Drew Pomeranz Shuts Down White Sox, Boston Wins 5th Straight; Zach Davies One-Hits Rays In Milwaukee Victory

Players of the Day for Saturday, August 5, 2017

American League

Pomeranz: 11-4, 3.36 ERA

Tim Anderson launched a bomb to center field to lead off the game against Drew Pomeranz and the Red Sox, but his first inning home run turned out to be the only run the White Sox could muster off Pomeranz, as the 28-year-old lefty shut down Chicago after that, going 6 1/3 innings for his 11th win against four losses and the fifth straight win for Boston, a 4-1 victory at Fenway Park.

Pomeranz scattered six singles after Anderson's homer, walking one and striking out eight.

Boston scored two runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the second against James Shields (2-4) to give their starter a cushion and Pomeranz took full advantage.

The victory left the Red Sox three games to the good over the Yankees in the AL East. New York ended a four-game skid with a 2-1 win in Cleveland.

Boston has won the first three games of the series at Fenway and will try for the four-game sweep of Chicago, Sunday afternoon at 1:35 pm ET.

National League

By being one of the dominant teams in the NL Central, the Milwaukee Brewers have been a surprising team this season. Shortly after the all-star break, the Brewers lost six straight and relinquished first place to the Cubs, and the thinking was that Chicago would pull away from the pack.

Davies: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER

That has not been the case, as Milwaukee has hung tough, winning three straight and four of their last five. With the Cubs beating Washington, 7-3, and the Brewers topping Tampa Bay, 3-0, Milwaukee remains just 1/2 game behind the reigning world champions.

Zach Davies was phenomenal for the Brewers in the road win, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning, eventually leaving after seven with a one hit, scoreless performance.

Davies ran into some trouble in the fifth, when Brad Miller reached second on an error and then moved to third when Davies uncorked a wild pitch with two out. After walking Mallex Smith, Davies got Jesus Sucre on a fly out to right.

In the sixth, Lucas Duda broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out single, but Davies induced a double play ball from Evan Longoria to end the inning and put down the Rays in order in the seventh. Davies walked two and fanned a pair, improving to 13-5.

Jacob Barnes worked the eighth and Anthony Swarzac pitched the ninth, picking up his first save as a Brewer after being acquired from the White Sox in late July.

Milwaukee has taken the first two games of the series at Tropicana Field and will be seeking the sweep Sunday, at 1:10 pm ET.