2015 – The Astros win their 7th straight game to finish the month of April tied for the best record in the American League with the Royals at 15-7. In today’s game, Jose Altuve drives in Marwin Gonzalez with a single in the 10th inning for a 3 – 2 win over the Mariners. For Altuve, it is his third hit of the game, and his 8th straight multiple-hit game.

The Orioles win a game in eerie silence as they defeat the White Sox, 8 – 2, with no fans present at Camden Yards. The game is played without spectators present due to persistent rioting in Baltimore, MD, in order for the city not to have to commit overworked security forces to the contest. “Hopefully this was something good, something positive can come from this,” comments Chris Davis, whose long home run into the empty stands is the highlight of a six-run 1st inning, thinking about the difficult couple of weeks the city has gone through.

The Nationals come back from 8 runs down to defeat the Braves, 13 – 12. Dan Uggla is at the center of things against his former team as he drives in 5 runs, including a three-run homer in the 9th. It is the biggest comeback in Nationals history, and the first time they have won a game in which they have allowed 11 or more runs.

While rioting continues in Baltimore, MD, the Orioles once again cancel today’s game against the White Sox, and in an unprecedented move, decide that tomorrow’s will be played without any spectators present. A week-end series against the Rays will be moved to St. Petersburg, FL, with the O’s playing as the home team.

2015 – Today’s scheduled game between the Orioles and the White Sox is postponed because of violent protests in downtown Baltimore, MD, following the death of a black man in police custody a week earlier. Two days earlier, as an Orioles game was headed for extra innings, the mayor’s office asked spectators not to leave the ballpark because of safety concerns, before lifting the recommendation at the end of game after things had calmed down. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has also decreed a week-long curfew from 10 PM to 5 AM, making the playing of two scheduled night games problematic.

Rumors emerge that the Rangers have reached a tentative deal with the Angels to acquire troubled OF Josh Hamilton. Hamilton left Texas after the 2012 season to sign a five-year deal worth $125 million, but has not been as productive a player since the deal and suffered a relapse of dependency problems. He has yet to play a game this season.

The Yankees snap the Mets’ franchise record-tying 11-game winning streak with a 6 -1 win. Jacob deGrom allows three homers, two by Mark Teixeira and the other by Jacoby Ellsbury to be tagged with the loss. Michael Pineda is the winner.

The Athletics pitch a one-hitter against the Angels, but still lose, 2 – 0, as the only safety is a two-run homer by Kole Calhoun in the 3rd against Jesse Chavez. Chavez goes 6 innings in his first start of the season, but Nick Tropeano keeps the A’s off the scoreboard into the 7th inning before three relievers complete the shutout.