Baseball – 1996

Baseball in 1996

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January


January 3The Mariners sign free agent 1B Paul Sorrento.
January 8For only the 7th time in history‚ the Baseball Writers Association of America fails to select a player for induction into baseball’s Hall of Fame.
January 9The Braves trade OF Mike Kelly to the Reds in exchange for minor league P Chad Fox.

The Cardinals sign free agent IF Mike Gallego.

The Athletics trade P Todd Stottlemyre to the Cardinals in exchange for pitchers Bret Wagner‚ Jay Witasick and Carl Dale‚ and OF Allen Battle.
January 10The Red Sox trade P Rheal Cormier‚ 1B Ryan McGuire and minor league P Shayne Bennett to the Expos in exchange for SS Wil Cordero and P Bryan Eversgerd.
January 13The Marlins sign Cuban P Livan Hernandez to a 4-year $4.5 million contract‚ which includes a record $2.5 million bonus.
January 16At a meeting in LA‚ interleague play is approved for the 1997 season by major league baseball’s executive council.

The Giants sign Cuban P Osvaldo Fernandez.
January 20The White Sox sign free agent OF Tony Phillips to a 2-year contract and tomorrow pick up OF Danny Tartabull from the Athletics. The A’s get P Andrew Lorraine and OF Charlie Poe in exchange.

The Brewers sign free agent P Ben McDonald to a 2-year contract.
January 22The Mets trade pitchers Eric Ludwick and Erik Hiljus‚ and OF Yudith Ozorio‚ to the Cardinals in exchange for OF Bernard Gilkey.
January 29The Red Sox trade outfielders Lee Tinsley and Glenn Murray and P Ken Ryan to the Phillies in exchange for P Heathcliff Slocumb‚ OF Rick Hollifield and P Larry Wimberly.
January 30The Phillies sign free agent C Benito Santiago.
January 31Ken Griffey Jr. becomes baseball’s highest-paid player by signing a 4-year‚ $34 million contract.

February


February 1The Royals sign free agent P Tim Belcher.
February 3The White Sox sign free agent P Kevin Tapani‚ a double-figure winner in each year in the 90’s.
February 8Dave Winfield announces his retirement after 23 seasons. The 12-time All Star joins Hank Aaron‚ Willie Mays and Stan Musial as the only players with 3‚000 hits and 400 home runs.
February 13The Cardinals complete a long-rumored swap‚ acquiring Dennis Eckersley‚ 42‚ from the A’s in exchange for minor leaguer Steve Montgomery. Eck replaces Tom Henke‚ who announced last month he was retiring.

The Cards announce that they are laying nearly three acres of natural grass over the field at Busch Stadium‚ replacing the artificial turf that has been used for 26 years. The turf will be ready for the April 8 opener against Montreal.
February 21Despite the Baltimore Orioles winning in arbitration over P Arthur Rhodes‚ the players have their first winning year since 1990‚ going 14-10 in arbitration against the owners. Rhodes‚ 2-5‚ gets a team offer raise to $300‚000: the pitcher had asked for $675‚000. Arbitration-eligible players increased their salaries by 64%‚ the lowest since 1998‚
February 23The Rules Committee announces that the strike zone will be larger‚ dropping it from the top of the knees to the hollow below the knees. The change comes out of a series of recommendations to help speed up play.

March


March 1The Yankees christen Legends Field‚ their new $30 million 31-acre complex near the Tampa Airport. The field has the exact dimensions of the stadium in the Bronx. On hand to see Phil Rizzuto toss out the first ball are former Yanks Whitey Ford‚ Catfish Hunter‚ Ron Guidry‚ and Chris Chambliss‚ who then watch the new Yankees beat the AL Champion Indians‚ 5-2.
March 2At St. Petersburg’s Al Lang Field‚ two Japanese umpires work a game with two American umps. Osamu Ito is behind the plate as the Pirates whip the Cardinals‚ 11-2. “I thought they did a good job‚” commented Bucs’ manager Jim Leyland. “And even if they didn’t‚ you couldn’t argue with them.” In Dunedin‚ fellow Central League umps Samio Murakoshi and Toshio Azuma are part of a four-man crews that works the Phillies 12-2 win over the Blue Jays. Meanwhile‚ four umpires from the majors are on a 9-day tour of the Japanese Leagues.
March 5The Veteran’s Committee elects four new members of the Hall of Fame‚ and just misses naming a fifth. The group elected includes Earl Weaver‚ Orioles manger for 17 seasons‚ Jim Bunning‚ who won 100 games in each league‚ 19th century manager Ned Hanlon‚ who won pennants in Baltimore and Brooklyn‚ and Bill Foster‚ the Negro League’s winningest pitcher. Nellie Fox receives the necessary 75% of the Committee’s votes‚ but the rules allow just one modern player elected‚ and Bunning has more votes.
March 22The Tigers trade Ps Sean Bergman and Cade Gaspar‚ and OF Todd Steverson‚ to the Padres in exchange for OF Melvin Nieves‚ C Raul Casanova‚ and P Richie Lewis.
March 23In a Grapefruit League game at Clearwater’s Jack Russell Stadium‚ the Phillies and Indians meet for the first time in their history‚ with the Tribe prevailing 8-2.
March 24At Legends Field‚ New York Yankee infielder Tony Fernandez fractures his right elbow in a 8-3 game with the Astros‚ and is placed on the 60-day DL.
March 26Voters in San Francisco vote 2-to-1 in favor of a privately-funded stadium to replace Candlestick Park‚ the windy 36-year-old home of the Giants. The passage of the measure‚ the first step towards building the 42‚000 seat bayside park‚ exempts the Giants from the waterside height restrictions. Plans call for the park to be ready for Opening Day‚ 2000.
March 28Kirby Puckett is taken to the Ft. Myers Hospital after he awakes with his vision blurred by what is later diagnosed as glaucoma. He has a black dot in front of his left eye and his vision is diagnosed as 20/200. Puckett‚ who hit .360 in spring training‚ will undergo surgery on April 17. He will never again appear in a major league game.
March 29The Giants sign pitcher Mark Gardner‚ released by the Florida Marlins.
March 31Hours before Opening Day‚ the Mets add a 5th starter to replace three of their ailing young arms on the DL. New York sends the expendable Ryan Thompson and pitcher Reid Cornelius to the Indians for Mark Clark. Clark was 20-10 over the past two seasons.

In the earliest Opening Day ever‚ the Mariners sail past the White Sox in 12 innings‚ 3-2 in Seattle. Randy Johnson sticks out 14 Sox in 7 innings‚ but serving up a 2-run homer to Frank Thomas. Five M’s pitchers strike out 21 batters‚ including Ron Karkovice five times‚ while the Sox use 7 pitchers in the loss. The AL unveiled its new colorful red polo shirts for the umpires‚ part of the “What a Game” campaign to lure fans back to the parks. The last sartorial change was in the 1970s when AL umps wore red blazers for several years. Al umps will wear red and blue polo shirts for the season; NL umps will stick with traditional blue.

April


April 1At Riverfront Stadium‚ umpire John McSherry calls time from behind the plate and collapses on the field with a massive heart attack and dies. The popular McSherry‚ a veteran of 21 seasons‚ had been suffering from a series of medical problems‚ aggravated by his weight of 328 pounds. The game‚ just 7 pitches old between the Reds and Expos‚ is called‚ though owner Marge Schott feels otherwise: “Snow this morning and now this. I don’t believe it. I feel cheated. This isn’t supposed to happen to us‚ not in Cincinnati. This is our history‚ our tradition‚ our team. Nobody feels worse than me.” Schott‚ who will later apologize‚ says it with flowers instead. But the Dayton Daily News will report on the 28th that the flowers she sends were given to her by television station covering the Reds.

The Athletics open the season in Las Vegas since renovations to the Oakland Coliseum are still not finished. The night game with the Blue Jays at Cashman Field‚ with a seating of 9‚553‚ draws just 7‚294 and the Jays take advantage of a 25-mile-an hour wind to hit 3 homers and win‚ 9-6. It is the first time since September 3‚ 1957 that major league teams have played in a minor league park.

The New York Mets spot the Cardinals 6 runs‚ then roar back for a 7-6 win‚ the biggest Opening Day comeback this century.

Snow postpones the Yankee opener in Cleveland.
April 2At Baltimore‚ President Clinton tosses out the first ball and then watches Cal Ripken, Jr. drive in 3 runs to give the Orioles a 4-2 win over the Royals.

The Mets announce that Bill Pulsipher will miss the 1996 season. The 22-year-old lefty experienced arm pain while throwing on March 28th‚ and results from an MRI indicate torn ligaments in his left arm‚ necessitating surgery April 17.

Cecil Fielder pulls a belated April fool’s joke on the Twins when‚ in the 9th inning‚ he takes off for 2nd base with a 3-2 count on Melvin Nieves and beats the throw from catcher Greg Myers. Fielder’s swipe is his first in 1‚096 games in the majors. Tiger rookie RHP Clint Sodowsky allows 7 hits in 5 innings in his debut‚ and the Tigers win 10-6.

In the opener‚ Milwaukee has 22 hits including homers by Greg Vaughn and Jose Valentin‚ to outscore the Twins‚ 15-9. Valentin and Chuck Carr have 4 hits apiece. Other hitting in the game includes Vaughn getting plunked in the 8th inning‚ and Brewers pitcher Kevin Wickender retaliating in the bottom of the inning by hitting Garret Anderson. Both benches then clear for the traditional scrum in the center of the infield.
April 3The San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs‚ 7-5‚ with Joey Hamilton lasting five innings to notch his first win of the year and his first hit in three seasons. Hamilton had been 0-for-57 at the plate‚ one of the worst offensive starts in ML history. Tony Gwynn is 4-for-4‚ while Caminiti has 4 RBIs‚ 3 on a HR. Brad Ausmus‚ Wally Joyner‚ Scott Servais and Sammy Sosa all hit homers. Frank Castillo is the loser.

The College of St. Francis sets 71 records with a 71-1 four-inning defeat of Robert Morris College. The Fighting Saints score 26 runs in the 1st inning‚ 22 more in the 2nd‚ 4 in the 3rd and 19 in the 4th‚ collecting 44 hits along the way. 1st baseman Brian Mazurek hits for the cycle‚ while freshman SS Mike Palermo ties an NAIA record with 7 hits. LF Mike Holcomb sets a NCAA mark with 9 runs scored.
April 6Chan Ho Park becomes the first South Korean to win in the majors‚ pitching 4 scoreless innings in relief of injured starter Ramon Martinez as the Dodgers beat the Cubs 3-1 at Wrigley.

Padres pitching prospect Matt LaChappa‚ 20‚ suffers a massive heart attack while warming up for the Rancho Cucamunga Quakes.

Warming up in the outfield before the Indians’ game with Toronto‚ Albert Belle heaves a ball at photographer Tony Tomsic‚ hitting him. Belle contends that it wasn’t deliberate‚ even though it was his second throw near Tomsic‚ and even though he warned the photog not to snap his picture. The league will open an investigation in two weeks and Tomsic will file a law suit on December 12th. The Indians win the game‚ defeating the Blue Jays‚ 5-3.

Terry Pendleton hits a game-ending homer leading off the 10th to give Florida a 1-0 win over the Giants. Mark Dewey‚ in relief of starter Mark Leiter who went 9 innings‚ serves up the gopher.

Tiger CF Melvin Nieves bangs two doubles‚ a triple and a homer as the Tigers top the A’s‚ 6-1. Nieves was acquired from the Padres in a spring training trade.

The Twins hand the Orioles their first loss of the year‚ topping the O’s‚ 8-3. Cal Ripken fumbles a grounder in the 5th inning stopping his errorless streak at 74 games.
April 7Mark Carreon drives home 6 runs on 2 homers‚ one a grand slam‚ to lead the Giants to a 14-7 gaffing of the Marlins. Jeff Conine and Andre Dawson‚ with his 30th 4-hit game‚ each have 4 hits for the Fish. The win goes to Steve Bougeois‚ who wins his first in the majors with 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Aussie Craig Shipley is 5-for-5 to lead the Padres to a 17-2 downing of the Astros. Sean Bergman wins his first in the NL by allowing just 2 hits in 8 innings. Brian Johnson adds 5 RBI for the Pads.

Phillies catcher-turned left fielder Darren Daulton goes on the DL because of pain in his right knee‚ which was reconstructed during the off-season. Daulton has had the left knee operated on 8 times during his 12-year-career.
April 8The NL announces that 325-pound umpire Eric Gregg has been granted a leave of absence so he can enter a weight loss program.
April 9Before an estimated crowd of 50‚000‚ the Yankees snowball the Royals‚ 7-3‚ behind Andy Pettitte. The final tally is 7 runs‚ 10 hits‚ and 2 inches-of snow.
April 10In his major league debut‚ Cuban defector Osvaldo Fernandez allows just 5 hits and one run in 8 innings as his Giants beat the Marlins‚ 5-1. Fernandez posted a fat 9.45 ERA in spring training.
April 11The Mariners get 3 homers from Dan Wilson and HRs from Russ Davis and Ken Griffey‚ Jr. to roll over Detroit 9-1. Randy Johnson‚ who has a no-hitter through six innings‚ is the winner.

The Padres defeat the Braves‚ 2-1‚ ending Greg Maddux‘s major league record streak of 18 consecutive road victories.
April 12Tom Urbanski pitches 5+ strong innings to win his 1st game of the year as the Cards top the Phils‚ 6-1. Dennis Eckersley‚ with his appearance in the 9th inning‚ ties Cy Young (8th place) with 906 appearances. The Cards offense is paced by Ray Lankford with two homers.

Reds fans are again able to get out of town scores at Riverfront Stadium. In a cost-cutting move‚ owner Marge Schott had canceled the score-reporting service to save the month fee of $350.
April 13After a lackluster loss in the Opener‚ Hideo Nomo is back on form as he strikes out 17 Florida batter en route to a 3-1 Dodger win. Billy Ashley and Raul Mondesi homer for the Dodgers.

In Milwaukee‚ Michael Tucker’s 3-run homer in the 5th inning-the only hit allowed by knuckleballer Steve Sparks-is enough to give the Royals a 3-2 win.
April 14John Smoltz loses his no-hit bid when Tony Gwynn hits a one-out fly ball in the 7th that pops out of Ryan Klesko’s mitt just before he hits the fence. The hit is ruled a double. Smoltz K’s 13 and allows the one hit before giving way to Mark Wohlers in the 9th as the Braves top the Padres‚ 4-0.

Minutes before the start of the 2nd game with the Astros at Cincinnati‚ Reds’ owner Marge Schott walks on the field to apologize to Larry Vandover and the umpiring crew for her remarks following the death of John McSherry. Crew chief Harry Wendelstedt is mystified‚ saying‚ “I had no idea what she was doing out there.” The Reds take the 2nd game 9-8 after winning the opener‚ 5-3.

Julio Franco‘s homer in the 11th gives the Indians a 7-6 win over the Red Sox. Boston is 2-8‚ and off to their worst start since 1945.
April 16Cecil Fielder pounds three HRs to lead the Tigers to a 13-8 clipping of the Blue Jays. Fielder has now hit 9 homers for April.

Dan Wilson hits a grand slam and drives in all 5 Seattle runs to give the M’s a 5-3 win over the Angels. Ken Griffey Jr.’s sensational catch of George Arias’ line drive robs him of a 3-run homer.

In Pittsburgh’s 13-3 win over the Cardinals‚ Jay Bell and Orlando Merced each hit grand slams‚ tying a ML record.

The Phils first two batters‚ Lenny Dykstra and Mickey Morandini‚ hit homeruns but the Expos win‚ 7-6‚ on Moises Alou‘s RBI-single in the 9th.

Andy Ashby is the winning pitcher in San Diego’s 10-6 win over Colorado. Ashby also goes 4-for-4 with 3 RBIs against his old teammates.
April 17The Dodgers roll over the Giants‚ scoring 7 runs in the 4th inning‚ to win 11-2. Starter Chan Ho Park strikes out the side in the first two innings‚ as Dodger pitchers K 14.
April 19The host Rangers show no mercy in running up the largest score in the A.L. in 41 years and trouncing the league-leading Orioles‚ 26-7. Sixteen of the runs come in the 56-minute 8th inning‚ their last at bat‚ and the largest 8th inning tally in baseball history. The inning is highlighted by Kevin Elster’s grand slam off O’s backup IF Manny Alexander. Manny‚ no Grover Cleveland‚ walks 4 including 3 with the bases loaded‚ but does manage to get an out. For O’s reliever Jesse Orosco‚ it’s a bad 2 days as he gives up 12 earned runs in 2 1/3 innings: The 2 outings raise his season ERA from 1.52 to 3.40. Juan Gonzalez hits two homers and has 6 RBIs‚ while Dean Palmer (2) and Will Clark also add round-trippers. Darryl Hamilton has 3 at bats in the 8th. O’s manager Johnson fumes when Mickey Tettleton takes 3B with Texas ahead 20-7: “I’ve seen it all‚ but guys tagging up from second with an 18-run lead‚ it’s ridiculous.” Texas manager Johnny Oates‚ who still carries a clipping from a 1983 IL game when Johnson‚ with a 9-run lead‚ had his team stealing against Oates’ squad‚ counters‚ “Davey didn’t have to use an infielder to pitch in that inning.

The wind is blowing out in Chicago‚ and Brian McRae‚ with a grand slam‚ Sandberg and Mark Grace hit consecutive homers in the 6th to give the Cubs a 10-6 win over the Giants. Losing lefty Mike Watson serves up 5 Cub homers and shows little respect for venerable Wrigley Field: “I hate this place. They should burn it down.”

