Each night we’ll provide you with the nine top story lines from the day’s action, beginning with the stars of the day, and look ahead to the next day’s matchups.

Tigers outfielderJ.D. Martinez was unstoppableSunday, launching three home runs and driving in a career-highsix runs in a 12-4 blowout win over the Yankees.It was the first multi-home run game of his career.

Martinez was on his game early, blastingthe second pitch he saw fromMasahiro Tanakaover the wall in the first inning. Afterstrikingout in the third, hecame back to slugthe first pitch of the fifthto almost the same spot as his first home run.Then in the sixth,Martinez smashed a three-run shot off reliever Danny Burawato tallyhis third homer of the game.

MORE: |

Meanwhile, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper ignited anine-run first inning with his 24th home run of the season as Washingtonseta new club record for runs scored in the first inning and tiedits record for runs scored in any inning. As they completedtheir three-game sweep of the Pirates, the Nationals saw twelve batters slugeight hits to dismantle right-handerCharlie Morton. Afterhomeringfor the second day in a row, Harpernowtrails MLB leader Giancarlo Stantonby one.

Here are more highlights from Sunday’s games:

Impact Players:

C Brian McCann, Yankees:Despite the Yankees’ ugly lo s to the Tigers,McCann went 2 for 4 with a home run. He now has 10 homers and 43RBIs on the season.

1B Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers:Gonzalez finished 3 for 4 with a home run as the Dodgers slaughtered the Giants to avoid a three-game sweep. He’s hitting.297 with 12 homers and 45 RBIs this season.

2B Dee Gordon, Marlins: Gordon went 3for5 with a stolen base and a run scored, though Charles Haley Jerseys the Marlins weren’t able to overcome the Reds. He’shitting .356with 24 stolen bases in 33 opportunities.

SS Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox:Bogaerts finished3 for5 withthreeRBIs andonerun as the Red Sox crushed the Royals. He is hitting .292 with an on-base percentage of.329.

3B Maikel Franco, Phillies: Franco went 3for5 with an RBI double and a run scored as the Phillies handily defeated the Cardinals. He nowhas three straightmulti-hit games.

OF Melky Cabrera, White Sox: Cabrerawent 5for5 with four singles and a doubleas the White Sox topped the Rangers in extra innings. Heboostedhis season batting line from .236/.276/.274 to .250/.288/.291 in the outing.

DH Jimmy Paredes, Orioles: Paredes finished3for6 with a home run and three RBIs in the Orioles’ victory over the Blue Jays. Histhree-run homer capped off a seven-run second inning for Baltimore.

SP Jeremy Hellickson, Diamondbacks: Hellicksonracked up a season-high seven strikeouts in the Diamondbacks’victory over the Padres, allowing two runs on six hits over six strong innings. Theveteran right-hander didn’t i sue a walk duringhis outing.

Key Injuries:

Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was forced to leave thegame against the Brewers after sustaining a .

Surprise Performers:

Good: Braves pitcherJulio Teheran:Teheranearned his fifth victory of the season afterallowing just one Jerry Rice T Shirts hit over seven shutout innings against the Mets. Healso allowed a pair of walks while striking out five in hisimpre sive outing.

Bad:Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton: Morton couldn’t escape the first inning against the Nationals, surrendering nine runs in two-thirds of an inning as the Pirates lost big.He entered the game with a 1.62 ERA but itskyrocketed to 3.97 when he was pulled with two outs inthe first.

Web Gems:

White Sox outfielderMelky Cabrera made a sweet save.

The Melk Man still delivers on Sundays.

MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs)

Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar slammed into the wall to make a leaping catch after carefullytrackinga deep fly off the bat of Ryan Flaherty.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond made an amazing diving stopbeforefiringa great throw to first for the out.

Your browser does not support iframes.Facts of the Day:

Red Sox slugger David Ortizpa sed Stan Musial and Willie Stargell on MLB’s all-time home runlist. Ortiz now ranks 29th with 476 career homers.

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez is the fourth player to hit three homers in an outingthis season.

3 players had 3-HR games all of 2014; J.D. Martinez is the 4th player with 3 HRs in a game this season

ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo)

J.D. Martinez became the first opposing player to have threehome runsandsixRBIs on road against theYankees sinceBo Jackson in 1990. Before Martinez slugged his threehome runs Saturday, the last Tigers player to havethreehome runs in a game against the Yankees was Charlie Maxwell onMay 3, 1959.

The Nationals completely lost their momentum against the Pirates, though they still walked away with a win.

Nationals: First time a team has scored 9+ runs in 1st inn. and not scored the rest of the game since Dante Pettis Jerseys June 5, 1988 (Yankees 9, Orioles 2)

ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo)

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper homeredfor second day in a row.

Bryce Harpers home run total this season puts him in the company of greats.

ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo)

David Ortiz smashed a monster home run in the Red Sox’s dominatingwin.

David Ortiz’s fourth-inning home run was calculated at 456 feet, the longest HR by a Red Sox player this season.

ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) Reactions:

“It was just one of those days where you take swings and you’re actually hitting the ball how you want to hit it, Joe Montana Jerseys ” Tigers outfielder J.D.Martinez said after his multi-home run game, . “There’s not too many of those days, so you’ve just got to take advantage of them.”

“It was awesome,” Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper said of his powerful first inning home run against the Pirates, . “Being able to do that in the first at-bat. Him being able to come out and enjoy that. Very cool moment. It was a good opportunity to get us on the board. Very happy we got that ‘W’ and got that sweep.”

Off the Field:

Yankees pitcher Sergio Santos will undergo on his rightelbow. Hewas placed on the disabled listwith right elbow inflammation shortly after being called up from the minors.

Despite being roughed upin his most recent minor-league rehabilitation start, right-hander Ivan Novawill be .

Scores:

AL:

NL:

Interleague

A Look Ahead: (All times Eastern)

Phillies (24-47) at Yankees(38-31) 7:05 p.m.:After slugginga season-high 18 hits and beltinga season-high tying five home runs to win four games in a row, the Yankees were handed an ugly 12-4 lo s in their series finale against the Tigers. The team will turn toMichaelPineda(8-3, 3.54 ERA) to help get things back ontrackwhen the Phillies roll into Yankee Stadium Monday.

Royals (39-27) at Mariners(32-38) 10:10p.m.: The first-place Royals will be motivated to get back to their winning ways after falling to the last-place Red Sox twice in their three-game series.Seattle will send KingFlix Hernndez(10-3, 3.08 ERA) to the mound against JoeBlanton(1-0, 1.80 ERA), whopicked up his first victory in nearly two years withThursday’s win over the Brewers.

…