Mike Napoli's Two Homers Blast Rangers Past Padres; Nolan Arenado Leads Rockies Over Dodgers, 10-7

Players of the Day for Thursday, May 11, 2017

American League

Everybody's chasing Houston the in AL West, including the Texas Rangers, who are in last place, 8 1/2 out, but just 1 1/2 out of second place (Houston leads Seattle by seven games).

Napoli HRs sink Padres

Given their lineup, Texas ought to be a contender, but, while their division rivals, the Astros, have blazed a path to prominence, the Rangers have struggled to a 16-20 mark, which gets you nothing but fan anger and finger-pointing.

The Rangers won their third straight on Thursday, defeating the Padres by a 5-2 score. The game was won almost entirely on the bat of DH Mike Napoli, who homered in the bottom of the eighth off Padre starter, Clayton Richard, with a solo shot to left center, halving San Diego's lead to 2-1.

In the ninth, Napoli again came plate-ward, this time with the score tied, 2-2, with one out, after Texas scratched out a run off reliever Brandon Maurer. The well-traveled slugger delivered a three-run, walk-off blast sending the Padres to their thrid straight loss and seveth defeat in their last eight games (San Diego is 13-23 and arguably the worst team n the majors).

Napoli's big, four-RBI game maight signal a breakout for both him and the Rangers. Napoli is batting just .178 with seven homers and 17 RBI, well shy of what is considered his career year, last season with the Indians, when he socked 34 home runs and knocked in 101 runs.

Having finished with three straight wins in the interleague games against San Diego, Texas continues its eight-game home stand on Friday with the first of three games, hosting the A's at 8:10 pm ET.

National League

Arenado key for Rockies

The Rockies continue to make converts to their cause in the NL West, the latest coming at the expense of the LA Dodgers, who helplessly watched Colorado pile up a 10-0 lead en route to a 10-7 victory, hiking their lead in the division to 2 1/2 games.

Pounding starter, Hyun-Jin-Ryu (1-5), for all 10 runs (only five earned), the Rockies took advantage of six walks and banged out eight hits in the first four innings. They scored two in the first, five in the second and three in the fourth before the Dodgers mounted a challenge in the latter stages of the game, eventually falling short.

Keying the run barrage was third baseman and two-time all-star, Nolan Arenado, who stroked a single and a pair of doubles in four at-bats, scoring three times and driving in a pair.

Arenado was a major contender for NL MVP last season when he socked 41 homers and drove in 133 runs. He's led the NL in home runs and RBI in each of the last two seasons and is currently riding a six-game hitting streak, batting .309 with eight dingers and 24 RBI.

The Dodgers will have a chance to redeem themselves Friday, when the Rockies host game two of the four-game series, starting at 8:40 pm ET at Coors Field.

Jon Lester, Mike Napoli, David Ortiz Lead Red Sox 8-1 Rout of Cardinals in World Series Game One

Players of the Day for Wednesday, October 23, 2013

David Ortiz

World Series Game One

It was obvious right away which team was ready for the World Series and which was not.

After Jon Lester retired the Cardinals in the top of the first, yielding only a single to Matt Holliday, Boston roughed up Cardinal starter, Adam Wainwright, with some help from an error by shortstop Pete Kozma.

Jon Lester

Walking the first batter he face, Jacoby Ellsbury, Wainwright looked jittery and nervous. After he got Shane Victorino on a sharp liner to left, Dustin Pedroia laced a single up the middle, then David Ortiz grounded into what appeared to be a tailor-made double play, but Kozma never handled the toss from second baseman Matt Carpenter, loading the bases.

Then came the biggest blow of the game, as Mike Napoli cleared the bases with a booming double that went to the wall in left center.

Mike Napoli

It was 3-0 Boston, and it didn't get any better for the visitors after that.

The Sox scored two more in the second inning, Pedroia singling in a run and Ortiz plating another with a sac fly.

Lester mowed through the St. Louis order, eventually working 7 2/3 innings, allowing five hits with a walk and eight strikeouts. Wainwright took the loss, lasting five innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk.

Ortiz smashed a two run homer in the eighth, giving him and Napoli three RBI apiece. Boston finished the scoring with a sac fly run from Xavier Bogaerts which got Daniel Nava home from third base.

Holliday supplied the only Cardinal run with a solo homer in the ninth, the Red Sox running off to a 8-1 win.

Not only did the Cardinals lose the game, they may have lost their most capable hitter, Carlos Beltran, who slammed into the wall in right field, robbing Ortiz of a grand slam in the second inning. He finished the frame in the outfield but did not return after going to the bench, and then into the clubhouse, replaced by Jon Jay.

Beltran received X-rays to his ribs, which came back negative. He is day-to-day with bruised ribs and doubtful for game two, which starts Thursday night, at 8:07 pm EDT at Fenway Park in Boston.

Today's Trivia: Who is the all-time career leader in post-season RBI? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Kenny Lofton is the all-time post-season stolen base leader, with 34, one better than Ricky Henderson.

Mike Napoli Goes 3-for-4, Leads Red Sox to 4-3 Win over Tigers in ALCS Game Five

Players of the Day for Thursday, October 17, 2013

American League

Mike Napoli went 3-for-4, while Jon Lester and three Boston relief pitchers held off the Tigers for a 4-3 Red Sox win in game five of the ALCS.

