Showing posts with label major league baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label major league baseball. Show all posts


Ex-MLB Players with VA Connections Among Victims of DR Roof Collapse

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (WWBT) - Two Major League Baseball players with connections to Virginia were among those who died following an incident that claimed hundreds of lives. The rooftop of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic caved in.

Both Octavio Dotel Tony Blanco was extracted from the debris during the night but passed away subsequently.

Dotel, who was 51 years old at the time, began his Major League Baseball career in 1999. He played for 13 different teams and also competed in the minor leagues with the Norfolk Tides. WVEC .

Blanco, who is 44 years old, was part of the Washington Nationals in 2005 and also represented both Japan and the Dominican Republic.

So far, only about several dozen individuals among the confirmed 180 fatalities have been recognized, marking one of the deadliest incidents to occur in the Dominican Republic.



As Cold Front Chills Fenway Park, Red Sox's Bats Go Ice-Cold

The 2025 Red Sox are eager for the chance to compete in cold October conditions over the next few months.

However, temperatures below 40 degrees are quite another matter, particularly during the first few weeks of the new baseball season.

Following Tuesday's 6-1 defeat against the Blue Jays, which had a first pitch temperature of 35 degrees—the third coldest ever recorded for a Red Sox home game— according to Baseball Reference — The rematch against Toronto on Wednesday was welcomed… with temperatures at 46 degrees for the first pitch.

And in keeping with the dismal weather plaguing the Commonwealth at present, the The Red Sox's previously powerful batting lineup at Fenway Park is now entirely covered with ice.

Yeah, there's no excuse," Alex Bregman stated regarding the weather following Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat against Toronto in 11 innings. "Both teams had to play under those conditions. We need to improve. And it begins with me. I need to step up my game.

After scoring 44 runs over a four-game span from April 3-6, the Red Sox have now scored four total runs over their first three games against the Blue Jays on their homestand — unsurprisingly dropping all three matchups as a result.

Although Toronto’s starting pitcher Kevin Gausman delivered an outstanding performance (8 innings, 4 hits, 10 strikeouts), the Red Sox failed to create many opportunities for extended plate appearances or making solid contact with the ball.

Boston’s four hits marked the fewest they’ve collected in a game since getting one-hit by the Rays on Sept. 19, 2024 — with the team now batting just 2-for-29 (0.68) with runners in scoring position over this three-game slide.

"A significant number of strikeouts," remarked an honest Alex Cora when discussing Boston’s batting strategy, noting that they struck out 14 times during Wednesday’s defeat.

Whenever Boston failed to capitalize on strike opportunities, their batters struggled against Gausman and the Blue Jays' pitchers. Gausman and relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman from Toronto needed just five pitches apiece to navigate through the seventh and ninth innings smoothly.

I believe some of these players—you don't want to let them reach two strikes since they have some really effective off-speed pitches," Bregman commented about Toronto’s pitchers. "Therefore, occasionally you might attempt to be proactive with your swings. Clearly, it didn’t pan out tonight, but we'll devise a fresh strategy for tomorrow and take another shot at them.

“I believe they've thrown some effective pitches against us, but clearly we haven't matched that with our own high-quality plate appearances,” he said additionally. “So, let’s focus on tomorrow and aim to change that.”

Boston’s subdued performance at bat thwarted a promising beginning from Tanner Houck, who held Toronto to merely five hits and one run across 6.2 innings. Following the concession of three hits and that solitary run in the opening frame, he didn’t grant another hit until after 15 consecutive batters had been dealt with.

I mean, I have complete faith in them," Houck stated regarding Boston's bats coming alive. "I am aware that they put in tremendous effort and always appear ready. They invest their entire being into it, which is everything I could hope for from them. I understand that situations can change rapidly.

Over the past several seasons, the Blue Jays have had great success playing at Fenway Park—securing victory in seven out of their last nine games there.

Triston Casas — batting just .163 on the year — is looking forward to more matchups against the Blue Jays moving forward, starting with Thursday’s matchup between Walker Buehler and Chris Bassitt.

It's great that we'll get many opportunities to face them since we required these batting practices," Casas stated. "We had to experience failure as it will help us make the necessary adjustments, perform better when we step up next time.

The post As a cold front strikes Fenway Park, the Red Sox's bats are turning icy. appeared first on Diwida | .



Philly Rallies Past Braves in a Nail-Biting See-Saw Battle

In yet another seesaw battle between these two divisional opponents, this time the Atlanta Braves ended up on the losing side. A home run by Trea Turner made all the difference in the tight game, resulting in the Braves narrowly losing with a score of 4-3.

As expected from last night’s anticipated pitcher’s duel that turned into an offensive showdown, tonight’s game began with limited scoring as both pitchers maintained a scoreless streak through the initial innings. Grant Holmes started strong, and so did Taijuan Walker until the third inning arrived.

That’s when the Braves got something going with two outs. Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna hit back-to-back singles before Matt Olson coaxed a walk out of Walker to get him to load the bases. It was up to Austin Riley to make something happen but unfortunately for us Braves fans, Riley popped out in foul territory on a 2-0 count on a cutter (that both Ozuna and Olson laid off of in their at-bats), ending the scoring threat with the bases loaded.

Once that scoring opportunity was out of the picture, the Braves had no option but to proceed with the remainder of the game, hoping fervently that the baseball deities wouldn’t mete out their typical retribution for squandering a bases-loaded chance. However, fortune smiled upon them as the baseball gods showed mercy. Despite this, Nick Castellanos kept up his individual winning streak against Grant Holmes by getting a hit, followed swiftly by Bryson Stott adding another base knock which brought him level at zero hits with others — all while an impressive grab by Austin Riley on a hard-hit ball from J.T. Realmuto stood out in contrast. This sequence left Holmes in a challenging position. struck out Brandon Marsh to put an end to the scoring threat right there.

Holmes reached his pitch limit at 94 during the fourth inning and managed to return for the fifth. He appeared to have struck out Kyle Schwarber for the first out of the fifth, but what seemed like a swing-and-miss was ruled as a foul tip instead. The count went full, resulting in a walk for Schwarber. After this, Grant Holmes' game came to an end.

Aaron Bummer had the responsibility to keep the game scoreless and ensure that Grant Holmes' lineup didn’t get any runs throughout the evening. Fortunately for his team, Bummer rose to the occasion; he fanned Trea Turner and followed that with inducing Bryce Harper to hit an inning-ending double play—much to the joy of the spectators at the Cobb County stadium.

As all of this transpired, Taijuan Walker managed to navigate through the initial five innings without surrendering any runs. However, the Braves nearly marred his clean sheet when they filled the bases against him yet again with just two outs remaining. Following that, Walker left the game, leaving it to Austin Riley to capitalize on their second bases-loaded situation of the evening. Unfortunately for Atlanta, Riley failed to deliver another clutch hit during this encounter; instead, he popped out to shallow right field where the Phillies made an easy catch, thus concluding the second missed scoring opportunity for the team from Atlanta.

Following Aaron Bummer striking out the initial batter he faced in the sixth inning and subsequently conceding a single as part of his routine offering to the BABIP deities, we witnessed Pierce Johnson’s return after missing several games. Johnson nearly escaped a predicament with two outs and runners on base when Bryson Stott grounded towards center field. Although Ozzie Albies retrieved the ball, he fumbled it during the transfer process; meanwhile, Max Kepler took off on a full-count pitch, sprinted home from second base, and scored thanks to this error, putting the Phillies in front during the sixth frame.

