SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by Max Muncy #13 after Hernández hits a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the second inning at Oracle Park on September 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers (98-62) shutout the Giants (65-95) Friday night in San Francisco behind a dominant Tarik Skubal and a pair of home runs from Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages.
Despite a Giants lineup more akin to a Triple-A squad, Skubal looked completely dominant and efficient against the San Francisco bats. Skubal struck out 10 over seven shutout innings, and he only made 75 pitches in his final tuneup before his first postseason start with the Dodgers.
Will Smith’s health and success is key to the Dodgers heading into the postseason. Smith came into the game hitting .400 with eight hits including three home runs in his last seven games. Smith continued his hot hitting and lined a single in the first inning to give the Dodgers two runners in scoring position with two outs against Yunior Marté.
While Smith and Pages continued to ramp up their offense with solid nights at the plate, Shohei Ohtani had a rough one. Ohtani went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
There were three outfield assists in the first three innings of the game. Both teams attempted to stretch singles into doubles but were shut down with laser throws from the outfield.
Pages showed off his arm in center field in the bottom of the first behind Skubal, throwing out Victor Bericoto at second. Bericoto must not have read the scouting report on Pages and his cannon in center.
Teoscar Hernández quickly crushed the first pitch he saw from Marte for a solo homer to left to put the Dodgers on the board.
Pages has been trying to get at-bats in after missing more than a month. He looked in midseason form when he launched a solo home run to make it 2-0 in favor of the Dodgers, his first round-tripper since coming off the injured list.
Both teams tried to stretch singles into doubles but got mowed down by the opposition at second base. Kiké Hernández was thrown out by Marcelo Mayer at second for the second outfield assist of the game.
Smith collected his second hit of the night, a two-out single in the bottom of the third. Smith also tried to leg out a double, but was once again blocked by Mayer. The Dodgers challenged the call on the field, but the trifecta of outfield assists stood intact.
There was no need to push Skubal any further without anything on the line for the Dodgers during this final weekend series. Roki Sasaki took over for Skubal out of the bullpen for the eighth inning and struck out two. Sasaki and his giant yellow glove will certainly be looked to out of relief during the NLDS.
America’s Catcher, Smith, picked up his third hit of the night in the top of the ninth. Despite the late-inning base runners, the Dodgers couldn’t add on to their lead.
Tanner Scott took the ball with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and secured the 2-0 shutout win with two strikeouts to put a bow on it.
Friday particulars
Home runs: Teoscar Hernández (16), Andy Pages (22)
WP — Tarik Skubal(12-7): 7 IP, 3 hits, no runs, no walks, 10 strikeouts (75 pitches)
The Dodgers and Giants face each other in the penultimate regular season game Saturday (1:05 p.m., SportsNet LA). Blake Snell (4-1, 1.86 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) looks to head into the postseason on a strong note. Fellow lefty Matt Wilkinson (1-3, 3.65 ERA, 1.01 WHIP) starts for the Giants.
SAN FRANCISCO –– In his final tune-up of the regular season, Tarik Skubal looked like a well-oiled machine.
After looking good, but not often great, in his first couple months with the Dodgers, the team’s marquee trade deadline acquisition tapped back into his two-time Cy Young-winning form on Friday night, carving up the San Francisco Giants in a 2-0 win that could portend big things in the playoffs.
“That was the best we’ve seen,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He was on a mission tonight. You could see it. Everything was working … Incredibly good.”
During his scoreless seven-inning start, Skubal struck out 10 batters and allowed just three hits. He didn’t issue a walk. He hardly even looked stressed during an uber-efficient 75-pitch domination.
Tarik Skubal smiles as he walks to the dugout after striking out Shay Whitcomb to close out the fifth inning in the Dodgers’ 2-0 win over the Giants on Sept. 25, 2026, in San Francisco. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
In his entire MLB career, the only time he posted a better stat line might have been in his lone complete-game shutout last year against the Cleveland Guardians.
“It’s just pitching aggressive and challenging them,” Skubal said. “Tough park to hit in. And the wind seemed like it was blowing in, kind of keeping fly balls in the yard tonight. So just challenge them and see how far they can hit it.”
The Dodgers, of course, didn’t need proof of such excellence from Skubal.
When they acquired him from the Tigers two months ago, they knew they had landed the one player available at this year’s deadline capable of significantly boosting their World Series odds.
He felt like he was being “a little too fine” at times, recording only one start without a walk in his first nine Dodgers outings. He didn’t have a scoreless performance until two weeks ago in Cincinnati, when he blanked the Reds over seven innings with nine strikeouts and only three hits allowed. And even then, he turned right back around and allowed four runs in five innings against the Giants his last time out –– showing visible frustration with himself before spending a few days earlier this week away from the team on the bereavement list.
“I’m not attacking the way I know how to attack,” he said. “My stuff’s too good to give a guy a free pass.”
Friday’s rematch at Oracle Park followed an entirely different script.
Tarik Skubal throws a pitch during the third inning of the Dodgers’ road win over the Giants. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
And from there, the 29-year-old Northern California native never looked back.
He pounded the Giants with a steady diet of fastballs (even hitting 100 mph at one point for only the third time this year) and changeups (commanding it better than he had for most of the last couple months) while also starting out with a first-pitch strike to 21 of his 23 batters.
“First-pitch strikes [are important],” Skubal said. “Today’s game gets very analytical. I think when I’m really good, it’s at the old-school stuff. Like getting ahead, winning your 1-1 counts, getting guys out in three or four pitches.”
Did Skubal think he “bullied” the Giants’ overmatched offense?
“I’m not going to use that word,” he joked. “That’ll make a pretty good headline if I say that.”
With Friday’s performance, Skubal finished his regular season with a 12-7 record and 2.72 ERA overall. Following his trade to the Dodgers, he went 5-2 and posted a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts, the last four of which were all winning decisions.
