Eric Hosmer, Royals Crush Indians; Cubs' Kris Bryant Walks Off Rockies with 9th Inning Homer

Players of the Day for Monday, July 27, 2015

American League

Eric Hosmer

The first-place Kansas City Royals wasted little time taking control of the first of their three-game series at Cleveland.

Eric Hosmer cranked a three-run homer in the top of the first inning, helping the Royals cruise to a 9-4 triumph.

Hosmer's 10th home run was part of a 3-for-5 night for the Royal first baseman. Subsequently, he added two singles and finished with four RBI, scoring three times.

Homer finished the night with a .308 batting average, 10 HRs and 53 RBI.

The Royals have opened up an eight-game lead over second-place Minnesota in the AL Central, the largest advantage in the majors. Mired in last place in the division, the Indians languish, 15 games back.

Game two of the series is slated for 7:10 pm EDT on Tuesday.


National League

Kris Bryant:
Rookie of the Year?

In Chicago, there's plenty of hope for the future of the Cubs. Rookie third baseman Kris Bryant is a big part of that hopeful future, as he smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning at Wrigley Field Monday, giving the Cubs a walk-off, 9-8 win over visiting Colorado.

Bryant delivered with two down in the ninth and teammate Dexter Fowler aboard, sending his 15th home run of the season over the wall in center field.

Batting .254 with 15 HRs and 59 RBI, Bryant is a serious candidate for NL rookie of the year. He was 2-for-5 with three RBI on the night, his RBI single in the fourth inning accounting for Chicago's first run.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, this doesn't look like the season in which they'll be making history, looking tend the longest World Series drought in the majors. They trail the Cardinals by 11 1/2 games in the NL Central division and have the Pirates five games in front of them. Looking at a wild card, however, the Cubs are just 2 1/2 games behind the Giants for the second spot.

Game two of the three-game series is set for an 8:05 first pitch, Tuesday night.