Adam Jones, Manny Machado Star as Orioles Outlast A's; Jaime Garcia Pitches Gem for Cardinals

Machado: Walk-Off HR

Jones: HR, 4RBI

Players of the Day for Friday, August 14, 2015

American League

While the Yankees were coming from behind to win at Toronto, 4-3, taking back first place in the AL East from the Jays by 1/2 game and ending an 11-game Toronto win streak, the Orioles were in Baltimore, going into extra innings against the Athletics, eventually coming away with an 8-6 victory in 13 innings.

Manny Machado provided the fireworks in walk-off fashion, socking his 25th home run of the season with one out and one aboard, leaving the Orioles in third place, five games behind the interim leader of the division.

Helping the Baltimore cause in the regular course of the game was Adam Jones, who singled twice, whacked a fifth-inning, three-run homer (his 20th), and drove in four runs. Jones has 60 RBI on the year. Chris Davis also belted his 32nd home run of the year and drove in two runs, tying him with Toronto's Josh Donaldson at 85 RBI.

Garcia: 8 1/3 IP, 0 ER, W

The Yankees and Blue Jays continue their series in Toronto on Saturday while the O's and A's take the field at 7:05 pm EDT at Camden Yards for the second of their four-game series.

National League

While other teams seem to have their winning and losing streaks and various ups-and-downs, the St.Louis Cardinals simply continue to plow ahead like an old mule, leading the NL Central, as they have since nearly the start of the season, by a solid six games.

After taking two of three from the Pirates during the week, the Cardinals entertained the Miami Marlins in the first of a three-game series at Busch Stadium, though the result may have not been exactly what the guests were seeking nor expecting.

Jaime Garcia turned in an outstanding start, nearly going the distance. Working into the ninth, Garcia finally turned the ball over to Trevor Rosental after the Marlins got on the board with an unearned run. Garcia had held Miami to six hits, but with two aboard and only one out, Rosenthal came in to do his job for the 35th time this season, allowing one hit, but getting the final two outs to secure the 3-1 St. Louis victory.

Garcia (5-4) had everything working, fanning six and walking only one batter. He threw 96 pitches, 69 of them for strikes. Having missed almost all of July due to injury, Garcia is back on his best game, lowering his ERA to a ridiculous 1.57.

Earning wins in his last two starts, Garcia has not allowed an earned run over the past 15 1/3 innings.