The Phillies sign Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, who defected to Mexico earlier this year, to a six-year contract worth $60 million.

The Phillies sign Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, who defected to Mexico earlier this year, to a six-year contract worth $60 million.

Tadahito Iguchi becomes the 4th new member of the meikyukai this season, taking Masahiro Tanaka deep for his 2,000th hit in MLB and NPB combined. Iguchi is only the fifth player to get 2,000 hits between the two leagues, following Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui, Kazuo Matsui and Norihiro Nakamura.

Tadahito Iguchi becomes the 4th new member of the meikyukai this season, taking Masahiro Tanaka deep for his 2,000th hit in MLB and NPB combined. Iguchi is only the fifth player to get 2,000 hits between the two leagues, following Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui, Kazuo Matsui and Norihiro Nakamura.

Matt Harvey strikes out 11 Diamondback hitters in his major league debut, beating the Mets franchise record of 9 held by Tom Seaver and Bill Denehy; it is the most in a debut since Stephen Strasburg fanned 14 for the Nationals two years ago. Harvey allows no runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings, before leaving because of pitch count issues; for good measure, he also goes 2 for 2 at the plate, with a double off Wade Miley for his first major league hit. He gets credit for the Mets’ 3 – 1 win at Chase Field.

Matt Harvey strikes out 11 Diamondback hitters in his major league debut, beating the Mets franchise record of 9 held by Tom Seaver and Bill Denehy; it is the most in a debut since Stephen Strasburg fanned 14 for the Nationals two years ago. Harvey allows no runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings, before leaving because of pitch count issues; for good measure, he also goes 2 for 2 at the plate, with a double off Wade Miley for his first major league hit. He gets credit for the Mets’ 3 – 1 win at Chase Field.

Not to be outdone, Pittsburgh’s Starling Marte homers on the first pitch of the game in his big league debut (only the third Pirate ever to do so), going yard against Houston’s Dallas Keuchel. Pittsburgh goes on to a 5 – 3 win as A.J. Burnett improves to 12-3. Marte adds another hit before the night is through.

Not to be outdone, Pittsburgh’s Starling Marte homers on the first pitch of the game in his big league debut (only the third Pirate ever to do so), going yard against Houston’s Dallas Keuchel. Pittsburgh goes on to a 5 – 3 win as A.J. Burnett improves to 12-3. Marte adds another hit before the night is through.

Starling Marte becomes the 28th player in history to homer on the first pitch he sees in the major leagues when he goes yard to deep left-center field at Minute Maid Park off Houston’s Dallas Keuchel. The 23 year-old left fielder is the first Pirates player to hit a home run in his first big league at-bat since Don Leppert accomplished the feat against St. Louis in 1961.

Starling Marte becomes the 28th player in history to homer on the first pitch he sees in the major leagues when he goes yard to deep left-center field at Minute Maid Park off Houston’s Dallas Keuchel. The 23 year-old left fielder is the first Pirates player to hit a home run in his first big league at-bat since Don Leppert accomplished the feat against St. Louis in 1961.

The Reds trade LF Jonny Gomes to Washington for two minor leaguers, P Chris Manno and OF Bill Rhinehart. The move opens a spot in the line-up for top prospect Yonder Alonso.

The Reds trade LF Jonny Gomes to Washington for two minor leaguers, P Chris Manno and OF Bill Rhinehart. The move opens a spot in the line-up for top prospect Yonder Alonso.

Two players extend their hitting streaks into interesting territory today. Emilio Bonifacio of the Marlins reaches 24 games with a single off Jordan Zimmermann in his team’s 11 – 2 win at Washington, and Boston’s newly clean-shaven Dustin Pedroia extends his streak to 23 games with a 4-for-5 night against the Royals as the Red Sox come out on top in a slugfest, 13 – 9.

Two players extend their hitting streaks into interesting territory today. Emilio Bonifacio of the Marlins reaches 24 games with a single off Jordan Zimmermann in his team’s 11 – 2 win at Washington, and Boston’s newly clean-shaven Dustin Pedroia extends his streak to 23 games with a 4-for-5 night against the Royals as the Red Sox come out on top in a slugfest, 13 – 9.

Justin Germano throws the 5th perfect game in the history of the International League. Germano pitches the gem for the Columbus Clippers against the Syracuse Chiefs.

Justin Germano throws the 5th perfect game in the history of the International League. Germano pitches the gem for the Columbus Clippers against the Syracuse Chiefs.

The Braves beat the Pirates, 4 – 3, in 19 innings in a game that ends on a very controversial play. After 6 hours and 39 minutes of play at Turner Field, Braves P Scott Proctor grounds to Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez; Julio Lugotakes off from third base and Alvarez’s throw to C Michael McKenry easily beats him to the plate, however umpire Jerry Meals calls him safe with the winning run. Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle argues vociferously, and even though television replays show that Lugo was tagged out, the run is allowed to stand. Daniel McCutchen is the unlucky loser, in spite of giving up only that run in 5 1/3 innings as neither team scores after the 3rd inning until the deciding run. It is the longest game by time in both teams’ history. Immediately after the game, the Pirates launch a formal complaint about the disputed call to the Commissioner’s office. Tomorrow, both Meals and MLB Vice-President Joe Torre will acknowledge that the call was wrong, but that it will not be reversed. The tough loss marks the beginning of the end for the Bucs, who have been playing above .500 and battling for first place in the NL Central: on July 29th, they will start an 11-game losing streak and tumble well out of contention.

The Braves beat the Pirates, 4 – 3, in 19 innings in a game that ends on a very controversial play. After 6 hours and 39 minutes of play at Turner Field, Braves P Scott Proctor grounds to Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez; Julio Lugotakes off from third base and Alvarez’s throw to C Michael McKenry easily beats him to the plate, however umpire Jerry Meals calls him safe with the winning run. Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle argues vociferously, and even though television replays show that Lugo was tagged out, the run is allowed to stand. Daniel McCutchen is the unlucky loser, in spite of giving up only that run in 5 1/3 innings as neither team scores after the 3rd inning until the deciding run. It is the longest game by time in both teams’ history. Immediately after the game, the Pirates launch a formal complaint about the disputed call to the Commissioner’s office. Tomorrow, both Meals and MLB Vice-President Joe Torre will acknowledge that the call was wrong, but that it will not be reversed. The tough loss marks the beginning of the end for the Bucs, who have been playing above .500 and battling for first place in the NL Central: on July 29th, they will start an 11-game losing streak and tumble well out of contention.