Yankees Get One Back as Aaron Hicks, James Paxton Stymie Astros in Game Five

Players of the Day for Friday, October 18, 2019

American League

Paxton: 6IP, 4H, 1ER, 9K

New York Yankees 4 Houston Astros 1

After Houston pushed across a run in the top of the first, Justin Verlander ran into immediate trouble in game five of the AL Championship Series, allowing a leadoff home run to DJ LeMaheiu, followed by a three-run blast off the bat of Aaron Hicks in the bottom of the inning.

Hicks belts 3-run homer

Those four runs were more than enough for Yankee starting pitcher, James Paxton, who shut down the Astros over the next five innings, keeping them from scoring again. Paxton worked six solid frames, giving up four hits and four walks, striking out nine. After 112 pitches, Paxton hit the bench, Tommy Kahnle, Zack Britton, and Aroldis Chapman finished up, Chapman firing a hitless ninth inning for his first save of the series.

Paxton was 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA during the regular season. Friday's victory was his first of the post-season. In just 221 regular season at-bats, Hicks batted .235 with 12 home runs and 36 RBI in a season shortened by injuries.

With five games on the books, Houston still leads, three games to two, with game six slated for an 8:08 start on Saturday night at Yankee stadium.

The winner of the AL pennant will face the Washington Nationals, champions of the National League, in the 2019 World Series.

Aaron Hicks Socks 3 HRs, Yankees Rout Red Sox; Jose Peraza's Grand Slam Leads Reds

Players of the Day for Sunday, July 1, 2018

Hicks: 3-4, 3 HR, 4 RBI

American League

Blowout weekend continued at Yankee Stadium Sunday, as the Yankees took the rubber game of their three-game series with the Red Sox, 11-1. The victory came after the Yanks took the opener, 8-1, on Friday, and the Red Sox returned the favor with an 11-0 win on Saturday.

Aaron Hicks delivered the good for New York in this one. After Aaron Judge sent a solo shot into Monument Park and Galyber Torres smacked a three-run homer in the first, Hicks socked a two-run shot in the second inning for a 6-0 Yankee lead.

Hicks added to Boston's pain with solo homers in the fourth and eighth innings, finishing the game at 3-for-4 with four RBI. A part-time player, Hicks has 14 homers and 38 RBI in 64 games.

The series ended, nothing was settled. Boston and New York remain deadlocked atop the AL East.

Boston heads to Washington to open a three-game series with the Nationals on Monday. The Yankees welcome in the Braves. Game one is Monday, 7:05 pm EDT.

National League

Peraza: Grand Slam

For a last-place team, the Cincinnati Reds aren't exactly what one would expect. In fact, teams should be wary of the Reds, winners of 11 of their last 14, steadily gaining ground on the other NL Central squads.

Possessing one of the more dangerous lineups in the majors, the Reds have been slugging their way through the schedule of late, the most recent victim, Milwaukee, from whom Cincinnati took two of four, including Sunday's 8-2 drubbing.

Getting the Reds on the board early was leadoff hitter Jose Peraza, who doubled and scored in the first, as the Reds built a 3-0 lead. In the sixth, Peraza put the game away with a grand slam, upping the edge for Cincinnati to 8-0.

Peraza is not a power hitter. He has five homers and 27 RBI on the season, but he's scored 47 runs from his leadoff position.

The Reds will be looking to extend their solid play when they open a three-game series with the visiting White Sox. Game one is slated for a 7:10 pm EDT start, Monday.

Yankees Paste Blue Jays, 12-2, Aaron Hicks Plates 6; Adam Wainwright Paces Cards Win Over Dodgers

Players of the Day for Thursday, June 1, 2017

American League

Hicks: 3 doubles, 6 RBI

The first place New York Yankees opened a four game series in Toronto in style, routing the Blue Jays, 12-2.

Highlighting the offensive explosion was Aaron Hicks, who belted three doubles and a single, driving in six runs and scoring twice.

Hicks began his barrage in the first inning, stroking a bases-clearing double to the gap in right-center, driving in three runs to put the Yanks up, 4-0. In the seventh, Hicks doubled in another run and scored, and doubled again in the ninth, plating two and scoring again. Hicks also singled in the third inning, but was stranded, one of the four innings in which the Baby Bombers didn't score.

Batting .317 with eight home runs, 30 RBI and seven steals, Hicks has managed to fit into a crowded starting outfield, largely replacing Jacoby Ellsbury. Hicks has improved vastly from last year when he batted .217. He's already tied his home run total from 2015 and is one behind the 31 RBI from last season.

