2009 – Mark Buehrle of the White Sox pitches the 18th perfect game in major league history in shutting down the Rays, 5 – 0. Dewayne Wise, inserted as a defensive substitute in the 9th, saves the gem by reaching over the left-center field fence to deprive Gabe Kapler of a home run. It is the second career no-hitter for Buehrle, who threw one on April 18, 2007. After the game, he receives a congratulatory phone call from President Barack Obama, a staunch White Sox fan.

Boston is in a dealing mode today. They first acquire 1B Adam LaRoche from Pittsburgh for two minor leaguers, then send SS Julio Lugo, who was designated for assignment on July 17th, to St. Louis for OF Chris Duncan, who heads to AAA Pawtucket. The Sox are in the midst of a five-game losing streak and fall two games back of the Yankees with a 3 – 1 loss to Texas. Dustin Nippert, making an emergency start for the flu-ridden Vicente Padilla, and Doug Mathis, who earns his first career save, combine their efforts for the Rangers’ win.

Out of the starting lineup with a bruised hand suffered when he was hit by a pitch yesterday, Manny Ramirez comes in as a pinch hitter in the 6th and blasts the first pinch grand slam of his career in a 6 – 2 Dodgers win over the Reds.

2009 – Sergio Mitre earns his first win since 2007 as the Yankees beat Baltimore, 6 – 4. Mitre underwent Tommy John surgery in 2008, then was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a banned substance; he allows 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings in his first start after being called up from AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace the injured Chien-Ming Wang. A two-run homer by Robinson Cano off Rich Hill and a two-run single by Alex Rodriguez are the big blows for the Bronx Bombers. Combined with Boston’s 4 – 2 loss at Texas, the win gives the Yankees sole possession of first place in the AL East for the first time this season.

The Pirates, with an 8-5 win over Milwaukee at PNC Park, snapping their 17-game losing streak against the Brewers, the longest skid against a single opponent in 39 years. During the 1969-70 seasons, the Royals dropped 23 decisions to the Orioles to establish the major league mark.

After trailing 12-2, Oakland comes back to beat the Twins, 14-13, making it the first time the A’s have come back from a ten-run deficit since being down by twelve runs in 1925, when the team, then known as the Philadelphia Athletics, beat the Indians, 17-15. The 3 hours, 32 minutes slugfest ends with Michael Cuddyer being called out at home plate on a very controversial call after trying to score on a wild pitch.

Matt Holliday drives in 6 runs to propel the A’s to a 14 – 13 comeback win over Minnesota, the biggest in team history. Oakland trails by 10 runs at one point, but Holliday’s grand slam in the 7th ties the score; Jack Custfollows with a solo blast that provides the winning margin. Justin Morneau drives in 7 runs for the losers, including a grand slam of his own, in a wild game that features 8 homers and ends when Michael Cuddyer is thrown out at home trying to score on Michael Wuertz’s wild pitch. The A’s become the first team in 55 years to win after their starter (in this case Gio Gonzalez) gives up 11 earned runs.

Jason Schmidt makes his first start since 2007 for Los Angeles, only his 7th since signing a three-year, $47 million contract in December 2006. Back from two shoulder surgeries, Schmidt allows three 1st-inning runs but nothing else over the next four frames to take credit for a 7 – 5 win over the Reds.

With trade rumors continuing to swirl around his name, All-Star Game starter Roy Halladay wins for the first time in over a month as Toronto defeats Boston, 3 – 1. Doc is now 11-3 for the year.