Rookie Starlin Castro of the Cubs and Veteran Jamie Moyer of the Phillies Set Major League Records May 7th

Two players 27 years apart in age set Major League records May 7th. Twenty year old minor league shortstop Starlin Castro got a call at 7 AM to report to the Chicago Cubs for their game at Cincinnati against the Reds. In his first at bat in the Majors in the second inning, Castro hit a three run home run off starting pitcher Homer Bailey. The Cubs had the bases loaded in the fifth inning and Castro belted a triple off reliever Micah Owings and drove in three more runs. That gave him a total of six runs batted in, a new record for most RBIs in a player's first Major League game. The Cubs defeated the Reds in a slugfest by a score of 14-7.

Castro opened the season at the Cubs' AA farm team at Tennessee. He hit .376 with 20 RBIs in 26 games there. Castro had an excellent spring training and it was felt that he would make his big league debut later this season. But after being swept in a three game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cubs decided to shake things up a bit and called up Castro sooner than expected. The Cubs moved the incumbent shortstop, Ryan Theriot, from shortstop to second base. Infielder Chad Tracy was sent to the Cubs' Triple A farm club at Iowa to make room on the roster for Castro.

Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer Sets Record

On the other end of the age spectrum, 47 year old right hander Jamie Moyer set a Major League record when he threw a complete game shutout in the Phillies game at Citizen's Bank Park against the Atlanta Braves, winning 7-0. Moyer is the oldest pitcher to throw a complete game shutout in Major League history. The previous record was held by Phil Niekro of the Braves, who tossed his complete game shutout at age 46 in 1985. Moyer allowed just two singles to Braves' first baseman Troy Glaus, struck out five and walked none in earning his fourth victory of the season against two losses.

Jamie Moyer is currently the oldest player in the big leagues. He made his Major League debut with the Chicago Cubs in 1986, four years before Starlin Castro was born.

Sources

Castro Makes History in MLB debut by Carrie Muskat, MLB.com

Cubs call up top prospect SS Starlin Castro by Joe Kay Yahoo! Sports

Moyer Sets Mark with Two Hit Shutout by Todd Zolecki, MLB.com

Box scores for Cubs/Reds and Phillies/Braves games of May 7th 2010 from MLB.com