The positive development was that the Braves quickly countered when the Phillies managed to score that run in an exasperating manner. Sean Murphy initiated the rally with a walk, followed by Jarred Kelenic reaching base on a one-out double. Unlike before, the Braves capitalized on this opportunity as Orlando Arcia stepped up. A ground ball that inexplicably managed to get past the fielder. both Trea Turner and Alec Bohm and found the outfield for a game-tying single. Michael Harris II then hit one deep and while it wasn’t a homer, it was productive enough to bring home the start-run triggered by a sacrifice fly Although Atlanta failed to score additional runs in that inning, the swift reaction was quite encouraging.

As the seventh inning began, Bryce Harper realized that his team was facing the Braves again – an occasion that always called for more agony. With a runner on base, Dylan Lee threw him a 95 mph fastball down the center of the plate, precisely where Bryce excels at making contact. He promptly sent the ball flying deep into the home bullpen area, giving the Phillies the lead in a single powerful stroke. Although jeering Bryce can be entertaining, you might prefer holding off your boos until they aren’t tinged with frustration following such a mighty shot towards East Point.

Once more, the responsibility fell heavily on the Braves to step up, and as usual, they rose to meet the challenge. This time around, it was Austin Riley who stepped up to bat and came through with flying colors. It appeared as though he was determined to compensate for his earlier misses during this game. absolutely mashed one From Joe Ross and sent it ricocheting off the scoreboard in the road bullpen for an equalizing solo home run.

In the eighth inning, Daysbel Hernández entered the game aiming to maintain the tie after performing well on Tuesday evening. Despite J.T. Realmuto reaching scoring position through a walk and a steal, Daysbel managed to leave him stranded. He achieved this by striking out the batter who attempted another steal and inducing a groundout from Brandon Marsh, thus keeping the match even.

As the game remained deadlocked entering the ninth inning, it became crucial for Raisel Iglesias to step up and secure extra innings at minimum. Given that the Philadelphia Phillies' leadoff hitters were next up, this also set the stage for another confrontation between him and star batter Bryce Harper. However, tragedy struck unexpectedly when Trea Turner, not waiting for Harper to bat, sent a powerful drive over the fence off Iglesias’ pitch; outfielder Eli White couldn’t make the grab as well. This resulted in a decisive home run putting the Phillies ahead. Disappointingly, despite fanning Harper—the third such instance in their rivalry—Iglesias found little solace in this minor victory.

Once again, the responsibility fell on the Braves to find a way to answer back during their half of the ninth inning since some key batters were due up soon too. However, despite this challenge, the Braves did not surrender easily. With runners at first and third base and only one batter away from loading the bases, Sean Murphy stepped up hoping to force extra innings—or perhaps achieve even more. Nevertheless, Jose Alvarado managed to strike out Murphy, sealing the game’s conclusion appropriately for Atlanta—with potential scorers left stranded on base.

The Braves' quest for a series victory goes on. Despite having multiple opportunities throughout the game, they ultimately couldn’t match the Phillies’ key clutch hits. Although Austin Riley hit a home run, the team felt agony watching those missed chances with the bases loaded. They really needed to capitalize on at least one of them. Moving forward, the Braves must concentrate on clinching the series when Spencer Stripling takes the mound for Thursday evening’s contest at 7:15 PM Eastern Time.



Philly Rallies Past Braves in Swingin' Showdown

In another up-and-down affair between two divisional rivals, this time the Atlanta Braves found themselves on the short end of the stick. A late dinger from Trea Turner ended up making the difference as the Braves dropped a close one, 4-3.

As you could’ve probably predicted based on last night’s predicted pitchers’ duel turning into a battle of the bats, tonight’s game started off slow in terms of offense as both pitchers kept their opposition off of the scoreboard in the early goings. Grant Holmes was very sharp to start off and Taijuan Walker was off to a good start, himself, before the third inning rolled around.

That's when the Braves started making some noise with two outs. Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna consecutively hit singles, which set the stage for Matt Olson to draw a walk from Walker, filling the bases. The pressure then fell on Austin Riley, but as we Braves fans know all too well, he fouled out on a 2-0 pitch—a cutter—that both Ozuna and Olson had wisely let go during their turns at bat. This ended our scoring opportunity with the bases full.

Once that scoring opportunity faded away, the Braves had no option but to proceed with the remainder of the game, hoping earnestly that the baseball deities wouldn’t exact their typical retribution for squandering a bases-loaded situation. Fortunately, the baseball powers-that-be showed leniency. Meanwhile, Nick Castellanos maintained his individual winning streak against Grant Holmes by getting a hit, followed swiftly by Bryson Stott adding another base knock which marked his second consecutive at-bat without reaching base safely—although this was somewhat alleviated by Austin Riley’s impressive grab on a line drive off the bat of J.T. Realmuto. This sequence concluded with Holmes stepping back onto the mound. struck out Brandon Marsh to put an end to the scoring threat right there.

Holmes reached 94 pitches after the fourth inning and managed to return for the fifth. It appeared he had struck out Kyle Schwarber for the first out of the fifth, but what seemed like a swinging strike was instead deemed a foul tip. The count eventually filled up, leading to Schwarber walking to first base. After that, Grant Holmes' night came to an end.

Aaron Bummer had the responsibility to keep the game scoreless and ensure that Grant Holmes' lineup didn’t register any scores for the evening. Fortunately for his team, Bummer rose to the occasion; he fanned Trea Turner and subsequently induced Bryce Harper to hit an inning-ending double play—much to the joy of the audience gathered at the stadium in Cobb County.

As this unfolded, Taijuan Walker managed to navigate through the initial five innings without allowing any runs. However, the Braves nearly disrupted his clean slate when they filled the bases against him yet again with just two outs remaining. Following that, Walker left the game, leaving it to Austin Riley to capitalize on their second bases-filled situation of the evening. Unfortunately for Atlanta, Riley couldn’t deliver another significant blow during this match; instead, he lofted a popup into shallow right field which Philadelphia successfully caught, thus concluding the second missed scoring opportunity of the night for the Braves.

Following Aaron Bummer striking out the initial hitter he faced in the sixth before conceding a base hit as part of his regular tribute to the BABIP deities, we witnessed Pierce Johnson’s return after missing one game. Nearly wriggling free from a tight spot with two outs and runners at the corners, Johnson faltered when Bryson Stott grounded towards the shallow outfield area. Despite Ozzie Albies grabbing the ball, he fumbled during the exchange process; this allowed Max Kepler—who had been anticipating the pitch due to being behind in counts—to dash home all the way from second, thereby scoring during the same action which placed the Phillies in front later in the sixth frame.

The good news is that the Braves responded immediately to the Phillies pushing that run past the plate in frustrating fashion. Sean Murphy got things going with a walk and then Jarred Kelenic joined him on the basepaths with a one-out double. This time, the Braves didn’t let this scoring chance pass them by as Orlando Arcia hit a grounder that somehow got through both Trea Turner and Alec Bohm and found the outfield for a game-tying single. Michael Harris II then hit one deep and while it wasn’t a homer, it was productive enough to bring home the initiating sprint on a sacrifice fly Although Atlanta didn’t manage to score additional runs in that inning, the swift reaction was quite encouraging.

As the seventh inning began, Bryce Harper realized he was facing the Braves again – an opportunity for more mischief. With a runner on base, Dylan Lee threw him a 95-mph fastball down the center of the plate; however, this was precisely what Bryce Harper excels at hitting. He sent the ball flying over to the home bullpen, giving the Phillies the lead in a single powerful stroke. Although cheering against Bryce Harper can be entertaining, you might prefer holding your jeers until after he has smashed a homerun deep towards East Point.

