Meanwhile, Oakland beats the Yankees, 6 – 4, in 10 innings. Coco Crisp has four hits and 5 RBI for the A’s, including a three-run homer – his second long ball of the game – off Rafael Soriano in the 10th. Crisp’s first homer, off CC Sabathia, had given Oakland a 1 – 0 lead in the 1st, and his second RBI puts the team ahead 3 – 2 in the 8th; Scott Sizemore drives in the other run as part of a 4-for-4 night. Nick Swisher has a pair of homers for the losers, his second one tying the score in the bottom of the 8th.

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Meanwhile, Oakland beats the Yankees, 6 – 4, in 10 innings. Coco Crisp has four hits and 5 RBI for the A’s, including a three-run homer – his second long ball of the game – off Rafael Soriano in the 10th. Crisp’s first homer, off CC Sabathia, had given Oakland a 1 – 0 lead in the 1st, and his second RBI puts the team ahead 3 – 2 in the 8th; Scott Sizemore drives in the other run as part of a 4-for-4 night. Nick Swisher has a pair of homers for the losers, his second one tying the score in the bottom of the 8th.

The Braves ride a five-run 5th inning, highlighted by Jason Heyward’s first career grand slam, to a 5 – 4 win over the Cubs. Craig Kimbrel ties the major league rookie record for saves, set last season by Neftali Feliz, by notching his 40th. Aramis Ramirez has the first five-hit game of his career in a losing effort.

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The Braves ride a five-run 5th inning, highlighted by Jason Heyward’s first career grand slam, to a 5 – 4 win over the Cubs. Craig Kimbrel ties the major league rookie record for saves, set last season by Neftali Feliz, by notching his 40th. Aramis Ramirez has the first five-hit game of his career in a losing effort.

The Angels formally announce the signing of their #1 starter, 28 year-old right-hander Jered Weaver, to a five-year contract extension reported to be worth $85 million. The American League All-Star Game starter, who was eligible to become a free agent after the 2012 season, has compiled a 14-6 record along with a league-leading 2.10 ERA so far this season.

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The Angels formally announce the signing of their #1 starter, 28 year-old right-hander Jered Weaver, to a five-year contract extension reported to be worth $85 million. The American League All-Star Game starter, who was eligible to become a free agent after the 2012 season, has compiled a 14-6 record along with a league-leading 2.10 ERA so far this season.

In a trade of infielders, the Diamondbacks send their starting 2B, Kelly Johnson, to the Blue Jays in return for 2B Aaron Hill and veteran John McDonald. Both Johnson and Hill have struggled with low batting averages this year; Johnson has shown more power, but Hill and McDonald are both outstanding defensive players.

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In a trade of infielders, the Diamondbacks send their starting 2B, Kelly Johnson, to the Blue Jays in return for 2B Aaron Hill and veteran John McDonald. Both Johnson and Hill have struggled with low batting averages this year; Johnson has shown more power, but Hill and McDonald are both outstanding defensive players.

Detroit’s Justin Verlander continues his dominance on the mound, earning his major league-leading 19th win in the Tigers’ 5 – 2 victory over the Rays. It is his 7th consecutive winning start. Alex Avila, hitting .424 in August, hits a two-run homer off Jeff Niemann in the 2nd to send the Bengals on their way.

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Detroit’s Justin Verlander continues his dominance on the mound, earning his major league-leading 19th win in the Tigers’ 5 – 2 victory over the Rays. It is his 7th consecutive winning start. Alex Avila, hitting .424 in August, hits a two-run homer off Jeff Niemann in the 2nd to send the Bengals on their way.

Cliff Lee is also dazzling, throwing 7 scoreless innings as the Phillies down the Mets, 10 – 0. Lee is is 4-0 with an 0.58 ERA this month. John Mayberry and Hunter Pence both hit two-run homers off losing pitcher Dillon Gee.

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Cliff Lee is also dazzling, throwing 7 scoreless innings as the Phillies down the Mets, 10 – 0. Lee is is 4-0 with an 0.58 ERA this month. John Mayberry and Hunter Pence both hit two-run homers off losing pitcher Dillon Gee.

