Braves fail to pull off series win in Diamondbacks finale

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 05: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with teammates after hitting an RBI fielders choice against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Chase Field on April 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welp, going into extra innings to keep the game alive, the Arizona Diamondbacks capitalized on an opportunity to prevent the third consecutive series win for the Atlanta Braves (6-5) and end the series on a split.

Besides Drake Baldwin’s solo homer in the first inning to give the Braves their early lead and racking up on RBI’s to keep the team in the game, today might not have started as the most exciting, but it sure was kept interesting to the finish.

Mets offense wakes up late to rally by Giants for third straight win

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Tyrone Taylor high-fiving Luis Robert Jr. after both scored for the New York Mets, Image 2 shows Marcus Semien of the New York Mets celebrates after hitting an RBI double

SAN FRANCISCO — The Mets waited most of Sunday afternoon to start their offensive engine, and once it got revved, they weren’t about to leave Oracle Park with anything short of a series victory.

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One at-bat after another in the eighth inning they persisted, placing hits in all corners of the field until four runs scored in a 5-2 victory over the Giants.

Luis Torrens’ pinch-hit double brought in the tying and go-ahead runs in the eighth before the Mets added on. That meant Mark Vientos and Marcus Semien each with a run-scoring hit, allowing a cushion for Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, who pitched the final two innings scoreless.

The Mets won their third straight to complete a 4-3 road trip.

“The team has looked excellent the way the pitchers are pitching and the hitters are hitting,” Torrens said through an interpreter. “It’s been really special to come back in these games and just how [Kodai] Senga pitched today was amazing.”

Jared Young, who had already delivered three hits in the game, wasn’t permitted to face lefty reliever Erik Miller in the eighth with runners on second and third with one out. Enter Torrens, who worked the at-bat to nine pitches before slicing a changeup just inside the right field line, scoring both runners.

Kodai Senga of the Mets pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the third inning at Oracle Park on April 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images

A short bench — Brett Baty was scratched from the lineup with left thumb soreness and Juan Soto is awaiting further evaluation on a right calf strain — left Carlos Mendoza’s options limited. The manager credited bench coach Kai Correa with the idea to use Torrens, the backup catcher, as a pinch hitter if an opportunity against a left-hander arose.

“And sure enough the situation presented itself and we shot him and [Torrens] was ready to go from the very beginning and he executed,” Mendoza said. “You are not so inclined to use the catcher when you are short on the bench.”

Torrens scored when Matt Chapman threw away Vientos’ grounder. The go-ahead rally was complete on Semien’s RBI double. Others involved included Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr., whose double and single, respectively, ignited the comeback. Robert also stole second, eluding the tag on a throw that had him beat.

Mets’ Tyrone Taylor (15) celebrates with Luis Robert Jr. (88) after both scored on Luis Torrens’ two-run double against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, April 5, 2026. AP

“We have got good players up and down,” Mendoza said. “We’re dealing with a few guys that have injuries and we’re feeling really good, not only with the guys that are in the lineup who are getting to play more, but on the bench as well. There’s a lot of versatility. There’s a lot of things we can do because of the flexibility.”

In a second straight solid outing to begin his season, Senga allowed two earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks over 5 ²/₃ innings. The right-hander took a shutout into the sixth but was undermined by two bloop hits sandwiched around Chapman’s game-tying double. Huascar Brazobán gave the Mets 1 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in relief before Weaver and Williams handled the rest.



Vientos’ sizzling stretch continued with an RBI single in the second that gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. Vientos, who reached base seven times over the previous two games, is batting .476.

Robert and Young singled in succession before Vientos delivered against Logan Webb with a third straight hit to begin the inning. But Semien’s ensuing double-play grounder thwarted dreams of a big inning.

Mets’ Marcus Semien, right, celebrates after hitting an RBI double against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, April 5, 2026. AP

Senga struck out six of eight batters to begin his afternoon, utilizing the forkball as his weapon of choice.

Luis Arraez’s 10-pitch at-bat culminated with a leadoff single in the fourth, but Senga rebounded by getting Chapman to ground into a double play. After Rafael Devers walked, Senga escaped the inning by getting Heliot Ramos to hit into a fielder’s choice.

Jerar Encarnacion smoked a shot off the left field fence in the fifth, but Young fielded the carom cleanly and threw a strike to Semien, nailing Encarnacion as he attempted to stretch the single into a double.

Chapman jumped on an 0-1 forkball in the sixth and smashed an RBI double that tied it 1-1. Patrick Bailey singled leading off the inning and stole second before Chapman, with one out, delivered. Devers’ ensuing bloop single — just in front of a lunging Robert — gave the Giants a 2-1 lead and ended Senga’s afternoon.

Dodgers overcome Roki Sasaki clunker, erase five-run hole in comeback win

WASHINGTON –– Sunday was one of those games the Dodgers had no business winning.

Not after Roki Sasaki gave up six runs in five innings. Not with Mookie Betts out injured and Will Smith, Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy all getting off days. And certainly not after facing a five-run deficit entering the sixth inning, then a three-run hole going into the eighth.

