1999 – The Red Sox defeat the Angels, 7 – 6. With Tim Wakefield and Steve Sparks as the starting pitchers, the game is believed to be the 27th matchup of knuckleballers in major league history.
Desperate for lefty pitching, the Rangers acquire Jeff Fassero from the Mariners for a player to be named later. Fassero, his mechanics shaky after off-season surgery, will win his first start, September 6, against Chicago.
The Reds defeat the Expos, 4 – 1. In the process, Cincinnati P Ron Villone stops OF Vladimir Guerrero’s 31-game hitting streak, the longest in the majors in 12 years. Guerrero grounds to short, is intentionally walked, and fouls out in his three at bats.
The Indians take out some insurance, picking up DH Harold Baines from the Orioles for P Juan Aracena and a player to be named.
The Padres edge the Brewers, 8 – 7, despite five hits, including a double, by 3B Jeff Cirillo.
Major league umpires are warned by the league presidents that they will be fired if they strike next week. There has been talk of a strike over baseball’s refusal to allow 22 umpires to withdraw their resignations, which are effective on September 2nd.
On August 26, 1999, Vladimir Guerrero hit his 32nd home run of the season and extended his hit streak to 31 games.
The Cubs put Kevin Tapani on the disabled list for the rest of the season. In the first year of a 2-year contract, Tapani is 0-9 in his last 10 starts. They don’t need him today as they edge the Giants, 11 – 10, behind Sammy Sosa’s 53rd home run.
Arizona defeats Florida, 12 – 2, as Randy Johnson wins his 14th game. Johnson fans nine Marlin batters in becoming the fastest pitcher to reach 300 strikeouts in a season.
Achieving the mark in his 29th start, Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson reaches the 300-strikeout milestone in record time. The ‘Big Unit’ whiffs nine in seven innings in a 12-2 victory over the Marlins.
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