Category: MLB

Blue Jays fans scarfed down an insane amount of hot dogs on Tuesday night while their team got beaten by the Dodgers, 4-1. 

The Jays sold hot dogs for 77 cents in honor of their inaugural season in 1977, which resulted in fans grabbing more than 100,000 hot dogs during the nine-inning game. 

The final total was reported as 100,204 by Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times and 100,202 by the Toronto Star. 

Tuesdays are traditionally dubbed “Loonie Dog Night” when the hot dogs are sold for $1, but they cost even less this time due to the special occasion. 

“Back by popular demand, Loonie Dogs Night presented by Schneiders returns to Rogers Centre for every Tuesday home game of the 2026 season,” the Blue Jays website read. “On Loonie Dogs Night presented by Schneiders, fans will have the opportunity to purchase $1 hot dogs from various concession stands around the ballpark. Don’t miss out on this hot dog of a deal!”

Blue Jays fans seem to love their Loonie Dogs and set a record in 2025 of consuming 826,308, toppling the previous record (727,819) set the year prior. 

Tuesday’s game was also the second game of a three-game set between the Dodgers and Blue Jays, a rematch of last year’s World Series. 

The Blue Jays dropped their sixth straight game and fell to a 4-7 record to start the season. 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched six innings for the Dodgers, giving up one run on five hits and striking out six. 

Shohei Ohtani hit an RBI single in the third inning to drive in the first run of the game, and Will Smith was able to bring in a second run later that inning. 

Alex Freeland and Kyle Tucker hit RBIs in the fifth and ninth innings, respectively. George Springer drove in the only Blue Jays run in the sixth.

In the middle of the loss, Toronto skipper John Schneider was ejected from the game for arguing a balk call.

The Braves and Angels went from zero to 100 real quick on Tuesday night.

And it wasn’t exactly heavenly in Anaheim.

The teams got into a chaotic benches-clearing brawl during Atlanta’s 7-2 win that even saw Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler and Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez throw punches at each other.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Soler took a pitch up-and-in that went to the backstop, which allowed Nolan Schanuel to go from first to second base.

MASSIVE brawl breaks out in Anaheim as Jorge Soler and Reynaldo López throw punches at each other after Soler took exception to a high-and-in pitch. pic.twitter.com/SOHkZjVqNn

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 8, 2026

But things only escalated from there. Soler appeared to take exception to the pitch and stared down Lopez as he got a new ball for the next pitch. The starter held out both of his arms, seemingly in disbelief at the reaction. But before long, Soler dropped his bat and the two both threw punches as the dugouts emptied.

As the action veered toward the first base line, a few Braves players tackled Soler to the ground before he could inflict any real damage on Lopez. Angels star Mike Trout and Braves first base coach Antoan Richardson pushed Lopez back to keep him out of the fray as the rest of the teams converged around Soler.

Once the brouhaha was completely quelled, Soler and Lopez walked off and were done for the night, getting ejected from the ballgame. No other players were tossed.

Soler hit a two-run homer in the first inning, the only two runs Lopez allowed in his abbreviated outing.

Entering the ninth inning on Tuesday, Sandy Alcantara hadn’t allowed a single run this season.

And after recording the first out, he was two outs away from his second straight shutout.

But a double from Matt McCalin and a walk to Elly De La Cruz put two Reds runners on base, and even with Alcantara at 95 pitches, Miami skipper Clayton McCullough saw enough to bring in reliever Anthony Bender, leading to some boos from the loanDepot park crowd.

The decision quickly blew up in Miami’s face. And the Miami ace wasn’t particularly thrilled with the decision-making.

Bender blew the lead, and the Marlins fell to the Reds, 6-3, in 10 innings.

Alcantara, the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner, said that at his pitch count and a right-handed hitter coming up for the Reds, he felt he could have stayed in for at least another batter.

“I’m just a player,” Alcantara told reporters. “I understand there’s a decision, and you cannot control it. It just happened. It just happened. So I’ll be there with my teammates and my coaches, but I think next time, they have to make sure to ask me before taking me out of the game.”

McCullough said he was ready to go to Bender after the walk to De La Cruz put the potential tying runner on base.

“I know he felt like he had plenty left to go finish that game out,” McCullough said, per the Miami Herald. “Didn’t give him that opportunity.”

It’s been a journey for Alcantara after he won the Cy Young, as he struggled in 2023 with an ERA over 4.00 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss all of ’24.

Last season’s return, while successful in the fact that he was on the field and threw 174 2/3 innings, did not provide great results with his 5.36 ERA and 1.271 WHIP.

