Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte Lead Pirates To 11th Straight; Masahiro Tanaka Goes Distance For Yankees, Shuts Out Rays

Players of the Day for Tuesday, July 24, 2018

American League

Tanaka: CG, 3H, OER, 9K

The Yankees haven't exactly been a model of consistency of late, going 6-6 in their last 12 games, but they got a needed boost from Masahiro Tanaka, who blanked the Rays in Tampa for a 4-0 New York victory.

Making his first start since July 15, Tanaka twirled a three-hit, nine-strikeout gem against the Yankees' AL East nemesis. The 29-year-old right-hander issued just one walk and threw 74 of 105 pitches for strikes, improving to 8-2 on the year.

Tanaka had been on the DL for nearly a month in June and early July. The win was his first decision since a June 2nd win at Baltimore.

The Yankees picked up a game on the Red Sox, 7-6 losers at Baltimore.

The Rays and Yankees wrap up their three-game series Wednesday at 12:10 pm EDT at Tropicana Field in Tampa.

National League

Marte: 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI

With their 9-2 win at Cleveland, the Pittsburgh Pirates have reeled off 11 straight and are suddenly back in the thick of the Central division and wild card races in the National League.

Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte accounted for the bulk of the scoring as the Pirates struck early and often against Cleveland starter, Shane Bieber, who was rocked for seven runs and didn't make it out of the second inning.

Dickerson led off the game with a double and scored on Marte's 16th home run. In the second, Dickerson tripled tripled in two more runs and scored as Marte beat out an infield single. Marte scored when Gregory Polanco launched his 18th homer out to right field, putting the Pirates up, 7-1 and sending Bieber to the showers.

Dickerson: 2B, 3B, 2RBI

Dickerson, who has been especially on fire lately, is batting an even .400 in July (28-for-70) with 17 runs, six homers and 12 RBI. His surge to a .318 batting average has him tied with Freddie Freeman, .001 behind league-leader, Nick Markakis (.319).

Marte is batting .292 with 16 homers and 54 RBI. In his last 15 games, the center fielder is 24-for-63 (.381) with seven hoe runs and 17 RBI.

Pittsburgh is three games behind Arizona and Atlanta for the second spot in the wide-open NL will card race. They trail the Cubs by six games in the Central division.

On Wednesday, Pittsburgh will be looking for its third consecutive series sweep when they settle up with the Indians, at 1:10 pm EDT. The Pirates took five straight over Milwaukee leading into the all star break and then won three in a row in Cincinnati. Their winning streak began with a win over the Nationals.

Robinson Chirinos Delivers Win For Rangers Over Astros; Starling Marte 5-for-5 As Pirates Down Marlins

Players of the Day for Sunday, April 15, 2018

Chirinos: HR, 2B, 3RBI

American League

With five games cancelled due to inclement weather conditions, there were just three AL games played on Sunday.

The nationally-televised meeting between Houston and the Texas Rangers in Arlington, provided a suitable stage for the Rangers and Robinson Chirinos as they took their second straight from the reigning world champions with a 10-inning, 3-1 triumph.

Perhaps the baseball gods were looking in as every player in the majors was wearing number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, Chirinos offering a meaningful message as he drove in all of the Rangers' runs, including the game-winning double in the 10th, which supplied two runs.

Chirinos belted a solo homer in the third inning, and starting pitcher, Bartolo Colon, made it stand up until the Astros finally broke through with a run in the eighth. Both relief staffs kept the game tied until Chirinos unknotted it with his mighty rip to dead center.

The Rangers have already played the Astros seven times this season, and they've held their own, winning three of the contests. However, Texas has won only three other games and is dead last in the AL West, with a 6-11 mark. Houston is in second place behind the Angels, three back, at 10-6.

Both teams travel and play on Monday, with the Rangers landing in Tampa Bay, while the Astros open a series in Seattle.

Marte: 5-for-5, HR, 4R

National League

At 11-4, the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to alarm opponents throughout the National League. A young team with loads of potential, the surprising Pirates hit he ground running this season and lead the Cardinals by 2 1/2 games in the wide-open NL Central following their 7-3 win at Miami.

The Marlins took a 1-0 lead in the first, but they failed to hold it, mostly because every time Starling Marte stepped up to the plate, he found a way to get on base, going 5-for-5, scoring four times driving in one.

Singling and scoring in the third, fifth, and seventh inning, Marte finished off a perfect day at the plate with a solo home run in the ninth, completing the scoring for the Pirates.

One of the few Pittsburgh players that didn't get off to a blazing hot start, Marte raised his batting average from .241 entering the game, to .305 at its conclusion. He has three home runs and six RBI on the year.

Pittsburgh returns home to host the Colorado Rockies. Game one of the series begins Monday at 7:05 pm EDT.

Joey Gallo Drives In Five As Rangers Down A's; Starling Marte Delivers In 10th For Pirates

Players of the Day for Sunday, April 9, 2017

Joey Gallo: 5 RBI

American League

Managing to take two of three at home over the Oakland A's, the Texas Rangers got an 8-1 win to close out the series and the weekend.

