In the Twins’ 4 – 3 loss to Tampa Bay‚ Minnesota 1B Doug Mientkiewicz makes all 3 putouts in the bottom of the 2nd without touching first base. The Devil Rays have Toby Hall on third base and Randy Winn on first with no outs in the inning when Aubrey Huff hits a weak grounder to Mientkiewicz. The first sacker crosses the diamond to chase Hall back to third, then tags out Winn who had run all the way around from first. Mientkiewicz then catches Hall wandering off the base to complete an unassisted double play. The next Rays’ batter‚ Jared Sandberg‚ hits a towering foul pop-up that Mientkiewicz catches for the third out.

The Cubs claim Miguel Cairo and Gary Matthews, Jr. off waivers by St. Louis and Pittsburgh respectively.

Colorado slams Cincinnati, 16 – 7, as newly-acquired rookie 2B Jose Ortiz strokes five hits, including a double and home run, and drives in four runs.

The Royals defeat the Tigers, 7 – 3, in a game marked by a 6th-inning brawl set off when Kansas City 1B Mike Sweeney charges Detroit P Jeff Weaver after Weaver calls him a profane name. Numerous punches are thrown as both benches and bullpens clear. After a 12-minute delay, the game resumes with Sweeney, KC coach Al Nipper, and Detroit coach Doug Mansolino ejected from the contest. Sweeney will be suspended 10 games for his actions, and Detroit catcher Robert Fick eight games. Five other players and four coaches will also be disciplined.

Yankees P Ted Lilly is suspended for six games for hitting Anaheim’s Scott Spiezio in the head with a pitch in a game last Sunday. New York manager Joe Torre rips into baseball’s dean of discipline, Frank Robinson, for the decision. Lilly was not thrown out of the game by the umpires when the incident occurred.

The Giants score a 6 – 4 victory over the Reds in a game marked by two milestone home runs. Ken Griffey, Jr. hits the 450th of his career, becoming the youngest player in history (by 15 days, over Jimmie Foxx) to reach that mark. He was also the youngest to hit 350 and 400. Barry Bonds hits his 49th of the season, becoming the fastest to ever reach that number.

The Rockies defeat the Cubs, 14 – 5, despite three successive home runs by Sammy Sosa. Winning pitcher Mike Hampton ties the National League record for home runs in a season by a pitcher by hitting his 7th. The major-league record is 9.

Mike Hampton ties the National League record for pitchers with his seventh homer when he goes deep off Felix Heredia in the Rockies’ 14-5 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Colorado southpaw equals the mark established by Dodger hurlers Don Drysdale (1958, 1965) and Don Newcombe (1955), and two shy of the major league standard set by Wes Ferrell, playing for the Indians in 1931.

Tigers P Nate Cornejo makes his major league debut against Rangers P Joaquin Benoit. It is the first time since August 21‚ 1990‚ that both starting pitchers are making their big league debuts. The Tigers tie a modern record by scoring 13 runs in the 9th inning to snap a 6 – 6 tie and roll‚ 19 – 6. Damion Easley gets 6 hits‚ including 2 in the 9th‚ to tie an American League and team record‚ last done by Ty Cobb. The winning pitcher is former Ranger Danny Patterson‚ who faces one batter in the 8th.

With 50‚863 on hand at Oakland‚ the A’s down the Red Sox‚ 6 – 1, behind the pitching of Tim Hudson. Carl Everett’s home run accounts for the only Bosox score‚ while Jason Giambi homers for Oakland. Johnny Damon hits a double the hard way when his drive down the RF line lands in a beer cup. Trot Nixon is the right fielder.