2008 – The Mets fall to one game up in the wild card race, losing 9 – 5 to the Cubs. Chicago clinches home field advantage for the playoffs. Pitcher Jason Marquis hits a grand slam and drives in 5 in the win. It is the second grand slam by a pitcher off New York hurlers this year, the first team since the 1977 Cubs to allow two such slams. Jon Niese takes his first major league loss.

ByBaseball

2008 – The Mets fall to one game up in the wild card race, losing 9 – 5 to the Cubs. Chicago clinches home field advantage for the playoffs. Pitcher Jason Marquis hits a grand slam and drives in 5 in the win. It is the second grand slam by a pitcher off New York hurlers this year, the first team since the 1977 Cubs to allow two such slams. Jon Niese takes his first major league loss.

The Rays, who have never finished higher than fourth in the American League East Division during the first decade of their existence, clinch a postseason berth with a 7-2 victory over Minnesota at Tropicana Field. Southpaw Scott Kazmir throws six scoreless innings with Carlos Pena hitting a pair of doubles and solo home runs by Cliff Floyd and Fernando Perez providing the offensive in Tampa Bay’s historic win.

ByBaseball

The Rays, who have never finished higher than fourth in the American League East Division during the first decade of their existence, clinch a postseason berth with a 7-2 victory over Minnesota at Tropicana Field. Southpaw Scott Kazmir throws six scoreless innings with Carlos Pena hitting a pair of doubles and solo home runs by Cliff Floyd and Fernando Perez providing the offensive in Tampa Bay’s historic win.

After a moving ceremony celebrating the history of the 85 year-old ballpark, New York beat the Orioles in the last game ever played at Yankee Stadium, 7-3. Julia Ruth Stevens, the Babe’s daughter, throws out the ceremonial first pitch, and at the end of game, team captain Derek Jeter, standing in front of the mound, surrounded by his teammates, bids farewell to ‘House Ruth Built’ in an address in front of the 54,610 fans who attended the Bronx finale.

After a moving ceremony celebrating the history of the 85 year-old ballpark, New York beat the Orioles in the last game ever played at Yankee Stadium, 7-3. Julia Ruth Stevens, the Babe’s daughter, throws out the ceremonial first pitch, and at the end of game, team captain Derek Jeter, standing in front of the mound, surrounded by his teammates, bids farewell to ‘House Ruth Built’ in an address in front of the 54,610 fans who attended the Bronx finale.

ByThis Day in Baseball

After a moving ceremony celebrating the history of the 85 year-old ballpark, New York beat the Orioles in the last game ever played at Yankee Stadium, 7-3. Julia Ruth Stevens, the Babe’s daughter, throws out the ceremonial first pitch, and at the end of game, team captain Derek Jeter, standing in front of the mound, surrounded by his teammates, bids farewell to ‘House Ruth Built’ in an address in front of the 54,610 fans who attended the Bronx finale.

The Tampa Bay Rays defeat the Twins, 7 – 2, to clinch a postseason berth for the first time in team history before a rare sell-out crowd at Tropicana Field. Scott Kazmir picks up the win while Fernando Perez and Cliff Floyd homer for the home team.

ByBaseball

The Tampa Bay Rays defeat the Twins, 7 – 2, to clinch a postseason berth for the first time in team history before a rare sell-out crowd at Tropicana Field. Scott Kazmir picks up the win while Fernando Perez and Cliff Floyd homer for the home team.

With a 5-4 win over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field, the Cubs clinch their second straight National League Central Division championship. The victory marks the first time the club will appear in consecutive postseasons since the 1906-08 teams played in the World Series.

ByThis Day in Baseball

With a 5-4 win over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field, the Cubs clinch their second straight National League Central Division championship. The victory marks the first time the club will appear in consecutive postseasons since the 1906-08 teams played in the World Series.

The first reversal determined by baseball’s new instant replay system occurs when Carlos Pena’s two two-run double is changed to a three-run homer during the fourth inning in the Rays’ 11-1 rout of the Twins at Tropicana Field. Umpire Mike DiMuro at first had signaled fan interference but changes the call after reviewing the video of the Tampa Bay’s first baseman’s line drive.

ByBaseball

The first reversal determined by baseball’s new instant replay system occurs when Carlos Pena’s two two-run double is changed to a three-run homer during the fourth inning in the Rays’ 11-1 rout of the Twins at Tropicana Field. Umpire Mike DiMuro at first had signaled fan interference but changes the call after reviewing the video of the Tampa Bay’s first baseman’s line drive.

Cameron Maybin goes 4 for 5 with two steals to extend his streak to 10 consecutive times reaching base before being retired

ByThis Day in Baseball

2008 – Marlins rookie Cameron Maybin goes 4 for 5 with two steals to extend his streak to 10 consecutive times reaching base before being retired. Maybin, now hitting .818 since being acquired from Detroit, ties the Florida Marlins franchise record for consecutive times on base. Led by Maybin, the Marlins top Philadelphia, 14 – 8, to break a seven-game winning streak by the Phils, knocking them from first place in the NL East.

Greg Maddux breaks Cy Young’s major league record by getting his 13th win for the 20th consecutive season. The Padres veteran right-hander’s streak of not issuing a base on balls in 59.2 innings, however, ends when ‘Mad Dog’ walks Jason Bay on a full count in the third inning of a 5-3 victory over the Pirates at Petco Park.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Greg Maddux breaks Cy Young’s major league record by getting his 13th win for the 20th consecutive season. The Padres veteran right-hander’s streak of not issuing a base on balls in 59.2 innings, however, ends when ‘Mad Dog’ walks Jason Bay on a full count in the third inning of a 5-3 victory over the Pirates at Petco Park.

Jesse Carlson earns the victory as the Blue Jays rally from a 6-0 deficit to beat the Orioles, 8-7. The southpaw rookie reliever from Berlin, Connecticut, who has not been scored on in his last 12 appearances, notches his seventh victory in relief, the most by any Toronto reliever since Paul Quantrill won 11 in 2001.

ByBaseball

Jesse Carlson earns the victory as the Blue Jays rally from a 6-0 deficit to beat the Orioles, 8-7. The southpaw rookie reliever from Berlin, Connecticut, who has not been scored on in his last 12 appearances, notches his seventh victory in relief, the most by any Toronto reliever since Paul Quantrill won 11 in 2001.

Derek Jeter becomes the all-time hits leader at Yankee Stadium, which will be demolished at the end of the season. The team’s shortstop and captain surpasses Lou Gehrig’s record with a first-inning single in a 6-2 loss to the White Sox, bringing his total to 1,270 at the 85 year-old ballpark.

ByBaseball

Derek Jeter becomes the all-time hits leader at Yankee Stadium, which will be demolished at the end of the season. The team’s shortstop and captain surpasses Lou Gehrig’s record with a first-inning single in a 6-2 loss to the White Sox, bringing his total to 1,270 at the 85 year-old ballpark.