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...
What began as a quiet night at Shea Stadium turned volatile in the eighth inning, when Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd and Orioles reliever Josias Manzanillo sparked a bench-clearing brawl that overshadowed New York’s 5-1 victory over Baltimore. On Wednesday, the league handed down its ruling: both Floyd and Manzanillo have been suspended four games for their roles in the altercation. The incident occurred in a tension-filled eighth inning,...
It was supposed to be just another game between two struggling clubs on the fringes of the standings. Instead, July 5th’s clash between the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins delivered fireworks far beyond the Fourth of July — and the fallout was swift and severe. The flashpoint came in the bottom of the first inning when White Sox slugger Marty Cordova was hit by a pitch from Minnesota’s Hideo Nomo. The two exchanged words, tempers...
July 4: Larkin, Stanley, and Saenz Spark Fireworks Mike Stanley led the charge as the Senators thumped Detroit 12–3 at Tiger Stadium. Stanley went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs while also scoring three times. He wasn’t the only one to light it up—Willie Greene added a two-run homer in the second as Washington poured on five early runs and never looked back. The Tigers have now dropped seven straight. In Arlington, Barry Larkin...
It wasn’t always graceful. It wasn’t always easy. But it was inevitable. On July 5, 1995, Kirk Gibson reached one of baseball’s most revered milestones—2,500 career hits—with a line-drive single in his third plate appearance at Fenway Park. The Boston crowd, fully aware of the moment’s significance, rose in unison as Gibson stood at first base. He tipped his helmet, eyes scanning the stands, taking in the applause and the history he...
With the All-Star break drawing closer, two hitters stood out in a big way to open July—both providing a jolt to their respective offenses and perhaps a sign of bigger things to come. The league recognized Colorado's Tim Salmon and Cincinnati's Javy Lopez as the United and Federal League Players of the Week, respectively. Let’s take a closer look at the performances behind the awards. United League Player of the Week: Tim Salmon (RF,...
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):1) Montreal Expos (122.6, ++)2) Kansas City Royals (121.6, -)3) St. Louis Cardinals (121.0, +)4) Cincinnati Reds (116.5, -)5) Colorado Rockies (109.2, ++)6) Pittsburgh Pirates (108.3, +)7) New York Mets (107.3, -)8) San Francisco Giants (106.3, --)9) Seattle Pilots (101.1, +)10) Washington Senators (100.1, -)11) Toronto Blue Jays (96.0, ++)12) Chicago Cubs (94.1, --)13) San Diego Padres (87.0, ++)14) Minnesota...
July 1: Batista and Henry Go the Distance, Vinny and Juan Walk It Off Miguel Batista was electric in St. Louis, firing a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts and no walks in a 6–0 win over the White Sox. Matt Williams backed him with two home runs and three RBIs as the Cardinals cruised. Butch Henry matched him pitch for pitch in Pittsburgh, tossing a 6-hit shutout with 10 Ks in a 7–0 rout of the Spiders. He didn’t issue a single walk...
In a matter of hours, the Los Angeles Dodgers changed the course of their season—and perhaps their future. On July 1st, the front office executed not one, but two major trades, dealing away ace Roger Clemens, All-Star catcher Mickey Tettleton, and veteran infielder Scott Fletcher in a pair of moves that confirmed what many suspected: the Dodgers are shifting into full reset mode. The blockbuster came first. Clemens, still one of the premier...
In a bold stroke that could define not just the 1995 season but the long-term legacies of two franchises, the Montreal Expos acquired future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens from the Los Angeles Dodgers, sending back a package of picks and players. With the Expos firmly atop the United League East and Clemens still performing like an ace, the move signals a full-tilt push toward a championship. But it also sharpens the spotlight: anything short of a...