Santana's Five RBI Not Enough Against Rangers; Gallardo, Braun Lead Milwaukee Uprising

Players of the Day for Friday, August 5, 2011

American League

Carlos Santana and the Cleveland Indians built a 6-1 lead over the Rangers in just the first two innings of their game at Texas. Unfortunately for them, baseball games generally last nine innings, though in this case, the Rangers eventually emerged victorious in 11.

Santana: 5 RBI

Getting the Indians off to a flying start, Santana socked his 17th home run off Texas starter Derek Holland, a three-run shot in the first inning.

In the second, Santana cranked a double to center field, driving in two more runs as part of a three-run inning, knocking out Holland after just 1 2/3rd innings. A solo homer in the third inning by Shelley Duncan put the Indians up 7-2, but the Rangers eventually came back to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th on Michael Young's two-run homer and win it in 11, 8-7, when Elvis Andrus scored from second base on Josh Hamilton's infield single.

Santana finished 2-for-4 with five RBI, all in the first two innings of the game. The Cleveland backstop has been on a two-game tear, homering and driving in three runs in Thursday's 7-3 win over the Red Sox, but the Indians have been sliding, winning just three of their last ten games and falling four behind Detroit in the AL Central.

Texas managed to hold their one-game lead over the Angels in the West. The Angels have won seven of their last ten.

National League

Gallardo: 13 Wins

The Milwaukee Brewers won for the ninth time in their last 10 games, as Yovani Galardo allowed just one run over eight strong innings, winning his 13th against seven losses in the Brewers' 8-1 romp in Houston.

Braun: .329 BA

Gallardo allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out 6, tying Arizona's Ian Kennedy for second in the NL with 13 wins. Roy Halladay leads the league with 14 victories.

At the plate, Ryan Braun went 3-for-4 with a double and two singles, scoring twice, driving in a run and swiping his 20th base. Braun is challenging for the league batting crown with a .329 average, right behind Jose Reyes of the Mets, who leads, at .336.

The Brewers maintained their three-game bulge over St. Louis in the Central division, which has quickly become a two team affair. The slumping Pirates - losers of eight straight - have fallen eight games off the pace and Cincinnati is 8 1/2 back.