The Rays re-take first place in the AL East from Boston with a 2 – 1 win in a make-up game at Fenway Park. On a controversial play in the 8th, pinch-runner Daniel Nava appears to slide under the tag of catcher Jose Molinawith the game-tying run, but umpire Jerry Meals thinks otherwise. Manager John Farrell is ejected for arguing the call; after the game, Meals recognizes that he was wrong.

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The Rays re-take first place in the AL East from Boston with a 2 – 1 win in a make-up game at Fenway Park. On a controversial play in the 8th, pinch-runner Daniel Nava appears to slide under the tag of catcher Jose Molinawith the game-tying run, but umpire Jerry Meals thinks otherwise. Manager John Farrell is ejected for arguing the call; after the game, Meals recognizes that he was wrong.

The Astros end a 12-game losing streak, the longest in team history, with a 9 – 5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lucas Harrell, the team’s most effective starter this season, gets credit for the rare win, as the Astros were 2-25 since June 28th before winning today. Jordan Schafer has a homer and 3 RBI. Before the game, the Astros make their third trade in a week, sending 3B Chris Johnson to the Arizona Diamondbacks in return for two minor league OFs, Bobby Borchering and Marc Krauss.

ByTom

The Astros end a 12-game losing streak, the longest in team history, with a 9 – 5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lucas Harrell, the team’s most effective starter this season, gets credit for the rare win, as the Astros were 2-25 since June 28th before winning today. Jordan Schafer has a homer and 3 RBI. Before the game, the Astros make their third trade in a week, sending 3B Chris Johnson to the Arizona Diamondbacks in return for two minor league OFs, Bobby Borchering and Marc Krauss.

Heading the opposite direction are division rivals the Reds, who win their 10th straight in defeating the Rockies, 7 – 2, behind Mat Latos. They have won 17 of their last 19, consolidating their hold on first place in the NL Central, in spite of the absence of their best player, Joey Votto.

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Heading the opposite direction are division rivals the Reds, who win their 10th straight in defeating the Rockies, 7 – 2, behind Mat Latos. They have won 17 of their last 19, consolidating their hold on first place in the NL Central, in spite of the absence of their best player, Joey Votto.

Clayton Kershaw pitches a five-hit shutout against the Giants to bring the Dodgers into a tie for first place with San Francisco in the NL West.

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Clayton Kershaw pitches a five-hit shutout against the Giants to bring the Dodgers into a tie for first place with San Francisco in the NL West.

Two hitting streaks of more than 20 games end today, and a new one is born. Boston’s Dustin Pedroia goes 0 for 4 to end his streak at 25 games in a 3 – 1 loss to the White Sox. The Marlins’ Emilio Bonifacio is also kept hitless in a 5 – 0 loss to the Braves, ending his streak at 26 games, the second-longest in team history. During that game, Atlanta 2B Dan Uggla hits a three-run homer to get a hit in his 20th straight game in support of Brandon Beachy’s pitching.

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Two hitting streaks of more than 20 games end today, and a new one is born. Boston’s Dustin Pedroia goes 0 for 4 to end his streak at 25 games in a 3 – 1 loss to the White Sox. The Marlins’ Emilio Bonifacio is also kept hitless in a 5 – 0 loss to the Braves, ending his streak at 26 games, the second-longest in team history. During that game, Atlanta 2B Dan Uggla hits a three-run homer to get a hit in his 20th straight game in support of Brandon Beachy’s pitching.

The Phillies acquire Hunter Pence from the last-place Astros for a trio of highly-touted minor leaguers, Jarred Cosart, Jon Singleton, and Josh Zeid. The 28 year-old right-fielder joins Philadelphia with a .309 average, 11 homers, and 62 RBIs.

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The Phillies acquire Hunter Pence from the last-place Astros for a trio of highly-touted minor leaguers, Jarred Cosart, Jon Singleton, and Josh Zeid. The 28 year-old right-fielder joins Philadelphia with a .309 average, 11 homers, and 62 RBIs.

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2010 – Astros deal ace pitcher Roy Oswalt to the Phillies for pitcher J.A. Happ and minor leaguers Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar. Gose is then sent to Toronto for first baseman Brett Wallace. Oswalt has a 143-82 record over ten seasons with Houston. He leaves unable to tie Joe Niekro for the franchise record for victories. Two days later, the Astros trade slugger Lance Berkman to the New York Yankees, sending away their last two stars from the 2005 World Series team. 

ByTom

2010 – Astros deal ace pitcher Roy Oswalt to the Phillies for pitcher J.A. Happ and minor leaguers Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar. Gose is then sent to Toronto for first baseman Brett Wallace. Oswalt has a 143-82 record over ten seasons with Houston. He leaves unable to tie Joe Niekro for the franchise record for victories. Two days later, the Astros trade slugger Lance Berkman to the New York Yankees, sending away their last two stars from the 2005 World Series team. 

There is a frenzy of deals in anticipation of the trading deadline. The Phillies acquire P Roy Oswalt from the Astros for P J.A. Happ and minor leaguers Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar; the Astros then flip Gose to Torontofor another top prospect, 1B Brett Wallace. In other deals, the Rangers acquire Jorge Cantu from the Marlins for minor leaguers Evan Reed and Omar Poveda; the Twins bolster their bullpen with All-Star closer Matt Capps, pried from Washington for young C Wilson Ramos; and the Padres obtain veteran infielder Miguel Tejada from Baltimore for minor league P Wynn Pelzer.

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There is a frenzy of deals in anticipation of the trading deadline. The Phillies acquire P Roy Oswalt from the Astros for P J.A. Happ and minor leaguers Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar; the Astros then flip Gose to Torontofor another top prospect, 1B Brett Wallace. In other deals, the Rangers acquire Jorge Cantu from the Marlins for minor leaguers Evan Reed and Omar Poveda; the Twins bolster their bullpen with All-Star closer Matt Capps, pried from Washington for young C Wilson Ramos; and the Padres obtain veteran infielder Miguel Tejada from Baltimore for minor league P Wynn Pelzer.

After Roy Oswalt gives his approval to a trade from the Astros to the Phillies, Philadelphia sends J.A. Happ, outfielder Anthony Gose, and shortstop Jonathan Villar to Houston for the three-time All-Star hurler and a considerable amount of cash. The 32 year-old right-hander compiled a respectable 3.24 ERA, but posted only a 6-12 record, due to a severe lack of run support.

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After Roy Oswalt gives his approval to a trade from the Astros to the Phillies, Philadelphia sends J.A. Happ, outfielder Anthony Gose, and shortstop Jonathan Villar to Houston for the three-time All-Star hurler and a considerable amount of cash. The 32 year-old right-hander compiled a respectable 3.24 ERA, but posted only a 6-12 record, due to a severe lack of run support.

The front-running Padres trade Double-A right-hander Wynn Pelzer to obtain veteran infielder Miguel Tejada from the Orioles, who also include more than $1.15 million in the deal. San Diego is hoping the 36 year-old former American League Most Valuable Player can help the potential playoff team, both in the field and at the plate, with his 14 years of experience in the major leagues.

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The front-running Padres trade Double-A right-hander Wynn Pelzer to obtain veteran infielder Miguel Tejada from the Orioles, who also include more than $1.15 million in the deal. San Diego is hoping the 36 year-old former American League Most Valuable Player can help the potential playoff team, both in the field and at the plate, with his 14 years of experience in the major leagues.