Napoli: 3-4, HR,
2B, 2R, 2RBI

Napoli's second-inning solo homer to the deepest part of center field ignited the Red Sox, plating two more in the inning. In the third, Napoli stroked a ground rule doule down the left field line, advanced to third on Johnny Gomes' ground out to Tiger starter, Anibal Sanchez, and scored when Sanchez uncorked a wild pitch.

That was the last run the Red Sox would score, the Detroit relief staff holding the Red Sox to just one hit over the final three innings. Napoli singled with two outs in the fifth, but he and David Ortiz were left stranded.

Winning game five puts Boston in an enviable position. With a three games to two lead, they need to win just one of two at Fenway Park over the weekend in order to advance to the World Series.. Game six is scheduled for Saturday at 4:30 pm EDT. If needed, game seven would be Sunday at 8:00 pm EDT.

National League

There was no National League game on Thursday. Game six of the NL championship series is 8:07 pm EDT in St. Louis, where the Cardinals lead the Dodgers, three games to two.

Today's Trivia: Who holds the career mark for most home runs in World Series play? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Whitey Ford is the all-time career leader in World Series wins, with ten. Bob Gibson won seven, tied for second all time with Red Ruffing and Allie Reynolds.

John Lackey, Mike Napoli Get Red Sox Past Detroit, 1-0; Matt Holliday Pushes Dodgers to the Brink in 4-2 St. Louis Win

Players of the Day for Tuesday, October 15, 2013

American League

Mike Napoli

John Lackey

John Lackey gave the Red Sox his best, blanking the Detroit Tigers for 6 2/3 innings, and Mike Napoli delivered the only run of the game with a one-out, seventh-inning solo shot as Boston took a 2-1 lead in the AL championship series with a 1-0 victory in Detroit.

Lackey notched his second post-season win for the Red Sox in as many starts, improving his career marks to 5-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 14 starts. Giving up just four hits, Lackey fanned eight and did not walk a batter. Leaving in the bottom of the seventh with one aboard and two down, a trio of relievers finished his work, culminating with a four-out save by Koji Uehara, his third save of the post-season.

Napoli's homer came off Detroit starter, Justin Verlander, who went eight innings, giving up four hits and striking out 10. Torii Hunter and Victor Martinez both went 2-for-4 for the Tigers - all singles - but the 3-4 batters, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder produced only one hit between them, an inconsequential single by Fielder, a combined 1-for-8.

The series resumes Wednesday in Detroit at 8:07 pm EDT.

National League

Matt Holliday

After fouling out in the first inning, slugger Matt Holliday was still searching for his first hit of the series, 0-for-13 against the Dodgers in the NLCS.

When he came up in the third with a run already in, two outs and Matt Carpenter on third, Holliday didn't waste any time, mashing the first pitch from Ricky Nolasco into the far reaches of Dodger Stadium beyond left field, a 423-foot blast that put the Cardinals ahead 3-1.

Holliday's homer set the stage for the Cardinals' third win in four games over the Dodgers, putting LA on the brink of elimination in the best-of-seven series with a 4-2 victory and a three-games-to-one lead.

LA struck back with a pair of runs off starter Lance Lynn in the fourth, but it was all they could muster and proved insufficient, as Lynn picked up his second win of the series, going 5 1/3, and three relievers completed the job, blanking the Dodgers the rest of the way.

Shane Robinson added a solo homer in the seventh as a pinch-hitter, giving the Cards a cushion down the stretch.

Andre Ethier and Yasiel Puig each went 2-for-3, but the Dodgers largely failed to get runners home despite eight hits and three walks (all off Lynn), grounding into three double plays. Nick Punto was picked off at second base by reliever Carlos Martinez in the seventh. LA stranded five and were 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

St. Louis will be looking to qualify for the World Series in game five Wednesday afternoon in Los Angeles, Game time is 4:07 pm EDT.

Today's Trivia: Who holds the record for most stolen bases in a single World Series? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Mickey Mantle holds the career mark, scoring 42 runs in multiple World Series as a member of the New York Yankees.

Mike Napoli Ends Boston Win over NY with Walk-Off Homer in 11th; Matt Harvey Tosses Seven Scoreless as Mets Top Phillies

Players of the Day for Sunday, July 21, 2013

American League

C.C. Sabathia andf Ryan Dempster were on the mound and the series was on the line in the finale of the three-game Yankees-Red Sox series Sunday night at Fenway Park, but it was the lack of solid pitching that was most of the story in Boston's 8-7, 11-inning victory, a 2-1 series edge for Beantown.

Mike Napoli

The Red Sox touched up Sabathia for nine hits and seven earned runs over five innings, three runs coming on Mike Napoli's third inning homer, which turned a 3-1 Yankee lead into a 4-3 Red Sox advantage. Boston built the lead to 7-3 by the fifth, but the Yankees came back to tie the game with two runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings.

In the bottom of the 11th, Napoli came through again, this time with the bases empty and two outs, sending a drive over the wall in center field and the largest crowd of the season at Fenway home happy.

The pair of homers were Napoli's 12th and 13th. He finished 2-for-6 with four RBI and a pair of scores including the game-winner.

Laving the Boston area with two losses in three games, the Yankees dropped seven games off the pace in the AL East. Boston remained 1 1/2 ahead of the Rays and 3 1/2 better than the Orioles.

