May 27 1904 — Dennis McGann of the New York Giants stole five bases in one game to set a major league record. 1937 — Carl Hubbell, working in relief for the New York Giants, won his 24th straight game over two seasons. Hubbell pitched two innings and Mel Ott hit a ninth-inning home run to beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2. Hubbell’s string started July 17, 1936. 1955 — Norm Zauchin of the Boston Red Sox knocked in 10 runs with three home runs and a double in the first five innings of a 16-0 victory over the Washington Senators. 1960 — Baltimore catcher Clint Courtney used the “big mitt” for the first time to catch knuckleball pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm. The mitt, designed by Paul Richards, was 50 percent larger than the standard. Nothing got by Courtney as the Orioles beat the New York Yankees 3-2. 1968 — Montreal and San Diego were awarded National League franchises as the league expanded for the first time in seven years. 1974 — Pittsburgh’s Ken Brett beat the San Diego Padres 6-0 with a two-hitter... [More]

May 21 1926 — Earl Sheely of the Chicago White Sox hit three doubles and a home run against the Boston Red Sox. Sheely doubled in each of his last three at-bats the previous day to give him seven consecutive extra-base hits, tying a major league record. The six doubles in the two games also tied a major league record. 1943 — In the fastest nine-inning night game in American League history, the Chicago White Sox beat the Washington Senators 1-0, in 1 hour, 29 minutes. 1948 — Joe DiMaggio had two home runs, a triple, double and single to lead the New York Yankees to a 13-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. 1952 — Duke Snider’s home run highlighted a 15-run first inning in the Dodgers’ 19-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds in Brooklyn. Snider, Pee Wee Reese and Billy Cox each made three plate appearances in the first inning. 1986 — Rafael Ramirez of Atlanta had four doubles in seven at-bats as the Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 9-8 in 13 innings. 1996 — Larry Walker drove in a career-high six... [More]

Sept. 31917 — Philadelphia’s Grover Cleveland Alexander went the distance in both games of the Phillies’ 5-0 and 9-3 sweep of the Brooklyn Dodgers.1947 — Bill McCahan pitched a 3-0 no-hitter to give the Philadelphia Athletics a 3-0 win over Washington.1947 — The New York Yankees had 18 hits, all singles, in an 11-2 victory over Boston at Fenway Park. Tommy Henrich and Joe DiMaggio each had four hits.1957 — Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves recorded his 41st career shutout with an 8-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Spahn’s shutout set a major league record for left-handed pitchers.1970 — Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs asked to be kept out of the lineup, snapping his National League record of 1,117 consecutive games played. His record was broken in 1983 by Steve Garvey.1981 — The Boston Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners played the longest game in Fenway Park’s history, 19 innings, before the game was suspended with the score tied 7-7. The Mariners won 8-7 in 20 innings... [More]

May 271904 — Dennis McGann of the New York Giants stole five bases in one game to set a major league record.1937 — Carl Hubbell, working in relief for the New York Giants, won his 24th straight game over two seasons. Hubbell pitched two innings and Mel Ott hit a ninth-inning home run to beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2. Hubbell’s string started July 17, 1936.1955 — Norm Zauchin of the Boston Red Sox knocked in 10 runs with three home runs and a double in the first five innings of a 16-0 victory over the Washington Senators.1960 — Baltimore catcher Clint Courtney used the “big mitt” for the first time to catch knuckleball pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm. The mitt, designed by Paul Richards, was 50 percent larger than the standard. Nothing got by Courtney as the Orioles beat the New York Yankees 3-2.1968 — Montreal and San Diego were awarded National League franchises as the league expanded for the first time in seven years.1974 — Pittsburgh’s Ken Brett beat the San Diego Padres 6-0 with a two-hitter and... [More]

