Jose Bautista Leads Blue Jays to Sweep of Yankees; Brandon Beachy Shuts Out Miami as Atlanta Takes First in NL East

Players of the Day for Thursday, May 17, 2012

American League

Jose Bautista socked his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the third inning that erased an early 1-0 Yankee lead, and scored on J.P. Arencibia's seventh inning homer, as the Blue Jays took both of their two game series against New York in Toronto with a 4-1 win.

Jose Bautista

Bautista went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, singling with one out in the seventh inning before Arencibia's homer to left field off Yankee reliever Corey Wade put the game out of reach.

The Blue Jays took over third place from the Yankees by 1/2 game. They are four games behind the Orioles, who lead the division with the best record in the AL at 25-14 after defeating Kansas City, 5-3, Thursday. The O's are a game ahead of the Rays, who lost to the Red Sox by the same 5-3 score.

The Blue Jays, if they are to make up any ground on the Orioles and Rays, will have their work cut out for them over their next four series. The play three interleague games against the Mets in Toronto this weekend, then head on the road for a pair of three-game sets with Tampa Bay and the Texas Rangers before returning home for three with the Orioles.


National League

Atlanta's in first place and Brandon Beachy appears headed straight to July's All Star Game.

Brandon Beachy

The Braves earned a split in the their two game series against Miami with a 7-0 victory over the Marlins, vaulted past the Nationals - 5-3 losers to Pittsburgh - into the top spot in the NL East and have won five of their last seven.

Beachy, the second year starter who is quickly becoming the ace of the staff, notched his first major league complete game and first shutout, breezing through the Marlins lineup without allowing a walk, setting down the last nine batters he faced in order.

Beachy allowed just five his, fanning eight, as he earned his fifth victory against one loss. He's tied for second in the league in wins and his 1.33 ERA leads all NL starters. Beachy threw a season high 122 pitches, locating 80 of them for strikes.

The Braves head to Tampa Bay Friday for a three game series with the Rays.