The injury-ravaged Giants, missing their top two relievers, closer Brian Wilson and set-up man Sergio Romo, build an early 7 – 1 lead over the Braves behind the pitching of Matt Cain. Things get more difficult when the bullpen takes over in the 9th and gives up four runs until Jeremy Affeldt manages to strike out Brian McCann, representing the tying run, for the last out in a 7 – 5 win. The slumping Giants manage to pick up a game on the Diamondbacks in the NL West race.

The Rays get their third straight stellar performance by a starting pitcher as David Price throws eight scoreless innings, giving up only three hits, in a 4 – 0 win over the Red Sox. Price’s gem follows a complete game three-hitter by James Shields, and a three-hit shutout by Jeff Niemann in the first two games of the series at Fenway Park. The Sox still manage to save something, winning the opener, 3 – 1, in spite of Shields’s great effort. It is the first time in Red Sox history they have been held to three hits or less in three straight games at home.

The Mets place closer Francisco Rodriguez on the disqualified list and will not pay him until he is able to pitch again. He suffered a season-ending thumb injury punching his father-in-law last week, an action for which he faces criminal assault charges. The Mets may still try to void the last year of his contract as well, worth $11.5 million, although such a decision would be certain to be contested by the Players union.

Jim Thome ties the major league record for career walk-off home runs with his 12th, as the Twins beat the White Sox, 7 – 6. Thome catches Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Frank Robinson and Babe Ruth.

Stephen Strasburg, the first overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft, signs a record-breaking deal with the Washington Nationals, at “11:58 and 43 seconds”, according to team president Stan Kasten. The deadline for signing was midnight. The four-year deal will pay the right-handed pitcher $15.1 million over four years.

The Tigers obtain slugging 1B Aubrey Huff from the Orioles in a trade for Brett Jacobson. Huff is hitting .253 with 13 homers and 72 RBI.

The Nationals play their longest game in team history in terms of time when it takes the team five hours and 29 minutes to beat Atlanta at Turner Field, 8-7. Adam LaRoche breaks the 7-7 tie when he leads off the top of the 15th inning with a home run over the right-field wall off right-hander Kris Medlen.

During the fifth inning of an 11-8 loss to the Twins at the Metrodome, Mariners’ right-hander R. A. Dickey throws four wild pitches, tying a major league record for WPs in one frame. Seattle backstop Kenji Johjima is also charged with a passed ball on another pitch thrown in the infamous inning.

The Blue Jays set a team record for two-baggers, slugging ten doubles in a 15-4 victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Alex Rios, with his 5-for-6 performance, ties a club mark, becoming the third player in franchise history to hit four doubles in one game.

Melvin Mora collects five hits, including two homers and a pair of doubles, in the Orioles’ 16-8 rout over Detroit. The Birds’ third baseman, who drives in a career-high six runs with his 12 total bases, leads Baltimore’s 22-hit attack at Comerica Park.