With the win, the Yankees improved their lead in the AL East to three games over Boston, 7-5 losers at Baltimore. They also slowed the progress of the Blue Jays, which had crept to within 5 1/2 games prior to Thursday's defeat.

Game two of the series is slated for a Friday 7:07 pm ET start at the Rogers Center.

National League

Wainwright: Power stroke

Adam Wainwright may not have been at his best on the mound in St. Louis' 2-0 victory over the visiting Dodgers, but he made sure of his sixth win against three losses with a second inning two-run home run and made it stand up.

Wainwright needed 101 pitches to get through six innings, but he throttled the power-packed Dodger lineup on four hits, walking two, striking out six.

Hitting for power is no fluke for Wainwright, now in his 12th year as a pro, all with the Cardinals. Thursday's belt was his second of the season, and he hit two fingers last year and has 10 in his career.

Last season might have been his best at the plate, driving in 18 runs, though batting just .210.

The St. Louis win finalized the four-game series with LA at two games apiece. The Dodgers took the first two, but St. Louis won the final two, leaving the Dodgers 1/2 game behind Arizona and Colorado in the NL West and the Cardinals 1 1/2 behind Milwaukee in the Central. Three games back are the Cubs, losers of six straight.

St. Louis heads to Chicago for a three-game series starting Friday. The Dodgers are at Milwaukee this weekend for three games.

Billy Hamilton Swipes 19th Base As Reds Rout Giants; Aaron Hicks Powers Yankees Past Cubs

Players of the Day for Saturday, May 6, 2017

American League

Aaron Hicks

The Yankees have taken their youth movement on the road, this weekend visiting the world champion Chicago Cubs, where they have taken the first two of their three-game series, following up Friday's dramatic ninth-inning comeback 3-2 win with an 11-6 blowout Saturday.

Getting off early and often against Cubs' starter, Brett Anderson, touching him up for six hits and five runs in just 1/3 of an an inning.

Aaron Hicks was the main protagonist, going 4-for-5 with three runs, three RBI and a stolen base. Hicks rattled the Cubs' starter with a bunt single in the opening frame, upon which Brett Gardner scored on Anderson's throwing error, opening the floodgates.

In the second, Hicks singled, stole second, but was left stranded. In the fourth, Hicks doubled and scored on Starlin Castro's sixth homer, putting the Yankees ahead, 8-0. Capping off the scoring in the eighth, Hicks uncorked a three-run homer of his own, his sixth on the year.

Hicks, playing part-time in center and left field, is batting .355, has scored 17 runs and driven in 15 in 62 at-bats.

The Yankees will be seeking the sweep when they close out their weekend series in Chicago, Sunday night at 8:00 pm ET. The game will be televised nationwide on ESPN.

National League

Hamilton: 19 SB

One of the lost arts in today's baseball is the stolen base, but don't tell that to Cincinnati's Billy Hamilton, who was second in the NL in steals each of the last three seasons, with 56, 57, and 58 in 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. The first two years Hamilton was chasing Dee Gordon (64, 2014, Dodgers; 58, 2015, Marlins), last season running behind Milwaukee's Jonathan Villar (64).

This year, Hamiliton seems to be intent on setting the record straight. Though batting just .248 in 28 games as the Reds' leadoff hitter, the swift center fielder has swiped 19 bases, leaving Gordon (11) and Villar (6) eating his dust.

The latest came in Saturday's 14-3 rout of the visiting Giants, the second straight manhandling of their guests by the Reds following a 13-3 beating Friday.

Hamilton wasted no time getting the Reds off to a positive start, tripling and scoring in his opening at-bat. In the second, he doubled in a pair of runs and stole third base, but was left stranded.

In the third, Hamilton was again in on the action, singling and scoring as the Reds put up a six spot for a 10-2 lead.

Finishing 3-for-6 with two runs and a pair of RBI, Hamilton has been helping the Reds stay in contention in the NL Central. Saturday's win tied them for first place with the Cubs. Cincy will be looking to sweep the swooning Giants (11-20) Sunday at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 pm ET.

Brandon Short's Two Homers Lead White Sox; Aaron Hicks Continues to Rake for Twins

Players of the Day for Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Grapefruit League

Aaron Hicks

Aaron Hicks is making the Twins feel great about their outfield, now that they're assured he'll be their starter in center this season.

Hicks led the Twins to a 9-5 win over the Orioles on Tuesday, going 3-for-5 with a tripe and a pair of singles, driving in two runs and scoring twice.

