Bartolo Colon, Eddie Rosario Lead Twins To 4th Straight; Tyler Flowers Powers Braves With Grand Slam

Players of the Day for Sunday, August 20, 2017

Colon: Wins vs. All MLB

American League

In his extended, 20-year career, Bartolo Colon had notched at least one win against every team in the majors, except the Arizona Diamondbacks.

When he sat down on the bench after tossing a scoreless first inning in the final game of the Twins three-game series with the visiting Diamondbacks, he didn't know his teammates would make his rest between innings a lengthy one, scoring nine runs off Arizona starter, T.J. McFarland and reliever Braden Shipley.

The Twins had already scored five runs and batted around when Eddie Rosario came up for the second time in the frame, this time with the bases loaded. The left fielder responded with a grand slam, making Colon's task easier than expected.

Rosario: Grand Slam

With the huge edge, Colon, 44 years of age, went about his business, allowing four runs on seven hits over six innings, joining Max Scherzer and John Lackey as the only active pitchers to beat all 30 teams. Rosario went to the plate there more times, but came up empty, his damage already done in the 12-5 romp, completing the sweep. Rosario's homer was his 17th, the four RBI gave him 50 on the year.

As the Twins won their fourth straight, they improved in the AL Central to within five games of first place Cleveland, 7-4 losers at Kansas City, and remained tied with the Angels for the second wild card spot.

The Diamondbacks continued a game behind the Rockies in the second spot, but, their lead over Milwaukee was shaved to 2 1/2 games, as the Brewers won, 8-4, at Colorado.

On Monday, the Twins are in Chicago for a doubleheader with the White Sox, while Arizona travels to New York to begin a four-game series with the Mets.

Flowers: Grand Slam

National League

Trailing by 11 games for the second wild card spot and 19 games behind Washington in the NL East, the Atlanta Braves aren't likely to be playing in October, but since it's only August, they're still hopeful.

Tyler Flowers and the Braves made quick work of the Reds in the finale of their three game series with an 8-1 rout.

Already ahead 2-0 in the fifth, Flowers pretty much put away all doubt with a grand slam. The Braves tacked on two more runs in the inning, completing the scoring for the game. Starter Sean Newcomb blanked the Reds over five innings for the win, avoiding the sweep.

The Braves host Seattle Monday, beginning a three-game series.

A's Bartolo Colon Shuts Down Rangers in 1-0 Win; Hunter Pence, Brandon Belt Smash Dodgers in 19-3 Giants' Win

Players of the Day for Saturday, September 14, 2013

American League

Colon: 16-9, 2.73

The demise of the Texas Rangers continues. Earlier this season, the Rangers seemed on their way to running off with the AL West. In August the surging A's caught them, and this month flew past them in the standings. Meanwhile, the Rangers had a grip on the first wild card slot, but after losing their fifth straight, and second straight to the A's, Texas is now tied with Tampa Bay for the two wild card spots, with identical, 81-66 records.

Bartolo Colon stifled Texas bats Saturday, scattering seven hits and one walk over eight innings in a 1-0 A's victory, Oakland's fourth straight win. Colon struck out seven and threw 77 of 108 pitches for strikes before turning the ball over to closer, Grant Balfour, who walked one in the ninth, but picked up save #38. At 16-9, Colon is tied for second in wins and his 2.73 is second-best among starters in the AL. Balfour is fifth in the league in saves.

Oakland scored the only run of the game in the first inning, when Brandon Moss doubled home Josh Donaldson off Texas starter Yu Darvish, who pitched exceptionally-well, but still was saddled with the loss. Darvish gave up only four hits, walked one and fanned 10, leading the AL with 256 Ks.

The A's will be seeking the three-game sweep of the Rangers when the two teams take the field at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington, Texas, Sunday at 3:05 pm EDT. Oakland leads the AL West by a commanding 5 1/2 games.

AL Wild Card Standings (through 9/14)

Team	GB
Texas	--
Tampa Bay	--
Cleveland	-1 1/2
NY Yankees	-3
Baltimore	-3 1/2
Kansas City	-3 1/2

National League

Brandon Belt

The Giants won't be heading into the post-season, but they at least took out a little bit of their angst against NL West-leading Los Angeles when they bombed the Dodgers, 19-3, Saturday.

Hunter Pence

Brandon Belt was 5-for-6, with a double, home run, three singles, four runs and six RBI, while teammate Hunter Pence scratched out a pair of singles and a grand slam homer in five at-bats, scoring twice while driving in seven.

The pair combined to drive in 13 of San Francisco's 19 runs. The Dodgers used starter Ricky Nolasco - who was hammered for seven hits and five earned runs, lasting just an inning and a third - and five relievers in the loss.

Of course, the Dodgers will get the last laugh. They are cruising toward the NL West pennant with an 11 1/2 game lead over second place Arizona. With the largest lead in any major league division, the Dodgers need just four more wins to clinch the division outright.

San Francisco has taken two of three in LA, the four-game series concluding Sunday at 4:10 pm EDT.

Today's Trivia: Who is the all-time career leader in on-base percentage? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Barry Bonds holds the single-season record for on-base percentage. In 2004, he reached .609 percent of the time.

