Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt vents his frustration about pitching in front of the worst offense in the major leagues, saying he is willing to waive his no-trade clause. With the team headed for a third straight losing season, Oswalt has a sparkling 2.66 ERA but is only 2-6 because of the lack of support. In today’s game, Houston scores only two runs, but still tops the major league-leading Tampa Bay Rays, 2 – 1, thanks to a stellar start by Brett Myers. Oswalt will be traded to Philadelphia later this season.

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Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt vents his frustration about pitching in front of the worst offense in the major leagues, saying he is willing to waive his no-trade clause. With the team headed for a third straight losing season, Oswalt has a sparkling 2.66 ERA but is only 2-6 because of the lack of support. In today’s game, Houston scores only two runs, but still tops the major league-leading Tampa Bay Rays, 2 – 1, thanks to a stellar start by Brett Myers. Oswalt will be traded to Philadelphia later this season.

The Blue Jays blast six home runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but they’re all solo shots. They lose, 8 – 6, wasting a three-homer effort by Edwin Encarnacion; Fred Lewis also leads off the contest with a long ball, to no avail. Since 1920, only one other team has scored six runs, all on solo homers, in a game: the Athletics in 1991.

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The Blue Jays blast six home runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but they’re all solo shots. They lose, 8 – 6, wasting a three-homer effort by Edwin Encarnacion; Fred Lewis also leads off the contest with a long ball, to no avail. Since 1920, only one other team has scored six runs, all on solo homers, in a game: the Athletics in 1991.

Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies flirts with his second no-hitter of the year, allowing only an infield single to Humberto Quintero before leaving the game after the 7th inning because of leg cramps. The Rockies win, 4 – 0, and Jimenez is now 8-1 with an ERA of 0.99.

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Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies flirts with his second no-hitter of the year, allowing only an infield single to Humberto Quintero before leaving the game after the 7th inning because of leg cramps. The Rockies win, 4 – 0, and Jimenez is now 8-1 with an ERA of 0.99.

The Braves score a 9th-inning touchdown to overtake the Reds, after trailing 8 – 0 earlier and being down by 6 when the fateful inning starts. After another good start by rookie Mike Leake, reliever Mike Lincoln gives up four consecutive singles to start the 9th, scoring two runs. He is replaced by Nick Masset, who walks Cody Ross to load the bases; Martin Prado follows with a apparent double play grounder, but 3B Miguel Cairo fails to get the ball out of his glove and the score is now 9 – 6. Arthur Rhodes strikes out Jason Heyward for the first out and Francisco Cordero comes out to face pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad. Conrad hits a drive to deep left field which deflects off the glove of Laynce Nix and falls in the stands for a walk-off grand slam. It is only the second time in major league history that a pinch-hit grand slam overcomes a three-run deficit to end a game; the first was on July 8, 1950, by Jack Phillips of the Pirates. Joey Votto also hit a grand slam earlier in the game for the Reds, and Craig Kimbrel earns his first big league win.

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The Braves score a 9th-inning touchdown to overtake the Reds, after trailing 8 – 0 earlier and being down by 6 when the fateful inning starts. After another good start by rookie Mike Leake, reliever Mike Lincoln gives up four consecutive singles to start the 9th, scoring two runs. He is replaced by Nick Masset, who walks Cody Ross to load the bases; Martin Prado follows with a apparent double play grounder, but 3B Miguel Cairo fails to get the ball out of his glove and the score is now 9 – 6. Arthur Rhodes strikes out Jason Heyward for the first out and Francisco Cordero comes out to face pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad. Conrad hits a drive to deep left field which deflects off the glove of Laynce Nix and falls in the stands for a walk-off grand slam. It is only the second time in major league history that a pinch-hit grand slam overcomes a three-run deficit to end a game; the first was on July 8, 1950, by Jack Phillips of the Pirates. Joey Votto also hit a grand slam earlier in the game for the Reds, and Craig Kimbrel earns his first big league win.

Trailing the Reds 9-3 starting the bottom of the ninth, Brooks Conrad’s pinch-hit grand slam gives the Braves an amazing 10-9 walk-off victory at Turner Field. The seven-run frame’s big blow by the 30 year-old journeyman barely clears the fence, with the ball deflecting off Laynce Nix’s glove when the left fielder reaches over the top of the wall at the 380-foot sign.

ByTom

Trailing the Reds 9-3 starting the bottom of the ninth, Brooks Conrad’s pinch-hit grand slam gives the Braves an amazing 10-9 walk-off victory at Turner Field. The seven-run frame’s big blow by the 30 year-old journeyman barely clears the fence, with the ball deflecting off Laynce Nix’s glove when the left fielder reaches over the top of the wall at the 380-foot sign.