Alas, on a rain-delayed getaway day at Nationals Park, the Dodgers battled back, flipped the script and secured a weekend sweep over the Washington Nationals, scoring the game’s final seven runs in an 8-6 win.

“It was a good fight,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We just didn’t quit.”

Shohei Ohtani hits a home run in the third inning at Nationals Park. Getty Images

The turnaround started as soon as Sasaki completed his calamitous outing –– one that featured two home runs, three walks and a bit of bad luck when a potential inning-ending grounder in the fourth ricocheted off the first-base bag to spur a four-run rally.

Even in the face of a 6-1 deficit, the Dodgers (7-2) kept stringing together late-game hits.

Dalton Rushing had the first big swing, launching a two-run blast in the top of the sixth that put the club within striking distance.

Then, in the eighth, the team completed the comeback against overmatched Nationals reliever Cionel Pérez, who failed to record an out while letting the game slip away.

The inning started with a single from Freddie Freeman. Andy Pages followed with a double down the left-field line. Alex Call loaded the bases after that, reaching base for the fourth-straight time by drawing a four-pitch walk. 

That set the stage for Santiago Espinal, who recorded his first Dodgers hit with a two-run single to center.

Nationals shortstop Nasim Nuñez steals second base in the first inning. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Pérez was mercifully removed after loading the bases again on a walk to the pinch-hitting Smith. But by then, the damage was already done.

A fielder’s choice grounder from Tucker, in another pinch-hit at-bat, tied the game. A sacrifice fly from Shohei Ohtani –– who opened the scoring Sunday with a 438-foot homer back in the third inning –– gave the Dodgers the lead.

Thanks to four combined innings of scoreless work from the bullpen, there would be no further late-game dramatics. Instead, Teoscar Hernández hit a ninth-inning insurance homer into the Dodgers bullpen, where closer Edwin Díaz was preparing for what would be his third save with the team.

“It is a mark of our ball club that every out matters, every game matters,” Roberts said.

From five runs down, to a first series sweep of the season.

From a game they shouldn’t have won, to one they wrapped up with relative ease.

Ohtani rounds the bases after hitting a home run. Getty Images

What it means

That, even on a day so many other things went wrong, the Dodgers always have enough firepower to mount a late comeback.

In doing so Sunday, they got Sasaki off the hook for what should’ve been an ugly loss to the Nationals (3-6).

In the third inning, he started losing his command, and ultimately gave up a two-run homer to Luis García Jr. on an elevated fastball. The fourth was even worse, with the right-hander coming unraveled after a potential inning-ending grounder from Keibert Ruiz kicked off first base for an RBI single.

While that was a moment of bad luck, what followed was decidedly not. Sasaki gave up another single to José Tena, then hung an 0-2 splitter to James Wood that was clobbered for a three-run shot.

On any other day, his struggles would’ve been the story.

He can thank the team’s offense for ensuring that it wasn’t.

Freddie Freeman fields a ground ball by Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile (not pictured) during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Who’s hot

The Dodgers’ late-game offense.

Sunday was already the team’s fifth come-from-behind victory –– and in all of them, they’ve trailed by multiple runs early on.

It might not be a sustainable recipe for success. But it does epitomize the relentless nature of their deep and talented offense.

And this time, they didn’t even need superstar contributions, instead being led by Call (2-for-3 with two walks), Hernández (2-for-4 with his home run after being bumped up to the No. 3 spot in the order), and Espinal and Rushing (two RBIs apiece).

Sasaki’s calamitous outing featured two home runs, three walks and a bit of bad luck. AP

Who’s not

In the wake of Betts’ injury, Alex Freeland is slated to get more regular starts at second base.

The Dodgers can only hope it snaps his poor start to the season.

Since hitting a home run and a double in his season debut, Freeland has looked more like the hitter who had a .190 batting average in the big leagues last season and a .125 average in an underwhelming spring.

After going 0-for-3 Sunday, he now has just one hit and three walks in his last 19 plate appearances. Even more concerning is that –– for a player tasked first and foremost with taking quality at-bats –– he has struck out two times in each of his last four games.

Up next

The Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays begin a World Series rematch on Monday at Rogers Centre. Justin Wrobleski is expected to get his first start of the season in the opener, opposite former Dodger and future Hall of Fame right-hander Max Scherzer.


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Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals Sunday Night Game vs the Detroit Tigers

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 30: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the New York Mets at Busch Stadium on March 30, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals will try to salvage the final game of their series against the Detroit Tigers in a night contest. According to MLB.com, Kyle Leahy will start the game for St. Louis while it will be Keider Montero for Detroit. This will be Montero’s first start of the season while Kyle Leahy is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA. Game time at Comerica Park is 6:20pm central time. The broadcast of this game is being handled by NBC Sports Network/Peacock.

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GameThread: Tigers vs. Cardinals, 7:20 p.m.

Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) looks up after a pitch, during the Detroit Tigers Opening Day at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, April 3, 2026. The Tigers won 4-0 | Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers (4-4) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (4-4)

Time/Place: 7:20 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site: Viva El Birdos
Media: Peacock, NBC Sports, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Kyle Leahy (0-1, 7.20 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%ERAFIPfWAR
Montero (proj)3355.019.27.94.414.490.2
Leahy (2026)15.04.28.352.47.203.980.0

Lineups

CARDINALSTIGERS
JJ Wetherholt – 2BColt Keith – DH
Ivan Herrera – DHKevin McGonigle – 3B
Alec Burleson – 1BGleyber Torres – 2B
Jordan Walker – RFKerry Carpenter – RF
Nolan Gorman – 3BRiley Greene – LF
Thomas Saggese – SSDillon Dingler – C
Nathan Church – LFParker Meadows – CF
Pedro Pages – CSpencer Torkelson – 1B
Victor Scott – CFJavier Baez – SS

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Dodgers rally from down five to complete sweep of Nationals

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Nationals Park on April 5, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers began their road trip in a similar fashion as their first home series, with a comeback win to complete a three-game sweep. This time it came against the Washington Nationals as the Dodgers scored seven unanswered runs and erased a five-run deficit to win 8-6.

It took a two hour and 15 minute rain delay to pass before Roki Sasaki could make his second start of the season, and although he allowed a hit over his first two hitters he faced, he got through a scoreless first inning on just nine pitches. He notched another scoreless inning bottom of the second, striking out a pair of hitters while also working around a two-out walk to Jorbit Vivas.

The Dodgers managed to strike first for a second consecutive game as Shohei Ohtani crushed his second home run of the series 438 feet to dead center field against left-hander Foster Griffin to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Ohtani later picked up a double in the top of the fifth inning to give him his third consecutive multi-hit game against Washington.

The Dodger lead was short lived as Sasaki surrendered a two-out, two-strike home run to Luis García Jr., helping give Washington since the second inning of Friday’s contest. He was still pitching relatively efficiently with just 44 pitches over his first three innings, but his confidence and his faith in his stuff began to weaken in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Sasaki was working with a C.J. Abrams at second base with two outs when he induced a weak ground ball from Keibert Ruiz down the first base side, but the ball ricocheted off the first base bag well over the head of Freddie Freeman, allowing Abrams to score and make it a two-run Washington lead. José Tena kept the two-out rally going with a single to put two men on with two outs for the struggling James Wood. Wood got a splitter right down the middle from Sasaki, and deposited it into the center field bleachers to make it a 6-1 Nationals lead.

Sasaki was able to have a clean bottom of the fifth inning, facing the minimum in order while picking up a pair of strikeouts, but it was yet another roller coaster of a performance. Over five innings of work, he allowed six earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five, now carrying an unconvincing 7.00 ERA on the season.

Dalton Rushing was given his second straight start against a left-hander this season, and he cut the deficit in half with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning.

The Dodgers bullpen continued to shine in relief of Sasaki, as both Alex Vesia and Jack Dreyer posted scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh innings respectively and continue to post spotless earned run averages.

The Nationals kept rolling with southpaws throughout the first seven innings, as PJ Poulin completed two innings of work despite being responsible for the Rushing home run. Left-hander Cionel Pérez took over for Washington in the top of the eighth, and he immediately put the Nationals lead in jeopardy by allowing a single to Freddie Freeman and a double to Andy Pages to put two men in scoring position with nobody out. The former National Alex Call worked a four-pitch walk to load the bases and Santiago Espinal had his first big moment as a Dodger with a two-run single to center field, trimming the deficit to one.

Will Smith came in as a pinch-hitter for Dalton Rushing, even though Rushing had gone deep against a left-hander in his previous at-bat, and Smith kept the line moving with a walk to once again load the bases with nobody out. As the Nationals brought in former Dodgers prospect Clayton Beeter, the Dodgers countered with Kyle Tucker as a pinch-hitter for Alex Freeland, and Tucker brought home the tying run by reaching on a fielder’s choice. Shohei Ohtani gave the Dodgers their first lead since the third with a sacrifice fly to make it a 7-6 game.

The Dodgers added some insurance in the top of the the ninth inning as Teoscar Hernández took Beeter deep to left-center field for his first home run of the season, giving the Dodgers a two-run lead.

Tanner Scott kept up the impressive work from the bullpen and Edwin Díaz recorded his first save on the road as the Dodgers remain undefeated away from Dodger Stadium.

Game particulars
  • Home runs— Shohei Ohtani (2), Dalton Rushing (1), Teoscar Hernández (1); Luis García Jr. (1), James Wood (2)
  • WP— Jack Dreyer (1-0): 1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
  • LP— Cionel Pérez (0-1): 0 IP, 3 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts
  • SV— Edwin Díaz (3): 1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
Up Next

The Dodgers fly north of the border as they prepare for a rematch of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays beginning Monday at Rogers Centre (4:07 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Justin Wrobleski makes his first start of the season, going up against Max Scherzer.

Four-run eighth propels Mets to victory in San Francisco

Luis Torrens hits a double in a Mets road grey uniform

Once they got Logan Webb out of the game, the Mets pounced. And thanks to a four-run top of the eighth against the Giants’ bullpen, they went on to win the game 5-2 and take the series in the process.

Webb was fantastic for San Francisco, as he gave up just one run on seven hits in seven innings of work. That wound up being the better starting pitching line in the game, as Kodai Senga started better than Webb but faltered a bit in the sixth inning. Having struck out five batters in a row at one point across the first three innings of the game, Senga saw his fastball velocity taper off a bit in the sixth, and he gave up two runs before he was able to finish that inning.

