Baseball – 2003

Baseball in 2003

<< Previous Year | Next Year >>

January

January 2The Orioles sign free agent P Omar Daal to a 2-year contract.

The Cubs sign free agent IF Ramon Martinez to a contract.
January 3The Cubs sign free agent P Dave Veres to a contract.

The Mariners sign free agent first baseman Glenn Colbrunn to a 2-year contract.

The Rangers sign free agent P John Thomson to a contract.
January 6The Braves sign free agent OF/1B/C Robert Fick to a contract.

The Cardinals sign free agent Ps Joey Hamilton and Al Levine to contracts.
January 7Eddie Murray and Gary Carter are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers.

The Rockies sign free agent 3B Chris Stynes to a contract.

The Royals sign free agent P Albie Lopez to a contract.
January 8The Red Sox agree on a 2-year contract with free agent 3B Bill Mueller.
January 9The Indians sign free agent OF Shane Spencer to a contract.

The Marlins sign free agent OF Todd Hollandsworth to a contract.
January 10The Royals sign free agent IF Desi Relaford to a two-year contract.

The Marlins sign free agent OF Gerald Williams to a contract.

The Brewers sign free agent P Dave Mlicki to a contract.
January 11The Marlins obtain P Mark Redman from the Tigers in a deal involving 4 other pitchers. The Marlins also get Jason Fuell while Detroit picks up Gary Knotts‚ Nate Robertson‚ and Rob Henkel.
January 12The Mets sign free agent OF Tsuyoshi Shinjo to a contract.

The Reds sign free agent P Paul Wilson to a 2-year contract.
January 13The Braves sign free agent P Mike Venafro to a contract.
January 14The Brewers sign free agent P Todd Ritchie to a contract.

The Yankees sign and officially introduce Hideki Matsui‚ a three-time MVP of Japan’s Central League for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants. The power-hitting OF agreed last month to a $21 million‚ three-year contract. Today’s news conference is called the biggest in the Yankees 100-year history. Duly impressed‚ ML Baseball asks the Yanks tomorrow to consider opening the season in Japan.
January 15In a 3-team deal‚ the White Sox obtain 20-game winner Bartolo Colon from the Expos. The Yankees send P Orlando Hernandez and $2 million to Chicago for Ps Antonio Osuna and Delvis Lantigua. The Sox then sent Hernandez‚ P Rocky Biddle‚ OF Jeff Liefer‚ and cash to Montreal for Colon and minor league IF Jorge Nunez.

The Rangers sign free agent P Ismael Valdes to a contract.

The White Sox sign free agent OF Armando Rios to a contract.
January 16The Orioles sign free agent P Kerry Ligtenberg to a contract.

The Phillies sign free agent IF Tyler Houston to a contract.

The Cubs sign free agent P Mark Guthrie to a contract.

The Mariners sign free agent OF/1B John Mabry to a contract.

Alex Rodriguez is announced as the winner of the 1st annual Ted Williams Award for being the best hitter in the majors in 2002.

The Mariners announce they will open the 2003 season with a 2-game series against the A’s in Tokyo‚ Japan.
January 17The A’s sign free agent P John Halama to a contract.

In an effort to make the All-Star Game more meaningful‚ baseball owners decide unanimously to give the winner of the game the home field advantage in the World Series. The players‚ who are against the idea‚ must still agree to the plan.
January 19The Rockies agree to contract terms with free agent IF Jose Hernandez and P Steve Reed.
January 20The White Sox sign free agent P Tom Gordon to a contract.

The Cardinals sign free agent P Dustin Hermanson to a contract.
January 22The Marlins sign free agent C Ivan Rodriguez to a contract.

The Red Sox sign free agent 1B David Ortiz‚ who had been released by the Twins‚ to a contract.

The San Diego Padres‘ new ballpark will be called PETCO Park after the pet supply company agreed to a naming rights deal worth more than $60 million over 22 years. PETCO was founded in San Diego in 1965. The ballpark is scheduled to be completed by opening day 2004. PETA‚ an animal rights group‚ protests the name.
January 23The Yankees sign free agent P Jon Lieber to a 2-year contract. Recovering from arm surgery‚ Lieber is not expected to pitch till 2004.

The Braves sign free agent P Roberto Hernandez to a contract.
January 25The Dodgers obtain OF Daryle Ward from the Astros in exchange for minor league P Ruddy Lugo.
January 28A federal judge tosses out a lawsuit by baseball umpires‚ ruling that Major League Baseball’s decision to discipline union head John Hirschbeck is not subject to arbitration. Last May 10. Commissioner Bud Selig sent Hirschbeck a letter stating that Hirschbeck had instructed plate umpire Mark Carlson not to issue a warning to Cincinnati’s Gabe White after a pitch sailed over the head of San Francisco’s Barry Bonds during an April 28 game in Cincinnati. MLB also claimed that its computerized umpire evaluation system indicated that Hirschbeck had “a high percentage of missed calls of balls and strikes” in a game on May 4. A union lawyer said last summer that the dispute wasn’t over discipline of Hirschbeck‚ but was about management’s reliance on the Questec computerized evaluation system‚ which the union claims is inaccurate.

The Giants sign free agent OF Jose Cruz Jr. to a contract.
January 31The Chicago White Sox announce that Comiskey Park will now be known as U.S. Cellular Field under a 23-year deal with the wireless service provider that will pay the White Sox $68 million over 20 years. The Sox say a major difference from most stadium sponsorship deals is that the revenue from the naming rights will be used for changes within the ballpark they say will enhance the enjoyment of the game for the fan.

Umpire Bruce Froemming is handed a 10-day suspension without pay and will miss a trip to work the major league opener in Tokyo for using an anti-Semitic slur. Baseball’s most senior crew chief made the remark about umpiring administrator Cathy Davis after talking to officials regarding his travel arrangements to Japan. Thinking the phone was disconnected. He referred to her as a “stupid Jew bitch.” “I’m sincerely sorry‚” Froemming said. “I made a stupid remark and I accept my punishment. I’ve apologized to Ms. Davis. There was no anti-Semitism whatsoever on my part.”

February

February 2The Cardinals sign free agent OF Orlando Palmeiro to a contract.

The Red Sox announce that Jackie Robinson will be nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his achievements as the first black player in modern major league baseball.
February 5Umpire John Hirschbeck the head of the umpires’ union‚ is given a 10-day suspension for reportedly making personal threats to Rob Manfred‚ executive vice president for labor relations in the commissioner’s office. He is the second umpire in less than a week to be given a 10-day suspension because of inappropriate comments. Hirschbeck got into a heated telephone conversation with Manfred last month and made personal threats against him. Hirschbeck was upset that an acquaintance was one of 26 baseball employees laid off on January 22.
February 7The Devil Rays sign free agent 1B Travis Lee.
February 8The Dominican Republic’s Cibao Eagles defeat Puerto Rico to win the Caribbean Series.
February 14In a letter to the World Umpires Association‚ baseball says that umpires whose calls do not match Questec at least 90 percent of the time will be judged as not meeting standards. In response next month‚ 47 of 68 umpires sign a statement expressing no confidence in the QuesTec system.
February 15The Marlins sell Kevin Millar to the Red Sox for $1.2 million‚ along with an additional $300‚000 that will go to charity. This ends the bizarre episode which began when the Marlins sold Millar to the Japan’s Chunichi Dragons for $1.2 million for Millar’s rights last month. A pro forma waiver request was interrupted when the Red Sox claimed Millar.
February 17Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler dies less than 24 hours after being forced to leave a spring training workout due to heatstroke. His death is tied to an over-the-counter supplement‚ which contains the stimulant Ephedrine.

The Braves re-signed P Greg Maddux to a one-year‚ $14.75 million contract‚ which avoids salary arbitration.
February 21Hall of Fame P Sandy Koufax severs ties with his former team because of a gossip item hinting that Koufax is gay that appeared in the New York Post‚ a newspaper owned by the Dodgers’ team ownership.
February 25The Pirates sign free agent OF Reggie Sanders to a contract‚ his 6th NL team in 6 years.
February 26The Veterans Committee does not vote anyone into the Hall of Fame for the first time since 1993. Gil Hodges is the top vote-getter‚ falling 11 votes shy of winning election.
February 27Major league baseball formally bans the drug Ephedrine from use by all minor league players not on a major league 40-man roster.

March

March 10The Yankees fine P David Wells $100‚000 for comments in his autobiography that the team feels tarnishes the club’s image.

Sixteen members of the White Sox want to refuse to take steroid test‚ but are talked out of it by a few veteran players. By refusing they would register as failing and the players wanted to try to inflate the failure rate. If at least 5% of the players test positive‚ mandatory testing will continue through 2005.

Damian Costantino of Division III Salve Regina singles against Mount Union to extend his hitting streak to an NCAA-record 59 games. Robin Ventura held the old mark of 58 games in a row.
March 11Major league baseball announces that approximately 1‚000 games will be broadcast on the Internet this season.

The Orioles send OF-1B Chris Richard to the Rockies in exchange for OF Jack Cust.
March 13The Twins sign free agent P Kenny Rogers to a contract.

Former major league C Bob Uecker is picked for the Ford C. Frick Award‚ and will be inducted into the announcer’s wing of the Hall of Fame in July.
March 14The Pirates sign free agent OF Kenny Lofton to a contract.
March 18Commissioner Bud Selig announces that major league baseball will cancel its season-opening series March 25-26 at the Tokyo Dome between the Mariners and A’s because of the war with Iraq. “Given the uncertainty that now exists throughout the world‚ we believe the safest course of action for the players involved and the many staff personnel who must work the games is to reschedule the opening series‚” Selig said. “It would be unfair and terribly unsettling for them to be half a world away.” The games are rescheduled for April 3 and June 30 in Oakland.
March 19The Yankees trade OF Rondell White to the Padres in exchange for OF Bubba Trammell and P Mark Phillips.
March 24The Devil Rays send OF Jason Conti to the Brewers for switch-hitting C Javier Valentin.

The Expos obtain minor leaguer Edwards Guzman and P Livan Hernandez and from the Giants in exchange for P Jim Brower and a player to be named. The trade reunites Livan with his older brother‚ Orlando‚ otherwise known as “El Duque.” The brothers last played together on the Cuban National team. A week from now‚ assault charges against Livan for an incident in Miami where he swung golf clubs at a 65-year-old man will be dropped. He will attend anger management classes and perform community service.
March 27On Ebay‚ the online auction house‚ a 1976 World Series ring‚ given to Reds pitcher Will McEnaney‚ is sold for $6500.01. It is believed to be the first sale on Ebay of a non-replica WS ring.
March 28The Tigers released 2B Damian Easley‚ setting a major league record for the most expensive player to be released. He has $14.3 million left on his contract and he breaks the record set earlier in the month by Greg Vaughn‚ he has $9.3 million left on his deal. Easley will ink a deal in 5 days to play for the Marlins.

The Orioles claimed INF Jose Morban off waivers from the Twins and released INFs Jeff Reboulet and John Valentin‚
March 30The Texas Rangers‚ powered by 3 HRs‚ defeat the World Champion Anaheim Angels‚ 6-3‚ to open the 2003 season. Michael Young’s 3-run blast in the 4th inning is the big blow‚ as Ismael Valdes picks up the win.
March 31The Pirates stroke 3 HRs in a 6-run 2nd inning on their way to a 10-1 victory over the Reds in the Opener at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Reggie Sanders‚ Kenny Lofton‚ and Jason Kendall homer in the frame for Pittsburgh. Ken Griffey Jr.’s first inning double is the first hit in the new ballpark.

The Cubs pound out 16 hits in defeating the Mets‚ 15-2‚ for the most lopsided opening day win since 1951. Corey Patterson has 4 hits‚ a pair of HRs‚ and 7 RBIs to lead the way for Chicago.

The Royals defeat the White Sox‚ 3-0‚ as Runelvys Hernandez combines with 2 relievers on the 3-hit shutout. KC manager Tony Pena had flipped a coin to see whether Hernandez or Jeremy Affeldt would receive the honor of making the opening day start.

The Devil Rays score 5 runs in the bottom half of the 9th inning to defeat the Red Sox‚ 6-4. Carl Crawford’s 2-out‚ 3-run blast gives manager Lou Piniella a win in his debut as Tampa Bay’s manager.

Runelvys Hernandez wins a coin flip over Jeremy Affeldt to be the Opening Day pitcher for the Royals. Hernandez pitches 6 innings as Kansas City beats the White Sox‚ 3-0.

April

April 1The Yankees defeat the Blue Jays‚ 9-7‚ as Toronto SS Mike Bordick’s record streak for games without an error ends at 110. He booted Bubba Trammell’s grounder in the 3rd inning for his error after 544 chances without a miscue.

Kevin Millar hits a homer in the 16th inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 9-8 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Millar‚ who entered as a pinch-hitter in the 14th‚ lines a 1-2 pitch into the left-field seats off loser Jorge Sosa. The Red Sox make 4 hits after the sixth inning‚ but blow a couple of chances to win before Millar’s homer bails out a bullpen that blows a three-run lead in the late innings for the 2nd straight night. The Devil Rays strand a club-record 21 runners.
April 2The Angels pound the Rangers‚ 11-5‚ as Texas’s Alex Rodriguez becomes the youngest player in history to hit 300 HRs with a 3-run blast in the 5th inning. Jimmie Foxx had been the youngest to accomplish the feat prior to Rodriguez.

The Detroit Tigers became the first team to have four pitchers make their major league debuts in the same game‚ (according to the Elias Sports Bureau). Jeremy Bonderman‚ Wilfredo Ledezma‚ Chris Spurling and Matt Roney all appear in their first ML games for the Tigers‚ who lose 8-1 to the Minnesota Twins.

The Cubs P Matt Clement fires 3 wild pitches in the 1st inning of his start against the Mets. He leaves after 3 innings‚ due to tightness in his lower back‚ after giving up 3 runs in the 1st and one in the 2nd. Al Leiter is the winner‚ 4-1.
April 3With a 4-0 loss to Montreal’s Javier Vazquez‚ the Braves start 0-3 for the first time since they started 0-10 in1988. The team also loses back to back shutout games for the first time since 1992.
April 4The Reds defeat the Cubs‚ 10-9‚ despite Sammy Sosa‘s 500th career homerun. Sosa becomes the 18th player in history to reach 500 homers. Scott Sullivan serves up the 500th.

Brad Ausmus hits a 12th inning homer to give the Houston Astros a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Jim Edmonds‚ with two homers and two doubles‚ leads the Cards‚ while Albert Pujols also homers.

Seattle Mariners reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki ties the major league record with four strikeouts in the 9th inning against the Texas Rangers. Sasaki strikes out Todd Greene‚ Carl Everett (who reaches on a wild pitch)‚ Mike Young and Mike Lamb. Sasaki gets the save for Ryan Franklin in the 6-4 win over the Rangers.
April 5The Phillies pound the unbeaten Pirates‚ 16-1‚ as Jimmy Rollins gets 5 hits-including 3 doubles-and scores 4 runs.

