The Braves try to make it (gasp!) four in a row, and three in a row against the Diamondbacks, as Bryce Elder and Michael Soroka square off in the desert.
Atlanta Braves at Arizona Diamondbacks Game Thread: April 4
Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #9: 4/4 vs. Braves
A slightly unusual start time for a Saturday, rather than the typical 5:10 pm. That’s because today’s game is a Fox Sports national broadcast, so we must all bow to their commercial demands. More irritatingly, that means that, a mere eight games in, this will be the fourth different subscription-based service you need to have in order to watch the Diamondbacks. In addition to dbacks.tv, we have already had Netflix on Opening Day, and Apple TV last night. I know you’ll need to add Peacock to the list in June. I will not be engaging with this nonsense, and so will be following this game purely on Gameday, if at all.
After Eduardo Rodriguez proved his first start was no fluke, with an even better one last night, we turn to Michael Soroka to see if he can reproduce his sterling debut as a Diamondback. Right now, he has a FIP of -0.22. Yes: that’s a negative figure. It’s possible because FIP just goes off things like K-rate and BB-rate. Soroka fanned ten batters in only five innings last time on the mound, while walking one. The joys of small sample sizes. It’d be nice if he could keep anything in that solar-system up, though right now, I’m more concerned about the offense. The D-backs now have a collective OPS of a mere .648. Carroll is our only active player with 10+ PA and an OPS+ above a hundred.
To this end, things have been shaken up a bit this afternoon. Jose Fernandez replaces the woeful Carlos Santana at first, and Adrian Del Castillo makes his first start as the designated hitter. Santana’s .043 average is the lowest for any D-back through ten games (25 PA or more). The previous worst was Geraldo Perdomo’s 1-for-20 start in 2022, and he at least had the ability to draw seven walks. Santana’s much-praised plate discipline hasn’t really been seen, with just two walks and eight strikeouts. I know Torey doesn’t want to pull the plug hastily, but Santana has been such a black-hole on offense, he could be a literal black-hole on defense and he’d still be of questionable value.
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NYY vs. MIA: Ryan Weathers vs. Max Meyer
As far as regular-season games go, this one is as big as it’s gotten so far for Ryan Weathers, personally. The newest member of the Yankee rotation will pitch for the first time in front of his new home crowd and will do so against none other than his former team, the Miami Marlins. This is not your traditional successful big leaguer who inevitably gets moved to a contender, as he doesn’t fit the timeline of his current team. Sure, the Marlins got younger by flipping Weathers to the Yankees, but they also had plenty of time to develop him into a more established starter and then trade him for a better package. He’ll face his former teammates with something to prove, looking to justify the trust the contending Yankees placed in him.
If all of that wasn’t enough, Weathers faces the pressure of maintaining this outstanding run of form that Yankee starters have showcased to begin the year. Through the first seven games of the year, Yankee starters have an ERA below 1.00—Cam Schlittler is validating all the exciting takes he generated after his first year, Max Fried is being his usual outstanding self, and Will Warren has delivered two productive starts. Out of these four, Weathers was the most unpredictable commodity, and if he can hold his own, this rotation will be in a terrific spot, only getting better as the season goes on and more veteran reinforcements arrive
A bit of interesting information about this game and one that ties into last night’s performance: Historically, Giancarlo Stanton hasn’t fared particularly well against his former team, in what’s obviously not that large of a sample size. Stanton has a .391 SLG in 79 PA against the Fish. Amidst the offensive outburst of an 8-2 win on Friday, Stanton was the only Yankee hitter not to reach base safely.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium — New York, NY
First pitch: 7:10 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Marlins.TV/CBS Miami
Radio broadcast: 560 WQAM, WAQI 710 (MIA), WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY)
Online stream: MLB.tv (out-of-market only), Gotham Sports App
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Padres Reacts Survey Results: Mason Miller’s new bullpen entrance approved by fans
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
They have only seen it twice this season, but according to this week’s Padres Reacts Survey on Gaslamp Ball, San Diego Padres fans would not be opposed to seeing Mason Miller and his new bullpen entrance more often.
The problem to this point in the year after the first six games over two series at Petco Park is that there have only been a couple of chances for Miller to job from the bullpen to the mound. Of course, there was at least one other opportunity where many Padres fans thought Miller should have been coming into the game, but San Diego manager Craig Stammen said he and pitching coach Ruben Niebla decided before the start of the game that Miller would not throw more than an inning in a save situation. Stammen cited the early time of year as the reason the right-handed flame thrower was unavailable.
