After each day of baseball, VAVEL USA will recap the top three pitchers and top three hitters during the multiple games throughout the day.
April 8, 2015 featured: a player who hit three home runs in a single game, a pitcher who was a shining pinnacle of efficiency in his first start with his ball club, an 11th Inning walk-off hit and more!
PITCHERS:
1. Scott Kazmir (1-0, 0.00 ERA) - Oakland Athletics: Win, 7.0 innings, one hit, two walks, 10 strikeouts and a 0.43 WHIP against the Texas Rangers.
The 31-year-old won 15 games last season and looks to have another promising season in his second year with Oakland. His next start will be against Scott Feldman and the Astros on Monday.
2. Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 0.00 ERA) - Cleveland Indians: Win, 6.1 innings, three hits, one walk, 10 strikeouts and a 0.63 WHIP against the Houston Astros.
3. Aaron Harang (1-0, 0.00 ERA) - Philadelphia Phillies: Win, 6.1 innings, two hits, one walk, eight strikeouts and a 0.47 WHIP against the Boston Red Sox.
HITTERS:
1. Adrian Gonzalez (.769, 5 HR, 7 RBIs) - Los Angeles Dodgers: 4-for-4, one single, three home runs, three runs and four RBIs against the San Diego Padres.
Gonalzez is the first player his history to have five homers in the first three games of the season. The 32-year-old hits a .342 career average with 13 homers and 40 RBIs in 50 games against the Padres.
2. Anthony Gose (.500, 0 HR, 3 RBIs) - Detroit Tigers: 3-for-6, one single, one double, one triple, one run and 3 RBI's against the Minnesota Twins.
3. Joey Votto (.400, 0 HR, 2 RBIs) - Cincinnati Reds: 2-for-6, two singles and 2 RBIs against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Votto shot a single to right field in the bottom of the 11th inning to score Zack Cozart and give the Reds a 5-4 win over the division-rival Pirates.