National League

Matt Harvey

Probably not in need of any favors, the Atlanta Braves got a couple from the Mets over the weekend as the New Yorkers took the final two games of their three game series with the visiting Phillies, including Sunday's 5-0 triumph, giving the Mets a 2-1 series win. Keeping the Phillies - who had moved into second place in the NL East right off the All Star break with a 13-8 win over the Mets on Friday - 6 1/2 games behind Atlanta was primarily the doing of rookie hurler, Matt Harvey, who sparkled in seven scoreless innings fresh off his All Star game start.

Harvey allowed just three hits while extending his league lead in strikeouts with 10, without surrendering a walk. The right-hander improved to 8-2 on the year, providing a bright spot in an otherwise up-and-down season for the Mets. Harvey's 157 Ks are 11 more than LA's Clayton Kershaw.

The Mets are still eight games under .500 and 10 games off the pace being set by the Braves, but are now only three games behind the Nationals, who have lost three straight - all to the Dodgers - since the All Star break.

Today's Trivia: Who is the major league career leader in sacrifice flies? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: In 1996, Baltimore's Bobby Bonilla tied the AL record for sacrifice flies in a season, with 17, equalling the mark set in 1971 by the Yankees' Roy White. Sac flies have only been tracked statistically since 1954.

Mike Napoli's GS, Daniel Nava's 4 Hits Lead Boston Rout of Yankees; Paul Goldschmidt's Grand Slam Lifts Arizona

Players of the Day for Saturday, June 1, 2013

American League

Did somebody designate June 1 as MLB Grand Slam Day?

It sure felt like it as bases-loaded shots cleared the fences in three different stadiums on Saturday.

Mike Napoli

Early on, Miguel Cabrera - who else? - made his contribution to the cause by sending one deep in the fourth inning of Detroit's 10-3 win over the home-standing Orioles. The Tigers scored eight runs in the frame, sending four balls out of Camden yards - three solo shots and Cabrera's big blast.

Daniel Nava

Leading the AL in batting with a .369 average, Cabrera added to his league-leading RBI total, which now stands at 65, and is two behind Baltimore's Chris davis in homers, with 17. Better yet, the win kept the Tigers 1/2 game ahead of Cleveland in the Central division.

Mike Napoli's third-inning grand slam fueled an 11-1 Boston barrage at Yankee Stadium in which the Red Sox ripped 18 hits off three Yankee hurlers and improved their AL East lead over the Bombers to two games. While Napoli was going 3-for-5, the real deal was leadoff hitter Daniel Nava, who stroked four singles, drove in four runs and scored a pair himself, getting his batting average close to the magic .300 mark, at .296.

Along with Cleveland's 5-0 win over the Rays, the AL East remains pretty tight. Baltimore is just 2 1/2 back of Boston and the rays three games out.

The Yankees and Red Sox play the rubber game of their three-game series at 8:00 pm EDT. The game will be nationally-televised by ESPN.

National League

Paul Goldschmidt

Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt added to the festivities with his 13th home run of the year, an eighth-inning grand slam that broke a 4-4 tie and led directly to the Diamondbacks' 12-4 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Goldschmidt added a single, going 2-for-5 on the day, and scored three times.

Slightly overshadowed by Cabrera and Davis in the AL, Goldschmidt is having a memorable season in Arizona, batting .332 (6th in the NL) with 45 RBI, which is tied with Justin Upton for the most in the league. His 13 homers is fourth-best in the NL. In just his second full season, Goldschmidt is developing into one of the most-respected batters in either league.

With the Cardinals taking a pair from the Giants - 8-0 and 7-1 - Arizona's win has them suddenly 2 1/2 up on both San Francisco and Colorado in the NL West.

After dropping Friday's game to the Cubs, 7-2, the Diamondbacks will be looking to take the series, Sunday at 2:20 pm EDT.

Today's Trivia: The career mark for World Series on-base percentage is a stunning 70%. Who holds the record? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Cy Young, who holds the major league mark of 511 career wins, also lost the most ever by a pitcher. Young was on the wrong end of the score 316 times.

Mike Napoli, Clay Buchholz Throttle Blue Jays in 10-1 Win; Jordan Zimmermann Blanks Braves on Two Hits

Players of the Day for Wednesday, May 1, 2013

American League

Mike Napoli

When the season opened, a lot of people were hyping the Toronto Blue Jays as the new power team in the AL East, but, the pundits and prognosticators may have been sleeping on the Red Sox. With a versatile lineup and a capable pitching staff, Boston has risen to the top of the heap in the division, with a two-game lead over the Yankees, while the Blue Jays have fallen to the bottom, 9 1/2 games back after Boston throttled them, 10-1, to even their three-game series at a game apiece.

Clay Buchholz

The addition of slugging catcher/DH/first baseman, Mike Napoli, has been a godsend for the Sox. Napoli was 3-for-4 with a double, a pair of homers, four RBI and three runs in the Boston victory. Napoli's homers - his fifth and sixth of the season - were of the epic variety, at 467 and 472 feet, fueling the Boston offense in the rout. His four ribbies gave him the major league lead, at 31, two better than Detroit's Miguel Cabrera.

While the regulars in the lineup were racking up 15 hits off the Toronto staff, Boston starter, Clay Buchholz becamse the first pitcher in the majors to win six games (6-0), holding the Blue Jays to two hits over seven full innings of scoreless ball, walking three and striking out eight.

The 19-8 Red Sox hold the best record in either league. Their series at Toronto finishes up on Thursday, at 7:07 pm EDT.

