While Scott only lasted 4.2 innings after throwing a season-high 89 pitches (59 strikes), he limited the damage after the Tigers scored two in the first inning to take a quick 2-0 lead.
The right-hander didn’t have his best stuff, allowing seven hits and two walks, but he battled his way through constant traffic and kept New York within striking distance while he was on the mound.
“He just had a hard time putting hitters away,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “The times that he got ahead he had a hard time – they fouled off some pitches, three-ball counts, but he fought and I thought he gave us a chance. So yeah, I think it was okay.”
Scott still finished with five strikeouts on the night which puts him at 20 Ks in 15.2 innings this year and he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his four starts this season after holding Detroit to two earned runs. His season ERA is 3.45.
Actually, one could argue those runs should not have been charged to Scott at all after Benge misplayed a routine fly ball in right field which resulted in a double and eventually two runs scoring.
Without that mistake, which is all part of the learning experience for a rookie, it could’ve been an entirely different outing for Scott who is still searching for his first major league win.
“I thought I did a good job of filling it up,” Scott said of his start. “They had a really good game plan against me, didn’t really get a lot of swings at the top of the zone with the four-seam. Made me go deeper in counts, obviously I want to go later in the game, but all the credit goes to the bullpen.
“They did an unbelievable job starting with [Huascar Brazoban] going two-plus there. Really kept us in the game. Obviously made them work a little harder than I wanted to, but overall, pretty gritty outing. A lot of pitches out of the stretch, they had a lot of runners on, but felt like even without my best stuff I was able to get some outs when I needed to.”
After Scott left (and the Mets still down 2-1), Brazoban entered and pitched 2.1 perfect innings with two strikeouts, lowering his sterling ERA to 2.14.
Not only did New York eventually tie it in the seventh, Brazoban’s performance also bridged the gap to the team’s late-inning relievers in Luke Weaver and Devin Williams who both pitched scoreless innings before Brooks Raley also shut the door in the 10th inning, stranding the ghost runner.
“For him to go two-plus [innings] and keep the game there; he was pitch-efficient, he was attacking [the strike zone] and he gave us an opportunity to hand the ball to the guys at the back end of the bullpen. It was huge,” Mendoza said about Brazoban. “All of those guys did their part, but Brazoban, getting two-plus [innings] from him was huge.”
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Eric Hartman #64 of the Atlanta Braves hits a single during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Some good stuff has been happening on the farm for this Braves franchise this year, as a number of position-player prospects have been really showing out, including shortstops John Gil and Tate Southesene. Perhaps the most impressive has been 2024 20th round pick, Canadian centerfielder Eric Hartman. Hartman joined Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list and for due reason. He has been absolutely raking, to the tune of a 182 wRC+ and a .695 SLG. Hartman is well known for elite speed, but his power and exit velocities have been arguably most impressive this season and what the Baseball America crew discussed as important to this ranking so early in the season. While I’m not a prospect expert, its really nice to see the Braves with a handful of exciting hitting prospects again after such a pitching dominated system for the last number of years.
Sep 5, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Kevin Alcantara (13) singles against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Starter Eli Jerzembeck didn’t make it out of the second inning today as he gave up one run in the first and five more in the second. His final line was six runs on seven hits over 1.2 innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Jackson Brockett gave the Cubs 3.1 innings of relief while allowing just one run on four hits. He walked one and struck out one.
Shortstop Ty Southisene continued to hit, going 3 for 5 with an RBI double in the top of the first inning. He also stole two bases. Southisene scored one run and had three total RBI.
Center fielder Kane Kepley was 1 for 2 with three walks and three steals. He scored twice.
Pierce Coppola started this one and got the loss after surrendering two runs on four hits over 3.2 innings. Coppola struck out six and walked two. He also hit one batter.
Mason McGwire tandem started with Coppola and turned in another great performance for him. McGwire gave up a solo home run in the seventh inning, but that was the only run he allowed on three hits over 4.1 innings. McGwire struck out eight and walked no one. McGwire now has 37 strikeouts in 24.1 innings and a 1.85 ERA.
As good as the pitching was, the Pelicans could only managed two hits and both of them were singles. First baseman Michael Carico had an RBI single in the sixth inning. He was 1 for 4.
It isn’t about how you start, it’s about how you finish.
Carson Benge showed that to the highest degree on Wednesday night, as he shook off a couple of rough moments early to deliver the Mets the game-winning hit late.
The first came just two batters into the game, as he misplayed a drifting liner in right that should’ve been a routine flyout, but instead led to a double and two runs on Christian Scott’s line.
“I missed it,” he said postgame. “I should’ve got it.”
The second was in the bottom of the seventh, as he was gunned down trying to sneak home on a double-steal play a couple of pitches after Bo Bichette looped a game-tying single into shallow right.
“They just executed and played catch,” Carlos Mendoza said on the play. “I feel like we could’ve gotten a bigger lead and it looks like Benge broke back at the release -- just another learning experience there.
“Our coaches went up to him after and said hey you’re going to get another big at-bat, just move on to the next play.”
And that’s exactly what the 23-year-old did, as he was calm and collected as he stepped to the plate in the top of the 10th and lifted the second pitch he saw right back up the middle for his first career walk-off hit.
“It’s just about trying to stay where you are and not letting the moment get too big,” Benge said. “You treat it like every at-bat -- you’re always trying to hit the ball hard, have a quality AB, and that’s all I was trying to do in that situation.
“It felt amazing, definitely a first, but indescribable.”
That’s sort of been the story of Benge’s rookie season to this point as well, as he’s settled into a nice groove of late after struggling to find his footing out of the gate.
With two other knocks on Wednesday, he’s now hitting .333 with seven RBI and a .900 OPS in May.
“He’s resilient, he’s not going to back down, he’s not going to put his head down,” Mendoza said. “He’s asking the right questions, he’s going to continue to improve and make adjustments -- it’s his personality, and it’s fun to watch.”
Colson Montgomery provided the biggest swing of the night Wednesday, crushing a 399-foot homer that proved to be the difference in the White Sox’s win over the Royals. | (Jayden Mack/Getty Images)
The kids are alright, and the South Siders are somehow sitting at .500. On a chilly Wednesday at Rate Field, the White Sox outlasted the Royals, 6-5, riding a Colson Montgomery missile and just enough bullpen duct tape to keep the fanbase from collective despair.
