Justin Verlander comes within 5 outs of pitching his second no-hitter of the season in leading the Tigers into first place in the AL Central with a 4 – 0 win over Cleveland. He strikes out 12 in pitching a two-hit shutout, with Orlando Cabrera’s 8th-inning single the first safety of the night against his overwhelming stuff.

ByTom

Justin Verlander comes within 5 outs of pitching his second no-hitter of the season in leading the Tigers into first place in the AL Central with a 4 – 0 win over Cleveland. He strikes out 12 in pitching a two-hit shutout, with Orlando Cabrera’s 8th-inning single the first safety of the night against his overwhelming stuff.

In spite of a stiff back which forces him to leave the game in the 8th inning, Cole Hamels is dominant for the Phillies in earning his 9th win, 9 – 1 over the Marlins, to join teammate Roy Halladay for the National League lead. Hamels is helped by five homers, two-run shots by Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, and two solo blasts by Domonic Brown. Florida has now lost 11 of its last 12 games.

ByTom

In spite of a stiff back which forces him to leave the game in the 8th inning, Cole Hamels is dominant for the Phillies in earning his 9th win, 9 – 1 over the Marlins, to join teammate Roy Halladay for the National League lead. Hamels is helped by five homers, two-run shots by Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, and two solo blasts by Domonic Brown. Florida has now lost 11 of its last 12 games.

2011 – Just 6 hits shy of joining the 3000 hit club, Derek Jeter must put his quest on hold as he exits today’s 1 – 0 Yankees loss to the Cleveland Indians with a sore right calf and goes on the disabled list. Jeter gets hit number 2994 with a 1st-inning single off Carlos Carrasco, but leaves in the 5th after feeling a strain while running to first base. Escaping a none-out, bases loaded jam in the 1st, Carrasco settles down by pitching seven scoreless innings for the win. The Indians’ lone run off A.J. Burnett comes in the 4th, courtesy of a triple by Michael Brantley followed by a single by Asdrubal Cabrera.

ByBaseball

On June 13 2011, 2011 – Just 6 hits shy of joining the 3000 hit club, Derek Jeter must put his quest on hold as he exits today’s 1 – 0 Yankees loss to the Cleveland Indians with a sore right calf and goes on the disabled list. Jeter gets hit number 2994 with a 1st-inning single off Carlos Carrasco, but leaves in the 5th after feeling…

The Red Sox spank the Blue Jays, 14 – 1, one day after handing them a 16 – 4 pasting, to extend their winning streak to 9 games. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis both homer and drive in 4 runs, and Adrian Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia also go long in support of Jon Lester, who gives up only two hits in 8 innings to go 9-2 on the year. Jose Bautista hits homer number 21 in the lone highlight for Toronto.

ByTom

The Red Sox spank the Blue Jays, 14 – 1, one day after handing them a 16 – 4 pasting, to extend their winning streak to 9 games. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis both homer and drive in 4 runs, and Adrian Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia also go long in support of Jon Lester, who gives up only two hits in 8 innings to go 9-2 on the year. Jose Bautista hits homer number 21 in the lone highlight for Toronto.

Realignment is on the table again as Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association are in discussions to renew the collective bargaining agreement, which expires on December 11th. One of the options being discussed would see one team moving from the National League to the American League to create two 15-team leagues, with the Houston Astros the likeliest candidate for a move.

ByTom

Realignment is on the table again as Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association are in discussions to renew the collective bargaining agreement, which expires on December 11th. One of the options being discussed would see one team moving from the National League to the American League to create two 15-team leagues, with the Houston Astros the likeliest candidate for a move.

Francisco Liriano of the Twins flirts with his second no-hitter of the year, keeping Texas off the hit sheet until the 8th inning, when Adrian Beltre singles up the middle. The Twins win, 6 – 1, as Liriano gives up no walks but strikes out 9 over 8 innings; he had walked 6 in his no-no against the White Sox on May 3rd.

ByTom

Francisco Liriano of the Twins flirts with his second no-hitter of the year, keeping Texas off the hit sheet until the 8th inning, when Adrian Beltre singles up the middle. The Twins win, 6 – 1, as Liriano gives up no walks but strikes out 9 over 8 innings; he had walked 6 in his no-no against the White Sox on May 3rd.

The Kinston Indians defeat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 3 – 2, in a 23-inning marathon, the longest game in the history of the Carolina League. 15 players log 8 or more at bats and both catchers, Zach Zaneski of Myrtle Beach and Roberto Pérez of Kinston, catch every inning before Kinston 2B Casey Frawley’s game-ending single. The contest at Kinston’s historic Grainger Stadium takes 6 hours and 27 minutes to complete.

ByTom

The Kinston Indians defeat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 3 – 2, in a 23-inning marathon, the longest game in the history of the Carolina League. 15 players log 8 or more at bats and both catchers, Zach Zaneski of Myrtle Beach and Roberto Pérez of Kinston, catch every inning before Kinston 2B Casey Frawley’s game-ending single. The contest at Kinston’s historic Grainger Stadium takes 6 hours and 27 minutes to complete.

The red-hot Red Sox continue to streak, crushing the Blue Jays, 16 – 4, for their 8th straight win. David Ortiz hits a three-run homer, Jason Varitek homers and drives in four, Dustin Pedroia has 3 RBI on 3 hits, and Marco Scutaro scores three times on 4 hits, while John Lackey picks up the win. The battered Jays turn to utility player Mike McCoy to finish the game, and he proves to be the only one of their pitchers able to handle Boston’s bats, hurling a perfect inning of mop-up work.

ByBaseball

On June 11, 2011 The red-hot Red Sox continue to streak, crushing the Blue Jays, 16 – 4, for their 8th straight win. David Ortiz hits a three-run homer, Jason Varitek homers and drives in four, Dustin Pedroia has 3 RBI on 3 hits, and Marco Scutaro scores three times on 4 hits, while John Lackey picks up the win. The battered Jays turn to utility player Mike McCoy to finish…

The Yankees keep pace by shutting out Cleveland, 4 – 0, behind Bartolo Colon’s 5th win of they year. However, the win proves costly as the big pitcher who is making a remarkable comeback from a year away from baseball must leave the game in the 7th with a strained hamstring and will be placed on the disabled list after the game; 3B Alex Rodriguez is hit in the hip by Mitch Talbot after blasting one of three Yankee solo homers on the day – Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira hit the others – and must also leave the game, although the injury is minor. Talbot also leaves early, being ejected for throwing at A-Rod.

ByBaseball

On June 11, 2011 The Yankees keep pace by shutting out Cleveland, 4 – 0, behind Bartolo Colon’s 5th win of they year. However, the win proves costly as the big pitcher who is making a remarkable comeback from a year away from baseball must leave the game in the 7th with a strained hamstring and will be placed…

The Tigers catch the Indians atop the AL Central with an 8 – 1 win over Seattle. Max Scherzer picks up his 8th win, tied for the AL lead, defeating Michael Pineda.

ByBaseball

On June 11, 2011 The Tigers catch the Indians atop the AL Central with an 8 – 1 win over Seattle. Max Scherzer picks up his 8th win, tied for the AL lead, defeating Michael Pineda.