David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury Power Red Sox past Houston, 15-10; Reds' Mat Latos Blanks A's to Keep Cincy in NL Central Race

Players of the Day for Tuesday, August 6, 2013

American League

Jacoby Ellsbury

Boston extended its lead in the AL East to 1 1/2 over Tampa Bay, as the Rays lost at Arizona, 6-1 while the Red Sox came back from multiple deficits to overwhelm Houston, 15-10.

David Ortiz

Leadoff batter, Jacoby Ellsbury, socked a pair of home runs, drove in three and scored four times, while teammate David Ortiz went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs to lead a 15-hit Boston attack.

The Red Sox trailed 5-0 after two innings, scored three in the top of the third, but Houston tacked on two more, scoring single runs in the third and fourth, before the Boston bats erupted for five in the fifth, five more in the sixth, and two runs in the seventh.

By winning, the Red Sox evened their series at Houston at a game apiece with the rubber game set for 8:10 pm EDT Wednesday at Minute Maid Park.

National League

Mat Latos

The Reds are still hanging in the race in the Central division, 6 1/2 games out after Mat Latos shut out the visiting Athletics over 7 1/3 innings, en route to a 3-1 Cincinnati victory.

Latos fanned three, and walked the same number, but allowed only four hits for his 11th win against just three losses.

After throwing 108 pitches, Latos gave up the rock to the the relievers with one down in the seventh inning and Jed Lowrie on second after a one-out double. J.J. Hoover got the final two outs of the inning, preserving Latos' 3-0 lead.

Oakland finally pushed a run across in the ninth on Derek Norris' solo homer off Aroldis Chapman, but that was all the closer allowed.

The second and final game of the brief, two-game series is Wednesday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.

Today's Trivia: The only time the NL MVP Award was a tie was 1979. What two players shared the award? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Alex Rodriguez won the AL MVP award three times: 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Raul Ibanez Delivers for Yankees; Mat Latos Stops Cards, but St. Louis Snags Wild Card

Players of the Day for Tuesday, October 2, 2012

American League

Raul Ibanez got the Yankees one step closer to the AL East pennant, tying the game with Boston at 3-3 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, then delivering the game-winning, walk-off RBI single in the 12th inning for a 4-3 win over the Red Sox.

Ibanez came on as a pinch hitter in the ninth and stroked a two-run homer to right off Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey, tagging the reliever with his third blown save. Thanks got two aboard after two outs on consecutive walks to Francisco Cervelli and Curtis Granderson, setting up the heroic single to shallow left by Ibanez.

Raul Ibanez

The win left the Yankees one game better than the Orioles in the division with one game left to play. Baltimore slipped by Tampa Bay, 1-0, to remain close. Both teams are assured of a playoff spot; the team finishing second in the division getting of one of the two wild cards.

A Yankee loss and a Baltimore win would tie the division and force a one-game playoff on Thursday. All other scenarios would result in the Yankees winning the AL East pennant.

In the West, Oakland won their fifth straight overall and second straight over Texas, tying the Rangers for first place in the division with a 3-1 win.

The two teams meet Wednesday in Oakland to settle the division, the winner to take the West title, the loser, one of the two wild card spots. Game time is 3:35 pm EDT.

National League

Mat Latos

Despite a 3-1 loss to Cincinnati, St. Louis wrapped up the second wild card slot as the Giants beat the Dodgers, 4-3, eliminating LA from the post-season.

The Cardinals complete the playoff picture in the National League, and will face Atlanta in a one-game playoff, the winner advancing to face one of the division winners.

Mat Latos improved to 14-4 for the Reds, allowing one run on four hits over five innings in the win over the Cardinals. A parade of four Cincinnati relievers completed the game, with Aroldis Chapman working the ninth for his 38th save.

Latos threw 54 of 78 pitches for strikes and walked one in his final tune-up before the playoffs.

Doug Fister Fires Shutout of Twins, Tigers 1/2 Back; Mat Latos Leads Reds to Clinch in NL Central

Players of the Day for Saturday, September 22, 2012

American League

In the race for the American League Central division, the Detroit Tigers have been on the heels of the White Six for the past two months, but on Saturday, they came as close to first place as they could without actually tying Chicago.

Doug Fister

Doug Fister fired a shut out of the visiting Twins, 8-0, allowing seven hits while striking out seven with no walks, going the distance for the second time this season, throwing the first shutout of his major league career, which began in 2009 with Seattle.

Fister (10-9) needed 117 pitches to finish of the Twins, winning for the third time in his last four starts and getting the Tigers to within 1/2 game of the Sox, who were downed by the Angels, 4-2 for their fourth straight loss.

Having a game in hand (81-70 to 80-70 for Detroit), the Tigers are a win away from getting the lead outright, should Chicago stumble in their series finale at Anahiem Sunday afternoon.

The AL East continued to provide excitement galore as the Yankees won their seventh straight, a 14-inning, 10-9 decision over the A"s that has New York a game in front of the Orioles, winners of six straight.

The O's topped Boston, 9-6, in 12 innings and are two games ahead of the A's in the wild card race. Consequently, the A's are 2 1/2 up on the Angels for the second wild card and 3 1/2 ahead of the Rays.

National League

Mat Latos

The Giants and Red both clinched their respective divisions on Saturday and now can vie for home field advantage in the upcoming National League playoffs

With their magic number down to six, the Washington Nationals lead in the overall standings with a 92-59 record. The Reds, after their 6-0 shutout of the Dodgers, are 1/2 game behind, at 92-60, with the Giants, despite winning six straight, looking like they'll finish with the third-best record in the league. They are currently 89-63.
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The Red accomplished the clinching moment off Mat Latos' eight innings of scoreless work from the mound, allowing six hits while fanning seven and walking none. Aroldis Chapman worked a hitless, scoreless ninth to preserve the win.

Latos is having a excellent season, with a 13-4 record, 3.60 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.