Ryan Braun Leads Brewers to 8th Straight Win; Mike Napoli Slams Red Sox to Victory

Players of the Day for Monday, April 22, 2013

American League

Napoli leads majors
with 25 RBI

After having dropped both ends of a Sunday double-header to the Royals, the Boston Red Sox got back on the winning track with a 9-6 victory over Oakland, maintianing their two-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East.

A fifth inning grand slam over the Green Monster by Mike Napoli turned a close game into a runaway. The Sox scored five in the frame before Oakland rallied with three runs in the eighth.

Napoli previously doubled home David Ortiz in the second inning, for Boston's initial score, scoring on a three-run, Will Middlebrooks, home run.. He finished 2-for-4 with five RBI.

Napoli's homer was his fourth of the season; his 25 RBI lead the majors.

National League

Braun: On pace for
another 100-RBI year

Milwaukee started the season miserably, losing eight of their first ten games, but have since turned things around with eight straight wins, getting back into the crowed NL Central race, where they trail the Reds by a full game. The Brewers are sandwiched between St. Louis (1/2 game back of the Reds) and Pittsburgh (1 1/2 out).

The Brewers got their series in San Diego off to a flying start with a five-run first inning, highlighted by Ryan Braun's sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot off Padres' starter, Jason Maquis.

Braun later singled in another run, going 2-for-4 with three RBI as the Brewers cruised to a 7-1 win.

Braun has 19 RBI on the year, third in the National League behind the Mets' John Buck (22) and the Reds' Brandon Phillips (21). The 2011 NL MVP, Braun has driven in more than 100 runs in each of the last five seasons after bringing home 97 in his 2007 rookie year.