The Yankees snap R.A. Dickey’s streak of 44 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run with four 3rd-inning runs on their way to a 6 – 5 win over the Mets. Robinson Cano snaps a 5 – 5 tie with an 8th-inning homer off Miguel Batista. Dwight Gooden still holds the Mets franchise record with 49 consecutive innings without an earned run in 1985.

In New York’s 4-2 loss to Colorado, A.J. Burnett becomes the first Yankee hurler to strike out four hitters in one inning. The right-hander starts the sixth frame by whiffing Rockies batters Chris Iannetta and Carlos Gonzalez, and when Chris Nelson reaches first base after swinging at a wild pitch for a third strike, he faces Todd Helton and strikes him out swinging to end the inning.

Michael Kacer, a 29 year-old veteran who lost his arm during a rocket attack in Afghanistan, makes an amazing grab of Curtis Granderson’s foul ball at Yankee Stadium. The event attracts national attention when the video of the catch becomes viral on the web, and with ESPN including it in its top plays segment on SportsCenter.

The Nationals name bench coach John McLaren as the interim manager to replace the departed Jim Riggleman, who surprised the team by quitting yesterday. Washington GM Mike Rizzo indicates the appointment is just for a few games, and will name Davey Johnson as the long-term replacement in the next few days.

For the second time in two years, a club plays as a road team in its own ballpark when the Marlins’ three-game series with the Mariners is shifted to Safeco Field due to preparations at Sun Life Stadium for a U2 concert to be held in Miami. Last season, MLB moved the Blue Jays home series against the Phillies, scheduled to be played at Rogers Centre, due to security concerns raised because of protests at the G20 Summit that was being held near the Toronto stadium.

With stories circulating that the Nationals will soon name veteran Davey Johnson, who last managed in the big leagues in 2000, as their new skipper, John McLaren wins his debut as interim manager, although he’s long gone by the time the game is decided. With the Nats holding a 2 – 0 lead over the White Sox in the 8th, McLaren is tossed after disputing home plate umpire Jeff Nelson’s decision to overturn a call made by crewmate Mike Estabrook at first base. The Nationals add another run in the top of the 9th, but Tyler Clippard coughs up a three-run pinch homer to Mark Teahen in the bottom of the frame to send the game into extra innings. Washington then blows one-run leads in the 10th and 12th innings before putting up a four-spot against Matt Thornton in the 14th to win, 9 – 5. Collin Balester picks up his first victory of the season as Washington wins its 12th game in its last 13.

The complete game may be threatened with extinction, but no one told Tampa Bay’s James Shields. He throws his third consecutive complete game in beating Houston, 5 – 1. Evan Longoria homers and drives in three in support of his strong performance on the mound, and B.J. Upton adds a solo shot. Shields is now 8-4 and leads the majors with 6 complete games.

In their 5-1 inter-league loss to the Rays at Minute Maid Park, the Astros become the first team to use three pitchers with the same last name in a single game. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez is followed to the mound by Fernando Rodriguez in the seventh and eighth, with Aneury Rodriguez tossing a scoreless ninth frame.

In New York’s 4-2 loss to Colorado, A.J. Burnett becomes the first Yankee hurler to strike out four hitters in one inning. The right-hander starts the sixth frame by whiffing Rockies batters Chris Iannetta and Carlos Gonzalez, and when Chris Nelson reaches first base after swinging at a wild pitch for a third strike, he faces Todd Helton and strikes him out swinging to end the inning.

The White Sox win their 9th straight with a 2 – 0 shutout of Atlanta. Their winning streak has enabled the Sox to shave 7 games off the Minnesota Twins’ lead in the AL Central in 15 days, putting them within striking distance of first place with a 2 1/2 game deficit. Gavin Floyd gives Chicago another great start in the win; Sox starters have gone 11-1, 2.03, over the past 15 games.