2016 – Michael Saunders leads the Blue Jays to a 13 – 3 win over the Orioles with three homers and eight RBIs. He connects twice for three-run homers off Mike Wright, then adds a two-run shot against Ubaldo Jimenez as the red hot Blue Jays move to one game back of first-place Baltimore.

2016 – Michael Saunders leads the Blue Jays to a 13 – 3 win over the Orioles with three homers and eight RBIs. He connects twice for three-run homers off Mike Wright, then adds a two-run shot against Ubaldo Jimenez as the red hot Blue Jays move to one game back of first-place Baltimore.

2015 – Michael Pineda makes a bid for a no-hitter until Christian Yelich of the Marlins leads off the 7th inning with a home run; Pineda leaves after two more outs, getting credit for a 2 – 1 Yankees win, although, even if he had not given up a hit, he would likely not have had the chance to pitch any deeper into the game due to pitch count concerns. Miami almost ties the game in the 8th, but Adeiny Hechevarria’s run on a fielder’s choice by Dee Gordon is overturned after Yankees manager Joe Girardi successfully challenges the call. Alex Rodriguez has a pair of hits for New York, bringing him within 3 of the 3,000 hit club.

2015 – Michael Pineda makes a bid for a no-hitter until Christian Yelich of the Marlins leads off the 7th inning with a home run; Pineda leaves after two more outs, getting credit for a 2 – 1 Yankees win, although, even if he had not given up a hit, he would likely not have had the chance to pitch any deeper into the game due to pitch count concerns. Miami almost ties the game in the 8th, but Adeiny Hechevarria’s run on a fielder’s choice by Dee Gordon is overturned after Yankees manager Joe Girardi successfully challenges the call. Alex Rodriguez has a pair of hits for New York, bringing him within 3 of the 3,000 hit club.

Shades of the 1980s ? The Royals take over first place in the AL Central with an 11 – 4 win over the Tigers as they batter Max Scherzer for 10 runs in 4 innings on their way to their 9th straight win. The Royals had not been in first place this late in a season since 2003, when they managed to ride a surprise strong start to a freakish winning record, although they finished well out of the postseason picture.

Shades of the 1980s ? The Royals take over first place in the AL Central with an 11 – 4 win over the Tigers as they batter Max Scherzer for 10 runs in 4 innings on their way to their 9th straight win. The Royals had not been in first place this late in a season since 2003, when they managed to ride a surprise strong start to a freakish winning record, although they finished well out of the postseason picture.

With their ninth straight victory, the Royals take over the lead in the American League Central, beating last year’s Cy Young Award winner, Max Scherzer, and the Tigers at Comerica Park, 11-4. The last time Kansas City had sole possession of first place after playing 70 games was on June 25, 1980, when they led Chicago by 8.5 in the AL West, en route to winning the American League pennant.

With their ninth straight victory, the Royals take over the lead in the American League Central, beating last year’s Cy Young Award winner, Max Scherzer, and the Tigers at Comerica Park, 11-4. The last time Kansas City had sole possession of first place after playing 70 games was on June 25, 1980, when they led Chicago by 8.5 in the AL West, en route to winning the American League pennant.

2013 – Max Scherzer of the Tigers improves to 10-0, pitching 6 innings of one-hit ball in a 5 – 1 win over the Orioles. He is the first major league starter to go 10-0 since Roger Clemens in 1997, and just the second in Tigers history, following George Mullin, who began the 1909 season with 11 straight wins.

2013 – Max Scherzer of the Tigers improves to 10-0, pitching 6 innings of one-hit ball in a 5 – 1 win over the Orioles. He is the first major league starter to go 10-0 since Roger Clemens in 1997, and just the second in Tigers history, following George Mullin, who began the 1909 season with 11 straight wins.

2012 – Denard Span’s single in the 15th inning drives in Trevor Plouffe to give the Twins a 5 – 4 win over the Brewers in the longest game played at Target Field to date.

2012 – Denard Span’s single in the 15th inning drives in Trevor Plouffe to give the Twins a 5 – 4 win over the Brewers in the longest game played at Target Field to date.

2011 – Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie reach a divorce settlement that will determine the fate of the team. A judge will decide at a one-day trial on August 4th whether the team is the sole property of Frank McCourt, as he claims, or community property of the former couple, as his wife pretends. If the ruling is the latter, the property will be split 50-50 between the two estranged spouses, forcing the sale of the team. But even if Frank McCourt’s claim is upheld, his shaky financial situation, including an expected $100 million payment he is likely to be ordered to make to Jamie, could also result in the team’s sale. The divorce settlement will become null three days later when Commissioner Bud Selig rejects a proposed television deal with Fox Sports on whose execution the settlement was based.

2011 – Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie reach a divorce settlement that will determine the fate of the team. A judge will decide at a one-day trial on August 4th whether the team is the sole property of Frank McCourt, as he claims, or community property of the former couple, as his wife pretends. If the ruling is the latter, the property will be split 50-50 between the two estranged spouses, forcing the sale of the team. But even if Frank McCourt’s claim is upheld, his shaky financial situation, including an expected $100 million payment he is likely to be ordered to make to Jamie, could also result in the team’s sale. The divorce settlement will become null three days later when Commissioner Bud Selig rejects a proposed television deal with Fox Sports on whose execution the settlement was based.

2010 – The Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez continues to dominate. After today’s 5 – 1 win over the Twins, he leads the majors with 13 wins (against only one loss) and a 1.15 ERA, drawing comparisons to Hall of Famer Bob Gibson’s record-setting 1968 season. Since Lefty Gomez in 1932, only Roger Clemens had started 13-1.

2010 – The Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez continues to dominate. After today’s 5 – 1 win over the Twins, he leads the majors with 13 wins (against only one loss) and a 1.15 ERA, drawing comparisons to Hall of Famer Bob Gibson’s record-setting 1968 season. Since Lefty Gomez in 1932, only Roger Clemens had started 13-1.

The Pirates beat the Twins, 8 – 2. Andy LaRoche and Adam LaRoche both homer, the first brother combo to homer in the same game for Pittsburgh since the Waners in 1938. Andrew McCutchen also hits his first home run as the league’s weakest team (in terms of homers) rides the long ball to victory.

The Pirates beat the Twins, 8 – 2. Andy LaRoche and Adam LaRoche both homer, the first brother combo to homer in the same game for Pittsburgh since the Waners in 1938. Andrew McCutchen also hits his first home run as the league’s weakest team (in terms of homers) rides the long ball to victory.

Ivan Rodriguez catches the 2,227th game of his career, breaking Carlton Fisk’s record

Ivan Rodriguez catches the 2,227th game of his career, breaking Carlton Fisk’s record, in Houston’s 5 – 4, 10-inning loss to his former team, the Texas Rangers. For Texas, Omar Vizquel, the all-time leader for games played at shortstop, picks up his 2,677th hit, tying Luis Aparicio for most hits by a Venezuelan player.