ALDS: Didi Gregorius Slams Twins in Yankee Romp; Gerrit Cole Fans 15 in Houston Victory

Players of the Day for Saturday, October 5, 2019

Gregorious socks slam

American League

NY Yankees 8 Minnesota Twins 2

Didi Gregorius socked a third inning grand slam as the Yankees erupted for seven runs in the frame and never looked back, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Masahiro Tanaka struck out seven over five innings of work, earning the win. Tanaka allowed three hits and one earned run.

With the win, New York is one game away from sweeping the Twins, champions of the AL Central division. The series resumes Monday in Minnesota.

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Houston Astros 3 Tampa Bay Rays 1

Cole: 15 Ks

Gerrit Cole fanned 15, dominating the Tampa Bay Rays over 7 2/3 innings, leading the Astros to their second straight post-season victory.

Cole gave up four hits, blanking Tampa until he was lifted with two down in the eighth inning after allowing a Kevin Kiermaier double and a walk to Willy Adames. Roberto Osuna struck out Yandy Diaz to end the threat.

Alex Bregman ripped a solo homer leading off the fourth to give Houston a 1-0 lead. RBI singles by Martin Maldonado in the seventh and Carlos Correa in the eighth padded the Astros' lead.

The Rays loaded the bases after scoring a run in the top of the ninth, but Will Harris struck out Travis d'Arnaud and got Kiermaier on a ground out to first.

The teams travel to Tampa Bay on Sunday, the series resuming Monday. Houston can move on to the AL Championship Series with a win.


National League

There were no National League games on Saturday. NLDS continues Sunday. St. Louis hosts Atlanta at 4:05 pm ET; Washington hosts the LA Dodgers at 7:45 pm ET. Both series are tied 1-1.

Didi Gregorius 5-5, 7 RBI in Wild Yankee Win over Twins; Mets' Robinson Cano Socks Three HR

Players of the Day for Tuesday, July 23, 2019

American League

Gregorius: 5-5, 7 RBI

It took more than five hours, 14 pitchers throwing 432 pitches, 35 hits, and a bases-loaded, circus catch by Aaron Hicks, but the Yankees finally prevailed over the Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, 14-12, in 10 innings.

Yankee shortstop Didi Gregorius had a career night, going 5-for-5 with two singles, two doubles, and a three-run homer. He collected seven RBI in total and scored twice, including the game-winning run.

The Twins built an early 8-2 lead after four innings, but the Yankees batted back with three in the fifth and a five-run eighth. They finally took the lead with two runs in the ninth on Aaron Hicks' two-run homer, but the Twins came back to tie it with a run in the bottom fo the frame.

In the 10th, Gregorius singled with one out, moved to second on Austin Romine's single, and scored on a single by Gleyber Torres. Romine scored an insurance run on a wild pitch.

Minnesota mounted a rally in the home half of the 10th, loading the bases on three walks, but the game ended when Aaron Hicks made a diving catch in center field on Max Kepler's line drive.

The win kept the Yankees 10 games up on both Boston and Tampa Bay in the AL East. Minnesota's loss was not damaging, keeping them three games ahead of the Indians in the Central. Cleveland dropped a 2-1, 10-inning decision in Toronto.

Tied at a game apiece, the two teams finish up their three-game series on Wednesday, 8:00 pm ET.

National League

Cano: 4-4, 3HR, 5 RBI

Both the Mets and Pardes fell out of their respective divisional races in June, but the games still have to be played.

On Tuesday night in New York, Robinson Cano made the most of it, going 4-for-4, belting three home runs and driving in all of the Mets' runs in New York's 5-3 win.

After singling in the first, Cano whacked a solo homer in the fourth off San Diego starting pitcher, Chris Paddack (6-5). In the sixth inning, he victimized Paddock again, lining a two-run homer in the sixth. Cano completed the trifecta with a two-run blast in the seventh off Logan Allen.

Acquired from the Mariners after the 2018 season, Cano has not been productive for the Mets, batting .254, with nine home runs and just 27 RBI. In his last 15 games, however, Cano has hit .316 with five home runs and nine RBI.

The Mets and Padres take up game two of their three-game set at 7:10 pm ET on Wednesday.

