Baseball – 1997

Baseball in 1997

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January

January 4The Rangers sign free agent OF Mike Devereaux.
January 5Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield escapes serious injury when he is hit by a car while out jogging. He is released from the hospital after being treated for bruises.
January 6Dodger owner Peter O’Malley announces plans to sell the team‚ which has been controlled by his family since 1950. The club is expected to command a record price.

Former Atlanta knuckleballer Phil Niekro is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Niekro receives 80.34% of the vote. Former Dodger hurler Don Sutton falls 9 votes short of election.
January 8The Giants sign free agent P Doug Henry.
January 9The Yankees sign free agent OF Mark Whiten.
January 11The Red Sox sign free agent P Steve Avery.
January 12The San Diego Padres acquire the rights to 27-year-old Japanese fireballer Hideki Irabu from the Chiba Lotte Marines. Irabu says he only wants to play for the Yankees.
January 14The White Sox sign free agent P Doug Drabek.
January 20Former major league OF Curt Flood‚ who challenged baseball’s reserve system and made possible today’s megasalaries‚ dies at age 59.
January 27The Red Sox trade DH Jose Canseco and cash to the Athletics for P John Wasdin.

February

February 11In a deposition given as part of an unrelated civil suit‚ Albert Belle admits that he lost approximately $40‚000 on betting with friends. Belle denies‚ however‚ that he ever bet on baseball.
February 20The Phillies sign free agent OF Danny Tartabull. Tartabull will break his foot on Opening Day and sit out for the year before retiring.

March

March 3For the negotiating rights to Hideki Irabu the Yankees offer the Padres a choice of one from a list of players: Brian Boehringer‚ David Weather‚ Chris Cumberland‚ Andy Fox‚ and Matt Luke. Also‚ one player from a list of five minor leaguers‚ plus $3 million. The Padres are talking to several other teams beside the Yankees.
March 5Nellie Fox‚ Tommy Lasorda‚ and former Negro Leaguer Willie Wells are elected to the Hall of Fame by the veterans committee.
March 9Angels’ 2B Randy Velarde tears a ligament in his right elbow while throwing from the outfield in pre-game drills. He will undergo surgery and be out for the year.
March 21The pitching-poor Detroit Tigers release pitcher Jason Grimsley. Grimsley posted a 5-7 record with a 6.84 ERA with the California Angels last season‚ but was 0-3 this spring.

In an exhibition game‚ the White Sox 3B Robin Ventura dislocates his right ankle and suffers a compound fracture in his lower leg. The injury occurs while trying to protect a bruise on his left calf‚ he slides home and catches the spikes on his right shoe. He will be out of action until July 24.
March 22The Mets‚ loaded with middle infielders‚ add two more‚ acquiring SS Manny Alexander and 3B Scott McClain from Baltimore. The Mets give up hard throwing reliever Hector Ramirez in exchange.

Reds catcher Joe Oliver tears a ligament in his thumb making a tag at home plate‚ and will need surgery to repair it. Oliver will be out of action at least a month.
March 25In a trade reflecting current baseball economics‚ the Braves send RF David Justice and CF Marquis Grissom to the Indians for CF Kenny Lofton and reliever Alan Embree. The swap of the two Gold Glove center fielders and the veteran Justice reduces the Braves’ payroll by an estimated 6.8 million dollars. Both players have several years left on their contracts‚ while Lofton‚ considered the best leadoff hitter in baseball‚ is in the last year of his.

The Kansas City Royals release Bob Hamelin‚ the 1994 AL Rookie of the Year. The 29-year-old Hamelin never lived up to his first year‚ when he smacked 24 homers in strike-shortened season. The Tigers will sign Hamelin to a minor-league contract.
March 26The Marlins acquire OF Cliff Floyd from the Expos in exchange for P Dustin Hermanson and OF Joe Orsulak.

April

April 1The Padres score 11 runs in the 6th inning against the Mets‚ going on to win‚ 12-5. Three consecutive home runs-by Chris Gomez‚ Rickey Henderson‚ and Quilvio Veras-are the inning’s big blows. The 11 runs ties a 3-year-old record for the most scored in an inning on Opening day this century.

Albert Belle‚ Chicago’s $55 million man‚ doubles in the 1st run and clocks a 2-run HR in the 8th to help the White Sox to a 6-5 10-inning win over Toronto. In the 10th‚ Ray Durham singles and comes around to score on a ball that eludes the SS for an error.
April 2Paced by Tino Martinez‚ who belts homers in each of his first three at bats‚ the visiting Yankees rout the Mariners‚ 16-2. Martinez’s shots‚ all off starter Scott Sanders‚ come with the bases empty‚ one on and two on; in three of his final four times at bat‚ the bases are full‚ but Tino fails to connect for his 4th dinger‚ singling once and walking with the bases loaded. Martinez‚ who also had a single‚ drives home 7 runs and scores 5 runs.

Jimmy Key pitches the Orioles to a 4-2 Opening Day win over the visiting Royals. Kevin Appier takes the loss. Key is now 7-0 on Opening Day.

Eight days after being traded to the Indians‚ David Justice debuts and hits a tie-breaking 2-run homer in the 7th to lead Cleveland to a 9-7 win over the A’s. Justice adds a triple‚ single‚ and RBI groundout.

The Rocket blasts off in his first start for the Blue Jays‚ striking out 9 White Sox batters and scattering 6 hits to win‚ 6-1. Clemens’ complete game win is his 193rd victory.

Gary Sheffield signs a 6-year‚ $61 million contract with the Marlins‚ the largest in baseball history.

The Mariners sign 35-year-old Alvaro Espinosa.
April 3Baltimore’s Jimmy Key makes his Oriole debut beating the Royals‚ 4-2‚ to run his opening day record to 7-0‚ the best ever. He won 3 with New York and 3 with Toronto.
April 4Rookie Jason Dickson pitches a complete game shutout for the Angels‚ beating the Red Sox‚ 2-0. Tim Wakefield takes the loss.
April 5Sterling Hitchcock and Trevor Hoffman combine to 1-hit the Phillies in posting a 4-1 victory. Hitchcock allows only a double to Rico Brogna in 8 innings as the 1st-place Pods win for the 4th time in 5 games.

OF Larry Walker leads Colorado to a 15-3 win over Montreal. Walker strokes 4 hits‚ including 3 HRs‚ and brings home 5 runs to pace the Rockies.

Brian Hunter has 4 hits and 3 stolen bases as Detroit outlasts the White Sox‚ 15-12. Bobby Higginson and Damion Easley each hit 3-run HRs. The Sox Chris Snopek‚ filling in at 3B for Robin Ventura‚ out with a broken ankle‚ has three hits but makes his 3rd E in 4 games.
April 7The Mets place P Pete Harnisch on the DL. Harnisch has been battling insomnia and other related problems due to having given up smokeless tobacco last month.
April 8The Pirates defeat the Padres‚ 2-0‚ as Steve Cooke‚ Rich Loiselle‚ and John Ericks combine to hold SD to 1 hit‚ a single off Cooke by Steve Finley.
April 9Cleveland P Jose Mesa is found innocent of rape‚ gross sexual imposition and theft charges stemming from an earlier incident. He’ll get a standing O when he appears in the home opener in 2 days.
April 10Florida P Alex Fernandez hurls a 1-hit‚ 1-0 victory over the Cubs. Fernandez fans 8 without walking a batter‚ and allows just a single to Dave Hansen with 1 out in the 9th inning.
April 11Snow postpones games in Milwaukee and Denver‚ while 1‚000 fans braves the cold in Detroit to see the Tigers edge the White Sox‚ 5-4. Matt Wallback scores on the front end of a double steal for the Tigers.

Randy Johnson wins for the first time since last May 12th as the Mariners beat Boston‚ 5-3‚ Johnson has won 13 straight decisions since August 1‚ 1995. He allows 4 hits‚ including 2 homers to John Valentin‚ in 6 innings. It’s the first home opener loss in 5 years for the Sox.
April 13In a Kid’s Opening Day at Fenway‚ the Sox introduce their new furry mascot‚ Wally the Green Monster. Wil Cordero bangs a HR off the coke bottle above the LF wall‚ the first HR to hit the “caffeine monster”‚ and Tim Naehring adds a grand slam to pace Boston to a 7-1 win over Seattle.
April 14The Braves pound the Reds‚ 14-5‚ behind Kenny Lofton‘s 5 hits‚ 2 SBs‚ and 5 runs scored. Deion Sanders‚ wearing his short-sleeves uniform‚ ties a Reds record with 4 steals. In early April‚ Deion had shorten the sleeves in a misguided gesture to honor Jackie Robinson. Sanders copied a Jackie photo on a box of Wheaties‚ a photo in which he appears to have no sleeves on his uniform. When told he was in violation of a dress code‚ the Reds voted to join Deion‚ and they appeared on field that way April 11.
April 15Seattle 1B Paul Sorrento gets 5 hits‚ including a pair of doubles‚ and drives home 4 runs in the Mariners’ 8-4 win over Cleveland to move 1 game ahead of the Athletics in the AL West.

With a crowd of 54‚047 on hand at Shea‚ the Mets shut out the Dodgers‚ 5-0. President Clinton (on crutches after breaking his leg) is present and delivers a speech after the 4th inning. Bud Selig announces that #42 would be retired in perpetuity by all Major League teams‚ but those currently wearing it could continue to do so for the rest of their careers.
April 16Behind the complete game victory of Roger Bailey‚ the Rockies shut out the Cubs‚ 4-0‚ running Chicago’s record to 0-12. It is the Rockies’ 1st complete-game shutout on the road. Chicago’s start breaks the 1884 NL record of the Detroit Wolverines.

Randy Johnson wins his 14th straight decision‚ beating the Tigers‚ 7-3. Ken Griffey‚ Jr. breaks a tie with a 2-run homer in the top of the 8th for Seattle.

Brett Butler is 5-for-5‚ collecting 4 more hits than the Mets‚ as the Dodgers win‚ 5-2. Carlos Baerga has the only New York hit‚ a 7th-inning double off Pedro Astacio.

In the Astros’ 10-2 win over the Expos‚ Houston reliever Dustin Hermanson hits a HR in his 1st major league at bat. It is just his 3rd at bat since becoming a professional in 1994.
April 18The Braves shut out the Rockies‚ 14-0‚ behind Tom Glavine. Kenny Lofton gets 5 hits for Atlanta‚ including a HR‚ and scores 4.

Walks’ll kill you. The Rangers Roger Pavlik sets a AL record by walking the first four batters he faces in a 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays‚ Pavlik will go on the DL on May 7 and will stay there for 118 days.
April 21P Ryan Franklin of the Mariners’ Double-A Memphis farm team hurls a 7-inning no-hitter in the 1st game of a doubleheader against Carolina. In Franklin’s last game on April 13‚ he hurled the first 6 innings of a combined no-hitter against Chattanooga.
April 22After 4 months of on-and-off negotiations‚ the Yankees acquire the rights to Japanese P Hideki Irabu from the San Diego Padres for $3 million. New York sends injured OF Ruben Rivera and minor leaguer P Rafael Medina to San Diego. The Padres sweeten the deal by sending three minor leaguers to NY: 2B Homer Bush and outfielders` Gordon Amerson and Vernon Maxwell. Irabu’s team‚ the Chiba Lotte Marines‚ gave the San Diego exclusive rights to the 27-year-old righthander‚ but Irabu refused to sign with the Padres‚ saying he would only go with the Yankees.
April 25The Indians defeat the Brewers‚ 11-4‚ clouting a club record 8 homers. 3B Matt Williams has 3 HRs and 4 RBIs‚ while David Justice adds a pair. The Brewers go deep 3 times‚ giving the 2 teams a ML-record tying 11 for the game. The 2 teams club 5 homers in the 4th to tie the ML mark.

The Mariners defeat the Blue Jays‚ 13-8‚ behind OF Ken Griffey’s 3 HRs. The round-trippers give Griffey a major league-leading 13 on the year‚ and a ML record for the month of April. The first two dingers come off Roger Clemens and the 3rd‚ off Mike Timlin is the 250th of Griffey’s career. Griffey had a 3 homer game in May of last year.

The White Sox belt the Yankees‚ 9-3‚ scoring 4 runs off reliever David Weathers in a third of an inning. Weathers‚ with 7 blown saves‚ will be “designated for reassignment” tomorrow.
April 26Chicago 2B Ryne Sandberg hits his 2nd HR of the year in the Cubs’ 7-6 win over Pittsburgh. The HR is Sandberg’s 267th as a second baseman‚ breaking the record held by Hall of Famer Joe Morgan for most HRs at that position.

The Yankees beat the White Sox by a score of 10-2 as DH Cecil Fielder gets 5 hits‚ including 2 doubles and a homer.

The Orioles pound the Red Sox‚ 14-6‚ as Roberto Alomar goes 4-for-4‚ with 3 HRs and 6 ribbies.
April 29Chili Davis’ 300th homer leading off the 10th snaps a 5-5 tie and gives the Royals a 6-5 win over the Blue Jays.

At Boston‚ CF Shane Mack is the only outfielder not to throw out a runner. All three California outfielders-Tim Salmon‚ Garret Anderson and Orlando Palmeiro-do it‚ while Red Sox starting LF Wil Cordero and Troy O’Leary‚ who replaced Rudy Pemberton in RF‚ register one. The Angels win the contest by a score of 5-4. Tomorrow‚ Anderson and Cordero will throw out runners again.

The jokes have stopped. The Cubs win their 4th in 5 games beating the Expos‚ 14-8. Brooks Kieschnick‚ recalled on April 11‚ tallies 6 RBIs on 2 homers and a single to lead the Cubs back from a 5-0 deficit. Steve Trachsel picks up his first win despite giving up 7 runs in 5 innings.
April 30The Yankees get a lead off HR from Tim Raines and 9 strike outs from David Wells to beat the Mariners‚ 3-2. Joe Torre wins his 1‚000th game while Dennis Martinez takes the loss‚ dropping his record against the Yanks to 2-18. Jay Buhner homers for the M’s in the 9th against closer Mariano Rivera. Tino Martinez hits his 9th HR in the 8th inning‚ upping his ML-record RBI total to 34 for the month. Martinez will have 40 RBIs in his first 30 games‚ the first player to do so since Campanella in 1953; Campy had 44.

Fred McGriff homers twice and Michael Tucker has 5 hits to lead the Braves to 12-3 win over the stumbling Reds. The Braves complete the first 19-win April in ML history. The Reds‚ losers of their 12th in 14 contests‚ get 3 hits from Deion Sanders‚ who raises his average to .385. Neon also swipes his 19th base.

Toronto’s Roger Clemens allows 3 hits in winning his 4th‚ 1-0 over Kansas City. Carlos Delgado hits a 4th inning HR for the only score.

Mark McGwire hits two tape-measure blasts as the A’s outslug the Indians‚ 11-9‚ in 10 innings. McGwire’s first shot‚ off Orel Hershiser‚ is the first ever off the Jacobs Field scoreboard and dents the Budweiser sign. It travels an estimated 485 feet. His 2nd‚ in the 10th‚ is the tie-breaker.

The Giants finish their best April in 24 years (17-7) by beating on the Pirates‚ 6-1‚ on Mark Gardner’s 3-hit pitching. Jeff Kent’s 3rd inning grand slam‚ off Jon Lieber‚ gives Gardner all the support he needs.

In an 11-5 win over the Cubs‚ Rockies star Larry Walker hits his 11th homer in April‚ tying the NL record. Stargell‚ Schmidt‚ Sheffield‚ and Bonds have done it.

May

May 4Detroit P Willie Blair suffers a broken jaw when he’s struck by a 107-mile-per-hour line drive off the bat of Cleveland’s Julio Franco in the 6th inning of the Tigers’ 2-0 victory. Blair still gets credit for the win.
May 6Following today’s 3-2 win over the Dodgers‚ Reds’ manager Ray Knight announces to the team that he’s fining himself $250 for not knowing how many outs there were when he called for a bunt.
May 7The Expos score a NL-record 13 runs in the 6th inning of their game against the Giants on the way to a 19-3 win. The Expos send 17 batters to the plate. Mike Lansing homers twice in the inning to drive in 5 runs‚ becoming the 3rd Expo to perform the feat‚ and the 1st NL second baseman to do so since Bobby Lowe in 1894. Henry Rodriguez hits a grand slam in the 5-run 5th.