The A’s have a delayed home opener in the reconstructed Oakland Coliseum‚ though there are no bleachers for the time being. The formerly symmetrical stadium now sports six distinct angles in the outfield‚ much like the old Forbes or Ebbets Field. All the fans tonight are given yellow construction helmets with the A’s logo on them. The A’s‚ 2-4 in their 6 early games in Las Vegas‚ lose 4-3 to the White Sox when Frank Thomas cracks a 2-run homer in the 8th to give Chicago reliever Matt Karchner his 3rd win.

At Anaheim‚ California’s Mark Langston picks up a complete game win‚ 4-3 over the Tigers. Detroit’s Mark Parent and the Angels’ Tim Wallach both homer‚ but neither is over the left field fence where actor Charlie Sheen has purchased 2‚615 seats for himself and three friends. Sheen‚ an inveterate sports memorabilia collector‚ was hoping for a home run in his vicinity. “I didn’t want to crawl over the paying public‚” said Sheen after shelling out $6‚500 for the seats.
April 20The O’s Brady Anderson leads off with a home run‚ the 3rd straight game he’s socked a lead-off HR‚ a major league record. No one has done it more than twice. Anderson adds another homer but it is not enough as Texas wins‚ 8-3.
April 21Dean Palmer’s grand slam and 2-run homer lead Texas (13-4) to a 9-6 win over the Orioles and a sweep of the 3-game series. Brady Anderson socks a leadoff homer for the 4th straight game‚ a ML record.

Rookie pitcher Tom Thobe makes 2 errors in the 15th inning to allow the Padres to score‚ then grounds out to end the game‚ as Atlanta loses 2-1.

Seattle beats the Blue Jays‚ 9-5 as Ken Griffey‚ Jr. and Edgar Martinez hit back-to-back homers twice. All 4 dingers come off starter Erik Hanson.

New York’s Mark Baldwin surrenders only 3 hits‚ but is out dueled by Ed Stein‚ who pitches his 2nd one-hitter of the season to lead Brooklyn to a 3-0 victory.
April 22Rheal Cormier allows just 3 hits and Henry Rodriguez slams two homers and drives in 5 runs as host Montreal clips the Cardinals‚ 8-0. Rodriguez‚ starting in LF for the injured Moises Alou‚ homered twice on Saturday and is 9-for-14. Montreal (12-7) leads Atlanta in the N.L. East by 1 1/2 games.

Shawon Dunston makes 4 errors‚ but participates in 4 of the Giants 5 double plays in an 11-8 loss to the Astros. Dunston is mercifully lifted in the 8th‚ but his 4 errors is the most by a Giant since Bob Brenly’s 4 in a 1986 game.

In Arlington‚ Harold Baines‚ with a 3-run blast‚ and Robin Ventura hit consecutive homers in the 6th as the Sox halt the Rangers’ five-game win streak‚ 12-4. Ventura and Danny Tartabull then hit back-to-back homers in the 8th to cinch Alex Fernandez’s 3rd win.
April 23Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez each hit 3-run homers and the Indians hold off the Orioles for an 9-8 win. The Indians win their 10th in 11 games‚ while the O’s drop their 6th straight.

In Milwaukee‚ the A’s rack up nine runs off knuckler Steve Sparks‚ with Scott Brosius banging a 3-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the 4th. Jason Giambi tallies a double in the first off Sparks‚ a triple in the 2nd‚ and a two run homer in the 4th. With teammates urging him to stop at first on any hit‚ Giambi lines out his next two times up. The A’s need all 9 runs as the Brewers battle back to lose‚ 9-6.
April 24Twins’ manager Tom Kelly apologizes to the fans after his team wallops the host Tigers 24-11‚ the highest score rung up on Detroit since their loss in 1912 when the team boycotted over the suspension of Ty Cobb and a sub team was hastily cobbled together. Greg Myers and Paul Molitor each drive in 5 runs‚ and Molitor scores 5 runs‚ as Minnesota scores against all 7 Tiger pitchers they face. The 35 runs is the most today as major league teams total 195 runs‚ the most this century. The average game total of 13.9 runs tops the record of 13.6 set on July 12‚ 1931.

Reggie Jefferson’s 3rd double of the game breaks a 7th-inning tie as Boston edges the Rangers 11-9. Texas is led by unlikely slugger Kevin Elster‚ who slugs homers in the 2nd and 3rd for 5 RBIs.

Henry Rodriguez clouts his 9th homer and Shane Andrews singles home the winner in the 10th as Montreal beat the Reds‚ 7-6‚ for its 6th straight win‚ to lead the NL East by 2 1/2 games. Rodriguez has now hit 6 homers in his last 13 at bats.
April 25The Mets bang 3 homers in the 7th and score 8 runs to bury the Cardinals‚ 9-3. Jose Vizcaino leads the way with 4 hits. He sets a team-record of 9 straight hits over 3 games‚ but strikes out his last at bat.

Jeff Cirillo and Pat Listach hit back-to-back homers to start the game against Seattle‚ and the Brewer hang on for a 6-5 victory‚
April 26Mike Grace (4-0) retires the first 16 batters and pitches 8 innings after scattering 3 singles. The Phils win 2-0 over the Reds‚ sending Cincy to their 9th loss in 10 games.

Gary Sheffield cracks a 2-run homer in the first inning off San Francisco starter Osvaldo Fernandez. For Sheffield‚ it is his 11th homer of April‚ matching the major league record for the month. Kevin Brown goes the route to win‚ 3-0.

Los Angeles wins‚ 1-0‚ over the Cubs on Delino DeShields solo homerun. Pedro Astacio is the winning pitcher as the Dodgers tie a ML record with 453 consecutive starts by righthanded pitchers.

Former AL pitcher Milt Gaston dies at age 100. Gaston played for 5 teams in the 1920s and 1930s and had 18 Hall of Fame teammates and managers‚ more than any player in history.
April 27Dodger Tom Candiotti starts against the Cubs‚ but departs after one inning with a muscle pull. His start breaks a 90-year-old ML record‚ and is the 454th consecutive start by a righthander for LA. The Dodgers‚ from October 2‚ 1902 until April 14‚ 1906‚ a string of 453 games‚ started nothing but righties. After Candiotti’s exit‚ the Cubs win 4-3 in 10 innings when Sammy Sosa singles home the winner. The win snaps the Cubs’ 7-game loss streak.

Barry Bonds hits two homers‚ the 300th and 301st of his career‚ then with the Giants leading 6-1‚ he is tossed out of the game for disputing a 6th-inning‚ 3rd-strike call. Bonds is only the 4th major leaguer to hit 300 homers and steal 300 bases‚ joining his father‚ his godfather Willie Mays‚ and Andre Dawson. Bonds Sr. is the first base coach today‚ filling in for Jim Davenport‚ while Dawson‚ playing left field for the Marlins‚ has the best view of the two homers. Mark Leiter (2-3) allows 6 hits for the 6-3 win‚ with Rod Beck getting the final out.

New York’s Mark Baldwin surrenders only 3 hits‚ but is out dueled by Ed Stein‚ who pitches his 2nd one-hitter of the season to lead Brooklyn to a 3-0 victory.

Colorado 2B Eric Young strokes 5 hits as the Rockies defeat the Expos‚ 6-5‚ in 13 innings.
April 28Visiting Texas scores 4 runs in the 10th and holds on for a 5-4 win over the Orioles. Baltimore’s Brady Anderson cracks his 11th homer of April‚ joining Gary Sheffield‚ who hit his 11th of Friday‚ Willie Stargell (1971)‚ Graig Nettles (1974)‚ and Mike Schmidt (1976) as the only players to hit that many in the month.

Veteran Frank Viola‚ brought up yesterday from the minors‚ is rocked for 10 runs in 4 innings by the Indians. who roll to a 17-3 win over the Blue Jays. Sandy Alomar hits a 3-run homer and Albert Belle adds a solo shot and drives in 3 runs.

Darrin Fletcher and David Segui belt grand slams and Montreal sets a team record for scoring by routing Colorado‚ 21-9. Reserve OF F.P. Santangelo knocks in 5 runs‚ to go along with Segui’s 6 RBI‚ and Fletcher’s 5. SS Mark Grudzielanek strokes 5 hits for the Expos.

The Yankees top the Twins‚ 6-3‚ as reliever Mariano Rivera pitches the last 3 innings for the win. Rivera has now thrown 9 hitless innings over his last three outings. Paul O’Neill‚ leading the A.L. in hitting‚ robs Molitor of a homer in the 7th and then clouts one of his own. The Yankees pull ahead of Baltimore in the A.L. East.

On the 100th anniversary of the opening of Bennett Field at Michigan and Trumbull Avenues‚ the Tigers lose to the A’s‚ 6-3. Scott Brosius rings up his 3rd two-homer game of the season‚ and Mark McGwire adds a homer‚ estimated at 462 feet‚ that almost clears the RF roof at Tiger Stadium‚ to lead the A’s. Oakland collects 4 homers off Greg Gohr‚ and adds another‚ while Detroit bangs two‚ including Cecil Fielder‘s 10th of the year.
April 29On a smog-filled rainy evening‚ John Franco records his 300th save‚ pitching in relief in the Mets 3-2 win over the division-leading Expos. Franco is the first lefty to reach the 300-save mark. The save comes exactly 12 years to the day after his 1st one‚ for the Reds‚ in 1984.
April 30In the longest 9-inning game ever-4 hours and 21 minutes-the Yankees outslug the Orioles‚ 13-10 to disappoint 43‚117 at Camden Yards. The host O’s score 9 runs off starter Andy Pettitte and take a 9-4 lead in the 2nd. New York ties it at 9-9 in the 5th‚ then wins it in the 7th on Tino Martinez‘s 3-run shot. Jim Leyritz and Paul O’Neill also homer for New York. The previous record for longest game was 4:18‚ set in a 1962 Dodgers-Giants game.

In Cincinnati‚ the Pirates send the Reds to their 8th straight loss‚ 10-7‚ by scoring 9 runs in the 4th inning. Jeff King hits two home runs in the deluge‚ including a grand slam off reliever Pugh. He hit two homers in an inning last August 8‚ and becomes just the 3rd person to accomplish that feat twice.

The host Twins score 10 runs in the 5th inning before making an out‚ to whip the Royals‚ 15-7. The highlight is Marty Cordova‘s bases-loaded triple.

Led by Barry Bonds‘ two homers‚ one a grand slam‚ the Giants rally from 4 runs down to top the Padres 9-4. Bonds finishes the first month with 11 home runs‚ tying mark for most homers in April.

Fred McGriff gets 5 hits to lead Atlanta to a 7-5 victory over Houston‚ knocking the Astros into a tie for 1st in the NL Central. Every team in the division has a record below .500.

May


May 1The Yanks and Orioles continue their marathon play‚ this one going 5 hours and 43 minutes before ending at 1 a.m. Tino Martinez‚ whose homer snapped yesterday’s tie‚ slugs a grand slam in the 15th to give reliever Andy Pettitte the win. Bernie Williams has 5 hits while Gerald Williams collects 6-just the 2nd Yankee to get 6 in a game; Myril Hoag in 1934‚ is the other. The O’s and Yankees strand 15 runners in extra innings‚ as both teams squander scoring opportunities‚ and New York survives 4 errors by two second basemen. Jim Mecir strikes out Brady Anderson with the bases loaded in the 10th after going to a 3-0 count. Cal Ripken is lifted for a pinch runner in the 8th-who is promptly picked off-and sits for the last 7 innings‚ the longest stretch he’s rested in 2‚180 games.

Roger Clemens strikes out 13 Tigers‚ including Cecil Fielder three times‚ for his first win of the year. The 5-1 victory for the Sox sends Detroit to its 12th loss in 13 games.

The Mets and Expos swap shutouts‚ with Pedro Martinez topping New York in the opener‚ 4-0‚ and Jason Isringhausen allowing 4 hits in winning the nightcap‚ 6-0. Martinez. 8-0 against the Mets‚ allows just 2 singles‚ both in the 7th inning. Henry Rodriguez‚ who hits a 3-run homer after apparently peeking at Mets C Todd Hundley glove‚ says‚ “I’ve got 10 homers‚ I don’t need to look back.”
May 2In the 7th inning of the Mariners-Indians game‚ an earthquake rattles the Kingdome causing the umps to suspend the game. The quake registers 4.8 on the Richter scale. The Tribe leads 6-3 and the game will be completed tomorrow before the start of the Friday night game.

After missing his first start in 9 years because of a numbed finger on his pitching hand‚ David Cone tosses a complete game‚ 5-1 win over the White Sox. Jim Leyritz and Paul O’Neill back him with homers.

The Phils pick up J.R. Phillips from the Giants for a player to be named later.
May 3Ranger P Ken Hill gives up a 1st-inning infield single to Bobby Higginson‚ then retires 26 straight batters as Texas batters Detroit‚ 11-0. It is the 2nd one-hitter of his career. Texas is led by Juan Gonzalez‚ who knocks in 4 runs.

Mike Veeck‚ president of the St. Paul Saints (AA Northern League) announces the signing of Darryl Strawberry. The Straw joins another veteran‚ pitcher Jack Morris‚ who joined the team two weeks ago.
May 4Roger Pavlik follows Ken Hill‘s one-hitter with one of his own‚ the first time in 79 years teammates have tossed back-to-back one-hitters in the AL‚ as Texas tops the Tigers‚ 3-1. Mark Lewis’s 2-out homer in the 5th inning is the only Bengal safety. Neither Pavlik or Hill allows a walk.

The visiting A’s get a homer from Jason Giambi to beat the Royals‚ 5-2‚ but lose 3B Scott Brosius. Brosius‚ hitting .351 with 8 homers‚ is hit by a Mark Gubicza pitch in the 4th that breaks his right arm.

The Rockies bang out 21 hits‚ including a pair of three-run homers by Andres Galarraga‚ who drives in 7 runs to hook the Marlins 17-5. The Rockies score 7 runs in the first inning when they cash in 3 of their 5 home runs; two of them come from the first two hitters‚ Eric Young and Ellis Burks‚ and a 3rd from Larry Walker.

Butch Hobson‚ former Red Sox manager and current skipper of the Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Red Barons‚ is arrested in Rhode Island on a cocaine possession charge.
May 5Toronto scores 10 unearned runs to beat Boston’s Tim Wakefield‚ 11-4‚ and snap the Sox win streak at 4 games.

In San Francisco‚ Eric Davis hits a grand slam for the 2nd straight game to lead the Reds to a 12-6 win over the Giants. Davis‚ who will total three grand slams this month‚ is just the 15th player to slam in consecutive games.

The Marlins lose to the Rockies‚ 5-4‚ in a game marked by the ejection of Florida equipment manager Mike Wallace. Umpire Paul Runge throws him out when Wallace throws up his hands after a close play at the plate.

In an interview aired tonight‚ Reds owner Marge Schott sticks her foot in her mouth again when she says that Hitler “was good in the beginning‚ but went too far.” Schott’s answers come in response to a question about her continued possession of a swastika. Schott’s views of Hitler are almost verbatim to those she expressed in 1992‚ which resulted in a league fine and a year’s suspension.
May 7Eric Anthony and Eric Davis hit back-to-back homers in the 12th inning off reliever Todd Worrell to give host Cincinnati a 3-2 win over the Dodgers. Before the game‚ the Dodgers announce that CF Brett Butler has throat cancer and will not return to baseball. Butler‚ 38‚ has been on the DL since May 2‚ and a tonsillectomy revealed the cancerous lump. He will undergo surgery on May 21.

In another announcement out of Cincinnati‚ Marge Schott issues an apology for her laudatory comments about Adolph Hitler made last Sunday. Acting commissioner Bud Selig says‚ “we will continue to monitor the situation.”

The first-place Yankees score 8 runs in the 6th inning to beat the hapless Tigers‚ 12-5. Paul O’Neill is 2-for-3 to raise his average to .384‚ and Ruben Sierra drives home 4 runs. After the game‚ the Yankee players learn that clubhouse leader David Cone has an aneurysm in the front of his right shoulder that will require surgery on May 10th. Cone has experienced numbness in his pitching hand as a result.

The Angels put ace RHP Mark Langston on the DL and he will be out of action until early July with a cartilage tear in his right knee.
May 9The Cardinals use an 11-run 8th inning to beat the Giants‚ 16-8. Willie McGee’s grand slam is the highlight of the inning‚ and Luis Alicea also adds 4 RBI in the game. Barry Bonds hits his league high 15th homer to pace the Giants.
May 10Montreal’s Henry Rodriguez hits his 2nd homer of the game‚ a 3-run shot in the 8th‚ to send the Expos to a 5-2 win over the Astros. Starter Jeff Fassero is the winner. Following Rodriguez’ HR‚ the game is delayed when fans in the LF bleachers shower the field with “Oh‚ Henry” candy bars.

The Red Sox edge the Blue Jays‚ 6-5‚ in 11 innings. John Valentin ties the score with a 2-out homer in the 9th and Troy O’Leary homers in the 11th to win it. Heathcliff Slocumb‚ Tom Gordon‚ and Mike Stanton combine to strike out 17 Jays.

For his second straight start‚ Braves’ P John Smoltz is backed by 18 hits and he coasts to his 7th straight win‚ 11-0 over the Phils. Javy Lopez leads the Braves with 4 hits. Smoltz beat the Phils‚ 11-9‚ on May 5th‚ when the Braves also collected 18 hits.

The Athletics defeat the Twins by a score of 15-5. Oakland CF Ernie Young gets 4 safeties‚ including 3 HRs‚ and drives home 6. Young entered the game with 3 career homers in 164 ABs. He is believed to have had the fewest career HRs of any player ever to hit 3 in a game.

