Kendrys Morales becomes only the third major leaguer to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning as the Angels drop a 9-run 6th inning on the Rangers on their way to a 15 – 8 win. Morales opens the scoring in the frame with a two-run homer off righty Roy Oswalt to put the Halos ahead, 5 – 3, then, after the batting order turns around, adds a grand slam off lefty Robbie Ross. Carlos Baerga, in 1993, and Mark Bellhorn, in 2002, were the other two players to accomplish the rare feat. Morales’s 6 RBI in the inning are one shy of the American League record of 7, set by Alex Rodriguez on October 4, 2009.

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Kendrys Morales becomes only the third major leaguer to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning as the Angels drop a 9-run 6th inning on the Rangers on their way to a 15 – 8 win. Morales opens the scoring in the frame with a two-run homer off righty Roy Oswalt to put the Halos ahead, 5 – 3, then, after the batting order turns around, adds a grand slam off lefty Robbie Ross. Carlos Baerga, in 1993, and Mark Bellhorn, in 2002, were the other two players to accomplish the rare feat. Morales’s 6 RBI in the inning are one shy of the American League record of 7, set by Alex Rodriguez on October 4, 2009.

The Astros end a 12-game losing streak, the longest in team history, with a 9 – 5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lucas Harrell, the team’s most effective starter this season, gets credit for the rare win, as the Astros were 2-25 since June 28th before winning today. Jordan Schafer has a homer and 3 RBI. Before the game, the Astros make their third trade in a week, sending 3B Chris Johnson to the Arizona Diamondbacks in return for two minor league OFs, Bobby Borchering and Marc Krauss.

ByTom

The Astros end a 12-game losing streak, the longest in team history, with a 9 – 5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lucas Harrell, the team’s most effective starter this season, gets credit for the rare win, as the Astros were 2-25 since June 28th before winning today. Jordan Schafer has a homer and 3 RBI. Before the game, the Astros make their third trade in a week, sending 3B Chris Johnson to the Arizona Diamondbacks in return for two minor league OFs, Bobby Borchering and Marc Krauss.

Heading the opposite direction are division rivals the Reds, who win their 10th straight in defeating the Rockies, 7 – 2, behind Mat Latos. They have won 17 of their last 19, consolidating their hold on first place in the NL Central, in spite of the absence of their best player, Joey Votto.

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Heading the opposite direction are division rivals the Reds, who win their 10th straight in defeating the Rockies, 7 – 2, behind Mat Latos. They have won 17 of their last 19, consolidating their hold on first place in the NL Central, in spite of the absence of their best player, Joey Votto.

Clayton Kershaw pitches a five-hit shutout against the Giants to bring the Dodgers into a tie for first place with San Francisco in the NL West.

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Clayton Kershaw pitches a five-hit shutout against the Giants to bring the Dodgers into a tie for first place with San Francisco in the NL West.

Ike Davis drives in all of the runs in the Mets’ 6-3 loss in Arizona when he becomes the ninth player in franchise history to hit three home runs in a game. The New York first baseman joins Steve Finley (2004, Diamondbacks), Eddie Murray (1980, Orioles), and Clyde McCullough (1942, Cubs) as only the fourth player in baseball history to account for all three of his team’s runs with solo homers in a defeat.

ByTom

Ike Davis drives in all of the runs in the Mets’ 6-3 loss in Arizona when he becomes the ninth player in franchise history to hit three home runs in a game. The New York first baseman joins Steve Finley (2004, Diamondbacks), Eddie Murray (1980, Orioles), and Clyde McCullough (1942, Cubs) as only the fourth player in baseball history to account for all three of his team’s runs with solo homers in a defeat.

2012 – The Twins send P Francisco Liriano to their division rivals the White Sox in return for IF Eduardo Escobar and P Pedro Hernandez. It is the first trade between the two teams since 1986.

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2012 – The Twins send P Francisco Liriano to their division rivals the White Sox in return for IF Eduardo Escobar and P Pedro Hernandez. It is the first trade between the two teams since 1986.

Today’s big trade involves former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke, sent by the Brewers to the Angels in return for SS Jean Segura and Ps Ariel Pena and John Hellweg, with the Halos outbidding their division rivals the Rangers in the process. In another deal, the Giants acquire SS Marco Scutaro from Colorado for Charlie Culberson.

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Today’s big trade involves former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke, sent by the Brewers to the Angels in return for SS Jean Segura and Ps Ariel Pena and John Hellweg, with the Halos outbidding their division rivals the Rangers in the process. In another deal, the Giants acquire SS Marco Scutaro from Colorado for Charlie Culberson.

The Cardinals hit a homer in each of their first 5 innings in beating the Cubs, 9 – 6. Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, Lance Berkman, Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig all go deep off Travis Wood at Wrigley Field as Wood ties a team record with 5 gopher balls. The last team to have such a performance was the Astros on October 2, 2004.

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The Cardinals hit a homer in each of their first 5 innings in beating the Cubs, 9 – 6. Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, Lance Berkman, Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig all go deep off Travis Wood at Wrigley Field as Wood ties a team record with 5 gopher balls. The last team to have such a performance was the Astros on October 2, 2004.

In a meeting of unlikely playoff contenders, the A’s stun the Orioles with 6 9th-inning runs, overcoming a 9 – 8 deficit for a 14 – 9 win at Camden Yards. Ryan Cook had just coughed up 3 runs in the 8th, but the A’s rally against closer Jim Johnson to win their 12th game in their last 14 tries.

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In a meeting of unlikely playoff contenders, the A’s stun the Orioles with 6 9th-inning runs, overcoming a 9 – 8 deficit for a 14 – 9 win at Camden Yards. Ryan Cook had just coughed up 3 runs in the 8th, but the A’s rally against closer Jim Johnson to win their 12th game in their last 14 tries.

Wally the Green Monster, the Red Sox’s mascot, goes missing before today’s game with the Yankees, making the team suspect a dastardly deed by Yankee fans. Boston Police issue an all-points bulletin looking for a “green and furry [character] … and sporting a permanent grin to the face on an extremely large head.” It turns out to be a misunderstanding as Wally is located a few hours later, taking an unauthorized tour of his home city.

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Wally the Green Monster, the Red Sox’s mascot, goes missing before today’s game with the Yankees, making the team suspect a dastardly deed by Yankee fans. Boston Police issue an all-points bulletin looking for a “green and furry [character] … and sporting a permanent grin to the face on an extremely large head.” It turns out to be a misunderstanding as Wally is located a few hours later, taking an unauthorized tour of his home city.