2008 – The Pirates come to terms with Pedro Alvarez, whom they picked in the first round of this year’s amateur draft. Alvarez had previously given his verbal agreement to a deal but agent Scott Boras claimed it was after the deadline. Major League Baseball had placed Alvarez on the restricted list and the MLBPA filed a grievance, resulting in the case being sent to an arbitrator. Before a decision could be made, Pittsburgh and Alvarez again reached an agreement. The MLBPA therefore drops its appeal.

The Red Sox hand Cliff Lee just his third loss in 25 decisions in a 5 – 4 win to clinch a playoff spot. The win eliminates the Yankees from making the postseason for the first time since 1993 (not counting the 1994 season, when the postseason was cancelled, but during which the Yanks posted the best record in the American League).

With a 5-4 victory over the Indians at Fenway Park, the Red Sox earn at least a wild-card playoff berth. Boston’s win eliminates the Yankees, who had appeared in 13 consecutive postseasons, spanning Derek Jeter’s entire career.

Jose Reyes collects his 200th hit of the season with a bases-loaded triple in a much-needed Mets 6-2 victory over the Cubs at Shea Stadium. The 25 year-old shortstop joins Lance Johnson (1996) as one of the only two players in franchise history to reach the esteemed plateau.

Tim Lincecum sets the Giants’ single-season record with 252 strikeouts. The San Francisco right-hander whiffs nine Colorado batters in 4.1 innings to surpass Jason Schmidt, who had 251 K’s in 2004.

The Rays pull off the first doubleheader sweep in franchise history, beating Baltimore, 5 – 2 and 7 – 5. Tampa Bay’s magic number to clinch the AL East title drops to 2.

The Tigers, blanked for the 13th time this season, lose to Kansas City, 5-0, and fall into last place in the American League Central Division. Detroit, after making significant moves in the offseason, had been favored to be one of the best teams in baseball.

For the third consecutive season, the Marlins have established a new franchise record for home runs. Josh Willingham’s second inning round tripper, the club’s 202nd, sets the new mark in Florida’s 9-4 loss to the Nationals.

2008 – The Mets fall to one game up in the wild card race, losing 9 – 5 to the Cubs. Chicago clinches home field advantage for the playoffs. Pitcher Jason Marquis hits a grand slam and drives in 5 in the win. It is the second grand slam by a pitcher off New York hurlers this year, the first team since the 1977 Cubs to allow two such slams. Jon Niese takes his first major league loss.

The Rays, who have never finished higher than fourth in the American League East Division during the first decade of their existence, clinch a postseason berth with a 7-2 victory over Minnesota at Tropicana Field. Southpaw Scott Kazmir throws six scoreless innings with Carlos Pena hitting a pair of doubles and solo home runs by Cliff Floyd and Fernando Perez providing the offensive in Tampa Bay’s historic win.