Major League Baseball Season Recap 2010

Major League Season Recap 2010

World Series – San Francisco Giants NL over Texas Rangers AL 4 games to 1

World Series MVP – Edgar Renteria
Babe Ruth Award – Tim Lincecum

Championship Series
ALCS Texas Rangers over New York Yankees 4 games to 2 ALCS MVP – Josh Hamilton
NLCS San Francisco Giants over Philadelphia Phillies 4 games to 2 NLCS MVP – Cody Ross

Divisional Series
ALDS1
Texas Rangers over Tampa Bay Rays 3 games to 2

ALDS2
New York Yankees over Minnesota Twins 3 games to 0

NLDS1
Philadelphia Phillies over Cincinnati Reds 3 games to 0

NLDS2
San Francisco Giants over Atlanta Braves 3 games to 1

WILD CARD GAMES
AWC over to
NWC over to

Awards –

Cy Young Award National League Roy Halladay
Cy Young Award American League Felix Hernandez

MVP Awards –
NL Joey Votto
AL Josh Hamilton

NL Rookie of The Year – poseybu01
AL Rookie of The Year – felizne01

Roberto Clemente Award – Tim Wakefield

All-Star Game – July 13th – N.L. over A.L. , played at Angel Stadium of Anaheim (AL)
AL Starter D. Price NL Starter U. Jimenez MVP B. McCann

Hockey At Fenway Park - Bruins vs Flyers

Hockey At Fenway Park – Bruins vs Flyers

3B Edwin Encarnacion is discharged from a hospital in Miami, FL, one day after being admitted to treat facial burns received when a firecracker exploded near him in a New Year’s Day celebration in his native La Romana, in the Dominican Republic. Encarnacion suffers some burns, but no fractures and should be ready for the start of spring training.

Catcher Miguel Olivo, who hit 23 home runs for the Kansas City Royals last season, moves to the friendly confines of Coors Field after signing a one-year deal with the Colorado Rockies. He will replace Yorvit Torrealba, who could not come to terms with the Rockies on a new contract.

The Boston Red Sox sign free agent 3B Adrian Beltre to a one-year deal worth $9 million, with an option for a second year

The Boston Red Sox sign free agent 3B Adrian Beltre to a one-year deal worth $9 million, with an option for a second year

“Just another Halo victory!” – RORY MARKAS, Angels announcer’s signature line.Rory Markas, recently named by the Angels as the team’s lead play-by-play television announcer, dies unexpectedly at home. The popular 54 year-old broadcaster, who also spent parts of 11 seasons in the Brewers booth before starting his eight-year tenure with Los Angeles, was well-known for his signature line, “Just another Halo victory!”.

OF Matt Holliday signs a seven-year deal worth $120 million to stay with the St. Louis Cardinals

OF Matt Holliday signs a seven-year deal worth $120 million to stay with the St. Louis Cardinals

Randy Johnson announces his retirement, ending a 22-year career that began with the Montreal Expos in 1988

Andre Dawson, "The Hawk", is elected to the Hall of Fame 

Andre Dawson, “The Hawk”, is elected to the Hall of Fame 

The Twins sign P Clay Condrey to a one-year contract and release P Bobby Keppel to allow him to sign with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Japanese Pacific League.

In other signings, the Braves ink veteran OF/1B Eric Hinske while the Athletics re-sign DH Jack Cust.

The Royals sign 19-year-old Cuban pitcher Noel Arguelles, who immediately becomes one of the minor leagues’ top pitching prospects.

The Mariners and Red Sox finalized their trade that brings Casey Kotchman to Seattle

The Houston Astros sign P Brett Myers, who won three games for the Phillies in the 2008 Postseason, to a one-year deal. Myers missed most of the 2009 season after undergoing hip surgery.

The Royals sign OF Scott Podsednik to a one-year contract.

The Blue Jays acquire P Zach Jackson from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later.

The Texas Rangers sign slugger Vladimir Guerrero, who is coming off an injury-filled season with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He is expected to be the starting designated hitter in Texas. The Rangers also sign free agent infielder Khalil Greene to a one-year contract.

The Giants sign Aubrey Huff to a one-year contract. He will play first base after being mainly a designated hitter with Baltimore and Detroit last season, and will be a key cog in the Giants drive to their first World Championship in San Francisco.

21-year-old Cuban lefthanded pitching star Aroldis Chapman signs a 6-year, $30.25 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds after weeks of auditioning for a number of interested teams. Chapman defected in July, before taking part in the 2009 World Port Tournament and established residency in Andorra, making him a free agent. The package offered by the Reds is comparable to that given by the Washington Nationals to Stephen Strasburg, the top pick in the 2009 amateur draft.

After years of rumors and speculation which have stalled his candidacy for the Hall of Fame, retired slugger Mark McGwire comes clean in an interview, confirming that he was a user of steroids and human growth hormone starting in 1990, including during his record-setting 1998 season. He had refused to broach the subject when called before a Congressional committee hearing in March, 2005, but decides to speak to the media a few months after accepting a position as hitting coach with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Greg Maddux, who started his major league career with the Cubs in 1986, is returning to the team as an assistant to general manager Jim Hendry

Greg Maddux, who started his major league career with the Cubs in 1986, is returning to the team as an assistant to general manager Jim Hendry

Ryne Sandberg, with aspirations of being the Cubs manager someday, agrees to be the skipper of the team's Triple-A Iowa farm club, replacing Bobby Dickerson

Ryne Sandberg, with aspirations of being the Cubs manager someday, agrees to be the skipper of the team’s Triple-A Iowa farm club, replacing Bobby Dickerson

Brett Myers, a former first-round pick of the Phillies, signs a one-year deal with an option for 2011. The 29-year-old righthander spent time as ace and closer with the Phils but is coming off hip surgery. He winds up leading the Astros with 14 wins and is rewarded with an extension through 2013. 

A devastating earthquake hits the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, located a few hundred miles off the coast of Florida. Major League Baseball quickly pledges $1 million to UNICEF to help with the relief effort. Teams like the New York Yankees and players such as Miguel Tejada also pledge their support. While Haiti is not a traditional source of players, unlike its neighbor to the east the Dominican Republic, there were 13 Haitian-born players in the minor leagues in 2009 and efforts are now directed to ascertain their well-being.

The Marlins and the major league players’ union come to an understanding in which the team agrees to increase its payroll, an agreement which will end in 2012 when Florida’s new ballpark is scheduled to open. The small amount that the club spends on paying its players violates the revenue-sharing provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.

2010 – Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge undergoes arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, making him uncertain for Opening Day. He had been operated to remove bone chips from his right shoulder earlier this off-season.

The Arizona Diamondbacks sign free agent 1B Andy LaRoche to a one-year contract. He split the 2009 season between the Pirates, Red Sox and Braves, but still managed to have one his most productive years, hitting 25 homers with 83 RBI.

The Marlins sign a four-year deal worth $39 million with young pitching star Josh Johnson. He joins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who signed a six-year deal with the Fish in 2008, as the future cornerstones of the franchise.

The Padres also ink a star player eligible for salary arbitration, closer Heath Bell, who signs a one-year $4 million deal.

The Tigers agree to terms with free agent reliever Jose Valverde, who played for the Houston Astros last season. As a result of the signing, the Tigers will give up their first pick in the 2010 amateur draft, the first time the team has surrendered its top pick since signing Rob Deer as a free agent in 1991.

The Blue Jays trade starting shortstop Alex Gonzalez along with minor leaguers Tim Collins and Tyler Pastornicky to the Braves in exchange for infielder Yunel Escobar and southpaw Jo-Jo Reyes. The Braves’ new infielder is probably best known for his role in Florida’s improbable World Series victory over New York, that includes a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of Game Four, giving the Marlins a 4-3 victory and a 2-2 tie in the Fall Classic.

The Diamondbacks designate OF Eric Byrnes for assignment. He signed a three-year contract extension after a great 2007 season, but has not been productive since, hitting .218 in 136 games while being constantly bothered by injuries. The D-Backs are on the hook for $11 million left on his contract.

The Padres trade 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff to the Athletics for OFs Aaron Cunningham and Scott Hairston. Minor league infielder Eric Sogard accompanies Kouzmanoff on the road to Oakland.

The Mets and John Maine (7-6, 4.43) come to terms on a one-year, $3.3 million deal just after the right-hander filed for arbitration. New York’s projected number three starter was limited to 15 games last season, due to the lingering weakness from a 2008 surgery that removed a bony growth from the socket of his right shoulder.

Avoiding salary arbitration, Matt Kemp (.297, 26, 101) and the Dodgers agree to a rare multi-year offer that will pay the center fielder $10.95 million over the next two seasons. The 25 year-old Oklahoman, considered a core player in the team’s future, won the Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger awards playing for the National League West champs last season.

The Marlins deal Dan Uggla to the Braves for infielder Omar Infante and left-hander Mike Dunn

The Marlins deal Dan Uggla to the Braves for infielder Omar Infante and left-hander Mike Dunn

The Cleveland Indians acquire infielder Brian Bixler from the Pirates for Class-A 3B Jesus Brito, who hit .353 in his first professional season in the United States last year.

The San Diego Padres sign utility player Jerry Hairston to a one-year deal; he joins his brother Scott Hairston, re-acquired by the Padres in a trade two days earlier.

2010 – Free agent catcher Bengie Molina re-signs for one year with the Giants in what is considered a surprise move, first because top catching prospect Buster Posey seems poised to play regularly for San Francisco, and also because the Mets had been expected to bring in Molina to be their starting catcher this season.

Jonathan Papelbon inks a deal with the Red Sox for the largest salary ever given to a relief pitcher with just four years of major league service. The 29 year-old reliever, who has 151 career saves for Boston, agrees to a $9.35 million, one-year contract to continue to be the team’s closer.

The Angels sign free agent starting pitcher Joel Pineiro to a two-year deal worth $16 million. Pineiro went 15-12 with a 3.49 ERA for the St. Louis Cardinals last season.

The Blue Jays purchase reliever Merkin Valdez from the Giants. The hard-throwing righty was designated for assignment last week to make room on San Francisco’s 40-man roster.

The Brewers sign their second free agent left-handed starting pitcher of the off-season, inking Doug Davis to a one-year deal a month after adding Randy Wolf. Davis pitched for the Brew Crew from 2003 to 2006 before spending the last three seasons with Arizona.

Free agent pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel signs a one-year deal with Kansas City, while the Pirates sign reliever Octavio Dotel for a year with an option for a second season. Dotel will replace Matt Capps as the Bucs’ closer.

The Phillies sign three-year contract extensions with centerfielder Shane Victorino and starting pitcher Joe Blanton. The two deals combined are worth $46 million.

Joe Blanton (2-8, 4.05) and the Phillies, avoiding an arbitration hearing, come to terms on a $24 million, three-year deal. The 29 year-old right-hander is expected to be the National League champion’s number three starter in a rotation which includes Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and J.A. Happ

A’s prospect Grant Desme is retiring from baseball to pursue his calling to be a Catholic priest. In 2009, The 23 year-old minor league outfielder, who was recently named the Arizona Fall League’s Most Valuable Player, hit .288 along with 31 home runs and 89 RBIs, playing single A ball with the Kane County Cougars (MWL) and the Stockton Ports (CAL).

The Mets trade right-handed reliever Brian Stokes to the Angels for Gary Matthews Jr.

The Mets trade right-handed reliever Brian Stokes to the Angels for Gary Matthews Jr.

A group headed by Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan purchase the Texas Rangers from Tom Hicks

The Orioles reach a one-year deal worth $6 million with former star shortstop Miguel Tejada. Tejada, who put up great numbers while playing for the Orioles from 2004 to 2007 before being traded to the Houston Astros, will move to third base.

Two veteran left-handed sluggers are signed today, Jason Giambi by the Colorado Rockies and Matt Stairs by the San Diego Padres. Both have become mainly pinch-hitters by this point of their careers.

Veteran infielder Mark Loretta announces his retirement after 15 years in the majors and is immediately hired by the San Diego Padres, one of his former teams, to a front office job; he will be a special assistant to the baseball operations staff.

2010 – Three veteran free agents sign deals with new teams today. P Ben Sheets, who missed all of last season recovering from elbow surgery, signs with the Athletics where he will be the leader of their young starting rotation; the Twins sign DH Jim Thome for one year; and the Padres add P Jon Garland for a year as well.

Jon Garland and the Padres agree to a $5.3 million, one-year deal that includes a mutual option for $6.75 million in 2011. Along with Chris Young and Kevin Correia, the 30 year-old right-hander, known for his durability, will play a major role in San Diego’s rotation.

Ben Sheets and the A’s come to terms on a $10 million, one-year contract, making the free-agent right-hander the team’s second-highest paid player behind third baseman Eric Chavez. The 31 year-old, recovering from elbow surgery that caused him to miss all of last season, compiled an 86-83 record along with a 3.72 ERA in his first eight seasons in the major leagues, all with Milwaukee.

Pitcher Tim Redding signs a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies. He was 3-6 with a 5.10 ERA for the Mets last season.

The Yankees sign free agent Randy Winn to a one-year deal to be their left fielder this season. This move comes as the Yanks’ 2009 starter, Johnny Damon, is still unsigned. However, GM Brian Cashman states that the team has now reached its payroll limit and that Damon is simply too expensive. Damon will end up with Detroit.

Four new members are voted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame: Paul Quantrill (the all-time Canadian-born leader with 841 games pitched), former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Roberto Alomar (who just fell short of election to the Baseball Hall of Fame), sabermetrician Allan Roth and owner Calvin Griffith (the latter two being Montreal natives).

OF Jim Edmonds, who last played in 2008 for the Cubs, starts a comeback attempt by signing a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

P Francisco Liriano leads the Leones del Escogido to the Dominican League championship, striking out 10 batters in 5 innings in a 5 – 3 win over the Gigantes del Cibao, in the 9th and decisive game of the finals. Wladimir Balentien hits a solo home run, Joaquin Arias goes 2 for 4 and Santiago Casilla picks up the save for the winners. Gustavo Chacin is the losing pitcher. It is the first time in 15 seasons that a team other than the Águilas Cibaeñas or Tigres del Licey has won the title.

The Phillies sign veteran Cuban P Jose Contreras to a one-year contract. A starter for most of his career, he will start the year in the bullpen.

Members of the Florida Marlins are experiencing a different side of life as they visit troops in the field in Iraq. GM Larry Beinfest, manager Fredi Gonzalez, players Chris Coghlan and John Baker and four members of the team’s cheerleading squad make up the touring party which travels by Black Hawk helicopters between bases in Iraq and Kuwait, bringing some cheer to soldiers deployed there.

The Cincinnati Reds sign free agent SS Orlando Cabrera to a one-year contract.

The Naranjeros de Hermosillo win the Mexican Pacific League title with a 1 – 0 victory over Mazatlan in the decisive game of the championship finals. Juan Delgadillo pitches 7 2/3 shutout innings for the win, outdueling Walter Silva, while veteran Vinny Castilla drives in the game’s only run on a 1st-inning sacrifice fly. Hermosillo joins the Leones del Caracas (Venezuelan League), Indios de Mayagüez (Puerto Rican League) and Leones del Escogido (Dominican League) in the 2010 Caribbean Series, set to begin on February 2nd on Margarita Island, off the coast of Venezuela.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette runs a front-page story that Pittsburgh Penguins owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle made an offer to buy the Pittsburgh Pirates from Bob Nutting in 2009. Pirates sources deny that there was a concrete offer and Nutting also indicates he has no interest in selling the team.

The Reds trade center fielder Willy Taveras using the money they saved to sign Orlando Cabrera

Jon Miller is the 2010 Ford Frick Award winner

Jon Miller is the 2010 Ford Frick Award winner

The Phillies sign OF Freddy Guzman to a minor league contract, while the Brewers claim P Marco Estrada off waivers from Washington. Milwaukee designates P Tim Dillard for assignment to make room for Estrada on its roster.

Twins sign Gold Glove 2B Orlando Hudson to a one-year deal

Omar Vizquel will wear the number 11 this season to honor Luis Aparicio

Omar Vizquel will wear the number 11 this season to honor Luis Aparicio

Lance Berkman is inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame

bud selig statue

Milwaukee Brewers announce the club plans to erect a seven-foot statue of former owner Bud Selig

Scott Schoeneweis signs a contract with the Brewers 

Orioles sign veteran left-handed pitchers Mark Hendrickson and Will Ohman

Jacque Jones is attempting a comeback

Giants sign P Todd Wellemeyer to a minor league contract

Ernie Harwell will receive the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award

Ernie Harwell will receive the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award

New York Mets sign veteran Japanese lefthander Hisanori Takahashi

Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas retire

Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas retire

San Francisco Giants sign P Tim Lincecum to a two-year contract worth $23 million

Rays win their salary arbitration hearing with OF B.J. Upton

The Rangers also add an outfielder renowned for his speed, inking Endy Chavez to a minor league deal. He is coming off knee surgery, the result of an on-field collision with SS Yuniesky Betancourt on June 19th that ended his 2009 season after 54 games; he is not expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Washington signs speedy outfielder Willy Taveras to a minor league contract. Coming off a disappointing season with the Reds in which he hit .240 with 1 home run and 15 RBI, Taveras was recently designated for assignment by the Athletics.

The Indians bring back 1B Russell Branyan, whom they originally drafted in 1994 and who played for the team until 2002. Coming off his best year in the majors, in which he slugged 31 homers for Seattle, Branyan missed the last month of the season with an ailing back and his health remains a concern.

The Nationals sign former Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year contract. Wang saw his 2008 season end early with a foot injury, and struggled to a 1-6 record while being bothered with various ailments in 2009. He won’t return to a major league mound until 2011.

The Cleveland Indians shake up their front office: they announce that GM Mark Shapiro will become team President at the end of the season, when his assistant Chris Antonetti becomes General Manager. Current President Paul Dolan, the son of owner Larry Dolan, will become Chairman and CEO in his father’s place. Antonetti, like newly-appointed Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos, began his career as an intern with the Montreal Expos. He joined the former franchise in 1997, before moving to the Indians in 1999, where he has held a number of front office positions.

The Dodgers offer former Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagné a minor league contract. One of LA’s most popular players in the 2000s, Gagné saw his career hit the skids following elbow and back surgeries in 2005 and 2006, then was named in the Mitchell Report in 2007. Last season, he pitched for the Québec Capitales of the independent Can-Am Association, but he will fail in his attempt to return to the big leagues.

Free agent OF Johnny Damon reportedly signs a one-year, $8 million contract with the Detroit Tigers.

The Mets sign veteran C Rod Barajas to a contract, joining a crowded catching corps that also includes Henry Blanco, Omir Santos and top prospect Josh Thole.

Yankees sign veteran Korean P Chan Ho Park to a one-year contract.

Yankees sign veteran Korean P Chan Ho Park to a one-year contract.

Major League Baseball announces that it will begin testing minor leaguers for human growth hormone this season. The illegal performance-enhancing substance has long been considered undetectable by conventional doping tests, but its presence has recently been isolated through a blood test, which will be used for this purpose.

The Atlanta Braves sign 18-year-old Dominican shortstop Edward Salcedo to a contract. Considered as one of the top talents available on the international market, the youngster receives a signing bonus of $1.6 million. Although expected to begin his professional career with the Class-A Rome Braves, he will be assigned to the Rookie-level DSL Braves instead. Salcedo first signed with the Cleveland Indians in 2007, but the contract was voided when it was discovered that he was underage. He will fail to develop as a star, however.

A Kansas man files a lawsuit against the Royals as a result of being hit in the eye by a hot dog thrown by Sluggerrr, the team's mascot

A Kansas man files a lawsuit against the Royals as a result of being hit in the eye by a hot dog thrown by Sluggerrr, the team’s mascot

All-Star OF Josh Hamilton,leaves the first workout of spring training with a bruised left shoulder

All-Star OF Josh Hamilton,leaves the first workout of spring training with a bruised left shoulder

The Rangers void Khalil Greene’s contract, announcing the reason for the action is a private matter, and is being done in the best interest of the ballplayer. The 30 year-old utility infielder, who missed 49 games with the Cardinals last season because of social anxiety, was unable to report to spring training last week as a result of his unidentified problem.

The Cardinals sign free agent infielder Felipe Lopez to a one-year deal. He had played for the Cards in 2008 before splitting 2009 between Arizona and Milwaukee.

2010 – SABR announces the first nine winners of the Henry Chadwick Award, created to honor baseball researchers, historians, analysts, and statisticians.

At the Red Sox’s spring training in Fort Myers, FL, knuckleballer Tim Wakefield meets one of his greatest fans, 18-year-old Eri Yoshida of Japan. The 5′ 1″ righthander taught herself to throw the knuckleball by mimicking Wakefield in her backyard and is on a quest to become the first female player in Nippon Pro Baseball. She is still undecided as to whether she will pitch this season in the Japanese minor leagues, or accept a contract offer from the Chico Outlaws of the independent Golden Baseball League.

OF Rocco Baldelli is back with the Tampa Bay Rays, not as a player but as a special assistant to general manager Andrew Friedman. He is unable to play this season because of a shoulder injury, the latest in a long string of physical ailments that have derailed what once was a very promising career. At 28, he is not yet ready to call it quits, but is preparing a fall-back in case he cannot return to the playing field. He will retire definitely after playing in only a handful of games at the end of this season.

The Diamondbacks sign OF Justin Upton to a long-term contract, inking the youngster to a six-year deal worth $51.25 million. The 22-year-old hit .300 with 26 homers and 86 RBI in 2009, making the All-Star team.

The Dodgers sign veteran OF Garret Anderson to a one-year contract. Anderson played for Atlanta in 2009 after 15 seasons spent with the Angels. If he makes the team, it will likely be as a pinch-hitter.

Major League Baseball organizes a symposium on “Science Behind Anti-Doping” at its New York City headquarters. The meeting shares information about the latest developments in testing and involves both leading scientists and officials responsible for labor policy from the United States Olympic Committee, the NHL, the NFL, the NBA, the PGA and the NCAA, as well as the US Anti-Doping Agency, all of which are members of the “Partnership for Clean Competition”. MLB President Bob DuPuy gives the keynote address. The conference puts a particular focus on developments in the detection of human growth hormone.

Top Boston Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland has to leave spring training for medical reasons and is diagnosed the next day with a cavernous malformation in the brain, a condition with effects similar to a stroke. He will undergo emergency surgery lasting five hours in Phoenix, AZ on March 16th.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Willie Davis dies at age 69 in Burbank, CA.

Amidst much hoopla, Stephen Strasburg throws two scoreless innings against Detroit in his much anticipated first exhibition start for the Nationals this spring. The former San Diego State right-hander, the recipient of the Golden Spikes award as best amateur baseball player in the nation, was selected as the number one overall pick in last year’s draft, signing a record $15.1 million, four-year deal with Washington.

Justin Upton (.300, 26, 86) and the Diamondbacks come to terms on a $51.25 million, six-year contract, the second-largest deal in franchise history being slightly less than Randy Johnson’s $52.4 million pact in 1999. The 22 year-old outfielder, who was the team’s No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft, was selected to last season’s National League All-Star squad.

the Dodgers are defeated by an All-Star squad from the Chinese Professional League (CPBL) at Taipei's Tienmu Baseball Stadium, 5-3

the Dodgers are defeated by an All-Star squad from the Chinese Professional League (CPBL) at Taipei’s Tienmu Baseball Stadium, 5-3

The Astros’ Lance Berkman undergoes surgery to remove loose cartilage in his left knee. He will miss Opening Day and only make his season debut on April 20th.

The Minnesota Twins sign outfielder Denard Span to a five-year contract worth $16.5 million, with an option for a sixth year. Span hit .311 as the Twins’ leadoff hitter in 2009 while playing in all three outfield spots; he’ll be the regular centerfielder this season.

2010 – The Dodgers crush an All-Star team from the Chinese Professional Baseball League, 11 – 1, at Kaohsiung Stadium to complete their three-game tour in Taiwan. Josh Towers, Josh Lindblom and Jon Link, who are fighting for spots on the Dodgers’ pitching staff, all impress manager Joe Torre.

A wild rumor sweeps across the Grapefruit League, carried by ESPN: the Cardinals and Phillies are talking about swapping their marquee sluggers, Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard, before they become free agents at the end of 2011. Both teams dismiss the rumor as groundless and nothing will come of it.

For the second time this spring, the Rangers’ Josh Hamilton has to leave work early because of injury. This time, he’s hit on the left arm by a pitch from the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner in the 3rd inning of an exhibition game. His bosses are concerned, since he missed half of 2009 with various ailments.

It’s a short outing for the Mariners’ prize winter acquisition, Cliff Lee, in his second start of the Cactus League season. He is ejected in the bottom of the 3rd inning by umpire Brian Knight for throwing at the Diamondbacks’ Chris Snyder. He gets the rest of his scheduled work in by throwing on a back field in the spring training complex. He will receive a five-game suspension, to be served at the beginning of the regular season, for his actions.

The Major League Baseball Players Association circulates an expanded list of “dangerous contaminated supplements”, which now contains 104 products. These nutritional supplements are legal but potentially contaminated, and could cause false positives under Major League Baseball’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

2010 – Former All-Star second baseman Chuck Knoblauch pleads guilty to a charge of domestic violence, stemming from an assault on his common-law wife in their Houston, TX home last September. He is given a $1000 fine and probation time. Retirement has not been easy for Knoblauch; in 2007 he was named in the Mitchell Report for his use of performance-enhancing drugs as a player.

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington admits that he tested positive for cocaine last summer and apologizes. He submits his resignation, but top management rejects it.

Two troubled outfielders are in trouble again. Seattle’s off-season acquisition, Milton Bradley, is ejected from an exhibition game for protesting a strikeout call from umpire Dan Bellino, while the Nationals’ Elijah Dukes, who has seen his career derailed by legal and behaviorial problems, is released because of poor hitting. He had been expected to be Washington’s starting right fielder this year.

Free-swinging slugger Mark Reynolds (.260, 44, 102) and the Diamondbacks agree to a new three-year, $14.5 million contract. The deal covers the 26 year-old third baseman’s first two arbitration years.

2010 – The Marlins and Mets announce that they will play a three-game series in San Juan, Puerto Rico June 28-30, marking Major League Baseball’s return to Hiram Bithorn Stadium for the first time since the Montreal Expos used it as a part-time home in 2003 and 2004. The series was originally to be played in Miami, FL and is part of an effort by the Marlins to expand their Caribbean fan base.

2010 – Oney Guillen, the son of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, is asked to resign from his job as a member of the team’s minor league department because of uncomplimentary remarks about the organization which he made on his “Twitter” account. Says Ozzie about the incident: “It’s hard when you see your kids and tell them, ‘I just told the people you got to resign.’ I think that’s the hardest thing I ever did in my life.”

Eric Gagné’s return to the Dodgers is short-lived, as the team releases him. He had accepted an assignment to the minor leagues a few days ago, but reconsidered and asked for his release in order to find another opportunity to return to the major leagues. He will retire instead.

The Minnesota Twins get some bad news as they learn that closer Joe Nathan will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a tear in a ligament in his elbow. He will miss the entire season.

With the same pen he used to sign his rookie contract in 2001, Twins catcher Joe Mauer (.365, 28, 96) signs a $184 million, eight-year contract extension, keeping him with the small market team through 2018. Last year, the 26 year-old backstop, after starting the season on the DL as result of back surgery the previous year, captured his third batting crown and was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player.

Albert Pujols gives the Cardinals a scare as he is scratched from the line-up for today’s Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, suffering from tightness in his lower back. The 2009 National League MVP has already missed a week of work this spring; he undergoes a MRI and receives an anti-inflammatory injection as a precaution. On the positive side of the ledger for the Cards, OF Matt Holliday is back in the line-up after missing two weeks with a strained chest muscle.

2010 – The Brewers advise P Scott Schoeneweis that he will not make their opening day roster and that they plan to release him on March 25th. Schoeneweis is attempting a comeback after a trying 2009 season both on and off the field and will find a job a few days later with the Boston Red Sox.

Former Cy Young Award winner Dwight Gooden is back in trouble with the law. He faces charges of driving under the influence of drugs, child endangerment, and leaving the scene of an accident, after a 9:00 am crash in Franklin Lakes, NJ. Gooden’s problems with substance abuse in the 1980s and 1990s were well-publicized, but he had apparently turned his life around in recent years, serving as a senior vice-president of the Atlantic League’s Newark Bears until last November.

The probation sentence of Orioles 3B Miguel Tejada is extended by six months because he failed to complete the required 100 hours of community service in due time. Tejada was handed the sentence a year ago as a consequence of misleading Congress and withholding information during testimony regarding the use of steroids in baseball in 2005; he agreed to a $5000 fine and to community service in lieu of a prison sentence.

2010 – The Yankees release P Chad Gaudin, who was competing for the team’s fifth starter position, and, failing that, was expected to make the staff as a long reliever. Philip Hughes, who shined as a set-up man in 2009, is announced as the winner of the fifth starter competition, while Joba Chamberlain returns to the bullpen. Gaudin will sign a minor league deal with Oakland on March 28th but will be back with the Yanks before the end of the year.

Alberto Callaspo, subbing at 3B for Alex Gordon, who broke his thumb in the Royals’ third game of the spring, also injures himself, pulling a muscle in his right side during batting practice and is doubtful for Opening Day. Injuries have come in bunches for the Royals this spring, as CF Rick Ankiel and P Gil Meche have also been sidelined.

Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts plays his first game of the spring after being sidelined by a bad back. He strikes out three times against the Twins¸ but says he feels great and is on track to be in the line-up on Opening Day.

The 2010 Central League season begins. Tetsuya Utsumi allows 4 runs and fans 10 in 8 innings to lead the Yomiuri Giants to victory against Yakult. Kenji Johjima goes 3 for 4 with 4 RBI to lead his new team, the Hanshin Tigers, to a win over Yokohama. Finally, Kenta Maeda allows one hit in eight innings to give the Hiroshima Carp the win against Chunichi.

Minneapolis’ new Target Field is inaugurated with a college game between the University of Minnesota and Louisiana Tech, in front of 37,757 spectators, a game which also serves as an open house for fans and a dry run for the new facility. The ballpark’s main tenants, the Minnesota Twins will play two exhibition games against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 2-3, while the official home opener is set for April 12th.

The Rangers obtain utility infielder Andres Blanco from the Cubs for future considerations.

Veteran 1B Doug Mientkiewicz leaves the Dodgers’ training camp after being told he will not make the opening day roster. He is offered a position as a minor league instructor, but declines, preferring to seek another opportunity to play somewhere in the major leagues.

The Blue Jays release OF Joey Gathright, brought in during the off-season for his speed and defense, after he hits .167 in 42 spring training at-bats.

The Indians place starting 1B Russell Branyan on the 15-day disabled list with a herniated disk in his lower back. Matt LaPorta will fill in for him in the interim.

2010 – The Nationals announce that President Barack Obama will throw the ceremonial first pitch on opening day, April 5th, against the Phillies at Nationals Park. It will mark the 100th anniversary of the first presidential first pitch, by William Howard Taft, at the Washington Senators’ home opener on April 14, 1910.

Aroldis Chapman will not start the year in the Cincinnati Reds’ starting rotation

After six years away from the dugout Jim Leyland is hired to manage the Detroit Tigers

Dontrelle Willis’ comeback is on the right track Jim Leyland has made the team as the fifth starter

Pat Venditte, the first ambidextrous pitcher in organized baseball since Greg Harris retired in 1995, gets to show his stuff in an exhibition game 

The Cubs round out their roster by releasing veteran 1B Kevin Millar and sending OF Micah Hoffpauir and Sam Fuld and C Chris Robinson to the minor leagues. When the dust settles, Chad Tracy has secured a spot on the Cubbies’ bench.

In a Grapefruit League game in Tampa, FL, Twins OF Denard Span proves to be a bad son, fouling a pitch straight at his mother, sitting in the third base stands, in the 1st inning against the Yankees. Span rushes to the stands to his mom’s aid, but Wanda Wilson is all right after being checked over by medical staff. Span, playing in his hometown, leaves the game two innings later to be at his mother’s side for the rest of the contest.

Shingo Takatsu saves his first game in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, becoming the first player with saves in the CPBL, Major League Baseball, Nippon Pro Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization.

