Two milestone home runs, Chipper Jones' 450th and Derek Lowe's first, gave Atlanta the early lead and Lowe combined with three relievers on a three-hitter as the Braves beat the Washington Nationals 3-1 on Wednesday night. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 41st save, setting a major league rookie record.

Diamondbacks right-hander Ian Kennedy led the team to a 6-1 win over the Padres on Sunday to become the first 17-game winner in the National League this season. "Everybody speculated when I named him Opening Day starter and he's lived up to it," manager Kirk Gibson said of Kennedy. "He's been huge." Kennedy posted his ninth quality start in ten outings.

The boys from Huntington Beach are headed home with a Little League World Series championship. Braydon Pratto singled in the winning run with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of sixth inning, and Nick Salzman pitched a complete-game three-hitter in a 2-1 victory Sunday over Hamamatsu City, Japan, and the tournament title.

Rays starter David Price struck out a franchise-record 14 batters in the team's 12-0 win against the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon. Price entered the game having struck out 12 batters twice in his career.

Justin Verlander became the first pitcher in the Majors this season to win 20 games as the Tigers defeated the Twins 6-4 on Saturday night. Verlander grinded through six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and three walks. He is the first pitcher to reach 20 wins before the end of August since Arizona's Curt Schilling in 2002. "There's been times I've picked these guys up and there's been times they've picked me up," Verlander said. "To get to 20 at this point in the season, obviously you can't do it all on your own. These guys have helped me along the way and today was a good example of that."

The Athletics topped the Red Sox 15-5 on Friday night, keeping right-hander Tim Wakefield from winning his 200th game once again. Wakefield, trying for the sixth time to become the 108th pitcher to reach 200 wins, gave up eight runs -- four earned -- on eight hits, walking two and striking out three. "Not a real good night (for Wakefield). Kind of an inconsistent knuckleball tonight -- some he threw so well and had sharp break and then some were up," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "Then it looked like we get the third out and the ball gets by (Jarrod Saltalamacchia) because it is moving and they tack on four more, so just kind of a rough night all the way around."

The Yankees became the first team in major league history to hit three grand slams in a game, with Robinson Cano, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson connecting Thursday in a wet, wild 22-9 romp over the Athletics, according to an ESPN.com report.

Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander became the first pitcher in the Major Leagues to win 19 games on Monday night. Detroit topped Tampa Bay 5-2 at Tropicana Field. "He's just not out there throwing, trying to throw 100 mph," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He pitches. He has a definite idea of what he's doing. He's blessed with a very good arm, but he's also a pitcher." Verlander won his seventh consecutive start, giving up one run and three hits in seven innings. The 19 wins match his career high, set in 2009. "Do I know where I'm at?" Verlander said. "Of course I do, but I've said time and time again, those things, totals, season stats, are meant to be looked at at the end of the season."

Jerome Williams earned his first victory since 2005 on Sunday afternoon as he pitched for the Angels in a 7-1 win over the Orioles. Williams gave up just one run on six hits and struck out six in seven innings. "It's been a long road," said Williams, whose path to Sunday included one year in Taiwan and a stint in the Atlantic League at the beginning of the year. "The things I've been through. I'm just speechless right now, especially with everything that's going on right now. It's incredible." Williams earned his last win on Sept. 25, 2005. The last Angels pitcher to go that long between wins as a starter was Dave LaRoche, who won as a starter with the Cubs on Aug. 1, 1974, and then with the Angels on Aug. 2, 1980.

Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup on Sunday afternoon after a stint on the disabled list. Rodriguez, who hadn't played in a game since July 7, went 0-for-5 at the plate in New York's 3-0 victory over Minnesota. The third baseman missed 38 games after having surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee. Rodriguez still has not homered since June 11.