“Those numbers are great,” he said. “I think there’s just some things where I could be better. Today was a really good day. But I’ve also had some kind of poor performances … I think there’s always room for improvement. I’m not really satisfied with anything I’ve accomplished so far.”
Tarik Skubal throws a pitch during the Dodgers’ road victory over the Giants. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The only caveat to Friday’s gem: The Giants are trotting out what is effectively a Triple-A lineup, as they limp to the end of a dismal 2026 season in which all of their big stars first struggled, then got hurt.
Still, there are worse ways to enter the playoffs than off the back of what was arguably his most complete start all season.
Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal delivers in the first inning of a 2-0 win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Friday night. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
It didn’t matter that Tarik Skubal’s heater zipped across the middle of the plate, belt high to San Francisco Giants rookie Bo Davidson. The Dodgers’ left-hander had been unhittable all inning, and the 100-mph fastball he reached back for to end the fourth was no exception.
It was just the third time Skubal had touched 100 mph all season, and Davidson waved at the pitch, falling to the same fate as his teammates before him, as Skubal struck out the side in order.
Skubal’s final regular-season tuneup, in the Dodgers’ 2-0 win on Friday, went swimmingly. In an efficient seven scoreless innings, Skubal threw just 75 pitches.
That gem brought Skubal’s regular-season ERA to 2.72, and 2.61 since the Dodgers (98-62) acquired him from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline.
Teoscar Hernández is showered in sunflower seeds after hitting a home run against the Giants in the second inning Friday. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
At the time, his addition looked like a luxury for a team that already boasted one of the best rotations in the majors, assuming two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani would eventually return to the mound.
When he didn’t, instead landing on the injured list for two weeks, Skubal’s smooth transition turned what could have been a shock wave of a loss for the rotation into barely a tremor.
Even without Ohtani, the Dodgers’ projected postseason rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Skubal, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow is still drawing comparisons to the ‘90s Atlanta Braves.
Next, they’ll test that association under postseason conditions. Skubal’s outing Friday sent him into the first-round bye on a high note.
Skubal only gave up three hits, all singles, one of which third baseman Max Muncy knocked down the line before the soft grounder could leave the infield in the seventh inning. Skubal retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani takes the field at the start on Friday's game against the Giants. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
In all, Skubal recorded 10 strikeouts, reaching double digits for the fourth time this season.
Roki Sasaki — continuing to log innings in relief in preparation for his postseason role — threw a perfect eighth. Tanner Scott retired the side in the ninth to record the save.
The Dodgers’ offense came via the long ball. Teoscar Hernández continued his red-hot September with a solo home run in the second inning, his fifth homer in a month. Andy Pages followed two batters later with a home run, his first since coming off the injured list this week.
If the Yankees want to ensure they do not have a ball hit to third base against them in the playoffs, perhaps they should just put Anthony Volpe there.
They had Volpe start at the hot corner Friday for the first time in his big league career, and by the end of the 10-2 loss to the Orioles in the opener of a doubleheader, he was still waiting for his first real chance.
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A ball was finally hit to third base in the ninth inning, except it hit the bag and flew over Volpe’s head, giving him no shot to make a play.
Otherwise, nothing came his way, and while he could start there again Sunday if the Yankees are not washed out, Aaron Boone still considered the game valuable for Volpe.
“Not a lot of action over there, but there’s something to be said for being in there and thinking through the situations and moving and setting up how you’re supposed to,” said Boone, who started Volpe at shortstop in the nightcap.
Anthony Volpe rips a two-run ground-rule double during the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 6-3 win over the Orioles in Game 2 of a doubleheader on Sept. 25, 2026 at the Stadium. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Volpe seems unlikely to start at third base in the playoffs, but he played there Friday so he could at least have it in his back pocket, which would give him even more positional flexibility after making the transition from shortstop to second base at Triple-A.
Having that versatility could allow the Yankees to get more aggressive in using pinch hitters and pinch runners in the AL Wild Card Series against the Red Sox.
“I felt comfortable,” said Volpe, who credited third baseman Ryan McMahon, infield coach Dan Fiorito, Triple-A infield coach Gil Velasquez and former teammate Oswaldo Cabrera for helping him get up to speed at the position.
“No matter where you play, you got to anticipate and know where you got to be. I feel like I’ve picked it up.”
Leody Taveras is safe at second base after beating the throw to shortstop Anthony Volpe during the third inning of the Yankees’ Game 2 win over the Orioles. AP Photo/Noah K. Murray
Before Friday’s doubleheader, the Yankees held the equivalent of postseason tryouts — or perhaps prove-its — as Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham faced Ryan Weathers, with all three trying to show they are healthy enough and ready to be on the wild-card roster.
Weathers, throwing one inning and about 20 pitches, was facing hitters for the first time suffering a left forearm flexor strain last month. Doing so Friday leaves the door open for him to be on the roster next week, which would give the bullpen a power lefty.
“He looks healthy, that’s what I took away,” Boone said. “Looks like Ryan stuff-wise. He was up to 96 [mph] with the velo[city]. A little scattered there in his inning, but just from my vantage point on the side, stuff looked good. … Whether [he’s an option for the] first round or not, that’ll be the conversation we have here in the next day or two.”
Stanton and Grisham, meanwhile, were facing live pitching for the second time in three days (and faced minor league lefty Xavier Rivas for more at-bats around Weathers’ inning). Despite not having played in a game for five months because of three calf strains, Stanton is in consideration to make the roster as a pinch hitter depending on how many position players the Yankees carry.
“Obviously we’ll talk to G, see where he’s at, mentally, physically, all that,” Boone said. “But having the threat there is real, and if we feel like he’s up to it and ready for it, the threat that we all know G is, we got to weigh that.”
Grisham has been sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring strain but could make the roster as a fourth outfielder (and potentially start in center against righties, with Spencer Jones moving to right).
“He’s knocking on that door too,” Boone said. “He’s checked a lot of the boxes and gone through his running progressions and things like that. So he’s very much in play and in the conversation too.”
