Jake Arrieta Wins 19th as Cubs Take Double-Header in Philly; Texas Downs A's, 2-0, on Colby Lewis Two-Hitter

Players of the Day for Friday, September 11, 2015

American League

Lewis: 2-hit shutout

Arrieta: 19-6

Perfect through seven innings, Colby Lewis fired a two-hit shutout over the Oakland A's as Texas took the first of a three-game series at Globe Life Park in Arlington, 4-0.

Improving to 15-8 on the year, Lewis needed just 97 pitches to set down the Athletics, pitching to just two over the minimum.

Danny Valencia's double to open the eighth and a leadoff single by Josh Phegley in the ninth were the only blemishes on Lewis' pitching line, which included four strikeouts and no walks.

It was the second complete game and first shutout for Lewis this season. Since 2010, Lewis has nine complete games and three shutouts.

The Rangers, thanks to Houston's 3-2 loss to the Angels, are just 1 1/2 games out of first place in the AL West. They also picked up a game on the Yankees in the wild card race, as Toronto handed the Bombers an 11-5 defeat. Texas trails the Yankees by 3 1/.2 games and is currently one game ahead of the Twins for the second wild card spot.

The Rangers continue their series with the A's Saturday at 8:05 pm EDT.

AL NOTE: Baltimore's Nolan Reimold and Steve Clevenger became the first teammates this season to club grand slam home runs in the same inning, as the Orioles came from behind with a 10-run eighth inning to defeat the Royals, 14-8. The O's are the first team to hit a pair of slams in the same inning since the Mets did it in 2006. It's the seventh time it's happened in the majors since 1900.

National League

After rain postponed the opening of Chicago's series in Philadelphia on Thursday, the Cubs took both ends of a double-dip on Friday, winning the opener, 5-1, behind the steady arm of Jake Arrieta, and taking the nighcap, 7-3.

Arrieta threw eight innings for his 19th win, the most in the majors, allowing six hits and the lone earned run. He walked two and fanned seven as the Cubs picked up 1/2 game on the Pirates in the wild card race, now trailing by two, but all-but-assured of getting one of the two spots available. The Cubs are 9 1/2 games ahead of the Giants for the second wild card.

The win was the eighth straight for Arrieta, who has won each of his starts since August 4 and will be seeking his 20th win the middle of next week, likely against the Pirates. Chicago opens a four-game series in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

Game three of Chicago's series at Philadelphia is slated for a 7:05 pm EDT start.

Lewis, Moreland Power Rangers to Home Win; Trail Giants, 2-1

Players of the Day for Saturday, October 30, 2010

World Series Game Three: Rangers 4, Giants 2

Colby Lewis (left) pitched in the 8th inning and rookie first baseman Mitch Moreland (right) came through with a three-run homer to lead the Rangers to victory in Game Three of the World Series.

Though entering the game down 2-0 to the Giants, the Rangers were a looser, more confident team on Saturday night at the Ballpark in Arlington where they compiled a 51-30 record during the regular season. Starter Colby Lewis was exceptional until the 7th inning, when he gave up a solo home run to red-hot Cody Ross, who extended his post-season hitting streak to 10 games.

Through six innings, Lewis had allowed just three hits and two walks, good enough for the Rangers to forge a 4-run lead. Moreland pounded a three-run shot to right in the second inning off Giants' starter Jonathan Sanchez, and Josh Hamilton added a solo shot in the 5th.

Lewis continued into the 8th, getting two outs, but giving up another solo homer - this one by center fielder Andres Torres. When he plunked Aubrey Huff, manager Ron Washington replaced him with Darren O'Day, who got the final out of the inning, retiring Buster Posey on a ground ball to short.

Fanning two of the three batters he faced, rookie closer, Neftali Felix, worked a perfect 9th inning for his first post-season save.

Game four offers the Rangers an opportunity to tie up the series at two games apiece, though they'll have to rely on the arm of Tommy Hunter, who has not fared well in the playoffs. Hunter is 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA in two starts, his longest stint lasting only four innings. He'll match up with Madison Bumgarner, who is 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA in three playoff appearances. Game time for the Sunday start is 8:20 pm ET.