The Industriales win their record 12th Cuban Serie Nacional title, topping Villa Clara, 7 – 5, in 10 innings in Game 7 of the 2009-2010 Serie Nacional finals. It is their second straight back-to-the-wall win on the road in the series. Raiko Olivares drives in the winner, Rudy Reyes gets 3 hits (including a homer) and youngster Joan Socarrás fans 5 in 2 1/3 hitless relief innings for the win. In a losing cause, Yandy Canto hits a 3-run homer.

With spring training coming to an end, the disabled list is getting crowded. Among those who will miss the beginning of the season are Mets SS Jose Reyes, who missed most of 2009 with injuries and joins teammates Daniel Murphy, Carlos Beltran and Kelvim Escobar on the list; Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler, suffering from a sprained ankle; Astros 1B Lance Berkman, recovering from knee surgery, and two Houston pitchers, Alberto Arias and Yorman Bazardo; Rockies closer Huston Street, shelved by shoulder stiffness; and Toronto P Mark Rzepczynski, out with a broken finger, the result of being struck on his pitching hand by a ball batted by the Yankees’ Ramiro Pena a day earlier.

The Phillies are thin on the mound going into the season, as they place starter Joe Blanton on the disabled list, where he joins teammates and bullpen mainstays Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero.

The Rangers pick up 1B Ryan Garko on waivers from the Mariners while the Orioles pick up infielder Julio Lugo from the Cardinals

The Minnesota Twins inaugurate their new ballpark, Target Field, with an 8 – 4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in an exhibition game. The new outdoor venue receives rave reviews from players.

The injury-ravaged New York Mets round out their roster by making six cuts, sending Ps Nelson Figueroa, Kiko Calero, Bobby Parnell and Elmer Dessens, along with IF Russ Adams and OF Chris Carter, major league veterans all, down to AAA Buffalo. Among those that make it through the day are veteran Frank Catalanotto, a spring training invitee, and 20-year-old P Jenrry Mejia.

Adam Lind (.305, 35, 114) and the Blue Jays agreed to an $18 million, four-year contract that includes three additional years with a club option. The 26 year-old outfielder, flanked by several teammates, announces the deal at a press conference held before an exhibition game in Houston.

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox stage a classic battle to open the major league season at Fenway Park, with the Red Sox winning, 9 – 7, after trailing 5 – 1 and 7 – 5. Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson hit back-to-back homers in the 2nd and Brett Gardner steals home as the Yanks build an early lead against Josh Beckett, but a homer by Dustin Pedroia and three extra-base hits by Kevin Youkilis highlight the Sox’s comeback. Chan Ho Park takes the loss in his Yankee debut, while Hideki Okajima is the winner.

Albert Pujols, the 2009 National League MVP, starts off the year where he left off last season, banging two homers to lead the Cardinals to an 11 – 6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Roy Halladay throws seven strong innings to lead the defending National League champions to an easy 11 – 1 win over Washington

Jason Heyward, the Minor League Player of the Year last year, starts his major league career with fireworks, connecting for a three-run home run off Carlos Zambrano in the 1st inning in front of 60 friends and family members at Turner Field as Atlanta cruises to a 16 – 5 win over the Cubs.

The Blue Jays’ Shaun Marcum, getting the opening day starting nod after missing all of 2009 recovering from Tommy John surgery, holds the Texas Rangers hitless into the 7th inning as the Jays stake an early lead on homers by Vernon Wells and Adam Lind. Nelson Cruz ties the game with a three-run homer in the 7th, but after the Jays retake the lead, new Toronto closer Jason Frasor blows the save opportunity, giving up two runs in the 9th for a 5 – 4 Texas win. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hits the game-winning single.

The Red Sox and their ace, Josh Beckett, come to terms on a $68 million, four-year contract extension. The agreement keeps the team’s Opening Day starter in Boston along with recent free agent acquisition John Lackey, giving the club a potent 1-2 punch in the top of their rotation for the next five years.

Matt Stairs plays for his twelfth major league organization, equaling Deacon McGuire’s record (1884 to 1912) for the most teams ever played with by a position player

The Padres’ Chris Young makes a successful comeback from shoulder surgery last year, pitching San Diego to 6 – 3 win over the Diamondbacks. Everth Cabrera drives in four runs for San Diego, as Edwin Jackson is charged with the loss in his first start for Arizona.

The Angels enter the Guinness Book of World Records by asking 43,510 fans to don free Hideki Matsui fleece blankets, shattering the record of 17,758 people wearing fleece blankets at an event (set during a NBA gimmick by the Cleveland Cavaliers).

The Tampa Bay Rays open their season with a walk-off win against the Baltimore Orioles. Trailing 3 – 2 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning, the Rays rally against O’s closer Mike Gonzalez. Sean Rodriguez starts the frame with a single, pinch hitter Kelly Shoppach doubles, and Jason Bartlett is walked intentionally to load the bases. Carl Crawford then sends 36,973 fans home happy with a two-run double to right field. Solo homers by Adam Jones, Luke Scott and Matt Wieters off James Shields account for all the Orioles’ runs.

The Angels enter the Guinness Book of World Records by asking 43,510 fans to don free Hideki Matsui fleece blankets, shattering the record of 17,758 people wearing fleece blankets at an event (set during a NBA gimmick by the Cleveland Cavaliers).

New Yankees centerfielder Curtis Granderson quickly makes his presence felt with the Bronx Bombers. After homering in his first at-bat for the team on Opening day, April 4th, he hits a game-winning long ball off Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon in the 10th inning of today’s game, which started as a pitching duel between Andy Pettitte and John Lackey, giving the Yankees a 3 – 1 victory. Chan Ho Park redeems his poor opening day performance with three innings of one-hit ball in relief to earn his first win in pinstripes, while Mariano Rivera picks up his second save in as many days.

According to its annual report, Forbes Magazine estimates the value of the Yankees to be worth approximately $1.6 billion, nearly twice as much as any other major league franchise. The World Champs, who moved into a new ballpark last season, made $441 million in net revenue after adjustments were made for its payment to baseball’s revenue-sharing program and the costs of financing its new stadium.

Randy Wells, one of the National League’s top rookie pitchers in 2009, picks up where he left off, pitching six shutout innings in leading the Cubs to their first win of the season, a 2 – 0 blanking of the Braves and fellow sophomore Tommy Hanson. Tyler Colvin and Marlon Byrd hit solo homers for the game’s only runs.

Dontrelle Willis pitches six solid innings in his return to the major leagues as the Tigers beat Kansas City, 7 – 3. Willis went on the disabled list after pitching poorly last June and was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. Miguel Cabrera goes 4 for 5 with a homer for Detroit.

The Brewers sign pitcher Yovani Gallardo to a five-year contract extension worth $30.1 million. The 24-year-old was the Brewers’ best pitcher in 2009, going 13-12, 3.73 and topping 200 strikeouts, as well as being their opening day starter this year.

In his first plate appearance of the season, the Cardinals’ Nick Stavinoha hits a two-run pinch homer off all-time save leader Trevor Hoffman of the Brewers for a 5 – 4 win.

Colby Lewis, who spent the last two seasons in Japan, picks up his first major league win since 2004, when he holds the Seattle Mariners to one run over seven innings in a 6 – 2 Rangers victory.

The Yankees’ CC Sabathia flirts with a no-hit bid, before giving up a two-out single to the Rays’ Kelly Shoppach in the 8th inning. Having reached his pitch count limit, he then exits the game, but is credited with the Yanks’ 10 – 0 win.

Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth drive in three runs each as the Phillies hand the Astros their fifth straight loss since the start of the season, 9 – 6. Jamie Moyer picks up his first win of the year for Philadelphia.

Jose Reyes returns to the line-up for the first time since May of last year as the Mets lose to the Nationals, 4 – 3. His injury was one of those that torpedoed the Mets’ 2009 season after a good start.

Three much-heralded pitching prospects make their debut in organized baseball today. Mike Leake, the least known of the three, makes the biggest jump, giving up a single run in 6 2/3 innings as the Reds’ starter against the Cubs, in a game the Reds eventually win, 3 – 1. He is the 21st player to reach the majors without playing in a single minor league game since the amateur draft was instituted in 1965; his last pitching stop was with Arizona State University. Fellow Reds prospect Aroldis Chapman, who defected from Cuba last year, throws several pitches over 100 miles per hour in his debut with the Louisville Bats of the International League. He strikes out 9 batters in 4 2/3 innings, only giving up an unearned run to Toledo. Finally, Stephen Strasburg, the top pick of last year’s draft, picks up the win as the Harrisburg Senators defeat Altoona, 6 – 4, in an Eastern League contest. Both Chapman and Strasburg will pitch in the major leagues before the season is over.

It’s a homer fest at Miller Park ! The Brewers take an early 7 – 2 lead over the Cardinals as Rickie Weeks hits a home run leading off the game, and Corey Hart and Ryan Braun also go deep against Chris Carpenter. The Cards mount a comeback as Albert Pujols hits a two-run shot to chase Randy Wolf, then in the 9th, Phat Albert does it again as Trevor Hoffman tries to close the ballgame. Hoffman gives up another long ball to Matt Holliday to tie the score at 7, but Casey McGehee ends the game in the bottom of the 9th with a walk-off blast off Kyle McClellan, for a wild 8 – 7 Milwaukee win.

Two star second basemen go on the disabled list today. The Orioles’ Brian Roberts is the victim of a strained abdominal muscle and will be spelled by Julio Lugo. For their part, the Blue Jays have to do without Aaron Hill, who goes on the DL with an injured hamstring. They lose their home opener to the Chicago White Sox, 8 – 7, in 11 innings, even though Hill’s replacement, John McDonald, turns four double plays. Five homers are hit in the game, including Andruw Jones’s first two in a White Sox uniform.

The Minnesota Twins inaugurate their new outdoor ballpark, Target Field, with a 5 – 2 win over the Red Sox. A host of former Twins greats, including Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew, joined by Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek and Frank Viola, among others, are on hand to witness the historic game. Carl Pavano picks up the win while Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel pace the offence with three hits and two RBI each.

New Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, describing himself as a former “Wrigley bleacher bum” in his days in university, attends the team’s first home opener since his purchase of the club. He is witness to a 9 – 5 win over the Brewers; Xavier Nady, Jeff Baker and Aramis Ramirez all homer for the Cubs.

Ricky Romero pitches a gem for the Blue Jays. He allows only one hit to the White Sox, a two-run homer by former teammate Alex Rios with none out in the 8th, in 8 innings of work, while striking out a career-high 12 batters. Kevin Gregg completes the one-hitter with a perfect 9th inning, earning his 3rd save in sealing the 4 – 2 win.

The Pirates pull out a couple of brilliant defensive plays in beating the Giants, 6 – 5. With Pittsburgh leading 3 – 1 and a runner on first base, Aubrey Huff knocks a ball that appears headed past the mound for an infield single. But pitcher Paul Maholm dives to the ground, stops the ball, and in one motion flips it with his glove to 1B Jeff Clement to retire Huff while completing a backwards somersault. Then, in the bottom of the 9th, Garrett Jones, now playing 1B, makes a lunging grab of Pablo Sandoval’s line drive to end the game.

Jorge Cantu of the Marlins becomes the first player in 89 years to collect at least one hit and one RBI in his team’s first eight games of the season, thanks to an RBI single against Bronson Arroyo of the Cincinnati Reds. George “Highpockets” Kelly was the last player to accomplish the feat, in 1921. Cantu now has 13 RBI for the year and his streak has reached 13 consecutive games, dating back to 2009. However, the Reds win the game, 10 – 8, in 11 innings. Cantu will extend his season-opening streak to 10 games with a home run tomorrow and a double the next day.

The Yankees receive their 2009 World Series rings in a ceremony before their home opener at New Yankee Stadium. Hideki Matsui, the Series MVP, gets to join his former teammates for the ceremony, as he now plays for todays’ visitors, the Los Angeles Angels. The Yankees bang out 13 hits for a 7 – 5 win. Andy Pettitte picks up the victory with six scoreless innings.

The ‘Bring Back Orbit’ Facebook group is created with the hopes of convincing the Astros to reinstate the mascot, who was replaced with Junction Jack beginning in the 2000 season, coinciding with the team’s move from the Astrodome to Enron Field. The social media effort pays off when the franchise reveals the lovable lime-green outer-space creature with antennae extending into baseballs, after a 12-year absence, will be returning to continue his role in 2013, the team’s first season in the American League.

The Orioles place closer Mike Gonzalez on the disabled list, retroactive to April 10th, after he struggled to an 0-2 record with an ERA of 18.00 in the season’s first week. Also going on the DL are Angels closer Brian Fuentes, who has a strained back he injured while lifting weights, and Arizona catcher Miguel Montero, who needs to undergo surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee, injured while attempting to avoid a tag from Pittsburgh’s Zach Duke four days ago. But the biggest blow of all is to the Phillies, who place starting shortstop Jimmy Rollins on the list with a calf injury.

A judge in Dayton, OH waives a 30-day jail sentence which had been given to former minor league pitcher Julio Castillo for throwing a baseball into the stands and injuring a fan during an on-field brawl at a Dayton Dragons game in 2008. While he avoids prison time, Castillo’s prospects in organized baseball are now dim, as his conviction for assault still stands and he is ordered to leave the United States and stay away for three years.

The Red Sox suffer a costly defeat to the Twins, losing 8 – 0 after learning that CF Mike Cameron has an abdominal strain. Bill Hall replaces him for the game, as Tim Wakefield is scorched for 10 hits and 6 runs in 5 1/3 innings while his opponent Francisco Liriano flashes some of his old form that made him an All-Star as a rookie in 2006. LF Jacoby Ellsbury also misses the game with sore ribs, and Boston is worried that both starting outfielders may need to go on the disabled list.

The Blue Jays acquire OF Fred Lewis from the Giants for future considerations. The Jays will install Lewis as their lead-off hitter, allowing them to slide Jose Bautista to the middle of the order, where he will emerge as the American League’s top slugger.

The Astros are the last team to record a win in the majors this year. After losing their first eight contests, they defeat the Cardinals, 5 – 1 at Busch Stadium. Pitcher Bud Norris helps his own cause by driving in the game’s first run in the 3rd inning, followed by an RBI double by Jeff Keppinger, who drives in two more in the 8th. It is also Brad Mills’ first win as a major league manager.

Roy Halladay is acclimatizing well to the National League. He earns his third victory of the young season in an 8 – 6 Phillies win in wet conditions over the Florida Marlins. Working quickly, “Doc” allows only two runs in eight innings, but his bullpen makes things interesting as the Marlins collect five hits and four runs against David Herndon in the 9th. In the game, Florida’s Jorge Cantu’s record streak of games with a hit and RBI from the start of the season ends at 10, as he is unable to collect an RBI.

Giants CF Aaron Rowand suffers a fractured cheek and a mild concussion when hit by a pitch thrown by Vicente Padilla in the 5th inning of a game against the Dodgers. Rowand is taken to the hospital, and will be placed on the disabled list two days later. The Giants lose 10 – 8, as Todd Wellemeyer falls to Padilla.

Ubaldo Jimenez pitches the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies history. He disposes of the Atlanta Braves, 4 – 0, at Turner Field to improve to 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA for the year. Jimenez is helped by a spectatular diving catch of a Troy Glaus line drive by Dexter Fowler in the 7th inning.

The Mets need 20 innings to beat the Cardinals, 2 – 1, in the longest game since this date in 2008. Jose Reyes drives in the winning run with a sacrifice fly after going 0 for 7 for the day in a game dominated by the pitchers. Both starters, Johan Santana for New York and Jaime Garcia for St. Louis, pitch 7 scoreless innings and the game is still scoreless after 17 frames, but the Cardinals eventually run out of able-bodied pitchers. 2B Felipe Lopez is sent out to the mound and pitches a scoreless 18th inning, while P Kyle Lohse goes out to play left field, but their teammate, OF Joe Mather, gives up a run in the top of the 19th. However, Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez gives the run right back, but the Mets score again off Mather in the 20th. Mather is saddled with the loss, while Rodriguez gets the win and starter Mike Pelfrey comes out in the 21st to record the save for the Mets.

Jason Heyward, 20-year-old rookie outfielder for the Braves, continues to be one of baseball’s biggest stories this young season. Today, he knocks in the winning run with a two-out single in the bottom of the 9th in Atlanta’s 4 – 3 win over Colorado. His 15 RBI put him in a tie for second place in the National League even though he is hitting seventh in the batting order.

One day after playing a marathon 20-inning contest, the Cardinals’ bullpen gets some rest as Adam Wainwright pitches a complete game for a 5 – 3 win over the Mets. Colby Rasmus and Ryan Ludwick’s homers account for all of St. Louis’s runs; Wainwright helps his own cause by doubling ahead of Ludwick’s blast in the 8th. For their part, the Mets designate 1B Mike Jacobs for assignment before the game in order to call up P Tobi Stonerfrom AAA Buffalo. Jacobs has become redundant because of the rapid development of prospect Ike Davis, who will be called up to the majors tomorrow. Stoner is the losing pitcher in his only game of the season, in spite of giving up only one run in 2 1/3 innings of work with the Mets’ bullpen also burnt out from yesterday’s game.

Two young pitchers carry no-hitters deep into their starts today. Brandon Morrow of the Blue Jays does not give up a hit to the Royals until Yuniesky Betancourt singles with two out in the 6th. Jose Bautista hits two homers and drives in five runs in an 8 – 1 win. Morrow is the third Blue Jays pitcher to start a game with five or more hitless innings this season, after Shaun Marcum on opening day and Ricky Romero a week ago. Meanwhile, in Baltimore, Doug Fister of the Mariners gives up his first hit to Nick Markakis, the first batter in the 7th inning, as Seattle jumps on Brad Bergesen to defeat the Orioles, 8 – 2.

The Padres get a walk-off home run from an unexpected source, 5-foot-7 infielder David Eckstein, who wraps a ball around the left-field foul pole in the 10th inning for a 3 – 2 win over Jeremy Affeldt and the San Francisco Giants.

The Mets’ youngsters are in evidence in a 6 – 1 win over the Cubs. Jonathon Niese picks up the win with a solid effort over 5 2/3 innings; Jenrry Mejia, the youngest player in the National League, pitches the final two innings; and 1B Ike Davis goes 2 for 4 with an RBI in his major league debut. Angel Pagan adds a homer off James Russell, who suffers his first major league loss for Chicago.

Keli McGregor

Rockies president Keli McGregor is found dead

Edinson Volquez of the Reds is suspended for 50 games for failing a PED test

Braves walkoff with late HR barrage

Texas Rangers ties record for most thefts in a game

The Dodgers let their bats do the talking in pounding the Reds, 14 – 6, in Cincinnati. Los Angeles bangs out 18 hits, with Rafael Furcal leading the way with a 3 for 5 performance; Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier add homers for the benefit of Hiroki Kuroda. Reds pitcher Aaron Harang benefits from a rare reversal of a call by the umpiring crew in the 4th. Batting with the bases loaded and 2 outs, he hits a low liner to Ethier in right field. Ethier traps the ball, but first base umpire Tim McClelland declares a catch and the inning over. After protests from manager Dusty Baker and first base coach Billy Hatcher, the umpires confer and reverse the call, giving Harang an RBI single that ties the game 4 – 4 at that point.

Roy Halladay continues to be outstanding for the Phillies. Today, he pitches his first shutout in the National League, disposing of the Braves, 2 – 0. He is now 4-0, 0.82 for the season.

Philip Hughes of the Yankees justifies the decision to return him to the starting rotation, pitching a no-hitter for 7 innings before Eric Chavez of the Athletics bounces a ground ball towards the mound to open the 8th. The ball hits Hughes’s left forearm and lands for a single in front of the pitcher. The Yankees win the game, 3 – 1.

The Pirates suffer the most lopsided loss in team history, falling 20 – 0 to the Brewers, who complete a three-game sweep in which they outscored Pittsburgh 36 – 1. Milwaukee collects 25 hits; Ryan Braun, Prince Fielderand George Kottaras go deep, for the benefit of Randy Wolf.

The Tampa Bay Rays improve their record to 12-4, the best in the majors, after completing a 9-1 road trip with a 10 – 2 win over the Chicago White Sox. James Shields is the winner as Carlos Pena drives in four runs.

Former major league manager Kevin Kennedy, now working as a broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Rays, is suddenly thrust into the limelight, as he intervenes to stop a deranged man who threatens to blow up a flight between Los Angeles, CA and Tampa, FL. Kennedy is one of ten passengers who subdue the madman as the Delta Air Lines flight is diverted to Albuquerque, NM.

The Yankees turn their first triple play in 42 years

The Yankees turn their first triple play in 42 years

There are other unusual plays in games today. In Kansas City, the Royals’ David DeJesus hits a long drive that bounces off the fence and back onto the field. Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer, convinced the ball went into the stands, does not chase it as DeJesus races around the bases for an inside-the-park homer; the Twins still win, 8 – 3. And at Chase Field, the Phillies’ Jayson Werth hits a high fly ball to right field in the 4th inning; Diamondbacks RF Chris Young is camped under it, but lets the ball drop to the ground and picks it up immediately. While Young is vainly trying to convince umpire Dale Scott that he did indeed make the catch, Werth does not stop running and makes it all the way home on a rare four-base error. In spite of the embarrassment, Arizona wins, 7 – 4.

The Mets beat the Braves, 5 – 2, as Ike Davis hits his first major league home run. There is an unusual play in the 7th inning: with the Mets leading 3 – 2 with two runners on base, Jose Reyes hits a high pop-up and the umpires invoke the infield fly rule. But 3B Chipper Jones crosses in front of SS Omar Infante in the windy conditions, and the ball glances off his glove and falls to the ground. C Brian McCann picks up the ball, and not realizing that Reyes is out automatically, goes after him. He relays the ball to 1B Eric Hinske, who tags both Reyes and the bag to no avail. While the Braves are busy flogging a dead horse, Angel Pagan races around the diamond for the Mets’ fourth run. Nippon Pro Baseball veteran Hisanori Takahashi replaces starter John Maine, who has to leave in the 4th inning with pain in his left elbow; he strikes out seven in three innings to pick up his first major league win.

All-Star Ben Zobrist agrees to a three-year contract extension with the Rays that guarantees him $18 million for 2010-13. The team’s MVP last season, obtained in 2006 from Houston in the Aubrey Huff trade, had agreed to a one-year deal in March worth $438,100.

The Rays’ 10-2 victory over Chicago concludes a 9-1 road trip, making it the team’s winningest road trip in the 13-year history of the franchise. Tampa’s success on the road translates into a 12-4 record overall, their best start ever.

Wade LeBlanc pitches six scoreless innings and records his first win of the year as the Padres shut out the Reds, 5 – 0, for their eighth consecutive victory. Adrian Gonzalez, Will Venable and Yorvit Torrealba all hit home runs for the red-hot Padres.

Jorge Cantu of the Florida Marlins goes 0 for 4 in the second game of today’s doubleheader, ending his hitting streak at 21 games, dating back to last September. He still drives in the Marlins’ lone run in an 8 – 1 loss to the Rockies, giving him 20 RBI for the season. Cantu went 1 for 4 as Florida won the first game, 4 – 1. His hitting streak included a 10-game stretch to start the year during which he collected at least a hit and a RBI in each game.

After undergoing shoulder surgery in November 2009, Ted Lilly pitches six scoreless innings in his first start of the year for the Cubs, leading his team to a 5 – 1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Carlos Zambrano, who, in a controversial decision, was moved to the bullpen to make room for Lilly in the starting rotation, pitches an inning and a third in his first relief appearance in almost eight years. He gives up the Brewers’ sole run, but drives in one of the Cubs’ tallies with a sacrifice fly.

Chris Jakubauskas is struck in the head by a vicious line drive off the bat of Houston's Lance Berkman

Chris Jakubauskas is struck in the head by a vicious line drive off the bat of Houston’s Lance Berkman

David Price fires first shutout

Mike Pelfrey runs scoreless streak to 24 innings

The Red Sox win a wild 13 – 12 game over the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Jason Varitek goes 3 for 5 with 4 RBI and Marco Scutaro is also 3 for 5, with 4 runs scored for the winners. But starter Josh Beckett cannot hold an early 5 – 0 lead and is chased after 3 innings, having given up 8 runs. Scott Schoeneweis earns his first win of the year in relief, and Jonathan Papelbon has to be summoned to pitch the 9th for the save. For the Jays, Lyle Overbay is 3 for 5 with a homer and 4 RBI, and Jose Bautista also has a homer and 4 RBI.

The Phillies sign their star first baseman Ryan Howard to a five-year contract extension worth between $125-138 million. The deal should help set the price-tag for three other first basemen who may become free agents at the end of the season, Adrian Gonzalez, Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols. However, Howard will go into rapid decline and his huge contract will prove to be an albatross for the Phils.

The Phillies sign their star first baseman Ryan Howard to a five-year contract extension worth between $125-138 million. The deal should help set the price-tag for three other first basemen who may become free agents at the end of the season, Adrian Gonzalez, Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols. However, Howard will go into rapid decline and his huge contract will prove to be an albatross for the Phils.

The Brewers pound the Pirates, 17 – 3, for their 22nd consecutive win over the Bucs at Miller Park, dating back to 2007. They have won all four of their games with Pittsburgh this year by a combined score of 53-5. Pirates OF Ryan Church comments: “There are no words to describe it. It’s embarrassing. That about sums it up.”

The 2009-2010 Cuban Serie Nacional awards are given out. Alfredo Despaigne of Granma, the batting average and home run leader, is named MVP for the second straight season.

Josh Johnson pitches a three-hitter and strikes out 12 as the Marlins beat the Padres, 10 – 1. For good measure, Johnson matches the Padres’ hit total by himself and drives in 3 runs.

With a 3-16 record coming into the game, the Orioles win at home for the first time this year, beating the Yankees, 5 – 4. It’s hard slogging, though, as the Yankees score two unearned runs in the 9th and Alfredo Simon records the first save of his career in his first appearance since reconstructive elbow surgery last May. Alberto Castillo is the winner in relief. The Orioles now have a two-game winning streak, but their record is still four games worse than any other team in the majors.

The Mets sweep the Dodgers in a doubleheader, 4 – 0 and 10 – 5, to extend their winning streak to 6 games and to record their 8th win in their last 9 games. Jason Bay hits his first home run as a Met in support of Johan Santana’s pitching in the opener, while David Wright drives in four runs in the nitecap.

Francisco Liriano continues to display the form that made him a rookie sensation before arm surgery in 2006. The Twins’ starter pitches a third consecutive game in which he does not allow a run, going 8 innings in a 2 – 0 win over Detroit. He has an 0.93 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 29 innings this year.

With the help of a five-run ninth inning fueled by Ryan Doumit’s grand slam and Ronny Cedeno’s solo shot off Trevor Hoffman, the Pirates snap a 22-game losing streak in Milwaukee with a 7-3 comeback victory over the Brewers at Miller Park. The Brew Crew’s hometown hex over the Bucs was the longest held by one team over another since the Browns / Orioles lost 27 consecutive contests to the Indians in Cleveland from 1952-54.

David Wright, with an RBI single to right field off Ramon Troncoso in the fifth inning of New York’s 10-5 victory over L.A. at Citi Field, becomes the eighth and quickest player to accumulate 1,000 hits in a Mets uniform. The 27 year-old third baseman, who surpasses Mike Piazza’s mark of 935 games to reach the milestone, accomplishes the feat in his 868th career contest with the club.

The all-time saves leader, Trevor Hoffman of the Milwaukee Brewers, continues to struggle this year. He blows a save for the second consecutive day in a 6 – 5, 14-inning loss to the Pirates by giving up a game-tying 9th-inning home run to Ryan Doumit, one day after giving up a grand slam to Doumit. Hoffman has already blown 4 save opportunities this year, as many as in all of 2009, and has an ERA of 13.00 with 6 homers allowed.

Major League Baseball announces a number of changes to the rules that govern the All-Star Game that have been agreed with the Players’ union: the designated hitter will now be used in all games, not just those played in American League parks; a pitcher who started a game on the last Sunday before the All-Star break will not be eligible to play in the game and will be replaced on the roster, although he will still be recognized as an All-Star (this will become known as the Sunday Starter rule); rosters are expanded to 34 players, adding one position player; one of the position players will be designated as being able to re-enter the game in case of injury – catchers are already allowed to do so in those circumstances.

3B Luke Hughes of the Minnesota Twins homers in his first major league at-bat off the Tigers’ Max Scherzer in the 3rd inning of an 11 – 6 loss. The Australian is the fifth Twin to accomplish the feat, but the first since Andre David in 1984. The Tigers trail 6 – 1 in the 4th and then score 10 unanswered runs. The key play occurs when Denard Span drops a fly ball hit by Johnny Damon in a six-run 6th inning.

Phillies slugger Ryan Howard agrees to a $125 million, five-year contract extension that could keep the infielder with the team until 2017. The 30 year-old first baseman’s $25 million guaranteed average salary during the new deal is the second-highest amount in the major leagues, trailing behind only Alex Rodriguez’s ten-year contract with the Yankees that averages $27.5 million per season.

Changes recommended by baseball’s special committee for on-field matters, including the expansion of All-Star rosters to 34 players, including 13 pitchers, will be implemented for this season’s Mid-Summer classic scheduled to be played at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Other new adopted rules include the use of a designated hitter every year, making a pitcher who starts on the final Sunday prior to the break ineligible to play, and allowing re-entry into a game if the last available position player at any position is injured.

Luke Hughes becomes the fifth player in Twins’ history to homer in his first at-bat in the major leagues when he goes deep off Detroit’s Max Scherzer in Minnesota’s 11-6 loss at Comerica Park. The Australian-born rookie third baseman joins Rick Renick (1968), Dave McKay (1975), Gary Gaetti (1981), and Andre David (1984) in accomplishing the feat.

Dontrelle Willis’s comeback continues as he pitches his best game since joining the Detroit Tigers before the 2008 season. He gives up only 4 hits and no runs in 7 innings as Detroit blanks Minnesota, 3 – 0. He picks up his first win of the year – which is only his second for the Bengals. In the contest, Magglio Ordonez hits the 300th home run of his career, four years to the day after hitting number 200.

The Atlanta Braves complete an 0-7 road trip by falling to the St. Louis Cardinals, 10 – 4. David Freese hits his first home run of the year and drives in 6 runs to give Adam Wainwright his 4th win. Atlanta has now lost 9 in a row after a strong start.

Roy Halladay loses his third consecutive complete game, a 1-0 defeat at Boston’s Fenway Park. The hard-luck Blue Jays right-hander is the first pitcher to suffer such an indignity since Randy Johnson lost three straight complete-game decisions in 1999, and becomes the first Toronto hurler since Jim Clancy had a similar streak in 1982.

During the Diamondbacks game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, scores of protesters wave signs and chant, “Boycott Arizona! Boycott Arizona!” on the sidewalk outside the ballpark. The demonstration is in response to the state’s recently enacted illegal-immigration law, with organizers hoping the movement will inspire baseball fans to stay away from contests that feature the team from The Grand Canyon State.

Scott Sizemore and Brennan Boesch both hit their first major league home run in the 4th inning as Detroit beats the Angels, 10 – 6. Another rookie, Austin Jackson, goes 5 for 5 for Detroit. Sizemore’s dinger follows one by Gerald Laird, while Boesch’s is a grand slam during the 8-run inning.

Off-season prize acquisition Cliff Lee finally makes his first start for the Seattle Mariners. He is masterful, giving up no runs on 3 hits while striking out 8 in 7 innings, but the Rangers’ Colby Lewis is just as brilliant as the scoreless tie extends to the 12th inning. Elvis Andrus eventually scores the winning run on a wild pitch by Brandon League, as Texas wins, 2 – 0.

With more than twenty-five percent of its membership born outside of the United States, the Major League Baseball players’ union issues a statement condemning Arizona’s new law that requires proof of identity be shown to any state or local official who is suspicious of a person’s immigration status. Michael Weiner, the head of the MLBPA, said the organization would consider “additional steps” if the edict is not repealed or modified.

Mariano Rivera�ties Eric Gagne’s major league mark when he gets his�51st consecutive save at home, working a perfect ninth inning in the Yankees’ 6-4 victory over Chicago.�The Panamanian closer also fans two batters to move ahead of Roger Clemens for 10th on the team’s all-time strikeout list with 1,015.

The New York Yankees suffer a double loss today. They bow to the Chicago White Sox, 7 – 6, as Andruw Jones and A.J. Pierzynski hit long balls, then place starting centerfielder Curtis Granderson on the disabled listbecause of a strained left groin suffered while running the bases.