All the while, Alcantara faced plenty of speculation and rumors that he would be shipped out of Miami.

This season has been a complete 180, with the two runs that scored in the ninth on Tuesday being the only ones charged on his ledger through 24 1/3 frames. The Marlins are 6-5.

There will come a period in this season when time unspools languorously, with the unobtrusive ease of a sport that plays a game nearly every day. The edges will soften, the agonies and exaltations abating in equal measure. You cannot sprint 162 times over.

Now is not that period. Now, time does not unspool. Time is a rusted coil of cables that has adhered to its massive spool on the docks through weather and neglect. It screeches when moved, an outraged howling against itself. Any ecstasy in progress makes the inevitable stoppage even more excruciating. Orange leeches onto hands, smears across wood, stains all it touches, etching its furious reluctance into everything it possibly can.

Eventually, it will not feel like this.

The Mariners are 12 games into the 2026 season, and…

…they have lost eight of those games.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…seven of those losses have been by two runs or fewer; five of them by one run.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…their starting pitching has looked so good.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when George Kirby went eight full innings with just 90 pitches, giving up three runs and no walks. He deserves to be Furious.)

…their defense has looked appalling.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Brendan Donovan’s throwing error ultimately allowed a run to score. Which is never ideal, but is particularly not ideal when you lose a game by one run.)

…their baserunning has appeared wildly suspect.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Luke Raley completely missed stepping on first base in the ninth inning and had to double back, which left him out of scoring position when J.P. Crawford singled in the next at-bat.)

…their offense has been putrid.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when they went an anemic 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Anyone remember Miles4RISP? Simpler times.)

…there are 150 games left in the regular season.

(Complimentary.) (Derogatory.)

…I have watched a lot of Rockies games.

(Go M’s)

There will come a period in this season when time unspools languorously, with the unobtrusive ease of a sport that plays a game nearly every day. The edges will soften, the agonies and exaltations abating in equal measure. You cannot sprint 162 times over.

Now is not that period. Now, time does not unspool. Time is a rusted coil of cables that has adhered to its massive spool on the docks through weather and neglect. It screeches when moved, an outraged howling against itself. Any ecstasy in progress makes the inevitable stoppage even more excruciating. Orange leeches onto hands, smears across wood, stains all it touches, etching its furious reluctance into everything it possibly can.

Eventually, it will not feel like this.

The Mariners are 12 games into the 2026 season, and…

…they have lost eight of those games.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…seven of those losses have been by two runs or fewer; five of them by one run.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…their starting pitching has looked so good.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when George Kirby went eight full innings with just 90 pitches, giving up three runs and no walks. He deserves to be Furious.)

…their defense has looked appalling.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Brendan Donovan’s throwing error ultimately allowed a run to score. Which is never ideal, but is particularly not ideal when you lose a game by one run.)

…their baserunning has appeared wildly suspect.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Luke Raley completely missed stepping on first base in the ninth inning and had to double back, which left him out of scoring position when J.P. Crawford singled in the next at-bat.)

…their offense has been putrid.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when they went an anemic 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Anyone remember Miles4RISP? Simpler times.)

…there are 150 games left in the regular season.

(Complimentary.) (Derogatory.)

…I have watched a lot of Rockies games.

(Go M’s)

There will come a period in this season when time unspools languorously, with the unobtrusive ease of a sport that plays a game nearly every day. The edges will soften, the agonies and exaltations abating in equal measure. You cannot sprint 162 times over.

Now is not that period. Now, time does not unspool. Time is a rusted coil of cables that has adhered to its massive spool on the docks through weather and neglect. It screeches when moved, an outraged howling against itself. Any ecstasy in progress makes the inevitable stoppage even more excruciating. Orange leeches onto hands, smears across wood, stains all it touches, etching its furious reluctance into everything it possibly can.

Eventually, it will not feel like this.

The Mariners are 12 games into the 2026 season, and…

…they have lost eight of those games.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…seven of those losses have been by two runs or fewer; five of them by one run.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…their starting pitching has looked so good.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when George Kirby went eight full innings with just 90 pitches, giving up three runs and no walks. He deserves to be Furious.)

…their defense has looked appalling.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Brendan Donovan’s throwing error ultimately allowed a run to score. Which is never ideal, but is particularly not ideal when you lose a game by one run.)

…their baserunning has appeared wildly suspect.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Luke Raley completely missed stepping on first base in the ninth inning and had to double back, which left him out of scoring position when J.P. Crawford singled in the next at-bat.)

