Thursday's Standouts

Cardinals 1st baseman Jose Martinez -- one of baseball's rare late bloomers -- had four hits, including a home run and six RBIs, in a 13 - 4 demolition of the Reds.
Below, Twins 1st baseman Joe Maurer -- now in his 15th season -- reached 2000 career hits, driving in a pair of runs on a 7th inning single in Minnesota's win over the White Sox. He joins Twins legends -- and Cooperstown inductees -- Kirby Puckett and Rod Carew in that select circle.
The image of Martinez is from the Cardinals/Mets game on April 1st; I saw Mauer in the Twins/Red Sox exhibition on March 7th.

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