Miles Mikolas Fans 8 In Cardinals' Win; Tim Beckham Homers Twice, Orioles Dump Yankees

Players of the Day for Sunday, September 23, 2018

American League

Beckham: 2 HR, 3 RBI

Tim Beckham, power hitter. Who knew?

After the Yankees scored three first-inning runs, the Orioles looked to be on their way to their 111th loss of the season, but as Mike Wright Jr. and four Baltimore relievers held the Yankees scoreless for the final eight innings, Beckham got the O's even with a solo shot in the second inning and a two-run dinger in the sixth.

After Renato Nunez put the Orioles ahead with a solo homer of his own in the sixth, D.J. Stewart, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter, delivered the final two runs with a sixth-inning sac fly and an eighth-inning RBI single for the 6-3 win.

While the game didn't mean much to the Orioles, it could have been big for New York, which remains locked into a wild card struggle with the Oakland A's, leading by 1 1/2 games. The A's dropped a 5-1 decision to the Twins on Sunday, so the Yankees could have expanded their lead, but didn't.

The Yankees and A's are certain to play in the single-elimination wild card game. All that remains to be determined is where the game will be played. New York found out that shortstop Didi Gregorious will not be available for that game, suffering torn cartilage in his right wrist when he scored the winning run in Saturday's 3-2, 11-inning win.

The Yankees head to Tampa Monday for a four game series with the Rays and close out the season this coming weekend at Boston, where they will play three with the Red Sox. The A's also finish on the road, with three at Seattle and three in LA with the Angels.

The wild card game is Wednesday, October 3.

Mikolas: 17-4, 2.94 ERA

National League

With the Cardinals clinging to a slim, 1 1/2-game edge over Colorado for the final wild card spot, Miles Mikolas has come through down the stretch to keep St. Louis' playoff hopes alive and well.

Mikolas won his fourth straight September start, holding the visiting Giants to two hits and one earned run over seven innings as his teammates wrecked Giants' pitching for a 9-2 victory. Mikolas contributed a fourth-inning RBI single to further his the cause.

Mikolas (17-4) fanned eight and didn't walk any batters, throwing 72 of 96 pitches for strikes. His 17 wins are tied for the NL lead with Jon Lester and Max Scherzer and his quality numbers - 140 strikeouts, 29 walks, a 2.88 ERA and 1.09 WHIP - make him a potential choice for the Cy Young award.

More importantly, the win was the sixth in their last seven for the Cardinals, keeping their margin over the Rockies at 1 1/2-games. Colorado scored a 2-0 win over Arizona Sunday.

The Cardinals will have to earn their way into the playoffs if they intend to make it. They close out the season this week with three home games against the Brewers, current holders of the top wild card, followed by three games at the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs, who hold a 2 1/2-game edge on Milwaukee. The Cubs are 2 1/2 up on Milwaukee, 4 1/2 over the Cards.

St. Louis opens their series with the Brewers on Monday.

Trevor Cahill Hurls A's Into 1st Place Tie With Houston; Miles Mikolas Is 13-3 As Cardinals Overtake Brewers

Players of the Day for Saturday, August 18, 2017

Trevor Cahill

American League

The Oakland A's tied the Astros for first place in the AL West with a 7-1 win over Houston Saturday as starter Trevor Cahill tossed seven innings of one-hit ball.

Cahill gave up a second inning single to Yuli Gurriel, but didn't allow another hit, putting down 14 straight until walking Alex Bregman to lead off the seventh. Bregman was erased on a double play and Cahill ended the inning by striking out Marwin Gonzalez. Cahill threw 100 pitches and struck out seven, improving to 5-2. His walk to Bregman was the only one he allowed.

Cahill has a 3.12 ERA in 15 starts this season.

Oakland has been tearing it up since the all star break, going 19-7 and are 11-3 in August.

With game three on tap for a 4:05 pm EDT start on Sunday, the A's have the opportunity to take over sole possession of first place in the division.

Miles Mikolas

National League

Surging St. Louis took over second place in the NL Central and are 1/2-game behind Philadelphia in the wild card race after defeating the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, 7-2.

Winners of 10 of their last 11, St Louis got another prime pitching performance from Miles Mikolas, who gave up five hits over six strong innings for his 13th win against three losses. A second inning solo shot by Milwaukee's Travis Shaw was the only earned run Mikolas surrendered, as he struck out seven and did not issue any walks.

After spending parts of three seasons with San Diego and Texas and various stints in the minors from 2012 through 2014, Mikolas played three seasons in Japan with the Nomuri Giants compiling a 31–13 record with a 2.18 ERA in 62 starts. He joined St. Louis in 2018 and has won five straight decisions.

The Cardinals, now 14-3 in August, has whittled the Cubs' lead is down to four games. Milwaukee, thanks to losing the first two games of the three-game series at St. Louis, is 4 1/2 out.

In 30 games since Mike Shildt took over as interim manager after the firing of Mike Matheny at the all star break, St. Louis is 20-10.

Game three is Sunday, 2:15 pm EDT.