Connie Marrero, the oldest living former major league player dies in Havana, Cuba two days shy of his 103rd birthday. Only Chet Hoff had a longer life among all men who have played in the major leagues. Mike Sandlocktakes over the title, at the age of 98.

Wrigley Field celebrates its 100th birthday with a party that includes birthday cakes, the presence of many former Chicago Cubs greats such as Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins and Andre Dawson, and everyone dressing up in the style of 1914 when the park was known as “Weeghman Park” and was home to the Chicago Chi-Feds of the long-defunct Federal League. Alumni of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, who played here from 1921 to 1970, also take the field before the game. The Cubs don the uniforms of the Feds, while the visiting Diamondbacks impersonate the Kansas City Packers. The visitors come out on top, 7 – 5, as they score 5 runs against Pedro Strop in the top of the 9th to spoil the party.

Already suspected by Red Sox broadcasters of illegally using pine tar during his last start against the team, the Yankees’ Michael Pineda gets caught red-handed this time, as umpire Gerry Davis find the substance on his neck and ejects him in the 2nd inning of his start as the Sox win, 5 – 1. Facing a suspension, Pineda confesses to the violation of the rules after the game, explaining that “my hands get sweaty”.

Jose Fernandez continues to build on last year’s Rookie of the Year season, as he matches a career high with 14 strikeouts over 8 shutout innings in defeating the Braves, 1 – 0. Fernandez allows 3 hits and Steve Cishekadds a perfect 9th inning for the Marlins. Alex Wood is the unlucky loser, as he allows only 4 hits and no walks and strikes out 11 over 8 innings, but a double by Giancarlo Stanton and a single by Casey McGehee in the 4th lead to the game’s only run. The Braves and Marlins combine for 28 strikeouts and no walks; the Elias Sports Bureau reports that this is a record for most Ks without a walk since at least 1900.

Aaron Harang pitches 7 no-hit innings for the Braves against the Mets, but has to leave the game after having thrown 121 pitches. David Wright hits a two-out single off Luis Avilan in the 8th for the Mets’ only hit as three pitchers combine on a one-hitter in a 6 – 0 win.

In the 6th inning of the Brewers’ game at Pittsburgh, Martin Maldonado literally knocks the cover off the ball. He smacks a ground ball to 3B Pedro Alvarez, but the stitches on the baseball come apart and Alvarez is left attempting to throw a ball with a chunk of leather flapping off. Maldonado easily beats the fluttering throw for an infield single. The Brewers win the game, 5 – 3.

The Yankees sweep a doubleheader from the Cubs behind strong performances from two newcomers. In the opener, Masahiro Tanaka strikes out 10 and allows only two singles on bunts in 8 innings in a 3 – 0 win, and in the nitecap, Michael Pineda gives up four hits over 6 innings for a 2 – 0 win that completes the double blanking. It is the first time a team has two shutouts in one day since June 26, 1988.

The Brewers are the hottest team in baseball, completing their third straight series sweep with a 4 -1 win over the Pirates. Kyle Lohse fans 9 over 8 2/3 innings to get the win; Will Smith then gets the last out by striking out Pedro Alvarez on three pitches.

Garrett Richards allows only one hit in seven innings and Albert Pujols, closing in on 500 career homers, hits a two-run long ball as the Angels blank the Mariners, 2 – 0. Joe Smith and Ernesto Frieri compete the one-hitter with a scoreless inning each.

Major League Baseball’s Diversity Task Force, created exactly a year ago, issues three recommendations to increase the number of African-Americans players: expanding MLB support for existing programs aimed at developing baseball in inner cities; launching programs to improve the quality of coaching available to young African-American players; and raising its profile in inner cities by engaging current and past stars in outreach programs directed at the African-American community. Former manager Jerry Manuel will head the task force on a day-to-day basis, to ensure the implementation of the three initiatives, while Detroit Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski will continue as its chairman.