Jackie Bradley Jr. Leads 26-Hit Boston Assault; Matt Duffy Powers Giants over Nationals, 12-6

Duffy, 2 2B, 4 RBI

Bradley Jr. 5-6, 2HR, 7RBI

Players of the Day for Saturday, August 15, 2015

American League


While the Yankees expanded their lead in the AL East to 1 1/2 games over the Blue Jays with a 4-1 win in Toronto, the Red Sox and Jackie Bradley Jr. were teeing off against the Mariners, to the tune of 26 hits and a 22-10 win.

Bradley was simply amazing, socking a pair of two-run homers and three doubles in six at-bats, scoring five times and driving in seven runs, becoming the first Red Sox to get five extra-base hits in a game.

Batting at the bottom of the lineup, Bradley anchored the last four spots in the Boston order, which was a combined 13-for-19 with 13 RBI and 18 runs.

The score was the most ever against the Mariners and it started with their ace, Felix Hernandez, on the mound. Hernandez lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing 12 hits and a whopping 10 earned runs.

On Friday, the Red Sox battered the Mariners, 15-1. Boston will be seeking the series sweep when they take the field at Fenway Park, Sunday, at 1:35 pm EDT.

National League

To the delight of the NY Mets and their fans, the Giants are laying waste to the Washington Nationals, taking three straight in San Francisco, including Saturday's 12-6 mop-up.

The win kept the Giants 2 1/2 back of the Dodgers in pursuit of the top spot in the NL West, simultaneously keeping the Nats 4 1/2 back of New York in the East, as the Mets dropped a 5-3 decision to the Pirates in 14 innings.

Some credit for the Giants' success has to go to rookie third baseman, Matt Duffy, who, on Friday, was 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, and on Saturday had a pair of doubles and four RBI in five at-bats.

Duffy's first two-bagger came in the second inning with the Giants down 2-1 and the bases full. All three runners scored, giving the Giants the lead at 4-2. Duffy scored on a single by Brandon Belt as the Giants eventually put up a five-spot in the inning.

Things were already out of hand in the eighth when Duffy doubled again, knocking in Gregor Blanco to make it an 11-5 game. Buster Posey knocked in Duffy later in the frame.

A serious candidate for NL rookie of the year honors, in 103 games, Duffy is batting .310 (7th in NL), with 23 doubles, five triples, 10 homers and 59 RBI.

San Francisco can complete the sweep of the four-game series with a win in Sunday's finale, which starts at 1:05 pm PDT.