At Fenway‚ Red Sox C Scott Hattesberg hits a pair of homers-his first 2 in the majors-to pace the Sox to an 11-3 win over the Twins. Teammate Reggie Jefferson also hits a pair of homers.

Former Tiger star Denny McLain is sentenced to 8 years in prison and ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution for stealing from the pension fund of a company he owned. The company‚ Peet Packing‚ went bankrupt 18 months after McLain bought it.
May 8Jason Kendall’s 3-run double leads Pittsburgh to an 8-run 4th inning as the Pirates outslug the Rockies‚ 10-8. Al Martin and Kevin Elster homer for the Bucs‚ who have scored 24 runs and 31 hits in their two games at Coors Field.

In Baltimore‚ the O’s stop Randy Johnson‘s 16-game win streak with a decisive 13-3 pasting of the Mariners. Baltimore is led by Chris Hoiles‚ who collects 6 RBIs on two homers and a double. Johnson strikes out 10 in 6 innings‚ but gives up 5 runs on six hits and two walks as he attempted to become the first AL pitcher since Dave McNally (1968-69) to win 17 straight.
May 9Against the Royals in the 6th inning‚ the Yankees catch Jay Bell in a rundown when Bell is suddenly called out by umpire Dale Ford‚ who thinks he passed the preceding baserunner‚ Jose Offerman. Offerman‚ however‚ had been forced out at 3B. Royals’ manager Bob Boone argues until the umps agree and put runners back at 2B and 3B and call for a resumption of play. Chili Davis then lines a 2-run single off Kenny Rogers to tie the score. The Royals win 7-5 in 12 innings‚ with the victory going to Randy Veres. The Yanks protest that the rundown play should not have been reversed. Gene Budig will dismiss the protest‚ stating that with the rundown there were several scenarios where Bell could have escaped a tag.

Seattle tops Baltimore‚ 8-2‚ with the help of 5 hits‚ including a double and homer‚ by 2B Joey Cora.

Prior to the team’s game with Atlanta‚ Pirates players stand inside the stadium gates to shake hands and pose for pictures. They then proceed to beat the Braves‚ 9-0.
May 10A streak of 19 straight steals by Twins baserunners is stopped when Denny Hocking is caught stealing. The Twins fall to the Blue Jays‚ 6-4.

In San Francisco‚ the Cubs pull off the first triple play in the majors this year‚ taking advantage of the infield-fly rule and the wind at San Francisco to turn an odd one against the Giants. With 2 on‚ Stan Javier lofts a fly into shallow center field and umpire Bob Davidson waits before calling an infield fly rule. Three Cubs lunge for the ball before it bounces off center fielder Brian McRae’s glove and hits the ground for the first out. Kirk Rueter tries for third‚ but McRae’s throw beats him. Hamilton tries for second‚ but 3B Jose Hernandez’s throw to Ryne Sandberg nabs him to complete the triple play. The Giants will win the game‚ however‚ 4-2.

After missing April due to a hand injury‚ Juan Gonzalez shows his old clout‚ hitting a grand slam and knocking in 6 runs in the Rangers 11-5 win over the Red Sox.
May 11The Orioles sink the Mariners‚ 9-5‚ behind B.J. Surhoff’s 6 RBIs. Robbie Alomar adds 3 hits and 2 steals to help the O’s split the 4 game series with the M’s.

Albert Belle is 3-for-3‚ including his 8th career grand slam‚ and drives in 5 runs to lead the White Sox to a 8-5 win over the A’s. Wilson Alvarez (2-4) strikes out 12 in 7 innings to give the Sox a sweep of the 4-game series from Oakland. Sox outfielders Dave Martinez and Lyle Mouton are injured when they collide while chasing a fly ball in the fifth inning. Mouton breaks a bone in his face while Martinez suffers a slight concussion.

The Mets ride pinch power to a 6-4 win over the Cardinals. Carl Everett‚ batting for Alexander‚ hits a 2-run pinch homer in the 9th and Butch Huskey‚ hitting for Lidle‚ follows with another pinch homer. Both come off Dennis Eckersley.

Ruben Sierra‚ released by the Cincinnati Reds last week‚ signs a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Sierra‚ 31‚ hit .244 with 2 homers with the Reds. The Yankees sent Sierra to Detroit last season as part of the Cecil Fielder trade‚ but Detroit is paying $4‚875‚000 of his $5.5 million contract. Sierra will play 14 games with Toronto‚ then get released again.
May 12The Angels tie a franchise record by scoring 13 runs in the 7th inning to beat the White Sox‚ 16-8. Garrett Anderson’s single drives in 2‚ including the go-ahead run‚ and Jim Edmonds adds a 2-run homer in the big inning. Jim Leyritz has 3 hits and 4 RBIs.

Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley confirms that he wants to sell his team to the conglomerate controlled by media mogul Rupert Murdoch. He has asked Major League Baseball to approve the negotiations.

Tony Tarasco hits a 3-run homer to help beat the A’s‚ 5-1. Jimmie Key allows 6 hits in 7 2/3 inning to run his record to 7-0.

Phillies P Mark Portugal undergoes surgery on his right elbow
May 13Eddie Murray gets 2 hits in Anaheim’s 8-7 win over the White Sox. The game is the 3‚000th of Murray’s career‚ making him only the 6th player in history to reach that mark. Pete Rose‚ Carl Yastrzemski‚ Hank Aaron‚ Ty Cobb‚ and Stan Musial are the others.

Baseball’s executive council votes unanimously to immediately remove George Steinbrenner from the ruling body. This is the latest salvo between the two parties since the Yankee owner sued ML baseball over disagreements regarding the club’s 10-year $93 million Adidas deal.

Tim Belcher faces 30 hitters in pitching KC to a 9-0 win over the Red Sox. Belcher retires the first 15 batters and finished with a two-hitter as the Kansas City Royals routed the slumping Boston Red Sox. Belcher also stretches his scoreless skein to 19 innings. Before the game‚ the Royals release Mitch Williams; The Wild Thing was 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA in his comeback attempt.

Tino Martinez continues his hot hitting with a home run in the Yankees’ 7-run 6th inning‚ as New York beats the Twins‚ 11-2. Bernie Williams belts a solo homer in the 5th to snap a 2-2 tie. Martinez homer‚ his 15th‚ leaves him one behind Griffey and puts him in select Yankee company: only Mantle and Ruth (4 times) have hit 15 homers in the first 40 games of a season. The defending World Series champions have won 17 of their last 23‚ while the Twins lost for the 16th time in 20 games.

St. Louis starter Andy Benes blanks the Phillies for 7 innings but his bullpen blows it. Scott Rolen’s two-run triple highlites a three-run eighth inning for Philadelphia as they beat the visiting Cardinals‚ 3-2. Philadelphia starter Garrett Stephenson allows just two hits-both solo homers-and strikes out 12 in seven innings of his first start. Stephenson fans the first five batters. Jerry Spradlin pitches the eighth for the win and Ricky Bottalico the 9th.
May 14The Expos edge the Padres‚ 9-7‚ in a game in which 4 Expo batters are hit. San Diego starter Tim Worrell is ejected in the 2nd by plate umpire Charlie Reliford for hitting Expos starter Jeff Juden in the back‚ and Tim Scott gets his papers in the 7th after back-to-back plunks of Mark Grudzielanek and Mike Lansing.

In Minneapolis‚ New York’s Paul O’Neill ties the score with an RBI double in the ninth‚ then homers in the 12th inning to lead the Yankees to a 6-5 win over the Twins. O’Neill doubles off Rick Aguilera‚ and hit his seventh homer of the season off Eddie Guardado. O’Neill also makes an error‚ his 2nd in 6 days: he had gone 235 straight games without an error. Tino Martinez adds his 16th homer‚ as Brian Boehringer (2-2) pitches one inning for the win.

In Detroit‚ Blue Jay catcher Charlie O’Brien doubles in two runs‚ then breaks a 2-2 tie with his first career grand slam. O’Brien drives in six runs to back Pat Hentgen’s (4-1) win.

At Three Rivers Stadium‚ Kevin Young’s two-run pinch double puts Pittsburgh ahead and Al Martin finished a nine-run eighth inning with a grand slam as the surprising first-place Pirates beat Colorado‚ 15-10. Rockies pitching gives up 13 walks and blows leads of 6-3‚ 7-5 and 9-6. Tomorrow‚ the Pirates spot the Rocks 3 runs and beat them again.

Barry Bonds‘ solo homer in the 10th inning leads San Francisco to a 4-2 win over Cincinnati. The Giants’ 4th consecutive victory improves their record to 23-13‚ their best start in 24 years. The Giants opened the 1973 season at 25-11. On the other end‚ Cincinnati is off to its worst start in 47 years. The Reds (11-26) have lost 4 in a row for their worst opening mark since 1950‚ when they had an identical record.
May 15The Chicago Cubs hit four triples-three in the same inning-to beat the visiting Padres‚ 8-2. The Cubs score four runs in the 7th off Tim Scott as Brian McRae‚ Doug Glanville and Sammy Sosa all triple.
May 16In Chicago‚ the Cubs erupt for 21 hits in clubbing the Padres 16-7. Sammy Sosa goes 4-for-4 with a career-high six RBIs. Brian McRae also has four hits for the Cubs.

Montreal spots the Giants an early 9-run lead‚ then stages its biggest rally in franchise history to win‚ 14-13. Barry Bonds and Glenallen Hill homer as the Giants take an 11-2 lead after three innings. Montreal responds with 4 runs in the fourth‚ 3 in the fifth and 3 more in the sixth for a 12-11 lead.

Michael Tucker’s 2-out double in the 9th breaks up Alan Benes’ no-hitter. Benes‚ unfortunately‚ is matched against Greg Maddux‚ who holds the Cards scoreless for 8 innings. The Braves finally push across a run in the 13th on Andruw Jones’ infield dribbler to beat Cardinals reliever John Frascatore‚ 1-0. The teams combine for 33 strikeouts‚ three shy of matching the NL record for an extra-inning game set by the Giants and Mets in 23-innings in 1964.
May 17Led by Kenny Lofton‚ the Braves pound out 19 hits to beat the Cardinals‚ 11-6. Lofton has his 3rd five-hit game of the season and winning pitcher John Smoltz (5-3) adds 2 hits to lift his average to .435 (10-for-23).

At the Metrodome‚ Darrin Jackson‚ hits a grand slam and drives in a six runs to lead Minnesota to an 11-5 win over the Red Sox. Jackson‚ who played the last two seasons in Japan‚ was brought up from Triple-A earlier in the day. The Red Sox have lost seven straight and 11 of 12.
May 18At Oakland‚ hot-hitting Frank Thomas goes 4-for-4 to lead the White Sox to a 10-4 win over the A’s. Thomas has two RBIs‚ a walk and three runs; he has now reached base in 12 straight plate appearances. In the 6th inning‚ Albert Belle scores and throws an elbow at the face of A’s catcher George Williams as he goes by. Belle is hit on the leg by a pitch from Aaron Small in his next at bat.

The Mets use 5 straight walks by Colorado pitchers-three with the bases loaded-to score 8 runs in the 8th inning and beat the Rockies‚ 10-4. New York trails 4-2 entering the eighth before Colorado’s bullpen totally unravels‚ throwing 20 balls in 23 pitches to five batters. Rockie pitchers walk 12 in the game.

The Expos defeat the Dodgers‚ 7-4‚ with the help of 5 hits‚ including 2 doubles and a homer‚ by 2B Mike Lansing.

In the Tigers’ 6-5 victory over the Royals‚ KC left fielder Bip Roberts has a 14-minute at bat against P Felipe Lira. The 1st-inning at bat features 18 pitches‚ as well as 9 pickoff throws to first and 6 aborted attempts to steal by Tom Goodwin‚ who was on 1st base.

The Angels trade P Chuck McElroy and C Jorge Fabregas to the White Sox in exchange for C Chad Kreuter and OF Tony Phillips.
May 19At Cincinnati‚ OF Steve Finley belts 3 of San Diego’s 5 homers and the Padres pull off their first triple play in 8 years to win‚ 13-6.
May 20Cy Young-winner Pat Hentgen outpitches Andy Pettitte‚ to lead Toronto past New York‚ 2-0. Hentgen (5-1)‚ who extends his streak of not allowing an earned run to 39 innings. strikes out 8 and allows 5 hits.

After losing to the Mets‚ 8-2‚ in the opener of their doubleheader‚ the Cubs win the 2nd game‚ 4-3‚ to snap their record-setting‚ 14-game‚ season-opening‚ losing streak.

In a 10-1 win over Boston‚ Chicago’s Frank Thomas reaches base his first three times up before flying out against Rich Garces. Thomas reached base 15 straight times‚ one short of ML record‚ (Hr‚ 3 2B‚ 6 1B‚ 5 BB). Jaimie Navarro (4-2) is the victor‚ winning his 10th straight game against the Red Sox going back to September 28‚ 1991. He’ll lose his next decision to the Bosox.

Cleveland’s Jack McDowell undergoes arthroscopic surgery on his elbow that will sideline him for two months.
May 21Roger Clemens fires Toronto past the Yankees‚ 4-1‚ for his 8th win of the year against no losses. The Rocket wins his 200th‚ the 94th pitcher to reach 200 wins.
May 22The visiting Red Sox collect 19 hits‚ but strand 16‚ in beating the Yankees‚ 8-2. Former Yankee Mike Stanley hits a three-run homer‚ and Wil Cordero adds 5 hits‚ Tim Naehring has 4 hits and Mo Vaughn belts his 10th homer of the season in the 8th.

San Diego P Joey Hamilton homers and Tony Gwynn has three hits off Hideo Nomo as the San Diego Padres top the Dodgers‚ 4-1. It is the Pads’ seventh straight win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gwynn‚ whose wife‚ Alicia‚ is being sued by Nomo‚ goes 3-for-4 to raise his average to .387. Nomo sued Alicia Gwynn last week in Los Angeles Superior Court‚ claiming the unauthorized use of his name and picture in a jigsaw puzzle.
May 23The Twins fall to Oakland‚ 8-4‚ despite getting 5 hits from Paul Molitor‚ including a double.

The Rockies sell Darnell Coles to the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese League. Coles‚ who hit 29 homers and .302 for Chunichi last year‚ will replace Mike Greenwell‚ who suffered a broken leg after just 7 games with Hanshin.
May 25The Twins retire Kirby Puckett‘s #34 in a 90-minute pregame ceremony. The Twins then hold on to trip the A’s‚ 7-6‚ in 11 innings.
May 26In the Cubs’ 2-1 win in Pittsburgh‚ Chicago’s Sammy Sosa and Pittsburgh’s Tony Womack both hit inside-the-park homers in the sixth inning. It is the first time two inside-the-park homers are hit in the same NL game since Lou Brock and Hector Cruz of St. Louis did it against San Diego on June 18‚ 1976. Greg Gagne of the Twins had two for Minnesota on October 4‚ 1986.

At the Metrodome‚ Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner both homer twice‚ and Joey Cora extends his hitting streak to 21 games as Seattle wins‚ 13-8. Martinez collects a pair of three-run homers‚ while Buhner’s are two solo shots as the Mariners won for just the third time in 11 games. Cora leads off the game with a homer‚ and Russ Davis finishes with a solo homer in the ninth for Seattle. Scott Sanders is shaky but wins his first of the year for the M’s.

In Toronto‚ Roger Clemens allows one run and four hits in seven innings and strikes out seven to beat the Rangers‚ 8-1. The Rocket is now 9-0‚ his best start since beginning 1986 at 14-0.

Andres Galarraga hits a 469-foot two-run homer and Vinny Castilla chips in with a solo shot as the Colorado Rockies overcome a 6-run deficit to beat the Cardinals‚ 9-7. Galarraga has 4 RBIs and his moon shot‚ off Mark Petkovsek‚ is the third-longest homer in the three-season history of Coors Field.

