The Braves record their third straight shutout in beating the Mets, 3 – 0. Paul Maholm is the winner, with the help of five relievers. Jason Heyward provides his team with the only run they need with a solo homer off Jon Niese in the 4th.

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The Braves record their third straight shutout in beating the Mets, 3 – 0. Paul Maholm is the winner, with the help of five relievers. Jason Heyward provides his team with the only run they need with a solo homer off Jon Niese in the 4th.

The Nationals complete a four-game sweep of the Cubs at home with a 9 – 2 win punctured by two bench-clearing incidents. With the Nats ahead 7 – 2 in the 5th, thanks to a three-run homer by Kurt Suzuki and a two-run single by P Jordan Zimmermann, Cubs bench coach Jamie Quirk becomes angry when the Nats’ Jayson Werth swings at a 3-0 pitch and gets into a shouting match with Washington third-base coach Bo Porter, prompting both benches and bullpens to empty, although no punches are thrown. Quirk is ejected as a result of the incident. In the 6th, Bryce Harper is brushed back by Cubs P Lendy Castillo on the first pitch of the inning, leading to another general outing. Three players are ejected this time, including Cubs catcher Steve Clevenger. Adam LaRoche then caps the scoring with a two-run homer off Jeff Beliveau later that inning.

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The Nationals complete a four-game sweep of the Cubs at home with a 9 – 2 win punctured by two bench-clearing incidents. With the Nats ahead 7 – 2 in the 5th, thanks to a three-run homer by Kurt Suzuki and a two-run single by P Jordan Zimmermann, Cubs bench coach Jamie Quirk becomes angry when the Nats’ Jayson Werth swings at a 3-0 pitch and gets into a shouting match with Washington third-base coach Bo Porter, prompting both benches and bullpens to empty, although no punches are thrown. Quirk is ejected as a result of the incident. In the 6th, Bryce Harper is brushed back by Cubs P Lendy Castillo on the first pitch of the inning, leading to another general outing. Three players are ejected this time, including Cubs catcher Steve Clevenger. Adam LaRoche then caps the scoring with a two-run homer off Jeff Beliveau later that inning.

The Orioles use the long ball to defeat the Yankees, belting out 6 homers in a 10 – 6 win, including three in the 8th inning. Adam Jones leads off the frame with a solo blast off David Robertson to break a 6 – 6 tie, Mark Reynolds then hits a two-run shot, and Chris Davis follows with a solo shot to seal the outcome of the game. The two teams are again tied for the lead in the AL East.

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The Orioles use the long ball to defeat the Yankees, belting out 6 homers in a 10 – 6 win, including three in the 8th inning. Adam Jones leads off the frame with a solo blast off David Robertson to break a 6 – 6 tie, Mark Reynolds then hits a two-run shot, and Chris Davis follows with a solo shot to seal the outcome of the game. The two teams are again tied for the lead in the AL East.

Cal Ripken becomes the fifth Oriole of the six O’s who have been inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame to have a statue dedicated in Camden Yards’ Legends Park. The Iron Man joins Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver, Jim Palmer, and Eddie Murray, along with Brooks Robinson, who will be also honored at the end of the month.

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Cal Ripken becomes the fifth Oriole of the six O’s who have been inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame to have a statue dedicated in Camden Yards’ Legends Park. The Iron Man joins Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver, Jim Palmer, and Eddie Murray, along with Brooks Robinson, who will be also honored at the end of the month.

Gio Gonzalez wins his 18th game of the year when the Nationals hit six homers for a second consecutive game, although he does not need such generosity, hurling 7 scoreless innings. The Nats beat the Cubs, 9 – 1. The Mets’ R.A. Dickey also picks up his 18th win in beating the Cardinals, 6 -2. The two pitchers are tied for the major league lead in wins.

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Gio Gonzalez wins his 18th game of the year when the Nationals hit six homers for a second consecutive game, although he does not need such generosity, hurling 7 scoreless innings. The Nats beat the Cubs, 9 – 1. The Mets’ R.A. Dickey also picks up his 18th win in beating the Cardinals, 6 -2. The two pitchers are tied for the major league lead in wins.

P Brandon McCarthy of the A’s is hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of the Angels’ Erick Aybar in the 4th inning. He walks off the mound under his own power, but suffers a fractured skull and will undergo surgery for an epidural hemorrhage, a potentially life-threatening condition.

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P Brandon McCarthy of the A’s is hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of the Angels’ Erick Aybar in the 4th inning. He walks off the mound under his own power, but suffers a fractured skull and will undergo surgery for an epidural hemorrhage, a potentially life-threatening condition.

An unofficial rain delay occurs in Toronto when the retractable roof of the Rogers Centre closes so slowly that the fans have to run for cover as the stands and field get soaked with rain that begins to fall during the middle of the sixth inning. Surprisingly, there have been six official rain delays in the Rogers Centre, formerly known as the Skydome.

ByThis Day in Baseball

An unofficial rain delay occurs in Toronto when the retractable roof of the Rogers Centre closes so slowly that the fans have to run for cover as the stands and field get soaked with rain that begins to fall during the middle of the sixth inning. Surprisingly, there have been six official rain delays in the Rogers Centre, formerly known as the Skydome.

Yadier Molina collects his 1,000th career hit, an infield single in the second inning of the Cardinals’ 5-1 victory against New York at Busch Stadium. The 31 year-old popular Redbird backstop, who enjoys a 2-for-3 night at the plate, will finish the season with a .279 career batting average

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Yadier Molina collects his 1,000th career hit, an infield single in the second inning of the Cardinals’ 5-1 victory against New York at Busch Stadium. The 31 year-old popular Redbird backstop, who enjoys a 2-for-3 night at the plate, will finish the season with a .279 career batting average

The Angels put an end to the A’s 9-game winning streak with an 8 – 3 win in Oakland. Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells and Chris Iannetta all connect in support of C.J. Wilson.

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The Angels put an end to the A’s 9-game winning streak with an 8 – 3 win in Oakland. Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells and Chris Iannetta all connect in support of C.J. Wilson.

The AL East race gets even tighter, as the Rays beat the Yankees, 4 – 3. James Shields gets the win as light-hitting Chris Gimenez drives in a pair of runs. The game marks the return of Alex Rodriguez, who starts at DH for the Yankees after missing 6 weeks with a hand injury. Meanwhile, the Orioles shut out the Blue Jays, 4 – 0, as Joe Saunders retires the first 17 batters in order and cruises to the win. At the end of the day, the Yankees’ lead is cut to one game over Baltimore, and 2 1/2 over Tampa Bay.

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The AL East race gets even tighter, as the Rays beat the Yankees, 4 – 3. James Shields gets the win as light-hitting Chris Gimenez drives in a pair of runs. The game marks the return of Alex Rodriguez, who starts at DH for the Yankees after missing 6 weeks with a hand injury. Meanwhile, the Orioles shut out the Blue Jays, 4 – 0, as Joe Saunders retires the first 17 batters in order and cruises to the win. At the end of the day, the Yankees’ lead is cut to one game over Baltimore, and 2 1/2 over Tampa Bay.