The Angels defeat the Astros, 6 – 5, in a game played under protest. Angels manager Mike Scioscia objects when home plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth allows Houston manager Bo Porter to replace reliever Wesley Wrightwith Hector Ambriz before Wright has faced a single batter in the top of the 7th. This is in apparent contradiction to rule 3.05 (b), that explicitly states that “the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at-bat, or any substitute batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury.” The Angels, who trail 5 – 3 at the time of the controversial call, drop the protest as they win the game on Mark Trumbo’s two-run homer and Alberto Callaspo’s sacrifice fly; for his part, Culbreth refuses to give an explanation for his errant call but the Commissioner’s office will suspend him for two days for his egregious misinterpretation of the rule.

ByBaseball

The Angels defeat the Astros, 6 – 5, in a game played under protest. Angels manager Mike Scioscia objects when home plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth allows Houston manager Bo Porter to replace reliever Wesley Wrightwith Hector Ambriz before Wright has faced a single batter in the top of the 7th. This is in apparent contradiction to rule 3.05 (b), that explicitly states that “the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at-bat, or any substitute batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury.” The Angels, who trail 5 – 3 at the time of the controversial call, drop the protest as they win the game on Mark Trumbo’s two-run homer and Alberto Callaspo’s sacrifice fly; for his part, Culbreth refuses to give an explanation for his errant call but the Commissioner’s office will suspend him for two days for his egregious misinterpretation of the rule.

In his third game since returning from shoulder surgery, C Brian McCann homers and drives in three runs to lead the Braves to a 6 – 3 win over the Giants. Craig Kimbrel picks up his 100th career save in the contest.

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In his third game since returning from shoulder surgery, C Brian McCann homers and drives in three runs to lead the Braves to a 6 – 3 win over the Giants. Craig Kimbrel picks up his 100th career save in the contest.

For only the third time ever, the reigning Cy Young Award winners face off. David Price and R.A. Dickey get no-decisions as the Rays top the Blue Jays, 5 – 4. The other match-ups had been Orel Hershiser vs. Frank Viola in 1989 and Tom Glavine vs. Roger Clemens in 1999.

ByThis Day in Baseball

For only the third time ever, the reigning Cy Young Award winners face off. David Price and R.A. Dickey get no-decisions as the Rays top the Blue Jays, 5 – 4. The other match-ups had been Orel Hershiser vs. Frank Viola in 1989 and Tom Glavine vs. Roger Clemens in 1999.

The injury-riddled Yankees struggle to put together a line-up, today batting pitcher David Phelps 8th and playing OF Vernon Wells at third base for an inning in his first career appearance at the position, but they manage to keep on winning. Wells hits a two-run homer in the 1st, then in the 9th manager Joe Girardi uses a pinch-hitter for 3B Chris Nelson in scoring the deciding run in a 3 – 2 win over the Rockies. Out of back-up infielders, he puts Wells at the hot corner for the bottom of the 9th. Wells successfully fields a ground ball as Mariano Rivera records his 12th save of the year – and the first of his career at Coors Field.

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The injury-riddled Yankees struggle to put together a line-up, today batting pitcher David Phelps 8th and playing OF Vernon Wells at third base for an inning in his first career appearance at the position, but they manage to keep on winning. Wells hits a two-run homer in the 1st, then in the 9th manager Joe Girardi uses a pinch-hitter for 3B Chris Nelson in scoring the deciding run in a 3 – 2 win over the Rockies. Out of back-up infielders, he puts Wells at the hot corner for the bottom of the 9th. Wells successfully fields a ground ball as Mariano Rivera records his 12th save of the year – and the first of his career at Coors Field.

Adam Rosales apparently hits a game-tying homer for the A’s in the 9th inning of a game against Cleveland, but the umpires rule it a double, and stick to their guns even after a video review. A’s manager Bob Melvin gets tossed for arguing the call, but the A’s lose, 4 – 3, as Rosales is stranded at second base. In a rare admission of an error, MLB Vice-President Joe Torre will state the next day that the umpires made an error in not granting Rosales a home run, but that the call would still stand.