Barry Bonds has 3 hits‚ including a game-winning leadoff HR in the 9th‚ to give the Giants a 4-3 win over the Astros. Craig Biggio is 4-for-5 for Houston.

Playing against Huntsville‚ Mobile OF Justin Mashore triples twice in the same inning. The last player to pull off that feat was Nick “Coocoo” Demaggio while playing for the Beaumont Exporters (Texas League) in 1922. In Mobile’s 8-run 6th inning‚ 1B Dusty Allen also hits 2 homers.
May 27Barry Larkin’s streak of consecutively reaching base at 13-one shy of the N.L. record-is stopped by Curt Schilling‚ who goes all the way to beat Cincinnati‚ 2-1. Larkin singles in the first inning‚ but flies out in the 3rd to end his streak one shy of Pedro Guerrero‘s N.L. record set in 1985.

Kansas City takes a 2-0 lead into the ninth before the visiting A’s-held to one hit for eight-plus innings by Jose Rosado-get a two-run homer from Mark McGwire and a solo shot from Scott Spiezio to take the lead. Pinch-hitter Scott Cooper’s homer in the bottom of the ninth then ties it. The A’s bat around in the 10th‚ scoring 5 runs‚ and the Royals three-run answer falls short as the A’s win‚ 8-6.

Mariners’ reliever Norm Charlton walks Chuck Knoblauch with the bases loaded‚ as Minnesota caps a six-run ninth-inning rally to win‚ 11-10. Seattle’s collapse mars a game in which Ken Griffey Jr. and Joey Cora each set records. Griffey hits his 23rd homer‚ breaking his own major league mark for homers through May; Cora is 4-for-6 to extend his hitting streak to a team-record 22 games‚ and also ties the A.L. mark for switch-hitters.
May 28In Seattle‚ Randy Johnson is dominating as he strikes out 15 in eight innings and allows four hits as Seattle shuts out Texas‚ 5-0. Johnson walks one. Seattle’s Joey Cora singles in the third‚ extending his hitting streak to 23 games‚ an AL record for a switch-hitter.
May 29The Yankees finally agree to terms with Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu‚ signing the fireballer to a 4-year contract worth $12.8 million. The deal includes a signing bonus of $8.5 million.

In Florida‚ Rockies’ OF Ellis Burks hits a 2-run double to cap a three-run rally in the ninth inning and help Colorado beat Florida‚ 6-5. Colorado trails 4-0 in the 6th‚ before Larry Walker‚ Andres Galarraga‚ and Dante Bichette hit consecutive homers off Alex Fernandez.

In Toronto‚ Tino Martinez hits his 20th homer-his third in three games-and David Cone strikes out 12 to lead New York over Toronto‚ 4-0. Jeff Nelson strikes out 3 Jays in relief. Martinez raised his RBI total to 56 with a single in the first off Woody Williams (1-5) and a solo shot in the third.
May 30The Orioles’ Mike Mussina retires the first 25 Indian batters before Sandy Alomar ruins his no-hit bid with a one-out single in the 9th. Mussina then strikes out the final two batters for a 3-0 victory.

Give it to me one Mo time. Mo Vaughn goes 4-for-4 and slugs 3 HRs in Boston’s 10-4 win over the Yankees.
May 31Cal Ripken snaps a 7th-inning tie with a record-breaking HR as the Baltimore Orioles rally from a 4-run deficit to beat Cleveland‚ 8-5. Ripken’s homer gives him 4‚274 total bases with Baltimore‚ breaking the franchise mark for total bases in a career. The O’s also place Eric Davis on the DL. Davis is suffering from colon cancer and will be operated on in early June.

In Miami‚ Andres Galarraga golfs a 529-foot grand slam‚ the longest home run ever at Pro Player Stadium‚ then gets ejected 4 innings later. His homer gives the Colorado Rockies a 7-0 lead over the Marlins‚ and they eventually win‚ 8-4. Galarraga has three HRs in the past three games against Florida that traveled 1‚435 feet‚ an average of 478 feet. He hit a 455-foot homer Thursday and a 451-foot homer Friday. The longest previous homer at the stadium was 482 feet by Pete Incaviglia of the Phillies off Al Leiter on May 1‚ 1996.

Unbeaten Roger Clemens is the first 10-game winner in the majors‚ as the Toronto Blue Jays romp‚ 13-3‚ over the Oakland Athletics. Clemens gives up eight hits‚ K’s four. Dave Telgheder (1-3) is the losing pitcher.

P Ila Borders of the St. Paul Saints of the Northern League faces 3 Sioux Falls Canaries batters‚ and surrenders 3 earned runs‚ in her professional baseball debut. The Canaries‚ who led 4-0 when she entered the game‚ to on to defeat St. Paul‚ 11-1.

June

June 1Whoops. Rookie 2B Wilton Guerrero of the Dodgers is ejected from game in St. Louis for using a corked bat. Guerrero shatters his stick while grounding out to lead off the game. Umpire Steve Ripley sees that the bat has been altered and shows it to crew chief Bruce Froemming‚ who then ejects Guerrero. Guerrero will earn an 8-day suspension and a $1‚000 fine. The Dodgers end their eight-game road losing streak with a 6-1 win when Mike Piazza‚ Eric Karros and Todd Zeile hit consecutive home runs in the 4th inning. Chan Ho Park (4-2) allows one run in 6 2/3 innings for the victory.

In Miami‚ Colorado rookie pitcher John Thomson bangs his first four major league hits‚ drives in three runs and earns his first win‚ 9-2 over the Marlins.
June 2Chicago scores three runs in the 9th to edge the Brewers‚ 8-5. Albert Belle is 0-for-3 with two walks‚ ending his hitting streak at 27 games.

In Seattle‚ Randy Johnson fires a two-hitter and Ken Griffey Jr. hits his 25th home run as Seattle tops the Blue Jays‚ 3-0. Johnson (8-1) doesn’t allow a hit until Alex Gonzalez’s bloops a single in the sixth. Gonzalez is caught stealing‚ and Johnson surrenders a bloop single to Tilson Brito. Johnson strikes out nine to beat Luis Andujar (0-1).

In Atlanta‚ Padres rookie Heath Murray cops his first major league victory beating Greg Maddux‚ 5-4. Maddux (6-2) allows nine hits and all five runs in seven innings‚.

In St. Louis‚ Andres Galarraga poles his fifth home run in seven games and knocks in four runs as Colorado beats the Cards‚ 11-7. Galarraga’s opposite-field‚ three-run blast in the fifth is taped at 426 feet and gives the Rockies a 6-0 lead. Cardinals starter Danny Jackson (1-1) walks the first two batters before Galarraga unloads.

The Indians waive Kevin Mitchell. The veteran was involved in a fight with Chad Curtis. on May 20th that injured Curtis’ thumb and put him on the 15-day DL. The Yanks will acquire Curtis in a week.
June 3In St. Louis‚ John Mabry drives in 6 runs and Ron Gant has 4 RBIs to lead the Cardinals to a 15-4 win over the Colorado Rockies. SS Royce Clayton is 5-for-6 as St. Louis collects 21 hits. The Cardinals hit 3 homers in a 7-run 5th off Jerry Dipoto.

In Atlanta‚ the Padres get a little help from the umps to top the Braves‚ 5-2. After viewing television tapes‚ the umps reverse a call and take away Keith Lockhart‘s a two-run homer in the 8th after Lockhart circles the bases. Lockhart then grounds out to end the inning. The Padres score 3 in the ninth against Mark Wohlers to win.

Greeting a raucous bell-ringing crowd in his return to Jacobs Field‚ Albert Belle clouts a 3-run homer and two doubles to lead the White Sox to a 9-5 win over the Tribe. Belle finishes the game with an obscene gesture to the crowd. The gesture will cost him a $5‚000 fine from the league‚ payable in tickets to underprivileged kids.

In Oakland‚ Mark McGwire hits his 22nd homer as Oakland rallies for five runs in the seventh inning to beat Detroit‚ 9-8. It is McGwire’s 10th homer in 19 games..

The annual June amateur draft features two brothers being drafted in the first round. Ignoring J.D. Drew’s warnings about not drafting him unless they’re ready to pay out‚ the Phils take the FSU junior with the 2nd pick‚ while the Indians take his brother Tim‚ a high school senior‚ with the 28th pick: it’s the first time brothers have been picked in the same first round. In another first‚ Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake‚ VA‚ has two players picked on the first round; Michael Cuddyer‚ a SS‚ by the Twins with the 9th pick‚ and pitcher John Curtice‚ by the Red Sox with the 17th pick. The number one pick overall is Rice University pitcher Matt Anderson by the Tigers‚ who skip over J.D. Drew because of the anticipated cost. Anderson was the WAC Tournament MVP and the top pitching prospect in the Cape Cod League last summer. Drew‚ The Sporting News College Player of the Year‚ is the first Division I player in history to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in one season.

The Anaheim Angels take Troy Glaus‚ UCLA 3B with the 3rd pick. The Giants‚ use 4th to take Seton Hall pitcher Jason Grilli‚ son of former ML pitcher Steve. Grilli. Toronto uses #5 on Texas high schooler Vernon Wells. The Mets have the 6th pick and pick Tampa high schooler Geoff Goetz‚ nixing another Florida pitcher Rick Ankiel because he is being advised by agent Scott Boras: Ankiel goes to the Cards at #72 (2nd round). Number 7 is the Royals and they take U of the Pacific fireballer Dan Reichert. Number 10 Jon Garland‚ considered possibly the best high school pitching prospect in the draft‚ goes to the Cubs‚ who will swap him to the White Sox next July. The Reds take Scott Williamson on the 9th round.

The Mariners‚ picking 19th‚ take Ryan Anderson‚ nicknamed “Big Unit II‚” dashing the Tigers hopes of taking the 6′ 10″ high school pitcher from Westland‚ MI. With the next pick‚ the Cardinals take Adam Kennedy‚ from Cal State Northridge. Kennedy led the nation in hits for the second consecutive season‚ the first time an NCAA player to do so. The Yankees gamble at #24‚ picking high school star Tyrell Godwin‚ of Elizabethtown‚ NC. A two-sport athlete‚ Godwin is committed to North Carolina to play football. The Padres (#27) pick Stetson SS Kevin Nicholson‚ the MVP of the Cape Cod League last summer. He is the first Canadian ever drafted in the first round. The Athletics appear to have the best draft with Tim Hudson (6th round)‚ Eric DuBose (1st)‚ Chad Harville (2nd)‚ Robert Vaz (7th). Nathan Haynes is selected on round 1 but will be traded to the Angels for Randy Velarde.

The Brewers lose their one slugger when John Jaha goes under the knife to repair his left shoulder. He will be out for the season.
June 4For the 2nd straight night‚ Rafael Palmeiro knocks in the winning run to beat the stumbling New Yorkers‚ as the Orioles whips the Yankees‚ 9-7. The Yanks had tied the game at 7 apiece on Charlie Hayes’ pinch grand slam. The O’s Chris Hoiles has two RBIs and Cal Ripken‚ showing no effects from signing (a major-league record?) 2200 copies of his new book after last night’s game‚ hits a homer. Ripken did not get through with the autographing until 3:01 a.m. The Orioles extend their winning streak to seven games and move 9 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Yankees in the AL East.
June 5Larry Walker bangs two homers‚ including a two-run shot in the 11th inning‚ as Colorado belts visiting San Diego‚ 9-7. Walker has 3 hits to raise his average to .411 and Colorado has a team-record six double plays to help Steve Reed earn his 1st victory in relief.

Mo Vaughn‘s two-run homer‚ off Ben MacDonald‚ is all Tim Wakefield needs as he subdues the Brewers‚ 2-1. He strands 12 runners but needs relief help for the last out. The knuckleballer throws 170 pitches‚ 2 shy of his 1990s record of 172 pitches‚ set with the Pirates in 1993. Wakey threw 166 pitches in 8 innings against the White Sox last year for the three highest pitch totals in the 1990s (David Cone threw 166 against the Giants in 9 innings in 1992).

In Detroit‚ Alex Rodriguez becomes the 1st Seattle player to hit for the cycle in a nine-inning game as the Mariners collar the Tigers‚ 14-6. The only other Seattle player to hit for the cycle was Jay Buhner‚ who did it in 14 innings on June 23‚ 1993.
June 6Roger Clemens runs his win streak to 11-0‚ by firing eight scoreless innings to beat Oakland 4-1. Clemens‚ leading the AL with a 1.69 ERA‚ strikes out 8 and gives up five hits.

At Fenway Park‚ Indian C Sandy Alomar ties a ML record with four doubles in 4 at-bats and Orel Hershiser allows one run in 7 innings to beat Tom Gordon‚ 7-3. Alomar is the 38th player to bang four doubles.

Less than 24 hours after announcing one of the stranger promotions for Father’s Day‚ Charleston RiverDogs (Class A) owner Mike Veeck cancels plans to give free vasectomies on June 13th. Catholic Bishop David Thompson‚ a season ticket holder‚ led the complaints about the promotion. Veeck‚ who bought the RiverDogs this season‚ is the son of the legendary Bill Veeck.

The Blue Jays trade IF Jeff Manto to the Indians in exchange for OF Ryan Thompson.
June 7On Dog Day (canine attendance 425) at Comiskey Park‚ it takes the White Sox 4 hours 19 minutes to finally edge the Orioles‚ 1-0‚ in 11 innings on Harold Baines’ one-out single off Randy Myers.

In the NCAA championship in Omaha‚ the 2nd-seeded LSU Tigers jump on top-ranked Alabama‚ scoring 6 runs in the first inning‚ and coasting to a 13-6 win. It is LSU’s 4th win in 7 years. LSU SS Brandon Larson is named the Most Outstanding Player of the Series after hitting .368 with 3 homers.

In an IL game‚ Syracuse and Pawtucket combine for 10 hits‚ eight of which are home runs. The other 2 are a single and double‚ as Syracuse wins‚ 7-3.

Toledo Mud Hen (IL) OF Kimera Bartee swipes six bases against Columbus. With Detroit last season‚ Bartee stole 20.
June 8Tom Lampkin‚ Royce Clayton and Delino DeShields homer as the visiting Cardinals whip Los Angeles‚ 9-3. For the second time in four days‚ a Dodger starting pitcher mixes it up with manager Bill Russell in the dugout. Starter Pedro Astacio‚ starts the discussion on the mound with Russell in the 4th inning and then‚ after the 3rd out‚ sprints to the dugout and slams his glove against the bench before resuming the argument. On Thursday night‚ Ismael Valdes argued with Russell after being lifted for a pinch-hitter.

In Detroit‚ Randy Johnson‚ overwhelms to Tigers‚ striking out 15 and not allowing a hit until the 8th inning‚ as the Mariners win‚ 2-0. The Big Unit extends his scoreless streak to 29 innings. Johnson (9-1) gives up a leadoff single to Phil Nevin in the eighth to hand Brian Moehler the loss.
June 9The Mets Bobby Jones singles in a run and cops his eighth straight win‚ beating the host Reds‚ 4-2. Jones has won 11 games faster than any pitcher in Mets history and is the first National League pitcher to win 11 this season.

Mike DiMuro‚ the 1st American to umpire in Japan‚ announces he is returning home following an altercation when a batter poked him in the chest and a crowd of angry players surrounded him during the game. DiMuro had been invited to Japan to teach correct officiating.
June 10Kevin Brown fires the season’s first no-hitter‚ with just a hit batter preventing the Marlins’ ace from a perfect game. Florida stops the Giants‚ 9-0. With two outs in the eighth‚ Brown’s 1-2 pitch nicks Marvin Benard on the right leg. Giant starter William VanLandingham also takes a no-hitter into the seventh‚ but Charles Johnson’s two-run homer with one out opens a 7-run deluge.

In Kansas City the Angels win 6-2‚ to move ahead of Seattle in the AL West. Center fielder Jim Edmonds makes a sensational catch in the fifth inning and then drives home the go-ahead run with a double in the 6th. Rookie Jason Dickson (8-2) retires 11 of the first 12 batters and allows two runs in seven innings.