Still, it was a very good start from Senga, whose work through his first two games has been one of the most encouraging things about this very early phase of the Mets’ 2026 season. Sure, he topped out at 98 miles per hour today with his fastball, a slight decrease from touching 99 in his first start. But his average velocity and results are both very clearly improved following his late-season struggles in 2025.

Huascar Brazobán deserves praise for his work in relief of Senga, as he got the final out of the sixth after inheriting a runner on first base when he came into the game. And he worked a quick scoreless seventh inning, too, to keep the game well within reach.

As for the Mets’ runs in this one, Mark Vientos stayed hot with an RBI single in the second to open the scoring. Jared Young had a 3-for-3 day at the plate—and made a great throw from left field to get a runner advancing to second base on a single—but wasn’t able to score as Webb found ways to keep the Mets to that one run.

Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr., and Vientos all had multi-hit games, too, but the Mets’ biggest opportunity through the first seven innings came with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the seventh. Unfortunately, Francisco Lindor grounded out to second base, leaving the Mets trailing by one.

Polanco sparked the Mets’ eighth inning rally, though, as he hit a one-out double, after which he was immediately pinch run for by Tyrone Taylor. Robert singled to put runners on the corners, and with the left-handed hitting Young due up, the Giants turned to left-handed rleiever Erik Miller.

Carlos Mendoza countered by sending Luis Torrens up to pinch hit. After working the count full and getting a stolen base from Robert to put two runners in scoring position, Torrens roped an outside pitch down the right field line for a double, easily scoring both runs to give the Mets the lead. And the Mets tacked on a couple more runs, as Mark Vientos hit a ground ball to third base that Matt Chapman fielded and threw to first base quickly. Rafael Devers, playing his first game at first base this year, botched the scoop, though, bringing Torrens home with the Mets’ fourth run.

To top things off, Marcus Semien smoked a double to left field to plate Vientos with the team’s fifth and final run of the afternoon.

Luke Weaver and Devin Williams threw a scoreless inning apiece to close out the win. Weaver didn’t strike anyone out, but he only needed 12 pitches to get through the eighth. And while Williams gave up a pair of hits, he notched a strikeout and didn’t really make it feel like the Mets’ lead was at any risk of slipping away.

The Mets are off tomorrow, but they’re 6-4 on the season. They’re set to host the Diamondbacks for a three-game series the starts on Tuesday night at Citi Field.

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Win Probability Added

What’s WPA?

Big Mets winner: Luis Torrens, +30.6% WPA
Big Mets loser: Francisco Lindor, -20.6% WPA
Mets pitchers: +10.9% WPA
Mets hitters: +39.1% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Luis Torrens hits a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth, +31.2% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Matt Chapman doubles in a run in the sixth, -19.4% WPA

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Vitello ejected as Giants fall apart in third straight loss to Mets

SAN FRANCISCO — Tony Vitello was showered and changed out of his No. 23 home jersey and cream baseball pants into athletic shorts and a hoodie by the time he faced reporters Sunday afternoon.

Vitello watched the final two innings of the Giants’ 5-2 loss to the Mets from his office after the rookie manager earned the first ejection of his major-league managerial career.

The Giants got seven strong innings from Logan Webb and timely hits from Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers but were dealt their third loss of the four-game set against New York.

They were leading 2-1 when crew chief David Rackley tossed him in the bottom of the seventh. Things began to fall apart the following inning as Keaton Winn served up hits to Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert, and Erik Miller allowed both inherited runners to score in a four-run frame.

“I saw blips of the last two innings,” Vitello said. “… It’s hard to watch on TV. I’m sure there’s plenty to criticize.”

Tony Vitello after being ejected by umpire David Rackley. AP

Vitello was upset with the ruling from home plate umpire Edwin Jimenez that resulted in Jerar Encarnacion being called out on a dribbler in front of the plate, despite the Mets failing to complete the play. Jimenez said Encarnacion had left the base path, interfering with Mark Vientos’ ability to catch the throw from Huascar Brazoban.

“I didn’t watch the replay. I saw it from a great angle,” Vitello said. “Umpire couldn’t have been better with balls and strikes. I’m sure he got it technically right.It’s just a play I’ve got a lot of history (with).”

What it means

The Giants weren’t able to take advantage of Webb’s strongest start of the season and dropped three of four to the Mets. The loss was their third in a row, already the second time in 10 games that Vitello’s squad has strung together a losing streak of at least three games.

Through seven games at Oracle Park, the Giants are 1-6.

Logan Webb in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park. Getty Images

Who’s hot

Vitello, first of all. The manager had a history with SEC umpires, once earning a suspension for bumping chests during an argument on the field. He was upset by the call on Encarnacion, which prevented the Giants from getting a runner on with one out, but his temper didn’t seem to escalate until Rackley tossed him as he was heading back to the dugout with his back turned.

“I said one last thing, just out of frustration or being all fired up that was complete nonsense,” Vitello said, adding that he was upset over something else from the top half of the seventh that he declined to expand on. “I think it was misinterpreted a little bit.”

