Jordan Zimmermann Wins 10th as Nats Drop Rockies; Kyle Seager's Big Night Spoiled as Angels Tip Mariners, 10-9

Players of the Day for Thursday, June 20, 2013

American League

Kyle Seager

Kyle Seager may have had his best game as a major leaguer, but it went for naught as the Angels scored twice in the bottom of the eighth inning to overtake the Mariners, 10-9, and finish off their four-game series in Anahiem, winning three games to one.

Seager, a third-year pro out of Charlotte, NC, socked a home run, two doubles and a single in five at-bats, drove in three runs and scored three times, but Seattle pitchers could not take advantage of his effort, giving up 17 hits to the relentless Angels, who evened their home record at 20 wins and 20 losses.

Having a solid season as the regular third baseman, Seager has nine homers and 33 RBI to go with a .287 batting average.

The loss dropped the Mariners 10 1/2 back of the A's, who lead the AL West by a game over the Rangers. The Angels are nine out, with hopes of catching the two front-runners as the season wears on.

National League

Jordan Zimmermann

Jordan Zimmermann came up big, and the Nationals got some much-needed help in the standings from the Mets, as Washington dropped Colorado, 6-1, and the Braves lost for the third time in five games to the Mets, 4-3.

Tying Cardinal hurlers Lance Lynn and Adam Wainright for the league lead with his 10th win, Zimmermann blanked the Rockies - losers of four straight - through seven innings, giving up an unearned run in the eighth. Rafael Soriano pitched a perfect ninth in relief.

Zimmermann gave up six hits, fanned nine and allowed just one walk. The Washington hurler lowered his ERA to 2.26, fifth-best in the NL. He's stuck out 76 and walked just 15 batters in 107 2/3 innings, a K-BB ratio of better than 5-1.

David Wright belted a pair of homers to lead the Mets, helping the Nats pull to within six games of the runaway Braves in the NL East.

Colorado fell three off the pace set by Arizona in the NL West. They lost three straight in Toronto and will try to get back on track Friday in game two of the four-game series in Washington, Friday, at 7:05 pm EDT.

Today's Trivia: Who won his first AL batting title in 1983, and then won four straight from 1985-1988? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: The Designated Hitter rule was first used in the American League in 1973.