Yankees’ P David Cone undergoes surgery to remove an aneurysm in his pitching arm.
May 11At Joe Robbie Stadium‚ Al Leiter tosses the major’s first no-hitter of the year‚ burying the Rockies‚ 11-0. Leiter (6-2)‚ using mostly fast balls‚ is in control all the way‚ and retires 5 batters in the 8th and 9th innings on just one pitch each. He walks 2 and fans 6 in his masterpiece.

At John Franco Day at Shea Stadium‚ the veteran reliever celebrates by being ejected in the 5th inning following a vicious benches-clearing brawl between the Mets and the Cubs. The brawl‚ which lasts 18 minutes‚ starts when Mets’ P Pete Harnisch reaches around ump Greg Bonin to punch Cubs’ C Scott Servais. There are 9 ejections‚ including Servais and Harnisch‚ who will receive an 8 game suspension and a $1‚000 fine for his punch. Mets bullpen coach Steve Swisher‚ also ejected‚ will get a 2-game suspension. Fortunately for the Mets‚ Rico Brogna was only punched‚ and he hits back with his 2nd homer‚ to win‚ 7-6 in the 9th inning‚. Brogna adds a triple and double on the afternoon. In 1996‚ NL umps will toss 101 players‚ a decrease of 11 tosses from 1995; AL umps will eject 75 during the year‚ down from 93 in 1995.

Jeff Blauser hits 2 homers‚ one a grand slam‚ and drives home 7 runs in Atlanta’s 11-3 win over the Phils. Steve Avery (4-2) scatters 8 hits for the win‚ the Braves’ 7th straight and their 11th in 13 games.

Seattle OF Jay Buhner goes 4-for-4‚ slugging 2 HRs and driving home 6 runs‚ as he leads the Mariners to an 11-1 win over KC.
May 12Phils’ P Mike Grace outduels Greg Maddux to beat the Braves‚ 6-0‚ matching his record. The unbeaten rookie retires the last 17 batters.

Randy Johnson (5-0)‚ backed by Alex Rodriguez‘ pair of two-run homers‚ tops the Royals‚ 8-5. It is Johnson’s 12th straight win over two seasons. Royals rookie OF Chris Stynes steals 2nd‚ 3rd‚ and home in the 1st inning for the 1st SBs of his career‚ He adds a 4th later in the contest.

Houston C Jerry Goff‚ brought up on May 8th‚ makes his presence felt by allowing a ML record-tying 6 passed balls in a 7-6 loss to Montreal. Five of the Expos’ runs are unearned. Goff hits a homer in the 2nd‚ in his first at bat this year‚ but allows 2 passed balls in the 1st‚ 3rd and 4th innings. Montreal SS Mark Grudzielanek gets 5 singles to lead the Expos. Goff joins Harry Vickers (1902) and Geno Petralli (1987) in the record books.

Pittsburgh’s Zane Smith gives up 4 runs in 5.1 innings as the Pirates lose to the Giants‚ 7-2. It is the Giants’ 11 consecutive win over Smith going back to 1988.
May 13In Miami‚ Terry Pendleton smashes a dramatic two-out grand slam in the 6th inning‚ following the ejection of starter Allen Benes‚ to lift the Marlins to a 5-2 win over the Cardinals. Benes (1-6) is ejected for hitting Gary Sheffield with a pitch that sparks a bench-clearing by both teams. Pendleton has driven in 11 runs in the past 3 games as the Marlins win their 8th straight.

Cubs’ P Steve Trachsel allows a lead off double to Brian Hunter‚ but shuts down the Astros without a hit after that to win‚ 6-0. Sammy Sosa homers for his 3rd consecutive game.

Pudgy Fernando Valenzuela gives up 5 hits over 6 2/3 innings‚ good enough for a 5-2 Padre win. The Pads are led by Brian Johnson’s 2-for-3; he has 8 hits in his last 12 at bats with 8 RBI.
May 14Dwight Gooden‚ on the verge of being dropped from the Yankees just two weeks ago‚ twirls a no-hitter to sink the Mariners‚ 2-0. Dr. No walks two in the 9th‚ but retires Ken Griffey‚ Jr.‚ K’s Jay Buhner‚ and induces Paul Sorrento to pop out to end it. Gerald Williams saves the no-hitter when he runs down a 400-foot Alex Rodriguez liner in the first inning and turns it into a double play. Gooden (2-3) has now thrown 16 straight innings of hitless ball.
May 15The Mariners spot the Yankees 4 runs‚ then hammer starter Jimmy Key and 5 other pitchers for 19 hits to win 10-5. Seven Mariners collect two or more hits‚ and Edgar Martinez drives in 4 runs. A wild Key takes his 5th straight loss‚ while Yankee reliever Mariano Rivera records four outs to stretch his runless innings to 21 2/3. The Yanks will place Key on the 15 day DL.

Denny Neagle‚ allowing 4 hits in 7 innings‚ wins his 5th straight game to give Pittsburgh a 3-0 win over the Braves. The Braves have now been shut out 5 times‚ one more than all of last year. The Braves lose more than the game when OF David Justice dislocates his right shoulder swinging at a pitch in the 2nd inning. The shoulder has never healed from an injury last year‚ and Justice will undergo surgery that will sideline him for the year.

After a 2-hour delay in Milwaukee because of fog‚ Frank Thomas leads the way with 6 RBI as the White Sox bang the Brewers‚ 20-8. This ties a 1975 mark for the most runs given up by Milwaukee in a game. The Sox‚ with 21 hits‚ score 6 runs in the 2nd and another 6 in the 6th.

Mo Vaughn cracks two of Boston’s 4 home runs‚ and the Red Sox score in each of the first 7 innings‚ to clip the Angels‚ 17-6. Mike Stanley matches Mo’s 4 RBI.

The Yankees outbid 4 other American teams and sign Japanese P Katsuhiro Maeda to a $1.5 million contract. The Yanks obtain the fastballer from the Seibu Lions for more than $350‚000. Maeda‚ who has his hair dyed orange‚ was 0-2 with the Lions in 1995‚ but refused to sign for the 1996 season unless he was traded to a U.S. team.
May 16Sammy Sosa became the first Cub ever to hit two homers in one inning‚ hitting them in the 8-run 7th inning at Wrigley. The Cubs roll over the Astros‚ 13-1‚ as rookie Amaury Telemaco‚ recalled 2 days ago from Iowa (AAA)‚ allows just one hit in 7 shutout innings.

As Tony Phillips says‚ “It’s not been a good 24 hours.” The Sox’ OF is picked off base in the 9th inning of Chicago’s 3-2 loss to Milwaukee‚ then returns to the clubhouse to learn that battery charges have been pressed against him by a fan. Phillips and the fan got into a shoving match after the outfielder left yesterday’s game in the 7th inning‚ changed into street clothes and sought the fan.. Phillips contends the fan was yelling racial slurs during the game. Both Phillips and the fan will eventually be charged with disorderly conduct and fined.

Albert Belle homers twice‚ his 15th and 16th of the year‚ to lead the Indians to a 8-3 win over the Tigers. Jack McDowell (5-1) is the winner for the division leading Indians‚ now 5 1/2 games ahead of the White Sox. Before the game‚ the AL orders Belle to receive “immediate counseling” and do community service as a result of his winging baseballs at a photographer several weeks ago. Belle’s agent replies that the star is already doing both.
May 17Jermaine Dye‚ filling in for David Justice‚ smacks a HR in his 1st ML at bat to back Greg Maddux‘s 8-2 win over the Reds. Dye is the first Brave to debut with a homer since Chuck Tanner did it on April 12‚ 1955.

Manny Ramirez hits a grand slam‚ off Gil Heredia (1-3)‚ as the Indians score 6 runs in the 7th inning to outslug the Rangers‚ 12-10. Cleveland’s Eddie Murray and Texas SS Kevin Elster each have 4 hits: Elster has 2 homers and 2 doubles to drive in and score 4 runs. Murray’s 2 RBI moves him into 10th place on the all-time list with 1‚840.

Dave Nilsson becomes the first Brewer to homer twice in an inning‚ as Milwaukee scores 11 runs in the 6th to beat the Twins‚ 12-1. Nilsson’s 1st homer‚ off Jose Parra‚ snaps a 1-1 tie‚ and his 2nd blast‚ a 3-run homer off Eric Bennett pushes the score to 10-1.

At Baltimore‚ the Orioles outlast the Mariners‚ 14-13‚ and outhit the M’s 21 to 20. The winner is Alan Mills‚ despite his giving up 4 earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. Rafael Palmeiro and Alex Rodriguez‚ with a grand slam and double‚ each collect 6 RBIs‚ while the O’s Chris Hoiles finishes the game with a grand slam. The Orioles bang 4 homers and score 7 runs in the last 2 innings‚ while the M’s hit 2 homers and score 7 runs in the last three innings. Each team strands 13 runners in the 4 hour‚ 20-minute marathon. Palmeiro strokes 5 hits for the Orioles. Hoiles becomes only the 4th player in history to hit a game-ending grand slam on a 3-2 pitch with two outs and his team trailing by three runs.
May 18Mets’ backstop Todd Hundley drives in 7 runs and Mark Clark wins‚ 14-5‚ over the Giants. SS Rey Ordonez gets 4 hits and almost makes 4 throwing errors-he’s charged with 2-but Rico Brogna at first retrieves 2 for outs. Clark’s win is his 2nd complete game: no other Met has gone the distance.
May 19Fred McGriff hits his 300th HR to lead the Braves to a 9-5 win over the Reds‚ the 9th straight victory for Atlanta over Cincy. Coupled with Montreal’s loss to the Padres‚ Atlanta moves into the top spot in the NL East for the first time. McGriff is 4-for-4 today to raise his average to .353. John Smoltz (9-1) is the winner‚ giving up 2 hits in 7 innings. Smoltz‚ with 74 K’s‚ now leads the NL.

The White Sox continue to abuse the Tigers‚ winning 14-3‚ as Robin Ventura and Darren Lewis hit grand slams. The Sox become just the 4th ML team to ever hit 3 grand slams in 2 consecutive games. Detroit pitchers give up 41 runs in the 3 games with Chicago and the team ERA balloons to 7.35.
May 20Led by Chipper Jones and Tyler Houston‚ each with 5 RBI‚ the Braves pound the Cubs‚ 18-1 to make Steve Avery‘s 5th win an easy one. Houston gets his ribbies when he replaces Fred McGriff in the 5th inning..

The Red Sox pound the A’s again‚ racking up 7 runs in the 3rd to win 16-4. As in yesterday’s 12-2 win‚ Vaughn and Canseco homer: Mo’s homer is his 9th in his last 12 games and ties him for the AL lead with 17. Bill Haselman adds 4 hits‚ including a homer.
May 21At Fenway Park‚ Seattle pounds out 19 hits to beat Boston‚ 13-7. Ken Griffey‚ Jr. becomes the 7th-youngest player to collect 200th homers‚ when he connects in the M’s 6-run 4th inning: Ott‚ Mathews‚ Foxx‚ Mantle‚ Frank Robinson and Aaron were all younger. Jay Buhner hits a 2-run shot in the inning‚ the 5th game in a row he’s connected‚ and Edgar Martinez adds 4 hits in the game.

Larry Walker powers the Rockies to a 12-10 win over the Pirates by driving in 6 runs and scoring 4. Walker connects for 2 home runs‚ a triple and a double as Colorado tallies 20 hits. Tomorrow‚ Walker will get a double‚ triple‚ and triple to set a new NL record by getting extra-base hits in six straight plate appearances (i.e.‚ with no intervening bases on balls‚ hit-by-pitch‚ or sacrifice bunts). The AL record is 7 with walks or sac fly in between. Earlier today‚ before the double/triple/homer‚ but not consecutive to them‚ he had already hit a home run. By doing so‚ he will tie the major league record for most extra-base hits (seven) in two consecutive games.

Dave Weathers homers and pitches 6 shutout innings as the streaking Marlins win‚ 3-2‚ over the slumping Reds. The Marlins (24-23) are over .500 for the first time in two years.

In San Francisco‚ the fans and players ignore a light earthquake at 3Com Park-4.8 on the Richter scale-in the 3rd inning‚ and the Giants break a 6th-inning tie to win 8-5 over the Expos. Matt Williams hits his 11th HR and drives in 3 runs for SF‚ while Henry Rodriguez hits his 17th homer for the Expos. His three ribbies give him 51 to lead the NL.

Rex Hudler and Don Slaught‚ the first two batters for the Angels‚ hit homeruns to pace the Haloes to a 5-2 win over the Orioles.

The Phils Terry Mulholland defeats the Padres‚ 5-4. Mulholland‚ who entered the game with the 3rd-lowest batting average in history of any player with 400 at bats‚ clouts a 407-foot HR in the 2nd inning off Sean Bergman. As Mulholland explains‚ “Most great power hitters don’t hit for a high average.”
May 22The Athletics spoil Dwight Gooden Day in New York City by hitting 5 solo homers-three by Yankee-killer Geronimo Berroa-to beat the Yankees 5-1. The 5 runs‚ all coming on homers‚ ties the ML mark.

Albert Belle‘s 21-game hit streak is stopped when‚ with two men on‚ he strikes out in the 9th inning to end the game‚ a 10-8 Cleveland loss to the Brewers.
May 23In the Red Sox 11-4 sinking of the Mariners‚ Roger Clemens tosses a complete game win and bounces his first major league hit‚ and the first by a Sox pitcher since 1972. Clemens (3-4) gets to bat when DH Jose Canseco moves to LF in the 8th inning.

David Howard steals home‚ the 2nd Royal to do it in 2 days-Bob Hamelin also swiped home against the Tigers-and Kevin Appier pitches 7 2/3 strong innings to give the Royals their 4th straight win‚ 4-2.

San Diego tops Philadelphia by a score of 7-5‚ as OF Steve Finley strokes 5 hits for the Padres‚ including a double and HR.
May 24In Seattle‚ Ken Griffey‚ Jr. sinks the Yankees with three home runs‚ scoring 5 runs and driving in 6 as the Mariners win‚ 10-4. It is the first 3-homer game for Griffey. Scott Kamienicki takes the loss‚ his last game with the Yankees. His season will end in a month when he goes on the triple-A DL.
May 25Oakland’s Pedro Munoz belts the longest home run in the 5-year history of Camden Yards to lead the A’s to a 6-3 win over the Orioles. The 463-foot shot to dead center comes in the 6th inning with 2 on‚ and breaks a 2-2 tie. Mark McGwire also homers for Oakland. The O’s get two more homers from Brady Anderson‚ and a dinger from Mike Bordick‚ but that’s all the scoring.

Mark Gardner (6-1)‚ released by the Marlins in spring training‚ tosses a 3-2 win over the Phils to keep the Giants in first place in the NL West.
May 26Frank Thomas‚ Harold Baines‚ and Robin Ventura belt consecutive homers in Chicago’s 7-run 8th inning as the Sox pound the Brewers‚ 12-1. Chad Kreuter adds a 4th homer in the frame as Chicago becomes the 16th team to hit 4 homers in an inning; The Twins are the only team to have hit 5. The Thomas‚ Baines‚ Ventura trio also homered in yesterday’s 9-7 win over Milwaukee.

Rex Hudler is 5-for-5 with a homer as the Angels roll over the Red Sox‚ 12-2. Shaun Boskie (6-1) is the winner.

Veteran IF Mike Sharperson‚ 34‚ dies in a one-car crash early this morning in Las Vegas‚ where he was playing for the Stars (AAA). Signed by the Padres last November 29th‚ he was scheduled to join San Diego tomorrow.
May 27In Pittsburgh‚ Craig Biggio‚ triples‚ doubles and homers his first three times up to lead the Astros to a 5-3 win over the Bucs. Houston reaches .500 for the first time‚ while the Pirates have lost 16 of their last 20.

The Tigers lose their 12th straight‚ dropping a 5-4 decision to the Royals in 13 innings. Detroit has now lost 32 of their last 36 games. Highly-touted rookie Justin Thompson tosses the first 8 innings‚ leaving with a 4-1 lead‚ but the Bengals make 3 errors in the 9th to help KC tie it..

The Yankees pound the Angels‚ 16-5‚ to remain in first place by a game over the Orioles. Bernie Williams‚ making his first start in 14 games because of injuries‚ has his 2nd 5-hit game of the year‚ The Yankees‚ down 5-4 after 4 innings‚ jump on former teammate Jim Abbott (1-8) and two relievers to score 8 runs in the 5th inning. Abbott will lose another 5 before winning. He’ll finish at 2-18.

In New York‚ the Mets celebrate Memorial Day with the day off‚ a rarity on this holiday.

The Reds acquire all-time save leader Lee Smith‚ 37‚ from the Angels in exchange for lefty Chuck McElroy.
May 28At Anaheim‚ Kenny Rogers loses his no-hitter in the 8th when Garrett Anderson hits a lead off single‚ and loses the game in the 9th when he walks Chili Davis with the bases loaded to score an unearned run. Jason Grimsley is the winner‚ 1-0‚ dropping New York into a tie for first place with Baltimore.

Cal Ripken powers 3 homers‚ good for 8 RBI‚ to lead the Orioles to a 12-8 win over Seattle. Ripken hits a pair of two-run homers and a grand slam‚ tying him with Eddie Murray as the O’s career home run leader with 333. Brother Billy also homers in the same inning with Cal‚ and Brady Anderson (19)‚ Rafael Palmeiro‚ and Ken Griffey‚ Jr. (18) add homers as both teams total 24 hits.

