When he goes deep off KC’s Ervin Santana, Bryce Harper becomes the third player in baseball history to hit 40 homers before his 21st birthday. The Washington outfielder joins Mel Ott and Tony Conigliaro, who hit 61 and 56 round-trippers, respectively, for the Giants and Red Sox, before reaching their age of majority.

When he goes deep off KC’s Ervin Santana, Bryce Harper becomes the third player in baseball history to hit 40 homers before his 21st birthday. The Washington outfielder joins Mel Ott and Tony Conigliaro, who hit 61 and 56 round-trippers, respectively, for the Giants and Red Sox, before reaching their age of majority.

The Indians end nine-game losing skid by defeating the Yankees, 3 – 1, behind Justin Masterson. In spite of the win, the Indians, who were in playoff contention in late July, have lost 22 of their last 27 games.

The Indians end nine-game losing skid by defeating the Yankees, 3 – 1, behind Justin Masterson. In spite of the win, the Indians, who were in playoff contention in late July, have lost 22 of their last 27 games.

Justin Toole of the Carolina Mudcats plays all nine positions in a 4 – 2 win over the Salem Red Sox. He starts in RF and plays one position each inning in a special “Toole Time” promotion. His biggest challenge comes when he catches the 8th inning, having never played there before. He then ends the game by pitching the 9th with a 4 – 0 lead. He gives up a pair of solo homers but strikes out the last two batters he faces to end the contest. The promotion came out of a conversation early in the year when manager Edwin Rodriguez asked Toole where he played. “Everywhere”, he answered, leading to the stunt.

Justin Toole of the Carolina Mudcats plays all nine positions in a 4 – 2 win over the Salem Red Sox. He starts in RF and plays one position each inning in a special “Toole Time” promotion. His biggest challenge comes when he catches the 8th inning, having never played there before. He then ends the game by pitching the 9th with a 4 – 0 lead. He gives up a pair of solo homers but strikes out the last two batters he faces to end the contest. The promotion came out of a conversation early in the year when manager Edwin Rodriguez asked Toole where he played. “Everywhere”, he answered, leading to the stunt.

The Red Sox and Dodgers complete a huge blockbuster deal, with Boston getting rid of $260 million in future salary

The Red Sox and Dodgers complete a huge blockbuster deal, with Boston getting rid of $260 million in future salary

The Red Sox and Dodgers complete a huge blockbuster deal, with Boston getting rid of $260 million in future salary by sending 1B Adrian Gonzalez, P Josh Beckett, OF Carl Crawford and IF Nick Punto to Los Angeles. In return, they receive 1B James Loney and four prospects: Ps Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster, IF Ivan DeJesus and OF/1B Jerry Sands. Both Crawford and De La Rosa are recovering from Tommy John surgery and will not play until next season. Gonzalez makes the biggest immediate impact, hitting a three-run homer in his first at-bat as a Dodger to key an 8 – 2 win over the Marlins. For their part, the Sox blow a 9 – 3 lead and lose to Kansas City, 10 – 9, in 12 innings, with none of the new acquisitions in the line-up.

In a 22-9 annihilation of the A’s, the Yankees become the first team to hit three grand slams in one game. Robinson Cano, Russell Martin, and Curtis Granderson all go deep with the bases loaded at the Bronx ball yard.

In a 22-9 annihilation of the A’s, the Yankees become the first team to hit three grand slams in one game. Robinson Cano, Russell Martin, and Curtis Granderson all go deep with the bases loaded at the Bronx ball yard.

The Reds blow a nine-run lead over San Francisco, but manage to tie the game in the ninth on Paul Janish’s single and get a 12-11 victory on Joey Votto’s two-out, tie-breaking hit in the 12th inning. Earlier in the day, the Braves squander the same size lead at Coors Field, but lose the game, 12-10, to the Rockies, who match their largest comeback in franchise history.

The Reds blow a nine-run lead over San Francisco, but manage to tie the game in the ninth on Paul Janish’s single and get a 12-11 victory on Joey Votto’s two-out, tie-breaking hit in the 12th inning. Earlier in the day, the Braves squander the same size lead at Coors Field, but lose the game, 12-10, to the Rockies, who match their largest comeback in franchise history.