Noah Schultz spent the first three innings playing surgeon. Seventeen pitches carved up the Royals in the first, then another clean sweep in the second. Six up, six down. Barely broke a sweat.
The offense threatened early, too. A one-out single from Munetaka Murakami and another from Miguel Vargas gave the Sox traffic in the first, though Kansas City catcher Elías Díaz was left visibly baffled after several borderline pitches went Chicago’s way. No challenge came, and no runs came either, as Montgomery froze looking and Chase Meidroth rolled over to end the threat.
The Good Guys finally cracked through in the second. Jarred Kelenic punched a single, Tristan Peters ripped a double down the line, and Peters barreled into third on the throw while Kelenic slid home for run number one. Moments later, Drew Romo followed with a dribbler that Vinnie Pasquantino fumbled, Peters trotted home, and just like that, the Sox were up 2-0.
Schultz kept the train moving in the third. One walk to Starling Marte, then Isaac Collins bounced into a slick 6-4-3, and Díaz went down swinging. Forty-one pitches, three innings, minimum faced every time. That’s efficiency with a capital E.
The Sox added another tally in the bottom half of the third. Vargas worked a walk, Montgomery singled, and Meidroth lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
Then things got messy. Schultz lost the map in the fourth, walking the bases full before Kansas City finally cashed in. He fanned Salvador Perez to stop the bleeding, but Nick Loftin’s sac fly and a Pasquantino two-run single knotted it at three. Pasquantino, by the way, is the first lefty to tag Schultz for a hit in the bigs.
A quick shoutout here for Sam Antonacci, who turned an ordinary two-out single in the fourth into a hustle double. Mune flew out and left him stranded, but you’ve got to love the fire that these guys are showing.
Schultz’s night ended in the fifth after a leadoff walk to Maikel Garcia. Will Venable called for Tyler Davis, who, of course, walked Witt Jr. right out of the gate. But Davis found his groove, froze Lane Thomas, and got Perez to ground into a force to wriggle out of trouble.
The bats bailed out Schultz in the bottom half of the fifth. Montgomery singled, Meidroth bunted him over, Andrew Benintendi walked, and Kelenic smashed a double off the right-field wall to plate two. Sox back in front, 5-3, though Kelenic got greedy and was thrown out stretching for three.
Davis breezed through a spotless sixth, and the Sox nearly added more in their half of the frame after Antonacci reached on a throwing error and Murakami drew another walk, but Vargas flew out to strand them.
Then came the seventh-inning escape act. Jordan Hicks came in from the pen, plunked Collins, gave up a single to Carter Jensen, and suddenly the tying runs were staring him down. Hicks shrugged, fired off a bunch of nasty sweepers, and struck out Garcia, Witt, and Thomas in a row. That’s some serious lone-wolf energy.
Leading off the bottom of the seventh against John Schreiber, Montgomery supplied the insurance, and he did it with a bang. He demolished a no-doubt homer to right field — 110.3 mph off the bat and 399 feet of pure catharsis. The blast pushed the Sox ahead 6-3 and proved to be the difference-maker.
Sean Newcomb took care of business in the eighth, even after drilling Loftin. Antonacci, meanwhile, wore his eighth pitch of the year in the bottom of the inning. Apparently, getting plunked is just his thing now. However, he got thrown out trying to steal.
And naturally, the White Sox couldn’t let the ninth be boring.
Chicago closer Seranthony Domínguez coaxed a ground out from Collins, then Jensen ripped a double. Garcia also grounded out, but Witt unloaded a two-run shot to left, instantly shaving the lead to one and aging every Sox fan by a decade. Domínguez regrouped and fanned Caglianone on a foul tip to finally nail it down.
San Diego Padres first baseman Gavin Sheets (30) hits a three-run home run during the ninth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jacob Misiorowski continues to amaze. After a dominant performance against the Yankees his last time out, Miz followed that up with an even more sparkling performance against the Padres. Still, the Brewers fell 3-1.
While the first inning for Misiorowski still carried the velocity in the 103 MPH range, it took him a bit longer to make it through the four batters, taking 21 pitches. A replay review did not go the Brewers way on an infield single by Fernando Tatis Jr that arguably should have been overturned. It then took Misiorowski 22 pitches to make it through the 2nd inning.
“I honestly didn’t feel like I had my best stuff. I thought I was spraying those first few innings.” Misiorowski said.
Already at 43 pitches through 2, it did not seem like the efficient night that Misiorowski would’ve needed to make it through seven innings, but he settled in and did just that. After a third inning single by Tatis, Misiorowski retired the next 14 batters he faced. He threw eight pitches in the 4th, eight in the 5th, seven in the 6th, and 11 in the 7th.
Misiorowski reached 103 MPH with his final pitch in the 7th inning to strike out Nick Castellanos. He was all set to come back out for the 8th inning, the bullpen was quiet. But during his warmups, Misiorowski felt something in his leg again, called for the athletic trainer, and exited the ballgame with a 1-0 lead.
“Yeah, he wanted to stay in. We would have normally taken him out, but he wanted to stay in for the 8th.” Pat Murphy said.
Murphy confirmed it was a quad cramp for Misiorowski as the reason for his exit.
“I threw that first warmup pitch and was walking backwards up the mound and I kind of felt it coming on, kind of stood there for a second, like okay let’s see if it’s gonna do it” Misiorowski said.
Misiorowski finished the night with a line of 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K on 93 pitches.
Aaron Ashby came on for the 8th inning and sat the Padres down in order with a pair of strikeouts.
The Brewers were carrying a 1-0 lead, courtesy of an RBI fielder’s choice in the 5th inning from Brice Turang. Sal Frelick got that inning started with a single, then Joey Ortiz followed with a bunt single where Fernando Tatis Jr was late covering first base. Jackson Chourio grounded into a fielder’s choice where they got the force out at second but couldn’t get anyone else, leaving runners at the corners for Turang. Turang hit a slow grounder to first and they couldn’t turn the double play there either, allowing Frelick to score.
