Brandon Morrow, no stranger himself to having a no-hitter broken up in the 9th, has another strong outing against the Yankees, although reliever Scott Downs is credited with the 3 – 2 Blue Jays’ win. The game is decided in the 8th when José Bautista hits his second home run of the game, off David Robertson, to break a 2 – 2 tie. Bautista is the first player to reach 40 homers this year.

ByBaseball

Brandon Morrow, no stranger himself to having a no-hitter broken up in the 9th, has another strong outing against the Yankees, although reliever Scott Downs is credited with the 3 – 2 Blue Jays’ win. The game is decided in the 8th when José Bautista hits his second home run of the game, off David Robertson, to break a 2 – 2 tie. Bautista is the first player to reach 40 homers this year.

The Rays take advantage of the Yankees’ loss to catch them for the AL East lead, by defeating the Angels, 4 – 3. Rafael Soriano strikes out the side on 9 pitches in the 9th to earn his 38th save. It is the 44th time the feat has been accomplished in the majors, being last done by Ross Ohlendorf of the Pirates last September.

ByBaseball

The Rays take advantage of the Yankees’ loss to catch them for the AL East lead, by defeating the Angels, 4 – 3. Rafael Soriano strikes out the side on 9 pitches in the 9th to earn his 38th save. It is the 44th time the feat has been accomplished in the majors, being last done by Ross Ohlendorf of the Pirates last September.

Lou Piniella retires after 23 seasons as a manager. In his last game at the helm, his Cubs lose, 16 – 5, at home to the Atlanta Braves. Piniella missed some time earlier this year to be with his ailing mother, and had announced that this season would be his last. Coach Mike Quade will take over as interim manager for the remainder of the season. Piniella retires with a lifetime record of 1,835-1,712.

ByBaseball

Lou Piniella retires after 23 seasons as a manager. In his last game at the helm, his Cubs lose, 16 – 5, at home to the Atlanta Braves. Piniella missed some time earlier this year to be with his ailing mother, and had announced that this season would be his last. Coach Mike Quade will take over as interim manager for the remainder of the season. Piniella retires with a lifetime record of 1,835-1,712.

In a battle of pitchers who threw no-hitters earlier this year, Tampa Bay’s Matt Garza outpitches Dallas Braden of Oakland in a 4 – 3 win. The Rays need the win to keep within one game of the Yankees, who sink the Mariners, 10 – 0. Robinson Cano hits a grand slam and drives in 6 runs in support of CC Sabathia’s league-leading 17th win, his 15th straight win at New Yankee Stadium.

ByBaseball

In a battle of pitchers who threw no-hitters earlier this year, Tampa Bay’s Matt Garza outpitches Dallas Braden of Oakland in a 4 – 3 win. The Rays need the win to keep within one game of the Yankees, who sink the Mariners, 10 – 0. Robinson Cano hits a grand slam and drives in 6 runs in support of CC Sabathia’s league-leading 17th win, his 15th straight win at New Yankee Stadium.

After being heckled by Philadelphia fans between innings, Nyjer Morgan throws a ball into the Citizens Bank Park outfield seats, hitting a fan in the head. The Nationals outfielder will receive a seven-game suspension for his serious lapse of judgment, although his victim, a 37 year-old male, is very surprised by the suspension and wishes his assailant luck with the appeal of the penalty.

ByBaseball

After being heckled by Philadelphia fans between innings, Nyjer Morgan throws a ball into the Citizens Bank Park outfield seats, hitting a fan in the head. The Nationals outfielder will receive a seven-game suspension for his serious lapse of judgment, although his victim, a 37 year-old male, is very surprised by the suspension and wishes his assailant luck with the appeal of the penalty.

Matt Stairs sets the career record for pinch-hit home runs

ByThis Day in Baseball

Matt Stairs sets the career record for pinch-hit home runs when he goes deep off Ernesto Frieri in the eighth inning of a 6-5 loss in Milwaukee. The two-run shot over the Miller Park right field fence, his twenty-first round-tripper coming off the bench, moves the premier pinch-hitter ahead of Cliff Johnson.

Josh Bell hits the first two homers of his major league career, and teammates Ty Wigginton and Luke Scott join him in going yard, as the Orioles rough up Texas’s Cliff Lee, 8 – 6. It is the first time this season Lee fails to complete 6 innings, being chased after pitching 5 2/3 innings.

ByBaseball

Josh Bell hits the first two homers of his major league career, and teammates Ty Wigginton and Luke Scott join him in going yard, as the Orioles rough up Texas’s Cliff Lee, 8 – 6. It is the first time this season Lee fails to complete 6 innings, being chased after pitching 5 2/3 innings.

Rookie Peter Bourjos also hits his first career homer, for the Angels against the Twins. He adds a triple and drives in 4 in his team’s 9 – 3 win. Losing P Kevin Slowey is placed on the disabled list after the game with a strained right forearm, as is reliever Ron Mahay, who hurts his shoulder while fielding a ground ball.

ByBaseball

Rookie Peter Bourjos also hits his first career homer, for the Angels against the Twins. He adds a triple and drives in 4 in his team’s 9 – 3 win. Losing P Kevin Slowey is placed on the disabled list after the game with a strained right forearm, as is reliever Ron Mahay, who hurts his shoulder while fielding a ground ball.

Casey Kotchman goes 3 for 4 in a 9 – 5 Mariners loss to the Yankees, but makes his first error in 275 games. The previous major league record for errorless games at first base had been held by Kevin Youkilis.

ByBaseball

Casey Kotchman goes 3 for 4 in a 9 – 5 Mariners loss to the Yankees, but makes his first error in 275 games. The previous major league record for errorless games at first base had been held by Kevin Youkilis.