Curtis Granderson becomes only the fifth player in franchise history to hit 40 home runs in consecutive seasons when he goes deep into the upper deck at Target Field in the Yankees’ 6-3 victory over Minnesota. The 31 year-old southpaw-swinging slugger joins Jason Giambi and Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Mickey Mantle as the only other Bronx Bombers to accomplish the feat.

The Cardinals defeat the Astros, 6 – 1, as Lance Lynn picks up his 17th win. Pete Kozma hits a two-run homer as the Cards now have a commanding 3 1/2 game lead over their nearest rivals for a wild card spot.

The Orioles lose a half-game to the Yankees when they split a doubleheader with the Blue Jays. Steve Johnson pitches five shutout innings to win the opener as Adam Jones goes 4 for 4 with a homer in a 4 – 1, win, but in the nitecap, J.P. Arencibia’s 7th-inning grand slam is the difference in the Jays’ 9 – 5 win. Ricky Romero is the winner, snapping a personal 13-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Yankees defeat the Twins, 6 – 3, behind Andy Pettitte to move to 1 1/2 games in front of the Birds. Curtis Granderson hits his 40th homer, becoming the fifth Yankee to hit forty dingers in back-to-back seasons.