Mets End Skid As Todd Frazier Drives In Six; Mookie Betts Keeps Red Sox Hopes Alive

Players of the Day for Friday, August 30, 2019

American League

Betts homers twice

Mookie Betts got the Red Sox started with a leadoff home run. Five hours later, he ended Boston's 15-inning marathon with another solo shot, as Boston kept its playoff hopes alive with a 7-6 win over the Angels at Anaheim.

Betts finished the night 3-for-7 with three runs and two RBI, adding a single and scoring the third inning.

One of the few bright spots for the Red Sox this year, Betts has 23 home runs and 69 RBI. His 121 runs leads the majors.

The win kept the Red Sox 5 1/2 behind Oakland for the second wild card. Cleveland leads by a game in the #1 position, while Tampa Bay helped themselves with a 4-0 win over the Indians on Friday. Boston is 4 1/2 behind the Rays.

Boston has won three straight and five of their last six games, and will look to make it two straight over the Angels when they meet on Saturday, at 6:07 pm PT.

National League

Frazier: 2HR, 6 RBI

Losers of six straight, the New York Mets needed a spark - and a win - lest they fall completely out of contention in the wild card race. Entering the first of a three-game series at the Phillies, they found themselves five games behind the Cubs for the second wild card, with the Phillies, Brewers and Diamondbacks (winners of five straight) in between.

Through seven innings, there seemed to be little hope, as the Mets and Phillies remained tied at 1-1. All of that changed in the final two innings, as the teams combined for 14 runs.

After Amed Rosario singled in two runs, Todd Frazier broke out with his 17th home run, a three-run blast that gave the Mets a solid lead at 6-1. In the ninth, he did it again, driving in six runs with his two dingers, as the Mets exploded to an 11-5 victory.

The win kept the Mets on pace with the Cubs and Diamondbacks, both winners Friday, and improved their position versus the Phillies and Brewers. Milwaukee has lost four of its last five games.

The Mets and Phillies meet again on Saturday and Sunday.

Yankees Storm Back With 8-1 Win On HRs by Aaron Judge, Todd Frazier

Players of the Day for Monday, October 16, 2017

Todd Frazier

American League

Down two games to none to Houston in the ALCS, the Yankees returned home to New York with a resounding 8-1 triumph in game three.

Aaron Judge

C.C. Sabathia continued his post-season exceptionalism with six shutout innings, allowing the Astros just three hits, walking four, fanning five.

Todd Frazier and Aaron Judge each stroked three-run homers, putting the game out of reach by the fourth inning.

Frazier got things started with his second-inning blast and Judge put a final stamp on the scoring in the fourth with his first homer of the series, the Yankees plating five runs in the frame.

Game four of the series is scheduled for a 5:08 pm ET start on Tuesday.

National League

There were no games in the National League on Monday.

The Dodgers and Cubs resume the best-of-seven NLCS Tuesday at Wrigley Field in Chicago at 9:00 pm ET. Los Angeles holds a two games to none lead in the series.

Seattle's Felix Hernandez Shuts out Rangers; Todd Frazier Flourishes as Reds Stomp Cardinals, 11-0

Players of the Day for Thursday, September 10, 2015

American League

Hernandez: 17-8

After taking the first two of their four-game series in Seattle, something happened to the Texas Rangers that hasn't occurred all season - they were shut out for the second game in a row.

Wednesday's 6-0 whitewash was followed up by a mound visit by the "King," Felix Hernandez, who gave the Rangers a royal razzing, shutting them down on three hits over eight innings for his 17th win against eight losses, tying him for the most wins in the league with Houston's Dallas Keuchel (17-6). The Mariners took the series-ender, 5-0. Nelson Cruz's two-run homer - his 40th - was all the run support Hernandez needed. Tom Wilhelmsan completed the shutout, working the ninth.

Hernandez, who struck out eight and issued four walks, is approaching a couple of milestones. With four or five starts left in the regular season, Hernandez could reach 20 wins, something - despite his award-winning career marks - he's never done. The closest he got was in 2009, when he posted a record of 19-5.