It looked like that was going to be enough as the Brewers handed the ball to Abner Uribe for the 9th inning. Uribe got Tatis and Machado for the first two outs of the inning no problem. Then a single just over the outstretched glove of Turang, then a walk, then Uribe hung a 0-1 slider to Gavin Sheets and he took it over the fence for a three run shot.
The Brewers got a leadoff single from Luis Rengifo in the bottom of the 9th against Mason Miller, but that was all they could muster. Sal Frelick, Gary Sanchez, and Jackson Chourio all were retired and the Padres stole a win from the Brewers on Wednesday night.
The rubber match is set for Thursday afternoon with Kyle Harrison on the bump for the Crew.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: Liam Hendriks #31 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the ninth inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s Wednesday night here at BCB After Dark: the coolest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re hoppin’ in here and you’re welcome to come in and join us. There’s no cover charge. If you have something you’d like checked, we can do that now. The show will start shortly, Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Here’s the part with the music and the movies. You’re free to skip that if you’d like. You won’t hurt my feelings.
Today is the 76th birthday of Stevie Wonder and I don’t know of any living popular songwriters that jazz artists like to cover more than Stevie Wonder. Radiohead may be coming on strong, but they are still quite a ways behind Stevie on the jazz charts.
So here is Chicago’s own Ramsey Lewis covering “Living For the City.” After a break, he also plays his version of the African-American spiritual “Wade in the Water.” Joining Lewis here is Henry Johnson on guitar, Mike Logan on keyboards, Chuck Webb on bass and Steve Cobb on drums.
This appears to be from German television in 1990.
Tonight I’m just going to have a few words about one of my favorite cult classics, director Allan Arkush’s 1979 comedy Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, starring P.J. Soles, Vince Van Patten, Clint Howard, Dey Young and the Ramones. Rock ‘n’ Roll High School was a Roger Corman production, and it’s yet another example of Corman giving young wannabe filmmakers a chance. Co-conceived by Arkush and another at the time unknown at the time in Joe Dante, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School is a fantastic comedy that wittily skewers the teen/high school movie genre. Not only is it very funny, but there’s also a lot of great music by The Ramones which, contrary to what the film claims, is not lethal to mice.
Van Patten plays Tom Roberts, the captain of the football team at Vince Lombardi High with All-American looks who unfortunately can’t get any girl to have sex with him because he’s such a total nerd who spends most of his time talking about the weather. He has a crush on Riff Randle (Soles), the rebel girl who is only interested in her favorite band, The Ramones.
So Tom hires Eaglebauer (Howard) who is the Milo Minderbinder of the Vince Lombardi High boy’s room, where he runs a business where he sells anything to the students for the right price. Tom wants Eaglebauer to set him up on a date with Riff. Meanwhile, Riff develops a friendship with Kate Rambeau (Young), a nerdy science girl whose hobby is “splitting atoms.” Kate has a crush on Tom and goes to Eaglebauer to set up a date with Tom for her.
All of this is put into danger by the new principal, Evelyn Togar (Mary Woronov). Principal Togar is determined to put an end to all this rock and roll and has decided to make an example out of Riff and Kate.
Meanwhile, The Ramones are coming to town for a concert and Riff and Kate are determined to go. Will Principal Togar be able to stop them? Will Tom get a date with Riff? Will Kate get a date with Tom? Will The Ramones play the song that Riff wrote: “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School”?
Rock ‘n’ Roll High School takes all the tropes of kids versus the teachers movies and turns them up to eleven. There’s also tons of little sight gags and running jokes that pay off repeatedly. While no one turns in anything less than a great comedic performance (well, except The Ramones, but we forgive them because they’re Ramones) special praise is deserved by former Andy Warhol “Factory Girl” Woronov and her often-acting partner Paul Bartel, who plays the hip music teacher Mr. McGree, who declares The Ramones to be “the Beethovens of our time.” Woronov and Bartel made 17 movies together including two other comedies that you should check out, Eating Raoul (1982) and Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989). Bartel also wrote and directed both of those films.
It seems incredible that Rock ‘n’ Roll High School wasn’t written for The Ramones, because their brand of absurdist punk is perfect for the absurdist comedy of the film. Arkush was supposedly turned down by Cheap Trick and Todd Rundgren and he was not interested in either Van Halen or Devo (both of whom were willing), the Ramones got the gig after Bartel showed Roger Corman a picture of Joey Ramone on a surfboard. No, they couldn’t act and they were not nearly as well-known and popular in 1979 as they are today. (The idea of buying a Ramones T-Shirt at Target in 1979 was unfathomable.) But it’s impossible to see the film working as well with any of those other bands. Dee Dee Ramone, upon seeing some of the footage, told Arkush that “We look like we’re from another planet!” to which Arkush responded “Yes, that’s what I wanted. You’re perfect.”
Corman’s productions were famous for their small budgets and Rock ‘n’ Roll High School was no exception. That Arkush was able to hide most of the tricks to keep the budget down was a major accomplishment. They found a school in LA that had closed and would soon be demolished, so they got to use it cheap and no one much cared when they trashed the place during filming. Exterior shots had to be done at a different, in-use, school and extras came from yet a third school, so a “fake” script was given to the authorities so they wouldn’t object to the subject matter of the film and withhold permission.
Corman has been called the most influential filmmaker of the last half of the 20th Century because of all the young talent he gave their first break too. Beyond Arkush (who has been a major TV director over the past 40 years) and Dante (who would go on to direct Gremlins), Corman gave unknown young talents like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme, John Sayles, Peter Bogdanovich and James Cameron their first big breaks in the industry. When Corman agreed to finance TV star Ron Howard’s first film Grand Theft Auto, he told Howard that if he did a good job for him, he would never have to work for him again. And Howard never did.
I’ve never been a big fan of teen and high school movies, not even when I was in high school. There are exceptions, of course, but mostly I lean towards the films that savagely satirize the genre like Heathers and Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. But beyond its genre sendup, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School stands on its own merits as a very funny comedy.
Here’s the trailer for Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.
The Cubs made a roster move today.
The Chicago Cubs have signed RHP Liam Hendriks to a minor league deal, sources tell the Athletic.
