Carlos Corporan Blasts a Pair as Houston Downs Detroit; Leonys Martin Heroic in Texas Win

Players of the Day for Thursday, March 21, 2013

Grapefruit League

Corporan: 2HR, 3RBI

The Houston Astros displayed a rare show of home run power Thursday, and they did it against one of the game's top hurlers.

At the Tigers' exhibition home in Lakeland, Florida, Houston mashed the Tigers, 7-2, smacking four homers, three of which came against Tiger ace, Justin Verlander.

Matt Dominguez, Brandon Laird and Carlos Corporan connected off of the Detroit starter, who allowed four runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings of work. Corporan set off his second bomb of the day in the seventh inning against reliever Al Albequerque.

Corporan added a single to go 3-for-4 with two runs and three ribbies.

The Astros have a gaggle of catchers in camp, but Corporan - who has major league experience, may be the one to snag the starting job. He's batting .370 with his two homer and has seven RBI in 12 games.

Cactus League

Martin, 3-5, 4RBI

After singling twice, Leonys Martin came to the plate with the bases chock full of Ranger teammates in the bottom of the ninth and delivered a double to left field, clearing the bases to produce a 10-9 comeback win for Texas over the LA Angels.

Martin had earlier singled in a run in the second inning, when the Rangers plated six, and singled again in the fifth, his two-bagger giving him four RBI in a 3-for-5 effort and a serious shot at replacing the departed Josh Hamilton in center field. Hamilton, who socked a fourth inning solo homer - could only watch as his potential replacement played hero for his former team.

A Ranger farmhand, Martin played in 32 games for Texas in 2011 and 2012, but only put up a .204 average. Currently, with a full-time major league job in front of him, he's making the most of his playing time, with a .378 average and 11 RBI in 19 games. Martin is 25 and a native of Cuba.

The Rangers, who banged out 17 hits, improved their Spring record to 13-12.