2017 – The Indians set a new record for most consecutive wins with no ties. They record their 22nd straight win with one of their more spectacular victories yet: they trail the Royals, 2 – 1, in the bottom of the 9th, but with two outs and two strikes and closer Kelvin Herrera on the mound, Francisco Lindor drives a ball against the fence, just out of the reach of LF Alex Gordon, for a double that scores pinch-runner Erik Gonzalez from first base with the tying run. Then, in the 10th, after a double by José Ramírez and a walk to Edwin Encarnacion, Jay Bruce lines a double to the right-field corner for a 3 – 2 win. The previous record of 21 straight wins had been held by the 1935 Chicago Cubs.

2017 – The Indians set a new record for most consecutive wins with no ties. They record their 22nd straight win with one of their more spectacular victories yet: they trail the Royals, 2 – 1, in the bottom of the 9th, but with two outs and two strikes and closer Kelvin Herrera on the mound, Francisco Lindor drives a ball against the fence, just out of the reach of LF Alex Gordon, for a double that scores pinch-runner Erik Gonzalez from first base with the tying run. Then, in the 10th, after a double by José Ramírez and a walk to Edwin Encarnacion, Jay Bruce lines a double to the right-field corner for a 3 – 2 win. The previous record of 21 straight wins had been held by the 1935 Chicago Cubs.

With Cub runners on first and second in the fourth inning of the team’s 7-3 victory over Chicago, the Pirates turn an 5-4-3 around-the-horn triple play when third baseman Josh Harrison fields Matt Szczur’s hard grounder, stepping on the bag to force Chris Valaika before firing the ball to second to Neil Walker to retire Mike Ott. The second baseman’s relay to first sacker Andrew Lambo completes the first triple killing in the 14-year history of PNC Park.

With Cub runners on first and second in the fourth inning of the team’s 7-3 victory over Chicago, the Pirates turn an 5-4-3 around-the-horn triple play when third baseman Josh Harrison fields Matt Szczur’s hard grounder, stepping on the bag to force Chris Valaika before firing the ball to second to Neil Walker to retire Mike Ott. The second baseman’s relay to first sacker Andrew Lambo completes the first triple killing in the 14-year history of PNC Park.

The Marlins win their first game since losing star OF Giancarlo Stanton to an injury thanks to a dramatic 9th-inning comeback against the Phillies. Trailing 4 – 1, the Marlins score four times against closer Jonathan Papelbon as Jordany Valdespin, Christian Yelich and Justin Bour collect RBIs to tie the score, and a wild pitch by Papelbon lets in the winning run. A frustrated Papelbon then gets ejected by umpire Joe West for gesturing at the crowd before Steve Cishek pitches the bottom of the inning to rack up his 35th save, setting a new personal best. Papelbon will be fined and suspended seven games for his unprofessional gesture, but umpire West will also receive a one-game suspension for grabbing the pitcher’s jersey after the incident.

The Marlins win their first game since losing star OF Giancarlo Stanton to an injury thanks to a dramatic 9th-inning comeback against the Phillies. Trailing 4 – 1, the Marlins score four times against closer Jonathan Papelbon as Jordany Valdespin, Christian Yelich and Justin Bour collect RBIs to tie the score, and a wild pitch by Papelbon lets in the winning run. A frustrated Papelbon then gets ejected by umpire Joe West for gesturing at the crowd before Steve Cishek pitches the bottom of the inning to rack up his 35th save, setting a new personal best. Papelbon will be fined and suspended seven games for his unprofessional gesture, but umpire West will also receive a one-game suspension for grabbing the pitcher’s jersey after the incident.

Jonathan Papelbon is ejected for grabbing his crotch, responding to the boos from the Citizens Bank Park crowd after he gives up four runs in the ninth inning of Phillies’ 5-4 loss to Miami. The apologetic closer, who insists he wasn’t making a vulgar motion toward fans, will be suspended for seven games and fined by Major League Baseball for making a lewd gesture and for bumping Joe West, the ump who will also receive a one-day suspension for pulling on the reliever’s jersey after he threw the player out of the game.