Once again, the responsibility fell to the Braves to step up, and as usual, they rose to meet the challenge. This time around, it was Austin Riley who stepped up to bat and came through with a crucial hit. It appeared as though he was determined to compensate for his earlier misses during this game. absolutely mashed one From Joe Ross and sent it ricocheting off the scoreboard in the road bullpen for a tying solo home run.

In the eighth inning, Daysbel Hernández entered the game aiming to maintain the tie after his strong performance on Tuesday evening. Despite J.T. Realmuto advancing to scoring position thanks to a walk and a steal, Daysbel managed to leave him stranded. He achieved this by striking out on the attempted steal and inducing a groundout from Brandon Marsh, thereby keeping the match even.

As the game remained deadlocked going into the ninth inning, it was time for Raisel Iglesias to step up and secure extra innings at minimum. Facing Philadelphia’s potent lineup, he knew a confrontation with Bryce Harper would be imminent since they were about to face the top of the Phillies’ batting order. However, tragedy struck earlier than expected when Trea Turner pounced on Iglesias' pitch, sending a powerful line drive over the fence—a home run that left rookie outfielder Eli White grasping futilely from center field. This play handed Philadelphia the lead. Ironically, despite fanning Harper for just the third time in their rivalry, this minor victory provided little solace amidst the disappointment.

Once again, the responsibility fell to the Braves to find a way to answer back during their half of the ninth inning since some key players were due to bat soon too. However, despite this pressure, the Braves did not yield easily. With runners positioned at first and third base and only two outs remaining, Sean Murphy stepped up to possibly force extra innings—or beyond. Yet, instead, Jose Alvarado managed to strike out Murphy. Consequently, the game concluded aptly for the Braves—with potential runners left unresolved on base.

The quest for a series victory goes on. Despite having multiple opportunities, the Braves ultimately fell short as the Phillies managed to secure key hits throughout the evening. Although Austin Riley hit a home run, those two crucial times when they left the bases loaded was agonizingly difficult to witness. It would have made all the difference if either opportunity had been capitalized upon. Moving forward, the Braves must shift their attention towards securing the series win, with Spencer Stripling set to pitch during Thursday night’s matchup at 7:15 PM ET.



White Sox Suffer Loss as Tied Runner Injures Themselves on Way Home from Third

During Wednesday’s game, the Chicago White Sox got an opportunity to level the score against the Cleveland Guardians in the ninth inning, but they experienced an extraordinarily unlucky event that left them narrowly defeated in a devastating manner.

With the score at 3-1 and only two outs, the bases were filled when Miguel Vargas stepped up to bat for Chicago. He hit a ground ball that went beyond Cleveland’s shortstop and onto the outfield grass. As a result, one run made it across, allowing Mike Tauchman to be signaled in from second base, aiming to tie the game.

As he approached home plate after rounding third base, Tauchman appeared to pull up short due to what seemed like a hamstring issue as he attempted to even the score. Unable to finish his run home, he got tagged out just shy of home plate in a heart-wrenching moment.

Have a look:

Tauchman appeared completely dejected as he hobbled along the baseline toward home plate. Once tagged, he violently threw his helmet onto the dirt and collapsed to the ground in agony.

It was indeed an unfortunate manner for the White Sox to end their season.

More MLB Coverage from Sports Illustrated

The article was initially posted on www.si.com as White Sox Fall to Guardians Following Injured Runner at Third Base .



Skenes Shines: Pirates' Star's Cardinal Curse Continues

On Tuesday evening, April 8, Pittsburgh Pirates' opening pitcher Paul Skenes took the mound at home against the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite his aim to silence the Cardinals' hitters, St. Louis' batters proved resilient.

It was an unusual poor beginning for Skenes, with few spectators present in the stands. As the Pirates lost to the Cardinals 5-3, the ace pitcher addressed reporters following the match regarding the events. This isn't the first occasion where Skenes has faced difficulties playing against St. Louis.

Pirates' Rookie Paul Skenes Discusses Defeat Versus Cardinals

In the 5-3 defeat against St. Louis, Skenes faced difficulties, causing the Pirates' record to drop to 4-8 for the season as the Cardinals moved to 5-6. During this match, he allowed six hits along with five runs, issued one walk, and recorded seven strikeouts. The five runs conceded mark the highest number of runs Skenes has surrendered in an MLB game throughout his career thus far.

Following the match, the key pitcher addressed the press concerning their loss to St. Louis. said It’s nothing I’ll lose sleep over; it’s just a game.

A noteworthy aspect of Skenes' early Major League Baseball career is his record of 0-3 when facing the Cardinals. This particular struggle against the Cardinals might be somewhat unexpected, yet it isn’t entirely unprecedented.

“They just got to a couple of pitches. It’s not like they hit the ball into the river or anything like that. They just found some holes, and I got behind in some counts and kind of let them get good swings off, and they found holes,” Skenes said to the media after the loss.

At the start of the 2025 MLB season, over the first three games, the ace pitcher holds a 1-1 win-loss ratio along with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.44. He has faced 18.3 innings and allowed 12 hits alongside seven runs. Additionally, this player has issued three walks and recorded 20 strikeouts, maintaining a whip rate of 0.82.

“We haven’t seen a lot of rough ones,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton, talking about Skenes’ rough outing against the Cardinals. “But everything that has been on his plate, he’s handled very well. I expect him to come out the next time and be what we expect.”

The next time that Skenes will pitch will most likely be against the Washington Nationals at home. It will be interesting to see how he responds after having a tough outing against the Cardinals.



Red Sox silenced by Gausman in 11-inning loss to Blue Jays

Despite numerous opportunities, the Red Sox were unable to secure the crucial hits they required.

Following an impressive eight-inning performance from Toronto’s starting pitcher Kevin Gausman, which left the Boston Red Sox struggling, they managed to extend the game into extra innings. However, they were unable to prevent the Blue Jays from pulling ahead, ultimately suffering a 2-1 defeat in the eleventh inning.

Bo Bichette scored the lead-run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 11th against Josh Winckowski, and the Red Sox meekly ended their inning, leaving the equalizing run stranded at second.

The Red Sox had an 0-for-11 performance when they had runners in scoring positions, which included going 0-for-6 during extra innings. They have now dropped three consecutive games and find themselves beneath the .500 mark again.

"We need to improve," stated Red Sox manager Alex Cora after the match.

In the opening frame, both squads had chances to make their mark. The Blue Jays consecutively hit three singles off Tanner Houck, filling up the bases with just one retiree needed. However, they could only muster one score via a Will Wagner RBI groundout. On the flip side, the Red Sox saw Jarren Duran start things off with a single. He then swiped second base and advanced further to third due to an error, quickly positioning himself for a potential tally.

However, when Alex Bregman hit one deep into the furthest reaches of the Green Monster, Blue Jays center fielder Nathan Lukes managed to leap magnificently and made an astounding grab, preventing Bregman from advancing further and confining the Red Sox to just a sacrificial fly which evened the score at 1-1.

Following that, scoring opportunities became scarce.

Houck delivered his finest performance this season, successfully getting 15 out of 17 Toronto Blue Jays hitters between the first and sixth innings. Anytime a batter reached base during that period, they quickly ended their at-bat by grounding into double plays.

In the fourth inning, Andres Gimenez went for a walk but incorrectly interpreted a follow-up line from Will Wagner, resulting in an effortless double play. Later, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got a single in the sixth, Anthony Santander hit a sharp liners right into the mitt of first baseman Triston Casas. This left Guerrero Jr. unable to do anything as Casas merely needed to take one step towards the base to finish off the double play.

