Raul Ibanez is a one-man wrecking crew as the Phillies outlast the Pirates, 6 – 5, in 10 innings. Ibanez hits a homer off Jeff Karstens in the 2nd, and adds another, game-tying, blast in the 8th, a two-run shot off Jose Verasthat erases a 5 – 3 Pirates lead built on Lyle Overbay’s own two-run homer. In the 10th, Ibanez ends the game with an RBI double off Tony Watson, driving in newly-acquired Hunter Pence with the winning run.

ByBaseball

Raul Ibanez is a one-man wrecking crew as the Phillies outlast the Pirates, 6 – 5, in 10 innings. Ibanez hits a homer off Jeff Karstens in the 2nd, and adds another, game-tying, blast in the 8th, a two-run shot off Jose Verasthat erases a 5 – 3 Pirates lead built on Lyle Overbay’s own two-run homer. In the 10th, Ibanez ends the game with an RBI double off Tony Watson, driving in newly-acquired Hunter Pence with the winning run.

The trading deadline passes with a few more deals, capping a busy three-day period. OF Ryan Ludwick is traded on this day for the second consecutive year, joining the Pirates from the Padres for a player to be named later. The Padres also send set-up man Mike Adams to the Rangers for two minor leaguers, and the Red Sox land starting pitcher Erik Bedard from the Mariners in a three-team, seven-player deal that also involves the Los Angeles Dodgers. Finally, the Braves land CF Michael Bourn from Houston for OF Jordan Schafer and three minor league prospects.

ByBaseball

The trading deadline passes with a few more deals, capping a busy three-day period. OF Ryan Ludwick is traded on this day for the second consecutive year, joining the Pirates from the Padres for a player to be named later. The Padres also send set-up man Mike Adams to the Rangers for two minor leaguers, and the Red Sox land starting pitcher Erik Bedard from the Mariners in a three-team, seven-player deal that also involves the Los Angeles Dodgers. Finally, the Braves land CF Michael Bourn from Houston for OF Jordan Schafer and three minor league prospects.

In a five-player deal, the Braves, hoping to add offensive punch during their run for the NL Wild Card, obtain Michael Bourn from the last-place Astros. The speedy center fielder, who is currently hitting .303 and has a major league-leading 39 stolen bases, gives the team its first bonafide leadoff hitter since Rafael Furcal left after the 2005 season.

ByBaseball

In a five-player deal, the Braves, hoping to add offensive punch during their run for the NL Wild Card, obtain Michael Bourn from the last-place Astros. The speedy center fielder, who is currently hitting .303 and has a major league-leading 39 stolen bases, gives the team its first bonafide leadoff hitter since Rafael Furcal left after the 2005 season.

Although the Blue Jays already display his uniform digits on the Level of Excellence, the team officially retires Roberto Alomar’s No. 12 jersey, making the infielder the first player so honored in this manner in the 35-year history of the franchise. The newly inducted member of the Hall of Fame played five seasons with Toronto, including the back-to-back 1992-93 World Series championship teams.

ByTom

Although the Blue Jays already display his uniform digits on the Level of Excellence, the team officially retires Roberto Alomar’s No. 12 jersey, making the infielder the first player so honored in this manner in the 35-year history of the franchise. The newly inducted member of the Hall of Fame played five seasons with Toronto, including the back-to-back 1992-93 World Series championship teams.

The Braves become only the second team in big league history with 10,000 losses, along with the Phillies, who reached the milestone in 2007. The franchise recently collected its 10,000th victory, including the wins during their tenure in Boston and Milwaukee.

ByBaseball

The Braves become only the second team in big league history with 10,000 losses, along with the Phillies, who reached the milestone in 2007. The franchise recently collected its 10,000th victory, including the wins during their tenure in Boston and Milwaukee.

The Red Sox (66-40) continue their winning ways when they beat Chicago at Fenway Park, 5-3. The eventual World Champs end the month with a 20-6 record, the team’s best July since 1952.