With the team on the road, there is no chance Miller will be accompanied by his entrance music, “Blind” by Korn should he come into a game over the next two series. The Padres dropped the first game of their series against the Boston Red Sox but will look to get on a winning streak as San Diego completes the series in Boston and moves on to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates before returning home to face the Colorado Rockies, April 9.
Game Thread #8: Milwaukee Brewers (6-1) @ Kansas City Royals (3-4)
Let’s play two! After the Brewers won what was ultimately a tense game in the first leg of today’s doubleheader, they’ll take on the Royals a second time after a couple hours off for, presumably, pancakes.
Tonight’s pitching matchup was originally scheduled as Milwaukee’s Brandon Sproat versus Kansas City’s Seth Lugo, a 2024 All-Star. But a surprise was announced before the second game of the doubleheader: tonight’s 27th man, Logan Henderson, will start the game, with Sproat following out of the bullpen.
Henderson will function more as an opener than a “bulk” guy today, as he’s still working his pitch count up after he was put slightly behind schedule during spring training by what was called “mild elbow discomfort.” While anything elbow-related is concerning, Henderson did start on Tuesday for Triple-A Nashville. In that game, he threw 45 pitches on his way to three sharp innings: no runs, one hit, one walk, five strikeouts. Henderson, of course, made five excellent starts for the Brewers in 2025 (a 1.78 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings) but spent most of last season in Nashville before a flexor strain prematurely ended his season. This will be Henderson’s sixth career appearance and start, but don’t expect him to throw more than 50-60 pitches.
Sproat was knocked around by the White Sox last Sunday in what was his fifth career start and first as a Brewer. He allowed seven runs on six hits, three of them homers, in just three innings, and Chicago looked almost like they knew what was coming. But if that rattled Sproat’s confidence in himself, his confidence in his teammates should be sky high: while Sproat left the game in a 7-2 hole, the Brewers’ offense scored seven runs late, six of them in the eighth inning, and came from behind for a 9-7 win.
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Lugo has made one start this season, and it was quite a good one. Also last Sunday, Lugo blanked the Braves for 6 1/3 innings, in which he scattered five hits and didn’t walk anyone. Lugo isn’t a young man anymore at age 36, but he had his best season just two years ago when he had a 3.00 ERA in over 200 innings and finished second in Cy Young voting. Last season, Lugo was 8-7 with a 4.15 ERA — basically exactly league-average — but a concerning 5.09 FIP. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher, but generally does well keeping runners off base.
Lugo is right-handed, but the Brewers are rotating some players into the lineup for the night game. Gary Sánchez will be behind the plate, Blake Perkins takes over for Brandon Lockridge in left field, and Joey Ortiz is in at shortstop, with David Hamilton moving over to third and Luis Rengifo to the bench. Christian Yelich will remain the designated hitter for game two. Jonathan India and Carter Jensen are in the lineup for game two, with Salvador Perez moving from behind the plate to DH. Nick Loftin and Starling Marte (who is definitely on the Royals), who started this afternoon, are on the bench.
Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill all pitched in the early game, so if there’s a save situation in game two, somebody who isn’t necessarily used to saving games will be out there. Ángel Zerpa and Jared Koenig are both available as lefties, but if the Brewers like a right-handed matchup better in the ninth inning, that basically just leaves Grant Anderson. Jake Woodford and DL Hall are also presumably available out of the bullpen. Speaking of bullpens, the Royals’ 27th man tonight will be righty reliever Eli Morgan.
First pitch for the nightcap is at 6:10 p.m., and the game can be seen on Brewers TV.
NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2026-04-04 22:26:01
Nathaniel Lowe starts for Reds vs. Rangers in return to Texas
Nathaniel Lowe posted a 122 OPS+ in nearly 2600 PA for the Texas Rangers across four full seasons after coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays. In that time he was valued at 11.5 bWAR, won a Gold Glove, a World Series, and a Silver Slugger Award – the latter coming during a remarkable 2022 season in which he hit 26 homers and .302/.358/.492 (139 OPS+) in 645 PA.
He’s still just 30 years old. While his stint with the Washington Nationals to begin a 2025 season after being dealt away from the Rangers was unlike him (88 OPS+), he rebounded to hit a much more Lowe-esque .280/.370/.420 in 119 PA with the Boston Red Sox to finish the year.