Didi Gregorius Homers Twice, Yankees Rout Marlins; Yasmani Grandal Slam Swamps Padres in Dodger Win

Players of the Day for Monday, April 16, 2018

Gregorius: 2 HR, 3 RB

American League

While the Orioles and Red Sox were rained out in Boston, the New York Yankees took advantage, picking up some ground in the standings with a 12-1 victory over the Miami Marlins Monday night in the Bronx.

Didi Gregorius, who has been the Yankees best player thus far, homered twice, driving in three runs in the rout. After walking and scoring in the third, Gregorius smacked a two-run shot in the fourth and went solo in the seventh inning.

He's batting .327 with five home runs and 16 RBI.

The well-rested Yankees who were snowed and rained out of an entire three-game series in Detroit over the weekend, returned home for the first of two against the Marlins on Monday, starting a ten-game home stand. They face Miami at 6:35 pm EDT on Tuesday, then open a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.

National League

Grandal: 2B, GS, 5 RBI

Yasmani Grandal drove in five runs with a second-inning double and a grand slam in the ninth, sealing the victory as the Dogders swamped the Padres, 10-3.

LA took a brief 1-0 lead on Grandal's RBI double, but the Padres came right back in the bottom of the frame on Christian Vliianueva's two-run home run.

After the Dodgers tallied four more in the third, San Diego would be unable to score off dodger starter Hyun-jin-Ryu again. Ryu struck out nine over six innings, giving up a mere three hits.

The score remained stuck at 6-2 until Grandal's bases-loaded blast in the ninth. The Padres scored another run in the bottom of the inning, but it was too little and far too late.

The win was the second straight for the Dodgers, who barely managed to keep the Padres in last place. San Diego is 5 1/2 off the pace set by Arizona in the West, but the Dodgers and Giants are five games out, just 1/2-game off the bottom.

The two teams play game two in San Diego, Tuesday night at 10:10 pm EDT.

Didi Gregorius Homers Twice, Drives In 8 As Yanks Rip Rays; Christian Villanueva Powers Padres With 3 HR

Players of the Day for Tuesday, April 4, 2018

Gregorius: 4-4, 2HR, 8RBI

American League

Delayed one day by snow, the NY Yankees held their home opener on Wednesday with an 11-4 pounding of AL East foe, Tampa Bay, highlighted by a world-class performance by shortstop Didi Gregorius.

Tampa pitchers found it impossible to keep the Yankee shortstop off the base paths, as Gregorius went 4-for-4 with a walk, single, double, two three-run homers and eight RBI.

Gregorius got the Yanks on the board in the second, doubling and scoring on Tyler Wade's single. In the third, Gregorius socked his first home run, then walked in the fifth, homered again in the seventh, and capped off his epic game with a two-run single in the ninth, completing the scoring for the Yankees.

The RBI assault left Gregorius tied for the AL lead with Toronto's Justin Smoak, both players with nine. His batting average is a stout .444.

Shortened to two games, the series concludes Wednesday at 1:05 pm EDT.

Villanueva: 3HR, 5RBI

National League

After four losses, the San Diego Padres captured their first victory of the season, thanks in large part to the batting explosion of rookie third baseman, Christian Villanueva, who socked three home runs, scored four times, and drove in five as the Padres doubled up the visiting Rockies, 8-4.

The 26-year-old got the party started with a solo shot in the second inning and another in the fourth. The Padres scored three runs in the sixth, Villanueva scoring the run that put them up, 5-3. In the seventh, Villanueva put the game out of reach with a three-run blast, finishing the game at 3-for-3.

San Diego remained in last place in the NL West, but they are a mere one game out of second place. Arizona leads the division with a 4-1 mark.

Game three of the four-game series starts at 10:10 pm EDT on Wednesday.

Stephen Strasberg, Michael Taylor Help Nationals Tie NLDS With Cubs; Didi Gregorius Powers Yankees Into ALCS

Players of the Day for Wednesday, October 11, 2017

American League

Gregorius: 2 HR, 3 RBI

Almost anything can happen in a five-game series, and, for the Cleveland Indians, what happened in the ALDS with the Yankees will not be soon forgotten.

For the second time in the series, the Yankees - or, rather shortstop Didi Gregorius - got to Cleveland ace and likely Cy Young award winner, Cory Kluber, taking deciding game five by a 5-2 score.

Gregorius got the Yankees started with a solo homer in the first inning, and victimized Kluber again in the third, swatting his second home run of the game, this time with Brett Gardner camped out at first base.