The Yankees learn that C Jorge Posada has a broken bone in his right foot and will be out of action for three to four weeks. Francisco Cervelli has already assumed the bulk of the playing time behind the plate this season. Posada joins DH Nick Johnson, out with a wrist injury, and OF Curtis Granderson on the disabled list, while OF Marcus Thames and Nick Swisher are both day-to-day because of a sprained ankle and a sore biceps, respectively. The Rays take advantage of their banged-up opponents, beating them, 10 – 6, and increasing their lead in the AL East to 4 games.

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The Yankees learn that C Jorge Posada has a broken bone in his right foot and will be out of action for three to four weeks. Francisco Cervelli has already assumed the bulk of the playing time behind the plate this season. Posada joins DH Nick Johnson, out with a wrist injury, and OF Curtis Granderson on the disabled list, while OF Marcus Thames and Nick Swisher are both day-to-day because of a sprained ankle and a sore biceps, respectively. The Rays take advantage of their banged-up opponents, beating them, 10 – 6, and increasing their lead in the AL East to 4 games.

CF Angel Pagan hits the first inside-the-park homer in the history of Nationals Park in the 4th inning, starts a triple play in the 5th and for good measure makes a spectacular diving catch of Roger Bernadina’s line drive with the bases loaded in the 6th, but New York still manages to lose for the 9th time in 11 games, 5 – 3 to the Nationals. It has been 55 years since Ted Kazanski was the last major leaguer to perform the two feats in the same game.

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CF Angel Pagan hits the first inside-the-park homer in the history of Nationals Park in the 4th inning, starts a triple play in the 5th and for good measure makes a spectacular diving catch of Roger Bernadina’s line drive with the bases loaded in the 6th, but New York still manages to lose for the 9th time in 11 games, 5 – 3 to the Nationals. It has been 55 years since Ted Kazanski was the last major leaguer to perform the two feats in the same game.

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5/19/2010: Josh Hamilton of the Rangers homered in the second inning against the Orioles in Arlington. In the fourth, his fly cleared the 14-foot fence in LF and caromed back onto the field. Second base umpire Doug Eddings ruled it in play. Rangers manager Ron Washington argued with Eddings, who stood firm in his call, saying the ball hit the pad. Washington was convinced and left the field. Crew chief Dana DeMuth did not watch the replay and admitted after the game that the unpires were wrong. He said that he should have watched the replay and then overturned the call.

ByTom

5/19/2010: Josh Hamilton of the Rangers homered in the second inning against the Orioles in Arlington. In the fourth, his fly cleared the 14-foot fence in LF and caromed back onto the field. Second base umpire Doug Eddings ruled it in play. Rangers manager Ron Washington argued with Eddings, who stood firm in his call, saying the ball hit the pad. Washington was convinced and left the field. Crew chief Dana DeMuth did not watch the replay and admitted after the game that the unpires were wrong. He said that he should have watched the replay and then overturned the call.

After being benched for criticizing Fredi Gonzalez, who pulled him from the previous game for loafing, Hanley Ramirez, at the prompting of Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Tony Perez, apologizes to his manager and individually to his teammates prior to today’s contest in St. Louis. The visiting All-Star shortstop and reigning National League batting champ, amidst of being booed by the Busch Stadium fans, collects three hits and drives in a run in the Marlins’ 5-1 victory over the Redbirds.

ByTom

After being benched for criticizing Fredi Gonzalez, who pulled him from the previous game for loafing, Hanley Ramirez, at the prompting of Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Tony Perez, apologizes to his manager and individually to his teammates prior to today’s contest in St. Louis. The visiting All-Star shortstop and reigning National League batting champ, amidst of being booed by the Busch Stadium fans, collects three hits and drives in a run in the Marlins’ 5-1 victory over the Redbirds.

Mets center fielder Angel Pagan initiates the tenth triple play in franchise history when he snags Cristian Guzman’s sinking liner with first and second base occupied. After making the stunning catch that surprises both of Washington’s baserunners, the outfielder overthrows the infield, but catcher Henry Blanco takes the errant toss and throws the ball to Jose Reyes at second base to double off Livan Hernandez, and then the shortstop relays the ball to first baseman Ike Davis to triple up Nyjer Morgan, making it the first 9-2-6-3 triple killing in major league history.

ByTom

Mets center fielder Angel Pagan initiates the tenth triple play in franchise history when he snags Cristian Guzman’s sinking liner with first and second base occupied. After making the stunning catch that surprises both of Washington’s baserunners, the outfielder overthrows the infield, but catcher Henry Blanco takes the errant toss and throws the ball to Jose Reyes at second base to double off Livan Hernandez, and then the shortstop relays the ball to first baseman Ike Davis to triple up Nyjer Morgan, making it the first 9-2-6-3 triple killing in major league history.