The Royals improve their record to 5-0 with a 3-1 win over the Indians. They become the 1st team in ML history to begin a year with 5 straight wins after losing 100 games the previous season.

The Marlins pound out 23 hits in defeating the Braves‚ 17-1. Greg Maddux is pounded for 3 homers and 9 runs in 2 innings.

In a 9-7 loss to the Cubs‚ Reds star CF Ken Griffey‚ Jr. dislocates his shoulder trying to make a diving catch.
April 6The White Sox score 9 runs in the 8th inning to rally for a 10-2 win over the Tigers. Detroit becomes the 1st team since the 1962-63 Mets to lose their first 6 games of the season in consecutive years.

The Pirates shut out the Phillies‚ 2-0‚ behind Kris Benson. Philadelphia’s Jim Thome goes 0-for-4‚ ending his streak of reaching base safely in 60 straight games‚ the longest streak in the majors since Mark McGwire reached base in 62 in a row in 1995-96.

Alfonso Soriano and Nick Johnson hit back-to-back homers to start the game as the Yankees beat Tampa Bay‚ 10-5. Rogers Clemens wins victory #295.

Shea Hillenbrand has a homer‚ 2 doubles‚ and 6 RBI to pace the Red Sox to 12-2 win over the Orioles. Nomar Garciaparra adds a walk‚ double‚ triple‚ and homer‚ and scores 4 times as the Sox jump on nemesis Rodrigo Lopez‚ 4-0 versus Boston last year.
April 7Gary Sheffield‚ Chipper Jones‚ and Andruw Jones hit consecutive home runs in the bottom half of the 6th inning to lead Atlanta to a 3-0 victory over Florida.

John Wasdin pitches a perfect game for the Nashville Sounds in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League‚ just the second perfecto in the 100-year history of the league. John Halama‚ then with the Tacoma Rainiers‚ pitched the first one in 2001. The 30-year-old Wasdin fires the first perfect game in the team’s 26-year history in a 4-0‚ 100-pitch victory over the visiting Albuquerque Isotopes at Greer Stadium. He strikes out 15.
April 8After delaying their home opener by a day because of impending snow‚ the Yankees beat the Twins‚ 7-3‚ with Hideki Matsui’s grand slam the key blow in the game. Matsui becomes the first Yankee in history to hit a grand slam in his first game in Yankee Stadium. He also becomes the first to hit his first Yankee homer with the bases loaded since Horace Clarke did so in 1965. The loss puts the Twins below .500 for the first time since the end of the 2000 season‚ a club-record span of 328 consecutive games.

The Braves got 3 consecutive HRs‚ from Gary Sheffield‚ Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones‚ in the 6th inning against the Marlins. It is the 2nd consecutive year that Andruw Jones is part of a back-to-back-to-back HR trio‚ doing it last June 11‚ with Vinny Castilla and Matt Franco.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny tags out Jay Payton at the plate and sends the game into extra innings. Matheny hits a three-run homer in the 13th to give his team a 15-12 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Cardinals centerfielder Jim Edmonds has four hits and five RBI while becoming only the sixth major league player to notch seven extra base hits in two consecutive games. The last player to tie this record was Larry Walker on May 22‚ 1996. Todd Helton is 4-for-4 for the losers.

In a 4-2 loss to the Mets‚ Marlins C Ivan Rodriguez ties the modern NL record with 5 walks in a 9-inning game. The last player to accomplish this was Vince Coleman‚ who like Rodriguez‚ had walkaphobia during his career. The Mets allow 7 walks as Al Leiter (2-0) gets the victory.
April 9The Royals send the Tigers down to their 7th straight defeat‚ winning by a score of 9-6. Detroit becomes just the 2nd team in history to start successive seasons with 7 straight losses (they lost their first 11 games last year). The Mets were 0-9 in 1962 and 0-8 in 1963.
April 10The Royals down the Tigers‚ 4-2‚ sending Detroit to its 8th straight defeat to start the season. Tigers’ manager Alan Trammell becomes the 1st new manager to begin 0-8 since Malachi Kittridge began the 1904 season at 0-13 with the Washington Senators.

The Rockies top the Cardinals‚ 8-7. In doing so‚ they turn the first triple play in team history when Orlando Palmeiro lines out to 1B Todd Helton with 2 runners going with the pitch in the 6th inning.

The Astros beat the Reds‚ 4-2‚ as Craig Biggio sets an NL record with his 31st career leadoff HR. Rookie Jeriome Robertson picks up his 1st ML win for Houston.
April 11Rookie Runelvys Hernandez becomes the majors’ first 3-game winner as KC shuts out Cleveland‚ 1-0‚ for their 8th straight win. The Royals become the 1st team to win their 1st 8 games of the season since the Cincinnati Reds did so in 1990.

Montreal defeats the Mets‚ 10-0‚ in their first of 22 home games they will play in Puerto Rico this season.

Detroit loses to the White Sox‚ 5-0‚ to become the 1st ML team to begin consecutive seasons with 9 straight losses.

The Brewers down Arizona‚ 11-7‚ as Geoff Jenkins has his 1st career 5-hit game for Milwaukee.
April 12The Expos down the Mets‚ 5-4. NY 2B Roberto Alomar scores the 1‚417th run of his career to move him past Roberto Clemente into 1st place among Puerto Rican players.
April 13Is 13 bad luck? The Phillies‚ score all 13 of their runs in the 4th inning to set a new team mark‚ and trounce the Reds‚ 13-1.
April 15The Royals rally for 4 runs in the 9th inning to pull out an 8-5 win over the White Sox. Play is temporarily halted in the 8th inning as a fan runs onto the field and attacks umpire Laz Diaz. The last time the two teams met in Chicago on September 19‚ two fans attacked KC 1B coach Tom Gamboa.
April 17Carlos Baerga leads the Diamondbacks to an 11-2 victory over the Rockies. Baerga clouts a pair of HRs and drives home a career-high 7 runs for Colorado.
April 18The Orioles score 8 runs in the 2nd inning and go on to defeat the Devil Rays‚ 9-7.

The Yankees beat the Twins‚ 11-4. NY starting pitchers have a combined 11-0 record‚ tying the 1990 Milwaukee Brewers for the best start by a rotation in the last 50 years.

Bartolo Colon allows 3 runs in 9 innings against his old team the Indians as the White Sox win‚ 5-3. Frank breaks Luke Appling‘s team record for walks when he draws 2 bases on balls‚ the 2nd intentional‚ giving him 1‚303 for his 14-season career. Appling compiled 1‚302 walks over 20 seasons with the Pale Hose.
April 20The Yankees defeat Minnesota‚ 8-2. The win gives New York starting pitchers a 13-0 record‚ the best mark by any starting staff at the beginning of the season since 1900.

The Mets down the Marlins‚ 7-4‚ to Art Howe his 1‚000th win as manager. He is the 49th skipper to reach the milestone‚ and the 5th active one.
April 21Minor league pitcher Jae Kuk Ryu‚ 20‚ knocks an osprey from its perch at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach before a game in the Class A Florida State League. The bird‚ nicknamed “Ozzy'” by fans‚ is blinded in its right eye and dies six days later. Following public outcry over the mascot incident‚ the Cubs will demote Ryu to the Lansing Lugnuts of the lower-level Midwest League. He is later promoted to the Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx. After the season Ryu will be sentenced to serve 100 hours of public service for his bird assault.

The Yankees continue their hot start with a 15-1 win over the Twins. With David Wells‘s victory‚ the NY starting pitchers are now 14-0. The Twins have played 6 series so far and have either swept‚ or been swept‚ in all six.

The Indians defeat the White Sox‚ 9-2‚ despite a HR by Derek Lee. Lee has homered in 5 consecutive games to tie a Chicago mark. Frank Thomas was the last White Sox player to perform the feat.
April 22The Cubs down the Padres‚ 7-2. San Diego pitcher Brian Lawrence ties a ML record by hitting 3 Chicago players-Alex Gonzalez‚ Sammy Sosa and Hee Seop Choi-with pitches in the 4th inning. All 3 score. Sosa is able to be in the lineup after having a CAT scan following a nasty beaning on Sunday‚ the 20th‚ which broke his helmet.

The Yankees continue their winning ways with an 8-3 victory over the Angels on the 100th anniversary of their 1st game. New York is off to the best start in its history with a 17-3 record. The team’s starting pitchers are now 15-0 on the year.
April 24KC edges Minnesota‚ 2-1‚ to become just the 10th team in ML history-and the 1st since the 1987 Yankees-to start the year with a 10-0 record at home.

The Phillies pound the Rockies‚ 9-1‚ with 2B Chase Utley’s grand slam being the big blow. It is Utley’s 1st ML hit in his 3rd AB. The last to make his first hit a grand slam was Boston’s Creighton Gubanich in 1999.

The Angels hand Andy Pettitte and the Yankees a 6-2 loss. It is the 1st loss for a NY starting pitcher‚ ending their ML-record streak of starters going 16-0 to begin the year.
April 25Bud Selig announces that he will step down as baseball commissioner when his term ends in December 2006.

The Dodgers score 5 runs in the 9th inning to defeat the Pirates‚ 5-2. Pittsburgh starting P Kip Wells hits a 457-foot HR off the batter’s eye in center field‚ becoming only the 2nd player to reach the spot in PNC Park.

The Brewers ride Richie Sexson’s 3 HRs to a 12-5 win over the Braves. Sexson adds a double to give him a team-record 14 total bases.

The Mariners shut out the Tigers‚ 6-0‚ sending rookie P Mike Maroth to his 6th defeat. Maroth becomes just the 2nd pitcher in ML history to go 0-6 in April. Dave Stewart of Texas did so in 1984.
April 27The Diamondbacks sweep a doubleheader from the Mets‚ winning the 1st game by a score of 6-1 and the 2nd‚ 7-3. New York commits 8 errors in the twinbill and strikes out 27 times to set a new ML mark for futility. Arizona rookie P Brandon Webb hurls 7 shutout innings‚ allowing just 3 hits and striking out 10 in his 1st ML start. Webb is sent down to the minors after the game in order to allow Randy Johnson to come off the DL and pitch the 2nd contest. He strikes out 12.

The Rangers defeat the Yankees‚ 10-7‚ as Alex Rodriguez goes 5-5 and drives in 6 runs. Rodriguez has a pair of doubles in his 3rd career 5-hit game.

The Cardinals outlast the Marlins‚ 7-6‚ in 20 innings. It is the ML’s 1st 20-inning game sine 1993.

The Phillies beat the Giants‚ 1-0‚ as Kevin Millwood pitches the 1st no-hitter of the season‚ and only the 2nd in the 33-year history of Veterans Stadium. He strikes out 10 while walking three. Ricky Ledee has 2 of the Phils’ 4 hits‚ including a solo homer off Foppert to account for the only score.

The Houston Texans take Yankee minor leaguer Drew Henson in the 6th round of the NFL draft.
April 29It shoulda been the Royals. Gene Kingsale misses a game in order to be knighted in his home country of Aruba. Kingsale was joined by Baltimore pitcher Sidney Ponson and Los Angeles pitcher Calvin Maduro. Sir Eugene will be back in the lineup tomorrow.
April 30The Red Sox score 3 runs in the bottom half of the 9th inning to eke out a 5-4 win over the Royals. KC pitchers hit 3 batters in the inning to tie a ML mark. It is only the 2nd time it has ever been done in the 9th inning.

The Yankees defeat the visiting Mariners‚ 8-5‚ behind Raul Mondesi‘s grand slam. Mariano Rivera‚ after a month of injury rehab‚ makes his first appearance of the year‚ giving up a run in the 9th.

May

May 1Baseball players agree to a two-year experiment to give home-field advantage in the WS to the league that wins the All-Star Game. The two sides also agree to increase the roster size from 30 to 32‚ and to give players‚ managers‚ and coaches a say on who makes the team.

The Orioles sweep a doubleheader from the Tigers‚ winning by scores of 5-2 and 6-4‚ to drop Detroit’s record to 3-23. In the 1st game‚ BJ Ryan earns the win in relief without throwing a single pitch. After relieving Pat Hentgen with two outs in the 7th‚ he picks Omar Infante off first base to end the inning. The Orioles go on to score 3 runs in the bottom half of the inning to make him the pitcher of record on the winning side. He is relieved by Buddy Groom for the 8th and Jorge Julio in the 9th. In the 2nd game‚ Detroit P Mike Maroth hurls 7 innings of hitless ball before giving up a leadoff single to Jay Gibbons in the 8th. Maroth eventually takes the loss‚ dropping his record to 0-7. He misses by one day from becoming the 1st pitcher in history to lose 7 games in April.
May 2The Devil Rays defeat the hapless Tigers‚ 2-0‚ behind Joe Kennedy’s 1-hitter. It is the 1st 1-hitter in Tampa Bay history. Kennedy allows a single to leadoff hitter Angel Torres in the bottom half of the 1st inning‚ then holds Detroit in check the rest of the way.

In Toronto‚ the Blue Jays defeat the Angels‚ 3-1. The game is interrupted in the 9th when a fan jumps on the field and jogs toward 2B. Jays second baseman Orlando Hudson shoves him and he is taken away by guards. Tim Salmon stretches his hitting streak to 19 games with a HR.
May 5The Royals defeat the Red Sox‚ 7-6. KC’s 11-0 start at Kauffman Stadium is the second-best in major league history behind the 1911 Detroit Tigers‚ who won their first 12 home games.
May 6Dmitri Young has 2 homers and 2 triples for 15 total bases in leading the Tigers to a 7-6 win over the Orioles. His triple in the 9th drives home the deciding run.

Jacque Jones is 5-for-5 with 2 homers in the Twins 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay.
May 8The Reds down the Cardinals‚ 8-6‚ as Aaron Boone connects for 3 solo homers‚ his 2nd 3-homer game. He also did it August 9‚ 2002.

The Braves sweep the Rockies in a doubleheader‚ winning by scores of 12-6 in the opener and 5-2 in the nightcap. Andruw Jones drives home runs in both games‚ giving him a team-record 9 straight games with an RBI.

The Angels defeat the Indians‚ 7-1‚ as Garrett Anderson drives home all 7 Anaheim runs to tie a career high.

The Yankees jump on the Mariners for 10 runs in the 3rd inning on their way to a 16-5 victory.
May 10The Cubs best the Cardinals‚ 3-2‚ in 10 innings on Alex Gonzalez’s walk-off HR. It is the 3rd extra-inning‚ game-winning homer this month for Gonzalez‚ tying the team’s single-season record held by Ron Santo and Ernie Banks. Gonzalez hit extra-inning homers on May 1 and May 4. The only other player to hit 3 in one calendar month was Ron Gant‚ in 1995. Starter Kerry Wood throws 141 pitches but the win goes to reliever Mike Remlinger.

