Julio Teheran, Nick Markakis Lead Braves In 13-0 Rout Of Washington; Alex Cobb Tames Red Sox; Rays Win 1-0

Players of the Day for Saturday, July 8, 2017

American League

Cobb stymies Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox might have recently pulled away from the rest of the teams in the AL East, but, thanks to a trip to Tampa, they're not expanding their lead in the division. On Saturday, the Rays took the measure of Boston, 1-0, as Alex Cobb tossed a scoreless 7 2/3 innings for his seventh win against six losses. All the other teams in the division also were winners on the day, including the Yankees, who enjoyed a three-run, bottom of the ninth inning homer by Clint Frazier to secure their 5-3 win over Milwaukee.

In the Tampa game, Cobb was touched for just two hits, but they were harmless two-out singles in the first and third innings. After that, he put down 11 straight Red Sox batters, until Mitch Moreland reached on an error in the seventh. Cobb got through that inning and worked into the eighth, leaving with a man aboard on the only walk he allowed - to Sonny Leon - with two down in the frame.

Alex Colome came on and retired the next batter, but ran into trouble in the ninth, eventually putting two on before getting Hanley Ramirez on strikes, then intentionally loading the bases to get Chris Young on a pop up for the final out and his 24th save.

Cobb threw 111 pitches, walked one and struck out three, lowering his ERA to a respectable 3.75 in the process.

Tampa's victory moved them closer to the Red Sox and on pace with the Yankees. Boston leads New York by 3 1/2 and Tampa by 4 1/2 in the hotly-contested division.

Now that Tampa Bay has taken two of the first three in the series, the Red Sox and Rays will take the field for game four at Tropicana Field, 1:10 pm ET. All teams break for the all-star game following Sunday's contests.

National League

While having possibly convinced many baseball reporters and writers that they are the best team in the NL East, the Atlantas Braves are not convinced that the Washington Nationals are so far superior in the division.

Markakis: 3-4, 4R, 2RBI

The Braves hammered the Nats, 13-0, Saturday at Nationals Park, taking a 2-1 edge in their four-game series.

Teheran: 7IP, 0ER, 2-2, 3RBI

While Julio Teheran, Rex Brothers, and Akeel Morris were keeping the Nationals off the base paths and the scoreboard, Braves batters were lighting up Stephen Strasburg and the Washington relief staff for 15 hits. Strasburg lasted only three innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits and a pair of walks. He did not strike out a single batter.

Nick Markakis had a field day, going 3-for-5 with a single, double and a solo home run, driving in two, scoring four times. The Braves right fielder seemed to be always on base, scoring in the second, third, seventh and ninth. His home run was in the seventh inning, his fourth of the season.

Teheran also pitched in at the plate, going 2-for-2 with three RBI. He worked seven scoreless innings, giving up four hits and two walks, fanning five. His record stands at 7-6.

With the win, Atlanta moved a game closer to the Nationals who now lead Atlanta by 8 1/2. With the all-star break following Sunday's games, the Braves will be looking to creep a little closer when the teams take the field at 1:35 pm ET.