National League

Jordan Zimmermann

In the first two games of their four-game home series against the Washington Nationals, the Braves came away winners both times, but the Nats turned the tables on them Wednesday night in a game which produced only five hits between the two teams.

Atlanta's Paul Maholm and Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann were locked in early on, but a two run homer by Ian Desmond in the fourth inning produced the only runs of the game, as Zimmermann held the Braves to two hits over eight innings, getting his fifth win against one loss, tying him for the NL lead in victories with St. Louis' Lance Lynn, a 4-2 winner over Cincinnati.

Zimmermann gave up a two-out single to Justin Upton in the first and a one-out double to Maholm in the third. After that it was lights out for the Braves, as Zimmermann set down the next 17 straight, striking out the side in the fifth. He finished with a season high eight Ks and did not issue any walks in the 2-0 victory.

The eight scoreless innings dropped Zimmermann's ERA to 1.64, fourth in the NL.

Rafael Soriano set the Braves down in order in the ninth for his eighth save.

The Nationals will try to even the score in the series and close the 3 1/2 game gap in the standings with the Braves in the series finale, Thursday night at 7:10 pm EDT.

Ryan Braun Leads Brewers to 8th Straight Win; Mike Napoli Slams Red Sox to Victory

Players of the Day for Monday, April 22, 2013

American League

Napoli leads majors
with 25 RBI

After having dropped both ends of a Sunday double-header to the Royals, the Boston Red Sox got back on the winning track with a 9-6 victory over Oakland, maintianing their two-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East.

A fifth inning grand slam over the Green Monster by Mike Napoli turned a close game into a runaway. The Sox scored five in the frame before Oakland rallied with three runs in the eighth.

Napoli previously doubled home David Ortiz in the second inning, for Boston's initial score, scoring on a three-run, Will Middlebrooks, home run.. He finished 2-for-4 with five RBI.

Napoli's homer was his fourth of the season; his 25 RBI lead the majors.

National League

Braun: On pace for
another 100-RBI year

Milwaukee started the season miserably, losing eight of their first ten games, but have since turned things around with eight straight wins, getting back into the crowed NL Central race, where they trail the Reds by a full game. The Brewers are sandwiched between St. Louis (1/2 game back of the Reds) and Pittsburgh (1 1/2 out).

The Brewers got their series in San Diego off to a flying start with a five-run first inning, highlighted by Ryan Braun's sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot off Padres' starter, Jason Maquis.

Braun later singled in another run, going 2-for-4 with three RBI as the Brewers cruised to a 7-1 win.

Braun has 19 RBI on the year, third in the National League behind the Mets' John Buck (22) and the Reds' Brandon Phillips (21). The 2011 NL MVP, Braun has driven in more than 100 runs in each of the last five seasons after bringing home 97 in his 2007 rookie year.

Mike Napoli Drives in Six for Rangers; Carlos Beltran Gets Cards Closer to Wild Card

Players of the Day for Sunday, September 30, 2012

American League

With only three games remaining in the regular season, it's getting down to elimination time in the AL.

At the end of the day Sunday, only three teams have qualified for the playoffs: the Yankees, Orioles and Rangers, but their actual positioning is yet to be determined.

Oakland continues to make the case for post-season play as either a wild card or West division champs, coming through with their third straight win, sweeping their series against Seattle with a 5-2 victory.

Mike Napoli

Oakland's win left them two games behind the Rangers in the division, as Texas split a double header with the Angels, winning the second game, 8-7, mostly thanks to the bat of catcher Mike Napoli, who homered twice and doubled, driving in six runs as the Rangers erased an early 4-0 lead. Napoli has 23 home runs and 55 RBI on the year.

Still in contention, though barely, are the White Sox, Angels and Rays, each of which can now only tie. Chicago trails Detroit in the Central by three, with just three games left. Tampa Bay and LA would have to win their remaining games and have the A's lose all three of their games, hosting the Rangers to finish the season.

In the final three days, the Rays host Baltimore, the Sox are at Cleveland and the Angels travel to Seattle. The Yankees host the Red Sox while Detroit plays their lest three at Kansas City.

National League

Carlos Beltran

Positioning for the National League's post-season is nearly complete, with just one division (NL East) and the second wild card still to be sorted out.

Carlos Beltran homered twice and singled in the final run for St. Louis as the Cardinals edged closer to the second wild card with a 10-4 win over Washington. Beltran drove in five runs as the Cards prevented the Nats from clinching the NL East.

St. Louis needs just one more victory to capture the second wild card. Los Angeles is two game back with three to play. The magic number for the Nats is still one, as the Braves topped the Mets, 6-2, to close to three games behind Washington in the East, though the Braves are already assured of the top wild card spot.

Mike Napoli Leads Rangers over A's; Michael Morse Homers Twice as Nats Win

Players of the Day for Thursday, September 27, 2012

American League

Mike Napoli

With a 9-7 win over the A's, the Rangers finished their four-game series with the closest pursuer with a 2-2 split, just fine with the AL West leaders, who once again have opened up a four game ulge in the standings.

Mike Napoli came through with a 2-for-4 effort, as the Rangers scored five in the first and all of their runs in the first four innings. Napoli launched a two-run homer in the first inning and added an RBI single in the third.

Texas has a four-game lead with just six games left. Looks like they'll wrap up their third straight division title in sort order, possibly over the weekend.

