James Shields Shuts Out Giants for Royals' Sixth Straight Win; Arizona Rookie David Peralta Slams Colorado

Players of the Day for Saturday, August 9, 2014

American League

Shields: 4-hit SHO

Coming out of the all-star break, the Royals lost four straight on the road - three to Boston and one to the White Sox - but came back to take the final two games of their series in Chicago, which started a 14-3 streak including Saturday's 5-0 win over the stumbling Giants.

While James Shields was limiting the Giants to five hits for their third loss in a row, his complete game victory gave the Royals their sixth straight win, and, coupled with Detroit's 4-3, 10-inning loss to Toronto, Kansas City finds itself just 1 1/2 games back of the AL Central leaders.

Shields was electric, yielding four hits and a walk, while fanning five, posting his first complete game and shutout of the season. Improving to 11-6, the Royals hope he retains his good form down the stretch. In 2011, Shields tossed 11 complete games and four shutouts with the Rays, so the back class is there. He has not had a losing record since 2010.

Peralta: Heating up

The Royals will go for their seventh straight and the series sweep when they host the Giants Sunday at 2:10 pm EDT.

National League

Rookie David Peralta of the Arizona Diamondbacks is making up for lost time, and may be making a late bid for NL rookie of the year.

Peralta, who's been patrolling the Arizona outfield for the past two months since being called up from AA Mobile in the Southern League, mashed a grand slam in a nine-run eighth inning as the Diamondbacks stung the Rockies, 14-4, taking a 2-0 lead in their three-game series which concludes Sunday at 4:10 pm EDT.

Peralta also doubled and singled in five at-bats, driving in five runs and scoring twice. It was his sixth multiple-hit game in his last 10, raising his batting average to a crisp, .321, with five home runs and 29 RBI.

In his first season in the majors, the 27-year-old Venezuelan is making the most of it.