July 7: Cormier Cruises, Gonzalez Hits #300, and Hrbek Tries to Save the Orioles
The Royals’ steady rise continued with Rheal Cormier tossing a 2-hit complete game against the high-powered Cardinals. The lefty needed just 100 pitches and struck out 7 in a 5–1 victory that never felt in doubt. Kansas City backed him up with 13 hits, and five different players drove in runs. This marked the Royals’ fourth win in a row, and they showed no signs of slowing down.
In San Francisco, Juan Gonzalez added another bullet point to his Hall of Fame résumé. The Colorado slugger mashed his 300th career home run in a 4-hit day that lifted the Rockies over the Giants, 6–3. Gonzalez drove in three, scored twice, and now owns a .271 career average with 740 RBIs and counting.
And in Baltimore, Kent Hrbek tried to drag the Orioles out of their losing streak with a 4-RBI night, including a home run and two walks. But even his heroics weren’t enough to avoid a 9–7 extra-inning loss to Toronto. Dean Palmer’s walk and eventual run in the 11th sealed the deal, extending Baltimore’s skid to seven straight.
July 8: Alvarez Throws a No-No, Hanson Silences the Expos, Mathews Deals
Wilson Alvarez made history at League Park. The Orlando Sun Rays lefty threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Spiders, walking just two and striking out 11 in a dominant 6–0 win. It’s the first no-hitter of the DBL season and a shining moment for a Sun Rays club trying to climb out of the basement.
Meanwhile, Erik Hanson took the mound for Washington and shut down the league-best Expos with a 6-hit, 11-strikeout complete game. The Senators coasted to a 9–2 win in Montreal, with Hanson gutting it out despite battling a stomach bug pregame. “To be honest, I was sick before the game,” he said. “Just a stomach bug.”
In Chicago, Greg Mathews gave the White Sox a rare bright spot with a 9-inning, 6-hit gem in a 10–1 rout over Texas. The offense exploded behind him with 10 runs on 10 hits, led by Kevin Reimer and Dave Valle combining for five RBIs. Texas, meanwhile, dropped its sixth straight.
Elsewhere:
- Quilvio Veras walked off the Cardinals in the 12th with a sharp RBI single, giving the Royals a thrilling 5–4 win and their fifth straight.
- Lyle Mouton delivered a go-ahead pinch-hit double in the ninth to lift Toronto over the Orioles, 5–2.
July 9: Frank Thomas Rakes, Brown Outduels St. Louis, and Osborne Shuts Down Oakland
Frank Thomas did everything he could to keep the Twins alive against the Cubs, going 4-for-4 with two homers and three RBIs. But Minnesota wasted his brilliance, falling 5–3 as Scott Brosius launched a two-run homer in the sixth that proved decisive for Chicago.
In Kansas City, Kevin Brown picked up his 15th win of the year, throwing 8 innings of 4-hit, 1-run ball as the Royals beat the Cardinals 3–1 to sweep the series. Kansas City has now won six straight, cementing themselves as the team to beat in the Federal League.
And in Los Angeles, Donovan Osborne flirted with a complete game before finishing 8.2 innings of 5-hit, 1-run ball as the Dodgers handled the A’s 6–1. Jeffrey Hammonds broke it open with a sixth-inning grand slam, his fifth homer of the year.
Also Noteworthy:
- Howard Johnson homered twice, including a walk-off shot in the 11th to lift Cleveland over Orlando, 5–4.
- Ed Taubensee’s pinch-hit double in the 10th gave Pittsburgh a 5–3 win over Boston. Chris Hammond threw 9 strong innings in the win.
- The Orioles have now lost eight straight, while the Royals have won six straight.