Lino Urdaneta’s first major league appearance results in an earned run average of infinity when the Tigers rookie does not retire a batter, giving up five hits, one walk, and six earned runs. Fortunately for the right-hander, the Mets will give him the opportunity to appear in two games in 2007, in which he allows one run in one inning of work, to bring down his ERA to a much more respectable 63.00.

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Lino Urdaneta’s first major league appearance results in an earned run average of infinity when the Tigers rookie does not retire a batter, giving up five hits, one walk, and six earned runs. Fortunately for the right-hander, the Mets will give him the opportunity to appear in two games in 2007, in which he allows one run in one inning of work, to bring down his ERA to a much more respectable 63.00.

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Once down by seven games in the Wild Card standings and behind five other clubs, the Astros come all the way back on the wings of their 12th straight win, a 5-2 triumph over Cincinnati, clinching their third straight series sweep. Four homers in the first inning (by Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman and Mike Lamb) is all Roger Clemens needs to get his 16th win, the 326th of his career, passing Eddie Plank for 11th on the All-Time wins list. The Astros tie the club record for winning streaks, set in 1999. The victory, however, ends their streak of eleven straight games scoring six or more runs, not done since the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in 1895. 

ByTom

2004 – Once down by seven games in the Wild Card standings and behind five other clubs, the Astros come all the way back on the wings of their 12th straight win, a 5-2 triumph over Cincinnati, clinching their third straight series sweep. Four homers in the first inning (by Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman and Mike Lamb) is all Roger Clemens needs to get his 16th win, the 326th of his career, passing Eddie Plank for 11th on the All-Time wins list. The Astros tie the club record for winning streaks, set in 1999. The victory, however, ends their streak of eleven straight games scoring six or more runs, not done since the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in 1895. 

2004 – Keith Ramsey of the Kinston Indians throws a perfect game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the last game of the Carolina League regular season. It is the 4th 9-inning perfect game in league history and the first in 26 years.

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2004 – Keith Ramsey of the Kinston Indians throws a perfect game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the last game of the Carolina League regular season. It is the 4th 9-inning perfect game in league history and the first in 26 years.

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Roger Clemens claims his 325th career victory, passing Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton

ByTom

2004 – Roger Clemens claims his 325th career victory, passing Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton, two former Astros, for 12th place on the all-time wins list. He does so in an 8-6 triumph over Pittsburgh. Home runs by Jose Vizcaino, Carlos Beltran, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell stake Clemens to a 7-0 lead but he gives up six runs in the seventh before leaving. Lance Berkman adds an insurance tally while the bullpen quiets the Bucs. It is Clemens’ 15th win of the season and Houston’s seventh straight as they climb within 2-1/2 games of Chicago for the wild card playoff spot. 

The Marlins edge the Mets‚ 5 – 4. Armando Benitez gets the save in relief. It is his 10th save of the year against New York for a new Major League record for saves against a club in a year. He will add one more save to give him 11 against his former teammates.

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The Marlins edge the Mets‚ 5 – 4. Armando Benitez gets the save in relief. It is his 10th save of the year against New York for a new Major League record for saves against a club in a year. He will add one more save to give him 11 against his former teammates.

Minnesota’s Terry Mulholland goes 6 innings and allows 2 runs in the Twins’ 4 – 2 win over Baltimore. Mulholland and catcher Pat Borders‚ who was obtained the previous day from Seattle for B.J. Garbe‚ are the first pair of 40-something batterymates since Curt Davis and Clyde Sukeforth for the Dodgers in 1945.

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Minnesota’s Terry Mulholland goes 6 innings and allows 2 runs in the Twins’ 4 – 2 win over Baltimore. Mulholland and catcher Pat Borders‚ who was obtained the previous day from Seattle for B.J. Garbe‚ are the first pair of 40-something batterymates since Curt Davis and Clyde Sukeforth for the Dodgers in 1945.

Ryan Howard makes his major league debut as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. In his first plate appearance, as a pinch hitter for pitcher Vicente Padilla, he strikes out against Atlanta Braves pitcher Jaret Wright.

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Ryan Howard makes his major league debut as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. In his first plate appearance, as a pinch hitter for pitcher Vicente Padilla, he strikes out against Atlanta Braves pitcher Jaret Wright.

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2004 – Given up for dead, the Astros win their fifth straight to creep back within three games of the National League wild card lead. The home run bats go to work in an 8-0 triumph over Cincinnati as Jeff Kent goes deep twice while Carlos Beltran, Jeff Bagwelland Lance Berkman go back-to-back-to-back in the fourth off Aaron Harang. Brandon Backe gets the shutout with help from three relievers. Houston still needs to overtake four other teams in order to get back to the postseason. 

ByTom

2004 – Given up for dead, the Astros win their fifth straight to creep back within three games of the National League wild card lead. The home run bats go to work in an 8-0 triumph over Cincinnati as Jeff Kent goes deep twice while Carlos Beltran, Jeff Bagwelland Lance Berkman go back-to-back-to-back in the fourth off Aaron Harang. Brandon Backe gets the shutout with help from three relievers. Houston still needs to overtake four other teams in order to get back to the postseason. 

Omar Vizquel becomes the first player in the 81-year history of Yankee Stadium to collect six hits in a game. The Indians shortstop’s 6-for-7 performance helps pace the Tribe’s 22-0 dismantling of the Bronx Bombers.

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Omar Vizquel becomes the first player in the 81-year history of Yankee Stadium to collect six hits in a game. The Indians shortstop’s 6-for-7 performance helps pace the Tribe’s 22-0 dismantling of the Bronx Bombers.

Equaling the largest shutout margin of a victory in baseball history, the Indians rout the Yankees, 22-0. The biggest defeat in the 101-year history of the Bronx Bombers matches the 1975 Pirates’ record-setting performance against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

ByBaseball

Equaling the largest shutout margin of a victory in baseball history, the Indians rout the Yankees, 22-0. The biggest defeat in the 101-year history of the Bronx Bombers matches the 1975 Pirates’ record-setting performance against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.