A very pleasantly surprised Adam Dunn is traded by the Reds to the Diamondbacks for minor league right-hander Dallas Buck and two players to be named. In the midst of a losing season, Cincinnati continues unloading its marquee players with Dunn, the major league leader in home runs (tie), and future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr. being exchanged for prospects as the team begins a rebuilding phase.

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A very pleasantly surprised Adam Dunn is traded by the Reds to the Diamondbacks for minor league right-hander Dallas Buck and two players to be named. In the midst of a losing season, Cincinnati continues unloading its marquee players with Dunn, the major league leader in home runs (tie), and future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr. being exchanged for prospects as the team begins a rebuilding phase.

2008 – The Tampa Bay Rays set a new franchise record for wins; never having topped 70 in any of 10 prior seasons, the Rays win their 71st game before mid-August to go to 71-46. They top the Mariners, 11 – 3, with three-run homers by Willy Aybar and Shawn Riggans. Edwin Jackson gets the victory. The Rays will finish the year with 97 wins and represent the American League in the World Series.

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2008 – The Tampa Bay Rays set a new franchise record for wins; never having topped 70 in any of 10 prior seasons, the Rays win their 71st game before mid-August to go to 71-46. They top the Mariners, 11 – 3, with three-run homers by Willy Aybar and Shawn Riggans. Edwin Jackson gets the victory. The Rays will finish the year with 97 wins and represent the American League in the World Series.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration commemorating the Giants’ move to San Francisco, the team honors their greatest outfielders. Barry Bonds, thought not to be in attendance for the event, receives a standing ovation accompanied by a loud approval from the surprised fans when his name is announced and takes part of the ceremony telling the crowd, “It feels awful to me not to be in uniform and the Dodgers are right here”.

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As part of the 50th anniversary celebration commemorating the Giants’ move to San Francisco, the team honors their greatest outfielders. Barry Bonds, thought not to be in attendance for the event, receives a standing ovation accompanied by a loud approval from the surprised fans when his name is announced and takes part of the ceremony telling the crowd, “It feels awful to me not to be in uniform and the Dodgers are right here”.

Jeff Karstens, in his second start for the Pirates, retires the first 23 batters he faces before Chris Young doubles in the 8th. Karstens settles for a two-hit shutout and has not allowed a run in his first 15 innings since being acquired by Pittsburgh. Karstens aids his own cause with his first two career hits, both off Randy Johnson.

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Jeff Karstens, in his second start for the Pirates, retires the first 23 batters he faces before Chris Young doubles in the 8th. Karstens settles for a two-hit shutout and has not allowed a run in his first 15 innings since being acquired by Pittsburgh. Karstens aids his own cause with his first two career hits, both off Randy Johnson.

At the start of the rain delay during the Astros and Cubs game at Wrigley Field, fans are advised to take cover in the concourse due to a tornado warning being issued by the National Weather Service for downtown Chicago. The game resumes in 2 hours, 45 minutes, but approximately an hour later more thunder and lightning and another 39-minute stoppage cause the contest to be called in the bottom of the eighth, with Houston credited with a 2-0 rain-shortened victory.

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At the start of the rain delay during the Astros and Cubs game at Wrigley Field, fans are advised to take cover in the concourse due to a tornado warning being issued by the National Weather Service for downtown Chicago. The game resumes in 2 hours, 45 minutes, but approximately an hour later more thunder and lightning and another 39-minute stoppage cause the contest to be called in the bottom of the eighth, with Houston credited with a 2-0 rain-shortened victory.

During a Brewers’ 6-3 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park, first baseman Prince Fielder confronts starting pitcher Manny Parra in the dugout, shoving the hurler twice after an angry exchange of words. The Milwaukee hurler had taken a no-hitter into the fifth, but gave up six runs on four hits and four walks before leaving the game for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning.

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During a Brewers’ 6-3 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park, first baseman Prince Fielder confronts starting pitcher Manny Parra in the dugout, shoving the hurler twice after an angry exchange of words. The Milwaukee hurler had taken a no-hitter into the fifth, but gave up six runs on four hits and four walks before leaving the game for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning.

Right before the trading deadline, several major deals go through. The White Sox acquire Ken Griffey Jr., 6th all-time on the home run leaderboard with 608, from the Reds in exchange for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar. Less than a minute before the deadline, a three-way trade involves another 500-homer man. Manny Ramirez gets sent by the Red Sox to the Dodgers along with $7 million. The Red Sox pick up All-Star LF Jason Bay from the Pirates. Pittsburgh, in turn, gets 3B Andy LaRoche and P Bryan Morris from Los Angeles and OF Brandon Moss and P Craig Hansen from Boston. Andy LaRoche joins brother Adam LaRoche in the Pirates infield.

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Right before the trading deadline, several major deals go through. The White Sox acquire Ken Griffey Jr., 6th all-time on the home run leaderboard with 608, from the Reds in exchange for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar. Less than a minute before the deadline, a three-way trade involves another 500-homer man. Manny Ramirez gets sent by the Red Sox to the Dodgers along with $7 million. The Red Sox pick up All-Star LF Jason Bay from the Pirates. Pittsburgh, in turn, gets 3B Andy LaRoche and P Bryan Morris from Los Angeles and OF Brandon Moss and P Craig Hansen from Boston. Andy LaRoche joins brother Adam LaRoche in the Pirates infield.

At Yankee Stadium, a trio of Angels hit three-run home runs as the team blasts the Bronx Bombers, 12-6. The homers, all hit by LA’s outfielders, Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero, and Juan Rivera, account for nine of the dozen runs scored as the club improves its record to 68-40, the best in baseball.

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At Yankee Stadium, a trio of Angels hit three-run home runs as the team blasts the Bronx Bombers, 12-6. The homers, all hit by LA’s outfielders, Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero, and Juan Rivera, account for nine of the dozen runs scored as the club improves its record to 68-40, the best in baseball.

In a surprise trading-deadline deal, the Reds send future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. to the White Sox in exchange for right-hander Nick Masset and minor league infield prospect Danny Richar. The All-Star outfielder, who had to approve the move to Chicago, is completing his final season of a nine-year contract and didn’t expect Cincinnati to pick up the $16.5 million club option for 2009.

ByBaseball

In a surprise trading-deadline deal, the Reds send future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. to the White Sox in exchange for right-hander Nick Masset and minor league infield prospect Danny Richar. The All-Star outfielder, who had to approve the move to Chicago, is completing his final season of a nine-year contract and didn’t expect Cincinnati to pick up the $16.5 million club option for 2009.

In a three-team swap, Boston finally accomplishes the much-anticipated departure of Manny Ramirez from Beantown, trading the unhappy outfielder to the Dodgers. Former Pirates player Jason Bay will now roam left field for the Red Sox, with Pittsburgh receiving outfielder Brandon Moss and pitcher Craig Hansen from Boston as well as getting third baseman Andy LaRoche and right-hander Bryan Morris from Los Angeles to complete the last-minute trading deadline deal.

ByBaseball

In a three-team swap, Boston finally accomplishes the much-anticipated departure of Manny Ramirez from Beantown, trading the unhappy outfielder to the Dodgers. Former Pirates player Jason Bay will now roam left field for the Red Sox, with Pittsburgh receiving outfielder Brandon Moss and pitcher Craig Hansen from Boston as well as getting third baseman Andy LaRoche and right-hander Bryan Morris from Los Angeles to complete the last-minute trading deadline deal.