The Kansas City Royals have lost nine games in a row following a 4 – 1 defeat to the Chicago White Sox, their longest skid since their team-record 19-game losing streak late last year. The Royals are a major league-worst 2-11.

Detroit’s Chris Shelton and St. Louis’ Albert Pujols hit their major league-leading ninth home runs, joining Mike Schmidt (1976), Larry Walker (1997) and Luis Gonzalez (2001) as the only players in major league history with at least nine home runs in their team’s first 13 games. Pujols also ties a major league record by homering in four consecutive at-bats when he connects in the 1st inning in St. Louis’ 2 – 1 win at Pittsburgh.

Chris Shelton of the Detroit Tigers becomes the first player in American League history to hit eight home runs in his team’s first 12 games.

Albert Pujols belts three home runs, including a game-winning two-run blast, to power the St Louis Cardinals to an 8 – 7 decision over the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium.

Pedro Feliz honors three former major leaguers (including his own manager, Felipe Alou) when he drives in Barry Bonds, Moises Alou and Lance Niekro with a bases-clearing double off Jorge Sosa during the Giants’ six-run 3rd against the Braves. Feliz is the first major-leaguer in the last 49 years to drive in three sons of ex-major-leaguers on the same play. Further research reveals that it is only the 11th time since 1957 that three sons of big leaguers were on base at the same time. Doing some record-setting of their own in the 6 – 4 loss, Brave battery-mates Brian McCann (C) and Sosa (P) become only the 11th such duo to hit back-to-back homers in the majors when they go yard consecutively. It is the first major league hit and homer for Sosa, who will have two more hits, both homers, this year.

Devil Rays P Mark Hendrickson hurls a complete game three-hit shutout, defeating the Orioles, 2 – 0. It is the first complete game shutout for Tampa Bay since 2003. The streak of 349 consecutive games without a complete game shutout is second in American League history behind the 1994-1996 Milwaukee Brewers (386).

Sluggerrr, the Royals’ Mascot, celebrates his tenth birthday at Kauffman Stadium. In the offseason, the nearly seven-foot tall lion with a crown built into his skull, is very active in the Kansas City community, visiting local schools, encouraging youngsters to be good students and good citizens.

Kansas City voters approve a $250 million proposal to renovate Kauffman Stadium. The facelift of the 35 year-old home of the Royals will include the addition of dugout suites, new clubhouses, an exclusive restaurant, and the replacement of the orange seats throughout the stadium with new blue ones.