The Yankees hit a season-high 5 home runs in Los Angeles, including two by Alex Rodriguez, but they still lose, 14 – 8, to the Angels, who have scored 24 runs in two games since their two most potent offensive weapons, Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter, hit the disabled list simultaneously on July 9th. Rodriguez moves past another steroid-tainted player, Rafael Palmeiro, for 10th on the all-time major league home run list.

Jonathan Sanchez of the San Francisco Giants pitches the first major league no-hitter this season, blanking the San Diego Padres, 8 – 0. The Padres muster only one baserunner, on an error by 3B Juan Uribe.

The New York Mets deal Ryan Church to Atlanta for Jeff Francoeur in a trade of starting right fielders whose recent struggles have landed them on the bench.

The Seattle Mariners deal shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and cash to the Kansas City Royals for pitchers Daniel Cortes and Derrick Saito.

The Marlins set two team records in their win over Arizona: down 7 – 0 entering the 8th inning, they score 10 runs, led by Brett Carroll’s pinch-hit three-run homer, on their way to a 14 – 7 victory. It is both the highest-scoring inning and biggest comeback in team history. For their part, the D-Backs suffer their biggest-ever blown lead. Three pinch-hitters get two at-bats apiece in the 8th (Carroll, Ross Gload and Hanley Ramirez).

Joel Hanrahan wins his first game of the year while sitting in a hotel room in Philadelphia. He is credited with the win as Washington finishes off a game suspended on May 5th by defeating the Astros, 11 – 10. Hanrahan, who has since been traded to Pittsburgh on June 30th, pitched the top of the 11th two months ago, before the game was halted by rain in the bottom of the inning with him in the on-deck circle. When play resumes – in Houston, since the Astros are not scheduled to make another trip to D.C. this year – Nyjer Morgan, acquired in return for Hanrahan, is pinch running on first base; Hanrahan is replaced by pinch hitter Josh Bard, who hits a potential inning-ending double play grounder. However, Miguel Tejadathrows the ball away, allowing Morgan to score the winning run. Houston, now the home team, then wins the regularly-scheduled contest that follows, 9 – 4.

In a battle of promising young pitchers, Chris Volstad pitches his first career complete game in leading Florida to a 7 – 0 shutout of San Francisco. His opponent, Ryan Sadowski, enters the game without having allowed an earned run in his first 13 major league innings; he runs his streak to 16 before giving up his first runs in the 4th, but still leaves the game with an ERA of 1.00.

Jason Giambi agrees to a one-year $5.25 million deal to return to the A’s, the franchise where he started his major league career. The 37 year-old free-agent first baseman/DH, who celebrates a birthday tomorrow, joins the growing list of aging superstars – Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza, and Mike Sweeney – who have been used to fill the same role with Oakland in recent years.