Mookie Betts 4-for-5 In Red Sox Victory Over Phillies; Braves Top Nationals, 13-2, Brandon Phillips 4-for-6

Players of the Day for Wednesday, June 14, 2017

American League

Betts: 4-5, 2 HR, 4 runs

Literally, the Red Sox offense starts with Mookie Betts.

The Boston leadoff hitter socked a pair of late-inning home runs, but he did more damage in Boston's 7-3 win at the Phillies earlier in the game.

Betts, who went 4-for-5, started the contest off with a single and scored Boston's first run when Zander Bogaerts doubled him home. In the second, Betts doubled in a run and scored again as Boston built a 5-0 lead.

The pair of homers by Betts came in the fourth and ninth innings, capping a big day for Boston's right fielder.

With the win - Boston's third straight - the Red Sox moved to within two games of the Yankees for the AL East lead. New York was downed for the second straight game in LA, as the Angels rallied from a 4-0 deficit for a 7-5 win.

Boston plays at Philadelphia in the second of their brief two-game interleave series Thursday at 7:05 pm ET.

National League

Phillips: 4-for-6, 3 RBI

A wild series wrapped up Wednesday at Nationals Park as the Atlanta Braves took the series finale, 13-2, taking two of three from NL East leader, Washington.

The three games saw a total of 51 runs scored, though the closest game was the opener, an 11-10 thriller, won by the Braves. The Nationals took the middle game, 10-5, but the Braves had their way in the end, roughing up Washington starter Tanner Roark, who allowed seven earned runs on nine hits over five innings.

The first three batters in Atlanta's lineup were a combined 10-for-16, with second baseman and number two hitter Brandon Phillips going 4-for-6 with two singles, two doubles, three runs and three RBI.

A 16-year veteran, Phillips - who spent most of his career with the Reds - was picked up by Atlanta after the 2016 season and their decision seems to be paying benefits. A lifetime .276 hitter, Phillips is batting .306 in 54 games.

Despite losing, the Nationals are still leading the division by 8 1/2 over the Mets. Miami is 9 1/2 out and the Braves trail by 10. Atlanta has Thursday off and heads home to open a ten-game home stand, starting on Friday with three against the Marlins. Washington begins a four-game showdown series with the Mets on Thursday in New York. Game time at Citi Field is 7:05 pm ET.