Although the Blue Jays already display his uniform digits on the Level of Excellence, the team officially retires Roberto Alomar’s No. 12 jersey, making the infielder the first player so honored in this manner in the 35-year history of the franchise. The newly inducted member of the Hall of Fame played five seasons with Toronto, including the back-to-back 1992-93 World Series championship teams.

ByTom

Although the Blue Jays already display his uniform digits on the Level of Excellence, the team officially retires Roberto Alomar’s No. 12 jersey, making the infielder the first player so honored in this manner in the 35-year history of the franchise. The newly inducted member of the Hall of Fame played five seasons with Toronto, including the back-to-back 1992-93 World Series championship teams.

The Red Sox (66-40) continue their winning ways when they beat Chicago at Fenway Park, 5-3. The eventual World Champs end the month with a 20-6 record, the team’s best July since 1952.

ByTom

The Red Sox (66-40) continue their winning ways when they beat Chicago at Fenway Park, 5-3. The eventual World Champs end the month with a 20-6 record, the team’s best July since 1952.

Two of the best pitchers in the American League face each other, as Detroit’s Justin Verlander goes against Los Angeles’ Jered Weaver, with both looking for their 15th win. Verlander takes a no-hitter into the 8th inning, while Weaver loses his cool after Carlos Guillen hits a 7th-inning homer; he throws a pitch over the head of the next batter, Alex Avila, and is ejected. Verlander and the Tigers prevail, 3 – 2.

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Two of the best pitchers in the American League face each other, as Detroit’s Justin Verlander goes against Los Angeles’ Jered Weaver, with both looking for their 15th win. Verlander takes a no-hitter into the 8th inning, while Weaver loses his cool after Carlos Guillen hits a 7th-inning homer; he throws a pitch over the head of the next batter, Alex Avila, and is ejected. Verlander and the Tigers prevail, 3 – 2.

Raul Ibanez is a one-man wrecking crew as the Phillies outlast the Pirates, 6 – 5, in 10 innings. Ibanez hits a homer off Jeff Karstens in the 2nd, and adds another, game-tying, blast in the 8th, a two-run shot off Jose Verasthat erases a 5 – 3 Pirates lead built on Lyle Overbay’s own two-run homer. In the 10th, Ibanez ends the game with an RBI double off Tony Watson, driving in newly-acquired Hunter Pence with the winning run.

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Raul Ibanez is a one-man wrecking crew as the Phillies outlast the Pirates, 6 – 5, in 10 innings. Ibanez hits a homer off Jeff Karstens in the 2nd, and adds another, game-tying, blast in the 8th, a two-run shot off Jose Verasthat erases a 5 – 3 Pirates lead built on Lyle Overbay’s own two-run homer. In the 10th, Ibanez ends the game with an RBI double off Tony Watson, driving in newly-acquired Hunter Pence with the winning run.

The trading deadline passes with a few more deals, capping a busy three-day period. OF Ryan Ludwick is traded on this day for the second consecutive year, joining the Pirates from the Padres for a player to be named later. The Padres also send set-up man Mike Adams to the Rangers for two minor leaguers, and the Red Sox land starting pitcher Erik Bedard from the Mariners in a three-team, seven-player deal that also involves the Los Angeles Dodgers. Finally, the Braves land CF Michael Bourn from Houston for OF Jordan Schafer and three minor league prospects.

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The trading deadline passes with a few more deals, capping a busy three-day period. OF Ryan Ludwick is traded on this day for the second consecutive year, joining the Pirates from the Padres for a player to be named later. The Padres also send set-up man Mike Adams to the Rangers for two minor leaguers, and the Red Sox land starting pitcher Erik Bedard from the Mariners in a three-team, seven-player deal that also involves the Los Angeles Dodgers. Finally, the Braves land CF Michael Bourn from Houston for OF Jordan Schafer and three minor league prospects.

The Yankees complete a doubleheader sweep of the Orioles with a huge 1st inning in the nitecap, after winning the opener, 8 – 3. The Bronx Bombers score 12 runs as they chase Zach Britton, just back from the minors, after only one out, but not before he gives up 9 runs. They roll to a 17 – 3 win, accumulating 24 hits, as Ivan Nova benefits from the outburst; Robinson Cano goes 5 for 5 with 5 RBI, while Nick Swisher hits a two-run homer in each game.

