Victorino Helps Phils Win Series versus Oakland

By Fred Guzman

Maui’s two major-league baseball players had a chance to renew acquaintances over the weekend in Philadelphia, with Shane Victorino’s Phillies winning two of three outings against Kurt Suzuki’s Oakland Athletics.

The Phillies won the series opener 1-0, lost the second game 4-1 and won the rubber match 3-1.

Victorino’s bat has cooled off over the past week, but the center fielder continues to be one of the most productive hitters for the National League East-leading Phillies, who currently hold a 4.5-game edge over the Atlanta Braves.

Victorino is batting .291 with 47 runs, eight homers and 12 steals in 13 attempts.  His eight triples rank second in the NL behind an amazing 14 by New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes.

Suzuki is in the midst of a 2-for-17 slump that has dropped his season average to a lackluster .222.  He went 2-for-13 in the Phillies’ series.  The A’s are last in the four-team AL West with a 35-44 record.

Meantime, Brandon League continues to play a major role in the resurgence of the Seattle Mariners, who are third in the division, but just two games behind the AL West-leading Texas Rangers.

The hard-throwing right-hander, who starred at Saint Louis School on Oahu, has registered 21 saves, which ties for fourth best in the AL, in 24 opportunities this season.