The Phillies suffer a tough blow as they place half of their starting infield – 2B Chase Utley and 3B Placido Polanco – on the disabled list. Utley suffers from a thumb injury sustained while sliding into second base, while Polanco feels discomfort in his right elbow and undergoes a cortisone injection. Both players are leading the All-Star balloting at their positions but are unlikely to play in the contest. In addition, SS Jimmy Rollins has been limited to 18 games this year because of a right calf strain.

ByTom

The Phillies suffer a tough blow as they place half of their starting infield – 2B Chase Utley and 3B Placido Polanco – on the disabled list. Utley suffers from a thumb injury sustained while sliding into second base, while Polanco feels discomfort in his right elbow and undergoes a cortisone injection. Both players are leading the All-Star balloting at their positions but are unlikely to play in the contest. In addition, SS Jimmy Rollins has been limited to 18 games this year because of a right calf strain.

Denard Span ties a modern major league record with 3 triples in the Twins’ 11 – 4 win over Detroit. The last player to do so was Rafael Furcal in 2002; Ken Landreaux is the only member of the Twins to have done it, in 1980. The all-time record was set by Bill Joyce with 4 triples in 1897. Span drives in 5 runs as the Twins retake first place from the Tigers, one day after losing it.

ByTom

Denard Span ties a modern major league record with 3 triples in the Twins’ 11 – 4 win over Detroit. The last player to do so was Rafael Furcal in 2002; Ken Landreaux is the only member of the Twins to have done it, in 1980. The all-time record was set by Bill Joyce with 4 triples in 1897. Span drives in 5 runs as the Twins retake first place from the Tigers, one day after losing it.

In Milwaukee, 3B Casey McGehee plays both the goat and the hero. In the top of the 6th, his drop of a routine pop fly leads to two New York runs; in the bottom of the inning, he hits his first career grand slam; in the 7th, he takes his time fielding a ground ball off the bat of Gary Sheffield, leading to an infield hit and another run; he is then removed in a double switch. Still, the Brewers bang out 19 hits, including 4 by J.J. Hardy and 3 by Jason Kendall, for a 10 – 6 win. With the loss, the Mets fall below .500.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In Milwaukee, 3B Casey McGehee plays both the goat and the hero. In the top of the 6th, his drop of a routine pop fly leads to two New York runs; in the bottom of the inning, he hits his first career grand slam; in the 7th, he takes his time fielding a ground ball off the bat of Gary Sheffield, leading to an infield hit and another run; he is then removed in a double switch. Still, the Brewers bang out 19 hits, including 4 by J.J. Hardy and 3 by Jason Kendall, for a 10 – 6 win. With the loss, the Mets fall below .500.

Jamie Moyer beats the Blue Jays, 5 – 4, but allows three home runs to give him 483 for his career. He surpasses Phil Niekro for third all-time and trails Ferguson Jenkins by one. The veteran is still 22 back of all-time leader Robin Roberts, but will pass him next season.

ByTom

Jamie Moyer beats the Blue Jays, 5 – 4, but allows three home runs to give him 483 for his career. He surpasses Phil Niekro for third all-time and trails Ferguson Jenkins by one. The veteran is still 22 back of all-time leader Robin Roberts, but will pass him next season.

2005 – Houston drills Colorado, 7-1, as Roy Oswalt wins his 10th of the year. Morgan Ensberg blasts his 20th homer and Jason Lane belts his 13th. But the day’s headline belongs to Craig Biggio who is hit in the elbow by Byung-Hyun Kim to claim the modern day career record for being hit by a pitch. It’s his 268th plunking, passing Don Baylor. He’s third on the all-time list. Biggio thanks the Rockies with a solo homer his next time up. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

2005 – Houston drills Colorado, 7-1, as Roy Oswalt wins his 10th of the year. Morgan Ensberg blasts his 20th homer and Jason Lane belts his 13th. But the day’s headline belongs to Craig Biggio who is hit in the elbow by Byung-Hyun Kim to claim the modern day career record for being hit by a pitch. It’s his 268th plunking, passing Don Baylor. He’s third on the all-time list. Biggio thanks the Rockies with a solo homer his next time up. 

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At Bank One Ballpark, the Diamondbacks’ 40-year old fireballer Randy Johnson records his 4,000th career strikeout whiffing Padres third baseman Jeff Cirillo, a fellow USC Trojan, to become the fourth player in major league history to reach the plateau. The “Big Unit” needs fewer innings (3,237 1/3) than Nolan Ryan (3,844 2/3), Roger Clemens (4,151) or Steve Carlton (4,991 1/3) to accomplish the feat.

ByThis Day in Baseball

At Bank One Ballpark, the Diamondbacks’ 40-year old fireballer Randy Johnson records his 4,000th career strikeout whiffing Padres third baseman Jeff Cirillo, a fellow USC Trojan, to become the fourth player in major league history to reach the plateau. The “Big Unit” needs fewer innings (3,237 1/3) than Nolan Ryan (3,844 2/3), Roger Clemens (4,151) or Steve Carlton (4,991 1/3) to accomplish the feat.

The Cubs defeat the Reds, 7 – 1 behind Jose Acevedo’s first major league win. Cincinnati OF Dmitri Young gets four hits for the second straight game, giving him nine consecutive safeties.

ByTom

The Cubs defeat the Reds, 7 – 1 behind Jose Acevedo’s first major league win. Cincinnati OF Dmitri Young gets four hits for the second straight game, giving him nine consecutive safeties.

The Royals defeat the Indians, 6 – 1. Bartolo Colon takes the loss for Cleveland, in the process becoming just the 4th pitcher in major league history to start a game by walking the first four batters he faces.

ByTom

The Royals defeat the Indians, 6 – 1. Bartolo Colon takes the loss for Cleveland, in the process becoming just the 4th pitcher in major league history to start a game by walking the first four batters he faces.