Houck started struggling with his pitch count in the seventh, giving up a single and walking a batter to open the frame, yet he recovered by inducing a double play from Alejandro Kirk. Justin Wilson then entered the game and ended the inning with a groundout, leaving the potential tying runner stranded at third base.

Houck concluded his performance allowing one run across 6.2 innings, giving up five hits, issuing two walks, and recording two strikeouts. He delivered a total of 90 pitches, out of which 55 were strikes.

At the same time, Gausman thoroughly outperformed the frigid Red Sox lineup.

For a long time, Gausman has been a source of frustration for Boston. After Duran’s opening hit in the first inning, he retired 23 out of 26 hitters until the conclusion of the eighth frame. The lone exception among Red Sox players able to challenge him effectively was Rafael Devers, who managed back-to-back doubles yet failed to score either time. In the eighth, Kristian Campbell got a base knock, but Gausman responded with a pop-out followed by turning one into a double play, thus ending his performance impressively.

Gausman concluded the game with 10 strikeouts, marking his 26th career appearance where he recorded at least 10 strikeouts, including three against Boston. Over eight innings, he gave up just one unearned run on four hits without issuing any walks. Gausman was efficient, as 68 out of his 93 pitches were strikes.

Justin Slaten delivered a flawless eighth inning, followed by Aroldis Chapman who managed to navigate through a leadoff single by Guerrero (who had three hits out of four). In an impressive moment, he struck out Santander with a 102-mph fastball that left him swinging. However, the Red Sox were subdued in the bottom of the ninth, managing just seven swings against Blue Jays' relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman, which led them into extra innings without scoring.

One out of five innings saw the Red Sox being retired with only 10 or fewer pitches, an occurrence mentioned by multiple players as partly due to their efforts not to find themselves in two-strike counts against Gausman and the rest of the Blue Jays' pitching staff.

Some of these players become quite dangerous when they reach two strikes due to their ability to strike out opponents effectively," Bregman explained. "So occasionally, one might attempt to take control early in the match." He added, "Clearly, our strategy did not pay off this evening; however, we will devise a fresh approach for tomorrow and tackle them anew.

When you find yourself trailing in the count as a batter, it exposes you to various additional pitch types, yet it can also lead to an overzealous approach," Casas stated. "Our focus has been on making contact with the ball because that’s how we generate runs and secure victories. Therefore, taking control early and subsequently broadening our options has proven effective for them, particularly today with Gausman who excelled at this using his fastball.

Greg Weissert pitched a scoreless 10th inning, yet even with Casas advancing the extra-innings phantom runner to third at the start of the tenth frame, the Red Sox were unable to bring him across as the winning run. Trevor Story and Campbell both swung out to eliminate the danger, and subsequently finding themselves trailing in the 11th, David Hamilton, Rob Refsnyder, and Jarren Duran consecutively grounded out to conclude the match.

Giolito steps onto the mound for Worcester Sox

In his most recent rehabilitation appearance with the Worcester Red Sox on Wednesday evening, Lucas Giolito conceded one run off three hits and three walks, along with recording three strikeouts, spanning across 3.1 innings. Of the total 64 pitches he delivered, 34 were strikes. The sole run was attributed to him giving up two doubles in the initial inning.

Unless there are any complications, Giolito is anticipated to have another rehabilitation outing early next week.

Martinez’s family affected

Pedro Martinez, a legendary figure from the Red Sox, mentioned on Tuesday evening that several relatives of his were reportedly inside the Jet Set nightclub which caved in early this week in the Dominican Republic and have not yet been found. The incident led to at least 124 fatalities due to the collapse of the structure's ceiling. Among those who lost their lives were ex-big league players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, along with Nelsy Cruz, who served as the governor of the Dominican Republic’s Monte Cristi province and was also the sibling of major-league baseball player Nelson Cruz.



Arozarena's Grand Slam Sparks Rally: Mariners Triumph Over Astros 7-6 in Exciting Finish

SEATTLE (AP) — Randy Arozarena hit a grand slam In the eighth inning, they tied the game with a walk-off run in the ninth when the Seattle Mariners mounted a comeback to score seven runs in the last two frames, ultimately defeating the Houston Astros 7-6 on Wednesday.

Arozarena's home run cut Seattle's deficit to just one run before the Astros extended their lead to 6-4 in the top of the ninth inning when Jeremy Peña scored due to a wild pitch thrown by Casey Lawrence (1-0).

Julio Rodríguez delivered a two-run double in the bottom half to tie it, and a walk to Mitch Garver loaded the bases. Houston got a forceout at home before Bryan Abreu (0-1) walked Arozarena on a full count.

It seemed like the Astros had control of the game after Hunter Brown threw six scoreless innings with only two hits allowed. They led 5-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning against a Mariners team that struggled, going just 1-for-19 when runners were in scoring position during their 2-1 defeat in 12 innings on Tuesday night.

Lawrence was summoned from the minor leagues on Wednesday to support an exhausted pitching staff and ended up throwing the last three innings, during which he conceded two runs and four hits. Luis F. Castillo got the start for Seattle and made use of 100 pitches across four innings, permitting four runs—three of them earned—in his second appearance in the majors.

The Mariners were without infielder Ryan Bliss He went on the 10-day injured list due to a torn left biceps. In related moves, Seattle brought up infielder Leo Rivas from the minors, and pitcher Jesse Hahn was designated for assignment.

Key moment

Replay review confirmed that Seattle's Donovan Solano reached third base safely before being tagged out by Isaac Paredes during a fielder’s choice ground ball in the ninth inning. This set the stage for Rodriguez, who subsequently hit a double with the bases loaded, tying up the game.

Key stat

Arozarena had a performance of 2 hits out of 3 at-bats including a double, walked twice, and drove in five runs from the cleanup position, boosting his batting average to .191.

Up next

Houston had yet to reveal their starting pitcher for facing RHP Jack Kochanowicz (1-0, 3.27 ERA), who was set to play against them at home on Friday night with the Angels.

The Mariners' right-handed pitcher Bryce Miller (0-2, 5.73 ERA) will take the mound against Texas' right-handed pitcher Jacob deGrom (0-0, 3.38 ERA) on Friday evening.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb



Arozarena's Grand Slam Sparks Comeback: Mariners Rally Past Astros 7-6

SEATTLE (AP) — Randy Arozarena hit a grand slam In the eighth inning, they tied the game, and in the ninth, they secured the win with a walk-off hit as the Seattle Mariners staged an impressive comeback, scoring seven runs in the last two frames to defeat the Houston Astros 7-6 on Wednesday.

Arozarena's home run cut Seattle's deficit to just one run. However, the Astros extended their lead to 6-4 when Jeremy Peña crossed home plate due to a wild pitch by Casey Lawrence (1-0) during the top of the ninth inning.

Julio Rodríguez delivered a two-run double in the bottom half to tie it, and a walk to Mitch Garver loaded the bases. Houston got a forceout at home before Bryan Abreu (0-1) walked Arozarena on a full count.

It appeared that the Astros had control of the game following Hunter Brown’s performance, where he threw two hits across six scoreless innings. The Astros held a commanding 5-0 advantage heading into the eighth inning against a Mariners squad that managed only one hit out of nineteen opportunities when runners were in scoring position, as seen in their 2-1 defeat in 12 innings on Tuesday night.

Called up from the minor leagues on Wednesday to bolster an exhausted pitching staff, Lawrence took the mound for the last three innings, conceding two runs and four hits. Luis F. Castillo got the start for Seattle and delivered 100 pitches across four innings, permitting four runs—three of which were earned—in what was just his second appearance in the majors.

