At Busch Stadium, Prince Fielder outslugs Rangers’ outfielder Nelson Cruz in the final round, 6-5, to win the All-Star Home Run Derby. The Brewer first baseman’s power surge included a stunning shot estimated to have traveled over 500 feet.

ByTom

At Busch Stadium, Prince Fielder outslugs Rangers’ outfielder Nelson Cruz in the final round, 6-5, to win the All-Star Home Run Derby. The Brewer first baseman’s power surge included a stunning shot estimated to have traveled over 500 feet.

The Cubs and Cardinals split a day/night doubleheader at Wrigley Field. Chicago wins the opener, 7 – 3, on home runs by Micah Hoffpauir and P Carlos Zambrano, and the Cards take the nightcap, 4 – 2. Ryan Ludwick hits two two-run home runs to account for all of St. Louis’s runs; Adam Wainwright picks up his 10th win and Ryan Franklin strikes out the side in the 9th for his 21st save. As a result, the first four teams in the NL Central are within 3 1/2 games of each other heading into the All-Star break.

ByBaseball

The Cubs and Cardinals split a day/night doubleheader at Wrigley Field. Chicago wins the opener, 7 – 3, on home runs by Micah Hoffpauir and P Carlos Zambrano, and the Cards take the nightcap, 4 – 2. Ryan Ludwick hits two two-run home runs to account for all of St. Louis’s runs; Adam Wainwright picks up his 10th win and Ryan Franklin strikes out the side in the 9th for his 21st save. As a result, the first four teams in the NL Central are within 3 1/2 games of each other heading into the All-Star break.

The Red Sox dedicate the center-field flagpole to Dom DiMaggio by raising a banner just below the stars and stripes with the former center fielder’s name on it. After the ceremony, his widow, Emily, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the Fenway Park contest against Kansas City.

ByTom

The Red Sox dedicate the center-field flagpole to Dom DiMaggio by raising a banner just below the stars and stripes with the former center fielder’s name on it. After the ceremony, his widow, Emily, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the Fenway Park contest against Kansas City.

Washington has its best offensive game since relocating from Montreal in 2005 in beating Houston, 13 – 2. The Nats collect 21 hits – the most for them since the move – and Nick Johnson, Josh Willingham and Adam Dunn homer in consecutive at bats in the 6th, also a first. Craig Stammen pitches a complete game for the win.

ByBaseball

Washington has its best offensive game since relocating from Montreal in 2005 in beating Houston, 13 – 2. The Nats collect 21 hits – the most for them since the move – and Nick Johnson, Josh Willingham and Adam Dunn homer in consecutive at bats in the 6th, also a first. Craig Stammen pitches a complete game for the win.

The Yankees hit a season-high 5 home runs in Los Angeles, including two by Alex Rodriguez, but they still lose, 14 – 8, to the Angels, who have scored 24 runs in two games since their two most potent offensive weapons, Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter, hit the disabled list simultaneously on July 9th. Rodriguez moves past another steroid-tainted player, Rafael Palmeiro, for 10th on the all-time major league home run list.

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The Yankees hit a season-high 5 home runs in Los Angeles, including two by Alex Rodriguez, but they still lose, 14 – 8, to the Angels, who have scored 24 runs in two games since their two most potent offensive weapons, Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter, hit the disabled list simultaneously on July 9th. Rodriguez moves past another steroid-tainted player, Rafael Palmeiro, for 10th on the all-time major league home run list.

Jonathan Sanchez of the San Francisco Giants pitches the first major league no-hitter this season, blanking the San Diego Padres, 8 – 0. The Padres muster only one baserunner, on an error by 3B Juan Uribe.

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Jonathan Sanchez of the San Francisco Giants pitches the first major league no-hitter this season, blanking the San Diego Padres, 8 – 0. The Padres muster only one baserunner, on an error by 3B Juan Uribe.

There are 6 shutouts pitched today, including Sanchez’s gem. Dan Haren of the D-Backs, Jeff Niemann of the Rays and Bronson Arroyo of the Reds all pitch complete game shutouts, while Jon Lester pitches 8 scoreless innings in Boston’s 1 – 0 win over Kansas City and Brett Cecil of Toronto goes 6 in a blanking of the Orioles.

ByThis Day in Baseball

There are 6 shutouts pitched today, including Sanchez’s gem. Dan Haren of the D-Backs, Jeff Niemann of the Rays and Bronson Arroyo of the Reds all pitch complete game shutouts, while Jon Lester pitches 8 scoreless innings in Boston’s 1 – 0 win over Kansas City and Brett Cecil of Toronto goes 6 in a blanking of the Orioles.

The New York Mets deal Ryan Church to Atlanta for Jeff Francoeur in a trade of starting right fielders whose recent struggles have landed them on the bench.

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The New York Mets deal Ryan Church to Atlanta for Jeff Francoeur in a trade of starting right fielders whose recent struggles have landed them on the bench.

The Seattle Mariners deal shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and cash to the Kansas City Royals for pitchers Daniel Cortes and Derrick Saito.

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The Seattle Mariners deal shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and cash to the Kansas City Royals for pitchers Daniel Cortes and Derrick Saito.

The Marlins set two team records in their win over Arizona: down 7 – 0 entering the 8th inning, they score 10 runs, led by Brett Carroll’s pinch-hit three-run homer, on their way to a 14 – 7 victory. It is both the highest-scoring inning and biggest comeback in team history. For their part, the D-Backs suffer their biggest-ever blown lead. Three pinch-hitters get two at-bats apiece in the 8th (Carroll, Ross Gload and Hanley Ramirez).

ByBaseball

The Marlins set two team records in their win over Arizona: down 7 – 0 entering the 8th inning, they score 10 runs, led by Brett Carroll’s pinch-hit three-run homer, on their way to a 14 – 7 victory. It is both the highest-scoring inning and biggest comeback in team history. For their part, the D-Backs suffer their biggest-ever blown lead. Three pinch-hitters get two at-bats apiece in the 8th (Carroll, Ross Gload and Hanley Ramirez).