He’s a pretty damn good hitter still, I believe. And the Cincinnati Reds got him for a song in free agency over the winter, as he landed on a minor league deal with an invite to spring camp and a guarantee of just over $2 million bucks if he made the big league roster – which he did.
He’s going to have a place on this roster at some point that’s more obvious and a better fit than right now, I can guarantee it. He’s a proven left-handed bat with a long, long track record of hitting well against RHP, and that’s something the Reds simply do not have on the roster in spades. Elly De La Cruz is, we know, but beyond that we’re looking at a pretty clearly post-peak TJ Friedl and…Will Benson?
So while he’s been mostly relegated to bench-bat status to begin 2026 (thanks to Sal Stewart rightfully getting run at 1B and Eugenio Suarez deserving at bats somewhere, too), Lowe’s going to fit in somehow, some way before this 162-game grind comes to a close.
Perhaps that’s in a role like where he’ll start against his old club Texas on Saturday at DH. Suarez is displacing Ke’Bryan Hayes at 3B for another game, as Hayes still searches for some semblance of offense. Despite Cincinnati oddly betting big on Hayes’ defense being able to make up for the fact that he’s been the most punchless bat in baseball for years (and the long-term contract that is on their books for it), there’s a good argument to be made that getting Suarez time at 3B and Lowe in the lineup at DH makes the Reds a better overall team than Hayes at 3B, Geno at DH, and Lowe sitting on the bench.
At least, that’s what I pretty much think, and we’ll get another look at it against RHP Kumar Rocker and the Rangers Saturday evening.
The Hayes thing is something the Reds will obviously continue to work on seeing as he’s under contract for years beyond 2026. For now, though, it’s worth finding out if the former Rangers 1B who fell in their lap for dirt cheap can make them significantly better in the short term, and that’s what we’ll get a look at today.
Here’s how Cincinnati will line up for Rhett Lowder’s second start of 2026:
Game 8 Game Day Thread – Cincinnati Reds @ Texas Rangers
Cincinnati Reds @ Texas Rangers
Saturday, April 4, 2026, 6:05 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / RSN, Victory+)
The Shed
RHP Rhett Lowder vs. RHP Kumar Rocker
Go Rangers!
Mookie Betts injury update: Dodgers star leaves game with back issue
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts was removed in the first inning of Saturday's game in Washington due to lower back pain, the team announced.
Betts walked in the top of the first and came around to score on Freddie Freeman's double, but was replaced by Miguel Rojas at short when the Dodgers took the field in the bottom of the inning. An update on Betts' status was expected after the game.
Betts was hitting .179 (6-for-28) with two home runs and seven RBIs entering Saturday's contest. A four-time World Series winner, Betts is coming off the worst season of his career, posting a .732 OPS in 150 games while making the full-time transition to shortstop.
The 33-year-old joined the Dodgers prior to the 2020 season and has helped lead the team to three championships, including back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025.
If Betts were to miss time, Rojas – the World Series Game 7 hero – would likely take over as the team's primary shortstop in the interim.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mookie Betts injury update, news: Dodgers star pulled with back issue
Gamethread: Panthers @ Penguins
Talk about the game with Pens fans here!
Cubs, Guardians postponed; makeup as part of a doubleheader Sunday
If you were hoping to see a Cubs game tonight… you won’t:
This is the same storm front that stopped the Cardinals/Tigers game in Detroit this afternoon after eight innings.
As of the time of this post, neither team had officially announced any starters for either game, though I would assume Shōta Imanaga and Edward Cabrera will both go Sunday, in what order is uncertain. That’s because the Cubs have an off day Thursday, and Imanaga could start tomorrow and then still go on regular rest Friday against the Pirates at Wrigley Field.
I have not exhaustively checked this, but the last “traditional” doubleheader (in other words, two games, single admission, with about 45 minutes in between) that the Cubs played in at Wrigley Field was Aug. 3, 2006 against the Diamondbacks. Except for the 2020 season, I do not think they’ve played in such a doubleheader on the road since then, either. (Feel free to correct me if you find evidence to the contrary.)
With the first game Sunday at 1:10 Eastern time (12:10 CT), I will post a preview for both games of the doubleheader at 10 a.m. CT.
Until then, enjoy your evening!
