MLB Player News

Struggling Indians first baseman Carlos Santana is the subject of a plea from Terry Francona, who was hoping for far more production.

Santana has endured a long first-half slump for the second straight season. He was hitless in the Sunday doubleheader in weakening his average to .211. It has not been lower all season.

"It's kind of confounding," Francona told MLB.com. "He's a better hitter than what he's shown. We all know that. I don't think I'm overstating it. We desperately need him. He's kind of that connector because he's a switch-hitter and he can be right in the middle and, with his on-base skills, there's just so much he can do when he's going more towards himself than what's been happening."

Santana was at least leading the American League in walks, which has resulted in a .372 on-base percentage. But even those have dried up - he has just two in the last 10 games.

The Angels have called up first baseman C.J. Cron in time to face Yankees left-hander C.C. Sabathia on Monday.

Cron spent much of this season in the big leagues before going down on June 14 after a 3-for-20 slide. He finished his first stint with the Angels sporting a poor slash line of .204/.237/.269.

Orioles first baseman/right fielder Chris Parmelee sat for just the second time in 13 games since his promotion from the minors on Monday against the Rangers.

Parmelee played in both games of Sunday's doubleheader against the Indians. He homered in the second game.

He is batting .302 with one triple, four doubles, four home runs and six RBI in 12 games since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. However, he has struck out 13 times, which has included two strikeouts in each of his last five games.

Orioles first baseman Chris Parmelee continued his recent hot streak at the plate during Sunday's win over the Indians.

Parmelee went 1 for 4 with two RBI in the game.

Over his last five games, Parmelee is hitting .333 with seven hits, four doubles and two RBI.

Kole Calhoun had a big day for the Angels on Sunday, driving in what appeared to be the game-winning run earlier in the contest and then eventually scoring the winning run in extra innings. 

Calhoun's eighth-inning single to shallow right gave Los Angeles a 2-1 advantage over the Mariners, but when the game went to extra innings, Calhoun found himself on the basepaths after a single, moving up to third after an intentional walk and a double play. He then scored when Mariners reliever Tom Wilhelmsen uncorked a wild pitch. 

Calhoun has slumped in June, hitting .221 and the run he scored was only the seventh of the month. 

Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera continued his recent offensive success in Sunday's loss to the Red Sox.

Cabrera went 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI.

Over his last three games, Cabrera is hitting .615 with eight hits, two doubles, a triple and two RBI.

Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun gave his team an early lead on Saturday, as he launched a two-run home run in the very first inning. The home run was Calhoun's seventh of the season, and his first in 13 games. The Angels would go on to beat the Mariners 4-2.

"That's a big hit at the time, obviously," manager Mike Scioscia said, per MLB.com. "I think it did let [Angels starter Garrett Richards] not worry about one pitch or one mistake that could hurt him early. Not many leads we've had early, so it was good to get out in front, and Garrett just pounded the zone with good stuff and made them work."

It was the only hit of the day for Calhoun, who is batting an even .200 over his last 10 games.

Astros first baseman Chris Carter had a big game on Saturday. Carter went 2 for 4 with a double and a solo home run, but the Astros would suffer a 9-6 loss to the Yankees.

Carter hit an RBI double in the second inning, and then added a solo shot in the fourth. The home run was his 13th of the year, 

Over his last 10 games following Saturday's performance Carter is batting a lowly .195, but has two home runs in that span.

Jon Singleton is making his 2015 debut in the Astros starting lineup on Saturday. 

Singleton, called up on Friday, is in the lineup at designated hitter, batting seventh. 

Regular DH Evan Gattis will play the field on Saturday, getting his second start of the season in left field and first since April 28. 

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu hit a go-ahead home run in the third inning of Friday's loss to Detroit.

Abreu went 1 for 4 with his 13th home run and 41st RBI. He went deep for the first time since June 12. His last RBI came a day after that.