Cincinnati Reds fans who packed the stands for Tuesday night’s 7-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies were in for a surprise that delighted both their spirits and their taste buds – thanks to an ABS challenge.
This season, the Reds have teamed up with LaRosa’s Pizzeria for the popular "Strikeout for Slices" promotion. Whenever Reds pitchers combine for at least 11 strikeouts in a single game, every Reds fan in attendance scores a free pizza.
In the ninth inning, Reds reliever Brock Burke's pitch to Rockies batter Edouard Julien was initially called a ball, challenged and then overturned, the Reds’ 11th strikeout of the game. The stadium erupted in celebration, not just for the win, but for the cheesy reward awaiting every ticket holder.
The Reds have a promotion where fans win free pizza if the team gets 11 strikeouts in a game.
According to LaRosa’s Family Pizzeria, Reds fans in attendance the night of an 11-strikeout game can claim their prize the following day. By locating the unique 12-digit code on their ticket, either near the barcode or beneath the QR code, fans can enter it on the LaRosa’s website to instantly receive a coupon via email. The coupon is valid for a free small, one-topping pizza, which must be redeemed within seven days of the qualifying game.
Tuesday’s game marked the second time this season Reds fans have been treated to free pizza, with the first “Strikeout for Slices” giveaway coming after an 11-strikeout performance against the Detroit Tigers on April 26. As the season continues, fans will hope for more strikeout-filled nights and more slices to celebrate.
President of baseball operations Scott Harris has built the Detroit Tigers' top-heavy farm system around a few position player prospects. The group is headlined by American League Rookie of the Year favorite Kevin McGonigle, though he wasn't always the top-ranked prospect.
It used to be Clark.
While McGonigle is thriving with the Tigers, Clark – selected 34 picks before him in the 2023 draft, at No. 3 overall – has been continuing his development in Triple-A Toledo. He still seems projected for his MLB debut in 2026, but the Tigers aren't making any promises.
"We're not ready to bring him up right now," Harris said Tuesday, April 28, during an MLB Network interview with studio host Brian Kenny. "He's a really important part of our future. We took him first in my first draft, and then we took Kevin right behind him. Those remain two really important pieces for us moving forward."
"This group has learned through experience how to manage the highs and lows that our game has to offer."
Tigers President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris joins @MLBNetwork to talk McGonigle extension, ABS challenge philosophy and more. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Y9SS480WTg
Clark, a left-handed hitter, has a .305 batting average with one home run, 13 walks and 14 strikeouts in 24 games at the Triple-A level, registering an .834 OPS. He has logged all 198⅓ innings in center field, where he has called home for his entire career in the minor leagues.
He hit .377 with a 1.010 OPS in his first 17 games.
Since then?
He is hitting .115 with a .361 OPS in his past seven games.
"His ceiling is one that can put pressure on the opposing team in all phases of the game," Harris said. "He's certainly performing well offensively – that's a really big part. I think he's going to hit for more power as he gets more comfortable with his swing and his strike-zone decision-making.
"We also want to see him continue to develop the other areas of his game. He can be an elite center fielder. We're really focused on his jumps, his reads and getting off the ball quickly in center field. We also think he can put a lot of pressure on the opposing teams on the bases. We think there's more he can get there, and we're trying to stay focused on his leads, his fundamentals and his ability to read different types of pitchers and get a good jump."
Clark advanced from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie in July 2025.
In 2026, Clark has found success and failure upon joining Triple-A Toledo coming out of his first MLB spring training. He struggled in Grapefruit League play during camp, going 0-for-13 at the plate in his final eight games and making multiple defensive miscues in left and center field.
"We're focused on all those fundamentals and all phases of the game with Max," Harris said. "He's progressing really nicely, and we think he's going to really help us."