Roy Halladay throws his second shutout in three starts when the Phillies stop the Mets’ winning streak at 8 games with a 10 – 0 win. Mets starter Mike Pelfrey’s scoreless innings streak is stopped at 27 as he is charged with his first loss of the season.

The Phillies take over first place in the NL East by beating Mets ace Johan Santana like a rag doll. Santana gives up 10 runs, including 8 in the 4th inning, which he fails to complete. With the Mets leading 5 – 3, he issues a two-out bases-loaded walks to his opposite, Jamie Moyer, then Shane Victorino blasts a grand slam to open the floodgates. Chase Utley adds a two-run shot to chase Santana; Placido Polanco and Ryan Howard had homered earlier against him. The Phillies win, 11 – 5.

Ty Wigginton hits a game-winning double off closer Jonathan Papelbon in the bottom of the 10th to give Baltimore a 3 – 2 win over Boston, completing a three-game sweep, their first at home over the Red Sox since 1974. At 7-18, Baltimore still has the worst record in the majors though.

Zack Greinke, the 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner, falls to 0-3 on the year with a 1 – 0 loss to the league-leading Tampa Bay Rays. Wade Davis gets the win with 7 shutout innings. Greinke has a 2.27 ERA in 6 starts, but has not received any run support from his Kansas City teammates.

Ubaldo Jimenez becomes the first six-game winner in the majors this year with a 5 – 2 win by the Rockies over San Diego. He strikes out a career-high 13 in the game, including All-Star 1B Adrian Gonzalez three times.

Brett Cecil, feeling dizzy and congested, pitches the best game of his career as he throws six perfect innings in Toronto’s 5 – 1 win over Cleveland. A one-out walk to Grady Sizemore in the 7th breaks the perfecto and is followed by Jhonny Peralta’s single. Cecil is the fourth different Blue Jays pitcher to carry a no-hitter into the 7th inning this year; he allows just the one hit in 8 innings and strikes out 10.

Ernie Harwell, one of the greatest broadcasters in baseball history, dies at the age of 92 after a year-long bout with cancer. He was the radio and television voice of the Detroit Tigers for 42 years, retiring from the booth in 2002. He received the Ford Frick Award in 1981 and was a member of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame.

Philadelphia police use a taser gun to subdue a 17-year-old fan who runs onto the field in the 8th inning of a game between the Phillies and Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. The police justify the use of the controversial weapon by pointing to injuries sustained during previous similar incidents, most notoriously when two fans assaulted Kansas City first base coach Tom Gamboa in Chicago in 2002. Criticized for having used excessive force, the Phillies announce a day later that from now on, they will call for police assistance only if team security is unable to handle a situation by itself. The Phillies win the game, 2 – 1, on a 10th-inning walk-off home run by Carlos Ruiz.

During the seventh-inning stretch in a game against Detroit, the fans honor Ernie Harwell with a standing ovation upon hearing of the broadcasting icon’s death. In September, the 92 year-old Hall of Fame announcer, who started his major league career with Brooklyn in 1948 and spent 42 years broadcasting Tiger games, shared with the public of diagnosis with inoperable cancer of the bile duct.

“He brings out the best in his players and exemplifies what the sport of baseball is supposed to be about — hustle, grit, loyalty and determination.” – U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), praising Braves’ manager Bobby CoxAt the United States Capitol, Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) present Bobby Cox framed copies of their statements submitted into the Congressional Record on April 20 honoring the Braves’ skipper. The 68 year-old skipper has announced he will be retiring at the end of the season, after 51 seasons in professional baseball.

Andy Pettitte earns his fourth win of the year against no losses in beating the Orioles, 7 – 5, but the veteran Yankees starter has to be removed from the game after only 77 pitches and undergoes an MRI on his left elbow. The test reveals no structural damage, but Pettitte will have to rest until the inflammation goes away. He will retire after this season, then come back in 2012.

Two very disappointing seasons after signing one of the biggest contracts in baseball history, Barry Zito is pitching like a Cy Young Award winner once again. The Giants lefty improves his record to 5-0 with a 3 – 2 win over the Marlins, with help from reliever Sergio Romo, who gets out of a none-out, bases-loaded jam in the 8th. Zito’s ERA is now 1.49. Aaron Rowand hits a home run for San Francisco and Brian Wilson pitches the 9th for the save. Zito will soon cool down, however, and be back on the sidelines when the Giants win the World Series in October.

Boston honors their former All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra with a special day before the Red Sox-Angels game at Fenway Park

Robin Roberts dies at age 83 at his home in Temple Terrace, FL. He began his career in 1948 with the Philadelphia Phillies, with whom he had his best seasons. He was named to 7 All-Star teams and went 286-245 in a career that stretched until 1966. He led the National League in wins 4 times, won 20 or more games during 6 consecutive seasons, but also gave up a major league record 505 home runs. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976.

Scott Olsen of the Washington Nationals, who started the year in the minors after undergoing shoulder surgery the previous July, retires 22 of the first 23 Braves batters he faces, until David Ross breaks up his no-hit bid with a one-out single in the 8th. The Braves then proceed to tie the score at 2-all, but the Nats score a run in the bottom of the 9th on a pinch-hit single by Willie Harris with the bases loaded and none out. Tyler Clippard is credited with the 3 – 2 win.

The Texas Rangers manage to blow an 8 – 0 lead to the Royals, but come back in dramatic fashion for a wild 13 – 12 win. Texas scores the tying and winning runs on back-to-back solo homers by Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero off Royals closer Joakim Soria with two outs in the bottom of the 8th.

Wade McGilberry wins a million dollars playing the video game, Major League Baseball 2K10. The 23 year-old Mobile, Alabamian becomes the first gamer to pitch a perfect game in the Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.’s product, accomplishing the feat in just an hour and a half.

From 7 a.m. till past midnight, more than 10,000 Tigers fans, some who wait more than eight hours in line at Comerica Park, pay their respect to the beloved broadcaster Ernie Harwell. The open casket is placed near the ballpark’s life-sized statue of the Hall of Famer, depicting the announcer with a microphone in his hand, along with the inscription, “The Tigers’ broadcasting legend and masterful storyteller for 42 seasons.”

Lance Orton and Duane Jackson are honored at Citi Field for stopping a terror attack

5/7/2010: The Tigers and Indians played four innings in Cleveland before the rain ended the game after a 2 hour and 12 minute wait. Three homers were lost to the weather. Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run blast in the top of the first off David Huff. Grady Sizemore hit a solo shot in the bottom of the frame off Jeremy Bonderman and Travis Hafner hit a three-run homer off Bonderman in the third.

Starlin Castro, the first major leaguer to be born in the 1990’s, becomes the sixth Cub in franchise history to hit a home run in his first big league at bat, going deep off Homer Bailey in Chicago’s 14-7 win over Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park. The 20 year-old rookie shortstop also becomes the first player to compile six RBIs in his first game in the majors when he delivers a bases-loaded triple in addition to his second inning three-run blast to deep right field.

Lance Orton and Duane Jackson, who were instrumental foiling a terrorist’s attempt to set off a car bomb in Times Square, are honored at Citi Field prior to the Mets game against San Francisco. The two street vendors alerted the police after they observed a parked car on 45th Street had started to fill with smoke and was making popping sounds.

Twins suffer first rainout in 30 years

Twins suffer first rainout in 30 years

Jamie Moyer becomes the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a shutout

Snapping out of what is for him a typical cold start to the season, the Yankees’ Mark Teixeira hits three homers and drives in 5 runs to lead New York to a 14 – 3 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park; he is the second player in Yankee history to hit three long balls in a game against Boston, after Lou Gehrig. Francisco Cervelli, starting because of an injury to C Jorge Posada, also drives in 5 runs. Teixeira’s last dinger is hit against OF Jonathan Van Every, making the second pitching appearance of his career. The game is interrupted for 1:15 by a rain delay in the 5th inning, forcing starter CC Sabathia out early and giving Alfredo Aceves the win.

Brewers manager Ken Macha flips a coin to decide who will be his starter in right field and hits the jackpot. Both Jody Gerut and Corey Hart have struggled all season, but Gerut, the coin toss winner, hitting .048 against righties coming into the game, hits for the cycle in a 17 – 3 rout of Arizona.

Hideki Matsui collects the 1500th RBI of his professional career, between Nippon Pro Baseball and Major League Baseball, in the 10th inning. to give the Angels a 4 – 3 victory over the Mariners.

Dallas Braden pitches the 19th perfect game in major league history as the Oakland A’s defeat the Tampa Bay Rays, owners of the best record and best offense in the majors coming into the game, 4 – 0. Braden’s is the second perfect game in franchise history, following that of Catfish Hunter on May 8, 1968; it also comes less than ten months after Mark Buehrle pitched the last perfecto, also against the Rays, on July 23, 2009.

With their offense out of gas, the Mariners fire hitting coach Alan Cockrell and replace him with AAA hitting instructor Alonzo Powell. Seattle is hitting only .225 and has been outhomered as a team by Paul Konerko of the White Sox. The M’s respond to the change with an 8 – 1 win over the Angels as Michael Saunders hits his first major league homer and Josh Wilson also goes deep. Jason Vargas is the beneficiary of the offensive outburst.

On the night they pay tribute to long-time broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who passed away last week, the Tigers beat New York, 5 – 4, with key contributions from three former Yankees. Johnny Damon, signed as a free agent in the off-season, hits a home run in his first game against his former team, while Austin Jackson drives in a run and Phil Coke gets two key outs late in the game. Jackson and Coke were both obtained in a trade for OF Curtis Granderson, who is on the disabled list.

The Nationals move to second place in the NL East with a 3 – 2 win over the Mets. Adam Kennedy and Ryan Zimmerman hit back-to-back homers in support of rookie Luis Atilano’s pitching. The Nats are now 4 games above .500 for the first time since September of 2005. After the game, the struggling Mets designate veteran Frank Catalanotto for assignment and call up OF Chris Carter from AAA Buffalo.

Johnny Cueto comes within about a foot of a no-hitter when SS Paul Janish dives to stop Ronny Cedeno’s ground ball in the 3rd inning, only to see it deflect off his glove for a single. That’s the only base hit for the Pirates, as the Reds hurler records a 9 – 0 one-hitter. Chris Heisey gets his first three major league hits in the game, including a home run.

The Mariners’ key acquisition during the off-season, left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee, finally wins a game for his new team. After spending all of April on the disabled list with a strained abdominal muscle, and pitching well in his first two starts but being let down by an anemic offense, he pitches 7 1/3 strong innings in a 5 – 1 win over the Orioles. Brandon League then relieves Lee and finishes the game to earn his first save of the year, while Ryan Langerhans homers off loser David Hernandez, who is now 0-5.

In their first game since Dallas Braden’s perfect game, the A’s have to use 6 relievers to grind out a 7 – 6 win over the Rangers in 13 innings. Daric Barton drives in Landon Powell, who had just stolen his first major league base on a busted hit-and-run play, for the winning run. Barton had earlier homered in the 11th, only to see Texas come back against Tyson Ross for the third blown save by an A’s reliever on the night. Ross then strikes out when forced to bat in the 12th because of an empty Oakland bench, and later gets credit for his first major league win.

Major League Baseball issues a warning to the Phillies after investigating allegations made by the Colorado Rockies that bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer used binoculars to steal signs from the centerfield bullpen in the game between the teams on May 10th. In today’s game, Colorado wins, 4 – 3, as Miguel Olivo goes 5 for 5, capping his perfect day with a walk-off home run off Chad Durbin in the 10th inning.

The Nationals continue to surprise, beating the Mets, 6 – 4, at Citi Field, thanks to Roger Bernadina’s first two homers this year. The second is a two-run shot off closer Francisco Rodriguez in the 9th inning and comes moments after Bernadina makes a diving game-saving catch to rob Jeff Francoeur with the bases loaded. Nats starter Craig Stammen contributes the other 3 RBI but does not figure in the decision; instead, reliever Tyler Clippard picks up his major-league leading 7th win, followed by Matt Capps’s 14th save, which is also a major league high so far this season.

Due to security concerns raised as a result of the G-20 Summit in Toronto, MLB switches the Phillies’ scheduled visit to Canada to play the Blue Jays to Philadelphia. The visitors will be considered the home team, batting last, and can employ a designated hitter in the National League’s Citizens Bank Park.

Mat Latos comes extremely close to pitching a no-hitter, but has to settle for a one-hit shutout, the first complete game of his career, as San Diego beats the Giants, 1 – 0. The only hit he allows is a ground ball by Eli Whiteside in the 6th that glances off him towards third baseman Chase Headley, whose throw to first base is a fraction of a second too late to retire Whiteside. For good measure, Latos also drives in the only run of the game.

Zack Greinke finally earns his first win of the year, but it comes too late to save Trey Hillman’s job. The Royals announce after the 6 – 4 win over the Indians that their manager has been fired and will be replaced by former Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost. The Royals are 12-23 and in a familiar last place in the AL Central.

Trey Hillman, who compiled a 152-207 record in his two-plus years with the club, is fired by the Royals. The popular and well-respected 47 year-old, who piloted the team to a 12-23 record this season, including today’s victory, will be replaced by the team’s current baseball operations assistant and former Brewers manager, Ned Yost.

After Twins manager Ron Gardenhire orders an intentional walk to Mark Teixeira and brings in righty Matt Guerrier to face Alex Rodriguez in the 7th, the Yankee third baseman blasts his 19th career grand slam to pass Frank Robinson for 7th on the all-time career home run list and give New York an 8 – 4 win.

The Cincinnati Reds defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 4 – 3, in the annual Civil Rights Game, which honors those who have worked for racial equality in the country. For the occasion, both teams sport their 1947 uniforms. Skip Schumaker is thrown out at the plate by a relay from LF Chris Heisey to SS Orlando Cabrera to C Ramon Hernandez to end the game. The Reds’ Mike Leake, in his first professional season, is now 4-0.

Dodgers RF Andre Ethier, who leads or is tied for the lead in all three National League Triple Crown categories, fractures a finger in batting practice and will be out indefinitely.

The Tampa Bay Rays release designated hitter Pat Burrell, after his average falls to .202. A key member of the Phillies’ World Championship team in 2008, Burrell never got his bat going in a season-and-a-half with the Rays, hitting a combined .218 with 16 home runs. To replace him, the Rays promote veteran Hank Blalock from the Durham Bulls.

Owasso High School junior Dylan Bundy, needing his team to win both ends of a doubleheader to stave off his team’s elimination from the state tournament, throws the final five innings of the opener and the first five innings of the nightcap. The future first-round pick (4th) of the Orioles, who will throw 181 pitches over the two games en route to striking out 20 batters in 10 innings, helps the Rams beat Jenks, 10-7 and 5-4, advancing his teammates to the Oklahoma state championship game. (Our thanks to Rick Heaton, sports editor/associate editor of the Owasso Reporter, for his help in providing details of this entry.)

The Reds beat the Cardinals, 7 – 2, to move into first place in the NL Central. Bronson Arroyo pitches a complete game while Scott Rolen hits a homer and drives in three runs against his former team.

The Twins stun the Yankees with an 8th-inning grand slam by Jason Kubel against closer Mariano Rivera for a 6 – 3 win at New Yankee Stadium. Rivera had converted a record-tying 51 consecutive save opportunities at home and had not given up a grand slam since 2002; the runs are also the first he gives up this season.

It’s another epic battle between the Yankees and Red Sox at New Yankee Stadium. The Yanks take a 5 – 0 lead in the 1st inning against Daisuke Matsuzaka, but the Sox storm back to take the lead with five home runs, two by Victor Martinez, and one each by David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis. Then, in the bottom of the 9th, Jonathan Papelbon gives up a pair of two-run homers, to Alex Rodriguez and Marcus Thames, and the Yankees end up on top, 11 – 9.

The Dodgers extend their winning streak to 8 games with a 6 – 2 victory over the Astros. Rookie John Ely allows only one run in 7 innings facing the worst offense in the major leagues; he has yet to allow a walk while striking out 25 in 25 1/3 innings this season. Blake DeWitt hits two triples for the Dodgers who have moved to within two games of the NL West lead after a slow start.

Another day, another epic Yankees-Red Sox battle. Today, the Yankees play the game under protest, claiming the Sox did not properly signal an injury before removing pitcher Josh Beckett trailing 5 – 0 in the 5th inning, thus giving reliever Manny Delcarmen more time to warm up than warranted. For the second night in a row, the Sox come back from a five-run hole, taking a 7 – 5 lead in the 9th thanks to an error by RF Marcus Thames on Marco Scutaro’s fly ball. Jonathan Papelbon, who blew a save the previous night, allows a run in the bottom of the 9th, but strikes out Randy Winn with runners on second and third to end the game. The contest starts almost an hour late because of rain, is played in a constant drizzle, and lasts a marathon 4 hours and 9 minutes, making it the longest nine-inning game played so far this season.

Carlos Silva improves his record to 5-0 as the Cubs beat the Rockies, 6 – 2. A huge disappointment for the Seattle Mariners the last two seasons, Silva has found his old form with Chicago, forcing manager Lou Piniella to make a difficult decision: who will be bumped from the starting rotation to make room for Carlos Zambrano, set to return after an unconvincing stint in the bullpen ?

Tyler Clippard falls to 7-3 as the Nationals drop a 3 – 2 game to the Cards. He becomes the second reliever to get 10 decisions in his team’s first 40 games, following Mike Marshall by 31 years.

Adrian Gonzalez homers and drives in 6 runs to snap the Dodgers’ winning streak at 9 games, as San Diego wins, 10 – 5. Also for the Padres, Will Venable has four hits, including two doubles and a triple, while Jon Garlandrecords the win over his former team.

The Yankees learn that C Jorge Posada has a broken bone in his right foot and will be out of action for three to four weeks. Francisco Cervelli has already assumed the bulk of the playing time behind the plate this season. Posada joins DH Nick Johnson, out with a wrist injury, and OF Curtis Granderson on the disabled list, while OF Marcus Thames and Nick Swisher are both day-to-day because of a sprained ankle and a sore biceps, respectively. The Rays take advantage of their banged-up opponents, beating them, 10 – 6, and increasing their lead in the AL East to 4 games.

CF Angel Pagan hits the first inside-the-park homer in the history of Nationals Park in the 4th inning, starts a triple play in the 5th and for good measure makes a spectacular diving catch of Roger Bernadina’s line drive with the bases loaded in the 6th, but New York still manages to lose for the 9th time in 11 games, 5 – 3 to the Nationals. It has been 55 years since Ted Kazanski was the last major leaguer to perform the two feats in the same game.

5/19/2010: Josh Hamilton of the Rangers homered in the second inning against the Orioles in Arlington. In the fourth, his fly cleared the 14-foot fence in LF and caromed back onto the field. Second base umpire Doug Eddings ruled it in play. Rangers manager Ron Washington argued with Eddings, who stood firm in his call, saying the ball hit the pad. Washington was convinced and left the field. Crew chief Dana DeMuth did not watch the replay and admitted after the game that the unpires were wrong. He said that he should have watched the replay and then overturned the call.

After being benched for criticizing Fredi Gonzalez, who pulled him from the previous game for loafing, Hanley Ramirez, at the prompting of Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Tony Perez, apologizes to his manager and individually to his teammates prior to today’s contest in St. Louis. The visiting All-Star shortstop and reigning National League batting champ, amidst of being booed by the Busch Stadium fans, collects three hits and drives in a run in the Marlins’ 5-1 victory over the Redbirds.

Mets center fielder Angel Pagan initiates the tenth triple play in franchise history when he snags Cristian Guzman’s sinking liner with first and second base occupied. After making the stunning catch that surprises both of Washington’s baserunners, the outfielder overthrows the infield, but catcher Henry Blanco takes the errant toss and throws the ball to Jose Reyes at second base to double off Livan Hernandez, and then the shortstop relays the ball to first baseman Ike Davis to triple up Nyjer Morgan, making it the first 9-2-6-3 triple killing in major league history.

Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies flirts with his second no-hitter of the year, allowing only an infield single to Humberto Quintero before leaving the game after the 7th inning because of leg cramps. The Rockies win, 4 – 0, and Jimenez is now 8-1 with an ERA of 0.99.

The Braves score a 9th-inning touchdown to overtake the Reds, after trailing 8 – 0 earlier and being down by 6 when the fateful inning starts. After another good start by rookie Mike Leake, reliever Mike Lincoln gives up four consecutive singles to start the 9th, scoring two runs. He is replaced by Nick Masset, who walks Cody Ross to load the bases; Martin Prado follows with a apparent double play grounder, but 3B Miguel Cairo fails to get the ball out of his glove and the score is now 9 – 6. Arthur Rhodes strikes out Jason Heyward for the first out and Francisco Cordero comes out to face pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad. Conrad hits a drive to deep left field which deflects off the glove of Laynce Nix and falls in the stands for a walk-off grand slam. It is only the second time in major league history that a pinch-hit grand slam overcomes a three-run deficit to end a game; the first was on July 8, 1950, by Jack Phillips of the Pirates. Joey Votto also hit a grand slam earlier in the game for the Reds, and Craig Kimbrel earns his first big league win.

Trailing the Reds 9-3 starting the bottom of the ninth, Brooks Conrad’s pinch-hit grand slam gives the Braves an amazing 10-9 walk-off victory at Turner Field. The seven-run frame’s big blow by the 30 year-old journeyman barely clears the fence, with the ball deflecting off Laynce Nix’s glove when the left fielder reaches over the top of the wall at the 380-foot sign.

Cardinals pitcher Brad Penny makes his mark with the bat, connecting for a grand slam in the 3rd inning, but then has to leave the game shortly afterwards with a back injury. The Cardinals beat the Angels, 9 – 5, as reliever Jason Motte picks up the win.

Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt vents his frustration about pitching in front of the worst offense in the major leagues, saying he is willing to waive his no-trade clause. With the team headed for a third straight losing season, Oswalt has a sparkling 2.66 ERA but is only 2-6 because of the lack of support. In today’s game, Houston scores only two runs, but still tops the major league-leading Tampa Bay Rays, 2 – 1, thanks to a stellar start by Brett Myers. Oswalt will be traded to Philadelphia later this season.

The Blue Jays blast six home runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but they’re all solo shots. They lose, 8 – 6, wasting a three-homer effort by Edwin Encarnacion; Fred Lewis also leads off the contest with a long ball, to no avail. Since 1920, only one other team has scored six runs, all on solo homers, in a game: the Athletics in 1991.

Daisuke Matsuzaka and Daniel Bard combine on a one-hitter as Boston defeats Philadelphia, 5 – 0. The Phils’ only hit comes with two out in the 8th, when Juan Castro drops a pop-up just beyond the reach of shortstop Marco Scutaro.

Gio Gonzalez of the Athletics has the best outing of his career so far, tossing 8 shutout innings in beating San Francisco, 1 – 0. He retires the final 20 batters he faces before manager Bob Geren gives the ball to Andrew Bailey to pitch the 9th. However, the news is not all good for Oakland: they place long-time 3B Eric Chavez on the disabled list with two bulging disks in his neck; Chavez, who has been bothered by injuries continually since 2007, hints that his career may be over. He is hitting .234 with one homer in 33 games and has been used almost exclusively as a designated hitter. He won’t play for Oakland again, but will make a successful comeback as a back-up with the Yankees next season.

After setting the mark in his previous game, Mike Redmond’s major league record errorless-streak behind the plate comes to an end when his throw to second base, trying to thwart a would-be base stealer, skips past Mark Grudzielanek. The Indians catcher’s streak started on July 22, 2004, and covered a span of 253 games.

Matt Stairs ties a major league mark when he homers for his eleventh team in San Diego’s 2-1 inter-league victory in Seattle. The Padres designated hitter’s fourth-inning homer off Ian Snell ties Todd Zeile’s record, who accomplished the feat by going deep in an Expo uniform in 2003.

The Mets win their first subway series against the crosstown Yankees since 1998 with a 6 – 4 victory. Jason Bay homers twice – only his second and third long balls of the year – against CC Sabathia. Johan Santana is the winner and Francisco Rodriguez picks up the save by striking out Alex Rodriguez with two men on to end the game.

43-year-old Tim Wakefield gives up no runs in 8 innings as he picks up his first win in almost a year when Boston defeats Philadelphia, 8 – 3. Kevin Youkilis triples, homers and scores three runs for Boston.

Omar Vizquel, who already owns the record for most games played at shortstop, reaches another mark, tying Luis Aparicio’s total for second-most hits at the position, 2764. This year, Vizquel is wearing Aparicio’s uniform number 11, even though it has been officially retired by the White Sox, in tribute to his idol and countryman. The Yankees’ Derek Jeter is first in hits, having himself passed Aparicio earlier this year, and he is steadily adding to his total. The day is doubly sweet for the Sox as they defeat the Indians, 7 – 2, handing Justin Masterson his 11th straight loss dating back to last season.

The Angels are shut out for the first time this season, falling 6 – 0 to Brett Cecil. Cecil is the latest Toronto starter to throw a low-hit gem, allowing only two hits; he follows Shaun Marcum, Brandon Morrow and Ricky Romero, who have all flirted with no-hitters for the Jays, who are now 27-20 and are surprisingly managing to keep pace with the three juggernauts in the AL East.

For once, über-prospect Stephen Strasburg is merely human in a AAA start, giving up 5 hits and 2 runs in 5 innings for Syracuse against Toledo. Before that, he had allowed 4 hits and no runs in his first 18 1/3 innings at the level; even now, he is 3-0, 0.99 with well over a strikeout per inning as he awaits the inevitable call to Washington.

The old Vladimir Guerrero seems to be back, albeit in a new uniform. In a game against the Royals, the Rangers’ DH hits two homers and a double on an inside pitch that almost hits him to lead Texas to an 8 – 7 win. Vlad is batting .347 with 12 homers and 42 RBI in 45 games after an injury-plagued season in 2009 with the Angels.

The Padres continue to surprise. Sporting the best record in the National League, their starting pitchers have been outstanding. Today, Jon Garland throws 7 shutout innings before the bullpen takes over from there to defeat the Cardinals, 1 – 0. It is already San Diego’s ninth shutout of the year.

The Yankees take two from the Twins at Target Field. First, in a resumption of yesterday’s game which was suspended by rain with no score, they win, 1 – 0, on a homer by Derek Jeter. They then win the regularly-scheduled game, 3 – 2, on a long ball by Nick Swisher against Jon Rauch in the 9th that gives Andy Pettitte the win. Mariano Rivera saves both wins.

The Rays are hearing footsteps, as a result of the Yankees’ wins and their own three-game sweep at home at the hands of Boston; they are now 3 1/2 games ahead of New York and 5 1/2 in front of Boston after losing 11 – 3. David Ortiz hits his 10th homer of the season – his 9th in May – against Matt Garza, while Adrian Beltre drives in 6 runs in support of John Lackey’s pitching.

Mike Pelfrey pitches the Mets’ third consecutive shutout over the Phillies, 3 – 0 at Citi Field. The Phillies’ hitting woes started even before coming to New York, when they were shut out for eight innings by veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield two days before facing the Mets. The Mets’ own knuckleballer, R.A. Dickey, baffled the Phils in the first game of the series, followed by Japanese rookie Hisanori Takahashi in the second game. The Mets have only swept a series with three shutouts one other time in their history, during their Amazin’ year of 1969, also against Philadelphia.

Jason Hammel of the Rockies sets a personal best with 8 strikeouts before he runs into trouble in the 6th inning of a game against the Diamondbacks. He departs with a 3 – 2 lead, but the Rockies’ hitters go on a late-game power surge, with Seth Smith, Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Spilborghs hitting consecutive 7th-inning home runs to seal an 8 – 2 win. The Rockies have won 7 of 8, keeping pace in the surprisingly competitive NL West with the San Diego Padres, who have been making headlines with a sub-3.00 team ERA, and the surging Los Angeles Dodgers, who are 17-7 in May.

Corey Hart hits a two-run homer in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 2 – 0 win over the New York Mets at Miller Park. The homer ends a string of 35 consecutive scoreless innings by Mets pitching.

Matt Cain of the Giants pitches a one-hitter in defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5 – 0. The only hit is a 2nd-inning double by Mark Reynolds.

The Tigers fail to take advantage of a three-home run performance by Miguel Cabrera, falling, 5 – 4, to Ben Sheets and the Oakland Athletics. Reliever Ryan Perry is the loser. The A’s get some bad news after the game, as they announce that two-time All-Star pitcher Justin Duchscherer, who has made only 5 starts this year, needs to undergo surgery on a bothersome hip and will be out for the rest of the season.

Roy Halladay pitches the 20th perfect game in Major League history

Roy Halladay pitches the 20th perfect game in Major League history

The Giants call up Buster Posey to start at first base, and the 23 year-old rookie responds going three-for-four with three RBIs in a 12-1 rout of the Diamondbacks at AT&T Park. The Leesburg, GA native, who will be selected as the National League’s Rookie of the Year at the end of the season, will not become the team’s starting catcher until Bengie Molina is traded to Texas at the end of June.

Kendry Morales breaks his left ankle jumping on home plate while celebrating his walk-off grand slam that beat Seattle

Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies throws his second career shutout – his first was his no-hitter on April 17th – in beating San Francisco, 4 – 0. He is the first pitcher to reach 10 wins in the majors this year, defeating defending Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.

Alex Rodriguez may not be his usual superhuman self this season, but it’s still a bad idea to issue an intentional walk to face him with the bases loaded. The Indians find this out the hard way, as A-Rod connects for a grand slam in the 7th inning, turning a 2 – 1 Yankees lead into an 11 – 2 rout. The slam is the 20th of his career, placing him third on the all-time list, behind Lou Gehrig (23) and Manny Ramirez (21).

San Diego score their most runs at home since moving to PETCO Park in 2004, routing New York, 18 – 6. The last two runs are scored against Oliver Perez, who has pitched so poorly that manager Jerry Manuel has relegated him to the deepest reaches of the bullpen. Jerry Hairston hits a grand slam for the Padres, who remain two games ahead in the NL West.

The Tigers designate pitcher Dontrelle Willis for assignment. He seemed to have turned a corner in his comeback bid when he made the Tigers’ starting rotation out of spring training, but has only won one game all season. This may not yet be the end of the line for the gregarious lefthander, though, as both the Diamondbacks and Marlins have shown interest in acquiring his services. On June 1st, Willis will be traded to Arizona for P Billy Buckner.

Bob Watson, Major League Baseball vice-president in charge of discipline, issues a rare blame directed at an umpire regarding an ejection. Watson states that pitcher Roy Oswalt will face no further action following his ejection from a game on May 31st, but that umpire Bill Hohn “would be addressed in a stern way”. Oswalt had yelled at himself in disgust after throwing a ball in the 3rd inning and was immediately tossed by Hohn.

Scott Rolen hits two homers and a double and drives in four runs against his former team as Cincinnati defeats St. Louis, 9 – 8, in a wild game that leaves the Reds in sole possession of first place in the NL Central. Also swinging a hot bat is Joey Votto, who collects four hits including a homer, but Johnny Cueto blows leads of 3 – 0 and 7 – 3. It takes a sacrifice fly by Drew Stubbs against Blake Hawksworth in the 7th to decide the game in Cincinnati’s favor.

Tampa Bay scores four runs in the 9th inning on only one hit – a bases-loaded double by Sean Rodriguez – to beat Toronto, 7 – 6. Jays closer Kevin Gregg issues five walks and throws a wild pitch in the inning, then is ejected by umpire Angel Hernandez for complaining about his calls. His ouster follows shortly after that of Rays manager Joe Maddon, thrown out for disputing a third strike call on Carlos Pena earlier in the inning. The Jays come within an inch of tying the game in the bottom of the 9th, when a drive by Vernon Wells hits the top of the outfield fence but bounces back on the field.

Victor Martinez goes 5 for 5 with four doubles in Boston’s 9 – 4 win over Oakland. He ties the major league record for doubles in a game by a catcher, set by Sandy Alomar in 1997.

2010 – Lance Berkman drives in five, including the game-winner with two out in the bottom of the ninth to nip the Nationals, 8-7  . Berkman had a two-run double and an RBI single before his two-run liner to left won the game. Jeff Keppinger added three hits and Michael Bourn scored three times. 