In the Cubs search for healthy pitching arms, they have turned to a three-time All-Star and two-time Mariano Rivera American League Relief Pitcher of the Year in Hendriks. Unfortunately, all of that came between 2019 and 2022. Now 37 years old, Hendricks underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and missed most of that season. Boston signed Hendriks to one of those two-year deal before the 2024 season where they knew he wouldn’t pitch for them in 2024 but hoped he would last year. He did, but managed just 13.2 innings and was very poor, posting a 6.59 ERA.
Hendriks signed a minor league deal with the Twins this past offseason, but he failed to make the roster out of Spring Training and chose free agency over reporting to Triple-A St. Paul. Now he’s found a new team with the Cubs.
When Hendriks was at his peak with the Athletics and White Sox, he relied on a 97 mile per hour fastball and an 88 mph slider. He also had a change that he would work in to left-handers, but he was mostly hard fastball/hard slider. He was regularly striking out over 13 batters per nine innings and walking fewer than three per nine. In 202o and 2021, he was even better, walking just around one batter per nine.
Since Hendriks returned from Tommy John, the velocity on his fastball has been down to around 95 mph and the slider is down to more like 86. Unsurprisingly, he’s striking out fewer batters and walking more of them. You also have to wonder if he couldn’t make the pitching-desperate Twins out of Spring Training, whether he really has anything left in the tank.
On the other hand, before the injury Hendriks was an elite closer. It’s true that sometimes players never fully regain their velocity after Tommy John surgery, but it’s also true that sometimes it just takes longer than you had hoped to return to form. This article reports that “multiple teams” were interested in Hendriks before he signed with the Cubs, so it seems like the Cubs aren’t alone in thinking that there might still be something there.
Because Hendriks had turned down a chance to pitch in St. Paul earlier this year and because there were multiple teams interested in him, I assume that Hendriks has an opt-out clause. The Cubs will probably have Hendriks for about a month in the minors as he tries to regain his form before they have to make a decision on him: either call him up to the majors or release him.
You may not know this, but Hendriks was briefly a Cub before, although you won’t find any pictures of him wearing Cubs pinstripes. When the Twins, Hendriks original team, put him on waivers in December of 2014, the Cubs claimed him. Ten days later, the Cubs designated him for assignment, hoping to sneak him through waivers. It didn’t work as he was claimed by the Orioles. The Orioles then waited until February of 2015 to try to sneak him through waivers again, but that time Hendriks was claimed by the Blue Jays.
So do you think signing Liam Hendriks was a good idea?
Thanks for stopping by tonight. We appreciate all of you taking the time to sit with us for a while. Get home safely. Call a ride if you need to. Be sure to collect any personal items. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And stop by again next week for more BCB After Dark.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 10: Daylen Lile #4 of the Washington Nationals reacts from second base after hitting a double against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at loanDepot park on May 10, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Navarro/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Daylen Lile may not be a true hometown hero in Cincinnati, but he was born nearby in Louisville. With his family and friends in the building, Lile has put on a show. In game one of the series, Lile hit two homers and tonight he hit a go-ahead shot in top of the 10th that won the game for the Nats.
Seeing Lile’s dad running down the stairs at Great American Ball Park yelling “that is my son” was an awesome moment to see. In both of the games, there has been a little Lile cheering section, and they have been going crazy all series so far. Their boy has hit three no-doubt homers, and the one tonight was the clutchest one of them all.
In the bottom of the first, this did not seem like a game where there would be a lot of cheering for Nats fans. Jake Irvin got himself into trouble with erratic control, and was unable to stop the bleeding. He got close when it appeared that he struck out Spencer Steer to end the inning. However, Steer challenged the pitch and won. Irvin eventually walked Steer. Two batters later, Tyler Stephenson hit a grand slam.
It looked like the game was over before it started, but that was not the case with this electric Nats offense. They started their barrage right away. CJ Abrams started the second with a double and then Jacob Young got a hit of his own. The pressure was immediately back on Reds starter Nick Lodolo.
After a Daylen Lile sac fly and a Joey Wiemer double, it was 5-2 Reds, but the Nats were not done. A suddenly hot Keibert Ruiz came to the plate and took Lodolo yard to make it a one run game. As they have all season, this Nats offense made a statement.
The Nats would tie the game on a Joey Wiemer bases-loaded walk the next inning, but the Reds responded in the bottom half. After three innings, it was a 6-6 game. Fans of both teams needed things to calm down a little for the sake of their sanity.
That lull would happen as both bullpens settled in. The Nats got a run in the fifth to tie the game, but other than that both offenses went quiet. You have to give huge credit to Mitchell Parker for delivering three no-hit innings for the Nats. It was a much-needed bounceback performance from Parker, who got lit up in his last outing.
After Parker exited, Richard Lovelady got himself in and then out of a big jam. Lovelady showed his now signature passion after getting a double play to end the inning. I love the passion Lovelady plays with, especially considering his story. This is a guy who has been tossed around the league, and now finally has a home.
Orlando Ribalta and Gus Varland also fired scoreless innings, and this game was headed to extras. That is when the somewhat local kid, Daylen Lile delivered his big moment. These home runs Lile has been hitting this series have all been absolute moonshots. With his family in attendance, Lile has really been flexing his muscles.
However, this game had one last crazy turn. While Daylen Lile put his hand to his neck to signal that the game was over, he should have known better with this bullpen. PJ Poulin was very shaky tonight. His command was spotty, and he gave all Nats fans a heart attack.
The biggest heart attack moment came when Spencer Steer drove a ball deep to left field. A fan reached over the fence to grab the ball, and the umpire immediately signaled fan interference. However, we had to go through an anxiety inducing review to make sure the ball was not gone. Eventually, the call was confirmed, and Steer had an RBI double to make it a 1 run game instead of a game tying homer. Baseball really is a game of inches.
Fan interference is called on a ball that could've spun back into the stands for a game-tying homer. pic.twitter.com/MeMCCbSY2f
Poulin was still struggling to find the zone, but he managed to survive the outing. After the Steer scare, he got Nathaniel Lowe to ground out. Then he walked Tyler Stephenson to set up a matchup with Blake Dunn. Poulin proceeded to throw three straight non-competitive balls. However, he settled back in and fired a strike. Then he got yet another ground out to end the game. The makeshift second baseman Curtis Mead made a nice play to get the speedy Dunn at first.
