Cleveland Rips Yankees, 19-5, as Jose Ramirez, Greg Allen Star; Mets Pound Braves Behind Amed Rosario, Pete Alonso

Players of the Day for Thursday, August 15, 2019

American League

Greg Allen

Jose Ramirez uncorked a first-inning grand slam, added a two run blast in the second, and Greg Allen went 4-for-5, scored four times and drove in four as the Indians pummeled the Yankees, 19-5, in New York.

Jose Ramirez

The two Ramirez homers gave him 19 on the year, 11 of which he's hit in his last 30 games. Allen singled twice, doubled and socked his fourth home run of the season.

The game was the opener of a four-game series at Yankee Stadium. Cleveland's visit to the Big Apple also include a trio of game against the Mets, next Tuesday through Thursday.

Putting the game away in the opening frame, the Indians scored seven runs in the first inning and added more as the hit parade carried forward. Cleveland eventually rocked five Yankee pitchers for 24 hits.

Cleveland remained 1/2-game behind Minnesota in the Central division, as the Twins punched out a win at Texas, 13-6. The Yankees dropped a half game on second place Tampa Bay, idle on Thursday.

Game two is Friday, 7:05 pm ET.

National League

Amed Rosario

Staying alive in the wild card race - and on the fringes in the division - the NY Mets managed to avoid being swept by the East-leading Braves, knocking around Atlanta ace, Julio Teheran for six runs in the first two innings en route to a 10-8 road win.

Pete Alonso

The Mets banged out 23 hits, five each by Amed Rosario and rookie phenom Pete Alonso.

Batting in the leadoff spot, Rosario went 5-for-6, with three singles, a double and a triple, scoring four times, driving in one. Alonso was an unstoppable 5-for-5, with four singles, a first-inning, three-run homer, and six RBI.

Alonso's home run was his 39th, which tied him with Milwaukee's Chistian Yelich, one behind NL leader, Cody Bellinger, who smoked #40 in the Dodgers' 13-7 loss at Miami. Alonso is also in the league's top ten in RBI, with 91. Rosario has been recently getting it done as the Met spark plug. In his last 30 games, Rosario is batting .366 (45-for-123) with three homers and 21 runs.

The Mets are in fourth place, nine games behind the Braves in the AL East, but are just two games out of the second wild card spot, currently claimed by the Cubs. Washington holds the top wild card, 1 1/2 ahead of Chicago.

The Mets will complete a six-game road trip with three in Kansas City over the weekend. Friday's game is 8:15 pm ET.

Amed Rosario Powers Mets to 14-4 Win at Twins; Jurickson Profar Belts a Pair of HRs as A's Win 6th Straight

Players of the Day for Wednesday, July 17, 2019

American League

Profar: 2 HRs, 4 RBI

After winning their sixth straight - a 10-2 pounding of the Mariners - the Oakland A's are part of a four-team pack seeking two wild card spots, the others being the Red Sox, Rays, and Indians. The A's, however, are eyeing a more distinct entry point into the playoffs, namely the AL West crown, as they have a firm grip on second place in the division, a mere 4 1/2 games behind the Astros.

In Wednesday's conquest, Oakland played their own version of home run derby, socking six out of their park in a dazzling power display. Long balls by Chad Pinder, Ramon Laureano, Mark Canha, and Jurickson Profar accounted for all of the A's runs.

Pinder had a three-run shot, Laureano a solo blast, while Canha belted two solo homers and Profar launched a pair of two-run blasts. Profar, the sixth-season second baseman, was acquired by the A's from the Rangers following the 2018 season. He also walked and scored on Pinder's home run.

The A's begin a seven-game road trip on Thursday, with four games at Minnesota followed by three at first-place Houston. Game time for the open in Minnesota Thursday is 8:10 pm ET.

National League

Rosario: 4-4, HR, 3b, 4R

The New York Mets completed their only visit to the Twin Cities this season with a resounding, 14-4, romp over the home-standing Twins, desperately holding onto first place in the AL Central after dropping two straight to the invaders from New York.

Trailing 3-2 entering the seventh inning, the Mets went on a hitting binge, scoring three runs in the seventh, five in the eighth, and three more in the ninth.

With a spectacular day at the plate, Mets' shortstop, Amed Rosario went 4-for-4 with a home run, triple and two singles, scoring four times and driving in three runs.

One of the hottest hitters of late, Rosario is batting a brilliant .545 over this last seven games.

After splitting a pair of games in New York, the Mets stole two from the Twins at home. The Mets have won four straight while Minnesota has dropped three in a row and now lead the charging Cleveland Indians by only four games. The Indians have won four straight and are 8-2 over their last 10.

On Thursday, the Mets head West to San Francisco, while the Twins remain home, opening a four-game series with Oakland.