deGrom Fans 13 as Mets Take Down Dodgers in Game One; Ben Zobrist, Royals Rally Past Astros

Players of the Day for Friday, October 9, 2015

American League

Zobrist: game-winning RBI

Al Playoffs continued on Friday with two games in the ALDS. In the early game, it took the Texas Rangers 14 innings, but they finally defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-4, taking a two games to zero edge back home to Arlington for game three on Sunday.

The later game saw a rally by the Royals erase a 4-2 Houston lead with two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh for a 5-4 victory as KC's relief star held off the Astros in the final innings.

Ben Zobrist (2-for-4) had the key hit in the seventh inning, driving in Yunel Escobar with the game-winning run with a sharp single to left center.

After Johnny Cueto was touched up for four early runs, he settled down and blanked the Astros through the fourth, fifth and sixth before Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madsen and Wade Davis kept Houston off the basepaths on one hit over the final three innings. KC and Houston are tied a game apiece with the series heading to Houston for game three on Sunday.

deGrom: 7IP, 0ER, 13K

National League

A pair of NL divisional series began on Friday, with the Cardinals putting a stop to the Cubs in a big way, blanking Chicago, 4-0, behind seven scoreless innings from John Lackey, who allowed two hits, fanned five and issued one walk. Trevor Rosenthal allowed a walk and a hit in the ninth, but picked up the save, giving St. Louis a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Game two is Saturday at 5:30 pm ET in St. Louis.

The final game of the evening was a pitching matchup between there-time Cy Young Award winner, Clayton Kershaw and up-and-coming Mets' starter, Jacob deGrom, the victory going to the visiting New Yorkers as deGrom tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and a walk, fanning 13 for a 3-1 Mets' win.

DeGrom got support on a fourth-inning solo homer from Daniel Murphy and a single that delivered two runs off the bat of David Wright in the seventh. The Dodgers picked up a run in the eighth on a single by Adrian Gonzalez (who struck out three times versus deGrom), but the rally was stifled by Jeurys Familia who worked four outs for the save.

Game two of the series is slated for a 9:00 pm ET start in Los Angeles.