The Cardinals defeat the Twins, 8 – 3. St. Louis OF Chris Richard becomes the second Cardinal in two weeks to hit a home run in his first major league at bat.

The Brewers defeat the Royals, 11 – 3, as 1B Mark Loretta strokes five hits, including a double and home run, brings home four runs, and scores three himself.

The Mariners sink the Royals, 18 – 5, for their 5th straight win. Bill Swift gives up five runs in 5+ innings, but it is good enough to win. Dan Wilson is 3 for 4 and drives in six runs for the M’s. Wilson, Alex Rodriguez and Jay Buhner clout homers.

The Rangers trade P Todd Van Poppel and promising minor leaguer Warren Morris to the Pirates in exchange for P Esteban Loaiza.

Both Rafael Palmeiro and Albert Belle hit their 300th homers tonight. Palmeiro is 3 for 4 as his Orioles win, 4 – 1, over the Angels, and improve their record since the All-Star break to 9-0. Belle’s homer – his 10th in 10 games since the break – and Robin Ventura’s 9th-inning homer give the White Sox a 4 – 3 victory over the visiting Indians.

The Red Sox take a 9 – 2 lead over the Yankees into the 7th inning in Boston. New York scores three in the 7th, two in the 8th, and four in the 9th to move ahead, 11 – 9. The Red Sox bounce back with three of their own in their last at bat to defeat New York by a score of 12 – 11 and end John Wetteland’s record save streak.

Lead-off hitter Kurt Abbott pounds a single, triple, and home run and drives in six runs to lead the Marlins to an 11 – 2 victory over the Astros.

Five Padre relievers help the Rockies set a club record of 11 runs in the 7th inning en route to a 13 – 12 Rocks win. Colorado overcomes a seven-run deficit.

Cards pitcher Andy Benes, who started the year going 1-7, evens his record at 8-8, beating the Reds 6 – 4.