The Washington Nationals exercise Jose Guillen’s $4 million contract option for 2006. Guillen, who was acquired in a trade with the Angels after feuding with manager Mike Scioscia, appears to have found a home in Washington thanks to a very pleased general manager, Jim Bowden.

ByBaseball

The Washington Nationals exercise Jose Guillen’s $4 million contract option for 2006. Guillen, who was acquired in a trade with the Angels after feuding with manager Mike Scioscia, appears to have found a home in Washington thanks to a very pleased general manager, Jim Bowden.

Managers Terry Francona and Lou Piniella are included as part of the six members of the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays who are suspended for their roles in the two bench-clearing incidents during the beanball contest played on April 24th at Tropicana Field. Both managers are suspended one game each. Boston’s 11 – 3 victory, which featured six ejections, also results in multi-game suspensions for Bronson Arroyo (six games), Dewon Brazelton (five games), Lance Carter (five games) and Trot Nixon (two games). The Red Sox and Devil Rays have a history of beanballs and bench-clearing incidents dating back several years. In 108 meetings between the teams since the start of the 2000 season, 120 batters have been hit by pitches. Over the same span, the Boston and Tampa Bay pitching staffs each have beaned 495 batters, easily tied for the most in the majors.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Managers Terry Francona and Lou Piniella are included as part of the six members of the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays who are suspended for their roles in the two bench-clearing incidents during the beanball contest played on April 24th at Tropicana Field. Both managers are suspended one game each. Boston’s 11 – 3 victory, which featured six ejections, also results in multi-game suspensions for Bronson Arroyo (six games), Dewon Brazelton (five games), Lance Carter (five games) and Trot Nixon (two games). The Red Sox and Devil Rays have a history of beanballs and bench-clearing incidents dating back several years. In 108 meetings between the teams since the start of the 2000 season, 120 batters have been hit by pitches. Over the same span, the Boston and Tampa Bay pitching staffs each have beaned 495 batters, easily tied for the most in the majors.

At Indianapolis’ Victory Field, the International League’s contest between the hometown Indians and Louisville Bats is delayed for twenty minutes before the start of the fourth inning as a maintenance crew works to free first baseman Jeff Liefer from a dugout bathroom. Returning to the field, the first baseman is greeted with a standing ovation and receives a gift from the opposing dugout, a roll of toilet paper.

ByTom

At Indianapolis’ Victory Field, the International League’s contest between the hometown Indians and Louisville Bats is delayed for twenty minutes before the start of the fourth inning as a maintenance crew works to free first baseman Jeff Liefer from a dugout bathroom. Returning to the field, the first baseman is greeted with a standing ovation and receives a gift from the opposing dugout, a roll of toilet paper.

Geoff Jenkins hits two home runs, tying a major league record with five home runs in two games to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 10 – 0 victory

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Geoff Jenkins hits two home runs, tying a major league record with five home runs in two games to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 10 – 0 victory over the Montreal Expos. Jenkins is the 22nd player in major league history to hit five homers in two games and the first National League player to do it in 10 years.

For the first time in seven tries, the San Francisco Giants win at Pacific Bell Park as San Francisco becomes the first major league franchise to lose six games to start a season in a newly-constructed ballpark. Barry Bonds’ 8th-inning home run proves to be the difference in a 2 – 1 victory over the Montreal Expos.

ByBaseball

For the first time in seven tries, the San Francisco Giants win at Pacific Bell Park as San Francisco becomes the first major league franchise to lose six games to start a season in a newly-constructed ballpark. Barry Bonds’ 8th-inning home run proves to be the difference in a 2 – 1 victory over the Montreal Expos.

The Pirates and Reds combine to tie a major league record by hitting a total of five sacrifice flies. Cincinnati’s three run-scoring fly balls prove to be the difference in the team’s 6-5 victory over the Bucs at Three Rivers Stadium.

ByTom

The Pirates and Reds combine to tie a major league record by hitting a total of five sacrifice flies. Cincinnati’s three run-scoring fly balls prove to be the difference in the team’s 6-5 victory over the Bucs at Three Rivers Stadium.

At the Kingdome, the Mariners set a team scoring record, beating the Tigers, 22-6. Half the M’s runs score in the 11-run fifth inning, which includes a grand slam hit by center fielder Ken Griffey, Jr.

ByTom

At the Kingdome, the Mariners set a team scoring record, beating the Tigers, 22-6. Half the M’s runs score in the 11-run fifth inning, which includes a grand slam hit by center fielder Ken Griffey, Jr.

Each Angel outfielder throws out a runner in California’s 5-4 victory over Boston. Orlando Palmeiro (cf), Tim Salmon (rf), and Garret Anderson (lf) all get an assist in the Fenway Park contest.

ByTom

Each Angel outfielder throws out a runner in California’s 5-4 victory over Boston. Orlando Palmeiro (cf), Tim Salmon (rf), and Garret Anderson (lf) all get an assist in the Fenway Park contest.

New York Mets closer John Franco becomes the first left-hander in major league history to record 300 saves, exactly 12 years after he gained his first save with the Cincinnati Reds.

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New York Mets closer John Franco becomes the first left-hander in major league history to record 300 saves, exactly 12 years after he gained his first save with the Cincinnati Reds.