Brewers beat Royals 5-2 behind 5-RBI game from Garrett Mitchell
Garrett Mitchell had five RBIs, including a three-run home run, and Chad Patrick went five scoreless innings as the Brewers defeated the Royals in the first game of today’s doubleheader.
Milwaukee roared out to a quick lead in the top of the first courtesy of Mitchell’s second two-run double in as many games. Brice Turang struck out looking to start the inning, but Luis Rengifo doubled to put a runner in scoring position with only one out. Royals starter Luinder Avila didn’t want to give William Contreras anything to hit, ultimately walking him on five pitches to bring up Christian Yelich, who beat out a double-play ball to second base to put runners on the corners with two outs for Mitchell. Avila left a sinker up and in to Mitchell, who punished the mistake with a 108.8-mph double that nearly cleared Kaufman Stadium. Contreras and Yelich both scored to give the Brewers an early lead.
Fun fact: Mitchell now accounts for five of the Brewers’ 10 hardest-hit balls this year.
In the bottom of the first, Brewers starter Chad Patrick worked around a walk to Bobby Witt Jr. to retire the Royals without allowing a hit or a run. Patrick would give up his first hit in the second inning, a one-out single off the bat of Jac Caglianone. Starling Marte struck out for the second out of the inning, but old friend Isaac Collins grounded a single into right that advanced Caglianone to third base. As Collins took off for second on a 1-2 pitch to Nick Loftin, Caglianone broke for home. Turang cut off the throw and gunned him down at home with a beautiful throw to keep Kansas City scoreless.
The Brewers would add to their lead in the top of the third thanks to a two-out rally. Avila struck out both Turang and Rengifo, but Contreras doubled to keep the inning alive. Yelich beat out another grounder to second base for an infield hit, bringing up who else but Mitchell. Mitchell took strike one, let a couple of balls pass by, then crushed a line drive that kept carrying until it dropped into the right field seats for a three-run homer.
Another Mitchell fun fact: that home run gave him five RBIs through just three innings, already a career-high for a single game.
Jake Bauers walked, and Sal Frelick singled to keep the inning alive and put another runner in scoring position, but Bauers was thrown out trying to steal third for the third out.
Patrick’s day was done after five innings and 86 pitches. He kept the Royals scoreless through five, although it wasn’t always smooth. Right before Kyle Isbel flew out for the first out of the fifth, the broadcast team remarked that it was already the seventh full count that Patrick had faced. He threw 47 strikes to 39 balls, which is not exactly an ideal number. Still, it’s hard to complain about five shutout innings, especially facing a Royals lineup with names like Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, and Vinnie Pasquantino. Patrick only walked three batters, with Witt and Garcia accounting for two of those walks, and exited in line for the win.
Milwaukee mustered up another two-out rally in the top of the sixth courtesy of a Brice Turang walk and another Luis Rengifo double, but Contreras grounded out to Garcia at third to end the inning. Aaron Ashby came in for the bottom of the sixth and gave up a leadoff single to Pasquantino. He allowed Pasquantino to take second on a wild pitch before getting Salvador Perez to ground out for the first out. Caglianone then hit a little chopper to first base that probably should have been the second out, but Ashby was late to cover the bag, allowing Caglianone to beat it out and putting runners on the corners. Starling Marte, who doubled in his last at-bat against Patrick, fouled off a couple of pitches before striking out. Up next was Collins, who came just feet away from hitting a three-run homer on what ended up a foul ball. He would go on to wave at an 0-2 changeup in the dirt to end the inning, and no harm was done.
Kansas City finally got on the board against Ashby in the seventh. Nick Loftin walked on five pitches to start the inning, swiftly prompting a mound visit. Ashby remained on the mound to face Lane Thomas, pinch-hitting for Isbel, who ripped a line drive double into left field. Loftin scored to finally put the Royals on the board. After another mound visit, Ashby got Maikel Garcia to ground out for the first out, although Thomas advanced to third on the play. The next batter up was Witt Jr., who smoked a one-hopper right at Turang. Turang made a great play on the ball, but was unable to get a throw off. Thomas scored to give the Royals their second run of the inning.
With Pasquantino coming to the plate, the inning looked like it could keep snowballing. Thankfully, Ashby managed to bear down, striking him out for the second out of the inning. Brewers manager Pat Murphy brought Abner Uribe in to face Perez, who popped out to Turang to end the inning.