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The Yankees complete a doubleheader sweep of the Orioles with a huge 1st inning in the nitecap, after winning the opener, 8 – 3. The Bronx Bombers score 12 runs as they chase Zach Britton, just back from the minors, after only one out, but not before he gives up 9 runs. They roll to a 17 – 3 win, accumulating 24 hits, as Ivan Nova benefits from the outburst; Robinson Cano goes 5 for 5 with 5 RBI, while Nick Swisher hits a two-run homer in each game.

Derek Holland pitches his third shutout in five starts as the Rangers defeat the Blue Jays, 3 – 0. He is the first Ranger pitcher to throw 4 shutouts in a season since Doc Medich in 1981. Mitch Moreland hits a two-run homer in the 2nd.

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Derek Holland pitches his third shutout in five starts as the Rangers defeat the Blue Jays, 3 – 0. He is the first Ranger pitcher to throw 4 shutouts in a season since Doc Medich in 1981. Mitch Moreland hits a two-run homer in the 2nd.

There is a frenzy of trades as the trading deadline approaches. The Indians make two big deals, first acquiring P Ubaldo Jimenez from Colorado, then sending 2B Orlando Cabrera to San Francisco. In the unusual position of being buyers this year, the Pirates pry 1B Derrek Lee from Baltimore to replace the underachieving Lyle Overbay. Their rivals in the NL Central, the Cardinals, add SS Rafael Furcal from Los Angeles, the Diamondbacksadd P Jason Marquis from Washington, the Rangers get P Koji Uehara from Baltimore, the Red Sox add 2B Mike Aviles from Kansas City, and the Tigers get Ps Doug Fister and David Pauley from the Mariners. In all cases, the deals involve prospects in return, many of them in the lower reaches of the minor leagues, and the occasional player who has just reached the majors.

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There is a frenzy of trades as the trading deadline approaches. The Indians make two big deals, first acquiring P Ubaldo Jimenez from Colorado, then sending 2B Orlando Cabrera to San Francisco. In the unusual position of being buyers this year, the Pirates pry 1B Derrek Lee from Baltimore to replace the underachieving Lyle Overbay. Their rivals in the NL Central, the Cardinals, add SS Rafael Furcal from Los Angeles, the Diamondbacksadd P Jason Marquis from Washington, the Rangers get P Koji Uehara from Baltimore, the Red Sox add 2B Mike Aviles from Kansas City, and the Tigers get Ps Doug Fister and David Pauley from the Mariners. In all cases, the deals involve prospects in return, many of them in the lower reaches of the minor leagues, and the occasional player who has just reached the majors.

The Orioles trade Derrek Lee to the Pirates in exchange for minor-leaguer Aaron Baker, who will report to Class A Frederick. The Bucs hope their new good-fielding first baseman can provide some pop to the lineup as the team tries to stay in contention in the competitive NL Central Division race.

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The Orioles trade Derrek Lee to the Pirates in exchange for minor-leaguer Aaron Baker, who will report to Class A Frederick. The Bucs hope their new good-fielding first baseman can provide some pop to the lineup as the team tries to stay in contention in the competitive NL Central Division race.

The Indians announced the team has completed the trade with the Rockies for Ubaldo Jimenez. The deal, contingent on the right-hander passing his physical, sends highly touted minor league pitchers Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, along with right-handed prospect Joe Gardner, and utility player Matt McBride to Colorado in exchange for the Dominican ace, who the Tribe hopes will anchor their rotation down the pennant stretch as the team attempts to pass Detroit.

ByBaseball

The Indians announced the team has completed the trade with the Rockies for Ubaldo Jimenez. The deal, contingent on the right-hander passing his physical, sends highly touted minor league pitchers Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, along with right-handed prospect Joe Gardner, and utility player Matt McBride to Colorado in exchange for the Dominican ace, who the Tribe hopes will anchor their rotation down the pennant stretch as the team attempts to pass Detroit.