The Cubs trade P Alan Benes to the Rangers for a player to be named later. The Rangers sent P Ryan Drese to the minors‚ to make room on the roster for Benes.
May 11The Marlins fire manager Jeff Torborg and replace him with 72-year-old Jack McKeon. Pitching coach Brad Arnsberg is also relieved of duty.

The Rangers pound the Indians‚ 17-10‚ as Rafael Palmeiro hits the 500th HR of his illustrious career. Palmeiro becomes the 19th player-and 5th-oldest-to accomplish the feat‚ and the 2nd this season.

With the Cards leading the Cubs 11-9 at Wrigley Field in the top of the 5th inning, the game is called on account of rain. Starters Matt Clement and Brett Tomko give up all the runs, but they won’t count against their ERA’s. The 23-MPH wind helped Albert Pujols hit a grand slam and boosted homers by Tino Martinez (2), Moises Alou, Corey Patterson, Troy O’Leary, and Alex Gonzalez.
May 13The San Francisco Giants scored a run on an infield fly. Expos’ manager Frank Robinson indicated this was unique in his experience.
May 14The Braves down the Dodgers‚ 3-1‚ for their 23rd win in their last 27 games. John Smoltz gets his league-leading 16th save in relief. The Braves have won the last 70 games in which he has appeared-a major league record.
May 15Corey Patterson’s 2-run HR in the 17th inning leads the Cubs to a 4-2 win over the Brewers. Todd Wellemeyer got the save for Chicago‚ striking out three batters in the bottom half of the 17th in his ML debut. He’s the first Cub to record a save in his debut since the stat became official in 1969. The Brewers set an NL record for strikeouts in an extra-inning game with 24. The previous mark was 22‚ by the Dodgers vs. the Reds (1972) and Mets vs. Giants (1964).

The Braves score 8 runs in the 5th inning on their way to a 15-6 rout of the Padres.
May 16The Blue Jays rout the Royals‚ 18-1‚ for the largest margin of victory in team history. Toronto batters record 22 hits in the drubbing.
May 19The Indians edge the Tigers‚ 10-9‚ despite a 3-HR‚ 7-RBI performance by Detroit 1B Carlos Pena It was the first three-dinger game by a Tiger player in 1‚059 days and the fifth time in team history that the club lost after receiving such a performance. Three-homer games in the majors generally spell success for the player’s team having resulted in 353 wins and 82 losses‚ or an .811 winning percentage.
May 21The Brewers defeat the Padres‚ 10-0‚ as Wayne Franklin hurls the 1st complete game of his ML career. Geoff Jenkins slams 3 HRs in the contest and drives home 4.
May 22Down 5-3 to the Cleveland Indians going into the bottom of the 9th, the Seattle Mariners score 5 runs off Tribe reliever Danys Baez to win, 8-5. Mariners centerfielder Mike Cameron‘s no-out walkoff grand slam caps the scoring.

Down 5-3 to the Cleveland Indians going into the bottom of the 9th, the Seattle Mariners score 5 runs off Tribe reliever Danys Baez to win, 8-5. Mariners centerfielder Mike Cameron hits a walkoff grand slam with no one-out to cap the scoring.
May 23The Phillies edge the Expos‚ 4-2‚ as Philadelphia’s Jose Mesa becomes the 10th player in history to reach 100 saves with two different teams. He also reached the century mark with the Indians.

The Cardinals rally from a 7-2 deficit to pull out a 10-8‚ 10 inning win over the Pirates. Albert Pujols strokes 5 hits for St. Louis‚ including a pair of doubles‚ to pace their 17-hit attack.

In a Class A South Atlantic League game in Lakewood‚ NJ‚ between the BlueClaws and Kannapolis‚ a groundskeeper is ejected from the game. Butler‚ who wanted to protect the field with a tarpaulin‚ walks on the field‚ but the dispute turns heated and he is ejected. Buddy Biancalana’s Lakewood team was leading 3-0‚ when it started raining hard. Butler is a three-time Groundskeeper of the Year in the minors and is working his 13th season in the business. He said he told umpires Brandon Cooney and Steve Cummings it was time to cover the field.
May 24At Arizona‚ San Diego’s Brian Lawrence allows 2-hits in beating the Diamondbacks‚ 5-1. Rondell White clubs a homer off Curt Schilling‚ and a frustrated Schilling clubs to death a QuesTec camera near the D’Back’s dugout.
May 25The Orioles beat the Rangers in a slugfest‚ 13-10. Melvin Mora leads Baltimore’s 18-hit attack with 5 safeties‚ including a pair of doubles.
May 26At Atlanta‚ the Reds defeat the Braves‚ 7-6‚ in 11 innings when Adam Dunn hits a pinch grand slam off Roberto Hernandez. The Braves then score 3 to make it close. It is the first loss for the Braves in 74 games in which reliever John Smoltz has appeared‚ a major league record.
May 27The Yankees beat the Red Sox‚ 11-3‚ ending Nomar Garciaparra‘s 26-game hitting streak in the process.

The Mariners wallop the Royals‚ 15-7‚ led by Randy Winn‚ who strokes 5 hits‚ including a double.
May 28The Braves pound the Reds‚ 15-3‚ as they become just the second team in history to start a game with 3 consecutive homers: Rafael Furcal‚ Mark DeRosa‚ and Gary Sheffield connect as Atlanta’s first 3 hitters. The 1987 Padres are the only other club to accomplish the feat. Javy Lopez also homers in the inning for the Braves‚ to tie the ML record of 4 homers in an inning. They slug a total of 6 in the game. Starter Jeff Austin‚ who serves up the 3 dingers‚ makes his second straight start without retiring a batter.

The NL West-leading Giants whip the Diamondbacks‚ 10-2‚ as Benito Santiago homers twice and Barry Bonds once.
May 29The Rockies outscore the visiting Dodgers‚ 12-5‚ behind Todd Helton’s 3 home runs and Ron Belliard‘s 5 hits. Helton adds a single as he bats in six runs.

The Red Sox‚ in need of a closer‚ trade Shea Hillenbrand to the Diamondbacks for closer Byung Hyun Kim. The Diamondbacks were reportedly not eager to swap the 24-year-old South Korean. Hillenbrand was almost traded last winter to the Expos for Bartolo Colon.
May 30The Braves slug 4 HRs on their way to a 5-2 win over the Mets. The homers give Atlanta 55 for the month of May‚ tying the NL mark held by the 1947 Giants and the 2000 Cardinals.

Ken Griffey‚ Jr. hits a game-tying homer in the 9th‚ then adds a go-ahead homer in the 11th to pace the Reds to a 4-3 win over the host Florida Marlins‚ Junior’s first homer is off Braden Looper and his 2nd‚ a 2-out shot‚ comes off Armando Almanza.
May 31The Cubs down the Astros‚ 1-0‚ in 16 innings. It is the longest 1-0 game for Chicago since a 17-inning win over Boston in 1901. Houston pitchers set a team record with 23 strikeouts in the contest‚ while the Cubs set a club mark by fanning that many times.

The Pirates beat the Cardinals‚ 4-3‚ as Kenny Lofton‘s 26-game hitting streak comes to an end. Lofton falls a game short of the Pirates franchise record of 27 games set by Jimmy Williams in 1899. Lofton homered yesterday to match Garciaparra’s streak this year of 26 games.

June

June 1The Yankees defeat the Tigers in 17 innings by a score of 10-9. New York takes a 7-1 lead as Roger Clemens starts in pursuit of his 300th win‚ but Detroit ties the game in the 7th.

The Mariners score 6 runs in the 1st inning and go on to beat the Twins‚ 9-5. The first 7 Seattle batters hit safely as the team falls one shy of the ML record for consecutive hits to start a game. The 7 hits all come off Kenny Rogers‚ who breaks the AL record of 5 hits to first 5 batters‚ a mark held by 3 pitchers.

The Mets score 8 runs in the 6th inning on their way to a 10-4 triumph over the Braves.

The U.S. House votes 372-0 to congratulate the Chicago Cubs Sammy Sosa on his 500th home run and praise him as a role model. There will be a ceremony on the 5th is to present him with a copy of the House resolution.
June 2The Marlins wallop the A’s‚ 13-2. Oakland’s Eric Byrnes has his 22-game hitting streak snapped.

The Cubs edge the Devil Ray‚ 3-2‚ but the headline news is Sammy. Sosa is ejected from the game in the 1st inning after apparently driving in a run with a broken-bat ground out. Inspection of the bat reveals it to have cork inside and the run is disallowed.

In the opening round of the June Draft‚ the Devil Rays pick first and take high schooler Delmon Young‚ quickly inking him to a ML contract that includes a $3.7 million bonus. His brother Dmitri was drafted 4th overall in 1991. This will be the first draft in history in which every player drafted in the first two rounds will sign‚ though first round bonuses will average $1.757 million‚ down from last year’s average of $2.1 million. Only 16 players of the 307 drafted will not sign‚ a new record (24 in 2000 was the previous mark). The Expos sign all 19 draftees. Picking 2nd‚ the Brewers take 2B Rickie Weeks‚ who set an NCAA record with a career BA of .473. The Tigers take Wake Forest’s Kyle Sleeth and the Padres use #4 to pick Tim Stauffer. The Cubs use the 6th pick to take Ryan Harvey‚ an OF from Dunedin High School; he’ll sign for $2.4 million. His teammate from last year‚ Brian Dopirak‚ is a Cubs minor leaguer drafted in 2002. The O’s ink 2002 draftee Adam Loewen for $4.2 million‚ a week before they would lose his rights‚ then take Nick Markalis with the #7. The best debuts in this class will be put in by Lou Palmisano (Helena‚ .394)‚ a 3rd round pick of Milwaukee‚ and Michael Aubrey (Lake County‚ .348)‚ Cleveland’s 1st round pick. The Blue Jays #2 pick Josh Banks will go 7-2 for Auburn.
June 4The Angels pound out 7 homers in defeating the Expos‚ 11-2. Garrett Anderson hits 3 round-trippers‚ while Jeff DaVanon has his 3rd straight 2-homer game. DaVanon ties the major league record (Gus Zernial‚ 1951; Frank Thomas‚ 1962; Lee May‚ 1969)‚ ties the AL record with 6 HR in 3 games (1st set by Lazzeri in 1936)‚ and becomes the 3rd player to homer from both sides of the plate in consecutive games (Eddie Murray‚ 1987; Ken Caminiti‚ 1995).
June 5The Brewers sweep a doubleheader from the Mets‚ winning the 1st game‚ 8-7‚ and the 2nd‚ 5-3. John Franco becomes the 8th pitcher in history to appear in 1‚000 games when he pitches in game two.
June 7The Royals defeat the Rockies‚ 9-5‚ in the 2nd game of their doubleheader as Todd Jones makes his 1st career start for Colorado after 632 relief appearances to set a ML record. Chuck McElroy was the former record holder with 603 relief appearances before his 1st start. The Royals take game 1‚ 13-11‚ scoring 12 runs off Shawn Chacon (8-3) in 3 2/3 innings. Mike Sweeney has a grand slam in the 2nd and Charles Johnson answers that with a grand slam for the Rockies.

At Milwaukee the Red Sox play long ball to edge the Brewers‚ 11-10‚ and move to a half game behind the idle first-place AL-East Yankees. Kevin Millar‚ with a grand slam‚ and Bill Mueller hit pinch homers and Trot Nixon and Jason Varitek hit back-to-back solo homers in the 9th to greet reliever Mike DeJean. Ortiz and Ramirez also homer for the Sox.

Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa is suspended for 8 games for using a corked bat in a 3-2 win over the Devil Rays. The Cubs also lose the services of Hee Seop Choi‚ who suffers a concussion in the 4th when he collides with P Kerry Wood. Choi is knocked out for 17 minutes. His replacement Eric Karros hits a 3-run HR in the 7th as the Cubs beat Roger Clemens and the Yankees‚ 5-2. Clemens was making his 3rd try to win his 300th game.
June 11The Astros shut out the Yankees‚ 8-0‚ as six Houston pitchers combine to throw a no-hitter-the most ever to do so on a no-no. Starter Roy Oswalt leaves the game in the 2nd inning with a strained groin. He is followed in turn by Peter Munro‚ Kirk Saarloos‚ Brad Lidge‚ Octavio Dotel‚ and Billy Wagner‚ who combine to hold the Yankees hitless for the first time since 1958. It is the longest streak without being no-hit-6‚980 games-in ML history. Dotel ties a record by striking out 4 New Yorkers in the 8th inning. The Yankees tie the AL record by striking out 8 consecutive times. It was the 4th time it’s happened‚ the first since the Mariners struck out 8 consecutive times off Roger Clemens in his first 20 K game (April 29‚ 1986). The major league record is for pitcher used in a shutout is 8‚ by the Red Sox‚ in a 10 inning game on October 3‚ 1999.
June 12The Blue Jays upend the Pirates‚ 5-4‚ ending Aramis Ramirez’s 22-game hitting streak in the process.

Southern University’s All-American 2B Rickie Weeks‚ the all-time NCAA leading hitter‚ is named winner of the Dick Howser Award as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s player of the year.
June 13The Yankees defeat the Cardinals‚ 5-2‚ as Roger Clemens becomes the 21st pitcher in history to win 300 games. Clemens finishes with 10 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings to become the 3rd pitcher to surpass 4‚000 for his career.

The Devil Rays beat the Pirates‚ 7-1‚ as Victor Zambrano combines with 3 relievers to limit Pittsburgh to 1 hit. The Pirates only hit is a bloop single by Jack Wilson leading off the 5th inning. Zambrano walks 5‚ throws a team-record 4 wild pitches‚ and ties another team mark with 3 hit batsmen.
June 14Philadelphia scores 10 runs in the 8th inning and goes on to post a 12-2 win over the Reds.
June 15The Blue Jays edge the Cubs‚ 5-4‚ in 10 innings. Toronto rookie OF Reed Johnson leads off the game for the Blue Jays with a HR‚ then hits a walk-off homer in the 10th to win it. The last player to start and finish a game with a HR was Darin Erstad of the Angels in 2000.

The Mets shut out the Angels‚ 8-0‚ behind Steve Trachsel’s one-hitter. David Eckstein’s 2-out single in the 6th in Anaheim’s only safety. Rookie SS Jose Reyes hits a grand slam to lead NY‚ becoming just the 2nd player in team history (in addition to Jack Hamilton) to hit a grand slam as his 1st ML homer.
June 16The Marlins squeak by the Mets‚ 1-0‚ as rookie Dontrelle Willis hurls a 1-hitter. Ty Wigginton‚’s 4th inning single is NY’s only hit as Willis hurls the first complete game of his career in his 8th big league start. Ivan Rodriguez’s HR accounts for the only run of the contest.
June 17The Devil Rays defeat the Yankees‚ 11-2‚ in the 1st game of a doubleheader. Tampa Bay sets a team record with 18 hits in a 9-inning game‚ and would have scored even more were it not for 6 NY double plays-one shy of the AL mark. NY comes back to win the nightcap‚ 10-2.

