2011 – Leo Nunez pitches for the Marlins in their 4 – 0 win over the Braves, then is placed by the team on the restricted list for the remainder of the season. It is revealed that Nunez has been playing under an assumed identity since being signed as an amateur free agent by Pittsburgh in 2000 and is in reality named Juan Carlos Oviedo and one year older than his listed birthdate of August 14, 1983. Nunez is sent back to the Dominican Republic where he will need to sort out his issues with U.S. immigration authorities.

ByBaseball

2011 – Leo Nunez pitches for the Marlins in their 4 – 0 win over the Braves, then is placed by the team on the restricted list for the remainder of the season. It is revealed that Nunez has been playing under an assumed identity since being signed as an amateur free agent by Pittsburgh in 2000 and is in reality named Juan Carlos Oviedo and one year older than his listed birthdate of August 14, 1983. Nunez is sent back to the Dominican Republic where he will need to sort out his issues with U.S. immigration authorities.

Clayton Kershaw becomes the Dodgers’ first 20-game winner since Ramon Martinez accomplished the feat in 1990. Allowing just one run in 7 1/3 innings, the southpaw gets the victory when LA beats the visiting Giants, 2-1.

ByBaseball

Clayton Kershaw becomes the Dodgers’ first 20-game winner since Ramon Martinez accomplished the feat in 1990. Allowing just one run in 7 1/3 innings, the southpaw gets the victory when LA beats the visiting Giants, 2-1.

In front of the smallest crowd in the three-year history of new Yankee Stadium, Mariano Rivera retires Trevor Plouffe, Michael Cuddyer, and Chris Parmelee to finish New York’s 6-4 win over Minnesota. The save, the 602nd in the closer’s career, breaks Trevor Hoffman’s major league mark.

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In front of the smallest crowd in the three-year history of new Yankee Stadium, Mariano Rivera retires Trevor Plouffe, Michael Cuddyer, and Chris Parmelee to finish New York’s 6-4 win over Minnesota. The save, the 602nd in the closer’s career, breaks Trevor Hoffman’s major league mark.

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With a 2-1 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the Astros suffer the first 100-loss season in their 50-year history

ByTom

2011 – With a 2-1 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the Astros suffer the first 100-loss season in their 50-year history. For trivia buffs, the decisive run came in the fourth when rookie Bryan LaHair homered off rookie Henry Sosa. Houston would finish the season with the worst record in the majors at 56-106. 

The Phillies crush the Cardinals, 9 – 2, to clinch their fifth consecutive National League East division crown. Shane Victorino, “The Flyin’ Hawaiian”, homers, as does Raul Ibanez, and Jimmy Rollins has 4 hits to pace the Fightins’ attack. Roy Oswalt, one of the starting rotation’s famed “Four Aces”, gains the victory on the mound.

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The Phillies crush the Cardinals, 9 – 2, to clinch their fifth consecutive National League East division crown. Shane Victorino, “The Flyin’ Hawaiian”, homers, as does Raul Ibanez, and Jimmy Rollins has 4 hits to pace the Fightins’ attack. Roy Oswalt, one of the starting rotation’s famed “Four Aces”, gains the victory on the mound.

Mariano Rivera ties Trevor Hoffman’s Major League record with his 602nd career save in the Yankees’ 7 – 6 win over the Blue Jays. Rivera is backed by home runs from Alex Rodriguez, playing in his first game since aggravating a wrist injury on September 9th, and Curtis Granderson, who becomes the first Yankees CF since Mickey Mantle in 1961 to hit 40 home runs in a season.

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Mariano Rivera ties Trevor Hoffman’s Major League record with his 602nd career save in the Yankees’ 7 – 6 win over the Blue Jays. Rivera is backed by home runs from Alex Rodriguez, playing in his first game since aggravating a wrist injury on September 9th, and Curtis Granderson, who becomes the first Yankees CF since Mickey Mantle in 1961 to hit 40 home runs in a season.

After hitting a first inning two-run homer, singling in the second, and stroking a leadoff double in the fifth, Pablo Sandoval hit for the cycle when he drives a pitch that sails just beyond the outstretched glove of Colorado’s right fielder Carlos Gonzalez for a triple. ‘Panda’, a third baseman not known for speed, becomes the 25th Giant player to accomplish the feat, and the first since Fred Lewis did the deed in 2007, also at Coors Field.

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After hitting a first inning two-run homer, singling in the second, and stroking a leadoff double in the fifth, Pablo Sandoval hit for the cycle when he drives a pitch that sails just beyond the outstretched glove of Colorado’s right fielder Carlos Gonzalez for a triple. ‘Panda’, a third baseman not known for speed, becomes the 25th Giant player to accomplish the feat, and the first since Fred Lewis did the deed in 2007, also at Coors Field.

After missing fifty contests for a PED infraction in April 2008 while playing for the Giants, Eliezer Alfonzo becomes the first player to be suspended twice under the MLB drug program. The Colorado catcher will appeal the 100-game suspension, having the ban overturned for procedural reasons when his urine sample is not handled in the manner outlined in baseball’s agreement with the players.

ByTom

After missing fifty contests for a PED infraction in April 2008 while playing for the Giants, Eliezer Alfonzo becomes the first player to be suspended twice under the MLB drug program. The Colorado catcher will appeal the 100-game suspension, having the ban overturned for procedural reasons when his urine sample is not handled in the manner outlined in baseball’s agreement with the players.

Braves’ fireballer Brandon Beachy establishes the modern franchise record for strikeouts in a season by a rookie pitcher when he whiffs eight batters in 4.1 innings, bringing his to total to 160. Irv Young struck out 156 in 1905 when the team played in Boston and were known as the Beaneaters.

ByBaseball

Braves’ fireballer Brandon Beachy establishes the modern franchise record for strikeouts in a season by a rookie pitcher when he whiffs eight batters in 4.1 innings, bringing his to total to 160. Irv Young struck out 156 in 1905 when the team played in Boston and were known as the Beaneaters.

With their 3-2 loss to St. Louis, the Pirates extend their record streak of consecutive losing seasons to 19 straight years, the longest in American professional sports history. The Bucs, who led the NL Central by a half-game on July 20, have lost 38 of 54 contests since then, leaving the team with a 67-82 won-loss record.

ByBaseball

With their 3-2 loss to St. Louis, the Pirates extend their record streak of consecutive losing seasons to 19 straight years, the longest in American professional sports history. The Bucs, who led the NL Central by a half-game on July 20, have lost 38 of 54 contests since then, leaving the team with a 67-82 won-loss record.