…their offense has been putrid.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when they went an anemic 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Anyone remember Miles4RISP? Simpler times.)

…there are 150 games left in the regular season.

(Complimentary.) (Derogatory.)

…I have watched a lot of Rockies games.

(Go M’s)

Benches cleared between the Angels and Braves at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning Tuesday night after Jorge Soler took exception with a high pitch thrown by Atlanta starter Reynaldo López and charged the mound, with each player throwing punches.

After the pitch, the two players stared at one another briefly before Lopez gestured at Soler, and the Angels batter charged the mound. López was holding a baseball as he threw a punch and made direct contact to the side of Soler's face, with the ball partially hitting Soler's helmet.

The benches quickly cleared and players separated Soler and López after a brief, but intense skirmish that pushed out toward the first-base side of the diamond.

Soler and López were ejected from the game. Major League Baseball likely will suspend both players.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Benches cleared between the Angels and Braves at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning Tuesday night after Jorge Soler took exception with a high pitch thrown by Atlanta starter Reynaldo López and charged the mound, with each player throwing punches.

After the pitch, the two players stared at one another briefly before Lopez gestured at Soler, and the Angels batter charged the mound. López was holding a baseball as he threw a punch and made direct contact to the side of Soler's face, with the ball partially hitting Soler's helmet.

The benches quickly cleared and players separated Soler and López after a brief, but intense skirmish that pushed out toward the first-base side of the diamond.

Soler and López were ejected from the game. Major League Baseball likely will suspend both players.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Benches cleared between the Angels and Braves at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning Tuesday night after Jorge Soler took exception with a high pitch thrown by Atlanta starter Reynaldo López and charged the mound, with each player throwing punches.

After the pitch, the two players stared at one another briefly before Lopez gestured at Soler, and the Angels batter charged the mound. López was holding a baseball as he threw a punch and made direct contact to the side of Soler's face, with the ball partially hitting Soler's helmet.

The benches quickly cleared and players separated Soler and López after a brief, but intense skirmish that pushed out toward the first-base side of the diamond.

Soler and López were ejected from the game. Major League Baseball likely will suspend both players.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The league’s best offense decided to take the night off as Astros pitching, defense continue to struggle.

It was a night to forget for the Astros offense, who managed just 1 run on 3 hits with one walk against Rockies pitchers Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela, as Houston loses its second straight game in Denver, 5-1 to the Rockies.

A second inning opposite field HR by Christian Walker was the only run the Astros could muster.

The hot streak continues!#ChaseTheFightpic.twitter.com/mLfGST3gM1

— Houston Astros (@astros) April 8, 2026

In fact, they would get only one runner to second base the rest of the game.

Astros starter Mike Burrows was felled by his defense tonight much in the same way Ryan Weiss was felled by his defense last night.

In the bottom of the second inning, Burrows got Willi Castro to fly to left, or so he thought. LF Brice Matthews didn’t get a good jump on the ball, charged in and slid to make the catch, but the ball bounced off the heel of his glove (which was somehow scored a hit) and allowed a run to score.

Willi puts us on the board! pic.twitter.com/u2nDlH5kXH

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 8, 2026

In the bottom of the fourth, Burrows allowed a 2-out single to T.J. Rumfield before hanging a slider over the heart of the plate that Castro blasted for a 2-run homer.

PUT ON THE COAT, WILLI 😈 pic.twitter.com/zHKcXPhDK0

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 8, 2026

The Rockies got 2 more runs in the seventh. After Steven Okert allowed a one out walk, he was replaced by Kai-Wei Teng. Teng got Hunter Goodman to pop out for second out, but then surrendered a 426 foot HR to Mickey Moniak. That made the game 5-1, which would be the final score.

Mickey Moniak extends the @Rockies lead with his 3rd homer of the season! pic.twitter.com/LykdxVB0Z6

— MLB (@MLB) April 8, 2026

The Astros will try to salvage the final game of the series Wednesday behind Cristian Javier.

The league’s best offense decided to take the night off as Astros pitching, defense continue to struggle.

It was a night to forget for the Astros offense, who managed just 1 run on 3 hits with one walk against Rockies pitchers Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela, as Houston loses its second straight game in Denver, 5-1 to the Rockies.

A second inning opposite field HR by Christian Walker was the only run the Astros could muster.

The hot streak continues!#ChaseTheFightpic.twitter.com/mLfGST3gM1

— Houston Astros (@astros) April 8, 2026

In fact, they would get only one runner to second base the rest of the game.

