Curtis Granderson, Yasiel Puig Power Dodgers Past Pirates; Adam Jones 2 HRs Lead Orioles

Players of the Day for Monday, August 21, 2017

Jones: 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI

American League

Adam Jones lifted a pair of home runs out of Camden Yards as the Orioles got back on the winning track with a 7-3 victory over the Oakland A's in the first of three.

Jones added two singles, going 4-for-4 on the night. His first homer was a solo blast in the fourth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie. The second came back-to-back with Jonathan Schoop's three-run belt, another solo shot in the fifth as the Orioles scored four runs.

Jones' homers were his 23rd and 24th of the year. He has 63 RBI and is batting .281. The Orioles are 3 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the second wild card spot, but the field is loaded, with eight teams vying for that single spot. The Yankees continue to hold the first wild card by 2 1/2 games.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Tuesday at 7:05 pm ET.

Granderson: Grand Slam

National League

The Dodgers picked up Curtis Granderson from the Mets last week, and the veteran outfielder is apparently enjoying the cross-county move, socking a pair of home runs in his first three games in Dodger blue, the latest a grand slam in LA's 12-inning, 6-5 win at Pittsburgh.

Granderson's fifth inning slam put the Dodgers up, 5-3, but the Pirates - still fighting for contention in either the NL Central or the wild card race - came back to tie the game with two runs in the eighth.

Puig's HR won game

Neither team could come up with a run until the 12th inning, when Yasiel Puig launched his 22nd home run of the season, a solo shot that proved to be the game-winner. Ross Stripling, the eighth Dodger pitcher, gave up a hit and a walk in the bottom of the inning, but managed to keep the Pirates off the scoreboard, earning his second save.

The win left the Dodgers 20 1/2 games up on Colorado in the NL West with the best record in the majors, an amazing 88-35 (.715). At their current pace, the Dodgers would end the season at 116-46 and would clinch the division sometime around September 10.

Pittsburgh fell seven games behind Chicago in the NL Central and 8 games out of the second wild card.

The four-game series resumes Tuesday at 7:05 pm ET with game two.

Curtis Granderson, David Wright Lead Mets to Game Three World Series Victory

Players of the Day for Friday, October 30, 2015

World Series

David Wright

Curtis Granderson

Team captain, David Wright, and veteran outfielder, Curtis Granderson, between them scored four runs and drove in six, each socking a two-run homer, as the New York Mets rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals in game three of the 2015 World Series, 9-3.

With the Mets taking the series to New York, trailing two games to none, Wright and Granderson set the tone early. After the Royals scored in the top of the first, Granderson led off for the Mets in the bottom of the frame with a sharp single, followed by a massive blast to left field by Wright, putting the Mets up, 2-1.

Kansas City rallied back for two runs in the second inning, but their lead was short-lived. Granderson homered in the third with starting pitcher, Noah Syndergaard, on base, putting the Mets back on top, where they would stay for the remainder of the game.

The Mets added another run in the fourth and tacked on four runs in the sixth to complete the scoring.

Grandson went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and three runs. Wright, who singled in a pair in the four-run sixth, finished 2-for-5 as well, with a run scored and four RBI.

Syndergaard picked up the win, allowing three runs over six innings, striking out six.

The win gave the Mets hope and momentum, now trailing two games to one, with games four and five to be played at Citi Field in New York.

If games six and/or seven are necessary, they will be played at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Game four is slated for a Saturday start at 8:07 pm ET. Game five is on deck for 8:15 pm ET on Sunday.

Curtis Granderson Puts Yankees Back on Top; B.J. Upton, James Shields Help Rays Keep Pace; Ricky Nolasco Blanks Nationals

Players of the Day for Sunday, September 9, 2012

American League

Curtis Granderson

The concluding game of the four game Yankees-Orioles series went all one way - to the Yankees - courtesy of Curtis Granderson, who entered the game in the sixth inning as a pinch-hitter for Andruw Jones and promptly delivered a solo homer, upping the New York lead from 5-3 to 6-3.

After belting his 35th home run of the season, Granderson singled home a pair in the seventh and doubled in two more, helping the Yanks to a 13-3 win and a one game lead over the Orioles in the AL East, going 3-for-3 with five RBI.

Upton: 3HR

As the Yanks and O's were beating each others brains in, splitting the four games, Tampa Bay was keeping up, taking two of three from the Rangers, culminating in a complete game shutout by James Shields, who had complete control over one of the best-hitting teams in the majors, blanking Texas on two hits.

Shields: 2-hit shutout

Shields (14-8) fanned eight and didn't issue any walks, needing just 101 pitches (71 strikes) to put down the Rangers.

B.J. Upton provided half of the Rays' offense in the 6-0 win, belting a trio of solo home runs, with one each in the first, fourth and sixth innings. Upton has 21 homers on the season.

