Wells Crushes Two for Toronto; Renteria Goes 5-for-5

Players of the Day for Wednesday, April 7, 2010 American League The questions surrounding Vernon Wells' power stroke persisted through the 2009 season and into the Winter and Spring. Wells, considered a power hitter capable of knocking in 100 runs and putting 25 or more balls over various outfield walls, but last season he only hit 15 home runs and drove in a paltry 66, his lowest totals since becoming a full-time player in 2002. Maybe the needling from the press or the rumor mill got to Wells, because it appears he's recovered the power. In Toronto's 7-4 win at Texas Wednesday night, Wells broke a 3-3 tie with a 2-run blast in the 5th, then added an insurance run with his second homer of the night (and third of the season), a solo shot to left field. He also scored a run in the 4th, after being hit by a pitch, and another in the seventh, coming around the bases after a one-out walk. Wells crossed the plate 4 times on his 2-for-3 night, with 3 RBI. Two games into the season, Wells is batting .714.

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Here's a batting average you don't see very often: .727, but that's what Edgar Renteria is hitting after going 5-for-5 in San Francisco's 10-2 victory at Houston. Renteria's hits were all singles, but that's probably not bothering him, because the Giants are 3-0, in first place in the NL West and leave Houston with a sweep of their season-opening series. Renteria did score one run and drove in two. He's had 11 at-bats this season, banging out 8 hits in those trips to the plate - seven singles and one double. The Columbian-born shortstop is not unused to carrying a high batting average. In 15 seasons, he's finished four of them with an average over .300 and is a career .288 hitter.

Zito, Young Each Toss 6 Shutout Innings; Crawford Single Plates Pair in 9th

Players of the Day for Tuesday, April 6, 2010 American League

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Carl Crawford only had one hit in his four at-bats, but it was a 9th inning scratch single that drove home teammates Sean Rodriguez and Kelly Shoppach with the tying and game-winning runs in Tampa Bay's 4-3 home opening win over the Baltimore Orioles. Crawford's timely hit came off Baltimore closer Mike Gonzalez, who entered the game with a run run lead, but left it after getting only one out in the 9th and allowing a pair of Rays to cross the plate. Blown saves are nothing new for Gonzalez, who blew 7 of 17 opportunities last season. On Tuesday night, he opened the 9th by fanning Pat Burrell, but then allowed a single to Rodriguez and a double by Shoppach. After intentionally walking Jason Bartlett, Crawford delivered the decisive blow.

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National League Two pitching performances were so strong that there was no way to separate them; thus, San Francisco's Barry Zito (left) and San Diego's Chris Young (right) share Player of the Day honers in the NL. In the Giants' 3-0 win over Houston, the only Astro batter Barry Zito couldn't retire was second baseman Jeff Keppinger (2 doubles, walk). Other than him, Zito shut down Houston on one hit and no walks over six innings. All told, Zito allowed 3 hits and a walk, while striking out five. Zito is a key to the Giants' success this season, already having moved into the #2 slot after Tim Lincecum got them their first win of the season on Monday. The 2-0 Giants are the only NL West team without a loss.

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In San Diego's 6-3 win over Arizona, starter Chris Young worked a very impressive 6 full innings, allowing just one hit (to Justin Upton in the 4th) and 3 walks with 5 Ks. After an error in the first inning, Young set down 9 in a row before Upton's single, but never let a runner past second base. Young, who was a stud for the Padres from 2005-2007, with a 32-20 record, sustained injuries in each of the past two seasons and returned a combined sub-par record of 11-12. Back at full strength, Young is expected to pick up much of the slack left by the departed Jake Peavy. Thus far, he's off to a fine beginning.

Buehrle Shuts Down Indians; Polanco Slams for Phillies

Players of the Day for Monday, April 5, 2010

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American League The Chicago White Sox opened their 2010 campaign in sharp fashion, getting 7 scoreless innings from starter Mark Buehrle while putting up 6 runs against division rival Cleveland for the 6-0 win in their home opener. Buehrle was in command from the get-go, limiting the Indians to just three hits, walking one and fanning three. Buehrle, who was 13-10 last season with the Sox, threw 95 pitches, 63 of them for strikes. Reliever J.J. Putz worked the 8th and Matt Thornton mopped up with a hitless 9th. The White Sox are seeking to return to the top of the AL Central, a position they held at the end of the 2008 season, but failed to repeat in 2009.

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National League After losing the World Series to the Yankees last season, one thing the Phillies needed to do was replace Pedro Feliz at third base with a more consistent - and potent - bat, so they shopped around and plucked Placido Polanco from the Tigers, an infielder who can play second or third base and a career .303 batting average.

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Polanco made an immediate impact in Monday's opener at Washington, going 3-for-5 with 6 RBI, 4 of which came on a 7th inning grand slam that put away the lowly Nationals by an 11-1 score. His 2 other RBI came on a sacrifice fly in the Phillies' 5-run 4th and a run-scoring single in the 6th. Roy Halladay picked up the win, his first for the Phillies and first career NL victory.

Pedrioa, Youkilis Power Red Sox Past Yankees

Players of the Day for Sunday, April 5, 2010 American League The Yankees and red Sox renewed the most-heralded rivalry in baseball with a opening night thriller at Fenway Park. C.C. Sabathia was cruising along with a 5-1 lead after 4 innings when the burly hurler's pitch count began to rise and the big guy started missing his spots. After giving up a run in the 5th, disaster struck in the 6th when Dustin Pedroia (left) walked to open the inning, then Sabathia gave up a double to Victor Martinez and a triple to Kevin Youkilis (right), which plated 2 more runs. After David Ortiz grounded out, Sabathia was pulled, throwing 104 pitches in 5 1/3 innings. Things were getting interesting. Adrian Beltre greeted reliever David Robertson with an RBI single and the game was tied, but the Red Sox were just gearing up. The Yankees came back with two runs of their own in the 7th, but Pedroia responded with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame, and Youkilis doubled, took third on a Damaso Marte wild pitch and scored what proved to be the game winner on Jorge Posada's passed ball. Pedroia singled home another run in the bottom of the 8th and Jonathan Papelbon shut down the Yanks in the 9th for the 9-7 Red Sox win. Youkilis had one heck of a night, going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 3 runs. All of his hits went for extra bases: two doubles and a triple, but, best of all, the Red Sox started 2010 with a win over the world champion Yankees. National League There were no National League games scheduled.