Astros starter Mike Burrows was felled by his defense tonight much in the same way Ryan Weiss was felled by his defense last night.

In the bottom of the second inning, Burrows got Willi Castro to fly to left, or so he thought. LF Brice Matthews didn’t get a good jump on the ball, charged in and slid to make the catch, but the ball bounced off the heel of his glove (which was somehow scored a hit) and allowed a run to score.

Willi puts us on the board! pic.twitter.com/u2nDlH5kXH

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 8, 2026

In the bottom of the fourth, Burrows allowed a 2-out single to T.J. Rumfield before hanging a slider over the heart of the plate that Castro blasted for a 2-run homer.

PUT ON THE COAT, WILLI 😈 pic.twitter.com/zHKcXPhDK0

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 8, 2026

The Rockies got 2 more runs in the seventh. After Steven Okert allowed a one out walk, he was replaced by Kai-Wei Teng. Teng got Hunter Goodman to pop out for second out, but then surrendered a 426 foot HR to Mickey Moniak. That made the game 5-1, which would be the final score.

Mickey Moniak extends the @Rockies lead with his 3rd homer of the season! pic.twitter.com/LykdxVB0Z6

— MLB (@MLB) April 8, 2026

The Astros will try to salvage the final game of the series Wednesday behind Cristian Javier.

The league’s best offense decided to take the night off as Astros pitching, defense continue to struggle.

It was a night to forget for the Astros offense, who managed just 1 run on 3 hits with one walk against Rockies pitchers Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela, as Houston loses its second straight game in Denver, 5-1 to the Rockies.

A second inning opposite field HR by Christian Walker was the only run the Astros could muster.

The hot streak continues!#ChaseTheFightpic.twitter.com/mLfGST3gM1

— Houston Astros (@astros) April 8, 2026

In fact, they would get only one runner to second base the rest of the game.

Astros starter Mike Burrows was felled by his defense tonight much in the same way Ryan Weiss was felled by his defense last night.

In the bottom of the second inning, Burrows got Willi Castro to fly to left, or so he thought. LF Brice Matthews didn’t get a good jump on the ball, charged in and slid to make the catch, but the ball bounced off the heel of his glove (which was somehow scored a hit) and allowed a run to score.

Willi puts us on the board! pic.twitter.com/u2nDlH5kXH

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 8, 2026

In the bottom of the fourth, Burrows allowed a 2-out single to T.J. Rumfield before hanging a slider over the heart of the plate that Castro blasted for a 2-run homer.

PUT ON THE COAT, WILLI 😈 pic.twitter.com/zHKcXPhDK0

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 8, 2026

The Rockies got 2 more runs in the seventh. After Steven Okert allowed a one out walk, he was replaced by Kai-Wei Teng. Teng got Hunter Goodman to pop out for second out, but then surrendered a 426 foot HR to Mickey Moniak. That made the game 5-1, which would be the final score.

Mickey Moniak extends the @Rockies lead with his 3rd homer of the season! pic.twitter.com/LykdxVB0Z6

— MLB (@MLB) April 8, 2026

The Astros will try to salvage the final game of the series Wednesday behind Cristian Javier.

In the series opening on Monday night, the Colorado Rockies managed to outlast the Houston Astros after a big fifth inning. Tonight in Game 2, they picked up where they left off, defeating the Astros 5-1.

It was a night of stellar pitching from starter Kyle Freeland and tonight’s closer Antonio Senzatela as well as consistent, timely hitting from Willi Castro and T.J. Rumfield with another Mickey Moniak home run.

The hits keep coming!

The Astros got on the board first with a Christian “Rockies Killer” Walker home run in the second inning. This is his fourth off Freeland and his 15th at Coors Field.

The Astros finished their half of the second with a 1-0 lead.

They would not score again.

But the Rockies would answer back in their half of the inning when Castro hit an RBI single to score Troy Johnston.

Various hits and outs were exchanged in the third inning. Then in the fourth, Castro put the Rockies ahead with a two-run homer.

”Willi’s one of the biggest parts of what we’re trying to do out there,“ manager Warren Schaeffer said, highlighting the veteran’s versatility.

(Willi, if you’re reading, you look great in that purple coat!)

In the seventh, Monika hit his second home run of 2026, giving the Rockies a 5-1 lead.

(Mickey, if you’re reading, you also look great in that purple coat.)

Castro finished the night 3-for-4 with three hits and three RBI.