This may have been the most fun win of the season. On the broadcast, they mentioned that the Nats had lost 60 straight games when they trailed by 5 at any point. Now that streak is over thanks to a truly elite offense. Tomorrow the Nats have another chance to get back to .500 and sweep the Reds. Recent history suggests they will come up short there because it always feels like they lose when they have a chance to get to .500.
Maybe this time will be different. With Foster Griffin pitching, they have the right guy on the mound. However, they will also be facing Reds ace Chase Burns. This offense can get to anyone, other than Jacob Misiorowski though. Tomorrow will be a really fun early afternoon showdown, and hopefully the boys can get the sweep.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 13: Carson Benge #3 of the New York Mets reacts after hitting a walk-off RBI single during the tenth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Citi Field on May 13, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. The New York Mets won 3-2. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Carson Benge began tonight’s game with a mistake that cost the Mets two runs, but he ended it with the game-winning hit in the tenth, as the Mets walked off the Tigers 3-2 in extra innings in a game that was full of oddities, but provided a glimpse into what the future may hold in Queens.
The Tigers got on the board right away in the top of the first. Kevin McGonigle led things off with a walk and then Dillon Dingler hit a fly ball that Carson Benge chased down in deep right, but the ball clanked off Benge’s glove and rolled away from him, resulting in a double for Dingler and a second and third nobody out situation for the Tigers. Scott bounced back to strike out Colt Keith, but then Riley Greene laced a single to plate two runs. Two consecutive fly balls ended the inning and held Detroit to just two runs, which were the only ones Scott ended up giving up, though one could argue that he should have been charged with zero runs given the mishap by Benge that was not scored an error.
The Mets went down quietly in the bottom of the frame, but were able to scratch out a run against Framber Valdez in the bottom of the second. Vientos singled to lead off the inning and then with one out, Brett Baty singled to advance Vientos to third. Tyrone Taylor then hit a sharp grounder on which Kevin McGonigle made a nice diving stop and was able to throw Baty out at second, but Zach McKinstry threw wildly to first base, allowing Taylor to reach safely and a run to score. Unfortunately, A.J. Ewing struck out looking to end the inning and the one run was all the Mets would manage against Valdez until the seventh, despite multiple opportunities.
Christian Scott navigated a lot of traffic on the base paths, which inflated his pitch count, but he managed to limit the damage, in part due to five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of work and some timely double plays. The Mets had a good chance to tie the game in the third when Torrens and Benge led off the inning with back-to-back singles, each past a diving Zach McKinstry to put runners at first and third with nobody out. But then Bo Bichette hit a soft grounder to first on which Torrens was thrown out at home. Before striking out for the second out, Juan Soto fouled a ball off his ankle and was in visible discomfort, being attended to by the trainer for several minutes before stepping back into the box. He remained in the game for another plate appearance, but was later pinch hit for in a key situation, demonstrating pretty definitively that he was in too much pain to continue. The budding rally was fully quashed when Mark Vientos flew out to the warning track in center field to end the inning.
Huascar Brazobán deftly navigated the middle innings for the Mets and recorded seven outs without allowing a hit. But several other notable things happened. With two outs in the top of the sixth, McKinstry reached in what I can only describe as the strangest error I’ve ever seen by Mark Vientos at first base. Luckily, McKinstry rendered the error moot by being picked off to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Junior Valentine hallucinated a challenge signal from Brett Baty that never happened on a call that was obviously correct, resulting in the Mets losing their only remaining challenge. Both Baty and Carlos Mendoza argued with Valentine and they had a case since Baty never touched his helmet, but their pleas went unheeded and Baty ended up striking out. Neither team was happy with Valentine, who rung up Dingler on a pitch clock violation to end the top of the seventh for not engaging the pitcher.
The Mets finally broke through against Valdez in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Luis Torrens worked out a walk and then Carson Benge lined a soft single just over the third baseman’s head. That chased Valdez from the game and Kyle Finnegan came in the game to relieve him. Then, Bo Bichette’s batted ball luck finally turned around for once, as he dunked a bloop single into center to plate the tying run. But before one could even finish celebrating the game-tying hit, MJ Melendez came striding to the plate in place of Juan Soto. Another day, another injury for the Mets. It is worth noting, however, that SNY had a shot of Soto later in the dugout laughing with his teammates—hopefully a good sign.
Home plate umpire Junior Valentine caught flack again from Detroit’s dugout for requesting multiple times that the Tigers move their on deck circle out of the sightline of Luke Weaver, pitching the eighth inning for the Mets, who could not see the pitch clock. Despite these difficulties, Weaver worked around a single and a walk to pitch a scoreless eighth. Finnegan righted the ship in the bottom of the eighth with a 1-2-3 inning and Devin Williams worked around a walk to Kevin McGonigle and a stolen base to deliver a scoreless top of the ninth. Kenley Jansen continued his career long dominance of the Mets by striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth and send the Mets to extras for the eighth time this year.
Brooks Raley issued a two-out walk to Matt Vierling but held strong to keep the ghost runner from scoring in the top of the tenth to give the Mets a chance to win the game with speedster A.J. Ewing as the ghost runner. And win the game they did against Drew Anderson. Luis Torrens led off the inning and showed bunt, but tried a butcher boy play and hit it foul instead. He went on to strike out for the first out, but then Carson Benge laced a single up the middle to score his fellow rookie as the Baby Mets played hero in the walk-off victory.
Big Mets winner: Carson Benge, +39% WPA Big Mets loser: Marcus Semien, -14% WPA Mets pitchers: +49% WPA Mets hitters: +1% WPA Teh aw3s0mest play: Carson Benge’s walk-off single in the tenth, +30.7% WPA Teh sux0rest play: Riley Green’s RBI single that got the Tigers on the board in the first, -11% WPA
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 13: Chicago White Sox left fielder Sam Antonacci (17) slides safely into second base as Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) attempts the tag in the fourth inning of an MLB game on May 13, 2026, at Rate Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
If you were categorizing where the Royals were struggling the most this season, you would probably go with on the road, hitting with runners in scoring position, and against left-handed pitching. All three of those problems arose again today though the team fought and kept themselves in the game to the very end.