In Philadelphia‚ Pete Incaviglia hammers a pair of three-run homers to lead the Phils to a 9-3 win over the Dodgers. The win goes to rookie Mike Grace (7-2)‚ who gives up 3 runs in 7 innings.
May 29John Smoltz (11-1) allows 4 hits in topping the Cubs‚ 2-0‚ in Atlanta. Smoltz strikes out 13 to raise his NL-lead to 97.
May 31The Indians bang 18 hits to beat Milwaukee 10-4‚ but the biggest hit is when Albert Belle decks Brewers 2B Fernando Vina with a vicious forearm in the 8th inning to set off a two-team brawl. Belle was on first after being hit with a pitch. In the 9th‚ Milwaukee reliever Terry Burrows throws 3 inside pitches before he finally plunks Belle. Tribe reliever Julian Tavarez then throws a pitch behind the back of Mike Matheny‚ who charges the mound. Both benches clear and during the brawl Tavarez slams down ump Joe Brinkman and Belle knuckles Brewer Steve Sparks. Belle‚ Tavarez‚ and Matheny will each receive 5-game suspensions for their brawling.

Rookie OF Roger Cedeno strokes 5 hits to lead the Dodgers to a 10-3 victory over the Mets. Bobby Jones‚ winner of 5 straight‚ takes the loss‚ as the Dodgers pound out 16 hits. Ramon Martinez is the winner; he’s now won 10 straight over 15 starts.

The Braves scalp the Reds‚ 9-1‚ as they bang out ML-record tying six solo homers in the process. Fred McGriff and Eddie Perez each hit two‚ as the Braves win their 10th in 12 games.

June


June 1Pittsburgh’s Paul Wagner allows just one hit in 7 innings‚ but his wildness costs him as the Rockies top the Bucs‚ 2-0. Four Rockies’ pitchers combine for the team’s first shutout this year‚ matching last year’s total. Dante Bichette‘s 2nd-inning single accounts for both Colorado scores against Wagner‚ who strikes out 10.

A day after the Indians-Brewers brawl‚ the two teams get into it again. And quickly. Leadoff hitter Ken Lofton doubles and then shoves 2B Fernando Vina to clear both benches. The Brewers win the game 2-1.

With 5 singles‚ Chuck Knoblauch leads the Minnesota Twins over Texas‚ 9-5.
June 2In St. Louis‚ Todd Stottlemyre outpitches Houston’s Darryl Kile to win‚ 2-0‚ as the Cards sweep Houston in 3 games. Kile (6-4) hits 4 Cards in the game‚ the first time a pitcher has done that since Moe Drabowsky on this same date in 1957.

In Philadelphia‚ the Phils edge the Padres‚ 9-8‚ in 12 innings when Ricky Otero singles home the winner with two outs. Mark Whiten drives in 5 runs for the winners on 2 homers. The first place Padres suffer a blow when Wally Joyner fractured left thumb sliding in the 4th inning. He will be out of action for six weeks.

At Oakland‚ the Yankees win 11-4 and do it the old-fashioned way-by stealing 8 bases. Gerald Williams‚ with 10 career steals‚ has 4 steals to tie a club record‚ and rookie Derek Jeter adds 2. Kenny Rogers (4-1) is the benefactor‚ pitching 6 1/3 innings for the win‚ as the Yankees stay 1 1/2 games ahead of the O’s.

At Duluth’s Wade Stadium‚ Darryl Strawberry‚ in his comeback attempt‚ hits his first HR for the St. Paul Saints (Northern League)‚ a mammoth 522-foot blast off Duluth Dukes pitcher Pat Ahearne.
June 4Greg Jefferies celebrates his return to the Phillies lineup by going 4-for-5‚ and Pete Incaviglia clubs two 3-run homers as the Phils coast to a 12-3 rain-delayed win over visiting Chicago. Jefferies has been out of the lineup since April 4 with a thumb injury.

For the 3rd time in two years Craig Biggio scores 5 runs as Hoston doubles the Rockies‚ 16-8. John Cangelosi has a 3 run homer and scores 4 times to back Mark Hampton’s pitching.

Pitching dominates the baseball draft as 14 of the first 22 selections are moundsmen. Clemson pitcher Kris Benson is the top choice‚ going to Pittsburgh where he’ll snag a $2 million signing bonus‚ while the Twins pick power hitting Travis Lee from San Diego State as the 2nd choice. The Cards follow with Wichita State P Braden Looper. Picking 14th‚ the White Sox take lefty Bobby Seay‚ but will declare him a free agent in August when they can’t reach an agreement with his agent‚ Steve Boras. Travis Lee‚ John Patterson (Expos)‚ and Matt White (Giants) will also not sign and become free agents because of a loophole discovered by Scott Boras. The agent says that the letters tendered are not offers on specific forms and that only the latter can be used within 15 days of drafting or the players are free agents. The four will ink contracts with the Devil Rays and Diamondbacks‚ with White getting a $10.2 bonus‚ the largest in history. The Marlin use their 1st pick‚ 9th overall‚ on college player of the year‚ Mark Kotsay‚ and will ink him to a $1‚125‚000 contract. The Royals take high schooler Dee Brown in the first round. The Cubs use #17 on pitcher Todd Noel‚ and in the second round take Georgia prep star Quincy Carter. Carter will hit .215 and .211 in Class A in 1996-97 before returning to college football and then quarterbacking for the Dallas Cowboys. Boston picks Shea Hildebrand in the 10th round; he’ll be the 1st Sox rookie since Ted Williams to start his career with a 9-game hit streak. Texas takes Travis Hafner in the 31st round.

Pam Davis‚ a starter for the Colorado Bullets women’s baseball team‚ pitches an inning of scoreless relief in a AA exhibition game. Davis relieves for the Jacksonville Suns (Southern League) against the Australian Olympic team with the Suns ahead‚ 6-0. She gives up a leadoff double‚ then retires the next three batters.
June 5At Wrigley Field‚ the Cubs spot the Phillies a 4-0 lead‚ then Sammy Sosa drives home 5 runs on three homers to give Chicago a 9-6 win. Cubs’ SS Rey Sanchez will be out 6-8 weeks following an operation today to repair a fractured bone in his left hand. Sanchez injured the wrist in 1995 and has been bothered by it ever since.

In Cincy‚ the Giants score in each of the first seven innings to beat up the Reds‚ 15-4. Matt Williams and Marvin Bernard drive in 4 apiece to make it easy for Mark Gardner (7-1).

The Twins score 9 runs in the 4th inning to trim the Angels‚ 14-3. Chuck Knoblauch‘s grand slam is the inning’s big blow.

The White Sox down the Red Sox‚ 8-6‚ despite Mo Vaughn‘s 5 hits. Frank Thomas’ sac fly in the 12th inning drives home the game winner.
June 6Boston’s John Valentin hits for the cycle to lead the Red Sox to a 7-4 win over Chicago. The White Sox also execute a triple play in the game‚ making it the first time since July 1‚ 1931 that a contest has featured both a triple play and a batter (Chuck Klein) hitting for the cycle.
June 7Colorado rips Atlanta ace Greg Maddux for 11 hits and 7 runs in 3 1/3 innings on their way to a 21-hit‚ 19-8 victory.

In the major-league’s only scheduled doubleheader this season‚ Minnesota and Oakland split. Pat Meares 2-run homer in the 5th of the lidlifter gives the Twins a 4-2 win. Oakland outslugs the Twins‚ 13-7‚ in the nitecap. John Wasdin (3-0) is helped by George Williams grand slam in the 6-run 5th while Brent Gates‚ Geronimo Berroa‚ and Torey Lovullo also homer. All other twin bills this season are the result of makeup games.
June 8At Minnesota‚ in the only regularly scheduled doubleheader in the majors this season‚ the Twins and A’s split. Minnesota takes the opener‚ 4-2‚ and the A’s cop the nitecap‚ 13-7. George Williams has a grand slam and Brent Gates a 2-run homer in the A’s 6-run 5th innings.

LSU scores a dramatic 9-8 win over Miami to take the College World Series. The Tigers come from behind and win the game on 2B Warren Morris’s 1st HR of the season‚ a 2-out‚ 2-run shot in the bottom of the 9th inning. It is the 1st-ever College WS-ending walk-off homer. Morris missed 39 games this year with a broken bone in his right wrist.
June 9In Denver‚ John Smoltz‚ pitching after the Rockies scored 32 runs in the first 2 games‚ picks up his 12th win in 13 decisions as the Braves win‚ 8-3.
June 10The Mets defeat the Braves‚ 8-3‚ despite 5 hits for Atlanta SS Jeff Blauser. Todd Hundley strokes 2 homers in going 4-for-4 with 5 RBIs for NY. The Braves continue to maintain their 5 1/2 game lead over Montreal in the NL East.

The White Sox defeat the Red Sox‚ 8-2. Tim Wakefield goes the distance for Boston‚ surrendering 16 hits and making 162 pitches‚ all on 2 days rest. It is the most hits allowed in a game by a pitcher this decade.
June 11The Mariners make Rick Aguilera‘s 2nd start of the season a disaster by rocking him for 10 runs and 10 hits in 3+ innings. Dan Wilson has five of the M’s 24 hits as Seattle wins over host Minnesota‚ 18-8. Joey Cora and Alex Rodriguez each have 4 hits to back Wells (6-1).

The Cubs defeat the Phillies‚ 9-2‚ as they are led by OF Scott Bullett’s 5 hits and 4 runs batted in. Ryne Sandberg adds a bases-loaded triple.
June 12The California Angels defeat the KC Royals‚ 4-3‚ in 10 innings to sweep the 3-game series between the two clubs. Chuck McElroy gets credit for all 3 wins in relief. He thus becomes the 1st pitcher to accomplish the feat since Mike Marshall of the Dodgers did it against the Giants in 1974. McElroy throws a total of 61 pitches in 4 1/3 innings to run his record to 5-0.

Jeff Fassero allows 5 hits in 8 innings as the Expos stop the Marlins‚ 8-0. Plate umpire Ed Rapuano is forced to leave the field on a stretcher after suffering a broken left collarbone. He was struck by a Andy Stankiewicz foul.

Marvin Freeman pitches 7 shutout innings as he and 2 relievers pitch the Rockies to an 8-0 shutout of the Astros in Denver. It is the Rockies first shutout at Coors Field in 103 games.

Reds’ owner Marge Schott is again forced to relinquish day-to-day control of the team‚ this time through the 1998 season‚ because of her continual use of offensive remarks. Team controller John Allen will run the team‚ though Schott will retain her majority ownership.

The Yanks acquire Mike Aldrete from the Angels for Rich Monteleone.
June 13Roger Cedeno hits his first ML homer to lead the Dodgers to a 6-3 win over Tom Glavine and the Braves.

Barry Bonds has 4 hits‚ including his first homer in more than a month‚ to lead the Giants to a 12-8 win over the Astros. Down 9-0 after 2 innings‚ the Astros score 6 in the 5th‚ including Sean Berry’s pinch grand slam.

Yankees reliever John Wetteland is quoted as saying he’ll leave the Yankees at the end of the season. He later denies the comments but does leave after the season.
June 14Cal Ripken of the Orioles plays in his 2‚215th consecutive game‚ breaking the world record held by Japan’s Sachio Kinugasa (Hiroshima Carp). Kinugasa’s streak began in 1970 and lasted until he retired 17 years later. The Orioles defeat the Royals‚ 6-1.

Detroit beats Minnesota‚ 5-4‚ as each of the 9 hitters to appear in the game for the Tigers gets 1 hit apiece.

John Smoltz wins his 13th straight‚ throwing 8 shutout innings as the Braves beat the Dodgers‚ 3-1‚ in Atlanta. His streak ties Glavine’s team record‚ set in 1992.

In San Francisco‚ the Astros Jeff Bagwell hits 4 doubles as the Astros beat the Giants‚ 9-1. Bagwell’s 4 ties the ML record.

In Denver‚ the Rockies beat the Phils‚ 10-6‚ helped by Ellis Burks‘ inside-the-park homer‚ the first ever hit at Coors Field.
June 15Kansas City relief pitcher Mike Magnante hurls 5 1/3 innings of 1 hit ball to gain credit for the Royals’ 7-6‚ 16 inning win over the Orioles. The outing drops Magnante’s ERA to 5.33.

Behind Hideo Nomo‚ the Dodgers beat the Braves‚ 6-2‚ and in the first inning turn their first triple play in 47 years. The last tri-killing was 1949.

At the Metrodome‚ Cecil Fielder‘s routine fly ball hits the ceiling for a 2-out 2-run double in the 7th breaks a 5-5 tie. The Tigers win‚ 7-5.

The Mets put young Paul Wilson on the disabled list for the next month with tendinitis. After the season‚ he’ll be diagnosed with a small tear of the right labrum and he’ll undergo surgery on November 12.
June 16Long-time voice of the Yankees Mel Allen dies at age 83.
June 17The Braves beat the Padres‚ 9-3‚ as Greg Maddux (6-5) wins his first in a month. The Pads‚ losers of 14 of 16 games entered yesterday’s game tied for first in the NL West.
June 18The Padres and Tigers swap shortstops and catchers‚ the Tigers getting Andujar Cedeno and Brad Ausmus for John Flaherty and Chris Gomez.

Cub 1B Brant Brown‚ recalled 3 days ago to fill in for Mark Grace‚ slugs three homers in 4 at bats in a doubleheader against the Dodgers. It’s Brant’s high water mark as he will return to Iowa on the 28th. The Cubs split the two games‚ losing the opener‚ 9-6‚ before winning the nightcap‚ 7-4.

Montreal defeats Colorado‚ 12-8‚ with the help of 2 HRs and 7 runs batted in by 2B Mike Lansing. His grand slam in the 8th proves to be the decisive blow‚ breaking a 7-7 tie.

The Yanks manage just 3 hits off Brad Radke‚ but one is a 2-run HR by Tino Martinez‚ as the Yanks beat Minnesota‚ 2-0. Radke had retired the first 20 batters. Kenny Rogers pitches 8 shutout innings for the win.
June 19Atlanta defeats San Diego‚ 5-1‚ behind John Smoltz‘s 2-hitter‚ his 14th straight victory. Smoltz retires the first 19 batters. The victory gives the Braves’ righthander a record of 14-1. Smoltz has not lost since April 4th‚ when SF beat him. He’s the first NLer to win 14 in a row since Gooden in 1985.

In the Blue Jays 11-3 win over the Mariners‚ M’s star Ken Griffey break a bone in his right hand when he fouls a pitch off it. He’ll be out 4 weeks.

St. Louis SS Ozzie Smith announces that he will retire at the end of the season after 19 years in the big leagues. He’ll finish with 9‚396 at bats and no grand slams‚ the most at bats without one.
June 20The Indians win their 13th straight over the Red Sox‚ winning 5-4 on Kenny Lofton‘s bloop[ single in the 9th off Mike Stanton. Jim Thome hits a game-tying HR in the 8th‚ off Clemens‚ the 17th straight game in which the Indians have gone deep‚ a team record. Clemens leaves after 157 pitches with no decision.
June 21The Yankees acquire Billy Brewer and give Steve Howe his release.
June 22The Cubs beat the Padres‚ 9-6‚ in 16 innings. 1B Brant Brown is the hero for Chicago with 5 hits on the day‚ including a double and a 2-run homer in the 16th.

In Cleveland‚ Ruben Sierra homers from both sides of the plate as the Yankees beat the Indians‚ 11-9. One of Sierra’s HRs comes in the 9-run 6th inning. Albert Belle‚ back from a 2-game suspension‚ is 3-for-5 with a homer‚ and Eddie Murray adds his 488th HR for the Tribe. The game takes 4:10.
June 24Ron Gant homers on the first pitch and the Cards go on to beat the Braves‚ 9-2‚ ending John Smoltz‘s 14-game winning streak. Brian Jordan has 6 RBIs to stop Smoltz‚ who was trying to match Gaylord Perry‘s 15 game streak in 1974. Smoltz‚ 4-9 against the Cards‚ has not beaten them since 1992.

On Oh! Henry candy bar day in Montreal‚ Henry Rodriguez bangs 2 homers to tie for the NL lead at 25. His Expos beat the Pirates‚ 11-3‚ 9 of the runs coming in the 2nd inning. Rodriguez adds a single and 2-run double.

Former Yankees P Steve Howe‚ released by the team just two days ago‚ is arrested at Kennedy International Airport for carrying a loaded gun in his luggage. He will plead guilty to a misdemeanor and receive 3 years probation and 150 hours of community service.
June 25In Detroit‚ the A’s outslug the Tigers‚ 12-8. Bobby Higginson and Jason Giambi each drive in 5 runs while Cecil Fielder and Mark McGwire match homers. For McGwire‚ it is #300.
June 26Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda undergoes an angioplasty after suffering a mild heart attack. Bill Russell is named Los Angeles’ interim manager
June 27The Athletics stroke 8 HRs in an 18-2 pounding of the Angels. Scott Brosius hits 2‚ while Mark McGwire‚ Geronimo Berroa‚ Jason Giambi‚ Terry Steinbach‚ Ernie Young‚ and Jose Herrera also connect. The 7 different players going deep ties the ML record.

The Rockies pound the Dodgers‚ 13-1‚ as Andres Galarraga leads the way with a double‚ 2 homers‚ and a team-record 8 runs driven in.
June 28Seattle scores 7 runs in the 1st inning‚ and 8 in the 5th‚ on the way to a 19-8 pasting of the Rangers. 3B Luis Sojo gets 5 hits for the winners.
June 29The Athletics hit 3 HRs in an 11-9 win over the Angels‚ giving them a major league record-tying 18 in 4 games. They hit 4 on Tuesday‚ 8 on Thursday‚ and 3 on Friday in addition to today’s 3 to tie the Red Sox of 1977 (June 16-19).

