Erik Kratz, who tossed an ineffective inning for the Astros in an 11-1 rout by the Angels in April, becomes the first player in the modern era to catch and pitch for two teams in the same season when he throws a scoreless ninth inning in relief in the Pirates’ 15-4 loss to the Giants at PNC Park. The 36 year-old journeyman backstop, who was obtained from the Halos earlier in the month, allows two hits, striking Brandon Belt for the first out of the frame.

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 21, 2016 Erik Kratz, who tossed an ineffective inning for the Astros in an 11-1 rout by the Angels in April, becomes the first player in the modern era to catch and pitch for two teams in the same season when he throws a scoreless ninth inning in relief in the Pirates’ 15-4…

2016 – The Rockies and Marlins set a record by scoring 8 runs, all on solo homers, in a 5 – 3 win by Colorado. The previous record was five runs. Matt Reynolds goes deep twice for the Rockies while Marcell Ozuna does so for Miami.

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 20, 2016 – The Rockies and Marlins set a record by scoring 8 runs, all on solo homers, in a 5 – 3 win by Colorado. The previous record was five runs. Matt Reynolds goes deep twice for the Rockies while Marcell Ozuna does so for Miami.

In one of the rare highlights for the Braves this season, Julio Teheran pitches a one-hitter for a 6 – 0 win as the Braves complete a three-game sweep of the Mets at Citi Field. Michael Conforto’s 3rd-inning single is the only baserunner for New York, while the resurgent Freddie Freeman matches a career-high with four hits for Atlanta.

ByBaseball

On June 19, 2016 In one of the rare highlights for the Braves this season, Julio Teheran pitches a one-hitter for a 6 – 0 win as the Braves complete a three-game sweep of the Mets at Citi Field. Michael Conforto’s 3rd-inning single is the only baserunner for New York, while the resurgent Freddie Freeman matches a career-high with four hits for Atlanta.

2016 – Michael Saunders leads the Blue Jays to a 13 – 3 win over the Orioles with three homers and eight RBIs. He connects twice for three-run homers off Mike Wright, then adds a two-run shot against Ubaldo Jimenez as the red hot Blue Jays move to one game back of first-place Baltimore.

ByTom

2016 – Michael Saunders leads the Blue Jays to a 13 – 3 win over the Orioles with three homers and eight RBIs. He connects twice for three-run homers off Mike Wright, then adds a two-run shot against Ubaldo Jimenez as the red hot Blue Jays move to one game back of first-place Baltimore.

2016 – Victor Martinez connects for three homers to lead the Tigers to a 10 – 4 win over the Royals. The Tigers hit six homers in all, with Nick Castellanos, James McCann and Miguel Cabrera adding the other long balls. However, it’s not all good news for Detroit as OF J.D. Martinez breaks his elbow running into the fence while chasing a ball in the right-field corner and will be out for a long stretch.

ByTom

2016 – Victor Martinez connects for three homers to lead the Tigers to a 10 – 4 win over the Royals. The Tigers hit six homers in all, with Nick Castellanos, James McCann and Miguel Cabrera adding the other long balls. However, it’s not all good news for Detroit as OF J.D. Martinez breaks his elbow running into the fence while chasing a ball in the right-field corner and will be out for a long stretch.

“I’m not trying to take anything away from Ichiro, he’s had a Hall of Fame career, but the next thing you know, they’ll be counting his high-school hits.” – PETE ROSE, as quoted in USA Today. Ichiro Suzuki’s ninth-inning double in the Marlins’ 6-3 loss to the Padres at Petco Park raises his professional hit total to 4,257, surpassing Pete Rose’s all-time major league mark. The 42 year-old outfielder’s total includes the 1,278 hits he collected for Orix in Japan’s Pacific League.

ByTom

“I’m not trying to take anything away from Ichiro, he’s had a Hall of Fame career, but the next thing you know, they’ll be counting his high-school hits.” – PETE ROSE, as quoted in USA Today. Ichiro Suzuki’s ninth-inning double in the Marlins’ 6-3 loss to the Padres at Petco Park raises his professional hit total to 4,257, surpassing Pete Rose’s all-time major league mark. The 42 year-old outfielder’s total includes the 1,278 hits he collected for Orix in Japan’s Pacific League.

On the day SS Jose Reyes is eligible for reinstatement from his suspension following an off-season domestic violence incident, the Rockies decide to have him designated for assignment, eating approximately $40 million remaining on his contract. Rookie Trevor Story has emerged as a star during Reyes’ prolonged absence, prompting the Rockies to cut ties with the former All-Star.

ByTom

On the day SS Jose Reyes is eligible for reinstatement from his suspension following an off-season domestic violence incident, the Rockies decide to have him designated for assignment, eating approximately $40 million remaining on his contract. Rookie Trevor Story has emerged as a star during Reyes’ prolonged absence, prompting the Rockies to cut ties with the former All-Star.

Ichiro Suzuki collects a pair of hits in the Marlins’ 6 – 3 loss to the Padres. His 9th-inning double off Fernando Rodney is his 4,257th hit as a major leaguer, counting his time in Japan and the United States. This moves him ahead of Pete Rose for the all-time mark and brings him within 21 hits of the magic 3000 hit club in the U.S.

ByTom

Ichiro Suzuki collects a pair of hits in the Marlins’ 6 – 3 loss to the Padres. His 9th-inning double off Fernando Rodney is his 4,257th hit as a major leaguer, counting his time in Japan and the United States. This moves him ahead of Pete Rose for the all-time mark and brings him within 21 hits of the magic 3000 hit club in the U.S.

2016 – The University of California, Santa Barbara qualifies for the College World Series for the first time in school history thanks to a dramatic 4 – 3 win over the University of Louisville in the 2016 CWS Super Regionals. With Louisville ahead 3 – 0 in the 9th, pinch-hitter Sam Cohen hits a grand slam to stun the Cardinals.

ByBaseball

On June 12 2016, 2016 – The University of California, Santa Barbara qualifies for the College World Series for the first time in school history thanks to a dramatic 4 – 3 win over the University of Louisville in the 2016 CWS Super Regionals. With Louisville ahead 3 – 0 in the 9th, pinch-hitter Sam Cohen hits a grand slam to stun the Cardinals.

2016 – Jake Arrieta of the Cubs loses to the Diamondbacks, 3 – 2. It’s his first loss after 20 straight wins dating back to July 25, 2015, when he was on the losing end of Cole Hamels’ no-hitter; it’s the third longest winning streak since 1913, tied with Roger Clemens and trailing only Roy Face (22) and Carl Hubbell (24).

ByTom

2016 – Jake Arrieta of the Cubs loses to the Diamondbacks, 3 – 2. It’s his first loss after 20 straight wins dating back to July 25, 2015, when he was on the losing end of Cole Hamels’ no-hitter; it’s the third longest winning streak since 1913, tied with Roger Clemens and trailing only Roy Face (22) and Carl Hubbell (24).