12,446 fans attend the Rays game during pennant race

ByThis Day in Baseball

With an opportunity to see their team clinch a postseason berth, only 12,446 fans attend the Rays game against Baltimore at Tropicana Field. The club, inspired by third baseman Evan Longoria’s criticism of the low attendance figures, will make 20,000 free tickets available in the finale of the series in an effort get more ‘energy’ into the domed ballpark. “It’s a tough situation for us. A lot of the visiting teams come in and wonder where are all the fans. It’s actually a little bit embarrassing for us. We’re one game away from clinching a postseason spot.” – EVAN LONGORIA,Rays third baseman commenting on team’s low attendance.

Roy Halladay, obtained in an off-season trade with Toronto, is the Phillies’ first 20-game winner since Steve Carlton reached the milestone 28 years ago, and he becomes the first right-hander to accomplish the feat for the club since Robin Roberts posted a 23-14 record in 1955. The 5-3 victory over Atlanta, Philadelphia’s ninth straight win that increases the team’s NL East lead to five games over the fading Braves, makes ‘Doc’ the 17th pitcher to accomplish the feat in both leagues, having compiled two 20-win seasons with the Blue Jays.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Roy Halladay, obtained in an off-season trade with Toronto, is the Phillies’ first 20-game winner since Steve Carlton reached the milestone 28 years ago, and he becomes the first right-hander to accomplish the feat for the club since Robin Roberts posted a 23-14 record in 1955. The 5-3 victory over Atlanta, Philadelphia’s ninth straight win that increases the team’s NL East lead to five games over the fading Braves, makes ‘Doc’ the 17th pitcher to accomplish the feat in both leagues, having compiled two 20-win seasons with the Blue Jays.

CC Sabathia becomes the major leagues’ first 20-game winner and it is the first time he reaches the magic number.

ByThis Day in Baseball

CC Sabathia becomes the major leagues’ first 20-game winner this year in the Yankees’ 11 – 3 pasting of the Orioles. Sabathia has twice before finished a season with 19 wins, but it is the first time he reaches the magic number. However, the Yankees fail to put some distance between themselves and Tampa Bay, as the Rays rally in the 9th to tie the game, then score the winning run on a throwing error as they defeat the Angels, 4 – 3, to remain a half-game behind the Bronx Bombers.

Derek Jeter, giving a performance worthy of an Oscar, is awarded first base when the umpires determine the New York shortstop was hit by a pitch thrown by Chad Qualls. Video replay of the at-bat, that clearly shows the fastball hit the knob of the bat, prompts a national debate about the ethics demonstrated by the usually squeaky-clean Yankees captain, who admitted after the 4-3 loss to Tampa that he pretended to get hit by the pitch to get on base.

Derek Jeter, giving a performance worthy of an Oscar, is awarded first base when the umpires determine the New York shortstop was hit by a pitch thrown by Chad Qualls. Video replay of the at-bat, that clearly shows the fastball hit the knob of the bat, prompts a national debate about the ethics demonstrated by the usually squeaky-clean Yankees captain, who admitted after the 4-3 loss to Tampa that he pretended to get hit by the pitch to get on base.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Derek Jeter, giving a performance worthy of an Oscar, is awarded first base when the umpires determine the New York shortstop was hit by a pitch thrown by Chad Qualls. Video replay of the at-bat, that clearly shows the fastball hit the knob of the bat, prompts a national debate about the ethics demonstrated by the usually squeaky-clean Yankees captain, who admitted after the 4-3 loss to Tampa that he pretended to get hit by the pitch to get on base.

Tim Wakefield becomes the oldest player to win a game for the Red Sox since 1920, when the 44 year-old starter goes five innings in Boston’s 11-5 victory over Tampa Bay at Fenway Park. In 1998, Dennis Eckersley, at the age of 43 years and 349 days old, was credited with the win after getting two outs in relief in a game against Baltimore.

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Tim Wakefield becomes the oldest player to win a game for the Red Sox since 1920, when the 44 year-old starter goes five innings in Boston’s 11-5 victory over Tampa Bay at Fenway Park. In 1998, Dennis Eckersley, at the age of 43 years and 349 days old, was credited with the win after getting two outs in relief in a game against Baltimore.

At Petco Park, Padres’ starter Mat Latos establishes a major league record when he limits L.A. to one run over seven innings. The 22 year-old right-hander has a string of 15 straight starts of five or more innings of allowing two or fewer runs, breaking the mark shared by Greg Maddux (1993-94) and Mike Scott (1986).

ByThis Day in Baseball

At Petco Park, Padres’ starter Mat Latos establishes a major league record when he limits L.A. to one run over seven innings. The 22 year-old right-hander has a string of 15 straight starts of five or more innings of allowing two or fewer runs, breaking the mark shared by Greg Maddux (1993-94) and Mike Scott (1986).

Sixty-three year-old Bill Lee allows only two runs and five hits in 5.1 innings in his start for Brockton against Worcester in a Can-Am League contest played at Campanelli Stadium. In his first game in pro ball since being released by the Expos in 1982, the former Red Sox southpaw, known as the Spaceman, becomes the oldest pitcher to earn a victory in professional baseball when the Rox beat Tornadoes, 7-3.

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Sixty-three year-old Bill Lee allows only two runs and five hits in 5.1 innings in his start for Brockton against Worcester in a Can-Am League contest played at Campanelli Stadium. In his first game in pro ball since being released by the Expos in 1982, the former Red Sox southpaw, known as the Spaceman, becomes the oldest pitcher to earn a victory in professional baseball when the Rox beat Tornadoes, 7-3.

Bill Mazeroski looks on as four of his Pirates teammates unveil a 14-foot, 2,000-pound statue commemorating his walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. The work includes an actual section of the left-center field wall, which the second baseman homered over at the 406 mark off Yankee hurler Ralph Terry in the Pirates’ 10-9 victory.

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Bill Mazeroski looks on as four of his Pirates teammates unveil a 14-foot, 2,000-pound statue commemorating his walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. The work includes an actual section of the left-center field wall, which the second baseman homered over at the 406 mark off Yankee hurler Ralph Terry in the Pirates’ 10-9 victory.

The Nationals announce Rob Dibble is terminated for comments about Stephen Strasburg

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The Nationals announce Rob Dibble will no longer be employed as a TV analyst for the team’s games on MASN, the network that telecasts the Washington games. The former major league reliever, as a host on a Sirius XM Radio show, severely chastises Stephen Strasburg for not pitching through pain, before the rookie phenom is diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament. “This is the major leagues. This is not college any more. You’re not on scholarship. You’re being paid to do the job and guys depend on you, and I think it’s unfortunate that the Nationals and the team are in a situation here where this kid now, he feels any kind of arm pain, he’s gonna call you out?… You give these guys (today’s players) $15 million bucks, please. Get your butt out there and play every fifth day.” – ROB DIBBLE, comments as a Sirius XM Radio show host