The Dodgers defeat the Rockies‚ 13-10‚ after leading 13-0 going into the bottom of the 8th inning. Colorado scores 8 runs in the 8th‚ then adds 2 more in the 9th to fall 3 short. C Mike Piazza leads the way for LA with 3 home runs and 6 RBIs.
June 30Rockies 2B Eric Young steals 6 bases in Colorado’s 16-15 win over the Dodgers to tie a major league record. Three steals come in the 3rd inning when he steals 2B‚ 3B‚ and home. The two teams score in 14 of their 18 turns at bat‚ tying another big league mark. There are 7 lead changes in the contest‚ which is marked by 38 hits‚ 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases-9 steals when Hideo Nomo is on the mound and 10 with Mike Piazza behind the plate. Three of the homers come on consecutive pitches as Piazza‚ Karros‚ and Mondesi homer off Mark Thompson. The 4-hour and 20-minute game is the longest 9-inning contest in NL history. Raul Mondesi drives home 6 runs for LA‚ while Dante Bichette gets 5 hits and 4 ribbies for Colorado.

The Twins defeat the Royals‚ 5-2‚ as Minnesota LF Marty Cordova has his hitting streak stopped at 23 games.

The Giants lose their 10th in a row‚ as San Diego wins‚ 7-4. It ties the losing streak record for the franchise in San Francisco.

Cards pitcher Todd Stottlemyre has 3 hits‚ 2 in the 6-run 2nd inning‚ in beating the Pirates‚ 10-3.

July


July 1At Yankee Stadium‚ the Key outguns the Rocket‚ as Jimmy Key beats Roger Clemens‚ 2-0. Mike Aldrete‘s solo HR in the 7th is the first score.

In San Francisco‚ Barry Bonds and Mark Carreon homer to lead the Giants to a 9-6 win over the Rockies. The win snaps a 10-game losing streak‚ the longest for the Giants since a 10-game skein in 1985 and a 13-game losing streak in 1944.

In a 4-1 win over Chicago‚ Pirate RF Orlando Merced pulls off an unassisted DP‚ catching Mark Grace‘s liner and loping to 1B.
July 2Oakland breaks a 6-6 tie by scoring 5 runs in the 9th inning to defeat Seattle 11-6. 1B Jason Giambi leads the way with 5 hits.

The Reds put P Pete Schourek on the 15-day DL‚ but he’ll undergo elbow surgery on July 17th and miss the rest of the season. The Reds other ace‚ Jose Rijo‚ recovering from surgery last August‚ has yet to pitch off the mound for Birmingham.

The Marlins sign Domingo Aramboles‚ 16-year-old Dominican pitcher‚ to a contract‚ giving him a $5‚500 signing bonus. Aramboles produces a birth certificate showing he’s 16‚ but later on it is discovered that he is only 14‚ and the Commissioner’s office will nullify the contract. His 1.71 minor league ERA will earn him a big bonus when he signs in 1998. Josephang Bernhardt‚ another Latin ball player who will produce a phony birth certificate‚ will be taken away from Tampa Bay and sign with Toronto for $750‚000.

An MRI on Tony Gwynn shows fraying of the tendon in his right heel. The Padres star will be out for at least 4 weeks and miss the All-star game.
July 3The Mets defeat the Phillies‚ 10-6‚ as rookie OF Alex Ochoa leads the way by going 5-for-5 and hitting for the cycle.

In Atlanta’s 3-1 win over the Expos‚ Montreal first baseman David Segui fractures his left thumb when pitcher Ugueth Urbina fires over to 1B and hits his teammate. Henry Rodriguez takes over at 1B.

The Yankees sign Venezuelan Jackson Melian‚ just turned 16‚ to a contract for $1.6 million. His bonus is a record for Latino ball players.
July 4The Yankees provide the fireworks‚ signing Darryl Strawberry. On June 24th‚ Yankee GM Bob Watson said five times that Strawberry “doesn’t fit.”
July 5After the California Angels score 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning‚ the Oakland Athletics respond with 13 of their own in the bottom half to mark the highest scoring 1st inning by 2 teams in major league history. The 13 runs is one short of the record. DH Matt Stairs ties a major league mark with 6 RBIs in the frame. The Athletics go on to post a 16-8 victory.

Behind Wilson Alverez‚ the White Sox hand the Indians their first shutout of the year‚ beating them‚ 7-0. The Sox now trail the Tribe by just 2 games‚
July 6The Seattle Mariners ride 3 solo home runs by Edgar Martinez to a 9-5 win over the Texas Rangers.

During the Yankees 2-0 win over the Brewers‚ the team announces the purchase of Darryl Strawberry’s contract from Columbus. John Wetteland preserves Jimmy Key‘s win with a save in his 20th consecutive appearance ‚ breaking Lee Smith‘s record.
July 7The Marlins fire manager Rene Lachemann. Florida vice president John Boles replaces Lachemann‚ although he has not managed at any level in 10 years; except for Ted Turner‘s one-game stint in the 1970s‚ Boles is the first manager since Emil Fuchs in 1929 with no professional playing experience at any level. He wins his first game today‚ 7-4‚ in 10 innings over the Phils.
July 9The NL defeats the AL‚ 6-0‚ in the All-Star Game. Ken Caminiti and Mike Piazza homer for the winners. The game is the first All-Star contest in which no walks are issued by either team. Cal Ripken Jr. starts the game‚ despite suffering a broken nose when he accidentally catches a forearm from Chicago P Roberto Hernandez. Hernandez slipped on the tarp during the AL team photo shoot.

The Giants trade 1B Mark Carreon to the Indians for P Jim Poole.

At the Olympic Games in Atlanta‚ Cuba’s top pitcher Rolando Arrojo defects to the U.S.
July 11After 14 straight road losses-a club record-the Phils finally win‚ beating the Expos‚ 3-2‚ behind Curt Schilling.

In the Twins 11-7 loss to the Indians‚ Chuck Knoblauch completes his 10th multi-hit game in a row-the longest such streak in the ML since 1978. Manny Ramirez and Albert Belle drive in 9 runs between them for the Tribe‚ and Jack McDowell picks up the win.
July 12Down 9-2 as they bat in the last half of the 7th inning in Colorado‚ the Rockies score 11 times and hold on for a 13-12 win over the Padres. 3B Vinny Castilla‘s grand slam-his 2nd homer of the game-is the big blow of the inning.

Minnesota star Kirby Puckett announces he is retiring‚ effective immediately‚ because of glaucoma in his right eye.
July 13The Indians score 4 runs in the 4th‚ 5 runs in the 5th‚ and 6 runs in the 6th as they defeat the Twins‚ 19-11. The Tribe counts 12 doubles and 3 HRs among its 22 hits. The 12 doubles ties an AL record set in 1990‚ and the two teams combine for 18 doubles‚ a new AL record (the NL mark is 23). Of Rich Becker gets 4 hits‚ including a double and 2 homers‚ and drives home 6 runs for Minnesota.

Tim Naehring scores 5 runs on two hits‚ one a HR‚ as the Red Sox double the Tigers‚ 10-5.

The Giants top prospect Shawn Estes‚ throws his first game of the season‚ pitching 7 scoreless innings and striking out 11 Dodgers for his first win. The Giants win‚ 7-0.
July 14In Seattle‚ Ken Griffey returns to the M’s lineup after missing 20 games and drives in 3 runs with a homer and double. Bob Wells (8-2) pitches a 4-hitter to beat the Angels‚ 8-0.

In Cincinnati‚ Reggie Sanders hits 2 homers and P Dave Burba launches his first ML HR as the Reds beat the Pirates‚ 7-6. The Reds get the deciding runs in the 7th with Sanders 2nd HR and Eduardo Perez‚ son of Reds star Tony Perez‚ hits his first ML HR‚ off Steve Parris.

In Atlanta‚ Ryan Klesko belts 2 homers and drives in 6 runs to lead the Braves to a 15-10 drubbing of the Marlins. Jeff Conine has a pair of HRs for the Fish.
July 15Cal Ripken is shifted to 3B after playing 2‚216 consecutive games at SS for the Orioles but his consecutive game streak remains intact at 2‚243 games. Baltimore defeats the Blue Jays‚ 8-6. Ripken’s replacement at short‚ Manny Alexander‚ will manage just a broken bat single in 18 at bats and after 6 games at 3B‚ Cal will return to shortstop.
July 16After failing to score in their first 2 at bats‚ the Brewers proceed to score in each of their remaining turns at the plate to punch out Detroit by a score of 20-7. Greg Vaughn drives home 5 runs for Milwaukee‚ and now leads the AL with 88‚ while Jose Valentin knocks out 4 hits.
July 17The Red Sox take a 9-2 lead over the Yankees into the 7th inning in Boston. New York scores 3 in the 7th‚ 2 in the 8th‚ and 4 in the 9th to move ahead‚ 11-9. The Red Sox bounce back with 3 of their own in their last at bat to defeat NY by a score of 12-11 and end John Wetteland’s record save streak.

Lead-off hitter Kurt Abbott pounds a single‚ triple‚ and home run and drives in 6 runs to lead the Marlins to an 11-2 victory over the Astros.

Five Padre relievers help the Rockies set a club record of 11 runs in the 7th inning en route to a 13-12 Rock win. Colorado overcomes a 7-run deficit.

Cards pitcher Andy Benes‚ who started the year going 1-7‚ evens his record at 8-8‚ beating the Reds 6-4.
July 19For the second time in a week‚ a Red Sox player scores 5 runs: Jeff Frye is the scorer today as the Sox down the O’s‚ 13-2. Mo Vaughn and Mike Stanley provide 3-run homers to make it easy for Jamie Moyer (6-1).
July 20The Indians defeat the Twins‚ 6-5‚ on Alvaro Espinoza’s 11th-inning homer. OF Kenny Lofton leads the way for the Tribe with 5 hits. Albert Belle rings his 226th homer as an Indian to tie Earl Averill‘s club mark.

In the opening game at the Olympics‚ the U.S. team tops Nicaragua‚ 4-1‚ behind pitcher Kris Benson.
July 21Oakland defeats Texas‚ 11-8‚ despite 5 hits-including a double and homer-by Rangers’ OF Rusty Greer. Terry Steinbach homers twice to extend his hitting streak to 21 games.

The Orioles trade P Kent Mercker to the Indians in exchange for DH Eddie Murray. Murray returns to the Flock needing just 8 homers to reach 500.
July 22Toronto’s Erik Hanson walks Cleveland’s Jim Thome without throwing a 4th ball. With the count 2-2 the pitch is wide and Thome jogs to 1B. Ump Mike Everett‚ a fill-in from the PCL‚ had incorrectly called the count 3-2 before the pitch‚ and Thome‚ who knew better‚ didn’t correct him. The next batter Albert Belle hits a 3-run double for a 4-2 win.

Javy Lopez hits a 2-run pinch homer in the 8th to break a tie and give the visiting Braves an 8-6 win over the Cardinals. Mark Whitten also hits a pinch homer for the Braves to tie an oft-tied ML mark.
July 23The Reds defeat the Phillies‚ 5-3‚ as SS Barry Larkin drives in all Cincinnati runs on 2 HRs.

The Pirates trade P Danny Darwin to the Astros in exchange for minor league P Rich Loiselle.

At the Astrodome‚ San Diego’s Rob Deer launches one of the highest balls ever hit‚ striking a cable holding up a loud speaker. It’s declared a dead ball. The Pads don’t need it as they win‚ 7-4.

In the pitchers’ hell known as Coors Field‚ the Rockies take a pair from the Mets‚ outslugging them 10-7 and 11-10. The two games feature 59 hits‚ including 8 HRs‚ off 17 pitchers. In the first inning of the nitecap‚ Dante Bichette‚ Andres Galarraga‚ and Vinny Castilla hit consecutive homers off Pete Harnisch. Galarraga hits another in the 3rd‚ one of his 6 hits for the day.
July 25Royals rookie Jose Rosado wins his first ML game‚ 7-0‚ shutting down the Yankees on 4 hits at Yankee Stadium.

Mark McGwire clouts his 37th homer into the 5th deck at Toronto’s Skydome‚ just the 2nd player to reach there. The 488-foot drive off Huck Flener lands 4 rows up from where Jose Canseco hit one in the 1989 playoff. The A’s still lose the game to the Jays‚ 4-3 when Joe Carter hits a dramatic 2-run 2-out homer in the bottom of the 9th. McGwire will hit his 38th tomorrow in an A’s win.
July 26The Cubs defeat the Rockies‚ 17-4‚ as C Tyler Houston leads the way with a single‚ double‚ homer‚ and 6 RBIs. Sammy Sosa has his NL-leading 34th homer.

The Yankees unload a 21 hit barrage and bat around twice to whip the Royals‚ 15-1. This is the most hits New York has collected in 9 innings since August 25‚ 1984‚ when they had 23 against Seattle. Jimmy Key is the easy winner‚ giving up 3 hits in 7 innings. Pat Kelly‚ who had been out the season with surgery‚ makes his debut and promptly injures a hamstring.

In a trade of catchers‚ the Astros trade Rick Wilkins to the Giants in exchange for popular Kirt Manwaring and cash.

Following a 2-homer‚ 5-RBI game on the 25th‚ Albert Belle goes 4-for-5 with a 3-run homer to lead the Indians to a 14-9 drubbing of the Orioles. There are 7 homers in the game.

In a battle of aces‚ the Twins Brad Radke tops Roger Clemens‚ 5-1. The Red Sox ace is now 4-10.
July 27The Padres pound the Marlins‚ 20-12‚ scoring 6 runs in the 6th inning‚ and 9 in the 8th. Wally Joyner leads the way with 5 ribbies‚ while John Flaherty hits a grand slam. The Padres are the 6th club to score 20 runs in a game; the last time that happened was 1929.

The Orioles score 10 runs off Orel Hershiser‚ including a grand slam by Palmeiro‚ to whip the Indians 14-2 at Camden Yards. Hershiser gives up 11 hits and 4 walks in 5 1/3 innings.

In Toronto‚ Joe Carter becomes the 3rd player to hit a homer into the upper level at the SkyDome‚ a 3-run shot that carries 483 feet. Berroa and Stairs homer for the A’s‚ the 23rd straight game the A’s have collected a homer run. But the Jays beat the A’s‚ 6-4.

The U.S. Olympic team connects for 5 homers in the first inning en route to a 15-5 win over Japan.

The White Sox pick up vet catcher Pat Borders from the Angels for minor leaguer Robert Ellis. Borders will replace Chad Kreuter‚ out with a season-ending shoulder injury.
July 28Padres’ C John Flaherty has his 27-game hitting streak stopped by the Marlins in the Padres’ 8-2 win. The streak is the 2nd-longest ever by a catcher behind Benito Santiago‘s Padres’ record.

Darryl Strawberry’s 300th career HR‚ a 2-run shot in the 9th‚ lifts the Yankees to a 3-2 win over the visiting Royals. The Yankees now lead by 12 games.
July 29Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda announces his retirement. Lasorda‚ who underwent an angioplasty earlier this year after suffering a heart attack‚ will become a team vice president. Bill Russell is named manager.

In the Reds 2-1 loss to the Astros‚ Reds IF Chris Sabo shatters his bat in the 2nd inning strewing pieces of cork over the field. He’ll be suspended for 7 games for using a corked bat.

The Indians trade 2B Carlos Baerga and IF Alvaro Espinoza to the Mets in exchange for 3B Jeff Kent and SS Jose Vizcaino. Baerga‚ a former All-Star‚ is last in hitting and fielding among AL second basemen.
July 30The Reds acquire OF Kevin Mitchell from the Red Sox for minor leaguers Brad Tweedlie and Roberto Mejia. Cincy also sells OF Eric Anthony to the Rockies.

Boston gets a leadoff hitter when the Mariners trade OF Darren Bragg to the Red Sox in exchange for P Jamie Moyer. Moyer‚ in a portent of his success with the M’s‚ is 7-1.

The Giants trade P Mark Leiter (4-10) to the Expos for pitchers Tim Scott and Kirk Rueter.
July 31The Mariners club the Brewers‚ 9-3‚ hitting 7 homers in the game. Buhner‚ Griffey‚ and Rodriguez each have a pair‚ with Brian Hunter adding one. Sterling Hitchcock (11-4) is the winner.

At the trading deadline‚ Detroit trades 1B-DH Cecil Fielder‚ 32‚ to the Yankees for OF-DH Ruben Sierra and minor league P Matt Drews. The Yankees also obtain P David Weathers from the Marlins for P Mark Hutton‚ but will send him to the minors in 3 weeks.

The Padres acquire OF Greg Vaughn‚ with 31 homers at Milwaukee‚ and a player to be named in exchange for P Bryce Florie‚ P Ron Villone‚ and OF Marc Newfield. Vaughn will end the season with 117 RBI‚ the first player to top 100 while playing in 2 leagues in a season.

The Angels trade IF Damion Easley to the Tigers in exchange for P Greg Gohr.

The Phillies trade P Terry Mulholland‚ 33‚ to the Mariners in exchange for struggling blue chipper Desi Relaford.

The Dodgers obtain OF Chad Curtis from the Tigers in exchange for pitchers Joey Eischen and John Cummings. Curtis will lead off in place of the cancer-stricken Brett Butler.

The Reds Sox send vet Mike Stanton to the Rangers for two young relievers‚ Mark Brandenburg and Kerry Lacy. The deal is made at 11:55 p.m.

August


August 1The Red Sox put Jose Canseco on the DL for back surgery. With Mitchell and Canseco gone from the outfield‚ the Sox defense will improve and so will their record. But they lose today‚ 9-4‚ to the Royals‚ as Clemens (4-11) is tagged for 7 runs in 6 innings.

The Mets make a team-record 7 errors in handing a 13-9 win to the Pirates. The Bucs get 7 unearned runs.

