Shin-Soo Choo, Jose Lopez Lead 19-Hit Indian Win; John Santana Continues LA's Pain

Players of the Day for Saturday, June 30, 2012

American League

Jose Lopez stroked five singles and drove in three runs and Shin-Soo Choo scored four times to lead the Cleveland Indians to an 11-5 victory at Baltimore.

Lopez: 5-for-6

Choo: 4-for-5

Lopez singled home Choo with the game's first run in the first inning, then Choo, batting in his usual leadoff spot, socked his eighth home run of the year in the second inning, putting the Indians up 2-0.

The Indians scored three runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings, and the rout was on. Choo finished 4-for-5 with three RBI; Lopez went 5-for-6.

Having taken two of three from the O's, the Indians find themselves 2 1/2 games behind the White Sox in the AL Central, after the Yankees took down Chicago, 4-0, on Saturday.

Cleveland wraps up their four-game series in Baltimore Sunday afternoon.


National League

Johan Santana blanked the Dodgers on three hits over eight full innings en route to a 5-0 Mets' win as Los Angeles lost their seventh straight game and were shut out for the fifth time in the last six outings.

Santana: 8IP 3H 0ER

Santana struck out three and walked two, notching his sixth win against four losses. The Mets, winners of four straight, trail Washington in the NL East by 2 1/2 games after the Braves dumped the Nationals, 7-5. Bobby Parnell mopped up in the ninth, setting the Dodgers down in order.

While the Mets continue to contend in their division, Los Angeles players are likely happy to see the month of June come to an end. They began the month with a large lead in the NL West, and through the 17th were 10-6, but since then lost 11 of 12 and saw their lead not only evaporate, but vanish, as the Giants overtook them for a one game edge in the division.

LA has scored just two runs in their last six games and will be looking to avoid being swept four straight by the Mets when they play in a nationally-televised game (ESPN) Sunday night.

A-Rod Delivers; Lopez 5 RBI for Mariners; DeRosa Leads Cubs

American League NY Yankees 6 Boston 5 - The NY Yankees were in danger of falling completely out of contention in the AL East... until A-Rod stepped up in the 9th. Alex Rodriguez shattered a 5-5 tie with his 20th home run of the season, knocking Jonathan Papelbon's delivery into the far reaches of Fenway Park. Mariano Rivera set down the Sox in order in the bottom half of the frame and the slim hopes of Yankees' fans live on. Still 12 1/2 behind the AL East-leading Red Sox, the Yankees took 2 of 3 in Boston and rekindled the flame. Detroit 9 Cleveland 2 - The Tigers uncaged another of their beasts and beat Cleveland for the 2nd straight day, earning a 2-2 split against the host Indians. Gary Sheffield smacked a 2-run homer (13) off Jeremy Sowers (L, 1-6) in the opening inning, later added a single and scored 3 times to lead the Detroit rout. The Tigers closed to within 2 1/2 of Cleveland in the AL Central. Sowers, who had a solid rookie campaign, going 7-4 last year, has been a major disappointment this season. Saddled with a 6.63 ERA, Sowers has had control problems, walking 18 with only 14 Ks. The Tigers got another solid effort from their starter, Jeremy Bonderman, who lasted 6 2/3, allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs, both of which came via a 1st inning blast by Victor Martinez. Bonderman struck out 6 to go 5-0. Seattle 11 Texas 6 - Jose Lopez (right) rapped out 3 singles and a bases-loaded double, drove in 3 and scored twice in 5 at-bats as the Mariners took 3 of 4 from the fading Rangers. The Mariners remain in 2nd place in the AL West, 5 1/2 behind the Angels. Texas right fielder Victor Diaz had another big game with 2 homers (7) and 5 RBI after going 3-5 with 2 RBI on Saturday. LA Angels 4 Baltimore 3 - Vladimir Guerrero smashed a 2-run homer (12) in the bottom of the ninth to send the Angels to their 3rd straight win over the stunned Orioles. Baltimore won the first of the 4-game set, but the Angels - now 22-8 at home - came back strong with Vlad leading the charge. Guerrero's .347 batting average is good for 4th in the AL and his 48 RBI ranks 3rd behind Magglio Ordonez (52) and Victor Martinez (50) Other AL Scores Toronto 4 Chicago White Sox 3 - Jays take 3 of 4 from slumping Sox Oakland 4 Minnesota 2 - C. Gaudin (W, 6-1), 2.41 ERA Tampa Bay 5 Kansas City 1 - J.P. Howell (W, 1-0) 8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K National League Chicago Cubs 10 Atlanta 1 - Mark DeRosa (right) hammered a 1st-inning grand slam and later drove in another run with a sac fly as the Cubs ended their 6-game losing streak and avoided being swept at home by the Braves. The Cubs have really slipped of late; at 23-31 they are 7 1/2 off the pace in the NL Central. Philadelphia 9 San Francisco 8 - S. Victorino hit a game-winning home run (4) with one out in the bottom of the 9th to get the Phillies back to .500 and take their 2nd straight over the visiting Giants. Philly leads the 4 game set, 2-1, with the finale this afternoon. Three other Phillies went yard on Sunday. Chase Utley (10) had a solo shot, Aaron Rowand (8) a two-run job and Ryan Howard a 3-run knock, his 10th. St. Louis 8 Houston 6, 10 innings - For those writing off the St. Louis Cardinals, this reminder that it's early June and there are still more than 100 games left. So Taguchi and Albert Pujols homered in the 10th to give the Cardinals a 2-1 edge in their series at Houston. The Cardinals have quietly snuck into sole possession of 2nd place in the troubled NL Central, 6 1/2 behind the Milwaukee Brewers. Speaking of which... Milwaukee 3 Florida 0 - Ben Sheets shut out the Marlins over 6 innings, allowing 7 hits and a walk while fanning 7. Sheets improved to 6-3. J.J. Hardy knocked his 16th home run. LA Dodgers 5 Pittsburgh 4 - The Dodgers erased a 4-0 Pittsburgh advantage with 3 runs in the 7th and 2 in the 8th - those via Andre Ethier's 5th home run - to take a 2-1 edge in the series at Pittsburgh which concludes tonight. Nothing was settled in the NL West as Arizona and San Diego both won, keeping all three tied for first place. The Dodgers can get a temporary edge with a win on Monday, as both the Diamondbacks and Padres are idle. Other NL Scores Arizona 4 NY Mets 1 - Arizona, won 9 of last 10, take 2 of 3 in NY San Diego 7 Washington 3 - Padres take 2 of 3 at Wash. Colorado 10 Cincinnati 9, 10 innings - K. Matsui, 3-6, 3 RBI