Despite turning 5 DPs‚ and throwing three runners out at home-all by CF Damon Mashore‚ the A’s lose to the Tigers‚ 6-4.
June 11The Mariners Jeff Fassero stops Roger Clemens and the Blue Jays‚ 5-1‚ handing the Rocket his first loss after 11 victories. Fassero allows five hits and one run‚ and strikes out seven. Clemens gives up all five runs‚ four earned‚ in seven plus innings.

Boston IF-OF Wil Cordero is arrested and charged with assaulting his wife. Police say he slapped her‚ hit her on the head with a phone‚ and threatened to kill her.
June 12In the first-ever regular-season interleague game‚ the visiting SF Giants defeat the Texas Rangers‚ 4-3‚ behind the pitching of Mark Gardner. SF OF Darryl Hamilton gets the 1st interleague hit‚ OF Stan Javier the 1st HR‚ and Rod Beck the 1st save. Glenallen Hill has the distinction of being the first National League DH in a regular season game.

In a surprise move‚ the Dodgers ship Todd Hollandsworth‚ the 1996 NL Rookie of the Year‚ to Albuquerque and call up power-hitting OF Karim Garcia.
June 13Randy Johnson proves he can bring it in either league as the Big Unit strikes out 12 Rockies in 8 innings to give the Mariners a 6-1. Johnson (10-1) holds baseball’s highest-scoring team to just two hits and the Mariners sweep the two-game interleague series.

Baseball’s two best teams deal their aces and once again Jimmy Key bests Greg Maddux‚ this time in the regular season instead of the WS. Key gives up 5 hits in 6 2/3 innings and the Orioles score four runs in the sixth inning for a 4-3 interleague victory over the host Braves.

Tiger P Omar Olivares hits the first triple by an AL pitcher in 24 years‚ but Henry Rodriguez bangs a two-run homer as Montreal beats visiting Detroit‚ 4-3. Olivares loses despite going 2-or-3.

In Pittsburgh‚ former Pirate Jeff King hits a two-run homer on the first pitch to him‚ but ex-Royal Joe Randa answers with a tying homer‚ a triple and three RBIs. The Pirates flush the Royals‚ 5-3. Tony Womack hits a tie-breaking homer in the 6th off reliever Mike Williams.

In a swap of fading former lefty All-Stars‚ the Padres send Fernando Valenzuela (2-8) to the Cardinals for Danny Jackson in a 6-player trade Friday night. The Padres add IF Scott Livingstone and OF Phil Plantier. San Diego receives P Rich Batchelor and OF-1B Mark Sweeney.

The Cardinals and Indians set a baseball first-the first inter-league rainout. After nearly five hours of rain‚ the opener of the three-game set between the Central Division champions from both leagues is postponed.

Baltimore OF Eric Davis undergoes surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his colon.
June 14In Florida, Gary Sheffield loses a grand slam off the Yankees David Wells when the game is rained out.
June 15At Wrigley‚ the Cubs beat the Brewers‚ 4-3‚ to take the interleague series‚ 2-1. Frank Castillo allows five hits in 6 1/3 innings and K’s seven to win. The teams draw 112‚690 for the three games-7‚638 shy of the Wrigley Field record of 120‚328 for a three-game series‚ set in 1994 against Cincinnati.

The host Expos drum the Tigers 10-2 as Henry Rodriguez drills a homer off the rim of Olympic Stadium‚ only the second player to do so. The Expos sweep three to extend their winning streak to nine. With the score tied at one apiece Rodriguez homers off Brian Moehler (4-6) leading off the fourth. The ball rebounds off the 160-foot-high rim and lands on the field.
June 16In the first game of the Subway Series‚ the Mets Dave Mlicki pitches his first career shutout‚ stopping the Yanks‚ 6-0. Mlicki records his first complete game as well.

In the first regular-season meeting between Ohio’s 2 teams‚ Cincy rookie Brett Tomko pitches 7 1/3 shutout innings as Cincinnati beat Cleveland‚ 4-1. The win is costly for the Reds who lose Barry Larkin when he ruptures his heel running out a double.

At Comiskey Park‚ the lowly Cubs earn bragging rights in the Windy City‚ beating the White Sox‚ 8-3. The Cubbies tally 14 hits in the first official game between the two rivals since the 1906 World Series. Both teams wear replicas of old-fashioned uniforms; the Cubs in their 1908 outfits‚ the White Sox in replica 1917 garb. Evanston native Kevin Foster records the win‚ allowing seven hits and three runs in six innings.

At Milwaukee‚ Jeremy Burnitz hits a game-ending HR in the 9th off Alan Benes to give the Brewers a 1-0 win over the Cardinals.

The Twins lose their first game to a NL team in the Metrodome as the Pirates win‚ 8-6. The Twins swept eight home games from St. Louis (1987) and Atlanta (1991) in their two World Series championships. Bucs’ DH Mark Smith homers and Kevin Polcovich adds his first ML homer

At Baltimore‚ the Expos tie a club record with their 10th straight win‚ beating the Orioles‚ 6-4.
June 17Omar Vizquel‚ Cleveland’s No. 9 hitter‚ belts a three-run homer and drives in all five runs as the host Indians beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1.

At Detroit‚ Bobby Bonilla‘s leadoff HR in the 9th inning clears the right field roof and gives the Marlins a 3-2 win over the Tigers. Bonilla’s homer is just the 33rd to clear the roof at Tiger Stadium and the 3rd this season.

At the Metrodome‚ the Twins LaTroy Hawkins‚ making his first major league appearance in more than a year‚ allows three hits in seven innings as the Twins belt the Pirates‚ 13-1. All 9 batters drive in a run with Greg Myers‚ Scott Stahoviak‚ Chuck Knoblauch and Denny Hocking each knocking in two.

Ramon Garcia allows one hit in five innings and Luis Gonzalez‘s bases-loaded single helps the Astros to a six-run fifth inning‚ as Houston beats the host Royals‚ 10-2. Gonzalez stretches his hitting streak to 21 games‚ the longest of the season in the National League.

Playing before 44‚249‚ the largest regular-season crowd at Comiskey Park‚ the White Sox score early to beat the Cubs‚ 5-3. Doug Drabek. with help from Roberto Hernandez in the ninth is the winner. Ex-Cub Dave Martinez hits a two-run homer in the first for the Sox. Chris Snopek adds another.

Colorado CF Ellis Burks strokes 5 hits‚ including a 9th-inning HR‚ but the Rockies still lose to the Rangers‚ 10-8‚ in 11 innings.
June 18At a packed Yankee Stadium‚ the Yankees edge the Mets‚ 3-2 on a 10th-inning RBI single by Tino Martinez. Solo home runs by Chad Curtis and Cecil Fielder off Rick Reed gives the Yankees their lead and Yankee starter David Cone dominates his former team and does not allow a hit until John Olerud‘s leadoff double in the seventh. The three games at Yankee Stadium draw 168‚719.

In Baltimore‚ the Expos clip the Orioles 1-0 when Sherman Obando breaks up Jimmy Key‘s perfect game with a sixth-inning home run. Carlos Perez pitches his 3rd shutout in 4 starts‚ an eight-hitter‚ for Montreal’s 11th win in 12 games.

The Giants win their 2nd straight against the Mariners‚ 4-2‚ behind Mark Gardner three hitter for 7 2/3 innings. Stan Javier hits his third interleague home run. Javier‚ who spent eight seasons in the AL‚ has just those three home runs this season. The 2 teams set a major league record by having 4 sons of former major leaguers in the lineups: Ken Griffey Jr.‚ Jose Cruz Jr.‚ Barry Bonds‚ and Stan Javier.

The Reds‚ behind journeyman Mike Remlinger‚ trip the Indians‚ 5-2. Remlinger‚ acquired on waivers in April‚ shuts out Cleveland on two hits through six innings and gives state bragging rights to the Reds. The historic three-game series draws 128‚727.

In the fog in Toronto‚ Carlos Delgado hits a 3-run HR to give the Jays a 5-3 win over the Braves. There is a 14-minute fog delay in the fourth inning as the game is interrupted while the retractable roof at SkyDome is closed. The fog then dissipates.

Wilson Alvarez fires the White Sox to a 3-0 win over the Cubs to give them the Windy City series‚ 2-1. Alvarez pitches a four-hitter for his first shutout in more than three years. The game draws 44‚204 fans‚ the second consecutive sellout crowd and second-largest in new Comiskey Park history to Tuesday’s 44‚249.

In Kansas City‚ Jeff King hits his fourth interleague home run‚ a grand slam in the first inning‚ to lead the Royals to a 6-2 win over the Astros. In Kansas City’s six interleague games‚ King is 10-for-21 with 12 RBIs. Houston’s Luis Gonzalez singles to extend his hitting streak to 22 games‚

Billy Ashley‚ Raul Mondesi and Todd Zeile each hit two-run homers to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers ‚ 7-5‚ over the Anaheim Angels. When Shigetoshi Hasegawa relieves in the sixth inning‚ Dodger starter Hideo Nomo is still in the game‚ the first major league matchup of pitchers from Japan.
June 19Seattle’s Randy Johnson wins his seventh straight beating the Texas Rangers‚ 2-1‚ allowing one unearned run and four hits in seven innings. while striking out six. Bobby Ayala finished. Ken Hill takes the loss‚ serving up home run pitches to Paul Sorrento and Jay Buhner. Sorrento has now hit 7 home runs at The Ballpark in Arlington‚ tops among Rangers opponents.
June 20For their game against the Cards‚ the Reds bring up Aaron Boone from Indianapolis. That’s the good news. The bad news is they send brother Bret Boone (.205) down to make room for Aaron. Aaron has an RBI and a stolen base in his ML debut as the Reds win‚ 4-2. He also has his 1st ejection for throwing a helmet. Deion Sanders has a double and HR and his 31st stolen base‚ high in the ML.
June 21The Mariners ride a 9-run 7th inning to a 15-8 slugfest win over the Rangers. Dan Wilson has a 3-run double and Jay Buhner has 2 RBIs-5 overall-in the big inning to pace the M’s 13-hit barrage.

Manny Ramirez has 6 RBIs‚ 4 on a grand slam‚ to lead the host Indians to a 13-4 win over the Yankees and Andy Pettitte.

The host Tigers blast the Red Sox 15-4. The Sox‚ trailing by 12 runs‚ try OF Dan Bragg at 3B‚ and put IF Mike Benjamin on the mound for the 9th. Benjamin retires all 3 batters‚ the only one of 5 Sox hurlers to do so.

Six inches of rain fall in a few hours in Milwaukee‚ flooding Milwaukee County Stadium to the third row. The dugouts are filled with water to the roof.
June 22The Braves power 4 homers in a 9-run 3rd inning to sink the Phils‚ 12-5‚ handing Philadelphia its 8th loss in a row. Chipper Jones‚ Fred McGriff‚ Michael Tucker and Jeff Blauser all homer in Atlanta’s biggest inning since 1989.
June 23Steve Finley cracks three homers and Wally Joyner adds two more as the visiting Padres beat the San Francisco Giants‚ 11-6. Jim Bruske gets his first major league win allowing three hits in five scoreless innings of relief.

In Detroit‚ Yankee righty David Cone strikes out 16‚ his highest total in six years‚ and Cecil Fielder hits a three-run homer as New York wins‚ 5-2. Cone‚ who had shoulder surgery to repair an aneurysm on May 10‚ 1996‚ allows four hits‚ including homers by Bob Hamelin and Damion Easley‚ in eight innings.

In Cleveland‚ Matt Lawton has four hits and Brad Radke wins his fourth straight start as the Twins top Cleveland. 7-2. Pat Meares has a two-run homer for the Twins. For Cleveland‚ Sandy Alomar extends his hitting streak to 22 games with a single and Jim Thome accounts for all the scoring with two solo homers.
June 241B Tino Martinez hits 2 singles‚ a double‚ and a pair of HRs while driving in 4 as the Yankees top Detroit‚ 12-9. Chad Curtis adds 5 ribbies for NY.

At Seattle‚ the Mariners fall to the Athletics‚ 4-1‚ despite a 19-strike out performance by Randy Johnson. The 19 Ks are the most ever by an American League left hander. Mark McGwire turns one Johnson fastball into a homer that travels an estimated 538 feet.
June 25Seattle beats Oakland 9-4 with the help of homers by Paul Sorrento‚ Edgar Martinez and backup C John Marzano‚ his first since 1989. Oakland outhits the M’s 12-11.
June 26In Detroit’s 10-6 walloping of the Red Sox‚ Tiger Brian Hunter swipes 4 bases. Detroit also gets a HR from Shane Mack to offset two Boston homers.
June 27The Cincinnati Reds option Bret Boone to Indianapolis and promote brother Aaron Boone from there.

The left side of the KC infield accounts for 10 runs as 3B Craig Paquette and SS Jay Bell each drive home 5 in the Royals’ 16-3 win over Milwaukee.

The White Sox defeat the Twins‚ 10-6‚ as OF Albert Belle goes 5-for-5‚ including a double and home run. C Jorge Fabregas drive in 4 runs for Chicago.

The Orioles acquire OF Geronimo Berroa from the Athletics in exchange for P Jimmy Haynes.
June 28For the 2nd time in three days‚ a Tiger steals 4 bases with Boston C Scott Hattesberg behind the plate. This time it is Damion Easley doing the stealing in Detroit’s 9-2 victory. Tomorrow‚ Hattesberg will start on the bench‚ but will come in when Bill Haselman breaks his finger.

Yankees’ P David Wells starts the game against Cleveland wearing Babe Ruth‘s autographed cap from the 1934 season. Manager Joe Torre makes him take it off after the 1st inning since it doesn’t conform to the team’s current uniform. Without the cap‚ Wells blows a 3-0 lead as the Indians go on to a 12-8 victory. The Indians mount a 19-hit attack‚ as CF Marquis Grissom accounts for 5 of the hits‚ while 3B Matt Williams gets 4 hits‚ including a pair of homers‚ and drives home 6 runs.
June 29In Atlanta‚ Keith Lockhart bangs a pinch grand slam as the Braves overcome a five-run deficit to beat the Phillies 6-5. Phils’ starter Scott Ruffcorn does not give up a hit in 5 1/3 innings‚ but exits after walking four batters‚ hitting two‚ and tossing two wild pitches. Ron Blazier relieves with 2 on and the score 5-0‚ but gives up an RBI single and Lockhart’s slam. Fred McGriff‘s tie-breaking triple in the 7th pins the loss on Billy Brewer.

John Olerud hits two homers and Butch Huskey‚ Matt Franco and Todd Hundley also homer during a nine-run Mets’ comeback over the last three innings as they edge the Pirates‚ 10-8. For Franco‚ his home run is his 6th straight successful pinch-hit. Kevin Young is 4-for-5‚ including a homer‚ for the Bucs. John Franco picks up his 19th save‚ and the 342nd of his career‚ putting him in 4th place on the all-time save list.

In New York‚ the Indians score 7 runs off the usually stingy David Cone‚ but the Yankees outlast the Indians‚ 11-10. With his 9th-inning single‚ Sandy Alomar extends his hitting streak to 26 games‚ 6th longest in Tribe history.

Dodger pitcher Pedro Astacio wins for the first time in 11 starts and Eric Karros knocks in four runs as Los Angeles beats the San Diego Padres‚ 10-4. It is LA’s first win in 11 games with the Pads. Danny Jackson loses and is now 0-4 since the Padres acquired him for Fernando Valenzuela.
June 30In the resumption of interleague play‚ the Cubs set the tone by edging the AL Royals‚ 8-7. Dave Clark’s three-run‚ pinch-hit home run with two outs in the eighth tops off a five-run inning. Jeff King hit his 5th homer against NL pitchers for the Royals.

Bobby Higginson belts 3 home runs and drives in 7 runs and Justin Thompson allows four hits in eight innings as Detroit kicks the Mets‚ 14-0. It is the most lopsided shutout in Mets history. Detroit hits more homers (6) than the Mets have hits (5)‚ and it is the most HRs given up by Mets’ pitchers since April 29‚ 1978.

In Baltimore Cal Ripken’s second grand slam of the season is the big blow in a six-run third inning as the Orioles beat the hapless Phillies‚ 8-1. Mike Mussina wins his 100th game to help Baltimore end its four-game losing streak. For the Phils it is their 15th loss in 16 games.