In the Olympics‚ Japan stuns the U.S. team‚ 11-2 to qualify to play Cuba for the gold. Japan pounds Kris Benson for 8 hits and 5 runs in 4 innings. Starter Masanori Sugiera scatters 6 hits in 5 2/3 innings for the win. Takeo Kawamura allows no hits in finishing.
August 3The Braves defeat the Dodgers‚ 5-3‚ in 18 innings. Rookie P Brad Woodall picks up his 1st victory with 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief.
August 4Jim Bunning‚ Earl Weaver‚ Bill Foster‚ and Ned Hanlon are inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

The Braves end their 17-game 20-day road trip‚ with the 6-4 win over the Dodgers. The extended road stay is caused by the Atlanta-based Olympics.
August 5The Orioles score 6 runs in the 8th inning to take a 13-3 lead over the Indians. After scoring 1 run in their half of the inning‚ Cleveland comes back with 6 of their own in the 9th‚ but falls 3 short and loses‚ 13-10. Chris Hoiles drives home 4 runs for the Orioles.
August 6Darryl Strawberry strokes 3 HRs off Kevin Tapani in the Yankees 9-2 victory over the White Sox. In doing so‚ he becomes just the 8th player to hit 3 in a game in both leagues. The others to do it were Babe Ruth‚ Johnny Mize‚ Dave Kingman‚ Cory Snyder‚ Darnell Coles‚ Claudell Washington‚ and Larry Parrish.

Marcel Lachemann of the stumbling Angels quits as manager. John McNamara will take over for the rest of the season.
August 7Gary Gaetti hits a game-ending HR in the 9th to give the Cards a 1-0 win over the Padres. Doug Bochtler is the losing pitcher.

The Indians score 3 in the 9th-one on a homer by Omar Visquel-to beat the host Mariners‚ 5-4. Ken Griffey makes the last out for Seattle and goes 0-for-4 to snap a 35-game hitting streak against the Indians (from May 24‚ 1992‚ as noted by Retrosheet)
August 8Eddie Murray’s 494th homer moves him ahead of Lou Gehrig to 15th place on the all time list. The 2-run homer in the 6th inning breaks a tie as Baltimore beats the Brewers‚ 6-4.

Darryl Strawberry powers a pair of homers to lead the Yankees to an 8-4 win over the White sox. Strawberry now has 5 homers in his last 9 at bats.

The Rangers acquire P John Burkett (6-10) from the Marlins in exchange for P Ryan Dempster and a player to be named.
August 9The Tigers defeat the Yankees‚ 5-3‚ as DH Ruben Sierra‚ traded 9 days ago from the Yankees‚ drives home all 5 Detroit runs with a double and 3-run homer.

Fernando Valenzuela limits Pittsburgh to 3 hits in 7 2/3 innings and Greg Vaughn hits the 100-RBI mark with a solo homer to lead the Padres to a 4-1 win. Vaughn‚ who had 95 RBIs with Milwaukee before being traded‚ is the first player to hit 100 ribbies in a season while playing in both leagues.
August 10Eddie Murray blasts his 18th career grand slam‚ highliting an 8-run 9th inning‚ as Baltimore beats the White Sox‚ 13-4. Murray’s slam ties him for 2nd place with Willie McCovey.

The Rockies jump to a 7-0 lead over the Braves‚ then need back to back homers in the 10th to win‚ 9-7. Galarraga‚ with his 2nd homer‚ and Castilla homer off Mark Wohlers for the victory. Galarraga now leads the NL in RBIs with 107.

The Royals roll to an 18-3 win over California as Johnny Damon hits a grand slam and drives in 7 runs. Jim Abbott loses his 11th straight decision.
August 11Clemson University P Kris Benson becomes the highest paid draft choice ever. He logs on with the Pirates for a $2 million signing bonus.
August 12Geronimo Berroa hits 3 HRs in the Athletics’ 11-1 win over Minnesota. He becomes the 10th player in history to have a pair of 3-homer games in the same season. Berroa accounts for 5 of Oakland’s runs and Mark McGwire accounts for 4 with a pair of homers himself. McGwire‚ who missed 30 games‚ now has 41 homers.

The Expos defeat the Astros‚ 8-1‚ in a game marked by a 3rd-inning 10-minute brawl which will result in 4-game suspensions being handed down to Henry Rodriguez‚ Moises Alou‚ David Segui‚ Jeff Juden‚ and John Cangelosi. Danny Darwin gets 6 games. Houston manager Terry Collins receives a gash that will require four stitches to close when he’s hit by a thrown batting helmet. The fight starts when Henry Rodriguez is plunked by a pitch‚ the apparent result of his stopping and admiring a homer‚ his 30th‚ he hit his last time up. Al Leiter pitches a 3-hitter to win‚ although he gives up a leadoff homer to Brian Hunter.
August 13After failing to score in the first 3 innings‚ the Giants proceed to plate runs in each of their next 6 at bats‚ going on to defeat the Pirates‚ 12-10. Rick Wilkins’ PH grand slam in the 8th leads the Jints on to victory.

Robin Ventura belts his team-record 9th grand slam to pace the White Sox to an 8-4 win over the Yankees. David Weathers serves up the gopher.

The Braves obtain 3B Terry Pendleton from the Marlins in exchange for minor league OF Roosevelt Brown.

Oklahoma City’s Rick Helling pitches a perfect game‚ winning 4-0 over Nashville.
August 14The Red Sox clip the Blue Jays‚ 8-6‚ on a 3-run 9th inning. Jacob Brumfield has a pair of homers for the Jays and Otis Nixon swipes 4 bases.

Marlins’ OF Andre Dawson‚ in his 21st major league season‚ announces he will retire at the end of the year.

Giants infielder Shawon Dunston is operated on and will miss the remainder of the season. Dunston suffered a head injury on August 4 in a collision with Astro SS Ricky Gutierrez.

The Braves bring up Andruw Jones. He is believed to be the first player since Phils pitcher Pat Combs in 1989 to start a season in A ball‚ play in AA‚ triple A‚ and the majors in the same season.
August 15The Orioles score 15 runs over the final 3 innings on the way to an 18-5 win over the Athletics. Baltimore slugs 5 homers‚ including a pair by Chris Hoiles.

The 1st-place Braves top Curt Schilling and the Phils‚ 85. Terrel Wade wins his 4th against no losses and collects his 1st ML hit. Marquis Grissom extends his hit streak to 20 games with a single and double.

Larry Walker‚ out 2 months with a broken collarbone‚ makes his first start for the Rockies‚ but it doesn’t help as they lose for the 10th straight time at Joe Robbie Stadium‚ 7-6. The Marlins score 3 in the 8th to win. Gary Sheffield belts his 34th homer for the Fish.

Frank Thomas hits 3 homers for the White Sox‚ becoming the Sox career HR leader‚ but Boston wins‚ 9-8. Thomas hits his 1st 2 off Tim Wakefield to pass Carlton Fisk (214).

P Bobby Seay‚ the top pick of the Chicago White Sox in the June draft‚ is declared a free agent after the team fails to tender him a formal contract within 15 days of the draft‚ a violation of major league rules. Seay is the 1st player in the 32-year history of the draft to be declared a free agent in the summer he was selected.
August 16San Diego OF Steve Finley homers in the Padres game against the Mets in Monterrey‚ Mexico. By doing so‚ he becomes the 1st major league player to have homered in 3 different countries‚ having previously hit four-baggers in the US and Canada. The Padres win the 1st regular season game to be played outside of the US or Canada‚ 15-10‚ belting 4 homers. Leadoff batter Tony Gwynn is 3-for-5 and will repeat it tomorrow in the 7-3 loss to the Mets.

Trailing 2-0‚ the Orioles score 14 runs over the final 3 innings to defeat the Athletics‚ 14-3‚ in the 1st game of a double-header. Rafael Palmeiro drives home 6 runs for Baltimore‚ and each member of the starting lineup‚ with the exception of leadoff man Roberto Alomar‚ gets at least 2 hits. The Orioles stroke 19 hits for the 2nd day in a row off Oakland pitching. Baltimore also takes the nightcap‚ 5-4 in 10 innings.

Playing for his 7th team in 6 years. Mark Whiten hits a pinch homer in his first at bat for Seattle to help beat the Yanks. In his last at for the Braves before being traded or farmhand Roger Blanco‚ Whiten belted a 3-run pinch homer to beat the Phils‚ 5-2. Whiten is the 45th player used by Seattle this season.
August 17Boston’s Roger Clemens (6-11) stops the Angels‚ 6-0‚ collecting his first shutout since April 20‚ 1994. It is the Rocket’s 37th shutout‚ leaving him one behind Cy Young. for the most in Sox history.

Thomas Howard had his 4th consecutive 3-hit game to lead the Reds to a 5-3 win over the Rockies. Howard has 2 doubles and a run scoring triple and scores 3 runs.
August 18Cleveland 3B Jim Thome strokes 4 hits‚ including a pair of homers‚ and drives home 6 runs to lead the Indians to an 11-3 victory over the Tigers.

In a wild contest in New York‚ the Mariners jump out to an 8-0 lead over the Yankees. The New Yorkers strike back with 7 runs in their half of the 4th inning to edge within 1. Seattle scores twice in the 6th‚ but the Yankees ties the score in the bottom half of the inning with 3 runs of their own. The score remains tied at 10-10 going into the 12th inning. Seattle scores 3 in the top half of the inning‚ 2 on 1B Paul Sorrento’s 2nd homer of the game. New York fights back with 2 in the bottom of the inning‚ but falls 1 shy‚ losing‚ 13-12. The Yankees remain 5 1/2 games ahead of Baltimore in the AL East‚ while Seattle stays 6 games behind Texas in 2nd place in the AL West.
August 19Unlikely slugger Rondell White hits a 2nd inning grand slam off a Tom Candiotti curve ball‚ to give the Expos a 7-3 win over the Dodgers. The Expos have a 1-game lead over the Cards for the wild-card spot.

The Phils release Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams‚ was 1-2 with Scranton-Wilkes-Barre.
August 20Ken Caminiti has a grand slam and six RBIs to lead the Padres to a 7-4 win over the Expos. Starter Scott Sanders (6-4) pitches 6 2/3 innings of no hit ball before Darrel Fletcher singles.

In the Cubs 8-1 win over Florida‚ Sammy Sosa picks up his 100th RBI the hard way when he is hit by a Mark Hutton pitch with the bases loaded in the first inning. The pitch breaks Sosa’s wrist and the slugger will miss 4-6 weeks‚ stopping his consecutive games played of 304.

Rangers SS Kevin Elster drops a throw‚ ending Texas’s errorless streak at an AL-record-tying 15 games. The Indians defeat the Rangers‚ 10-4‚ behind their powerful middle lineup: Ramirez hits a grand slam‚ Belle has a homer and 2 triples‚ and Thome homers.
August 21Phils ace Curt Schilling faces 28 batters in a 2-hit‚ 6-0 win over the Dodgers. Schilling strikes out 12. Rookie Scott Rolen hits his 1st two ML homers‚ both off Hideo Nomo.

Welcome to the Bigs. Derek Jeter hits a home run off Jason Dickson’s first ML pitch‚ but that’s all the scoring for the slumping Yankees as the Angels’ rookie wins‚ 7-1. Chili Davis has a pair of homers‚ the first off loser Jimmy Key (9-10).

Cal Ripken is 4-for-5 including a homer to lead the surging Orioles to a 10-5 win over the Mariners. The O’s overcome a pair of homers by Alex Rodriguez to win their 16th in 22 games.

The Rockies end Andy Benes‘ 10-game win streak‚ beating the Cardinals‚ 10-2. The Rocks also claim Giants C Steve Decker‚ while the Giants claim the Rocks Trenidad Hubbard‚ essentially trading both waived players.
August 22The Yankees claim Luis Sojo off waivers.
August 23The Yankees obtain P Graeme Lloyd and former Rookie of the Year Pat Listach from the Brewers in exchange for OF Gerald Williams and pitcher Bob Wickman. Lloyd is immediately put to work and provides late inning relief as the first-place Yankees beat the A’s‚ 5-3. The Yanks will officially complain to the AL that the Brewers sent damaged goods in the 2 players‚ but the complaint is ignored. However‚ the Brewers will take back Listach and send Ricky Bones to the Yanks on the 29th. The Yanks will file a grievance over Lloyd’s injury next month and the Brewers will send minor leaguer Danny Perez as compensation. Lloyd will go on to excel in the post-season when the Yankees win their first World Series since 1978.
August 24Atlanta defeats Chicago‚ 6-5‚ led by 1B Fred McGriff‚ who strokes 5 hits‚ including a double and 2 homers‚ and drives in 4 runs.

Cubs’ minor leaguer Kerry Wood of Daytona combines on his 2nd no-hitter‚ a 3-0 win over Vero Beach. Wood goes 8 innings‚ and he pitched 7 innings of no-hit ball on July 28 against Tampa.
August 25The Red Sox defeat the Mariners by a score of 8-5. Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez hit back-to-back homers for Seattle in the 8th inning‚ marking the 17th time this season Mariner players have hit consecutive homers‚ for a major league record.

The Rockies defeat the Pirates‚ 13-9‚ despite 5 hits‚ including a HR‚ by Pittsburgh 2B Jeff King. Larry Walker and Vinny Castilla each drive home 4 runs for Colorado.

The Yankees dedicate their 1st new monument in 47 years‚ to Mickey Mantle‚ in Monument Park in center field at Yankee Stadium. Miller Huggins‚ Babe Ruth‚ and Lou Gehrig are also honored with monuments‚ while 15 men are honored on plaques.

The Cubs defeat the Braves‚ 3-2‚ stopping Marquis Grissom’s hitting streak at 28 games.

The Giants defeat the visiting Expos 7-2 and Barry Bonds sits‚ ending his consecutive game streak at 357‚ a Giants record. Bonds had pinch hit in the previous 2 games.

The Cards Allen Benes‚ 1-7 in his first 8 decisions‚ loses 4-1 to the Astros. It is Benes’ 1st loss after reeling off 10 straight wins. Jeff Bagwell hits his 28th HR and drives in his 100th run for Houston‚ now up by 1 1/2 over the Cards. Donne Wall is the winner.
August 26The Mets fire manager Dallas Green and replace him with Bobby Valentine.

The Giants William Van Landingham allows 2 hits over 8 innings and defeats the visiting Phils‚ 1-0. At one point‚ Van Landingham retires 17 straight hitters. Curt Schilling allows a run in the 1st‚ and strikes out 11‚ in taking the loss. Seven of Schilling’s strikeouts are consecutive.
August 27The Twins defeat the Blue Jays‚ 6-4 in 11 innings‚ with the help of 5 hits from DH Paul Molitor.

Roger Clemens (8-11) wins his 4th in a row‚ beating the Angels‚ 2-1. Sox reliever Heath Slocumb gives up the one run in the 9th.
August 28The Braves acquire P Denny Neagle‚ who passes waivers‚ from the Pirates in exchange for minor leaguers Ron Wright and Corey Pointer‚ and a player to be named (Jason Schmidt) The Bucs will save some more bucks in 2 days‚ dealing vet Charlie Hayes.

Seattle’s 10-2 win over the visiting Yankees is delayed 10 minutes by a bench clearing brawl in the 8th inning following a close pitch by M’s rookie Tim Davis. The M’s John Marzano and Yanks Paul O’Neill and Jeff Nelson all receive 2-game suspensions‚ with the New Yorkers each getting fined $1‚000. Nelson opened the 8th by plunking Joey Cora.

Vinny Castilla reaches the 100-RBI plateau‚ joining teammates Galarraga‚ Burks‚ and Bichette. Not since the Cubs and Phillies of 1929‚ has a team had 4 players reach the mark.
August 29The last-place Angels defeat the Yankees‚ 14-3‚ behind OF Garret Anderson’s 7 runs batted in. Anderson has 2 doubles and a HR.

OF Mark Whiten hits a grand slam with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning to give Seattle a 9-6 win over Baltimore. Alex Rodriguez gets 5 hits for the Mariners‚ including a double and 2 home runs.

Catcher Joe Oliver drives home 7 runs to lead Cincinnati to an 18-7 pounding of Colorado. Oliver hits a grand slam and a 3-run double.

The Orioles obtain two right hand sluggers‚ 3B Todd Zeile and OF Pete Incaviglia from the Phillies for 2 players to be named. Free agents at the end of the season‚ both will sign elsewhere.

Seattle obtains Dave Hollins from the Twins for David Ortiz, and releases Jeff Manto, who signs with the Red Sox. Manto had been swapped on July 22 by the Red Sox.

In the battle of brothers‚ the Dodgers Ramon Martinez beats his brother Pedro of the Expos‚ 2-1. Mike Piazza and Eric Karros hit consecutive HRs in the 4th for all the scoring off Pedro‚ while the Expos manage just 3 hits. Padro strikes out 12 and goes the distance‚ while Ramon allows 3 hits in 8+ innings. The two had never faced each other before‚ and they are the 6th pair of brothers to face each other.
August 30Mark McGwire pounds his 45th homer and drives in 3 runs as the A’s beat the Red Sox‚ 7-0. The loss snaps the Sox’ 5-game win streak. The 3rd-place Sox have the AL’s hottest team since the All-Star break‚ going 33-17; on August 1 Boston was 17 games out of 1st place‚ and since then have gained 11 games. A’s pitchers will record shutouts in their next 2 games as well.

Adding their 8th new player this month‚ the Yankees reacquire 3B Charlie Hayes from the Pirates in exchange for a player to be named. This makes Wade Boggs a platoon player and he angrily states‚ “I’ll get my 3‚000 hits somewhere.”

The Padres Scott Sanderson pitches one-hit ball over 8 innings and strikes out 10 to beat the Expos‚ 6-0. David Segui has the only hit for Montreal.

