Ian Desmond drives in the tying run in the 8th, then does it again in the 10th and once more in the 12th for good measure, as his Nationals finally beat the Mets, 7 – 6. The Elias Sports Bureau reports he is the first player since Art Shamsky (1966) to have three game-tying or go-ahead RBI from the 8th inning on in the same game.

ByTom

Ian Desmond drives in the tying run in the 8th, then does it again in the 10th and once more in the 12th for good measure, as his Nationals finally beat the Mets, 7 – 6. The Elias Sports Bureau reports he is the first player since Art Shamsky (1966) to have three game-tying or go-ahead RBI from the 8th inning on in the same game.

Ryan Dempster wins his first game since August 16th of last year, a streak of 18 winless starts, as the struggling Cubs defeat the Brewers, 10 – 0. Dempster retires the first 15 batters of the game and leaves after having given up 3 hits over 7 innings. The Cubs had lost their last 11 road games before the win.

ByTom

Ryan Dempster wins his first game since August 16th of last year, a streak of 18 winless starts, as the struggling Cubs defeat the Brewers, 10 – 0. Dempster retires the first 15 batters of the game and leaves after having given up 3 hits over 7 innings. The Cubs had lost their last 11 road games before the win.

For the second straight game, Albert Pujols hits a walk-off home run in extra innings as the Cardinals defeat the Cubs, 3 – 2. Pujols hits a solo shot off Rodrigo Lopez in the 10th, after doing the same off Jeff Samardzija in the 12th inning of yesterday’s 5 – 4 win. Ryan Theriot sets the stage for Pujols’ heroics by driving in pinch-runner Tony Cruz from first base with a two-out, 9th-inning double off Carlos Marmol, also extending his hitting streak to 19 games in the process. No National Leaguer had hit walk-off homers in consecutive extra-inning games since Ron Santo in 1966.

ByTom

For the second straight game, Albert Pujols hits a walk-off home run in extra innings as the Cardinals defeat the Cubs, 3 – 2. Pujols hits a solo shot off Rodrigo Lopez in the 10th, after doing the same off Jeff Samardzija in the 12th inning of yesterday’s 5 – 4 win. Ryan Theriot sets the stage for Pujols’ heroics by driving in pinch-runner Tony Cruz from first base with a two-out, 9th-inning double off Carlos Marmol, also extending his hitting streak to 19 games in the process. No National Leaguer had hit walk-off homers in consecutive extra-inning games since Ron Santo in 1966.

The Nationals beat the Diamondbacks, 9 – 4, in 11 innings in a wild game at Chase Field. The Nats score 5 runs off Joe Paterson in the 11th to win the game, highlighted by Michael Morse’s grand slam which follows a bases-loaded walk to Rick Ankiel. But before that, the game features four batters hit by pitches, and as many ejections. Nats starter Jason Marquis and manager Jim Riggleman are the first to be tossed after Marquis plucks Justin Upton in the 6th; warnings had been issued by home plate umpire Rob Drake when D-Backs starter Ian Kennedy had hit Jayson Werth the previous inning. In the 8th, Arizona’s Esmerling Vasquez hits Danny Espinosa and is also sent off, as is his manager, Kirk Gibson. The Nationals take a 4 – 0 lead after that, thanks to a three-run homer by Wilson Ramos, but Kelly Johnson hits a solo shot off Tyler Clippard in the bottom of the 8th, and closer Drew Storen fails to record an out in trying to save the game in the 9th, allowing all four batters he faces to reach base; three of them score, sending the game into extra innings.

ByTom

The Nationals beat the Diamondbacks, 9 – 4, in 11 innings in a wild game at Chase Field. The Nats score 5 runs off Joe Paterson in the 11th to win the game, highlighted by Michael Morse’s grand slam which follows a bases-loaded walk to Rick Ankiel. But before that, the game features four batters hit by pitches, and as many ejections. Nats starter Jason Marquis and manager Jim Riggleman are the first to be tossed after Marquis plucks Justin Upton in the 6th; warnings had been issued by home plate umpire Rob Drake when D-Backs starter Ian Kennedy had hit Jayson Werth the previous inning. In the 8th, Arizona’s Esmerling Vasquez hits Danny Espinosa and is also sent off, as is his manager, Kirk Gibson. The Nationals take a 4 – 0 lead after that, thanks to a three-run homer by Wilson Ramos, but Kelly Johnson hits a solo shot off Tyler Clippard in the bottom of the 8th, and closer Drew Storen fails to record an out in trying to save the game in the 9th, allowing all four batters he faces to reach base; three of them score, sending the game into extra innings.

