Michael Fulmer, J.D. Martinez Star In 11-1 Tiger Win; Nationals' Anthony Rendon Slams Reds

Players of the Day for Saturday, July 15, 2017

American League

Martinez: 2 HR, 5 RBI

With the Tigers already up 2-0 against the Blue Jays in the third inning, J.D. Martinez stroked a bases-loaded single to left, plating two runs as Detroit romped past Toronto for an 11-1 victory.

Martinez finished 3-for-5, adding a double and an eighth-inning, three-run homer (15), driving in five runs. When the Tigers were on the field, starter Michael Fulmer was making hay against the Blue Jay lineup, allowing just two hits over eight innings, fanning three while issuing one walk.

Fulmer: 2 hits over 8 IP

Fulmer, 10-6, dropped his ERA to 3.06 (6th in the AL), giving up a lone run in the fourth inning. The 24-year-old hurler threw 61 of 101 pitches for strikes. After Kendrys Morales singled with one down in the second, Fulmer didn't allow another hit until Troy Tulowitzski beat out an infield single with one out in the eighth.

In his second season with the Tigers, Fulmer is approaching his win total from 2016 when he chalked up 11 victories and seven losses in 26 starts.

Alex Wilson pitched a perfect ninth inning for Detroit, sewing up the win, which kept the Tigers somewhat in contention in the AL Central. With the Indians losing their second straight in Oakland by a 5-3 score, Detroit is in fourth place, seven games behind Cleveland. Kansas City is three games out; Minnesota trails the Indians by 1 1/2.

The series tied, 1-1, Detroit will try to get an upper hand over the Blue Jays in the finale, Sunday, 1:10 pm ET at Comerica Park in Detroit.

National League

Anthony Rendon socked a two-run homer and a grand slam, leading the Washington Nationals to their third straight win, a 10-7 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds.

Rendon's two-run shot came in the fourth, giving the Nationals a 3-0 lead as Max Scherzer was cruising to his 11th win against five losses, tossing six scoreless innings on three hits, whiffing 10.

Rendon: 2 HR, GS, 6 RBI

In the seventh, Rendon capped a seven-run Washington outburst with his grand slam, completing the scoring for the visitors to Great American Ball Park. Rendon's homers were his 17th and 18th. He has 61 RBI on the season after driving in six on Saturday, adding a single for a 3-for-3 effort which raised his batting average to .315.

Washington's bullpen didn't do itself or Scherzer any justice, as the Reds scored two in the eighth and five in the ninth before Matt Grace came on to stop the bleeding, getting the three final outs of the game.

The Nationals kept their 9 1/2 game lead over Atlanta, 8-5 winners over Arizona, and will be going for third straight win over the Reds in game three of the four-game series, Sunday at 1:10 pm ET.