Draci Brno wins yet another Czech Extraliga title, as Petr Minařík allows two hits and no runs in 7 in the decisive Game 5 against Kotlarka Praha. Michal Ondráček drives in Martin Schneider with the eventual game-winner in the 3rd; Schneider later relieves Minařík and notches the save.

Joc Pederson becomes the fourth player in the history of the Pacific Coast League to have a 30-30 season, and the first to accomplish the feat in 80 years, when he steals his 30th base for the Isotopes. The 22 year-old Albuquerque slugger, who has 32 home runs and a .432 slugging percentage in 116 games this season, will join the Dodgers when rosters expand next week.

2014 – Less than a week after the first successful protest in 28 years, the Rays file one of their own after today’s 5 – 4, extra innings loss to the Blue Jays. Rays manager Joe Maddon objects to a ruling by crew chief Bob Davidson in the 4th inning, who allows a video review on a pick-off play even though Blue Jays P Mark Buehrle has already stepped on the pitching rubber and the batter was in the batter’s box. The review is successful, giving the Jays a key out. The rule states that a play should no longer be reviewable at that point, although the final decision is left to the crew chief. Major League Baseball Vice-President Joe Torre agrees to hear the protest – a rare step in itself – but on August 26th, the protest will be denied as the umpires acted within the margin of discretion granted them.

2014 – The Red Sox sign Cuban defector Rusney Castillo to a seven-year deal worth $72.5 million, a record amount for an international signing, topping the $68 million the White Sox paid for 1B Jose Abreu last year. The contract will be official after Castillo passes a physical exam, and he is expected to make his big league debut before the end of the season.

Statues designed by Matt Glenn and a team of artists as a tribute to the youth sports organization are unveiled in Williamsport to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Little League. The ‘Bases Loaded’ project consists of ten life-sized bronze sculptures positioned on Market Street, which has been painted like a baseball diamond.

The Angels complete a four-game sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway Park to consolidate their position as the best team in the majors at this point. Rookie Matt Shoemaker improves to 12-4 as he keeps the Sox hitless through 6 2/3 innings before Will Middlebrooks hits a double for Boston’s only safety in a 2 – 0 loss. Earlier today, the Angels get bad news when they learn that P Garrett Richards, who injured his knee the day before, is out for the season. They call up veteran Wade LeBlanc from AAA to take Richards’ place and acquire 2B Gordon Beckham from the White Sox to add some infield depth in anticipation of the postseason.

2014 – Major League Baseball upholds a protest filed by the Giants over their rain-shortened 2 – 0 loss to the Cubs on August 19th. The game was called after 4 1/2 innings, but the Giants successfully argue that the Cubs did not properly deploy the tarp at Wrigley Field, dumping accumulated rainwater on the infield and preventing the game from resuming when the rain abated after a few minutes. The game will resume tomorrow in the bottom of the 5th inning, prior to the regularly scheduled game between the two teams. This is the first successful protest in 28 years. When the game resumes, the Cubs will be able to hold on for a 2 – 1 win.

2014 – With the Athletics idle, the Angels move into first place in the AL West for the first time this year after a 4 – 2 win over Boston. They now have the best record in the majors at 73-50, a half-game in front of division rivals Oakland.

2014 – Michael Cuddyer returns to the Rockies’ line-up after missing 60 days because of a fractured shoulder and hits for the cycle on his first day back as the Rockies sweep the Reds, 10 – 9 and 10 – 5, in a doubleheader. Cuddyer goes 1-for-5 in the opener before collecting his second career cycle in the nitecap; he is only the third player to have one in both leagues, after Bob Watson and John Olerud. Before the games, the Rockies retire uniform number 17 in honor of long-time 1B Todd Helton, who retired after last season.

The Tampa Bay Rays shut out the Yankees, 5 – 0, behind Alex Cobb, to reach the .500 mark at 62-62. What is remarkable is that they were 18 games below .500 on June 10th, making them only the fourth team in history to return to parity from such a deficit. The 1899 Louisville Colonels were 22 games below before reaching .500 for the all-time record.