In an episode of the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bill Buckner, appearing as himself, is promptly thrown out of a shiva service because one of the mourners is a Red Sox fan who hasn’t forgiven him for his infamous error in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. The former Boston first baseman redeems himself when he uses his baseball skills to catch a falling baby, who has ricocheted off the firemen’s rescue net after being thrown out of a burning building.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In an episode of the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bill Buckner, appearing as himself, is promptly thrown out of a shiva service because one of the mourners is a Red Sox fan who hasn’t forgiven him for his infamous error in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. The former Boston first baseman redeems himself when he uses his baseball skills to catch a falling baby, who has ricocheted off the firemen’s rescue net after being thrown out of a burning building.

The White Sox rough up Brad Penny for 8 runs over 5 innings, including home runs by Alexei Ramirez, Alejandro de Aza and Brent Morel, to take an 8 – 1 lead over the Tigers, but the Bengals stage a dramatic comeback. They claw back to enter the bottom of the 9th trailing 8 – 6, then Ryan Raburn hits a two-run homer to tie the score and Miguel Cabrera follows with a walk-off home run, both shots traveling well over 400 feet at Comerica Park. The 9th-inning power outburst earns Luis Marte his first major league win.

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The White Sox rough up Brad Penny for 8 runs over 5 innings, including home runs by Alexei Ramirez, Alejandro de Aza and Brent Morel, to take an 8 – 1 lead over the Tigers, but the Bengals stage a dramatic comeback. They claw back to enter the bottom of the 9th trailing 8 – 6, then Ryan Raburn hits a two-run homer to tie the score and Miguel Cabrera follows with a walk-off home run, both shots traveling well over 400 feet at Comerica Park. The 9th-inning power outburst earns Luis Marte his first major league win.

Left-handed starter Tom Milone hits a home run on the first pitch he sees in the big leagues. The 24 year-old southpaw’s three-run blast gives him a 5-0 lead at the time, but the rookie goes only 4.1 innings in his debut and doesn’t get the win in the Nationals’ 9-8 victory over New York.

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Left-handed starter Tom Milone hits a home run on the first pitch he sees in the big leagues. The 24 year-old southpaw’s three-run blast gives him a 5-0 lead at the time, but the rookie goes only 4.1 innings in his debut and doesn’t get the win in the Nationals’ 9-8 victory over New York.

George Kottaras hits for the cycle this season

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George Kottaras, needing a two-bagger to become the first major leaguer to hit for the cycle this season, strokes an apparent triple, but accomplishes the feat when the ball bounces off of Tal’s Hill, a 20-degree angled incline located in centerfield, over the fence for an unexpected ground-rule double. The Brewers backstop also hit a solo homer in the fourth, a sixth-inning triple, and singled in the seventh in Milwaukee’s 8-4 victory of Houston at Minute Maid Park.

The Giants begin a key series with the Diamondbacks with a 6 – 2 victory. Carlos Beltran goes 4 for 4 with a homer and Cody Ross homers as well while Matt Cain bests Joe Saunders. The win pulls San Francisco to within 5 games of Arizona.

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The Giants begin a key series with the Diamondbacks with a 6 – 2 victory. Carlos Beltran goes 4 for 4 with a homer and Cody Ross homers as well while Matt Cain bests Joe Saunders. The win pulls San Francisco to within 5 games of Arizona.

The Rangers crush the Red Sox, 10 – 0, to record a team-record 23rd shutout on the season. Derek Holland gives up only a pair of singles in 7 innings, and relievers Merkin Valdez and Mike Gonzalez toss a hitless inning each to complete the job. The Rangers score 6 runs against loser Andrew Miller in the first two innings and never look back. The Rangers have scored an average of 7.52 runs per game in Holland’s starts, giving him the best run support in the majors, and he is now 13-5.

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The Rangers crush the Red Sox, 10 – 0, to record a team-record 23rd shutout on the season. Derek Holland gives up only a pair of singles in 7 innings, and relievers Merkin Valdez and Mike Gonzalez toss a hitless inning each to complete the job. The Rangers score 6 runs against loser Andrew Miller in the first two innings and never look back. The Rangers have scored an average of 7.52 runs per game in Holland’s starts, giving him the best run support in the majors, and he is now 13-5.

The Phillies move to 41 games above .500 for only the third time in franchise history – the other two were in 1976 – as they complete a four-game road sweep of Cincinnati with a 6 – 4 win. Rookie Vance Worley is cruising with a 6 – 1 lead in the 7th when he allows a three-run pinch homer to Chris Heisey, just activated from the disabled list. His bullpen then takes over and he registers his 10th win of the year; the Phillies have now won his last 12 starts. The Phillies will win again tomorrow to go 42 games above .500 for the first time.

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The Phillies move to 41 games above .500 for only the third time in franchise history – the other two were in 1976 – as they complete a four-game road sweep of Cincinnati with a 6 – 4 win. Rookie Vance Worley is cruising with a 6 – 1 lead in the 7th when he allows a three-run pinch homer to Chris Heisey, just activated from the disabled list. His bullpen then takes over and he registers his 10th win of the year; the Phillies have now won his last 12 starts. The Phillies will win again tomorrow to go 42 games above .500 for the first time.

The third class of inductees to the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame is announced in New York, NY. Puerto Rican Bernie Williams is one of six contemporary players selected, in addition to six veterans. The group will be enshrined at a ceremony in La Romana, in the Dominican Republic, on February 11th.

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The third class of inductees to the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame is announced in New York, NY. Puerto Rican Bernie Williams is one of six contemporary players selected, in addition to six veterans. The group will be enshrined at a ceremony in La Romana, in the Dominican Republic, on February 11th.

Craig Kimbrel sets a rookie record with his 41st save when he retires the side in order in the Braves’ 3-1 victory over Washington at Turner Field. The 23 year-old Atlanta closer, who will finish the season with 46, surpasses Neftali Feliz’s saves record established last season with the Rangers.

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Craig Kimbrel sets a rookie record with his 41st save when he retires the side in order in the Braves’ 3-1 victory over Washington at Turner Field. The 23 year-old Atlanta closer, who will finish the season with 46, surpasses Neftali Feliz’s saves record established last season with the Rangers.

In a stretch-run trade with Pittsburgh, the Braves acquired Matt Diaz for a player to be named and cash considerations. The 33 year-old outfielder, who played with Atlanta for five years, left the organization after the 2010 season when he inked a two-year, $4.25 million free-agent deal with the Pirates.

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In a stretch-run trade with Pittsburgh, the Braves acquired Matt Diaz for a player to be named and cash considerations. The 33 year-old outfielder, who played with Atlanta for five years, left the organization after the 2010 season when he inked a two-year, $4.25 million free-agent deal with the Pirates.