Albert Pujols finally hits his first American League homer, breaking the longest homerless drought of his career, when he connects off the Blue Jays’ Drew Hutchison with a runner on in the 5th inning of the Angels’ 4 – 3 win. Pujols was being regularly booed for his lack of offensive production after signing a huge contract to join the Halos as a free agent in the off-season.

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Albert Pujols finally hits his first American League homer, breaking the longest homerless drought of his career, when he connects off the Blue Jays’ Drew Hutchison with a runner on in the 5th inning of the Angels’ 4 – 3 win. Pujols was being regularly booed for his lack of offensive production after signing a huge contract to join the Halos as a free agent in the off-season.

Both teams end up having to use position players on the mound when a game between the Orioles and Red Sox goes deep into extra innings. O’s manager Buck Showalter turns to DH Chris Davis to take the mound in the 16th inning with the score tied at 6 – 6. Davis gives him a pair of scoreless innings, somewhat compensating for a brutal 0-for-8 game at the plate. The Sox face the same quandary in the top of the 17th, and turn to OF Darnell McDonald. Things don’t go so well, however, as he surrenders a three-run homer to Adam Jones; he then grounds into a double play against Davis to end the game in the bottom of the frame. Davis is the winner in the 9 – 6 Baltimore win, and McDonald the loser; it is the first time both teams use position players to pitch in the same game since October 4, 1925, when future Hall of Famers George Sisler and Ty Cobb both got to pitch on the last day of the season.

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Both teams end up having to use position players on the mound when a game between the Orioles and Red Sox goes deep into extra innings. O’s manager Buck Showalter turns to DH Chris Davis to take the mound in the 16th inning with the score tied at 6 – 6. Davis gives him a pair of scoreless innings, somewhat compensating for a brutal 0-for-8 game at the plate. The Sox face the same quandary in the top of the 17th, and turn to OF Darnell McDonald. Things don’t go so well, however, as he surrenders a three-run homer to Adam Jones; he then grounds into a double play against Davis to end the game in the bottom of the frame. Davis is the winner in the 9 – 6 Baltimore win, and McDonald the loser; it is the first time both teams use position players to pitch in the same game since October 4, 1925, when future Hall of Famers George Sisler and Ty Cobb both got to pitch on the last day of the season.

The Phillies defeat the Nationals, 9 – 3, as Hunter Pence hits a pair of two-run homers in support of Cole Hamels’ pitching. Washington’s sole highlight comes in the the 1st, when rookie Bryce Harper pulls off a steal of home on a pick-off throw to first; Harper had reached base on a hit-by-pitch which Hamels later admits was a deliberate gesture aimed at the phenom’s cocky attitude after barely a week in the bigs; he will be suspended for five games as a result. In the 6th inning, RF Jayson Werth breaks his wrist in attempting a sliding catch in the outfield and will be out until August, a tough break for the Nats who have managed to stay in first place in spite of the absence of two other key players, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse, who are both injured.

The Phillies defeat the Nationals, 9 – 3, as Hunter Pence hits a pair of two-run homers in support of Cole Hamels’ pitching. Washington’s sole highlight comes in the the 1st, when rookie Bryce Harper pulls off a steal of home on a pick-off throw to first; Harper had reached base on a hit-by-pitch which Hamels later admits was a deliberate gesture aimed at the phenom’s cocky attitude after barely a week in the bigs; he will be suspended for five games as a result. In the 6th inning, RF Jayson Werth breaks his wrist in attempting a sliding catch in the outfield and will be out until August, a tough break for the Nats who have managed to stay in first place in spite of the absence of two other key players, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse, who are both injured.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Phillies defeat the Nationals, 9 – 3, as Hunter Pence hits a pair of two-run homers in support of Cole Hamels’ pitching. Washington’s sole highlight comes in the the 1st, when rookie Bryce Harper pulls off a steal of home on a pick-off throw to first; Harper had reached base on a hit-by-pitch which Hamels later admits was a deliberate gesture aimed at the phenom’s cocky attitude after barely a week in the bigs; he will be suspended for five games as a result. In the 6th inning, RF Jayson Werth breaks his wrist in attempting a sliding catch in the outfield and will be out until August, a tough break for the Nats who have managed to stay in first place in spite of the absence of two other key players, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse, who are both injured.

The Royals sell ten thousand walk-up tickets on the day Royals’ rookie Eric Hosmer makes his much-anticipated major league debut at Kauffman Stadium. The 21 year-old first baseman, who received the largest signing bonus in franchise history, goes hitless in his two official at-bats in a 3-2 loss to the A’s, but he is walked twice and steals a base.

ByTom

The Royals sell ten thousand walk-up tickets on the day Royals’ rookie Eric Hosmer makes his much-anticipated major league debut at Kauffman Stadium. The 21 year-old first baseman, who received the largest signing bonus in franchise history, goes hitless in his two official at-bats in a 3-2 loss to the A’s, but he is walked twice and steals a base.

Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals has a perfect game until the 8th inning before issuing a one-out walk and then settling for a two-hit shutout of the Brewers. Yuniesky Betancourt hits a single on the first pitch following the walk to Casey McGehee to break up the no-hit bid. Albert Pujols drives in three runs in the 6 – 0 win.

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Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals has a perfect game until the 8th inning before issuing a one-out walk and then settling for a two-hit shutout of the Brewers. Yuniesky Betancourt hits a single on the first pitch following the walk to Casey McGehee to break up the no-hit bid. Albert Pujols drives in three runs in the 6 – 0 win.

The Braves’ Derek Lowe also flirts with a no-hitter in a 5 – 0 win over the Phillies and Cliff Lee, who strikes out a career-high 16 batters in 7 innings in taking the loss. Lowe is bothered by a blister on his foot starting in the 3rd inning, but keeps the Phillies hitless until the 7th, when he allows a lead-off single to Shane Victorino and a double to Placido Polanco. Lowe departs in favor of Eric O’Flaherty, who also has awesome stuff on the night, striking out Ryan Howard, Ben Francisco and Raul Ibanez in the span of 15 pitches to preserve the shutout.

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The Braves’ Derek Lowe also flirts with a no-hitter in a 5 – 0 win over the Phillies and Cliff Lee, who strikes out a career-high 16 batters in 7 innings in taking the loss. Lowe is bothered by a blister on his foot starting in the 3rd inning, but keeps the Phillies hitless until the 7th, when he allows a lead-off single to Shane Victorino and a double to Placido Polanco. Lowe departs in favor of Eric O’Flaherty, who also has awesome stuff on the night, striking out Ryan Howard, Ben Francisco and Raul Ibanez in the span of 15 pitches to preserve the shutout.

Wade McGilberry wins a million dollars playing the video game, Major League Baseball 2K10. The 23 year-old Mobile, Alabamian becomes the first gamer to pitch a perfect game in the Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.’s product, accomplishing the feat in just an hour and a half.

ByTom

Wade McGilberry wins a million dollars playing the video game, Major League Baseball 2K10. The 23 year-old Mobile, Alabamian becomes the first gamer to pitch a perfect game in the Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.’s product, accomplishing the feat in just an hour and a half.

Robin Roberts dies at age 83 at his home in Temple Terrace, FL. He began his career in 1948 with the Philadelphia Phillies, with whom he had his best seasons. He was named to 7 All-Star teams and went 286-245 in a career that stretched until 1966. He led the National League in wins 4 times, won 20 or more games during 6 consecutive seasons, but also gave up a major league record 505 home runs. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976.

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Robin Roberts dies at age 83 at his home in Temple Terrace, FL. He began his career in 1948 with the Philadelphia Phillies, with whom he had his best seasons. He was named to 7 All-Star teams and went 286-245 in a career that stretched until 1966. He led the National League in wins 4 times, won 20 or more games during 6 consecutive seasons, but also gave up a major league record 505 home runs. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976.

From 7 a.m. till past midnight, more than 10,000 Tigers fans, some who wait more than eight hours in line at Comerica Park, pay their respect to the beloved broadcaster Ernie Harwell. The open casket is placed near the ballpark’s life-sized statue of the Hall of Famer, depicting the announcer with a microphone in his hand, along with the inscription, “The Tigers’ broadcasting legend and masterful storyteller for 42 seasons.”

ByTom

From 7 a.m. till past midnight, more than 10,000 Tigers fans, some who wait more than eight hours in line at Comerica Park, pay their respect to the beloved broadcaster Ernie Harwell. The open casket is placed near the ballpark’s life-sized statue of the Hall of Famer, depicting the announcer with a microphone in his hand, along with the inscription, “The Tigers’ broadcasting legend and masterful storyteller for 42 seasons.”

Scott Olsen of the Washington Nationals, who started the year in the minors after undergoing shoulder surgery the previous July, retires 22 of the first 23 Braves batters he faces, until David Ross breaks up his no-hit bid with a one-out single in the 8th. The Braves then proceed to tie the score at 2-all, but the Nats score a run in the bottom of the 9th on a pinch-hit single by Willie Harris with the bases loaded and none out. Tyler Clippard is credited with the 3 – 2 win.

ByBaseball

Scott Olsen of the Washington Nationals, who started the year in the minors after undergoing shoulder surgery the previous July, retires 22 of the first 23 Braves batters he faces, until David Ross breaks up his no-hit bid with a one-out single in the 8th. The Braves then proceed to tie the score at 2-all, but the Nats score a run in the bottom of the 9th on a pinch-hit single by Willie Harris with the bases loaded and none out. Tyler Clippard is credited with the 3 – 2 win.