Sanchez Flirts with No-Hitter Again, Wins; Jeter Not Yet Over the Hill

Players of the Day for Sunday, May 8, 2011

American League

Derek Jeter

The hysteria over the health and welfare of Derek Jeter was always a little bit absurd. After all, the guy's a proven champion, a certain Hall of Famer and, at age 36, may not have the range at short he used to, but can still pick it with the best in the business.

It wasn't so much his fielding that concerned the Yankee worriers, but the low batting average and lack of power. Until Sunday, Jeter hadn't hit a home run since August 24 of last season.

By the time the Yankees had finished polishing off the Rangers, 12-5, on Sunday, Jeter had put all of the questions to rest, going 4-for-6 with a pair of home runs, three RBI, two runs and a stolen base. He also extended his hitting streak to six straight game, raising the batting average to a very respectable .276.

Over the hill? Not yet. In the meantime, the usual Yankee hand-wringers better keep an eye on the Tampa Bay Rays, because they've won four straight and are tied with the Yanks for first place in the AL East.

National League

Anibal Sanchez

A couple of weeks ago, Anibal Sanchez, flirted with a no=hitter, coming up just short with a one-hit complete game shutout over the Rockies.

Three starts later, he was at it again, this time taking a no-no into the 7th inning against the Washington Nationals. An error in the first and a hit batsman in the 3rd were all that separated Sanchez from perfection. However, Lance Nix singled to lead off the 7th inning, and Michael Morse also singled with one out, so the drama ended there, but Sanchez got through the inning without surrendering a run, ringing up 11 Ks and no walks.

Getting just his second win of the season against one loss, Sanchez and the Marlins won the game, 8-0, and shaved a game off Philadelphia's lead in the NL East, as the Braves took down the Phillies, 5-2. Florida, as hot as any team in either league of late, is two games off the pace.