Bartolo Colon, Eddie Rosario Lead Twins To 4th Straight; Tyler Flowers Powers Braves With Grand Slam

Players of the Day for Sunday, August 20, 2017

Colon: Wins vs. All MLB

American League

In his extended, 20-year career, Bartolo Colon had notched at least one win against every team in the majors, except the Arizona Diamondbacks.

When he sat down on the bench after tossing a scoreless first inning in the final game of the Twins three-game series with the visiting Diamondbacks, he didn't know his teammates would make his rest between innings a lengthy one, scoring nine runs off Arizona starter, T.J. McFarland and reliever Braden Shipley.

The Twins had already scored five runs and batted around when Eddie Rosario came up for the second time in the frame, this time with the bases loaded. The left fielder responded with a grand slam, making Colon's task easier than expected.

Rosario: Grand Slam

With the huge edge, Colon, 44 years of age, went about his business, allowing four runs on seven hits over six innings, joining Max Scherzer and John Lackey as the only active pitchers to beat all 30 teams. Rosario went to the plate there more times, but came up empty, his damage already done in the 12-5 romp, completing the sweep. Rosario's homer was his 17th, the four RBI gave him 50 on the year.

As the Twins won their fourth straight, they improved in the AL Central to within five games of first place Cleveland, 7-4 losers at Kansas City, and remained tied with the Angels for the second wild card spot.

The Diamondbacks continued a game behind the Rockies in the second spot, but, their lead over Milwaukee was shaved to 2 1/2 games, as the Brewers won, 8-4, at Colorado.

On Monday, the Twins are in Chicago for a doubleheader with the White Sox, while Arizona travels to New York to begin a four-game series with the Mets.

Flowers: Grand Slam

National League

Trailing by 11 games for the second wild card spot and 19 games behind Washington in the NL East, the Atlanta Braves aren't likely to be playing in October, but since it's only August, they're still hopeful.

Tyler Flowers and the Braves made quick work of the Reds in the finale of their three game series with an 8-1 rout.

Already ahead 2-0 in the fifth, Flowers pretty much put away all doubt with a grand slam. The Braves tacked on two more runs in the inning, completing the scoring for the game. Starter Sean Newcomb blanked the Reds over five innings for the win, avoiding the sweep.

The Braves host Seattle Monday, beginning a three-game series.