The Pirates are in first place on merit in the NL Central, as their 1 – 0 shutout of one of their chief rivals, the Cincinnati Reds, attests. James McDonald pitches 6 1/3 scoreless innings, then Joe Beimel bails him out of a bases-loaded jam by striking out Jay Bruce to end the 7th inning; two other relievers finish the game. The Pirates manage just four hits, but make Josh Harrison’s 1st-inning run stand up.

Luis Mendoza of the Omaha Royals seemingly throws a no-hitter against the Memphis Redbirds. However, right after the game ends, the official scorer changes a 9th-inning error by Omaha LF David Lough into a hit for Tyler Greene, taking the no-hitter away. An hour later, he changes his mind again, returning the no-hitter. Two days later, the Pacific Coast League will decide that it was in fact a hit for Greene, again costing Mendoza the no-hitter.

The Indians sweep a doubleheader from the Twins in sweltering weather at Target Field, 5 – 2, and 6 – 3. Fausto Carmona wins the nitecap in his return from the disabled list after David Huff, just called up from the minors, earns the win in the opener with 7 shutout innings in an emergency spot start. The Indians like what they see from Huff enough to send down Jeanmar Gomez instead of him after the first game in order to activate Carmona for the game 2 start. The Twins also have to scramble for starters in the twin bill, using reliever Anthony Swarzak in the opener, and Scott Diamond, who makes his major league debut in the second game. Both pitch decently but end up with losses.

Clay Hensley is the winner in his first start since 2008 as he beats the Mets, 4 – 1, allowing only one hit over five innings. Mike Stanton drives in two runs for the Marlins, who move to within a half game of catching the Mets and escaping the NL East cellar. It is the Fish’s 9th win in their last 10 games and they are now 15-9 since Jack McKeon took over as their manager.

It takes a hot and humid evening in Chicago to slow down Phillies ace Roy Halladay. Making his first start since starting the All-Star Game, Doc leaves the game with none out in the 5th, trailing 3 – 1, weakened by the weather conditions at Wrigley Field. It is his shortest outing as a Philly. He is charged with his team’s 6 – 1 loss; his opponent, Rodrigo Lopez, fares much better, going 6 2/3 innings to earn the win. Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena homer for the Cubs.

It takes 16 innings in a nationally televised Sunday night game, but the Red Sox finally defeat the Rays, 1 – 0, when Dustin Pedroia drives in Josh Reddick from third base with a single for the game’s only run. Reddick had reached base on the 12th walk given up by Rays pitchers, as their moundsmen’s unwitting generosity finally costs them. Adam Russell, Tampa Bay’s 9th pitcher, is the loser, while Alfredo Aceves is the winner with 3 scoreless innings and Jonathan Papelbon picks up his 21st save. Both Rays manager Joe Maddon and bench coach Dave Martinez are long gone by the time the game is decided, having been ejected in separate incidents in the 11th inning for having words with home plate umpire Chad Fairchild.

The Rangers extend their winning streak to 11 games with a 3 – 1 win over Seattle, which has now lost 9 straight to fall out of contention. Matt Harrison allows just one run in 7 2/3 innings. Mitch Moreland hits a three-run home run in the 2nd inning off Blake Beavan to account for all of the Rangers’ runs.

The Minnesota Twins retire Bert Blyleven’s uniform number 28, a week before the pitcher is to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, NY.

Chris Hatcher makes his debut as a major league pitcher, pitching a perfect inning for the Marlins as they defeat the Cubs, 13 – 3, at Wrigley Field. Hatcher’s first outing on the mound comes the year after he played his first major league game as a catcher; Art Doll, with the Boston Bees in 1936 was the last person to debut as a pitcher the year after breaking into the big leagues as a catcher.

The Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners are two teams going in opposite directions. The Rangers’ 4 – 0 win, behind Colby Lewis, is their 9th in a row, while Seattle drops its 7th straight, putting them 9 1/2 games back of the AL West-leading Rangers.