Phillies Down Dodgers on Maikel Franco's Grand Slam; Indians' Carlos Carrasco Tosses One-Hitter, Gets No Decision

Players of the Day for Tuesday, August 4, 2015

American League

Carrasco: 1-hitter

Franco: Grand Slam

The season hasn't gone very well for the Cleveland Indians (picked by Sports Illustrated to win the American League pennant), but Tuesday night's 2-0, 12-inning win over the Angels was a bit of sweet redemption.

Starting pitcher, Carlos Carrasco, had a perfect game through the first two hitters in the fourth inning , prior to walking Mike Trout with two down in the frame. He escaped un-hit, but surrendered the no-hit bid via a lead-off single by David Murphy, who was thrown out trying to steal for the first out of the frame.

Carrasco got the next two in order and proceeded to mow down the remaining 12 Angels in the sixth through ninth for a one-hit shutout, but, the game was still tied, and went to extra innings.

Indians' third-baseman, Giovanni Urshela, belted a two-run homer in the top of the twelfth inning that proved to be the difference.

Even though he did not get a decision, Carrasco put up one of the best mound performances of the season, walking one and fanning seven on 100 pitches, 68 of which were strikes.

In 22 starts this season, Carrasco is 11-8, with a 3.76 ERA. Not bad, considering he's hurling for a last-place team.

The Angels and Indians play the rubber game of their three-game set Wednesday afternoon at 3:35 pm EDT in Anaheim.

National League

The Dodgers continue to cling to first place in the NL West, but it seems only a matter of time before the Giants (8-3 winners at Atlanta Tuesday) catch them and take control of the division.

LA continues to play sub-par ball, as witnessed in their 6-2 loss to the Phillies in the opener of a three-game series at Philadelphia.

The Dodgers actually outhit the Phillies, 11-10, but stranded 13 runners and were just 2-12 with runners in scoring position.

For their part, the Phillies, current basement residents of the NL East - though now only one game behind the Marlins - got a huge boost from third-baseman, Maikel Franco, who broke a 1-1 tie with a seventh-inning grand slam, his 12th home run of the season and first of his career.

A rookie who played in 16 games for the Phillies last season, Franco is batting .282 and has driven in 44 runs in 70 games.

He's been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for Philly fans.

The Dodgers and Phillies play game two of the series Tuesday night at 7:05 pm EDT.