National League

Michael Morse

With only the NL East and the second wild card still being contested, the Washington nationals took another step closer to a division title with a 7-3 win over the Phillies.

Michael Morse crushed a pair of homers - his 15th and 16th - and grounded out for another RBI, leading the Nationals to their second straight win over the fading Phils.

Atlanta, winners of five straight, continues in hot pursuit, four game back, but the Braves are running out of time and already have the #1 wild card sewn up. There are just six games left to play for both teams.

St. Louis had the day off, and has a three game lead on the Dodgers for the second wild card after LA topped the Padres, 8-4.

Milwaukee is another game back, losing to the Reds, 2-1.

Rangers Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli Batter Boston, 18-3; Gio Gonzalez Gets 1st NL Win, 1-0 over Astros

Players of the Day for Tuesday, April 17, 2012

American League

Hamilton: HR, 5RBI

The Texas Rangers thundered into Beantown for a quick two-game series, and, like their lawmen namesakes, delivered quick and crushing Texas justice to the home-standers, routing the Red Sox by an 18-3 score.

Napoli: 2HR, 4RBI

Banging out 21 hits, seven of the nine Texas starters had at least two hits. Josh Hamilton was chief among the run-producers, going 3-for-5, with a pair of singles and a three-run homer to start off an eight-run uprising in the 8th. Hamilton's homer was his fifth of the year as he tallied five RBI for the game.

Mike Napoli added to Boston's woes, also going 3-for-5, with a single, a couple of home runs and four RBI.

The win was the fifth straight for Texas. Their 9-2 mark has them 3 1/2 games in front of Seattle in the AL West and is tied with the LA Dodgers for the best record in the majors.


National League

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Your eyes aren't deceiving you; those are the Washington Nationals atop the NL East, with a 1 1/2 game lead over the Mets after topping the Houston Astros, 1-0, in D.C.

Gonzalez: 7IP 2H 8K

The Nats have a throng of good young hitters, but they've been getting the job done mostly from the mound. On Tuesday, Gio Gonzalez out-dueled Houston's Wandy Rodriguez over seven innings, for their fifth win in six home games.

Gonzalez allowed only two hits in his seven innings of work, fanning eight with two walks. Rodriguez was victimized in the fourth inning for the only run of the game when Jayson Werth doubled and Adam LaRoche singled him home. Rodriguez, despite a 1.96 ERA, is 2-0. Gonzalez, acquired from Oakland after the end of last season, earned his first win in the National League in his third start for Washington. Ty Clippard worked the ninth and Brad Lidge picked up the save, getting the final three outs.

The Nationals have two more games with the Astros, Wednesday and Thursday. They are 7-2 against the NL Central.

Rangers Take Crucial Game Five; One Win Away from Winning World Series

Players of the Day for Monday, October 24, 2011


Rangers 4 Cardinals 2

Mike Napoli broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with a bases-loaded double to right center field, scoring Michael Young and Nelson Cruz with the go-ahead and insurance runs, leaving the Rangers one game from winning the World Series and the Cardinals wondering about missed opportunities and the possibility of winning two games back in St. Louis.

Napoli: 8th-inning
double plates pair.

The Cardinals had taken an early lead with two runs in the second inning, and had their ace, Chris Carpenter working over the Ranger lineup from the mound. Carpenter had been strong through five innings, allowing only a third-inning solo homer by Mitch Moreland. With a 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the sixth, the Cards appeared to have everything under control. Carpenter was working fast, getting Josh Hamilton on a ground out to first and striking out Michael Young for the second out of the inning. But, when Adrian Beltre saw Carpenter's looping curve ball, he deposited the pitch into the stands above left-center field to tie the game.

Beltre's 6th inning
home tied the game.

Missed opportunities and mistakes doomed the Cardinals the rest of the way, After a one-out walk to Allen Craig in the top of the seventh, Albert Pujols apparently called his own hit and run, but the pitch was high, and Napoli easily gunned down Criag at second. Pujols was then walked intentionally, and Matt Holliday followed with a single to shallow center, Pujols raced around third, drawing an errant throw and Holliday advanced to second. Alexi Ogando, who had relieved Scott Feldman to open the inning, walked Lance Berkman intentionally to load the bases, and then got David Freese to fly out to center on the first pitch. Threat ended. Mistakes noted.

Carpenter cruised through the bottom of the seventh, stranding Ian Kinsler, who had worked out a one-out walk, at first. St. Louis got catcher Yadier Molina to second base on a single and a sacrifice by Ryan Theroit, but could not get to Darren Oliver, who had replaced Ogando after giving up the leadoff single. With the tie-breaking run on second, Oliver punched out Nick Punto swinging and got Rafael Furcal on a harmless ground ball to short.

In the game-changing bottom of the eighth, Octavio Dotel came on for Carpenter, a quizzical move by manager Tony LaRussa, considering how well his ace had pitched, having thrown 101 pitches through seven innings, but  apparently with more gas in the tank. Michael Young led off with a double, but Dotel got Adrian Beltre on a swinging strikeout, then walked Nelson Cruz intentionally. Dotel was lifted for Mike Rzepczynski to face David Murphy, who singled up the middle, the ball glancing off Rzepczynski to second baseman Punto, who had no play at any base, negating a potential double play, leaving the bases chock-full of Rangers. Moments later Napoli ripped his double, giving the Rangers a lead they would take to the ninth.

