Brennan Boesch, Prince Fielder Highlight Tigers' 11-9 Win over Jays; Felix Hernandez Fans Six in Four Innings

Players of the Day for Monday, April 2, 2012

Grapefruit League

Brennan Boesch

9,476 fans showed up for a little Toronto-Detroit tune-up on Monday, and, as expected, they got their money's worth as the teams combined for 19 runs, 25 hits and four homers.

Prince Fielder

The two have been atop the Grapefruit League standings nearly throughout the exhibition season. With the 11-8 Detroit victory, the 23-7 Blue Jays lead 20-7 Detroit by 1 1/2 games as the spring season nears its end and real, regular season play begins Wednesday.

Despite the top two teams getting together again on Tuesday, the Blue Jays are guaranteed to capture the Grapefruit title, as that will be the final exhibition game for both Toronto and Detroit before heading North.

Leading the hit parade for the Tigers was Brennan Boesch, with two singles and a double in four at-bats. Boesch drove in two runs and scored twice, while teammate Prince Fielder belted his fourth springtime homer, a three-run blast which highlighted a seven-run Detroit second inning.

Felix Hernandez

Cactus League

After hurling eight innings (5 H, 1 ER, no decision) in Seattle's 11-inning, 3-1 regular season opening day win in Japan on March 28, Felix Hernandez needed a bit of work prior to his next appearance, so he went out and threw four shutout innings at Colorado to pick up his thrid exhibition win against two losses.

Hernandez was sharp, allowing just two hits while fanning six without issuing a walk as the Mariners racked up the 7-2 win.

The hard-throwing righty appears on track for another sensational season in 2012. In 22 innings this spring, he's struck out 23 batters and held hitters to a .207 average.