The Mariners were without infielder Ryan Bliss He was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a torn left biceps. In other moves, Seattle brought up infielder Leo Rivas from the minors. Additionally, pitcher Jesse Hahn was designated for assignment.

Key moment

Replay review confirmed that Seattle's Donovan Solano returned to third base safely before being tagged out by Isaac Paredes during a fielder’s choice ground ball in the ninth inning. This set the stage for Rodríguez, who then hit a double with the bases loaded, tying up the game.

Key stat

Arozarena had a performance of 2 hits out of 3 at-bats including a double, walked twice, and drove in five runs from the cleanup position, boosting his batting average to .191.

Up next

Houston had yet to reveal their starting pitcher for facing RHP Jack Kochanowicz (1-0, 3.27 ERA), who was set to play against them at home on Friday night with the Angels.

The Mariners' right-handed pitcher Bryce Miller (0-2, 5.73 ERA) will take the mound against Texas' right-handed pitcher Jacob deGrom (0-0, 3.38 ERA) on Friday evening.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb



Peralta Brothers Revel in Bros vs. Bros Showdown: Brewers Clash with Rockies

DENVER (AP) — Starting pitcher Freddy Peralta from the Brewers spent 30 minutes on Wednesday out on the grass at Coors Field having a conversation with a Colorado Rockies relief pitcher.

It's the same relief pitcher who had coffee with him earlier in the day and shared a meal with the previous evening.

Just an opportunity to reconnect with his little bro, Luis.

The siblings hailing from the Dominican Republic are making the most of their chances to converse during a three-game set in Denver. Even though they speak daily online, nothing beats meeting in person. Despite Mom and Dad not being able to join them in Denver, the clan is looking forward to getting together when Colorado faces off against Milwaukee in late June.

We have an extremely tight-knit family," stated Freddy Peralta, aged 28, after witnessing his sibling concede one unearned run during 1 2/3 innings on Wednesday evening. "Being able to share this experience with my brother means a great deal to me. Every moment is precious since none of us can predict how long our time together in the major leagues will last. It feels like a cherished dream finally becoming reality for both of us.

After Freddy pitched impressively for five consecutive innings and conceded only one run to secure his initial victory of the year on Tuesday evening, the siblings had much to talk about. They initially considered dining out at someplace central. However, Luis extended an invitation to join him at home where he would prepare traditional Venezuelan-style arepas filled with various ingredients.

"They were really great," Freddy stated.

The same goes for the company, which is why they had a meeting over coffee prior to Wednesday’s game.

Freddy lights up whenever he talks about his 24-year-old brother. This is the same boy who would tag along behind Freddy to the baseball diamond and the one whom Freddy would hit ground balls at with full force, testing his abilities. A young man who holds great significance for him.

“He wants to be kind of like me — a hard worker, and wanting to learn,” Freddy said. “He’s always asking people around him, players around him, how to get better. That’s very impressive, especially at his age, a young guy, asking for help. He’s such a competitor.”

For that, Luis knows where to give credit.

(Freddy) always looked after me, took me to the fields, and taught me discipline during the game," Luis said via a translator. "I learned this from my brother.

Freddy embarked on his baseball journey by signing as an amateur free agent with Seattle in 2013. On December 9, 2015, the Mariners exchanged him together with two additional pitchers for Adam Lind. Currently, Freddy is in his eighth season with the Brewers, accumulating a record of 54 wins against 37 losses and maintaining an ERA of 3.75.

Every season upon returning home, Freddy would bring Luis along to workout sessions and practice games. At about age 15, Luis started concentrating more on pitching, having been an outfielder previously.

"It was the correct choice," Freddy stated about the change with a chuckle.

In 2017, Luis was brought onto the Pittsburgh Pirates team before being exchanged to the Rockies in July of last year. Since then, he has maintained a record of 1-1 with an impressive earned run average (ERA) of 2.16 across 20 relief outings. Additionally, he often sought guidance from his sibling, particularly during his first season as a rookie.

He’s a good person, but I ensured he knew how to act nicely. When veterans request something from you, simply comply with their wishes,” Freddy shared. “I advised him, 'Always be your genuine self when you step onto the field... remain kind and stay humble.’ That’s who he is. I merely reinforce this for his own benefit. I feel incredibly proud of him.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb



Peralta Brothers Relish Opportunity as Brewers Clash with Rockies

DENVER (AP) — Starting pitcher Freddy Peralta from the Brewers spent 30 minutes on Wednesday out on the grass at Coors Field having a conversation with a Colorado Rockies relief pitcher.

It's the same relief pitcher who had coffee with him a few hours ago and ate dinner with the previous evening.

Just an opportunity to reconnect with his little bro, Luis.

The siblings hailing from the Dominican Republic are making the most of their chance to converse during a three-game set in Denver. Even though they speak daily online, nothing compares to meeting in person. While their parents won't be able to join them in Denver, the family intends to gather for a get-together when Colorado faces off against Milwaukee in late June.

We have an extremely tight-knit family," stated Freddy Peralta, aged 28, after witnessing his sibling permit one unearned run during 1 2/3 innings on Wednesday evening. "Being able to share this experience with my brother means everything to me. Every moment like this is precious since none of us can predict how long our journey together will last in the major leagues. It feels surreal; it truly is a cherished dream come true.

After Freddy pitched an impressive five consecutive innings and conceded only one run to secure his initial victory of the campaign on Tuesday evening, the siblings found themselves with much to talk about. They originally intended to locate a dining spot within the city center. However, Luis extended an invitation for them to join him at his place where he could prepare traditional Venezuelan-style arepas filled with various ingredients instead.

"They were really great," Freddy stated.

The same applies to the company, which is why they had a meeting over coffee prior to Wednesday’s game.

Freddy lights up whenever he talks about his 24-year-old brother. This is the same boy who would tag along behind Freddy to the baseball diamond and the one for whom Freddy would hit ground balls as hard as possible just to test his skills. The young man who holds such an important place in his heart.

He aims to emulate someone like me—a dedicated individual with a strong desire to learn," Freddy stated. "He constantly seeks advice from those surrounding him, including fellow players, on ways to improve. This is particularly commendable for someone so young who isn’t afraid to ask for assistance. His competitive spirit truly stands out.

For that, Luis understands when to acknowledge others.

(Freddy) always looking after me, taking me to the fields, and showing discipline during games," Luis said via a translator. "I learned this from my brother.

In 2013, Freddy embarked on his baseball journey by signing as an amateur free agent with the Seattle team. On December 9, 2015, the Mariners exchanged him together with two additional pitchers for Adam Lind; he has since been playing his eighth season with the Brewers, achieving a record of 54 wins against 37 losses and maintaining an ERA of 3.75.

Every time he returned home each season, Freddy would bring Luis along for workouts and practice sessions. At about 15 years old, Luis started concentrating more on pitching, having been an outfielder previously.

"It was the correct choice," Freddy stated about the change with a chuckle.

In 2017, Luis was brought onto the Pittsburgh Pirates team before being exchanged to the Rockies in the previous July. Since then, he has achieved a record of 1-1 with an impressive earned run average (ERA) of 2.16 across 20 relief outings. Additionally, he has sought guidance from his sibling, particularly during his debut season as a rookie.

He's a good person, but I ensured he knew how to act nicely. When veterans request something from you, simply comply with their wishes,” Freddy shared. "I advised him, 'Always be your genuine self when you step onto the field... stay kind and remain modest.’ That’s who he is. I merely reinforce this for his benefit. I feel incredibly proud of him.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb



Arozarena's Grand Slam Falls Short as Mariners Secure 7-6 Victory Over Astros With Walk-Off Win

The Brief
  • Randy Arozarena contributed five RBIs as Seattle scored seven runs, including a grand slam and a bases-loaded walk.
  • Julio Rodríguez equalized the game in the top of the ninth inning with a two-run double.
  • The Mariners secured their initial series triumph of the season thanks to this victory.

