Amazing Aviles Leads Royals Sweep of Twins; Bud Norris Silences Brewer Bats

Players of the Day for Sunday, April 1, 2011

American League

Mike Aviles

Really, nobody saw this coming.

With a 10-3 victory, the Kansas City Royals completed a weekend sweep of the Minnesota Twins. After winning 4-3 on Friday, the last two games weren't even close. Kansas City dominated.

The Royals are firmly entrenched at second place in the AL Central, while sending the Twins to the basement of the division. Minnesota is the only team in the major leagues which hasn't won at least 10 games. They are 9-18, tied with the 10-19 White Sox, 10 games back of Cleveland.

The hits just keep coming for the Royals; Sunday's star was second baseman Mike Aviles, a .250 hitter who played like he was a Triple Crown candidate. Aviles went 3-for-5, singled in a run in the 6th and socked a three-run homer in the 8th to put the game away. He also stole a base, scored twice and drove in four runs, giving him the team lead, with 21.

Kansas City is 15-13, 4 1/2 behind the Indians.

National League

Bud Norris

Through 26 games this season, nobody had shut out the milwaukee Brewers.

That fact didn't faze Houston's Bud Norris, who blanked the Brewers for 7 2/3 innings, turned the ball over to his bullpen and got the win in a 5-0 shutout.

Norris cruised through the Milwaukee lineup with aplomb, allowing three hits and three walks while fanning 11. Every starting position player for the Brewers struck out at least once.

It was Norris' second win of the season against one loss, though he's pitched well enough to deserve a few more victories. His Houston teammates don't provide much offense, usually. Norris lowered his ERA to 3.03 and upped his strikeout total to 43.

Houston remains at the bottom of the NL Central. At 11-17, they trail division-leading St. Louis by five games.