In the first regular-season game between Canada’s ML teams‚ the Expos emerge a 2-1 winner over the Blue Jays. Pedro Martinez allows three hits‚ including a solo HR by Carlos Delgado‚ and strikes out 10 while Vladimir Guerrero hits a home run in his first interleague at-bat.

At Oakland‚ Tony Gwynn‚ Chris Jones and Greg Vaughn all hit three-run home runs as San Diego pounds Oakland‚ 15-6. Gwynn and Vaughn have 4 RBIs apiece as the Padres bat around twice. 1B Wally Joyner strokes 5 hits for the Pods.

The Rangers top the Dodgers 3-2 behind Bobby Witt. Witt allows five hits in eight innings and becomes the first AL pitcher since Roric Harrison in 1972 to hit a home run.

Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr.‚ who missed the last two All Star games with injuries‚ is elected for the 8th straight year. Griffey tops all players with 3‚514‚340 votes. Orioles 3B Cal Ripken‚ picked to play in his 15th All-Star game‚ is second with 2‚571‚985 votes

July

July 4Giants’ P Shawn Estes holds the Rockies to 1 hit in 8 2/3 innings as SF shuts out Colorado‚ 4-0. Quinton McCracken’s single is Colorado’s only hit as Estes fans 11 and walks only 2. Rod Beck comes in to record the last out.
July 5The Expos retire Andre Dawson‘s uniform No. 10 prior to the game with Atlanta. Once the festivities are over‚ the Braves defeat Montreal‚ 5-3‚ with Chipper Jones‘ 3rd-inning grand slam the big blow.
July 6At Anaheim‚ Chuck Finley allows 4 hits and strikes out 13 to lead the Angels to an 8-0 shut out over the Mariners. Dave Hollins fourth inning grand slam is the big blow‚ while Darin Erstad also homers‚ the first by a lefty off Jeff Fassero (8-5) in over three years. Tim Salmon also hits a solo homer in the third‚ his third in three games. Fassero left the game earlier in the 3rd inning after spraining his right ankle fielding Craig Grebeck’s bunt single.

Roger Clemens becomes the American League‘s first 13-game winner‚ pitching a four-hitter as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees‚ 2-0. Clemens has 10 strikeouts and one walk in his first shutout of the year. Ramiro Mendoza takes the loss.

In Detroit‚ the Tigers top the Orioles‚ 14-9‚ their 3rd straight win after 11 consecutive losses. Brian Johnson and Travis Fryman homer for the Tigers while teammate Bobby Higginson adds a two-run inside-the-park homer‚ his fifth round tripper this week. For Scott Erickson (11-4) it is the worst start of his career for Baltimore‚ allowing all 12 runs‚ 11 earned‚ and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings. Willie Blair (6-4) takes the win in relief. The O’s are led by Rafael Palmeiro‘s homer‚ triple and single and homers by Geronimo Berroa‚ Jeff Reboulet and Tony Tarasco.

Vet catcher Mickey Tettleton announces his retirement. He was on the Ranger DL for more than 2 months.
July 8The American League defeats the National by a score of 3-1 in the annual All-Star Game‚ played in Cleveland. Indians’ C Sandy Alomar hits a 2-run HR and is named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Alomar is the 1st hometown player to homer since Hank Aaron in Atlanta in 1972.

Baseball’s realignment committee discusses a variety of plans including one that would have as many as 14 teams changing divisions and leagues next year. Kansas City would switch to the National League‚ and baseball’s eight Pacific and Mountain time zone teams could be grouped together if the sport switches back from six divisions to four in 1997. With the addition of Arizona to the NL next season and Tampa Bay to the AL‚ baseball’s current plan calls for two 15-team leagues in 1998 with three divisions in each. The Major Leagues have till August 1st to present next year’s schedule to the players’ association
July 9Bob Boone is fired as Royals’ manager and replaced by Tony Muser.
July 10Hideki Irabu strikes out 9 batters and gets the win in his major league debut as the Yankees defeat the Tigers‚ 10-3.
July 12In Pittsburgh’s 1st non-Opening Day sellout since 1977‚ a crowd of 44‚119 sees Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon combine on a 10-inning no-hitter as the Pirates down the Astros‚ 3-0‚ on a 10th-inning pinch HR by Mark Smith. Cordova hurls the 1st 9 innings while Rincon hurls the 10th and gets the win. The victory keeps the Pirates in a tie for 1st place with the Astros in the NL Central.

The Blue Jays defeat the Red Sox‚ 3-1‚ as Roger Clemens fans 16 of his former teammates in 8 innings of work. Boston pitchers K 13 Seattle batters as the total of 29 strike outs falls one short of the major league mark for two teams in a single game.
July 13Dennis Reyes‚ the first lefty in nearly five years to start a game for the Dodgers‚ throws 6 strong innings in beating the Giants‚ 9-3. The last lefty starter for L.A. was Bob Ojeda‚ on September 24th‚ 1992‚ in a no-decision at Cincinnati.

The Marlins use an 8-run 4th inning to wallop the Phillies‚ 9-3. Gary Sheffield is the main man with two homers in the inning‚ hitting a solo shot and a 3-run homer‚ before leaving with a pulled hamstring.

The Cardinals shrug off pinch homers by Hernandez and Orie to down the host Cubs‚ 11-5. The Cardinals swat 20 hits‚ including 4 homers.

With the temperature at 100 degrees‚ Pedro Martinez fires a one-hit shutout to beat the Reds‚ 2-0. The Expos’ ace gives up a single to Bret Boone in the 5th for the only hit. Mike Lansing triples twice for the Expos before leaving in the 5th inning with exhaustion.

Seattle and Texas combine for a record 31 strikeouts in the Rangers’ 4-2 victory. Randy Johnson racks up 14 K’s in 7 innings‚ and reliever Bobby Ayala adds 4‚ but gives up 2 runs in the 9th. The previous mark was 30 set by the Mariners and Athletics on April 30‚ 1986.
July 14At Fenway‚ Wil Cordero‚ homers as the Boston Red Sox collects a season-high 21 hits to rout the Detroit Tigers‚ 18-4. Cordero is cheered after hitting a two-run homer in the seventh. Cordero‚ accused of assaulting his wife June 11‚ has been booed on each of his previous 14 at-bats since he ended 11 games on the sidelines with a pinch-hit appearance last Thursday.

In the Padres’ 5-3 win over the Giants‚ Tony Gwynn raises his average to .402 with a single‚ double and triple‚ driving in three runs‚ and extending his hitting streak to 19 games. Rickey Henderson‚ baseball’s career steals leader‚ swipes his 1‚200th base in the sixth.

In the longest night game at Wrigley Field-5 hours‚ 19 minutes-Ricky Gutierrez singles home the go-ahead run in the 15th to give the Astros a 9-7 win over the Cubs.

Eric Karros’ two-run homer off Steve Reed in the 10th gives the Dodgers a 14-12 slugfest win over the Rockies. Los Angeles has a season-high 22 hits‚ in winning its 10th of 11‚ while the Rockies lose for the 10th time in 11 games.

Atlanta hits two grand slams in a game for the first time since May 2‚ 1987‚ using homers by Tim Spehr and Ryan Klesko to rally from a 6-0 deficit for its eighth straight victory over Philadelphia this season. The Braves win‚ 10-6.

Cuba withdraws at the last minute from a series of baseball games against the United States‚ citing fears for the safety of players. One reason stated for the cancellation was the weekend bombing of two Havana hotels. The eight-game series was to start tomorrow.
July 15Despite a sluggish performance‚ Hideki Irabu wins his second major league start‚ leading the Yankees over Cleveland‚ 12-6. Irabu gives up five runs and nine hits in five innings‚ allowing homers to Tony Fernandez‚ Marquis Grissom‚ and Matt Williams. Cecil Fielder‚ the Yank’s 270-pound DH‚ tries to score from first on a double and his head first slide results in a broken right thumb. Fielder will miss eight weeks.

In Cincinnati‚ Ray Lankford hits two upper-deck homers-a first for Cinergy Field-to lead the Cards to a 7-4 win over the Reds.

Visiting San Francisco scores 13 runs in the 7th inning to coast to a 16-2 win over the Padres. The Giants send 19 men to the plate in the 7th and face 80 pitches in the 52-minute inning. They score seven runs before J.T. Snow grounds out for the first out. Five Giants score two runs each‚ including starting pitcher Kirk Rueter (6-4). The only player not to score is Snow‚ who Ks with the bases loaded for the second out. Stan Javier goes to bat 3 times.

The Royals trade OF Jon Nunnally and IF-OF Chris Stynes to the Reds for pitchers Hector Carrasco and Scott Service.

The Expos announce the retirement of all-time saves leader Lee Smith.
July 16Kevin Brown tosses his first career one-hitter‚ leading Florida over Los Angeles‚ 5-1. Brown‚ who no-hit San Francisco on June 10‚ faces just two batters over the minimum‚ allowing a lead-off single to left by Raul Mondesi in the fifth. He strikes out 8 and retires his final 15 batters to hand the loss to Hideo Nomo

At Shea‚ RF Sammy Sosa‘s running catch with the bases loaded in the seventh‚ and catcher Scott Servais‘s pickoff in the eighth‚ key Chicago to a 6-5 win over the Mets. Before the game‚ New York reassigns general manager Joe McIlvaine and replaces him with his assistant‚ Steve Phillips‚

In Oakland‚ Mark McGwire hits his 33rd and 34th homers to lead the A’s to an 11-3 win over the hapless Royals. Jose Canseco strikes out in all five at-bats for the Athletics‚ tying an Oakland record. Combined with his three strikeouts on Monday‚ he ties a major league record with eight whiffs in two consecutive games.
July 18The Mariners‚ seeking pitching help‚ trade Scott Sanders (3-6) and two minor leaguers (pitcher Dean Crow and 3B Carlos Villalobos) to the Detroit Tigers on Friday for righthanders Omar Olivares (5-6) and Felipe Lira (5-7). Piniella practically begged for a trade after the M’s lost to Minnesota 9-7 in 12 innings‚ cutting Seattle’s lead to over Anaheim in the AL West to one-half game.
July 19The Cubs sweep two from the visiting Rockies‚ 7-0 and 6-5‚ to hand Colorado its 15th loss in 16 games. Steve Trachsel tosses 7 shut out innings in the opener for the win‚ and the Cubs score the winning run in the nitecap on Mark Grace‘s sac fly. The Rocks have 13 hits in the nitecap‚ but strand 14 runners. Larry Walker is 0-for-9 for the afternoon‚ dropping his average 10 points to .392.
July 20OF Luis Gonzalez bashes a double and 2 HRs‚ and drives in 6‚ as he leads Houston to a 9-0 white-washing of the Expos. The victory moves Houston 2 games ahead of Pittsburgh in the NL Central.

The Marlins trade OF Billy McMillon to the Phillies in exchange for veteran Darren Daulton.
July 21Wilson Alvarez strikes out 4 Detroit batters in the 7th inning‚ with Phil Nevin fanning on a wild pitch‚ in leading the White Sox to a 3-0 win over Detroit. Alvarez is the first White Sox pitcher and 28th player to strike out four batters in an inning.

Phillies ace Curt Schilling fans 15 in 8 innings‚ the most in the NL this season‚ but loses 3-2 to the visiting Pirates. Home runs by Al Martin and Kevin Polcovich are the difference. Polcovich homers in the seventh after he missing a suicide-squeeze bunt‚ resulting in a Buc’ runner being tagged out. Before the game‚ the Phillies trade veteran Darren Daulton to Florida for outfielder Billy McMillon.

At Miami‚ Wally Joyner is 3-for-4 with two walks‚ to lead the Padres to a 10-2 gaffing of the Florida Marlins. Joyner singles‚ doubles‚ triples‚ scores twice‚ and swipes two bases‚ including home on the back end of a double steal. The Marlins finally turn to John Cangelosi‚ who becomes the first position player to pitch for the Marlins. The outfielder walks one in a scoreless ninth inning and retires Joyner on a fly ball. Cangelosi also pitched two scoreless innings for Pittsburgh against Los Angeles in 1988 and one scoreless inning for Houston against Chicago in 1995. Tony Gwynn is 1-for-5 and finishes the four-game series 2-for-17‚ dropping his average to .385.

Henry Rodriguez‚ in a 7-for-76 slump‚ bangs a two-out‚ ninth-inning grand slam as the Montreal Expos beat the visiting Rockies‚ 8-4. For Colorado‚ it is their 16th loss in its last 18 games.

Angels pitcher Rich DeLucia has surgery to remove an aneurysm in his right shoulder and is expected to be out for the season.

Four days after the birth of his second child‚ Yankees’ OF Mark Whiten is arrested in Milwaukee and charged with second-degree sexual assault of a 31-year-old woman.
July 22Greg Maddux parcels out just 78 pitches as the Atlanta Braves defeat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 in the opener of a doubleheader Tuesday. It is the lowest pitch total for a 9-inning complete game since Bob Tewksbury threw 76 for the Cardinals against the Reds on August 29‚ 1990. Chicago takes the second game 5-4.

In Montreal‚ Vinny Castilla has 5 hits‚ including two home runs‚ as the Rockies outslug the Expos‚ 11-9. Castilla’s two-run shot off Dave Veres with two outs in the 12th gives Colorado just its third win in 19 games.

The Cincinnati Reds release veteran IF Terry Pendleton‚ who was signed as a free agent during the off season.

Major League baseball names Toronto exec Paul Beeson as its first president and CEO. The 52-year-old Canadian has been president of the Toronto club since 1991.
July 24Brad Radke (13-5‚ 3.68 ERA) allows the Athletics just five hits Sunday‚ striking out 10 and walking no one in a 1-0 victory. That was the gem of what has been a masterful stretch. Radke is tied for second in the American League in wins (Clemens has 16) and his 149 1/3 innings are sixth most in the league.
July 25The Royals acquire 3B Dean Palmer‚ a free agent at the end of the season‚ from the Rangers in exchange for OF Tom Goodwin.

The Reds name Jack McKeon as their manager‚ replacing Ray Knight.
July 27The Braves defeat the Reds‚ 3-2‚ in Cincinnati‚ as the temperature on Cincinnati’s artificial surface reaches 152 degrees. The official temperature at game time is 94.

In the first of 2‚ Giants pinch runner Shawn Estes scores in the 13th on a wild pitch and the Giants win‚ 6-5. In the nitecap‚ Kevin Young hits his 2nd two-run homer of the game in the 9th as the Bucs score 5‚ then they hold on as the Giants hit 3 homers and score 6 runs. Pittsburgh wins‚ 10-7‚ as the two teams combine for a record-tying 5 homers in the 9th.

The Tigers retire Hal Newhouser‘s uniform #16. Newhouser pitched 15 seasons for the Bengals and is the only pitcher to win back to back MVP awards‚ in 1944 and 1945. Following the festivities‚ the Tigers lose to Milwaukee‚ 11-7‚ as the Brewers come up with 5 runs in the 9th inning.

The Rockies acquire P Mark Hutton from the Marlins in exchange for IF Craig Counsell.
July 28In the 1st game of a doubleheader‚ Milwaukee P Steve Woodard‚ recalled just that morning‚ hurls 8 innings of 1-hit ball to defeat the Blue Jays‚ 1-0. Mike Fetters tosses a hitless 9th for the Brewers. Toronto’s only hit is a double by CF Otis Nixon.
July 29The Rangers ship Ken Hill‚ 16-10 last year‚ to the Angels for C Jim Leyritz and a player to be named. Hill struggled to a 5-8 record this season. Leyritz is insurance in case the Rangers can’t sign Ivan Rodriguez‚ but they will ink Pudge in 2 days to a 5-year deal worth $42 million.

The Blue Jays pick up veteran Mariano Duncan from the Yankees for cash and a minor leaguer.

The Orioles purchase veteran Harold Baines from the White Sox. Baines is hitting .305 for Chicago.

The Mariners and Randy Johnson knuckle under to Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox‚ 4-0. Mo Vaughn‘s 2-run homer is the big blow for Boston. July 29‚ 1997: Jay Buhner leaps and falls over the 5-foot wall in right field at Fenway Park snagging a ball hit by Scott Hatteberg. He lands in the Red Sox bullpen. “It was the kind of play outfielders always dream about‚” Buhner said.