Meanwhile, Yankee starter, C.C. Sabathia was mowing down Indians, retiring the first nine straight before getting bounced on four consecutive hits and two runs in the fifth. Sabathia went 4 1/3 innings, fanning nine. Kluber also had a high strikeout total, whiffing six in his 3 2/3 innings.

Gregorius singled later in the game but was left stranded. The Yankees added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth, completing the comeback from being down two games to none by winning two straight at Yankee Stadium and advancing to the league championship series with Houston by downing Cleveland at Progressive Field.

The ALCS with the Astros begins Saturday in Houston. First pitch is slated for 4:08 pm.

National League

Strasberg: 7 IP, 0 ER, 12 K

The Washington Nationals have battled back from a 2-0 deficit to even the NLDS with the Cubs at two games apiece, getting a gem from flu-stricken Stephen Strasberg and a late grand slam by Michael Taylor for a 5-0 win at Chicago.

Taylor: Grand Slam

Strasberg blanked the Cubs on three hits over seven innings, striking out 12 and walking two. His teammates were able to muster a single run in the third inning, but the capable hurler made it hold up. In the top of the eighth, the Nationals loaded the bases, setting up Taylor for the big whack, putting the game out of reach.

After Taylor's slam, Strasberg turned the ball over to reliever Ryan Madsen, who worked a scoreless eighth inning. Sean Doolittle mopped up with a perfect ninth.

Game five is scheduled for Thursday night, 8:08 pm ET. The winner will open the league championship series on Friday in Los Angeles with the Dodgers.

Didi Gregorius Leads Yankees to 15-4 Rout of Braves; Clayton Kershaw Chills Cubs, Fans 14 in 4-1 Dodger Win

Players of the Day for Friday, August 28, 2015

American League

Gregorius: 6 RBI

Kershaw: 14 Ks

At the outset of the season, there was a good deal of skepticism over how well the new Yankee shortstop, Didi Gregorius, was going to fill in at the position.

After all, it isn't every day that a player is asked to replace a legend and probable Hall of Famer such as Derek Jeter, and, in the heady days of Spring, Gregorius struggled mightily.

But, with experience and support from veterans on the team, the former Arizona Diamondback began playing better in the field and at the plate.

On Friday, Gregorius drove in six runs as the Yankees routed the Braves, 15-4, at Turner Field in Atlanta, with a home run and three singles in six at-bats.

Gregorius and the Yankees struck early, the shortstop delivering a three-run homer in the first inning and following up with a two-run single in the second. Though the Braves came back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first, by the next inning the score was an already out-of-hand, 9-2, and the rout was on.

With a single in the eighth, Gregorius finished up with another RBI and the Yanks tacked on another pair of runs in the ninth, the win keeping them 1 1/2 behind the Blue Jays - 5-3 winners over Detroit - in the AL East.

Game two of the three-game series in Atlanta starts Saturday at 7:10 pm EDT.

National League

Through the first game of their three-game series in San Francisco, the Cubs were 16-4 for the month of August, had won six straight and appeared to have a tight grip on the second wild card spot and a good chance to catch the Pirates for the top wild card position.

Things changed quickly for the Cubs, as the Giants cooled them off with two straight defeats, and the Dodgers picked up where their neighbors to the North left off, whipping Chicago 4-1 behind a masterful pitching performance from Clayton Kershaw, who struck out 14 over eight innings before handing the ball over to closer Kenley Jansen for his 26th save.

Kershaw, the 2014 NL MVP and three-time NL Cy Young award winner (2011, 2013, 2014), allowed just three hits and a walk, giving up the only Cub run in the fourth inning on an Anthony Rizzo solo home run.

Improving to 11-6, Kershaw dropped his ERA to a solid 2.24, third in the league. His strikeout total increase to 236, far outpacing the rest of the league's hurlers. With 209, Washington's Max Scherzer is second in Ks on the season.

More importantly, the Dodgers kept their lead over second-place San Francisco at 2 1/2 games in the NL West as the Giants dropped the Cardinals, 5-4. The loss for the Cubs was their third straight and their lead over the Giants for the second wild card shrunk to 4 1/2 games.

The Cubs will try to get back to their winning ways when they face the Dodgers in the second game of their three-game series, Saturday night at 9:10 pm EDT.