The Mets shut out the Marlins‚ 5-0‚ as Jae Seo and two relief pitchers combine to toss a 1-hitter. Juan Encarnacion’s 5th inning single is Florida’s only hit. It is the 3rd straight 1-hitter the Mets have been involved in‚ believed to be a ML record.

The Royals ride a team-record 12-run 7th inning to a 14-7 victory over the Twins. Trailing 3-1‚ KC sends 16 men to the plate in the stanza to take a 13-3 lead.

The Dodgers Kevin Brown wins his 10th‚ game‚ and 9th in a row‚ beating San Francisco‚ 4-2. He leaves the game with a groin injury‚ but will not miss a start. He won’t win his 11th till August.
June 19The A’s upend the Rangers‚ 9-2‚ behind Miguel Tejada‘s 5 hits. One of Tejada’s safeties is a HR off starting pitcher Mario Ramos‚ who is making his ML debut.

Montreal’s Juan Rivera hits 2 homers in a 9-run 2nd inning of slugfest against the White Sox. His 2nd homer is a grand slam. The Expos need it as they win‚ 17-14. Terrmel Sledge‚ who comes in as a defensive replacment‚ hits a 2-run homer in the 8th to give Montreal some breathing room.

Jason Schmidt of the Giants shuts out the Dodgers‚ 2-0‚ limiting LA to 3 hits. In the process‚ he ends Paul LoDuca’s 25-game hitting streak.

The Rockies trade All-Star SS Jose Hernandez to the Cubs in exchange for IF Mark Bellhorn and minor league P Travis Anderson.
June 20Florida beats Tampa Bay‚ 3-1‚ in 11 innings as rookie Miguel Cabrera hits a walkoff HR in his ML debut. He is only the 3rd player in history to perform the feat‚ joining Josh Bard (8/23/02) and Billy Parker (9/9/71).

At San Diego, the home team Padres enter the bottom of the 9th down 3–0 to the Seattle Mariners. M’s reliever Jeff Nelson then gives up 5 runs, including a 2-out walkoff grand slam by Rondell White as the Pads sink the Mariners, 5-3. Nelson’s collapse negates a fine effort by Mariners starter Gil Meche.
June 21The Phillies defeat the Red Sox‚ 6-5 on pinch-hitter Todd Pratt’s 2-out‚ 2-run HR in the 13th inning. The Phils score 3 in the frame. Nomar Garciaparra strokes a team-record tying 6 hits for Boston‚ and adds a walk. Todd Walker has two homers‚ off Wolf‚ and Kevin Millar has a pair of doubles and a triple. Jim Thome clouts homers in the 8th and the 12th

The Pirates edge the Indians‚ 7-6‚ in 15 innings for their 2nd consecutive 15-inning victory over the Tribe. It is the first time since 1996 that two teams have played back-to-back 15 inning affairs.

The red-hot Dodgers beat Anaheim‚ 4-2‚ capitalizing on Adrian Beltre‘s 3-run HR. Eric Gagne picks up his 27th save despite allowing 3 hits in the 9th. For the 3rd time (April 27‚ June 18) this season‚ Bengie Molina pinch hits for his brother‚ Jose‚ singling against Gagne for a run.
June 22Brett Myers shuts out the Red Sox on 3 hits as the Phillies beat the Red Sox for thesecond day in a row‚ 5-0. Abreau‚ Byrd‚ and Rollins hit homeruns.
June 23The Giants squeak by the Dodgers‚ 3-2 in 11 innings. Barry Bonds scores the winning run after stealing the 500th base of his career. He becomes the 1st player in history to have 500 steals and 500 HRs.

Behind Phillip Humber’s 5-hitter‚ Rice University trounces Stanford‚ 14-2‚ to win the College WS. It is the school’s 1st NCAA title in any sport.
June 24The Red Sox trounce the Tigers‚ 10-1‚ as Nomar Garciaparra gets 5 hits‚ and Kevin Millar adds 4 hits and 5 RBI. Derek Lowe is the winner with 8 innings of work.

OF Brad Wilkerson hits for the cycle to lead Montreal to a 6-4 victory over Pittsburgh. Wilkerson singles in the 2nd‚ doubles in the 5th‚ triples in the 6th‚ and homers in the 7th to become the 5th Expo to accomplish the feat.

The Cubs pound 6 HRs in a 9-1 win over the Brewers. Kerry Wood‚ Mark Grudzielanek‚ and Alex Gonzalez homer in succession in the 6th inning. It is the 9th time in team history that 3 players have homered in a row.
June 25The Red Sox score 9 runs in the 8th inning to cap an 11-2 win over the Tigers.

In Chicago‚ the Brewers score 6 runs in the 10th to double up the Cubs‚ 12-6. Jenkins and Brook Kieschnick hits homers in the 10th‚ the latter a pinch roundtripper. Eddie Perez adds a pinch triple in the 10th and Kevin Ginter hits a pinch HR in the 7th for Milwaukee. The pair of pinch homers ties the ML mark.

The Yankees obtain OF Karim Garcia and P Dan Miceli from the Indians in exchange for a player to be named.
June 26Geoff Jenkins’ 3-run HR in the 9th inning leads Milwaukee to a 5-3 win over the Cubs. Chicago’s Mark Prior fans 16 Brewers in 8 innings.
June 27The Red Sox tie a team record by getting 28 hits in a 25-8 thrashing of the Marlins. Boston scores 14 runs in the 1st inning‚ setting a ML mark by plating 10 runs before an out is made. Johnny Damon becomes the 2nd player in history to get 3 hits in an inning‚ with a single‚ double‚ and triple in the frame. Damon gets 5 hits altogether. The Sox also tie a mark with 5 players in the inning scoring twice‚ and most runs in the 1st inning. Carl Pavano and Tejara allow 10 runs without recording an out for manager Jack McKeon; The last time that happened to the 1st two pitchers was 31 years ago at Kansas city when Wayne Simpson and Ken Wright failed to record an out for-you guessed it-manager Jack McKeon. Paced by Bill Mueller’s 6 RBI‚ the Sox have 6 players with 3+ RBI.

Jason Michaels hits a 3-run homer in the top of the 17th‚ off Omar Daal‚ as the Phillies hold on to beat the Orioles‚ 4-2. The two teams burn through 15 pitchers in the game.

The Blue Jays defeat the Expos‚ 6-5‚ as Roy Halladay has his streak of 11 consecutive victories in 11 starts ended with a no-decision.

The Rangers top the Astros‚ 10-7. Houston’s Dave Matranga homers in his 1st ML at bat‚ doing so as a pinch-hitter in the 5th inning.
June 28A day after a 25-8 whipping by the Bosox‚ the Marlins stage their biggest comeback in team history. Trailing 9-2 in the 8th inning against starter Tim Wakefield‚ the Marlins score 4 runs in the 8th and 4 runs in the 9th to win‚ 10-9.

Barry Bonds‚ who splashed #634 into the Bay last night‚ hits #635 today as the Giants edge the A’s 8-7 in 10 innings. San Francisco wins on Pedro Feliz’s single in the 10th.

After winning yesterday on Jose Valentin’s HR in the 9th‚ the White Sox beat the Cubs again in the 9th‚ winning 7-6 before a crowd of 45‚440.

The Cardinals batter the Royals‚ 13-9 as Jim Edmonds has 4 extra base hits‚ including 2 homers. This is his 2nd four extra-base-hit game this year‚ tying a ML record. Rookie Bo Hart has 4 hits and scores 4 runs for his 7th multi-hit game in 9 outings. He is hitting .489.

Led by Hideki Matsui the Yankees sweep a day-night doubleheader from the crosstown Mets‚ winning the 1st by a score of 7-1 at Yankee Stadium and the nightcap‚ 9-8‚ at Shea Stadium. It is the 3rd time in history that two teams play two games at two different stadiums in the same day. Matsui has a grand slam in game 1 as Roger Clemens shuts down the Mets. Matsui has 4 hits in game 2 ans he is on base 9 out of 10 plate appearances. For the second time this season‚ Alfonse Soriano leads off with a homer and a teammate follows with a HR. This time it is Jeter who follows suit.
June 29Oakland defeats SF‚ 5-2‚ as OF Eric Byrnes hits for the cycle. Byrnes gets 5 hits-4 for extra bases-for the day‚ including two doubles‚ a triple and a homer.

The Diamondbacks send the Tigers to their 61st loss of the season‚ winning 5-3 in 10 innings. The Tigers‚ with a record of 18-61‚ become the 1st team in history to lose 60 games before July 1.
June 30The Royals drop out of first place in the AL Central‚ losing a pair to the Indians‚ 10-5 and 8-5. Casey Blake has a homer in each game and drives in 5 runs in game 1 and two more in the nitecap.

July

July 1The Marlins pound the Braves‚ 20-1‚ knocking 25 hits in the process. Both runs and hits are new team marks for Florida.

The Rockies end the Diamondbacks’ franchise-record 12-game winning streak with a 7-4 win over Arizona.

The Mets send 2B Roberto Alomar to the White Sox for Ps Royce Ring and Edwin Almonte‚ and IF Andrew Salvo.

The White Sox acquire OF Carl Everett from the Rangers in exchange for 2 or 3 minor leaguers to be named.
July 2Mark Clement combines with 3 relief pitchers to hurl a 1-hit shutout over the Phillies‚ as the Cubs win by a score of 1-0. Sammy Sosa‘s leadoff HR in the 9th off Turk Wendell is the game’s only run. David Bell‘s single is the only hit for Philadelphia.

The Royals obtain P Curtis Leskanic and cash from the Brewers. Milwaukee receives minor league P Wes Obermueller and IF Alejandro Machado.
July 4The Red Sox slug 7 HRs in downing the Yankees‚ 10-3. It is the most homers ever given up in a game by the New Yorkers in their 100-year history.

Trailing 5-0 going into the 8th inning‚ the Orioles strike for 8 runs and go on to beat the Blue Jays‚ 8-5.

The Cardinals defeat the Cubs‚ 11-8‚ despite 3 HRs by Moises Alou.
July 5The Indians trounce the Twins‚ 13-2‚ as Casey Blake stroke 5 hits-including a 2B and 2 HRs-and drives in 7 runs.
July 6In a duel between All-star bound pitchers‚ Woody Williams of the Cardinals beats the Cubs Mark Prior‚ 4-1 in Chicago. The Cubs also lose CF Corey Patterson who tears his ACL trying to beat out a grounder in the 8th inning. Patterson is hitting .298 and leading the team in hits and steals‚ but he is out for the season.
July 7The Diamondbacks down the Rockies‚ 14-6. Colorado’s Shea Hillenbrand becomes the 7th player in history to hit HRs in 3 consecutive innings‚ doing so in the 4th‚ 5th‚ and 6th. He has 5 hits for the day-adding a single and double-and drives home 7 runs. Sammy Sosa hit three in three last year.
July 8The Indians down the Yankees behind Billy Traber’s 1-hitter‚ 4-1. It is Traber’s first complete game in his brief career. John Flaherty’s leadoff single in the 3rd is NY’s only hit.
July 10The Republicans defeat the Democrats in the annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game‚ 5-3. The Republican victory is a mild upset since the GOP was without their star pitcher from past years‚ former Oklahoma Congressman Steve Largent. Roll Call began sponsoring the game annually in 1962 and‚ since then‚ the Republicans lead the Democrats‚ 28-14. The game was originally organized in 1909 by former major-leaguer John Tener‚ a Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania‚ but was played only intermittently until Roll Call stepped in.
July 11Pittsburgh 1B Randall Simon is suspended for 3 games and fined $2‚000 for hitting one of the Milwaukee sausage mascots with his bat during the sausage race held between innings of the July 9 game between the Pirates and Brewers. The whacking caused a collision of sausages‚ prompting manager Ned Yost to say‚ “I just looked over and saw our wieners in a wad.”

The Marlins obtain P Ugueth Urbina from the Rangers in exchange for 3 minor leaguers: 1B Adrian Gonzalez‚ OF Will Smith‚ and P Ryan Snare.

The Cubs young ace Mark Prior injures his shoulder in a collision with Atlanta’s Marcus Giles in the second inning‚ but pitches till the 6th. Giles leaves the game with a mild concussion. Prior will be out till August 5‚ when he returns with a 3-hit shutout over the Padres. Bruised today in the collision‚ he is further roughed up by Vinny Castilla and Andruw Jones‚ who hit 2-run homers off him. Mike Hampton is the winner‚ despite giving up a solo HR to Sammy Sosa‚ number 516.
July 12The White Sox defeat the Indians‚ 7-4 in 10 innings‚ in the 1st game of a day-night doubleheader. Paul Konerko’s 3-run HR is the winning blow. Tom Gordon gets the save for Chicago‚ becoming the 14th pitcher in history to notch at least 100 career wins and 100 saves.

The Giants beat the Diamondbacks‚ 8-1. Barry Bonds hits his 30th HR of the year to join Jimmie Foxx as the only players with 12 straight 30-HR seasons.
July 13The Rockies trade C Ben Petrick to the Tigers for P Adam Bernero.

The Giants get P Matt Herges from the Padres. In return‚ SD gets minor league P Clay Hensley and a player to be named.
July 14Anaheim OF Garret Anderson defeats St. Louis’ Luis Pujols in the finals of the All-Star Home Run Derby.

The Mets send OF Jeromy Burnitz to the Dodgers in exchange for minor leaguers Victor Diaz‚ Joselo Diaz‚ and Kole Strayhorn.

The Dodgers sign OF Rickey Henderson to a contract.
July 15The American League defeats the National League in the All-Star Game‚ 7-6‚ on Hank Blalock’s 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th inning. Anaheim’s Garret Anderson gets a double and a HR for the AL and is named the games’s MVP‚ while his Angels teammate Brendan Donnelly is the winning pitcher. Donnelly has now won a WS game and an All-star game‚ and yet has only one regular season career victory. His 2nd career win will come on July 28.
July 16Minnie Minoso becomes the 1st player to play professional baseball in 7 decades when he walks in the 1st inning as DH for the St. Paul Saints in their Northern League game against Gary. Minoso currently works in the Chicago White Sox community relations department.

The Mets send P Armando Benitez to the Yankees for pitcher Jason Anderson‚ Anderson Garcia‚ and Ryan Bicondoa. Benitez will compile a 1.93 ERA in 3 weeks in pinstripes before the Yanks trade him to Seattle for Jeff Nelson.

The Blue Jays trade OF Shannon Stewart to the Twins in exchange for OF Bobby Kielty.
July 17Kansas City beats Seattle‚ 7-1. Royals’ SS Angel Berroa hits his 10th HR of the year for KC to become the 16th rookie SS in history to reach double figures in HRs.
July 18The Braves beat the Mets‚ 11-4. Gary Sheffield goes 5-for-5 for Atlanta‚ with a pair of HRs.

