Maikel Franco Homers, Drives in 4 For Phillies; Andrew Cashner Hurls Orioles to 5-2 Win Over Yankees

Players of the Day for Thursday, April 5, 2018

National League

The name Maikel Franco may not be a household word, but the 25-year-old third baseman is becoming pretty well known around Philadelphia and among National League pitchers for his power hitting prowess and obvious baseball talents.

Franco: 3-for-4, HR, 4RBI

In Thursday's 5-0 shutout over the visiting Marlins, Franco delivered all but one of the Phillies runs, singling in the first two in the first inning and knocking in the last two in the seventh with a two-run homer, his first of the year. In between, Franco tripled but was left stranded in the fifth.

While Franco was driving in runs, starting hurler, Nicholas Pivetta was mowing down Marlins, fanning nine in 5 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and no runs for his initial win of 2018.

Franco is in his fifth season with the Phillies, making an impact the last two, with a combined 49 homers and 164 RBI in 2016 and 2017.

The Phillies won for just the second time this season, against four losses, but for a team that was among the worst in the majors, the future looks brighter. They'll get a day off Friday and get back to action against the Marlins on Saturday at 6:05 pm EDT.

American League

Cashner: 6IP, 2H, 1R, 5K

There's been plenty written and spoken about the mighty lineup the Yankees have assembled this season, but Andrew Cashner managed to keep the "Baby Bombers" in check, earning his first win of the season as Baltimore scored five runs in the seventh for a 5-2 win in the first of a four game series at Yankee Stadium.

Cashner dueled with Yasahiro Tanaka for six full innings, finally giving up an opposite field solo home run to Aaron Judge in the sixth to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. After the O's put up a five-spot in the top of the seventh, manager Buck Schowalter went to his bullpen, as Cashner had thrown 100 pitches, allowed just two hits, walked three and struck out five.

Michael Givens allowed a run in the seventh, but Darren O'Day shut the door and Brad Brach worked a hitless ninth for his first save of the year.

Cashner is 1-1, adding a much-needed bit of depth to the Orioles' rotation. He's a veteran of eight seasons, with the Cubs, Padres, Marlins, and most recently, the Rangers, where he went 11-11 with a 3.40 ERA in 28 starts.

The Orioles won just their second game of the season, with four losses, while the Yankees dropped to 3-4. Both teams are trailing the 6-1 Red Sox.

Game two of the four-game series starts Friday at 7:05 pm EDT.