BIRTHDAY PARTY: Carl Crawford celebrated his 31st birthday yesterday, going 3-for-5 with 2 runs, an RBI and a stolen base…Since at least 1918, he is the 1st player to tally 3 hits and a stolen base on his birthday.
Crawford has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 games at a .333 clip (12-for-36) with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, 9 RBI and 8 runs…He has tallied 3 hits in 2 of his last 3 contests and is hitting .345 (10-for-29) with 8 RBI and 7 runs over the 1st 7 games of the current 10-game homestand.
GOING GONZO: Adrian Gonzalez – who went 2-for-3 with a homer, 3 RBI and a walk yesterday – has reached safely in each of his last 12 games since 7/24, reaching at least twice in 7 of his last 9 contests…Gonzalez has at least 2 hits in 20 of 37 games since 6/23 and leads the AL with a .393 AVG (57-for-145) in that time…He has at least 1 hit in all but 5 of his last 40 games dating back to 6/20, lifting his AVG to .304, 12th best in the AL.
Gonzalez leads the Majors with a .410 AVG (43-for-105) with runners in scoring position this season, including a .514 clip (19-for-37) with RISP since 6/20.
SECOND-HALF SURGE: With 21 RBI since the All-Star break, Adrian Gonzalez ranks tied for 2nd in the AL…His .392 AVG (31-for-79) is 3rd in the circuit in the 2nd half and he is 7th with a .435 OBP.
