In their 5-1 inter-league loss to the Rays at Minute Maid Park, the Astros become the first team to use three pitchers with the same last name in a single game. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez is followed to the mound by Fernando Rodriguez in the seventh and eighth, with Aneury Rodriguez tossing a scoreless ninth frame.

In New York’s 4-2 loss to Colorado, A.J. Burnett becomes the first Yankee hurler to strike out four hitters in one inning. The right-hander starts the sixth frame by whiffing Rockies batters Chris Iannetta and Carlos Gonzalez, and when Chris Nelson reaches first base after swinging at a wild pitch for a third strike, he faces Todd Helton and strikes him out swinging to end the inning.

Michael Kacer, a 29 year-old veteran who lost his arm during a rocket attack in Afghanistan, makes an amazing grab of Curtis Granderson’s foul ball at Yankee Stadium. The event attracts national attention when the video of the catch becomes viral on the web, and with ESPN including it in its top plays segment on SportsCenter.

The Nationals name bench coach John McLaren as the interim manager to replace the departed Jim Riggleman, who surprised the team by quitting yesterday. Washington GM Mike Rizzo indicates the appointment is just for a few games, and will name Davey Johnson as the long-term replacement in the next few days.

For the second time in two years, a club plays as a road team in its own ballpark when the Marlins’ three-game series with the Mariners is shifted to Safeco Field due to preparations at Sun Life Stadium for a U2 concert to be held in Miami. Last season, MLB moved the Blue Jays home series against the Phillies, scheduled to be played at Rogers Centre, due to security concerns raised because of protests at the G20 Summit that was being held near the Toronto stadium.

With stories circulating that the Nationals will soon name veteran Davey Johnson, who last managed in the big leagues in 2000, as their new skipper, John McLaren wins his debut as interim manager, although he’s long gone by the time the game is decided. With the Nats holding a 2 – 0 lead over the White Sox in the 8th, McLaren is tossed after disputing home plate umpire Jeff Nelson’s decision to overturn a call made by crewmate Mike Estabrook at first base. The Nationals add another run in the top of the 9th, but Tyler Clippard coughs up a three-run pinch homer to Mark Teahen in the bottom of the frame to send the game into extra innings. Washington then blows one-run leads in the 10th and 12th innings before putting up a four-spot against Matt Thornton in the 14th to win, 9 – 5. Collin Balester picks up his first victory of the season as Washington wins its 12th game in its last 13.

The complete game may be threatened with extinction, but no one told Tampa Bay’s James Shields. He throws his third consecutive complete game in beating Houston, 5 – 1. Evan Longoria homers and drives in three in support of his strong performance on the mound, and B.J. Upton adds a solo shot. Shields is now 8-4 and leads the majors with 6 complete games.

In New York’s 4-2 loss to Colorado, A.J. Burnett becomes the first Yankee hurler to strike out four hitters in one inning. The right-hander starts the sixth frame by whiffing Rockies batters Chris Iannetta and Carlos Gonzalez, and when Chris Nelson reaches first base after swinging at a wild pitch for a third strike, he faces Todd Helton and strikes him out swinging to end the inning.

The Washington Nationals win another game, completing a three-game sweep of the Mariners with a 1 – 0 victory. Nats starter Jason Marquis takes a no-hitter into the 6th, which is broken up by his opponent Michael Pineda’s first major league hit. The only run scores in the bottom of the 9th off Chris Ray, thanks to a single by Michael Morse, a bunt single by Danny Espinosa, followed by another bunt by Ivan Rodriguez which loads the bases as 1B Adam Kennedy unwisely attempts to cut down pinch-runner Brian Bixler at third base instead of settling for the sure out. Jerry Hairston then forces out Bixler at home on a hard-hit grounder to short, but Jayson Nix follows with a game-ending sacrifice fly, scoring Espinosa. Following the game, in a stunning turn of events, Washington manager Jim Riggleman hands in his resignation. He justifies his decision by GM Mike Rizzo’s refusal to negotiate an extension of his contract for 2012. Bench coach John McLaren takes over as interim manager with the team one game above .500, its best record since 2005, the result of having won 11 of its last 12 games. Rizzo expresses his disappointment at the turn of events, stating: “I was always taught that one of the cardinal rules of baseball was that no individual can put his interests before those of the team.”

It’s not always easy being (furry and) green. The Phillie Phanatic, making a special appearance at a Lehigh Valley IronPigs game in Allentown, PA, is struck by a foul ball while entertaining the fans from the top of the first-base dugout in the 3rd inning. He is taken to hospital but released shortly afterwards. Tom Burgoyne, the man inside the costume, suffers only a bruise above the eye.