Vitello added that he planned to pinch-run speedy outfielder Jared Oliva.

“In my mind, we lost a double there,” Vitelo said. “So there was a little bit of frustration.”

The ejection came moments after Webb departed the mound for the last time, limiting the Mets to one run, a ton of ground balls and little hard contact over seven innings.

Webb entered the game with a 7.36 ERA through his first two starts, but he had everything working against the Mets. The Giants couldn’t capitalize and fell to 1-2 with their ace on the mound.

Who’s not

Miller surrendered multiple runs for the second outing in a row. The hard-throwing lefty looked to be vying for some save opportunities as Vitello goes closer-by-committee, but he may have lost some confidence after the Mets tagged him for four runs in two appearances this series.

The Giants also committed multiple errors for the second time in 10 games, bringing their total to eight, more than all but three other clubs.

Devers wasn’t able to pick a low throw from Chapman after an acrobatic stop in the Mets’ big eighth inning, and Patrick Bailey was charged with a critical catcher’s interference that brought up Francisco Lindor with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh.

Chapman also made an inexcusable mistake on the bases, getting caught stealing as the second out of the ninth inning with the Giants trailing by three runs.

“All three (losses to the Mets) kind of had similar things going on,” Vitello said. “There was either defensive mistakes, guys not running the bases hard enough or smart enough … (and) not good enough on the pitching end of things on a couple of occasions.”

The Mets’ Tyrone Taylor celebrates with Luis Robert Jr. after both scored on Luis Torrens’ two-run double . AP

Up next

The Phillies visit San Francisco as the Giants wrap up a seven-game home stand. RHP Adrian Houser (0-1, 1.69) gets the ball against RHP Andrew Painter (1-0, 1.69) to open the three-game set with first pitch on Monday set for 6:45 p.m.

The loss dropped the Giants to 1-7 in their last eight games against the Mets at Oracle Park. The good news is they’ve fared much better against the Phillies, who haven’t taken a series in San Francisco since 2013. At home, the Giants are 12-3 against the Phillies dating back to 2021.


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Mets rally for four runs in eighth inning to win third straight game against Giants, 5-2

The Mets scored four runs in the eighth inning to beat the San Francisco Giants, 5-2, on Sunday.

New York recorded 13 hits to extend their winning streak to three games after dropping the first game of the four-game series. 

Here are the key takeaways…

-- With Logan Webb out of the game, the Mets bats woke up in the eighth inning with five straight hits to take the lead. Jorge Polanco doubled and Luis Robert Jr. singled, knocking relief pitcher Keaton Winn out of the game after facing just three batters. Robert evaded Luis Arraez' tag to steal second base with one out and came around to score on Luis Torrens' pinch-hit two-run double to put the Mets ahead, 3-2. 

Torrens then scored after a low throw from Matt Chapman on Mark Vientos' hard hit got by Rafael Devers at first base, making it a 4-2 game. The hits kept coming as Marcus Semien doubled to bring Vientos in, pushing the lead to 5-2.

-- Kodai Senga, starting on four days rest, looked great for the first five innings. He struck out two in the first inning (thanks to some help from Francisco Alvarez and the ABS challenge system) and then struck out the side in the second inning. The right-hander kept San Francisco scoreless through the fifth, allowing just two singles up to that point.

Things took a turn in the sixth inning as Senga ran out of gas. Chapman tied the game with a two-out RBI double and Devers put the Giants ahead, 2-1, on a bloop single to center field. Senga's day ended after 5.2 innings and 88 pitches, allowing the two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

-- Vientoscontinued to swing a hot bat and gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the second inning with an RBI single, driving in Robert from second base. He had another RBI opportunity in the bottom of the fourth inning with runners on the corners, but grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

-- Starting in the outfield for just the second time in his career, Jared Young made a nice sliding catch in left field for the second out of the third inning. Young made an impressive throw in the fifth inning, fielding a ball off the wall and launching it in time to get Jerar Encarnacion out at second base on Semien's tag.

-- Manager Carlos Mendoza expressed some frustration in the seventh inning after a strike was called against Semien, but the first base ump said he swung, preventing him from challenging the pitch. Semien ended up striking out swinging with Young on third base. 

New York still had a scoring chance after the strikeout, as Carson Benge walked and stole second base, and Alvarez reached first on a catcher's interference. Although, Francisco Lindor couldn't come up with the big hit, grounding out to second to end the inning.

-- Giants manager Tony Vitello was ejected in the bottom of the seventh for arguing a runner's interference call with Encarnacion at first base with Vientos.

-- Huascar Brazoban, Luke Weaver, and Devin Williams combined to toss 3.1 scoreless innings to secure the win. Williams allowed a one-out hit in the ninth, but Torrens helped him earn his second save of the year by throwing out Chapman trying to steal second base.

GAME MVP

Jared Young, who made two clutch defensive plays to help out Senga and went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double.

Highlights

Jerar Encarnacion is called out for interfering with Mark Vientos at first base pic.twitter.com/TBVd2ufuBj

Upcoming Schedule

The Mets will travel back to New York and enjoy an off day on Monday before beginning a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Freddy Peralta will take the mound and face former All-Star Zac Gallen. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Yankees-Marlins game takes 3 hours, 49 minutes for nine innings, longest in pitch clock era

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s pitch clock was no match for the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins.

