PEAVY TO CHICAGO

In a deal that shocked the baseball world minutes before 2009's trade deadline, Jake Peavy, one of the decades most dominant starting pitchers was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Chicago White Sox.

~STORY OF THE WEEK~

REDEMPTION FOR DAVID ORTIZ

David Ortiz has a reputation for performing at his best in high-pressure situations, and Thursday, with the baseball world breathing down his neck, he lived up to it again. After a devastatingly explosive report that linked Ortiz to steroid use in 2003, it seemed the whole nation wanted to see what he would do next, and the fans in Boston stood by his 3-run home run with a rousing ovation at Fenway Park.

RED HOT REDBIRDS DEFEAT LA

Manny Ramirez is tagged out at the plate as the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped their fourth straight game. Perhaps more importantly, the St. Louis Cardinals remained in a tie with the Chicago Cubs for first place in the National Leauge central division, winning their third straight game. St. Louis goes for the sweep of LA Thursday night.

FISH WIN ONE FOR THE AGES

In a Tuesday night nail-biter at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, the Marlins defeated the Braves 4-3. The classic see-saw match saw Atlanta take a ninth inning lead before Ross Gload's walk-off two-run home run locked Florida back into second place in the National League East.

LINCECUM DOMINATES BUCS

Tim Lincecum has accomplished a-lot recently. From a Cy-Young award that put him on the cover of Sports Illustrated and ESPN Magazine, to the front of the Majors 's #1 video game. But it was his historic performance Monday night that is most recently making headlines. The Giants, behind Lincecum's nearly-perfect game continued their home dominance against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 4-2 victory at AT&T Park. The win, which was highlighted by Lincecum's career-high 15 strikeouts, allowed San Francisco to keep the second best home record in the National League. Linsecum became only the third Giant to reach 15 strikeouts in a game.

CONTADOR VICTORIOUS

Alberto Contador just moments before being declared the champion (left) and Andy Schleck of Luxembourg cycled on the Place de la Concorde during the final 21st stage of the 96th Tour de France on Sunday.

BECKHAM UNWANTED, UNLOVED

The anti-David Beckham banner, now media-famous, returned Saturday night in Los Angeles as the Galexy took on Kansas City. Jeers and boos greeted Beckham yet again, as fans don't plan on forgetting his intentions to abandon the states.

ROYALS HIT ROCK BOTTOM

Manager Trey Hillman looks on as the Kansas City Royals lose their 10th straight game and fall 21 games under .500.

~STORY OF THE WEEK~

A TRULY PERFECT GAME

Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox has pitched a perfect game against one of the best hitting teams in baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays. It was preserved by a sensational catch in the 9th inning and was the first perfect game in five years. Buehrle, who has thrown a no-hitter twice for the White Sox threw the 18th perfect game in baseball history today at U.S Cellular Field. Watch the entire bottom of the ninth inning here.

TEXAS FIRED UP

It was broom night in the Lone Star State. The Housten Astros won in walk-off fashion over St. Louis and the Texas Rangers completed a dramatic sweep of the slumping Boston Red Sox with a nationally televised victory Wednesday night. The win put the Rangers just 2 1/2 games out of first in the American League West, behind the red hot Los Angeles Angels. The defeat also handed the wild-card leading Sox their fifth consecutive loss.

ASTROS MAKING NOISE

When the sports media defiantly praised the New York Yankees for gripping sole possession of first in the AL East, it was The Housten Astros who quietly moved into a tie for second in the NL Central Tuesday night. After another victory over the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals, the Astros are now just two games out of first in a division they have not won since 2001. A grand slam by Carlos Lee guided the red-hot texas boys to their 8th win in 11 games by a final score of 11-6 at Minute Maid Park.

RED HOT PHILLIES CRUSH CUBS

The defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies, who won their 8th straight game after J.A Happ improved to 7-0 Sunday took their winning streak to challenge, facing the second half's undefeated Chicago Cubs Monday night in front of actor Jack Nicholson.In the nationally broadcast game between the League's two hottest teams, Philadephia dominated. Improving their streak to 9 consecutive wins, the Phillies routed the Cubs 10-1 at Citizens Bank Park for their 14th win in 16 games. They are now 14 games above .500, well above all compeition in the National League East. For a slideshow of the game, click here.

~STORY OF THE WEEK~

CINK SUPRISE CHAMPION

Stewart Cink was not the crowd favorite to win the British Open, but his championship moment Sunday sealed the deal. Check out a slideshow.

WATSON IN CONTROL

Tom Watson, a five-time winner, leads golf's British Open by one stroke over Ross Fisher and Mathew Goggin after the third round. Tiger Woods is not in the race as the tournament concludes tomorrow.

