The Blue Jays and Astros swing a big trade, with 10 players changing teams. Looking for pitching after a rash of injuries, the Jays receive hurlers J.A. Happ, Brandon Lyon and David Carpenter, while the Astros add veterans Francisco Cordero and Ben Francisco, in addition to prospects Asher Wojciechowski, Joe Musgrove, David Rollins and Carlos Perez, and a player to be named.

ByBaseball

The Blue Jays and Astros swing a big trade, with 10 players changing teams. Looking for pitching after a rash of injuries, the Jays receive hurlers J.A. Happ, Brandon Lyon and David Carpenter, while the Astros add veterans Francisco Cordero and Ben Francisco, in addition to prospects Asher Wojciechowski, Joe Musgrove, David Rollins and Carlos Perez, and a player to be named.

stars forever willie stargell, ted williams, larry doby, joe Dimaggio

The United States Postal Service issues a set of four commemorative stamps depicting Hall of Famers 

ByBaseball

The United States Postal Service issues a set of four commemorative stamps depicting Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Larry Doby, Joe DiMaggio and Willie Stargell. The issuance ceremonies are held in Cooperstown, NY as part of the Hall’s annual induction week-end.

2012 – Edinson Volquez throws a one-hitter as San Diego defeats Houston, 1 – 0. Matt Downs gets the only Astro hit with a squibbler off Volquez’s glove in the 4th. It is only the third complete game shutout thrown by a Padres pitcher since the otherwise pitcher-friendly PETCO Park opened in 2004.

ByBaseball

2012 – Edinson Volquez throws a one-hitter as San Diego defeats Houston, 1 – 0. Matt Downs gets the only Astro hit with a squibbler off Volquez’s glove in the 4th. It is only the third complete game shutout thrown by a Padres pitcher since the otherwise pitcher-friendly PETCO Park opened in 2004.

The Giants and Braves score only one run each in the first nine innings of their game, but explode in extra innings. The Giants score twice in the top of the 10th, but Santiago Casilla allows a two-out, two-run homer to Brian McCann to keep the game going. Undaunted, San Francisco puts 6 more runs on the scoreboard in the 11th, thanks to three-run homers by Brandon Crawford and Gregor Blanco. Atlanta then scores one other run in the bottom of the 11th to make the final score 9 – 4.

ByBaseball

The Giants and Braves score only one run each in the first nine innings of their game, but explode in extra innings. The Giants score twice in the top of the 10th, but Santiago Casilla allows a two-out, two-run homer to Brian McCann to keep the game going. Undaunted, San Francisco puts 6 more runs on the scoreboard in the 11th, thanks to three-run homers by Brandon Crawford and Gregor Blanco. Atlanta then scores one other run in the bottom of the 11th to make the final score 9 – 4.

The A’s improve to 10-2 in July with a 4 – 3 win over Texas, capped by a 9th-inning walk-off homer by Brandon Hicks off Michael Kirkman, his first major league long ball. Ryan Cook, the A’s sole representative at last week’s All-Star Game, picks up the win. The hot month has put the A’s in surprising contention for a wild card spot.

ByBaseball

The A’s improve to 10-2 in July with a 4 – 3 win over Texas, capped by a 9th-inning walk-off homer by Brandon Hicks off Michael Kirkman, his first major league long ball. Ryan Cook, the A’s sole representative at last week’s All-Star Game, picks up the win. The hot month has put the A’s in surprising contention for a wild card spot.

Kevin Youkilis hits his first Fenway Park homer as a visiting player to lead the White Sox to a 7 – 5 win over the Red Sox. His shot off Jon Lester in the 4th puts Chicago up, 6 – 2, as Philip Humber wins in his return from the disabled list.

ByBaseball

Kevin Youkilis hits his first Fenway Park homer as a visiting player to lead the White Sox to a 7 – 5 win over the Red Sox. His shot off Jon Lester in the 4th puts Chicago up, 6 – 2, as Philip Humber wins in his return from the disabled list.

The Angels crush the Tigers, 13 – 0, behind the pitching of Garrett Richards and five homers, by Mark Trumbo, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Alberto Callaspo and Kendrys Morales. The Halos jump to an early 7 – 0 lead, chasing Jacob Turner after 2 innings. It is the first time Detroit has been shut out in 159 games.

ByBaseball

The Angels crush the Tigers, 13 – 0, behind the pitching of Garrett Richards and five homers, by Mark Trumbo, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Alberto Callaspo and Kendrys Morales. The Halos jump to an early 7 – 0 lead, chasing Jacob Turner after 2 innings. It is the first time Detroit has been shut out in 159 games.

The Twins set a Target Field record for runs in defeating Baltimore, 19 – 7. They stake starter Scott Diamond to an early lead with a seven-run outburst against Chris Tillman in the 1st inning, capitalizing on a costly error by 1B Mark Reynolds who lets a ground ball skip by him with the bases loaded and two outs. Justin Morneau goes 4 for 5 with 3 runs and a pair of doubles for the Twins.

ByBaseball

The Twins set a Target Field record for runs in defeating Baltimore, 19 – 7. They stake starter Scott Diamond to an early lead with a seven-run outburst against Chris Tillman in the 1st inning, capitalizing on a costly error by 1B Mark Reynolds who lets a ground ball skip by him with the bases loaded and two outs. Justin Morneau goes 4 for 5 with 3 runs and a pair of doubles for the Twins.

An incident over pine tar marks Washington’s 4 – 0 win over Miami at Marlins Park. Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen objects to the amount of the black substance on rookie Bryce Harper’s bat in the 1st inning, complaining to umpire Marty Foster, who asks Harper to use another weapon next time. When Harper comes back to the plate in the 4th, he mockingly points his bat at Guillen, who explodes with a string of shouts in his direction. After the game, the fiery skipper explains that he found Harper’s gesture disrespectful and unprofessional.

ByBaseball

An incident over pine tar marks Washington’s 4 – 0 win over Miami at Marlins Park. Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen objects to the amount of the black substance on rookie Bryce Harper’s bat in the 1st inning, complaining to umpire Marty Foster, who asks Harper to use another weapon next time. When Harper comes back to the plate in the 4th, he mockingly points his bat at Guillen, who explodes with a string of shouts in his direction. After the game, the fiery skipper explains that he found Harper’s gesture disrespectful and unprofessional.

Ben Sheets makes a successful return to the big leagues, a few days short of two years since his last game before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He keeps the Mets scoreless over 6 innings as the Braves win, 6 – 1. The game features the ejection of Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen, who starts arguing with home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor during a 6th-inning mound visit; the Braves score all their runs in that inning, highlighted by Freddie Freeman’s three-run homer off Johan Santana.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Ben Sheets makes a successful return to the big leagues, a few days short of two years since his last game before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He keeps the Mets scoreless over 6 innings as the Braves win, 6 – 1. The game features the ejection of Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen, who starts arguing with home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor during a 6th-inning mound visit; the Braves score all their runs in that inning, highlighted by Freddie Freeman’s three-run homer off Johan Santana.