Elias Says...
Special to ESPN.com
MLB
CUBS EXTEND STREAK
From Elias: The Cubs got only one hit Tuesday night but it was enough to extend their streak of consecutive games with at least one hit. The last time the Cubs failed to get a hit in a game was when Sandy Koufax threw a perfect game against them on September 9, 1965, a span of 7,441 games. That's the longest current streak without being held hitless for any major-league team.
CUBS ROOKIE BREAKS UP NO-NO
From Elias: Cubs rookie Adrian Cardenas broke up A.J. Burnett's no-hitter with an eight-inning single. The last three Cubs rookies to break up a no-no in the eighth inning or later...time to cover your eyes Mets fans.... were Damon Berryhill leading off the eighth inning off Dwight Gooden on June 5, 1988, Joe Wallis with two outs in the ninth inning off Tom Seaver on September 24, 1975 and Jim Qualls with one out in the ninth off Seaver on July 9, 1969.
Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates
BURNETT AND WALKER TAKE CARE OF THE CUBS
From Elias: A.J. Burnett threw a one-hitter and Neil Walker knocked in five runs in the Pirates' win. The last team to have a pitcher throw a nine-inning, complete-game one-hitter and a batter knock in at least five runs was the Mets on June 15, 2003. Steve Trachsel threw the one-hitter; Jose Reyes drove in five runs.
Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates
ONE HITTER FOR A.J.
From Elias: A.J. Burnett tossed a one-hitter for the Pirates Tuesday night. It was the first one hitter for a Pirates pitcher since Todd Ritchie turned the trick against the Royals on July 13, 2001. Burnett's no-hitter was broken up with two outs in the eighth inning. It was the longest no-hit bid for a Pirates pitcher since Jeff Karstens went 7 2/3 innings without allowing a hit on August 6, 2008 at Arizona.
Burnett improved his record to 13-3 in 19 starts this season. That's the most wins for a Pirates pitcher in his first 19 starts of a season since 1971 when Dock Ellis was 15-3 in his first 19 starts.
TROUT HAS BIG MONTH....
From Elias: After another fine performance Tuesday night Mike Trout finished the month of July with 10 home runs and 32 runs scored. Only two other rookies in major-league history had at least 10 homers and 30 runs scored in a calendar month: Frank Robinson for the Reds in August 1956 (11 HR, 33 runs) and Luke Easter (a 34-year old veteran of the Negro Leagues) for the Indians in June 1950 (11 HR, 30 runs).
Trout has scored 80 runs in 81 games this season. The last rookie to reach 80 runs in 81 or fewer games was Joe DiMaggio in 1936. Joe D. scored his 80th and 81st run in his 76th game that season.
....AS DOES WEAVER
From Elias: With a win Tuesday night, Jered Weaver improved his record to 6-0 in July, becoming only the fourth pitcher in Angels franchise history to post a record of 6-0 (or better) in a calendar month. Ken McBride was 6-0 in June 1963, Nolan Ryan went 6-0 in September 1973 and Chuck Finley was 7-0 in in July 1997.
O'S BIG COMEBACK
From Elias: The Orioles beat the Yankees 11-5 after spotting them a 5-0 first-inning lead. It was the seventh time in Baltimore Orioles history that they won a game in which they trailed by at least five runs at the end of the first inning, six of them coming on the road. The last such win came on July 28, 1998 at Tiger Stadium. Eric Davis and Lenny Webster homered in the comeback.
Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees
A FIRST IN YANKEES HISTORY
From Elias: The Yankees 5-0 lead at the end of the first inning was brief as the Orioles scored seven runs in the second inning to take the lead. It was the first time in franchise history that the Yankees led by five or more runs at the end of the first inning and then trailed in the second inning.
New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles
ROLLINS RUNS THEM OUT
From Elias: Jimmy Rollins hit an inside-the-park home run in the Phillies' win over the Nationals. It was the fourth career inside-the-park homer for Rollins, the most among active players. The last Philadelphia player with that many inside-the park homers was Dick Allen. Allen hit five such homers for the Phillies from 1964 to 1966.
Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals
LUDWICK KNOCKING IN RUNS LATELY
From Elias: Ryan Ludwick knocked in four runs in the Reds' win over the Padres. Ludwick has driven in eight runs over his last three games, matching the most RBIs he has ever had over any three-game span in his major-league career. Ludwick knocked eight runs over a three-game span in July 2008, April 2009 and July 2009.
Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres
GALLARDO BEATS THE ASTROS AGAIN
From Elias: Yovani Gallardo is 9-0 with a 2.68 earned-run average over his last nine starts against the Astros dating back to 2009. The last pitcher to win nine or more consecutive starts against Houston was Juan Marichal, who won 10 straight starts against them from 1964 to 1966.
Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers
MCCANN HAS NINE HOMERS SINCE JULY 5
From Elias: Brian McCann hit a home run in the Braves, win over the Marlins. McCann has hit nine homers over his last 18 games dating back to July 5, tying him with Josh Willingham and Ike Davis for the major league lead since that date.
FREESE HEATS UP IN JULY
From Elias: David Freese went 2-for-5 in the Cardinals' victory in Colorado. Freese finished July with a ,458 batting average (33-for-72). The last Cardinals player with a batting average that high in a calendar month in which he had at least 70 at-bats was Chick Hafey in July 1928 (.462, 49-for-106).
St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies
LINCECUM DOMINATES METS
From Elias: Tim Lincecum was 0-1 with a 5.04 ERA in his first four career games against the Mets but he's 5-0 with a 0.79 ERA in five games against them since then.
New York Mets, San Francisco Giants
HARVEY IS K-HAPPY
From Elias: Matt Harvey struck out seven batters Tuesday night increasing his total to 18 in two career major-league games. Only three other active pitchers struck out at least 18 batters in their first two major-league games: Stephen Strasburg (22), Tim Hudson (19) and Johnny Cueto (18).
SHIELDS IS A FIRST FOR THE RAYS
From Elias: James Shields threw a three-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts and no walks Tuesday night. Shields is the first pitcher in Rays history to throw a complete-game in which he allowed three or fewer hits with at least 10 strikeouts and no walks.
GOLDSCHMIDT GETS GOING EARLY
From Elias: Paul Goldschmidt hit a first inning home run Tuesday night just like he did Monday night. Goldschmidt is the fourth player in Diamondbacks history to hit a first-inning homer in back-to-back team games. Luis Gonzalez did it in 2001, Chris Young in 2008 and Mark Reynolds in 2008.