The day after dropping a doubleheader to the Phillies, the Brewers fire Ned Yost (457-502), ending the manager’s six-year tenure which saw Milwaukee develop from cellar dwellers into a contender in the National League Central Division. New skipper Dale Sveum, formerly the team’s third base coach, will try to stop the recent skid of 11 losses in 14 games and keep the 83-67 club in contention for the wild card.

The day after dropping a doubleheader to the Phillies, the Brewers fire Ned Yost (457-502), ending the manager’s six-year tenure which saw Milwaukee develop from cellar dwellers into a contender in the National League Central Division. New skipper Dale Sveum, formerly the team’s third base coach, will try to stop the recent skid of 11 losses in 14 games and keep the 83-67 club in contention for the wild card.

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, with his eighth-inning thievery in a 7-4 loss to the Braves at Shea Stadium, becomes the first player to have four straight seasons of 50 or more stolen bases playing for a New York area team, which also includes Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants. The accomplishment extends the infielder’s own record, as he is also the only Gotham major leaguer to achieve the feat for three consecutive years.

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, with his eighth-inning thievery in a 7-4 loss to the Braves at Shea Stadium, becomes the first player to have four straight seasons of 50 or more stolen bases playing for a New York area team, which also includes Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants. The accomplishment extends the infielder’s own record, as he is also the only Gotham major leaguer to achieve the feat for three consecutive years.

Carlos Zambrano becomes the first Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Milt Pappas accomplished the feat against the Padres in 1972. The Chicago right-hander’s 5-0 hitless gem comes at the expense of the displaced Astros, who are playing a relocated ‘home game’ in Milwaukee’s Miller Park as a result of Hurricane Ike.

Carlos Zambrano becomes the first Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Milt Pappas accomplished the feat against the Padres in 1972. The Chicago right-hander’s 5-0 hitless gem comes at the expense of the displaced Astros, who are playing a relocated ‘home game’ in Milwaukee’s Miller Park as a result of Hurricane Ike.

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2008 – Hurricane Ike, a massive Category 2 storm, crashes into Galveston Island doing damage throughout the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts. Minute Maid Park survives with little damage but Houston fans learn that a key three-game series with the Cubs delayed by Ike will be moved to Milwaukee. The Astros have crept within 2-1/2 games of the Brewers in the wild card race after winning 14 of their last 15 before the weather disaster but lose five straight when forced to hit the road. Ultimately, they finish third in the Central Division with an 86-75 record. 

2008 – Hurricane Ike, a massive Category 2 storm, crashes into Galveston Island doing damage throughout the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts. Minute Maid Park survives with little damage but Houston fans learn that a key three-game series with the Cubs delayed by Ike will be moved to Milwaukee. The Astros have crept within 2-1/2 games of the Brewers in the wild card race after winning 14 of their last 15 before the weather disaster but lose five straight when forced to hit the road. Ultimately, they finish third in the Central Division with an 86-75 record. 

Francisco Rodriguez, striking out Raul Ibanez on a 3-2 changeup in the Angels’ 5-2 victory over the Mariners, earns his 58th save to break the single-season record. K-Rod surpasses the mark established in 1990 by White Sox closer Bobby Thigpen.

Francisco Rodriguez, striking out Raul Ibanez on a 3-2 changeup in the Angels’ 5-2 victory over the Mariners, earns his 58th save to break the single-season record. K-Rod surpasses the mark established in 1990 by White Sox closer Bobby Thigpen.

The Marlins become only the second major league team to have three infielders hit 30 home runs in the same season when Hanley Ramirez goes deep in Florida’s 4-2 victory over the Nationals at Dolphin Stadium. The Florida shortstop joins teammates first baseman Mike Jacobs and second baseman Dan Uggla to match the feat accomplished in 2001 by A’s infielders Jason Giambi, Eric Chavez, and Miguel Tejada.

The Marlins become only the second major league team to have three infielders hit 30 home runs in the same season when Hanley Ramirez goes deep in Florida’s 4-2 victory over the Nationals at Dolphin Stadium. The Florida shortstop joins teammates first baseman Mike Jacobs and second baseman Dan Uggla to match the feat accomplished in 2001 by A’s infielders Jason Giambi, Eric Chavez, and Miguel Tejada.

In the 2-1 victory over the Nationals, Jorge Cantu goes deep in the fourth inning, making the Marlins the first team in big league history to have four infielders hit 25 home runs in the same season. The Florida third baseman joins first baseman Mike Jacobs (32), second baseman Dan Uggla (30), and shortstop Hanley Ramirez (29) in accounting for 116 of the Fish’s 188 big flies this year.

In the 2-1 victory over the Nationals, Jorge Cantu goes deep in the fourth inning, making the Marlins the first team in big league history to have four infielders hit 25 home runs in the same season. The Florida third baseman joins first baseman Mike Jacobs (32), second baseman Dan Uggla (30), and shortstop Hanley Ramirez (29) in accounting for 116 of the Fish’s 188 big flies this year.

With his sixth-inning double in the 3-2 loss to the Cubs, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols becomes only the third player in history to drive in 100 runs during his first eight major league seasons. The two other big leaguers to reach the plateau are Red sox outfielder Ted Williams, who also accomplished the feat for eight seasons from 1939-42, 46-49, and starting in 1924, fly-chaser Al Simmons did it for 11 years playing for the A’s (9) and the White Sox (2) .

With his sixth-inning double in the 3-2 loss to the Cubs, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols becomes only the third player in history to drive in 100 runs during his first eight major league seasons. The two other big leaguers to reach the plateau are Red sox outfielder Ted Williams, who also accomplished the feat for eight seasons from 1939-42, 46-49, and starting in 1924, fly-chaser Al Simmons did it for 11 years playing for the A’s (9) and the White Sox (2) .

Jack Cust whiffs in his first two plate appearances and K’s again in the eighth inning to bring his strikeout total this season to 176. The A’s outfielder/DH breaks the franchise record previously held by Jose Canseco, who fanned 175 times in 1986.

Jack Cust whiffs in his first two plate appearances and K’s again in the eighth inning to bring his strikeout total this season to 176. The A’s outfielder/DH breaks the franchise record previously held by Jose Canseco, who fanned 175 times in 1986.

Junichi Tazawa, expected to be a first-round pick in the Nippon Pro Baseball amateur draft, announces that he does not want to be selected so he can sign with a Major League Baseball club. Tazawa was named MVP of the 2008 industrial league tournament and pitched for Japan in the 2007 Baseball World Cup. He will sign with the Boston Red Sox and make his major league debut in 2009.

Junichi Tazawa, expected to be a first-round pick in the Nippon Pro Baseball amateur draft, announces that he does not want to be selected so he can sign with a Major League Baseball club. Tazawa was named MVP of the 2008 industrial league tournament and pitched for Japan in the 2007 Baseball World Cup. He will sign with the Boston Red Sox and make his major league debut in 2009.