A six-time all-star, Hernandez upped his strikeout total to 175 on Thursday, putting him at 8th in the league. If he reaches 200 Ks this season, it will be the seventh straight season he's fanned 200 or more.

As far as the Rangers are concerned, they've seen enough of Mr. Hernandez for this year. In four starts against the Rangers, he's won each time, and Texas will likely see him a fifth time, when Texas hosts the Mariners in a three-game series next weekend.

That series is the tail end of a teen-game homestead for the Rangers, who take on the A's for three games beginning Friday, then welcome in the Astros in a make-or-break four-game series. The Astros lead Texas by 2 1/2 games in the AL West.

Frazier: 32 HRs

National League

Holding the best record in baseball from mid-April forward, and, with a 4 1/2 game lead (22 games remaining) over the Pirates in the NL Central, the St. Louis Cardinals appear a lock for the playoffs.

However, as well as the Cardinals have played, the road to the post-season has had its share of bumps and pitfalls.

Thursday night's opener of a four-game series in Cincinnati looked more like a sinkhole as the Reds battered five Cardinal pitchers for an 11-0 win.

Cincinnati knocked out 13 hits, including three by Todd Frazier, who singled, smacked his 40th double, and 32nd homer of the season, driving in three runs and scoring three times.

Frazier is fourth in home runs in the NL and tied for ninth with 83 RBI. The Reds have not been as prosperous as their hard-hitting third baseman, dead last in the NL Central, 29 1/2 games behind the Cardinals.

Some of the angst may have been taken off in the one-sided series opener, but the Cardinals will try to return the favor in game two on Friday. Game time is 7:10 pm EDT.

Boston Downs Yanks, 9-8, in 10 Innings as Jacoby Ellsbury Scores Game-Winner; Todd Frazier Powers Reds Past Cardinals

Players of the Day for Thursday, September 5, 2013

American League

In Thursday's 9-8, 10-inning win over the Yankees, the Boston Red Sox not only did some real damage to the Yankees chances of winning the AL East or a wild card, but may have inflicted long-lasting harm to the collective New York pysche.

Jacoby Ellsbury

After blowing a 7-2 lead when the Yankees scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh, the Sox tied the game at 8-8 in the ninth, going down to their final strike against revered closer, Mariano Rivera. Mike Napoli singled with two outs and two strikes against him and was replaced by pinch-runner, Quintin Berry, who promptly stole second and took third on an errant throw by Yankee catcher, Austin Romine. Berry scored the tying run off Stephen Drew's clean single to right, getting to Rivera for his sixth blown save of the season.

In the 10th, Jacoby Ellsbury singled with one out off reliever Joba Chamberlain, stole second and scored the game-winner on Shane Victorino's single. The Red Sox closer, Koji Uehara, put the Yankees down in order in the bottom of the inning for his 18th save.

Ellsbury went 3-for-6 overall, with the game-winning run and an RBI ground-rule double in the third inning, raising his batting average to .299. The Red Sox speedster's 10th inning swipe was his 52nd of the season, which easily leads the majors, his closest pursuer being Toronto's Rajai Davis, with 40 steals.

The win put Boston 6 1/2 ahead of Tampa Bay in the East division, while dropping the Yankees to nine back, keeping them 2 1/2 behind the Rays for the second wild card. Tampa Bay was a 6-2 loser to the Angels.

Game two of the four-game series between the Yankees and Red Sox is set for 7:05 pm EDT in New York.

National League

Todd Frazier

The Reds have been in third place in the NL Central it must seem like home, but they bettered their chances at reaching the post-season with a 6-2 win against the visiting Cardinals, Thursday night.

Todd Frazier socked a pair of solo homers and the Reds scored a single run in each inning from the second through the eighth, drawing to within 1 1/2 games of second place St. Louis and three back of the idle Pirates, who lead the division.

Cincinnati has a firm grasp on the second wild card, holding a seven-game lead over Arizona and Washington with 21 games left to play, though the Reds have their sights set at winning the division after taking three of four from the Cardinals. They host the Dodgers for three games over the weekend, but the schedule is favorable for them as they play the Pirates six times in the final nine games of the regular season - three in Pittsburgh on September 20-22, and closing out the season with three at home, September 27-29.