Closer Neftali Feliz got off to a shaky start in the final frame, plunking Allen Criag to lead off the inning and bringing up Pujols again, but, just as in the seventh, Craig was running on a 3-2 count, the pitch was wide, Pujols swung and missed, but Napoli didn't miss Craig sliding into second base, thrown out for the second time. Matt Holliday worked a two-out walk, but Berkman struck out swinging to end the game and send Texas fans into delirious delight, the Rangers one game from the promised land of a franchise first World Series championship.

Game six will be played back in St. Louis on Wednesday night at 8:05 pm EDT, where the Cardinals split with the Rangers earlier in the series. Jaime Garcia, the hard-luck hurler who pitched seven innings of shutout ball on three hits, but earned no decision as the bullpen wasted a 1-0 lead in Texas' 2-1 win, will go to the mound for St. Louis. Texas sends out game two starter Colby Lewis in what could be a series clinching spot. Lewis also pitched well in his previous start, allowing just one run on four hits over 6 2/3 innings.

If the Cardinals force a game seven on Thursday, the likely starters will be the same duo from game three, Matt Harrison for the Rangers facing Kyle Lohse of the Cardinals.

Napoli is having a huge series, and if the Rangers win game six, he would likely be named MVP. Even though he's had only four hits in 13 at-bats (.308), they've mostly been big ones, a two-run homer in game one, a two-run single in game three, a three run blast in game four and Monday night's game winning, two-RBI double, giving the slugging catcher nine RBI in addition to his near-flawless play behind the plate.

Texas Ties World Series at 2-2 as Mike Napoli, Derek Holland Deliver

Players of the Day for Sunday, October 23, 2011

Rangers 4 Cardinals 0

Mike Napoli crushed a 6th-inning, three run homer in support of Derek Holland's two-hit pitching as the Texas Rangers evened the 2011 World Series with a game four, 4-0, victory.

Napoli: 3-run HR

Napoli's blast came with the Rangers nursing a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Josh Hamilton doubling home Elvis Andrus in the game's first inning. Cardinal starter Edwin Jackson was matching Golland nearly pitch-for-pitch, until getting into serious trouble in the bottom of the sixth, walking Nelson Cruz and David Murphy with one out in the inning. Jackson was lifted in favor of reliever Mitchell Boggs, who served up the long ball to Napoli.

Holland: 2 hits,
0 ER, 8 1/3 IP

With the lead in hand, Holland persevered, allowing only a single and double by Lance Berkman through the first five innings and setting the Cardinals down without a hit until he was relieved after walking Rafael Furcal with one out in the ninth. Neftali Feliz walked the next batter, Allen Criag, but got Albert Pujols to fly out and ended the game with a strikeout of Matt Holliday.

Holland walked two batters and struck out seven for his second playoff win of the season. His strong outing was a vast improvement over his previous two starts - both against Detroit in the ALCS - in which he lasted only 2 2/3rds allowing three runs and 4 2/3rds, giving up four runs on seven hits, though the Rangers managed to win both games without Holland getting a decision.

A crucial game five is slated for Monday night at 8:05 pm in Arlington, the last of the three home games for the Rangers before the series shifts back to St. Louis for game six on Wednesday, and, if necessary, game seven on Thursday.

Game one winner Chris Carpenter will head to the mound for St. Louis. C.J. Wilson, who took the loss in game one, walking six and allowing three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings, goes up the bump for the Rangers.

Cruz, Napoli Give Rangers 3-1 Lead over Tigers; Cardinals Take 2-1 Edge in NLCS

Players of the Day for Wednesday, October 12, 2011

American League

Rangers 7 Tigers 3, 11 innings

Mike Napoli

After winning game three and waiting out a rain delay that turned an afternoon affair into an evening interlude, the Detroit Tigers fell behind three games to one in the ALCS, as Mike Napoli and Nelson Cruz provided the winning margin in the top of the 11th inning.

Nelson Cruz

Napoli's single to center scored Josh Hamilton from second base to put the Rangers up 4-3, and Cruz followed with his 4th home run of the series, a three-run shot that pretty much put the game away. All four 11th inning runs came off reliever Jose Valverde, who was used in hope to keep the score tied. Valverde's streak of consecutive saves - 49 in the regular season and three more in the playoffs - remains intact as the inning was not a save situation.

Both Napoli and Cruz made plays in the field that helped keep the game tied. After Brandon Inge tied the game at 3-3 with a solo homer in the 7th, Cruz threw Miguel Cabrera out at the plate in the bottom of the 8th. Napoli's strong arm got Austin Jackson trying to steal second base in the bottom of the 10th, keeping Detroit's speediest runner out of scoring position.

With a 3-1 lead in the series, the Rangers will try to end it Thursday afternoon in Detroit, though they'll have to beat the best in the American League to do so. Justin Verlander, who notched the pitching triple crown with 24 wins, a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts, takes the ball for the start of game five. Verlander is 1-1 in two post-season starts and will be opposed by Ranger starter C.J. Wilson, who was 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA during the regular season. First pitch is slated for 4:19 pm EDT.

National League

Cardinals 4 Brewers 3

Pujols: 636 AVG.

The St. Louis Cardinals took a two games to one lead in the National League Championship Series, scoring all of their runs in the first inning off Milwaukee starter, Yovani Galardo.