SEATTLE - Randy Arozarena hit a two-out grand slam for the Seattle Mariners in the eighth inning and secured the victory with a bases-loaded walk, leading to an astounding 7-6 come-from-behind triumph against the Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon.

"Winning the series like this, following such a hard loss last night, truly demonstrates their character. I must say, my team did an outstanding job today," manager Dan Wilson stated.

In the top of the eighth inning, Seattle fell behind 5-0 and hadn’t mustered much offense throughout most of the day. Against Houston’s starting pitcher, Hunter Brown, they could only manage two hits over the first six innings. Additionally, they couldn’t capitalize when they had runners on base with one out in the seventh.

However, Seattle filled the bases with nobody out in the eighth frame against Luis Contreras as they initiated their comeback. Miles Mastrobuoni got a single hit, followed by a walk issued to J.P. Crawford; subsequently, Julio Rodríguez provided Seattle with its initial significant offensive push during the match. Then, Arozarena launched a two-run home run off Steven Okert right into the Houston bullpen, abruptly narrowing the gap to just one point at 5-4.

Arozarena stated via his interpreter, Freddy Llanos, 'I believe much of this success can be attributed to the batting practice prior to the game,' he explained. ‘It helped me feel great out there which contributed significantly to our performance today. Once that home run opportunity arose, I anticipated seeing a fastball. Given they had been delivering plenty of them, even though I missed a few earlier pitches, being ready allowed me to connect successfully.'

Arozarena crushed a 91 mph fastball from Okert that was on the inner part of the plate, sending it over the left-field fence and into the bullpen beyond.

He's incredibly dynamic, and as you know, he really stepped up big for us in that position," Rodríguez stated. "That’s exactly what he brings every time. When he steps into the batter’s box, he has the potential to create numerous problems for the opposing team, and he certainly made a significant impact for us in that moment.

Jeremy Peña responded for the Astros with a lead-off double off Casey Lawrence in the ninth inning. Seattle subsequently tagged out Peña between the bases; however, they failed to make an accurate throw to Mastrobuoni at third base, allowing Peña to slide in safely. On Lawrence’s following pitch, which went erratically towards the fence, Peña seized the opportunity to score, giving the Astros a 6-4 advantage.

The Mariners managed to hit back once again in the ninth inning.

Donovan Solano hit a single to start the inning, and Mastrobuoni continued with another single and promptly stole second base. The pivotal moment occurred shortly after when Crawford tapped a ground ball along the third-base line as Isaac Paredes tried to tag the retiring Solano at the bag. Initially deemed out, Solano was eventually declared safe following a replay review, which then filled the bases for Rodríguez.

Rodriguez hit a two-run double down the right-field line, scoring Solano and Mastrobuoni and tying the game at 6-6. He managed to punch a 98 mph fastball from the outer part of the plate thrown by Bryan Abreu to the opposite field, bringing in the runners. Prior to this hit, Rodriguez was mired in an 0-for-22 slump.

"What I’m aiming to achieve is simply execute a strong swing and attempt to hit the ball hard, maybe sending a liner back towards the pitcher, and fortunately, I managed to make solid contact,” Rodríguez stated.

Mitch Garver strolled up to load the bases once more when Arozarena delivered a game-winning walk-off hit against Abreu, securing Seattle's first series victory of the season.

On the heels of their 12-inning loss on Tuesday night, the Mariners' bullpen was already stretched and in need of as much length as they could get from spot starter Luis F. Castillo.

Following a pristine opening frame, Castillo faced significant trouble for the remainder of his appearance. Walks issued to Peña and Victor Caratini haunted him in the second inning.Jake Meyers, Cam Smith, and Jose Altuve all contributed singles, driving in three runs and taking the lead early on.

During the third inning, Castillo issued a walk to Christian Walker followed by allowing him to reach first on a single from Peña, advancing another runner to base. When Caratini tapped a ball back towards the pitcher’s mound, Castillo threw a low pass intended for second base which Crawford failed to manage, thus loading the bases. Adding insult to injury, a subsequent walk to Brendan Rodgers increased the Astros' lead to 4-0.

In the eighth inning, Houston tacked on another run as extra insurance; they would soon realize how crucial this turn of events was. Pitching against Lawrence—who had been included in the roster just prior to the game for additional relief support—Smith, Altuve, and Isaac Paredes managed consecutive singles, filling up the bases. A sacrifice fly hit into left field by Yordan Alvarez allowed Smith to cross home plate, extending their advantage to 5-0.

In the meantime, the Mariners' batting stayed largely silent throughout the day.

In the third inning, Crawford delivered a double with two outs, and in the fifth, Arozarena did the same; these were the sole occasions Seattle got runners on base against Brown over six innings. Several impressive defensive maneuvers aided Brown in maintaining near-perfect control, despite striking out just three batters.

In the seventh inning, Bennett Sousa issued walks to Arozarena and Luke Raley, but Contreras entered the game and neutralized the danger by striking out Solano and inducing a fly ball from Dominic Canstone.

If you watched the match, during the entire initial phase, they continuously made play after play, and we thought we were going to identify gaps within their defense," Rodriguez explained. "Fortunately, as the game progressed, they began to experience some missteps with a walk or two, and Randy consistently stepped up.

I believe it will occur. We'll likely see significant home runs, allowing us to continually advance runners.

In the top of the eighth inning, with no one out and the bases loaded against Contreras, Seattle began to exert significant offensive pressure. Mastrobuoni got things started with a single, followed by a walk for Crawford, and Julio Rodríguez continued the rally. This sequence marked Seattle’s initial substantial threat to score during the contest. However, Arozarena truly turned up the heat when he hit a two-out grand slam off Okert, sending the ball deep into the Houston bullpen and narrowing their deficit to just 5-4.

In the top of the ninth inning, Peña hit a lead-off double off Lawrence. Despite catching Peña midway between bases, Seattle failed to make an accurate throw to Mastrobuoni at third base, allowing Peña to slide into home safely. The following pitch from Lawrence went awry, hitting the backstop which enabled Peña to advance further and secure a 6-4 advantage for his team.

Arozarena's clutch performances later in the game then secured the win.

In his appearance as a reliever for Seattle, Lawrence pitched three innings and secured the victory despite giving up two runs on four hits along with walking one batter.

Wilson mentioned, 'Casey performed exceptionally when throwing the ball,' adding, 'Having someone with such pitching skills is truly irreplaceable. As an experienced player, he has seen a lot and managed to maintain control throughout the match, keeping everything as it should be. His contribution today cannot be overstated.'

The Source

Initial report by FOX 13 Seattle.

MORE MARINERS NEWS

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Jorge Polanco's two-run hit in the 8th inning propels the Seattle Mariners to a 4-3 victory against the Astros.

The Seattle Mariners have placed Victor Robles on the injured list due to a dislocated left shoulder.

Commentary: TheSeattle sports scene remains burdened by well-known plot lines.

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Watch: Mike Yastrzemski's Walk-Off Splash Hit Secures Victory for Giants Over Reds

Thanks to Mike Yastrzemski’s splash hit, the San Francisco Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds with an 8-6 score in 10 innings at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wednesday.

In the bottom of the tenth inning, with a runner positioned on third base, just one out recorded, and the score knotted at 6-6, Yazterzeski stepped up to bat against reliever Emilio Pagan. On his initial swing, Yastrzemski launched the ball deep into right field beyond the outfield fence, scoring an impressive go-ahead, two-run homer that ended the contest immediately upon contact.