Matt Cain One Hit from Perfection in Win over Pirates; Bartolo Colon Goes Seven Scoreless for A's

Players of the Day for Friday, April 13, 2012

American League

38-year-old Bartolo Colon used to be one of baseball's most dominant pitchers. In what appears to be his second coming, he's not quite as overwhelming, but he is winning.

Bartolo Colon

Colon, who made only 19 starts in 2008 and 2009 (seven with Boston and 12 with the White Sox) and missed all of 2012, spent last season on the mound for the Yankees, where he went 8-10 in 26 starts. Having switched coasts in the off-season, Colon has gone 2-1 in three starts with the A's, getting seven solid innings of shutout work in against the Mariners in Friday's 4-0 victory at Seattle.

Colon allowed just three hits - all singles - and a walk, while striking out five, finishing strong by retiring the last ten batters he faced before being lifted after his seven-inning stint.

A pair of relievers - Ryan Cook and Grant Balfour - worked the 8th and 9th to preserve the shutout. The win got the A's to .500 (4-4) and into second place in the AL West, two games behind the Texas Rangers.


National League

San Francisco started the season 1-4, but has won two straight after Matt Cain tossed a one-hit shutout over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in a 5-0 Bay area win.

Cain: 1-Hitter

Cain took a perfect game into the sixth inning, but was foiled by James MacDonald's two-out single. Unfazed, Cain struck out the next batter to end the inning and proceeded to get the final nine outs in order after starting the game by putting down the first 17 batters he faced for the complete game shutout.

Without surrendering a walk and striking out 11, Cain earned his first win of the season after allowing six hits and five earned runs in a no-decision loss at Arizona this past Sunday.

Notes: The Giants and everyone else in the division are chasing the Dodgers, who are off to a flying start for their new owners, at 7-1 and in first place in the NL West. Winning their fourth straight - a 9-8 win over San Diego - was record-setting for starter Aaron Harang, who started the game by allowing a leadoff single to Cameron Maybin, but then proceeded to fan the next nine batters he faced, setting a Dodger franchise record for consecutive strikeouts. The previous record of eight had been held by Johnny Podres. Harang lasted 6 1/3 innings, struck out 13, walked two and allowed four runs, but did not receive the decision even though he left with the lead. After the Padres tied the fame with two runs in the ninth, Andre Ethier's bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the inning forced home Mark ellis with the winning score.

One doesn't often see four-way ties for first place in any of baseball's six divisions, but the AL East is currently a four-team deadlock between the Yankees, Rays, Orioles and Blue Jays, all sporting 4-3 records. Left out of the mix is Boston, trailing everybody by two games, with a 2-5 mark.

Oakland Comes Back, Tops Mariners on Yoenis Cespedes HR, Bartolo Colon's 8 Strong

Players of the Day for Thursday, March 29, 2012

American League

Yoenis Cespedes

Oakland center fielder Yoenis Cespedes cracked a long home run to left center field in the bottom of the seventh inning to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-0 advantage, leading the A's to their first win of 2012, a 4-1 victory over Seattle.

Bartolo Colon

Seattle had taken the lead in the top of the inning on Justin Smoak's solo home run off A's starter Bartolo Colon. After Josh Reddick's solo shot following Cespedes' blast put the A's up 3-1, Colon returned for the 8th inning, setting down the A's in order to complete a stellar first performance as an Athletic, allowing just three hits and one earned run over eight full innings. Colon, traded to the Mariners from the Yankees in the off-season, struck out six and walked one.

Jonny Gomes socked a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth to complete the scoring before Grant Balfour came on to pitch a perfect 1-2-3 inning to earn the save.

Cespedes, a rookie, had his first major league homer in just his sixth at-bat. He finished the day 1-for-3 with two RBI.

The game was the second in an MLB opening series played in Tokyo, Japan. Seattle won the opener, 3-1, on Wednesday. The two squads will return to the states and back to their spring training facilities in preparation of the American opening day, which begins next week.

Ryan Howard Bombs for Phillies; Bartolo Colon Sharp in Comeback Bid

 Players of the Day for Friday, March 4, 2011

American League

Bartolo Colon

Bartolo Colon, attempting to make a comeback after a full year absence from baseball, worked three solid, scoreless innings in a tune-up against a former team, the Boston Red Sox. Though the Red Sox won the game by a 5-3 score, Colon appeared to have most pitches working, allowing two hits and no walks while fanning five batters.

Once one of baseball's most dominant pitchers, Colon has only started 48 games since 2005 and is a combined 14-21 over a span of four seasons. After going 3-6 with Boston in 2009, Colon worked in the Dominican Winter League in hopes of making it back to the majors. He was the AL Cy Young award winner in 2005, when he compiled a 21-8 record with the Anaheim Angels.

National League

Ryan Howard

Philadelphia improved to 4-3 in the Grapefruit League with a 7-4 win over Pittsburgh as slugger Ryan Howard went yard for the first time this Spring.

Howard broke a 2-2 tie with his solo shot in the 6th inning and singled home another run, going 2-for-3.

One of baseball's best power hitters, Howard had somewhat of a down year - for him - in 2010, hitting just 31 homera and driving in 108 runs. From 2006 to 2009, Howard averaged 49.5 home runs and 141 RBI.