The result left the Rays very much in the hunt for both the wild card and the AL East pennant, two back of the Yankees and one behind the Orioles in the division. The wild card has evolved into a four-team scramble for the two spots, with Oakland leading the chase and Baltimore, Tampa Bay and the LA Angeles all within 2 1/2 games, setting up what should prove to be an epic struggle through the final three weeks of the regular season. Texas leads the A's by just 3 1/2 in the West, while the White Sox hold a two game bulge over the Tigers in the Central.

National League

Washington's gallop to the NL East pennant was slowed over the weekend by the Miami Marlins, who took two of three from the Nats in the nation's capitol.

Ricky Nolasco

The rubber game of the series was all Miami, as Ricky Nolasco evened his record at 12-12 with a four-hit shutout, the Marlins getting some spoiler revenge in an 8-0 whitewash.

Nibbling at the corners throughout the game, Nolasco threw 82 of 101 pitches for strikes, struck out six and issued one walk. He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. No Washington runner made it past second base.

The Nationals' loss was offset by Atlanta's 3-2, 10-inning win over the Mets, Brian McCann's sac fly in the top of the 10th providing the difference as the Braves swept three from the Nets in New York and extended Atlanta's win streak to five.

That left the Braves just 5 1/2 behind Washington in the East division, and the clear leader - by 5 1/2 over St. Louis - for the first wild card spot.

Johan Santana Tosses First Mets' No-Hitter; Curtis Granderson's Slam Paces Yankees in Detroit

Players of the Day for Friday, June 1, 2012

American League

Opening a three game series in Detroit, the Yankees got a win in, taking the Tigers down, 9-4, on the strength of Curtis Granderson's second inning grand slam, that put New York ahead by a 5-1 score, a lead they would not relinquish.

Granderson: Slammin'

After the Tigers scored a single run in the bottom of the first off Yankee starter C.C. Sabathia, the Yankees took advantage of four consecutive walks served up by Tiger starter Casey Crosby, a rookie making his first major league start. Derek Jeter's bases-loaded base on balls pushed home the first run for the Pinstripes, after which Granderson launched his 17th homer of the season, deep into the right field stands.

Sabathia held the Tigers to three runs over seven innings, then a parade of five relievers finished up the final two innings. Alex Rodriguez provided insurance with a two-run blast in the ninth.

Granderson is tied for second in the home run department with Edgar Encarnacion and Adam Dunn. They all are chasing Texas' Josh Hamilton, who leads the majors with 21 bombs.

The win left the Yankees just 1 1/2 games behind the Rays in the AL East, Tampa Bay topped the Orioles, 5-0, to take sole command of first place in the division.


National League

Santana: Unhittable

It took the better part of 51 years, but Johan Santana finally threw a no-hitter for the NY Mets.

Santana, coming back off a year in which he didn't throw a single pitch in the majors and had major reconstructive surgery, threw 134 pitches, even though his pitch count was not supposed to exceed 110 to 115, but manager Terry Collins let his star continue as long as the no-hitter was intact.

Santana, doing what Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Dwight Gooden, David Cone and a panoply of Mets pitchers could not, struck out eight and walked five for the historic no-no.

While his performance was not always pretty, and was aided by a blown call on a ball struck by Carlos Beltran that nipped the chalk on the third base line but was called foul, plus a seventh inning heroic catch by Mike Baxter on a Yadier Molina drive to the wall in left field. Baxter crashed into the wall and was forced to leave the game with an injured shoulder.

The Mets scored two runs in the fourth inning and three each in the sixth and seventh for the 8-0 victory.

Santana, who broke into the majors with Minnesota in 2000, threw his second straight shutout. He held the Padres to four hits and struck out seven on May 26.

The victory left the Mets tied with Miami in second place in the NL East, a game behind the Nationals, as the Marlins lost to the Phillies, 6-4, and the Nationals' meeting with Atlanta was postponed due to rain in the nation's capitol.

Curtis Granderson's 3 Homers, 5-for-5 Game Sinks Twins; Freddie Freeman Drives in Five as Atlanta Blasts Arizona

Players of the Day for Thursday, April 19, 2012

American League

In 2011, Curtis Granderson spent most of the season vying for AL home run leadership, eventually finishing second with 41 long balls to Toronto's Jose Bautista's 43.

Proving that 2011 was no fluke, Granderson is back at it again, taking over the AL lead in homers after going 5-fo-r with three balls over the wall in right field in New York's 7-6 victory over the visiting Minnesota Twins.

Curtis Granderson

Granderson, batting second in the order behind Derek Jeter, got the Yankees on the board with a solo jack in the first inning and followed that up with a two-run bolt in the second, which put New York on top of a 6-4 score.

