Andre Either Goes 4-for-4 in Dodger Win; Chris Davis Belts 3 HR for Orioles; Texas' Adrian Beltre Hits for Cycle

Players of the Day for Friday, August 24, 2012

American League

Beltre Hits for Cycle

Hitting for the cycle is a rarity. Not quite so unusual is belting three home runs in one game, but Adrian Beltre managed to cram both of those feats into a span of just three days, and, on the night Beltre hit for the cycle, the Orioles' Chris Davis homered in three consecutive at-bats.

Davis: 3 HR

After hitting three homers on Wednesday, Beltre continued his hot streak Friday with a 4-for-4 effort which included a first inning triple, a second inning double, a fifth inning home run and a single, to complete the cycle, in the eighth. Texas pounded Minnesota, 8-0, Beltre's cycle overshadowing a fine pitching performance by 15-4 Matt Harrison, who allowed just two hits over eight innings, fanning five and walking two.

Riding a five-game hitting streak, Beltre has 13 hits in his last 22 at-bats, a .591 clip. The Rangers maintained a six game lead over the A's in the West with the victory.

In Baltimore, the Orioles downed Toronto, 6-4, behind Davis' three homers - solo shots in the second and fourth innings, and a two-run knock that put the O's ahead, 5-1. Davis was 3-for-4 with four RBI and the Orioles remained tied with Oakland for the second wild card spot, 1 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay.


National League

Ethier: 4-for-4

With rumors of a blockbuster trade between the Dodgers and Red Sox circulating, Andre Ethier went about his business as a professional, going 4-for-4 with a three-run, first inning homer followed by three straight singles, driving in four runs and scoring three times in LA's 11-4 victory over visiting Miami.

The win allowed the Dodgers to keep pace in the NL West, three games behind the Giants, winners of five straight.

The proposed deal between LA and Boston centered on first baseman Adrian Gonzalez heading to the Dodgers. The players have been known for days, but the trade has to be approved by Major League Baseball before it is finalized. Sources say that approval should come Saturday.

According to the LA Times:

The Red Sox would also send pitcher Josh Beckett, outfielder Carl Crawford and infielder Nick Punto in the deal, while L.A. would give up James Loney, pitchers Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster as well as minor leaguers Jerry Sands and Ivan De Jesus Jr.