ByTom

The Red Sox (66-40) continue their winning ways when they beat Chicago at Fenway Park, 5-3. The eventual World Champs end the month with a 20-6 record, the team’s best July since 1952.

Once again, the last day before the trading deadline is a busy one as contenders try to plug holes before the last stretch of the pennant race. The Dodgers get P Ted Lilly and 2B Ryan Theriot from the Cubs for IF Blake DeWitt and two minor leaguers, and add P Octavio Dotel from the Pirates for P James McDonald and a minor leaguer. The Pirates send another member of their bullpen, Javier Lopez, to the Giants for P Joe Martinez. The Yankees complete yesterday’s rumored deal with Houston for Lance Berkman and also add reliever Kerry Wood from Cleveland, not giving up any major leaguers in the process. The Braves add veterans P Kyle Farnsworthand OF Rick Ankiel from the Royals for Jesse Chavez, Gregor Blanco and Tim Collins, and in a three-team deal, the Padres get OF Ryan Ludwick from the Cardinals, while the Cards add pitcher Jake Westbrook, taken from Cleveland, which receives two prospects from San Diego.

ByBaseball

Once again, the last day before the trading deadline is a busy one as contenders try to plug holes before the last stretch of the pennant race. The Dodgers get P Ted Lilly and 2B Ryan Theriot from the Cubs for IF Blake DeWitt and two minor leaguers, and add P Octavio Dotel from the Pirates for P James McDonald and a minor leaguer. The Pirates send another member of their bullpen, Javier Lopez, to the Giants for P Joe Martinez. The Yankees complete yesterday’s rumored deal with Houston for Lance Berkman and also add reliever Kerry Wood from Cleveland, not giving up any major leaguers in the process. The Braves add veterans P Kyle Farnsworthand OF Rick Ankiel from the Royals for Jesse Chavez, Gregor Blanco and Tim Collins, and in a three-team deal, the Padres get OF Ryan Ludwick from the Cardinals, while the Cards add pitcher Jake Westbrook, taken from Cleveland, which receives two prospects from San Diego.

Carlos Gonzalez completes the cycle by crashing a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th as the Rockies defeat the Cubs, 6 – 5. Gonzalez’s blast off Sean Marshall comes after Chicago’s Derrek Lee hits a game-tying three-run homer off Rafael Betancourt in the 8th inning. Huston Street is the winner.

ByBaseball

Carlos Gonzalez completes the cycle by crashing a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th as the Rockies defeat the Cubs, 6 – 5. Gonzalez’s blast off Sean Marshall comes after Chicago’s Derrek Lee hits a game-tying three-run homer off Rafael Betancourt in the 8th inning. Huston Street is the winner.

Needing a home run to complete the sixth cycle in franchise history, Carlos Gonzalez, the leading hitter in the National League, belts a game-ending round-tripper that gives the Rockies a 6-5 comeback victory over Chicago. ‘CarGo,’ who becomes the fifth player to complete the cycle with a walk-off home run, smashes the first pitch thrown in the bottom of the ninth into the third-deck, making it the 29th long ball to land there in the 11-year history of Coors Field.

ByBaseball

Needing a home run to complete the sixth cycle in franchise history, Carlos Gonzalez, the leading hitter in the National League, belts a game-ending round-tripper that gives the Rockies a 6-5 comeback victory over Chicago. ‘CarGo,’ who becomes the fifth player to complete the cycle with a walk-off home run, smashes the first pitch thrown in the bottom of the ninth into the third-deck, making it the 29th long ball to land there in the 11-year history of Coors Field.

In a stunning last-minute deal, the White Sox obtain Jake Peavy from the Padres for four pitching prospects, Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Dexter Carter, and Adam Russell. The 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner, presently on the disabled list, had previously refused to waive his no-trade clause to join Chicago in a similar deal proposed in May.

ByBaseball

In a stunning last-minute deal, the White Sox obtain Jake Peavy from the Padres for four pitching prospects, Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Dexter Carter, and Adam Russell. The 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner, presently on the disabled list, had previously refused to waive his no-trade clause to join Chicago in a similar deal proposed in May.