The White Sox made Seth Lugo work early. It took him 27 pitches to get through the 1st, though he did manage to emerge unscathed. In the second he did not. Jarred Kelenic shot a single through short with Bobby Witt Jr. shifted toward second. Then Peters doubled to right and brought him around. Romo then hit a weak dribbler down the first base line that Vinnie Pasquantino did not handle well, so Peters scored and the Sox were up 0-2. They added a third run in the next inning on a Chase Meidroth sac fly.
In the fourth Kansas City tied it back up again after three consecutive walks loaded the bases to start the inning. Garcia, then Witt, then Thomas all reached base. Walks are the main problem for the 6’10” rookie Noah Schultz. Salvador Perez struck out, so the problems with runners in scoring position started rearing their head again in a way that later felt like foreshadowing. Nick Loftin hit a sac fly to bring in Maikel Garcia and get one. Then Vinnie picked up the other two on this single:
A single does not normally score two with first and third occupied, but that not so well hit flare got the job done.
The Royals did manage to get Schultz out of the game fairly early when he walked Garcia in the 5th inning. Bobby walked after him again, so it was looking good, but then Lane Thomas struck out looking and Perez grounded out to end the threat. Chicago mounted a threat of their own that inning when Colson Montgomery singled with one down and was moved to second on an Andrew Benintendi walk. Kelenic doubled them both in to get the White Sox a two run lead.
The seventh inning is where it felt like the Royals actually lost the game. Collins takes a pitch off of the knee to start the inning with a hit by pitch. Carter Jensen came in to pinch hit for Diaz and singled moving Collins to third with no one out and the top of the lineup coming to the plate. Maikel Garcia K, Bobby Witt K, Lane Thomas K looking. another threat ended. Then Schreiber came in to pitch the bottom of the inning and gave up a solo bomb on the first pitch to move the game to 3-6.
In the 9th, the Royals made one more attempt to come back and take the game. Carter Jensen had a nice hustle double after the first out. Garcia moved him to third on the second out of the inning. And Bobby hit a no doubter to left center.
Now a one run game, the Royals had closed the gap, but they were also down to their last out. Caglianone pinch hit for Thomas, but he struck out and that was that.
Back-to-back one run losses to an in-division opponent feels pretty bad. The White Sox have taken the series, and the Royals need to avoid the sweep tomorrow. Getting back to .500 felt attainable in the near future a couple of days ago, but they have dropped to 5 under and are back at the bottom of the AL Central.
May 12, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho (5) catches a fly ball for an out against the Tampa Bay Rays during the tenth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Rays 3 Jays 5 (10 innings)
Dylan Cease was terrific. Seven innings of one run ball. He allowed just three hits and three walks with nine strikeouts. He was in control until the seventh, when he went walk, pop out, walk, single (RBI), pop out, strikeout (with a Jays challenge helping to get the strikeout.
He wanted to come out for the eighth, but he was at 99 pitches (and he’s not Max Scherzer).
Louis Varland fought his way through the eighth, 2 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts. But no runs.
Tyler Rogers got the first two outs of the ninth. He gave up a hit and a walk, with strikeout.
Mason Fluhardy got the last out of the inning.
Jeff Hoffman got the tenth with the speedy Chandler Simpson at second. Ben Willamson singled him home. A steal moved Willamson to second. Then a fly out and a line single over Clement at second. A fly out and a ground out ended the inning (with yet another steal in there. But for the second night in a row we allow two in the tenth.
And it was a game of missed chances on offense. We hit into four double plays. With taking eight walks, you’d think we’d score more. But only five hits and no extra base hits.
We got out run in the eighth. Bryan Baker walked George Springer, Yohendrick Piñango and Vladimir Guererro walked to load the bases with no outs. You’d have thought we should score a few. Kazuma Okamoto hit a deep fly to left field, right to the wall in left, scoring our run. Daulton Varsho struck out on three pitches, chasing two that were well above the strike zone. A really bad at bat, when we need better. Myles Straw walked to load the bases again. But Ernie Clement flied out on a 2-1 pitch that was off the outside of the plate. But, Ernie isn’t the type to take a walk.
In the bottom of the tenth, with Springer on second Piñango popped out on the first pitch. Vlad walked on four pitches (Yohendrick……if you hadn’t popped up on the first pitch that was a couple of inches below the zone that could have been you). Okamoto, with the tying run a first, took two balls, swung through one, took a third ball, a strike and ball. Bases loaded again. Had the Rays not used their last challenge earlier in the at bat, they might have asked about that one. Daulton Varsho went foul, called strike, ball, ball, foul, GRAND SLAM.
Daulton made up for the other time he was up with the bases loaded.
Jays of the Day: Varsho (0.56 WPA), Clease (0.21), Vlad (0.21 for 3 walks), and Piñango (0.09).
Other Award: Hoffman (-0.41, for his two hits against in the 10th, but he gets the win), Lenyn Sosa (-0.19 for an 0 for 1), Clement (-0.18)
Tomorrow is an off-day, before a trip to Detroit.
I feel like there is more to say about this game, but that’s what tomorrow is for.
The Mets rallied to walk-off the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Wednesday night at Citi Field.
Here are some takeaways...
- Christian Scott found himself behind early in this one, as he walked the leadoff man then Carson Benge botched a routine fly ball into a double to push two into scoring position before Riley Greene drove them home to make it a 2-0 game. Scott did well to limit the damage there, but was forced to throw 23 pitches in the opening frame.
Detroit worked Scott's count up to 44 through two innings, putting two more runners in scoring position before stranding them. He finally put together a quick inning, using a strikeout and his first groundball double-play of the season to work around another leadoff hit in the third.
A single and hit-by-pitch prolonged another inning on Scott, but he was able to get Kevin McGonigle to rollover to escape without further damage. Already at 80 pitches, manager Carlos Mendoza pushed the righty for a chance to get through five, but he pulled him after Greene dropped in a two-out, opposite-field single.
Huascar Brazoban needed just two pitches before getting a lineout, closing Scott's line with just the two runs allowed on seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out five across 4.2 innings. The 26-year-old extended his franchise record, now going 13 starts without his first big-league win.