ByBaseball

Adam Rosales apparently hits a game-tying homer for the A’s in the 9th inning of a game against Cleveland, but the umpires rule it a double, and stick to their guns even after a video review. A’s manager Bob Melvin gets tossed for arguing the call, but the A’s lose, 4 – 3, as Rosales is stranded at second base. In a rare admission of an error, MLB Vice-President Joe Torre will state the next day that the umpires made an error in not granting Rosales a home run, but that the call would still stand.

Matt Harvey pitches near perfect game with a bloody nose

ByThis Day in Baseball

The legend of Matt Harvey keeps growing. The Mets’ sophomore starter is perfect against the White Sox before allowing a two-out single to Alex Rios in the 7th. He is removed after allowing only that hit through 9 innings, but with the game still scoreless, having fanned a career-high 12 opponents. Pinch-hitter Mike Baxter lines an RBI single off Nate Jones in the 10th for a 1 – 0 Mets victory, credited to reliever Bobby Parnell. It is the second time Harvey has taken a no-hitter into the 7th inning this year and he is 4-0 with a 1.28 ERA. It is just the third game in history in which a team allows only one baserunner in an extra-inning game according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

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JA Happ skull faractured by Desmond Jennings kine drive

ByTom

Toronto’s 6 – 4 win over the Rays is overshadowed by a scary accident suffered by starting pitcher J.A. Happ. In the 2nd inning, Desmond Jennings lines a pitch that strikes the side of his head and caroms into the outfield. Happ lies motionless on the ground, as teammates are unsure whether to rush to attend their stricken teammate, or play the ball which ends up as a two-run triple. The bloodied Happ is removed on a stretcher after lying prone for 10 minutes; his injuries will turn out to include a skull fracture and a sprained knee suffered when he fell to the ground, but he will be back on the mound by August.

The struggling Blue Jays manage a rare comeback win against Tampa Bay. Mark Buehrle is the latest Toronto starter to get beat up, giving up 7 runs in the 3rd, but he hangs on and shuts down the Rays for the next three innings, while three relievers add a scoreless frame each. Colby Rasmus starts the comeback with a two-run homer in the 4th, and J.P. Arencibia, who started the game on the bench, hits another two-run shot off closer Fernando Rodney with two outs on the top of the 9th for an 8 – 7 win.

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The struggling Blue Jays manage a rare comeback win against Tampa Bay. Mark Buehrle is the latest Toronto starter to get beat up, giving up 7 runs in the 3rd, but he hangs on and shuts down the Rays for the next three innings, while three relievers add a scoreless frame each. Colby Rasmus starts the comeback with a two-run homer in the 4th, and J.P. Arencibia, who started the game on the bench, hits another two-run shot off closer Fernando Rodney with two outs on the top of the 9th for an 8 – 7 win.

Justin Verlander makes a bid for his third career no-hitter, keeping the Astros hitless into the 7th inning, before allowing a one-out single to Carlos Pena; he gives up another single to Carlos Corporan but gets out of the inning with a double play ground ball and then leaves. The Tigers win easily, 9 – 0. Verlander is now 4-2 with a 1.55 ERA.

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Justin Verlander makes a bid for his third career no-hitter, keeping the Astros hitless into the 7th inning, before allowing a one-out single to Carlos Pena; he gives up another single to Carlos Corporan but gets out of the inning with a double play ground ball and then leaves. The Tigers win easily, 9 – 0. Verlander is now 4-2 with a 1.55 ERA.

Not known for his hitting, Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria has 7 RBI in a 14 – 2 beatdown of the Phillies. Hechavarria hits a grand slam and a bases-loaded triple to help Kevin Slowey to his first win since September 18, 2010. Slowey’s opponent, Roy Halladay, gives up 9 runs over 2 1/3 innings in one of the worst outings of his outstanding career and complains of shoulder discomfort after the game.

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Not known for his hitting, Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria has 7 RBI in a 14 – 2 beatdown of the Phillies. Hechavarria hits a grand slam and a bases-loaded triple to help Kevin Slowey to his first win since September 18, 2010. Slowey’s opponent, Roy Halladay, gives up 9 runs over 2 1/3 innings in one of the worst outings of his outstanding career and complains of shoulder discomfort after the game.