The Red Sox (66-40) continue their winning ways when they beat Chicago at Fenway Park, 5-3. The eventual World Champs end the month with a 20-6 record, the team’s best July since 1952.

ByTom

The Red Sox (66-40) continue their winning ways when they beat Chicago at Fenway Park, 5-3. The eventual World Champs end the month with a 20-6 record, the team’s best July since 1952.

Although the Blue Jays already display his uniform digits on the Level of Excellence, the team officially retires Roberto Alomar’s No. 12 jersey, making the infielder the first player so honored in this manner in the 35-year history of the franchise. The newly inducted member of the Hall of Fame played five seasons with Toronto, including the back-to-back 1992-93 World Series championship teams.

ByTom

Although the Blue Jays already display his uniform digits on the Level of Excellence, the team officially retires Roberto Alomar’s No. 12 jersey, making the infielder the first player so honored in this manner in the 35-year history of the franchise. The newly inducted member of the Hall of Fame played five seasons with Toronto, including the back-to-back 1992-93 World Series championship teams.

The Braves become only the second team in big league history with 10,000 losses, along with the Phillies, who reached the milestone in 2007. The franchise recently collected its 10,000th victory, including the wins during their tenure in Boston and Milwaukee.

ByBaseball

The Braves become only the second team in big league history with 10,000 losses, along with the Phillies, who reached the milestone in 2007. The franchise recently collected its 10,000th victory, including the wins during their tenure in Boston and Milwaukee.

In a five-player deal, the Braves, hoping to add offensive punch during their run for the NL Wild Card, obtain Michael Bourn from the last-place Astros. The speedy center fielder, who is currently hitting .303 and has a major league-leading 39 stolen bases, gives the team its first bonafide leadoff hitter since Rafael Furcal left after the 2005 season.

ByBaseball

In a five-player deal, the Braves, hoping to add offensive punch during their run for the NL Wild Card, obtain Michael Bourn from the last-place Astros. The speedy center fielder, who is currently hitting .303 and has a major league-leading 39 stolen bases, gives the team its first bonafide leadoff hitter since Rafael Furcal left after the 2005 season.

The trading deadline passes with a few more deals, capping a busy three-day period. OF Ryan Ludwick is traded on this day for the second consecutive year, joining the Pirates from the Padres for a player to be named later. The Padres also send set-up man Mike Adams to the Rangers for two minor leaguers, and the Red Sox land starting pitcher Erik Bedard from the Mariners in a three-team, seven-player deal that also involves the Los Angeles Dodgers. Finally, the Braves land CF Michael Bourn from Houston for OF Jordan Schafer and three minor league prospects.

ByBaseball

The trading deadline passes with a few more deals, capping a busy three-day period. OF Ryan Ludwick is traded on this day for the second consecutive year, joining the Pirates from the Padres for a player to be named later. The Padres also send set-up man Mike Adams to the Rangers for two minor leaguers, and the Red Sox land starting pitcher Erik Bedard from the Mariners in a three-team, seven-player deal that also involves the Los Angeles Dodgers. Finally, the Braves land CF Michael Bourn from Houston for OF Jordan Schafer and three minor league prospects.

Raul Ibanez is a one-man wrecking crew as the Phillies outlast the Pirates, 6 – 5, in 10 innings. Ibanez hits a homer off Jeff Karstens in the 2nd, and adds another, game-tying, blast in the 8th, a two-run shot off Jose Verasthat erases a 5 – 3 Pirates lead built on Lyle Overbay’s own two-run homer. In the 10th, Ibanez ends the game with an RBI double off Tony Watson, driving in newly-acquired Hunter Pence with the winning run.

ByBaseball

Raul Ibanez is a one-man wrecking crew as the Phillies outlast the Pirates, 6 – 5, in 10 innings. Ibanez hits a homer off Jeff Karstens in the 2nd, and adds another, game-tying, blast in the 8th, a two-run shot off Jose Verasthat erases a 5 – 3 Pirates lead built on Lyle Overbay’s own two-run homer. In the 10th, Ibanez ends the game with an RBI double off Tony Watson, driving in newly-acquired Hunter Pence with the winning run.

Two of the best pitchers in the American League face each other, as Detroit’s Justin Verlander goes against Los Angeles’ Jered Weaver, with both looking for their 15th win. Verlander takes a no-hitter into the 8th inning, while Weaver loses his cool after Carlos Guillen hits a 7th-inning homer; he throws a pitch over the head of the next batter, Alex Avila, and is ejected. Verlander and the Tigers prevail, 3 – 2.

ByBaseball

Two of the best pitchers in the American League face each other, as Detroit’s Justin Verlander goes against Los Angeles’ Jered Weaver, with both looking for their 15th win. Verlander takes a no-hitter into the 8th inning, while Weaver loses his cool after Carlos Guillen hits a 7th-inning homer; he throws a pitch over the head of the next batter, Alex Avila, and is ejected. Verlander and the Tigers prevail, 3 – 2.