Justin Verlander Goes Seven Scoreless For Astros; Yonder Alonso Adds Punch To Indians Lineup

Players of the Day for Monday, March 19, 2018

Verlander: 7IP, 0ER, 3K

Grapefruit League

After a sparkling post-season culminating in a World Series Championship, Houston hurler, Justin Verlander picked up where he left off, hurling seven scoreless innings in Houston's 2-0 victory over the Mets.

In his fifth outing of Spring Training, Verlander fanned three, walked one and allowed five harmless singles. The Astros got their runs early, on a second-inning bases-empty homer by Carlos Correa and a third-inning RBI single by Jose Altuve.

Verlander, who went 4-1 with a 2,21 ERA and 38 Ks in last year's post-season, has been solid this Spring. He's 1-1, with a 1.64 ERA and 24 strikeouts.

The Astros continue to lead the way in the Grapefruit League with a 16-7 mark, though the Red Sox have been closing ground, winning seven straight. Boston is 15-8 and just one game back.

Cactus League

Alonso: 3-3, 2HR, 4RBI

Carving out a 5-4 win over the Giants, the Cleveland Indians won their third straight, closing in on Milwaukee in the standings, The idle Brewers lead the Arizona circuit by 1 1/2 over Cleveland, with the Cubs two back and Kansas City - winners of five straight - just three out.

Paving the way for Cleveland was first baseman, Yonder Alonso, who accounted for all but one of Cleveland's runs with a three-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the fifth that broke a 3-3 tie.

Alonso also singled, completing a 3-for-3 effort with four RBI and two runs scored. Carrying a .357 batting average, Alonso's homers were his fourth and fifth of the Spring.

After splitting last season between Seattle and Oakland with 28 home runs and 67 RBI, Alonso was acquired by the Indians in the off-season, bolstering their roster at first. The newest Indian will likely get most of the playing time at first, with Edwin Encarnacion and Mike Napoli likely to share DH and pinch-hitting duties.