Danny Espinosa Hammers Lee, Phillies with 2 Homers; Curtis Granderson Goes Yard Again

Players of the Day for Tuesday, May 31, 2011

American League

For all the speculation and insight into the AL East pennant race, somehow the Yankees keep finding their way back to the top of the heap.

Curtis Granderson

In the midst of a 9-game West coast swing, the Yankees won their third straight with a 10-3 thrashing of the Oakland A's. In the middle of it all was a most unlikely power hitter, Curtis Granderson, who got things started in the top of the first when he smacked his 17th home run of the season with Derek Jeter aboard.

With a 2-0 lead in hand, Freddie Garcia (4-4) cruised as the Yankees piled on more runs. Granderson stroked a couple of singles, plating another two runs in the 4th and
scoring once in the 6th. The Yankees scored in each of the first six innings except the second.

Granderson, who trails Toronto's Jose Bautista in the home run derby, 20-17, went 3-for-5 with four RBI, two runs and his 8th stolen base. The Yankees, thanks to Boston losing at Chicago, have a one-game lead in the division.

National League

Danny Espinosa

Already 10 1/2 games out and in the basement of the NL East, the Washington Nationals aren't likely to make much difference in the larger scheme of things, but they certainly have found themselves a second baseman who could become a mainstay for years to come.

Danny Espinosa took Phillies' starter Cliff Lee deep twice as the Nats downed the Phillies, 10-2, evening their series at a game apiece.

Espinosa unloaded on Lee with a three-run blast in the 3rd inning, then sent him to the showers with his 10th home run, a solo shot in the 6th that put the Nationals up 6-2.

Adding a single, Espinosa finished 3-for-4, with four RBI and two runs. Though he's batting just .217, Espinosa has shown good power and clutch hitting. He has 33 RBI on the season.

The Phillies and Nationals complete their three-game series on Wednesday in Philadelphia.