Felix Hernandez collects his 1000th strikeout when he fans David Ortiz in the sixth inning of the Mariners’ 4-2 victory over Boston at Safeco Field. The 24 year-old Seattle starter, the fourth youngest ever to reach the milestone, joins Randy Johnson (2,162), Jamie Moyer (1,239), and Mark Langston (1,078) as the fourth pitcher in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

Felix Hernandez collects his 1000th strikeout when he fans David Ortiz in the sixth inning of the Mariners’ 4-2 victory over Boston at Safeco Field. The 24 year-old Seattle starter, the fourth youngest ever to reach the milestone, joins Randy Johnson (2,162), Jamie Moyer (1,239), and Mark Langston (1,078) as the fourth pitcher in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

Félix Hernández of the Mariners beats the Red Sox in the second game of a doubleheader, fanning nine. That makes him the fourth-youngest hurler to 1,000 career strikeouts, following Bob Feller, Bert Blyleven and Dwight Gooden. David Ortiz is his 1,000th victim.

Félix Hernández of the Mariners beats the Red Sox in the second game of a doubleheader, fanning nine. That makes him the fourth-youngest hurler to 1,000 career strikeouts, following Bob Feller, Bert Blyleven and Dwight Gooden. David Ortiz is his 1,000th victim.

In the California League, Lancaster defeats Lake Elsinore, 3 – 1, in 10 innings, as five pitchers combine on a no-hitter. Starter Robert Donovan goes 5 2/3 innings before running out of gas and giving way to Edwin Walker. Lake Elsinore ties the game at 1 in the 8th against David Berner, the result of a walk and two sacrifice bunts that both result in throwing errors by Berner. David Carpenter succeeds him, finishes the 8th and pitches a perfect 9th to get credit for the win when his teammates score two in the top of the 10th inning. Another reliever, Jose Trinidad, completes the unusual no-no by pitching the bottom of the 10th, allowing only a walk.

In the California League, Lancaster defeats Lake Elsinore, 3 – 1, in 10 innings, as five pitchers combine on a no-hitter. Starter Robert Donovan goes 5 2/3 innings before running out of gas and giving way to Edwin Walker. Lake Elsinore ties the game at 1 in the 8th against David Berner, the result of a walk and two sacrifice bunts that both result in throwing errors by Berner. David Carpenter succeeds him, finishes the 8th and pitches a perfect 9th to get credit for the win when his teammates score two in the top of the 10th inning. Another reliever, Jose Trinidad, completes the unusual no-no by pitching the bottom of the 10th, allowing only a walk.

2011 – The Oakland A’s take an early 7 – 1 lead against the Yankees, but it’s all Bronx Bombers after that. Robinson Cano hits a grand slam in the 5th inning, Russell Martin follows suit in the 6th, they put up another 6 runs in the 7th, and in the 8th, Curtis Granderson also homers with the bases loaded to make the Yanks the first team ever to hit three grand slams in one game. Andruw Jones follows Granderson’s blast with a solo homer to make the final score 22 – 9. Martin has a career day, going 5 for 5 with a walk and 6 RBI and also hitting a solo shot to complement his slam as the Yankees bat around in their final four innings. It is the most runs given up by an Athletics team since 1955; their pitchers help the cause by surrendering 22 hits and issuing 13 walks in the rout. In the 9th inning, DH Jorge Posada takes the field at second base; it is his first major league appearance at the position he played in the lower minors 20 years ago.

2011 – The Oakland A’s take an early 7 – 1 lead against the Yankees, but it’s all Bronx Bombers after that. Robinson Cano hits a grand slam in the 5th inning, Russell Martin follows suit in the 6th, they put up another 6 runs in the 7th, and in the 8th, Curtis Granderson also homers with the bases loaded to make the Yanks the first team ever to hit three grand slams in one game. Andruw Jones follows Granderson’s blast with a solo homer to make the final score 22 – 9. Martin has a career day, going 5 for 5 with a walk and 6 RBI and also hitting a solo shot to complement his slam as the Yankees bat around in their final four innings. It is the most runs given up by an Athletics team since 1955; their pitchers help the cause by surrendering 22 hits and issuing 13 walks in the rout. In the 9th inning, DH Jorge Posada takes the field at second base; it is his first major league appearance at the position he played in the lower minors 20 years ago.