Aubrey Huff hits three homers and drives in 6 runs, leading the Giants to a 12 – 7 win over the Cardinals. His performance makes a winner of Jonathan Sanchez, despite his walking six batters against only one K in 5 1/3 innings. Huff’s first two long balls come against two pitchers making their major league debut, loser Lance Lynn and reliever Maikel Cleto. Colby Rasmus hits a grand slam in a losing cause.

ByTom

Aubrey Huff hits three homers and drives in 6 runs, leading the Giants to a 12 – 7 win over the Cardinals. His performance makes a winner of Jonathan Sanchez, despite his walking six batters against only one K in 5 1/3 innings. Huff’s first two long balls come against two pitchers making their major league debut, loser Lance Lynn and reliever Maikel Cleto. Colby Rasmus hits a grand slam in a losing cause.

Armando Galarraga throws a one-hitter in a 3 – 0 win over Cleveland but in the eyes of most observers, he has pitched a perfect game: the only baserunner he gives up comes with two outs in the 9th inning, when Jason Donald is called safe on an infield hit by umpire Jim Joyce; however, replays show that the throw from 1B Miguel Cabrera to Galarraga beat Donald to the bag. The Tigers starter thus comes agonizingly close to pitching the third major league perfect game in only a month.

ByTom

Armando Galarraga throws a one-hitter in a 3 – 0 win over Cleveland but in the eyes of most observers, he has pitched a perfect game: the only baserunner he gives up comes with two outs in the 9th inning, when Jason Donald is called safe on an infield hit by umpire Jim Joyce; however, replays show that the throw from 1B Miguel Cabrera to Galarraga beat Donald to the bag. The Tigers starter thus comes agonizingly close to pitching the third major league perfect game in only a month.

Chris Carpenter improves to 75-25 with the St. Louis Cardinals with a 4 – 1 win over the Reds. Only two other pitchers since 1900 had won 75% or more of their first 100 decisions with a team – Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox (78-22) and Cy Young (75-25), also with Boston.

ByTom

Chris Carpenter improves to 75-25 with the St. Louis Cardinals with a 4 – 1 win over the Reds. Only two other pitchers since 1900 had won 75% or more of their first 100 decisions with a team – Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox (78-22) and Cy Young (75-25), also with Boston.

In San Diego, Adrian Gonzalez hits a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning to lead the Padres to a 5 – 1 win over the Mets. San Diego’s David Eckstein had tied the game at 1 with a single with two outs in the bottom of the 9th against Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, after 8 scoreless innings by Johan Santana. It’s not the only late-game grand slam hit today: in Toronto, Carl Crawford of the Rays also hits one, capping a six-run 9th inning, to beat the Blue Jays, 7 – 3, and give David Price his American League-leading 8th win of the year.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In San Diego, Adrian Gonzalez hits a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning to lead the Padres to a 5 – 1 win over the Mets. San Diego’s David Eckstein had tied the game at 1 with a single with two outs in the bottom of the 9th against Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, after 8 scoreless innings by Johan Santana. It’s not the only late-game grand slam hit today: in Toronto, Carl Crawford of the Rays also hits one, capping a six-run 9th inning, to beat the Blue Jays, 7 – 3, and give David Price his American League-leading 8th win of the year.

Ken Griffey Jr. announces his retirement after 22 seasons in the major leagues. Hitting only .184 in part-time duty for the Mariners, he retires with 630 career home runs and six seasons of 40 or more homers. Most of his career was spent with Seattle and the Cincinnati Reds.

ByTom

Ken Griffey Jr. announces his retirement after 22 seasons in the major leagues. Hitting only .184 in part-time duty for the Mariners, he retires with 630 career home runs and six seasons of 40 or more homers. Most of his career was spent with Seattle and the Cincinnati Reds.

Dan Uggla, playing in his 502nd game, hits his 100th home run, becoming the fastest second baseman to that level. He helps the Marlins beat the Brewers, 9 – 3.

ByTom

Dan Uggla, playing in his 502nd game, hits his 100th home run, becoming the fastest second baseman to that level. He helps the Marlins beat the Brewers, 9 – 3.

In celebration of Rotary International’s Centennial Year, The Player, a 13-foot tall bronze sculpture donated by the Denver Rotarians, is dedicated in front of Coors Field on the corner of 20th and Blake. A 24-inch version of the work of art, created by internationally prominent sculptor George Lundeen, is given annually to the recipient of the Branch Rickey Award, an honor given to a major leaguer in recognition of exceptional community service.

ByTom

In celebration of Rotary International’s Centennial Year, The Player, a 13-foot tall bronze sculpture donated by the Denver Rotarians, is dedicated in front of Coors Field on the corner of 20th and Blake. A 24-inch version of the work of art, created by internationally prominent sculptor George Lundeen, is given annually to the recipient of the Branch Rickey Award, an honor given to a major leaguer in recognition of exceptional community service.

2005 – The New York Yankees are swept by the team with the worst record in the majors (16-37), falling 5 – 2 to the Kansas City Royals for their first five-game losing streak in more than two years. Kansas City pitchers allow just six runs in the series. It is the third time in their storied history the Yankees have been swept in three games by the team with the worst record in the major leagues. The other times were in 2000, by the Detroit Tigers, and 1937 by the Philadelphia Athletics. The Royals had gone 78 series without sweeping anyone, the longest drought in the majors since the Phillies went 79 series without a sweep in 1996 and 1997.

ByTom

2005 – The New York Yankees are swept by the team with the worst record in the majors (16-37), falling 5 – 2 to the Kansas City Royals for their first five-game losing streak in more than two years. Kansas City pitchers allow just six runs in the series. It is the third time in their storied history the Yankees have been swept in three games by the team with the worst record in the major leagues. The other times were in 2000, by the Detroit Tigers, and 1937 by the Philadelphia Athletics. The Royals had gone 78 series without sweeping anyone, the longest drought in the majors since the Phillies went 79 series without a sweep in 1996 and 1997.

In one of the minor league’s strangest giveaways, the first 500 fans attending Ted Williams Night at the Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings game receive popsicles. Many are critical of the event, believing the promotion mocks the recently cryogenically frozen Red Sox Hall of Fame outfielder.

ByTom

In one of the minor league’s strangest giveaways, the first 500 fans attending Ted Williams Night at the Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings game receive popsicles. Many are critical of the event, believing the promotion mocks the recently cryogenically frozen Red Sox Hall of Fame outfielder.