Wally the Green Monster, the Red Sox’s mascot, goes missing before today’s game with the Yankees, making the team suspect a dastardly deed by Yankee fans. Boston Police issue an all-points bulletin looking for a “green and furry [character] … and sporting a permanent grin to the face on an extremely large head.” It turns out to be a misunderstanding as Wally is located a few hours later, taking an unauthorized tour of his home city.

The Giants get one of the top players available at the trading deadline, Mets All-Star CF Carlos Beltran, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season. The Giants send top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler to New York, but the Mets will be responsible for a significant portion of Beltran’s remaining salary.

For the second straight season, the Cardinals trade a starting outfielder near the trading deadline in an effort to secure more pitching when they trade center fielder Colby Rasmus, along with relievers Trever Miller and Brian Tallet, to the Blue Jays in exchange for Edwin Jackson (acquired from the White Sox a few hours earlier) and relievers Octavio Dotel and Marc Rzepczynski. Last year, the Redbirds dealt right fielder Ryan Ludwick to San Diego in a three-team deal that brought Indian starter Jake Westbrook to St. Louis.

The Pirates, at approximately 2:30 am, file a formal complaint with the Commissioner’s Office expressing their extreme disappointment by the way its 19-inning game against the Braves ended earlier this morning. The statement shares the organization’s dismay of umpire Jerry Meals not seeing the tag made by Michael McKenry three feet in front of home plate that resulted in Atlanta’s 4-3 victory at Turner Field. “While we cannot begin to understand how umpire Jerry Meals did not see the tag made by Michael McKenry three feet in front of home plate, we do not question the integrity of Mr. Meals. Instead, we know that Mr. Meals’ intention was to get the call right. Jerry Meals has been umpiring Major League games for 14 years and has always done so with integrity and professionalism. He got this one wrong.” – FRANK COONELLY,president of the Pirates.

“While we cannot begin to understand how umpire Jerry Meals did not see the tag made by Michael McKenry three feet in front of home plate, we do not question the integrity of Mr. Meals. Instead, we know that Mr. Meals’ intention was to get the call right. Jerry Meals has been umpiring Major League games for 14 years and has always done so with integrity and professionalism. He got this one wrong.” – FRANK COONELLY,president of the Pirates. At approximately 2:30 a.m. ET, the Pirates filed a formal complaint with the Commissioner’s Office expressing their extreme disappointment by the way its 19-inning game against the Braves ended earlier this morning. The statement shares the organization’s dismay of umpire Jerry Meals not seeing the tag made by Michael McKenry three feet in front of home plate that resulted in Atlanta’s 4-3 victory at Turner Field.

The Toronto Blue Jays make a couple of deals with the trading deadline fast approaching. First, they send Ps Jason Frasor and Zach Stewart to the Chicago White Sox for P Edwin Jackson and 3B Mark Teahen, then they immediately flip Jackson to St. Louis, along with Ps Octavio Dotel and Marc Rzepczynski and OF Corey Patterson, in return for OF Colby Rasmus and Ps Brian Tallet, Trever Miller and P.J. Walters. Jackson, still only 27, has already been part of 7 different organizations.

The Seattle Mariners end a 17-game losing streak by beating the New York Yankees at New Yankee Stadium, 9 – 2. Ichiro Suzuki and Mike Carp collect 4 hits, and Dustin Ackley 3, part of a 17-hit attack in support of Felix Hernandez, who defeats Phil Hughes. The M’s last win had come on July 5th.

Jose Bautista’s storybook season continues as he blasts two homers and nails Orioles baserunner Nick Markakis at third base in Toronto’s 8 – 2 win at home. Bautista has 3 runs scored, 4 hits and 5 RBI in the game while becoming the major leagues’ first 30-homer hitter this year. Ricky Romero defeats Kevin Millwood.

Rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg is scratched at the last minute from a scheduled start against the Braves with shoulder tightness, but veteran Miguel Batista steps ably into the breach, throwing five shutout innings as Washington prevails, 3 – 0.