Eddie Murray clouts his 499th homer and newly acquired Pete Incaviglia adds a grand slam as the Orioles beat the Mariners‚ 5-2. The O’s are 4 back of the Yankees‚ down from 12 games on July 29.
August 31Florida scores 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning to jump out to a quick lead over Cincinnati‚ but the Reds bounce back with 7 runs in the 2nd‚ and don’t look back. They score 4 more in the 5th‚ 2 in the 6th‚ 6 in the 7th‚ and 3 in the 8th to defeat the Marlins‚ 22-8. Kevin Mitchell leads the way with 6 runs batted in for the Reds.

The Indians obtain IF Kevin Seitzer from the Brewers in exchange for OF Jeremy Burnitz.

September


September 1After Baltimore manager has his bat removed in the 5th inning‚ Seattle SS Alex Rodriguez borrows a bat from Ken Griffey and belts a 3-run homer to lead the Mariners to a 5-1 win over the O’s. A-Rod’s 34th HR pins the loss on David Wells.
September 2Mike Greenwell of the Red Sox‚ who has spent much of the year on the DL‚ drives in all 9 runs in Boston’s 10-inning‚ 9-8 win over the Mariners. No other player has ever driven in 9 or more runs for his team’s total score.

In his first game back in action since undergoing surgery for an aneurysm in his pitching shoulder in May‚ Yankees’ P David Cone hurls 7 hitless innings in New York’s 5-0 victory over the Athletics. Mariano Rivera gives up 1 hit in 2 innings as he finishes up for Cone. Cone’s remarkable return sends Kenny Rogers to the bullpen.

It’s seems like old timers day as the Cardinals whip the Central-leading Astros‚ 8-7. Willie McGee‚ playing for Ron Gant‚ has 4 hits and 3 RBI‚ while Ozzie Smith has 3 hits‚ 3 RBI‚ and 4 runs.
September 3Marquis Grissom opens the game with a leadoff HR off the Reds Dave Burba‚ but its the only Braves hit in the Reds 5-1 win. The 1st-place Braves have now lost 4 straight.

Ron Gant hits 2 doubles and scores 3 times as the Cards move into the NL Central lead with a 12-3 win over the Astros.
September 4In pursuit of his 7th batting title‚ Tony Gwynn is 4-for-4 in the Padres 2-1 win over the Phils. Gwynn‚ hitting .352‚ needs to average nearly 5 at bats in the final 22 games to qualify for the batting title.

Andy Pettitte wins his 20th as the Yankees prevail over the A’s‚ 10-3. O’Neill and Martinez solo in the 4th inning. The Yanks last 20-game winner was Guidry in 1985.
September 6The O’s Eddie Murray hits his 500th career HR‚ and his 21st of the year‚ off Felipe Lira of the Tigers in Detroit’s 5-4‚ 12-inning win. The game is delayed 2 hours and 20 minutes because of the remnants of a hurricane. Murray becomes the 15th player to reach the magic number. He also becomes just the 3rd player with 500 HRs and 3‚000 hits‚ joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.

Dodgers OF Brett Butler returns to the team following two operations for throat cancer. He walks and scores the winning run in LA’s 2-1 victory over the Pirates.
September 7Complaining of abdominal pains the day of his scheduled start at Yankee Stadium‚ Juan Guzman is rushed to New York’s Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital where he undergoes an emergency appendectomy. He won’t pitch any more this season and his 2.93 ERA will lead the AL.

Mike Mussina shuts out the Tigers‚ 6-0 for his 19th win‚ giving the Orioles their first shutout of the year. It takes them 141 games to do it.

The Cards win their 8th in a row as pitcher Donovan Osborne belts his first ML HR-a grand slam-to beat the Padres‚ 8-3.

The Athletics collect 19 hits and pound the Royals 13-6‚ as Mark McGwire hits his 48th HR. He also reaches the 100 RBI level.

In the Expos 2-1 win over the Marlins‚ Marlin LF Joe Orsulak throws out 3 runners in a span of 5 batters. He throws out 2 Expos at the plate on consecutive plays to end the 3rd‚ and throws out another in the 4th. Mark Leiter‚ 4-0‚ since being traded from San Francisco on July 30‚ picks up the win.

In Atlanta‚ John Smoltz strikes out 13 and wins his 21st as the Braves stop the Mets‚ 6-1. Jermaine Dye hits a 3-run HR off Bobby Jones for the big blow.

In the Phils 4-2 win over the Cubs‚ Phils 3B Scott Rolen suffers a broken wrist when he is hit by a Steve Trachsel pitch in his 2nd at bat. Rolen has exactly 130 at bats‚ which means he is still technically a rookie next year. Rolen debuted in the first game of an August 1 doubleheader and played in all 37 games since.
September 8In the Indians DH split with the Mariners‚ Jim Thome knocks in his 100th run in opener‚ a 15-4 win. Thome reaches the 30 homer‚ 100 runs‚ 100 runs‚ 100 walks-just the 2nd Indian to ever do that. Al Rosen in 1950 was the other. Charles Nagy (15-4) wins game 1‚ while the M’s prevail 6-5 in the nitecap.
September 9Thomas Howard and Hal Morris‚ the first two batters for the Reds‚ connect for homeruns‚ but that is all the Cincy scoring as the Dodgers win‚ 7-2. The win keeps LA tied for the NL West with San Diego.
September 10The Expos use 9 pitchers in a vain attempt to stop the Cubs. Chicago wins‚ 10-3. The 9 pitchers in a regulation game matches the ML mark set by the 1949 Browns‚ who used 9 in a season ending promotion.

In the Dodgers 5-4 win over the Reds‚ Bret Butler breaks his hand on a bunt attempt when he is hit by a pitch. The 39-year-old Butler‚ who battled back from cancer surgery‚ is out for the year after playing 5 games.
September 12Yankees’ OF Bernie Williams drives home 8 runs in New York’s 12-3 win over the Tigers. Williams hits 2 round-trippers and a single.

Milwaukee trounces Texas‚ 15-4‚ led by 2B Fernando Vina who goes 5-for-6‚ with a triple‚ 2 HRs‚ 3 RBIs‚ and 4 runs scored.

Rockies’ OF Ellis Burks steals his 30th base of the season‚ making him the 19th player in history to join the 30-30 club. He hits his 37th homer of the season and drives in 5 runs in Colorado’s 16-8 win over Atlanta.
September 13Toronto C Charlie O’Brien unveils a hockey-style catcher’s mask in the game against the Yankees. The mask is a success‚ but the Blue Jays lose to the New Yorkers‚ 4-1. Andy Pettitte wins his 21st.
September 14Oakland 1B Mark McGwire becomes the 13th player in history to hit 50 HRs in a season as he connects against Cleveland’s Chad Ogea in the 1st inning of Cleveland’s 9-8 win over the A’s in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. The big first baseman hit his 49th in the 1st inning of the opener‚ a 9-2 loss to the Indians. Because of injuries‚ McGwire has played in only 119 or his team’s 150 games.

Mets’ C Todd Hundley hits his 41st HR of the season to set a new major league mark for catchers. The Mets defeat Atlanta‚ 6-5‚ in 12 innings. Johnny Bench hit 45 in 1970‚ but only 38 while behind the plate. Hundley also owns the Mets HR record‚ previously held by Darryl Strawberry with 39.

The City of Houston and Harris County agree to terms with the Astros to build a $265 million stadium with a retractable roof. The deal needs several approvals‚ including a November 5 referendum.
September 15Baltimore C Mark Parent homers in the 3rd inning of his team’s 16-6 win over the Tigers. The homer gives the Orioles a new major league record of 241 for the season. The Birds have 4 other homers in the game‚ including Brady Anderson‘s 10th leadoff HR of the year‚ to total 243‚ 3 more than the 1961 Yanks.

The Red Sox defeat the White Sox‚ 9-8‚ despite 3 HRs by Chicago 1B Frank Thomas. Mo Vaughn and John Valentin each hit 2 homers for Boston to power the Sox to victory.

Philadelphia C Benito Santiago drives in all his team’s runs with 3 consecutive HRs in the Phillies’ 6-1 win over the Cubs At Wrigley. Santiago will hit a homer tomorrow in his first at bat to tie a record for consecutive homers.
September 16Paul Molitor of the Twins triples in the 5th inning of Minnesota’s 6-5 loss to KC for his 3‚000th big league hit. He becomes the 1st major leaguer to get 200 hits in the same season in which he reached 3‚000. Teammate Chuck Knoblauch gets his 1‚000th hit in the same game.

Steve Finley‘s lead off HR in the 11th gives the Padres a 2-1 over the host Giants. SF’s only run is Barry Bonds 40th‚ and he joins Aaron and Canseco as the only players with 40 HRs and 30 stolen bases in a season.

The Mariners stop the Rangers‚ 6-0‚ as Jamie Moyer pitches 8 innings of hitless ball. Edgar Martinez collects his 50th double‚ just the 5th player this century to hit 50 doubles in 2 straight years.

In their 5-2 loss to the Braves‚ Mets OF Lance Johnson hits his 20th triple. He’s the first NLer to reach that plateau since Willie Mays in 1957.

Backed by two 3-run homers from Tim Raines‚ celebrating his 37th birthday‚ Jimmy Key stops the Blue Jays‚ 10-0. Raines 2nd HR‚ a 457 blast to the Stadium CF‚ is the longest hit by a Yankee this year. The Yanks are now 3 games up in the AL East.
September 17Dodgers’ P Hideo Nomo hurls a 9-0 no-hitter against the Rockies in hitter-friendly Coors Field. Nomo fans 8 and walks 4 in winning his 16th game of the year. Presidential hopeful Bob Dole notes the Nomo no-no by stating‚ “The Brooklyn Dodgers had a no-hitter last night.”

The Padres jump out to a 6-0 lead over the Giants‚ but San Francisco fights back to defeat San Diego‚ 9-7‚ to drop the Pods 1 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.

Pittsburgh manager Jim Leyland announces he will leave the Pirates at the end of the season.
September 18Boston’s Roger Clemens fans 20 Detroit Tigers‚ without walking a single batter‚ to tie his record for most strikeouts in a 9-inning game. The Rocket holds the Tigers to 5 hits en route to a 4-0 shutout.

Cincinnati OF Kevin Mitchell is suspended by the Reds for the final 13 games of the season. After receiving permission to stay behind in San Diego on an off day‚ Mitchell did not show up in Pittsburgh‚ as expected‚ yesterday or today‚ precipitating the suspension.
September 20Frank Thomas hits his 39th HR of the year‚ a grand slam‚ to power the White Sox to a 7-3 win over the Twins. Dave Martinez hits a solo shot in his only at bat. Kevin Tapani gives up a 2-run HR to Rich Becker but emerges the winner. Paul Molitor has a double to extend his consecutive game hitting streak against the White Sox to 32 games (as noted by Retrosheet) over three years.
September 21In a 6-3 win over Toronto‚ Eddie Murray hits 19th career grand slam‚ moving him into 2nd place behind Lou Gehrig (23).

The International Baseball Association approves the participation of professional baseball players in the summer Olympic Games to be held in the year 2000.

Christie’s Fine Art Auctioneers sell a 1910 T-206 Honus Wagner baseball card to an anonymous buyer for $640‚000‚ including the $60‚500 auction house fee.
September 22Oakland 1B Mark McGwire becomes the 30th player to homer twice in the same inning as he hits numbers 51 and 52 in the 5th inning of the Athletics’ 13-11 win over Seattle. The A’s score 8 runs in the inning‚ and the Mariners come back with 7 of their own in their half.

Cincinnati SS Barry Larkin hits his 30th HR of the year in the Reds’ 6-3 win over the Cardinals in the opening game of a twin bill. He thus becomes the 1st SS to join the exclusive 30-30 club. Mets 3B Howard Johnson is the only other IF to perform the feat. In the nightcap of the twin bill‚ Reds P John Smiley holds the Cardinals to a single hit-a Royce Clayton single-in shutting St. Louis out by a count of 6-0.

The Pirates win their 11th in a row‚ defeating the Cubs‚ 11-3. Jay Bell homers for his 3rd game in a row as the Bucs post the longest win streak in the majors this year.
September 24Boston 1B Mo Vaughn slugs 3 HRs and drives home 5‚ in the Red Sox’ 13-8 win over Baltimore.

Cincinnati 3B Willie Greene leads the Reds to a 6-3 victory over the Cubs by hitting 3 HRs and bringing in 5.
September 25The Yankees clinch the AL East title by pounding out 20 hits in a 19-2 win over the Brewers in the opening game of a doubleheader. The New Yorkers score 10 runs in the 2nd inning after plating 4 in the opening frame. Tino Martinez leads with 5 RBIs and David Cone (7-2) is the easy winner. The Yanks take the nitecap‚ 6-2.

Jim Leyland loses his last home game as the Pirates manager but receives 4 standing ovations. The Bucs 4th error leads to the go ahead run in the 11th as the Cards win‚ 8-7.

In a 7-5 win over the Dodgers‚ Barry Bonds goes 1-1 and receives an intentional walk‚ giving him a new NL record of 149 walks in a season. He also swipes 2 bases giving him 39. The Dodgers get a homer from Eric Karros‚ his 34th‚ and a 2-run pinch homer from Billy Ashby. Of Ashby’s 9 homers‚ 5 have been pinch hits‚ one short of Johnny Fredericks record. The Giants win clinches a tie for the NL West.
September 26Oakland C Terry Steinbach hits a 6th-inning HR in a 7-5 victory over Seattle‚ giving the Athletics their 241st HR of the season. They become the 2nd team this season to surpass the mark formerly held by the 1961 Yankees.
September 27After being ejected for arguing a strike call in the 1st inning of Baltimore’s game against the Blue Jays‚ Orioles’ 2B Roberto Alomar spits in the face of umpire John Hirschbeck. Alomar claims he was provoked by Hirschbeck‚ but the incident will set off a national debate. After the game‚ Alomar remarks‚ I used to respect him a lot. He had problems with his family when his son died-I know that’s something real tough in life-but after that he just changed‚ personality-wise. He just got real bitter.” When the ump hears about the remarks tomorrow he will charge into the Orioles locker room and have to be restrained by fellow ump Joyce.

Barry Bonds steals his 40th base to become the 2nd player‚ after Jose Canseco‚ to reach 40 homers and 40 steals in a season. He has 42 homers. San Francisco tops Colorado‚ 9-3‚ with a 7-run 7th.

The Angels score 2 runs in the top half of the 15th inning‚ then hold on as Texas fights back for 1 in their half‚ to earn a 4-3 victory. LF Garret Anderson gets 6 hits for California and drives home 3 runs.
September 28The Padres assure themselves of at least a tie in the NL West as the beat the Dodgers‚ 4-2‚ for their 2nd win in a row over LA.

Robby Alomar‚ playing because his suspension is appealed‚ sends the Orioles into the playoffs with a 10th-inning HR to give them a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays.

The Yankees Andy Pettitte and 4 relievers clip the Red Sox‚ 4-2‚ pinning the loss on Roger Clemens (10-13) in his last appearance in a Boston uniform. Clemens strikes out 10 and allows homers to Mike Aldrete and Bernie Williams. The Sox are reluctant to grant the Rocket’s request for a 4-year contract.
September 29Cincinnati 1B-OF Hal Morris ends the season with a pair of hits in the Reds’ 6-3 win over the Cardinals‚ giving him a major league season-high 29-game hitting streak.

The Blue Jays beat Baltimore on the final day of the season‚ 4-1‚ behind Pat Hentgen. Hentgen wins his 20th‚ joining Jack Morris as the 2nd Blue Jay pitcher in history to win 20. The O’s only run is Brady Anderson‘s lead off HR‚ his 50th HR of the year. The Orioles end the year with a ML record 257 HRs. Both the Mariners (245) and the A’s (243) surpass the old record of 240‚ set by the 1961 Yankees.

Chris Gwynn‚ brother of Tony‚ hits a 2-run pinch-hit double in the 11th inning to give the Padres a 2-0 win over the Dodgers. The double is off Chan Ho Park and the win cinches the NL West pennant for the Pods. The Dodgers lose all 4 games in the series.

The Rockies beat the Giants‚ 12-3‚ as Andres Galarraga has 3 hits‚ 3 runs and 3 RBIs. He finishes the season with 150 ribbies‚ the first to reach that mark since Tommy Davis in 1962‚ and his 47 homers leads the NL. Dante Bichette collects his 141st RBI giving the Rockies two players with 140+ ribbies‚ the first time 2 teammates have topped the mark since the Red Sox of 1950. Vinnie Castilla hits his 40th homer‚ joining Ellis Burks and Galarraga as the 2nd team (Braves) to have 3 teammates reach that mark. The Rocks are the first team to score 900 runs since the 1953 Dodgers‚ but they give up more than 900 as well.

Albert Belle has no RBIs in the Indians 4-1 loss to the Royals and finishes with an AL-high 148.
September 30Boston fires manager Kevin Kennedy and Philadelphia fires manager Jim Fregosi.

October


October 1In the opening game of the NL Division Series‚ the Cardinals defeat the Padres 3-1. Todd Stottlemyre gets the win for St. Louis.

The Rangers top the Yankees‚ 6-2‚ in the 1st game of their AL Division Series. Juan Gonzalez and Dean Palmer homer to back the pitching of John Burkett. David Cone takes the loss.

The Orioles defeat the Indians‚ 10-4‚ in Game 1 of their AL Division Series. Bobby Bonilla hits a grand slam in the game‚ which was delayed for 17 minutes due to a threatened umpire boycott in protest to handling of the Roberto Alomar situation.
October 2The Braves edge the Dodgers‚ 2-1 in 10 innings‚ in the opener of their NL Division Series. Javy Lopez‘s HR is the deciding hit‚ as John Smoltz goes 9 innings for the win.

The Yankees defeat the Rangers‚ 5-4 in 12 innings‚ to even their series at 1 game apiece. The winning run scores from 2B on a throwing error by 3B Dean Palmer on a routine bunt.