Providing ample power for the Rangers was third baseman Joey Gallo, who got things underway with a three-run homer in the second inning, then added to the run total with a bases-loaded single in the sixth, driving in two more.

Technically still a rookie, Gallo saw limited action with the Rangers in both 2015 and 2016. His home run was his second of the season. He hit six in 108 at-bats in 2015 and is expected to be the Rangers' regular third baseman until Adrian Beltre Returns from the 15-day disabled list.

Marte: gamee-winning HR

Now 2-4, the Rangers head to Anaheim for a three-game series with their division rival Angels beginning on Tuesday.

National League

After Nick Markakis scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th, Pittsburgh came to the plate in the bottom of the inning still looking to sweep the three-game series from the visiting Braves.

Adam Frazier led off the frame with a solid single off reliever Jose Ramirez. Next up, Starling Marte deposited the offering from Ramirez into the seats in center field 408 feet away for the walk-off game-winner and a 6-5 victory.

Marte, who was 4-for-5 in the game with three singles, also scored a run for the Pirates in the fourth inning. A six year pro, Marte has spent all his time in the majors with Pittsburgh where he batted .311 last season.

Off to a solid start, Marte checks in with a .381 average. The homer was his first of the year and he has five RBI on the season.

Pittsburgh, now 3-2, hosts the 4-2 Reds in a three-game series beginning Monday night at 7:05 pm ET.

Jeff Samardzija 1-Hits Tigers as White Sox Sweep Twin Bill; Starling Marte, Jordy Mercer Keep Pirates in NL Hunt

Players of the Day for Monday, September 21, 2015

Samardzija: Near-perfect

American League


A leadoff single by Victor Martinez in the fifth inning was the only offense the Tigers could muster off Jeff Samardzija (10-13) as the Chicago White Sox took the measure of Detroit in a 2-0 win.

Samardzija's one-hitter - his second complete game shutout of the season - came in the opener of a split double-header, Chicago prevailing in the nightcap, 3-2, sending the Tigers deeper into the basement of the AL Central, three games behind the Sox and 18 1/2 back of the division-leading Royals.

Around the plate all game long, Samaardzija needed just 88 pitches for the win, throwing 60 for strikes, walking none and fanning six.

Jordy Mercer

Starling Marte

The Tigers will try to get a win over their Central division foes in the third of the four-game series, Tuesday at 7:08 pm EDT.

National League

With a 9-3 win at Colorado, the Pittsburgh Pirates held their position, four game behind the Cardinals in the NL Central and two games ahead of Chicago in the wild card race.

Starling Marte and Jordy Mercer each went 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI, Mercer doubling twice with two singles. Marte had a solo homer, double and two singles.

Pittsburgh's win was their third straight and the opener in a four-game series with the Rockies. Both the Cardinals and Cubs were winners Monday, keeping the order in the NL the same as the previous day, only with one less game remaining in the regular season.

St. Louis has already been assured a playoff spot. The Pirates and Cubs will likely secure a place in the post-season this week, though the exact order of finish will determine participants and home field for the wild card playoff game and division winner.

Pittsburgh hopes to continue their win streak when they meet the Rockies on Tuesday for the second of their four-game set. Game time is 8:40 pm EDT.

Pirates and Reds Clinch Playoff Berths; Starling Marte, Shin Soo Choo Provide Heroics; Alex Rios, Derek Holland Leads Rangers' Rout

Players of the Day for Monday, September 23, 2013

American League

Alex Rios

Derek Holland pitched a six-hit shutout and Alex Rios hit for the cycle, as the Texas Rangers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 12-0 pounding of the hapless Houston Astros, losers of 10 straight.

Derek Holland

Holland walked one and struck out nine, going the distance in his second shutout of the season and seventh of his career. The win improved his record to 10-9 on the year.

Rios, acquired from the White Sox earlier this season, got the rangers on the board early, socking a double to left that knocked in a pair of runs. In third inning, Rios reached on an infield single and later scored on a bases-loaded walk to David Murphy. After hitting a solo home run - his 18th - in the fourth inning, Rios ripped a shot to the right-center field gap for a triple to complete the cycle, driving in Elvis Andrus in the process. He finished 4-for-4 with four RBI and three runs.

Rios did not get another at-bat. With the game already out of hand, manager Ron Washington made mass replacements, saving his starters for upcoming games.

It was the third cycle in the majors this year. Mike Trout of the LA Angels on May 21, and the Astros' Brandon Barnes on July 19, both turned the trick against Seattle.

AL Wild Card Standings (through 9/23)

Team	GB
Tampa Bay	+1
Cleveland	--
Texas	-1
Kansas City	-3
NY Yankees	-4
Baltimore	-5

National League

Shin Soo Choo

Both the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates clinched playoff spots on Monday as the Cardinals dumped Washington, 4-3, the Reds dropped the Mets, 3-2, in 10 innings and Pittsburgh took down the Cubs, 2-1.

Starling Marte

Pittsburgh's win came by virtue of a ninth-inning, pinch-hit solo homer off the bat of Starling Marte that broke a 1-1 deadlock as the Pirates opened their three-game series in Chicago with a win.

