June 5

2019 – It seems like former All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel has finally found a home. A free agent since the end of the World Series, he remained unsigned due to his insistence on obtaining a multi-year contract, and the compensation in the form of top draft pick in the 2019 amateur draft that a team signing him would have had to pay. With the draft now out of the way, the Cubs prove ready to bite on a longer-term deal, offering Kimbrel a three-year contract worth $43 million.

2018 – Andrew Heaney celebrates his 27th birthday by pitching a one-hitter to defeat the Royals, 1 – 0. It is the first career complete game and shutout for the Angels righthander who demonstrates he is back in full health following Tommy John surgery that cost him almost two full seasons. The only hit is a 5th-inning single by Hunter Dozier.

2016 – Jake Arrieta of the Cubs loses to the Diamondbacks, 3 – 2. It’s his first loss after 20 straight wins dating back to July 25, 2015, when he was on the losing end of Cole Hamels’ no-hitter; it’s the third longest winning streak since 1913, tied with Roger Clemens and trailing only Roy Face (22) and Carl Hubbell (24).

The Biloxi Shuckers bat around in a five-run 10th inning, ending their season-long, 54-game road trip with a 6-2 victory over the Barons at Birmingham’s Regions Field. The Brewers’ Double-A affiliate, who moved from Huntsville to the Mississippi city in the offseason, had to play the first two months on the road because MGM Park, their new home, wasn’t completed at the start of the season.

2015 – Pat Venditte becomes the first ambidextrous pitcher of the 21st century when he makes his debut for the Athletics against the Red Sox. In the 7th inning, he pitches lefthanded to get Brock Holt to ground out for the first out, then switches to the right hand to allow a single to Hanley Ramirez and force Mike Napoli to ground into a double play to end the inning, then follows with a perfect 8th inning. However, the Sox’s 4 – 2 win is marred when a female fan is hit by Brett Lawrie’s broken bat in the 2nd inning and has to be wheeled away from Fenway Park on a stretcher with what are described by police as life-threatening injuries.

2014 – The Houston Astros have the first pick in the amateur draft for the third straight year and select high school left-handed pitcher Brady Aiken. The Marlins follow with high school righthander Tyler Kolek, who has opened eyes by regularly touching 100 mph on the radar gun. The first position player selected in catcher Kyle Schwarber, by the Cubs with the 4th pick, while SS Nick Gordon, son of Tom Gordon and brother of Dee Gordon is picked 5th, by the Twins.

The White Sox score five times in the top of the 14th inning, but the Mariners knot the score in the bottom of the frame thanks to Kyle Seager’s two-out, two-strike bases-loaded round-tripper. The third baseman’s homer, the first game-tying, extra-inning grand slam in major league history, isn’t enough when Chicago beats Seattle, 7-5, in the 16-inning Safeco Field contest that takes 5 hours 42 minutes to complete.

The Rockies slam six homers, three of them by Carlos Gonzalez and two by Troy Tulowitzki, in beating the Reds, 12 – 4. Todd Helton hits the other long ball, while Nolan Arenado has four of the team’s 20 hits.

The White Sox and Mariners engage in a 16-inning contest, which is the longest home game in terms of time in M’s history, at 5 hours, 42 minutes. The game is scoreless through 13 innings, until the ChiSox post five runs in the 14th. With the score 5 – 1 in the bottom of the inning, Kyle Seager ties the game with his first career grand slam. This is the first game-tying extra-inning grand slam in Major League history. It also marks the first time that both teams have scored five or more runs after being shut out in regulation innings. In addition, it is the first time that any team has come back from five or more runs down in the 14th inning or later. An RBI single by Alejandro De Aza in the 16th inning puts the Pale Hose ahead, and he later scores an insurance run on another single by Alex Rios. Chicago wins, 7 – 5, snapping an eight-game losing streak the hard way.

On the 11th anniversary of being drafted by the Mets, David Wright becomes the franchise’s all-time run scorer when he crosses the plate for the 736th time after homering in the team’s 7-6 loss in Washington. New York’s 29 year-old third baseman is already the franchise career leader in doubles, total bases, RBIs, and extra-base hits.