June 8

2015 – Shortstops are the flavor of the day in the 2015 amateur draft, as players who man the position are taken in the first three slots, and eight are selected within the first 36 picks. The number 1 overall pick is Dansby Swanson of Vanderbilt University, taken by the Diamondbacks. He is followed by Alex Bregman of LSU, by Houston and Brendan Rodgers, the first high schooler selected, by the Rockies. The Astros are the first team to have two of the top five picks in a draft, the result of failing come to terms with number one pick Brady Aiken last year; they take OF Kyle Tucker, the brother of their own Preston Tucker, 5th overall, while Aiken is selected again, this time with pick #17, by the Indians. Two other Vanderbilt players are taken in the first round, P Carson Fulmer by the White Sox at #8 and P Walker Buehler by the Dodgers at #24.

2014 – The Astros hit their first two grand slams of the season, courtesy of Chris Carter and Jon Singleton, in defeating the Twins, 14 – 5. Dexter Fowler and George Springer add solo shots as it is only the second time Houston has ever hit two slams in one game, the other coming in 1969. Darin Downs is the beneficiary of the outburst, picking up his first win of the year after starter Collin McHugh has to leave early because of a blister.

Also in the 2013 draft, Federico Castagnini is picked by the Baltimore Orioles in the 30th round. Castagnini, a Creighton University infielder, becomes the first player to be drafted who was born and raised in Italy, though he came to the United States to play high school and college ball. Castagnini had been MVP of the 2009 European Junior Championship, which Italy won.

For only the second time in major league history, two games go 18 innings on the same day. First, the Blue Jays defeat the Rangers, 4 – 3, when Rajai Davis drives in Emilio Bonifacio with a two-out single in the 18th inning. Ross Wolf is the unlucky loser after 6 2/3 innings of work. It’s the longest game in both teams’ history, but it’s not even the longest on the day, as the Marlins need 20 innings to defeat the Mets, 2 – 1, tying for the longest game in their history, and the longest played at Citi Field. Adeiny Hechevarria drives in the go-ahead run and Steve Cishek gets the final out after 6 hours and 20 minutes. The game almost ends in the 12th, but Marlins RF Marcell Ozuna throws Daniel Murphy out at the plate to prolong the game. Starters Shaun Marcum and Kevin Slowey then come in to pitch in the 13th, and both pitch scoreless ball until the 20th. Marcum falls to 0-7 in spite of his tremendous effort.

On the day when his son Josh is picked by the Yankees in the 37th round of the amateur draft, Andy Pettitte wins the 250th game of his career over the Mariners, 3 – 1.

Six Mariners pitchers combine to hurl the franchise’s third no-hitter when starter Kevin Millwood leaves the game with an injury and five relievers, Charlie Furbush, Stephen Pryor, Lucas Luetge, Brandon League, and Tom Wilhelmsen, keep the Dodgers hitless in the team’s 1-0 victory at Safeco Field. Brian Runge, the home plate umpire, was also behind the dish for Philip Humber’s perfect game, making him the first ump to call balls and strikes for two no-hitters in one season since Drew Coble accomplished the feat in 1990.

The Red Sox take over first place in the AL East by dropping the Yankees, 11 – 6, at New Yankee Stadium. Tim Wakefield continues to do well in filling for injured members of the starting rotation, picking up his third win after being staked an early 7 – 0 lead. David Ortiz, Carl Crawford and J.D. Drew all homer as A.J. Burnett takes the loss. But not all is rosy for Boston: 2B Dustin Pedroia heads home after the game to have his ailing right knee examined, but the problem turns out to be only a bone bruise. The Yanks are not so lucky as they place P Joba Chamberlain on the disabled list before the game with what turns out to be a torn ligament in his pitching elbow, requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery; Boston P Bobby Jenks also goes on the D.L., but his outlook is not as dire as Joba’s.

Two hitting coaches lose their jobs today. The Rangers replace Thad Bosley with Scott Coolbaugh before their game with Detroit, while the Marlins fire John Mallee following a 3 – 2, 10-inning loss to Atlanta, replacing him with Eduardo Perez.

Jeff Niemann pitches a two-hit complete game shutout against the Blue Jays. Tampa Bay wins, 9 – 0, as Carlos Pena leads the attack with two homers, including a grand slam.