David Price Shuts Down Yankees In 3-0 Boston Win; Nationals Win 4th Straight On Daniel Murphy's 2 HR

Players of the Day for Sunday, July 16, 2017

American League

Price: 8 IP, 7 H, 0 ER

After losing the first game of Sunday's double-header 3-0 to the Yankees, the Red Sox turned to David Price as the starting pitcher in the nightcap.

Responding with one of his best efforts of the season, Price blanked the Yanks for eight innings as Boston prevailed, 3-0.

Improving to 5-2, Price, who spent the start of the season on the disabled list and didn't get his first start until May 29, seemed to have found his best form against Boston's most consistent rival. Though he gave up seven hits, Price didn't walk anyone and struck out eight, throwing 75 of 107 pitches for strikes.

The Yankees didn't really connect well. Of their seven hits off Price, six were singles and no runner advanced past second base. Craig Kimbrel came on for his 24th save in the ninth.

The result of the series split, 2-2, left the Yankees and Red Sox where they started prior to the all-star break, with Boston holding a 3 1/2 game lead in the AL East, though Tampa Bay managed to slip past the Yankees into second place, three games behind the Red Sox.

Boston remains home to host Toronto for four games, starting Monday, while the Yankees continue their road trip, landing in Minnesota for a three-game series which also begins Monday.

National League

The Nationals took their third straight in Cincinnati and fourth straight overall, topping the Reds, 14-4, Sunday afternoon.

Murphy's .348 Leads NL

Getting to Cincy starter, Homer Bailey, early was the league's leading hitter, Daniel Murphy, who launched a two-run homer in the opening inning to get the Nationals on the board.

Washington built a 4-0 lead, but the Reds came back with a pair in the third, until Murphy again homered, this time with two aboard, for a 7-2 lead in the fifth. Adam Lind added a two-run homer in the same inning. In the seventh, Anthony Rendon parked a solo shot and Jose Lobaton landed a two-run homer.

Murphy went 3-for-5 on the day with five RBI, upping his average to .348. He leads San Francisco's Buster Posey, at .328.

Washington's win kept them 9 1/2 ahead of Atlanta in the NL East, as the Braves topped Arizona, 7-1, for their third straight victory.

The Nationals will be looking to sweep the Reds when the teams take the field Monday at Great American Ball Park. Game time is 12:35 pm ET.