Colby Rasmus, Matt Andriese Deliver In 4-0 Rays Win; Tommy Joseph Saves Phillies In 2-1 Win Over Rockies

Players of the Day for Thursday, May 25, 2017

American League

After losing the first two games of their four-game series with the visiting Angels, Tampa Bay got back to .500 (25-25) and dropped the Angels to an even 25-25 by winning the third and fourth games, 5-2 on Wednesday and 4-0 on Thursday.

Andriese: Strong 8 innings

While starter, Matt Andriese, was holding LA at bay for eight scoreless innings, Colby Rasmus was knocking in all of Tampa's runs, singling in a pair in the first and doubling home the same two guys - Cory Dickerson and Evan Longoria - in the fifth.

For Andriese (5-1, 3.24), the game was likely his best of the year thus far, scattering six hits and a pair of walks, fanning five. Another comparable performance for the 27-year-old righty was May 4, when he blanked Miami on seven hits over seven innings, walking three, striking out eight, in a 5-1 Rays victory.

Rasmus: 4 RBI

Andriese has picked up wins in four of his last five starts, without a loss.

The Rays are now five games behind the Yankees in the AL East and head to Minnesota on Friday, looking to extend their win streak to three games when they met the first-place Twins in the first of three at 8:10 pm ET.

National League

The Phillies finally figured out how to beat the Rockies, though it took them four games to do so.

Philadephia ended a for-game winning streak by Colorado and avoided being swept at home by the Rockies with a 2-1, 11-inning victory Thursday.

Their method was to use seven pitchers (even though starter Vince Velazquez pitched well enough to win - but got no decision - allowing one run over five innings) and make sure second-year first baseman, Tommy Joseph, got to the plate often enough.

Joseph keys Philly win

Joseph went 2-for-5 and drove in both of the runs for the Phillies, homering in the seventh inning to tie the game and delivering the game-winner with a single that scored Michael Saunders from second with one out in the bottom of the 11th.

Joseph's home run was his seventh and the two RBI for the game gave him 22 on the year. He's batting .255.

The Phillies ended the day tied with Miami for last place in the NL East, both teams 11 1/2 behind runaway leader Washington. Despite the loss, Colorado maintained first place in the NL West, though their lead over the Diamondbacks was trimmed to one game.

Philly stays put, opening a three-game series with the Reds on Friday, while the Rockies return home after a successful road trip (8-2) to play the Cardinals in three games over the weekend.