The Yankees had 18 innings to cover Friday, but Carlos Lagrange was not called up to throw any of them. Across the two games, they promoted Brendan Beck, Yerry de los Santos and Alexander Cornielle to eat innings (Beck starting Game 1), allowing them to protect the rest of their pitching staff ahead of the postseason.
Lagrange, meanwhile, was not going to be available to pitch Friday after throwing live on Wednesday in Somerset, N.J., as part of the Yankees’ stay-ready group. The hard-throwing 23-year-old is still not far removed from a shoulder sprain, so the Yankees are being cautious with him even while keeping him in play to potentially be an option for a postseason roster.
“He had an injury, and he’s just started throwing lives again,” Boone said. “He threw live two days ago, so he’s not in play right now. Could be down the road, but he’s not in play yet.”
With Sunday’s regular-season finale in jeopardy because of the nor’easter — and the Yankees planning to call up Elmer Rodríguez for length if they play that game — Lagrange seems doubtful to appear in a regular-season game.
Fernando Cruz (partially torn UCL) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday (to make room on the 40-man roster for Cornielle), essentially ruling him out for the entire postseason despite his attempt to make a late-season comeback. … Boone said he did not know what Aaron Judge (calf strain) was doing Friday “as far as baseball goes
New York Yankees relief pitcher Will Warren (29) follows through on a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, Friday, September 25, 2026.
For a bullpen that has three (heavily used) sure things and a whole lot of question marks behind them entering the playoffs, Will Warren is trying to become one of the answers the Yankees will need to find.
The right-handed starter made his final regular-season appearance out of the bullpen Friday and delivered 3 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in the Yankees’ 6-3 win over the Orioles to split the doubleheader, as he prepares for a relief role in the AL Wild Card Series and beyond.
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Warren recorded seven of his 11 outs via the strikeout, racking up 13 whiffs on 28 swings and flashing the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that could be valuable in the Yankees bullpen.
“He can be big for us moving forward in the postseason, and in different roles,” manager Aaron Boone said.
The Yankees know they have workhorses Brent Headrick and Paul Blackburn to form the bridge to David Bednar in the ninth inning, but they could certainly use more help. Warren has a chance to offer it, especially as his velocity and stuff has ticked up over the past month.
“I feel like as a starter, you’re supposed to get both sides of the plate out, so I think that would be pretty big for us,” said Warren, who finished the season with a 3.92 ERA. “You see Blackburn do it, you see Headrick do it, so whenever my name’s called, I’ll be ready to go.”
New York Yankees relief pitcher Will Warren (29) follows through on a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, Friday, September 25, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The club kept Warren to 54 pitches Friday in his third relief appearance of the season, ensuring he will be available on Tuesday for Game 1 against the Red Sox while also offering some length if needed.
“I felt good — a little less blackout this time,” Warren joked, referring to his bullpen cameo earlier this month against the Padres.
On a day when the wind from the incoming nor’easter wreaked some havoc, the Yankees (93-68) dropped the first game of the doubleheader 10-2 before taking the nightcap. Whether they actually play Game 162 on Sunday remains to be seen, with the forecast iffy, but their bats came alive in the second half of the twin bill, including a two-run double from Anthony Volpe and two hits apiece from Ben Rice and Ryan McMahon.
New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) is greeted by teammates in the dugout after scoring on his solo home run during the fourth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY PostNew York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) hits a two-run RBI ground-rule double during the sixth inning of game two of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Former Met Pete Alonso crushed a pair of home runs for the Orioles (79-82) in Game 1 — including a 471-foot shot that cut through the wind blowing in — to move into sole possession of the American League lead with 43 on the year.
The Yankees also had some questionable outfield defense in both ends of the doubleheader, windy or not. In Game 1, Spencer Jones could not track down a fly ball to center field, as it hit off his glove and turned into an inside-the-park home run for Jeremiah Jackson. In Game 2, right fielder Heliot Ramos simply dropped a fly ball to right field.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 25: Travis Bazzana #37 of the Cleveland Guardians slides into third base against Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium on September 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If I hadn’t known any better, I would have assumed the Royals were the team that were partying late into the night and didn’t get into town until 3 AM. They played perhaps their sloppiest game of the season and despite the fact that Gavin Williams didn’t have anything approaching his best stuff, the Royals fell to the Guardians 12-9.
I don’t usually like to go over the game with such a fine-tooth comb, but this game defies understanding without it. So here we go.
The sloppiness started immediately. Steven Kwan took a strike on the inside corner. He knew it was a strike. Carter Jensen knew it was a strike. But the umpire called it a ball and, inexplicably, Carter didn’t challenge. Next up, Jose Ramírez hit a ground ball to third. It looked like a good chance for a double play, but instead Maikel Garcia let the hop play him, and it deflected off of his glove for no outs. At that point, Noah Cameron got a flyout from Chase DeLauter; Ramírez attempted to tag and advance to second behind Kwan going to third. The throw appeared to be there in time, but J-Ram swam around it. However, he appeared to slide past the bag while Michael Massey was holding the tag. The umpire called him safe, and the Royals didn’t challenge. From there, Noah gave up a legitimate single to Angel Hernandez to score two before mercifully escaping.
In the bottom of the first, Bobby Witt Jr. took a one-out, four-pitch walk. Jac Caglianone roped a double into the left field corner that could score only someone as fast as Bobby. Things were looking up!
Maikel Garcia smashed a single into right that was hit too hard to score Jac, but Maikel inexplicably took a wide turn around first. It didn’t look like he was trying to draw a throw to allow Jac to score, which would have been a mistake given how hard he hit that ball in any case. But that would mean he simply got sloppy running the bases, which isn’t better. The Guardians got him in a rundown, and Jac exacerbated the problem by kind of dancing to no-man’s-land between third and home. Fortunately for the Royals, they missed the tag on Maikel but easily threw out Jac. Jac needed to either aggressively go home or stay at third; the in-between stuff guaranteed he wasn’t going to do anything positive.