Jonathan Papelbon is ejected for grabbing his crotch, responding to the boos from the Citizens Bank Park crowd after he gives up four runs in the ninth inning of Phillies’ 5-4 loss to Miami. The apologetic closer, who insists he wasn’t making a vulgar motion toward fans, will be suspended for seven games and fined by Major League Baseball for making a lewd gesture and for bumping Joe West, the ump who will also receive a one-day suspension for pulling on the reliever’s jersey after he threw the player out of the game.

The A’s defeat the Rangers, 1 – 0, as Brandon Moss doubles in Josh Donaldson against hard-luck Yu Darvish in the 1st inning. Bartolo Colon is the winner with help from Grant Balfouras Oakland stretches its lead over Texas to 5 1/2 games.

The A’s defeat the Rangers, 1 – 0, as Brandon Moss doubles in Josh Donaldson against hard-luck Yu Darvish in the 1st inning. Bartolo Colon is the winner with help from Grant Balfouras Oakland stretches its lead over Texas to 5 1/2 games.

Jon Lester brings the Red Sox closer to a division title with a 5 – 1 win over the Yankees, pitching 8 solid innings and allowing only 3 hits in defeating CC Sabathia.

Jon Lester brings the Red Sox closer to a division title with a 5 – 1 win over the Yankees, pitching 8 solid innings and allowing only 3 hits in defeating CC Sabathia.

2012 – Chris Sale wins his 17th game of the year as the White Sox shut out the Twins, 6 – 0. The Sox stay ahead of the Tigers in the AL Central, although Detroit also wins by shutout, 4 – 0, over the Indians, as Justin Verlander is the winner.

2012 – Chris Sale wins his 17th game of the year as the White Sox shut out the Twins, 6 – 0. The Sox stay ahead of the Tigers in the AL Central, although Detroit also wins by shutout, 4 – 0, over the Indians, as Justin Verlander is the winner.

After missing fifty contests for a PED infraction in April 2008 while playing for the Giants, Eliezer Alfonzo becomes the first player to be suspended twice under the MLB drug program. The Colorado catcher will appeal the 100-game suspension, having the ban overturned for procedural reasons when his urine sample is not handled in the manner outlined in baseball’s agreement with the players.

After missing fifty contests for a PED infraction in April 2008 while playing for the Giants, Eliezer Alfonzo becomes the first player to be suspended twice under the MLB drug program. The Colorado catcher will appeal the 100-game suspension, having the ban overturned for procedural reasons when his urine sample is not handled in the manner outlined in baseball’s agreement with the players.

With their 3-2 loss to St. Louis, the Pirates extend their record streak of consecutive losing seasons to 19 straight years, the longest in American professional sports history. The Bucs, who led the NL Central by a half-game on July 20, have lost 38 of 54 contests since then, leaving the team with a 67-82 won-loss record.

With their 3-2 loss to St. Louis, the Pirates extend their record streak of consecutive losing seasons to 19 straight years, the longest in American professional sports history. The Bucs, who led the NL Central by a half-game on July 20, have lost 38 of 54 contests since then, leaving the team with a 67-82 won-loss record.

Braves’ fireballer Brandon Beachy establishes the modern franchise record for strikeouts in a season by a rookie pitcher when he whiffs eight batters in 4.1 innings, bringing his to total to 160. Irv Young struck out 156 in 1905 when the team played in Boston and were known as the Beaneaters.

Braves’ fireballer Brandon Beachy establishes the modern franchise record for strikeouts in a season by a rookie pitcher when he whiffs eight batters in 4.1 innings, bringing his to total to 160. Irv Young struck out 156 in 1905 when the team played in Boston and were known as the Beaneaters.