In the Phillies’ 5-3 victory over the Mets, Chase Utley’s hitting streak ends at 35 consecutive games. Philadelphia’s second baseman, who goes 0-for-5, has the fourth longest stretch in National League history.
After the team goes into a free fall from first place, the Orioles fire manager Lee Mazzilli (129-140) and replace him with bench coach Sam Perlozzo on an interim basis. Currently suffering an eight-game losing streak, the Birds have dropped 16 of their last 18 games.
Mike Matheny’s major league errorless streak behind the plate ends when his errant throw allows the runners to advance to second and third base on an infield single. The Cardinals’ catcher hadn’t committed an error since August 2, 2002, a span of 252 games.
Continuing a tradition over a half a century old, the Cardinals announce their new ballpark, scheduled to open in 2006, will also be known as Busch Stadium. In 1953, a month after Anheuser-Busch purchased the Cardinals, the brewery bought Sportsman’s Park, renaming it Busch Stadium, and then kept the name in its new downtown stadium, which opened in 1966, calling the facility Busch Memorial Stadium.
Major League Baseball announces a five-year deal, which will generate more than $500 million in revenue, for apparel and headwear global licensing rights. The seven companies involved in the deal include Majestic Athletic, New Era Cap, Twins Enterprises, Nike USA, Dynasty Apparel Industries, Drew Pearson International, and VF Imagewear.
The Athletics defeat Detroit, 4 – 0, as Cory Lidle, Ricardo Rincon, Chad Bradford, and Billy Koch combine on the one-hit shutout. Tiger OF Wendell Magee’s single is the only Detroit safety.
The Braves edge the Cardinals, 2 – 1, as Damian Moss and John Smoltz combine on a one-hitter. Mike Matheny’s single is the only St. Louis hit.
Cincinnati defeats San Diego, 15 – 10, as LF Russell Branyan slugs three home runs and drives home five runs for the Reds.
In a 4 – 2 Mets win at Arizona, Mark Grace ends the game with a ground ball single, which hits pinch runner David Dellucci for the last out as Dellucci is charged with interference. It’s the D-backs 7th loss in nine games.
Braves’ 1B Wes Helms drives home a career-high seven runs with a triple and a pair of home runs as Atlanta defeats Milwaukee, 14 – 2. Helms had been hitless in his previous 18 at bats coming in to the game.