Two teams who have not been used to playing .500 ball in recent years reach the mark today. The Nationals even their record with a 2 – 1 win over Seattle as John Lannan outduels Erik Bedard thanks to a pair of unearned runs. It is the latest the Nats have been at .500 since their inaugural season in Washington in 2005; they have reached the mark by going 10-1 over their last 11 games. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, the Pirates also reach the magic number as Kevin Correia picks up his 9th win, 5 – 4, over the Orioles, thanks to a costly error by the O’s Blake Davis in his major league debut. Brandon Wood and Michael McKenry both score when Josh Harrison’s 5th-inning ground ball with two outs passes between the second baseman’s legs. Closer Joel Hanrahan remains perfect for the season, registering his 20th save in as many opportunities. Pittsburgh has hovered around the .500 mark all year so far, in a bid to end an 18-year streak of losing seasons.

ByBaseball

Two teams who have not been used to playing .500 ball in recent years reach the mark today. The Nationals even their record with a 2 – 1 win over Seattle as John Lannan outduels Erik Bedard thanks to a pair of unearned runs. It is the latest the Nats have been at .500 since their inaugural season in Washington in 2005; they have reached the mark by going 10-1 over their last 11 games. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, the Pirates also reach the magic number as Kevin Correia picks up his 9th win, 5 – 4, over the Orioles, thanks to a costly error by the O’s Blake Davis in his major league debut. Brandon Wood and Michael McKenry both score when Josh Harrison’s 5th-inning ground ball with two outs passes between the second baseman’s legs. Closer Joel Hanrahan remains perfect for the season, registering his 20th save in as many opportunities. Pittsburgh has hovered around the .500 mark all year so far, in a bid to end an 18-year streak of losing seasons.

The Reds split a doubleheader with the Yankees as Chris Heisey hits three homers in the nitecap for a 10 – 2 win. Johnny Cueto is the winner against journeyman starter Brian Gordon. The Cincinnati leadoff hitter goes deep off Gordon in the first and fifth, and in the eighth frame connects off Hector Noesi in the Great American Ball Park. The Yanks win the opener, 4 – 2, when Jorge Posada, making a rare start at first base, hits a two-run homer, his first long ball since April 23rd

ByBaseball

The Reds split a doubleheader with the Yankees as Chris Heisey hits three homers in the nitecap for a 10 – 2 win. Johnny Cueto is the winner against journeyman starter Brian Gordon. The Cincinnati leadoff hitter goes deep off Gordon in the first and fifth, and in the eighth frame connects off Hector Noesi in the Great American Ball Park. The Yanks win the opener, 4 – 2, when Jorge Posada, making a rare start at first base, hits a two-run homer, his first long ball since April 23rd

Rays announcer Dewayne Staats, before calling his 5000th major league game, throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the hometown team’s 2-1 loss to San Diego at Tropicana Field. The veteran broadcaster, in his 25th season, has also done play-by-play for the Cubs, Astros, and ESPN.

ByTom

Rays announcer Dewayne Staats, before calling his 5000th major league game, throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the hometown team’s 2-1 loss to San Diego at Tropicana Field. The veteran broadcaster, in his 25th season, has also done play-by-play for the Cubs, Astros, and ESPN.

Arizona State University, the #1 seed, gets bumped from the 2010 College World Series by losing their first two games. ASU had not lost consecutive games all season until this point.

ByBaseball

Arizona State University, the #1 seed, gets bumped from the 2010 College World Series by losing their first two games. ASU had not lost consecutive games all season until this point.

The sale of the Texas Rangers by Tom Hicks to a group headed by Chuck Greenberg is not proceeding smoothly. Although announced in January, it is now before a Federal Bankruptcy Court. Judge Michael Lynn issues a ruling today that creditors are adversely affected by a plan to pay them $75 million and are entitled to vote on it. The sale could fall through if the creditors veto the deal, valued at $575 million overall; at issue is the treatment of $525 million in loans on which Hicks’s ownership group defaulted last year. Meanwhile, on the field, the Rangers beat Pittsburgh, 6 – 3, thanks to Josh Hamilton’s 17th homer of the year, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.

ByBaseball

The sale of the Texas Rangers by Tom Hicks to a group headed by Chuck Greenberg is not proceeding smoothly. Although announced in January, it is now before a Federal Bankruptcy Court. Judge Michael Lynn issues a ruling today that creditors are adversely affected by a plan to pay them $75 million and are entitled to vote on it. The sale could fall through if the creditors veto the deal, valued at $575 million overall; at issue is the treatment of $525 million in loans on which Hicks’s ownership group defaulted last year. Meanwhile, on the field, the Rangers beat Pittsburgh, 6 – 3, thanks to Josh Hamilton’s 17th homer of the year, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.

The White Sox extend their unlikely winning streak to seven games with a 9 – 6 victory over Atlanta to move one game above .500. They are helped by a freakish play with two outs in the 4th, when Alex Rios hits a ground ball that jumps inside 3B Brooks Conrad’s shirt for an infield single. Paul Konerko follows with a single and Carlos Quentin with a three-run homer for a 9 – 3 lead. Before the streak, both manager Ozzie Guillen and general manager Kenny Williams were rumored to be on the verge of losing their job.

ByBaseball

The White Sox extend their unlikely winning streak to seven games with a 9 – 6 victory over Atlanta to move one game above .500. They are helped by a freakish play with two outs in the 4th, when Alex Rios hits a ground ball that jumps inside 3B Brooks Conrad’s shirt for an infield single. Paul Konerko follows with a single and Carlos Quentin with a three-run homer for a 9 – 3 lead. Before the streak, both manager Ozzie Guillen and general manager Kenny Williams were rumored to be on the verge of losing their job.

The GCL Yankees rip the GCL Pirates, 11 – 4. In the 5th, the Bucs turn to Dovydas Neverauskas, who will allow two runs in 2 1/3 IP. He becomes the first Lithuanian to play in the minor leagues.

ByBaseball

The GCL Yankees rip the GCL Pirates, 11 – 4. In the 5th, the Bucs turn to Dovydas Neverauskas, who will allow two runs in 2 1/3 IP. He becomes the first Lithuanian to play in the minor leagues.

Donald Fehr announces his retirement as head of the Major League Baseball Players Association after 25 years. He was in charge during the 1994 strike and the relative labor peace that followed. His resignation will be effective in March 2010, when the union’s general counsel, Michael Weiner, will take over.

ByBaseball

Donald Fehr announces his retirement as head of the Major League Baseball Players Association after 25 years. He was in charge during the 1994 strike and the relative labor peace that followed. His resignation will be effective in March 2010, when the union’s general counsel, Michael Weiner, will take over.

All-Star centerfielder Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets is placed on the disabled list with a bruised right knee. The ailing Mets still defeat St. Louis, 6 – 4, as Omir Santos goes 4 for 4 to hand Tim Redding his first win for New York.

ByThis Day in Baseball

All-Star centerfielder Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets is placed on the disabled list with a bruised right knee. The ailing Mets still defeat St. Louis, 6 – 4, as Omir Santos goes 4 for 4 to hand Tim Redding his first win for New York.