Cameron gave up a home run to Austin Hedges in the top of the second, and it seemed like things might get completely out of control. But he didn’t give up another baserunner that inning. In the bottom of the inning, John Rave reached on a bunt single, and Carter Jensen got his second look at Gavin Williams.
That tied Carter Jensen with Mike Piazza for the most extra-base hits for a catcher in a rookie season. More importantly, that tied the game! Maybe things weren’t going to be so bad after all!
Nope. Cameron gave up another run in the top of the fourth.
But the bottom of the fourth! John Rave led off with a walk. Kyle Isbel inexplicably sacrificed him over. The Guardians went to their bullpen for Tim Herrin rather than risk pushing Williams even further when they needed him in the playoffs. Rave immediately stole third and scored on a Jensen sacrifice fly. Then Bobby singled to right, stole second, and scored on a Caglianone single to right. Maikel Garcia hit a slow roller to the left side; it was clearly going to be an infield single. Jac Caglianone inexplicably took a hard turn around second and ended up in a rundown that ended the inning instead of putting runners at first and second for Vinnie Pasquantino. Still, they had the lead!
Alas, Cameron still hadn’t found his command. Jo Adell doubled, and two batters later, David Fry crushed a home run to left to take the lead right back. Travis Bazzana hit a fly ball to right field, and the wind really got a hold of it. Jac was slow to read how much shallower it was going to end up, and Bazzana got a double out of it when Jac’s dive came up short. Hedges hit a grounder back to Cameron; Bazzana inexplicably took off for third, Cameron tossed it to Maikel, but the team failed the rundown, and the Guardians ended up with runners at second and third. Bazzana then scored on a Brayan Rocchio groundout.
That’s where the score stayed until the bottom of the eighth. Connor Thomas pitched the sixth and seventh, allowing only a hit, but walking no one and striking no one out. Lucas Erceg walked the bases loaded in his inning, but otherwise escaped unscathed. His body language was complaining about the state of the mound – remember tonight’s game was delayed almost an hour by rain and it was a soggy night even when it wasn’t raining,
Massey led off the inning with a single to center. Rave hit a deep fly to the left field corner, and Massey was not prompt about returning to first, so he was doubled off when Steven Kwan and Rocchio combined to pick up the assist. But Kyle Isbel dumped a single into right and Carter Jensen wasn’t going to let the Royals go down so quietly.
You’ll hear at the start of that clip that Ryan wondered if Massey was hurt, but he stayed in the game.
That gave Carter the new record for most XBH by a rookie catcher in a season. Don’t count him out of the Rookie of the Year conversation just yet!
Nate Pearson got the ninth, and he also walked the bases loaded. While he was at it, Travis Bazzana gifted the Royals a pop-out on the only strike Pearson threw in his first 13 pitches. He was also complaining about the mound. Finally, they came out and messed around with the dirt. Pearson responded by getting Kwan on a soft ground out to Garcia; the play was at the plate. But then Pearson walked Jose Ramírez to force in the go-ahead run.
Matt Quatraro went to get Nolan Hoffman to try and get past DeLauter. Hoffman walked him, too. Then he walked Petey Halpin, who had pinch-run for Jo Adell earlier in the game. Finally, Angel Martinez put a ball in play, a double down the left field line. Halpin was mercifully thrown out at the plate to end the inning. Heaven knows if we had had to wait for a Royals’ pitcher to actually earn an out we would probably still be there.
Salvy crushed a home run to left field with Maikel on to cut the deficit to 3.
The home run, number 324, tied him with Lance Parrish and Gary Carter on the all-time list for home runs by a primary catcher.
So let’s do a little summarization here, because that was a lot.
Noah Cameron had his worst start since he started calling his own pitches. He finishes the season with a 4.11 ERA.
The Royals walked a season-high 13. Each of the last three relievers the Royals used, all of whom likely figure in their plans for next year, allowed three or more baserunners, including at least two walks.
Six different Royals reached base at least twice, including Jensen’s pair of dingers, Jac Caglianone coming through with three hits, and John Rave reaching twice and scoring each time.
The Royals outhit the Guardians, but those walks were backbreaking. The baserunning errors didn’t help.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Royals were paying tribute to Denny’s lengthy career all night. I had kind of shrugged my shoulders about it all because I expected it to be very corporatized and saccharine. But, in the end, the tributes all seemed quite heartfelt. I may have even teared up a little. It was a bright spot on an otherwise exceptionally frustrating night for Royals fans.
The Guardians’ magic number to win the division fell to two. The Royals will try to bounce back tomorrow. Michael Wacha (3.33 ERA, 4.36 SIERA) will make his final start of the year; he needs 5.2 innings to reach 200 for the season. The Royals will probably beg him to throw at least that many, considering the state the bullpen has been in for the past couple of weeks. The Guardians will counter with Tanner Bibee (4.35 ERA, 4.49 SIERA). The game will start at 6:10 PM.
SAN FRANCISCO ― Every year, the San Francisco Giants recognize one of their players who exemplifies the spirit of Giants legend Willie McCovey. A player who's demonstrated ability, leadership and inspiration.
The baseball club honored ace pitcher Logan Webb with the 2026 Willie Mac Award ahead of Friday night's showdown against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Webb was joined by his family, parents Erik and Christie, and previous Willie Mac Award winners including Hunter Pence, Will Smith and teammate Willy Adames, who told Webb he won the award. Webb's competitive spirit helped earn him the award, which is voted upon by Giants fans and team personnel, including players, coaches, training and clubhouse staff.
"It's exciting, it's an honor," Webb told reporters. "I believe I've come in second now three years in a row and I finally got one. To be honest, not the year probably I expected to get one, but it means my teammates see something in me, believe in me. It's cool. Staff, coaches, people that I've known and voted for me ... that makes me excited."