In the fourth, Granderson sent a bases-empty line shot into the right field stands, his third homer of the game in his first three at-bats, and a 7-4 Yankee lead.

The Twins managed two more runs in the sixth off starter Phil Hughes, who struggled, but got the win, as the Yankee bullpen slammed the door shut. Granderson singled in his next two at bats, scorching a clean single to right field and beating out a dribbler between the mound and first base for his fifth and final hit of the evening.

The three donks gave Granderson six on the season, one ahead of a trio of pursuers. It was the first time in his career that he's hit three in a game and the third time he's had five hits. His effort was also the first for any player to hit three homers in a game at the new Yankee Stadium.

Having split the series with Minnesota, two games apiece, the Yankees head to Boston on Friday, to help in the celebration of Fenway's 100th anniversary. The Yanks take on the Red Sox at 3:15 pm.


National League

Freddie Freeman

After a slow start, Atlanta's Freddie Freeman is beginning to heat up.

Freeman had a homer and three RBI in Atlanta's win over the Mets on Wednesday, and in Thursday's opener of a four-game series in Arizona, he slugged two two-run shots and delivered an RBI double, going 3-for-5 with five RBI, leading the Braves to a 10-2 win.

The recent homer barrage were the first three of the season for Freeman, who belted 21 with 76 RBI as an Atlanta rookie last season.

Atlanta's win shaved a game off Washington's lead in the NL East, where the Braves are now in second place, at 8-5, after Houston bombed the Nationals, 11-4, handing them their fourth loss of the season against 10 wins. Atlanta has won three straight.

Robert Andino Ruins Red Sox in 7-5 Oriole Win; Kershaw Wins 20th; Pujols, Berkman, Theriot Keep Cards Close

Players of the Day for Tuesday, September 20, 2011

American League

Some things just aren't meant to be. Others are. For the Boston Red Sox, reaching the playoffs by winning the AL wild card seems to be a quest doomed to failure as they lost for the sixth time in eight games, this one another late inning bullpen meltdown against the bottom-feeding Baltimore Orioles, who defeated the Red Sox, 7-5, even as Boston's closest pursuer, Tampa Bay, was losing to the Yankees, 5-0.

Robert Andino

For Baltimore's Robert Andino, until this year a part-time utility infielder since 2004, his moment to shine was Tuesday night in Boston. After singling and scoring Baltimore's first run in the third inning, Andino singled and was stranded in the 4th inning and flied out to end the 6th. But, in the 8th inning, the scrappy second baseman approached the plate with the bases full of his teammates and Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon on the mound. Andino delivered a game-changing, two-out double to right field, plating all three runs and putting the O's up by two runs. Andino promptly stole third, but was stranded there when J.J. Hardy popped out to end the inning.

Nova: 16-4

Orioles' relievers put down the Red Sox calmly in the 8th and 9th, securing the win, keeping Boston just two games ahead of Tampa Bay in the wild card race. The Orioles and Red Sox square off again on Wednesday to complete the series, then, after a day off Thursday, the Sox head down to the Bronx for a three game series with the Yankees before returning to Baltimore for the final three game series of the regular season.

Granderson: 119 RBI

The Yankee win over Tampa Bay was doubly good, as they increased their lead in the AL East to six games over Boston and eight over the Rays. Their magic number dropped to three as rookie sensation Ivan Nova improved to 16-4 with 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball, giving up six hits, walking three and striking out three. Curtis Granderson increased his major league best RBI total to 119 with four RBI, three of them coming on a bases-loaded double in the second inning. The Yankees host the Rays in a double-header Wednesday.

In the West, Texas won its third straight, 7-2, at Oakland, while the second place Angels kept pace, outslugging Toronto, 10-6. The Rangers lead the Angles by five games with eight games left for both teams, who meet in the final three game series for both teams, at Anaheim, September 26-28. The Rangers' magic number is four.

National League

Kershaw: 20 Wins

LA's Clayton Kershaw joined Arizona's Ian Kennedy as the NL's second 20 game winner with a 2-1 win over the Giants, halting San Fran's winning streak at eight and keeping the Giants 5 1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks in the desperate NL West race.

Lance Berkman

Kershaw scattered six hits over 7 1/3 innings, the only run coming with one out in the 7th on a home run by the Giants' Chris Stewart. Kershaw battled Tim Lincecum, who took the loss, falling to 13-13 on the year. After allowing Stewart's home run, reliever Kenley Jansen came on and struck out the next two batters to end the 8th inning and Javy Guerra closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning.

Kershaw now is tied for the NL lead with 20 wins and also leads the league in strikeouts (242) and ERA (2.27), the same as Detroit hurler, Justin Verlander, in the AL who leads all three categories with 24 wins, 244 Ks and a 2.29 ERA. The dual pitching triple crowns would be a first if they hold up for the remainder of the season. There have been 19 pitching triple crowns in the majors and seventeen of those pitchers have reached the Hall of Fame. Grover Cleveland Alexander, Walter Johnston and Sandy Koufax each accomplished the feat three times, but never have two pitchers done it in the same season in opposing leagues.

