The United States team beats the World team, 6 – 4, in the 2011 Futures Game held in Phoenix, AZ. Jason Kipnis leads off the bottom of the 1st inning with a homer off Julio Teheran, but the game is decided in the 8th when Grant Green opens the inning with a double, then scores the tying run on Tim Beckham’s single. Austin Romine follows with another hit to put the U.S. ahead and Nolan Arenado adds an insurance run with a double. Green is the recipient of the Larry Doby Award as the game’s MVP.

The Phillies put a cap on a great first half by crushing the Braves, 14 – 1, managing 20 hits in the process. Cole Hamels is the beneficiary of the offensive outburst, led by Raul Ibanezwho has a homer and 6 RBI; John Mayberry Jr. pitches in with 3 doubles and 4 RBI. The Phillies are 57-34 at the All-Star break, the best mark in the majors, which also ties the team record for wins in the first half, established in 1993.

CC Sabathia wins his 13th game of the year for the Yankees, as they eke out a 1 – 0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The only run scores on a couple of miscues, after Robinson Canostarts the 7th inning with a single off James Shields. B.J. Upton makes a nice catch on Jorge Posada’s fly ball to center, but his throw to first to double Cano sails into the first base dugout. Cano moves to third on the play, then scores when Shields’ pick-off attempt is above 3B Sean Rodriguez’s head. The game takes only 2:11, tied for quickest this year.

A day before Spain wins the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Spanish Division Honor baseball season ends. CB Sant Boi beats FC Barcelona, 5 – 1, for their second title. Junior Guerra fans 13 and goes the distance to improve to 11-1, while Daniel Sanchez doubles twice, scores and drives in a run.

Cliff Lee makes his first start for the Texas Rangers, hours after being acquired in a trade with Seattle for a bevy of prospects, but he is rocked for 3 homers and 6 runs in a 6 – 1 loss to the Orioles. He still manages to pitch a complete game, but loses to Chris Tillman.

In his third big league start and matched up against the Phillies’ Roy Halladay, rookie Travis Wood of the Reds takes a perfect game into the 9th inning but fails to get even a win. The Phillies win the game, 1 – 0, in the 11th, on Carlos Ruiz’s double and Jimmy Rollins’ single. Ruiz breaks up the perfect game bid with a single in the 9th, and Wood is lifted for a pinch-hitter in the 10th after pitching 9 scoreless innings. The Reds fail to score in spite of loading the bases that inning to set up the Phillies’ winning drive an inning later.

Jonathan Sanchez of the San Francisco Giants pitches the first major league no-hitter this season, blanking the San Diego Padres, 8 – 0. The Padres muster only one baserunner, on an error by 3B Juan Uribe.

The New York Mets deal Ryan Church to Atlanta for Jeff Francoeur in a trade of starting right fielders whose recent struggles have landed them on the bench.

The Seattle Mariners deal shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and cash to the Kansas City Royals for pitchers Daniel Cortes and Derrick Saito.