A deserving feat for the Giants' longest tenured player. Webb was drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft and made his debut during the 2019 season.
The designation means a lot to Webb, especially due to the season he and his Giants are having.
Giants leader expects more from himself
Webb didn't sidestep the elephant in the room that San Francisco hasn't been great this year. The Giants entered their Friday night matchup with the Dodgers with a 65-94 record. Webb focused on his play, despite all the praise for winning the award.
The 2026 season has been somewhat rough by Webb's standards, despite being selected to his third consecutive All-Star Game.
"I think I've done a poor job in the playing aspect of being a leader, but that's on me," Webb said in an honest response to a question. "There's a lot of moments this season that we had ... I think you look across the room, there's four or five guys who are happy or proud of what they've done but those guys are pretty upset at the team's performance. I'm doing my best to help out as much as I can. It's gonna be a fun offseason to push all of ourselves."
His season was shut down after experiencing blisters that were bothering him. Webb finished 8-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 160.2 innings pitches in 27 starts. He threw one complete game this season.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 25: Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a double in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on September 25, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In his final start of the regular season, a final chance to make his case for a start in the NLDS, Robert Gasser did everything right.
In what became an 8-4 win, Gasser absolutely shoved against the Cardinals across six innings, allowing just one hit, a homer to Ivan Herrera, while striking out a career-high nine batters. He retired the first 10 batters that he faced, striking out six of them.
The Brewers offense, meanwhile, was providing him plenty of run support. They jumped on the board quickly in the first with a Garrett Mitchell single followed by a Brice Turang RBI double for his 95th RBI of the season.
They would punch through again in the fourth inning, which got started with a leadoff walk from Christian Yelich, followed by a single from Joey Ortiz. A fielder’s choice grounder from Luis Lara put Yelich on third and then another fielder’s choice grounder from Sal Frelick brought Yelich home to make it a 2-1 Brewers lead. David Hamilton would double and put runners on 2nd and 3rd, but Mitchell grounded out to first to end the inning.
But the Brewers were not done scoring yet. In the 5th inning, Brice Turang led things off with his second double of the night and came around to score on the single from Jake Bauers. Christian Yelich followed with a single of his own, then Luis Lara drew a walk and the bases were loaded. Oli Marmol made a pitching change and pulled his starter Michael McGreevy and turned to Brycen Mautz, a left-hander, out of the bullpen. Pat Murphy countered with Jackson Chourio to pinch hit for Sal Frelick. Chourio drew a walk to bring in another run and make it a 4-1 ballgame.
Armed with a three run lead, Gasser went back out for the 6th and sat down the Cardinals in order. He received a standing ovation walking off the mound and Murphy would turn the ball over to his bullpen after that.
“He threw the ball great. He’s been throwing the ball with great confidence” Pat Murphy said. “I think he’s got tremendous confidence and he’ll definitely be somebody who pitches for us [in October].”
Bryse Wilson was first out of the gate, just activated off the IL a few hours prior, and Wilson stumbled out of that gate.
He allowed a home run to the first batter he faced, Jordan Walker, then gave up a single to Leo Bernal, and then a moonshot home run to Alec Burleson, who hit the foul pole about 80% of the way to the top. Very quickly, that 4-1 Brewers lead turned into a 4-4 tie ballgame.
Fear not, the Brewers offense was not done yet.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Chourio got things started with a leadoff single. David Hamilton was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Garrett Mitchell dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but pitcher Justin Bruihl airmailed the throw to first, allowing Mitchell to reach and the bases to be loaded for Turang. Turang punched a single to left, through the drawn in infield, to bring in his 96th and 97th RBIs of the season.
In the month of September, Turang is hitting .368/.484/.592 with eight doubles, three homers, and 19 RBIs.
The Cardinals then made another pitching change, bringing in Cade Winquest. Winquest had Mitchell picked off at second, Mitchell tried to get in a rundown and was heading to third. Winquest decided to make an off-balance throw and airmailed it over the third baseman’s head and to the railing.
That allowed both runners to advance, then Contreras punched a single to left that brought home another run and make it 7-4 with still nobody out. Jake Bauers added in a sacrifice fly to left and the Brewers took an 8-4 lead.
Trevor Megill came on for the 9th inning and was able to close it out in short order and the Crew secured their 101st win of the regular season.
Joey Ortiz was removed from the game late due to a nagging knee bruise that he suffered in Philadelphia. Murphy said his knee was “really sore today, so that’s why we put Hamilton at short, just because Joey’s knee couldn’t move very much.”
There are just two games left to play in the regular season. Dustin May will start on Saturday while Jacob Misiorowski will start on Sunday.
“The Phillies family lost an icon today,” Phillies managing partner and CEO John Middleton said in a statement from the organization. “Bill helped to reshape our franchise from a traditional baseball club into a highly visible entertainment and business operation. His profound impact in overseeing one of the greatest eras in franchise history, both on and off the field, will forever be his legacy.”
Bill Giles talks to reporters during the MLB All-Star Media Availability Day at the Westin Cincinnati Hotel on July 13, 2015, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Getty Images
Giles is not only known as the architect of the 1980 World Series championship team (the Phillies’ first), led by series MVP Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose and Steve Carlton, but he’s also credited with introducing the Phillie Phanatic, one of the most notable mascots across sports.
Giles believed the Phillies needed a mascot capable of entertaining families and connecting with younger fans.
The Phanatic debuted in 1978 and eventually grew into one of the most notable mascots in pro sports.
It was also perfectly representative of Giles’ approach to baseball and the business around it.
Giles joined Philadelphia in 1969 as vice president of business operations and became known for finding increasingly creative — and occasionally bizarre — methods of fan entertainment.
Phillies Chairman Bill Giles attends the premiere of “2008 World Series Film: Phillies vs. Rays” at the Bridge Cinema De Lux on Nov. 24, 2008 in Philadelphia. FilmMagic
His promotions included a tightrope walk in conjunction with Karl Wallenda, the first of the famed Flying Wallendas, who walked a nearly 640-foot tightrope several hundred feet high across Veterans Stadium in 1973.
