Aaron Judge Homers To Lead Yanks Over Angels; Matt Adams Powers Braves Past Nats, 11-10

Players of the Day for Monday, June 12, 2017

American League

After winning their fifth straight at home Sunday, the Yankees packed their bags and headed West, opening a three-game series with the Angels in Los Angeles on Monday.

Judge: No jet lag

Jet lag didn't seem to affect New York's best player - and maybe the best in the majors - Aaron Judge, as the rookie right fielder mashed his major-league-leading 22nd home run, breaking a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning with a two-run shot.

With the 5-3 win, the Yankees maintained their four game lead over Boston in the AL East. The Red Sox slipped by the Phillies, 6-5, in 11 innings.

Starting the day leading all three triple crown categories, Judge went 2-for-4, scored three times and drove in two runs, but Nelson Cruz drove in four as Seattle whacked Minnesota, 14-3, dropping Judge to second in RBI. Judge has 49; Cruz, 50.

The Angels dropped into a three-way tie with Texas and Seattle for second place in the West, 12 games behind the Houston Astros.

Game two of the series between the Yankees and the Angels is scheduled for Tuesday, 7:07 pm PT.

National League

Adams: powering Braves

With a 10 1/2 game lead in the NL East, the Washington Nationals probably aren't worried about being caught by other teams in the division, but maybe they should be a little concerned.

After the Mets beat the Cubs, 6-1, on Jacob deGrom's five-hit complete game, and the Braves outlasting the Nationals, 11-10, Washington lost its fourth straight game while the Mets won their fourth straight.

Meanwhile, the Nats have to deal with the Braves for two more games in Washington with a tired bullpen. Atlanta wore out Washington pitching on Monday, scoring six runs on seven hits off starter Stephen Strasberg. Though Strasberg struck out 10, he lasted just five innings. Washington's bullpen blew a 9-6 lead in the final two frames, as the Braves piled on for five runs and the win.

Leading the way was Atlanta first baseman, Matt Adams, who slugged a pair of home runs, going 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBI. After socking a three-run homer in the third, and a solo shot in the eighth, Adams walked and scored the go-ahead run in the ninth on Tyler Flowers' three-run belt.

Traded from St. Louis to Atlanta earlier this year, Adams has provided some pop to the Braves' attack, batting .270 with eight home runs and 19 RBI in 22 games.

The Braves and Nationals play game two of the series Tuesday at 7:05 pm at Nationals Park.