Yastrzemski additionally recorded a double during the game and finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs.

Yastrzemski currently ranks fourth on the Giants' all-time splash hits list. Only Barry Bonds, Brandon Belt, and Pablo Sandoval precede him with seven such hits in his career. Notably, three out of these seven hits are walk-off home runs.

The victory pushed the Giants' record to 9-3. Currently, they share the second spot in their division with the Dodgers, trailing the first-place San Diego Padres by just half a game. At the beginning of this season, the NL West boasts three teams boasting a winning percentage above .700.

Looking for additional articles like this one? Follow Larry Brown Sports on MSN to view more of our exclusive Major League Baseball coverage.

More must-reads:

  • Can Success Be Maintained by the New Giants' Core in 2025?
  • A narrative to track for each Major League Baseball squad in 2025
  • The 'Top Splash All-Time Leaders' Quiz

Current trending gallery: Which Major League Baseball pitchers have the strongest throws today? (Provided by Yardbarker)



Ex-Yankee Star Breaks Silence After Wild Week

The New York Yankees required additional support for their pitching staff and received assistance from a familiar face.

This past off-season, the Boston Red Sox brought aboard experienced pitcher Adam Ottavino; however, he did not secure a spot with the team coming out of spring training. As a result, both parties decided to go separate ways. Meanwhile, the Yankees were looking for relief pitching after Devin Williams left due to paternity issues. In his couple outings for New York, Ottavino remained scoreless.

The New York Yankees welcomed Williams back after his absence on leave, while they placed Ottavino on waivers. After becoming a free agent, he was promptly re-signed by the Yankees once more. This time around, Ottavino appeared in another game without conceding any runs. However, the Yankees decided to place him on waivers for a second occasion shortly thereafter.

Over the course of mere days, he found himself designated for assignment twice and played in three games for New York. Quite a whirlwind week indeed.

He discussed the procedure on "Foul Territory."

Yeah, you see, Devin Williams was on the paternity leave list which only stayed for three days, so I understood he would be returning," Ottavino explained. "The countdown had started... They were very transparent about it. They did an excellent job. I maintain a strong bond with everyone over there and hold them all in high regard...

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Each day in the major leagues is invaluable. Even though I have experienced many, I remain mindful not to take them for granted.

Fingers crossed, he gets another opportunity with New York or another team soon. He maintains a great attitude and undoubtedly still has what it takes on the mound.

More MLB: Yankees advised to secure talented youngster following opponent's $500 million mega-deal



Short-Handed Padres Sneak Past Athletics, Claim Series Victory

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Padres managed to secure victory despite playing short-handed that afternoon.

Despite having three of their six key offensive players sidelined, the Padres managed to get at least one runner into scoring position during seven out of nine innings. They scored twice in those innings and secured a 2-1 win against the Athletics thanks to Randy Vásquez and the strong performance from the latter part of their relief pitching corps on Wednesday.

Xander Bogaerts scored twice during this event — first in the third inning when Oscar Gonzalez hit a single, and later in the fifth inning thanks to a sacrifice fly by Gavin Sheets.

These were the Padres' cleanup hitter and fifth batter, respectively, since second baseman Jake Cronenworth, center fielder Jackson Merrill, and right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. were all out due to injuries.

Trouble arose for Vázquez only when he issued free bases and completed five innings, permitting one run on one hit prior to being substituted. He had thrown merely 61 pitches and gone through the Athletics' lineup two times.

Given that his high-impact relief pitchers were well-rested and considering they had a break on Thursday, Padres manager Mike Shildtm opted to utilize his bullpen for safeguarding the narrow advantage across the last four frames of the game.

That’s exactly what they’ve been doing all year long.

Adrián Morejón pitched a scoreless sixth inning, followed by Jeremiah Estrada who threw a flawless seventh. Jason Adam maintained the shutout with a clean eighth, and Robert Suárez secured a scoreless ninth for his league-best sixth save. This marked his sixth consecutive hitless frame to begin the season, an unprecedented feat among San Diego Padres pitchers.

These four relief pitchers have been part of San Diego Padres wins exclusively this season. Not once has a Padres reliever allowed their team to lose a lead all season.

It marked the Padres' fourth come-from-behind win, and they extended their record to 5-0 in one-run contests.

Despite this, their MLB-leading 10th win in 13 games stood out from the rest due to those who were absent and those who stepped up.

Merrill, who was positioned fourth or fifth in the batting order for the initial 10 games of the season and tops the Padres in nearly all offensive statistics, sat out the third game of a minimum nine-game absence due to a strained right hamstring.

Tatis, who bats at the top of the lineup but trails Merrill in nearly all offensive statistics, was benched following his exit from Tuesday’s contest due to discomfort in his left shoulder that he initially felt during a swing.

Cronenworth, primarily batting fifth or seventh with an on-base percentage of .409, was also absent from the lineup. After swinging exacerbated the injured region on his right side—where he had been struck by a pitch two days prior—he left Tuesday’s game.

It was mentioned that both Tatis and Cronenworth had reached a stage where their return could realistically be anticipated for Friday’s game against the Rockies at Petco Park. Shildt stated that although Tatis was available as a substitute, they decided to give him the day off.

When they were not present, Gonzalez took over in right field, Jose Iglesias played at second base, and Lockridge was positioned in center field.

The Athletics jumped ahead 1-0 in the second inning when Vásquez's control wavered, just as it had at times during his previous three outings.

The right-handed pitcher required only six pitches to complete the first inning before walking Shea Langeliers with four pitches at the beginning of the second, followed by BBJJ Bleday who took eight pitches. (Note: It seems like "BBJJ" might be an error or specific notation; I've kept it as-is.)

These were his 10th and 11th walks of the season, and they proved to be quite damaging.

Jacob Wilson’s hit to right field marked the first time a right-handed batter had gotten a hit off Vasquez in 16 at-bats this season. Following him up, Luis Urias smacked a fly ball to center field, and Langeliers narrowly made it to home plate before center fielder Brandon Lockridge could relay the throw.

Vásquez (1-1, 1.72) would also retire the subsequent eight hitters consecutively until walking Urias with two outs in the fifth inning.

The Padres' rally began thanks to three key players—Sheets, Gonzalez, and Iglesias—who were part of the starting lineup and signed minor league deals when they joined the team during spring training.

Following Sheets' strikeout and Gonzalez hitting a fly ball which was caught near the warning track in right field when Bogaerts and Manny Machado were on base during the first inning, Gonzalez equalized the game at 1-1 with his two-out single in the third inning.

Bogaerts started the fifth inning with his third hit, a double along the left-field line. He advanced to third base due to a flyout by Machado and came home to score on Sheets' fly ball to center field.

©2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Check out sandiegouniontribune.com for more information. Delivered through Tribune Content Agency, LLC.



Baseball: Imanaga Suffers First Loss as Cubs Fall to Rangers

Shota Imanaga surrendered a season-best five runs across five innings and absorbed his initial defeat of the year as the Chicago Cubs fell to the Texas Rangers with a score of 6-2 on Wednesday.

Imanaga (2-1) recorded four strikeouts but gave up seven hits, including two home runs. The Japanese southpaw was taken out of the game after the Rangers surged ahead with a four-run fifth inning at Wrigley Field.

In the fifth inning, there were times when I thought things were going well for me, which made it somewhat disheartening," he stated. "Those opportunities could turn into a significant scoring frame if you aren’t cautious enough during such instances.

