Chris Sale Fans 12 As Red Sox Blank Blue Jays; Stephen Strasburg Bats His Way to 12th Win, Leads NL

Players of the Day for Thursday, July 18, 2019

American League

Sale: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 12 K

Still on the outside looking in at the AL wild card race, the Boston Red Sox got a needed boost from Chris Sale, as the seven-time all-star allowed two hits and no runs over six innings, striking out 12 in a 5-0 Boston win.

Despite a 4-9 record, Sale is second in Al strikeouts with 172, trailing Houston's Gerrit Cole, who leads the majors with 194.

Boston's bullpen finished the shutout, no-hitting the Jays through the seventh, eighth and ninth.

At 53-44, the Red Sox are two games behind the Rays and A's for the second wild card. Cleveland has surged to claim the first wild card by one game, with a 55-40 mark.

Boston took three of four from the Blue Jays and are 4-3 since the all-star break. They head to Baltimore for a three-game series, starting Friday at 7:05 pm ET.

National League

12-4 Strasburg Leads AL

Taking the lead in NL wins with his 12th of the year, Stephen Strasburg didn't pitch his best game in Washington's 13-4 whipping of the Braves, but he did hit the highlight reel pretty hard at the plate, socking a three-run homer and singling in two more runs as the Nationals inched closer to first-place Atlanta in the East.

Strasburg only lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and three earned runs, fanning seven, but, thanks to an eight-run third inning, the Nationals really didn't need to extend their ace. Three relievers mopped up the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing the Braves just one more tally after Strasburg's departure.

Leading off the third inning with a single, Strasburg scored on Adam Eaton's triple and homered later in the frame. His two-RBI single came in the fifth, padding the Washington lead.

Teammate Max Scherzer leads the NL in strikeouts with 181. Arizona's Robbie Ray is second with 152; Strasburg is next, at 151.

The result of Thursday's contest in Atlanta left the Nationals 5 1/2 games behind the Braves, the closest they've been to the division lead since late April. The Nationals are 14-4 since June 25th. Atlanta has lost three straight.

Thursday's game was the first of four in Washington. Game two of the series is Friday at 7:20 pm ET.

Amed Rosario Powers Mets to 14-4 Win at Twins; Jurickson Profar Belts a Pair of HRs as A's Win 6th Straight

Players of the Day for Wednesday, July 17, 2019

American League

Profar: 2 HRs, 4 RBI

After winning their sixth straight - a 10-2 pounding of the Mariners - the Oakland A's are part of a four-team pack seeking two wild card spots, the others being the Red Sox, Rays, and Indians. The A's, however, are eyeing a more distinct entry point into the playoffs, namely the AL West crown, as they have a firm grip on second place in the division, a mere 4 1/2 games behind the Astros.

In Wednesday's conquest, Oakland played their own version of home run derby, socking six out of their park in a dazzling power display. Long balls by Chad Pinder, Ramon Laureano, Mark Canha, and Jurickson Profar accounted for all of the A's runs.

Pinder had a three-run shot, Laureano a solo blast, while Canha belted two solo homers and Profar launched a pair of two-run blasts. Profar, the sixth-season second baseman, was acquired by the A's from the Rangers following the 2018 season. He also walked and scored on Pinder's home run.

The A's begin a seven-game road trip on Thursday, with four games at Minnesota followed by three at first-place Houston. Game time for the open in Minnesota Thursday is 8:10 pm ET.

National League

Rosario: 4-4, HR, 3b, 4R

The New York Mets completed their only visit to the Twin Cities this season with a resounding, 14-4, romp over the home-standing Twins, desperately holding onto first place in the AL Central after dropping two straight to the invaders from New York.

Trailing 3-2 entering the seventh inning, the Mets went on a hitting binge, scoring three runs in the seventh, five in the eighth, and three more in the ninth.

With a spectacular day at the plate, Mets' shortstop, Amed Rosario went 4-for-4 with a home run, triple and two singles, scoring four times and driving in three runs.

One of the hottest hitters of late, Rosario is batting a brilliant .545 over this last seven games.

After splitting a pair of games in New York, the Mets stole two from the Twins at home. The Mets have won four straight while Minnesota has dropped three in a row and now lead the charging Cleveland Indians by only four games. The Indians have won four straight and are 8-2 over their last 10.

On Thursday, the Mets head West to San Francisco, while the Twins remain home, opening a four-game series with Oakland.

