Vazquez, Konerko Lift ChiSox; Kapler Stars for Brewers

Players of the Day for Sunday, April 13, 2008 American League This was such a tough choice, we gave the player of the day for the AL to both Javier Vazquez (left) and Paul Konerko (right), both of whom were instrumental in Chicago's 11-0 drubbing of Detroit on Sunday. Vazquez shut out the punchless Tigers over 7 innings, allowing 5 hits and no walks while striking out 9. Meanwhile, Konerko did his work early on, driving in the first run of the game with a single in the first inning, followed by a grand slam in the 3rd. That was it, but going 2-for-4 with 5 RBI is a pretty good day in anyone's book. Later in the contest, Joe Crede also launched a grand slam, but by then the game's outcome was not in doubt. Notes: Detroit's loss was their second straight and 10th of their first 12 games this season. In the wild AL East, Toronto caught the Orioles with a 5-4, 10-inning win at Texas while the O's were losing to Tampa. Both Baltimore and Toronto are 7-5, but the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays are all within 1 1/2 games. National League

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Here's a comeback, perseverance and feel-good story all rolled into one. Gabe Kapler, a nine-year veteran who spent last season managing Boston's single-A affiliate, the Greenville Drive, knocked a single, double and home run, drove in three runs and scored three times on Sunday as the Milwaukee Brewers outlasted the Mets, 9-7, in New York. Kapler, who has played with the Tigers, Rangers, Rockies, and Red Sox, signed a one-year contract with Milwaukee in the off-season and is off to an exceptional start. He's batting a healthy .423, with 4 home runs and 11 RBI. Notes: All things come to an end, including winning, and thankfully, losing streaks. The Washington Nationals broke out of their 9-game funk with a 5-4 win over Atlanta and Colorado ended the D-Backs' win streak at 8 with a 13-5 pounding.