Armando Galarraga throws a one-hitter in a 3 – 0 win over Cleveland but in the eyes of most observers, he has pitched a perfect game: the only baserunner he gives up comes with two outs in the 9th inning, when Jason Donald is called safe on an infield hit by umpire Jim Joyce; however, replays show that the throw from 1B Miguel Cabrera to Galarraga beat Donald to the bag. The Tigers starter thus comes agonizingly close to pitching the third major league perfect game in only a month.

Chris Carpenter improves to 75-25 with the St. Louis Cardinals with a 4 – 1 win over the Reds. Only two other pitchers since 1900 had won 75% or more of their first 100 decisions with a team – Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox (78-22) and Cy Young (75-25), also with Boston.

In San Diego, Adrian Gonzalez hits a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning to lead the Padres to a 5 – 1 win over the Mets. San Diego’s David Eckstein had tied the game at 1 with a single with two outs in the bottom of the 9th against Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, after 8 scoreless innings by Johan Santana. It’s not the only late-game grand slam hit today: in Toronto, Carl Crawford of the Rays also hits one, capping a six-run 9th inning, to beat the Blue Jays, 7 – 3, and give David Price his American League-leading 8th win of the year.

Ken Griffey Jr. announces his retirement after 22 seasons in the major leagues. Hitting only .184 in part-time duty for the Mariners, he retires with 630 career home runs and six seasons of 40 or more homers. Most of his career was spent with Seattle and the Cincinnati Reds.

A few days before he is expected to become the first overall selection in the 2010 amateur draft, Bryce Harper, playing for Southern Nevada, is ejected from a game in the National Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, CO for showing up an umpire and arguing balls and strikes. The ejection comes with an automatic two-game suspension, meaning Harper’s amateur career is over unless his team manages to reach the tournament final without its star hitter. While Harper’s playing talent has never been in doubt, there have been frequent questions about the make-up and maturity of the 17-year-old catcher.

The Braves extend their winning streak to 9 games with a 4 – 3 win in Los Angeles. The Dodgers come into the game with a record of 18-8 at home, but an excellent start by Kris Medlen, coupled with Troy Glaus’s fourth homer in 5 games, propels Atlanta to the win. Jonny Venters, filling in for the unavailable Billy Wagner and an injured Takashi Saito, records his first major league save.

A day after Jim Joyce called Jason Donald, who is obviously out, safe with two outs in the ninth inning, ruining Armando Galarraga’s bid for a perfect game, Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm issues a proclamation stating the Tigers right-hander indeed pitched a perfect game against Cleveland, dismissing the blown call by the first base umpire. Additionally, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich) reports she is lobbying baseball commissioner Bud Selig to declare Galarraga’s performance a perfect game, and long-time U.S. Representative John D. Dingell (D-Mich) says he is planning to introduce a resolution in Congress asking MLB to overturn the call.

Armando Galarraga presents the lineup card at home plate to Jim Joyce

2010 – The Orioles, owners of the worst record in the major leagues at 15-39, dismiss manager Dave Trembley and replace him on an interim basis with third base coach Juan Samuel.

Rookie pitcher Mike Leake allows only an unearned run in 7 innings as the Reds defeat the Nationals, 5 – 1. Leake, who is now 5-0, is the first starting pitcher in team history to go undefeated in his first 11 starts, and the first since Santo Alcala in 1976 to win his first five decisions.

The surprising Blue Jays keep giving their main rivals trouble. In tonight’s game against the Yankees, the Jays’ bullpen pitches 6 scoreless innings and Aaron Hill drives in Edwin Encarnacion with a single against Chad Gaudin in the 14th inning for a 3 – 2 win. Vernon Wells and Alex Gonzalez hit solo homers, bringing Toronto’s major league-leading home run total to 96. For the Yankees, the struggling Mark Teixeira goes 0 for 6 with 5 strikeouts to see his batting average fall to .215.

Major League Baseball is investigating an injury to under-performing Mets pitcher Oliver Perez, who was placed on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right knee on June 5th; he is 0-3, 6.28 this season. The suspicions come because the injury is very convenient to the Mets: Perez has refused an assignment to the minors, and manager Jerry Manuel has stated that he will not use him in games that have not already been decided. Had the injury not appeared, the Mets would have had to choose between two equally unpalatable options: release Perez and swallow the remainder of his $12 million a year contract; or waste a valuable roster spot on a player who cannot contribute to the team.

The Baltimore Orioles end a ten-game losing streak and give interim manager Juan Samuel his first victory as a major league skipper when they defeat Boston, 4 – 3, in 11 innings. Nick Markakis bloops a single to score Cesar Izturis from second base, making David Hernandez a winner.

The Nationals announce the team is donating the hat Stephen Strasburg wore in his major league debut to the Hall of Fame. The 21 year-old rookie right-hander struck out 14 batters in Washington’s 5-2 victory over Pittsburgh.

As had been expected for months, the Washington Nationals select catcher Bryce Harper with the first overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft. While only 17, Harper has been playing in junior college for the past two years and has outrageously dominated older competition. The Nationals announce that they plan to move him to the outfield, but expect arduous negotiations with agent Scott Boras. Selecting second, the Pirates take Texas high school pitcher Jameson Taillon. 18-year-old shortstop Manny Machado is the third pick, by the Orioles, in a draft that is skewed towards very young talent.

Carlos Silva allows one run to the Pirates over 7 innings to improve his record to 8-0. It is the best start to a season by a Cubs pitcher since Ken Holtzman went 9-0 in 1967. Ryan Theriot scores four times for Chicago.

Cole Hamels throws six no-hit innings against the Padres, but his slumping Phillies teammates can’t give him any support, being stymied by lefty Wade LeBlanc. In the 7th, Adrian Gonzalez and Scott Hairston hit back-to-back solo homers to open the scoring, and Gonzalez connects again in the 9th for a 3 – 1 win by San Diego.

The Brewers swallow hard and release pitcher Jeff Suppan, who has been struggling badly, eating the remaining $8.1 million on his contract, in addition to $2 million to buy out an option for next season.

Jeff Niemann pitches a two-hit complete game shutout against the Blue Jays. Tampa Bay wins, 9 – 0, as Carlos Pena leads the attack with two homers, including a grand slam.

Pitcher Stephen Strasburg makes the most eagerly anticipated debut in decades before a sell-out crowd in Washington, DC

Tim Wakefield become the Red Sox' all-time leader in innings pitched passing Roger Clemens

Tim Wakefield become the Red Sox’ all-time leader in innings pitched passing Roger Clemens

At the age of 20 years and 212 days, Mike Stanton becomes the second-youngest player to debut with the Marlins

He may not be accompanied by the hoopla that surrounds Stephen Strasburg, but the Orioles’ Jake Arrieta matches the Nats phenom in at least one respect: by winning his major league debut, 4 – 3, over the Yankees, no less. He gives up 3 runs in 6 innings before the bullpen takes over, with David Hernandez picking up his first career save. Alex Rodriguezleaves the game with a groin strain in the 2nd inning, 4 days after suffering a similar problem in a game against the Blue Jays.

The Mets split a doubleheader with San Diego as Jon Niese pitches a one-hitter to win the nitecap, 3 – 0. The Padres turn a triple play in the 2nd inning, to no avail, but they win the opener, 4 – 2, behind Mat Latos.

Josh Johnson locks up in a tremendous pitching duel with the great Roy Halladay for the second time in ten days; this time, he comes out ahead. He throws 8 scoreless innings as Florida wins, 2 – 0, over Philadelphia. On May 29th, Johnson gave up only an unearned run to the Phils, but Halladay pitched a perfect game to beat him, 1 – 0.

White Sox third baseman Omar Vizquel, who made his major league debut in 1989, becomes the fourth player to hit a home run in four different decades when he goes deep off Max Scherzer in the first inning of the team’s 3-0 victory over Detroit at U.S. Cellular Field. The 43 year-old Venezuelan infielder joins Ted Williams (1939-1960), Willie McCovey (1959-1980), and Rickey Henderson (1979-2003) on the short list of big leaguers who have accomplished the rare feat.

Andy Pettitte records his 200th win in pinstripes in the Yankees’ 4 – 3 win over Houston at Yankee Stadium. Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231) are the only other members of this exclusive New York club. The 37 year-old southpaw, who also reaches the 3,000 career inning plateau in the first frame of the game, gets his historic victory when New York beats Houston, his former team, in an inter-league contest in the Bronx, 4-3.

Jamie Moyer has the worst start of his illustrious career. Facing Boston, he allows 9 runs on 9 hits, including 6 doubles and a homer by Mike Lowell, before leaving the game without retiring a batter in the 2nd inning. The Phillies lose, 12 – 2, while David Ortiz drives in 4 runs.

Derek Jeter homers twice and Jorge Posada hits a grand slam in New York’s 9 – 3 win over Houston. Wandy Rodriguez (3-9) is the victim of the offensive surge, accomplished in the absence of Alex Rodriguez, still bothered by a groin injury.

Daniel Nava hits a grandslam on first pitch he sees in MLB

Daniel Nava hits a grandslam on first pitch he sees in MLB

In a battle of the Windy City, two pitchers flirt with no-hitters. Gavin Floyd of the White Sox holds the Cubs hitless until Alfonso Soriano doubles with two outs in the 7th, while pinch-hitter Juan Pierre breaks up Ted Lilly’s bid for a no-no with a leadoff single in the 9th. It is the first time since July 13, 1980, that no hits have been recorded in the first six innings of a game. It was also the first time 41 outs took place before the first hit since Sandy Koufax’s no-hitter versus Bob Hendley’s one-hitter in September 1965. Lilly is removed from the game immediately after surrendering the hit, clinging to 1 – 0 lead; Carlos Marmol loads the bases, but escapes the jam and the score holds. The only run of the game is scored when Chad Tracy follows Soriano’s double with a single.

Jorge Posada hits a grand slam for the second consecutive game as the Yankees complete a sweep of the Astros at home, 9 – 5. He joins Bill Dickey (1937) and Babe Ruth (1927, 1929) as the only players in franchise history to hit home runs with the bases loaded in consecutive contests. the Grandslam is also the 5th of his career.

The Angels, with their first sweep at Dodger Stadium, complete their 14-game road trip with 11 victories, the most for the team on a single trip since 1962. In the 6-5 decision over their crosstown rivals, Halo hurler Jered Weaver strikes out his older brother, Jeff, who came into the game as a long reliever in the third inning, for the first time since they were kids.

In game against their cross-town rivals at Wrigley Field, the Cubs get out of a bases loaded jam in the final frame for a 1-0 victory over the White Sox. Juan Pierre’s leadoff single in the top of the ninth spoils Ted Lilly’s bid for a no-hitter, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished at the ‘Friendly Confines’ since Milt Pappas threw a no-no in 1972.

For the first time in over 60 years, two players with 5,000+ career at-bats and a .330+ career average meet in a major league contest – Albert Pujols of the Cards versus Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners. The last such matchup had occurred in 1942 with Joe Medwick and Paul Waner.

The game between the Blue Jays and the Padres in Petco Park is interrupted in the 8th inning by an earthquake that registers 5.9 on the Richter scale. However, as there is no damage, the game resumes after a very brief interruption, with Toronto winning, 6 – 3, behind two homers by John Buck and 3 RBI by Aaron Hill.

Just called up from AAA Portland, Aaron Cunningham hits a grand slam off Brett Cecil in the Padres’ 8 – 2 win over Toronto. Cunningham was called up to replace the injured Matt Stairs, and the slam is his first hit in a San Diego uniform. Mat Latos is the winner, but all is not rosy for the Friars: catcher Yorvit Torrealba is handed a three-game suspension and is fined an undisclosed amount for bumping umpire Larry Vanover in the previous day’s game.

Unwanted by the Brewers, pitcher Jeff Suppan shows flashes of his old form in his return to the St. Louis Cardinals. One of the heroes of the team’s conquest of the 2006 World Series title, Suppan gives up a run in four innings and hits a double and scores a run; reliever Blake Hawksworth gets credit for the 4 – 2 win over the Mariners.

The Dodgers beat the Reds, 6 – 2, behind a strong pitching performance by Clayton Kershaw to move into first place in the NL West. Kershaw has gone 6-1 in his last 8 starts to emerge as the Dodgers’ ace and help them move past the Padres.

The Mets continue their roller-coaster season, winning their 6th in a row with an 8 – 4 decision over Cleveland. All nine Mets starters collect at least one hit and either score or drive in a run. Shelley Duncan, making a rare start in LF for the Indians, helps out with some poor defensive play but does atone himself somewhat with a two-run homer off winner Jon Niese.

Jamie Moyer’s first outing at the new Yankee Stadium is a successful one when he limits New York to only three hits in eight innings of work in the 6-3 Phillies’ victory. The Bronx Bombers’ new ball yard is the 48th venue the 47 year-old southpaw has pitched in during his career, surpassing Rudy Seanez’s record for the most appearances in different major league ballparks.

Michael Young’s two-run single in the eighth inning not only contributes to the Rangers’ 6-3 victory over Florida but also establishes a club record for hits. The 33 year-old third baseman surpasses Ivan Rodriguez’s club record with his 1,748th hit, reaching the mark in 91 fewer games than Pudge.

2010 – The Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez continues to dominate. After today’s 5 – 1 win over the Twins, he leads the majors with 13 wins (against only one loss) and a 1.15 ERA, drawing comparisons to Hall of Famer Bob Gibson’s record-setting 1968 season. Since Lefty Gomez in 1932, only Roger Clemens had started 13-1.

In his third major league start, the Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg strikes out 10 opponents to set a major league record with 32 in his first three games, beating the mark of 29 held by J.R. Richard, but the White Sox hold on to inflict an 11-inning, 2 – 1 defeat to the Nats. President Obama, along with his two daughters, makes an unannounced trip to Nationals Park to watch Strasburg pitch against his favorite team, the White Sox

The Mets extend their winning streak to 8 games when rookie Hisanori Takahashi, with help from Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez, shuts out their crosstown rivals the New York Yankees, 4 – 0.

President Obama, along with his two daughters, makes an unannounced trip to Nationals Park to watch Stephen Strasburg pitch against his favorite team, the White Sox. The Commander in Chief is on hand to see the 21 year-old fireballer strike out ten batters to bring the phenom’s three-game total to 32, three more than the rookie record of 29 established by J.R. Richard in 1971.

The Twins have to fight all game to end up 13 – 10 winners over the Phillies. Trailing by 5 runs after 8 innings, they score 5 runs in the 9th, one in the 10th and 3 more in the 11th to win the game. Delmon Young delivers the game-winning hit with an infield single in the 11th; other highlights include a pinch homer by Jim Thome in the 9th and another by Drew Butera in the 10th, the first long ball of the rookie’s career. Joe Mauer hits a homer of his own in the 9th, a two-run shot against Phillies closer Brad Lidge that ties the game at 9-all.

To celebrate the ongoing 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the Marlins give away 15,000 vuvuzelas, the loud plastic trumpets whose drone has dominated soccer broadcasts for the past week, for their game against the Rays. The Rays emerge with an ear-shattering, 11-inning, 9 – 8 victory in which James Shields has to make the first relief appearance of his career for Tampa Bay. The Rays draw a team-record 12 walks in a game that features 16 different pitchers.

Kevin Millwood, signed in the off-season to be the Orioles’ ace, finally records his first win of the year for the last-place team, after 8 straight defeats. It’s a hard slog, as the O’s prevail, 5 – 4, over San Diego and Millwood needs the help of three relievers, including Alfredo Simon, who picks up the save in his return from the disabled list.

6/19/2010 – The Rays were playing the Marlins in an Inter-League contest in South Florida. To start the top of the ninth, the Marlins made three defensive changes. In the bottom of the frame, Brian Barden came to the plate to start the inning and walked on a 3-2 count. Rays manager Joe Madden talked with HP umpire Lance Barksdale about the Marlins hitting out of order. Because Barden batted out of turn Barksdale made him leave first base and the proper batter, Wes Helms, was called out with an automatic putout to the catcher. Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez came out and argued for a long time with Barksdale, who ejected Gonzalez. There was a long discussion between Gonzalez, Barksdale and crew chief Tom Hallion. After the game, Gonzalez insisted that Barksdale did not correctly write down what Gonzalez said were the batting positions for the substitutes.

The Pirates fire one of the mascots who participate in the in-game pierogi race, due to the criticism of the team’s upper management posted on his Facebook page. The 24 year-old, who will be reinstated by Pittsburgh, is offered a position by the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League, an independent baseball organization, to become one of its racing hot dogs.

The Yankees are back in first place in the AL East, one game ahead of the surging Red Sox and slumping Rays, after CC Sabathia pitches 8 scoreless innings as the Bronx Bombers shut out the Mets and Johan Santana, 4 – 0. All the runs come on Mark Teixeira’s grand slam.

The Red Sox are inching closer after completing a three-game sweep of the Dodgers at Fenway Park, spoiling Manny Ramirez’s return to Boston after his exit under a cloud of controversy in mid-2008. Clay Buchholz has another strong pitching performance, improving his record to 10-4, in the 2 – 0 win in the finale. The Sox are now tied with the Rays, who have gone 3-7 over their last 10 games while Boston has won 6 straight.

1B Casey Kotchman of the Mariners plays his 231st successive game without an error, beating the record held by Kevin Youkilis. The Mariners win, 1 – 0, over the Reds. Ryan Rowland-Smith is the winner as the M’s complete a three-game sweep.

At a press conference, Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg says the team cannot succeed if it continues to play in Tropicana Field or anywhere in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. The team’s poor attendance in spite of an excellent record and a bevy of exciting young players has not gone unnoticed. While the team’s lease on its current ballpark expires in 2027, the owner is looking at sites for a new park in Tampa, FL, even though it is likely that the city of St. Petersburg will take legal action if a move is made while the lease is still valid.

The Cincinnati Reds blast three home runs in the 10th – by Ramon Hernandez, Joey Votto and Scott Rolen – to beat Oakland, 6 – 4. The outburst comes after the Reds scored only one run in suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the Mariners. Francisco Cordero is the winner in spite of blowing a 2 – 1 lead by coughing up a long ball to Kevin Kouzmanoff in the bottom of the 9th.

The Blue Jays designate 3B Edwin Encarnacion for assignment, hoping to send him to AAA Las Vegas, although they risk losing the talented player on waivers. Encarnacion has shown bursts of great power, hitting 5 home runs in 3 games at one point this year, but has struggled overall, batting .200 in 37 games and showing inconsistency in the field. The move makes room on the roster for P Scott Richmond, coming off the 60-day disabled list.

Jamie Moyer serves up the 505th home run of his major league career

Arizona State University, the #1 seed, gets bumped from the 2010 College World Series by losing their first two games. ASU had not lost consecutive games all season until this point.

The sale of the Texas Rangers by Tom Hicks to a group headed by Chuck Greenberg is not proceeding smoothly. Although announced in January, it is now before a Federal Bankruptcy Court. Judge Michael Lynn issues a ruling today that creditors are adversely affected by a plan to pay them $75 million and are entitled to vote on it. The sale could fall through if the creditors veto the deal, valued at $575 million overall; at issue is the treatment of $525 million in loans on which Hicks’s ownership group defaulted last year. Meanwhile, on the field, the Rangers beat Pittsburgh, 6 – 3, thanks to Josh Hamilton’s 17th homer of the year, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.

The White Sox extend their unlikely winning streak to seven games with a 9 – 6 victory over Atlanta to move one game above .500. They are helped by a freakish play with two outs in the 4th, when Alex Rios hits a ground ball that jumps inside 3B Brooks Conrad’s shirt for an infield single. Paul Konerko follows with a single and Carlos Quentin with a three-run homer for a 9 – 3 lead. Before the streak, both manager Ozzie Guillen and general manager Kenny Williams were rumored to be on the verge of losing their job.

The GCL Yankees rip the GCL Pirates, 11 – 4. In the 5th, the Bucs turn to Dovydas Neverauskas, who will allow two runs in 2 1/3 IP. He becomes the first Lithuanian to play in the minor leagues.

Rays announcer Dewayne Staats, before calling his 5000th major league game, throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the hometown team’s 2-1 loss to San Diego at Tropicana Field. The veteran broadcaster, in his 25th season, has also done play-by-play for the Cubs, Astros, and ESPN.

Even when he loses, Nationals super-rookie Stephen Strasburg is almost untouchable. The Royals only score one run and strike out 9 times in 6 innings, but still hand him his first career loss, 1 – 0, behind Brian Bannister’s outstanding start. Strasburg collects his first hit and now has 41 strikeouts against only 5 walks in his first four starts.

He may have missed the season’s first month, but the Mariners’ ace, Cliff Lee, is still baffling hitters. He picks up is his 4th complete game of the season in defeating the Cubs, 8 – 1, also earning his 6th consecutive win and lowering his American League-leading ERA to 2.39. Michael Saunders homers and drives in 4 runs in support of Lee’s pitching.

The Marlins fire manager Fredi Gonzalez and two coaches, naming AAA New Orleans manager Edwin Rodriguez to replace him, although rumors are that owner Jeffrey Loria wants to convince former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine to take over the team. The move comes with Florida in 4th place in the NL East, but with a respectable 34-36 record. Loria explains that he wants to give the team a new impulsion.

In a move that surprises its players, the fourth-place Marlins (34-36) fire their manager, Fredi Gonzalez, along with bench coach Carlos Tosca and hitting coach Jim Presley. Edwin Rodriguez, the skipper of the team’s Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans, is named to fill the position on an interim basis.

The White Sox win their 9th straight with a 2 – 0 shutout of Atlanta. Their winning streak has enabled the Sox to shave 7 games off the Minnesota Twins’ lead in the AL Central in 15 days, putting them within striking distance of first place with a 2 1/2 game deficit. Gavin Floyd gives Chicago another great start in the win; Sox starters have gone 11-1, 2.03, over the past 15 games.

Pedroia rescuses Red Sox when he hits three homers at Coors Field

Pedroia rescuses Red Sox when he hits three homers at Coors Field

Edwin Jackson throws the 4th no-hitter of the season as the Diamondbacks defeat their brethren from the 1998 expansion, the Tampa Bay Rays, 1 – 0. Jackson needs 149 pitches to complete the game, after struggling with his control early on and walking 7 in the first three innings, but manager A.J. Hinch decides to leave him in the game to grab his chance at history. It is the second time the Rays are no-hit this year, having been the victims of Dallas Braden’s perfect game six weeks ago.

Roy Halladay faces his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, for the first time since being traded to the Phillies in the off-season, and rolls to an easy 9 – 0 victory. The game was moved to Philadelphia, PA from Toronto, ONbecause of exceptional security measures being put on in the Canadian city that is hosting the G20 Summit of world leaders this week-end. As a result of the belated move, the Blue Jays wear their home uniforms and bat last in the contest. DH Ross Gload has a career-high 4 RBI and Shane Victorino homers for the Phils.

The Cubs suspend pitcher Carlos Zambrano indefinitely after he throws a tantrum in the dugout after giving up 4 runs in the 1st inning of a 6 – 0 loss to the White Sox. “Big Z” blames first baseman Derrek Lee for letting a Juan Pierre ground ball past him for a double that starts the rally, although the hard-hit ball was hardly catchable. Tom Gorzelanny replaces Zambrano who is removed from the game by manager Lou Piniella.

The Red Sox get bad news before today’s game, learning that 2B Dustin Pedroia, their hottest hitter this year, has a fractured left foot, the result of fouling off a ball in last night’s game. He joins four other Sox regulars on the disabled list – Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Lowell and Jeremy Hermida. Then, in the game against the Giants, pitcher Clay Buchholz comes up lame in the top of the 2nd inning after reaching base with his first major league hit and must be removed from the game. But the bullpen comes up big, as seven relievers give up only 2 runs in 8 innings and the Sox win, 4 – 2. Darnell McDonald and Mike Cameron homer for Boston. Before the game, the Giants retire number 20 in honor of Hall of Fame OF Monte Irvin. In tomorrow’s game, C Victor Martinez will suffer a broken left thumb, adding to Boston’s injury woes.

Paul Konerko hits an 8th-inning homer off Andrew Cashner to snap a 2 – 2 tie and the White Sox extend their winning streak to 11 games, beating their crosstown rivals the Cubs, 3 – 2.

Jamie Moyer of the Phillies gives a 3rd-inning two-run homer to the Blue Jays’ Vernon Wells to pass Robin Roberts for most gopher balls given up in the major leagues with 506. But the hit doesn’t phase Moyer, who cruises to an 11 – 2 victory, thanks to 6 unearned runs, the result of 4 Toronto errors.

Josh Hamilton hits a 468-foot blast into the upper deck in right-centerfield to extend his hitting streak to 21 games and lead the Rangers to a 10 – 1 win over Houston. The Rangers are now 20-5 in June and have taken a four-game lead over the Angels in the AL West.

Trailing 6 – 2 in the 9th, the Yankees rally for 4 runs against Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton to tie the game, then win it with a two-run homer by Robinson Cano against George Sherrill in the 10th. In the four-run rally, Cano drives in the first of the runs with a one-out double, and Chad Huffman sends two more runs home on his first major league hit. Curtis Granderson slides home ahead of James Loney’s throw on Colin Curtis’s grounder to first to tie the game.

Rodrigo López allows two hits in six innings in a 2-1 win over the Rays. Diamondbacks starting pitchers have now allowed only five hits in their past four games, a major league record.

In a surprising swap between last-place teams, the Indians send Russell Branyan back to the Mariners in exchange for Class AAA outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and shortstop Juan Diaz. The trade allows the Tribe to put Matt LaPorta, a highly touted rookie acquired from Milwaukee in the trade for CC Sabathia two years ago, at first base, and for Seattle, the move is seen as a signal that GM Jack Zduriencik wants his players to know that winning is still a priority for the under-achieving M’s.

Phillies southpaw Jamie Moyer surpasses Hall of Famer Robin Roberts for allowing the most home runs in a career. In his 11-2 victory over Toronto, the 47 year-old starter gives up a two-run homer to Vernon Wells in the third inning, yielding his record-breaking 506th gopher ball.

In the fifth inning of an eventual 2-1 Rays’ loss to Arizona, Evan Longoria confronts B.J. Upton in the dugout after the outfielder doesn’t appear to hustle after Rusty Ryal’s deep drive to left-center field, allowing the hit to become a triple. The nose-to-nose exchange becomes heated, and Upton, who takes exception to his third baseman’s criticism, needs to be restrained by teammates.

In a surprising swap between last-place teams, the Indians send Russell Branyan back to the Mariners in exchange for Class AAA outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and shortstop Juan Diaz. The trade allows the Tribe to put Matt LaPorta, a highly touted rookie acquired from Milwaukee in the trade for CC Sabathia two years ago, at first base, and for Seattle, the move is seen as a signal that GM Jack Zduriencik wants his players to know that winning is still a priority for the under-achieving M’s.

In the fifth inning of an eventual 2-1 Rays’ loss to Arizona, Evan Longoria confronts B.J. Upton in the dugout after the outfielder doesn’t appear to hustle after Rusty Ryal’s deep drive to left-center field, allowing the hit to become a triple. The nose-to-nose exchange becomes heated, and Upton, who takes exception to his third baseman’s criticism, needs to be restrained by teammates.

Ubaldo Jimenez gives up no hits over the first five innings but then runs into trouble, giving up 4 runs to the Padres in the 6th. The Rockies’ offense bails him out, however, with four home runs and 10 runs and he registers his major league-leading 14th win; his ERA has risen from 1.16 to 1.83 after his last two mediocre starts, though.

The Tigers lose pitcher Joel Zumaya to an elbow injury suffered while throwing a pitch in the 8th inning against the Twins, but they hold on for a 7 – 5 win to take over first place in the AL Central. The Bengals jump to an early 4 – 0 lead on 1st-inning doubles by Miguel Cabrera and Brennan Boesch. Jeremy Bonderman is the winner over Francisco Liriano, but Zumaya’s dramatic injury casts a pall over the Tigers’ dugout; x-rays will confirm that he has a fractured elbow and will not pitch again this year.

Edwin Rodriguez, who became the first Puerto Rican manager in major league history last week, wins a game in front of his countrymen as the Marlins defeat the Mets, 10 – 3, at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the first major league game played in the stadium since the MLB-owned Montreal Expos were forced to move a number of home games there in 2003 and 2004. A crown of more than 18,000 is on hand for the historic game. With Bobby Valentine turning down an offer to manage the Marlins, Rodriguez will be confirmed as Florida’s skipper for the remainder of the season.

The Cubs place Carlos Zambrano on the restricted list after the right-hander is suspended for three games for his recent dugout tirade, when he had to be separated from teammate Derrek Lee in the visitors’ dugout after surrendering four runs to the White Sox in the bottom of the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field. The excitable hurler is scheduled to be evaluated by doctors mutually selected by Major League Baseball and the players’ union.

The Cubs honor Ron Santo for his 50 years in baseball. The former third baseman and current WGN radio analyst receives a white flag with “Santo 50” printed in the team’s colors that is autographed by the players, a photo of the Wrigley Field marquee with the message, “Thank you Ron for 50 great years”, and the seventy year-old will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch as well as sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch.

The Phillies suffer a tough blow as they place half of their starting infield – 2B Chase Utley and 3B Placido Polanco – on the disabled list. Utley suffers from a thumb injury sustained while sliding into second base, while Polanco feels discomfort in his right elbow and undergoes a cortisone injection. Both players are leading the All-Star balloting at their positions but are unlikely to play in the contest. In addition, SS Jimmy Rollins has been limited to 18 games this year because of a right calf strain.

Denard Span ties a modern major league record with 3 triples in the Twins’ 11 – 4 win over Detroit. The last player to do so was Rafael Furcal in 2002; Ken Landreaux is the only member of the Twins to have done it, in 1980. The all-time record was set by Bill Joyce with 4 triples in 1897. Span drives in 5 runs as the Twins retake first place from the Tigers, one day after losing it.

Minutes before the game against the Mets in San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria tells his players at an impromptu team meeting that the club has decided to retain interim manager Edwin Rodriguez to the end of the season. Rodriguez, the first Puerto Rican manager in the major leagues, ironically is told of the decision when Florida is playing a series in Puerto Rico, five minutes away from his home.

The Texas Rangers, leading the AL West, make a deal for veteran catcher Benjie Molina, acquiring him in a trade from the Giants for P Chris Ray. The Rangers have been winning in spite of lacking a proven backstop. In today’s game, Vladimir Guerrero’s bat does the damage, as he belts a grand slam and a solo homer among his four hits against his former teammates, the Angels, to lead Texas to a 6 – 4 victory. In his major league debut, Omar Beltre only goes 4 innings for the Rangers and Dustin Nippert picks up the win in relief – the team’s 21st this month, a franchise record. Josh Hamilton extends his hitting streak to 23 games in the contest.

For the second night in a row, the Yankees’ bats are stymied by a Mariners hurler. One day after Cliff Lee’s complete game win, Felix Hernandez pitches a two-hitter and strikes out 11 in a 7 – 0 win. Michael Saunders hits two homers for the winners.

The Phillie Phanatic, the Philadelphia Phillies’ furry green mascot, is being sued by a Pennsylvania woman who claims that she suffered an arthritis flare-up, leading to knee-replacement surgery, after the creature climbed on top of her at a minor league game in Reading, PA in 2008.

The Rockies acquire veteran 2B Mark Ellis from Oakland in return for P Bruce Billings and a player to be named later. Ellis became expendable with the promotion of rookie Jemile Weeks a few weeks ago.

The Diamondbacks clean house, firing general manager Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch in one fell swoop. Bench coach Kirk Gibson will serve as interim manager, while team Vice-President Jerry DiPoto will take over GM duties. The Diamondbacks are last in the NL West with a record of 31-48, the third worst in the major leagues.

The Rays come back twice to defeat the Twins, 5 – 4, in 10 innings. Carl Crawford goes 4 for 6 with 2 runs, 1 RBI, a stolen base and a great catch to rob Joe Mauer in the 5th inning. The Rays had not won back-to-back games since June 6-9th.

The Red Sox are facing a catching crunch, with back-up Jason Varitek apparently victim of a broken foot less than a week after starter Victor Martinez was placed on the disabled list with a broken thumb. With rookie Gustavo Molina the only healthy catcher on the roster, Boston repatriates veteran Kevin Cash from Houston, in a trade for infielder Angel Sanchez.

On an interim basis, Kirk Gibson, the team’s bench coach, is promoted to be the manager of the Diamondbacks, replacing A.J. Hinch, who piloted the team to an 89-123 record in a little more than a full season in the dugout. In addition to letting go their manager, the last-place team also fires general manager Josh Byrnes.