The Indians trade OF Shane Spencer and P Ricardo Rodriguez to the Rangers for OF Ryan Ludwick.

The Diamondbacks send SS Tony Womack to the Rockies in exchange for P Mike Watson.
July 19Lance Berkman‚ Richard Hidalgo‚ and Morgan Ensberg hit consecutive homers for Houston in the 1st inning and the Astros go on to defeat the Reds‚ 9-8. Ryan Wagner‚ the Reds’ number one draft pick this season‚ became the first member of the 2003 draft class to make the majors; Wagner played a total of nine games in the minors prior to his call up.

The Braves beat the Mets‚ 7-4‚ as John Smoltz collects his 100th career save. He becomes the 15th pitcher in history to record both 100 career saves and victories.

The Rangers take advantage of Victor Zambrano’s wildness to defeat the Devil Rays‚ 7-3. Zambrano hits 4 batters with pitches to tie the major league mark.
July 20The Braves score 8 runs in the 8th inning and go on to beat the Mets‚ 11-8.

The Astros down the Reds‚ 6-3‚ as Jeff Bagwell hits a pair of HRs to give him 400 for his career. He is the 35th player in history to reach that mark.

The Cardinals beat the Dodgers‚ 10-7‚ as Luis Pujols hits the 100th HR of his career. He becomes the 4th player to reach that number in his 1st 3 ML seasons‚ and the 7th youngest to get 100.

The Pirates trade P Mike Williams to the Phillies for minor league P Frank Brooks.
July 21The Cubs trounce the Braves‚ 15-6. Tom Goodwin gets 5 of Chicago’s 21 hits in the rout‚ with Matty Alou going 4-for-6 with 2 doubles and 5 RBI. Mark Grudzielanek has 4 hits and 4 runs‚ and Sosa has a homer and 4 RBI.

In a 5-3 win over the visiting Astros‚ Matt Stairs of the Pirates becomes the first player to hit two home runs into the Allegheny River at PNC Park; Stairs hit his first river ball while playing for the Cubs two years ago. Josh Fogg (6-4) is the winning pitcher.
July 22The Pirates send OF Kenny Lofton and 3B Aramis Ramirez to the Cubs in exchange for IF Jose Hernandez‚ P Matt Brulack‚ and a player to be named. Pittsburgh also sends pitchers Scott Sauerbeck and Mike Gonzalez to the Red Sox for pitchers Brandon Lyon and Anastacio Martinez.

The Yankees acquire vet P Jesse Orosco from the Padres for a player to be named.
July 23The Yankees top the Orioles‚ 4-2‚ as Andy Pettitte wins his 7th straight game. Pettitte becomes the first pitcher to win 12 games in each of his first 9 seasons since Stan Coveleski turned the trick (1916-26).
July 24The Phillies trounce the Cubs‚ 14-6‚ scoring 9 runs in the 6th inning. Bobby Abreu ties a team record by driving home 5 runs in the frame.
July 25The White Sox ride Frank Thomas’ 400th career HR to a 7-2 win over the Devil Rays. Thomas becomes the 36th player to reach the milestone.

The Rockies defeat the Brewers‚ 7-3‚ as Chin-Hui Tsao‚ the 1st Taiwanese P in ML history gets the victory.
July 26The Indians score 8 runs in the 2nd inning and go on to defeat the Mariners‚ 9-2.
July 27The Expos club the Braves‚ 13-10. Atlanta’s Marcus Giles ties a ML record with 4 consecutive doubles in the game.

The Blue Jays upend the Orioles‚ 10-1‚ as Roy Halladay wins his 15th consecutive decision.

Gary Carter and Eddie Murray are enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Former Metrodome superintendent Dick Ericson tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he tried to manipulate the outcome of Twins games by the use of electric fans in the late innings. The power of the electric fans needed to be increased near the end of games to keep the roof inflated as doors were opened for spectators to leave. Ericson said he would increase the number of fans blowing from between first and third bases‚ starting in the last of the eighth if the Twins were behind‚ thus giving the Twins the chance at two innings of batting in these conditions and with only one inning at bat for the visiting team. Despite Ericson’s admission‚ which was backed up by another Metrodome employee‚ it remains unclear how much effect the added fans had on the distance of fly balls. Ericson also made clear that he manipulated the air flow on his own‚ not at the request of the Twins nor the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. Bobby Valentine‚ when he was managing the Texas Rangers‚ was the most vociferous in suggesting that electric fans behind the plate were turned on to blow air toward the outfield when the Twins were at bat. The Twins scoffed at the charges.
July 28The Rangers rout the Mariners‚ 10-1‚ behind Rafael Palmeiro‘s 2 HRs and 7 RBIs.

The Reds fire manager Bob Boone and replace him on an interim basis with Dave Miley. General manager Jim Bowden is also fired‚ as are coaches Tim Foli and Tom Robson.
July 29The Red Sox down the Rangers‚ 14-7‚ as Bill Mueller becomes the 1st player in history to hit grand slams from both sides of the plate in the same game. Mueller hits one from the right side in the 7th inning and from the left side an inning later. He also hits a solo HR in the 3rd to give him 3 HRs and 9 RBIs on the day.

The Braves beat the Astros‚ 6-3‚ behind the hot hitting of Marcus Giles. Giles goes 5-for-5 to give him 9 consecutive hits‚ just one off the NL record.

The Diamondbacks get OF Raul Mondesi from the Yankees for OF David Dellucci‚ P Bret Prinz‚ and C Jon-Mark Sprowl.

The White Sox obtain pitchers Scott Schoeneweis and Doug Nickle from the Angels for pitchers Gary Glover‚ Scott Dunn‚ and Tim Bittner.

The Reds send P Scott Williamson to the Red Sox for minor league P Phil Dumatrait‚ a player to be named‚ and cash in excess of $1 million‚ which is more than the amount allowable. The Yankees protest to Selig in vain.

The Mariners get vet SS Rey Sanchez from the Mets for minor league OF Kenny Kelly.
July 30The White Sox pound the Royals‚ 15-4‚ behind 3 HRs and 6 RBIs from Jose Valentin.

The Mariners score 9 runs in the 1st inning and go on to defeat the Tigers‚ 13-3.

The A’s send pitchers Aaron Harang‚ Jeff Bruksch‚ and Joe Valentin to the Reds. In return‚ Oakland receives OF Jose Guillen.

The Cubs obtain OF Doug Glanville from the Rangers in exchange for OF Jason Fransz and cash.
July 31Oakland wins its 9th straight‚ edging Tampa Bay‚ 4-3. Rookie Rich Harden earns the win with 10 K’s in 7 innings. Devil Ray coaches Lee Elia and John McLaren are tossed in the 5th for protesting a call‚ and TB starter Jermi Gonzalez‚ who goes 8 innings in the loss‚ is also tossed‚ one of the few times in memory that a pitcher throws a CG and earns an ejection. After pitching the 8th‚ Gonzalez‚ who had complained about ump Joe Brinkman‘s calls‚ continued his grumbling and finally fired a bucket of sunflower seeds onto the field‚ earning him an ejection (which does not appear in the box score).

Did you guys even unpack? The Pirates trade pitchers Brandon Lyon and to the Red Sox for left-hander Mike Gonzalez. Just a week ago, the Red Sox had swapped Lyon and Martinez to the Pirates for Gonzalez, but Lyon had a sore arm and the deal was rescinded. Whoops. On the mulligan today, the Pirates add pitcher Jeff Suppan‚ while Boston throws in minor league infielder Freddy Sanchez. Suppan will start just 10 games for the Sox, while Sanchez and Gonzalez will star for the Bucs.

The Reds acquire pitchers Brandon Claussen and Charlie Manning and cash from the Yankees for 3B Aaron Boone. They also send P Gabe White to the Yanks for a player to be named. The deal had been for the 2 Reds players for the Yankee players and about $1.4 million‚ but Selig vetoed the deal because it exceeded the $1 million limit‚ forcing the teams to make it 2 transactions.

The Devil Rays send P Al Levine to the Royals for cash.

The Dodgers get 3B Robin Ventura from the Yankees for OF Bubba Crosby and P Scott Procter. Ventura became available when the Yanks obtained Boone from the Reds.

The Giants‚ vulnerable with Rueter going on the DL‚ obtain P Sidney Ponson from the Orioles for a hefty package including pitchers Kurt Ainsworth‚ Damian Moss‚ and blue chipper Ryan Hannaman. It is more of a rental as Ponson will resign with the Orioles in January saying. “I love Baltimore.”

In Arlington, the Boston Red Sox get solo homers from David Ortiz and Trot Trot Nixon but Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguezbreaks a 3-3 tie with a walkoff grand slam in the 9th to win it for his team, 7-3.

In Arlington, the Boston Red Sox get solo homers from David Ortiz and Trot Trot Nixon but Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez breaks a 3-3 tie with a walkoff grand slam in the 9th to win it for his team, 7-3.

August

August 1The Angels shut out the Blue Jays‚ 5-0‚ ending Roy Halladay’s 15-game winning streak.
August 2The Mariners down the White Sox‚ 10-0‚ behind John Olerud‘s 2 HRs and 7 RBIs.
August 3The Rockies pound out 24 hits in a 16-4 win over the Pirates. Jay Payton hits a pair of HRs and drives in 7 runs for Colorado.

Eddie Murray and Gary Carter are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown‚ along with announcer Bob Uecker and sportswriter Hal McCoy.
August 5Major League Baseball announces plans to build its first owned and operated Youth Baseball Academy on the campus of Compton Community College as part of its Urban Youth Initiative.
August 6The Yankees send relief P Armando Benitez to the Mariners in exchange for fellow reliever Jeff Nelson. It’s Nelson’s second tour of duty with the Yanks.
August 8The Dodgers defeat the Cubs‚ 3-1‚ as Eric Gagne sets an ML record for most consecutive saves from the beginning of the season with 39. It is Gagne’s 48th straight save overall‚ 2nd on the all-time list to Tom Gordon‘s 54.
August 9The Red Sox defeat the Orioles‚ 6-4‚ as Kevin Millar hits a 2-run HR in the 8th inning. Millar’s blast is the 10‚000th in Fenway Park history.

The Indians sweep a doubleheader from the Angels by identical scores of 3-2. In the 2nd contest‚ Cleveland’s P Jason Boyd turns an unassisted DP.
August 10Sammy Sosa clubs 2 home runs good for 3 RBI‚ as the Cubs down Kevin Brown and the Dodgers‚ 3-1.

Rafael Furcal of Atlanta turns a rare unassisted triple play‚ the 12th in history‚ against the Cardinals to keep the Braves in the game. But St. Louis ties the score with a run in the 8th off starter Ramirez and Albert Pujols then clubs a solo homer off John Smoltz to give the host Redbirds a 3-2 win. Gary Sheffield‚ Perez‚ and Metheny also hit home runs.

Bronson Arroyo of Pawtucket hurls just the 4th 9-inning perfect game in the International League‘s 120-year history‚ downing Buffalo by a score of 7-0.
August 11The Royals beat the Yankees‚ 12-9‚ as the teams set an AL record by stroking 19 doubles. KC strokes 11 of the 2-baggers‚ just 1 shy of the AL mark.

The Astros down the Cubs‚ 3-1. Chicago’s Kerry Wood becomes the youngest pitcher in history to reach the 1‚000 strikeout mark‚ doing so in 134 games. Roger Clemens achieved the feat in 143 contests.
August 12The Braves obtain P Kent Mercker from the Reds for a player to be named. Atlanta also unveils a statue of Hall of Fame great Warren Spahn outside Turner Field.

Pat Gillick of the Seattle Mariners resigns after a 4-year run. He becomes the third GM to leave his position‚ voluntarily or not‚ in 2003. The first GM to leave this year was the Mets Steve Phillips who was fired in mid-June and replaced by his assistant Jim Duquette on an interim basis. Jim Bowden of the Reds was the next GM handed his walking papers. He was fired in late July and replaced by assistants Brad Kullman and Leland Maddux as interim co-GM’s.
August 13Mike Mordecai hits his 2nd homer of the year and his second extra-inning homer to give Florida a 2-1 win over the Dodgers. Mordecai hit a game winning extra inning HR on July 23‚ his first homer in two years. His last homer before that‚ for Montreal on August 8‚ 2001‚ was also an extra-inning game winner. The winning pitcher today is rookie Nate Bump (4-0) who also was the winner on Mordecai’s last homer.
August 14In an 8-3 win over the Twins‚ Travis Hafner of the Cleveland Indians became the 22nd major-leaguer to hit for the cycle as a rookie. He barely legs out a triple in his final at bat becoming the first Indian to cycle since Andre Thornton in 1978. The first rookie to hit for a cycle was Bill Van Dyke in 1890 while playing for the American Association‘s Toledo Maumees. Brian Anderson is the winner with 8 1/3 IP. The Twins‚ who were shutout in 14 innings yesterday‚ score 3 meaningless runs in the bottom of the 9th.

A major blackout in the Northeast causes the cancellation of the Mets-Giants game at Shea Stadium
August 15The Mets defeat the Rockies‚ 5-0‚ as Tom Glavine wins the 250th game of his ML career. Home plate umpire Justin Kelmm is forced to leave the game in the 8th inning after being hit in the head by a broken bat.

Yanks manager Joe Torre and staff fail to catch two Orioles (Tony Batista and Jay Gibbons) batting out of order in the first inning. New York rallies after the bullpen fails to win‚ 6-4‚ on Aaron Boone’s 3-run HR inside the RF foul pole.
August 16In a 5-4 loss to the host Phillies‚ Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals becomes just the 38th major-leaguer to produce a hit streak of 30 games or more when he singles in the 7th inning. The feat has been accomplished 40 times overall with George Sisler and Ty Cobb the only big-leaguers who produced multiple streaks of 30 or more. Pujols has batted .390 (46-for-118) during the streak and has kept it alive six times by getting a hit in his final at bat.

Boston’s Pedro Martinez stops the Mariners‚ 5-1‚ to run his record against the M’s to a perfect 11-0. He now matches Randy Johnson for the best current record against one team: Big Unit is 11-0 against the Cubs.

The Pirates send 1B Randall Simon to the Cubs for minor league OF Ray Sadler.
August 17The Angels down the Tigers‚ 11-6‚ as Garret Anderson becomes the Angels’ career hits leader. His 3 hits move him ahead of Brian Downing‘s club mark.

Up 2-0 in the 9th, San Francisco Giants starter Sidney Ponson exits with the bases loaded and one out. Todd Worrell strikes out the next batter but then serves up a walkoff grand slam to Montreal Expos outfielder Brad Wilkerson. The Expos win, 4-2.
August 18The Expos knock of the suddenly slumping Giants‚ 4-0‚ behind a 3-hitter by Javier Vazquez. Without Bonds‚ the Giants lose all 4 games to Montreal and finish the season series‚ 0-7‚ the first time in their 128-year history they have been swept in a season series (they were 0-3 vs. Texas in 1999). Montreal also took all 6 games this year with Milwaukee and swept the Padres‚ 12-0‚ in 1994. Despite the loss‚ the Giants are still 8/5 games ahead of the Diamondbacks in the NL West.

