At Three Rivers Stadium, Kevin Young’s two-run pinch double gives the Pittsburgh Pirates the lead and Al Martin finishes a nine-run 8th inning with a grand slam as the surprising first-place Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies, 15 – 10. Colorado pitching gives up 13 walks and blows leads of 6 – 3, 7 – 5 and 9 – 6.

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At Three Rivers Stadium, Kevin Young’s two-run pinch double gives the Pittsburgh Pirates the lead and Al Martin finishes a nine-run 8th inning with a grand slam as the surprising first-place Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies, 15 – 10. Colorado pitching gives up 13 walks and blows leads of 6 – 3, 7 – 5 and 9 – 6.

A streak of 19 straight steals by Twins baserunners is stopped when Denny Hocking is caught stealing. The Twins fall to the Blue Jays, 6 – 4.

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A streak of 19 straight steals by Twins baserunners is stopped when Denny Hocking is caught stealing. The Twins fall to the Blue Jays, 6 – 4.

After missing April due to a hand injury, Juan Gonzalez shows his old clout, hitting a grand slam and knocking in six runs in the Rangers’ 11 – 5 win over the Red Sox.

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After missing April due to a hand injury, Juan Gonzalez shows his old clout, hitting a grand slam and knocking in six runs in the Rangers’ 11 – 5 win over the Red Sox.

Prior to the team’s game with Atlanta, Pirates players stand inside the stadium gates to shake hands and pose for pictures. They then proceed to beat the Braves, 9 – 0.

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Prior to the team’s game with Atlanta, Pirates players stand inside the stadium gates to shake hands and pose for pictures. They then proceed to beat the Braves, 9 – 0.

Against the Royals in the 6th inning, the Yankees catch Jay Bell in a rundown when Bell is suddenly called out by umpire Dale Ford, who thinks he passed the preceding baserunner, Jose Offerman. Offerman, however, had been forced out at third base. Royals’ manager Bob Boone argues until the umps agree and put runners back at second and third and call for a resumption of play. Chili Davis then lines a two-run single off Kenny Rogers to tie the score. The Royals win, 7 – 5, in 12 innings, with the victory going to Randy Veres. The Yanks protest that the rundown play should not have been reversed. Gene Budig will dismiss the protest, stating that with the rundown there were several scenarios where Bell could have escaped a tag.

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Against the Royals in the 6th inning, the Yankees catch Jay Bell in a rundown when Bell is suddenly called out by umpire Dale Ford, who thinks he passed the preceding baserunner, Jose Offerman. Offerman, however, had been forced out at third base. Royals’ manager Bob Boone argues until the umps agree and put runners back at second and third and call for a resumption of play. Chili Davis then lines a two-run single off Kenny Rogers to tie the score. The Royals win, 7 – 5, in 12 innings, with the victory going to Randy Veres. The Yanks protest that the rundown play should not have been reversed. Gene Budig will dismiss the protest, stating that with the rundown there were several scenarios where Bell could have escaped a tag.

Jason Kendall’s three-run double leads Pittsburgh to an 8-run 4th inning as the Pirates outslug the Rockies, 10 – 8. Al Martin and Kevin Elster homer for the Bucs, who have scored 24 runs on 31 hits in their two games at Coors Field.

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Jason Kendall’s three-run double leads Pittsburgh to an 8-run 4th inning as the Pirates outslug the Rockies, 10 – 8. Al Martin and Kevin Elster homer for the Bucs, who have scored 24 runs on 31 hits in their two games at Coors Field.

In Baltimore, the O’s stop Randy Johnson’s 16-game win streak with a decisive 13 – 3 pasting of the Mariners. Baltimore is led by Chris Hoiles, who collects six RBIs on two homers and a double. Johnson strikes out 10 in six innings, but gives up five runs on six hits and two walks as he attempts to become the first American League pitcher since Dave McNally (1968-1969) to win 17 straight.

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In Baltimore, the O’s stop Randy Johnson’s 16-game win streak with a decisive 13 – 3 pasting of the Mariners. Baltimore is led by Chris Hoiles, who collects six RBIs on two homers and a double. Johnson strikes out 10 in six innings, but gives up five runs on six hits and two walks as he attempts to become the first American League pitcher since Dave McNally (1968-1969) to win 17 straight.

After four months of on-and-off negotiations, the New York Yankees acquire the rights to Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu from the San Diego Padres for $3 million. Irabu’s team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, gave the Padres exclusive rights to the 27-year-old righthander, but Irabu refused to sign with them, saying he would only go to the Yankees.

ByBaseball

After four months of on-and-off negotiations, the New York Yankees acquire the rights to Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu from the San Diego Padres for $3 million. Irabu’s team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, gave the Padres exclusive rights to the 27-year-old righthander, but Irabu refused to sign with them, saying he would only go to the Yankees.