Ryan Theriot

Albert Pujols

The loss by the Giants kept them in the chase for the NL West title, though time and games are dwindling fast. The Diamondbacks lost to Pittsburgh, 5-3, keeping the magic number at three. San Francisco plays three games at Arizona this weekend, beginning Friday.

In the wild card race, the Atlanta Braves held onto their slim 2 1/2 game lead with a 4-0 shutout over the Marlins, but the St. Louis Cardinals are not going away, as they opened a three-game home series with the Mets with an 11-6 victory. Alberrt Pujols went 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI (97) and scored the tying run in the 7th inning on Ryan Theriot's pinch-hit, bases-loaded ground rule double. Lance Berkman - 2-for-5, 1 run, 2 RBI - came home right behind Pujols, putting the Cardinals up 7-6. The Cards eventually scored six times in the frame, sealing the win.

Milwaukee kept cruising toward the NL Central crown with a 5-1 win over the Cubs. The Brewers lead St. Louis by 5 1/2 games, their magic number just three.

Granderson Gone Wild; Jennings, Price Power Relentless Rays; Diamondbacks Win 6th Straight

Players of the Day for Sunday, August 28, 2011

American League

Curtis Granderson

How special a season is Curtis Granderson having?

Pretty special, it appears, as Granderson homered twice in the nightcap of the Yankees' double-header at Baltimore, socking a three-run homer in the 3rd inning to erase an early 2-0 Baltimore lead, then smashing an opposite field shot in the 7th inning to complete the scoring in New York's 8-3 victory at Camden Yards.

Price: 14 Ks

The first homer tied him with Toronto's Jose Bautista for the AL and major league lead in home runs, the second gave the 185-pound center fielder the outright lead in that category. His four RBI put him ahead of all others with 107. He also leads the majors in runs with 121 and has stolen 24 bases this season.

Granderson's HR and RBI totals are already career bests for the 7-year pro. He's one shy of matching his 2007 total for runs and he'll match his personal best for swipes with two more stolen bases.

With the Yankees splitting with the O's and Boston idle, David Price and the Tampa Bay Rays were keeping pace, 8 1/2 games back, but just 6 1/2 behind the Yankees for the wild card spot.

Desmond Jennings

Price (12-11) set a personal high mark with 14 Ks, shutting out the Blue Jays over seven innings on three hits and two walks as the Rays hammered Toronto, 12-0. Rookie outfielder Desmond Jennings provided early offense, homering to lead off the game and smacking another seat-finder in the 3rd to put the Rays up 5-0.

Jennings also walked and stole second in the 4th and singled home a run and scored in the 9th as the Rays piled on six more runs.

Kennedy: 17-4

National League

Arizona's Ian Kennedy topped all National League pitchers with his 17th win as the Diamondbacks won their 6th straight, defeating the Padres, 6-1.

Kennedy allowed just one run on seven hits over seven stellar innings. He fanned seven and did not issue any walks.

Aaron Hill

While Kennedy was mowing down the opposition, recently acquired second baseman Aaron Hill singled, tripled and homered, driving in three run in five at-bats.

Collin Cowgill

Rookie Collin Cowgill hit his first double and home run, going 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI and two runs.

The Arizona win pushed them to a four-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West. The Giants dropped a 4-3 decision to Houston in 11 innings.

Arizona is one of just three NL teams to have winning records at home, on the road and against all three divisions. The other two both hail from the East: Philadelphia and Atlanta.

Yankees Set MLB Record with Three Slams; McCann Homers Twice for Red-Hot Braves

Players of the Day for Thursday, August 25, 2011

American League

The New York Yankees are the stuff of legends. The Bambino, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle are the names associated with baseball's most prolific and storied franchise.

Robinson Cano

Curtis Granderson

Add three more names to the list: Russell Martin, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson, each of whom rocked grand slam home runs in the Yankees' most recent slaughter, a 22-9 blowout over the Oakland A's.

Over the first few innings, few in the stands or watching on TV would have suspected that history was about to be made. Rich Harden was on the mound for Oakland, and by the third inning the A's had raced out to a 7-1 lead.

But then Martin slashed a solo homer to right, just over the scoreboard and into the first rwo of patrons, giving the Yanks some hope.

In the 5th, Cano blasted his granny, cutting the A's lead to 7-6. Then, in the 6th, Martin delivered again, this time with the bases chucked. Two inning, two grand slams, a 10-7 lead for the aptly-nicknamed Bombers.

Exploding for six runs in the 7th, the Yankees put the game away without the aid of any homers. Cano, Martin and Granderson each added an RBI.