Wallenda performed the stunt with zero netting and completed the tightrope, to Giles’ relief. And he did it again in 1976.
Bill Giles with Pete Rose, who played with the team from 1979 to 1983. Bettmann Archive
In one instance, Giles attempted to have “Kiteman” fly a hang glider from a ramp in the upper deck of the ballpark to the mound to deliver a ball to then-Philadelphia mayor Frank Rizzo on Opening Day in 1972.
“Kiteman” crashed into the upper deck, although he survived.
“My goal was to do unusual things — cash scrambles and giveaways and all that stuff,” he said. “If we could get them to the ballpark once, particularly when we opened the Vet, they hopefully will like it enough to where they would come back enough to become a mini-season-ticket holder for 10-15 games a year and then eventually a full season-ticket holder. It was that stepping stone of developing a fan base that started by doing a lot of nutty things.”
The Phillie Phanatic performs before a game between the Cardinals and the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Aug. 23, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Schmidt called Giles a “dear friend.”
“Sad news today as we learned of the passing of a dear friend of the Phillies family, Bill Giles,” Schmidt said in a statment. “Bill was the heart and soul of the organization for over two decades. He was a close personal friend to so many of us. He will always be a big part of Phillies history. Prayers go to the Giles family in this time of mourning.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Franchise icon and undisputed greatest Golden State Warrior of all time Stephen Curry looks to have decided to become a Warrior for life.
The Warriors and Curry have finalized a two-year, $116 million contract extension that keeps the legendary guard in the Bay Area through the 2028-29 season, as first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
BREAKING: Golden State’s Stephen Curry has agreed on a two-year, $116 million contract extension with the franchise, with a player option in 2028-29, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/KSdyNDCsRx
The deal, which includes a player option for the final year, reflects a modest discount from the $136.7 million maximum Curry was eligible to command. This financial flexibility aids Golden State’s front office as they work to balance a competitive roster alongside fellow veterans.
By extending through his 20th campaign, Curry further solidifies his intention to complete his entire professional career with the franchise that drafted him in 2009. A four-time NBA champion, two-time league MVP, and the league’s all-time leader in three-point makes, the 38-year-old superstar remains the centerpiece of the Warriors’ identity. The landmark extension ensures Golden State’s defining era continues with its foundational star at the helm.
Alllllmost! (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a shaky start, Joe Ryan settles in nicely (except for hitting Alejandro Osuna twice) and the bats come to life. Good chance to play spoilers this weekend! Inning-by-inning notes:
1: Walker Jenkins almost makes a great catch on a sinking Brandon Nimmo liner, but close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, curling, darts, and lots of other games. Joe Ryan hits the next guy, and Corey Seager singles home a run. Then Wyatt Langford grounds it right to Royce Lewis at first; he looks home (and would have had the runner) but Ryan Jeffers is pointing to first, so Royce makes the out there. Ezequiel Duran pops out, and then Ryan hits ANOTHER guy because, I dunno, his dog died in Texas or something. Finally, Ryan gets out of this after 28 pitches. Yeek.
It takes Jake deGrom 17 less pitches and he achieves a much better outcome. Sometimes less is more, you know? Rangers 2-0
2: Well, that was better for Ryan. Maybe he doesn’t need foot/arm/elbow/knee surgery that will sideline him for all of next year. Oh c’mon you know he does. He’ll just have it on the last day of spring training.
Hey, here ya go! Walk, single, single, Royce single! Bringing up Emma Rodriguez with runners on first and third. deGrom remembers he’s a strikeout machine and gets him. Then a weird play; Ryan Kriedler bunts it right back to deGrom. He looks over to first and… nobody’s there. 1B Jake Burger had moved towards where he thought the ball was going; everybody’s safe.
Then Luke Keaschall triples! I mean, I woulda given him a double, ‘cause he gets to third ‘cuz a stoopid throw by RF Nimmo misses everybody trying to cut it off. But, hey, we’ll take it, since soon enough… wild pitch! Keaschall scores! The Twins don’t get anything further out of it, but that was fun. Batting around is fun. Twins 6-2
3: 1-2-3 for Ryan. Maybe only one arm/leg need to be surgeried. One of the guys he hit in the first has to come out, Josh Jung; hope he’s OK and never reads Carl Jung.
Nothing else happens for awhile since I am making a hot dog and my toaster oven affects all hitters in a ten-mile radius.
4: As my hot dog finishes, Kreidler takes a walk and Keaschall doubles him home. There’s a two-out liner by Clemens that Nimmo almost catches, but close only counts in depth charges against Jules Verne submarines (Captain Nemo joke). So Keaschall scores. Then Clemens knocks him in. The Twins don’t add any more because they don’t care about you, still Minnesota 8-2
5: With two outs and a guy on first, Ryan hits his third batter of the game; per gintzer, this can get you thrown out of some over-50 baseball leagues. Nothing comes of it.
That’s all for deGrom, who has a contract next year for $37 million (and a mutual option for 2028, if humanity still exists, which I give a 50/50 chance). Gavin Collyer in; he is 6’1” and weighs 165 pounds, so I could wrestle him. I would lose, though. Twins down 1-2-3.
6: A one-out single off the mound, a two-out walk. Ryan notches his eighth strikeout on his 102nd pitch; call it a season, friend Joe.
Keaschall with the one-out single; he’s a homer shy of “the cycle.” He does have 10 so far, it’s not impossible! And now Klobberin’ Kody Klemens has 27. Heirs of the Minneapolis Millers 10-2
7: Other Kody (Funderburk) in; leadoff hitter Danny Jansen almost parks one, but Emma steals it! Good little moment for the home crowd. We’ve seen this a few times from Rodriguez already! Hope the future is fun for him.
