With the spotlight on the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez, sitting on 599 homers on his birthday, the Indians’ Josh Tomlin grabs the headlines, giving up only 3 hits in 7 innings in winning his major league debut, 4 – 1. A-Rod finishes the night 0 for 4.

With the spotlight on the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez, sitting on 599 homers on his birthday, the Indians’ Josh Tomlin grabs the headlines, giving up only 3 hits in 7 innings in winning his major league debut, 4 – 1. A-Rod finishes the night 0 for 4.

Rehabbing a hip injury in the minor leagues, veteran third baseman Mike Lowell has a tremendous game for the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League, banging 3 homers and driving in 5 runs in a 10 – 6 win over the Toledo Mud Hens. He has been out of action in the major leagues since June 22nd.

Rehabbing a hip injury in the minor leagues, veteran third baseman Mike Lowell has a tremendous game for the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League, banging 3 homers and driving in 5 runs in a 10 – 6 win over the Toledo Mud Hens. He has been out of action in the major leagues since June 22nd.

Josh Willingham hits two grand slams and ties a franchise record with 8 RBI as Washington defeats Milwaukee, 14 – 6.

Josh Willingham hits two grand slams and ties a franchise record with 8 RBI as Washington defeats Milwaukee, 14 – 6. He is the 13th player to hit two slams in one game, and the first since Bill Mueller of Boston in 2003. Two other decisive grand slams are hit today, one a walk-off shot in the 13th inning by Alfonso Soriano in the Cubs’ 5 – 1 win over Houston, and the other a pinch-hit blast by Fernando Tatis in the 8th inning of a 7 – 3 Metsvictory against Colorado.

The Giants acquire 1B Ryan Garko from Cleveland in return for pitching prospect Scott Barnes, who is 12-3, 2.85, with 99 Ks in 98 innings in Class A.

The Giants acquire 1B Ryan Garko from Cleveland in return for pitching prospect Scott Barnes, who is 12-3, 2.85, with 99 Ks in 98 innings in Class A.

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2008 – Geoff Blum smacks two homers and Brad Ausmus goes 4-for-4 to lead Houston out of the division cellar in an 11-6 win at Milwaukee. Randy Wolf makes his Astros debut but can’t last long enough to qualify for the victory. Chris Sampson claims it in relief. 

2008 – Geoff Blum smacks two homers and Brad Ausmus goes 4-for-4 to lead Houston out of the division cellar in an 11-6 win at Milwaukee. Randy Wolf makes his Astros debut but can’t last long enough to qualify for the victory. Chris Sampson claims it in relief. 

The Oklahoma RedHawks top the Colorado Springs SkySox, 15 – 12. Oklahoma scores 11 times in the 2nd inning, when 3B Ryan Roberts ties two Pacific Coast League records. He homers twice, both off Josh Towers, the 17th PCL player to have done so. He also drives in 7 during that inning, the 4th player in league annals to accomplish the feat. Alex Kampouris (1932), Jigger Statz (1939) and Mario Valdez (2000) had done so previously.

The Oklahoma RedHawks top the Colorado Springs SkySox, 15 – 12. Oklahoma scores 11 times in the 2nd inning, when 3B Ryan Roberts ties two Pacific Coast League records. He homers twice, both off Josh Towers, the 17th PCL player to have done so. He also drives in 7 during that inning, the 4th player in league annals to accomplish the feat. Alex Kampouris (1932), Jigger Statz (1939) and Mario Valdez (2000) had done so previously.

Goose Gossage is inducted into the Hall of Fame. The reliever credits Dick Allen and Chuck Tanner for their support early in his career. He is the fifth relief pitcher enshrined in Cooperstown. Also inducted are Dick Williams, Walter O’Malley, Barney Dreyfuss, Bowie Kuhn and Billy Southworth; all but Williams are deceased. Larry Whiteside is honored with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award and Dave Niehaus with the Ford Frick Award.

Goose Gossage is inducted into the Hall of Fame. The reliever credits Dick Allen and Chuck Tanner for their support early in his career. He is the fifth relief pitcher enshrined in Cooperstown. Also inducted are Dick Williams, Walter O’Malley, Barney Dreyfuss, Bowie Kuhn and Billy Southworth; all but Williams are deceased. Larry Whiteside is honored with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award and Dave Niehaus with the Ford Frick Award.

Matt Young of the Mississippi Braves gets a hit in his 11th straight at-bat and reaches base in his 16th consecutive plate appearance. He breaks the Southern League record for hits in consecutive at-bats, set at 10 in 1970and tied in 1976.

Matt Young of the Mississippi Braves gets a hit in his 11th straight at-bat and reaches base in his 16th consecutive plate appearance. He breaks the Southern League record for hits in consecutive at-bats, set at 10 in 1970and tied in 1976.

Oakland pitcher Brad Zeigler pitched two innings of scoreless relief to set a record for the most scoreless innings to begin a major league career

Oakland pitcher Brad Zeigler pitched two innings of scoreless relief to set a record for the most scoreless innings to begin a major league career

On July 27, 2008, Oakland pitcher Brad Zeigler pitched two innings of scoreless relief to set a record for the most scoreless innings to begin a major league career (27). The A’s 28 year-old rookie right-hander hurls a scoreless seventh and eighth in Oakland’s 6-5 victory over the Rangers. Zeigler broke the previous mark of…