With 3B Alex Rodriguez back in the line-up for the first time since July 7th, the Yankees shut out the Twins, 3 – 0. Curtis Granderson, who has had no problem hitting the ball out of the park all year, keeps his 7th-inning hit within the confines, but races around the bases for an inside-the-park homer that doubles the Yankees’ lead. Mark Teixeira follows with a more conventional home run and Ivan Nova improves to 13-4 on the year. A-Rod and Jim Thome become the first members of the 600 home run club to appear in the same contest since Willie Mays and Hank Aaron 38 years prior.

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With 3B Alex Rodriguez back in the line-up for the first time since July 7th, the Yankees shut out the Twins, 3 – 0. Curtis Granderson, who has had no problem hitting the ball out of the park all year, keeps his 7th-inning hit within the confines, but races around the bases for an inside-the-park homer that doubles the Yankees’ lead. Mark Teixeira follows with a more conventional home run and Ivan Nova improves to 13-4 on the year. A-Rod and Jim Thome become the first members of the 600 home run club to appear in the same contest since Willie Mays and Hank Aaron 38 years prior.

In his first major league start, the Blue Jays’ Luis Perez holds the Athletics to one hit and a pair of walks in 6 innings. Jose Bautista then leads off the 7th with his 36th homer off Guillermo Moscoso to give Toronto a 1 – 0 lead, and reliever Casey Janssen makes it hold with three hitless innings to complete the combined one-hitter.

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In his first major league start, the Blue Jays’ Luis Perez holds the Athletics to one hit and a pair of walks in 6 innings. Jose Bautista then leads off the 7th with his 36th homer off Guillermo Moscoso to give Toronto a 1 – 0 lead, and reliever Casey Janssen makes it hold with three hitless innings to complete the combined one-hitter.

The Tigers score 7 runs off Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez in the 3rd, including homers from Delmon Young and Victor Martinez, but the Indians slowly claw back. In the 4th, both benches are warned when Tigers starter Rick Porcello throws a pitch behind Asdrubal Cabrera shortly before being chased from the game. In the 6th, Tigers manager Jim Leyland is ejected by third base umpire Alan Porter for arguing a tag play at the base on Wilson Betemit. Detroit closer José Valverde then pitches the 9th with a one-run lead, but puts the first two men he faces on base courtesy of a walk and a hit-by-pitch. After Jack Hannahan’s successful sacrifice bunt, he gets pinch-hitter Matt LaPorta to fly to short center field; CF Austin Jackson unloads a superb throw to the plate that nails Kosuke Fukudome trying to score from third base, for a spectacular game-ending double play. Detroit completes a three-game sweep with the 8 – 7 win and Valverde has now been perfect in all 37 of his save opportunities this year.

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The Tigers score 7 runs off Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez in the 3rd, including homers from Delmon Young and Victor Martinez, but the Indians slowly claw back. In the 4th, both benches are warned when Tigers starter Rick Porcello throws a pitch behind Asdrubal Cabrera shortly before being chased from the game. In the 6th, Tigers manager Jim Leyland is ejected by third base umpire Alan Porter for arguing a tag play at the base on Wilson Betemit. Detroit closer José Valverde then pitches the 9th with a one-run lead, but puts the first two men he faces on base courtesy of a walk and a hit-by-pitch. After Jack Hannahan’s successful sacrifice bunt, he gets pinch-hitter Matt LaPorta to fly to short center field; CF Austin Jackson unloads a superb throw to the plate that nails Kosuke Fukudome trying to score from third base, for a spectacular game-ending double play. Detroit completes a three-game sweep with the 8 – 7 win and Valverde has now been perfect in all 37 of his save opportunities this year.

After a stint with the AAA Toledo Mud Hens and exactly one month after having been designated for assignment, Brandon Inge is back in the Tigers’ line-up. He homers in his first at-bat and doubles in a run his next time up as Detroit defeats Cleveland, 10 – 1, increasing its lead in the AL Central to 3 games.

