Dodger Rookie Will Smith Rips Nats With 6 RBI; Indians Top Royals, 9-1, on Jason Kipnis Grand Slam

Players of the Day for Saturday, July 27, 2017

American League

Kipnis: Grand Slam

Oscar Mercado went 4-for-5, Jose Ramirez socked his 100th career home run, Jason Kipnis whacked a first-inning grand slam and Mike Clevinger (5-2) scattered eight hits over seven innings as the Indians routed the Royals, 9-1, in Kansas City Saturday.

The Kipnis slam off Royals' starter, Glenn Sparkman, ignited Cleveland's offense. Following the four runs in the first and one in the second, Ramirez sent Sparkman to the showers in the fifth with a three-run blast.

Cleveland's steady second baseman, Kipnis is batting .248 with eight home runs and 42 RBI in 83 game.

Coupled with Minnesota's 5-1 loss to the White Sox in Chicago, the Indians closed to within one game of the Twins, who hold a tenuous lead in the AL Central.

The Indians have been red hot since the all-star break. They dropped a pair of home games to Minnesota on July 12 and 13, but have gone 12-2 since, currently riding a four-game winning streak.

Cleveland will be looking to sweep the Royals in game four of their series, Sunday, at 2:15 pm ET. An Indians win and a Minnesota loss would produce a tie atop the Central division.

National League

Smith: 6 RBI Rookie

With a double-digit lead in the NL West, the Dodgers appear to be on cruise control for their seventh straight divisional title. LA has taken the conference crown every year since 2013. The last time the Dodgers missed the playoffs was 2012, when they finished with a record of 86-76, eight games behind the Giants.

So, what exactly do the Dodgers need, given the best record in the majors (69-37) their 15 1/2-game bulge over Arizona and San Francisco?

Another slugger might fill the bill, particularly a raw rookie like Will Smith, who drove in six runs in Saturday's 9-3 beatdown of the Washington Nationals with a home run, single, double and a sac fly.

Smith, who was called up from Oklahoma City for brief stints in May and June, has only 29 at-bats with the Dodgers, but, he's made the most of them, batting .345 with four homers and 12 RBI.

Those impressive numbers should not come as a surprise. The 24-year-old has been tearing up the Pacific Coast League this season, with 20 home runs and 54 RBI in 61 games.

In the win at Washington, Smith socked a solo shot in the third, drove in another run with a sac fly in the fourth, doubled in another run in the sixth, and put the game out of reach with a three-run double in the seventh.

A catcher by trade, Smith may be seeing more playing time as the Dodgers adjust their roster for the post-season.

Sunday will conclude the three-game series in the nation's capitol, with LA sending out Walker Buehler (9-1, 3.23) against Stephen Strasburg (13-4, 3.37) at 1:35 pm ET. The Dodgers are seeking the sweep.

NOTES: Paul Goldschmidt tied the franchise record by homering in his sixth straight game, though it was not nearly enough, as St. Louis fell to Houston, 8-2. He shares the mark with Mark McGuire and Matt Carpenter.

Matt Carpenter Ties St. Louis Record in 12-4 Win At Colorado; Jason Kipnis Powers Indians

Players of the Day for Sunday, August 26, 2018

Kipnis: 4-for-5, 4 RBI, 3 R

American League

The biggest lead in any of MLB's six divisions belongs to the Cleveland Indians. Their 13 1/2 game bulge has blown away the AL Central as no other team in the division is even close to .500. Second place Minnesota is 61-69.

On Sunday, the Indians stopped a four-game losing streak, topping the Royals in Kansas City, 12-5.

Jason Kipnis went 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, his 12th home run, four RBI and three runs. For good measure, Kinips stole third base in the seventh inning after doubling in Melky Cabrera, who scored four times in the game.

The Indians will be looking to pad their lead when they return home on Tuesday. Upcoming are three three-game series against the Twins, Rays, and Royals.

Carpenter: 4 doubles

National League

Another St. Louis win. Another record-tying performance by Matt Carpenter.

Cardinals' leadoff hitter had his best strokes Sunday in St. Louis' smashing, 12-4, win at Colorado, roping four doubles in five at-bats.

Carpenter's four two-baggers tied a St. Louis record held by Joe "Ducky" Medwick, set on Aug. 4, 1937. Carpenter drove n a pair of runs and scored twice. He led off the game with a double and scored on a Tyler O'Neill home run. Later in the frame, he doubled in a run. Another two-bagger in the third plated another Cardinal run, as St. Louis swamped Rockies' hurlers, scoring six in the first inning and four in the third.

With a 25-12 record since the all star break, St. Louis has surged into the playoff picture, taking over the top spot in the wild card race while gaining second place in the NL Central behind the streaky Cubs.

The Cubs have won five in a row and lead St. Louis by four games and 4 1/2 over Milwaukee. Colorado's loss dropped them a game behind Arizona in the West division.

On Tuesday, the Cardinals head back to St. Louis for a six-game home stand, with three games each against the Pirates and Reds.