Sept. 11906 — The Philadelphia Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 in 24 innings. Jack Coombs of the Athletics and Joe Harris of the Red Sox pitched all 24 innings. Coombs fanned 18.1930 — Wes Ferrell of Cleveland beat the St. Louis Browns 9-5 for his 13th straight victory.1931 — Lou Gehrig hit his third grand slam in four days as the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5-1.1945 — The Philadelphia Phillies, behind Vince DiMaggio's grand slam, beat the Braves 8-3 in Boston. It was the fourth grand slam of the year for DiMaggio to tie a major league mark.1958 — Vinegar Bend Mizell of the St. Louis Cardinals set a National League record by walking nine batters and tossing a shutout. Mizell beat Cincinnati 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.1963 — Curt Simmons of the St. Louis Cardinals allowed six hits, drove in two runs with a triple and stole home plate in a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Simmons' steal of home is the last by a pitcher.1967 — Cincinnati's Bob Lee walked Dick... [More]

May 261916 — Benny Kauff of the Giants was picked off first base three times by Boston's Lefty Tyler. The miscues didn't hurt as New York won its 14th consecutive road victory beating the Braves, 12-1.1925 — In Detroit's 8-1 win over the Chicago White Sox, Ty Cobb became the first to collect 1,000 career extra-base hits. He finished his career with 1,139.1929 — Pinch-hitters Pat Crawford of the Giants and Les Bell of the Boston Braves hit grand slams in New York's 15-9 victory.1930 — Joe Sewell of the Cleveland Indians, who fanned only three times in 353 at-bats during the season, was struck out twice in the same game by Pat Caraway of the White Sox.1933 — Philadelphia's Chuck Klein hit for cycle in a 5-4 14-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Dizzy Dean went the distance for St. Louis.1937 — Billy Sullivan and Bruce Campbell appeared for the Cleveland Indians as pinch hitters. Each hit a home run, making it the first time two American League pinch hitters hit home runs in the same... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Christian Yelich led Milwaukee's big comeback by hitting for the cycle, and Jesus Aguilar homered in the 10th inning, powering the Brewers to a 13-12 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday nightAguilar connected off Raisel Iglesias (2-3) for Milwaukee's fourth homer of the game, halting the Brewers' month-long slide. Milwaukee has dropped 11 of 20 and slipped into third place in the NL Central, five games behind the Cubs.Yelich became the eighth Brewers player to hit for the cycle and the first since George Kottaras on Sept. 3, 2011, at Houston. Yelich also matched the club record with six hits of the Brewers' 22 hits, including a two-run homer.Mike Moustakas' solo shot put Milwaukee ahead 11-10 in the eighth, but Joakim Soria's wild pitch allowed Billy Hamilton to score the tying run in the bottom of the inning. Jeremy Jeffress (7-1) gave up Brandon Dixon's homer in the 10th.The Brewers extended their Great American Ball Park record to 21 straight games with at... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Christian Yelich led Milwaukee's big comeback by hitting for the cycle, and Jesus Aguilar homered in the 10th inning, powering the Brewers to a 13-12 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday nightAguilar connected off Raisel Iglesias (2-3) for Milwaukee's fourth homer of the game, halting the Brewers' month-long slide. Milwaukee has dropped 11 of 20 and slipped into third place in the NL Central, five games behind the Cubs.Yelich became the eighth Brewers player to hit for the cycle and the first since George Kottaras on Sept. 3, 2011, at Houston. Yelich also matched the club record with six hits of the Brewers' 22 hits, including a two-run homer.Mike Moustakas' solo shot put Milwaukee ahead 11-10 in the eighth, but Joakim Soria's wild pitch allowed Billy Hamilton to score the tying run in the bottom of the inning. Jeremy Jeffress (7-1) gave up Brandon Dixon's homer in the 10th.The Brewers extended their Great American Ball Park record to 21 straight games with at... [More]

Kottaras signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays on Wednesday and has been added to Triple-A Buffalo's active roster, Sportsnet reports.