The Mets shut out the Rockies‚ 8-0‚ as Steve Trachsel hurls his 2nd one-hitter of the season. Colorado pitcher Chin-hui Tsao’s double in the 6th inning is the Rockies’ only hit.
August 19The Giants pick up 2B Eric Young from the Brewers in a trade for minor league P Greg Bruso.

The Rockies send IF Tony Womack to the Cubs for minor league P Enmanuel Ramirez and cash considerations.
August 20The Pirates rout the Cardinals‚ 14-0‚ scoring 10 runs in the 5th inning. OF Reggie Sanders hits a pair of homers in the frame‚ including a grand slam‚ to tie the ML record.

In the Giants 2-1 win over the visiting Braves‚ starter Josh Foppert is lifted in the 4th inning when his right hand becomes numb. It turns out to be a torn ulnar collateral ligament and the phenom undergoes Tommy John surgery. He won’t return until the 2005 season.
August 22Sammy Sosa hits a home run off Curt Schilling‚ his 500th HR as a Cub. Only 10 players in history have hit that many for one team. It is also Sammy’s 30th of the season‚ the 9th straight season he’s reached that level.

The White Sox shore up their bullpen by acquiring P Scott Sullivan from the Reds for a player to be named.
August 23The Phillies beat the Cardinals‚ 9-4‚ in the process ending Albert Pujols‘ hitting streak at 30 games. It is the longest streak in the ML this season‚ and ties him with Stan Musial for the second-longest in St. Louis history. Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby hit in 33 straight games for the Cardinals’ record. Pujols will go hitless in his next 13 at bats.

Baltimore beats Mike Mussina and the Yankees‚ 7-2‚ behind Rodrigo Lopez’s complete game. Jay Gibbon has a homer and a double. Before the game‚ the Yankees retire number 49 in honor of Ron Guidry. The Yanks showered their former captain with gifts including an SUV‚ a tractor‚ golf clubs‚ a ring and even throw in some mountain bikes for Guidry’s kids. Guidry‚ who hates to fly‚ is given five round trip train tickets from his home in Louisiana to New York City.
August 24The A’s ride grand slams by Ramon Hernandez and Miguel Tejada to a 17-2 triumph over the Blue Jays. It is the 1st time in the franchise’s 103-year history that two players connected for slams in the same game. Prior to today‚ Oakland had not hit one this season. Mike Neu earns the first save of his career when he pitches the final three innings.

Professional golfer Phil Mickelson tries his hand at baseball in a tryout with the Toledo Mud Hens‚ the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Mickelson‚ who golfs left but throws right‚ offers a bounty of $300 to any player who can hit a home run off him. Unfortunately for the golfer‚ his pitching prowess did not impress Mud Hens or Tigers management. Most of the 10 batters he faces are pitchers and former major-leaguer Gene Kingsale was his only strikeout victim. But‚ he gives up no homers.
August 25The Royals acquire P Brian Anderson from the Indians in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers-1B/OF Trey Dyson and P Kieran Mattison-and cash considerations.

The Yankees claim Reds lefty reliever Felix Heredia off waivers to keep Cincinnati from trading him to an AL East team.

Yuutaro Tanaka dominates the championship game of the 57th Little League WS‚ leading Tokyo‚ Japan‚ to a 10-1 victory over Boynton Beach‚ Florida.

The lowly Tigers release Steve Sparks‚ who will‚ sign a minor-league contract with the Oakland A’s. The A’s will recall him on September 3. It is a win swing of 110 games for the knuckler.
August 26The Royals get OF Rondell White from the Padres for minor league pitchers Chris Tierney and Brian Sanches.

The Pirates trade slugger Brian Giles to the Padres. Giles is one of 5 players with 35 or more homers in the last 4 seasons. In return‚ Pittsburgh gets P Oliver Perez‚ much-traveled minor league OF Jason Bay‚ and a player to be named. Bay will win Rookie of the Year honors in 2004.
August 28The Dodgers defeat the Astros‚ 6-3‚ as Eric Gagne sets a ML record with his 44th straight save of the season. Former record-holder Tom Gordon began the 1998 season with 43 in a row.

Marlins’ backup C Ramon Castro is arrested and charged with rape in Pittsburgh following Florida’s game with the Pirates.

Pay up! The Brewers top the host Cincinnati Reds‚ 4-3‚ for their 10th straight win. Brewers manager Ned Yost fulfills on a vow he made to his team that‚ if they won 10 straight‚ he and his coaches would dress up as Hooters waitresses. They wear the outfits‚ including the chain’s trademark orange hot pants‚ on the team’s charter to Chicago and on the bus to their hotel. The Cubs will beat them tomorrow‚ 4-2‚ but the Brewers will take the next 2 from Chicago.
August 30The Phillies down the Mets‚ 4-2. NY’s runs come on a HR by Jason Phillips‚ the 5‚000th round-tripper in franchise history.

The Mariners score 10 runs with 2 outs in the 5th inning and go on to defeat the Orioles‚ 13-1.

The White Sox down the Tigers‚ 5-2‚ handing Detroit its 100th loss of the season. Detroit becomes the 3rd team in modern times to reach the century mark in losses before September.

The Yanks knock Pedro Martinez out of the box‚ scoring 5 runs in 4 innings en route to a 10-7 win. Nick Johnson has 4 hits and 4 RBI‚ while Jorge Posada has a pair of homers to back Pettitte’s pitching. On one of Posada’s homers Sox fan Marty Martin throws the ball back on the field. He is then tossed out of Fenway for throwing an object onto the field.

A storm forces the cancellation of the Royals-Angels game in Kansas City. It drops 7.3 inches of rain in the area around Kauffman Stadium in a 23-hour period beginning at 9 a.m.
August 31The Rangers edge the Twins‚ 11-10‚ as Alex Rodriguez becomes just the 2nd player in ML history with 6 straight seasons of 40 or more HRs. Babe Ruth is the only other player to accomplish the feat.

Roger Clemens of the Yankees became the first pitcher to win 100 games at Fenway Park when he defeats the Red Sox‚ 8-4. In his last regular-season start there. Rocket finishes his career at Fenway with a 100-55 record in 199 appearances; no other pitcher has recorded more than 71 victories at the stadium.

Minutes before the start of the game‚ Barry Bonds is removed from the lineup and hospitalized for exhaustion. Jason Schmidt then pitches into the 9th inning to give the Giants a 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks. Bonds homered off Randy Johnson yesterday and then was removed from the game because he had an accelerated heartbeat. It was his first game back following the death of his father.

September

September 2The Dodgers down the Astros‚ 4-1‚ as Eric Gagne sets a ML record with his 55th consecutive save. The old mark was held by Tom Gordon of the Red Sox.. Gagne is 44-0 this year in saves‚ another ML mark.

Sammy Sosa hits a 2-run walkoff homer (his career 9th) in the 15th inning to give the Cubs a 4-2 win over the Cardinals. It is the opener of a doubleheader.
September 5The Blue Jays down the Tigers‚ 8-6‚ handing Mike Maroth his 20th loss of the season. Maroth becomes the 1st P in 23 years to lose 20 games in a season.

After three national anthems are played in San Juan‚ the Expos defeat the Marlins‚ 6-2‚ as Todd Zeile hits a pair of HRs. In doing so‚ he becomes the 1st player in ML history to homer for 11 different teams. When Zeile went yard for the New York Yankees earlier this season‚ he tied two 19th century players‚ Dan Brouthers and Tom Brown‚ with homers for 10 different teams. The Yanks released Zeile on August 17 and Montreal signed him. With Zeile at bat in the 4th inning‚ the lights go out and the game is delayed 1 hour 14 minutes.
September 6Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay pitches the first extra inning complete game shutout in the majors since Jack Morris‚ in the classic Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. The last time it was done in the regular season was by Dave Stewart‚ on August 1‚ 1990. Halladay takes a no-hitter into the 8th against Detroit‚ and finishes with a 3-hit‚ 1-0 victory. Tiger starter Nate Cornejo pitches 9 shutout innings before giving way to Fernando Rodney. Bobby Kielty’s single drives home the winner.

At Yankee Stadium. Tim Wakefield allows 4 hits in 7 innings as the Red Sox wallop Roger Clemens to move 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the AL East. Nomar Garciaparra hits a 2-run homer to ignite a 6-run 4th inning. Luis Sojo‚‚ who appeared in the Yankees old-timers game earlier in the year‚ pinch hits for Jason Giambi in the 9th and fouls out.

At Milwaukee‚ the Cubs Mark Prior (15-5) strikes out 7 in 7 innings to win his 7th straight‚ beating the Brewers‚ 4-2. Randall Simon hits a 2-run homer for Chicago and gets a big cheer when it is announced that all 330 fans sitting in section 112‚ behind the Cubs dugout‚ would receive free Polish sausages‚ courtesy of Simon. Simon’s last appearance at Miller Park was in a Pirates uniform on July 9 when he whacked a woman dressed as a sausage during a race.

In a 9-2 win over the Pirates‚ Greg Maddux pitches 7+ innings for the victory. Gary Sheffield has 3 hits including his 35th HR.
September 8The Dodgers pound the Diamondbacks‚ 10-3‚ as SS Cesar Izturis goes 5-for-5 with a 2-runs HR and 3 runs scored.
September 9In an 18-5 laugher over Atlanta‚ the Phils hits two grand slams and a 3-run homer. Mike Liebrthal hits the 3-run homer while Tomas Perez has a grand slam and 5 RBIs. Jason Michael‚ who enters in the 5th with the Phils up 13-2‚ adds another grand slam. Atlanta has 3 homers‚ one each by Javy Lopez‚ Mark DeRosa and Julio Franco.
September 10Albert Pujols homers twice as the Cardinals defeat the Rockies‚ 10-2. the win is St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa‘s 2‚000th‚ making him the 8th man in ML history to reach that mark.

The Yankees rout the Tigers by a score of 15-5 as C Jorge Posada hits a grand slam and drives in 7 runs.
September 11The White Sox release P Jose Paniagua. Paniagua pitched in only one game for the White Sox‚ but gave up 4runs in 1/3 IP‚ and made an obscene gesture to the home plate umpire while walking off the field.

Seattle tops Texas‚ 8-2‚ behind 8 strong innings from Gil Meche (15-10). According to the Elias Sports Bureau‚ Meche is the first pitcher since Whitey Ford in 1953 to win at least 15 after missing the previous two seasons.
September 14The Tigers become the fist team in 34 years to lose 110 games in a season by dropping a 7-2 decision to the Royals. The last teams to reach the mark were the 1969 expansion Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres.

The Diamondbacks shut out the Rockies‚ 5-0‚ as Randy Johnson hurls a 1-hitter. Rene Reyes’ 5th-inning single is Colorado’s only safety.

The Expos down the Mets‚ 7-3‚ as Vladimir Guerrero hits for the cycle.
September 15The Rangers defeat the Mariners‚ 6-4. Rafael Palmeiro hits his 35th HR of the season‚ making him just the 2nd player in history to reach 35 homers and 100 RBI in 9 consecutive seasons. Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx is the only other player to perform the feat.
September 16Despite blowing a 3-run lead and losing to Montreal‚ 5-4‚ the Braves become the 1st ML team to clinch a playoff berth.

The Astros pound the Rockies‚ 14-4‚ as Richard Hidalgo hits 3 homers and drives in 5 runs for Houston.
September 17The Giants down the Padres‚ 8-3‚ to clinch the NL West division title. In doing so‚ they become just the 9th wire-to-wire winner of a division or pennant in ML history. Shortly before the game ends‚ a fan tries to climb down the outside of the right-field wall and falls 24 feet to his death.
September 18The Astros defeat the Rockies‚ 6-0. It marks the 1st time Colorado has been shut out at home since July 5‚ 1999‚ a span of 361 games which had been an ML record.

The Blue Jays hand the Tigers their 114th loss of the season‚ defeating Detroit by a score of 10-6. Mike Maroth becomes the 1st pitcher in 29 years to lost 21 games.

Major League Baseball asks players to shift about a quarter of the Expos’ home games next year from Montreal to San Juan or Monterey.
September 19Russ Ortiz wins his 20th‚ outpitching Josh Beckett (8-8) to give Atlanta a 1-0 win over the Marlins. He gives up only 3 hits‚ one to Derrek Lee who is caught stealing. Lee will end up with 30+ homers and 20 stolen bases. Javy Lopez doubles in the 2nd and scores the games only run.
September 21Greg Maddux becomes the first pitcher to win 15 or more games in 16 consecutive seasons as the Braves shut out the Marlins‚ 8-0. Maddux had shared the ML record of 15 seasons in a row with Cy Young.

After a 7-5 Dodger win over the Giants‚ Mark Allen Antenorcruz‚ a 25-year-old Giant fan who lives in Covina‚ is murdered in the Dodger Stadium parking lot following an argument. Antenorcruz attended the game with his family‚ who have season tickets. The police said the argument was related to the game and that alcohol was involved.
September 22The Royals down the Tigers‚ 12-6‚ handing Detroit its 118th loss of the season for a new AL record.

The White Sox beat the Yankees‚ 6-3 in 10 innings‚ despite a pair of HRs by Alfonso Soriano for NY. Soriano’s homer in the first is his 13th leadoff homer of the season to set a new ML mark.

In a 7-5 win over the Orioles‚ the Boston Red Sox break a major-league record when Kevin Millar lines a double to left field in the eighth inning becoming the 8th Bosox player this season to hit 30 doubles. The previous record was 7 players with 30 two-baggers shared by four teams‚ the last being the 2001 Florida Marlins. Millar joins Bill Mueller‚ David Ortiz‚ Todd Walker‚ Nomar Garciaparra‚ Manny Ramirez‚ Johnny Damon‚ and Jason Varitek to set the record.
September 23The Giants score 10 runs in the 2nd inning and go on to defeat the Astros‚ 10-3. Edgardo Alfonso’s grand slam is the big blow in the frame.

The Rockies pound out 17 hits on their way to a 20-9 trouncing of the Diamondbacks. Ron Belliard ties a franchise record with 8 RBI for the night.

The Yankees‚ Twins‚ and Athletics all clinch AL division titles. Oakland clinches by defeating Texas‚ 4-3 in 10 innings‚ while New York shuts out Chicago‚ 7-0‚ to take the East crown. After defeating the Indians‚ the Twins clinch the Central title when the tigers knock off the Royals.
September 25The Red Sox upend the Orioles‚ 14-3‚ to clinch the wild-card playoff spot.

The Blue Jays outscore the Devil Rays‚ 10-8‚ as Carlos Delgado becomes the 15th player in history to hit 4 homers in a game. His 1st homer of the game is also the 300th of his career. He has shown a progression of power as he’s reached home run milestones: he hit one homer in a game for his first career dinger‚ hit a pair in a game for his 100th‚ hit a threesome to reach 200 and hit 4 today.

