Elvis Andrus Gets Rangers Over Angels in 10 Innings; Patrick Corbin Hurls six Scoreless as D'Backs Sweep Dodgers

Players of the Day for Wednesday, August 1, 2012

American League

Life in the NL West has gotten serious.

Elvis Andrus

On Wednesday, the Texas Rangers fought back from a 7-1 deficit with single runs in the bottoms of the eight and ninth innings - the tying run scored on Ian Kinsler's solo shot - to send the second game of their four-game set with the Angels into extras.

In the 10th inning, Los Angeles put up three runs, two courtesy of Albert Pujols' second two-run homer of the game, but the resolute Rangers rebounded with four in the bottom frame, snatching an 11-10 victory from the hard-charging Angels.

After Nelson Cruz homered to cut into the lead by a run, Mitch Moreland delivered a clutch single to score the Rangers' second run. With the bases loaded, Elvis Andrus delivered the game-winning single to left field, plating two runs and the win.

Andrus was spectacular, going 4-for-6 with three RBI including his 24th double of the season and a run-scoring single in the Rangers' four-run fifth.

The result was a four game lead in the division for the Rangers, with Oakland falling to 4 1/2 off the pace, off their 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay.

The Rangers and Angels go at it again on Thursday and wrap up the series on Friday.


National League

Arizona completed their three-game sweep of the Dodgers, as rookie starter, Patrick Corbin, limited Los Angeles to two hits over six innings of superb mound work.

Patrick Corbin

Making just his sixth major league start, Corbin walked two and struck out five, leaving the ball in the capable hands of a trio of Diamondback relievers who each turned in a perfect inning of relief in the 4-0 win.

Corbin took the win, improving to 3-4 while dropping his ERA to a respectable 3.60.

Arizona's sweep of the Dodgers put them right back into the thick of the NL West race, trailing the Giants by games, but just 1 1/2 behind the second place Dodgers. Since July 20, Arizona is 10-3.

After a day off Thursday, the Diamondbacks head East for three game swith the Phillies and four with the NL Central's contentious Pittsburgh Pirates.