With a 4-0 win over the Rangers, Blake Snell becomes the first 20-game winner in the majors this year. He also ties David Price for the Rays team record, and records his 200th strikeout in the process, reaching the mark for the first time of his career.

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With a 4-0 win over the Rangers, Blake Snell becomes the first 20-game winner in the majors this year. He also ties David Price for the Rays team record, and records his 200th strikeout in the process, reaching the mark for the first time of his career.

Playing the last-place Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, the Dodgers open the game with an inside-the-park homer by Chris Taylor and a conventional one by Justin Turner against rookie Nick Pivetta. However, the youngster settles down and in the 6th, Clayton Kershaw loads the bases with a pair of walks sandwiched around a bloop single by Freddy Galvis, before Aaron Altherr takes him deep for the first grand slam he has allowed in over 1,900 major league innings. Curtis Granderson adds a homer for the Dodgers in the 9th, but Hector Neris saves Philly’s 4 – 3 win.

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Playing the last-place Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, the Dodgers open the game with an inside-the-park homer by Chris Taylor and a conventional one by Justin Turner against rookie Nick Pivetta. However, the youngster settles down and in the 6th, Clayton Kershaw loads the bases with a pair of walks sandwiched around a bloop single by Freddy Galvis, before Aaron Altherr takes him deep for the first grand slam he has allowed in over 1,900 major league innings. Curtis Granderson adds a homer for the Dodgers in the 9th, but Hector Neris saves Philly’s 4 – 3 win.

In his first start in the majors, Reds’ rookie Billy Hamilton gets on base five times, going 3-for-4 with two walks, two runs scored, and an RBI. The Cincinnati speedy center fielder, who stole 155 bases in the minors last season, becomes the first major leaguer since 1920 to steal four bases in his first major league start.

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In his first start in the majors, Reds’ rookie Billy Hamilton gets on base five times, going 3-for-4 with two walks, two runs scored, and an RBI. The Cincinnati speedy center fielder, who stole 155 bases in the minors last season, becomes the first major leaguer since 1920 to steal four bases in his first major league start.

Yadier Molina strokes his 41st double of the season in the Cardinals’ 4-3 victory over Colorado, breaking the mark for two-baggers by a catcher. The St. Louis backstop, who will finish the year with 44 doubles, surpasses the record established in 1978 by Ted Simmons, who also played for the Redbirds.

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Yadier Molina strokes his 41st double of the season in the Cardinals’ 4-3 victory over Colorado, breaking the mark for two-baggers by a catcher. The St. Louis backstop, who will finish the year with 44 doubles, surpasses the record established in 1978 by Ted Simmons, who also played for the Redbirds.

Other games with postseason implications go into extra innings, as the Rays defeat the Rangers, 4 – 3, in 12 innings on Desmond Jennings’ game-ending single, while Chris Davis of the Orioles drives in a pair of 12th-inning runs in a 5 – 3 win over Boston. Tampa Bay’s win gives the Rays sole possession of the first wild card slot in the American League, a game ahead of Texas, with Cleveland a half-game behind Texas, the Orioles one back and Kansas City 2 1/2 out.

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Other games with postseason implications go into extra innings, as the Rays defeat the Rangers, 4 – 3, in 12 innings on Desmond Jennings’ game-ending single, while Chris Davis of the Orioles drives in a pair of 12th-inning runs in a 5 – 3 win over Boston. Tampa Bay’s win gives the Rays sole possession of the first wild card slot in the American League, a game ahead of Texas, with Cleveland a half-game behind Texas, the Orioles one back and Kansas City 2 1/2 out.

Taylor Teagarden strokes a pinch-hit single in the 18th inning to give the Orioles a 4 – 2 win over the Seattle Mariners, and put them in a first-place tie with the New York Yankees in the AL East. The O’s need to rally from a 2 – 0 deficit in the top of the 9th, as Ryan Flaherty and Nate McLouth, open the frame with singles, chasing starter Erasmo Ramirez, who had only given up 2 hits until then. J.J. Hardy bunts the two runners over, then Chris Davis drives them both in with a single off closer Tom Wilhelmsen, sending the game into extra innings.

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Taylor Teagarden strokes a pinch-hit single in the 18th inning to give the Orioles a 4 – 2 win over the Seattle Mariners, and put them in a first-place tie with the New York Yankees in the AL East. The O’s need to rally from a 2 – 0 deficit in the top of the 9th, as Ryan Flaherty and Nate McLouth, open the frame with singles, chasing starter Erasmo Ramirez, who had only given up 2 hits until then. J.J. Hardy bunts the two runners over, then Chris Davis drives them both in with a single off closer Tom Wilhelmsen, sending the game into extra innings.

The Tigers defeat the red-hot Athletics, 12 – 2, but lose P Max Scherzer, who departs after two innings with shoulder fatigue. Miguel Cabrera homers twice, including a grand slam in the 8th, and drives in 6 runs; Prince Fielder and Jhonny Peralta also homer as A.J. Griffin is the loser after starting his career with 6 straight wins.

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The Tigers defeat the red-hot Athletics, 12 – 2, but lose P Max Scherzer, who departs after two innings with shoulder fatigue. Miguel Cabrera homers twice, including a grand slam in the 8th, and drives in 6 runs; Prince Fielder and Jhonny Peralta also homer as A.J. Griffin is the loser after starting his career with 6 straight wins.

The Padres use a 9th-inning rally, capped by a three-run homer by Ryan Ludwick against his former teammates, as they defeat St. Louis, 8 – 4, and regain a half-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West. The Rockies are only a game back of both teams after they win their 20th in their last 26 games, 12 – 2 over Los Angeles. Red-hot Troy Tulowitzki hits two more homers and has now gone long 14 times in his last 15 games.

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The Padres use a 9th-inning rally, capped by a three-run homer by Ryan Ludwick against his former teammates, as they defeat St. Louis, 8 – 4, and regain a half-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West. The Rockies are only a game back of both teams after they win their 20th in their last 26 games, 12 – 2 over Los Angeles. Red-hot Troy Tulowitzki hits two more homers and has now gone long 14 times in his last 15 games.

At Citi Field, Luis Hernandez falls to the ground in obvious pain when he fouls a ball off his right foot, and after a lengthy discussion, dismisses the team trainer to resume his turn at-bat. The Mets second baseman hits a home run on the next pitch he sees, but severely limps rounding the bases, reminiscent of Kirk Gibson, barely making it home due to the broken foot that will end his season.

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At Citi Field, Luis Hernandez falls to the ground in obvious pain when he fouls a ball off his right foot, and after a lengthy discussion, dismisses the team trainer to resume his turn at-bat. The Mets second baseman hits a home run on the next pitch he sees, but severely limps rounding the bases, reminiscent of Kirk Gibson, barely making it home due to the broken foot that will end his season.

Troy Tulowitzki, with two round-trippers in the Rockies’ 12-2 rout of LA, ties a major-league record with 14 homers in a 15-game span. The Colorado shortstop, who has four multi-homer games in the previous ten contests, joins sluggers Albert Belle (1995) and Barry Bonds (2001) as the third player to accomplish the feat.

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Troy Tulowitzki, with two round-trippers in the Rockies’ 12-2 rout of LA, ties a major-league record with 14 homers in a 15-game span. The Colorado shortstop, who has four multi-homer games in the previous ten contests, joins sluggers Albert Belle (1995) and Barry Bonds (2001) as the third player to accomplish the feat.