Josh Thole was placed on the 7-day disabled list Tuesday with a hand infection, which led to the Blue Jays adding some catching depth in Kottaras. The 32-year-old Kottaras had been released by the White Sox's Triple-A affiliate earlier in the week after posting a .247 average over 97 minor league at-bats.

Kottaras was released from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday, Doug Padilla of ESPN Chicago reports.

The 32-year-old Kottaras was having a tough season in limited action for Triple-A Charlotte. He hit .247 in 97 at-bats, but did have a .403 on-base percentage. His release gives way for Rob Brantly on the roster.

Kottaras was reassigned minor league camp Friday.

Kottaras was initially announced as the White Sox's backup catcher, but later backtracked and Geovany Soto was awarded the spot. He'll likely begin the season in Triple-A, but probably remains one of the options to return as a backup should one of the to catchers suffer an injury.

Kottaras will not be awarded the White Sox's backup catcher role after it was announced Geovy Soto will serve in that role Tuesday.

Kottaras did little to help his cause this spring, slashing .174/.240/.391 in 23 at-bats. It is not clear yet if he will remain in the organization, or if he will be free to try his luck with yet another club (he is up to eight).

Kottaras agreed to a minor league deal with the White Sox on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.

The 31-year-old will presumably be invited to attend major league camp for spring training, with a chance to compete for the backup job behind Tyler Flowers. Kottaras played for three different teams last season (Indians, Cardinals, Blue Jays), slashing a combined .233/.351/.533 with three homers and five RBI in 18 games. He's just a .215/.326/.411 career hitter at the major league level.

Kottaras will become a free agent after being outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo, Sportsnet reports.

Kottaras is arbitration-eligible, so he may end up returning to the Blue Jays. After signing in Toronto in August, he appeared in just four games for the team, and 18 total in the big leagues. With Dioner Navarro and Josh Thole on the team, there does not appear to be a spot on the major league roster for Kottaras.

The Blue Jays recalled Kottaras from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

Kottaras was called up to provide the Blue Jays with a third catcher on the roster. As a veteran and the third guy on the depth chart, expect his playing time to be sparse.

Kottaras was signed by the Blue Jays on August 7 and has reported to Triple-A Buffalo where he is 1-for-6 with a walk and four strikeouts so far with the Bisons.

The 31-year-old just hasn't been able to find a permanent home as a pro, as lacklustre defence and a poor batting average (.216 in 718 at-bats in the majors despite a respectable .740 OPS) have contributed to the Canadian bouncing around to five organizations since the end of 2013 and nine in his 12-year career. Kottaras' 1124 career plate appearances at the Triple-A level definitely qualify him as a seasoned veteran, which the Jays' brass are likely hoping will translate to some stability and leadership as the season winds down.

Cardinals released C George Kottaras.

Kottaras had been designated for assignment over the weekend following the A.J. Pierzynski signing. He cleared waivers and is now free to sign on elsewhere.

Cardinals designated C George Kottaras for assignment.

The veteran backstop became expendable with Friday's acquisition of A.J. Pierzynski. He appeared in just four games during his brief stay in St. Louis. He shouldn't have much difficulty finding another organization willing to take a shot on him.

Cardinals claimed C George Kottaras off waivers from the Indians.

The Cards needed some depth at catcher following the Yadier Molina (thumb) injury, and Kottaras makes sense as a stop-gap. The 31-year-old is a career .216/.326/.415 hitter but did slug three homers over 10 games with the Tribe. He figures to share time with Tony Cruz while Molina is out, with Audry Perez heading back to Triple-A Memphis.

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that George Kottaras is "of interest" to the Cardinals.

The Cards, of course, are looking for a catcher following Yadier Molina's thumb surgery. Goold notes that Kottaras, who was designated for assignment by the Indians earlier this week, "has done well offensively" and "has a solid reputation in the game and experience at the position." Another catcher who could interest the Cardinals is John Buck, who was also just designated for assignment. They could also consider a trade for Kurt Suzuki. Goold says the club does not have interest in A.J. Pierzynski.