The Reds beat the Cubs‚ 9-7‚ despite a pair of HRs by Sammy Sosa. His 3 RBI for the night gives his 100 for the season‚ making him the 1st NL player to reach the mark in 9 straight years.
September 26The Marlins defeat the Mets‚ 4-3‚ to clinch the NL wild-card spot in the playoffs.

Yankee rookie P Jorge De Paula makes his ML debut with 6 1/3 hitless innings against the Baltimore Orioles in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. He is removed after allowing a single to Larry Bigbie‚ but does not get a decision as the Orioles win‚ 3-2 in 10 innings. New York takes the opener‚ 11-2.

The White Sox down the Royals‚ 11-2. KC’s Carlos Beltran hits a leadoff homer in the 4th to become just the 6th player since 1900 to have 100 runs‚ 100 RBI‚ and 30 stolen bases in three seasons.
September 27The Cubs clinch the NL Central crown with a doubleheader sweep of the Pirates‚ 4-2 and 7-2. It is their 1st division title in 14 years. For the first time since 1937‚ the Cubs are not swept in a three-game series the entire season.

The Cardinals defeat the Diamondbacks‚ 3-2‚ as Edgar Renteria becomes the 1st NL SS in 18 years to drive in 100 runs. Todd Helton of the Rookies narrowly loses the N.L. batting title to Albert Pujols of the Cardinals on the final day of the season‚ He trailed Pujols by as much as 56 points before making his charge. Also leading the NL is Mike Matheny of the Cardinals‚ the first catcher since Charles Johnson in 1997 to sport a 1.000 fielding percentage.

At Kansas City‚ Carl Everett and Joe Crede drive in four runs apiece and Bartolo Colon notches his 100th career win as the Chicago White Sox rolled to 19-3 rout of the Kansas City Royals. The Sox record a season-high 21 hits‚ including a season-high 7 doubles‚ (and no homers) and clinch 2nd place in the AL Central.

Ryan Madson of the Philadelphia Phillies became the 16‚000th player in major-league history when he makes his debut in a game against the Atlanta Braves. Madson calmly strode in from the bullpen in the sixth inning and proceeds to retire six straight batters in a two-inning relief performance as the Phillies beat the Braves‚ 7-6. Javy Lopez hits his 42nd HR of the season to set a new ML record for a catcher.

Roy Halladay wins his 22nd‚ as the Blue Jays beat the Indians‚ 5-4.
September 28The Yankees win‚ 3-1‚ over Baltimore as David Wells (15-7) goes 7 2/3 innings for his 200th career victory and last win as a Yankee. Acting manager Roger Clemens removes him in the 8th. Drew Henson hits a seeing-eye single for his first and only ML hit. He later scores. A day after the Patriots win the 2004 Superbowl behind Henson’s former Michigan teammate Tom Brady‚ he gives up baseball and $12 million for NFL football.

The Dodgers conclude the season with a 12-3 loss at San Francisco‚ as Bonds has 2 hits but no homers. Despite the 12 runs‚ the dodgers finish with a team ERA of 3.16‚ best in the NL by .57. This is the biggest difference between the best ERA and the 2nd best since the 1907 also had a .57.
September 29The Orioles fire manager Mike Hargrove after four consecutive losing seasons under his command.

The White Sox fire manager Jerry Manuel after six years at the helm.
September 30The Twins end their 13-game losing streak to the Yankees by beating the New Yorkers‚ 3-1‚ to take the opening game of their Division Series.

Jason Schmidt hurls a 3-hit shutout as the Giants down the Marlins‚ 2-0‚ to take the first game of their Division Series. The Giants only get 3 hits themselves in the pitcher’s duel between Schmidt and Florida’s Josh Beckett.

Kerry Wood is the story for Chicago as the Cubs beat the Braves‚ 4-2‚ in the opener of their Division Series. In addition to allowing just 2 hits in 7 innings for the win‚ Wood also drives in 2 runs with a double. Marcus Giles homers for Atlanta.

October

October 1Mark DeRosa’s 2-out‚ 2-run double in the 8th inning sparks the Braves to a 5-3 win over the Cubs to tie their Division Series at a game apiece. Atlanta P Mike Hampton ties a postseason record by striking out 6 Cubs in a row in the 2nd and 3rd innings.

The Giants blow a 4-1 lead and lose to the Marlins‚ 9-5. Juan Pierre’s bases loaded double in the 6th is the key blow for Florida. Juan Encarnacion homers for the Marlins to even the series at one game apiece.

Oakland C Ramon Hernandez lays down a perfect 2-outs squeeze bunt in the bottom half of the 12th inning to give the Athletics a victory in the first game of their Division Series against the Red Sox. Erubiel Durazo‘s 2-outs hit in the 9th ties the game and sends it into extra innings. Todd Walker gets 4 hits for Boston‚ including a pair of HRs. Jason Varitek also homers for the Sox. Rookie Rich Harden gets the win in relief for Oakland.

In a decision announced several months ago‚ the Hudson Valley Renegades (NY-Penn League) and the Fort Myers Miracle (Florida State League) trade General Managers. Renegades President/GM Steve Gliner heads to the Sunshine State and Miracle GM Dave Burke comes to New York. Same ownership group.
October 2Oakland’s Barry Zito shuts down the Red Sox‚ 5-1‚ to give the Athletics a 2-0 lead in their Division Series. Oakland scores all its runs in the 2nd inning‚ with Eric Byrnes’ 2-run double a key blow.

The Yankees even their series with Minnesota with a 4-1 victory behind Andy Pettitte. Jason Giambi hits a 2-run single and Pettitte fans 10 for New York.
October 3The Marlins down the Giants‚ 4-3‚ to take a 2-games-to-1 lead in their Division Series. Ivan Rodriguez’s 2-run single in the 11th inning is the game-winner. Rodriguez also hits a 2-run HR.

Chicago beats Atlanta‚ 3-1‚ to move ahead of the Braves‚ 2-1‚ in their series. Mark Prior hurls a 2-hitter and out-duels Greg Maddux.
October 4The Marlins defeat the Giants‚ 7-6‚ to win their Division Series and move on to the NLCS. The game ends in bang-bang fashion as Jeff Conine throws out JT Snow at home plate as Snow tries to score the tying run.

The Athletics lose to the Red Sox‚ 3-1 in 11 innings‚ on Trot Nixon’s walkoff homer. The loss ties the series at 2 games apiece. The pinch-hit walk-off home run Nixon is the fifth such long ball in postseason history.‚ and the 1st in the pinch since Kirk Gibson‘s famous homer off Dennis Eckersley to win Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

The Yankees move into the lead in their series with the Twins with a 3-1 win behind Roger Clemens. The Rocket surrenders only 1 run and 5 hits sin 7 innings. Hideki Matsui hits a HR for NY.

The Braves stay alive in their series with the Cubs‚ riding a pair of 2-run HRs by Chipper Jones to a 6-4 victory. John Smoltz preserves the win by getting Sammy Sosa on a long drive to centerfield in a bid to tie the score with 2 outs in the 9th.
October 5The Yankees pound the Twins behind David Wells‚ 8-1‚ to win their Division Series. New York strokes 4 doubles in a 4-run 6th inning to move into the ALCS.

David Ortiz’s 2-run double in the 8th inning helps Boston to a 5-4 victory over Oakland and sends their Division Series to a deciding seventh game. Johnny Damon and Todd Walker homer for the Sox.

The Cubs beat the Braves‚ 5-1‚ to win their first postseason series since 1908 and move on to the NLCS. Kerry Wood gets the win for Chicago while Aramis Ramirez hits a HR.
October 6The Red Sox complete their comeback‚ defeating the Athletics for the 3rd straight game‚ 4-3‚ to advance to the ALCS against the Yankees. Manny Ramirez’s 3-run HR is the big blow in the game. Boston starter-turned-reliever Derek Lowe strikes out Terrence Long with the bases loaded for the final out. Red Sox OF Johnny Damon is forced to leave the game in the 7th inning with a concussion after a collision with 2B Damian Jackson.
October 7The Marlins defeat the Cubs‚ 9-8‚ on Mike Lowell’s pinch-hit HR in the 11th inning. The Cubs had tied the game at 8-8 on Sammy Sosa‘s 2-outs‚ 2-run homer in the bottom half of the 9th to send the game into extra innings. The two teams combine to hit 7 HRs to set an NLCS record.

The House of Representatives approves legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal for Jackie Robinson‚ the first black to play in the ML in the modern era.
October 8Mark Prior handcuffs the Marlins as the Cubs pound out 4 HRs on their way to a 12-3 win over Florida to tie their NLCS at 1 game apiece. Alex Gonzalez homers twice for Chicago‚ while Sammy Sosa and Aramis Ramirez also connect. Kenny Lofton ties an NLCS record with 4 hits.

Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball baffles the Yankees as the Red Sox take the opening game of the ALCS by a score of 5-2. David Ortiz‚ Todd Walker‚ and Manny Ramirez all homer for Boston.
October 9The Yankees even their series with the Red Sox by defeating Boston behind Andy Pettitte‚ 6-2. Nick Johnson hits a 2-run HR for New York while Jason Varitek hits a solo homer for Boston.
October 10Doug Glanville’s RBI triple in the 11th inning gives the Cubs a 5-4 win in the third game of the NLCS. Randall Simon hits a 2-run HR for Chicago.

Boston real estate developer Frank McCourt reaches an agreement with News Corp to buy the LA Dodgers.
October 11In a game marked by several brawls‚ including a memorable one in which Boston hurler Pedro Martinez throws 72-year-old New York coach Don Zimmer to the ground‚ the Yankees defeat the Red Sox‚ 4-3‚ to take Game 3 of the ALCS. Zim’s slow charge to the mound followed a Padro pitch behind Karim Garcia’s head in the 4th inning. Garcia followed with a hard slide into 2B upending Todd Walker. When the Red Sox came to bat‚ Manny Ramirez took exception to a pitch from Roger Clemens that sailed high. Although it is barely inside‚ he shouts at Clemens‚ moving at him with bat in hand‚ and both benches empty. Clemens posts the 11th postseason win of his career while Derek Jeter homers for NY.

The Cubs pound the Marlins for an 8-3 victory and a 3-games-to-1 lead in the NLCS behind Matt Clement. Aramis Ramirez’s 1st inning grand slam gives the Cubs a lead they never relinquish. Ramirez also hits another homer as the two teams combine to set a new record for most HRs in an NLCS with 16. Ramirez finishes the game with 6 RBI.
October 12The Marlins stave off elimination with a 4-0 win over the Cubs in the NLCS. Josh Beckett dominates Chicago with a 2-hitter‚ while Mike Lowell‚ Ivan Rodriguez‚ and Jeff Conine all homer for Florida.

With Game 4 of the AL championship series postponed by rain‚ attention is on Don Zimmer‚ who apologizes for yesterday’s melee. “I’m embarrassed at what happened‚” Zimmer said‚ fighting back tears. “I’m embarrassed for the Yankees‚ the Red Sox‚ the fans‚ the umpires and my family.” Zimmer is fined $5‚000 by Bob Watson‚ baseball’s vice president in charge of discipline‚ Martinez is fined $50‚000‚ Ramirez $25‚000 and Garcia $10‚000. Boston owner John Henry‚ pleased with Zimmer’s apology‚ says he “wouldn’t mind seeing the same thing coming from our side.” Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar says he hoped Zimmer’s remarks would put an end to the “sideshow.” Boston center fielder Johnny Damon acknowledges that the Red Sox also were to blame in the brawl. “If I was involved‚ I’d apologize. But then‚ Zimmer wasn’t coming after my life‚ he was coming after Pedro’s.” It is not Zimmer’s last press conference; he will announce after the Series that he is fed up with Steinbrenner’s interference and that he is retiring.
October 13Tim Wakefield earns his 2nd victory of the series‚ leading the Red Sox to a 3-2 win over the Yankees to even the ALCS at 2 games apiece. Todd Walker and Trot Nixon homer for Boston‚ while Ruben Sierra‘s 9th inning round-tripper gets NY to within a run.
October 14David Wells hurls the Yankees to a 4-2 win over the Red Sox and a 3-games-to-2 lead in the ALCS. Karim Garcia’s 2-run single in the 3rd is the key blow for NY while Manny Ramirez homers for Boston.

Trailing 3-0 with 1 out in the 8th inning‚ the Marlins explode for 8 runs and go on to defeat the Cubs‚ 8-3‚ to send the NLCS to a 7th game. A key play occurs when a Cubs fan named Bartman reaches for a foul ball that Chicago LF Moises Alou appears ready to catch at the edge of the stands. An error by SS Alex Gonzalez and a bases loaded triple by Mike Mordecai are other key plays in the inning.

The Giants announce that Pacific Bell Park will be renamed SBC Park beginning January 1‚ 2004.
October 15The Red Sox rally for 3 runs in the 7th inning to come from behind and pull out a 9-6 victory over the Yankees to send the ALCS to a 7th game. Boston slugs 16 hits‚ including 4 by Nomar Garciaparra‚ and gets HRs from Jason Varitek and Trot Nixon.

The Marlins complete a stunning comeback by defeating the Cubs‚ 9-6‚ to win their 3rd straight game and the NLCS. HRs by Kerry Wood and Moises Alou give Chicago a 5-3 lead‚ but Florida bounces back to take the lead on Luis Castillo’s RBI single in the 6th. Miguel Cabrera hits a 3-run homer for the Marlins. Ivan Rodriguez is named the NLCS Most Valuable Player.
October 16Aaron Boone’s walkoff HR on Tim Wakefield’s 1st pitch in the bottom half of the 11th inning gives the Yankees a 6-5 come from behind win over the Red Sox and their 39th AL pennant. Boston blows a 4-0 lead as New York comes back to score 3 runs in the 8th off tired starter Pedro Martinez to tie the score. Sox manager Little’s decision to stay with Pedro will cost him his job. Jason Giambi hits a pair of HRs for NY‚ while ALCS Most Valuable Player Mariano Rivera hurls 3 innings in relief for the win.
October 18The Marlins surprise the Yankees with a 3-2 victory in the opening game of the World Series. Juan Pierre has a 2-run single for Florida‚ as Brad Penny defeats David Wells.
October 19The Yankees bounce back behind Andy Pettitte to tie the Series at 1 game apiece with a 6-1 triumph in Game 2. Hideki Matsui’s 3-run HR in the 1st inning is all Pettitte needs. Alfonso Soriano also homers for NY. Mark Redman takes the loss for the Marlins.
October 21The Yankees beat the Marlins‚ 6-1‚ behind the pitching of Mike Mussina and the hitting of Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams. Jeter gets 3 hits off losing starter Josh Beckett (the only hits Beckett allows)‚ while Williams and Aaron Boone hit HRs. Williams’ homer is his record 19th in postseason play. His 65 RBI are also a new postseason record.

