Elvis Andrus Goes 3-for-3 for Rangers; David Ortiz Doubles, Homers in Red Sox Spring Opener

Players of the Day for Monday, March 5, 2012

David Ortiz

Grapefruit League

David Ortiz doubled and homered for the Boston as the Red Sox pummeled Minnesota, 10-2, in their exhibition opener.

The slugging Ortiz, who will be entering his 10th year in a Boston uniform, drove in a run and scored another, raising hopes that the perennial slow-starter will be in game shape by opening day.

At 36, Ortiz looks to reprise a successful 2011 campaign in which he hit .309 with 29 home runs and 96 RBI.

Cactus League

Elvis Andrus

Elvis Andrus had a triple and a pair of singles in three at-bats for the AL champion Texas Rangers, but his three hits, RBI and three runs scored were not enough to stop the Royals who scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth for the 7-6 victory.

Andrus will be starting his fourth season as the Rangers' regular shortstop after a 2011 campaign in which he batted .279 and stole a career high 37 bases.

The 2009 AL rookie of the year and 2010 all star, Andrus and his Texas teammates will be looking for their third straight world Series appearance. They lost to the Cardinals last year and to the San Francisco Giants in 2009.