Matt Chapman Delivers in A's 5th Straight Victory; Phillies' Bryce Harper Walks Off Dodgers for 9-8 Win

Players of the Day for Tuesday, July 16, 2019

American League

Chapman heats up for A's

Winners of five straight, the Oakland Athletics rode the arm of Daniel Mengden (7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER) and the white-hot bat of Matt Chapman to a 9-2 win over the visiting Mariners.

While Mangden was mowing down Seattle batters en route to a 5-1 mark, Chapman was lacing balls to left field and beyond, going 3-for-5 with a single, double and his 22nd home run, a two-run shot in the fifth inning that put the A's up 4-1. Immediately following Chapman's blast, Matt Olson ripped his 20th dinger and the rout was on.

Chapman accounted for five RBI, bringing his total to 59 on the season. In his last 15 games, Chapman is 20-for-57 (.351), with four homers and 16 RBI, helping the A's to within 4 1/2 games of West division-leader, Houston.

In just his third season, the 26-year-old is having the best of it, already closing in on career marks in home runs and RBI. He socked 24 long balls in 2018, driving in 68 runs in 145 games. His numbers this year are in just 93 games.

The A's look to complete the sweep in game three of the series, Wednesday, 3:37 pm ET.

National League

Harper: 3-5, HR, 5RBI

After signing a blockbuster long-term contract, Bryce Harper got off to a very slow start with his new team, the Phillies, this season, but as the weather has warmed up, so has Harper's bat.

In Tuesday's 9-8 victory over the Dodgers, Harper was the walk-off hero, doubling in a pair of runs with one out in the ninth to turn the score around and saddle LA closer, Kenley Jansen, with his fourth blown save.

Earlier, in the second inning, Harper smoked a three-run blast to put the Phillies up, 6-1, but the potent Dodger offense rallied to erase that lead, holding an 8-6 edge heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Prior to Harper's final shot, Scott Kingery singled home Andrew Knapp to close the gap to 8-7. Jansen gave up four hits, retiring only one batter.

For Harper, a six-time all-star, the five RBI upped his total to 67. His homer was #17 on the year. In his last 15 games, Harper is batting .315 with four homers and 13 RBI.

The win left Philly 8 1/2 off the pace in the AL East, led by the Atlanta Braves. Washington is currently in second place, 6 1/2 out. The Phils can write their own ticket in the division, as they have five games left with Washington and 10 against the Braves, seven of those at home.

The Phillies host the Dodgers in game three of the four-game set, Wednesday at 7:05 pm ET.

Brandon Crawford Drives in 8 in 19-2 Giants' triumph; Rays Down Yanks, 5-4, with 3 HRs by Travis d'Arnaud

Players of the Day for Monday, July 15, 2019

American League

Trailing the Yankees by six games in the race for the AL East crown, the Tampa Bay Rays opened a crucial four-game series in New York on Monday.

d'Arnaud: 3-3, 3HR, 5RBI

Thanks to the efforts of catcher Travis d'Arnaud, the Rays managed a 5-4 win, all of their runs coming off three homers by d'Arnaud.

The Rays' backstop mashed solo shots in the first and third innings, giving the Rays a lead, but, two homers by Edwin Encarnacion and one by Urshela, left the Rays down 4-2 heading into the ninth.

d'Arnaud stepped into the spotlight with two aboard in the ninth, cracking his third homer of the game into the right field stands for a 5-4 edge that Rays relievers made stand, completing a perfect night with three homers, a pair of walks and five RBI in three official at-bats.

The win left the Rays five behind the Yankees. Game two of the series is Tuesday at 7:05 pm ET in New York.

National League

Crawford: 5-6, 2HR, 8RBI

San Francisco may be in last place in the NL West, but they sure didn't look the part Monday, walloping the Rockies, 19-2 in the opener of a four-game set in Denver.

Of their 21 hits, the Giants banged out 10 for extra bases, including a pair of homers by Brandon Crawford, who went 5-for-6, driving in eight runs, scoring three times.

Crawford also helped the Giants take both ends of the day-night double-header, socking a solo shot in San Fran's 2-1 win over the Rockies in the nightcap.

The power performance has come suddenly for the 32-year-old Crawford, of his nine homers this year, six of them have come in his last 30 games.

If the Giants continue beating the Rockies, they won't remain in last place for long. With the Dodgers running off with a 15-game lead over Arizona in the division, San Francisco is 17 games back, Colorado 16 games back. In between them, the Padres are 16 1/2 out.

The Giants and Rockies resume their rivalry on Tuesday. Game three is slated for an 8:40 start, ET.