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7/4 Grady Sizemore hit a solo shot in the third and it was all the offense Barry Zito needed as he shut out the Mets on seven hits.

7/5 Roy Oswalt allowed 1 run in the first, then shut down the Mets offense as John Gall scored three runs to help the Astros to a 5-1 win.

7/7 Dave Ross hit a 14th inning solo homer to lead the Astros past the Mets 3-2, and take three of four from New York.

7/9 The Astros beat the Phillies as Brooks Conrad hit a leadoff homer in the top of the ninth, and Brad Lidge came in and slammed the door for his 16th save.

7/12 My All-Stars
• P Brad Lidge
• LF Carlos Lee
NL won 7-1. Lee went 3-5 and scored 2 runs, while Lidge never got into the game.

7/17 Brandon Backe pitched 8 strong innings and Brooks Conrad went 3-4 to help propel the Astros to a 5-3 win and claw within 1.5 games of St. Louis.

7/23 Brooks Conrad hit a 3-run homer and Carlos Hernandez pitched eight strong innings to propel the Astros to an 8-4 victory over the rival Cards. We now sit only a half game behind St. Louis in the central.

7/31 We went into a little bit of a tailspin to end the month, losing 6 of the last 8 after coming within mere percentage points of the Cards. To make matters worse, during the same time, the Cardinals went on a 8-0 run after I beat them on the 23rd. Unless I dramatically turn things around, it looks like I will finish above .500 but miss the playoffs. Then again, 2 months is a lot of baseball yet to be played and anything can happen. At the end of July, we are 56-50.

Down on the Farm
• 1B Delmon Young – Delmon continues to produce. He is hitting .371 with 16 HR and an OBP of .454 thru 104 games.
• 2B Mitch Einertson – Mitch has flown under the radar for a couple of years, but is starting to emerge as a solid second base prospect. Thru 84 games at both the A and AA level, he is hitting .328 with 14 HR and 44 RBI.
• CF Jordan Parraz – Jordan is still underachieving compared to previous years, He is hitting a respectable .319 with 15 HR, 69 RBI, and an OPS of .877.
• LF Glen Shafer – (Newly Drafted) Glen is getting up to speed in AA with an average of .324 and an OBP of .410 thru 29 games.
• LF Ike Attebery – (Newly Drafted) Ike is adjusting to minor league ball after making the jump from high school. He is hitting .320 with an OBP of .496 thru 55 games.
• MR James Barthmaier – James is putting up a solid year in AA with a record of 4-0 and ten saves in 38 games. He has compiled an ERA of 1.80 and has held opponents to an average of .200 against him.
• MR Garrett Murdy – Garrett has an ERA of 2.28 thru 24 games and has held opponents to a decent .225 average against him.
• CL Juan Hirt – Juan is dominating out of the pen. He has 18 saves to go with a record of 5-1, and has struck out 50 in 35 innings. Opponents are only hitting .189 against him.

Around the League

Awards:
AL Pitcher of the Month: Gil Meche (SEA), 5-0, 1.06 ERA
NL Pitcher of the Month: Javier Vazquez (ARI), 1-1, 1.07 ERA

AL Batter of the Month: Lyle Overbay (MIN), .412 AVG, 2 HR, 30 RBI
NL Batter of the Month: Derrek Lee (CHC), .395 AVG, 5 HR, 25 RBI

Performances:
7/5 Oliver Perez (PIT) dominates Philadelphia, gives up just 2 hits
7/9 Garret Anderson (ANA) found the stroke, smashes three homers
7/14 Chicago (A) has no chance in a 2-hitter by Johan Santana (MIN)
7/17 Javier Vazquez (ARI) blanks St. Louis with a 2-hitter
7/19 Johnny Damon (BOS) ropes 2000th career hit
7/25 Jason Schmidt (SF) blanks Houston with a 2-hitter
7/29 Eric Chavez (OAK) on fire, hits for cycle

Injuries:
7/6 Kazuhisa Ishii (TOR), Torn Back Muscle, Out for the Season
7/20 Joe Crede (CHW), Torn Tricep Muscle, Out 6 Weeks


Notable Transactions:
Trade between Tampa Bay and Cincinnati:
Cincinnati gets: P Odalis Perez, $2,400,000 cash.
Tampa Bay gets: P Calvin Medlock

Trade between Anaheim and Toronto:
Toronto gets: P Brad Radke, $2,500,000 cash.
Anaheim gets: CF Vernon Wells

Trade between Cincinnati and Boston:
Boston gets: CF Ken Griffey Jr.
Cincinnati gets: 2B Alejandro Machado, P Collin Mahoney, P Harvey Garcia

Trade between Boston and Toronto:
Toronto gets: CF Johnny Damon, $2,200,000 cash.
Boston gets: P Francisco Rosario, P Travis Blackley

Trade between New York (A) and Baltimore:
Baltimore gets: P Carl Pavano, $2,500,000 cash.
New York (A) gets: P Hayden Penn

Trade between Toronto and Tampa Bay:
Tampa Bay gets: P Kevin Millwood, $2,100,000 cash.
Toronto gets: C Landon Powell

Trade between Los Angeles (N) and Cincinnati:
Cincinnati gets: P Brian Lawrence
Los Angeles (N) gets: RF Robert Stratton

Trade between New York (A) and Chicago (N) :
Chicago (N) gets: P J.C. Romero
New York (A) gets: P Chadd Blasko

Trade between Tampa Bay and Cincinnati:
Cincinnati gets: SS Jack Wilson, P Romelio Lopez
Tampa Bay gets: P Jim Mahurin

Trade between Arizona and St. Louis:
St. Louis gets: LF Scott Podsednik
Arizona gets: P Santiago Silva, RF Dante Abrego, 1B Thomas Adamek

Trade between Seattle and Tampa Bay:
Tampa Bay gets: 1B Nate Espy, P Rogelio Menendez
Seattle gets: P Ambiorix Burgos

Trade between Atlanta and Chicago (N):
Chicago (N) gets: RF Ryan Langerhans
Atlanta gets: SS Eric Patterson

Trade between New York (N) and Chicago (A):
Chicago (A) gets: 2B Marcus Giles, $2,400,000 cash.
New York (N) gets: 3B Ryan McCarthy, P John Arcelay

Trade between Kansas City and Houston:
Houston gets: P Ted Lilly, 3B Salvador Cruz, $2,300,000 cash.
Kansas City gets: P Ezequiel Astacio
• When KC offered me this trade, it was too good to pass up. While Ezequiel is a good young pitcher, Ted Lilly will give me immediate help and will allow me to send Carlos Hernandez (The weak link in my staff) down.