Mark Teixeira, Russell Martin Lead Comeback Win over Angels; Ryan Braun Powers Brewers past Pirates

Players of the Day for Friday, July 13, 2011

American League

The hits just keep coming for the New York Yankees.

Mark Teixeira

Following a successful first half, the Bombers picked up after the all star break right where they left off with a come-from-behind, 6-5 win over the LA Angels.

Russell Martin

Getting the first five runs off the bat of Mark Teixeira, who socked a two-run homer in the third inning and followed up with a three-run blast in the eighth which turned a 5-2 Angels' lead into a 5-all tie, catcher Russell Martin finished the proceedings with an RBI single later in the inning.

Teixeira managed five RBI on the night, but Martin's only hit was the game-winner, and, in the top of the ninth, the Yankee backstop threw out Howie Kendrick at second to end the game, his third thrown out runner of the game.

The win improved New York's lead in the AL East to eight games, the biggest bulge in the majors, while dropping the Angels five back of Texas in the West.


National League

Ryan Braun

Friday the 13th certainly wasn't unlucky for Ryan Braun and the Milwaukee Brewers, as they opened the second half of the season with a 10-7 win over visiting Pittsburgh.

Braun was 4-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs, a stolen base, three runs and three RBI, helping the Brewers creep to within seven games of the Pirates, who are now tied for first place in the NL Central with the Reds, 5-3 winners over St. Louis.

The Brewers hope to make up more ground as they host the Pirates for the next two games of the three-game series, Saturday and Sunday in Milwaukee.