playing .500 ball in recent years reach the mark today. The Nationals even their record with a 2 – 1 win over Seattle as John Lannan outduels Erik Bedard thanks to a pair of unearned runs. It is the latest the Nats have been at .500 since their inaugural season in Washington in 2005; they have reached the mark by going 10-1 over their last 11 games. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, the Pirates also reach the magic number as Kevin Correia picks up his 9th win, 5 – 4, over the Orioles, thanks to a costly error by the O’s Blake Davis in his major league debut. Brandon Wood and Michael McKenry both score when Josh Harrison’s 5th-inning ground ball with two outs passes between the second baseman’s legs. Closer Joel Hanrahan remains perfect for the season, registering his 20th save in as many opportunities. Pittsburgh has hovered around the .500 mark all year so far, in a bid to end an 18-year streak of losing seasons.