Uribe stayed in for the eighth and retired the Royals in order. Trevor Megill had the ninth inning today and got into a little bit of a jam, walking Thomas and Witt to bring the tying run, Pasquantino, to the plate. Pasquantino took a ball in the dirt, fouled off three straight pitches, then got caught looking at a 98-mph fastball down the middle for strike three.
The back half of today’s doubleheader is in just a few hours, with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 p.m. Logan Henderson will be on the hill for the Brewers, with Brandon Sproat expected to follow as he looks to rebound from his first start of the season. Starting for the Royals is righty Seth Lugo, who went 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his first start of the season.
IPL rocked by tense final-over thriller as India’s 154km/h weapon unleashed
Tushar Deshpande bowled an excellent last over as Rajasthan Royals edged out Gujarat Titans by six runs to win their second successive match of the IPL season on Saturday.
Jordan Walker Crushes Grand Slam, But Tigers Outslug Cardinals 11-6
Saturday’s game began with Dustin May on the mound for the Cardinals and Jack Flaherty for the Tigers, but neither was sharp and the game ended up being a slugfest including a grand slam from Jordan Walker, but the Tigers would rock Dustin May and the Cardinals bullpen and win 11-6 after being called an official game by rain.
The scoring started early for the Detroit Tigers as they put 3 runs on the board in the bottom of the 1st inning on a single by Torres and a throwing error on Victor Scott II that allowed Keith to score. That was followed by a 2-run homer by Carpenter that put the Tigers up 3-0 in the first frame.
The Tigers would add to their lead with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 3rd inning by Carpenter. McKinstry homered in the bottom of the 4th inning and Vierling followed that with a sacrifice fly to give Detroit a comfortable 7-1 lead. Or, at least they thought it was comfortable as the St. Louis Cardinals came storming back in the top of the 5th inning as Alec Burleson doubled to left field scoring JJ Wetherholt who had walked. Jack Flaherty then had a hard time finding the strike zone as the Cardinals loaded the bases for Jordan Walker who unloaded them with a monstrous grand slam that traveled 459 feet and had an exit velocity of 113.7 mph.
The Detroit Tigers would strike back in the bottom of the 5th inning as McKinstry singled in Greene to make the score 8-6. In the bottom of the 7th Torres hit a drive to right field that Jordan Walker appeared to have caught, but his back hit the wall which allowed the ball to sail over his glove into the bushes for a home run making in 9-6 Tigers.
Matt Vierling hit another home run in the bottom of the 8th inning giving the Tigers their final score of 11-6. Dustin May’s final stat line was a disappointing 3 innings and a 1/3 giving up 7 earned runs on 7 hits. His ERA is now a hefty 15.95. The Cardinals bullpen including Svanson, Bruihl, and Roycroft were responsible for the other 4 Tigers runs. The game was finally delayed with one out in the 9th inning by rain before it was eventually called.
The Cardinals, now at an even .500 at 4-4 for the season, will try not to get swept by the Tigers when they play Sunday night. According to MLB.com, Kyle Leahy will make the start for the Cardinals while Keider Montero will take the mound for the Tigers.
Jays Lose One of the Stupidest MLB Games I Have Seen, 6-3
A bullpen day this early in the season is tough, and many of the regulars are tired. But you can’t put Brandon Little into a one run game unless all of the other options are literally deceased. John Schneider did, and as a consequence the Blue Jays lost.
Of course, it isn’t all on Little. The Jays managed just two off Anthony Kay, which is its own problem. And bad base running and fielding compounded the issue. Regardless of how you attribute blame, it was a bad game to lose, and a bad way to lose it. The Jays now find themselves in the position of needing a win tomorrow to stay above .500 in the easiest stretch of the season. And they’ve suffered two major injuries in that stretch to boot. You can’t panic in a season as long as baseball’s, especially not in April, but fair to say the good vibes coming out of the gate have at least temporarily dissipated.
Grant Taylor was as untouchable as he was yesterday, opening the game by sitting the Jays down in order on 8 pitches. Mason Fluharty wasn’t as good today, giving up a one out single and a double off the left field wall to get into a jam. The lead runner came home on a sac fly, but he was able to get a pop out to stop the damage there.