The Orioles win their 2nd in a row against the Indians‚ 7-4. The winning tally scores on a throwing error by C Sandy Alomar.
October 3St. Louis takes a 2-games-to-0 lead over the Padres with a 5-4 victory.

The Braves win another pitchers’ duel with the Dodgers‚ defeating LA by a score of 3-2 on solo homers by Fred McGriff‚ Ryan Klesko‚ and Jermaine Dye.

The Pirates name Gene Lamont to replace Jim Leyland as manager.
October 4Indians’ OF Albert Belle‘s grand slam leads Cleveland to a 9-4 win over the Orioles in Game 3 of their series.

The Yankees score twice in the 9th inning to defeat the Rangers‚ 2-1‚ despite Juan Gonzalez‘s 4th HR of the series. NY takes a 2-games-to-1 lead.

Jim Leyland signs a 5-year contract to manage the Florida Marlins.

After three straight winning seasons‚ Terry Collins is fired as manager of the Astros. He is replaced by broadcaster Larry Dierker.

U.S. District Judge Edmund W. Ludwig prevents the umpires from striking the playoff games in protest of the Alomar incident‚ citing the no-strike clause in their contract.
October 5The Yankees win their series against the Rangers‚ taking Game 4 by a score of 6-4. Bernie Williams homers twice for NY‚ while Juan Gonzalez hits a record-tying 5th HR for Texas.

The Braves top LA‚ 5-2‚ and sweep their Division Series with the Dodgers. Tom Glavine gets the win‚ while Chipper Jones homers for the victors.

The Cardinals sweep the Padres with a 7-5 win in Game 3 of their Division Series. Brian Jordan’s 2-run HR in the 9th inning is the decisive blow.

Roberto Alomar‘s HR in the 12th inning gives Baltimore a 4-3 win over Cleveland and a berth in the ALCS against the Yankees. Alomar’s 2-out single in the 9th ties the game and sends it into extra innings.

Umpire John Hirschbeck says he forgives Baltimore 2B Roberto Alomar‚ who spat on him during an argument in a game on September 27.
October 8Padres star Ken Caminiti undergoes an operation to repair the rotator cuff in his left shoulder‚ injured against Houston in April. Caminiti’s 40 homers‚ 130 RBI‚ and .621 slugging mark set Padre records‚ and he will be the unanimous choice for NL MVP. In 2002‚ He admits to Sports Illustrated that he started taking heavy doses of steroids following his injury.
October 9Bernie Williams’ 11th-inning HR gives the Yankees a 5-4 win over Baltimore in the opening game of the ALCS. Williams’ HR was made possible when 12-year-old Jeffrey Maier reaches over the left field fence in the 8th inning‚ interfering with a ball hit by Derek Jeter. It is ruled a HR which ties the game‚ 4-4.

The Braves win the opener of the NLCS against the Cardinals‚ with John Smoltz getting credit for the 4-2 win. Chipper Jones goes 4-for-4 for Atlanta.
October 10St. Louis evens the NLCS with an 8-3 win over the Braves in Game 2 of the NLCS. Gary Gaetti hits a grand slam for the Cardinals as Todd Stottlemyre gets the win.

Baltimore’s 5-3 win over the Yankees in Game 2 evens the ALCS at 1 game apiece. Rafael Palmeiro‘s 7th-inning homer is the key blow.
October 11The Yankees win Game 3 by a score of 5-2‚ after AL President Gene Budig denies Baltimore’s protest of Game 2. NY scores 4 runs in the 8th inning in another come-from-behind win.

The Arizona Diamondbacks sign Travis Lee to a 4-year‚ $10 million contract. Lee‚ selected by the Twins in this year’s amateur draft‚ was declared a free agent on September 24th because Minnesota failed to offer him a contract within 15 days of the end of the draft. Arizona outbid several other teams for Lee’s services. Lee’s deal will be voided by major league officials next week‚ and have to be reworked.
October 12The Yankees’ 8-4 win over the Orioles gives them a 3-games-to-1 lead in the ALCS. Darryl Strawberry homers twice for NY‚ while Bernie Williams and Paul O’Neill add 4-baggers.

The Cardinals defeat the Braves‚ 3-2‚ to go up by 1 game in the NLCS. Ron Gant homers twice against his former teammates.
October 13The Yankees defeat the Orioles‚ 6-4‚ giving them the AL pennant. The victors score all of their runs in the 3rd inning‚ which features HRs by Jim Leyritz‚ Cecil Fielder‚ and Darryl Strawberry. Scott Erickson gives the 3 homers in one inning‚ a first in the LCS. Bobby Bonilla‚ Todd Zeile‚ and Eddie Murray homer for the losers.

The Cardinals take a 3-games-to-1 lead over the Braves with a 4-3 victory. Brian Jordan homers for St. Louis and Dennis Eckersley gets the win in relief.
October 14The Braves batter the Cardinals‚ 14-0‚ in Game 5 of the NLCS. John Smoltz gets the win‚ with Fred McGriff and Javy Lopez contributing homers. Atlanta sets a playoff record with 22 hits in the game.
October 16Atlanta‚ behind Greg Maddux‚ evens the NLCS at 3 games apiece with a 3-1 victory.
October 17The Braves complete their comeback‚ winning their 3rd in a row‚ 15-0‚ to defeat the Cardinals and win the NL pennant. Homers by Fred McGriff‚ Javy Lopez‚ and Andruw Jones support the shutout pitching of Tom Glavine.
October 20The Braves continue to pound the ball‚ as they defeat the Yankees‚ 12-1‚ in the WS opener. Andruw Jones’ HR in the 2nd inning puts him in the record books as the youngest player to homer in a Series game. He hits another 4-bagger in the 3rd inning‚ as John Smoltz gains the win.
October 21Greg Maddux shuts out the Yankees by a score of 4-0‚ as the Braves take their 2nd straight as the visiting teamFred McGriff‘s 3 RBIs give him a major league record 15 for the postseason.
October 22The Yankees take Game 3‚ 5-2‚ behind the pitching of David Cone. John Wetteland gets the save as Bernie Williams drives in 3 runs for the winners.
October 23The Yankees even the Series by scoring twice in the 10th inning for an 8-6 win. Jim Leyritz ties the game in the 8th with a HR off Mark Wohlers as the Braves blow a 6-run lead. John Wetteland saves the game for Graeme Lloyd.
October 24The Yankees take their 3rd straight game in Atlanta‚ defeating the Braves‚ 1-0. Andy Pettitte records the win‚ while John Wetteland gets his 3rd save. John Smoltz is the hard-luck loser for Atlanta.
October 26The Yankees take their 4th in a row from the Braves‚ 3-2‚ giving them their 23rd World Championship. Joe Girardi’s 3rd-inning triple is the key blow. Starter Jimmy Key gets the win with help from John Wetteland. Wetteland’s 4 saves earn him the MVP trophy.
October 28Ruben Sierra changes uniforms for the 3rd time this year when Detroit sends the veteran to Cincy for two minor league players.

Pitcher Mark Gubicza‚ a KC Royal since 1981‚ is traded to the Angels for DH Chili Davis. Gubicza is the last active player from the Royals’ 1985 championship team. Gubicza will pitch just 4.2 innings in 1997 before spending the rest of the year on the DL.
October 29The Expos trade pitchers Jeff Fassero and Alex Pacheco to the Mariners in exchange for C Chris Widger‚ and Ps Matt Wagner and Trey Moore.
October 30The Phils name Terry Francona as manager‚ replacing Jim Fregosi. Francona was 3B coach of the Tigers this past season.

November


November 1The major league All-Star team opens their 8-game series in Japan with a 6-5 loss to the Japan All-Stars. Players include Cal Ripken‚ Sammy Sosa‚ Steve Finley‚ Brady Anderson‚ Barry Bonds‚ Mike Piazza‚ Hideo Nomo‚ Gary Sheffield‚ Alex Rodriguez‚ and Shane Reynolds.
November 2Toni Stone‚ the first female to play professional baseball at a big league level‚ dies at age 75. Stone played 2B for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro League in 1953.
November 4The Angels name Terry Collins as their new manager.
November 5Yankee SS Derek Jeter is the unanimous choice for AL Rookie of the Year. Jeter was the Yanks Opening Day shortstop‚ the first rookie to start at SS for New York since Tom Tresh in 1962.
November 6In Chicago‚ the ML owners decisively reject a proposed labor agreement that would have ended a 3-year stalemate. The 18-12 vote threatens to plunge baseball back into full-fledged hostilities between the owners and players’ union.

Todd Hollandsworth is voted the 1996 NL Rookie of the year‚ the 5th year in a row that the award has gone to a Dodger. the previous 4 were Karros‚ Piazza‚ Mondesi‚ and Nomo. Hollandsworth played 41 games in 1995 (103 at bats) but a broken right hand in May and a broken right thumb in August of ’95 kept him eligible for the rookie award.
November 9At Yokohama‚ Japanese All Star Hideki Matsui hits a grand slam off Shane McReynolds. McReynolds retires 20 of the next 21 batters‚ but loses 6-4.
November 10At Tokyo‚ in the finale of the Japanese vs. ML All Stars‚ the Japanese rally for 3 runs to earn an 8-8 tie. The Americans hit .302 in the series with 11 homers‚ and come away with 4 wins‚ 2 losses‚ and 2 ties. None of the games go extra innings. Steve Finley‚ 8-for-20 with 9 RBI‚ is named MVP.
November 11The Cy Young award stays in Atlanta with the expected announcement of John Smoltz as the 1996 NL winner. Since 1991‚ 5 of the 6 Cy Young winners have been Braves. Smoltz is named first on 26 of 28 ballots‚ with Kevin Brown finishing second in the voting.

Owner Bud Selig meets with Donald Fehr‚ the players’ labor leader‚ in a futile attempt to convince Fehr to accept the owners’ demands. With the deadline for an agreement at midnight on the 14th‚ there is virtually no hope that the two sides will agree. If the two sides reach the deadline without an agreement‚ the interleague schedule for next year will be wiped out‚ and a traditional schedule followed.
November 13San Diego 3B Ken Caminiti is named the MVP of the NL. After the All-Star break‚ Caminiti led all NL players with a.360 average‚ 28 homers‚ and 81 RBI. He sealed the Padres NL West title by going 4-for-4 on September 27 against the Dodgers Ismael Valdes.

The Indians trade P Julian Tavarez‚ 2B Jose Vizcaino‚ INF Jeff Kent‚ and a player to be named to the Giants in exchange for slugging 3B Matt Williams and a player to be named. Williams‚ with the Giants for 10 years‚ underwent shoulder surgery in mid-August and missed the remainder of the season.

The Blue Jays ink their ace pitcher Juan Guzman to a 2-year $9 million deal with incentives. Along with the just-signed Pat Hentgen and nabbing Roger Clemens next month‚ the Jays load up for next year.
November 14Toronto’s Pat Hentgen is named the AL Cy Young winner.

Texas star Juan Gonzalez beats out Seattle’s Alex Rodriguez for the AL MVP. He averaged 1.08 RBI per game‚ the best ratio in the majors since 1938. He finished the year with 47 homers and 144 RBI.

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Pittsburgh Pirates complete a 9-player swap with the Jays acquiring the 2B they are looking for in 29-year-old Carlos Garcia. In addition‚ the Jays pick up OF Orlando Merced and reliever Dan Plesac. The Bucs receive 6 prospects‚ including Ps Jose Pett and Jose Silva‚ INF Brandon Cromer and three players to be named.
November 19The Chicago White Sox make Albert Belle the highest paid player in history when they sign the free agent slugger to a $55 million dollar‚ 5-year contract. Belle’s annual salary of $11 million exceeds Ken Griffey, Jr. ($8‚500‚000) and Frank Thomas ($7‚250‚000) in annual take‚ and is just $750‚000 short of the Milwaukee Brewers‘ total payroll for 1996. It includes an clause stating that unless Belle is one of the three highest paid players in baseball‚ he has the right to renegotiate or file for free agency. By mid-1998‚ Greg Maddux‚ Pedro Martinez‚ and Gary Sheffield will all sign contracts more lucrative than Belle’s deal‚ allowing Belle to declare himself a free agent at the conclusion of the season. Acting Commissioner Bud Selig‚ reacting to owners outrage‚ calls a meeting for next Tuesday in Chicago in response to the signing.

The Red Sox hire Jimy Williams to manage the team‚ replacing Kevin Kennedy who was fired on September 30. Williams has been the 3B coach of the Braves for the past 6 years. He managed the Blue Jays for 4 years before being fired on May 15‚ 1989.

The California Angels officially become the Anaheim Angels‚ revealing their new logo today.

The Marlins sign free agent 3B Bobby Bonilla to 4-year contract.
November 25The Tampa Bay Devil Rays sign high school pitcher Matt White for a record $10.2 million bonus. The 6′ 5″ White had a 0.65 ERA for Waynesboro (Pa) High School last spring‚ and then was drafted 7th in June by the Giants. He became a free agent in September on a technicality when San Francisco failed to mail him a contract within 15 days of the draft. The deal tops the $10 million signing last month of the number 2 pick‚ Travis Lee‚ by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Mets obtain P Greg McMichael from the Braves in exchange for P Paul Byrd.
November 27The Angels obtain Ps Allen Watson and Fausto Macey from the Giants in exchange for 1B J.T. Snow.

The Mets trade P Jerry DiPoto to the Rockies in exchange for P Armando Reynoso. New York also trades 1B Rico Brogna to the Phillies in exchange for Ps Toby Borland and Ricardo Jordan.

December


December 2The Cubs sign SS Shawon Dunston bringing him back to Chicago.

The Astros sign free agent P Sid Fernandez.
December 3The Marlins sign free agent OF Jim Eisenreich to a 2-year contract.
December 5Two days after signing C Joe Girardi‚ the Yankees send back-up C Jim Leyritz to the Angels in exchange for minor leaguers Ryan Kane and Jeremy Blevins. Leyritz‚ the Yankee with the longest tenure-5 years‚ 126 days-was vulnerable because of his $1.75 million yearly contract.

Following his most productive season with the Oakland A’s‚ Terry Steinbach elects to take less money and return home. Like Dave Winfield‚ Paul Molitor‚ and Jack Morris before him‚ the Minnesota veteran signs with Twins.
December 6The Seattle Mariners acquire righty Scott Sanders‚ (9-5‚ 3.38 ERA) from the Padres for left-handed Sterling Hitchcock. Hitchcock was the ace of the Mariner staff after Randy Johnson went down with back surgery. He finished with a 13-9 record‚ but had a 5.35 ERA.
December 8The Orioles sign free agent P Jimmy Key to a 2-year contract.

The Dodgers sign free agent 3B Todd Zeile to a 3-year contract.
December 9The Rockies sign free agent C Kirt Manwaring to a 2-year contract.

The Marlins sign free agent P Alex Fernandez to a 5-year contract.

The Blue Jays sign free agent C Benito Santiago to a 2-year contract.
December 10The Tigers make their biggest trade since 1957‚ sending 4 players to Houston in exchange for 5 Astros. Detroit C Brad Ausmus‚ P Jose Lima‚ lefties C.J. Nitkowski and Trever Miller‚ and IF Daryle Ward go to the NL for starters Brian Hunter and Orlando Miller‚ Doug Brocail and Todd Jones‚ and a player to come later. Brocail‚ also involved in the 1994 12-player swap between San Diego and Houston‚ will be Detroit’s Opening Day pitcher in April.

Montreal reliever Mel Rojas signs with the Cubs for a three-year $13.75 million contract. With Ugueth Urbina waiting in the wings‚ the Expos found the expensive Rojas expendable.

The Reds sign free agent P Kent Mercker.

The Marlins sign free agent veteran Dennis Cook to a 2-year contract.
December 11The White Sox sign free agent P Jaime Navarro to a 4-year contract.

The Yankees sign free agent P Mike Stanton to a 3-year contract.

The Phillies sign free agent P Mark Portugal to a 2-year contract.
December 12The Orioles sign free agent SS Mike Bordick to a 3-year contract.

The Marlins sign free agent OF Moises Alou to a 5-year contract worth $25 million.
December 13The Cubs sign free agent P Kevin Tapani to a 3-year contract.

The Indians sign free agent P Mike Jackson to a 2-year contract.

The Blue Jays sign free agent P Roger Clemens (10-13) to a 3-year contract worth $24.75 million. The Red Sox’s last minute offer falls short and The Rockets flirtation with the Yankees comes to naught. The Sox are successful in retaining Tim Naehring‚ who was minutes away from signing with Cleveland.

The Pirates trade IF Jeff King and SS Jay Bell to the Royals for 3B Joe Randa and pitchers Jeff Granger‚ Jeff Martin‚ and Jeff Wallace.
December 14The Red Sox sign veteran OF Shane Mack to a one-year deal. Mack played the last 2 seasons in Japan.
December 16The Tigers trade 2B Mark Lewis to the Giants for 1B Jesse Ibarra.

The Rangers sign free agent P John Wetteland to a 4-year contract worth $23 million. Wetteland had 43 saves for the Yankees this year.
December 17David Wells signs a 3-year $13.5 million contract with the Yankees.

The Red Sox sign P Chris Hammond‚ who went 5-8 last year with the Marlins.
December 18Red Sox veteran Mike Greenwell signs a one-year contract to play for the Hanshin Tigers. The Sox had designated him for assignment on October 15‚ so his leaving Boston after 10 years was inevitable.

Eddie Murray takes his Hall of Fame bat to the Anaheim Angels‚ agreeing to a one-year contract.
December 19The Orioles sign free agent OF Eric Davis.

The Pirates sign free agent vet SS Kevin Elster.
December 20The Blue Jays send 1B John Olerud and his $5 million contract to the Mets for pitcher Robert Person. The move leaves 1B open for Joe Carter.