Bidding for his American League-leading 12th win of the season, David Price of the Rays pitches no-hit ball into the 5th inning against the Twins, before being done in by rookie Danny Valencia, who gets the game’s first hit in the 5th, then drives the go-ahead run in the 7th. The Twins prevail, 2 – 1, behind Scott Baker, to stay atop the AL Central.

Chris Young drives in five runs to give newly-appointed manager Kirk Gibson his first victory with the Diamondbacks, 12 – 5 over Los Angeles. Edwin Jackson is the winner in his first start since pitching a no-hitter, while Hiroki Kuroda takes the loss.

injury woes pile up for Red Sox

injury woes pile up for Red Sox

The Yankees score all 11 of their runs in the 3rd inning as they defeat the Blue Jays, 11 – 3

The Diamondbacks provide new manager Kirk Gibson with a vivid display of why they are in last place in the NL West, committing a team record 6 errors in a 14 – 1 loss to the Dodgers, Gibson’s first as a manager. But the most egregious error is courtesy of the winners: in the 2nd inning, Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw is caught going the wrong way on the bases. Standing at first base after an error by Tony Abreu, he goes past second base on a long drive by Rafael Furcal. Thinking CF Chris Young made the catch, he retreats to first base, only to be passed by Furcal, who correctly saw that Young dropped the ball and is running all out. Furcal is out for passing a preceding runner, losing credit for a potential triple.

jim thome 574th career home run passing harmon killebrew

Jim Thome passes Killebrew

Top vote getters 2010 All-Star Game Joe Mauer and Albert Pujols 

Torii Hunter celebrates his selection as the Angels’ sole representative in the All-Star Game they will host next week by banging out two home runs and driving in 7 runs in an 11 – 0 win over the Royals. Paul McAnulty also homers in his first major league game since 2008.

Drew Stubbs hits 3 of the Reds’ 7 home runs in a wind-aided 14 – 3 demolition of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Four of Cincinnati’s long balls come after two outs in the eight-run 7th inning. Rookie Tyler Colvin bangs two homers of his own in a losing cause. For the Reds, 1B Joey Votto is ejected in the 1st inning for arguing balls and strikes, but his replacement, Paul Janish, goes 4 for 4 with one of the homers.

Top Blue Jays pitching prospect Kyle Drabek, acquired form the Phillies in last winter’s Roy Halladay deal, is a little closer to the big leagues after pitching a no-hitter for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the AA Eastern League, 5 – 0 over New Britain.

Harold Garcia of the Clearwater Threshers hits safely for the 37th straight game, breaking Joe Altobelli’s 59-year-old Florida State League record. Garcia’s hitting streak will end tomorrow.

Joey Votto, in competition for the last spot on the National League All-Star team, hits two solo home runs in the Reds’ 8 – 6 win over the Mets. The game features the ejection of Mets manager Jerry Manuel, who complains over a ruling that Scott Rolen is hit by a Mike Pelfrey pitch with the bases loaded in the 5th, scoring the go-ahead run. Manuel argues that the ball tipped Rolen’s bat, but is tossed when he tries to press his case. Drew Stubbs and Corky Miller follow with two-run hits each, then pitcher Travis Wood hits a triple to make it 7 – 1. The Mets counter with 5 runs of their own in the bottom of the frame, but never manage to catch up.

Texas Rangers put up for auction

Alex Rodriguez hits the 21st grand slam of his career and adds a solo homer to bring his career total to 597 long balls. The Yankees defeat the Athletics, 6 – 1. CC Sabathia wins his 7th consecutive start to improve to 11-3 on the year. A-Rod’s slam ties him with Manny Ramirez for second on the all-time list, two behind Yankee legend Lou Gehrig.

The Rockies explode for 9 runs in the bottom of the 9th to beat the stunned Cardinals, 12 – 9. They enter the inning down 9 – 3, but score and score some more, capping the rally with Seth Smith’s three-run walk-off home run off closer Ryan Franklin. Chris Iannetta also hits a three-run homer off Franklin, who gives up 6 runs in a third of an inning. Manuel Corpas (3-5) is the beneficiary of the outburst. It is only the third time in major league history a team has scored nine or more runs in the bottom of the 9th to win and the first time since 1901.

Johan Santana provides his own run support, banging the first homer of his career in a three-hit shutout of the Cincinnati Reds, 3 – 0. The Mets’ ace connects off Matt Maloney for a solo shot that opens the scoring in the 3rd.

Adam Dunn hits three home runs in the Nationals’ 7 – 6 win over San Diego, driving in 5 runs. He is the second player to accomplish the feat since the team moved to Washington, DC, after Alfonso Soriano in 2006. In the 9th, pinch hitter Matt Stairs of the Padres hits a solo homer off Matt Capps, the 20th of his career, tying the record held by Cliff Johnson. However, Capps holds on for his 23rd save. San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez and Washington’s Ian Desmond also go deep on a night when the long ball is king.

The Rays complete a three-game sweep of the injury-riddled Red Sox with a 6 – 4 win at Tropicana Field. David Price earns his American League-leading 12th win, over Tim Wakefield. Evan Longoria homers for the winners, while Matt Garza earns the first save of his career in his first relief appearance in three years. The Rays have now won 7 of 8 after a difficult month of June.

Rookie Buster Posey hits two homers including his first career grand slam in San Francisco’ 15 – 2 romp over Milwaukee. The Giants hit three homers to go up 4 – 0 in the 1st inning and never look back. Tim Lincecumstrikes out 10 over 7 innings for the win.

With the score tied at seven in the bottom of the ninth at Coors Field, Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta makes Evan MacLane’s major league debut memorable when he leads off the inning with a game-ending home run off the 27 year-old rookie. The Cardinals’ southpaw is the first hurler to surrender a game-winning homer to the first major league batter he faces since San Diego’s right-hander J.J. Trujillo accomplished the dubious deed in his major league debut by allowing Baltimore’s Tony Batista to end a game with a round-tripper in 2002.

Adam Dunn becomes the second Washington Nationals’ player to hit three home runs in a game, and the first major leaguer to accomplish the feat at the three year-old Nationals Park. The first baseman’s offensive output, which matches Alfonso Soriano’s performance in 2006, helps the home team edge San Diego, 7-6, on a very warm night in the nation’s capital.

Astros P Roy Oswalt, rumored to be on the trading block, increases his value with a brilliant one-hitter over the Pirates at Minute Maid Park. Neil Walker’s 1st-inning single is the only hit he allows in the 2 – 0 complete game win, his first shutout since September, 2008. Lance Berkman provides all the offense with a pair of homers.

Ubaldo Jimenez wins his 15th game in his last start before the All-Star Game – which he is expected to start – as the Rockies win, 4 – 2, to complete a three-game sweep of the Cardinals at home. Jimenez is the first pitcher to have 15 wins at the All-Star break since David Wells in 2000; he is only two wins away from the Rockies franchise record of 17 in a season.

Using an online ballot, fans select Nick Swisher of the Yankees and Reds’ first baseman Joey Votto to fill the last two roster spots in this year’s All-Star Game. The New York outfielder, who has edged Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis for the final AL spot, used his Twitter account to campaign for votes and to thank his fans for their support.

2010 – Roy Oswalt fires a one-hitter at the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 2-0 complete game shutout. It comes as rumors swirl about trading the pitching ace before the deadline on July 31st. Lance Berkman provides all the offense with two solo homers into the Crawford Boxes as part of a three-hit afternoon. 

The Seattle Mariners trade ace hurler Cliff Lee, Mark Lowe and $2.25 million to the Texas Rangers for prospects Justin Smoak, Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke and Matthew Lawson. Seattle goes for a youth movement after acquiring Lee for prospects last winter, while Texas, in first place in the AL West, pushes for a playoff run.

A day before Spain wins the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Spanish Division Honor baseball season ends. CB Sant Boi beats FC Barcelona, 5 – 1, for their second title. Junior Guerra fans 13 and goes the distance to improve to 11-1, while Daniel Sanchez doubles twice, scores and drives in a run.

Cliff Lee makes his first start for the Texas Rangers, hours after being acquired in a trade with Seattle for a bevy of prospects, but he is rocked for 3 homers and 6 runs in a 6 – 1 loss to the Orioles. He still manages to pitch a complete game, but loses to Chris Tillman.

In his third big league start and matched up against the Phillies’ Roy Halladay, rookie Travis Wood of the Reds takes a perfect game into the 9th inning but fails to get even a win. The Phillies win the game, 1 – 0, in the 11th, on Carlos Ruiz’s double and Jimmy Rollins’ single. Ruiz breaks up the perfect game bid with a single in the 9th, and Wood is lifted for a pinch-hitter in the 10th after pitching 9 scoreless innings. The Reds fail to score in spite of loading the bases that inning to set up the Phillies’ winning drive an inning later.

18-year-old Mike Trout, the youngest player in the game, hits a double and single and fellow Angels prospect Hank Conger hits a three-run homer to lead the United States to a 9 – 1 victory over the World team at the 2010 Futures Game in Anaheim. Eric Hosmer collects four hits for the winners, while Desmond Jennings scores three runs, but it is Conger who receives the Larry Doby Award as MVP of the game.

The White Sox take advantage of five home runs – two by Carlos Quentin, including a grand slam, and one each by Alex Rios, Andruw Jones and Dayan Viciedo – to beat the Royals, 15 – 5. It’s the Sox’s 8th straight win and puts them in first place in the AL Central at the All-Star break, capping a remarkable turnaround that has seen the Pale Hose win 25 of its last 30 games after a slow start to the season.

Philadelphia wins 1 – 0 over the Reds to complete a four-game sweep. It is the first time since 1913 that the Phils have recorded consecutive 1 – 0 victories. Cole Hamels pitches scoreless ball into the 8th inning and relievers J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge record the last four outs of the game. Jimmy Rollins becomes the first National Leaguer since Roger Maris in 1968 to drive in the only run in consecutive 1 – 0 wins.

After firing Sean Berry as the club’s hitting coach, the struggling Astros name Jeff Bagwell to fill the position for the remainder of the season. The former All-Star first baseman, who retired with a lifetime .297 batting average, is the all-time team leader with 449 home runs and 1,529 RBIs.

Veteran slugger David Ortiz wins the All-Star Game’s Home Run Derby with a dazzling performance, lining ball after ball into the right field stands at Angel Stadium, for a total of 32 long balls – 11 of them in the final round, where he defeats fellow Dominican Hanley Ramirez. He dedicates his performance to his friend, pitcher Jose Lima, who passed away suddenly a few weeks earlier.

George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, passes away from a heart attack at his home in Tampa, FL. Steinbrenner restored the Yankees to greatness during his ownership, spent lavishly on free agents, fired managers and front office personnel at a sometimes dizzying pace, but saw the team win seven World Series titles. He had relinquished the team’s operations to his son Hal Steinbrenner as his health deteriorated badly in 2008.

The National League wins the 2010 All-Star Game, played at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, 3 – 1, for its first win since 1996. MVP Brian McCann drives in all three runs with a bases-loaded double off Matt Thornton in the 7th. In a year in which pitchers have grabbed most of the headlines, the game is true to form, as pitchers dominate. The American League’s only score comes on a sacrifice fly by Robinson Cano.

C Bryce Harper of the College of Southern Nevada, the top pick in the 2010 amateur draft, wins this year’s Golden Spikes Award as the best collegiate baseball player in the United States. He is only the second player from a junior college to win the award since its creation in 1978, after Alex Fernandez in 1990.

The Blue Jays and Braves trade shortstops, with Alex Gonzalez going from Toronto to Atlanta along with minor leaguers Tim Collins and Tyler Pastornicky, in return for Yunel Escobarand pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes. Escobar is hitting .238 with little power for the first-place Braves, while Gonzalez has shown unexpected pop with the Jays, hitting .259 with 17 homers and 50 RBI.

Unused in the All-Star Game, Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum starts his team’s first game after the break and pitches a shutout over the Mets for his 50th career win, 2 – 0. R.A. Dickey is the loser in spite of a solid effort of his own.

The White Sox’s hot streak has not been affected by the three-day layoff, as they beat one of their chief rivals in the AL Central, the Minnesota Twins, 8 – 7. John Danks gives up 6 runs with 2 outs in the 2nd inning, but the Sox grind back into the lead. J.J. Putz makes his 23rd straight scoreless appearance in relief in the Pale Hose’s 9th straight win.

Mat Latos’s excellent season is in jeopardy as he goes on the disabled list for an unusual reason. The Padres righthander, who has 10 wins this year, strained a muscle in his left side while attempting to hold back a sneeze last week.

2010 – Today’s game between the Dodgers and Giants is decided through unusual events. Dodger Coach Don Mattingly is acting for manager Joe Torre, ejected earlier in the game along with P Clayton Kershaw and bench coach Bob Schaefer, when he calls a conference on the mound with the bases loaded and closer Jonathan Broxton trying to protect a 5 – 4 lead. As he walks away from the mound, Mattingly hears a question from 1B James Loney and walks back to the mound to answer him. Opposing manager Bruce Bochy contends successfully that this constitutes a second visit to the mound, and that Mattingly should be forced to remove Broxton from the game. He replaces him with the struggling (and unprepared) George Sherrill, who promptly gives up a bases-clearing double to Andres Torres. However, the umpires, led by Adrian Johnson, are wrong on the play, as Mattingly should have been ejected and Broxton forced to complete the at-bat before being removed, during which time Sherrill could have warmed up more properly. In any case, the play is allowed to stand, with San Francisco getting a 7 – 5 win.

For the second straight game, the Virgin Islands fall a run shy of the winning their first game since the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games. After falling 1 – 0 to Panama in their first game of the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, they lead Guatemala, 5 – 2, going into the bottom of the 9th only to lose, 7 – 6, in 11 innings.

With a bases-empty homer in the first, a ground-rule double in the fifth, a two-run triple in the sixth, and a single in the eighth inning of the Diamondbacks’ 7-4 loss to San Francisco at Chase Field, Kelly Johnson becomes the fourth player in franchise history to complete a cycle. The Arizona second baseman joins Luis Gonzalez (2000), Greg Colbrunn (2002), and Stephen Drew (2008) to accomplish the feat with the D-Backs.

After 18 consecutive losses in Cleveland, the Rays finally beat the hometown Indians for the first time in nearly five years. With the 6-3 victory over the Tribe, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon snaps a 0-21 personal losing streak as the visiting manager that began when he was California’s interim skipper in 1996.

The Angels acquire pitcher Dan Haren in a trade with the Diamondbacks, giving up Joe Saunders and three prospects.

For the second time this year, a star player is injured in a celebration after a game-winning hit. Following the Angels’ Kendry Morales’s broken leg in May, Florida’s Chris Coghlan tears a meniscus in his left knee while attempting to throw a cream pie in the face of teammate Wes Helms, who hit a walk-off single in the 11th inning for a 5 – 4 win over the Braves.

Andre Dawson, an outfielder with the Expos and Cubs, becomes the 203rd player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Joining ‘Hawk’ in Cooperstown are former manager Whitey Herzog, major league ump Doug Harvey, broadcaster Jon Miller, and baseball writer Bill Madden.

Chris Coghlan seriously injures himself when he tries to smash a shaving-cream pie in Wes Helms’s face after his teammate hit a single to give the Marlins a 5-4 walk-off victory over Atlanta. The 2009 NL Rookie of the Year will go on the disabled list with a torn meniscus in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season.

The Baseball Hall of Fame honors John Fogerty, for his classic rock song “Centerfield.” At the induction ceremonies, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer performs his 1985 hit and then donates his baseball bat shaped-guitar to the Cooperstown museum.

The Angels acquire right-hander Dan Haren from the last-place Diamondbacks in exchange for southpaws Joe Saunders and Patrick Corbin, RHP Rafael Rodriguez, and a player to be named. The addition of the three-time All-Star strengthens an already strong rotation that includes Ervin Santana, Jered Weaver, Joel Piniero, and Scott Kazmir, who is presently on the disabled list.

Matt Garza pitches the first no-hitter in the history of the Tampa Bay Rays franchise, blanking the Tigers, 5 – 0. He is helped by a great over-the-shoulder catch by Ben Zobrist in the 3rd inning. The only baserunner is Brennan Boesch, who draws a 2nd-inning walk but is erased in a double play. Matt Joyce hits a 6th-inning grand slam for the Rays, the first hit allowed by Detroit’s Max Scherzer. Tampa Bay had been no-hit twice this season – by Dallas Braden and Edwin Jackson – and has now featured in three of this year’s five no-nos.

Joe Mauer goes 5 for 5 and drives in 7 runs as the Twins rout Zack Greinke and the Royals, 19 – 1. Danny Valencia also has a night to remember, going 4 for 4 and hitting a grand slam for his first major league homer.

Allowing only a second-inning walk to Brennan Boesch, who is promptly erased on a double play, Matt Garza faces the minimum 27 batters in his no-hitter against the Tigers. With the right-hander’s 5-0 victory, the Rays join the 1917 Browns and White Sox as the only teams to be involved in three no-hitters in the same season.

Jose Bautista’s storybook season continues as he blasts two homers and nails Orioles baserunner Nick Markakis at third base in Toronto’s 8 – 2 win at home. Bautista has 3 runs scored, 4 hits and 5 RBI in the game while becoming the major leagues’ first 30-homer hitter this year. Ricky Romero defeats Kevin Millwood.

Rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg is scratched at the last minute from a scheduled start against the Braves with shoulder tightness, but veteran Miguel Batista steps ably into the breach, throwing five shutout innings as Washington prevails, 3 – 0.

With the spotlight on the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez, sitting on 599 homers on his birthday, the Indians’ Josh Tomlin grabs the headlines, giving up only 3 hits in 7 innings in winning his major league debut, 4 – 1. A-Rod finishes the night 0 for 4.

Rehabbing a hip injury in the minor leagues, veteran third baseman Mike Lowell has a tremendous game for the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League, banging 3 homers and driving in 5 runs in a 10 – 6 win over the Toledo Mud Hens. He has been out of action in the major leagues since June 22nd.

Jason Kendall becomes the 5th player in major league history to catch 2,000 games when he starts for the Royals.

In a match-up of pitchers who have thrown no-hitters this year, Roy Halladay of the Phillies tops Edwin Jackson of the Diamondbacks, 7 – 1, with Halladay tossing a complete game. Top Philly prospect Domonic Brownmakes his debut in CF, taking over for an injured Shane Victorino, and hits a double to the wall in his first major league at-bat. The last matchup of hurlers who had thrown no-hitters that year was in September 1991 when Nolan Ryan and Wilson Alvarez squared off.

With the trading deadline approaching, a few clubs are making moves. The Tigers, reeling from a number of injuries, obtain 3B Jhonny Peralta from Cleveland for minor league P Giovanni Soto, while the Dodgers acquire veteran OF Scott Podsednik from the Royals for minor leaguers Lucas May and Elisaul Pimentel.

Giants closer Brian Wilson is fined $1000 for wearing bright orange cleats in a game against the Marlins on July 27th. Wilson wore the offending shoes in the All-Star Game, but they are not legal for regular-season games as they do not conform to Major League Baseball’s rules pertaining to uniform colors. Liking the shoes, Wilson decides to render them legal by covering some of the orange color with a black marker.

There is a frenzy of deals in anticipation of the trading deadline. The Phillies acquire P Roy Oswalt from the Astros for P J.A. Happ and minor leaguers Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar; the Astros then flip Gose to Torontofor another top prospect, 1B Brett Wallace. In other deals, the Rangers acquire Jorge Cantu from the Marlins for minor leaguers Evan Reed and Omar Poveda; the Twins bolster their bullpen with All-Star closer Matt Capps, pried from Washington for young C Wilson Ramos; and the Padres obtain veteran infielder Miguel Tejada from Baltimore for minor league P Wynn Pelzer.

After Roy Oswalt gives his approval to a trade from the Astros to the Phillies, Philadelphia sends J.A. Happ, outfielder Anthony Gose, and shortstop Jonathan Villar to Houston for the three-time All-Star hurler and a considerable amount of cash. The 32 year-old right-hander compiled a respectable 3.24 ERA, but posted only a 6-12 record, due to a severe lack of run support.

The front-running Padres trade Double-A right-hander Wynn Pelzer to obtain veteran infielder Miguel Tejada from the Orioles, who also include more than $1.15 million in the deal. San Diego is hoping the 36 year-old former American League Most Valuable Player can help the potential playoff team, both in the field and at the plate, with his 14 years of experience in the major leagues.

The Twins acquire Matt Capps (3-3, 2.74 ERA, 26/30 saves) and $500,000 from the Nationals for highly touted catching prospect Wilson Ramos and southpaw minor leaguer Joe Testa. Minnesota will use Washington’s only All-Star as its closer, filling a void created during spring training when Joe Nathan underwent Tommy John surgery.

The Orioles hire 54 year-old Buck Showalter to become the club’s skipper. The two-time American League Manager of the Year, known for his ability to build winners, takes over a team with the worst record in the major leagues at 31-70.

2010 – Astros deal ace pitcher Roy Oswalt to the Phillies for pitcher J.A. Happ and minor leaguers Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar. Gose is then sent to Toronto for first baseman Brett Wallace. Oswalt has a 143-82 record over ten seasons with Houston. He leaves unable to tie Joe Niekro for the franchise record for victories. Two days later, the Astros trade slugger Lance Berkman to the New York Yankees, sending away their last two stars from the 2005 World Series team. 

The two best teams in the majors this year, the Yankees and the Rays, begin a three-game series before a rare sold-out crowd at Tropicana Field. Two batters into the game, New York leads 2 – 0 on a homer by Nick Swisher, but that’s all the runs they’ll score. Tampa Bay comes back with a three-run shot by Matt Joyce in the 6th to win, 3 – 2. Wade Davis beats Phil Hughes, with Rafael Soriano picking up the save. Alex Rodriguez, who has been sitting on 599 homers for a week, goes 0 for 4 in the loss.

However, the Phillies may be having buyer’s remorse as prize acquisition Roy Oswalt is rocked by the Nationals, losing his debut, 8 – 1. Making it worse, the man he was traded for, J.A. Happ, shines in his first outing for Houston, throwing 6 scoreless innings in a 5 – 0 win over Milwaukee.

One of the players traded yesterday makes a splash in his debut for his new team. Starting at 3B for the Tigers, Jhonny Peralta homers twice over the Green Monster as Detroit defeats Boston, 6 – 5, withstanding a late-game grand slam by David Ortiz. Armando Galarraga’s run of bad luck continues as he is hit on the ankle by a line drive off the bat of Kevin Youkilis with a 4 – 1 lead, and has to leave the game one out shy of qualifying for the win. Rookie Robbie Weinhardt relieves him and picks up his first major league victory.

The deals continue on the eve of tomorrow’s trading deadline. The Chicago White Sox acquire P Edwin Jackson, author of a no-hitter earlier this year, from the Diamondbacks in return for young Ps Daniel Hudson and David Holmberg; the Rangers obtain IF Cristian Guzman from Washington for Tanner Roark and Ryan Tatsuko just as starting 2B Ian Kinsler is placed on the disabled list; and the Yankees snap up OF Austin Kearns from the Indians, although the bigger news is that they have tentatively reached a deal with Houston for 1B Lance Berkman.

Carlos Gonzalez completes the cycle by crashing a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th as the Rockies defeat the Cubs, 6 – 5. Gonzalez’s blast off Sean Marshall comes after Chicago’s Derrek Lee hits a game-tying three-run homer off Rafael Betancourt in the 8th inning. Huston Street is the winner.

Once again, the last day before the trading deadline is a busy one as contenders try to plug holes before the last stretch of the pennant race. The Dodgers get P Ted Lilly and 2B Ryan Theriot from the Cubs for IF Blake DeWitt and two minor leaguers, and add P Octavio Dotel from the Pirates for P James McDonald and a minor leaguer. The Pirates send another member of their bullpen, Javier Lopez, to the Giants for P Joe Martinez. The Yankees complete yesterday’s rumored deal with Houston for Lance Berkman and also add reliever Kerry Wood from Cleveland, not giving up any major leaguers in the process. The Braves add veterans P Kyle Farnsworthand OF Rick Ankiel from the Royals for Jesse Chavez, Gregor Blanco and Tim Collins, and in a three-team deal, the Padres get OF Ryan Ludwick from the Cardinals, while the Cards add pitcher Jake Westbrook, taken from Cleveland, which receives two prospects from San Diego.

Needing a home run to complete the sixth cycle in franchise history, Carlos Gonzalez, the leading hitter in the National League, belts a game-ending round-tripper that gives the Rockies a 6-5 comeback victory over Chicago. ‘CarGo,’ who becomes the fifth player to complete the cycle with a walk-off home run, smashes the first pitch thrown in the bottom of the ninth into the third-deck, making it the 29th long ball to land there in the 11-year history of Coors Field.

It’s a day of strong pitching performances in the major leagues. In St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay’s James Shields keeps the Yankees off the scoreboard for seven innings in a 3 – 0 win that brings the Rays within a game of the AL East leaders. Matt Cain of the Giants needs 124 pitches to go through 7 2/3 innings, but he registers his first career win over the Dodgers, 2 – 0, to complete a three-game sweep. Finally, Francisco Liriano gives up only 2 hits and strikes out 11 in seven innings in the Twins’ 4 – 0 victory over Seattle.

The Red Sox pull out a thrilling victory over the Tigers after blowing a three-run lead in the 9th inning. Jed Lowrie leads off the bottom of the 9th with an infield single and Eric Patterson walks before Marco Scutaro drops a bunt towards rookie pitcher Robbie Weinhardt; his throw to first base is off target, allowing pinch runner Darnell McDonald to score the winning run in the 4 – 3 win. Jonathan Papelbon is the winner, in spite of spoiling a great performance by starter Clay Buchholz, who held the Tigers scoreless for 8 innings.

Taiwan wins its second Gold Medal ever at a World Junior Championship, beating Australia, 8 – 4, in the finale of the 2010 World Junior Championship. Australia’s Silver marks its best finish ever, while Cuba tops Canada in the Bronze Medal game. Tourney MVP Tzu-Wei Lin hits a 3-run homer and drives in four.

The Mets induct four new members, all of whom played an instrumental role in the 1986 World Championship, to the team’s Hall of Fame. Former GM Frank Cashen, previous skipper Davey Johnson, and two former All-Stars, slugger Darryl Strawberry and right-hander Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden, join 21 other persons to be recognized by the club since the inception of the honor in 1981.

The Brewers and Corey Hart agree to a $26.5 million, three-year contract extension keeping the All-Star outfielder in Milwaukee through the 2013 season. The 28 year-old fly chaser, who had an unproductive 2009 season and a poor spring training, had been the subject of recent trade rumors.

Washington backstop Ivan Rodriguez becomes the fifth player to collect 300 home runs while catching when he goes deep off Rodrigo Lopez leading off the second inning of the Nationals’ 3-1 victory in Arizona. Pudge joins Hall of Famers Mike Piazza, Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench, and Yogi Berra as the only catchers in baseball history to reach the plateau while playing behind the dish.

Jeremy Hellickson, making his first major league start in a one-game stint in Tampa Bay, leads the club to a tie for 1st place in the AL East with a 4 – 2 win over the Twins. Making a spot start to give Tampa’s starters a rest – none of the five starters had yet missed a turn on the mound this year – Hellickson retires the first 10 batters he faces and gives up only 2 runs in 7 innings to best Carl Pavano. After the game, the Rays purchase the contract of 1B Dan Johnson and option Hellickson back to AAA.

Meanwhile, in New York, the Blue Jays lash out a record-tying 6 doubles in the 5th inning, including 2 by Travis Snider, to beat the Yankees, 8 – 6. Brandon Morrow beats former Jay A.J. Burnett, while Kevin Gregg retires Alex Rodriguez after giving up a solo homer to Nick Swisher to end the game and earn his 24th save.

The Reds retake 1st place in the NL Central with a 4 – 0 win over Pittsburgh, combined with the Cardinals’ 9 – 4 loss at home to Houston. Rookie Travis Wood pitches 7 shutout innings in Cincinnati’s victory, but starting SS Orlando Cabrera strains a muscle on a 9th-inning swing and is headed for the disabled list.

The Brewers bang out 26 hits in beating the Cubs, 18 – 1, at Wrigley Field. Prince Fielder drives in 5 runs on 5 hits, Ryan Braun also collects 5 hits and Corey Hart has 4 in support of Yovani Gallardo’s 12 strikeouts; Casey McGehee hits a three-run homer in the rout. “Nothing worked”, comments Cubs acting manager Alan Trammell, filling in for Lou Piniella, who is in Florida to attend a funeral. It ties the Cubs’ franchise record for hits allowed, set back in the 1950s.

Toronto keeps banging out homers by the bushel, hitting four more in today’s 8 – 2 win over the Yankees at New Yankee Stadium. Aaron Hill, Vernon Wells, Travis Snider and José Bautista connect for the Jays. Starter Ricky Romero gives up a two-run shot to Mark Teixeira in the 1st, then limits the Bronx Bombers to an infield single the rest of the way to take the win with a complete game two-hitter. The Jays have now hit a major league-leading 167 home runs.

Meanwhile, the Rays take sole possession of first place in the AL East with a 6 – 4 win over Minnesota. Sean Rodriguez and B.J. Upton both hit three-run homers, while Jeff Niemann notches his 10th win, the fourth Rays starter to reach the mark already this year.

Two of the top first basemen in th majors go on the disabled list today: the Phillies’ Ryan Howard is the victim of a sprained ankle, while Boston’s Kevin Youkilis has a thumb injury. Also going on the DL are Cleveland C Carlos Santana and DH Travis Hafner, who have respectively a sprained knee suffered in a collision at home plate, and inflammation in the shoulder.

For the second consecutive game, the Brewers score 18 runs against the Cards, winning, 18 – 4. IF Aaron Miles makes the fourth pitching appearance of his career, tossing a scoreless 9th inning for St. Louis; he is their only pitcher not to allow any runs over the past two days.

The Royals and Athletics are involved in a strange play tonight. With the Royals’ Mitch Maier on third and Yunieski Betancourt on first base with none out in the 7th, Gregor Blanco lays a bunt down the third base line. C Kurt Suzuki fields it and catches Maier in a rundown between third and home. When P Jerry Blevins runs Maier back to the third sack, Betancourt is already standing there. Blevins tags both runners and umpire Bill Hohn calls Betancourt out for being on an occupied base, while Blanco advances to second. However, the umpires then confer, and crew chief Gary Darling rules Maier out for stepping off the bag after being tagged, thus abandoning his effort, making Betancourt’s presence on the bag legal. A’s manager Bob Geren comes out to argue that both runners should then be out and when he insists too much, he is ejected. In the end, the unusual play doesn’t figure in the final score as the Royals win, 3 – 2.

2010 – Angel Sanchez delivers four hits and six RBIs  as the Astros erupt for an 18-4 mauling in St. Louis on 22 hits. Everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit. Carlos Lee and Pedro Feliz contributed three hits each. Bud Norris coasted to the win. The seven-game winning streak has pushed the surging Astros into fourth place in the division. 

Vicente Padilla throws a two-hit shutout as the Dodgers beat the Padres, 9 – 0. Padilla uses mainly slow breaking balls, including his version of the eephus pitch, to mystify San Diego’s batters, keeping them hitless until one out in the 7th. But it’s not all good news for the Dodgers: before the game, C Russell Martin is placed on the disabled list because of a torn musle in his right hip and will be out for the remainder of the year.

Alex Rodriguez eclipses Babe Ruth in becoming the youngest major leaguer to hit 600 career home runs

The Phillies obtain Mike Sweeney from the Mariners for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The deal is necessitated for Philadelphia when their All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard is put on the disabled list with a severely sprained ankle.

In the early hours of the morning, the group led by Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg is confirmed as the winning bidder in the court-ordered auction of the Texas Rangers, part of the bankruptcy proceedings for owner Tom Hicks’s sports properties group. The winning bid, valued at $385 million in cash, beats one from Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association; its total value reaches $593 million when the portion of Hicks’s debts assumed by the new owners is taken into account.

A routine pop-up by Jason Kubel with two outs in the 9th hits a catwalk high above Tropicana Field and lands safely behind the pitcher’s mound to give Minnesota the lead on its way to an 8 – 6 win. The freak hit negates a six-run comeback by the Rays in the 8th, capped by Jason Bartlett’s pinch grand slam. After the loss, manager Joe Maddon lets out his frustration with his home ballpark: “There’s a crying need for a real baseball field to be built”, he tells the St. Petersburg Times.

