Harmon Killebrew, one of the great sluggers of the 1960s with 573 career home runs, passes away from cancer at 74 in Scottsdale, AZ. The gentle and universally-like “Killer”, who spent the bulk of his career with the Minnesota Twins, was the 1969 AL MVP and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984.

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Harmon Killebrew, one of the great sluggers of the 1960s with 573 career home runs, passes away from cancer at 74 in Scottsdale, AZ. The gentle and universally-like “Killer”, who spent the bulk of his career with the Minnesota Twins, was the 1969 AL MVP and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984.

The battle for AL West supremacy ends in a knock-out. Oakland romps over Los Angeles, 14 – 0, as Gio Gonzalez pitches 7 one-hit innings. Mark Ellis has 3 hits and 4 RBI for the A’s while Tyler Chatwood has the worst start of his young career, giving up 7 runs in 2 1/3 innings.

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The battle for AL West supremacy ends in a knock-out. Oakland romps over Los Angeles, 14 – 0, as Gio Gonzalez pitches 7 one-hit innings. Mark Ellis has 3 hits and 4 RBI for the A’s while Tyler Chatwood has the worst start of his young career, giving up 7 runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Brian McCann becomes the 11th major leaguer to hit a game-tying pinch homer and a game-winning, extra-inning homer in the same game. He provides all of the Braves’ offense in a 3 – 1 win over Houston.

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Brian McCann becomes the 11th major leaguer to hit a game-tying pinch homer and a game-winning, extra-inning homer in the same game. He provides all of the Braves’ offense in a 3 – 1 win over Houston.

The Indians pound the Royals, 19 – 1, collecting 20 hits and 8 walks. Reliever Vin Mazzaro bears the brunt of the damage: he gives up 10 runs in the 4th inning, and a team-record 14 runs overall as he takes one for the team. He is then sent down to AAA Omaha immediately after the game, his ERA having ballooned to 22.74. He is only the fourth pitcher since World War II to give up 14 runs in a game. Michael Brantley and Matt LaPortadrive in 4 runs each, while Travis Hafner and Orlando Cabrera chip in with 3 RBIs apiece. Kyle Davies is the loser, retiring only one batter on a nightmarish evening for Kansas City’s pitchers.

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The Indians pound the Royals, 19 – 1, collecting 20 hits and 8 walks. Reliever Vin Mazzaro bears the brunt of the damage: he gives up 10 runs in the 4th inning, and a team-record 14 runs overall as he takes one for the team. He is then sent down to AAA Omaha immediately after the game, his ERA having ballooned to 22.74. He is only the fourth pitcher since World War II to give up 14 runs in a game. Michael Brantley and Matt LaPortadrive in 4 runs each, while Travis Hafner and Orlando Cabrera chip in with 3 RBIs apiece. Kyle Davies is the loser, retiring only one batter on a nightmarish evening for Kansas City’s pitchers.

Drayton McLane sells the Astros for approximately $685 million to a group led by Jim Crane, who failed in his attempts to buy this team in 2008, the Cubs in 2009, and the Rangers with Mark Cuban in 2010. During McLane’s tenure with Houston, which started in 1992, the club appeared in the postseason six times, including a losing trip to the World Series in 2005.

ByTom

Drayton McLane sells the Astros for approximately $685 million to a group led by Jim Crane, who failed in his attempts to buy this team in 2008, the Cubs in 2009, and the Rangers with Mark Cuban in 2010. During McLane’s tenure with Houston, which started in 1992, the club appeared in the postseason six times, including a losing trip to the World Series in 2005.

The Braves defeat the Phillies, 3 – 2, in the annual Civil Rights Game at Turner Field. Both Phillies runs are the result of John Mayberry, Jr.’s 6th-inning homer, but Dan Uggla scores all three Atlanta runs, the game-winner coming on a solo homer off Roy Halladay in the 8th inning.

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The Braves defeat the Phillies, 3 – 2, in the annual Civil Rights Game at Turner Field. Both Phillies runs are the result of John Mayberry, Jr.’s 6th-inning homer, but Dan Uggla scores all three Atlanta runs, the game-winner coming on a solo homer off Roy Halladay in the 8th inning.

The red-hot José Bautista slams three more home runs, bringing his major league-leading total to 16, helping Toronto to an 11 – 3 drubbing of the Twins at Target Field. The Jays have now won 5 straight; for its part, Minnesota has lost 14 of 17 and has the worst record in baseball.

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The red-hot José Bautista slams three more home runs, bringing his major league-leading total to 16, helping Toronto to an 11 – 3 drubbing of the Twins at Target Field. The Jays have now won 5 straight; for its part, Minnesota has lost 14 of 17 and has the worst record in baseball.

The Red Sox beat the Yankees, 7 – 5, at New Yankee Stadium, to complete a three-game sweep and bring their record to .500 for the first time after starting the year 0-6. Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia homer for the Sox. The Yankees have now lost 9 of their last 12 as the standings in the AL East are completely bunched up, with all five teams within 3 1/2 games of each other.

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The Red Sox beat the Yankees, 7 – 5, at New Yankee Stadium, to complete a three-game sweep and bring their record to .500 for the first time after starting the year 0-6. Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia homer for the Sox. The Yankees have now lost 9 of their last 12 as the standings in the AL East are completely bunched up, with all five teams within 3 1/2 games of each other.

It wouldn’t be the Yankees without a bit of soap opera. Today, Jorge Posada asks to be taken out of the line-up 40 minutes before the game, after being listed as the 9th-place hitter against the Red Sox. Hitting .165, the DH claims he has a bad back, something which Yankees GM Brian Cashman denies, and after the game explains that he feels “a little bit disrespected”. With Andruw Jones taking Posada’s place, the Yankees lose the game, 6 – 0, to the Sox, with a two-run double by Jacoby Ellsbury and a three-run homer by Adrian Gonzalez against CC Sabathia providing the key blows in support of Josh Beckett’s six scoreless innings. Jones hits 9th in the game, the second #9 hitter in MLB history with 400+ homers to his credit – the prior one was Jimmie Foxx from his days as a pitcher at the tail end of his career.

ByBaseball

It wouldn’t be the Yankees without a bit of soap opera. Today, Jorge Posada asks to be taken out of the line-up 40 minutes before the game, after being listed as the 9th-place hitter against the Red Sox. Hitting .165, the DH claims he has a bad back, something which Yankees GM Brian Cashman denies, and after the game explains that he feels “a little bit disrespected”. With Andruw Jones taking Posada’s place, the Yankees lose the game, 6 – 0, to the Sox, with a two-run double by Jacoby Ellsbury and a three-run homer by Adrian Gonzalez against CC Sabathia providing the key blows in support of Josh Beckett’s six scoreless innings. Jones hits 9th in the game, the second #9 hitter in MLB history with 400+ homers to his credit – the prior one was Jimmie Foxx from his days as a pitcher at the tail end of his career.

For the first time since 1914, the Dodgers are defeated after allowing just one hit, losing to the visiting Diamondbacks,1-0. Chad Billingsley, the hard-luck loser, gives up a leadoff double in the second to Stephen Drew, who scores the game’s only run when shortstop Jamey Carroll fails to cover the bag in an attempted pick-off play.

ByThis Day in Baseball

For the first time since 1914, the Dodgers are defeated after allowing just one hit, losing to the visiting Diamondbacks,1-0. Chad Billingsley, the hard-luck loser, gives up a leadoff double in the second to Stephen Drew, who scores the game’s only run when shortstop Jamey Carroll fails to cover the bag in an attempted pick-off play.