Pat Valaika, Jason Kipnis Each Homer Twice In Wins For Rockies, Indians

Kipnis Powers Indians

Players of the Day for Sunday, May 14, 2017

American League

On a day in which 15 teams scored six or more runs (plus the Yankees and Astros, which each did twice via their double-header) and a total of 190 runs were scored, including 52 home runs, some impressive numbers were put up, but Cleveland's Jason Kipnis outdid them all in the Indians' 8-3 win over Minnesota.

Batting from his usual spot atop the Cleveland lineup, Kipnis went 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs, doing most of his damage in the first three innings. To start things off, the scrappy second baseman led off the bottom of the first with a solo homer, giving Cleveland a lead they would not relinquish.

In the third, Kipnis belted homered with two aboard, completing the Cleveland scoring. Earlier in the inning, Carlos Santana also went yard. The two Kipnis homers were the first of the season. Kipnis had a breakout year in 2016, belting 23 homers and driving in 82 runs, both outstanding numbers for a player generally batting in the leadoff spot.

The win kept the Twins from sweeping the three-game series, though it did not prevent them from holding a one-game edge over the Indians in the AL Central.

Cleveland remains at home to open a three-game series with Tampa Bay, Monday at 6:10 pm. The Twins get Monday off and look to get back on the winning track Tuesday when they begin hosting a three-game series with Colorado.

National League

Valaika: 2-4, 2HR, 4RBI

The Rockies and Dodgers finished up their four-game series in Denver on Sunday, with nothing resolved as the two split the series, the Rockies taking the first game and Sunday's finale, 9-6.

The unlikely hero of the game was Colorado shortstop, Pat Valaika, who homered twice in four at-bats, each time with Carlos Gonzalez on base.

Valaika's four RBI came at opportune times for the Rockies. His first two-run belt came in the fourth, turning a 4-3 deficit quickly into a 5-4 lead for Colorado.

The second shot was in the eighth inning, with the Rockies clinging to a 7-6 lead. Valaika's homer provided the winning cushion.

A rookie, the home runs were his second and third. Having played in just 20 games (41 at-bats), Valaika is batting .268 and has nine RBI.

The victory put the Rockies back up by 1 1/2 games over the Dodgers in the NL West. Colorado heads for a three-game set in Minnesota starting Tuesday. LA opens a three-game series with the Giants in San Francisco Monday at 7:15 pm PT.

NOTES: There were 190 runs scored on Sunday,

Drew Stubbs, Jason Kipnis Drive Indians to 8th Straight Win; Lance Lynn Goes Six Scoreless as Cardinals Clinch NL Central

Players of the Day for Friday, September 27, 2013

American League

Jason Kipnis

Winning their eighth straight, the Cleveland Indians tied Tampa Bay for the overall wild card lead while maintaining a one-game edge over the streaking (five straight wins) Texas Rangers.

Cleveland hitters banged out 17 hits, downing the Twins, 12-6 in Minneapolis Friday night.

Drew Stubbs

Jason Kipnis singled, doubled and tripled in five at-bats, driving in a pair of runs and scoring twice. At the bottom of the order, Drew Stubbs went 2-for-4, socked a two-run, ninth inning homer, stole a base and scored three times to help the Indians continue their quest for the playoffs.

Combined with the Rays' 6-3 loss to Toronto and Texas' 5-3 win over the Angels, the AL wild card race can't get much tighter. With just two games left to the season, the Rays and Indians are deadlocked, with the Rangers one game back.

Al three season-ending series continue on Saturday. Cleveland plays at Minnesota at 1:05 pm EDT.

AL Wild Card Standings (through 9/27)

Team	GB
Tampa Bay	--
Cleveland	--
Texas	-1

National League

It's a familiar saga in the NL Central. The Cardinals clinched the division pennant while the Cubs sank further into the cellar - now 29 games out - as St. Louis got six innngs of shutout ball from Lance Lynn to topple the visiting Cubs, 7-0.

Lance Lynn

Lynn improved to 15-10, allowing four hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in a final tuneup before the playoffs. David Freese and Matt Holliday each slugged solo homers and Yadier Molina drove in three runs with a first-inning double and a fielder's choice in the fourth.

With the division wrapped up, the Cardinals have one more goal, to finish with the best regular season record and secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They are currently tied with the Braves, at 95-65.

In Cincinnati, the Pirates secured at least a tie with the Reds for the wild card, taking a 4-1 win in the opener of their three-game series. Pittsburgh needs to win one of the remaining two games in order to host the wild card playoff on Tuesday of next week. No matter how the series finishes, the Reds and Pirates will be the wild cards. The two teams battle again on Saturday at 1:05 pm EDT and finish up Sunday at 1:10 pm EDT. Sunday's game will be broadcast nationally on TBS.

Today's Trivia: Prior to this season, when was the last time the Pittsburgh Pirates were in the playoffs? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Frank Tanana led the AL in strikeouts in 1975.

