Ryan Goins' Grand Slam Lifts Blue Jays Over Brewers; Anthony Rizzo Socks A Pair In Cubs' Victory Over SF

Players of the Day for Wednesday, May 24, 2017

American League

"Grand Slam" Goins

Prior to opening day, what was considered to be the best division in the majors was the AL East, and, thus far, it hasn't really disappointed. What is making it all the more interesting is the emergence of the Yankee "Baby Bombers" youth movement, that has taken over first place in the division, and the poor start by the team favored to win it all, the Toronto Blue Jays.

While the Orioles have floundered of late, losing their last four and 10 of their last 13, the other teams are gaining ground on second place Baltimore. New York, Boston, Tampa Bay and Toronto all won on Wednesday, tightening the noose around Baltimore.

Toronto, at 21-26, is a work in progress, but they won their third straight, taking down the Brewers in Milwaukee, 8-4. With Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki on track to return from the DL this weekend, the last place Blue Jays may be about to make things even more interesting.

In the meantime, Grand Slam Ryan Goins got the job done. The gritty shortstop socked a bases-loaded homer in the sixth inning that broke the game open. Goins' shot was one of four Blue Jay homers in the game.

The win trimmed Milwaukee's lead in the NL Central to 1/2 game over the Cubs and Cards, both winners on Wednesday. Toronto is still in last place in the AL East, but they're only 7 1/2 back with more than four months of baseball remaining.

On Thursday, the Blue Jays are headed home, where they will open a three game series with the Rangers on Friday. Milwaukee stays home and starts a four game set with Arizona.

National League

The Cubs are on the prowl.

Rizzo: 2 HR, 2 RBI

After winning their second straight over the visiting Giants, 5-4, Chicago is tied with St. Louis in second place, 1/2 game behind the Brewers in the NL Central Division.

Keying Wednesday's win was first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who belted a pair of home runs and singled in his only other official at-bat, going 3-for-3 and driving in two runs.

Both of Rizzo's solo shots tied the game, at 1-1 in the second inning and 2-2 in the fourth. The Cubs added single runs in the fifth, seventh and eight, before the Giants came back with two in the ninth, when Mac Williamson stroked a two-run homer of closer Wade Davis, who picked up his 10th save, nevertheless.

Rizzo's home runs gave him 11 on the season, along with 28 RBI.

The Cubs and Giants conclude their four-game series on Thursday at Wrigley Field with the Cubs leading, two games to one. Getaway game time is 2:20 pm ET.