New York’s 9-7 win Saturday night lasted 3 hours, 49 minutes, the longest nine-inning game since the pitch clock was instituted for the 2023 season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

MLB had not had a nine-inning game that long since Boston’s 13-9 with over Baltimore went 3:57 on Sept. 27, 2022, according to Elias.

The previous high for a nine-inning game since the pitch clock started in 2023 was 3:45 for the Oakland Athletics’ 7-6 win at the New York Mets on Aug. 15, 2024.

New York and Miami combined for 379 pitches by 13 pitchers, and Marlins pitchers walked 10, increasing their total to 21 in the first two games of the series. There were 21 runners left on base, including 12 by Miami.

MLB’s average time of a nine-inning game dropped from 3:04 in 2022 to 2:40 the following year when the clock was instituted and decreased to 2:36 in 2024, its lowest since 1984’s 2:35. It rose to 2:38 last year.

The average game time passed 3 hours for the first time in 2016. It reached a record 3:10 in 2021 before the introduction of the PitchCom electronic pitch-calling device helped bring it down to 3:04 in 2022.

Rockies 4, Phillies 1: Sugar and Money

DENVER, CO - APRIL 5: Mickey Moniak #22 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field on April 5, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Colorado Rockies successfully avoided the sweep in their first home series of the season, putting away the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Very strong pitching—a key theme through most of the nascent season thus far—helped the Rockies keep the Phillies at bay while three home runs from Rockies bats powered them to victory.

Some Sugar in your Easter basket

We can see why they call him “Tommy Sugar,” because Tomoyuki Sugano’s (菅野 智之) start this afternoon sure was sweet. The veteran Japanese righty was excellent in his Coors Field debut. He gave up just one earned run—a solo home run off the bat of slugger Adolis García in the second inning—through six innings of work. He became the first Rockies starter of the season to go six innings and the first to notch a Quality Start. Sugano struck out five Phillies hitters while giving up just four hits and one walk. He was also efficient and commanded the zone well. Sugano threw 78 pitches, 51 of which were strikes. Sugano also did a good job keeping the ball out of the air, recording eight outs via the groundout.

(Easter) chicks dig the long ball

All four of the Rockies’ runs scored in their win against the Phillies came via some much needed power swings. Mickey Moniak opened things up with a solo home run in his first at-bat during the first inning. When Hunter Goodman reached via single, rookie TJ Rumfield showed off some thump of his own by sending the ball over the right field wall.

However, Moniak wasn’t one to be shown up. Perhaps to make up for losing the ball in the sun twice on defense during this series—once during the Home Opener and once today—Moniak sent his second home run of the game out of the park in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Risen from the bullpen to deliver the save

It may be early in the season, but this Rockies bullpen is earning their stripes through their first three series with a combined 3.12 ERA for one of the better marks in the league. The bullpen was dialed in after taking over for Tomoyuki Sugano. Jaden Hill pitched a hitless and scoreless frame, though he also received a little help from the former Gold Glove winner Brenton Doyle. After a runner reached on an error from Edouard Julien, Doyle made an outstanding leaping catch into the wall to keep the Phillies off the board.

Brennan Bernardino worked an excellent 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts while Victor Vodnik entered the game for his second save opportunity of the season after blwoing a save in Toronto. Vodnik gave up a leadoff single to Alec Bohm before striking out Bryson Stott. There was a little sweat on a warm and sunny day when Adolis García reached via a single that got past first baseman Troy Johnston, but Vodnik struck out the next two batters to end the game and earn the save.

Coming Up Next

Starting tomorrow evening the Rockies will host the Houston Astros for a three-game series. The right-handed Ryan Feltner is scheduled to make the start for the Rockies, while the Astros have yet to announce their starter after their ace Hunter Brown was placed on the injured list today. First pitch will be at 6:40 PM MDT.

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Mickey, mouse offense: Rockies 4, Phillies 1

Apr 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Mickey Moniak (22) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Phillies were going for a sweep over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Sunday. But two home runs by Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak and a second straight day of quiet offense from the Phillies allowed the Rockies to avert the sweep as they beat the Phillies 4-1.

Taijuan Walker was looking to rebound after a poor start his last time out, and after quickly retiring the first two batters of the game, it looked like he might. But then Mickey Moniak sent a ball into the right field stands, and after a Hunter Goodman single, T.J. Rumfield hit a home run of his own to put the Phillies in a 3-0 hole.

The Phillies got one of those runs back in the following inning when Adolis Garcia hit his second home run of the season.

Walker settled down after that and kept the Rockies off the board until the fifth. That’s when the player the Phillies took with the first overall pick of the 2016 draft hit another ball out of the park.

I’d say this was Moniak’s revenge game, but I’m not sure what he’s getting revenge for; Being a massive disappointment, prompting them to trade him for Noah Syndergaard? I guess good for him for establishing himself as a major league player, but this was annoying.