Cincinnati's victory was even more dramatic, as Sin Soo Choo singled home Devin Mesoraco in the bottom of the 10th inning, the walk-off hit Choo's third, in six at-bats. Choo's single in the second got the Reds on the board with a 1-0 lead.

The Reds and Pirates remain tied for the two wild card playoff spots, at 90-67, both two games behind St. louis in the NL Central.

Cincinnati hosts the Mets Tuesday at 7:10 pm EDT in the second game of their three-game series. Pittsburgh plays game two in Chicago at 8:05 pm EDT.

Today's Trivia: What pitcher led the National League in strikeouts four straight years, from 1932 through 1935? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Five. Reggie Jackson played most of his ball for the A's, Yankees and Angels, but spent a year as a Baltimore Oriole and began his career with the Kansas City Royals.

Brandon Moss Homers Twice, Powers A's to AL West Lead; Starling Marte, Andrew McCutchen Help Pirates Rip Giants, 12-8

Players of the Day for Wednesday, June 12, 2013

American League

Brandon Moss

With the Rangers losing their second straight to the Indians by a 5-2 score, Oakland took over sole possession of first place in the AL East with a 5-2 victory over the visiting Yankees.

The Oakland win was powered by Brandon Moss, who homered twice and drove in three runs while starter Dan Straily limited the Yankees to two runs on three hits over 6 2/3 innings, improving his record to 4-2.

Moss got the A's started with a two-run rip in the second inning, adding an insurance run with his 11th homer of the year in the eighth.

Batting an unimpressive .228, Moss, however has delivered well in the clutch. He has 33 RBI on the season.

The A's also took the opener of the series on Tuesday by a 6-4 score and will be seeking the sweep when they host the Yankees in the day-game finale, Thursday, at 12:35 pm PDT.

National League

Andrew McCutchen

The current version of the Pittsburgh Pirates is hardly similar to the teams the organization have put on the field for most of the past two decades. This one is serious, and contenting for the NL Central crown.

Marte: 4-5, 4 R

Proving they are worthy of the league's attention, the Pirates took their second straight from the world champion Giants, pounding Barry Zito (4-5) and four relief pitchers for 18 hits in a 12-8 triumph.

Sporting a 4.79 ERA, things didnt start well for Zito, despite taking the mound with a 1-0 lead, courtesy of a Hunter Pence RBI double in the Giants' half of the first.

Leadoff hitter Starling Marte singled and came around to score on the first of three Andrew McCutchen RBI. This became a recurring theme, as Marte finished 4-for-5 - all singles - scored four runs and swiped a pair of bases while McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a double and a duo of singles.

Marte, a rookie, after playing in 47 games for the Pirates last season, is having a solid year atop the Pirates' batting order, hitting .289 in 63 games. His two steals gave him 20 on the season, second most in the league, behing Everth Cabrera's 30.

McCutchen, hitting .297, has picked it up of late, riding a four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 8-for-14 (.571).

The Pirates will be looking for a sweep of the Giants Thursday night at 7:05 pm EDT.

Today's Trivia: The St. Louis Cardinals are leading the NL with a .275 team batting average. What team had the highest NL team batting average for a single-season? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) recorded 62 saves in 2008 for the LA Angels.

Starling Marte Homers for Pirates on First Major League Pitch; Chris Davis Leads Orioles Past Rays

Players of the Day for Thursday, July 26, 2012

American League

The chase continues in the AL East, with everyone looking up at the Yankees and their 7 1/2 game lead over the Orioles, who helped themselves out a bit with a 6-2 win over the Rays that avoided the series sweep and kept them alone in second place.

Chris Davis

Chris Davis carried the big bat for the O's in their win, as he socked a bases-loaded double in the fifth inning, breaking open what was a scoreless tie until Adam Jones knocked in a pair earlier in the inning.

Davis' two-bagger upped the lead to 5-0 and he added a solo homer in the seventh - his 16th of the year - as insurance.

With the Yanks cruising along with the biggest lead in the majors, teams like Baltimore and Tampa Bay may be eyeing the wild card race a bit more intently, but that race is very jumbled at present, with seven teams all within four games of each other, the current leader being the LA Angels.

In coming weeks, the situation may change, with one or two teams breaking away, or, the race could just remain tight until the final weeks of the season.


National League

If the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to stay in the NL Central race or vie for a wild card spot - they currently lead the Braves by two games in that department - it's widely accepted that they need a little help on the offensive side.

Starling Marte

That help may have arrived with the addition of Starling Marte, who took the first pitch he saw as a major leaguer deep into the stands beyond left-center field.

Batting in the leadoff spot, Marte gave the Pirates a quick 1-0 lead that promptly grew to 3-0 after Andrew McCutchen singled and Garrett Jones brought him around with his 15th long ball of the season.

Pittsburgh won the game, 5-3, with A.J. Burnett (12-3) picking up the win. Marte singled later in the game to go 2-for-4 in his major league debut.

The win - the first in a four-game series - put the Pirates two games behind the idle Reds in the Central. Houston, mired in one of their typically disappointing seasons, has dropped 23 of their last 25 games, their current losing streak now standing at 10.