Russell Martin

After Brett Gardner singled in a run in the 8th, the bases were loaded for Granderson, and history was made, when he bopped his 36th of the season into the right-center stands, the third grand slam of the day for the Yankees, a major league record. Andruw Jones obliged with a solo shot, a fitting tribute to the Yankees' largesse.

Martin finished the day with a stat line that read: 5-for-5, three runs, six RBI, two homers, including a grand slam, a double and two singles. Dano went 2-for-5, with five RBI, and Granderson took over the major lead RBI lead with 103, going 2-for-4, knocking in five and scoring four times.

Despite the enormous win, the Yankees didn't gain any ground on the Red Sox, who flummoxed the Rangers, 6-0, and maintained their one-game edge in the division.

National League

These days, most National League teams just don't measure up well against the Atlanta Braves, who finished their four-game set with the Cubs by taking three of four, including Thursday's 8-1 triumph.

McCann: 2 HR, 4 RBI

The Braves dispatched Cubs' starter Matt Garza in five innings, getting eight hits and six runs (three earned) against the Chicago hurler. Atlanta catcher Brian McCann did most of the damage, giving the Braves the lead with a 3-run homer in the opening inning. He added a solo shot (his 22nd) in the 7th inning.

Atlanta cut down idle Philly's lead in the NL East to six games, and increase their wild card bulge to 9 1/2 over the Giants and 10 1/2 over the Cardinals, both losers on Thursday.

The Braves have been so hot, it's hard to imagine them not catching the Phillies. They're 14-4 since August 7, as the Phillies have gone 9-6 over the same span.

Jeter, Granderson Power Yankees to 18-7 Win; McGehee Blasts Three Homers in Milwaukee Win

Players of the Day for Wednesday, August 3, 2011

American League

Handing the White Sox their fifth straight loss while winning their sixth in a row, the New York Yankees jumped all over Chicago early and cruised to a ridiculous 18-7 win.

Granderson: 5 RBI

The top of the order did most of the harm to White Sox pitchers, rocking White Sox starter Gavin Floyd for nine hits and 10 earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Jeter passes Brock

Derek Jeter had five hits in six at-bats - four singles and a double - scored four runs and drove in two, while Curtis Granderson, batting right behind the captain, went 4-for-6 with two singes, a double, his league-leading 9th triple, five RBI and two runs.

Jeter passed Lou Brock for 23rd place in hits all-time. Jeter's five hits gives him 3027. Brock retired in 1979 with 3023 career hits.

The diminutive Granderson is keeping pace in the RBI department with teammate Mark Teixeira, who had three RBI himself and leads the team with 85 ribbies to Granderson's 84.

While the Yanks continue to press the issue in the AL East, it has not been easy, as the Red Sox have won four of their last five, including two straight against Cleveland, and continue to hold a one game lead in the division over New York.

Following the completion of their series with the White Sox and Indians, the Yankees and Red Sox meet up for a three-game set in Boston, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which could go a long way toward determining the AL East representative in the playoffs.

National League

The Milwaukee Brewers are going to be heard from come the post-season.

Bouncing back from an 8-7, 11-inning loss to the second place Cardinals on Tuesday, Milwaukee rocked St. Louis 10-5, taking two out of three in the mid-week series and extending their NL Central lead to 3 1/2 games.

McGehee: 3 Bombs

Most of the offense was supplied by Casey McGehee, who has been suffering the throes of a season-long slump. McGehee, who socked 23 homers in 2010, entered yesterday's game with only five long balls in the 2011 season.

Perhaps in an effort to make up for lost time, the Milwaukee third baseman belted three homers and drove in four runs, driving the Brewers to the easy win.

Haren Outduels Verlander; Granderson Knocks a Pair; Howard Leads Phils; Jeter Two Hits Closer

Players of the Day for Tuesday, July 5, 2011

American League

Well, Justin Verlander is human after all, as proven by Dan Haren and the LA Angels Tuesday night.

Haren: 2-Hitter

Haren (8-5) shut out the Tigers on two hits, and the Angels pushed across a run in the 2nd inning that held up for the 1-0 win. It was the first loss for Verlander after winning seven consecutive starting assignments dating back to mid-May.

Throwing 87 of 122 pitches for strikes, Haren issued no walks and struck out nine Tigers. The Angels have won four straight and remain tied with Texas atop the AL West with Seattle lurking, just 2 1/2 games back. The win was Haren's second complete game shutout of the year.

Granderson: 25 HR

In Cleveland, the Yankees pounded out 17 hits for a 9-2 win over the Indians. Curtis Granderson went 3-for-6, with two homers - his 24th and 25th - three RBI and three runs. Granderson's two-run shot in the 2nd inning and solo blast in the 4th put the Yankees up 6-0, as C.C. Sabathia improved to 12-4, throwing seven innings of shutout ball and striking out 11.