Rookie pitcher Mike Leake allows only an unearned run in 7 innings as the Reds defeat the Nationals, 5 – 1. Leake, who is now 5-0, is the first starting pitcher in team history to go undefeated in his first 11 starts, and the first since Santo Alcala in 1976 to win his first five decisions.

ByTom

Rookie pitcher Mike Leake allows only an unearned run in 7 innings as the Reds defeat the Nationals, 5 – 1. Leake, who is now 5-0, is the first starting pitcher in team history to go undefeated in his first 11 starts, and the first since Santo Alcala in 1976 to win his first five decisions.

The surprising Blue Jays keep giving their main rivals trouble. In tonight’s game against the Yankees, the Jays’ bullpen pitches 6 scoreless innings and Aaron Hill drives in Edwin Encarnacion with a single against Chad Gaudin in the 14th inning for a 3 – 2 win. Vernon Wells and Alex Gonzalez hit solo homers, bringing Toronto’s major league-leading home run total to 96. For the Yankees, the struggling Mark Teixeira goes 0 for 6 with 5 strikeouts to see his batting average fall to .215.

ByTom

The surprising Blue Jays keep giving their main rivals trouble. In tonight’s game against the Yankees, the Jays’ bullpen pitches 6 scoreless innings and Aaron Hill drives in Edwin Encarnacion with a single against Chad Gaudin in the 14th inning for a 3 – 2 win. Vernon Wells and Alex Gonzalez hit solo homers, bringing Toronto’s major league-leading home run total to 96. For the Yankees, the struggling Mark Teixeira goes 0 for 6 with 5 strikeouts to see his batting average fall to .215.

Just hours prior to its scheduled demise, Tiger Stadium is saved from complete demolition when Wayne County Circuit Judge Isidore Torres stops crews from tearing down what’s left of the ballpark at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. A temporary restraining order, requested by the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy, gives the nonprofit group additional time to raise money for preservation and redevelopment of the historic ballpark.

ByTom

Just hours prior to its scheduled demise, Tiger Stadium is saved from complete demolition when Wayne County Circuit Judge Isidore Torres stops crews from tearing down what’s left of the ballpark at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. A temporary restraining order, requested by the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy, gives the nonprofit group additional time to raise money for preservation and redevelopment of the historic ballpark.

John Schuerholz publicly apologizes to Tom Glavine for the club’s handling of the southpaw’s release. The Braves’ president, who chose not to give the future Hall of Famer a million dollar bonus by adding him to the 25-man roster, doesn’t regret the decision, but for “the manner in which it was portrayed and explained” to the veteran pitcher.

ByTom

John Schuerholz publicly apologizes to Tom Glavine for the club’s handling of the southpaw’s release. The Braves’ president, who chose not to give the future Hall of Famer a million dollar bonus by adding him to the 25-man roster, doesn’t regret the decision, but for “the manner in which it was portrayed and explained” to the veteran pitcher.

Caught on video shouting profanities, Alex Rios apologizes for the incident which occurred when he was leaving a Blue Jays’ charity event. After appearing to ignore a youngster’s request for an autograph, the Toronto right fielder shouts an epithet when he hears an older man comment, “The way you played today Alex, you should be lucky somebody wants your autograph”.

ByTom

Caught on video shouting profanities, Alex Rios apologizes for the incident which occurred when he was leaving a Blue Jays’ charity event. After appearing to ignore a youngster’s request for an autograph, the Toronto right fielder shouts an epithet when he hears an older man comment, “The way you played today Alex, you should be lucky somebody wants your autograph”.

Chipper Jones hits his 400th career home run, becoming the third switch-hitter to reach this level. Eddie Murray and Mickey Mantle had reached the mark previously. Ricky Nolasco gives up the homer. Jones has a four-hit game to move his average to .418, the top mark in the majors at this point of the season. The Braves top the Marlins, 7 – 5.

ByTom

Chipper Jones hits his 400th career home run, becoming the third switch-hitter to reach this level. Eddie Murray and Mickey Mantle had reached the mark previously. Ricky Nolasco gives up the homer. Jones has a four-hit game to move his average to .418, the top mark in the majors at this point of the season. The Braves top the Marlins, 7 – 5.