Jon Lester has the worst start of his career for the Cubs as he allows 10 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks in only two-thirds of an inning as the Pirates jump to a 10 – 0 lead in the 1st inning, on their way to a 14 – 3 win. Francisco Cervelli has the key hit, a grand slam as the Cubs finish the first half two games below .500, one year after ending their long World Seriesdrought.

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Jon Lester has the worst start of his career for the Cubs as he allows 10 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks in only two-thirds of an inning as the Pirates jump to a 10 – 0 lead in the 1st inning, on their way to a 14 – 3 win. Francisco Cervelli has the key hit, a grand slam as the Cubs finish the first half two games below .500, one year after ending their long World Seriesdrought.

The Astros conclude an outstanding first half by demolishing the Blue Jays, 19 – 1, for their 60th win of the year, most in the American League. Carlos Correa homers twice and drives in 5 runs, while José Altuve, Yuli Gurrieland Evan Gattis also go deep in support of Brad Peacock’s pitching. The Blue Jays are one out away from suffering the worst shutout loss in their history when Ezequiel Carrera goes deep to save a modicum of pride.

ByBaseball

The Astros conclude an outstanding first half by demolishing the Blue Jays, 19 – 1, for their 60th win of the year, most in the American League. Carlos Correa homers twice and drives in 5 runs, while José Altuve, Yuli Gurrieland Evan Gattis also go deep in support of Brad Peacock’s pitching. The Blue Jays are one out away from suffering the worst shutout loss in their history when Ezequiel Carrera goes deep to save a modicum of pride.

Zack Greinke makes a case to be named the National League’s starting pitcher of the All-Star Game. In his last start before the break, he holds the Phillies to one hit over 8 innings, extending his scoreless streak to 35 2/3 innings while lowering his major league-leading ERA to 1.39. The Dodgers win, 6-0, as Greinke improves to 8-2.

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Zack Greinke makes a case to be named the National League’s starting pitcher of the All-Star Game. In his last start before the break, he holds the Phillies to one hit over 8 innings, extending his scoreless streak to 35 2/3 innings while lowering his major league-leading ERA to 1.39. The Dodgers win, 6-0, as Greinke improves to 8-2.

Boston’s David Ortiz ties Harold Baines for the most hits by a designated hitter when his eighth-inning single off Seattle’s Charlie Furbush gives him a total of 1,688 career hits as a DH. ‘Big Papi,’ before the record-tying at-bat, had already collected a home run and a pair of doubles in the Red Sox’ 11-8 victory at Safeco Field.

ByTom

Boston’s David Ortiz ties Harold Baines for the most hits by a designated hitter when his eighth-inning single off Seattle’s Charlie Furbush gives him a total of 1,688 career hits as a DH. ‘Big Papi,’ before the record-tying at-bat, had already collected a home run and a pair of doubles in the Red Sox’ 11-8 victory at Safeco Field.

Alex Rios ties an American League record by going 6-for-6 in a 9-inning game as the White Sox defeat the Tigers, 11 – 4. The White Sox score 7 runs in the 8th, with Adam Dunndriving in 3 runs with a two-run homer and a single and Dayan Viciedo hitting his second long ball of the game. Rios is the 36th player to get 6 hits in a game, as the Sox record 23 safeties on the night. Miguel Cabrera hits his 29th homer for the Bengals, breaking the team record for most before the All-Star Game held by Cecil Fielder.

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Alex Rios ties an American League record by going 6-for-6 in a 9-inning game as the White Sox defeat the Tigers, 11 – 4. The White Sox score 7 runs in the 8th, with Adam Dunndriving in 3 runs with a two-run homer and a single and Dayan Viciedo hitting his second long ball of the game. Rios is the 36th player to get 6 hits in a game, as the Sox record 23 safeties on the night. Miguel Cabrera hits his 29th homer for the Bengals, breaking the team record for most before the All-Star Game held by Cecil Fielder.

The Dodgers are on the verge of being no-hit when they wake up with two outs in the 9th inning against the Padres. Four Padres pitchers combine to keep the Dodgers off the hit sheet through 8 innings: Aaron Harang (6 innings), Josh Spence (0.1), Chad Qualls (0.2) and Mike Adams (1). However, four Dodger pitchers do almost as well, blanking the Padres on one hit – a single by Cameron Maybin – through the top of the 9th. Luke Gregerson starts the bottom of the inning by striking out Matt Kemp and retiring James Loney on a ground ball before Juan Uribe breaks up the no-no with a double to left and Dioner Navarro follows with a single to center for a dramatic 1 – 0 win. Blake Hawksworth is the winner in what is Los Angeles’s third consecutive shutout.

ByBaseball

The Dodgers are on the verge of being no-hit when they wake up with two outs in the 9th inning against the Padres. Four Padres pitchers combine to keep the Dodgers off the hit sheet through 8 innings: Aaron Harang (6 innings), Josh Spence (0.1), Chad Qualls (0.2) and Mike Adams (1). However, four Dodger pitchers do almost as well, blanking the Padres on one hit – a single by Cameron Maybin – through the top of the 9th. Luke Gregerson starts the bottom of the inning by striking out Matt Kemp and retiring James Loney on a ground ball before Juan Uribe breaks up the no-no with a double to left and Dioner Navarro follows with a single to center for a dramatic 1 – 0 win. Blake Hawksworth is the winner in what is Los Angeles’s third consecutive shutout.

The Dayton Dragons of the Class A Midwest League sell out their 815th consecutive home game, breaking the all-time record for a North American professional franchise held until then by the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA (1977-1995). The Dragons have sold out every single home game at Fifth Third Field since moving from Rockford, IL in 2000. Dayton draws 8,688 in a 4-1 win over the South Bend Silver Hawks; Daniel Renken allows one run in 6 2/3 IP for the win, while Donald Lutz hits his 13th home run.

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The Dayton Dragons of the Class A Midwest League sell out their 815th consecutive home game, breaking the all-time record for a North American professional franchise held until then by the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA (1977-1995). The Dragons have sold out every single home game at Fifth Third Field since moving from Rockford, IL in 2000. Dayton draws 8,688 in a 4-1 win over the South Bend Silver Hawks; Daniel Renken allows one run in 6 2/3 IP for the win, while Donald Lutz hits his 13th home run.

Derek Jeter becomes the 28th member of the 3000 hit club with a 5-for-5 day against the Tampa Bay Rays at New Yankee Stadium. The second of the 5 hits, a homer off David Pricein the 3rd inning, gets him to the milestone. He then adds two singles and a double as the Yankees defeat the Rays, 5 – 4.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Derek Jeter becomes the 28th member of the 3000 hit club with a 5-for-5 day against the Tampa Bay Rays at New Yankee Stadium. The second of the 5 hits, a homer off David Pricein the 3rd inning, gets him to the milestone. He then adds two singles and a double as the Yankees defeat the Rays, 5 – 4.

The Seattle Mariners trade ace hurler Cliff Lee, Mark Lowe and $2.25 million to the Texas Rangers for prospects Justin Smoak, Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke and Matthew Lawson. Seattle goes for a youth movement after acquiring Lee for prospects last winter, while Texas, in first place in the AL West, pushes for a playoff run.

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The Seattle Mariners trade ace hurler Cliff Lee, Mark Lowe and $2.25 million to the Texas Rangers for prospects Justin Smoak, Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke and Matthew Lawson. Seattle goes for a youth movement after acquiring Lee for prospects last winter, while Texas, in first place in the AL West, pushes for a playoff run.