Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha is Monday's Player of the Day among the four League Division Series playoff games.
Wacha gave up only one hit—a solo home run—over 7 1/3 innings and struck out nine in the 2-1 win over the Pirates to tie the National League Division series 2-2. Wacha had a no-hitter going into the eighth inning when he gave up the home run to Pedro Alvarez.
Wacha had 3.0 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 361st overall. However, he didn't make his Box-Toppers debut until Sept. 8 (the first time he earned Player of the Game honors) and on Sept. 24, he was Box-Toppers Player of the Day, when he was one out away from a no-hitter against the Nationals.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw earned Player of the Game honors in the other NLDS game. Kershaw, Box-Toppers 2013 Player of the Season, had not been scheduled to start Monday but opted to make his first career start on short rest (he last started Thursday, Oct. 3). He pitched six innings and struck out six in the 4-3 win to eliminate the Braves in the NLDS series 3-1. Kershaw earned a no-decision because he left with the game tied 2-2.
Kershaw had 21.7 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, the most of any player. The Dodgers advance to the best-of-seven NL Championship Series against either the Pirates or the Cardinals beginning Friday.
Jose Lobaton of the Rays is American League Player of the Day. Lobaton hit a walk-off homer in the 5-4 win over the Red Sox. The Rays trail the series 2-1 but force a Game Four. Lobaton had 3.5 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 299th overall.
Coco Crisp of the Athletics is Player of the Game in the other ALDS game. Crisp was 3-for-4 in the 6-3 win over the Tigers. The Athletics lead the series 2-1. Crisp had 4.0 Box-Toppers points for the season, ranking 255th overall.
Coming Tuesday: Both American League Division Series continue Tuesday. Here are the pitching match-ups:
ALDS Game 4, Athletics lead Tigers 2-1
Athletics: Dan Straily, 7.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 96th overall
Tigers: Doug Fister, 6.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 113th overall
ALDS Game 4, Red Sox lead Rays 2-1
Red Sox: Jake Peavy, 8.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 84th overall
Rays: Jeremy Hellickson, 6.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 136th overall
In regular season games, 2.0 Box-Toppers points are awarded for Player of the Day, 1.7 for top player in the opposite league, 1.5 for top batter in each league and 1.0 for the top player in each of the other games. However, no Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason.
Top player from each game
Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score
| 1007 | Score | Team | BATTERS | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | - | - | PITCHERS | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | 11.1 | Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Michael Wacha (W, 1-0) | 7.1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | |||
| 6.0 | `Dodgers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Clayton Kershaw | 6.0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |||
| AL | 2.0 | Rays | Jose Lobaton C | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 1.0 | Athletics | Coco Crisp CF | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.