In the longest amount in time needed to complete an All-Star Game, Rangers shortstop Michael Young’s sac fly plates Justin Morneau of the Twins to end the four-hour and fifty-minute marathon. The record-tying 15-inning contest gives the American League its 11th consecutive victory when the Junior Circuit beats the National League, 4-3.

The American League defeats the National League, 4 – 3, in 15 innings at the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. It is the first extra-inning win ever for the AL after seven losses and one tie. The two teams combine for a record 7 steals, six of them by the American League. The game goes 4 hours and 50 minutes, also a record.

Josh Hamilton, who at one point goes deep 13 consecutive times, hits a record-setting 28 home runs in the first round of the Home Run Derby, but falls short in the finals, losing to Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, 5-3. With 71 year-old former coach Clay Counsil pitching, the Rangers outfielder breaks Bobby Abreu’s mark of 24 set in 2005.

A rarity in any professional game occurs when both teams have to use position players on the mound. In the second game of a doubleheader, the Tulsa Drillers bring in catcher Brian Esposito (who has pitched briefly in the minors) in the 10th inning, their 6th hurler of the game. The Springfield Cardinals counter with Matt Pagnozzi, another backstop, an inning later. After 3 scoreless innings, Pagnozzi allows 4 runs in the 13th, while Esposito goes 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the 7 – 3 win.

C.C. Sabathia homers and goes the distance in a 3 – 2 Brewers win over the Reds. Sabathia had homered for the Indians earlier in the season, making him the first pitcher to go deep for a team in each league since Earl Wilson in 1970.

The Cubs tie the National League record with 8 All-Star selections, tying the 1943 Cardinals, 1956 Redlegs and 1960 Pirates. Carlos Marmol is picked to replace injured teammate Kerry Wood, joining Cubbies Ryan Dempster, Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto and Carlos Zambrano.

Wei-Lun Pan of the President Lions comes closer than anyone else in Chinese Professional Baseball League history until then to a perfect game. Pan throws the 6th no-hitter in league annals and walks none but a Kuo-Ching Kao error at first base costs him the perfecto. He beats the Chinatrust Whales, 7 – 0. No one in the CPBL had ever gone a game without allowing a hit or walk.

Justin Morneau goes 5 for 5 and ends his day with a game-winning homer in the 11th inning as the Twins beat the Tigers. Denard Span chips in a 4 for 4 performance.

The Cubs bolster their pitching staff, obtaining starter Rich Harden and reliever Chad Gaudin from the A’s in exchange for right-hander Sean Gallagher, second baseman/outfielder Eric Patterson, outfielder Matt Murton, and minor league backstop prospect Josh Donaldson. Chicago’s dealing may be in anticipation of the trade rumors of the Brewers getting Indians’ ace, CC Sabathia.