Alejandro De Aza Powers O's over Yanks, 10-2; Tyson Ross Fans 12 as Padres Whip Rangers, 3-2

Players of the Day for Saturday, March 28, 2015

Grapefruit League

De Aza: HR 4RBI

With a 10-15 mark in the Grapefruit League, the Orioles haven't exactly been catching anyone's eye this Spring, but, in their 10-2 victory over the Yankees in Tampa, there were some signs that the team which won the AL East last season is re-emerging in time for games that matter.

Batting in the leadoff position, Alejandro De Aza homered and had a sac fly in three at-bats, driving in four runs in the rout.

De Aza, picked up from the White Sox mid-season by the O's adds serious speed and power at the top of the order. Between the two clubs last season, De Aza hit eight homers and stole 17 bases, and he continued to work on cutting down on strikeouts - from 147 in 2013 to 119 last year.

Backup catcher, Steve Clevenger, went 3-for-3 and scored three times. Starting pitcher, Tyler Wilson, worked four innings, allowing only one hit, while fanning two with no walks.

Ross: 12 Ks, 3-0

The Yankees managed only three hits off Baltimore pitching, though two of them were solo home runs, by Stephen Drew and Alex Rodriguez.

Cactus League

Though he allowed six hits and two runs over the course of six innings, Tyson Ross managed to strike out 12 Texas Rangers and notch his third win of the exhibition season, in a 3-2 Padre win over Texas.

Ross looks to improve upon last year's marks and bolster what appears to be a solid rotation in San Diego.

Last year, in his first full season as a starter with the Padres, Ross et career-highs in starts (31), innings (195.2), strikeouts (195) and ERA (2.81) going 13-14 with 195 strikeouts in 31 starts, which included two complete games and a shutout.

Look for Ross to challenge for league lead in the K department. He finished eighth last season in the National League.

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