A rookie with no major league experience, having spent five seasons in the minors, will get the opening day start - April 1 at Target Stadium vs. the Tigers - in center, according to the announcement made Sunday by Twins' manager Ron Gardenhire. Looking like a keeper, with a .379 average, 18 runs and 18 RBI this Spring, Hicks should patrol the outfield well and give the Twins a capable leadoff hitter with speed.

Cactus League

Brandon Short

The White Sox certainly appear to have plenty of hitters in their upcoming 2013 regular season lineup, with the likes of Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Dayan Viciedo.

In their 11-3 win over the Rangers, they got an unexpected power display from the bottom of the lineup, as rookie prospect, Brandon Short, playing in right field and batting ninth, belted a pair of homers and drove in four runs.

Short's initial blast was a three-run job in the fourth, staking starter Chris Sale to a 4-1 lead. Sale earned his fourth victory wihtout a loss, going four innings, fanning five. The only hit he allowed was a solo homer by the Rangers' Geovany Soto.

Short added a solo shot in the ninth and also singled in four at-bats, scoring three times. The homers and RBI were his first of the Spring; his 3-for-4 effort raised his average to .375.

Spending last season in AA Birmingham in the Southern League, there's no word on whether or not Short will be on the opening day roster.

Jeff Francoeur Leads Amazing Royals to 4th Straight Win; Aaron Hicks, Joe Mauer Power Twins

Players of the Day for Sunday, March 24, 2013

Grapefruit League

Mauer: 6RBI

Minnesota pummeled the Blue Jays, 14-5, as Joe Mauer socked a first-inning, three-run homer and Aaron Hicks went 4-for-4 and scored three runs, raising his batting average to .350.

Hicks: 4-4, 3R

Mauer, who won the AL batting tittle in 2006, 2008 and 2009, is certain to be the Twins' starting catcher once again, while Hicks, who spent last season at AA New Britain, appears to be headed to the center field job vacated by departed Ben Revere, who moved over to the Phillies in the NL.

Mauer added a double to finish 2-for-3 with six RBI and is batting an even .400 in eight Spring training games.

Cactus League

Kansas City just keeps rolling along with a .778 winning percentage atop the Cactus League standings.

Jeff Francoeur

The Royals, perennial cellar-dwellers of the AL Central division, have been nothing short of spectacular this Spring, though one can only wonder how long the aura of invincibility will last once the games actually count.

Kansas City dumped the White Sox, 8-2, for their fourth straight win, improving their record to an outstanding 21-6, 3 1/2 games better than their nearest competition, the Seattle Mariners.

Jeff Francoeur delivered a pair of doubles in four at-bats, driving in two runs to spearhead the Royals' attack. A seven-year veteran, Francoeur, who spent five seasons in the National League with Atlanta and the Mets, starts his third season as a Royal. Starter Jeremy Guthrie took the win, throwing six innings, allowing two runs on six hits while fanning eight.

Aaron Hicks Belts Three Homers in Twins Win; Led by Stefen Romero's 7 RBI, Seattle Stops KC

Players of the Day for Thursday, March 7, 2013

Grapefruit League

Hicks: 3 HR, 6 RBI

One usually wouldn't expect much power from the leadoff spot, but Minnesota's Aaron Hicks - a rookie with no major league experience - launched three rocket shots in the Twins' 10-6 victory over the Phillies.

Getting an extended look in center field, Hicks put balls out of play in the first, fifth and seventh innings. With a shot at four homers in the eighth, he laced a single to center, driving in two runs, completing a 4-for-5 day with six RBI and four runs, a stat line that would equate to a good week for most players.

With Ben Revere traded away in the off-season, center field could be there for the taking if Hicks continues his impressive play. He's batting .411 with four dingers and 12 ribbies.

Cactus League

Romero: 2 HR, 7 RBI

After winning their first 11 games, Kansas City finally got beat, and the team that stopped their winning streak was the one which has been nearly as hot, the 11-3 Seattle Mariners, who got seven RBI from the bottom hitter in the lineup, second base prospect Stefen Romero, who went 4-for-5 with a pair of homers, a single, double, four runs and those seven RBI.

Romero's effort helped Seattle cruise to a 12-2 victory.

All of Romero's RBI were produced with two swings of the bat. He socked a grand slam in the fourth and a three-run blast in the eighth.

Romero was a Topps AA All-Star last season, batting .347 with 12 homers and 50 RBI in 56 games for Jackson in the Southern League.

His effort was in support the first Spring start of 2010 Cy Young winner, Felix Hernandez, who allowed two hits and one run over two innings, fanning a pair. Hernandez inked a $175 million, seven year deal with the Mariners last month, making his the highest-paid pitcher ever in the majors.