- After breaking through for 10 runs on Tuesday, the Mets' offense couldn't deliver against a well-rested Framber Valdez in his return from suspension. They had plenty of opportunities in the early innings, but were only able to scratch across one run on a fielder's choice, going 0-for-6 as a team with runners in scoring position over the first six.
- Bo Bichette wasted two of those chances against Valdez over his first three at-bats of the night, bringing him down to .189 on the season with RISP. He rolled over to first on a 1-0 pitch with runners on the corners and nobody out in the third, then weakly flew out to shallow center with a man on third and two outs in the fifth.
Bichette finally delivered with Valdez out in the seventh, though, evening the game with a bloop single to right.
- The Mets took another big blow to their lineup, as Juan Soto was lifted for a pinch-hitter following Bichette's knock. Soto went down in significant pain after fouling a ball off his right foot in the third, but was able to complete the at-bat and took his next in the sixth before being pulled.
- The Mets' bullpen was terrific behind Scott. Brazoban delivered 2.1 perfect innings, Luke Weaver struck out Spencer Torkelson to dance his way out of a jam in the eighth, then Devin Williams was able to work around a two-out walk and stolen base to keep things even in the ninth. Brooks Raley escaped the 10th without the ghost runner moving.
- The Mets' youngsters then combined to send them home victorious, as Benge rolled a single up the middle with one out in the top of the 10th to drive home A.J. Ewing as the ghost runner. Benge made up for his first-inning misplay, coming through with three hits, the last of which was the biggest.
Game MVP: Carson Benge
The youngster shook off his first inning mistake, delivering the game-winning hit in the 10th.
Highlights
The Mets stick with it as Brett Baty, Marcus Semien & Mark Vientos turn the 5-4-3 double play pic.twitter.com/3gwkx400V6
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 13: Framber Valdez #59 of the Detroit Tigers walks off the mound after pitching during the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 13, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite the Mets’ dismal season record and poor performance this season, the New York club managed to trounce the Tigers on Tuesday. Wednesday night, the Tigers were hoping to get one back and save face a little. They’ve been having an awfully rough go of it lately, and the longer that lasts, and the more we see performances like the one on Tuesday, the harder it is to believe this is the 90-win team many of us predicted with great hope at the start of the season. Fresh off his suspension, Framber Valdez was back on duty, and he was up against Christian Scott for the Mets.
The Tigers got things started right away with a leadoff walk in the first to Kevin McGonigle. Dillon Dingler then doubled right behind him, pushing McGonigle within 90 feet of home. A scorching single to center by Riley Greene brought both baserunners home and put the Tigers on the board early. Two outs followed the Greene single, but he was still the game’s early hero.
Valdez also wasted no time, churning through the Mets’ order with three consecutive groundouts, his bread and butter.
In the second, Zach McKinstry got a one-out single. Another out followed, then McGonigle singled, putting runners on the corners. A Dingler flyout ended the inning scoreless, though. In the home half, the Mets got their first baserunner, a leadoff single by Mark Vientos. Then one out later, Brett Baty singled as well. A Tyrone Taylor groundout brought Vientos home and put the Mets on the board. They’d have to settle for just the one run, though.
Colt Keith got the third inning going with a leadoff single. Greene then grounded into a double play, to eliminate the baserunner. A Matt Vierling strikeout then ended the inning with little fanfare. In the bottom of the inning, Luis Torrens singled for the Mets. Carson Benge then singled. Bo Bichette hit into a fielder’s choice that saw Torrens tagged out at home, avoiding the tying run. Benge stole second during a Juan Soto at bat (where, notably, he fouled a ball very painfully off his foot), but it didn’t really matter as a flyout then ended the inning.
In the fourth, Spencer Torkelson got a one-out walk. One out later, Zack Short was hit by a pitch to put two men on. Despite the free baserunners, the Tigers weren’t able to convert any runs. The Mets went 1-2-3 in the home half.
Dingler got a leadoff single to get things going in the fifth, but Colt Keith then grounded into a double play. Riley Greene singled, and that was enough to end the night for Scott, who was replaced by Huascar Brazobán. Brazobán then collected the final out of the inning. In the home half A.J. Ewing took a leadoff walk. A Luis Torrens groundout advanced him to second. Two more outs followed to leave the baserunner stranded and the Mets without any more runs.
With two outs in the sixth McKinstry reached on an error by Mark Vientos at first. The call was initially an out, but a very quick review showed that McKinstry was safe. It didn’t end up making much difference as he was then picked off stealing to end the inning. Oops. In the bottom of the inning, with one out, Vientos got hit by a pitch for a free walk to first. Things got really fiery during Baty’s at-bat as the umpire claimed he appealed a call, when it appeared he hadn’t, and the strike was upheld, but oh boy, folks got heated. Baty ended up striking out but yikes.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh. The final out of the inning was another contentious one, as the umpire called an automatic strike because Dingler wasn’t “prepared” at the eight-second mark. Pretty brutal play, though, considering he literally just messed up an ABS call. With two outs in the home half, Torrens walked. Then Benge singled to put two men aboard. That was it for Valdez, whose final line for the game was 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, on a season-high 106 pitches. Kyle Finnegan came in and promptly gave up a single to Bo Bichette to tie the game. Benge got tagged out attempting to steal home and the Tigers were able to get out of the inning without giving up the lead.
Luke Weaver was the new Mets pitcher for the eighth. With one out, Greene singled, then advanced to second on a Vierling groundout. Wenceel Perez then drew a walk. A strikeout ended the inning, Torkelson tried to challenge and wasn’t allowed to, but it wouldn’t have mattered; it was a strike. The Mets went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.
Devin Williams was in for the ninth, and with two outs, gave up a walk to McGonigle. McGonigle then stole second. A flyout ended the inning, though, putting a kibosh on any Tigers’ comeback efforts. Kenley Jansen was the Tigers’ pick for the ninth, and got three outs in a row. The game was heading into the tenth.
Matt Vierling got a two-out walk in the tenth against new pitcher Brooks Raley. A flyout put an end to any run-scoring hopes, though. Drew Anderson came in to pitch for the Tigers. Benge got a one-out RBI single, and the Mets were walk-off winners, taking the second game of the series.
May 13, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) celebrates after scoring against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images | Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
The Blue Jays beat the rays tonight, walking off in the bottom of the tenth inning thanks to a grand slam homer.
