The Yankees use a couple of scrubs to defeat Texas, 8 – 2. Reliever David Phelps starts in place of the injured CC Sabathia and pitches five innings for the win, while Derek Lowe, making his first appearance for the Bronx Bombers after being released by the Indians last week, adds four scoreless innings to pick up his first save since 2001. Nick Swisher hits a grand slam to propel the Yankees’ offense while Ryan Dempster gives up 8 runs for the second time since being acquired by the Rangers at the trading deadline.

The Yankees use a couple of scrubs to defeat Texas, 8 – 2. Reliever David Phelps starts in place of the injured CC Sabathia and pitches five innings for the win, while Derek Lowe, making his first appearance for the Bronx Bombers after being released by the Indians last week, adds four scoreless innings to pick up his first save since 2001. Nick Swisher hits a grand slam to propel the Yankees’ offense while Ryan Dempster gives up 8 runs for the second time since being acquired by the Rangers at the trading deadline.

Many pitchers have struck out four batters in an inning, but Toronto’s Steve Delabar is the first to do so in extra innings, in the top of the 10th inning, fanning four members of the White Sox (Tyler Flowers reaches on a dropped third strike to make the feat possible). Delabar picks up the win as well when David Cooper drives in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th to give the Blue Jays a 3 – 2 victory at home.

Many pitchers have struck out four batters in an inning, but Toronto’s Steve Delabar is the first to do so in extra innings, in the top of the 10th inning, fanning four members of the White Sox (Tyler Flowers reaches on a dropped third strike to make the feat possible). Delabar picks up the win as well when David Cooper drives in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th to give the Blue Jays a 3 – 2 victory at home.

The Nationals easily win a battle of division leaders, crushing San Francisco, 14 – 2, while banging out 21 hits. National League ERA leader Ryan Vogelsong gets pounded for 8 runs in less than three innings, while Gio Gonzalez wins his 15th of the season, tying the club record since the team’s move to Washington, DC. Kurt Suzuki drives in 4 runs, while Danny Espinosa and Roger Bernadina have 3 RBI each.

The Nationals easily win a battle of division leaders, crushing San Francisco, 14 – 2, while banging out 21 hits. National League ERA leader Ryan Vogelsong gets pounded for 8 runs in less than three innings, while Gio Gonzalez wins his 15th of the season, tying the club record since the team’s move to Washington, DC. Kurt Suzuki drives in 4 runs, while Danny Espinosa and Roger Bernadina have 3 RBI each.

In his return to the mound after serving a six-game suspension, Jered Weaver is roughed up by the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays score 8 runs in 4 2/3 innings to raise Weaver’s ERA from 1.78 to 2.13. Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Teahen and Adam Lind, who hits a grand slam, all homer off the Angels ace as the Jays roll to an easy 11 – 2 win.

In his return to the mound after serving a six-game suspension, Jered Weaver is roughed up by the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays score 8 runs in 4 2/3 innings to raise Weaver’s ERA from 1.78 to 2.13. Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Teahen and Adam Lind, who hits a grand slam, all homer off the Angels ace as the Jays roll to an easy 11 – 2 win.

Back in the line-up after being benched for a week, Yankees DH Jorge Posada drives in 6 runs, including 4 on a 5th-inning grand slam, and the Yankees win, 9 – 2, over the Rays. Phil Hughes is the winner over Jeremy Hellickson while Curtis Granderson hits his 33rd homer, catching Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays atop the major league leader board.

Back in the line-up after being benched for a week, Yankees DH Jorge Posada drives in 6 runs, including 4 on a 5th-inning grand slam, and the Yankees win, 9 – 2, over the Rays. Phil Hughes is the winner over Jeremy Hellickson while Curtis Granderson hits his 33rd homer, catching Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays atop the major league leader board.

The Reds pound the Padres, 13 – 1, thanks to seven home runs, five of them off starter Tim Stauffer. Miguel Cairo and Ryan Hanigan both hit two homers, and Jay Bruce, Joey Votto and Todd Frazier also go deep. For Cairo, it is a first multi-homer game in a 16-year career. The seven homers tie a Reds franchise record.

The Reds pound the Padres, 13 – 1, thanks to seven home runs, five of them off starter Tim Stauffer. Miguel Cairo and Ryan Hanigan both hit two homers, and Jay Bruce, Joey Votto and Todd Frazier also go deep. For Cairo, it is a first multi-homer game in a 16-year career. The seven homers tie a Reds franchise record.

R.A. Dickey baffles the Phillies with his knuckleball, throwing a complete game one-hitter, for the Mets’ second shutout in two nights, and their fourth consecutive shutout of the Phillies at Citi Field, dating back to a three-game sweep in May. The only hit is by opposing pitcher Cole Hamels. The Mets’ run scores with two outs in the 6th, on consecutive doubles by David Wright and Carlos Beltran.

R.A. Dickey baffles the Phillies with his knuckleball, throwing a complete game one-hitter, for the Mets’ second shutout in two nights, and their fourth consecutive shutout of the Phillies at Citi Field, dating back to a three-game sweep in May. The only hit is by opposing pitcher Cole Hamels. The Mets’ run scores with two outs in the 6th, on consecutive doubles by David Wright and Carlos Beltran.

The first-place Rangers beat the Red Sox, 10 – 9, on an 11th-inning walk-off homer by Nelson Cruz off Tim Wakefield. Boston takes an early 8 – 2 lead with a 7-run 4th inning and hits 5 solo homers in the game – two by J.D. Drew – but Texas chips away methodically at the lead and ties the game at 9-all in the 8th when Josh Hamilton, on second base after his 4th hit of the night, scores on Vladimir Guerrero’s infield single.

The first-place Rangers beat the Red Sox, 10 – 9, on an 11th-inning walk-off homer by Nelson Cruz off Tim Wakefield. Boston takes an early 8 – 2 lead with a 7-run 4th inning and hits 5 solo homers in the game – two by J.D. Drew – but Texas chips away methodically at the lead and ties the game at 9-all in the 8th when Josh Hamilton, on second base after his 4th hit of the night, scores on Vladimir Guerrero’s infield single.

A day after major league baseball formally approves the sale of the team, the new owners of the Rangers, which includes Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, announce lower prices for concessions, parking, and merchandise. The lowering of prices is one way of showing appreciation to the Texas fans for their loyalty and support, according to sports attorney Chuck Greenberg, another new owner the club.

A day after major league baseball formally approves the sale of the team, the new owners of the Rangers, which includes Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, announce lower prices for concessions, parking, and merchandise. The lowering of prices is one way of showing appreciation to the Texas fans for their loyalty and support, according to sports attorney Chuck Greenberg, another new owner the club.

The Giants obtain Jose Guillen from Kansas City

The Giants obtain Jose Guillen from Kansas City, hoping the well-traveled veteran can help the club down the stretch run. The departure of the 34 year-old, who has played with ten teams in the past 14 years and was designated for assignment by the Royals last week, gives highly touted prospect Kila Ka’aihue an opportunity to play every day.