Pedro Martinez strikes out 13 Rockies‚ including Andres Galarraga 4 times‚ in Montreal’s‚ 3-0 win. Martinez gives up just 3 hits in going all the way.
July 30David Wells fires a 3-hitter as the Yankees beat the Royals‚ 7-0. Tino Martinez hits his 36th homer and Luis Sojo has 4 hits.

At Boston‚ the Red Sox beat the Mariners‚ 8-7‚ in 10 innings. Steve Avery grounds out as a pinch hitter in the 10th‚ the first Sox pitcher to hit since Tim Lollar in 1986.
July 31The White Sox jump out to a 9-0 lead over the Angels in the second inning‚ then hold on to record a 14-12 victory. Rookie Mike Cameron leads Chicago with 5 RBIs‚ while Todd Greene gets 4 hits and drives home 6 runs for Anaheim in a losing cause.

Baseball’s premier power hitter‚ Mark McGwire‚ leaves the A’s for the St. Louis Cardinals‚ who send three pitchers to Anaheim. McGwire’s five-year $28 million contract runs out at the end of this year and Anaheim fears they will not be able to sign him. The A’s receive minor leaguers Eric Ludwick and Blake Stein‚ along with T.J. Mathews (4-4).

How do you spell relief? In a fine move for Boston‚ the Red Sox send reliever Heathcliff Slocumb to the Mariners for minor leaguers Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe. Slocumb will not last a season in Seattle‚ while Varitek and Lowe will become key members of the 1999 Sox. The Mariner’s also ship budding star Jose Cruz‚ Jr. to Toronto for relievers Mike Timlin and Paul Spoljaric.

The San Francisco Giants receive starting pitchers Wilson Alvarez and Danny Darwin‚ along with top reliever Roberto Hernandez from the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox‚ just 3 1/2 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central‚ receive minor league SS Mike Caruso‚ OF Brian Manning‚ and Ps Lorenzo Barcelo‚ Keith Foulke‚ Bob Howry‚ and Ken Vining. In the house cleaning‚ the Sox have moved 8 players with a combined 92 years of ML experience. Sox 3B Robin Ventura observes‚ “We didn’t realize August first was the end of the season.”

In a swap of the infirmed‚ the Indians send pitchers Scott Winchester‚ Danny Graves‚ Mike Crowell and INF Damien Jackson to the Reds for veteran P John Smiley (9-10 in 1997) and infielder Jeff Branson. The 3 new Reds pitchers all have had rotator cuff surgery; Smiley is out the year with a broken arm; and Jackson has had knee surgery.

Minutes before the midnight trading deadline‚ the Tribe adds P Jeff Juden‚ sending P Steve Kline to the Expos.

In a South Atlantic League game at Hickory‚ pitcher Jason Lakman has 16 strikeouts in 7 innings‚ including 7 in a row and 5 in the fifth inning. Augusta beats Hickory‚ 4-0.

August

August 2Houston C Brad Ausmus becomes the first catcher to wear the Fox Sports Catcher-Cam‚ a small camera on the top of his mask‚ in the Astros’ 6-0 win over the Mets.
August 3Phil Niekro‚ Tommy Lasorda‚ Nellie Fox‚ and Willie Wells are inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
August 4The Twins beat the Blue Jays‚ 9-3‚ as Brad Radke ties a team record with his 12th straight win. Greg Colbrunn‘s pinch-hit grand slam‚ off Chris Carpenter‚ is the big blow. Radke is only the 3rd pitcher since 1950 to win 12 consecutive starts. Bob Gibson of St. Louis did it in 1968 and Pat Dobson did it with Baltimore in 1971.

At Anaheim‚ Jose Valentin‚ Dave Nilsson‚ and Jeremy Burnitz homer in the 4th inning‚ all off Ken Hill‚ as Milwaukee beats Anaheim‚ 5-2‚ for its 10th victory in 12 games. The loss drops Anaheim into a tie for first place in the AL West with the idle Seattle Mariners.

Manny Ramirez homers and drives in four runs‚ and Jim Thome hits his 30th homer as the Indians beat Detroit‚ 7-2. Charles Nagy improves to 12-4 lifetime against the Tigers‚ his most wins against any club. Thome is the first Cleveland lefthanded hitter to hit 30 homers in successive seasons since Hal Trosky in 1936-37. Scott Sanders (3-9)‚ making his fourth start since being traded to Detroit from Seattle‚ was the loser. He has lost all three of his decisions in a Tigers uniform.

At Shea‚ the Mets top the Cards‚ 4-2‚ in a rain interupted game. Rick Reed (10-4) wins his 6th straight‚ beating Manny Aybar‚ making his ML debut. Lance Johnson has a pair of RBI triples. Completing an unusual major league-minor league sweep‚ the Pittsfield Mets top the New Jersey Cardinals (NY-Penn League) 8-4‚ in the earlier 9-inning game.

Kevin Tapani finally makes his Cubs debut‚ limiting Atlanta to five hits over seven+ innings‚ as the Cubs win‚ 3-1. Tapani (1-0) signed to a three-year‚ $11 million deal with the Cubs after winning 13 games for the White Sox last season‚ had surgery April 4 to remove scar tissue in his right index finger.
August 5The Red Sox pound out 24 hits‚ including 4 HRs‚ in defeating the Rangers‚ 17-1. Nomar Garciaparra is 4-for-7 with a homer and two doubles and Troy O’Leary homers twice into the upper deck.

In New York‚ Houston’s Darryl Kile cops his ninth straight decision despite allowing two home runs to John Olerud. Houston hangs on to win‚ 11-8. Kile (16-3) allows 8 runs and 10 hits in seven innings.
August 8The Mariners shut out the White Sox‚ 5-0‚ on Randy Johnson‘s 5-hitter. Johnson fans 19 batters for the second time this season‚ becoming the 1st pitcher in history to ever do so.

The Mets trade OF Lance Johnson‚ P Mark Clark‚ and IF Manny Alexander to the Cubs for pitchers Mel Rojas and Turk Wendell‚ and OF Brian McRae. The Cubs also waive Terry Mulholland to the Giants.

The Cards end a homerless drought of 104.2 innings (as noted by Tom Ruane) when Ray Lankford and Mark McGwire hit back-to-back homers in the 3rd inning. For McGwire‚ it is his 1st of the year as the Cards win 6-1 over the Phillies. The homerless streak is the longest of the 1990s.
August 9The Yankees beat the Twins Brad Radke‚ ending his win streak at 12 games.

Toledo (American Association) tops visiting Richmond‚ 11-10‚ 13 innings. Mudhen LF Bubba Trammell is 4 for 7 with 4 home runs and 5 RBIs. Trammell homers in the 9th inning to tie the game and again in the 13th inning to win it.
August 10Angels’ IF-OF Tony Phillips is arrested after allegedly buying a small quantity of freebase cocaine at a motel in Anaheim.

Pitcher Greg Maddux signs a $57.5 million‚ 5-year contract with the Braves to become baseball’s highest-paid player.
August 12Scott Erickson pitches a three-hitter and Rafael Palmeiro has three hits‚ including a three-run homer‚ as the Baltimore Orioles defeat Oakland‚ 8-0. The game is played without a public address announcer. The Orioles shut off the microphone to pay tribute to Rex Barney‚ who had served as the Orioles’ PA announcer since 1974. Barney‚ 72‚ was found dead in his home earlier in the day.

The Texas Rangers showed off for former president George Bush by routing the Boston Red Sox for the second consecutive game‚ 12-2‚ scoring 10 runs in the first four innings. Bush-whose son‚ Texas Gov. George W. Bush‚ owns the Rangers-sits next to the team’s dugout with acting Massachusetts Gov. Paul Cellucci and a group of Secret Service agents.

Dean Palmer homers and drives in four runs as the Kansas City Royals end the New York Yankees‘ three-game winning streak with a 6-4 victory. Palmer‚ who is 10-for-21 with runners in scoring position and has 16 RBIs in 18 games since coming over in a trade with Texas‚ singles home a run in the fourth‚ opens the 6th with his 17th homer‚ and hits a go-ahead‚ two-run double in the 7th. Mike Perez (2-0)‚ the second of 5 Royals’ pitchers‚ is the winner. Jeff Montgomery pitches the 9th for his eighth save‚ the 250th of his career. He retires 32 consecutive batters‚ one shy of the club record‚ before Bernie Williams singles with two outs in the ninth.

Rickey Henderson leads off the 7th with his 250th career homer and Greg Vaughn adds a two-run double in the inning as the San Diego Padres rally to beat the Montreal Expos‚ 6-4.

Matt Beech ends his string of 22 straight starts without a victory‚ pitching the Philadelphia Phillies past the Colorado Rockies‚ 5-0. Beech (1-7) had not won since beating Atlanta in his first major league start on Aug. 8‚ 1996. He was winless in his first 15 starts this season.

The Blue Jays trade OF Otis Nixon to the Dodgers in exchange for C Bobby Cripps.
August 13The Reds defeat the Padres‚ 2-0‚ on a combined 1-hitter by Mike Morgan (7 innings)‚ Stan Belinda (1 inning)‚ and Jeff Shaw (1 inning). OF Mark Sweeney’s single is San Diego’s only hit.

The Red Sox trade C Mike Stanley and IF Randy Brown to the Yankees in exchange for P Tony Armas and a player to be named.

The Angels trade pitchers Ryan Hancock and Steven Agosto and a player to be named to the Padres for OF Rickey Henderson. To make room for the future Hall of Famer‚ the Angels release another future HOFer‚ Eddie Murray. Murray will sign with the Dodgers.
August 14The Indians best the Tigers‚ 12-1‚ in the 15‚000th game in franchise history. The Tigers are the only other American League team to have played as many contests.

The Twins trade 1B Greg Colbrunn to the Braves in exchange for a player to be named.
August 15LA’s Mike Remlinger pitches 6 strong innings and belts a 3-run double to beat the Reds‚ 5-3. Before the game‚ the Dodgers retire Tom Lasorda’s #2‚ the 9th uniform retired by the franchise.

Mark McGwire cracks a 2-run homer in the 9th to tie the game for St. Louis and Delino DeShields hits a leadoff homer in the 12th as the Cards edge the Braves‚ 3-2. For McGwire‚ who also walks 4 times‚ it is his 4th homer in 4 games.

The Orioles and Mariners split a day-night twinbill‚ the O’s taking the opener‚ 4-3 and the M’s the nitecap‚ 8-3. Randy Johnson drops the first game‚ despite striking out 13 batters; he has now struck out 32 in two games to tie Luis Tiant (1968)‚ Nolan Ryan (1974) and Dwight Gooden (1984).
August 17Boston’s Nomar Garciaparra hits in his 20th straight game‚ tying Fred Lynn‘s Boston rookie record. Boston wins‚ 10-5‚ sweeping 4 from the Twins. Minnesota has lost 9 straight‚
August 18The Rangers defeat the Brewers‚ 2-0‚ behind a combined 1-hitter by Rick Helling (8 innings) and John Wetteland (1 inning). Francisco Vina’s single is Milwaukee’s only hit.

The Phillies get grand slams from Mike Lieberthal and Billy McMillon‚ his first HR in the NL‚ and roll to an 11-3 victory over visiting San Francisco.

The Dodgers trade P Pedro Astacio to the Rockies in exchange for 2B Eric Young.
August 20It’s an easy day at the office for the Reds as they record no assists in a 5-3 loss to the Rockies (14 flies‚ 12 Ks‚ 1 unass‚ grounder). This has happened just once before in the National League‚ by the Mets against the Phillies on June 25‚ 1989.

The Twins trade OF Roberto Kelly to the Mariners for a player to be named.

The Red Sox sweep two from the A’s‚ winning 7-5 and 5-4 in 13 innings. In the nitecap the A’s collect one hit in the last 10 innings against 5 Sox pitchers. Garciaparra has hits in both games to set a ML rookie record of 22 straight games.

Montreal Expos righthander Pedro Martinez strikes out 13 batters, including 7 in succession, in 6 2/3 innings but comes away with no decision. The Expos fall to the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-3.
August 22The Tigers pound the Brewers‚ 16-1‚ with the aid of 23 hits and an 11-run 7th inning. Bobby Higginson gets 5 hits for Detroit‚ while Travis Fryman and Tony Clark drive in 4 runs apiece.

In another slugfest‚ the Rangers score a 17-8 victory over the White Sox. Each of the starting left fielders-Rusty Greer and Albert Belle-hits 2 homers and drives in 6 runs for his team.
August 23For the 2nd day in a row‚ Rangers’ LF Rusty Greer hits a pair of HRs and posts 6 ribbies‚ doing so in today’s 13-8 win over Chicago.
August 26The Yankees pound out 22 hits in an 18-2 win over Oakland. Joe Girardi and Rey Sanchez lead the way with 4 hits apiece.
August 27Indian teammates honor Jim Thome by wearing their socks high‚ a fashion statement they’ll continue into the WS. But today they might’ve shaved their heads instead as Matt Williams drives in a ML record tying 6 runs in a 10-run 4th as the Indians beat California‚ 10-4. Williams has a 3-run double and a 3-run HR. In between his hits‚ Marquis Grissom clouts a grand slam. Williams 6 ribbies in an inning is a club record. The last batter to knock in 6 in a frame was Matt Stairs‚ on July 5‚ 1996.

Oakland defeats the Yankees‚ 8-7‚ as DH Dave Magadan leads the way with 5 hits‚ including a home run.

The Dodgers best the Pirates‚ 9-5‚ with the help of 5 hits by OF Otis Nixon and 6 RBIs from C Mike Piazza. LA now leads the NL West by 1 1/2 games over the Giants.

The White Sox trade OF Darren Lewis to the Dodgers in exchange for a player to be named.
August 30Yankee P David Wells strikes a familiar note as he threatens to punch out owner George Steinbrenner during a clubhouse argument. Reportedly‚ the argument began after the team’s 7-2 loss to the Expos‚ when a play occurred that was similar to last year’s ALCS. This time it was against the Yankees; Darrin Fletcher’s gets a home run when a fan in right field reaches over and snagged the ball before Paul O’Neill could catch it. Wells opined to Steinbrenner that extra security should be added in RF to prevent this sort of thing‚ George answered that Wells ought to stick to his pitching. When Wells said that Steinbrenner could trade him‚ the owner answered that no one wanted the lefty. It was then that Wells joined the ranks of earlier Yankees who have wanted to flatten the feisty owner.

Behind Alex Fernandez‚ the Marlins solidify their hold on the NL wild card position (79-55) with a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays. OF Shawn Green has all 3 of Toronto’s hits.

Boston SS Nomar Garciaparra goes hitless as the Red Sox fall to the Braves‚ 15-2. The collar brings his 30-game hitting streak (July 26-August 29: .383: 54/141) to an end‚ the longest streak ever for an AL rookie. Guy Curtwright‚ a 30-year-old rookie‚ set the mark with 26 games in 1943‚ his only season. Chipper Jones has 5 runs scored and Fred McGriff has 4 hits‚ including a pair of homers to route Tim Wakefield.

The Brewers acquire OF Darrin Jackson from the Twins in exchange for a player to be named.
August 31The Indians acquire IF-OF Bip Roberts from the Royals in exchange for P Roland de la Maza.

The Brewers obtain P Pete Harnisch from the Mets in exchange for OF Donnie Moore.

The Cubs trade vet SS Shawon Dunston to the Pirates in exchange for a player to be named. Dunston will debut with the Bucs on September 2 and hit 2 homers. He will also finish the year with a .312 OBP‚ the lowest this century for a .300 hitter.

September

September 1The Reds lose to the Royals‚ 7-4‚ as Pete Rose Jr.‚ son of the all-time hit leader‚ makes his major league debut. After striking out in his 1st time up‚ Rose singles in his next at bat and finishes with 1 hit in 3 trips to the plate. The debut prompts walkup sales of 15‚000.