In Coors Field, a three-run deficit shouldn’t be insurmountable, especially since the Phillies’ bullpen chipped in three scoreless innings behind Walker. But since the early explosion on Friday afternoon, the Phillies’ bats have been quiet. The last two days have featured far too many meek at bats, and it seems like the few hard-hit balls have been hit to the wrong part of the park.

The top five of the Phillies’ order went 2-19 against Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano and three relievers, and that’s not good enough, especially in a hitter’s park.

It would have been nice to come away with another win, especially since the Phillies will travel to San Francisco for a three-game series. The Phillies haven’t won a series in San Francisco since 2017, and if the bats don’t show more than they did this weekend, that streak is likely to continue for another year.

Cubs Minor League Wrap: Iowa wins fifth-straight

GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 16, 2026: Kevin Alcántara #13 of the Chicago Cubs hits an RBI double during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark on March 16, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Right-hander Ryan Jensen joins the I-Cubs to take Riley Martin’s spot.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs won their fifth-straight game, 6-2 over the Louisville Bats (Reds).

Starter Vince Velazquez got the win with five strong innings. He allowed just one run on two hits. He struck out seven and walked just one.

Tyler Santana bounced back from a terrible first outing of the year to throw three shutout innings of relief. He also allowed just one hit and issued one walk. Santana struck out three.

Third baseman James Triantos led off the game with a single. He then stole second, went to third on a bad throw and scored on a single by first baseman Jonathon Long.

Here’s Long’s single.

Center fielder Kevin Alcántara made it 2-0 in the third inning with his fourth home run in just eight games this year.

Velazquez gave up a solo home run to Michael Chavis in the bottom of the third, but Iowa struck back with three runs in the top of the fourth. Catcher Christian Bethancourt had an RBI single and then Triantos struck again with a two-run double.

Iowa’s sixth and final run came on a solo home run by right fielder Chas McCormick. It’s McCormick’s third game in a row he’s homered and his third home run in just four games this year.

Triantos was 2 for 4 with a double, a walk and a stolen base. He scored the one run and had the two RBI.

Long went 2 for 5 with the RBI single.

Alcántara was 1 for 5 with the home run.

McCormick was 1 for 4 with the home run.

DH BJ Murray Jr. was a perfect 2 for 2 with a triple and two walks. He scored on the Bethancourt single.

Bethancourt went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies were forced into peonage by the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 10-5.

It was a rough start for Yenrri Rojas, who got hammered for ten runs, nine earned, on eight hits. Rojas walked four and struck out three.

The Smokies got 3.1 scoreless innings of relief out of Grant Kipp, although he did let three runners inherited from Rojas to score. Kipp gave up three hits, issued one walk and hit one batter. He struck out three.

Tyler Ras threw two scoreless innings of relief in his Cubs organizational debut. He allowed one hit. He didn’t walk anyone but he did hit one batter. Ras struck out two.

Second baseman Karson Simas hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning.

Simas went 1 for 2 with two walks.

Seiya Suzuki played five innings in right field and was 1 for 2 with a walk and one run scored.

South Bend Cubs

Today’s doubleheader was postponed. The entire opening series for South Bend was postponed because of unplayable field conditions.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Off day.

Electric Cincinnati Reds arms complete sweep of Texas Rangers

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 5: Chase Burns #26 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Globe Life Field on April 5, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chase Burns got the start for the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday in Arlington as the good guys looked to complete the three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers.

Brock Burke got the save for the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday in Arlington as the good guys did, in fact, complete the three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers.

Burns completed 6.0 IP of scoreless ball before finally yielding a run in the Top of the 7th, but Cincinnati’s offense managed to small-ball their way to runs on two separate occasions to make it a nervy, yet brilliant 2-1 win. The brilliance – timely singles by the middle of Cincinnati’s lineup aside – was in the deliveries of some of their electric young arms, who backed Burns on a day when some of their most proven relievers were unavailable.

Pierce Johnson and Sam Moll managed to get around an inherited runner left by Burns in the 7th, at which point things were turned over to Connor Phillips for the Bottom of the 8th inning with the heart of the Rangers lineup coming to the plate. Given that Graham Ashcraft, Tony Santillan, and Emilio Pagan were gassed from holding things together in the previous two wins of the series, it was going to be up to Phillips – and eventually Burke – to get to the finish line in this nailbiter of a game.

Those two did so with aplomb, even though Phillips struggled a bit to get his third out after looking completely filthy getting the first two.

Both Phillips and Burke flirted with 100 mph on their heaters, and Phillips’ slider in particular looked to be moving as well as it ever has. And if you polled the poor Rangers hitters who were tasked with facing those two after 6 dominant innings from Burns, well, I’m not sure exactly who they’d say was the toughest to pinpoint as all three looked simply absurd.

Burns, who finished with an ER, 5 H, BB, and 9 K on 87 pitches, continued his ascent to the top of Cincinnati’s rotation with his second gem of the early going. He’s today’s Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game, and it won’t be the last of those honors he takes home this season.

