Jon Niese, Kirk Nieuwenhuis Pace Mets; Phil Hughes Tosses Complete Game vs. Detroit

Players of the Day for Sunday, June 3, 2012

American League

The Yankees took two of three in Detroit as Phil Hughes twirled a four-hit complete game in New York's 5-1 win Sunday.

Phil Hughes

Hughes walked three and struck out a season-high eight batters. The only mistake he made was allowing a leadoff home run in the fourth inning to Prince Fielder. The Yankees were already ahead, 3-0, at the time, and quickly negated Fielder's blast, scoring two runs in the top of the fifth.

After the Detroit home run, Huhges settled in, setting down 15 of the final 18 batters he faced, never allowing a runner past first base. The only Tiger to reach second for the game, besides Fielder, was Miguel Cabrera, who walked with two down in the first inning and advanced on a passed ball.

It was the second complete game for Hughes in his seven year career with the Yankees. The win kept New York 1 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay, who took sole possession of first place in the AL East with an 8-4 win over Baltimore.


National League

Jon Niese

Taking their third straight from St. Louis, the home-standing New York Mets found their way into the crowded top of the NL East, in a three-way tie with Miami and Washington, with a 6-1 victory.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis

Jon Niese shut out St. Louis over the first six innings, extending the Cardinals' scoreless streak against Mets' starters to 24 straight innings. Niese fanned a career-high 10 batters, improving to 4-2. The Cardinals finally got on the board for the first time in the series with a run in the seventh.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis homered and was 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs to pace the Mets offensively. New York will be looking for the sweep of their four-game series when they host the Cardinals at 1:10 pm EDT Monday afternoon at Citi Field. The Mets have outscored St. Louis 19-1 in the first three games.

The Cardinals have lost five straight and have fallen into third place in the Central, 3 1/2 games back of Cincinnati.