Danny Salazar, Francisco Lindor Produce 2-1 Cleveland Win Over Jays; Ryan Braun Powers Brewers To 9-8 Victory

Players of the Day for Saturday, July 22, 2017

American League

The Al Central is turning out of be one of the best divisional races in the majors as the Cleveland Indians - hoping to repeat their 2016 run to the World Series - lead the Twins and Royals by 1 1/2 games.

Salazar: 7IP, 1H, 0ER

All three contenders were winners on Saturday, with the Indians taking a 2-1 win in 10 innings over visiting Toronto.

Cleveland got the best from starter Danny Salazar, who one-hit the Blue Jays through seven innings, after Kevi
n Pillar singled to open the third inning, Salazar induced a double play from the next batter, Ryan Goins, then proceeded to retire the next 13 batters he faced, striking out eight in the process and issuing no bases on balls.

Lindor: Game-winning HR

No Toronto runner advanced to second base while Salazar was throwing, but in the eighth, Andrew Miller served up a home run ball to Justin Smoak, tying the game with the Blue Jays' only run.

On the offensive side, Francisco Lindor scored both of Cleveland's runs, scoring on an Edwin Encarnacion ground out in the fourth inning and belting a game-ending, solo homer (his 15th) to lead off the bottom of the 10th, served up by reliever Danny Barnes.

Cleveland will be seeking a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays Sunday. Game time is 1:10 pm ET.

National League

Braun: 3-3, HR, 4 RBI

Ryan Braun went 3-for-3, scoring three times and driving in four with a single, double and his 15th home run, stole a base and scored from first on errors by Tommy Joseph and Howie Kendrick as the Milwaukee Brewers held on for a 9-8 victory at Philadelphia.

For the most part, the game was not as close as the final score indicates. Milwaukee blew an 8-1 lead in the seventh inning as the Phillies rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh and three more in the eighth, tying the game, before Domingo Santana knocked in Hernan Perez with the winning run in the top of the ninth.

Braun's fifth inning home run was his 12th, a two-run belt. The 33-year-old left fielder missed nearly a month of playing time due to injury, but has been in the lineup regularly since late June.

Milwaukee's win evened the series at a game apiece and kept the Brewers one game in front of Chicago in the Central division, which has tightened recently. The Pirates are three back, with the Cardinals 4 1/ games off the pace.

The rubber game of the series is Sunday, 1:35 pm ET at Citizens Bank Park.

Rookie Danny Salazar Gets Winning Debut for Indians; Freddie Freeman Leads Braves over Reds

Players of the Day for Thursday, July 11, 2013

American League

Danny Salazar

Intent on upending Detroit in the Central division, Cleveland called up rookie pitcher Danny Salazar to close out their three game series with the Blue Jays Thursday and what they got was a performance from the right-hander that exceeded expectations.

Salazar held the Jays to a single run on two hits and a walk through six-plus innings, striking out seven before handing the ball over to the relief staff.

The Indians scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the rookie's debut a winning one, coming away with a 4-2 victory and a 2-1 edge in the series.

Salazar displayed quality stuff, throwing 64 of 89 pitches for strikes and getting first strikes on 15 of the 21 batters he faced, holding the Blue Jays hitless through the first five innings, fanning four of the first six batters he faced.

The winning debut helped Cleveland pick up a game on Detroit, the Tigers dropping a 6-3 decision to the White Sox and are just 2 2 1/2 games back in the division.

National League

Freddie Freeman

On the day he was named the last reserve to the NL All Star team, Freddie Freeman showed why he deserved the honor, driving in four of Atlanta's six runs in a 6-5 win over the visiting Reds.

Freeman went 3-for-4 with four RBI, doubling in two runs in the first inning, singling home another in the second to put Atlanta up, 3-2, and singling in another run in the fourth to add to the Braves' lead.

Atlanta made three errors in the game, nearly giving the game away, but Craig Kimbrel came on in the 9th for his 25th save, shutting the door on the Reds in the opener of a four-game series.

Freeman, batting .313 with 60 RBI, out-polled LA's Yasiel Puig for the final roster spot on the All Star team.

Game two of the series is set for Friday at 7:30 pm EDT.

Today's Trivia: Name the only three players to drive in more than 2000 runs during their careers. (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: In 1921, none other than Babe Ruth scored 177 runs, the most since 1900, a record that stands to this day.