In the top of the ninth, the Twins recover from blowing a 6-0 lead, when Jason Kubel’s two-out pop up lands behind the pitcher’s mound untouched by the Rays’ middle infielders for the go-ahead single in the team’s eventual 8-6 victory. The odd play, a result of the ball ricocheting off a catwalk and changing direction 190 feet above Tropicana Field, will prompt a change of the ground rules for postseason games played in Tampa Bay.

In a 15-minute pregame ceremony delayed by rain at Turner Field, the Braves retire Tom Glavine’s uniform number 47. The southpaw, who won 244 of his 305 career victories with the organization, including five seasons with 20 or more wins, was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame earlier in the day at a luncheon.

The Atlanta Braves honor pitcher Tom Glavine by retiring his uniform number 47 before today’s game with the Giants. San Francisco wins the game, 3 – 2, in 11 innings. They manage to tie the score in the 9th and score the winning run in the 11th without the benefit of any hits, taking advantage of two Braves errors in the 9th, and using a trio of walks and a sacrifice fly to score the game winner. Brian Wilson records the final out for his 32nd save at 12:32 a.m. after rain showers delay the start of the game by 90 minutes.

Adam Wainwright tosses a two-hit shutout for the Cardinals for his 16th win of the year, as St. Louis defeats Florida, 7 – 0. Albert Pujols hits a three-run homer off Ricky Nolasco in the top of the 1st, and the Cards never look back.

The Red Sox may be reeling from injuries this year, but their rivalry with the Yankees endures. Today, they beat their nemesis, 6 – 3, at New Yankee Stadium, taking advantage of a dropped pop-up by Yankee C Francisco Cervelli to score three in the 2nd. Ryan Kalish hits his first major league homer, a two-run shot off Javier Vazquez, to put the game away in the 6th. Clay Buchholz is the winner, while David Ortiz also hits one out for the Sox, as well as Mark Teixeira for the Yanks. Derek Jeter lines a single ahead of Teixeira’s homer in the 1st for his 2,873rd hit, tying Babe Ruth on the all-time list.

J.P. Arencibia hits two homeruns in his major league debut

For the first time since May, the major leagues’ all-time save leader, Trevor Hoffman, gets the ball in a save situation. He disposes of the Astros in order on 8 pitches to preserve a 5 – 2 Brewers win for his 597th career save. Hoffman blew 5 of his first 10 save opportunities this year to earn relegation to the outer reaches of the Brewers’ bullpen, while rookie John Axford has pitched extremely well since taking over as the team’s closer. Randy Wolf is the winner and Rickie Weeks hits an inside-the-park homer leading off the game for Milwaukee.

Two days after learning that starting 1B Kevin Youkilis is done for the season with a thumb injury, the Red Sox sign veteran Carlos Delgado, who has not played at all this year, to a minor league contract. He will be assigned to AAA Pawtucket but will fail in his bid to return to the big leagues.

Toronto’s Brandon Morrow keeps the Rays hitless for 8 2/3 innings before Evan Longoria bounces a single just outside the reach of 2B Aaron Hill. Morrow has to settle for a one-hit shutout when he fans the next batter, Dan Johnson, to complete the 1 – 0 victory. Johnson is his 17th strikeout victim on the day, one shy of the team record established by Roger Clemens in 1998.

Boise Hawks manager Jody Davis is suspended six games and fined an undisclosed amount for pulling his team off the field and causing a forfeit in a Northwest League game against the Everett AquaSox yesterday. Davis argued that the field was unsafe after rain delayed the start of the game, and when the umpires disagreed, he ordered his players to walk off.

The Reds obtain OF Jim Edmonds from the Brewers in a trade for OF Chris Dickerson. The 40-year-old Edmonds is hitting .286 after sitting out all of last season. His presence doesn’t help as the Reds drop the first game of a crucial three-game series with the Cardinals at home, losing 7 – 3. The Cards score all their runs off rookie Mike Leake in the 4th, highlighted by Skip Schumaker’s first major league grand slam, to pull within one game of division-leading Cincinnati.

Brian Roberts hits his first homer of the season, a walk-off shot to lead off the 10th, as the Orioles defeat the White Sox, 3 – 2, for their 6th win in 7 games since Buck Showalter took over as manager a week ago.

David Price needs support from his bullpen, but he sets a club record with his 15th win of the season when Tampa Bay defeats Detroit, 6 – 3. Price strikes out 9 batters in 5 innings but has to leave the game because of a high pitch count, letting Chad Qualls, Joaquin Benoit and Rafael Soriano handle the last 4 innings.

Citing he has lost confidence in his manager, Mariner GM Jack Zduriencik fires Don Wakamatsu and three coaches. Triple-A Tacoma manager Daren Brown is named as the interim pilot of the last-place club (42-70), becoming the team’s fifth skipper in a little more than three years.

Meanwhile, the AL Central race is also close, but Minnesota now has a one-game lead over the White Sox following tonight’s 12 – 6 win over their rivals. They are propelled by five homers – by Jim Thome, J.J. Hardy, Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel; Scott Baker is the winner.

The second game of the series for the NL Central lead between the Cardinals and Reds is marred by a 1st-inning bench-clearing brawl which starts when St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina has words with Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips about the latter’s earlier statements to the media which Cardinal players found demeaning. After the fracas, the Cards go on to win, 8 – 4, and tie the Reds for the division lead. Jaime Garcia beats Johnny Cueto. Major League Baseball will hand a seven-game suspension to Cueto, who spiked an opposing player during the brawl, and two-game suspensions to managers Dusty Baker and Tony LaRussa for their role in the melee; four players are issued fines, in addition to the two skippers.

In an ugly first-inning brawl at Great American Ball Park, Cardinals’ backstop Jason LaRue suffers a mild concussion and bruised ribs, with his batterymate Chris Carpenter also receiving bruises on his back during the seven-minute scrum. Reds’ starting pitcher Johnny Cueto, who will be suspended for seven games for kicking the Redbirds’ catcher and pitcher, draws the wrath of his opponents for lashing out with his spikes during the altercation.

In an 8-2 victory over Milwaukee at Miller Park, the Diamondbacks become the only the seventh team to hit four consecutive home runs in an inning. In the top of the fourth inning, Adam LaRoche, Miguel Montero, Mark Reynolds, and Stephen Drew all connect off Dave Bush, making the right-hander only the third hurler in major league history to yield four straight round-trippers.

The Diamondbacks tie a major league record by hitting four consecutive home runs against the Brewers in their 8 – 2 win today. With one out in the 4th, Adam LaRoche, Miguel Montero, Mark Reynolds and Stephen Drewall connect for long balls, to turn a 2 – 0 deficit into a 4 – 2 lead. Chris Young then flies out to deep center to nearly make it 5 homers in the inning. David Bush gives up all four homers, matching a dubious feat last accomplished by Chase Wright of the Yankees on April 22, 2007.

Mike Fontenot does not have far to go after being traded by the Cubs two hours before today’s game with the Giants: he just grabs his belongings and walks across the hallway to the home clubhouse at AT&T Park. The Cubs receive Class-A OF Evan Crawford in return for the veteran infielder. The Giants go on to beat the Cubs, 5 – 4, as Pat Burrell hits a decisive homer in the 8th inning.

Closer Francisco Rodriguez of the Mets is arrested at Citi Field after allegedly assaulting his father-in-law following tonight’s 6 – 2 loss to the Colorado Rockies in which he did not pitch. He remains in police custody all night before a court appearance on August 12th and is placed on the restricted list by the Mets.

Major League Baseball owners unanimously approve the sale of the Texas Rangers to a group headed by Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan, ending a drawn-out saga.

The Phillies beat the Dodgers, 10 – 9, after trailing 9 – 2 entering the bottom of the 8th. They score 4 runs that inning, and 4 more in the 9th off All-Star closer Jonathan Broxton to complete the dramatic comeback. Broxton starts the bottom of the 9th by hitting Placido Polanco with a pitch, then walks Mike Sweeney and Jayson Werth to load the bases with none out. Ben Francisco hits an apparent double play grounder, but it scoots through 3B Casey Blake’s legs and two runs score. Carlos Ruiz follows with a game-ending two-run double to left-center.

Milwaukee’s Casey McGehee’s last hit, a seventh-inning single, during his 4-for-4 performance in the team’s 8-4 victory over Arizona at Miller Park, establishes a franchise record. The Brewer infielder’s ninth consecutive hit breaks the club mark set by teammate Ryan Braun in 2008, but is three shy of the major league record of 12, accomplished by Pinky Higgins (1938) and Walt Dropo (1952).

Major League Baseball suspends Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto, who kicked at players with his spikes when he was pushed against the backstop during a recent brawl with the Cardinals, for seven games for his “violent and aggressive actions”. Managers Tony La Russa and Dusty Baker are suspended two games, with fines being handed out to the Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and pitcher Russ Springer, and Redbird backstop Yadier Molina and right-hander Chris Carpenter.

R.A. Dickey baffles the Phillies with his knuckleball, throwing a complete game one-hitter, for the Mets’ second shutout in two nights, and their fourth consecutive shutout of the Phillies at Citi Field, dating back to a three-game sweep in May. The only hit is by opposing pitcher Cole Hamels. The Mets’ run scores with two outs in the 6th, on consecutive doubles by David Wright and Carlos Beltran.

The first-place Rangers beat the Red Sox, 10 – 9, on an 11th-inning walk-off homer by Nelson Cruz off Tim Wakefield. Boston takes an early 8 – 2 lead with a 7-run 4th inning and hits 5 solo homers in the game – two by J.D. Drew – but Texas chips away methodically at the lead and ties the game at 9-all in the 8th when Josh Hamilton, on second base after his 4th hit of the night, scores on Vladimir Guerrero’s infield single.

A day after major league baseball formally approves the sale of the team, the new owners of the Rangers, which includes Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, announce lower prices for concessions, parking, and merchandise. The lowering of prices is one way of showing appreciation to the Texas fans for their loyalty and support, according to sports attorney Chuck Greenberg, another new owner the club.

The Giants obtain Jose Guillen from Kansas City

Alex Rodriguez hits three homers and drives in five runs, taking over the American League RBI lead with 97, as the Yankees defeat the Royals, 8 – 3. Phil Hughes is the winner.

The Laredo Broncos of the independent United Baseball League announce that they have signed retired slugger Jose Canseco to serve as a player-coach. The 46-year-old Canseco last played in the Golden Baseball League in 2006; his last sporting endeavor was losing a boxing match to 60-year-old Gary Hogan before a minor league game on July 9th.

Mike McClendon becomes the first rookie in Brewers’ history to retire the first nine batter he faces. The 25 year-old right-hander is perfect in the sixth, seventh, and eighth frames in Milwaukee’s eventual 5-4, ten-inning victory over Colorado at Coors Field.

After giving up a triple and a homer to start the game, Bud Norris bears down and strikes out 14 over seven innings for a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh. Hunter Pence supplies the offense with a solo homer and a pair of doubles, including the game-winner. 

Kevin Slowey of the Twins pitches 7 no-hit innings against the Oakland A’s, but is taken out of the game having reached his pitch count limit. Slowey skipped his last start because of elbow tendinitis and manager Ron Gardenhire is being careful with him. The Target Field crowd boos when Jon Rauch comes out to start the 8th, and the second batter Rauch faces, Cliff Pennington, breaks up the no-hit bid with a double. The Twins still come out ahead, 4 – 2, thanks to a three-run homer by Jim Thome in the 7th.

Albert Pujols becomes the first player to hit 30 homers in his first 10 seasons with a 1st-inning shot off Ryan Dempster of the Cubs, but the Cardinals lose, 9 – 7, in spite of scoring 5 runs in the 9th. Pujols has also hit over .300 and driven in over 100 runs each season he has played so far, and is on pace to reach those totals once again. Meanwhile, the Reds complete a three-game sweep of the Marlins with a 2 – 0 win and retake first place by a game over the Cards in the NL Central.

On the final deadline for signing players selected in this year’s amateur draft, the Nationals agree to a last-minute major league contract worth $9.9 million with first overall pick Bryce Harper. A number of other top draftees sign as well, leaving only 3 of the top 32 picks unsigned.

Shaun Marcum only allows a 7th-inning homer to Conor Jackson in beating the Oakland Athletics, 3 – 1, pitching a one-hitter for the first complete game of his career. He joins Blue Jays teammate Brandon Morrow who pitched a one-hitter on August 8th. All the Jays’ runs come on homers: a solo shot by José Bautista that is originally ruled an inside-the-park homer before the umpires state that it had in fact hit the foul pole, and a two-run shot by Edwin Encarnacion.

Jonathan Albaladejo earns his 39th save of the season for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in a 7 – 4 win over Toledo, breaking the International League single-season mark held by Matt Whiteside since 2004.

Bobby Thomson, who hit what is arguably the most famous home run in baseball history – the Shot Heard ‘Round the World – dies at home in Savannah, GA. The memorable walk-off homer off Brooklyn’s Ralph Branca on October 3, 1951, sent the New York Giants to the 1951 World Series. Thomson was a star outfielder mostly with the Giants and Milwaukee Braves during the 1950s.

The Mets place closer Francisco Rodriguez on the disqualified list and will not pay him until he is able to pitch again. He suffered a season-ending thumb injury punching his father-in-law last week, an action for which he faces criminal assault charges. The Mets may still try to void the last year of his contract as well, worth $11.5 million, although such a decision would be certain to be contested by the Players union.

Jim Thome ties the major league record for career walk-off home runs with his 12th, as the Twins beat the White Sox, 7 – 6. Thome catches Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Frank Robinson and Babe Ruth.

The Tampa Bay Rays complete a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers with an 8 – 6 win at Tropicana Field in what is a possible preview of the postseason. Evan Longoria drives in 4 runs today and goes 7 for 12 overall in the series.

The Braves acquire 1B Derrek Lee from the Chicago Cubs in return for three minor league pitchers (Robinson Lopez, Tyrelle Harris and Jeffrey Lorick) on the same day they place starting 1B Troy Glaus on the disabled listwith inflammation around his left knee. In the game which follows, the first-place Braves beat the Nationals, 3 – 2, on a 9th-inning run-scoring single by Jason Heyward off Tyler Clippard.

The Red Sox just cannot stay healthy this season. Today, OF Mike Cameron decides to have surgery on a torn abdominal muscle which has limited him to 48 games, and he will not play again this season. Fellow OF Jacoby Ellsbury, who has played only 18 games because of broken ribs, goes back on the disabled list for the third time, the victim of another cracked rib expected to keep him out 4 to 6 weeks. Still, Boston manages to hang on to the fringes of the wild card race, beating the Angels, 7 – 5, thanks to a leaping 8th-inning catch by Daniel Nava, just called up to replace Ellsbury; Nava also drives in the winning run with a bases-loaded hit by pitch. Jonathan Papelbon picks up his 30th save, becoming the first pitcher to reach that total in each of his first five full seasons in the majors.

The Reds score 8 runs in the final two innings to claim an 11 – 7 win over Arizona. The key play comes with one out in the 9th when Chris Heisey drives in Jim Edmonds with a suicide squeeze bunt to give the Reds the lead. They are now 3 games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central.

Cheng-Min Peng becomes the fastest player in Chinese Professional Baseball League history to 1,000 hits, getting there in 844 games (topping Chung-Yi Huang’s mark by 32) and 2,838 at-bats (topping Min-Ching Lo by 406 AB). He is the 10th player in league history to 1,000. Chin-Chih Huang gives up the hit.

The front-running Braves acquire slugger Derrek Lee from the Cubs for three minor league pitchers. As a ten-year veteran, who had played at least five years with the same team, the 34 year-old first baseman rejected a trade to the Angels last month because he thought LA had too much of a deficit to make up in the AL West race.

In the 2010 Hoofdklasse playdowns to determine which team can be relegated, Joey Eijpe throws a no-hitter for HCAW against Almere while Willie Vasquez provides all the offense with a three-run homer.

The specter of the 2000s steroid scandal is still around. Today, former pitching great Roger Clemens is indicted on six counts of perjury for allegedly lying during Congressional hearings on PED use in February 2008 when he testified that he had never used banned substances. A number of former teammates and associates have since come forward to provide testimony that contradicts his statements made under oath.

The Yankees use a nine-run 6th inning to blow away the Tigers, 11 – 5. Robinson Cano hits a double and homer and collects 3 RBI in the frame. The Yankees are now a game in front of Tampa Bay, who lose, 4 – 3, to Oakland, but place newly-acquired 1B Lance Berkman on the disabled list with a sprained ankle.

The Padres complete a four-game sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley Field with a 5 – 3 victory. Will Venable is the hero, hitting a two-run single in the 7th, then scoring from third base after Chase Headley is retired in a rundownbetween 3rd base and home and Cubs catcher Koyie Hill leaves home plate uncovered, thinking time has been called. The Padres have won 10 of their last 11 games to increase their lead in the NL West to 6 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco, but lose OF Tony Gwynn for a month when he is placed on the disabled list after breaking a bone in his hand swinging the bat a day earlier.

The Cards acquire 3B Pedro Feliz from Houston for minor league P David Carpenter. Feliz is hitting a disappointing .221 with 4 homers and 31 RBI after coming to the Astros as a free agent in the off-season.

The Cardinals obtain third baseman Pedro Feliz from the Astros in exchange for minor league pitcher David Carpenter. The Redbirds replace a slumping Felipe Lopez, a fill-in for the injured David Freese at the hot corner, with the 35 year-old veteran, good-fielding infielder.

Ronny Paulino is suspended for 50 games for violating MLB PED policy

The Blue Jays crush the Red Sox at Fenway Park, collecting 20 hits in a 16 – 2 victory. Lyle Overbay hits two homers and has a career-high 7 RBI, John Buck gets 4 hits, John McDonald has 3 hits and a homer and José Bautista also goes long in support of Brett Cecil’s pitching. Jon Lester gives up 9 runs in only 2 innings to be saddled with the loss. The Red Sox get more bad news as they put 2B Dustin Pedroia back on the disabled listafter playing only 2 games since being reactivated from a fractured foot.

Josh Bell hits the first two homers of his major league career, and teammates Ty Wigginton and Luke Scott join him in going yard, as the Orioles rough up Texas’s Cliff Lee, 8 – 6. It is the first time this season Lee fails to complete 6 innings, being chased after pitching 5 2/3 innings.

Rookie Peter Bourjos also hits his first career homer, for the Angels against the Twins. He adds a triple and drives in 4 in his team’s 9 – 3 win. Losing P Kevin Slowey is placed on the disabled list after the game with a strained right forearm, as is reliever Ron Mahay, who hurts his shoulder while fielding a ground ball.

Casey Kotchman goes 3 for 4 in a 9 – 5 Mariners loss to the Yankees, but makes his first error in 275 games. The previous major league record for errorless games at first base had been held by Kevin Youkilis.

After being heckled by Philadelphia fans between innings, Nyjer Morgan throws a ball into the Citizens Bank Park outfield seats, hitting a fan in the head. The Nationals outfielder will receive a seven-game suspension for his serious lapse of judgment, although his victim, a 37 year-old male, is very surprised by the suspension and wishes his assailant luck with the appeal of the penalty.

Matt Stairs sets the career record for pinch-hit home runs

Lou Piniella retires after 23 seasons as a manager. In his last game at the helm, his Cubs lose, 16 – 5, at home to the Atlanta Braves. Piniella missed some time earlier this year to be with his ailing mother, and had announced that this season would be his last. Coach Mike Quade will take over as interim manager for the remainder of the season. Piniella retires with a lifetime record of 1,835-1,712.

In a battle of pitchers who threw no-hitters earlier this year, Tampa Bay’s Matt Garza outpitches Dallas Braden of Oakland in a 4 – 3 win. The Rays need the win to keep within one game of the Yankees, who sink the Mariners, 10 – 0. Robinson Cano hits a grand slam and drives in 6 runs in support of CC Sabathia’s league-leading 17th win, his 15th straight win at New Yankee Stadium.

The Rangers come within two outs of throwing the 6th no-hitter of the season with a collective effort against the Twins. Rich Harden, Matt Harrison, Darren O’Day and Neftali Feliz keep Minnesota hitless into the 9th inning, until Joe Mauer singles with one out. Feliz then finishes the 4 – 0 win. Harden has to leave the game after 6 2/3 innings as he is coming off the disabled list and has already thrown 111 pitches by that point.

Brandon Morrow, no stranger himself to having a no-hitter broken up in the 9th, has another strong outing against the Yankees, although reliever Scott Downs is credited with the 3 – 2 Blue Jays’ win. The game is decided in the 8th when José Bautista hits his second home run of the game, off David Robertson, to break a 2 – 2 tie. Bautista is the first player to reach 40 homers this year.

The Rays take advantage of the Yankees’ loss to catch them for the AL East lead, by defeating the Angels, 4 – 3. Rafael Soriano strikes out the side on 9 pitches in the 9th to earn his 38th save. It is the 44th time the feat has been accomplished in the majors, being last done by Ross Ohlendorf of the Pirates last September.

2010 – The Astros win a marathon match with the Phillies, needing 16 innings and 5 hours to complete a 4 – 2 win in Philadelphia. After 1B Ryan Howard is ejected in the 14th inning, P Roy Oswalt is forced to play in LF for the Phils, who have no position players left. Howard’s tossing caps a dreadful day for him, in which he goes 0 for 7 with 5 strikeouts. In the top of the 16th, the Astros scrap out two runs against loser David Herndon on a single, a hit by pitch, a walk, and two ground balls to the infield; in the bottom of the inning, Oswalt grounds out with two on for the game’s final out.

Bud Selig, former Brewers owner and baseball’s current commissioner, is honored with the unveiling of a bronze, seven-foot statue at Miller Park. Brian Maughan’s piece of art, which portrays Selig with his right arm extended with his hand holding a baseball, joins the sculptures of Robin Yount and Hank Aaron in front of the Milwaukee ballpark.

2010 – Chris Johnson gets his fourth single of the night to drive in Hunter Pence with the winning run in a 4-2, 16-inning marathon at Philadelphia. Carlos Lee’s two-run blast gives Houston the lead until Jimmy Rollins homers with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The Phillies insert former Astro Roy Oswalt in left field after Ryan Howard is ejected in the 14th. Oswalt comes to bat as the last hope in the 16th before tapping out to third. The surprising Astros sweep the Phils and push all the way to third in the division before a late swoon leaves them with a 76-86 record and a fourth place finish. 

Félix Hernández of the Mariners beats the Red Sox in the second game of a doubleheader, fanning nine. That makes him the fourth-youngest hurler to 1,000 career strikeouts, following Bob Feller, Bert Blyleven and Dwight Gooden. David Ortiz is his 1,000th victim.

In the California League, Lancaster defeats Lake Elsinore, 3 – 1, in 10 innings, as five pitchers combine on a no-hitter. Starter Robert Donovan goes 5 2/3 innings before running out of gas and giving way to Edwin Walker. Lake Elsinore ties the game at 1 in the 8th against David Berner, the result of a walk and two sacrifice bunts that both result in throwing errors by Berner. David Carpenter succeeds him, finishes the 8th and pitches a perfect 9th to get credit for the win when his teammates score two in the top of the 10th inning. Another reliever, Jose Trinidad, completes the unusual no-no by pitching the bottom of the 10th, allowing only a walk.

2011 – The Oakland A’s take an early 7 – 1 lead against the Yankees, but it’s all Bronx Bombers after that. Robinson Cano hits a grand slam in the 5th inning, Russell Martin follows suit in the 6th, they put up another 6 runs in the 7th, and in the 8th, Curtis Granderson also homers with the bases loaded to make the Yanks the first team ever to hit three grand slams in one game. Andruw Jones follows Granderson’s blast with a solo homer to make the final score 22 – 9. Martin has a career day, going 5 for 5 with a walk and 6 RBI and also hitting a solo shot to complement his slam as the Yankees bat around in their final four innings. It is the most runs given up by an Athletics team since 1955; their pitchers help the cause by surrendering 22 hits and issuing 13 walks in the rout. In the 9th inning, DH Jorge Posada takes the field at second base; it is his first major league appearance at the position he played in the lower minors 20 years ago.

The Reds blow a nine-run lead over San Francisco, but manage to tie the game in the ninth on Paul Janish’s single and get a 12-11 victory on Joey Votto’s two-out, tie-breaking hit in the 12th inning. Earlier in the day, the Braves squander the same size lead at Coors Field, but lose the game, 12-10, to the Rockies, who match their largest comeback in franchise history.

Felix Hernandez collects his 1000th strikeout when he fans David Ortiz in the sixth inning of the Mariners’ 4-2 victory over Boston at Safeco Field. The 24 year-old Seattle starter, the fourth youngest ever to reach the milestone, joins Randy Johnson (2,162), Jamie Moyer (1,239), and Mark Langston (1,078) as the fourth pitcher in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

Alex Ramirez becomes the first player in Nippon Pro Baseball to drive in 100 runs for eight straight seasons, breaking Sadaharu Oh’s record set from 1963 to 1969. Ramirez’s three-run homer off Kazuki Yoshimi in the 1st puts him over the century mark in a 10 – 4 Yomiuri Giants win over the Chunichi Dragons.

Albert Pujols of St. Louis hits the 400th homer of his career, off Jordan Zimmermann of the Nationals in the 4th inning. Pujols becomes the 47th major leaguer to hit that many and is the third-youngest to do so after Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. However, the hit is a distant memory by the time the game reaches its conclusion after 13 innings with an 11 – 10 Nats win. Ian Desmond drives in Nyjer Morgan from third base with a single through a drawn-in infield to end the roller-coaster game, giving him 3 hits and 4 RBI on the night as Blake Hawksworth takes the loss. 15 pitchers see action during the game. The Cards take a 10 – 8 lead in the top of the 9th with a four-run outburst, only to see Roger Bernadina blast a two-run homer off Ryan Franklin to send the contest into extra innings. The Cards have now lost 8 of 11.

Cedric Hunter of Portland has a great day at the plate in a 17 – 12 win over Tacoma in the Pacific Coast League. He collects a franchise-record 8 RBI with a pair of three-run homers, a double and a single both plating a run, and another single for good measure. Dusty Ryan, with a grand slam, and Sean Kazmar also homer for Portland, while five Tacoma players do the same, including Mike Carp who hits two.

Jay Bruce hits three home runs in Cincinnati’s 7 – 1 win over the Cubs. Chris Valaika also homers off Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny for his first major league long ball as Johnny Cueto picks up the win.

The Twins strengthen their bullpen for the postseason, picking up Brian Fuentes from the Angels in return for a player to be named later, a few days after claiming Randy Flores on waivers from the Rockies.

Braves starter Tommy Hanson, who begins the game without having given up a homer in his last 47.2 innings on the mound, sees his streak end when Marlin leadoff hitter Cameron Maybin drills the first pitch of the game into the left-field seats at Turner Field. Logan Morrison, the next batter, then connects off the Atlanta right-hander for his first major league round-tripper, making it the first time in franchise history that Florida has led off a game with back-to-back homers.

The Nationals announce 22 year-old right-hander Stephen Strasburg will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, which will require about 12 to 18 months of rehabilitation. The rookie sensation, whose presence on the mound earlier in the season brought President Obama, along with his two daughters, to Nationals Park to watch the phenom pitch against the White Sox, finishes his freshman year with a 5-3 won-loss record in his 12 starts, striking out 92 batters in 68 innings while compiling an ERA of 2.91.

2010 – Tim Hudson sets a career high with 13 strikeouts in a 12 – 3 Braves win over the Marlins, snapping a four-game losing streak. The Braves give him an early lead with a six-run 2nd inning highlighted by Matt Diaz’s home run and Brian McCann’s three-run double.

The White Sox pick up slugger Manny Ramirez on waivers from the Dodgers, assuming the remainder of his salary for the year, estimated at $3.85 million. The Sox offered the Dodgers a prospect in order to pay a smaller portion of Manny’s salary, but Los Angeles declined the offer. His last presence as a Dodger is a pinch-hitting appearance with the bases loaded today, during which he is ejected for arguing a first-pitch strike. The 38-year-old Ramirez has missed 59 games this season through various injuries, but has batted a solid .313 with 8 homers and 40 RBI when he has taken the field.

For the first time in major league history, a walk-off home run is subject to a video review. After pinch-hitter Matt Diaz hits a two-run homer off the Marlins’ Leo Nunez in the 9th to tie the score and cap a comeback from a 6 – 1 deficit, the Braves’ Brian McCann hits a ball to deep right that bounces back onto the field. The umpires initially rule it a double, and McCann is standing at second base when the umpires step out to look at the replay; when it shows that the ball hit above the fence, he can trot home, where he is mugged by celebrating teammates.

Cole Hamels pitches 8 scoreless innings as the Phillies complete a three-game sweep of the Padres in San Diego with a 5 – 0 win. It is Hamels’ first win in 9 starts, even though he has put up a 2.83 ERA during the stretch. The Padres have now lost four in a row for the first time this year, but still lead San Francisco by 5 games in the NL West. That lead will quickly evaporate, though.

In a pregame ceremony prior to their game against the Yankees, the White Sox retire Frank Thomas’ jersey number 35. The ‘Big Hurt’, a two-time American League MVP who played 16 of his 19 years in the big leagues in Chicago, retired in the offseason with a .301 lifetime batting average, along with 521 homers and 1,704 RBIs.

After initially ruling Brian McCann’s drive a double, the umpires take only 86 seconds to overturn the call, making it the first time in baseball history a game ends with a walk-off home run thanks to a video review of a play. The backstop’s ninth-inning round-tripper, which clearly bounced off the top of the outfield wall and struck a second barrier, gives the Braves a 7-6 comeback victory over Florida.

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman benches Nyjer Morgan for the ‘unprofessional’ play of his outfielder during yesterday’s 14-5 victory over St. Louis. The center fielder had bowled over and severely injured Bryan Anderson at home plate in the bottom of the eighth inning even though the Cardinal catcher didn’t have the ball, and when he neglected to touch home plate is called out on the play.

Mike Moustakas of Omaha (Pacific Coast League) hits two homers and drives in 5 runs in the 3rd inning of a game with Round Rock, but he’s far from done. He adds a three-run double in the 4th and a three-run homer in the 7th to finish with a franchise-record 11 RBI as Omaha wins, 23 – 5. Moustakas is also named the Texas League Player of the Year today after hitting .341 with 21 homers and 76 RBI for Northwest Arkansas prior to his promotion to AAA Omaha. He now leads all minor league players with 34 homers.

Carlos Zambrano becomes the first major league pitcher to homer in eight straight seasons since Gary Peters (1963-1971), launching one in a 14 – 2 Cubs rout of Pittsburgh.

Jeff Francoeur is traded to the Rangers by the Mets in exchange for infielder Joaquin Arias. The rifle-armed right fielder will be a right-handed bat off the bench and defensive replacement for the playoff-bound Texas team.

The Dodgers trade a player to be named (infielder Tony Abreu) to the Diamondbacks in exchange for starter Jon Garland. The 31 year-old right-hander will post a 3-2 record with a 2.72 ERA in his six late-season starts for the Dodgers, before signing as a free agent with San Diego.

Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman makes his major league debut. Pitching for the Reds, he hits 102 mph on the radar gun during an inning of relief work as Cincinnati defeats Milwaukee, 8 – 4. Joey Votto drives in three runs with a pair of doubles as Sam LeCure wins in relief of Aaron Harang.

For the first time this season, the Padres are struggling. They lose their sixth in a row, 7 – 4, to Arizona. The D-Backs chase starter Kevin Correia with 5 runs in the 5th inning.

The Texas Rangers acquire OF Jeff Francoeur from the Mets for IF Joaquin Arias. Hitting .236 with 11 homers and 53 RBI, Francoeur has been made redundant by the return to health of Carlos Beltran.

Brandon Allen, just recalled form AAA Reno, hits a grand slam to lead the Diamondbacks to a 5 – 2 win over San Diego for the Padres’ 7th consecutive loss. The Pads waste a ten-strikeout effort by starter Mat Latos, who is lifted for a pinch-hitter in the 7th as they take a short-lived 2 – 1 lead.

