Sizemore Joins 30-30 Club; Delgado Bombs Astros

Players of the Day from Monday, August 25, 2008 American League Grady Sizemore socked a pair of solo home runs to become the latest member of the 30-30 club as the Indians downed the Tigers, 4-3, in 11 innings. Sizemore hit his 30th and 31st homers, along with his 34 stolen bases, puts him in an elite class with 13 other AL players who have hit 30 homers and stolen 30 bases in a season. Notes: The White Sox actually won one and lost one on Monday, losing the completion of an April 28 game which was halted by rain in the 11th inning with the score tied 3-3. The game was finished in the 14th, as the Sox played the role of home team at Camden Yards, with the Orioles coming out on top, 4-3. In the regularly scheduled game, Jim Thome cracked his 535th career home run to give the Sox a 4-3 win and move past Jimmie Foxx into 15th place on the all time home run list. Thome needs one more homer to tie Mickey Mantle. The "split" gave Chicago a 1-game edge over the Twins in the Central division as Minnesota dropped their third straight, losing 4-2, at Seattle. Boston visits the Yankees for three games beginning Tuesday night in the most crucial series of the season, especially for New York. The Yankees have been hanging around, and are 5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East and wild card standings. Unless the Yankees take at least 2 out of these 3 games, their season may be all but over. National League With just two swings, Carlos Delgado bombed the Houston Astros and kept the NY Mets in first place in the NL East. Delgado unloaded with a pair of three run homers as the Mets toppled Houston, 9-1, and remained 1/2 game in front of the Phillies in the division. The Mets visit Philly for two games beginning Tuesday before a 3-game trip to Florida on Friday. It should prove to be the most important 5-game road trip of the season for the Mets. Florida is only 5 1/2 behind. Notes: The Cubs won their 3rd straight, 12-3, at Pittsburgh, to improve to a 5 game lead over second place Milwaukee, idle on Monday. Philadelphia completed a 4-game sweep of the Dodgers, winning 5-0 on Monday. Arizona also lost, 4-2, at San Diego, to remain 3 games in front of LA.