The Cubs game against the Phillies at Wrigley Field becomes the first contest to be played with the use of video replay available to umpires to review calls in regards to fair or foul home runs, balls in or out of the ballpark, and fan interference determinations. The new technology, which doesn’t need to be employed in any of the three ballparks going online today, will be used by all major league clubs starting tomorrow.

2008 – Major League Baseball places Pedro Alvarez on the restricted list for failing to sign the contract he verbally agreed to prior to the August 15th signing deadline. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Alvarez second overall in the 2008 amateur draft.

Teddy Roosevelt gets off to a fast start, and it appears that T.R. will finally beat his Mount Rushmore teammates, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington to win his first-ever President Race at Nationals Park. When the blue do-rag clad presidential character sporting dreadlocks stops to high-five fans sitting in the right-field stands, with the public address announcer explaining the mascot’s behavior as ‘Teddy being Teddy,’ the big lead disappears.

Mike Pelfrey becomes the first Mets hurler with back-to-back complete-game victories since Bret Saberhagen accomplished the feat in 1995. With the help of a pair of Carlos Delgado three-run home runs, the 24 year-old right-hander beats the Astros, 9-1.

After being swept in a four-game series earlier in the month in L.A., the Phillies return the favor, beating the Dodgers, 5-0, to complete its own four-game sweep. It is the first time in franchise history that Philadelphia has swept the Dodgers in a four-game series at home.

The Twins try to get some help for the stretch run by picking up ex-Twin Eddie Guardado from the Rangers for Mark Hamburger. The deal creates many interesting headlines.

Grady Sizemore becomes the second player in Cleveland Indians history to go 30-30 in a season. He homers twice in a 4 – 3 win over the Tigers, the 8th straight victory for Cleveland. Sizemore is in the top 5 in the American League in both homers and steals through today’s action.

The Twins get 37 year-old Eddie Guardado, their former reliever from 1993-2003, from the Rangers in exchange for 21 year-old right-hander Mark Hamburger. The veteran “Everyday Eddie” will assume the setup role for Minnesota during the stretch run.

After striking out, Denard Span is tossed from the game by plate umpire Brian Gorman for throwing his bat and helmet. The ejection comes after the game has ended as the rookie’s called third strike is the final pitch of the Twins’ 5-3 loss to the Angels.

A protest of parents and teammates is held, demanding Jericho Scott be allowed to continue to pitch in the Youth Baseball League of New Haven. The nine year-old, a right-hander with pinpoint control of a 40-mph fastball, was banned from the mound for throwing too hard.