Other Notes

  • Elly De La Cruz went 2 for 5 with a run scored, a ribbie, and his first stolen base of the season.
  • The Reds, who entered play today with just a lone steal on the season as a team, actually swiped four bags on the day as each of TJ Friedl, Elly, Sal Stewart, and Matt McLain got in on the action.
  • The Reds actually struck out 15 Rangers on the day. That’ll do!
  • Will Benson did not start today, and instead came on mid-game for Noelvi Marte when a right-handed reliever was on the bump. Benson doubled and singled in his pair of plate appearances.
  • The 2026 Reds are now 6-3 despite having scored the second fewest runs of any National League team, to date.
  • The Cincinnati Reds will head to Miami later this evening and on Monday they’ll begin a series against the Marlins. Brandon Williamson will get the start looking to improve significantly on his pretty dismal first outing since the 2024 season, and first pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET.

Brewers bounce back behind another strong Kyle Harrison start, top Royals 8–5

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 05: Starting pitcher Kyle Harrison #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the 1st inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Box Score

Kansas City made today’s game interesting a couple of times, but Milwaukee held on for the win. Kyle Harrison turned in another impressive performance and got plenty of run support, propelling the Brewers to their third straight series victory to begin the season.

Royals starter Kris Bubic retired Brice Turang and Luis Rengifo to start the game, but William Contreras walked to keep the inning alive. Up next was Christian Yelich, who worked a full count before flaring a line drive down the left field line. Kansas City outfielder Nick Loftin, sprinting down the left field line, laid out to catch the liner and just missed it. The ball landed in fair territory and kicked off the wall, allowing William Contreras to score easily as Yelich raced into third with a triple.

Gary Sánchez also took Bubic to a full count before squaring up a fastball up in the zone for a 109-mph two-run home run, already his third of the season.

Luis Matos struck out for the third out, but the damage was done — Milwaukee led 3-0 before Harrison even threw a pitch.

Harrison was dealing to start the game, allowing only one batter to reach (on a walk) through the first two innings. He finally gave up his first hit in the third; unfortunately, that hit was a Maikel Garcia two-run home run on a middle-in fastball that probably shouldn’t be thrown to Maikel Garcia. That brought the Royals within one run, but they weren’t done yet. Harrison didn’t want to give Bobby Witt Jr. anything good to hit, walking him on five pitches to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. After a mound visit, Witt stole second. Vinny Pasquantino lined a single into right field, but Matos — making his first start as a Brewer — nailed Witt at the plate with an absolute frozen rope. Just a beautiful throw:

Pasquantino took second base on a wild pitch, but Salvador Perez flew out to end the inning with the Brewers still ahead by a run.

It didn’t take long for Milwaukee to answer. Sánchez and Matos both struck out to start the fourth, but Brandon Lockridge walked to keep the inning alive. Blake Perkins then hit a fly ball over the head of Loftin that one-hopped off the left field wall, scoring the speedy Lockridge to give the Brewers an insurance run. Perkins promptly stole third, but Joey Ortiz was unable to capitalize, striking out on a foul tip to keep the Royals within two runs.

Harrison retired the side in the fourth and allowed only a single to Loftin in the fifth. Sánchez walked, and Matos singled off of old friend Nick Mears to start the top of the sixth, both advancing thanks to a Lockridge sacrifice bunt. Perkins grounded into a fielder’s choice at home, giving the Brewers runners on the corners with two outs. Up next was Ortiz, who hit a groundout to Witt for the third out.

Harrison was pulled after retiring Pasquantino with one out in the sixth. His final line: 5 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K. Other than the home run to Garcia, he was dealing today. It’s only his second start this season, but it’s hard not to think the Brewers may have found something in Harrison.

Grant Anderson came in to face Perez and immediately gave up a double, although he retired the next two batters to keep the Royals off the board. He came back out for the seventh and ceded a single to Starling Marte, then walked Jonathan India to put two runners on. Brewers manager Pat Murphy quickly made the call to the bullpen, bringing in relief ace Abner Uribe to face Isaac Collins. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to escape the jam in his usual fashion. Collins came through against his old teammate, singling to load the bases. Garcia followed with another single, as the runners went from station to station to score a run and keep the bases loaded.

Things looked like they could quickly get out of hand with Witt coming to the plate, but Uribe got him to stare at a fastball on the outside corner for the first out of the inning. With Pasquantino, a lefty, coming to the plate, Murphy pulled Uribe in favor of Ángel Zerpa. The move didn’t pay off, as Pasquantino singled to bring the Royals back within a run. With two on and still only one out, Perez squared up a Zerpa slider for a line drive that settled into the glove of Garrett Mitchell, who had come in as a defensive replacement for Matos. Zerpa then got Lane Thomas to ground out to end the inning and preserve the lead.

Kansas City didn’t score again, while Milwaukee got a couple of insurance runs in the top of the ninth thanks to doubles by Yelich and Jake Bauers (who also entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh) and a bloop single by Brandon Lockridge.

Those two runs would bring the game to its eventual final score: Milwaukee 8, Kansas City 5. Trevor Megill worked around a Witt single in the ninth to earn his third save this season.

Although this was the final game of this weekend’s series against the Royals, the Brewers won’t get to go home yet. They’ll be in Boston tomorrow for the first of three games at Fenway Park. Brandon Woodruff will go for the visiting team, with Brayan Bello scheduled to start for the Red Sox. First pitch is slated for 5:45 p.m.