8: Tommy Nance in for the Twins. FYI, he’s still under contract for awhile so let’s hope he’s good. Leadoff walk then a DP to end that.
Keaschall comes up with a chance at the cycle and… screw that guy just a dumb old base hit, we hate him now.
9: Mein Gott, the Twins challenge a replay with a 10-2 lead. I know it can help Taylor Rogers’ stats, but c’mon, guys! Anyways nobody scores and Twims Wim! (Yes we spell it wrong on purpose sometimes.)
Studs: Joe after pulling his Radke, Luke for the near-cycle, Emma for the catch, Clemens (3-4, HR, 3 RBI.) Duds: the dang Mariners for not beating both the mediocre Texas teams to the division title.
COTG go to nagurski with an observation about who gets work in TV commercials, sandwiches with an observation about some non-Emma outfield play, BobbyDarwin with an observation about diaphragm contractions, and goose with “So many good outfielders for the twims in its history. Hopefully we’re just watching Emma get started as the new one.”
Thanks to everybody who joined in! I’ve done end-of-season threads where there were seven comments and they were all me.
Next week is Rod Carew’s 81st birthday, so here’s a short fun video about him that popped into the MLB.com film room.
Sep 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob Degrom (48) looks on after giving up six runs against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Texas Rangers scored two runs but the Minnesota Twins scored ten runs.
There was a moment from a camera phone video recording where the Rangers returned to the field to salute the home fans after Thursday’s final game at The Shed this season, and as they departed one of the players yelled “We’ll be back!”
Rangers saluting the fans. A few of them yelled “we’ll be back” as they walked off the field pic.twitter.com/rOAX5Pwsbx
That was a pretty bold declaration, I figured. Maybe they were unaware of the standings or tiebreaker scenarios. Not much of a scoreboard watcher, perhaps. Maybe they were held captive by the moment and forgot that the team had just lost a series at home to the National League East cellar dwellers with everything in front of them. Maybe they meant next season, I don’t know. Even that is perhaps against the odds.
For the Rangers to return to the field at The Shed they would need to win the American League West, of which they came into the evening tied with the Houston Astros. The only problem is they didn’t beat the Astros more than they lost to them this summer so they were essentially behind Houston for the division crown with three games to play. We don’t do Game 163s anymore.
To overtake Houston, the Rangers reasonably needed to sweep Minnesota as losing a game would mean the Astros would essentially have to lose at least two of three to the homeless Athletics over the weekend. It’s a rough ask to count on the team ahead of you to basically drop a series to what is pretty much a minor league squad playing in a minor league stadium. Then again, the Rangers themselves did that twice in two tries this year.
So tonight’s game was crucial, they all are, but the Rangers had Jacob deGrom on the mound needing to set the tone for a series that could indeed send them back to playing baseball in Arlington if they finally showed up big even in the season’s dying moments.
Instead, they lost 10-2.
The Rangers did open with the fire of a club that was captured calling their return home by scoring a couple off of Minnesota starter Joe Ryan in the first inning. A 2-0 lead and deGrom made it through the first inning without allowing runs? Things were looking promising.
However, in the bottom of the second inning, the Rangers finally collapsed under the immense weight of their mediocrity. As deGrom was allowing six runs while the Twins batted around, it was announced that Josh Jung was exiting the game after being hit in the wrist by Ryan in the top of the first during Texas’ scoring rally.
The Rangers have been winning the games they’ve won over the last few weeks almost exclusively on the back of Jung and his bat. Without him for much of the second half, the team treaded water at the best of times and sunk most of the time. It was about as ill an omen as you could get.
By the end of things, deGrom allowed eight runs in four innings. Is deGrom pitching with some nagging injury while trying to carry this team he believes in to the playoffs? Probably. That doesn’t really matter right now as we sit here. There’s been six months of Texas Rangers baseball. They had perhaps the easiest path in league history to making this final series a coronation instead of do-or-die only to crater regardless both all summer and now.
Anyhow, deGrom’s season ERA will end at 4.20, or, per Shawn McFarland, placing him 35th out of the 45 qualified starting pitchers this season. Which yeah, that’s both bad and disappointing but hey, at least he qualified!
Sure, the Rangers aren’t eliminated yet but that almost feels like a threat more than anything else. You might actually have to watch more of this! And they might have to put it on national TV and advertise it as postseason baseball!
The Rangers will be back at home this year but it will probably be on their couches this October unless we get some miracles on the West Coast, as undeserving as that would be.
Player of the Game: Trevor Williams not only didn’t allow a run in two innings tonight, he was also the most recent late addition to the team earlier this month so he wasn’t around very much this season so that’s a pretty big win for him personally.
Up Next: The Rangers and Twins will play the second game of this series with Texas trying to potentially make game No. 162 matter. They haven’t announced a starter. Minnesota will opt for RHP Bailey Ober.
The Saturday afternoon first pitch from Target Field is scheduled for 3:10 pm CDT and will be telecast via the Rangers Sports Network.
The Warriors announced Friday, Sept. 25 that Curry signed a contract extension with the team. A person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports that the two-time MVP and Golden State agreed on a two-year, $116 million extension with a player option in 2028-29.
The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly disclose the details.
Throughout the offseason, both Curry and the Warriors have denied any speculation that the four-time champion would be going to another team. Curry was eligible to be a free agent in July 2027, but general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has continuously expressed the importance of Curry retiring as a Warrior.
The possibility became a definite, concrete answer: indubitably.
The Golden State Warriors have signed four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry to a contract extension. pic.twitter.com/hhjygBvN0Q
"We couldn’t be more excited about reaching an agreement with Stephen and extending his historic career with the Warriors," Dunleavy said in a statement. "There has never been a better face to a franchise in professional sports history, both on and off the court, than Stephen Curry with the Warriors.
