2009 – Justin Verlander strikes out 11 in 7 innings as Detroit bests Cleveland, 6 – 5. It is the Indians’ 11th straight loss, one short of the franchise record set in 1931.

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2009 – Justin Verlander strikes out 11 in 7 innings as Detroit bests Cleveland, 6 – 5. It is the Indians’ 11th straight loss, one short of the franchise record set in 1931.

Trailing 8-0 at Dodger Stadium, the Giants take the lead, scoring nine runs in the top of the seventh inning. Although L.A. will come back twice to tie the score with clutch two-out hits in the eighth and ninth, San Francisco tallies four runs in the top of the tenth frame for the 14-10 victory.

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Trailing 8-0 at Dodger Stadium, the Giants take the lead, scoring nine runs in the top of the seventh inning. Although L.A. will come back twice to tie the score with clutch two-out hits in the eighth and ninth, San Francisco tallies four runs in the top of the tenth frame for the 14-10 victory.

2009 – Bobby Cox signs a one-year extension as manager of the Atlanta Braves, but announces it will be the last. After the 2010 season, he will become a consultant to the team’s front office. He has been the team’s manager since 1990 and led them to the world championship in Braves and 14 postseason appearances, the last in 2005.

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2009 – Bobby Cox signs a one-year extension as manager of the Atlanta Braves, but announces it will be the last. After the 2010 season, he will become a consultant to the team’s front office. He has been the team’s manager since 1990 and led them to the world championship in Braves and 14 postseason appearances, the last in 2005.

Diamondback slugger Mark Reynolds establishes a new single-season strikeout mark for the second year in a row when he misses a 1-2 breaking ball from Madison Bumgarner, his 205th K of the campaign. Prior to breaking his own dubious mark and extending it with another whiff in the sixth inning, the 26 year-old third baseman collected his 100th RBI of the season in Arizona’s 10-8 Chase Field victory over San Francisco.

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Diamondback slugger Mark Reynolds establishes a new single-season strikeout mark for the second year in a row when he misses a 1-2 breaking ball from Madison Bumgarner, his 205th K of the campaign. Prior to breaking his own dubious mark and extending it with another whiff in the sixth inning, the 26 year-old third baseman collected his 100th RBI of the season in Arizona’s 10-8 Chase Field victory over San Francisco.

The Yankees are the first team to clinch a playoff spot this year after a 6 – 5 win over the Angels. Alex Rodriguez drives in Brett Gardner on a sacrifice fly in the 9th; he has a homer and 3 RBI in the game. Mariano Rivera pitches a scoreless 9th inning for the save.

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The Yankees are the first team to clinch a playoff spot this year after a 6 – 5 win over the Angels. Alex Rodriguez drives in Brett Gardner on a sacrifice fly in the 9th; he has a homer and 3 RBI in the game. Mariano Rivera pitches a scoreless 9th inning for the save.

For the second straight night, the Yankees fail to become the first major league team to clinch a playoff spot. After the Mariners yesterday, it’s the Angels’ turn to spoil the Yankee celebration, with a 5 – 2 win over New York, thanks to a strong performance by P Joe Saunders.

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For the second straight night, the Yankees fail to become the first major league team to clinch a playoff spot. After the Mariners yesterday, it’s the Angels’ turn to spoil the Yankee celebration, with a 5 – 2 win over New York, thanks to a strong performance by P Joe Saunders.

21-year-old Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman, who pitched in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and is said to possess a 100 mph fastball, has established residence in the tiny European principalty of Andorra after defecting in July. This allows him to bypass the amateur draft and offer his services to all major league teams as a free agent. Bidding is expected to be fierce.

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21-year-old Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman, who pitched in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and is said to possess a 100 mph fastball, has established residence in the tiny European principalty of Andorra after defecting in July. This allows him to bypass the amateur draft and offer his services to all major league teams as a free agent. Bidding is expected to be fierce.

Angel Villalona, a top prospect in the San Francisco Giants organization, is charged with murder in the death of a man at a bar in La Romana, in the Dominican Republic. The 19-year-old 1B faces up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.

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Angel Villalona, a top prospect in the San Francisco Giants organization, is charged with murder in the death of a man at a bar in La Romana, in the Dominican Republic. The 19-year-old 1B faces up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.

In the only other playoff race that’s still up in the air, the Twins beat the Tigers, 6 – 2, thanks to their quirky ballpark. Trailing 2 – 1 in the 8th against Detroit ace Justin Verlander in one of the last-ever regular-season games to be played in the Metrodome, Orlando Cabrera hits a routine fly ball that LF Don Kelly loses against the roof and lets bounce for a double. Two batters later, Jason Kubel hits a two-run single as Minnesota rallies for five runs to win the game and reduce the Tigers’ lead in the AL Central to 2 games.

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In the only other playoff race that’s still up in the air, the Twins beat the Tigers, 6 – 2, thanks to their quirky ballpark. Trailing 2 – 1 in the 8th against Detroit ace Justin Verlander in one of the last-ever regular-season games to be played in the Metrodome, Orlando Cabrera hits a routine fly ball that LF Don Kelly loses against the roof and lets bounce for a double. Two batters later, Jason Kubel hits a two-run single as Minnesota rallies for five runs to win the game and reduce the Tigers’ lead in the AL Central to 2 games.

Randy Johnson pitches for the first time in two months, facing three Dodger batters in making his first regular-season relief appearance since he set a record with 16 strikeouts in completing a suspended game on July 18, 2001. Things don’t go as well this time, as he gives up two doubles, and the Giants are crushed by Los Angeles, 12 – 1. Combined with Colorado’s 10 – 4 defeat of the Diamondbacks, the Giants now trail the Rockies by 3 1/2 games in the wild card race.

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Randy Johnson pitches for the first time in two months, facing three Dodger batters in making his first regular-season relief appearance since he set a record with 16 strikeouts in completing a suspended game on July 18, 2001. Things don’t go as well this time, as he gives up two doubles, and the Giants are crushed by Los Angeles, 12 – 1. Combined with Colorado’s 10 – 4 defeat of the Diamondbacks, the Giants now trail the Rockies by 3 1/2 games in the wild card race.