TWINS TRUMP TEXAS

Jason Kubel's 3-run shot in the third led Minnesota to a 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers Friday night at Arlington Ballpark. A shockingly large and loud portion of the fans in attendance were Twins fans as popularity grows beyond state borders surrounding the second half playoff hunt underway in the twin cities. The Twins are just 3 games out of first place in the American League Central divison.

BRAVES BEAT RIVAL METS

Starting the post-all star second half of the season on the right foot, the Atlanta Braves, behind key hits by Yunel Escobar and Chipper Jones, defeated the rival Mets 5-3. The Braves pushed New York deeper into 4th place in the National League East and remained 6 games out as the Phillies won in Florida. A bad day for the Mets was topped off by news that Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes will not be returning for at least 2 1/2 weeks. Above, Brian McCann rumbled from first base on a double by Matt Diaz, beating Brian Schneider’s tag to tie the score in the fourth.

CAVENDISH TAKES ELEVENTH

Mark Cavendish won the 11th stage of the Tour de France.

AMERICAN LEAUGE DOES IT AGAIN

The 2009 80th annual All-Star Game was held in Bushe Stadium, St. Louis Tuesday night. The result was no surprise, as the American League won a close game again- defeating the National League 4-3 for the thirteenth straight midsummer classic victory. For more coverage, check out these slideshows: 1 2 3

SOCCER RETURNS TO IRAQ

Iraq welcomed back its soccer team to Baghdad Monday, as thousands partied in the streets with Pride.

PHILADELPHIA ON FIRE

Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies are the hottest team going into the all-star break. Not only are they in 1st place, four games ahead of Florida, but they have won 9 of their last 10 games and 5 in a row. On Sunday, they completed not only a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates but their best homestead since 2005 with a 5-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park.

MORA PLAYS HERO IN BALTIMORE

Melvin Mora's first homer in 50 games was a walk-off. With one out in the bottom of the 12th, the veteran hit a solo blast to give the Baltimore Orioles a 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

~STORY OF THE WEEK~

SANCHEZ ALL ZEROS

Jonathan Sanchez made baseball history Friday night in AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. He threw the first no-hitter of the year 2009 throwing up 9 innings of zeros against the state rival San Diego Padres. For a photo slideshow of the historic night click here, and for video coverage click here.

HUSHOVD TAKES STAGE SIX

Thor Hushovd of Norway won Stage 6 of the Tour de France Thursday.

McNAIR REMEMBERED

Fans and friends of Tenessee slain quarterback Steve McNair said goodbye outside of Gridiron in Nashville Wednesday. Memorial services are cuurrently being arranged.

MANNY BEING BOOED

For the first time since returning to baseball after a 50-game suspension for steriod use, Manny Ramirez was thrown out of the game. He had already picked up 3 R.B.I's and helped the Dodgers crush the Mets in what ended up as an 8-0 rout. The ejection was the only enjoyable moment for Mets fans at a sold-out Citi Field Tuesday night, as New York dropped 4 games under .500 with their 4th straight loss. They haven't scored a run since Saturday.

22-1

Coming off a sweep of the rival Mets, the Phillies put on a show for the ages Monday night at Citizens Bank Park. They scorched the Reds with 22 runs off 21 hits. They won by that number too, as the Reds were blanked, scoring just one run after Philadelphia scored 10 in the bottom of the 1st. Jason Werth, who took the 18-1 lead and made it 22-1 with a grand slam in the 8th, rounds the bases above.

~STORY OF THE WEEK~

FEDERER OUTLASTS RODDICK FOR TROPHY

Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick in the longest Wimbeldon Championship in history. In the final set, it took Federer 16 games to win, but through it all he became the winningest Grand Slam tennis player of all time.

SERENA CLAIMS ANOTHER TITLE

Serena Williams defeated her sister for the Wimbledon title in straight sets Saturday. For a sideshow of the best photos of the match, click here.

YANKEES PUSHING TOWARDS THE TOP

Just one day after falling short of their 8th consecutive victory, the Yankees got back to winning ways Friday as Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano both homered for New York. The 4-2 defeat of the Blue Jays put the Yankees, whose winning streak was highligted by a sweep of the Mets, 13 games above .500 and just 2.5 games out of first place in the American League East.

SERENA TAKES CLASSIC

In what many are calling the greatest woman's singles match of all time, Serena Williams triumphantly defeated Elena Dementieva 6-7, 7-5, 8-6, advancing to the championship match where she will most likely face her sister Venus Williams for a repeat of last year's final.

DODGERS AT THE TOP OF BASEBALL

Los Angeles celebrated as the Dodgers became the first team to win 50 games in 2009.