With the temperature at 100 degrees, Pedro Martinez fires a one-hit shutout to beat the Reds, 2 – 0. The Expos’ ace gives up a single to Bret Boone in the 5th for the only hit. Mike Lansing triples twice for the Expos before leaving in the 5th inning with exhaustion.

ByBaseball

With the temperature at 100 degrees, Pedro Martinez fires a one-hit shutout to beat the Reds, 2 – 0. The Expos’ ace gives up a single to Bret Boone in the 5th for the only hit. Mike Lansing triples twice for the Expos before leaving in the 5th inning with exhaustion.

Dennys Reyes, the first lefty in nearly five years to start a game for the Dodgers, throws six strong innings in beating the Giants, 9 – 3. The last lefty starter for Los Angeles was Bob Ojeda, on September 24, 1992, in a no-decision at Cincinnati.

ByBaseball

Dennys Reyes, the first lefty in nearly five years to start a game for the Dodgers, throws six strong innings in beating the Giants, 9 – 3. The last lefty starter for Los Angeles was Bob Ojeda, on September 24, 1992, in a no-decision at Cincinnati.

Seattle and Texas combine for a record 31 strikeouts in the Rangers’ 4 – 2 victory. Randy Johnson racks up 14 K’s in seven innings, and reliever Bobby Ayala adds 4, but gives up two runs in the 9th. The previous mark was 30 set by the Mariners and Athletics on April 30, 1986.

ByBaseball

Seattle and Texas combine for a record 31 strikeouts in the Rangers’ 4 – 2 victory. Randy Johnson racks up 14 K’s in seven innings, and reliever Bobby Ayala adds 4, but gives up two runs in the 9th. The previous mark was 30 set by the Mariners and Athletics on April 30, 1986.

In Pittsburgh’s first non-Opening Day sellout since 1977, a crowd of 44,119 sees Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon combine on a 10-inning no-hitter as the Pirates down the Astros, 3 – 0, on a 10th-inning pinch home run by Mark Smith. Cordova hurls the first nine innings while Rincon hurls the 10th and gets the win. The victory keeps the Pirates in a tie for 1st place with the Astros in the NL Central.

ByBaseball

In Pittsburgh’s first non-Opening Day sellout since 1977, a crowd of 44,119 sees Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon combine on a 10-inning no-hitter as the Pirates down the Astros, 3 – 0, on a 10th-inning pinch home run by Mark Smith. Cordova hurls the first nine innings while Rincon hurls the 10th and gets the win. The victory keeps the Pirates in a tie for 1st place with the Astros in the NL Central.

Baseball’s realignment committee discusses a variety of plans including one that would have as many as 14 teams changing divisions and leagues next year. Kansas City would switch to the National League, and baseball’s eight Pacific and Mountain time zone teams could be grouped together if the sport switches back from six divisions to four in 1998. With the addition of Arizona to the National League next season and Tampa Bay to the American League, baseball’s current plan calls for two 15-team leagues in 1998 with three divisions in each. The Major Leagues have till August 1st to present next year’s schedule to the players’ association.

ByBaseball

Baseball’s realignment committee discusses a variety of plans including one that would have as many as 14 teams changing divisions and leagues next year. Kansas City would switch to the National League, and baseball’s eight Pacific and Mountain time zone teams could be grouped together if the sport switches back from six divisions to four in 1998. With the addition of Arizona to the National League next season and Tampa Bay to the American League, baseball’s current plan calls for two 15-team leagues in 1998 with three divisions in each. The Major Leagues have till August 1st to present next year’s schedule to the players’ association.

The American League defeats the National by a score of 3 – 1 in the annual All-Star Game, played in Cleveland. Indians C Sandy Alomar Jr. hits a two-run home run and is named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Alomar is the first hometown player to homer since Hank Aaron in Atlanta in 1972.

ByBaseball

The American League defeats the National by a score of 3 – 1 in the annual All-Star Game, played in Cleveland. Indians C Sandy Alomar Jr. hits a two-run home run and is named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Alomar is the first hometown player to homer since Hank Aaron in Atlanta in 1972.

Roger Clemens becomes the American League’s first 13-game winner this season, pitching a four-hitter as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees, 2 – 0. Clemens has 10 strikeouts and one walk in his first shutout of the year. Ramiro Mendoza takes the loss.

ByBaseball

Roger Clemens becomes the American League’s first 13-game winner this season, pitching a four-hitter as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees, 2 – 0. Clemens has 10 strikeouts and one walk in his first shutout of the year. Ramiro Mendoza takes the loss.

In Detroit, the Tigers top the Orioles, 14 – 9, their 3rd straight win after 11 consecutive losses. Brian Johnson and Travis Fryman homer for the Tigers while teammate Bobby Higginson adds a two-run inside-the-park homer, his fifth round tripper this week. For Scott Erickson (11-4), it is the worst start of his career for Baltimore, allowing all 12 runs, 11 earned, and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings. Willie Blair (6-4) takes the win in relief. The O’s are led by Rafael Palmeiro’s homer, triple and single and homers by Geronimo Berroa, Jeff Reboulet and Tony Tarasco.

ByBaseball

In Detroit, the Tigers top the Orioles, 14 – 9, their 3rd straight win after 11 consecutive losses. Brian Johnson and Travis Fryman homer for the Tigers while teammate Bobby Higginson adds a two-run inside-the-park homer, his fifth round tripper this week. For Scott Erickson (11-4), it is the worst start of his career for Baltimore, allowing all 12 runs, 11 earned, and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings. Willie Blair (6-4) takes the win in relief. The O’s are led by Rafael Palmeiro’s homer, triple and single and homers by Geronimo Berroa, Jeff Reboulet and Tony Tarasco.