Before 50‚869 at the Vet‚ the Phillies defeat the Yankees‚ 5-1‚ behind Chuck Schilling‚ who fans 16 batters in 8 innings of action‚ and does not walk a man. The Phils will win the next to sweep the series with the defending World champs.
September 2Trailing 12-7‚ the Rangers score 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th to pull out a 13-12 victory over the Dodgers. Juan Gonzalez and Lee Stevens each poke 4 hits for Texas.

In Montreal‚ the Expos edge the Red Sox‚ 6-5‚ on two homers by Henry Rodriguez and a pinch homerun by rookie Brad Fulmer. The 2-run shot by Fulmer‚ off Bret Saberhagen‚ comes in his first ML at bat.
September 32B Mike Lansing’s 3rd-inning HR is Montreal’s only hit‚ but it’s enough to give the Expos a 1-0 win over the Red Sox. Aaron Sele and Tom Gordon baffle the Expos the rest of the way‚ but Carlos Perez allows only 2 hits himself in blanking Boston.

A’s blue chip rookie Ben Grieve debuts with a club-record-tying 3 doubles for 5 RBIs in a 12-3 win over the Giants. Grieve had 136 ribbies in 127 minor league games. Brad Rigby wins his first ML game‚ while the loss leaves the Giants 1 1/2 games behind the Dodgers.
September 4Rookie C Bobby Estalella cracks 3 HRs and drives home 4 as he leads the Phillies to a 6-4 win over Montreal.
September 5OF Deion Sanders leaves the Reds to join the Dallas Cowboys for the remainder of the season. Sanders is leading the NL is stolen bases with 56‚ but will be overtaken by Pittsburgh’s Tony Womack.
September 6The Rockies split a day-night doubleheader with the Cardinals‚ losing the 1st game‚ 10-7‚ before winning the nitecap‚ 7-6. In the 1st contest‚ OF Larry Walker’s HR makes his the most prolific Canadian home run hitter of all time with 195 career dingers. In the second game‚ Colorado’s streak of sellouts ends at 203‚ as an announced crowd of 44‚288 views the contest.
September 7Atlanta’s Denny Neagle wins his 20th game‚ shutting out the Padres‚ 4-0. He’s the first to win 20 in the NL.
September 9Boston loses to the Yankees‚ 8-6‚ despite 2 RBIs for Nomar Garciaparra. The ribbies give Garciaparra 87 on the year‚ for a new major league record for leadoff men. Harvey Kuenn held the old mark with 85 in 1956 for Detroit.

Detroit P Scott Sanders hurls a 1-hit‚ 4-0 shutout over the Rangers. 2B Domingo Cedeno’s single is the only Texas safety.
September 10Behind Tom Glavine‘s 4-hit shutout‚ the Braves down the Dodgers‚ 7-0. Ryan Klesko has a HR and 3 RBI.

The American Association‘s plays its final game Wednesday night in Des Moines‚ Iowa with the Buffalo Bisons defeating the Iowa Cubs for the final American Association title. The Association’s existing teams will merge with the International League and the perhaps “to-be-newly named” Pacific Coast League in 1998.
September 11John Olerud cycles‚ going 4-for-5 with 5 ribbies‚ to lead the Mets to a 9-5 win over the Expos. Olerud hits a bases loaded stand-up triple in the 8th‚ his first triple in 3 years‚ to complete the cycle. The drive bounces off the wall‚ striking center fielder Vladimir Guerrero.
September 12Florida C Charles Johnson sets a major league record by playing his 160th straight game without committing an error. The previous mark was set by Rick Cerone. The Marlins lose the game‚ however‚ 1-0 to the Giants.

The Mets tie the game in the 8th and use 23 players before losing to the Expos‚ 3-2 in 15 innings. The loss goes to Joe Crawford‚ the second time this season he has lost by allowing a run in the 15th.
September 13The Mets‚ down 6-0 with one strike to go in the bottom of the 9th rally to tie the Expos. Carl Everett ties the game with a grand slam. Two innings later‚ Bernard Gilkey hits a three-run homer to end it‚ 9-6. Facing Dustin Hermanson‚ the Mets manage just one hit through the first 8 innings‚ and that is a blooper by Carlos Mendoza‚ his first ML hit. Two singles and two relievers later the Mets tie it. John Franco is the winner over Steve Kline.

The Dodgers drop a 5-1 decision to the Astros as Tom Candiotti‘s knuckleball does all sorts of tricks in the 1st inning. Candiotti hit 3 Houston batters in the frame‚ and another to lead off the 2nd‚ to tie a major league mark. C Mike Piazza also records 2 passed balls in the inning as the Astros score 4 of their 5 runs.

In St. Louis‚ Tony Gwynn reaches 200 hits for the fifth time in his career in the Padres 8-3 win over the Cardinals. Greg Vaughn has a three-run double to lead the attack.
September 14Sandy Alomar hits a bases-loaded single to key a bizarre seven-run 8th‚ and Cleveland defeats Chicago‚ 8-3. Jim Thome nails his 40th homer for the Indians. Chicago ties a major league record by using nine pitchers in the nine-inning game‚ including 5 in the 8th. The 4th in that inning‚ Keith Foulke‚ is called in without a warmup by manager Terry Bevington to intentionally walk a batter. The Tribe increases its AL Central lead to 7 1/2 games over Chicago and Milwaukee. Before the game the Sox retire Carlton Fisk‘s #72. Bitter over his 1993 release and not being allowed into locker room during the playoffs that year‚ Fisk requests that Jerry Reinsdorf and GM Ron Schueler not be there for the ceremony.

Mark McGwire notches his 51st homer‚ and St. Louis Cardinals score seven runs in the eighth to win‚ 10-4. McGwire‚ the first player with consecutive 50-homer seasons since Babe Ruth in 1927-28‚ connects off Joey Hamilton (11-6) in the sixth. He has 17 homers in 37 games since St. Louis acquired him from Oakland on July 31 and has 14 games remaining to chase Roger Maris‘ season record of 61.
September 15Baltimore OF Eric Davis returns to action in the Orioles’ 6-5 win over Cleveland only two months after having a cancerous tumor removed from his colon. Davis goes hitless in the contest‚ but rips a long fly out to deep right-center in his first at bat.

Ken Griffey‚ Jr. powers homers #51 and #52 in Seattle’s 7-3 win over the Blue Jays. Junior has now hit 100 homers in a 2-year span‚ just the 6th major leaguer to do so.

The Mets‚ 1-0 winners yesterday on a HR by diminutive Luis Lopez‚ use the long ball today to tie the Phils. New York collects 4 HRs in the 7th and 8th to tie at 6 apiece‚ the stitch 6 straight singles in the 10th to score 5 and win‚ 10-5. In the nitecap‚ the Mets lose‚ 2-1 to Darrin Winston‚ a 31-year-old rookie released by the Mets in the spring.

The Braves beat the Giants‚ 5-4 on Fred McGriff‘s 2-out‚ 2-run homer off Rod Beck in the 9th inning. The homer caps a 4-run rally for the 1st place Braves.

At least it’s not the Duck Pond. Anaheim Stadium‚ the Big A‚ gets a new name-Edison International Field of Anaheim. Edison‚ a utility giant‚ will pay $50 million over 20 years for a package that includes the name of the stadium‚ home to the Angels.
September 16In Philadelphia‚ Curt Schilling retires the first 22 Mets batters to lead the Phils to a 3-2 win. He also passes the 300-strikeout mark when he strikes out Edgardo Alfonzo in the 4th inning‚ just the 13th pitcher to reach it and the first in the NL since Mike Scott in 1986. Pinch-hitter Luis Lopez breaks up Schilling’s bid for a no hitter with a one-out‚ single to center in the eighth.

At Wrigley Field‚ Kevin Tapani pitches a 1-hitter for his first NL shutout and Sammy Sosa breaks a scoreless tie with a two-run‚ 6th-inning homer as Chicago beats Cincinnati‚ 5-0. Bret Boone‘s leadoff single in the sixth is the only Reds hit.

Mark McGwire hits his 52nd home run hours after signing a three-year contract with the Cards for $28.5 million. But Cardinals’ closer Dennis Eckersley collapses in the 9th and the Dodgers come back to win‚ 7-6. McGwire’s 517-foot first-inning blast‚ the longest ever measured at Busch Stadium‚ ties him for the ML lead with Ken Griffey Jr.

Jimmy Key‚ 0-7 in his last 9 starts at Camden Yards‚ beats the Cleveland Indians 7-2 to give the Orioles a split in a day-night doubleheader. Roberto Alomar has three hits and three RBIs and Brady Anderson and Rafael Palmeiro homer in the win. In the opener‚ Charles Nagy pitches five-hit ball into the seventh inning and Matt Williams drives home two runs to lead the Indians to a 4-2 victory.

In Miami‚ Florida’s Bobby Bonilla fouls off six two-strike pitches before blasting a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Marlins a dramatic 9-6 win. For Bonilla‚ it is his 8th career slam. Larry Walker‚ Andres Galarraga‚ and Vinny Castilla homer for Colorado‚ which sets an NL record with 223 homers this year.

For the 2nd straight day‚ the Giants lose on a home run‚ as the Braves win‚ 6-4. Eddie Perez’s grand slam in the 6th gives the Braves a ML record-tying 11 slams for the year.

The Yankees sweep the Red Sox‚ winning 2-0 and 4-3. Andy Pettitte pitches 8 innings in the opener‚ striking out career-high 12. Willie Banks is the winner in the nitecap with 6 2/3 innings.
September 17Mo Vaughn responds to the boos of the crowd with a two-run home run in the eighth inning to lead Boston past Toronto‚ 4-3. Vaughn‚ who makes it 4-2 with the homer off Dan Plesac‚ is booed during introductions and during his first three at-bats in response to his comments Monday that he does not want to return to the Red Sox next season.

The Giants beat the Dodgers‚ 2-1‚ to move a game behind LA in the NL West.

Ryan Klesko has 4 hits including a grand slam off Bobby Jones‚ to pace the Braves to a 10-2 win over the Mets. Jones faces 8 batters‚ walking 4 and retiring 0. Maddux easily wins his 19th. Klesko’s slam gives the Braves 12 for the year‚ a new ML record. The Braves set another record as they become the first team to clinch 6 straight post-season appearances.

Mark McGwire blasts his 53rd homer‚ the most since 1961‚ to pace the Cards to a 12-9 win over the Cubs. RHP Rod Myers serves up the gopher.
September 18At San Francisco‚ Brian Johnson homers in the 12th inning to give the Giants a 6-5 win over the Dodgers and a tie for the lead in the NL West. Rod Beck gives up 3 singles in the 10th‚ but K’s Todd Zeile and gets Eddie Murray on a DP.
September 19Marlins’ C Charles Johnson ties Buddy Rosar’s mark for consecutive games without an error (117)‚ but does make his only passed ball of the year‚ as the Marlins defeat the Mets‚ 5-2‚ Johnson will finish the year with 124 games without an E.

Matt Williams must have an honest face‚ because he’s pulls the hidden ball trick for the third time‚ nabbing rookie Jed Hansen‚ in the Indians’ 6-2 win over the Royals in game 2‚ Williams uses the same ploy in all three instances. He asks the runner if he would step away from the bag so that he can brush off the dirt. The runners comply‚ and Williams slaps the tag on. The Royals win the opener‚ 10-3.

The White Sox tie Boston‚ 4-4 at Fenway on Albert Belle‘s 9th inning grand slam‚ off Tom Gordon‚ then win in the 10th on Frank Thomas’ single. The Red Sox had tied the game in the bottom of the 9th on pinch homers by Curtis Pride and Scott Hatteberg‚ both off Keith Foulke. Boston wastes Butch Henry’s 7 2/3 shutout innings‚ while Mike Sirotka’s one run in 8 innings goes unrewarded. Nomar Garciaparra has a pair of doubles to break Ted Williams‘ Red Sox rookie record for total bases. His total is 348 on his way to 365. Oliva set the AL rookie record in 1964 with 374.
September 21The Cubs beat the Phils‚ 11-3‚ but Curt Schilling racks up 8 K’s to match J.R. Richard for the most strikeouts by a NL righty (313). He’ll finish with 319 strikeouts. Ryne Sandberg‚ in his final game at Wrigley‚ is 2-for-3 before leaving for a pinch runner in the 5th. He makes a curtain call in the 7th when Harry Carey sings. Kevin Tapani wins his 6th straight start.

Brad Radke goes 10 innings to win his 20th as the Twins beat the Brewers‚ 2-1.

The Expos put a dent in Denny Neagle’s possible Cy Young Award as they twice unload back-to-back homers to beat the Braves‚ 7-1. Neagle retires the first 12 batters before giving up a single‚ then homers to Rondell White and Hemsley Muelens. In the 6th David Segui and White hit consecutive homers.

The 1st-place Giants top the Padres‚ 8-5 when Stan Javier snaps a 9th inning tie with a 2-run triple. In the 4th‚ Bobby Bonds legs out an inside-the-park homer when his fly ball in the sun bounces off Greg Vaughn’s knee.
September 22Ken Griffey Jr. hits his 54th and 55th homers‚ overtaking Mark McGwire for the major league lead‚ as Seattle clinches a tie for the AL West title‚ defeating Oakland 4-2. Griffey now has the seventh-highest homer total in ML history‚ trailing only Maris (61 in 1961)‚ Ruth (60 in 1927)‚ Ruth (59 in 1921)‚ Foxx (58 in 1932)‚ Greenberg (58 in 1938) and Wilson (56 in 1930). Griffey’s 55 homers are the most in the majors since Maris set the record in 1961. He has 5 games left‚ all at the Kingdome‚ to match Maris’ mark. With 3 HRs‚ Seattle has 257 this season‚ tying the major league mark set by Baltimore last year.
September 23In a warm-up for the playoffs‚ the Indians rally from a 9-2 deficit to shock the Yankees‚ 10-9. Tony Fernandez and Tino Martinez match 2-run homers‚ while Justice and Alomar also homer for the Tribe.

The Orioles score 3 runs in the first 2 innings of Roger Clemens (21-7)‚ then hold on to beat the Blue Jays‚ 3-2.

Angels Lefty OF Jim Edmonds hits a pair of HRs off Randy Johnson‚ but Seattle wins‚ 4-3‚ to clinch the AL West. Johnson won’t give up another HR to a lefty until John Olerud takes him deep in game 1 of the 1999 NLCS playoffs. Jay Buhner hits his 40th homer and then K’s for the 173rd time‚ a new M’s record.
September 24Doug Million‚ the Colorado Rockies No. 1 draft pick in the 1994 amateur draft‚ dies of an asthma attack at age 21.

With the Blue Jays in last place‚ Toronto fires manager Cito Gaston before today’s game with the Orioles. Gaston took the team to the World Series in 1992 and 1993. Coach Mel Queen was named as interim manager for the last 5 games. The O’s then beat the Jays‚ 9-3‚ to clinch the AL East title. Baltimore was never out of first place‚ just the 6th ML team to hold first place every day of the season.
September 25The Astros cinch the NL Central flag with a 9-1 win over the Cubs. Mike Hampton is the winner.
September 26Four Yankees pitchers combine to 1-hit the Tigers‚ winning by a score of 8-2. Andy Pettitte starts and allows a 2-run single to Travis Fryman in the 3rd inning‚ giving Detroit a 2-1 lead. Pettitte leaves after 4 frames and is succeeded by Brian Boehringer (3 innings)‚ Mariano Rivera (1 inning)‚ and Jeff Nelson (1 inning). Rivera receives credit for the win when NY explodes for 6 runs in the 9th inning.

In the 7th at Shea‚ Atlanta SS Rafael Belliard hits his first homer in a decade‚ off Brian Bohannon‚ to tie the Mets at 6 apiece. His last came on May 5‚ 1987‚ off Eric Show of Padres. Atlanta wins‚ 7-6‚ in 11 innings.
September 27The Mariners hand Randy Johnson his 20th win when the Big Unit pitches the 5th and 6th innings in relief of Omar Olivares and Seattle beats Oakland‚ 9-3. Johnson is the first 20-game winner in M’s history‚ The Mariners stake Olivares to a 7-2 lead‚ but Piniella lifts the starter after 4 innings. Johnson was sidelined from August 20th to September 13th with a finger injury.
September 28Colorado hands Los Angeles a 13-9 defeat‚ as Neifi Perez leads the way with 5 hits and 3 runs batted in.
September 29The Pirates trip the playoff-bound Astros‚ 5-4 in 11 innings. Jose Guillan is the star‚ hitting a HR‚ driving in 3 and scoring the winning run. Craig Biggio‚ playing in his NL-best 381st straight game‚ is lifted for a pinch runner in the 4th. He ends the season of 162 games without grounding into a DP‚ tying Dick McAuliffe‘s ML record set in 1968.
September 30Cleveland scores 5 runs in the 1st inning‚ but the Yankees come back to win with 5 of their own in the 6th to defeat the Indians in Game 1 of their playoff series‚ 8-6. Tim Raines‚ Derek Jeter‚ and Paul O’Neill hit consecutive HRs in the decisive inning‚ giving Mario Mendoza the victory.

