Mets' Miguel Batista Shuts Down Brewers Over Seven; Dayan Viciedo Leads White Sox Past Tigers

Players of the Day for Monday, May 14, 2012

American League

Dayan Viciedo

It's been a steady start to the season for the White Sox, thanks in part to a resurgent Adam Dunn, who socked his 12th home run in Chicago's 7-5 win over Detroit, but also because of key contributions from new starters, like outfielder Dayan Viciedo, who drove in four key runs.

With the Sox down 5-2, Viciedo launched his fourth home run of the season in the fifth inning, a two-run job that got Chicago to within a run, and followed up in the sixth inning with a two run single that put the White Sox ahead for good.

Viciedo's 2-for-3, four RBI night was enough to keep the White Sox in the hunt, 2 1/2 games behind surprising Cleveland in the AL Central. The win also shaved Detroit's second place lead over Chicago to a slim 1/2 game.

The Tigers and White Sox will complete their two-game series in Chicago Tuesday afternoon.


National League

Miguel Batista

Keeping pace with NL East front-running Washington, the NY Mets turned to well-traveled,42-year-old Miguel Batista in the first of a two-game series with the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.

Now with his 11th major league team, Batista turned in seven scoreless innings against the Brew Crew, helping the Mets to a hard-earned 3-1 victory.

Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo gave up just two hits, but also allowed six walks and a pair of runs over six innings as the Mets played a little small ball, including a suicide squeeze play in the bottom of the sixth which provided the two-run cushion.

Batista was masterful from the hill, throwing 64 of 108 pitches for strikes in just his second start of the season. He fanned six batters and walked only one, picking up his first win of the season.

A pair of Mets relievers worked a perfect eighth innings, and closer Frank francisco made things interesting, allowing a run in the ninth while picking up his ninth save.

The Mets trail the Nationals by two games and Atlanta by 1 1/2 in the division.