Cliff Lee Blanks Braves for First Philly Win; Chris Davis Powers Orioles Past Rays

Players of the Day for Thursday, April 4, 2013

American League

Chris Davis

Baltimore's Chris Davis is off to one heck of a start, homering in each of Baltimore's three games this season, and batting a sharp .636 (7-for-11) with 11 RBI, leading the league in both categories. Seattle's Michael Morse has banged four homers to lead the majors. Six of Davis' seven hits have been for extra bases. (three doubles)

Davis launched his third of the season in the second inning off Tampa Bay starter Roberto Hernandez, staking the O's to a 2-0 lead. After the Rays tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Davis delivered again, stroking a double to the left-center gap, driving in two more. He finished up a very productive night at 2-for-3 with four RBI as the Orioles took two of three at Tampa Bay, winning by a 6-3 score.

That result left the Orioles tied with the Red Sox in the AL East, at 2-1, after Boston dropped a 4-2 decision in New York.

National League

Cliff Lee

After dropping their first two games of the season in Atlanta, the Phillies needed to get on track with a win, calling on one of their dependable aces, Cliff Lee, to get the job done.

Lee didn't disappoint, throwing eight full innings of shutout ball at the Braves in the windy, misty environment of Turner field, striking out eight to notch his first victory of the year and put a "W" on the the Phillies' ledger, in a 2-0 win.

Lee threw 78 of 106 pitches for strikes and did not walk a batter.

Jonathan Papelbon struck out two in the ninth to record the save, his first.

Even with the win, Philly finds itself already two games out in the NL East, as the Nationals completed a sweep of the Marlins with a 6-1 win. The Miami run was the only one allowed in three games at Washington. The Nats are 3-0.