Today's Trivia: What was the last season nobody had 200 hits in the major leagues? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: In 1998, Colorado's Dante Bichette led the majors with 219 hits.

Todd Frazier Leads Reds to 4th Straight W in 11-1 Rout of Marlins; Matt Wieters' Grand Slam Buries Rays

Players of the Day for Thursday, April 18, 2013

American League

Matt Wieters

In Baltimore's 10-6 victory over Tampa Bay, Matt Wieters was there at the start and delivered the final blow to end the game.

Down 3-0 in the second inning, Wieters doubled and scored on Chris Davis' single to center for Baltimore's first run. Davis then scored on on Nolan Reimold's two-run homer, tying the game.

The teams exchanged blows, eventually sending the game to extra innings at 6-6. In the bottom of the 10th, Wieters made his way to the plate with the bases chock full of Orioles and delivered a 376-foot blow to right field, clearing the wall for a walk-off, grand slam homer, his third long ball of the season. The win was Baltimore's 17th straight extra-innings triumph.

The Orioles took the home series, two games to one, over the Rays, leaving Baltimore at 8-7, two games behind the Red Sox in the AL East. Tampa Bay dropped to 5-10, six games out, in last place.

National League

Todd Frazier

By all appearances, the 3-13 Miami Marlins are the worst team in the majors, on pace to lose 130 games, and, while that number is probably a stretch, they look like sure 100-game losers, especially after the 11-1 beat-down by Cincinnati Thursday night.

Miami tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth, but their pitching staff allowed four runs in the bottom of the frame, four more in the fifth and two in the sixth, completing the rout.

Third baseman Todd Frazier scored three times in the fray, reaching on a walk and scoring on a sac fly in the fourth, singling and scoring in the fifth and finally, belting his fifth home run of the season in the sixth inning with one aboard to complete Cincinnati's scoring barrage for their fourth straight win.

Frazier is batting .298 with 14 RBI thus far and should add to his totals shortly. The Reds have a clear path to first place in the NL Central with three more home games against the Marlins over the weekend. Cincinnati trails the Cardinals in the division by 1/2 game.

The Cardinals topped Philadelphia, 4-3, on Thursday, and have three more games with the Phillies through the weekend.

Chris Davis Does It Again, Grand Slam Leads Oriole Victory; Todd Frazier, Zack Cozart Lead 15-0 Reds' Rout of Nats

Players of the Day for Friday, April 5, 2013

American League

Davis leads majors
in BA, HR, RBI

Welcoming in the Minnesota Twins for a three-game series, the Baltimore Orioles weren't exactly the most hospitable hosts, hammering five Twins' pitchers for 14 hits and nine earned runs in a 9-5, home-opening victory.

Five of those runs were delivered off the bat of Chris Davis, who singled and was stranded in the fourth inning, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and socked a grand slam home run in the bottom of the eighth, unknotting a 5-5 tie in a big way.

With the slam, Davis has homered in all four Baltimore games this season, tying him for the major league lead with Seattle's Michael Morse. His 2-for-5 night actually lowered his MLB-leading batting average from .636 to .600, and the five RBI gave him 16 on the season in just four games. The next-closest to him is Tampa Bay's Ben Zobrist, with seven.

The Orioles won their second straight to remain tied with Boston atop the AL East at 3-1.

NOTABLE: Detroit's Prince Fielder belted his first two home runs of the season in the Tigers' 8-3 win over the Yankees, driving in five with a three-run and a two-run shot.

National League

Todd Frazier

Fresh off a sweep of the Miami Marlins, the Washington Nationals hit the road for Cincinnati, but after being whipped 15-0 by the Reds, probably feel like they should have stayed home.

Zack Cozart

Cincinnati roughed up starter, Dan Haren, for nine hits and six earned runs over four innings, and didn't let up on the parade of three Washington relievers, amassing 19 hits.

The two main catalysts came out of the six and seven spots in the order. Todd Frazier and Zack Cozart each went yard twice; Frazier was 4-for-5 with a pair of singles, a solo shot and a two-run bomb, driving in four runs and scoring three times. Cozart went 2-for-5 with a solo belt and a three-run donk and drove in another run with a sac fly for five RBI in the game.

