The 2008 amateur draft is held. The Tampa Bay Rays, picking first overall for the third time in four years, select high school shortstop Tim Beckham. The Pittsburgh Pirates take Pedro Alvarez of Vanderbilt University second, the first college player taken. The first pitcher selected is Brian Matusz, going fourth, to the Orioles.

ByTom

The 2008 amateur draft is held. The Tampa Bay Rays, picking first overall for the third time in four years, select high school shortstop Tim Beckham. The Pittsburgh Pirates take Pedro Alvarez of Vanderbilt University second, the first college player taken. The first pitcher selected is Brian Matusz, going fourth, to the Orioles.

2008 – Joe Mauer drives in two runs on a sacrifice fly to become the first major leaguer to accomplish that since Alex Ochoa in 2001. Down 5 – 2 in the 5th against Daniel Cabrera and the Orioles, the Minnesota star flies to Adam Jones at the warning track. Nick Punto scores and after Jones falls while trying to throw, Carlos Gomez comes around from second base.

ByTom

2008 – Joe Mauer drives in two runs on a sacrifice fly to become the first major leaguer to accomplish that since Alex Ochoa in 2001. Down 5 – 2 in the 5th against Daniel Cabrera and the Orioles, the Minnesota star flies to Adam Jones at the warning track. Nick Punto scores and after Jones falls while trying to throw, Carlos Gomez comes around from second base.

Randy Johnson moves into second place on the all-time major league strikeout leaderboard. He strikes out 8 in 6 1/3 innings, most importantly getting Mike Cameron in the 1st to pass Roger Clemens for second place with 4,673. The 44-year-old “Big Unit” trails only Nolan Ryan but will not catch him.

ByBaseball

Randy Johnson moves into second place on the all-time major league strikeout leaderboard. He strikes out 8 in 6 1/3 innings, most importantly getting Mike Cameron in the 1st to pass Roger Clemens for second place with 4,673. The 44-year-old “Big Unit” trails only Nolan Ryan but will not catch him.

Mike Lieberthal, signing a one-day contract for a mere four dollars, can retire happily as a member of the Phillies. The team’s popular former backstop, who spent the first 13 of his 14 major league seasons with Philadelphia, throws out the ceremonial first pitch, receiving a loud cheer from the large crowd at Citizens Bank Park.

ByTom

Mike Lieberthal, signing a one-day contract for a mere four dollars, can retire happily as a member of the Phillies. The team’s popular former backstop, who spent the first 13 of his 14 major league seasons with Philadelphia, throws out the ceremonial first pitch, receiving a loud cheer from the large crowd at Citizens Bank Park.

Manny Ramirez becomes the 24th and 12th-youngest major leaguer to hit 500 career home runs

Manny Ramirez becomes the 24th and 12th-youngest major leaguer to hit 500 career home runs

ByTom

May 31, 2008 In front of many visiting Red Sox fans at Camden Yards, Manny Ramirez becomes the 24th and 12th-youngest major leaguer to hit 500 career home runs. The historic ball, thrown in the seventh inning by Orioles right-hander Chad Bradford, is caught in the stands by Damon Woo, who presents the Boston slugger…

The Pirates top the Cards, 14 – 4, thanks to a grand slam by Luis Rivas and fine pitching from Paul Maholm. It is Tony LaRussa’s 2,000th game as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, passing Red Schoendienst for first in franchise history.

ByBaseball

The Pirates top the Cards, 14 – 4, thanks to a grand slam by Luis Rivas and fine pitching from Paul Maholm. It is Tony LaRussa’s 2,000th game as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, passing Red Schoendienst for first in franchise history.

In a rare big-name match-up in A ball, the Vero Beach Devil Rays beat the St. Lucie Mets, 2 – 0. Pedro Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner on a rehab start, allows two runs in six innings to take the loss. The win goes to David Price, the top pick of the 2008 amateur draft, making his second pro start. Price allows two hits and no walks in six shutout frames, fanning nine. Martinez says: “He’s amazing, that kid.” The two will be pitching in the World Series at the end of the year.

ByBaseball

In a rare big-name match-up in A ball, the Vero Beach Devil Rays beat the St. Lucie Mets, 2 – 0. Pedro Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner on a rehab start, allows two runs in six innings to take the loss. The win goes to David Price, the top pick of the 2008 amateur draft, making his second pro start. Price allows two hits and no walks in six shutout frames, fanning nine. Martinez says: “He’s amazing, that kid.” The two will be pitching in the World Series at the end of the year.

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2008 – Hunter Pence goes 5-for-5 and Miguel Tejada blasts a two-run homer to pace an 8-2 win in St. Louis behind seven strong innings from Shawn Chacon. The Astros and Cardinals are in a tie for second in the division behind Chicago. 

ByTom

2008 – Hunter Pence goes 5-for-5 and Miguel Tejada blasts a two-run homer to pace an 8-2 win in St. Louis behind seven strong innings from Shawn Chacon. The Astros and Cardinals are in a tie for second in the division behind Chicago. 

When Jamie Carroll is caught off first base by White Sox pitcher Ehren Wasserman’s fake throw to third and gets into a rundown, David Dellucci, the runner on third, breaks for home and scores on first baseman Paul Konerko’s throw in the dirt, which also allows Carroll to reach second and Grady Sizemore, the runner on second, to move to third base. Chuck Murr, official scorer of the Indians’ 8-2 victory over the White Sox, credits all three runners with stolen bases, making it the first triple steal to be accomplished since 1987 when Atlanta pulled it off against Houston.

ByTom

When Jamie Carroll is caught off first base by White Sox pitcher Ehren Wasserman’s fake throw to third and gets into a rundown, David Dellucci, the runner on third, breaks for home and scores on first baseman Paul Konerko’s throw in the dirt, which also allows Carroll to reach second and Grady Sizemore, the runner on second, to move to third base. Chuck Murr, official scorer of the Indians’ 8-2 victory over the White Sox, credits all three runners with stolen bases, making it the first triple steal to be accomplished since 1987 when Atlanta pulled it off against Houston.