The Yankees maintained their 1 1/2 game lead over Boston in the AL East, while the Indians held onto the same edge over the Tigers in the Central.

National League

Howard: 71 RBI

It may not seem fair that the Phillies play a three-game series with the Florida Marlins, but the schedule dictates they play the games, no matter the expected outcome.

Tuesday's 14-2 Phillies' romp surprised nobody, as the Phillies kept their NL East lead over the Braves at four games and the Marlins sunk further into the depths of the division.

Ryan Howard went 4-for-5, including his 18th home run of the season, a two-run job in the 4th. Howard also singled twice and doubled, drove in four runs and scored three times.

Jeter: 2996 Hits

With 71 RBI, Howard tied Prince Fielder of the Brewers for the lead in the National League. LA's Matt Kemp is third, with 64.

JETER 3000 WATCH: Derek Jeter took two steps closer to the magic 3000-hit mark, going 2-for-6 in the Yankees' win at Cleveland. That puts him just four hits away with one more game to complete the series in Cleveland. Manager Joe Girardi has suggested that he might sit the Yankee captain for Wednesday's game, as Jeter is just off the DL and has played four straight games - two of them with Trenton on a rehab assignment - and Girardi wants to keep Jeter healthy.

Jeter said he wants to play Wednesday, as the team prepares to head back to Yankee Stadium for a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Danny Espinosa Hammers Lee, Phillies with 2 Homers; Curtis Granderson Goes Yard Again

Players of the Day for Tuesday, May 31, 2011

American League

For all the speculation and insight into the AL East pennant race, somehow the Yankees keep finding their way back to the top of the heap.

Curtis Granderson

In the midst of a 9-game West coast swing, the Yankees won their third straight with a 10-3 thrashing of the Oakland A's. In the middle of it all was a most unlikely power hitter, Curtis Granderson, who got things started in the top of the first when he smacked his 17th home run of the season with Derek Jeter aboard.

With a 2-0 lead in hand, Freddie Garcia (4-4) cruised as the Yankees piled on more runs. Granderson stroked a couple of singles, plating another two runs in the 4th and
scoring once in the 6th. The Yankees scored in each of the first six innings except the second.

Granderson, who trails Toronto's Jose Bautista in the home run derby, 20-17, went 3-for-5 with four RBI, two runs and his 8th stolen base. The Yankees, thanks to Boston losing at Chicago, have a one-game lead in the division.

National League

Danny Espinosa

Already 10 1/2 games out and in the basement of the NL East, the Washington Nationals aren't likely to make much difference in the larger scheme of things, but they certainly have found themselves a second baseman who could become a mainstay for years to come.

Danny Espinosa took Phillies' starter Cliff Lee deep twice as the Nats downed the Phillies, 10-2, evening their series at a game apiece.

Espinosa unloaded on Lee with a three-run blast in the 3rd inning, then sent him to the showers with his 10th home run, a solo shot in the 6th that put the Nationals up 6-2.

Adding a single, Espinosa finished 3-for-4, with four RBI and two runs. Though he's batting just .217, Espinosa has shown good power and clutch hitting. He has 33 RBI on the season.

The Phillies and Nationals complete their three-game series on Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Granderson Homers Twice in Yankee Win; Jamie Garcia Takes Perfect Game into 8th

Players of the Day for Friday, May 6, 2011

American League

Curtis Granderson

Yankee manager Joe Girardi insists on having Derek Jeter bat leadoff, so that leaves the speedy Curtis Granderson to bat in the #2 hole.

This arrangement has worked out for the Yanks thus far, as they have a one-game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East after defeating the Rangers in Texas Friday night, 4-1, but baseball writers should be seeking another adjective for Granderson, possibly replacing "speedy" with "slugging."

Jeter opened Friday's festivities with a single, followed by Granderson's 9th homer run of the season, a two-run shot that got the Yankees on the board in a hurry.

Granderson smacked #10 in the 7th inning, as starter Ivan Nova was slicing up the Rangers, allowing just two hits through 7 1/3 innings. The sole run off Nova was unearned.

Granderson's two homers catapulted him past Toronto's Jose Bautista into the AL home run lead and the three RBI gave him 21 on the season, among the top ten in the league. Speedy? Powerful? Granderson seems to have it all.

National League

Jaime Garcia

With one of their stud starters - Adam Wainwright - gone for the season, the Cardinals have still managed to wreak havoc in the NL Central, wresting a 1 1/2 game lead over Cincinnati after 4-0 Jaime Garcia took a perfect game into the 8th inning against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday night.

Garcia walked Casey McGehee with one out in the eighth to spoil the perfcto. The next batter, Yuniesky Betancourt, stroked a solid single to left field to end the no-hit bid. Garcia finished the game with a 2-hit shutout, and a 6-0 win for St. Louis.

