The Chicago Cubs clinch the NL Central division title with a 6 – 0 shutout of the Cincinnati Reds, combined with a loss by the Milwaukee Brewers. It is the third different franchise that Cubs’ manager Lou Piniella has led to a division title. For Chicago, Alfonso Soriano hits his 32nd home run of the season, taking Bronson Arroyo deep in the 1st inning. It is Soriano’s 6th home run leading off a game this month, a new major league record. It is also his 13th homer in September, tying Ernie Banks’ franchise record.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Chicago Cubs clinch the NL Central division title with a 6 – 0 shutout of the Cincinnati Reds, combined with a loss by the Milwaukee Brewers. It is the third different franchise that Cubs’ manager Lou Piniella has led to a division title. For Chicago, Alfonso Soriano hits his 32nd home run of the season, taking Bronson Arroyo deep in the 1st inning. It is Soriano’s 6th home run leading off a game this month, a new major league record. It is also his 13th homer in September, tying Ernie Banks’ franchise record.

Jimmy Rollins flies out against Tim Redding in the 3rd inning of the Phillies’ 6 – 0 win over Washington. It is his 706th at-bat of the season, breaking the 27-year-old record held by Willie Wilson.

ByBaseball

Jimmy Rollins flies out against Tim Redding in the 3rd inning of the Phillies’ 6 – 0 win over Washington. It is his 706th at-bat of the season, breaking the 27-year-old record held by Willie Wilson.

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Roy Oswalt endures a three-hour rain delay to blank the Pirates, 3-0, for Houston’s ninth straight win.

ByTom

2006 – Roy Oswalt endures a three-hour rain delay to blank the Pirates, 3-0, for Houston’s ninth straight win. The late-season rally brings the Astros, 8-1/2 games behind the Cardinals just two weeks before, within a half-game of the Central leaders. Houston would lose two of three in Atlanta and wind up 1-1/2 games out at 82-80 for the season. Oswalt wins the league ERA title at 2.98. Lance Berkman would single on the last day to set a new team RBI record at 136. 

For the third consecutive season, Kansas City will lose 100 or more games. The team’s 2-1 defeat to the Twins in the Metrodome makes the Royals the 11th franchise in big league history to accomplish this dubious feat.

ByTom

For the third consecutive season, Kansas City will lose 100 or more games. The team’s 2-1 defeat to the Twins in the Metrodome makes the Royals the 11th franchise in big league history to accomplish this dubious feat.

At Coors Field in Colorado, James Loney collects four hits, including two homers, and drives in nine runs in the Dodgers’ 19-11 victory over the Rockies. The rookie first baseman, who had one homer and eight runs batted in in 93 previous at-bats with the team, ties the franchise RBI mark set by Gil Hodges in his 1950 four-homer game for Brooklyn and breaks the Los Angeles club mark held by Ron Cey.

ByThis Day in Baseball

At Coors Field in Colorado, James Loney collects four hits, including two homers, and drives in nine runs in the Dodgers’ 19-11 victory over the Rockies. The rookie first baseman, who had one homer and eight runs batted in in 93 previous at-bats with the team, ties the franchise RBI mark set by Gil Hodges in his 1950 four-homer game for Brooklyn and breaks the Los Angeles club mark held by Ron Cey.

Alex Rodriguez breaks Joe DiMaggio’s 1937 single-season club record for home runs by a right-handed batter

Alex Rodriguez breaks Joe DiMaggio’s 1937 single-season club record for home runs by a right-handed batter

ByThis Day in Baseball

Alex Rodriguez breaks Joe DiMaggio’s 1937 single-season club record for home runs by a right-handed batter. The third baseman’s 47th homer proves to be the difference as the Yankees edge the Orioles, 2-1.

With the lowest winning percentage ever compiled by a division champion during a non-strike year, the Padres (79-79) win their fourth division flag in the 37-year history of the franchise. San Diego, which needs to win three of their last four games just to finish above .500, accomplishes the feat, surpassing the Mets, who previously possessed the dubious record by going 82-79 (.509) to win the NL East in 1973.

ByBaseball

With the lowest winning percentage ever compiled by a division champion during a non-strike year, the Padres (79-79) win their fourth division flag in the 37-year history of the franchise. San Diego, which needs to win three of their last four games just to finish above .500, accomplishes the feat, surpassing the Mets, who previously possessed the dubious record by going 82-79 (.509) to win the NL East in 1973.

The San Diego Padres clinch the fourth division title in their 37-year history, beating the San Francisco Giants, 9 – 1. The Padres (79-79) need to win three of their last four games to finish above .500. Since 1969, and excluding strike years, the 1973 Mets own the lowest winning percentage of a division champion by going 82-79 (.509) to win the NL East that year.

ByBaseball

The San Diego Padres clinch the fourth division title in their 37-year history, beating the San Francisco Giants, 9 – 1. The Padres (79-79) need to win three of their last four games to finish above .500. Since 1969, and excluding strike years, the 1973 Mets own the lowest winning percentage of a division champion by going 82-79 (.509) to win the NL East that year.

Ron Santo, the team’s radio color commentator, joins Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Billy Williams, becoming third player to have his number retired by the Cubs. The nine-time All-Star third baseman, who spent 14 of his 15-year career with Chicago (1960-73), will have his uniform #10 below Ernie Banks’ on the left-field foul pole.

Ron Santo, the team’s radio color commentator, joins Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Billy Williams, becoming third player to have his number retired by the Cubs. The nine-time All-Star third baseman, who spent 14 of his 15-year career with Chicago (1960-73), will have his uniform #10 below Ernie Banks’ on the left-field foul pole.

ByTom

Ron Santo, the team’s radio color commentator, joins Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Billy Williams, becoming third player to have his number retired by the Cubs. The nine-time All-Star third baseman, who spent 14 of his 15-year career with Chicago (1960-73), will have his uniform #10 below Ernie Banks’ on the left-field foul pole.