Rangers Snuff Yankees in Six, Head to First World Series

Players of the Day for Friday, October 22, 2010

American League


Back on their home field at the Ballpark in Arlington, the Texas Rangers eliminated the reigning world champion Yankees and are headed to the World Series for the first time in franchise history with a 6-1 victory in front of a stadium packed with excited fans.

Vladimir Guerrero, traded from the Angles to the Rangers following the 2009 season, paid huge dividends, driving in the first Ranger run on a fielder's choice ground out in the first, and delivered a 2-out double that broke a 1-1 tie and plated two runs in a decisive 5th inning. When Nelson Crus followed with a line drive two-run homer to left center, the Rangers led 5-1 and were on their way.

While the Rangers were piling up the runs, Colby Lewis was calmly working over the Yankee lineup. Lewis worked eight innings, gave up three hits and three walks, striking out seven. The lone run scored off Lewis was sketchy. After Alex Rodriguez doubled to lead off the 3rd inning and moved to third of Lance Berkman's fly to deep right center, the Yankee third baseman trotted home on what was called a wild pitch, though replays clearly showed that the pitch had hit Nick Swisher, who should have been awarded first, keeping Rodriguez at third. There was no umpire meeting or discussion on the field of what was certainly a blown call.

In the end, it amounted to nothing except a slight rise in Lewis' ERA.

The Yankees were out-gunned in the series, displaying a pitching staff about an arm and a half short of championship caliber. Texas outscored them, 38-19, and the Rangers won their four games by margins of 5, 8, 7 and 5 runs.

Texas will have sufficient time to ready their roster and rest their pitchers. The first game of the World series isn't until Wednesday, October 27, to be played at home of the National League champions.

Josh Hamilton, who singled and scored in the first, intentionally walked the next three times he went to the plate in game six, was awarded the MVP. The Texas center fielder batted .350, drove in seven runs and homered four times in the series.

National League

The Phillies and Giants renew acquaintances on Saturday afternoon, 3:57 pm ET, at Philadelphia for game six of the NLCS. San Francisco leads the Phillies, three games to two.

Wainwright, Holliday Lead Cards; AL Pitchers Dominate NL, Colby Lewis Tops

Players of the Day for Saturday, June 19, 2010 American League Saturday was full of exceptional pitching performances by AL hurlers as they dominated their NL foes. In Chicago, Jered Weaver tossed seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits, no walks, while fanning 11 in a 12-0 Angels' rout. Jake Peavy returned to the kind of form that earned him the 2007 NL Cy Young award, going the distance for the first time this season with his first shutout since 2005, a 1-0 nail-biter at Washington. Peavy allowed just three hits and walked two while striking out seven. Jesse Litsch bounced back from a horrid performance in his first start (2 1/3 innings, 9 hits, 7 runs in a 10-3 loss to Colorado), with a solid seven shutout innings in the Blue Jays' 3-0 win over Matt Cain and the Giants. Seattle's Felix Hernandez shut down the Reds, 5-1, allowing five hits and one walk in his complete game win, fanning 9 batters. But the best of the bunch was turned in by the Rangers' Colby Lewis, a journeyman starter who didn't have any major league playing time in all of 2008 or 2009, but has posted a 7-4 record in 14 starts this season. The 31-year-old Lewis pitched what was probably the best game of his career - which dates back to 2002 - with a complete game 5-1 win over the Houston Astros. Lewis didn't allow a walk, yielded only two hits, struck out nine, giving up the only run of the game in the bottom of the 7th, when Michael Bourne doubled, moved to third on a fly out, and scored on a wild pitch. Lewis needed only 102 pitches to go the distance, throwing 72 strikes. He induced 12 batters to ground out as the Rangers won their 7th straight and continue to lead the Angels (winners of 3 straight) by 2 1/2 games in the AL West. National League With all of the AL pitchers throwing peas at National Leaguers, a couple of Cardinals picked up the slack for the senior circuit. Adam Wainwright (left) improved to 10-4 with eight innings of stellar work, yielding just five hits and no earned runs in the Cardinals' 4-3 victory over Oakland. All but one of the St. Louis runs were provided by Matt Holliday (right), who doubled in a run in the 5th inning and smacked a two-run homer - his 8th of the year - in the 7th inning, providing the winning margin. St. Louis expanded their thin NL Central advantage over Cincinnati to 1 1/2 games with the win.