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After a stint with the AAA Toledo Mud Hens and exactly one month after having been designated for assignment, Brandon Inge is back in the Tigers’ line-up. He homers in his first at-bat and doubles in a run his next time up as Detroit defeats Cleveland, 10 – 1, increasing its lead in the AL Central to 3 games.

Dan Uggla homers twice and drives in 3 runs as the Braves top the Diamondbacks, 8 – 1. Freddie Freeman also homers in support of Brandon Beachy.

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Dan Uggla homers twice and drives in 3 runs as the Braves top the Diamondbacks, 8 – 1. Freddie Freeman also homers in support of Brandon Beachy.

The Angels win a wild game over the Orioles, 9 – 8, in 12 innings. The Angels score three runs in the bottom of the 12th inning after the Orioles score two in the top of the frame. The Halos rally against O’s closer Kevin Gregg, as Erick Aybar singles and Mike Trout is hit by a pitch; a first run scores on 3B Josh Bell’s throwing error fielding Hank Conger’s bunt, then Peter Bourjos is safe on an infield hit that loads the bases. Alberto Callaspowalks to tie the game, and with Troy Patton now on the mound, Bobby Abreu hits a sacrifice fly to center for the walk-off win.

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The Angels win a wild game over the Orioles, 9 – 8, in 12 innings. The Angels score three runs in the bottom of the 12th inning after the Orioles score two in the top of the frame. The Halos rally against O’s closer Kevin Gregg, as Erick Aybar singles and Mike Trout is hit by a pitch; a first run scores on 3B Josh Bell’s throwing error fielding Hank Conger’s bunt, then Peter Bourjos is safe on an infield hit that loads the bases. Alberto Callaspowalks to tie the game, and with Troy Patton now on the mound, Bobby Abreu hits a sacrifice fly to center for the walk-off win.

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts fires general manager Jim Hendry, the man who brought the perennial losers within five outs of the World Series in 2003 and built back-to-back division winners in 2008 and 2009, after 9 years on the job. Hendry’s success was achieved at the cost of a massive payroll, however, and the team is now on the hook for a number of expensive contracts to underachieving former stars, while headed for a second consecutive 5th-place finish. His players send Hendry out a winner as pinch-hitter Tyler Colvin hits a walk-off single in the 10th inning to give the Cubs a 5 – 4 win over the Cardinals on his last day. Assistant GM Randy Bushis named to take over in the interim but is not in line to succeed Hendry.

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Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts fires general manager Jim Hendry, the man who brought the perennial losers within five outs of the World Series in 2003 and built back-to-back division winners in 2008 and 2009, after 9 years on the job. Hendry’s success was achieved at the cost of a massive payroll, however, and the team is now on the hook for a number of expensive contracts to underachieving former stars, while headed for a second consecutive 5th-place finish. His players send Hendry out a winner as pinch-hitter Tyler Colvin hits a walk-off single in the 10th inning to give the Cubs a 5 – 4 win over the Cardinals on his last day. Assistant GM Randy Bushis named to take over in the interim but is not in line to succeed Hendry.

Mike Jacobs becomes the first professional baseball player to be suspended for testing positive for human growth hormone. The 30 year-old Rockies minor league first baseman, who has played for the Mets, Marlins, and Royals, is handed a 50-game suspension for his involvement with HGH.

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Mike Jacobs becomes the first professional baseball player to be suspended for testing positive for human growth hormone. The 30 year-old Rockies minor league first baseman, who has played for the Mets, Marlins, and Royals, is handed a 50-game suspension for his involvement with HGH.

Leading 1 – 0 entering the bottom of the 9th, the Rangers cough up the game when reliever Mike Adams gives up a two-run walk-off home run to Angels rookie Mark Trumbo. A loss by the Angels would have virtually eliminated them from contention in the AL West; with the win, they are 6 games behind Texas and still have a glimmer of hope.

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Leading 1 – 0 entering the bottom of the 9th, the Rangers cough up the game when reliever Mike Adams gives up a two-run walk-off home run to Angels rookie Mark Trumbo. A loss by the Angels would have virtually eliminated them from contention in the AL West; with the win, they are 6 games behind Texas and still have a glimmer of hope.