Victor Martinez Leads Tigers with 3-for-6 effort, HR, 4 RBI; Mets' Lucas Duda Belts a Pair in 11-3 Win over Dodgers

Players of the Day for Sunday, August 24, 2014

American League

Victor Martinez

On Sunday, Detroit earned a split in their four-game series at Minnesota with a 13-4 romp as they continue to battle for the second wild card spot, primarily with Seattle, who leads the Tigers by a game.

Victor Martinez continued his excellent season, smacking his 25th home run, a three-run, sixth-inning belt. Martinez added a pair of singles to go 3-for-6 and had four RBI on the day.

Like a good wine, Martinez seems to be getting better with age. At 35, he's already equaled his best home-run output for a full season and is on pace for over 100 RBI, which would be the fifth time he's reached that mark. His .328 batting average is second in the AL, behind Houston's Jose Altuve (.334). Martinez has never finished higher then fourth in batting, when he hit 330 in 2011.

As far as Tiger hitters are concerned, they probably wouldn't mind a few more games at Minneapolis' Target Field. In the four games just completed, the Tigers and Twins piled up 73 runs. Pitchers from both staffs are relieved to see the series end.

Lucas Duda

The Tigers continue to trail Kansas City in the Central, but picked up a game Sunday, as the Royals dropped a 3-1 decision at Texas and now lead by two games. Detroit will host a three-game series with the Yankees starting Tuesday, then head back on the road for eight games - four each against the White Sox and Indians.

National League

With a 4 1/2 game lead over the Giants in the West, the Dodgers are in control of their post-season destiny, but they failed to complete the sweep oof the Mets Sunday, as Lucas Duda homered twice and drove in four runs for an 11-3 Mets' win.

Duda, in his fourth year as the Mets' full-time first baseman, is having his best year yet, already reaching a career highs in home runs with 26, and on pace for his best year ever driving in runs. He currently has 76, but has been piling them up recently, knocking in 11 in his last six games, along with five home runs.

After his three-run homer in the third inning put the Mets ahead, 5-1, Duda singled in another run in the seventh and put the icing on the cake with a solo shot in the ninth.

Duda is third in the NL in home runs, behind Miami's Giancarlo Stanton (32) and the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo (29).