Winning this game felt like a tough challenge even before the game started. Apart from a poor start against the Red Sox, the Blue Jay’s Dylan Cease has been very effective. And the Rays countered with something of a bullpen day, as the effort to turn Griffin Jax into a starter continues. Jax has been good in that starter role but as he gets stretched out he’s been largely a 4-5 inning pitcher.
So I didn’t expect a win tonight. But I also didn’t expect to lose in quite this fashion. I didn’t expect to see a reliever who until two weeks ago had been pitching in the Mexican League come in (unsuccessfully, obviously) for the save. I certainly did not expect the Rays pitching staff to give up ten walks.
Unsurprisingly, Cease was very good. It took the Rays until the fourth inning to get their first baserunner, in the form of a Junior Caminero single.
Jax was, perhaps uncharacteristically, flailing a bit with his control. Prior to tonight, he’d given up ten walks in 18 innings, but tonight he gave up three walks in just five innings, and had base runners every inning. His performance was definitely not pretty, but you can’t argue with giving up no runs. He was aided by several double plays, like this one:
Cease lost some of his sharpness in the seventh inning and the Rays took advantage. Two Rays hitters walked, and with one out Richie Palacios came through with a single, Aranda charging around the bases to score.
Hunter Bigge was replaced by Garrett Cleavinger, and his outing did not go very well. He did get one out, but also gave up a single, and then hit a Jays batter on the wrist. (Were you thinking that the Rays would be trying to get payback after Aranda had been hit on Monday? Well, I don’t think you avenge your hit batter by putting a guy on base when you have just a one run lead). Kevin Kelly came into the game and miraculously he got Sosa to hit a liner to Walls, which turned into an inning ending double play.
The Rays loaded the bases in the eighth inning, but failed to score, which was fortunate for the Blue Jays both for the obvious reasons, but also because they misplayed a ground ball — with runners on first and second, Diaz grounded to first base, the Jays’ pitcher never went to cover the base and everyone was safe. Unfortunately Jake Fraley popped up the first pitch he saw and ended the inning.
Bryan Baker took over for the bottom of the eighth inning, and walked the leadoff batter. And the second batter. And the third batter.
The Blue Jays were then able to tie the game with a sac fly. But Baker then walked yet another batter, and in a strange turn of events, Cash brought in Cole Sulser, the man who blew last night’s lead, to get out of the bases loaded jam. Which he did.
The game went into extra innings with the score tied 1-1. The Rays were able to start the scoring in their half of the tenth. Ben Williamson singled home the so-called “ghost runner” from second to take a 2-1 lead.
Williamson stole second, and Diaz then drove him in with another single, give the Rays a two run lead.
That would seem to be a fairly comfortable position, but the next Rays pitcher was a fellow named Aaron Brooks, someone I’d didn’t realize existed on the Rays roster but he was apparently promoted recently from Durham, and before he was with the Bulls he had been playing in the Mexican League.
Apparently he decided to use Bryan Baker as his role model, but not Bryan Baker the effective closer but rather Bryan Baker who couldn’t find the strike zone, and he walked the bases loaded with no outs.
His misery ended quickly thereafter, however, when he gave up a grand slam home run to Daulton Varsho, ending the game with a 5-3 Blue Jays victory. Maybe this is 20-20 hindsight, but I swear that once he had loaded the bases that grand slam seemed inevitable.
So the Rays have to settle for a series win, and can enjoy a day off tomorrow before starting a home stand against the Marlins.
Let’s just hope the Bryan Baker we saw today was an aberration, and that the next time we see Aaron Brooks it will be with the Rays ahead by ten runs.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 13: Dog walks around the ballpark ahead outfield the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals for Bark in the Park at Great American Ball Park on May 13, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson destroyed a ball for a grand slam in the Bottom of the 1st inning tonight in Great American Ball Park, the blast giving the Reds an early 5-0 lead. This, of course, came just a day after they were run ragged by a rebuilding Washington Nationals club 10-4 in the series opener at home, and it sure looked like the lineup – revamped by manager Terry Francona before the game – was finally there to put its foot down.
About that…
Despite handing the ball over to Nick Lodolo, who struck out the side in a brilliant Top of the 1st inning, the Reds completely imploded. Lodolo fumbled the lead almost as quickly as it was given to him, allowing a 4-spot in the Top of the 2nd fueled by a 2-run homer from Keibert Ruiz and later yielding a game-tying run in the Top of the 3rd to make this game square.
The Reds and Nats forged a stalemate for awhile thereafter, but the sad trombone fireworks were hardly over. Elly De La Cruz led off the Bottom of the 7th in a 6-6 game with a double, yet the Reds failed to drive him in. Then, in the Bottom of the 9th, Matt McLain similarly led off with a double, only for the Reds to a) botch a bunt attempt and b) also fail to get him around to score.
That sent the game into extra innings, where the fail horn kept right on a-honkin’.
Tony Santillan immediately served up a meatball to Daylen Lile, who smoked it for what feels like the 77th homer of the series for the Louisville, KY native. Santillan has now allowed 7 homers already this season in just 17.0 IP, and that’s going to make for a bad time for all parties involved.
Down 8-6 in the Bottom of the 10th, things once again got spicy for all the wrong reasons. Spencer Steer, who’s been mashing lately, worked a deep count off lefty reliever PJ Poulin before smashing a 102.7 mph laser that seemed to be a magnet to the yellow line atop the wall in LF. Before we had the chance to see if it was a homer, a double, an odd-bounce triple, or god forbid an inside-the-park homer, a fan reached over and caught the ball and the umpires rendered it a dead ball double.
WATCH: A wild moment here in extra innings of the #Reds game.
Spencer Steer hit what looked to be the game-tying two-run homer, but they review it and rule fan interference.
— Joey DeBerardino (@JoeyDeBerardino) May 14, 2026
Replay could not overturn it, and what could have been the game-tying play – or a play that left a Red on 3B instead of 2B – was undone, and Cincinnati remained trailing at 8-7.
Despite Stephenson working a walk, Blake Dunn couldn’t pull off the magnificent this evening on the game’s final play, and the Reds fell in the kind of frustrating fashion that make you despise all fashions altogether.
