Josh Hamilton Hits Historic Four Homers vs. Orioles; Jake Westbrook, Carlos Beltran Lead Cards over Arizona

Players of the Day for Tuesday, May 8, 2012

American League

Josh Hamilton belted four home runs and added a double, going 5-for-5 with eight RBI and four runs scored as the Rangers blasted the Orioles, 10-3, their second straight win at Camden Yards and 12th road win against five losses.

Hamilton's shots were all of the two-run variety; Elvis Andrus was on base for each of his towering shots. Three went to straightaway center, with one lifted over the wall in left.

It was the first time any player had hit four homers in one game since Carlos Delgado did it for Toronto on September 25, 2003, in a win over Tampa Bay. He becomes the 16th player to hit four homers in a game. With his double in the fifth inning, Hamilton's 18 total bases are a new American League record. The eight RBI are a career best for the Texas center fielder. He had never hit more than two homers in a game prior to Tuesday's prodigious, historic feat.

Hamilton: 4HR 8RBI

Hamilton homered off Jake Arrieta in the first and third innings, socked another off Zach Phillips in the seventh and finished with a blast against Darren O'Day. He now leads all of baseball with 14 dingers, four ahead of the Yankees' Curtis Granderson and two better than Dodger Matt Kemp, who leads the NL with 12.

With a .406 batting average and 36 RBI, Hamilton leads the three batting triple crown categories.

The 20-10 Rangers have the best record in the majors, leading Oakland by four games in the West. They've outscored the Orioles 23-6 in the first two games of the series and on Wednesday will go for the sweep.

Despite the loss, the Orioles remained tied for first place in the AL East with Tampa Bay, 5-3 losers to the Yankees on Tuesday.


National League

Beltran: 2HR GS 6RBI

Apparently not having lost much - besides Albert Pujols and manager Tony LaRussa - St. Louis continues to run roughshod over the National League, their 19-11 record now tied with the Dodgers as the bast in the league.

The Cardinals took their second straight from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, as Jake Westbrook turned in another valuable performance from the mound and Carlos Beltran provided more than enough offense in the 6-1 victory.

Jake Westbrook

Westbrook shut down the D'Backs on four hits over seven innings before turning the ball over to the relief staff with a healthy 6-0 lead. Fanning eight and walking two, Westbrook improved to 4-2, dropping his ERA to 1.76, 8th-best among NL starters.

For Beltran, both of his hits came in the first two innings and both were home runs. The Cardinal right fielder socked his 9th homer in the first inning, then smacked a grand slam in the second for his 10th, his six RBI all the Cards needed for the win. Beltran is tied for second in the league with the Reds' Jay Bruce. Matt Kemp leads with 12. Beltran's slam was the 10th of his career.

St. Louis leads the NL Central by 3 1/2 games over Cincinnati and look for the sweep in Arizona Wednesday night.