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]

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]

April 12 1906 — Johnny Bates of Boston became the first modern player to hit a home run in his first major league at bat. Irv Young allowed one hit as Boston beat Brooklyn 2-0. 1912 — The Chicago Cubs’ Tinker-Evers-Chance double play combination played its final major league game together. 1955 — In their first game in Kansas City, the transplanted Athletics defeated the Detroit Tigers 6-2 at Municipal Stadium. The standing-room crowd of 32,147 was the largest paid crowd for any event in Kansas City. 1965 — The first National League home run in the Houston Astrodome was hit by Richie Allen of the Philadelphia Phillies off Bob Bruce in a 2-0 victory over the Astros. 1966 — A crowd of 50,671 welcomed the Braves to Atlanta, but Willie Stargell spoiled the occasion with a two-run homer in the 13th inning to give the Pirates a 3-2 victory. 1980 — In an awesome display of power, Cecil Cooper and Don Money each hit grand slams in the second inning of Milwaukee’s 18-1 rout of the Boston Red Sox.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are the leading candidates returning to baseball’s Hall of Fame ballot in a year without any favorites among the new names. Schilling was third behind Derek Jeter and Larry Walker with 278 of 397 votes last year, finishing at 70% and 20 votes shy in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Clemens had 242 votes for 61% and Bonds 241 for 60.7%, both well short of the 75% needed, which was 298 votes last year. Both were overwhelming favorites before suspicions of steroids use. Clemens has denied using performance-enhancing drugs, and Bonds says he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs. All three will be making their ninth appearance on the BBWAA ballot this year, one short of the limit. Omar Vizquel was next in last year's voting with 209 ballots for 52.6%. Pitchers Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, Mark Buehrle and A.J. Burnett, and outfielder Torii Hunter are among the top newcomers on the ballot announced... [More]

April 121906 — Johnny Bates of Boston became the first modern player to hit a home run in his first major league at bat. Irv Young allowed one hit as Boston beat Brooklyn 2-0.1912 — The Chicago Cubs’ Tinker-Evers-Chance double play combination played its final major league game together.1955 — In their first game in Kansas City, the transplanted Athletics defeated the Detroit Tigers 6-2 at Municipal Stadium. The standing-room crowd of 32,147 was the largest paid crowd for any event in Kansas City.1965 — The first National League home run in the Houston Astrodome was hit by Richie Allen of the Philadelphia Phillies off Bob Bruce in a 2-0 victory over the Astros.1966 — A crowd of 50,671 welcomed the Braves to Atlanta, but Willie Stargell spoiled the occasion with a two-run homer in the 13th inning to give the Pirates a 3-2 victory.1980 — In an awesome display of power, Cecil Cooper and Don Money each hit grand slams in the second inning of Milwaukee’s 18-1 rout of the Boston Red Sox.1992... [More]

April 101913 : President Wilson threw out the first ball as the Senators edged the New York Yankees 2-1 in Washington’s home opener. Walter Johnson allowed an unearned run in the first inning, but did not yield another run for 56 consecutive innings.1959 : Chicago’s Nellie Fox, who went 5 for 7, hit a 14th-inning opening day home run off Don Mossi to beat Detroit, 9-7. The White Sox second baseman did not homer in 623 at-bats the previous season.1962 : The Houston Colt .45s, in the first major league game played in Texas, beat the Chicago Cubs 11-2 before 25,000. Roman Mejias led Houston’s offense with two three-run homers.1969 : Tommy Agee of the New York Mets hit a home run into the upper deck in Shea Stadium’s left field. It was the longest home run to reach the seats in the history of the stadium.1982 : Under icy conditions, the Cleveland Indians opened the season at Municipal Stadium with an 8-3 loss to the Texas Rangers before 62,443 fans. Five hundred tons of snow had to be removed... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The young Clay Buchholz used the scouting report merely as a suggestion.He glanced at it, made a couple of mental notes, but basically threw whatever pitch was working or felt right in the situation. His stuff was that good.The veteran Clay Buchholz relies on the scouting report much more. His stuff not quite as electric, the right-hander has to use his mind and his arm to get hitters out.It's certainly working. Following a series of injury-plagued seasons, Buchholz has used a more targeted approach to revitalize his career and become a key cog in the Arizona Diamondbacks' push to a second straight playoff appearance."I try to pitch to hitters' weaknesses a lot more than I used to," Buchholz said. "I've gotten a lot better at knowing what part of the scouting report I can (use) and what I can do with it, rather than taking it all in and forgetting some of it and being unsure. I have a lot of other eyes on the whole scenario for me, too."Buchholz has arguably been Arizona's... [More]

Chicago Cubs pitcher Dan Haren announced his retirement Thursday, according to Sports Illustrated.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Dan Haren announced his retirement Thursday, according to Sports Illustrated. Haren, who had previously stated that he would retire at the end of the Cubs' run in the postseason, posted a message on Twitter after Chicago was swept by the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. "Thank you baseball. I played this beautiful game for 30 years. I took my jersey off for the last time tonight. It was an honor," Haren said in the statement. The announcement ends a 13-year-career which saw him garner two All-Star appearances in 2007 and 2008 with the Oakland A's and Arizona Diamondbacks, as well as two top-10 finishes for the Cy Young Award in 2009 and 2011 with Arizona and the Los Angeles Angels, respectively. Haren finished this season with a 4.58 ERA during time split with the Cubs and Miami Marlins.