Washington mustered only two hits in six innings off Reds' starter Homer Bailey, and had just five over nine long innings.

The win was the Reds' third straight after losing on opening day. They are a game up on the Cubs in the NL Central. Washington dropped into a 3-1 tie with the Braves for the NL East lead.

Felix Hernandez Throws Perfect Game for Mariners; Mike Leake, Todd Frazier Keep Red-Hot Reds Rolling

Players of the Day for Wednesday, August 15, 2012

American League

27 up, 27 down.

That's how Felix Hernandez handled the Tampa Bay Rays on a rare sunny afternoon in Seattle, setting down the Rays in order for the third perfect game this season, a 1-0 victory for Seattle, and the first perfect game in the Mariners' 34-year franchise history.

Hernandez joins Philip Humber of the White Sox and the Giants' Matt Cain as perfect hurlers in 2012, a year in which there have also been three other no-hitters.

This is the first time there have been three perfect games in a single season, and the total no-hitters is one off the modern record of seven in a single season, set in 1990 and again, in 1991. In 1884, under rules that differ widely from today's game, pitchers accounted for eight no-hitters.

Hernandez dominated the Rays from start to finish, throwing mostly breaking balls that Tampa hitters desperately flailed at throughout the game. Over the first three innings, Hernandez recorded two outs on strikeouts, three on fly balls and four ground outs.

Hernandez: Perfect

Then he really started to heat up, his breaking ball swerving across and around home plate to the discomfort of Rays' batters. He struck out two in the fourth inning, then got the side out swinging in the sixth. In the seventh, three ground ball outs were all the Rays could muster, and Hernandez fanned the side again in the eighth.

Desmond Jennings swung and missed at strike three to open the ninth, Jeff Keppinger grounded out to short for the second out, and King Felix finished with a flair, getting Sean Rodriguez looking on a fast ball to end the game and enter the history books.

Hernandez struck out 12 overall, all of them swinging except for the final out of the game. The sharp curves had the Rays fooled, as Hernandez threw 115 pitches, of which only 73 went for strikes. His perfect game was the 23rd in MLB history.

Improving to 11-5, Hernandez, the 2010 AL Cy Young award recipient, lowered his ERA to 2.60, tied for fourth best for starters in the league with Chicago's Chris Sale. His 12 Ks upped his total to 174, tying him for second in that department with Justin Verlander. Max Scherzer leads the league with 178.

The Mariners, hopelessly out of the running for the playoffs and en route to their 11th straight losing season, slowed down the Rays, handing them their second straight loss after Tampa Bay had won seven in a row. The Rays dropped back to third place in the AL East, a game behind Baltimore and seven back of the division-leading Yankees. The O's and Rays are the current leaders in the wild card race.


National League

While not quite the effort of Felix Hernandez, Cincinnati's Mike Leake pitched a whale of a game in the Reds' 6-1 win over the Mets, allowing four hits and one earned in his second complete game of the season.

Mike Leake

Leake, 5-7, out-dueled Mets' knuckleballer, R.A. Dickey, striking out four wihtout issuing a walk as the Reds took their second straight at Citi Field. Leake also aided his own cause at the plate, singling home Todd Frazier in the seventh inning.

Todd Frazier

The Mets only run came in the fourth inning, when Leake got into a bit of a jam, giving up consecutive singles with no outs and putting runners at first and third, before inducing a double play hit into by Daniel Murphy and getting David Wright on a line out to end the inning. That tied the game at 1-1, but the Reds responded in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back home runs by Scott Rolen and Todd Frazier, putting Cincinnati on top, 3-1, a lead they would not relinquish.

Frazier, a replacement for injured Joey Votto, has been a godsend to the Reds. He was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs in the win, and is hitting .286 with 15 homers and 49 RBI in just 290 at-bats.

Since the all star break, the Reds have been absolutely on fire, winning 24 of 32 games, despite a five game losing streak last week. With their win over the Mets they've won five straight and lead the Pirates and Cardinals by seven games in the NL Central.

The series with the Mets wraps up Thursday night at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The Reds will be looking for the sweep.