The walk to McGahee was the only free pass issued by Garcia while he fanned 8 Brewers, getting Ryan Braun three times on strikes. A ninth inning double by Ricky Weeks was the second hit.

With a perfect 4-0 record a 0.93 WHIP and an ERA of 1.99, Garcia has stepped up and picked up the slack left by Wainwright. He and Kyle Lohse (4-1) have been the Cardinals' most consistent starters. If Chris Carpenter (0-2) gets going the NL Central could turn into a Redbird road show.

The complete game shutout was the second of the season for Garcia and his third lifetime. After a 13-8 season as a rookie, Garcia is fast becoming one of the top starters in the majors.

STREAKING: Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to 30 games with three singles in five at-bats in the Dodgers' 6-3 loss to the the Mets. Ethier is now ripping it at a .379 pace, and is one game shy of the longest hitting streak in Dodger history. Willie Davis hit in 31 stright back in 1969. Ethier will get his chance Saturday in New York.

Granderson Stings Rays; Hamels on the Money for Phillies

Players of the Day for Monday, September 20, 2010 American League With just two weeks left in the regular season, the Yankees and Rays squared off at Yankee Stadium in the first of a four-game set which will go a long way toward determining playoff seeding in the American League. Carrying a 1/2 game lead into the series, the Yankees struck the first blow with an 8-6 victory over the Rays, powered by a pair of homers by center fielder Curtis Granderson. Getting the Yanks on the board first, Granderson smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, and, after the Rays fought back to tie the score at 4-all in the 6th, he delivered the death blow with a three-run shot to right field that put New York up by four runs. Hitting his 20th and 21st of the season, Granderson was a constant irritant to the Rays, driving in five runs, walking twice and swiping a base late in the game. The Yankee win gives them a 1 1/2 game cushion in the division. Even if the Rays finish second, they will, in all likelihood, take the wild card spot into the playoffs. They currently lead the Red Sox by 6 1/2 games for the final playoff position. National League With every game they play, the Phillies look more and more like they will represent the National League East when the playoffs begin. Opening their crucial three-game set with Atlanta, the Phillies won their 8th straight, stopping the Braves, 3-1, as Cole Hamels continues to impress down the stretch. Hamels kept Atlanta's hitters off balance and off the bases, delivering eight strong innings, allowing one earned run on six hits. Picking up his 12th win against 10 losses, Hamels struck out six and walked just one. The Braves struck first, with a run in the second inning, but hilly quickly tied it in the bottom of the inning. After Placido Polanco and Raul Ianez provided go-ahead runs in the 5th, Hamels set about his job in workmanlike fashion, allowing only a 6th inning walk and a leadoff single in the 7th, retiring the next six batters he faced before turning the ball over to Brad Lidge, who delivered a perfect 9th inning for his 24th save. With a four-game lead, the Phillies are looking to take the next two games from the Braves and build an even larger lead, rendering the final three games of the season - in Atlanta - a moot point. After the series in Philly concludes, the Phils host the mets for three, then travel to D.C. for three games with the Nationals before finishing up in Atlanta. PENNANT NOTES: There was limited action in the majors, with none of the contenders in the NL West seeing action. The Cardinals continued to struggle, losing, 4-0, at Florida, while the Reds whipped Milwaukee, 5-2, giving the Reds a seven-game edge. Texas won, but so did Oakland. The lead in the AL West is eight games. Texas' magic number stands at six. Minnesota can clinch at least a tie on Tuesday with a White Sox loss and a win of their own. On Monday, they smacked the Indians, 9-3, while the Sox were being shut out by Oakland, 3-0. The Giants, currently 1/2 game better than San Diego in the West, open a six-game road trip on Tuesday in Chicago. After three with the Cubs, the team will travel for three with the Rockies, who trail by just 1 1/2.

Granderson's Triples Topple Texas; Sabathia a Complete Pitcher

Players of the Day from Monday, August 18, 2008 American League The Tigers are still just barely alive in the AL Central race after squeaking by Texas, 8-7. The spotlight fell on leadoff hitter Curtis Granderson, who tripled twice and drove in four runs, keying the victory.

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The Tigers, probably the biggest disappointment in the majors, are 10 1/2 behind the White Sox, who retook first place in the AL Central, as Carlos Quentin hit his major league-leading 35th home run in Chicago's 13-5 thumping of Seattle. Minnesota lost to Oakland, 3-2, and are one game behind the Sox. Notes: Tampa Bay held on for a 6-4 win over West leader LA to remain 4 1/2 in front of the Red Sox in the East. The Angels aren't worried, however. Despite their second straight loss, they still lead Texas by 15 1/2 games. National League OK, this is getting a little ridiculous. On Monday, C. C. Sabathia pitched his 8th complete game of the season, recording his 11th straight win as the Brewers dropped Houston, 9-3.

