Matt Kemp's Homer Sends Dodgers To Win Over Arizona; Eduardo Rodriguez Returns For 6-1 Boston Victory Over ChiSox

Players of the Day for Saturday, September 1, 2018

American League

Rodriquez: 5 2/3 IP, 12 K

The Red Sox express keeps rolling right along.

Boston topped the White Sox, 6-1, in Chicago Saturday, taking a 2-1 lead in their four-game series.

Eduardo Rodriguez upped his record to 12-3, limiting the White Sox to three hits and one earned run over 5 2/3 innings, striking out a season-high 12, walking one.

While Rodriguez was frustrating Chicago batters, the Red Sox got three solo homers and tacked on three more runs for their 94th victory. Coming back from the disabled list for his first start since mid-July, Rodriguez was very sharp and obviously well-rested. In 20 starts this season, Rodriguez has a 3.34 ERA and 122 strikeouts.

With the Yankees winning, 2-1, over Detroit, Boston maintained their 7 1/2 game lead in the East division. Boston has the best record in the majors and will likely have home field advantage for the duration of the playoffs.

The series concludes Sunday. Game time is 2:10 pm EDT.

National League

Kemp: 3-run Homer

Closing out August with a rash of wins, the LA Dodgers tied Arizona for first place in the NL West with a 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks on the first day of September.

Clayton Kershaw held Arizona to two runs over seven innings, but he was outdueled by Patrick Corbin and three relievers who shut out the Dodgers through seven. In the bottom of the eighth, however, Arizona's Archie Bradley took the mound and ran into the middle of the Dodgers' potent batting order.

After getting Max Muncy for the first out, Justin Turner singled, Manny Machado walked, and Matt Kemp turned the game around, blasting a three-run homer, ripping Bradley's 1-2 offering into the center field stands, 427 feet away.

Kenley Jansen allowed one hit in the Arizona ninth, but kept the Diamondbacks off the scoreboard for his 34th save.

Kemp's homer was his 19th and the three RBI advanced his total for the season to 72.

The Dodgers have won seven of their last eight and lead the Diamondbacks 2-1 in the current series which includes Sunday, 1:10 pm PDT.

Eduardo Rodriguez Hurls Red Sox Closer To Playoffs; Miami's Giancarlo Stanton Racks HR #57

Players of the Day for Saturday, September 23, 2017

American League

Rodriguez: 7 2/3 IP, 0 ER

Boston's 5-0 win at Cincinnati was their fifth consecutive win, keeping them four games ahead of the Yankees in the race for the AL East title, the only division yet to be decided in the American League.

The Red Sox got a terrific performance from starting pitcher, Eduardo Rodriguez (6-6, 3.91), who blanked the Reds for 7 2/3 innings on three hits, all singles.

Rodriguez, who didn't give up a base hit until Joey Votto singled with one out in the fourth, walked two and struck out six.

With one more road game, Sunday, 1:10 pm ET at Cincinnati, Boston returns home to Fenway Park for the final week of the regular season, starting Monday with three games against Toronto, followed by four with Houston.

As both they and the Yankees have eight games left, Boston's magic number to capture the division is five.

National League

With every passing at-bat, Giancarlo Stanton's quest to tie or break Roger Maris' non-steroid-era record of 61 home runs in a season becomes more of a dramatic quest for the 27-year-old slugger.

Stanton: 57 HR, 125 RBI

Stanton has exceeded all expectations despite his Marlins falling out of contention for the post-season early in September. On Saturday, in Miami's 12-6 win at Arizona, Stanton launched number 57, a solo shot in the fourth inning. Earlier, Stanton delivered a third-inning double, driving in tow runs. In the ninth, he grounded into a fielder's choice, sending home the Marlins' final run.

Tallying four RBI on the day, Stanton continues to chase Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the NL RBI lead. Arenado has 126, Stanton closed to within one, at 125.

Miami's win kept the Diamondbacks from clinching a playoff spot, though that is nearly a certainty. With eight games left, Arizona leads Colorado by six games as the first wild card, making their magic number to clinch that coveted spot, three.

Stanton should have ample opportunity to add to his home run and RBI totals. After closing out the series in Arizona Sunday (4:10 pm ET), the Marlins play three in the thin air of Colorado, then return home for the final four games of the season, with Atlanta.