With two outs in the eighth inning, Matt Holliday is forced to leave the field during the game when a moth gets stuck deeply into his right ear. The Cardinal outfielder is treated in the trainer’s room, where a utensil is used to extract the embedded insect, which still comes out alive.

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With two outs in the eighth inning, Matt Holliday is forced to leave the field during the game when a moth gets stuck deeply into his right ear. The Cardinal outfielder is treated in the trainer’s room, where a utensil is used to extract the embedded insect, which still comes out alive.

The Tigers score 7 runs off Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez in the 3rd, including homers from Delmon Young and Victor Martinez, but the Indians slowly claw back. In the 4th, both benches are warned when Tigers starter Rick Porcello throws a pitch behind Asdrubal Cabrera shortly before being chased from the game. In the 6th, Tigers manager Jim Leyland is ejected by third base umpire Alan Porter for arguing a tag play at the base on Wilson Betemit. Detroit closer José Valverde then pitches the 9th with a one-run lead, but puts the first two men he faces on base courtesy of a walk and a hit-by-pitch. After Jack Hannahan’s successful sacrifice bunt, he gets pinch-hitter Matt LaPorta to fly to short center field; CF Austin Jackson unloads a superb throw to the plate that nails Kosuke Fukudome trying to score from third base, for a spectacular game-ending double play. Detroit completes a three-game sweep with the 8 – 7 win and Valverde has now been perfect in all 37 of his save opportunities this year.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Tigers score 7 runs off Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez in the 3rd, including homers from Delmon Young and Victor Martinez, but the Indians slowly claw back. In the 4th, both benches are warned when Tigers starter Rick Porcello throws a pitch behind Asdrubal Cabrera shortly before being chased from the game. In the 6th, Tigers manager Jim Leyland is ejected by third base umpire Alan Porter for arguing a tag play at the base on Wilson Betemit. Detroit closer José Valverde then pitches the 9th with a one-run lead, but puts the first two men he faces on base courtesy of a walk and a hit-by-pitch. After Jack Hannahan’s successful sacrifice bunt, he gets pinch-hitter Matt LaPorta to fly to short center field; CF Austin Jackson unloads a superb throw to the plate that nails Kosuke Fukudome trying to score from third base, for a spectacular game-ending double play. Detroit completes a three-game sweep with the 8 – 7 win and Valverde has now been perfect in all 37 of his save opportunities this year.

In his first major league start, the Blue Jays’ Luis Perez holds the Athletics to one hit and a pair of walks in 6 innings. Jose Bautista then leads off the 7th with his 36th homer off Guillermo Moscoso to give Toronto a 1 – 0 lead, and reliever Casey Janssen makes it hold with three hitless innings to complete the combined one-hitter.

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In his first major league start, the Blue Jays’ Luis Perez holds the Athletics to one hit and a pair of walks in 6 innings. Jose Bautista then leads off the 7th with his 36th homer off Guillermo Moscoso to give Toronto a 1 – 0 lead, and reliever Casey Janssen makes it hold with three hitless innings to complete the combined one-hitter.

With 3B Alex Rodriguez back in the line-up for the first time since July 7th, the Yankees shut out the Twins, 3 – 0. Curtis Granderson, who has had no problem hitting the ball out of the park all year, keeps his 7th-inning hit within the confines, but races around the bases for an inside-the-park homer that doubles the Yankees’ lead. Mark Teixeira follows with a more conventional home run and Ivan Nova improves to 13-4 on the year. A-Rod and Jim Thome become the first members of the 600 home run club to appear in the same contest since Willie Mays and Hank Aaron 38 years prior.

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With 3B Alex Rodriguez back in the line-up for the first time since July 7th, the Yankees shut out the Twins, 3 – 0. Curtis Granderson, who has had no problem hitting the ball out of the park all year, keeps his 7th-inning hit within the confines, but races around the bases for an inside-the-park homer that doubles the Yankees’ lead. Mark Teixeira follows with a more conventional home run and Ivan Nova improves to 13-4 on the year. A-Rod and Jim Thome become the first members of the 600 home run club to appear in the same contest since Willie Mays and Hank Aaron 38 years prior.