Michael Brantley's Two Homers Power Cleveland Past Detroit; Patrick Corbin Hurls Diamondbacks to 6-1 Win over Rockies

Players of the Day for Sunday, July 7, 2013

American League

Michael Brantley

When Miguel Cabrera homered in the first inning, it looked like the Tigers might be on their way to taking the third straight from the home-standing - and second place - Indians, but Michael Brantley was having none of it.

Brantley doubled in a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to put Cleveland up 2-1 and proceeded to smash a pair of homers, leading to the Indians' 9-6 victory.

Brantley's solo shot in the sixth made it 6-1, but the Tigers came back, eventually tying the game at 6-all when Torii Hunter smacked a three-run home run in the eighth. Again, Brantley came to the rescue, driving a two-run smash into the right field stands, putting the Indians ahead for good, going 3-for-5 with five RBI.

The win got the Indians back to within 2 1/2 of the division-leading Tigers. The finale of the four-game set will be played Monday night at 7:05 pm EDT inside Progressive Field.

National League

Just a week ago, the NL West was a tightly-packed, five team scramble.

No more. The Arizona Diamondbacks won their fifth straight, completing a three-game sweep of the Rockies, with a 6-1 victory, establishing a commanding 4 1/2 game lead in the division.

Patrick Corbin

Patrick Corbin worked eight sensational innings, allowing one run on just three hits, the Rockies only getting on the board in the eighth inning off Jonathan Herrera's one-out, solo homer.

Corbin (10-1) fanned 10 and threw 67 of 97 pitches for strikes, recording his first win since June 2nd. He had gone five straight games without a decision, then lost to the Mets on July 2nd, his first defeat of the year.

With a 2.40 ERA, Corbin joins Paul Goldschmidt as Diamondback representatives in the All-Star Game, July 16.

Today's Trivia: From 1991 to 2000, one pitcher led or tied for the NL lead in wins five times. Who was this ace? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: As a rookie with Philadelphia in 1883, John Coleman went 12-48, giving up 772 hits and 291 runs in 538 1/3 innings, setting the professional standard for pitching futility.