Anthony Kay came on as the bulk guy for the White Sox in the second. Kazuma Okamoto worked a walk, but was traded for Ernie Clement on a fielder’s choice. Clement stole second to put a Jay in scoring position with two out. That almost paid off, as Myles Straw hit a hard liner, but it was right into third baseman Miguel Vargas’ glove. After a quiet third, Davis Schneider lead off the fourth with a ground ball single. Vlad came within about a foot of giving the Jays the lead, golfing a towering fly ball to the power alley in left that Austin Hays caught against the top of the wall. Okamoto lined a single that advanced Schneider to second. First baseman Munetaka Murakami booted a hard grounder off Daulton Varsho’s bat and all three runners advanced safely. Again they failed to capitalize, as Clement popped out and Straw flew out to left. Tyler Heineman was robbed of a hit by Vargas in the fifth on a scorched one-hopper, the only excitement in the inning.
They finally landed a punch on Kay in the sixth. Schneider worked a walk and Vlad didn’t miss on his second chance, launching a low slider 437 feet to left to put the Jays in front 2-1. Kay got Okamoto to ground out before being lifted for Chris Murphy. Murphy was able to hold it there, getting the next two batters.
Lazaro Estrada followed Fluharty for the Jays. He looked sharp in the second, setting the White Sox down in order. He got the first two batters in the third, but then walked Vargas, who was able to steal second. He escaped the jam by getting the dangerous Murekami to chase a high fastball for a strikeout. He issued his second walk, to Colson Mongomery, in the bottom of the fourth, but again got out of it with a line out and a pop out. The fifth was quieter, as he sat the White Sox down in order. In total, Estrada worked four innings, giving up two walks but no hits and striking out three. It was a clutch fill-in performance that took a load off the regular major league bullpen that it wasn’t in a good position to bear.
I guess deciding that they really didn’t need to win this afternoon after all, John Schneider called for Brandon Little to handle the bottom of the sixth. It took him five pitches to blow it, with Vargas doubling and Murakami launching a two run shot to dead centre field. A Montgomery solo shot one batter later gave Chicago an insurance run. Tommy Nance came in to mop up, preserving the deficit at 4-2.
Myles Straw bunted for a single to lead off and advanced on a Gimenez ground out. Heineman then lined a single to centre to bump Straw to third. That forced Murphy out of the game. Replacement Jordan Hicks walked George Springer to load the bases. Nathan Lukes was called on to pinch hit for Davis Schneider. He flew out to shallow right. It was just deep enough for the speedy Straw to tag and score, cutting the Sox’ lead to one, but Heineman foolishly tried to sneak into third behind him and got himself thrown out. That took the bat out of Vlad’s hands with what would have been the tieing runner in scoring position anyway. Just an unacceptable decision from a guy who should be one of their savviest players. Nance stayed in for a 1-2-3 bottom half.
Hicks got the first to Blue Jays in the eighth before giving way to Sean Newcomb, who walked Varsho but got Clement to ground out. Braydon Fisher took the home half and looked tired, missing spots and getting hit. He walked Vargas, got Murakami to line out, and gave up a hard line single to Hays. He got Montgomery swinging for the second out. Luisangel Acuna then tapped a grounder to Clement at second. Ernie didn’t have a play at first, but for some reason Vargas rounded third, and Clement was able to toss it to Okamoto to get him in a rundown. So far so good. But then Heineman sailed the second throw of that rundown into left, allowing two runs to score. Acuna tried to come to third and was tagged out, ending the inning, but the damage and embarrassment were done and the White Sox lead 6-3.
Addison Barger hit for Straw to lead off the ninth, facing Seranthony Dominguez, and worked a walk. Gimenez grounded into a fielder’s choice for the first out. Jesus Sanchez, hitting for Heineman, lined a broken bat single to left, bringing the tieing run to the plate. Springer couldn’t do anything with the opportunity, striking out swinging and neither could Nathan Lukes, who grounded out.
Jays of the Day: Estrada (0.18), Vlad (0.16),
Less So: Little (-0.44), Fisher (-0.10, but only because he eats the WPA hit for Heineman’s error), Lukes (-0.17), Clement (-0.16), Gimenez (-0.13), and Heineman (who doesn’t have the number but who richly deserves it)
One more game in the series, tomorrow at 2:10pm ET. Eric Lauer (1-0, 3.38) is set to start after being bumped back from today’s appearance due to illness. Hopefully he’ll be able to go, as the bullpen is gassed. Davis Martin (1-0, 5.40) goes for the Sox.