Meanwhile, don’t overlook Rumfield who continues to be a consistent offensive contributor and also went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run.

The Rockies finished the evening with five runs on 10 hits with two walks and — are you sitting down? — just four (four!) strikeouts.

“This is a different team, a new team,” Schaeffer said. “We feel like we’re playing good baseball.”

Kyle Freeland deals

If you’re into commemorating anniversaries, nine years ago today, Freeland made his MLB debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers (6 IP, 1 ER, 6 K) — and tonight he was ready to celebrate in style.

Freeland went 6.1 innings on 81 pitches. He gave up one run on three hits, walked one, and struck out five. He did this on 10 ground-ball outs and a powerful pitch mix. Currently, he has a 2.30 ERA.

“He attacked the strike zone and was really efficient,” Schaeffer said after the game.

Freeland received a well-earned standing ovation when leaving the field.

Do pitchers get to wear the purple coat?

Because Kyle Freeland should absolutely get to wear it tonight.

Senzatela finishes the job

Schaeffer turned the game over to the bullpen in the seventh with Senzatela taking the mound.

He threw two pitches and got two outs, and he did not slow down.

In securing his first career save, Senzatela went 2.2 IP, giving up 0 hits and 0 walks while striking out three.

Schaeffer noted that Senzatela has made significant adjuments, which can be challenging for a veteran, “but he just looks like a different guy.”

It’s not hyperbole to say that he is unrecognizable from his 2025 pitching self.

---

Tune in tomorrow for Game 3 when Cristian Javier will take on Michael Lorenzen for the Rockies. See you at 1:10 pm.

Oh, and bring your brooms!

---

---

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

In the series opening on Monday night, the Colorado Rockies managed to outlast the Houston Astros after a big fifth inning. Tonight in Game 2, they picked up where they left off, defeating the Astros 5-1.

It was a night of stellar pitching from starter Kyle Freeland and tonight’s closer Antonio Senzatela as well as consistent, timely hitting from Willi Castro and T.J. Rumfield with another Mickey Moniak home run.

The hits keep coming!

The Astros got on the board first with a Christian “Rockies Killer” Walker home run in the second inning. This is his fourth off Freeland and his 15th at Coors Field.

The Astros finished their half of the second with a 1-0 lead.

They would not score again.

But the Rockies would answer back in their half of the inning when Castro hit an RBI single to score Troy Johnston.

Various hits and outs were exchanged in the third inning. Then in the fourth, Castro put the Rockies ahead with a two-run homer.

”Willi’s one of the biggest parts of what we’re trying to do out there,“ manager Warren Schaeffer said, highlighting the veteran’s versatility.

(Willi, if you’re reading, you look great in that purple coat!)

In the seventh, Monika hit his second home run of 2026, giving the Rockies a 5-1 lead.

(Mickey, if you’re reading, you also look great in that purple coat.)

Castro finished the night 3-for-4 with three hits and three RBI.

Meanwhile, don’t overlook Rumfield who continues to be a consistent offensive contributor and also went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run.

The Rockies finished the evening with five runs on 10 hits with two walks and — are you sitting down? — just four (four!) strikeouts.

“This is a different team, a new team,” Schaeffer said. “We feel like we’re playing good baseball.”

Kyle Freeland deals

If you’re into commemorating anniversaries, nine years ago today, Freeland made his MLB debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers (6 IP, 1 ER, 6 K) — and tonight he was ready to celebrate in style.

Freeland went 6.1 innings on 81 pitches. He gave up one run on three hits, walked one, and struck out five. He did this on 10 ground-ball outs and a powerful pitch mix. Currently, he has a 2.30 ERA.

“He attacked the strike zone and was really efficient,” Schaeffer said after the game.

Freeland received a well-earned standing ovation when leaving the field.

Do pitchers get to wear the purple coat?

Because Kyle Freeland should absolutely get to wear it tonight.

Senzatela finishes the job

Schaeffer turned the game over to the bullpen in the seventh with Senzatela taking the mound.

He threw two pitches and got two outs, and he did not slow down.

In securing his first career save, Senzatela went 2.2 IP, giving up 0 hits and 0 walks while striking out three.

Schaeffer noted that Senzatela has made significant adjuments, which can be challenging for a veteran, “but he just looks like a different guy.”

It’s not hyperbole to say that he is unrecognizable from his 2025 pitching self.

---

Tune in tomorrow for Game 3 when Cristian Javier will take on Michael Lorenzen for the Rockies. See you at 1:10 pm.

Oh, and bring your brooms!

---

---

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!