8 straight wins give us some momentum in the early part of June and we hit the 60-game mark at 36-24 and closing fast on the Cubs.
Then we briefly move into first in the later part of June and Van Slyke finally returns to the group around the same time.
We decide to send Billy Hatcher down but he gets nabbed on the wire by Montreal.
Our form turns patchy in the later part of the month and we hit the midpoint at 47-34, trailing the Cubs by 3.
We follow a homestand that sees us drop 5 of 7 with 4 straight wins at Cincy to reach the ASB 5 behind Chicago but with a handy break in the WC race at 51-37.
After we close the gap a bit, 3 losses from 4 at home to the Cubs right at the end of the sectional leaves us 4˝ back at 61-45 entering the stretch drive.
No Deadline action for us this year—pickings are slim out there.
The AL looks set to be where most of the action is this season, although not in the AL East where the Red Sox are just
killing it.
Monthly Award Winners
June
American League
Batter – Mike Greenwell (Red Sox): 406 / 7 HR / 29 RBI
Pitcher – Pedro Martinez (Red Sox): 5-1 / 1.82 / 39 K / 49.1 IP
Rookie – Chad Ogea (Red Sox): 3-1 / 1.54 / 21 K / 35 IP
National League
Batter – Jeff Bagwell (Astros): 344 / 6 HR / 20 RBI
Pitcher – Ramon Martinez (Dodgers): 5-0 / 2.16 / 25 K / 41.2 IP
Rookie – Shawn Green (Marlins): 330 / 5 HR / 21 RBI
July
American League
Batter – Mark McGwire (A’s): 369 / 11 HR / 21 RBI
Pitcher – Bret Saberhagen (Royals): 5-0 / 1.12 / 28 K / 48.1 IP
Rookie – Carl Everett (Mariners): 303 / 11 HR / 24 RBI
National League
Batter – Barry Bonds (Pirates): 295 / 9 HR / 26 RBI
Pitcher – Charlie Leibrandt (Rockies): 5-0 / 1.49 / 21 K / 36.1 IP
Rookie – Darren Dreifort (Mets): 4-1 / 2.63 / 33 K / 41 IP
Leaders and Top 20s
Milestones and Observations of Note
2500 Hits: Andre Dawson, Paul Molitor
200 Wins: Britt Burns, Scott Sanderson
300 HR: Jose Canseco
The O’s lose SS Royce Clayton for the remainder to an ACL tear.
At AAA, Madison’s Jim Baker no-hits Rocky Mount.
Deadline trades of note:
