July 20

2018 – Matt Carpenter hits three homers and two doubles to lead the Cardinals to a 17 – 5 win over the Cubs. He is just the second hitter to achieve that particular combination of extra-base hits, after Kris Bryant, and ties the club record for total bases in a game, with 16.

2016 – All eyes are on P Drew Pomeranz, the All-Star who is making his first start for the Red Sox against the Giants, but it is 1B Hanley Ramirez who steals the show, hitting 3 homers and driving in 6 runs to lead Boston to an 11 – 7 win. Pomeranz pitches three scoreless innings, but loses it completely in the 4th as he allows the first seven Giants batters to reach base, including a three-run homer by Mac Williamson; his opponent, Matt Cain, in his return from the disabled list, does even worse, giving up three homers in 2 1/3 innings. Matt Barnes is awarded the win on a rare occasion where the final decision is left up to the official scorer.

Xu Guiyan signs with Orioles, becoming the first player who is Chinese by birth and ancestry to ink a contract to play in the United States. The 19 year-old outfielder/first baseman nicknamed ‘Itchy,’ at the MLB China Development Center in Wuxi, Jiangsu will be evaluated by the Orioles scouts in the spring, before being assigned to a minor league affiliate.

The Angels host their first doubleheader since 2003, caused by a rare rainout the day before, and sweep the Red Sox, 11 – 1 and 7 – 3. Albert Pujols hits three homers to lead the offensive barrage.

2014 – In his fifth major league start, Odrisamer Despaigne comes within four outs of throwing the first no-hitter in the history of the San Diego Padres. The Mets’ Daniel Murphy breaks his bid with a two-out double in the 8th, and David Wright follows with a single that ties the score at 1 – 1, ending Despaigne’s day. Joaquin Benoit is the winner after the Padres score in the bottom of the 9th for a 2- 1 win.

At Miller Park in a game against Miami, the Brewers wear throwback jerseys to honor the Milwaukee Bears, a Negro League team that played in Brew Town during the 1923 season. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke has a wardrobe malfunction when the letter u on his uniform is misplaced, spelling out Milwakuee.

Although the Mariners manage just one hit and strike out 15 times, the team beats the Astros at Minute Maid Park, 4-2. Seattle scores two runs in the top of the sixth thanks to two base on balls, two passed balls, and a sacrifice fly, and then tallies another pair in the next frame when Michael Saunders’ double plates Justin Smoak and Mike Zunino, who both reached base via a walk.

2013 – The Mariners manage only one hit against the Astros but still win, 4 – 2. The lone hit is a two-run double by Michael Saunders off Jose Cisnero in the 7th. Starter Erik Bedard gives up no hits and strikes out 10, but allows 5 walks. Things unravel for him with a 2 – 0 lead in the 6th, when he issues back-to-back walks to Saunders and Brad Miller after one out, then a pair of passed balls and a sacrifice fly allow the M’s to tie the game without a hit. Bedard then allows another two walks in the 7th before leaving with two outs, having reached his pitch count limit, setting the table for Saunders’ double. Travis Blackley and Jose Veras toss a hitless inning each to complete the one-hitter, but it’s little consolation for the Astros.