David Freese

Albert Pujols set a major league mark with his fifth consecutive extra-base hit on his ground rule double in the first inning, scoring Jon Jay with the Cardinals' second run. Pujols scored on Yadier Molina's ground out into a double play, but David Freese, who went 3-for-4, followed with a double to right field, sending home Matt Holliday with what would prove to be the game-winner. Pujols would single later and draw two walks, going 2-for-2, to improve his series average to a stunning .636 with four doubles a home run and six RBI.

Milwaukee battled back against St. Louis ace, Chris Carpenter, with two runs in the 2nd inning and another in the 3rd, but that was all they could muster of Carpenter - who lasted five inning for the win - and four Cardinal relievers, who put together a string of zeroes in the final four innings, blanking the Brewers without giving up a hit nor walking a batter.

Game four is Thursday night in St. Louis, with Randy Wolf on the mound for the Brewers against the Cardinals' Kyle Lohse. Game time is 8:05 pm EDT.

Verlander, Young Give Tigers Game Three Win; Mike Napoli Homers for Rangers, Lead Rays, 2-1

Players of the Day for Monday, October 3, 2011


American League

Rangers 4 Rays 3

Mike Napoli

Mike Napoli's two-run, 7th-inning home run erased a 1-0 Tampa Bay lead and helped chase Rays' starter, David Price, from the mound. After Craig Gentry singled off Price with two runs already in, he was lifted for Brandon Gomes, who promptly issued a walk to Ian Kinsler. After Gentry and Kinsler moved to second and third on a double steal, Elvis Andrus also walked. J.P. Howell came on for the Rays with the bases loaded, and Josh Hamilton delivered a two-run single, putting the Rangers up, 4-0.

After the Rays scored a run in the bottom of the 7th, Desmond Jennings hit his second solo homer of the game in the 8th, cutting the Texas lead to one run. B.J. Upton walked with nobody out but was gunned down on an attempted steal on a pitchout by Napoli. Texas reliever Mike Adams, who had come on to start the 8th, couldn't get the ball over the plate, walking Evan Longoria and Matt Joyce, giving the Rays hope, but Michael Gonzalez got Johnny Damon to fan on three pitches and closer Neftali Felix struck out Ben Zobrist after Longoria and Joyce had moved to second and third on a wild pitch.

Feliz surrendered a one out single to Sean Rodriguez, but induced a double play from Kelly Shoppach to end the game.

Texas leads the series, two games to one, and can eliminate the Rays in game four at Tropicana Field on Tuesday. Game time is 2:07 pm EDT. Texas sends Matt Harrison to the mound, while the Rays counter with rookie Jeremy Hellickson.

Tigers 5 Yankees 4

Justin Verlander

In the rematch of aces following the game one washout on Friday, both C.C. Sabathia and Justin Verlander were not as sharp as usual, but Verlander managed the best, getting the win that put Detroit up two games to one, putting the Yankees into an elimination situation on Tuesday in the five-game series.

Sabathia lasted only 5 1/3 innings, surrendering seven hits and four runs before being pulled by manager Joe Girardi. Sabathia clearly did not have his best stuff, walking six batters with only three strikeouts. Verlander continued through the eighth, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks, but struck out 11 Yankees on his way to the win. The Yankees tied the game with two runs in the top of the 7th on Brett Gardner's two-RBI double, but Verlander stranded him at second when he struck out Derek Jeter to end the inning.

Delmon Young

In the bottom of the frame, Delmon Young socked a solo homer to give the Rangers the lead again, 5-4, and Verlander got through the 8th unscathed, setting the stage for closer Jose Valverde, who hadn't blown a save opportunity all season.

Valverde made matters interesting, issuing a pair of walks in the final inning, but again it was Jeter who struck out to end the game, putting the Tigers in a position to close out the series on Tuesday in game four.

The Yankees are in a precarious position because they have to go to A.J. Burnett in game four. Burnett won two of his final three starts of the regular season, but has been shaky all year, going 11-11 with a 5.15 ERA. Rick Porcello goes up the bump for the Tigers. Porcello was 14-9 with a 4.79 ERA during the regular season. Game time is slated for 8:37 pm EDT.

National League

The National Leaguers had the day off for travel, but both divisional series resume Tuesday.

The Phillies face the Cardinals in St. Louis with the series tied at a game apiece, while the Brewers head to Arizona to try to eliminate the Diamondbacks. Milwaukee has a 2-0 lead in their series, and will send Shaun Marcum to the mound against Arizona's Josh Collmenter. Game time is 9:37 pm EDT.

The Phillies and Cards square off at 5:07 pm EDT. The Phillies' Cole Hamels faces the Cardinals' Jaime Garcia.

Yankees Win, Rangers Ties Series with Rays; Phillies, Brewers Open Playoffs with Wins

Players of the Day for October 1, 2011

American League Divisional Series

Yankees 9, Tigers 3

Robinson Cano

Robinson Cano went 3-for-5 and drove in six runs as the Yankees took the completion of the suspended game from Friday night. Cano doubled in a run to break a 1-1 tie in the 5th inning, then socked a grand slam in the 6th and added another RBI double in the 8th to complete the Yankees' scoring. The Yankees lead the best-of-five series, 1-0.

Mike Napoli

Rangers 8, Rays 6

Mike Napoli keyed a five-run 4th inning for the Rangers with a bases loaded single, driving in two runs and scoring later in the inning. The Rangers' catcher also singled in the 6th and scored on Ian Kinsler's 2 RBI double, providing Texas with a cushion to tie the divisional series at 1-1.