Jason Kipnis Powers Indians to Doubleheader Win over White Sox; Michael Young, Delmon Young Lead Phillies' 16-1 Rout of Dodgers

Players of the Day for Friday, June 28, 2013

American League

With a doubleheader on Friday, the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox played seven hours and 53 minutes of baseball, churned out 59 hits and 46 runs, and two wins by the visiting Indians, 19-10 and 9-8.

Jason Kipnis

Cleveland's Jason Kipnis had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three doubles, two RBI and four runs in the opener, then going 1-for-3 in the nightcap, driving in Cleveland's first run and the tying run in the ninth on a sac fly as the Indians scored four times, rallying to take both games.

In the opener, the Indians totaled 21 hits, each starter getting at least two, except for right fielder Mark Reynolds, who singled in four at-bats. Other than Asdrubel Cabrera, all nine starters had at least one RBI; all nine scored at least once.

With the pair of wins, the Indians picked up 1/2 game on Detroit and trail the Tigers by just two games in the Central division. The White Sox fell deeper into last place, 10 1/2 off the pace.

The two teams will resume hostilities on Saturday. Game time is 4:100 pm EDT.

NOTABLE: Detroit's Max Scherzer won his 12th straight decision to open the season, the first time any pitcher has done that in 27 years, as he gave up three runs on four hits over seven innings, fanning nine in Detroit's 6-3 win over Tampa Bay. Roger Clemens started 14-0 for the Red Sox in 1986. Miguel Cabrera went 4-for-4 with a pair of homers and three RBI.

Scherzer is 12-0 with a 3.10 ERA. In 110 1/3 innings, he's struck out 131 batters, second most in the AL, behind Texas' Yu Darvish.

National League

Delmon Young

Michael Young

After dropping the opener of their four-game series in LA, 6-4, the Phillies came back with a vengeance in the second game, hammering out 21 hits to bury the Dodgers, 16-1.

LA starter Chris Capuano (2-5) to the brunt of the beating, allowing seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits in just 3 2/2 innings. All of the Philly starters got at least one hit, including starting pitcher John Lannan, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Lannan (1-2) worked seven innings, allowing one earned run on five hits for the win.

Michael Young, batting out of the leadoff spot, stroked four singles in six at-bats, driving in a pair of runs and scoring four times. Delmon Young was 3-for-6 with six RBI, driving in runs in the first, second, sixth and seventh innings.

The win kept the Phillies on pace in the NL East, as both Atlanta and Washington were victorious on Friday. The Braves lead the nationals by 5 1/2, and the Phillies by 7 1/2. Despite the loss, LA is just six games back in the NL West, though they are still in last place in the division.

Game three of the series starts at 7:10 pm PDT on Saturday.

Today's Trivia: What pitcher holds the AL record for most consecutive wins in a single season? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: No Cleveland player has won the AL MVP award since Al Rosen in 1953.

McCutchen, Pirates Blister Giants, 9-2; Jason Kipnis 5-for-5 in Cleveland Win; Uggla Streak Reaches 31

Players of the Day for Wednesday, August 10, 2011

American League

Jason Kipnis

One might suspect that the Cleveland Indians have heard enough about how they're folding under pressure, can't win the AL Central and so forth. The Indians have responded by winning two straight against the division-leading Tigers including Wednesday's 10-3 blowout victory.


With one game left in the series, the Tigers have seen their lead shrink back to just two games over the Indians, with the White Sox lurking, just four out.

In Wednesday's romp, much of the offensive damage was delivered by rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis, who went 5-for-5 with three singles, a double and a home run, scoring four times and driving in three runs.

Having been called up only recently, Kipnis has played in just 16 games, but has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 and is sporting a .295 batting average and has six homers. Kipnis has filled a hole not only at second base, but also as the number two hitter in the lineup.

The Indians will go for the three game sweep Thursday night in Cleveland.

National League

Andrew McCutchen

The Pirates may have faded recently, but they're taking out their anger on the San Francisco Giants, taking two of three from the NL West contenders and knocking them out of first place after Wednesday's 9-2 win.

Jonathan Sanchez, the Giants' starter making his second start since coming off the DL, was hammered by the Pirates, allowing four hits, four walks and four earned runs in just 4 1/3 innings. Sanchez had allowed seven hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Phillies on August 5.

Andrew McCutchen had one of the stranger stat lines for a leadoff hitter, going 1-for-1 with four runs, two RBI and a pair of stolen bases. McCutchen walked three times, including a base on balls to lead off the game, later scoring - after swiping second - to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. His only hit happened to be a home run off Sanchez with a runner aboard in the 3rd inning.

The Pirates remained 10 1/2 behind Milwaukee in the Central division, as the Brewers won their 7th straight. The Giants' loss dropped them 1/2 game behind Arizona in the West.

STREAKS: Atlanta's Dan Uggla went 3-for-5 in the Braves' 6-2 win over the Marlins, extending his consecutive game hitting streak to 31 games, the longest in the majors this season. Amazingly, Uggla is batting only .224, but that's quite an improvement over the .173 batting average when he began his streak.