Ryan Zimmerman's 4 RBI Lead Nationals; Shelley Duncan Helps Indians Past Orioles

Players of the Day for Sunday, July 1, 2012

American League

Concluding their four game series in Baltimore with a 6-2 win over the Orioles, the Cleveland Indians took three of four and find themselves just 1 1/2 games back of the White Sox in the AL Central.

Shelley Duncan

Shelley Duncan was 3-for-4, banging a second inning solo home run (6) to put the Indians up 1-0, then doubling and scoring in the fourth as the Indians added three more runs.

The Indians keep coming up with different heroes with each win; Sunday was Duncan's turn to carry the day. He doubled again to lead off the eighth and was pulled for pinch runner Michael Brantley, though the Indians left the potential run stranded.

The schedule gets a little tougher for the Indians as they host three games with the Angels and four with Tampa Bay prior to the all star break.

The Orioles, who maintained their hold on second place in the AL East, but trail the Yankees by six games, travel to Seattle for three games, followed by four at the Angels. The Orioles have lost nine of their last 12.

National League

Ryan Zimmerman

The Washington Nationals continue to cruise along in first place in the NL East, wrapping up a three game set in Atlanta with an 8-4 win over the Braves Sunday to earn a 2-1 split and improve their lead over the Mets to 3 1/2 games and 4 1/2 over the Braves.

Ryan Zimmerman had a big day at the plate, singling, doubling and socking a fifth inning home run (his 6th). Zimmerman drove in four and scored twice, getting things started for Washington with a two-run double and later scoring in the first inning as the Nationals tallied four times and would never trail in the contest.

With the best record in the National League, the Nats - winners of four of their last six - next host the Giants and Rockies in a pair of three game series after an off day Monday.