Haren said that he'll retire from baseball after the Cubs complete their postseason run, ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers reports.

Haren made the announcement in Sunday's regular-season finale, after he held the Brewers to one run on three hits over six innings en route to claiming his 11th victory of the season. The Cubs haven't officially set their roster for their NLDS matchup against St. Louis, but with manager Joe Maddon likely to deploy a four-man rotation, Haren figures to be the odd man out, and thus, left off the roster.

Haren (10-9) blanked the Reds over 7.1 innings in a 4-1 victory Tuesday, surrendering only three hits and striking out six.

Haren turned in his second quality start of September, two appearances in which he has blanked opposing batters over at least seven innings. He also has now stayed away from his Achilles heel, the long ball, in three out of his last four trips to the mound. Haren has closed out the 2015 season with his best month to date, and it remains to be seen what role he will play in the Cubs' postseason plans.

Haren allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits, he did not walk a batter, and struck out two over 4.1 innings against the Cardinals on Friday afternoon.

The surging Cubs would come on to win the game 8-3, but Haren was gone too early to qualify for a win. Now just six games behind the Cardinals, and more importantly, only two back of the Pirates in the wild card race, the Cubs are pulling out all the stops as they scramble to qualify for a playoff spot so quick hooks and playing individual match-ups could very possibly part of the plan over the last few days of the regular season.

Haren's next start has been pushed back to Sunday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago reports.

With rain in the forecast in Philadelphia on Saturday, the Cubs have decided to push Haren back to ensure he doesn't have an abbreviated outing. Travis Wood will get the nod Saturday in what is expected to amount to a bullpen game for Chicago.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Dan Haren will be pushed back to Sunday with rain in the forecast for his scheduled Saturday start, according to ESPN Chicago.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Dan Haren will be pushed back to Sunday with rain in the forecast for his scheduled Saturday start, according to ESPN Chicago. Travis Wood will start Saturday.

Haren (9-9) earned the win Monday at St. Louis, allowing no runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over seven innings.

Haren was spotted an 8-0 lead after three innings in a game he needed very little run support, as he shut down the Cardinals. This was the first time he's completed seven innings since July 9, and it's the first time he's held an opponent scoreless since May 2. With this performance, he ended a rough patch in which he'd allowed 11 earned runs in 15.2 innings over his last three starts. He'll make his next start Saturday at Philadelphia.

Haren allowed two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings, but received no decision Tuesday against the Reds.

Haren pitched well enough to earn the win, but the Cubs' bats were quiet early on, and wasted his solid effort. In his six starts since the Cubs acquired him, this was the first appearance in which he allowed fewer than three runs. His next start will be Monday at St. Louis

Haren (8-9) gave up five runs in 6.1 innings in a loss to the Giants on Thursday. He struck out four while allowing six hits and three walks.

Haren has been simply putrid in five starts since coming over to the Cubs at the trade deadline, with exactly zero quality starts and a horrendous eight homers allowed in just 25.2 innings. He pitched well against his next opponent, the Reds, when he last saw them in mid-July, but Haren can hardly be counted on at this point.

Haren came away with a no-decision Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits over 4.1 innings while striking out three.

Brought in to stabilize the Cubs' fifth starter spot, Haren has instead posted an ugly 6.05 ERA in four starts since joining the team. He'll try to turn things around Thursday on the road against the Giants.

Haren fell to 8-8 on Sunday, allowing three runs on seven hits in just 4.2 innings against the White Sox.

The veteran allowed all three runs via the solo home run, but otherwise limited the White Sox to one extra-base hit whithout walking a batter. Haren has struggled a bit since joining the Cubs, failing to go deeper than 5.1 innings while allowing three runs in each of his three starts. He will look to get back on track Saturday against the Braves.

Haren earned the win Tuesday, holding the Brewers to three runs in 5.1 innings.

Haren has now had two relatively uninspiring starts since coming to Chicago, allowing seven runs in 10.1 innings for the Cubs. The veteran will try to right the ship when he faces the White Sox on the road this weekend.

Haren, in his first start with the Cubs, allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks in five innings during Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Pirates.

It was an ugly beginning to Haren's debut with the Cubs --- he gave up a leadoff home run to Gregory Polanco and an RBI single to Pedro Alvarez in the first inning, but settled down after, allowing just three hits the rest of the way. The 34-year-old has seen his ERA rise as of late and his home run rate (eight allowed in his last 23 innings) seems to be heading in the wrong direction, yet he's still posting a solid 3.49 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. Haren will make his home debut with the Cubs when he faces off against the Brewers at Wrigley Field next.