Jose Abreu's Two HRs Lead White Sox Past Mariners; Carlos Asuaje Leads Padres 13-5 Victory Over Rockies

Players of the Day for Monday, April 23, 2018

American League

Abreu: 4-for-5, 2HR, 3RBI

Proving once again that baseball offers a game that anyone can win, the two worst teams in the majors both broke losing streaks on Monday, as the White Sox downed the Mariners, 10-4, and the Reds took out their frustrations i a 10-4 win over Atlanta. The Sox broke a seven-game losing skein; the Reds had lost five straight.

Helping set the tone in Chicago was Jose Abreu, who singled and scored in the first inning as the White Sox put five on the board. In the second inning, Abreu belted his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left.

In the fourth, Abreu singled but was left stranded, but took matters into his own hands again in the sixth with his second homer, a 422-foot bang to left. He finished 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI.

The win left the White Sox at 5-14 on the year, 1/2-game better than Kansas City (5-15) in the division.

One fo the few white Sox players having a fair year thus far, Abreu is batting .308 with six homers and 12 RBI. He's hit 25 or more home runs and driven in at least 100 runs in each of his four prior seasons with the White Sox.

Asuaje: 2-for-5, HR 4RBI

Game two of the series is slated for a 5:10 pm EDT start in Chicago.

National League

San Diego is another last place team that came up a winner on Monday, registering a 13-5 score at Colorado.

With a run already tallied in the first, Carlos Asuaje put the Padres up 4-0 over the Rockies with a three-run blast that traveled 400 feet into the right field stands.

Colorado battled back to take a 5-4 lead in the third inning, but, after a three scoreless innings, the Padres responded by pounding the Rockies with a nine-run seventh inning, including an RBI single and run scored by Asuaje, who finished 2-for-5 with four RBI.

The win didn't life San Diego out of last place, but their 9-15 record leaves them just 3 1/2 out of second place in the division. Colorado is 4 1/2 behind Arizona, trailing the Dodgers - four back - by just 1/2 game.

The NL West rivals meet agin on Tuesday. Game time is 8:40 pm EDT.