Sunday, May 1, 2011

Halladay Throws Second Complete Game in 2-1 Win; Ichiro Scores as Seattle Wins 5th Straight

Players of the Day for April 30, 2011

American League

Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro Suzuki went 2-for-3, swiped a couple of bases and scored a crucial run in Seattle's 2-0 win over the Boston Red Sox.

Ichiro, extending his hitting streak to eight games, scored in the 3rd inning on Milton Bradley's double, breaking a scoreless tie. Jack Cust scored the other Seattle run, coming home on a sac fly in the 6th inning.

The Mariners employed three pitchers to complete the shutout at Boston. Brandon League picked up his 7th save, working the 9th inning.

It was the fifth straight win for the Mariners, still in last place in the AL West, though they are now just 3 1/2 games beind the division-leading Rangers. Ichiro has his average up to .328, 8th best in the AL. He leads the league in hits with 39 and is tied for the league lead in steals with Tampa Bay's Sam Fuld, at 10.

National League

Roy Halladay improved to 4-1 with a patient, 2-1, win over the NY Mets.
Roy Halladay

The Mets got on the board first, when Carlos Beltran singled in Dennis Murphy. Halladay, unfazed, finished the inning and went on to work his second complete game of the season, getting the win when the Phillies struck for two runs in the 7th inning.

Halladay has thrown nine complete games in each of the past three seasons and an incredible 60 complete games in his career.

The Philly ace allowed seven hits, walked one, and struck out eight - including Jason Bay three times and david Wright twice. His season total of 47 is second in the NL, behind Matt Garza's 51.

With Florida losing, 4-3, in 10 innings to Cincinnati, the Phillies extended their division lead to 1 1/2 games.

STREAKING: ANDRE ETHIER extended his hitting streak to 26 games, singling in the Dodgers' loss to San Diego. Cleveland won their home winning streak to 12 straight, slipping by the Tigers in 13 innings, 3-2. The Indians are tied with the Phillies for the best record in the majors, at 18-8. Cleveland leads the AL Central by 4 1/2 games.

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