In honor of first baseman Jim Thome’s birthday, the Indians begin pulling up their socks to just below the knees. The Tribe will win 17 of 27 games en route to clinching the American League Central flag while sporting this new look.

The White Sox trade OF Darren Lewis to the Dodgers in exchange for a player to be named.

1997 – The Yankees pound out 22 hits in an 18 – 2 win over Oakland. Joe Girardi and Rey Sanchez lead the way with four hits apiece.

1997 – For the second day in a row, Rangers LF Rusty Greer hits a pair of home runs and posts six ribbies, doing so in today’s 13 – 8 win over Chicago.

The Tigers pound the Brewers, 16 – 1, with the aid of 23 hits and an 11-run 7th inning. Bobby Higginson gets five hits for Detroit, while Travis Fryman and Tony Clark drive in four runs apiece.

In another slugfest, the Rangers score a 17 – 8 victory over the White Sox. Both starting left fielders (Rusty Greer and Albert Belle) hit two homers and drive in six runs for their team.

The Twins trade OF Roberto Kelly to the Mariners for a player to be named.

The Red Sox sweep two from the A’s, winning 7 – 5 and 5 – 4 in 13 innings. In the nitecap the A’s collect one hit in the last 10 innings against five Sox pitchers. Nomar Garciaparra has hits in both games to set an American League rookie record of 22 straight games.

It’s an easy day at the office for the Reds as they record no assists in a 5 – 3 loss to the Rockies (14 flies, 12 Ks and one unassisted grounder). This has happened just once before in the National League, by the Metsagainst the Phillies on June 25, 1989.

The Rangers defeat the Brewers, 2 – 0, behind a combined one-hitter by Rick Helling (8 innings) and John Wetteland (1 inning). Fernando Vina’s single is Milwaukee’s only hit.