Prince Fielder

National League Divisional Series

Brewers 4, Diamondbacks 1

Yovani Gallardo

The Milwaukee Brewers took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five series with Arizona as Prince Fielder belted a two-run, 7th-inning homer to break the game open. Brewer starter Yovani Gallardo was the master of the mound, stopping Arizona on four hits and a walk over eight innings, yielding only one run while fanning nine.

Phillies 11, Cardinals 4

Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay was roughed up early, on Lance Berkman's three-run home run in the first inning, but maintained his composure to set down 21 batters in a row after Skip Shumacker led off the second inning with a single. Halladay left the game after working eight innings and picked up the win.

Ryan Howard

Ryan Howard belted a three-run homer in the 6th to put the Phillies ahead for good after the Cardinals had built an early 3-1 lead.

The Phillies lead the best-of-five series, 1-0.

Joey Votto Challenges Pujols' Triple Crown Bid; Napoli Slams Rays

Players of the Day for Wednesday, August 25, 2010 National League A few days ago, it was mentioned here that Albert Pujols could be on the way to winning the NL Triple Crown. After what Joey Votto did Wednesday night in Cincinnati's 12-11, 12-inning win at San Francisco, it appears that he has taken notice and has a legitimate shot himself. The Reds had built an 8-1 lead after scoring in the top of the 5th, but began the process of blowing that when the Giants plated two in the bottom of the 5th and two more in the 6th. After a six-run 8th inning, it was the Giants with the 11-10 lead, the Reds' bullpen unable to hold down the Giants after they chased starter, Homer Bailey. Votto, who had helped build the lead with a two-run, first inning homer and a solo blast in the 4th (his 31st), hung in with his teammates, and when Paul Janish singled home Drew Stubbs in the 9th, the game was tied. In the 12th, it was Votto again, with his 4th hit of the night, singling in Miguel Cairo with the go-ahead run. Francicso Cordero nailed down the final three outs in the bottom of the inning, salvaging a much-needed win for the Reds which almost turned into a disaster. Votto finished the night 4-for-7 with two hoers and four RBI. He is leading the league in batting average, at .326, and is two behind Pujols in the other categories. Pujols leads in homers, 33-31 and RBI, 92-90. It is apparent that either man could get hot and take all three departments for the first triple crown since 1967. While the Reds won, the Cardinals lost, so Cincy upped its lead in the division to 3 1/2 games. The Giants remained in a dead heat for the wild card with the Phillies, also losers on the night. American League The LA Angels are probably not going to win the AL West this season. They trail the Rangers by ten full games in the standings. Even the A's have passed them by and are now 1 1/2 games ahead. But that doesn't mean anything to Mike Napoli, who has quietly put together a fine season in the absence of the Angels' main slugger, Kendry Morales. After Morales went down with a broken leg in June, Napoli was called upon to fill the void, and he's responded with 21 homers and 60 RBI, both career-high marks. In the Angels' 12-3 win over Tampa Bay, Napoli led the charge with a run-scoring double in the first inning, a grand slam in the 3rd and a bases-loaded walk in the 4th inning, forcing home another run. He finished the game 2-for-4 with six RBI, helping the Angels avoid being swept after the Rays had won the first two games of the series. The Rays' loss didn't hurt them, as the Yankees also fell, to the Blue Jays, 6-3, in Toronto. Those two remain tied for the AL East lead, with Boston looming, 5 1/2 games back.

Phillies KO Brewers; Angels, White Sox Extend Series

Players of the Day from Sunday, October 5, 2008 LA Angels 5 Boston 4 Mike Napoli became the unlikely hero as the LA Angels staved off elimination with a 5-4, 12-inning win over the Boston Red Sox. Napoli, who also caught the entire game, handling six different pitchers, homered twice off Boston starter Josh Beckett, rapping a 2-run shot in the third and a solo blast in the 5th, sending the Red Sox hurler to an early shower. Napoli's second homer gave the Angels a 4-3 lead, but Boston tied it in the bottom of the frame and the score remained the same until the 12th inning. Napoli led off with a single, moved to second on a sac bunt and scored on Erick Abyar's single up the middle. Notes: The Angels now trail Boston 2-1 in the best-of-five series, which resumes Monday at 8:35 ET at Fenway. The same pairing that started game 1 will go, with Jon Lester heading to the hill for Boston to face the Angels' John Lackey. LA's win snapped a string of 11 straight playoff losses to the Red Sox, dating back to 1986. Chicago White Sox 5 Rays 3 Manager Jose Guillen juggled his lineup and it worked out just fine for Ken Griffey Jr., who singled twice, walked and scored the eventual game-winner as the White Sox stayed alive with a 5-3 win over the Rays. The Sox are still trailing the Rays, 2-1 in the series, which continues Monday in Chicago. Game 4 begins at 5:05 pm ET, with Chicago's Gavin Floyd facing the Rays' Andy Sonnanstine. Philadelphia 6 Milwaukee 2 The Phillies were just too much for the Brewers, taking their playoff series by a 3-1 margin. Jimmy Rollins homered to open the game, but it was Pat Burrell's three-run homer in the third and solo shot in the 8th that really put the Phillies over the top. The Phillies scored all of their runs via the long ball, as they knocked off the Brewers, 6-2. Notes: Philly now has home field advantage in the NL Championship Series against the Dodgers, starting Thursday, October 9.