Matt Garza pitches six perfect innings before giving up a weakly-hit single up the middle to Jacoby Ellsbury to lead off the 7th, Boston’s only hit in a 13 – 0 loss. Michel Hernandez goes 4 for 5 with his first major league home run for the Rays. Things get so bad for the Sox that with one out in the 8th, manager Terry Francona calls right-fielder Jonathan Van Every to the mound to spell struggling reliever Javier Lopez, who finishes the game in the outfield.

ByTom

Matt Garza pitches six perfect innings before giving up a weakly-hit single up the middle to Jacoby Ellsbury to lead off the 7th, Boston’s only hit in a 13 – 0 loss. Michel Hernandez goes 4 for 5 with his first major league home run for the Rays. Things get so bad for the Sox that with one out in the 8th, manager Terry Francona calls right-fielder Jonathan Van Every to the mound to spell struggling reliever Javier Lopez, who finishes the game in the outfield.

Yovani Gallardo does it all by himself in Milwaukee’s 1 – 0 win over Pittsburgh

Yovani Gallardo does it all by himself in Milwaukee’s 1 – 0 win over Pittsburgh

ByBaseball

Yovani Gallardo does it all by himself in Milwaukee’s 1 – 0 win over Pittsburgh. He shuts out the Pirates on two hits, strikes out 11, and hits a solo home run in the 7th for the game’s lone run. He is 26th pitcher in major league history to win a 1 – 0 shutout while contributing a solo homer for the offense, and the third to do so while striking out 10 or more batters, following Red Ruffing and Early Wynn.

In Kansas City’s 11-3 victory over Toronto at Kauffman Stadium, Vernon Wells’ first inning two-out RBI single ends Zack Greinke’s streak of not allowing an earned run at 43 consecutive innings. The Royals right-hander, who improves his record to 5-0, had not given up an earned run in his last six starts, dating back to September 13th of last season.

ByTom

In Kansas City’s 11-3 victory over Toronto at Kauffman Stadium, Vernon Wells’ first inning two-out RBI single ends Zack Greinke’s streak of not allowing an earned run at 43 consecutive innings. The Royals right-hander, who improves his record to 5-0, had not given up an earned run in his last six starts, dating back to September 13th of last season.

With a double off Philadelphia’s Brett Myers, Ryan Zimmerman breaks his own Nationals team record by extending his hitting streak to 18 games. The Washington third baseman established the previous mark of 17 in 2006.

ByTom

With a double off Philadelphia’s Brett Myers, Ryan Zimmerman breaks his own Nationals team record by extending his hitting streak to 18 games. The Washington third baseman established the previous mark of 17 in 2006.

Trevor Hoffman collects his 555th save, his first save for the Brewers

ByTom

2009 – Trevor Hoffman adds another save to his all-time leading total when he picks up number 555 in pitching a scoreless 9th inning in Milwaukee’s 6 – 5 win over Pittsburgh. It is the Brewers’ 14th straight win over Pittsburgh, dating back to 2007. This is Hoffman’s first save for the Brewers; he picked up two as a rookie for the Florida Marlins in 1993, and the 552 others came with the San Diego Padres.

Rookie Dexter Fowler steals five bases against San Diego to lead the Rockies to a 12 – 7 victory. The Rocks steal eight bases overall against the battery of Chris Young and Nick Hundley. As part of the madness on the base paths, Brad Hawpe is hit in the head by catcher Hundley’s pick-off attempt at second base and is knocked out of the game. Fowler ties the post-1900 rookie record for steals in a game.

ByTom

Rookie Dexter Fowler steals five bases against San Diego to lead the Rockies to a 12 – 7 victory. The Rocks steal eight bases overall against the battery of Chris Young and Nick Hundley. As part of the madness on the base paths, Brad Hawpe is hit in the head by catcher Hundley’s pick-off attempt at second base and is knocked out of the game. Fowler ties the post-1900 rookie record for steals in a game.

West Virginia State’s Bo Darby homers in his first four plate appearances against Salem International, giving him round-trippers in five consecutive at-bats over two games, including the home run in his final at-bat two days ago against the University of Charleston. The Yellow Jackets’ sophomore outfielder will go deep twice more in the second game of the twin bill to finish the day with six four-baggers along with 14 RBIs.

ByTom

West Virginia State’s Bo Darby homers in his first four plate appearances against Salem International, giving him round-trippers in five consecutive at-bats over two games, including the home run in his final at-bat two days ago against the University of Charleston. The Yellow Jackets’ sophomore outfielder will go deep twice more in the second game of the twin bill to finish the day with six four-baggers along with 14 RBIs.

Raul Ibanez hits a grand slam off Joel Hanrahan in the 8th inning to lead Philadelphia to a 13 – 11 win over Washington. Ibanez’s blast follows another grand slam by Ryan Howard off Shairon Martis in the 5th. The Nationals are up 6 – 2 and 11 – 7, but cough up the lead twice, negating a five-home run performance by their hitters.

ByTom

Raul Ibanez hits a grand slam off Joel Hanrahan in the 8th inning to lead Philadelphia to a 13 – 11 win over Washington. Ibanez’s blast follows another grand slam by Ryan Howard off Shairon Martis in the 5th. The Nationals are up 6 – 2 and 11 – 7, but cough up the lead twice, negating a five-home run performance by their hitters.

Boston completes a three-game sweep with a 4 – 1 victory over the Yankees, Boston’s 10th consecutive victory. Jacoby Ellsbury pulls off a straight steal of home against Andy Pettitte in the 5th inning in the game’s key play. Justin Masterson has now won both of his starts in place of the injured Daisuke Matsuzaka.

ByTom

Boston completes a three-game sweep with a 4 – 1 victory over the Yankees, Boston’s 10th consecutive victory. Jacoby Ellsbury pulls off a straight steal of home against Andy Pettitte in the 5th inning in the game’s key play. Justin Masterson has now won both of his starts in place of the injured Daisuke Matsuzaka.

In St. Louis, birthday boy Kosuke Fukudome of the Cubs homers and drives in five runs in Chicago’s 10 – 3 win over St. Louis. The Japanese right fielder, who lost his starting job late in 2008 because of a prolonged hitting slump, is now batting .371 on the year.

ByTom

In St. Louis, birthday boy Kosuke Fukudome of the Cubs homers and drives in five runs in Chicago’s 10 – 3 win over St. Louis. The Japanese right fielder, who lost his starting job late in 2008 because of a prolonged hitting slump, is now batting .371 on the year.