Madison Bumgarner, Hunter Pence Pace Giants over Mets, 9-0; Minnesota's Danny Santana Standout in Twins 16-3 Win at Chisox

Players of the Day for Sunday, August 3, 2014

American League

Danny Santana

Giving up 32 runs in a three-game series isn't likely to earn your team any pathways to the post-season, especially when the team that's beating you is at the bottom of your division and they're doing it to you in your home ballpark.

That's what the Chicago White Sox must ponder when looking back on the weekend that wasn't, losing two of three to the Twins, the Sunday finale a massive, 16-3, Minnesota blowout.

Minnesota amassed 23 hits in all, getting a bunch from leadoff hitter, Danny Santana, who went 5-for-6 with a double, triple, four RBI, two runs and a couple of stolen bases.

Making a late bid for rookie of the year honors, Santana was called up from A ball earlier this season. In 52 major league games he's batting .325, with 13 doubles, three triples, five homers, eight steals and has scored 32 runs. His four ribbies upped his total to 32.

While the Twins are going exactly nowhere this season, at least they can relish the fact that they're taking the Sox with with and that the future looks bright with the young shortstop, Santana.

National League

Bumgarner: 2-hitter

Maybe a trip to New York is just what the Giants needed to revive their season.

Madison Baumgarner tossed a two-hit shutout on Sunday to give the Giants a 9-0 win and a 2-1 lead in their four-game series at Citi Field.

Pence: 2HR 4RBI

With the Dodgers losing to the Cubs, 7-3, San Francisco picked up a game in the West division and now trails LA by 2 1/2 games. Before coming to New York, the Giants had lost six of their last seven and were in danger of falling out of the race.

In five at-bats, Hunter Pence smacked a double and a pair of home runs in support of Baumgarner, driving in four runs and scoring three.

Bumgarner improved to 13-8, tying him for the NL lead in wins with Wily Peralta, Adam Wainwright and Clayton Kershaw, needing just 95 pitches for the gem. He walked one and struck out 10. He has 153 Ks on the season, tying him for fourth with LA's Zack Greinke.

San Fran will try to take three of four from the Mets when the series concludes Monday at 12:10 pm EDT.