Justin Smoak, Jesus Montero Lead Mariners in 21-8 Rout of Rangers; Carlos Gonzalez Belts 3 HR as Rockies Win 3rd Straight

Players of the Day for Wednesday, May 30, 2012

American League

Jesus Montero

Justin Smoak went 3-for-5 and cracked a pair of home runs as the Seattle Mariners decimated Texas pitching in a 21-8 pounding of the Rangers.

Justin Smoak

Smoak was part of an eight-run outburst in the second innings, as he doubled and scored after Jose Montero singled to lead off the inning. In the third, Smoak drilled one of his two three-run blasts as the Mariners sent 13 batters to the plate and tallied another eight runs, putting themselves comfortably ahead 16-0.

With his second homer of the night in the seventh inning - another three-run shot - Smoak finished up with six RBI and three runs. Jesus Montero singled, doubled and homered in four at-bats, driving in four runs and scoring four times.

The Mariners took two of three from the Rangers in Texas. The 21 runs were the most scored in a single fame by one team. The Rangers and Rockies have each put up 18-run totals this season.


National League

Carlos Gonzalez

Colorado continues to be one of the least-balanced teams in either league. Tied for fifth in the National League with San Francisco, with a 2.59 team batting average, they have plenty of offense, but their combined, league-worst 5.18 ERA is primarily what has kept them near or at the bottom of the NL West division.

The Rockies knocked off the Houston Astros, 13-5, Wednesday night for their third straight win, all over the Astros. The series in Colorado concludes Thursday in Colorado.

Carlos Gonzalez demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the best hitters in baseball, powering three home runs as he went 4-for-5 on the night, driving in four runs and scoring three times.

Gonzalez in among the NL leaders in the main offensive categories, batting .323 with 13 homers (tied for third) and 41 RBI (3rd).