Seattle Mariner P Jamie Moyer wins the Roberto Clemente Award for excellence on the field and in the community.
October 22Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez are honored with the Hank Aaron Award‚ which goes to the top offensive player of the year in each league.
October 23The Marlins move to one game away from a world championship as they defeat the Yankees‚ 6-4‚ to take a 3-games-to-2 lead in the World Series. Winning pitcher Brad Penny’s 2-run single gives Florida a lead they never surrender. Jason Giambi hits a pinch-hit HR in the 9th to bring the Yankees within 2 runs‚ but Bernie Williams‘ attempt for a game-tying homer falls short at the warning track in center field.
October 25The Marlins win their 2nd world championship as World Series MVP Josh Beckett hurls a 5-hit shutout in defeating the Yankees‚ 2-0‚ in Game 6 of the WS. Luis Castillo’s 5th-inning single brings home Florida’s 1st run‚ and the only one Beckett needs as he outduels Andy Pettitte. Thus the Marlin conclude their 2nd winning season in the past 11 years in the same manner they concluded their first winning season.
October 27The Red Sox announce that manager Grady Little’s contract will not be renewed for 2004. They also say it has nothing to do with Little’s decision to stay with Pedro Martinez in game 7 of the ALCS. They also ask the question: ‘what do Grady Little and Don Zimmer have in common? Neither could take out Pedro.’
October 29Barry Bonds wins his record 11th Silver Slugger Award‚ given to the top offensive players in each league.

November

November 3In the first big trade of the offseason‚ the Phillies obtain relief ace Billy Wagner from the Astros in exchange for P Brandon Duckworth and minor league hurlers Taylor Buchholz and Ezequiel Astacio.

The White Sox hire former SS Ozzie Guillen as manager‚ replacing fired skipper Jerry Manuel.

Former Mets manager Bobby Valentine signs a 3-year contract to manage the Lotte Marines of the Japanese League.
November 4Seven repeat winners‚ including four Seattle Mariners‚ are named American League Gold Glove Award winners. Yankee hurler Mike Mussina wins for the 6th time.
November 5Cincinnati Reds OF Dernell Stenson is found dead on a residential street in an Arizona suburb after being shot and apparently run over. Stenson made his ML debut this past season‚ appearing in 37 games for the Reds. He was in Arizona for the Arizona Fall League.

Atlanta OF Andruw Jones wins his 6th straight Gold Glove Award as the NL awards are announced. St. Louis OF Jim Edmonds also wins for the 6th time.

Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols are named the Outstanding Player of the Year in their respective leagues in a vote of ML players.
November 7The Orioles hire former Yankees coach Lee Mazzilli to be their new manager‚ replacing Mike Hargrove.
November 10KC SS Angel Berroa and Florida P Dontrelle Willis are named Rookie of the Year in the AL and NL respectively. NY’s Hideki Matsui and Milwaukee’s Scott Posednik are the runner-ups.
November 11Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays is named the AL Cy Young Award winner‚ easily outdistancing Chicago’s Esteban Loaiza. Halladay compiled a 22-7 mark with a 3.25 ERA for Toronto. Halladay is the first pitcher since Mike Cuellar in 1974 to win 22 games in a season without posting a victory in April.

SF general manager Brian Sabean is named Executive of the Year by The Sporting News.

The Astros sign free agent P Dan Miceli to a contract.
November 12Tony Pena of the Royals and Jack McKeon of the Marlins are named Manager of the Year in the AL and NL‚ respectively.
November 13LA closer Eric Gagne is the overwhelming winner of the NL Cy Young Award. Gagne gets 28 of 32 first-place votes in outdistancing runner-up Jason Schmidt of the Giants. Gagne becomes the first reliever since Mark Davis in 1989 to win the award.

ML baseball announces that more than 5% of this year’s random drug tests for steroids came back positive. Because of this‚ testing with penalties will begin next season. A positive first test will result in treatment‚ and a second in a 15-day suspension or fine of up to $10‚000.
November 14The Giants obtain All-Star C A.J. Pierzynski in a trade with the Twins. The Giants will also receive a player to be named or cash in the deal which sent minor league Ps Boof Bonser and Francisco Liriano to Minnesota.
November 17Texas SS Alex Rodriguez wins the AL MVP award‚ edging out Carlos Delgado of Toronto. Rodriguez joins Andre Dawson as the only players from a last-place team to win the honor.
November 18Barry Bonds wins his record 6th MVP award‚ and his 3rd in a row. Bonds becomes the 2nd-oldest player to win the honor as he outdistances runner-up Albert Pujols of the Cardinals.

The Athletics trade P Ted Lilly to the Blue Jays in exchange for OF Bobby Kielty‚ acquired from the Twins for Shannon Stewart in mid season‚ and either $10‚000 or a minor league player to be named.

The Blue Jays sign free agent P Pat Hentgen to a contract.
November 19The Mariners sign free agent OF Raul Ibanez to a 3-year contract.
November 21The Cardinals send 1B Tino Martinez to the Devil Rays. In return‚ St. Louis gets minor league P Evan Rust and a player to be named.
November 22Boston SS Nomar Garciaparra marries US soccer star Mia Hamm in Santa Barbara‚ California.
November 24The Angels sign free agent P Kelvim Escobar to a 3-year contract.
November 25In a cost-cutting measure‚ the Marlins trade 1B Derek Lee to the Cubs for 1B Hee Seop Choi and a minor league player to be named.
November 26The Athletics send All-Star C Ramon Hernandez and OF Terrence Long to the Padres. In return‚ Oakland gets OF Mark Kotsay.
November 28The Diamondbacks trade ace Curt Schilling to the Red Sox for pitcher Casey Fossum‚ Brandon Lyon and 2 minor leaguers. Schilling negotiates his own contract with the Red Sox. Reportedly‚ the Yankees offered more than the Red Sox-Nick Johnson’s name is mentioned-but Arizona owner Jerry Colangelo is still annoyed at George Steinbrenner for resigning David Wells after Boomer had come to an agreement with the Diamondbacks.

December

December 1The Diamondbacks steal slugger Richie Sexson from the Brewers in a 9-player deal. Arizona also receives P Shane Nance and a player to be named while sending INF Craig Counsell‚ 2B Junior Spivey‚ 1B Lyle Overbay‚ C Chad Moeller‚ and Ps Jorge De La Rosa and Chris Capuano to Milwaukee.
December 2The White Sox acquire IF Juan Uribe from the Rockies in exchange for minor league IF Aaron Miles.
December 3The Phillies continue to bolster their pitching staff by acquiring Eric Milton from the Twins. Philadelphia sends P Carlos Silva‚ INF Nick Punto‚ and a player to be named to Minnesota.

The Cubs sign free agent P LaTroy Hawkins to a 3-year contract.
December 4The Expos send P Javier Vazquez to the Yankees‚ who will sign him next month to a 4-year‚ $45 million contract. In return‚ Montreal gets 1B Nick Johnson‚ OF Juan Rivera‚ and P Randy Choate from NY.

The Red Sox hire former Philadelphia manager Terry Francona as their new skipper‚ replacing the deposed Grady Little.
December 7The Giants sign free agent OF Michael Tucker to a 2-year contract.
December 8The Blue Jays sign free agent P Kerry Ligtenberg to a 2-year contract.
December 9The Angels sign free agent P Bartolo Colon to a 4-year contract.

The Mariners sign free agent P Eddie Guardado to a 3-year contract.

The Phillies sign free agent P Tim Worrell to a 2-year contract‚ continuing a tradition of signing the lesser brother ball player: Tim joins Vince DiMaggio‚ Ken Brett‚ Mike Maddux‚ Rick Surhoff‚ Mark Leiter‚ Jeremy Giambi and Frank Torre.

The Braves sign free agent P John Thomson to a 2-year contract.

The Royals sign free agent P Scott Sullivan to a 2-year contract and free agent OF Matt Stairs to a 1-year deal.
December 10The Rockies sign free agent 3B Vinny Castilla‚ bringing him back to Coors Field.

The Mets sign Japanese SS Kaz Matsui to a 3-year contract.

The Rangers sign free agent 1B Brad Fullmer to a contract.

The Devil Rays sign free agent 1B-OF Eduardo Perez to a 2-year contract.

The Astros sign free agent hometown lefty Andy Pettitte to a 3-year contract after the Yankees take their sweet time tendering him an offer. Newspaper conjecture that Roger Clemens will come out of retirement to join him on the Astros‚ but the Rocket decides to stay retired.

The Royals sign free agent C Benito Santiago to a 2-year contract.

The Tigers sign free agent 2B Fernando Vina to a 2-year contract.
December 12In the first move of baseball’s winter meetings‚ the Blue Jays sign free agent P Miguel Batista to a 3-year contract.
December 13The Yankees obtain P Kevin Brown from the Dodgers in exchange for P Jeff Weaver‚ minor league P Yhency Brazoban‚ a player to be named‚ and $2.6 million.

The Cardinals send OF J.D. Drew and C Eli Marrero to the Braves for Ps Jason Marquis‚ Ray King‚ and Adam Wainwright.

The Marlins trade OF Juan Encarnacion to the Dodgers for a player to be named.

The Tigers sign free agent OF Rondell White to a 2-year contract.

The Red Sox sign free agent closer Keith Foulke to a 3-year contract.
December 14Murray Chass of The New York Times wins the J.G. Taylor Spink Award. He will be inducted into the writers’ wing of the baseball Hall of Fame next summer.

The Blue Jays‚ Devil Rays‚ and Rockies exchange pitchers in a 3-team deal. Justin Speier goes from Colorado to Toronto‚ Joe Kennedy moves from TB to Colorado‚ and Mark Hendrickson switches from Toronto to TB. The Rockies also receive a player to be named or cash considerations from the Blue Jays.

The Orioles sign free agent SS Miguel Tejada to a 6-year contract.

The Devil Rays sign free agent OF Jose Cruz, Jr. to a 2-year contract and free agent SS Rey Sanchez to a 1-year deal.

The Royals sign free agent SS Tony Graffanino to a 2-year contract.

The Devil Rays acquire IF Geoff Blum from the Astros for P Brandon Backe.
December 15The Giants obtain OF Dustan Mohr from the Twins for a player to be named.

The Athletics acquire C Michael Barrett from the Expos for a player to be named.

The Mariners get OF Quinton McCracken from the Diamondbacks in exchange for IF Greg Colbrunn.

The Mariners agree to a 3-year contract with free agent 1B Scott Spiezio.

The Phillies sign free agent P Roberto Hernandez to a contract.

The Cardinals reach agreement on a 2-year contract with free agent P Jeff Suppan.

Free agent OF Carl Everett agrees to a 2-year contract with the Expos.

The Pirates and Indians each lose 5 players in the Rule 5 draft. Pittsburgh C Chris Shelton went to the Tigers with the first overall pick.
December 16The Marlins trade P Mark Redman to the Athletics for P Mike Neu‚ who signs a 3-year deal‚ and either a player to be named or cash considerations. Redman‚ a 21st C workhorse‚ with three outings this year of 130+ pitches faded in the 2nd half of the season.

The Red Sox acquire IF Mark Bellhorn from the Rockies for a player to be named.

One day after acquiring him in a trade with the Expos‚ the Athletics send C Michael Barrett to the Cubs for a player to be named.

The Cardinals sign free agent OF Reggie Sanders to a 2-year contract. For Reggie‚ it is his 7th team in 7 years‚ all in the NL. Not once did he change teams in mid season. Only Shorty Radford (1885-1892) played for more teams in straight seasons with 8.
December 17The Yankees sign free agent OF Gary Sheffield to a 3-year contract.

The Mariners sign free agent IF Scott Spiezio to a 3-year contract.

The Braves sign free agent C Eddie Perez to a 2-year contract.
December 18The Yankees send P Chris Hammond and cash to the Athletics in exchange for P Eduardo Sierra and IF J.T. Stotts.

The Mets sign free agent OF Mike Cameron to a 3-year contract.

The Cubs sign free agent P Kent Mercker and free agent OF Todd Hollandsworth to contracts.

The Tigers sign free agent C Mike DiFelice to a contract.

The Twins sign free agent C Henry Blanco to a contract.
December 19The Cubs obtain OF-IF Jose Macias from the Expos for P Wilton Chavez.

The Yankees sign free agent IF Miguel Cairo to a contract.

The Angels agree to a 2-year contract with free agent OF Jose Guillen.

The Braves sign free agent P Antonio Alfonseca to a contract.
December 20The Rockies sign free agent OF Jeromy Burnitz to a contract.
December 21The Cubs send C Damian Miller and cash to the Athletics to complete an earlier trade.

The Marlins sign free agent P Armando Benitez to a contract.
December 22The Orioles sign free agent C Javy Lopez to a 3-year contract.

The Athletics sign free agent P Arthur Rhodes to a 3-year contract.

The Brewers sign free agent OF Ben Grieve to a contract.

The Yankees sign free agent P Paul Quantrill to a 2-year contract.

The Braves sign free agent P Armando Almanza to a contract.

The Rockies sign free agent C Todd Greene to a contract.
December 23The Diamondbacks sign free agent pitchers Shane Reynolds and knuckleballer Steve Sparks to contracts.

Three hours before the Texas deadline on Alex Rodriguez‚ the Red Sox get their infielder‚ signing free agent 2B Pokey Reese to a one year contract. GM Epstein says they’ll give up a bit on offense but that Reese is a defensive improvement over 2B Todd Walker. At 5 p.m.‚ Texas owner Tom Hicks declares any deal with Boston is dead and that A-Rod is a Ranger for the next year.

The Cubs sign free agent 2B Todd Walker to a contract.

The Yankees sign free agent OF Kenny Lofton and free agent P Tom Gordon to 2-year contracts.

The Pirates sign free agent 3B Chris Stynes to a contract.
December 24The Yankees receive an $11.8 million luxury tax bill for being the only one of the 30 ML teams to exceed the $117 million salary threshold last year.
December 25Merry Christmas‚ Ron. The Indians sign free agent 2B Ron Belliard to a contract.
December 26The Expos sign free agent 3B Tony Batista to a contract.
December 27The Rangers sign free agent OF Brian Jordan to a contract.

The Blue Jays sign free agent P Valerio De Los Santos to a contract.
December 29The Angels announce that their 37-year old stadium has been renamed Angel Stadium.

The Reds sign free agent P Cory Lidle to a contract.

The Rangers sign free agent OF David Dellucci to a contract.

The Devil Rays sign free agent Brook Fordyce to a contract.
December 30The Tigers sign free agent P Jason Johnson to a 2-year contract.

The government announces a ban on the sale of ephedra‚ the herbal supplement linked to the death earlier this year of Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler.
December 31Let’s celebrate the new year. The Padres sign free agent P David Wells to a contract as Wells spurns the Yankees offer. Supposedly‚ the Padre contract does not contain a weight clause‚ which the Yankees insisted upon.

The Orioles sign free agent P Mike DeJean to a contract.