"He embodies everything this organization strives to represent through his legendary play on the court, his unique leadership and sacrifice, and his unmatched impact in the community," he added. "We’ve been incredibly blessed to experience 17 years of Stephen’s artistry and are thrilled that our fans will continue to have the opportunity to watch him perform and write additional chapters to his illustrious story."
What Steph Curry extension means for Golden State
Curry, 38, is now slated to play until he's at least 40 years old. His extension signals there's a level of gratitude between Curry and the Warriors organization. Curry has always expressed a desire to retire with the Warriors.
The Warriors' commitment to the twilight of Curry's career doesn't just signal that they respect one of the legends of their franchise, but also that they believe they are in position to compete. His presence on the court makes all the difference for the team, its chemistry and confidence.
Curry finished the 2025-26 season with averages of 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 30.9 minutes per game across 43 games. He missed a good chunk of the season with a lingering knee issue. When he played, the team was 24-19; the Warriors had a 13-26 record without him on the floor.
He returned towards the end of the year to make a run at the postseason, which gave the Warriors a fighter's chance. His powers were on display when he put the team on his back against the Los Angeles Clippers in an NBA Play-In game. It was a vintage performance, reminding people that a Curry flurry can change things in a matter of seconds.
The Warriors' efforts came up short, but his return gave them instant credibility as a threat to upset any team they faced. There's a belief among the group that, if healthy, the Warriors can hang with anyone. Curry has been the Warriors' superpower for nearly two decades. The sentiment in the Bay Area is that when there's Curry, there's a chance.
The unshaken confidence starts and ends with the availability of No. 30. Watch for Golden State as a dark horse with a healthy, newly extended Curry.
Stephen Curry has consistently said he doesn't want to play for any other franchise than the Golden State Warriors. Friday night he signed on the bottom line to make that happen.
The extension kicks in for the 2027-28 season and includes a player option in the second year. If he plays both years of the contract, it will take Curry through his 20th season in the NBA and age 41.
Curry also gave the Warriors a financial break as it is $20 million below the max he could have signed for — and the Warriors would have given him. Curry is still the guy who packs the building, brings in sponsors, sells jerseys, and gets the Warriors on national television. A lot. That discount is in part to help the Warriors build a contender around him, something he talked about today on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio channel.
"You could ask me, you could ask Steve Kerr, you could ask Draymond (Green), we still believe that we can be that team. I think our challenge now is to reimagine what that looks like. And, you know, we have a veteran team. We need health on our side."
Curry only played 43 games last season himself, and him staying on the court is going to be key to any hope the Warriors make a run — he still shoots and plays at a high level.
Curry also talked in that interview about understanding he is in the final stretch of his career.
"Oh, I'm close to it. Look, Father Time is undefeated. We know that. And there's an idea of how far can I push this high level of play that I got, what expectations I have for myself."
When the end of his career comes, it's going to be in Golden State. As it should be.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, September 25, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It wasn’t exactly a meaningful game, but the Yankees projected a much better image in the nightcap against the Baltimore Orioles and won it 6-3 after losing the first game in ugly fashion. New York’s pitchers certainly brought the strikeout stuff for this one, as Ryan Yarbrough, Will Warren, Brent Headrick, John Schreiber, and Alexander Cornielle combined to punch out 17 — tied for a team sign high among standard nine-inning efforts with a gem led by Cam Schlittler’s 13 on June 19th against the Reds.
The Yankees’ record is now 93-68 with one regular season game left. If the weather holds off (no guarantees there), they have a shot at matching last year’s 94-68 record, which is frankly not bad because their best player, Aaron Judge, only suited up for 66 games.
This game actually started as a pitchers’ duel, with Orioles’ starter Brandon Young and Yarbrough trading zeroes for the first 2.1 innings. The lefty departed after 49 pitches, but did not allow a run despite surrendering four hits and a walk, fanning five.
The Yankees brought in Warren with one out and a runner on first, which represented a nice training scenario ahead of his expected bullpen role in the Wild Card Series.
As it turned out, Warren was amazing, even though he allowed a double in that same inning that could have produced a run for Baltimore, and covered 3.2 scoreless frames while conceding a mere three hits and racking up seven strikeouts. He will finish the regular season with a nice 3.92 ERA and just over a strikeout per inning.
The Yankees finally got to Young in the bottom of the fifth. After two outs, Austin Wells walked and crossed home thanks to Ryan McMahon’s RBI double.
Young pitched a very solid game, completing five frames in which he conceded a single run on two hits and three walks. He whiffed six and finished the game and the season with a 3.56 ERA.
The Bombers extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth against the O’s bullpen. Spencer Jones singled in Heliot Ramos, aided by a fielding error by right fielder Rece Hinds. Later in the inning, Anthony Volpe (playing shortstop with George Lombard Jr. getting a rare rest) hit an automatic double that plated Luis García Jr. and Jones to make it a 4-0 ballgame.
Headrick replaced Warren in the seventh and surrendered the Orioles’ first run. With the bases loaded and one out, Leody Taveras hit a sac fly to bring in Pete Alonso. Ramos and García would hit consecutive RBI singles in the bottom of the inning, though, and the Yankees were up 6-1.
Cornielle entered for his MLB debut, and was promptly greeted by a Dylan Beavers homer to right, making it a 6-2 ballgame. The rookie got into some trouble after the long ball, putting two men on base before getting the first out. He then surrendered a very long RBI double to Taveras that just missed the stands, as the O’s trimmed the Yankees lead to three runs.
Cornielle then shook it off and struck out the next two hitters to end the ballgame on a high note. Ben Rice went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored, and McMahon went 2-for-4 with a double, a run, and an RBI. Volpe plated two, and Wells walked twice and scored once.
The Yankees are supposed to wrap up their season on Sunday against the Orioles, starting at 3:20pm ET. Elmer Rodríguez has been announced as New York’s starter. However, the nor’easter that forced this doubleheader in the first place has led to some bad forecasts for Sunday, so it’s very possible that Game 162 gets nixed. We’ll find out soon enough! Stay dry out there.