Wednesday, June 28, 2017

White Sox Top Yankees, 4-3 On Jose Abreu 2 RBI; Trea Turner's 4 SB Ties Nats' Record In 6-1 Win

Players of the Day for Tuesday, June 27, 2017

American League

Abreu: Game-winner
Boston took over first place in the AL East with a 9-2 win over Minnesota, coupled with the Yankees losing at Chicago to the White Sox, 4-3, on Jose Abreu's two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth off New York reliever Dellin Betances.

It was Abreu's second hit of the game, in five at-bats, and his first since his third inning double gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead. The Yankees seemed to have the game in hand when they scored three times in the top of the eighth, but the Sox returned the favor with a run in the bottom of the frame, setting up Abreu's heroics.

Having a solid, if unspectacular season, Abreu is batting .299 with 13 home runs and 51 RBI. He is on pace for his fourth straight season with more than 100 RBI, which he's accomplished every year he's been a major leaguer.

Trailing in the AL Central, the White Sox aren't exactly done for the season as they trial Cleveland by seven games. The division is competitive and unpredictable, and Chicago has a young team, making them dangerous.

The four-game series - now tied at a game apiece - continues Wednesday with game three at 8:10 pm ET.

National League

Turner: 4 SB, Leads NL
Pitchers in the National League would be wise to keep a close eye on Washington's leadoff hitter, Trea Turner, who tied a team mark - Expos and Nationals - with four stolen bases in the Nationals' 6-1 win over the Cubs.

In the first inning, Turner singled, stole second and third and scored on Brian Goodwin's infield single to tie the game at one. While Max Scherzer was holding the Cubs to one run through six innings, Turner was terrorizing Cubs' starter Jake Arrieta and catcher Miguel Montero.

In the third, Turner walked and again swiped second and third, scoring when Daniel Murphy was ruled safe on a throwing error by Chicago second baseman Tommy La Stella. The run put the Nationals up 2-1. Scherzer took care of matters after that, picking up his ninth win against five losses, allowing just two hits, fanning six. After a La Stella double in the third inning, Scherzer set down 10 straight before retiring.

Turner finished the game with 32 stolen bases, catapulting him into the NL lead, past Cincinnati's Billy Hamilton (31) and Miami's Dee Gordon (29). Turner's been caught just five times this season and has scored 51 times, tied with teammate Murphy, sixth in the National League.

The win kept Washington 8 1/2 games ahead of Atlanta in the East division, while the Cubs remained a game behind Milwaukee in the Central.

With the series tied 1-1, game three of the four-game set is slated for Wednesday night, 7:05 pm ET at Nationals Park.

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