Atlanta scores single runs in the 1st and 2nd innings and Greg Maddux makes them stand up as the Braves hold off the Astros‚ 2-1‚ to take the lead in their playoff series.

SS Edgar Renteria‘s 2-out single in the bottom of the 9th scores Charles Johnson with the winning run as the Marlins defeat the Giants‚ 2-1‚ in the opener of their playoff series.

October

October 1The Orioles score 4 runs in both the 5th and 6th innings on their way to a 9-3 win over Seattle in Game 1 of their series.

The Braves pound the Astros‚ 13-3‚ to lead 2-0 in their division series. Jeff Blauser homers for the Braves‚ who take advantage of 8 walks from Houston’s Mike Hampton in 4 2/3 innings.

The Marlins again score the winning run in bottom half of the 9th‚ this time on a single by Moises Alou‚ to take a 2-game lead over the Giants. Bobby Bonilla drives home 3 runs for Florida‚ while Stan Javier gets 4 hits for the Jints.
October 2The Orioles defeat the Mariners by a score of 9-3 for the second day in a row. Brady Anderson and Harold Baines hit HRs to lead the way.

The Indians even their series with a 7-5 win over the Yankees behind a strong effort by rookie P Jaret Wright. Matt Williams homers for the Tribe‚ while light-hitting Omar Vizquel garners 3 hits.
October 3John Smoltz sets down Houston on 3 hits‚ while striking out 11‚ giving Atlanta a 4-1 victory‚ and 3-game sweep of their playoff series with the Astros.

The Marlins sweep their division series from the Giants with a 6-2 win behind Alex Fernandez. OF Devon White‘s 6th-inning grand slam is the key blow in the game.
October 4A solid pitching performance by Jeff Fassero keeps the Mariners alive in their series with the Orioles‚ as Seattle wins by a score of 4-2.

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.
October 5The Orioles close out the Mariners with a 3-1 victory in the 4th‚ and final‚ game of their playoff series. Seattle is held to 2 hits by Mike Mussina‚ Armando Benitez‚ and Randy Myers‚ while Jeff Reboulet and Geronimo Berroa hit HRs for Baltimore.

Cleveland scores single runs in the 8th and 9th innings to defeat the Yankees‚ 3-2‚ and even their series at 2 games apiece. David Justice and Sandy Alomar homer for the Indians‚ but light-hitting Omar Vizquel‘s single wins it.
October 6Cleveland sends New York home‚ as rookie Jaret Wright wins his 2nd game of the ALCS series‚ 4-3‚ giving the Indians a 3-games-to-2 series win.
October 7The Marlins take the opening game of the NLCS with a 5-3 victory over the Braves in Atlanta. Moises Alou drives in 4 of the Florida runs while the bullpen tosses 3 innings of hitless relief.
October 8The Orioles take Game 1 of the ALCS as Scott Erickson and Randy Myers combine to limit Cleveland to 4 hits in a 3-0 win. Brady Anderson and Roberto Alomar homer for Baltimore.

Ryan Klesko and Chipper Jones homer for the Braves‚ who even the NLCS at a game apiece by besting Florida‚ 7-1. Tommy Glavine earns the win for Atlanta.
October 9Cleveland OF Marquis Grissom hits a 3-run homer in the 8th inning to give the Indians a 5-4 victory over Baltimore‚ evening their series at 1 game apiece. Manny Ramirez also homers for the Tribe while Cal Ripken connects for a 4-bagger for the O’s.
October 10The Marlins take Game 3 by defeating the Braves by a score of 5-2. Charles Johnson drives home 3 of Florida’s runs‚ and Livan Hernandez gets the win in relief.
October 11The Orioles waste a masterful pitching performance from Mike Mussina‚ as Cleveland scores a run in the bottom of the 12th inning when Marquis Grissom steals home on a botched bunt attempt. Baltimore C Lenny Webster fails to chase after the ball‚ which he is sure was tipped by batter Omar Vizquel. Mussina gives up only 3 hits and 1 run in 7 innings‚ while striking out 15 Indians. Orel Hershiser holds Baltimore scoreless through 7 innings‚ allowing only 4 hits himself‚ as the Indians win‚ 2-1.

The Braves even the NLCS once again on Denny Neagle’s 4-hit‚ 4-0 shutout. Chipper Jones knocks out 3 hits for Atlanta.
October 12The Indians again score the winning run in their last at bat‚ coming back from a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Orioles‚ 8-7‚ for their 3rd straight win in the ALCS. Sandy Alomar drives home the winner with a single after hitting a 2-run homer earlier in the contest. He also scores from 2B on a wild pitch in the 5th. Brady Anderson‚ Harold Baines‚ Rafael Palmeiro hit homers off Jaret Wright in the 5th while Manny Ramirez goes deep for the Tribe. Jose Mesa blows his 2nd save in 2 days‚ but receives credit for the win.

Livan Hernandez holds the Braves to 3 hits and beats Greg Maddux‚ 2-1‚ in Game 5. Bobby Bonilla goes 3-for-3 for the Marlins.
October 13Baltimore’s hopes stay alive with the Orioles’ 4-2 win over the Indians in Game 5. Scott Kamieniecki gets the win and Jimmy Key hurls 3 hitless innings in relief for the O’s.
October 14The Marlins win their 1st NL pennant by defeating the Braves‚ 7-4‚ and winning the NLCS‚ 4 games to 2. Kevin Brown goes the distance for the clincher‚ while Bobby Bonilla gets 3 RBIs to lead Florida. Keith Lockhart has 4 hits for the Braves.
October 15The Orioles waste another magnificent effort by Mike Mussina as the Indians score the game’s only run on Tony Fernandez‘s 12th-inning HR to win‚ 1-0. Mussina hurls 8 shutout innings and allows just 1 hit‚ while walking 2 and striking out 10. Charles Nagy does not give up a run in 7 1/3 innings for the Indians‚ while surrendering 9 hits‚ as the O’s leave 14 batters on base.
October 18Florida take Game 1 of the WS‚ 7-4‚ behind rookie P Livan Hernandez. Moises Alou‘s 3-run homer in the 4th inning is the big blow for the Marlins‚ who are outhit by the Indians‚ 11-7.
October 19The Indians bounce back with a 6-1 victory in Game 2 of the Series. Chad Ogea gets the win and Sandy Alomar connects for a home run. Marquis Grissom has 3 hits for Cleveland.
October 21In a slugfest‚ the Marlins plate 7 runs in the 9th inning to outscore the Indians‚ 14-11‚ and take Game 3. Gary Sheffield drives in 5 runs for Florida on 3 hits‚ including a double and HR. Darren Daulton and Jim Eisenreich also homer for the Fish‚ while Jim Thome connects for Cleveland.
October 22The Indians ride home runs by Manny Ramirez and Matt Williams to a 10-3 victory over Florida to even the Series at 2 games apiece. Williams and Sandy Alomar get 3 hits each to give Jaret Wright the win.
October 23Rookie Livan Hernandez wins for the second time as Florida holds off Cleveland for an 8-7 victory in Game 5. Down 8-4‚ the Indians fight back with 3 in the 9th but strand the tying runner on base. Moises Alou hits a 3-run homer for Florida‚ while Sandy Alomar matches him for the Tribe.
October 25Cleveland evens the Series for the 3rd time with a 4-1 victory behind Chad Ogea. Ogea helps himself with the bat‚ getting a single and double in 2 trips to the plate‚ and knocking in a pair of runs.
October 26The Indians jump out to a 2-0 lead over Florida‚ but the Marlins claw their way back and tie the score in the bottom of the 9th on a sacrifice fly by Craig Counsell. In the last half of the 11th‚ SS Edgar Renteria gets his 3rd hit of the game‚ driving home Counsell with the winning run‚ as Florida wins Game 7 by a score of 3-2. The Marlins thus become the fastest team in baseball history to win a WS title‚ 3 years quicker than the 1969 NY Mets. P Livan Hernandez is named Most Valuable Player of the Series.

November

November 1The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum opens in its new home in Kansas City‚ Missouri. It had been occupying a temporary site there for 4 years.
November 3In a unanimous vote‚ Nomar Garciaparra is named American League Rookie of the Year. The Boston SS is the first rookie ever to bat .300‚ with 30 homers‚ 90 ribbies‚ and 20 stolen bases. He also led the AL in hits and his 98 RBIs set a record for a leadoff batter. He’s the first Sox rookie to win the honor since Fred Lynn‚ in 1975.
November 4The Phillies Scott Rolen is named National League Rookie of the Year. He barely qualified as a rookie‚ logging exactly 130 at bats in 1996 before breaking his wrist on September 7 when he was hit by a pitch. One more at bat would disqualified him for the award in 1997.

Former Red Sox IF-OF Wil Cordero pleads guilty to beating his wife‚ and gets a 90-day sentence‚ suspended for 2 years. Cordero was arrested on June 11th.

Former Angels IF-OF Tony Phillips pleads guilty to misdemeanor cocaine possession and is ordered into a drug diversion program. Phillips was arrested on August 10th.
November 5In what Bud Selig says is Phase 1 of a realignment of the major leagues‚ his Milwaukee Brewers move from the AL to the NL.

Davey Johnson resigns as manager of the Orioles just hours before he is named the American League Manager of the Year. Baltimore owner Peter Angelos had refused to give Johnson a vote of confidence after saying earlier that Johnson would be back in 1998.
November 6Dusty Baker is named National League Manager of the Year.

The Red Sox trade Ps Aaron Sele and Mark Brandenburg and C Bill Haselman to the Rangers in exchange for C Jim Leyritz and OF Damon Buford.
November 7Tampa Bay hires Larry Rothschild‚ former Florida Marlins‘ pitching coach‚ as its first ever manager.

The Yankees trade P Kenny Rogers to the Athletics in exchange for a player to be named.
November 10Roger Clemens is named American League Cy Young Award winner.

The Reds trade P Jeff Brantley to the Cardinals in exchange for 1B Dmitri Young.
November 11Pedro Martinez is named National League Cy Young Award winner.

The Reds swap P Donne Wall and C Paul Bako to the Tigers in exchange for OF Melvin Nieves.

The Marlins start their fire sale by trading OF Moises Alou to the Astros for pitchers Oscar Henriquez and Manuel Barrios and a player to be named.

The Yankees trade vet 3B Charlie Hayes to the Giants for OF Chris Singleton and P Alberto Castillo.
November 12Ken Griffey, Jr. is named AL MVP.

The Athletics sign free agent INF Dave Magadan.
November 13Larry Walker is named National League MVP.

The Minnesota state legislature turns down the Twins’ stadium proposal by a vote of 84-47.
November 17The Diamondbacks sign free agent SS Jay Bell to a 5-year contract.

The Braves sign free agent SS Walt Weiss to a 3-year contract.
November 18The expansion draft for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks is held in Phoenix‚ Arizona. Florida pitcher Tony Saunders is taken with the 1st pick by the Devil Rays‚ while the Diamondbacks select pitcher Brian Anderson from Cleveland. Following the draft‚ the Diamondbacks acquire 3B Travis Fryman from the Tigers in exchange for IFs Joe Randa and Gabe Alvarez and P Matt Drews. They also obtain OF Devon White from the Marlins for P Jesus Martinez. In a rash of moves‚ the Devil Rays get 1B Fred McGriff from the Braves for a player to be named‚ C John Flaherty from the Padres for P Brian Boehringer and IF Andy Sheets‚ SS Kevin Stocker from the Phillies for Bobby Abreu‚ and sign free agent P Roberto Hernandez to a 4-year contract.

In one of their best swaps ever‚ the Red Sox obtain Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez from the Expos in exchange for P Carl Pavano and a player to be named.

The Rockies acquire 2B Mike Lansing from the Expos in exchange for Ps Jake Westbrook and John Nicholson and OF Mike Hamlin.

The Marlins trade P Robb Nen to the Giants for Ps Joe Fontenot‚ Mike Villano‚ and Mick Pageler.

The Yankees obtain 3B Scott Brosius from the Athletics to complete the Kenny Rogers deal.

The Mariners sign free agent 2B Joey Cora.
November 20The Braves sign Rockies free agent 1B Andres Galarraga to a 3-year contract.
November 21The Royals acquire 1B Jeff Conine from the Marlins in exchange for P Blaine Mull.
November 26The Blue Jays sign free agent P Randy Myers to a 3-year contract.

December

December 1The Diamondbacks obtain 3B Matt Williams from the Indians in exchange for 3B Travis Fryman‚ P Tom Martin‚ and $3 million.
December 3The Devil Rays sign free agent P Wilson Alvarez to a 5-year contract. They also sign free agent OF Dave Martinez to a 2-year deal.
December 4The Rockies sign free agent P Darryl Kile to a 3-year contract.
December 8The Diamondbacks sign free agent P Willie Blair to a 3-year contract.

The Indians sign free agent OF Kenny Lofton to a 3-year contract‚ and free agent P Dwight Gooden to a 2-year pact. They also trade OF Marquis Grissom and P Jeff Juden to the Brewers in exchange for pitchers Ben McDonald‚ Ron Villone‚ and Mike Fetters. Fetters is then sent to the Athletics in exchange for P Steve Karsay.

The Dodgers sign free agent SS Jose Vizcaino to a 3-year contract.

The Devil Rays sign free agent 1B Paul Sorrento to a 2-year contract. Tomorrow‚ they agree to terms with free agent 3B Wade Boggs.

The Rangers sign free agent SS Kevin Elster.

The Blue Jays sign free agent C Mike Stanley to a 2-year contract‚ and free agent IF Tony Fernandez to a 1-year pact.
December 9The Red Sox sign free agent P Dennis Eckersley. Eck pitched for Boston from 1978-84.

The Cubs sign free agent SS Jeff Blauser to a 2-year contract.

The Tigers sign free agent OF Luis Gonzalez to a 2-year contract.

The Astros sign free agent IF Jack Howell to a 2-year contract.

The Athletics sign free agent P Tom Candiotti.

The Giants sign free agent P Orel Hershiser.
December 10The White Sox sign free agent catchers Charlie O’Brien and Chad Kreuter.

The Yankees sign free agent DH Chili Davis to a 2-year contract.
December 11The Braves trade P Chad Fox to the Brewers in exchange for OF Gerald Williams.

The Orioles sign free agent P Doug Drabek and tomorrow sign free agent OF Joe Carter.

The Twins sign free agent OF Otis Nixon.
December 12The Tigers sign free agent IF Bip Roberts.

The Mariners sign free agent 1B David Segui to a 2-year contract.

The Cubs obtain OF Henry Rodriguez from the Expos in exchange for P Miguel Batista.

The Twins obtain OF Alex Ochoa from the Mets for OF Rich Becker. Tomorrow‚ the Twins sign much-traveled free agent P Mike Morgan.
December 15The Orioles sign free agent P Norm Charlton.

The Marlins trade ace Kevin Brown to the Padres for 1B Derrek Lee and pitchers Rafael Medina and Steve Hoff. In the next two days the Fish send P Dennis Cook to the Mets for OF Fletcher Bates and P Scott Comer‚ and trade IF Kurt Abbott to the Athletics in exchange for P Eric Ludwick.
December 22The Royals sign free agent 1B Hal Morris.

The Mets trade OF Carl Everett to the Astros for P John Hudek.
December 23The Red Sox sign free agent OF Darren Lewis.

The Cubs trade OF Doug Glanville to the Phillies for 2B Mickey Morandini.