Corey Seager, the Rangers' shortstop, hit two home runs, including one against Imanaga in the first inning, which helped his team evade a series sweep.

Seiya Suzuki had two hits out of four at-bats and drove in one run while hitting third in the Cubs' lineup as the designated hitter.

At Nationals Park, Shohei Ohtani had a 2-for-4 performance including a walk and two runs scored, extending his consecutive on-base streak to an MLB career-high of 14 games starting from Opening Day, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers secure a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Yusei Kikuchi from the Los Angeles Angels started off poorly as he recorded zero wins and two losses; despite striking out five batters, he conceded four runs over six innings in their 5-4 defeat against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.



Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte exits game with hamstring injury

Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte was removed from the Washington game in the top of the first inning Friday after suffering an apparent hamstring injury while running out a double.

Marte doubled off the center field fence with one out but pulled up as he approached second base and was replaced by pinch-runner Garrett Hampson.

Marte, who signed a six-year, $116.5 million contract extension Thursday, missed time last season with ankle and back injuries that limited him to 136 games, although he still finished third in NL MVP voting.

He missed time with hamstring injuries in 2019, 2021, and 2022.

Hampson stayed in the match as the second baseman.

During this season, in seven matches, Marte had a batting average of .320 along with one run batted in and six walks.

--Field Level Media



Watch: Phillies Break Dodgers' Historic Unbeaten Streak

The top two squads in the National League are set to clash this weekend, and their first game certainly did not let fans down.

The Philadelphia Phillies, currently sporting a 6-1 record early into the 2025 season, delivered the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers their inaugural defeat of the year on Friday evening at Citizens Bank Park. The match concluded with a close call that was settled thanks to instant replay review.

The Dodgers almost orchestrated another dramatic late-inning rally with a two-run home run by versatile player Tommy Edman in the ninth frame, yet they narrowly missed completing the victory. Prior to Friday, their 8-0 beginning was better than even the 1933 New York Yankees' record. the longest unbeaten run at the start of a season for a title defender.

For the Phillies, southpaw Jesus Luzardo was outstanding in his first game at home with the team, pitching seven innings without allowing any runs against the formidable Los Angeles batting order.

This represents a strategy for beating the champions and an initial assertion from Luzardo, who joined the team during the recent offseason as part of a deal with the Miami Marlins.

The Dodgers got a strong performance from their starting pitcher, right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw six innings without allowing any runs. Nonetheless, a significant mistake in the first inning—a throwing error that allowed a Phillies runner to score—set the stage for what would become an ultimately losing effort for his team.

As this Phillies versus Dodgers matchup has two additional games remaining, fans can anticipate witnessing more exceptional baseball, which might serve as an early look at a possible postseason series.

Looking for more stories like this? Follow News.DiwiDA on MSN to explore additional exclusive MLB coverage we offer.

More must-reads:

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Popular slide show: 20 MLB Players Who Might Make Their Debut as All-Stars in 2025 (Provided by News.Diwida |)



Pittsburgh Pirates Respond After Roberto Clemente's Logo Appears Replaced by Ad at PNC Park

A Roberto Clemente logo at PNC Park appeared to be swapped out for an advertisement.

A photo posted by Roberto Clemente Jr. reveals that the location of his father’s logo has been replaced with an ad for a drink.

This alteration sparked some criticism from followers on social media platforms.

"Endorsing a soda that no one has ever heard of instead of the top player in your team's history is quite challenging to justify. It's simple to perceive this as lacking class," stated one reply.

Channel 11 contacted the Pittsburgh Pirates seeking a statement.

"The wall standing at 21 feet high, which officially carries Roberto Clemente’s name, persists in showcasing his number 21 in two distinct areas. This particular temporary wall signage was installed before the start of the 2022 season with no intention for permanence; rather, it served as yet another acknowledgment of 'The Great One.' We regret not clearly conveying this information to both the Clemente family and our supporters," stated Brian Warecki, Senior Vice President of Communications and Broadcasting for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pittsburgh Pirates additionally stressed that Clemente holds a cherished and significant place within the organization.

"Roberto Clemente isn’t just a legendary figure for us; he embodies what our organization stands for. It’s challenging to come across a team that honors such an iconic player with as much dedication as the Pittsburgh Pirates does for Roberto Clemente, which is only right. Every single day, we take pride in commemorating Roberto Clemente—the man, the athlete, and his philanthropy—both within our stadium grounds and through various charity initiatives," explained Warecki.

The Pirates additionally provided a rundown of how the organization upholds Clemente’s legacy in their statement regarding the signage alteration at the park. This encompassed the following points:

Outside PNC Park

  • A bridge named after him that links Downtown to the North Shore
  • The recently installed large concrete baseball alongside the riverwalk
  • The retired number 21 on the riverside walkway incline heading towards Federal Street
  • The 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture situated beyond our center field entrance is visible to everyone.

Throughout PNC Park

  • The retired number 21 on the top section of the dashboard
  • The specific design of the right-field wall, standing at an impressive height of 21 feet, was created in his honor.
  • Two individual, standalone No. 21 logos on the face of the right-field wall
  • Artifacts related to Clemente at our recently establishedSeason Ticket Holder hub location
  • His No. 21 shirt showcased in the club area, alongside numerous other photographs.
  • The recently unveiled, commissioned art piece celebrating his 3000th hit has been placed in the main concourse.
  • The artwork featured throughout the Home Plate Club, press dining area, press conference room, and various sections on our lower level.
  • As soon as you step into our clubhouse, a big image of Clemente along with his number greets you from the wall.
  • His photos along with number 21 are showcased in our manager’s office and various player communal spaces.
  • His images are displayed all around our administrative headquarters.

Through our charitable actions:

  • The motivation driving Pirates Charities and its key initiatives aimed at making an impact on people’s lives.
  • To make sure the team returns home each year on September 15 to celebrate his heritage, we will include our locally focused pre-game ritual, special in-game content, and display the number '21' emblem in the right outfield grass.
  • Successfully lobbying Major League Baseball to permit the whole squad to sport Roberto Clemente’s number 21 across the board during the annual Roberto Clemente Day.
  • The organization of our Roberto Clemente Day of Giving event where all present players and coaching staff participate in community service activities in tribute to him.
  • An immediate and comprehensive initiative across the entire organization aimed at gathering essential provisions followed by direct delivery to assist the residents of Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria in 2017.

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Mother-in-Law Journeys From Louisiana to Cheer Son-In-Law’s Historic Baseball Debut

MIDLAND, Mich. — During the Great Lakes Loons' home opener against the Lake County Captains, an avid spectator had journeyed hundreds of miles just to see a significant event unfold.

Monica Judice traveled all the way from Lafayette, Louisiana, to cheer for her son-in-law, Kole Myers, as he took the field for his inaugural professional baseball match.

Monica stated, "It took us two days to travel here from Lafayette, Louisiana." She also mentioned, "This year, he was recruited by the Dodgers; previously, he played for Troy University in Alabama."

Kole Myers, making his first appearance as a Loon, connected with Monica's daughter due to their family’s deep bond with baseball.

Monica remarked, it’s incredible since he really got to know her via my son, who was part of the LSU team.

For Monica, witnessing Kole and her daughter start this new phase of life is nothing short of a dream realized.

She remarked, 'It’s wonderful to realize that dreams can become real because at this moment, it seems as though we’re living in a dream.'

The Great Lakes Loons will debut a fresh idea known as Foodie Fridays, featuring menu items rarely seen at ballparks. The weekend will be even more thrilling with the unveiling of the team’s new red jerseys on Saturday followed by Kids Day on Sunday, when children get complimentary meals and have the opportunity to run around the bases.