Prior to a game with the Royals, with his team in the midst of a slump, Angels’ batting coach Rod Carew suggests the club use a single bat through the starting lineup as a way of loosening up the players. When leadoff hitter Orlando Palmeiro strikes out in bottom half of the first inning, he drops the bat for the next hitter to use. Umpire Tim Tschida sees this as an act of defiance and ejects Palmeiro from the game. Anaheim manager Terry Collins eventually convinces Tschida that Palmeiro wasn’t trying to show him up, and the umpire changes his decision and allows him to stay in the game. The Angels go on to defeat the Royals, 4 – 3.

In an effort to break out of a team slump which has resulted in 15 losses in 19 decisions, all nine Angel batters use Jim Edmonds’ bat the first time through the order. The center fielder’s lumber yields dramatic results when the Halos go 4-for-8 with one walk in the first inning, including Bengie Molina’s first career hit, an RBI double, in LA’s 4-3 win over Kansas City at Edison Field.

The Major League Umpires Association files unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board to block the American League and National League from using minor league replacements in the wake of the union’s mass resignation strategy.

The Rangers score 8 runs in the 3rd inning and go on to defeat the Royals, 12 – 5. The Texas attack is led by C Ivan Rodriguez, who strokes five hits, including a home run, and drives in four runs.