Angels Keep Pace in West on Garrett Richards' Shutout over Dodgers; Giants Gain Thanks to Pablo Sandoval's 3 RBI

Players of the Day for Monday, August 4, 2013

Richards: Shutout

American League

With a record of 67-44, second-best in the the majors, one would think the Angels a happy bunch.

Unfortunately, they play in the same division with the Oakland A's, who have the best record in the majors, and are a game to the good on their rivals to the south.

But, the Angels kept pace on Monday, getting a complete game shutout over the Dodgers from Garrett Richards, who gave up five hits, walked two and struck out nine in the Angels' 5-0 triumph. The A's survived in ten innings, with a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay.

Richards is having a superb season for the Angels, picking up his first major league shutout in his second complete game win. He's 12-4, with a 2.58 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 153 1/3 innings.

Continuing the four-game series on Tuesday, the Angels and Dodgers match up at 10:10 pm EDT at Dodger Stadium. On Wednesday and Thursday, the teams play at the Angels' home in Anaheim.

National League

Sandoval: 3-for-5

Interleague play being back in vogue, there was only one NL team that won on Monday, unsurprisingly, in a game featuring two teams from the senior circuit.

Pablo Sandoval made good use of five at bats, socking a pair of doubles and a single, driving in three runs for the Giants, including the game-winner, in their 4-3 victory over the Mets.

Sandoval, 2012 World Series MVP, stroked a double in the second inning to tie the game at two. After Hunter Pence scored on a wild pitch to tie the affair at three, Sandoval blooped a ground rule double down the left field line, scoring Gregor Blanco with the winning run in the top of the ninth. Santiago Castilla came on to get the Mets in order in the bottom of the ninth securing the win with his ninth save.

The Giants took three of four in New York, and, with the Dodgers losing to the Angels later in the day, crept to within 1 1/2 games of the NL West leaders.

Heading back in the direction the West coast, the Giants open a three-game series in Milwaukee starting Tuesday at 8:10 pm EDT.