The Nationals announce Rob Dibble is terminated for comments about Stephen Strasburg

Already appealing a seven-game suspension for throwing a baseball into the crowd in anger and hitting a fan in Philadelphia on August 21st, Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan is at the center of a bench-clearing brawl in today’s 16 – 10 loss to the Florida Marlins. The brawl starts when Chris Volstad thows a ball behind Morgan, who has already been hit by a pitch earlier in the game; Morgan charges the mound and throws a punch at Volstad before 1B Gaby Sanchez tackles him. He needs to be escorted from the field, with his shirt ripped and his face bruised, but pounds his chest and screams at the crowd as he departs. He, Volstad, Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez and reliever Jose Veras are all ejected from the game after the dust settles, then one inning later, Nats manager Jim Riggleman and P Doug Slaten are also thrown out when Sanchez is hit by a pitch. The trouble started the day before, when Morgan slammed into Marlins catcher Brett Hayes in the 10th inning, separating his shoulder; he infuriates his opponents further when, after his hit-by-pitch, he steals second and third base even though his team trails, 14 – 3. In two days, the National League will hand out suspensions to all involved, including 8 games for Morgan, 6 for Volstad and shorter suspensions for both managers, Nats coach Pat Listach, Slaten, Sanchez and Marlins reliever Alex Sanabia, while Veras escapes with a simple fine and warning. The league cites the succession of incidents in which Morgan has been involved in recent days to explain the unusually long verdict. Morgan will appeal, but now faces the prospect of two weeks of forced inaction.

2010 – Chase Utley hits a grand slam and drives in 6 runs as the Phillies use a nine-run 7th inning to defeat Colorado, 12 – 11, in a make-up game for a May rainout. Both teams need to travel to Denver just for the occasion. The Rockies collect 20 hits, including a homer by Carlos Gonzalez, who hits an extra-base hit for the 10th consecutive game, but they waste a good start by Jhoulys Chacin, who gives up a single earned run in 5 1/3 innings. The Rox bullpen is ripped apart by the Phillies’ bats, with Manny Delcarmen giving up four hits and four runs while retiring only one batter in his first appearance after being acquired from Boston. Besides Utley, Ryan Howardand Jayson Werth hit homers for Philly, while Chris Iannetta and Dexter Fowler join Gonzalez for Colorado.

The Phillies pull to within one game of the NL East-leading Braves with a 1 – 0 win over the Brewers. Cole Hamels pitches 7 scoreless innings, while the lone run scores after Shane Victorino’s fly ball drops between LF Ryan Braun and CF Lorenzo Cain for a double; the Flyin’ Hawaiian then scores on two consecutive ground ball outs. Meanwhile, the Braves drop a 6 – 1 decision to Florida as rookie Logan Morrison hits a pair of triples.

With a number of pitchers unavailable following a 13-inning loss to Detroit during which starter Scott Baker had to leave after only two innings, the Twins turn to rookie Matt Fox to start a key game against the Rangers. Fox delivers in his major league debut, pitching 5 2/3 solid innings after being called up from AAA Rochester in the middle of the night. His teammate in the minors, Alex Burnett, then pitches 1 1/3 innings to get credit for the 4 – 3 win.

Major League Baseball penalizes six players, both skippers, and a coach following an ugly brawl which occurred two days ago between the Nationals and Marlins in Miami that was the result of Chris Volstad throwing at Nyjer Morgan for the second time in the game. The Florida outfielder, who became a target when he ran over Brett Hayes, separating the catcher’s shoulder in the previous contest, retaliated to being hit in the fourth by stealing two bases, but charges the mound after the sixth inning incident, setting off the melee.

Stephen Strasburg undergoes reconstructive elbow surgery in which Dr. Lewis Yocum takes a piece of ligament from the 22 year-old right-hander’s left leg and transplants it into the rookie’s pitching elbow. The ‘Tommy John’ surgery might keep the Nationals’ much-heralded phenom out of the starting rotation until the start of the 2012 season.

Jim Thome hits two homers to pass Mark McGwire and take over 9th place on the all-time list in the Twins’ 12 – 4 drubbing of Texas. Thome drives in 4 runs, and 3B Matt Tolbert adds two triples and 5 RBI to pace Minnesota’s attack. Carl Pavano wins his 16th of the year.

Meanwhile, the Rangers sign former All-Star P Mark Prior and assign him to AAA Oklahoma City. A month ago, Prior began a comeback with the Orange County Flyers of the independent Golden Baseball League, during which he did not allow an earned run in 11 innings and struck out half the batters he faced. He will fail to make it back to the majors, however.

The Giants move within two games of the NL West-leading Padres with a 5 – 4 win over the Dodgers. Trailing 4 – 0 entering the 7th, the Giants hit four homers, the last a two-run blast by Juan Uribe off closer Jonathan Broxton in the top of the 9th, to secure the win. Meanwhile, the Padres continue their free fall, losing their 9th straight game, 6 – 2 at home to Colorado.

Jim Thome hits a pair of homers to pass Mark McGwire for eighth place on the all-time career list with 584. The Twins designated hitter’s historic round-trippers, which he blasts in the third and fourth innings off Colby Lewis at Target Field, contribute to Minnesota’s 12-4 victory over Texas.

The Blue Jays end the Yankees’ 8-game winning streak with a 7 – 3 win at New Yankee Stadium. Vernon Wells and Aaron Hill hit two-run homers to give the Jays an early lead and Brett Cecil outpitches Phil Hughes for the win. But the Rays can’t take advantage of the rare loss, as they lose, 8 – 7, to Baltimore in spite of 4 homers, including a 2-run pinch homer by Rocco Baldelli in his return to his original team.

The Padres fall, 4 – 2, to the Rockies. They become the second team to lose ten straight games while in first place the whole time, following the 1932 Pirates.

The Rangers see a potential game-winning rally ended by a rare call of coach’s interference in the 9th inning of their game against the Twins. Trailing by 4 entering the inning, Texas rallies for 3 runs, but Michael Young is called out at third base to end the game by umpire Alfonso Marquez, who rules that coach Dave Anderson touched Young in ordering him to stop at the bag on Vladimir Guerrero’s infield single. Without the ruling, slugger Nelson Cruz would have batted with the bases loaded, but instead the Twins walk away with a 6 – 5 win after the Rangers argue the call to no avail.

Bill Mazeroski looks on as four of his Pirates teammates unveil a 14-foot, 2,000-pound statue commemorating his walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. The work includes an actual section of the left-center field wall, which the second baseman homered over at the 406 mark off Yankee hurler Ralph Terry in the Pirates’ 10-9 victory.

Sixty-three year-old Bill Lee allows only two runs and five hits in 5.1 innings in his start for Brockton against Worcester in a Can-Am League contest played at Campanelli Stadium. In his first game in pro ball since being released by the Expos in 1982, the former Red Sox southpaw, known as the Spaceman, becomes the oldest pitcher to earn a victory in professional baseball when the Rox beat Tornadoes, 7-3.

The game’s final out in the Twins’ 6-5 victory over the Rangers is the result of third base coach Dave Anderson being called for interfering with runner Michael Young. Umpire Alfonso Marquez rules that the runner tapped hands with his coach before stopping and scrambling back to the bag.

The Padres end their 10-game losing streak by beating the Dodgers, 4 – 2. Nick Hundley homers and drives in two runs in support of emergency starter Tim Stauffer, who steps up for flu-ridden Mat Latos. The Pads’ once-comfortable lead over the Giants in the NL West is now down to a single game.

Ubaldo Jimenez finally wins his franchise record 18th game of the season, as the Rockies defeat the Reds, 10 – 5; Jimenez had started the year red hot, but had not won a game since August 4th, when he tied the mark of 17 wins held jointly by Kevin Ritz and Jeff Francis.

Omar Vizquel plays his 2,832nd game, breaking Rafael Palmeiro’s record for a player born outside the USA.

At Petco Park, Padres’ starter Mat Latos establishes a major league record when he limits L.A. to one run over seven innings. The 22 year-old right-hander has a string of 15 straight starts of five or more innings of allowing two or fewer runs, breaking the mark shared by Greg Maddux (1993-94) and Mike Scott (1986).

A statue of Billy Williams, who played 16 seasons with the club from 1959-74, is dedicated by the Cubs on the corner of Sheffield Avenue and Addison Street outside of Wrigley Field. In attendance for the unveiling of the sculpture, that portrays the Hall of Famer outfielder finishing his sweet swing from the left side, is his wife, Shirley, former teammates Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Ron Santo, and Glenn Beckert, along with the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Trevor Hoffman earns his 600th save when he induces pinch-hitter Aaron Miles to hit a grounder for the final out in the Brewers’ 4-2 victory over St. Louis at Miller Park. The 42 year-old reliever, baseball’s career saves leader, has converted 600 of his 676 save opportunities (89%) during his 18-year career with Florida, San Diego, and Milwaukee.

Tim Wakefield becomes the oldest player to win a game for the Red Sox since 1920, when the 44 year-old starter goes five innings in Boston’s 11-5 victory over Tampa Bay at Fenway Park. In 1998, Dennis Eckersley, at the age of 43 years and 349 days old, was credited with the win after getting two outs in relief in a game against Baltimore.

Ichiro Suzuki becomes the first major leaguer with ten consecutive seasons with 200 hits. The Mariner right-fielder extends his own record with a fifth-inning single to center in the Mariners’ 1-0 loss to Toronto at the Rogers Centre.

2010 – The Yankees and Rangers set a major league record by using a combined 19 pitchers in a 13-inning game, won, 6 – 5, by the Rangers in Arlington, TX. Scott Feldman, normally a starter, records the win by pitching a scoreless 13th inning as the 11th hurler used by Texas, which itself ties a major league record. The Rangers win the game when Nelson Cruz leads off the bottom of the 13th inning with a homer off Chad Gaudin.

A walk-off home run by Alex Gonzalez off Mitchell Boggs in the 12th inning propels the Braves to a 6 – 3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. With the win, the Braves are once again tied with the Phillies atop the NL East.

For the 10th consecutive campaign, starting with his rookie year, Albert Pujols drives in 100 or more runs. Only Al Simmons, with 11, has more seasons with 100 RBIs to start a career than the Cardinals’ first baseman.

Jim Thome connects for career homer No. 587 to pass Hall of Famer Frank Robinson for eighth place on the all-time career list. The Twins DH’s historic round-tripper, which he blasts in the top of the twelfth inning at Progressive Field, is the lone run scored in Minnesota’s 1-0 victory over Cleveland.

Meanwhile, in a struggle between the top two teams in the NL West, the Padres shut out the Giants, 1 – 0, to move one game ahead of their chief rivals. Tim Stauffer pitches 6 scoreless innings and the game ends when Pads closer Heath Bell strikes out Buster Posey and Yorvit Torrealba guns down pinch runner Darren Ford at second base on a stolen base attempt. Torrealba had earlier driven in the game’s only run with a solo home run.

The Marlins lose, 11 – 4, to the Phillies, but Dan Uggla goes deep in the 8th to become the first major league second baseman with four 30-homer seasons.

The Rockies win their 9th straight game, 2 – 1 over Arizona, and are back in the middle of the playoff race. Tonight, reliever Matt Reynolds picks up his first major league win when pinch-hitter Jonathan Herrera drives in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 7th.

With MLB’s permission, Pete Rose goes on the Great American Ball Park field for the celebration of his record-breaking hit that passed Ty Cobb, making him the all-time leader. The banished player is joined by former teammates, including Tony Perez and Cesar Geronimo, and Reds’ owner Bob Castellini, who gives him a trophy commemorating the 25th anniversary of the historic 4,192nd hit.

The Giants defeat the Padres, 6 – 1, and the two teams are now tied for the lead in the NL West. Tim Lincecum, who went through a rough patch in August, putting up an 0-5 record with a 7.82 ERA, wins his third straight September start and drives in two runs with a single. However, the Giants lose OF Andres Torres for two weeks as he undergoes an emergency appendectomy.

The Phillies take the lead in the NL East on Roy Oswalt’s four-hit complete game shutout of the Mets, 3 – 0. Oswalt is now 6-1, 1.98, since being acquired from Houston at the trading deadline. Meanwhile, the Cardinals’Albert Pujols bangs two homers against Tim Hudson as the Braves lose, 7 – 3, to fall one game back of the Phils.

Reid Brignac hits a walk-off homer in the 11th inning to lead the Rays to a 1 – 0 win over the Yankees and puts Tampa Bay into first place in the AL East. Brignac enters the game in the 9th inning, after Carl Crawford is ejected for arguing a called third strike, but his blast off Sergio Mitre ends a great pitching duel that started with CC Sabathia and David Price facing each other.

The Padres stop the Rockies’ 10-game winning streak with a 6 – 4 win at Coors Field. Miguel Tejada drives in 4 runs and Ernesto Frieri records his first career win in relief of rookie Cory Luebke, while Heath Bell earns his 41st save of the year.

2010 – The Giants lose a frustrating game to the Dodgers, 1 – 0, on a fielding error by Juan Uribe. Barry Zito suffers his 9th consecutive loss in spite of giving up only one hit in 5 2/3 innings. The Dodgers’ run comes in the 6th after they load the bases on a hit batsman and two walks; with two outs, Casey Blake bounces a ball towards the mound, which SS Uribe fields but bobbles, allowing Reed Johnson to score. Clayton Kershaw throws a four-hit shutout for the win, even though Matt Kemp’s single is Los Angeles’s only base hit of the contest.

2010 – The Rays take back first place in their see-saw battle with the Yankees for top spot in the AL East with a 4 – 3 win at Tropicana Field. Dan Johnson hits a pair of two-run homers off Phil Hughes to account for all of Tampa Bay’s runs.

Derek Jeter, giving a performance worthy of an Oscar, is awarded first base when the umpires determine the New York shortstop was hit by a pitch thrown by Chad Qualls. Video replay of the at-bat, that clearly shows the fastball hit the knob of the bat, prompts a national debate about the ethics demonstrated by the usually squeaky-clean Yankees captain, who admitted after the 4-3 loss to Tampa that he pretended to get hit by the pitch to get on base.

Derek Jeter, giving a performance worthy of an Oscar, is awarded first base when the umpires determine the New York shortstop was hit by a pitch thrown by Chad Qualls. Video replay of the at-bat, that clearly shows the fastball hit the knob of the bat, prompts a national debate about the ethics demonstrated by the usually squeaky-clean Yankees captain, who admitted after the 4-3 loss to Tampa that he pretended to get hit by the pitch to get on base.

The Cubs beat the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, 7-3, to complete their first three-game sweep in St. Louis in more than twenty years. The victory marks the first time since June 12, 1988 that the visiting Chicago fans can break out the brooms in the Gateway City.

At Fenway Park, Jose Bautista establishes a new Blue Jay record for home runs in a season when he hit his 48th, a two-run blast on a 3-2 fastball thrown by Michael Bowden. The 29 year-old outfielder, who has never gone deep more than 16 times in a year, breaks the mark established by George Bell in 1987.

Nyjer Morgan, following appeals, will serve an eight-game suspension in place of the two original bans that totaled 15 games. The Nationals outfielder had been given a seven-game suspension when the commissioner’s office alleged he had deliberately thrown a baseball into the stands, resulting in a Philadelphia fan getting hit, and then a week later was handed an eight-game suspension for his instigation and participation in a brawl with Florida.

Joe Torre, announces he will be retiring at the end of the month

Jose Bautista sets a Toronto Blue Jays franchise record by hitting his 48th home run of the season, passing the 47 hit by George Bell in 1987, in the 6th inning of Toronto’s 11 – 9 win over Boston. The Jays lead the game 10 – 2 at that point, but the Red Sox make it close by scoring two runs in the 8th and 2 more in the 9th at Fenway Park. Kevin Gregg retires C Victor Martinez, author of two homers earlier in the game, on a pop-up with a runner on base to end the game.

Ubaldo Jimenez wins his 19th game of the year as the Rockies defeat the Dodgers, 7 – 5, to gain a game on the Giants and Padres, who both lose today. Troy Tulowitzki hits a two-run homer in the 1st, his 12th in 14 games, for the winners, who are now 1 1/2 games back of San Francisco and a half-game behind San Diego in the tight NL West race.

CC Sabathia becomes the major leagues’ first 20-game winner and it is the first time he reaches the magic number.

The Padres use a 9th-inning rally, capped by a three-run homer by Ryan Ludwick against his former teammates, as they defeat St. Louis, 8 – 4, and regain a half-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West. The Rockies are only a game back of both teams after they win their 20th in their last 26 games, 12 – 2 over Los Angeles. Red-hot Troy Tulowitzki hits two more homers and has now gone long 14 times in his last 15 games.

At Citi Field, Luis Hernandez falls to the ground in obvious pain when he fouls a ball off his right foot, and after a lengthy discussion, dismisses the team trainer to resume his turn at-bat. The Mets second baseman hits a home run on the next pitch he sees, but severely limps rounding the bases, reminiscent of Kirk Gibson, barely making it home due to the broken foot that will end his season.

Troy Tulowitzki, with two round-trippers in the Rockies’ 12-2 rout of LA, ties a major-league record with 14 homers in a 15-game span. The Colorado shortstop, who has four multi-homer games in the previous ten contests, joins sluggers Albert Belle (1995) and Barry Bonds (2001) as the third player to accomplish the feat.

Nationals Park hosts a simulcast of the Washington National Opera’s production of Verdi’s dramatic musical play, ‘The Masked Ball,’ being performed at the Kennedy Center. The annual free program, called Opera in the Outfield, features special events, kids activities, and prizes to introduce the genre to a broader audience, especially children.

Standing on third base, Tyler Colvin’s chest is punctured by a piece of Welington Castillo’s shattered maple bat. The Cubs’ rookie outfielder, who will not play another game this season, scores on his teammate’s double, but leaves the game in the bottom half of the inning to be taken to a hospital.

2010 – After starting his career 0 for 33, Chris Carter hits a single off Chicago’s Scott Linebrink to spark a three-run rally in a 3 – 0 Oakland win. Carter is just two at-bats shy of matching the worst start to a career by a position player in 100 years. Vic Harris went 0 for 35 for the Texas Rangers in 1972, while Lou Camilli took three years to get his first hit after 34 unsuccessful at-bats for the Cleveland Indians between 1969 and 1971. However, pitcher Joey Hamilton’s performance leaves them all in his dust: over two seasons, he went 0 for 57 before getting his first hit in 1995.

George Steinbrenner is honored with a 7-by-5-foot, 760-pound monument of bronze atop a granite base in Monument Park. The unveiling of the tribute to the recently deceased Yankee owner is attended by estranged former manager Joe Torre, who is making his first visit to the new Yankee Stadium.

A teenage fan, wearing a red spandex suit with a red mask, is subdued by Matt Diaz after the intruder runs onto the field and eludes a security guard during the Braves-Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park. The Braves’ left fielder tackles the costumed 17 year-old, who will be released from juvenile detention tomorrow afternoon with the parents apologizing for their son’s actions.

Roy Halladay, obtained in an off-season trade with Toronto, is the Phillies’ first 20-game winner since Steve Carlton reached the milestone 28 years ago, and he becomes the first right-hander to accomplish the feat for the club since Robin Roberts posted a 23-14 record in 1955. The 5-3 victory over Atlanta, Philadelphia’s ninth straight win that increases the team’s NL East lead to five games over the fading Braves, makes ‘Doc’ the 17th pitcher to accomplish the feat in both leagues, having compiled two 20-win seasons with the Blue Jays.

A 6-4 come-from-behind victory over Cleveland at Target Field along with Chicago’s loss in Oakland clinches the AL Central Division for the Twins. Minnesota, who had to play a 163rd game the previous two seasons to determine a division winner, becomes the first club this season to secure a postseason berth.

The Diamondbacks hire Kevin Towers as the team’s general manager, bypassing the interim GM Jerry Dipoto, a highly-regarded administrator within the organization and throughout baseball for the job he did replacing Josh Byrnes. During Towers’ 14-year tenure in the same position with the Padres, San Diego won four division titles and played in the 1998 World Series against New York.

The lone run in the Blue Jays’ 1-0 victory over Seattle at the Rogers Centre scores in the first inning when Jose Bautista hits his 50th home run of the season, making the right-fielder the 26th player to reach the coveted plateau. The milestone had not been accomplished since 2007, when Prince Fielder and Alex Rodriguez hit 50 and 54 home runs, respectively.

Ichiro Suzuki, with his fifth-inning single off Toronto’s Shawn Hill, becomes the first major leaguer to compile ten consecutive 200-hit seasons, breaking the record he shared with Willie Keeler. The Mariner outfielder now has more 200-hit seasons than any player in AL history, surpassing Ty Cobb, and joins Pete Rose as the only other player with ten seasons with 200 or more hits.

Rafael Soriano sets a club record when he earns his 44th save of the season in the Rays’ 5-3 win over Seattle at Tropicana Field. The right-handed reliever, who will extend the mark to 45, had been tied with Roberto Hernandez, who saved 43 games for Tampa Bay in 1999.

In the game in which he sets a team record for striking out, Brandon Inge drives in the winning run with a walk-off single in the 13th inning of the Tigers’ 11-10 victory over Minnesota. The Detroit third baseman, with the second of his three whiffs, surpasses the franchise record of 1,099, playing more than 1,000 fewer games than Lou Whitaker, who previously held the infamous mark.

Bobby Cox, who will retire after the season ends, earns his 2,500th major league victory as a manager when the Braves blank Washington at Nationals Park, 5-0. The veteran skipper joins Connie Mack, John McGraw, and Tony La Russa as the fourth field boss to reach this milestone.

Neftali Feliz records his 38th save of the season when he limits the A’s to one hit in an inning and a third of work in the Rangers’ 4-3 victory in Oakland. The freshman closer surpasses Mariners’ Kazuhiro Sasaki’s mark of 37 in 2000, establishing the record for the most saves by a rookie closer.

The Tigers beat Minnesota, 5-1, in the last game played in Detroit this season to establish a Comerica Park record with their 52nd victory at home, one more win than in the ballpark’s inaugural season in 2000. The club, however, is unable to contend this year due to its poor performance on the road, presently 19 games below .500.

12,446 fans attend the Rays game during pennant race

The Phillies capture their fourth consecutive NL East title when they beat Washington, 8-0, behind Roy Halladay’s two-hit complete-game. Unlike the previous seasons, when the Fightin’ Phils’ trademark was the big bats in the lineup, this year’s squad excelled due to a strong starting rotation that included Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, in addition to Halladay.

David Wright sets the all-time Mets record for strikeouts in a season with 157. The third baseman passes the infamous mark shared by Dave Kingman (1982) and Tommie Agee (1970).

At the Ballpark in Arlington, with the Seattle-Texas game tied 5-5 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Nelson Cruz strikes out, apparently sending the game into extra innings. The third strike turns out to be a wild pitch, and when the catcher makes an errant throw to first base trying to complete the putout, Mitch Moreland, the base runner already on first, scores the winning run, giving the Rangers a 6-5 victory on a walk-off strikeout.

The Royals exercise next year’s $6 million option on David DeJesus, who had season-ending surgery on his right thumb. The 30 year-old outfielder batted .318 in 91 games for Kansas City before running into the Yankee Stadium wall on a play in July that became an inside-the-park home run for Derek Jeter.

The Red Sox honored infielder Mike Lowell during a 20-minute pregame ceremony at Fenway Park. The 2007 World Series MVP, a 13-year big league veteran who has been recently slowed down due to a hip ailment, announced last month that he would retire at the end of the season.

With seventy former players and coaches sitting on the infield clad in white Braves jerseys in attendance in front of a sell-out crowd, Atlanta honors Bobby Cox with a pregame ceremony. The Braves’ longtime manager, who will remain with the team as a consultant, is given a 2010 Lexus LS460 from the club and an 11-night cruise from his current players during the moving tribute at Turner Field.

The Rays use most of their pitching staff in recording a 4 – 0 shutout over the Royals. The 8 pitchers used is a major league record for a 9-inning shutout. Andy Sonnanstine is the starter, but leaves after giving up 5 hits and loading the bases with one out in the 3rd. Chad Qualls gets out of the jam and picks up the victory with two-thirds of an inning of work. The Rays then use a different pitcher for each of the remaining 6 innings, with the exception of the 6th, when Grant Balfour relieves Jake McGee with two outs and stays on to pitch the 7th. Matt Joyce drives in two runs and Carl Crawford hits a solo homer for Tampa Bay.

The Royals exercise next year’s $6 million option on David DeJesus, who had season-ending surgery on his right thumb. The 30 year-old outfielder batted .318 in 91 games for Kansas City before running into the Yankee Stadium wall on a play in July that became an inside-the-park home run for Derek Jeter.

matt cain

Giants return to the playoffs for the first time in six years when they beat the Padres on the last day of the season

Tampa Bay rallies for a 3-2 victory over Kansas City in 12 innings to take the division by a game.

Braves reach post season for first time since 2005

Josh Hamilton 3rd Ranger to win batting title with franchise best .359 average

Ken Macha, he will become the first managerial casualty in the 2010 offseason

The Pirates tie worst road 17-64 in 162 game season

A day after the season ends, the last-place Pirates fire John Russell, who equaled a franchise record for most losses by a manager in three seasons, compiling a 186-299 record. The other Buc skipper with as many defeats in the same time frame was Fred Haney, posting a 163-299 record from 1953-55.

On a day three managers are sacked, the Reds give their skipper, Dusty Baker, a two-year contract extension through 2014. Cincinnati is making its first playoff appearance in 15 years.

Diamondbacks interim manager Kirk Gibson is given the permanent job, agreeing to a two-year deal with a team option for 2013. The former hard-nosed major leaguer compiled a 34-49 record for the last-place team, after being hired midseason to replace A.J. Hinch.

The Mets fire manager Jerry Manuel and general manager Omar Minaya, a day after the team completes its fourth consecutive disappointing season. Assistant GM John Ricco will be the head of baseball operations on an interim basis until a new GM is hired, who in turn will select the team’s next manager.

Major League Baseball approves a change in the ground rules for Tropicana Field, making a batted ball that caroms off the A- and B-ring catwalks a dead ball with the pitch not counting, instead of being in play as in the past. The Rays requested the change, which will be implemented in the upcoming ALDS, after Jason Kubel’s two-out, ninth-inning pop up hit off one of the catwalks, driving in the go-ahead run in Minnesota’s eventual 8-6 victory over the home team.

The Indians name Chris Antonetti as the team’s new general manager, with former GM Mark Shapiro moving into his new position as team president. The transition has been developing over the past few years with Antonetti gradually being given a bigger role in Cleveland’s day-to-day operations, giving Shapiro more time to run the business side of the franchise.

Hanshin Tigers outfielder Matt Murton breaks Ichiro’s Japanese record for the most hits in a single season when he strokes his 211th hit of the year, a two-run single to center in a game against the Yakult Swallows. The 29 year-old former major leaguer, a 2003 first-round draft pick of the Red Sox who became part of a trade to the Cubs in a four-team deal that included Nomar Garciaparra, also played with the A’s before being released by the Rockies last season.

Rays’ hurler David Price is this year’s recipient of the Oklahoma Sports Museum’s Warren Spahn Award given annually to the best left-handed pitcher in the big leagues. The honor, named after the winningest southpaw in the history of the game, is awarded based on a point system which evaluates performance based on their wins, strikeouts, and earned run average.

The Cardinals exercised their $16 million option for next season with first baseman Albert Pujols. The 30 year-old superstar, a three-time NL MVP, led the circuit with 42 home runs and 118 RBIs.

At Citizens Bank Park, Phillies right-hander Roy Halladay throws the second no-hitter in postseason history when he beats the Reds, 4-0, in Game 1 of the NLDS. Don Larsen became the first hurler to accomplish the feat by throwing a perfect game in the Yankees’ victory over Brooklyn in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.

With only 17 instances of a manager getting tossed in the history of the postseason, two occurrences happen on the same day when the Rays’ Joe Maddon and Twins’ Ron Gardenhire are both ejected from different ALCS games. The Tampa Bay skipper gets the heave-ho in the fifth frame in a game against Texas for arguing a check swing with home plate umpire Jim Wolf, and the Minnesota pilot suffers the same fate with Hunter Wendelstedt for arguing balls and strikes in the seventh inning in the contest against the Yankees.

Although the Astros finish ten games under .500, the team exercises the 2012 option on the contract of their manager Brad Mills and adds a club option for the following season. After a dismal 17-34 start and the loss of veterans Roy Oswalt to the Phillies and Lance Berkman to the Yankees, the first-year skipper pilots Houston to a 59-52 record after June 1.

At Yankee Stadium, the Twins drop Game 3 of the ALCS, 6-2, giving New York a sweep of the series. Minnesota, the first team to make the playoffs, exits the postseason for the second straight year without winning a game in the first round.

11 new players are named to the Latin American Baseball Hall of Fame, including Luis Tiant, Fernando Valenzuela, Dennis Martinez and Edgar Martinez.

Alexis Gómez hits a three-run triple in the 1st off Norge Vera and Lorenzo Barcelo allows one run in five innings as the Dominican national team stuns Cuba, 5 – 2, in the finale of the 2010 Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament. Both teams had already qualified for the 2011 Baseball World Cup and 2011 Pan American Games along with the USA, Venezuela, Panama and Canada. Host Puerto Rico qualifies only for the 2011 Pan American Games.

Behind the solid starting pitching of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, the Phillies complete the franchise’s first playoff sweep when Hamels throws a complete-game, five-hit 2-0 NLDS victory over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Philadelphia will have an opportunity to become the first team to win three consecutive National League pennants since the war-time Cardinals raised flags from 1942 to 1944.

The Giants, with their 3-2 victory over the Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS at Turner Field, advance to the National League Championship Series to play the Phillies. After the last out of the game, the San Francisco players come onto the field to salute the opposing manager, Bobby Cox, who is retiring after 29 years in the dugout.

The Rangers, behind the complete-game effort by Cliff Lee, beat Tampa Bay, 5-1, in the decisive Game 5 of the ALDS at Tropicana Field for the team’s first playoff series victory in franchise history, the last major league club to accomplish the task. Texas, who will take on the Yankees for the AL flag, lost their three previous playoff appearances with first-round losses to the Bronx Bombers in 1996 and 1998-99.

In a widely anticipated hiring, the Braves sign Fredi Gonzalez to replace their long-time legendary manager Bobby Cox, who retired at the end of the season. Atlanta’s new skipper, who served as the team’s third-base coach from 2003-06, was unexpectedly fired in June by the Marlins, a move which may have been prompted by the benching of shortstop Hanley Ramirez for not hustling.

The Rangers record their first playoff win at home in the 50-year history of the franchise when they take Game 2 of the ALDS, defeating the Yankees, 7-2. The Rangers Ballpark victory ends a ten-game postseason losing streak against New York that includes yesterday’s heartbreaking loss in which Texas had an early 5-0 lead over the Bronx Bombers.

The Cardinals announce the signing of its long-time manager, keeping Tony La Russa in the Redbirds’ dugout for at least one more season, the skipper’s sixteenth with the club. The franchise has won eight division titles, two National League pennants, and a World Championship under the 66 year-old pilot, but this year’s team, heavily favored to win its division, collapsed during the final two months of the season, finishing five games behind Cincinnati.

The Mariners hire Eric Wedge to be the team’s new manager, Seattle’s seventh skipper since 2003. The former Cleveland field boss, out of baseball last season after spending seven seasons in the Tribe’s dugout, replaces Daren Brown, who had filled in on an interim basis for Don Wakamatsu, who was fired in August.

The Yankees pay tribute to Freddy Schuman, a fan favorite at the ballpark since 1988 due to his signs and the rhythmic banging of a spoon against a skillet, by putting some of his memorabilia inside Gate 4 at the Stadium, and with a moment of silence before Game 4 of the ALCS. The fans also show their appreciation of 85 year-old iconic “Freddy Sez” when they photographed friends banging his displayed pan, and with their chanting of “Fred-dy! Fred-dy!” during the contest against the Rangers.

The Nationals sign general manager Mike Rizzo to a five-year contract extension, promoting him to the executive vice president of baseball operations for the organization. The new position, made available when team president Stan Kasten resigned, gives the 48 year-old more control over the franchise as well as a direct line to the team’s ownership, including principal owner Ted Lerner.

The Cubs select Mike Quade, Lou Piniella’s interim replacement who guided the team to a 24-13 record during the last six weeks of the season, as the franchise’s newest manager. Triple-A Iowa skipper and a Hall of Fame icon Ryne Sandberg, a finalist in the selection process, was thought to be the front-runner for the position.