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With little left to prove about his toughness, Sabathia threw 130 pitches, his season high. Both his win streak and complete game numbers include the early part of the season which he spent with Cleveland, where he was 6-8. He has not lost in 9 starts as a Brewer. Sabathia struck out 9, bringing his full season total to 192. Notes: Milwaukee trails the Cubs by 5 games in the Central. The West remained deadlocked as both Arizona and LA were idle. The Mets lost to Pittsburgh, 5-2, and are 1 1/2 ahead of Philadelphia and 4 up on Florida in the East.

Granderson is Grand; World Champs Winless

Peak Performers and Fabulous Flops National League The NY Mets completed a 3-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday with a 10-0 thumping as Jon Maine shut down the St. Louis sluggers on 1 hit over 7 innings, striking out 6. Carlos Beltran (right) homered twice and drove in 4 runs, providing all the offense the Mets needed. The Cardinals' Albert Pujols had just 1 hit in 10 at-bats in the 3 games. The Washington Nationals got their first win of the season, salvaging the back end of their 3-game series with the Marlins, stunning Florida with 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th for the 7-6 win. Well-traveled reliever Jorge Julio (4 teams in 3 years) worked just 1/3 of the inning, allowing a walk, 5 hits and 3 earned runs. Miguel Cabrera continued his hot streak with a solo homer in the 3rd inning, his second in as many days. Cabrera is batting a healthy .700. Colorado's Matt Holliday exploded with 4 hits in 5 at-bats to lead the Rockies over Arizona, driving in 4 runs in the 11-4 victory. The Rockies won the final 2 games of their home-opening series after dropping the opener on Monday. Philadelphia's Cole Hamels (right) struck out 8 Braves and twirled 7 innings of shutout ball but ended up with no decision in Atlanta's 3-2, 11-inning win. Reliever Tom Gordon was credited with the blown save. The Phillies and Braves conclude their 3-game set on Thursday in Philly. The Braves have won the first two games. Acquired in the off-season from Toronto, Ted Lilly allowed just 3 hits, 1 earned run and struck out 9 over 7 innings to help the Cubs to a 4-1 win over Cincinnati. Despite giving up a solo homer to Criag Biggio in the bottom of the 9th, Pittsburgh's Salomon Torres earned his third save in as many games as the Pirates swept the Astros in Houston with a 5-4 win. Leadoff man Marcus Giles belted a 2-run homer in the 5th inning and went 3-4 overall as San Diego won their 2nd straight over San Francisco, 5-3. Giles also scored the game-winning run when 1st baseman Adrian Gonzalez drove him in with a 2-run shot of his own in the top of the 8th inning. American League The Tigers and Blue Jays combined for 29 hits and 19 runs in Detroit's 10-9 home win. Curtis Granderson (right) did most of the damage for the Tigers with his 3rd-inning grand slam. Granderson had scored earlier in the inning as Detroit batted around on Toronto starter A. J. Burnett and reliever Shaun Marcum. For good measure, Granderson stole a base and added an RBI triple in the 7th, which turned out to be the game-winner as the Blue Jays erupted for 7 runs in the top of the 8th. Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez went 4 for 4 and drove in a pair of runs as the Indians beat the White Sox for the second straight day, 8-7. Martinez, who batted .316 for Cleveland last season, has 6 hits in 8 at-bats this season for a .750 average. The LA Angels completed a 3-game home sweep of Texas with a 5-3 win on Wednesday. Vladimir Guerrero drove in his 5th run of the season in the first inning. After losing 7-1 on Monday, the Boston Red Sox returned the favor with a 7-1 win at Kansas City on Wednesday. Starter Josh Beckett pitched 5 innings for the win, striking out 5, walking 4 and allowing just 2 hits and 1 earned run. The Twins completed their 3-game home sweep over Baltimore with a 7-2 win. Michael Cuddyer went 3 for 3 with 2 RBI and a run scored. The Oakland A's earned their first win of the season, after dropping their first two games at Seattle, with a 9-0 win over the Mariners. Oakland starter Rich Harden was brilliant, blanking the M's over 7 innings, striking out 7 while allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks. Light-hitting 2nd baseman Mark Ellis drove in 5 runs with a pair of doubles in the 2nd and 5th innings. While looking at box scores, we noted this entry in one of the inning-by-inning summaries: N. Swisher doubled to deep left center, M. Ellis, J. Kendall, E. Chavez, B. Crosby and T. Buck scored. N. Swisher doubled to deep left, M. Ellis, B. Crosby, N. Swisher and T. Buck scored Wow! a 5-run and a 4-run double. Swisher even managed to drive himself in one time there. Technology rocks! Break up Nick Swisher!