David Ortiz Bombs Yankees; Florida's Jacobs Launches a Pair

Players of the Day from Sunday, July 27, 2008 American League After spending nearly 2 months on the DL, David Ortiz returned for the weekend series with the Yankees and came through big time on Sunday with his 14th home run of the season as Boston pummeled New York, 9-2, avoiding a sweep of their 3-game series at Fenway Park. Ortiz singled and scored in Boston's 3-run first inning, then broke the game wide open with a two-run homer in the 5th, which increased Boston's lead to 7-0. Later, "Big Papi" drove in Jacoby Ellsbury with a sac fly for his third RBI of the evening. With the Rays losing, Boston got back to within 1 game of first place in the AL East, with the Yankees 3 games out. Notes: In the Central, the Tigers got one back against the White Sox with a 6-4 win which kept them from being swept at home. Chicago still leads Minnesota by 2 1/2 and Detroit by 6 1/2. National League The Florida Marlins are one of the more surprising teams of this season, thanks to players like Mike Jacobs, who went 3-for-5 in a 9-6 loss at Chicago on Sunday. Jacobs hit a three-run homer in the 2nd inning and a two-run shot in the 3rd, driving in five of Florida's 6 runs. The loss dropped the Marlins 2 games behind the Mets and a game back of the Phillies in the NL East. Jacobs is batting .245 with 22 home runs and 60 RBI. The Cubs, who split a 4-game set with Florida over the weekend, regained sole control of first place in the NL Central, as Milwaukee and St. Louis both lost. Chicago is a game in front of the Brewers and 4 to the good over the Cardinals. The Cubs begin a four game series at Milwaukee on Monday. Notes: Randy Johnson notched win #292, going 7 innings without allowing a run on 9 hits in a 7-2 win at San Francisco. Johnson should get 11 or 12 more starts and could reach the 300 win plateau by season's end. After losing six straight decisions, Johnson (8-7) has won four in a row. Arizona remains 1 game ahead of LA in the West.