AJ Pierzynski Leads White Sox Past Indians; Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies Pound Lincecum, Giants

Players of the Day for Wednesday, April 11, 2012

American League

The Chicago White Sox are hoping to rebound from a disappointing 2011 campaign, and, though it's far too early to tell, the early results are positive. At 3-2, they are a game behind the Tigers in the the AL Central, and even Adam Dunn is getting some hits.

AJ Piersynski

In Wednesday's 10-6 drubbing of Cleveland, one of their steadiest players, catcher A.J. Pierzynski came up with a big effort, going 3-for-4 with a pair of singles and a sixth-inning, three-run homer that broke open a close game.

Pierzynski, a real grinder and clutch hitter in his 12th full year in the majors, is a prototype for the kind of team player every squad wishes to have. A career .287 player, he's played in 128 games or more 10 straight season, which is saying something for a catcher.

With him behind the plate, the Sox stand a good chance of competing in the Central division and have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.


National League

The Colorado Rockies hammered Tim Lincecum and put up the biggest score of the young season, pounding the Giants, 17-8 at Coors Field.

Carlos Gonzalez

Lincecum lasted just 2 1/3 innings, the shortest outing of his career, surrendering six earned runs on eight hits and a couple of walks. He didn't get the loss, however, as the Giants got him off the hook with a seven-run fourth inning.

The Rockies scored in each of the first five innings, taking the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth with three runs that made the score 9-7. A seven-run outburst in the fifth left little doubt about the outcome of this particular slaughter.

Carlos Gonzalez got things started for the Rockies with an RBI triple in the first inning and tripled home another run in the third. A fourth inning ground out drove in another run and a fifth inning singles plated yet another teammate, all adding up to a 3-for-5 day at the dish with four runs scored and four RBI.

Off to a relatively slow start, Gonzalez is batting .283 and has not yet hit a home run, after five games. The Rockies and Giants play the rubber game of their three-game series Thursday afternoon. San Francisco is just 1-4, while the Rockies have posted a 2-3 record.