The Mets’ officially introduced Sandy Alderson as the team’s new general manager at a Citi Field news conference. The 62 year-old Harvard Law School graduate, who has served as the former president and GM of the A’s and chief executive officer of the Padres, is being allowed to leave his current administrative position with MLB to take the challenging role of rebuilding the directionless organization, that includes the hiring of a new manager for the team.

Ted Lilly signs a three-year, $33 million deal to remain with the Dodgers. The 34 year-old southpaw, obtained from the Cubs in early August, compiled a 7-4 record with a 3.52 ERA in 12 starts for LA, including victories in the first five starts for his new team.

Pleased to be staying in Detroit, Brandon Inge signs an $11.5 million, two-year deal to remain with the Tigers. The 33 year-old infielder, prone to striking out, is better known for his defensive prowess at third base than for his hitting.

The Giants capture their twenty-first National League flag when they defeat the Phillies, 3-2, in Game 6 of NLCS at Citizens Bank Park. The decisive blow is Juan Uribe’s two-out tie-breaking home run off Ryan Madson in the eighth inning.

2010 – Lotte Giants corner infielder Dae-ho Lee, winner of the Triple Crown, is named Korea Baseball Organization MVP for 2010. The Rookie of the Year award goes to Doosan Bears catcher Eui-ji Yang, the fourth straight winner from Doosan.

John Farrell emerges from the 18 candidates interviewed by Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos to replace Cito Gaston

The Nationals notify Jim Riggleman he will be returning as the team’s manager next year. Washington finished last in the National League East for the third consecutive season, but improved by ten games in the win column, finishing the campaign with 69 victories.

In Game 2 of the 2010 World Series, the Giants rout the Rangers, 9 – 0, but the score is only 1 – 0 in the 7th when Texas starter C.J. Wilson leaves with a blister on his finger. Matt Cain and two relievers combine on a four-hit shutout. Texas has allowed 20 runs in the first two World Series games in franchise history, setting a major league record.

The Mets’ officially introduced Sandy Alderson as the team’s new general manager at a Citi Field news conference. The 62 year-old Harvard Law School graduate, who has served as the former president and GM of the A’s and chief executive officer of the Padres, is being allowed to leave his current administrative position with MLB to take the challenging role of rebuilding the directionless organization, that includes the hiring of a new manager for the team.

The Rangers win their first World Series game in franchise history

The Rangers win their first World Series game in franchise history

For the first time in major league history, two former presidents attend the same World Series game when George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush are both at Rangers Ballpark for Game 4 of the Fall Classic. Prior to the contest against San Francisco, the elder Bush, a former first baseman at Yale, stands close by when his son, the former controlling owner of the Texas franchise, throws the ceremonial first pitch.

Giants win first world series in San Francisco - Edgar Renteria ties record

Giants win first world series in San Francisco – Edgar Renteria ties record

With the onset of the off-season, teams need to make decisions on potential free agents. In a surprise move, the Rangers, fresh off their first American League pennant, part ways with one of the main players responsible for that title, DH Vladimir Guerrero, by declining his option for next season.

Less surprisingly, Red Sox 3B Adrian Beltre also declines his option for 2011, in hope of securing a long-term contract following a great performance last year. Other players let go include Reds SS Orlando Cabrera and P Aaron Harang; Padres P Chris Young and C Yorvit Torrealba; Seattle P Erik Bedard and DH Russell Branyan; Tampa Bay P Dan Wheeler and IF Willy Aybar; and Washington 2B Adam Kennedy.

Reminiscent of the scene when the team moved to San Francisco from New York in 1958, tens of thousands of Giants fans pay homage to their heroes as the city celebrates the accomplishment of the World Champions with a ticker-tape parade. First baseman Aubrey Huff delights the fans at Civic Center by pulling out his “rally thong” while addressing a raucous crowd at Civic Center.

Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson dies in Thousand Oaks, California at 76. Nicknamed “Captain Hook” for his tendency to remove his starting pitchers early in the game – now standard practice – he was the first manager to win over 100 games in a season in both leagues, and the first to lead teams from both leagues to World Championships, doing so with Cincinnati in 1975 and 1976, and with Detroit in 1984.

Less than a week after being named the World Series MVP, Edgar Renteria is let go by the San Francisco Giants, who buy out his option for next season. Bothered by frequent injuries over recent years, Renteria is contemplating retirement but will come back to play for the Cincinnati Reds in 2011.

Instead of negotiating a new multiyear contract with their designated hitter, the Red Sox decide to exercise their $12.5 million option on 34 year-old David Ortiz for the upcoming season. ‘Big Papi,’ who would have preferred a long-term contract, led Boston with 32 homers along with 102 RBIs.

2010 – The Blue Jays acquire C Miguel Olivo from Colorado in return for a player to be named later, then immediately buy out his option for next season, making him a free agent. They also buy out the option of closer Kevin Gregg, who is coming off a season in which he saved a career-high 37 games. In both cases, Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos explains the team is interested in re-signing the player, but wants to limit its financial exposure, but both will move to new teams in 2011.

One of the approximately 60 rare T206 Honus Wagner baseball cards, auctioned off by the Baltimore-based School Sisters of Notre Dame, is acquired by a sporting card store owner Doug Walton, who pays $262,000 for the treasured piece of memorabilia. The School Sisters of Notre Dame plan to use the windfall from the sale of the valuable card of the Pirates' third baseman to benefit ministries for the poor in 35 countries.

One of the approximately 60 rare T206 Honus Wagner baseball cards, auctioned off by the Baltimore-based School Sisters of Notre Dame, is acquired by a sporting card store owner Doug Walton, who pays $262,000 for the treasured piece of memorabilia. The School Sisters of Notre Dame plan to use the windfall from the sale of the valuable card of the Pirates’ third baseman to benefit ministries for the poor in 35 countries.

Veteran pitcher Jamie Moyer, two weeks shy of his 48th birthday and playing in the Dominican League for Escogido, reinjures the left elbow which kept him out of action for the last three months of the past season. He has to leave the game after two innings in what appears to be the final appearance of a truly remarkable career. However, he will make a comeback and appear briefly in the major leagues in 2012.

Former top prospect Matt Bush, the top pick of the 2004 amateur draft who flamed out as a shortstop then suffered a career-threatening injury while trying to convert to pitching during a minor league career marred by a number of off-field incidents, is one step closer to finally making it to the majors as the Tampa Bay Rays add him to their major league roster. He made only made 10 appearances on the mound this season, reaching Class A, but has shown a very live arm in his limited time on the mound, striking out 36 against only 14 hits and 5 walks in 21 innings so far in his career.

The Oakland Athletics win the right to negotiate with Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma

Jhonny Peralta and the Tigers come to terms on an 11.25 million two-year contract

ESPN announces Jon Miller and Joe Morgan will no longer do Sunday Night Baseball, ending the pair’s 21-year tenure behind the mike

2010 – The winners of the 2010 American League Gold Glove Awards are announced. Mariners OF Ichiro Suzuki wins his 10th Gold Glove in as many years, while first-time winners are 2B Robinson Cano of the Yankees, and OFs Carl Crawford of Tampa Bay and Franklin Gutierrez of Seattle. Suzuki ties Al Kaline and Ken Griffey Jr. for the most Gold Gloves by an AL flyhawk.

The winners of the National League Gold Glove Awards are announced. Scott Rolen wins his 8th award at 3B, while P Bronson Arroyo, SS Troy Tulowitzki and OF Carlos Gonzalez are first-time winners.

The A’s acquire David DeJesus from the Royals for right-hander Vin Mazzaro and minor league southpaw prospect Justin Marks. The 30 year-old corner outfielder missed the last two months of the season due to surgery on his right thumb.

For the first time since the glory days of the ‘Big Red Machine’, Cincinnati has more than one Gold Glove winner in a season when third baseman Scott Rolen, second baseman Brandon Phillips, and pitcher Bronson Arroyo are recognized for their fielding prowess. For four consecutive seasons, from 1974-77, catcher Johnny Bench, second baseman Joe Morgan, shortstop Dave Concepcion, and center fielder Cesar Geronimo were routinely selected by the managers and coaches as the top defensive players in their positions.

At the age of 75, legendary Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus dies at his home after suffering a heart attack. The 2008 Ford C. Frick award recipient and Seattle’s only representative in baseball’s Hall of Fame, best known for trademark calls of “My Oh My” and “It will fly away”, called all but 101 of the 5,385 games for 34 seasons that the team has played, including the very first pitch in franchise history thrown by Diego Segui in 1977.

Winners of the Silver Slugger Award in both leagues are announced. Familiar names include 1B Albert Pujols, OF Matt Holliday and Ryan Braun and C Brian McCann in the National League, and C Joe Mauer and DH Vladimir Guerrero in the American League. First-time winners include SS Troy Tulowitzki and OF Carlos Gonzalez (NL) and Carl Crawford (AL) who all combine their new silverware with their first Gold Glove, picked up earlier in the week.

Boston trades P Dustin Richardson to Florida in return for P Andrew Miller.

The Athletics pick up 3B Edwin Encarnacion on waivers from the Blue Jays. However the A’s will soon let Encarnacion go as a free agent, and he will blossom as power hitter after re-signing with the Blue Jays a few weeks from now.

2010 – The Marlins trade perennial prospect, OF Cameron Maybin, to the Padres for relievers Edward Mujica and Ryan Webb. A former first-round draft pick in 2005, Maybin was the youngest player in the American League in 2007, but has had only a season’s worth of at-bats over four years in the majors, hitting .246.

The Marlins send outfielder Cameron Maybin to the Padres for Edward Mujica and Ryan Webb, who are both right-handed relievers. The 23 year-old outfielder, the 10th overall pick in 2005, was traded by Detroit two years later in a major multiplayer Winter Meeting deal that included Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.

Babe Ruth 702nd career home run is sold for $264,500

A Santa Barbara father-son sports collectors team pays $575,912 for the bat that Kirk Gibson used to hit his dramatic World Series Game 1 home run in 1988. The winning bid was the second-highest sale price ever for a baseball bat, topped only by the $1.265 million paid in 2004 for a Babe Ruth signed bat, which was used by the ‘Bambino’ to hit the first home run at Yankee Stadium.

The Pittsburgh Pirates name Clint Hurdle as their new manager, replacing John Russell. Hurdle was the Rangers’ hitting coach last year, after skippering the Colorado Rockies from 2002 to 2009.

The Diamondbacks sign utility player Geoff Blum to a two-year deal, while the Red Sox claim P Taylor Buchholz off waivers from Toronto.

Ryne Sandberg, returning to the organization that gave him his professional start, is hired to manage the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Phillies. The diplomatic Hall of Fame second baseman, a finalist to replace Lou Piniella as the Cubs manager, decided it would be in the best interest of everyone involved not to continue managing in the Chicago minor league system.

Buster Posey becomes the sixth catcher to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award

Buster Posey becomes the sixth catcher to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award

Ranger reliever Neftali Feliz becomes the second player in franchise history to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award, joining Mike Hargrove, who copped the honor in 1974. The 22 year-old closer set a freshman record with 40 saves while finishing the most games in the league.

The Phillies and Jose Contreras agree to a $5.5 million, two-year deal that will keep the 38 year-old right-hander in Philadelphia. The one-time starter played a vital role as a reliever for the NL East champions, posting a 6-4 record along with four saves in 67 appearances in his first season in the bullpen.

The Reds and Ramon Hernandez agree to a one-year, $3 million deal. The 34 year-old catcher started in 85 games behind the plate last season, and along with Ryan Hanigan and Corky Miller, was part of a trio that led the National League backstops with 168 hits and a .296 batting average.

The Marlins deal Dan Uggla to the Braves for infielder Omar Infante and left-hander Mike Dunn. Atlanta’s acquisition of the two-time All-Star second baseman, who hit .287 with 33 homers and 105 RBIs last season, could be a signal the team is uncertain about Chipper Jones’ status for next year after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee.

Roy Halladay joins Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, and Gaylord Perry as the fifth pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues

The Blue Jays acquire OF Rajai Davis from Oakland in return for P Trystan Magnuson and Danny Farquhar.

The Tigers sign free agent reliever Joaquin Benoit, coming off a sensational year with Tampa Bay, to a three-year deal worth $16.5 million.

After being the runner-up five times, Ron Gardenhire is finally named the American League’s Manager of the Year. The Twins skipper, the only AL field boss listed on all 28 ballots, led his team to its sixth Central Division title in nine seasons.

Bud Black edges Cincinnati skipper Dusty Baker by one point for the National League Manager of the Year honors.

In the second trade of the general managers’ meetings, the A’s trade Rajai Davis to the Blue Jays for a pair of right-handed minor leaguers, Trystan Magnuson and Daniel Farquhar. Last week, Oakland acquired outfielder David DeJesus from the Royals, making their former fleet outfielder expendable.

Commissioner Bud Selig states that Major League Baseball is considering expanding the postseason by two teams, by adding a second wild card in each league. The two wild card winners would face each other in a best-of-three series to open the postseason, with the three division winners getting a bye. The proposal will now be discussed at the December Winter Meetings and will need to be accepted by the Players Association. A slightly modified version of the proposal will come into effect in 2012.

Felix Hernandez is named the American League Cy Young Award winner

Free-agent backstop John Buck signs a three-year, $18 million contract to catch for the Marlins, the team that sought his services a minute after free agency opened. The signing of the 30 year-old catcher, who enjoyed a career year with the Blue Jays, hitting .281 with 20 home runs, continues Florida’s active participation in the early off-season, that also includes the acquisition of four relievers and an infielder.

Ron Gardenhire, a day after being selected as the American League Manager of the Year, accepts a two-year extension through the 2013 season from the Twins. The 53 year-old skipper has compiled a record of 803-656 (.550) record en route to winning six division during his nine-year tenure in Minnesota.

The Astros acquire Clint Barmes from Colorado for P Felipe Paulino. Barmes is slated to be Houston’s starting SS next year, after playing 2B with the Rockies last season.

At a news conference at Minute Maid Park, Astros owner Drayton McLane announces he is putting the club up for sale. The 74 year-old entrepreneur, who purchased the franchise for about $117 million in 1992, tells the gathering, “it’s time to change and move forward.”

The Tigers finalize a $16.5 million, three-year deal with reliever Joaquin Benoit, with the 33 year-old right-hander getting $5.5 million a year. The contract for the former Tampa Bay setup man is similar to the one given to Brandon Lyon, who filled the same role for Detroit before going to Houston in the 2009 offseason.

The Pirates clean house, releasing three veteran players in one fell swoop – OF Delwyn Young, P Zach Duke and 3B Andy LaRoche. At the same time, the Pirates add five youngsters to their major league roster, illustrating the direction the team intends to take to attempt to end its multi-season losing streak.

The Rangers sign P Barret Loux as an amateur free agent. Loux was selected 6th overall in the first round of the most recent amateur draft by the Diamondbacks, but was not offered a contract after failing a physical due to shoulder and elbow issues. Commissioner Bud Selig declared Loux a free agent, while the D-Backs received an additional pick in the 2011 amateur draft as compensation.

2010 – The Los Angeles Dodgers announce the signing of two amateur players from Japan, high school P Kazuya Takano and college P Kazuki Nishijima. The Dodgers have been pioneers in signing Japanese players, starting with Hideo Nomo in 1995, and recently re-signed P Hiroki Kuroda.

Eleven years after resigning from his last managerial position, former Houston (1994-96) and Anaheim (1997-99) manager Terry Collins is selected to replace Jerry Manuel, the team’s former manager fired a day after the season ended. The 61 year-old new skipper, known in the past for alienating some of his players due to his old school approach, compiled a 444-434 won-loss record, finishing second five of his six years in the dugout.

Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds wins the 2010 National League Most Valuable Player Award

Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds wins the 2010 National League Most Valuable Player Award

The New York Mets announce the hiring of Terry Collins as their new manager, replacing Jerry Manuel. Collins last managed in the major leagues with the Anaheim Angels from 1997 to 1999. He has since spent time in Japan and China and last season was the Mets’ minor league field coordinator.

The Giants re-sign 1B Aubrey Huff, one of the keys to their World Series conquest last month, to a two-year deal worth $22 million. Huff led the team with 26 homers and 86 RBI while batting .290 last season.

The Tigers sign C Victor Martinez to a four-year, $50 million contract, leaving the Red Sox scrambling to find a replacement backstop in a thin market.

Josh Hamilton becomes the fifth Ranger player to win the American League's Most Valuable Player award

Josh Hamilton becomes the fifth Ranger player to win the American League’s Most Valuable Player award

2010 – The Diamondbacks acquire P Zach Duke, who was designated for assignment by the Pirates earlier this week, for a player to be named later.

The commissioner’s office announces Vladimir Guerrero has won the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. The Rangers’ DH, who hit .306, with 25 homers, along with 106 RBI for the American League Champions, beat out Boston’s David Ortiz and Minnesota’s Jim Thome for the honor.

2010 – The Dodgers sign free agent pitcher Jon Garland to a one-year deal. Garland pitched briefly for the Dodgers in 2009 before going 14-12 for the Padres last season.

The Florida Marlins agree to terms with free agent pitcher Javier Vazquez on a one-year contract, pending a physical. It will be the seventh team for the veteran starter, and the fourth in the last four years. He was 10-10, 5.32, for the New York Yankees last season, and has won 10 or more games every year since 2000.

The Dodgers sign IF Juan Uribe to a three-year, $21 million contract. Uribe was a hero of the San Francisco Giants’ recent conquest of the World Championship, and hit the home run that clinched the win over the Phillies in the NLCS.

The Rangers sign free agent Yorvit Torrealba to a two-year deal worth $6.25 million

The Dodgers trade IF Ryan Theriot to St. Louis for P Blake Hawksworth, while St. Louis signs P Brian Tallet from Toronto.

The Rangers sign side-arming Japanese reliever Yoshinori Tateyama as they are toying with the idea of moving young bullpen standouts Neftali Feliz and Alexi Ogando to the starting rotation. The 35-year-old Tateyama is a 11-year veteran of Nippon Pro Baseball, all with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

Troy Tulowitzki and the Rockies agree to a seven-year extension

Troy Tulowitzki and the Rockies agree to a seven-year extension

The Pirates sign P Fernando Nieve, IF Andy Marte and C Dusty Brown to minor league contracts. All three also receive invitations to spring training.

The Giants sign LF Pat Burrell to a one-year contract. Burrell’s career was revived with the Giants over the second half of last year after a disastrous year-and-a-half as Tampa Bay’s designated hitter.

The White Sox sign free agent OF-1B Adam Dunn from Washington to a four-year deal.

The Mariners trade IF Jose Lopez to the Rockies for minor league P Chaz Roe.

The Angels sign P Hisanori Takahashi to a two-year deal; the Japanese veteran spent last season with the Mets.

Ron Santo, who played more games at third base than anyone in Chicago Cubs history, dies at age 70, a victim of bladder cancer. Also beloved as a broadcaster, Santo led a lifetime battle against diabetes that forced to have both of his legs amputated in recent years, but always maintained a positive attitude. He was a leading candidate for election to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee; he fell short of the honor during his lifetime but will gain election barely a year from today.

The Blue Jays acquire reliever Carlos Villanueva from the Brewers for a player to be named later; the deal will be completed on December 6th when the Jays send P Shaun Marcum, their Opening Day starter, to the Brewers but also receive top prospect Brett Lawrie.

After spending lavishly to secure deals with Adam Dunn and A.J. Pierzynski yesterday, the White Sox shed some payroll by trading veteran reliever Scott Linebrink to Atlanta in return for Class AA pitcher Kyle Cofield.

Ron santo 1963

Future Hall of Famer Ron Santo passes away

The Yankees and SS Derek Jeter agree on a three-year deal worth $51 million, with an option for a fourth year.

The Red Sox acquire All-Star 1B Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego for three prospects, P Casey Kelly, 1B Anthony Rizzo and OF Reymond Fuentes; Kelly and Fuentes are former first round picks in the amateur draft and are considered prize catches for the Friars, although Rizzo will turn out to be the best of the three. The move also means that 1B Kevin Youkilis will move across the diamond to 3B, where he played in the minor leagues, and signals that the Sox have given up hopes of re-signing 3B Adrian Beltre, their best hitter last season. The deal will be official in two days when Gonzalez signs a seven-year contract with Boston, worth $154 million.

The Cardinals sign free agent 1B Lance Berkman from the Yankees. He will move to LF in St. Louis, as 1B Albert Pujols is very much entrenched at his position.

2010 – The Washington Nationals sign free agent OF Jayson Werth to a seven-year deal worth $125 million. The deal is considered shocking because of its length, considering Werth is already 31 and was a late bloomer.

On the eve of the winter meetings, free-agent Jayson Werth (.296, 27, 85) and the Nationals come to terms on a $126 million, seven-year contract. The signing of the 31 year-old right-fielder, who has been a cog in Philadelphia’s recent success, will help to fill the void created by the departure of Adam Dunn, the team’s former clean-up hitter, to the south side of Chicago.

The Orioles acquire 3B Mark Reynolds, renowned for both his homers and strikeouts, from the Diamondbacks for P David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio. In a related move, the D-Backs sign 3B Melvin Mora, formerly of Colorado, to a one-year deal; they also ink P J.J. Putz for two years, with the aim of installing him as their new closer.

Pat Gillick, the executive who built the Toronto Blue Jays from an expansion team to an American League power that won two World Series in the early 1990s, is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Former Players Association head Marvin Miller falls just one vote shy of election.

Hisashi Iwakuma announces he is closing negotiations with the Oakland Athletics and will remain with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2011. Selected under the posting system, Iwakuma was offered a four-year, $15 million deal, which he felt was below his value.

Flush with young starting pitchers, the Blue Jays trade last year’s Opening Day starter, Shaun Marcum, to the Brewers for top Canadian prospect Brett Lawrie.

The Red Sox complete their deal for Adrian Gonzalez

The Red Sox complete their deal for Adrian Gonzalez

Signings today include OF Matt Diaz going to the Pirates and utility player Ty Wigginton going to Colorado, both on two-year deals, and the Mets reaching agreement with P D.J. Carrasco and C Ronny Paulino. Paulino still has 8 games remaining on 50-game suspension for PED use which he began to serve as a member of the Marlins at the end of last season.

A judge in the divorce proceedings of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt muddies the waters when he invalidates a 2004 marital property agreement that stated the Dodgers were McCourt’s sole property. As a result, his former wife Jamie is recognized as half-owner of the team; she is considering selling her share to outside investors.

The Tampa Bay Rays are at the center of dealings at the Winter Meetings today. Three of the starters from last season’s team, which posted the best record in the major leagues, change uniforms: OF Carl Crawford signs a seven-year, $142 million deal with Boston, 1B Carlos Pena inks a one-year deal with the Cubs, and the Rays trade SS Jason Bartlett to San Diego for two young pitchers, Cesar Ramos and Adam Russell. With P Joaquin Benoit signing with Detroit as a free agent last month, and closer Rafael Soriano expected to follow suit shortly, the team will have a very different look next year.

In other moves, OF Jeff Francoeur signs with Kansas City, P George Sherrill goes to the Braves, and DH Jack Cust inks a deal with Seattle.

Dave Van Horne, longtime broadcaster of the Montreal Expos (from 1969 to 2001) and Florida Marlins (since 2002), is named recipient of the Hall of Fame’s 2011 Ford Frick Award.

The Twins trade SS J.J. Hardy and IF Brendan Harris to the Orioles for P Brett Jacobson and Jim Hoey. The Twins are shedding salary in preparation for signing Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka, whose rights they acquired via the posting system earlier this off-season.

The Mariners sign free agent C Miguel Olivo.

The 2010 Rule V draft is held on the last day of the Winter Meetings. SS Josh Rodriguez, selected by Pittsburgh from Cleveland is the top pick, but pitchers dominate the proceedings, representing 16 of the 19 picks. No player with major league experience is taken.

2010 – A number of players sign with new teams today, with P Scott Downs agreeing to a three-year deal with the Angels, OF Melky Cabrera going to the Royals, who immediately proclaim him their new starting centerfielder, the Astros signing P Ryan Rowland-Smith, the Brewers adding C Wil Nieves, and the Pirates coming to terms with P Scott Olsen.

2010 – The Dodgers sign OF Tony Gwynn, after he passes a physical exam, to be the team’s fourth outfielder.

Rays free-agent Carl Crawford agrees to a seven-year, $142-million deal with the Red Sox. The 29 year-old outfielder’s tenure in Boston will be brief when he plays only two disappointing injury-plagued seasons with the team before being traded to the Dodgers as part of a blockbuster trade.

“He was a guy who was a class act and he meant more to the city than the players. When he walked down the street people knew him. He’s more recognizable than any player that’s been here.” – KEN GRIFFEY, JR., former Mariners superstar speaking of Dave Niehaus in a video message played at a Safeco Field tribute to the late broadcaster. The Mariners honor Dave Niehaus, the team’s long-time broadcaster, who died suddenly last month, with a Safeco Field ceremony that is attended by his family, team officials, former players, and thousands of fans. The Hall of Fame announcer, a fixture in the Seattle booth since the franchise’s first pitch in 1977, is eulogized Rick Rizzs, who becomes overwhelmed with emotion reminiscing about his broadcast partner for 25 years.

2010 – The Mariners acquire IF Brendan Ryan from St. Louis in return for minor league P Maikel Cleto.

The A’s sign oft-injured starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy to a one-year contract.

Canada Post announces that it will feature Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins on a postage stamp that commemorates black history month next February.

News reports announce that the most sought-after free agent of this off-season, P Cliff Lee, is headed to Philadelphia, where he played in the second half of 2009. The Yankees, Rangers and Red Sox were also ardently pursuing Lee, whose contract is estimated to be worth $120 million over 5 years.

In other signings, the Yankees add C Russell Martin as well as P Mark Prior, who gets a minor league contract and an invitation to spring training.

DH Hideki Matsui signs a contract with the Oakland A’s, after spending last season with the Angels.

P Rich Harden signs a one-year deal with Oakland, returning to the team for which he first pitched in the major leagues.

Indian great Bob Feller wins his 200th major league game

Hall of Famer Bob Feller, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, dies at age 92

The Athletics trade for OF Josh Willingham with the Nationals, giving up youngsters Henry Rodriguez and Corey Brown in return. The patient power-hitting Willingham, like newly-signed DH Hideki Matsui, is a throwback to the “Moneyball” type of player whom A’s general manager Billy Beane favored in the 2000s.

P Bobby Jenks changes the color of his socks, agreeing to a two-year deal with the Red Sox after spending his entire career with the White Sox.

In other deals, P Jesse Crain signs with the White Sox, P Matt Guerrier heads to the Dodgers, while the Red Sox add Ps Matt Albers, Andrew Miller, Lenny DiNardo and Rich Hill.

In a Mexican Pacific League game, OF Jeff Salazar of the Yaquis de Obregon is on second base after a steal when P Alejandro Martinez of the Aguilas de Mexicali hits him in the leg on a pick-off attempt. While, the ball rolls in to the outfield, Salazar and 2B Oswaldo Morejon begin a heated conversation that turns into a fight, which ends with Morejon delivering a knock-out punch to Salazar. With Salazar lying unconscious behind the bag, the benches clear, resulting in the ejection of both players, and six suspensions being handed out.

The Yankees bring Pedro Feliciano across town, signing the rubber-armed reliever from the Mets. The Astros sign utility player Bill Hall to strengthen their bench and the Athletics claim P Philip Humber on waivers from the Royals.

A flurry of deals take place today before the holiday break rolls in. San Diego’s deal for SS Jason Bartlett, rumored for a week already, is officially completed, with prospects Adam Russell, Brandon Gomes, Cesar Ramos and Cole Figueroa heading to Tampa Bay. The Padres then complete the revamp of their infield by signing free agent 2B Orlando Hudson for two years. Hudson’s former team, the Twins, in turn announce they have reached a deal with Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka for three years.

After losing the right-hander to free-agency two seasons ago, the Cubs sign Kerry Wood, one of the franchise’s most popular players of the recent past, to a $1.5 million, one-year deal that includes bonuses for appearances and games finished. After attending Ron Santo’s funeral last week, the 33 year-old free-agent reached out to Tom Ricketts, letting the club owner know he would accept a modest offer to return to the North Side of Chicago.

2010 – Astros sign infielder Bill Hall to a one-year deal. The nine-year veteran arrives with a .250 career average and 122 homers in the majors. He is released two months into season after hitting .224 and striking out at a pace of over once per game. 

2010 – Relief pitcher and New England native Dan Wheeler goes home, signing with the Boston Red Sox. Meanwhile, the Rangers hand minor league contracts to OF Endy Chavez, P Seth McClung and IF Brian Barden, and the Rockies sign 1B Mike Jacobs, also to a minor league deal.

Kansas City trades ace pitcher Zack Greinke, the 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner, and SS Yuniesky Betancourt to the Milwaukee Brewers in return for a package of young players, headed by SS Alcides Escobar. P Jake Odorizzi, OF Lorenzo Cain and P Jeremy Jeffress complete the Royals’ haul, as Milwaukee outbids the Yankees and the Rangers to obtain Greinke.

45-year-old Carlos Yánes beats the Pinar del Río Tobacco Growers for his 234th win in Cuba, tying Jorge Luis Valdés for second all-time behind only Pedro Luis Lazo.

The Nationals sign OF Rick Ankiel as a free agent.

The Blue Jays sign a host of players today, including OF Corey Patterson, Ps Winston Abreu, Mike Hinckley, Brian Stokes and Sean Henn, and C Ryan Budde.

The Brewers sign P Sean Green to a one-year contract.

The driver responsible for the death of Angels P Nick Adenhart and two others on April 9, 2009, is sentenced to 51 years in jail. His blood alcohol level was at three times the legal limit when he ran through a red light and rammed his van into the car in which Adenhart and three friends were sitting.

Vladimir Baños of Pinar del Rio throws the 51st no-hitter in Castro-era Cuban play and also walks none in beating Matanzas. Unfortunately, his shortstop makes an error, costing him the perfect game.

In player moves today, the Rangers sign veteran lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes, an All-Star for the first time at age 41 last year; the Rockies trade two minor leaguers, Wes Musick and Jonnathan Aristil, to Houston to land reliever Matt Lindstrom; and the Diamondbacks sell utility player Rusty Ryal to the Yomiuri Giants.

2010 – The Padres sign former All-Star OF Brad Hawpe to be their new first baseman, replacing Adrian Gonzalez, who was traded to the Red Sox earlier this month.

Ricky Nolasco, recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, has agreed to a $26.5 million, three-year deal to stay with the Marlins. The Florida right-hander, who has compiled a 54-39 record along with a 4.45 ERA during his five seasons with the Fish, will remain the team’s #2 starter behind Josh Johnson.

2010 – Having lost Cliff Lee earlier this month, the Rangers sign another former Cy Young Award winner to bolster their starting rotation. Brandon Webb, who last pitched in April of 2009 before being felled by shoulder injuries is expected to be fit for spring training as he joins the defending American League champs. However, he won’t pitch at all in 2011.

The Mets acquire IF Chin-lung Hu from the Dodgers in return for P Michael Antonini.

The Brewers continue to add pitchers, today inking veteran reliever Takashi Saito, who will be 41 on Opening Day, to a one-year contract.

2010 – The Blue Jays sign P Octavio Dotel to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million.

2010 – For the first time, New Yankee Stadium is host to a football game, the first Pinstripe Bowl pitting Syracuse University and Kansas State University. It renews with an old tradition, as Yankee Stadium was a regular venue for college football games before its renovation in the 1970s. Syracuse defeats Kansas State 36-34 in a closely-fought game.

The Orioles sign veteran 1B Derrek Lee to a one-year contract.

During year-end celebrations, a shooting takes place in Luperon, a town on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, leaving a 25-year-old man dead and his 17-year-old brother wounded. Three days later, police announce that the main suspect is Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon, who claims his innocence but goes in hiding in his hometown of Santiago. He will surrender to police on January 3rd.

PODCAST Season 3, Episode 4 - Foxx, Marichal, Berra, Stairs, Perry

PODCAST Season 3, Episode 4 – Foxx, Marichal, Berra, Stairs, Perry

2010 – Brad Mills’ managerial debut is a 15-5 Astros victory over a split squad of Washington Nationals. Hunter Pence gives the new skipper a happy send-off with two homers in the fourth inning during a nine-run frame which turned the momentum. 

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