MLB Player News

Shortstop Brandon Crawford continues to be a surprise source of run production for the Giants, as he drove in three more runs in a 10-4 win over the Braves.

Crawford hit his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the eighth inning. That came after his RBI single in the first inning, ad he finished with three RBI while going 3 for 5 with two runs scored.

Crawford is already at 20 RBI on the season, nearly halfway to his career-high total of 45. He is hitting .258/.342/.461 in 128 at-bats.  

With second baseman Omar Infante going on the DL, the Royals called up infielder Pedro Ciriaco from Triple-A Omaha. He's appeared in one game for the Royals this year.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada came into Sunday's game against the Phillies mired in a terrible offensive slump to begin May. For one day, however, he put an end to his offensive woes, knocking in the winning run with a walk-off single in the 11th inning of a 5-4 win Sunday.

Tejada finished 2 for 4 with one double and two walks. He came into the game 0 for 15 in his first six May games.

"It feels pretty good after a rough week for me and the team," said Tejada, who recently lost his starting job at shortstop.

Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon continued to excel out of the leadoff spot Saturday, going 2 for 3 with one walk, two runs, one RBI and three stolen bases in his team's 6-2 win over the Giants.

Gordon reached base on a single in his first at-bat then promptly stole second and third base, though the offense wasn't able to bring him home. After grounding out in his next at-bat, he walked to start the bottom of the sixth and stole second base again. He came around to score that inning and scored again after an RBI double in the seventh. Gordon has been wildly impressive in the first six weeks of the season, hitting .336/.369/.443 with 21 runs and a league-leading 24 stolen bases that doubles his nearest competitors in the category.

Red Sox manager John Farrell believes Xander Bogaerts may be chasing pitches that aren't in the strike zone. However, Bogaerts believes he's been unlucky at the plate lately, the Boston Herald reports.

"I've got a few at-bats where I've hit the ball hard right at someone," Bogaerts said. "In Toronto, I hit into a double play with a runner on second on a hard-hit ball. When it ain't falling, it ain't falling. But (the hits) are right around the corner. They're coming. It's a matter of time, man, once it all turns around."

The rookie shortstop has just four hits in his last 32 at-bats, with eight strikeouts with runners in scoring position. He is hitting .268 with one home run and five RBI in 112 at-bats.

Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada went hitless in two at-bats Wednesday at Miami, dropping his season average to .183. Tejada is hitless in 14 at-bats in May.

"I just think he's trying a little bit too hard. He's swinging at some very marginal pitches," hitting coach Dave Hudgens said. "Yesterday he swung at two pitches that were up and in and hit groundballs. We're kind of searching, wanting to get hits, as opposed to having a good approach and getting a good ball to hit and don't try to force it. I think he's just trying to force it a little bit right now."

Red Sox rookie shortstop Xander Bogaerts has been given the night off for the Wednesday clash against Cincinnati. Jonathan Herrera has taken his place.

Bogaerts has been steady at the plate in recent weeks. He's hit safely in all but three games since April 16 and owns a stat line of .268/.357/.379.

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts has been great with the bases empty. He is batting .328 with a .438 on-base percentage when he steps to the plate with no runners on base.

The only issue is that he struggles with runners on base, particularly with runners in scoring position. He is batting just .125 with a .188 slugging percentage and four RBI with runners in scoring position through 26 games. Despite his struggles in this area, Bogaerts' confidence is not shaken.

"What’s going on right now is that things aren’t falling," Bogaerts said, per WEEI.com. "The hits aren’t coming when I need them, but it’ll turn around. You can’t keep a good man down for too long."

Hitting coach Greg Colbrunn feels Bogaerts is performing well at the plate despite his struggles in clutch at-bats.

"He’s doing well overall," Colbrunn said. "He’s swinging the bat good, seeing a lot of pitches and drawing walks. He might be pressing just a little with runners in scoring position, but for the most part, he’s stayed within himself and we’re going to continue to do what we’re doing and just try to concentrate on keeping positive."

Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings went 1 for 5 with his first home run of the season in his team's 7-5 win over the Brewers Tuesday.

Owings came through with a solo home run in the sixth inning to break up what was otherwise a down night at the plate. He has hit .298/.348/.404 in 104 at-bats.

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford produced his first career multihomer game, going deep twice in a 4-1 win over the Braves. Crawford entered the day with one homer this season.

Crawford hit a solo shot in the fourth and a two-run blast in the eighth. His 2-for-4 performance upped his average to .264.