Max Clark crushes this ball for his first Triple-A homer. Left his bat at 108.4 MPH and went an estimated 414 feet. He’s 4-for-4 tonight, and Toledo leads 5-1. pic.twitter.com/Lv5FxpiQ0Z
"I think there's a really good chance that he ends up helping us, but it's premature to actually forecast when that's going to happen," Harris said. "We just want to keep him focused where his feet are – and that's in Toledo right now. We've got to keep getting better before we can have that conversation."
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Joseph Sullivan #19 of the Houston Astros bats during the sixth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (16-12) won 7-4 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the 4th inning on a 2 run HR from Winkler. They got another run in the 5th on an Unroe solo home run. Ullola got the start and was solid allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, over 5.1 innings of work. The pen allowed a run as the Aces tied it. The game would end up in extra innings and in the 10th, the Sugar Land offense scored 4 runs on a Winkler RBI single, Salazar 2 run double and Strahm sac fly. The Aces got one run back but that was it as Sugar Land held on for the 7-4 win.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (10-12) lost 10-8 (BOX SCORE)
Imai made a rehab start for the Hooks but struggled allowing 4 runs over 2 innings. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning scoring 3 runs on a Garcia sac fly and Dezenzo 2 run single. Frisco scored 2 more runs in the 3rd but the offense got 2 back in the bottom of the inning on a Sullivan solo HR and Encarnacion sac fly. In the 5th, Sullivan connected on another solo home run. The Hooks took the lead in the 6th inning on a Janek 2 run double. Nezuh pitched in relief and was dominant striking out 7 over 5.1 scoreless innings. Ramsey came on in the 9th but allowed 2 runs as Frisco tied it. In the 10th, Frisco picked up 2 runs and the Hooks offense was unable to comeback as they well 10-8.
Jackson Nezuh, RHP: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Ramsey David, RHP: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Derek True, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (5-17) lost 10-2 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the 3rd inning on a Nunez sac fly. They got another run in the 4th inning on an error. Rodriguez got the start and was solid allowing 2 runs over 4.2 innings while striking out 6. He was relieved by Cruz who struggled allowing 8 runs over 3.1 innings. The offense was quiet the rest of the way as Asheville fell 10-2.
Anthony Cruz, RHP: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 4 K
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (9-13) lost 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board early scoring 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a Monistere RBI single and Flores RBI single. Beck got the start and went 4 innings allowing 2 runs. Fayetteville took the lead in the 6th scoring a run on an error. Verdugo pitched in relief and tossed 5 no-hit innings, though he did allow one unearned run and walked 5. The game would go to extra innings and in the 10th, the RiverDogs walked it off as the Woodpeckers fell 4-3.
The New York Yankees are re-arranging their rotation after optioning the struggling Luis Gil, pushing Will Warren back to later in the week and calling up Elmer Rodríguez to make his MLB debut against the Texas Rangers this afternoon. Rodríguez is a consensus top 100 prospect in the league and a top-three prospect in the organization. After landing in New York during the 2024-25 offseason in an unheralded win/win trade with Yankees catching farmhand Carlos Narváez heading to the Red Sox, Rodríguez has done nothing but grow as a pitcher, improving his stuff and showing excellent control and command.
The 22-year-old right-hander has an incredible 1.27 ERA through four Triple-A starts this year, rightfully earning a promotion to the best and toughest league in the world. As you can expect, it will be a huge challenge, but Elmer has the tools to be a successful starter now and in the future.
In his 21.1 innings with Scranton this year, Rodríguez has seven walks, 20 strikeouts, and an excellent 56.3 percent groundball rate. Rodríguez has a deep repertoire consisting of six pitches: a four-seamer, a sinker, a slider that is often classified as a sweeper, a cutter, a curveball, and a changeup. He uses all of them to keep hitters off balance.
Rodríguez is not a huge, overpowering swing-and-miss guy, but he had a solid 29 percent strikeout rate last year when he posted a 2.58 ERA across three levels in 150 innings, and is at 25.6 percent this year in Triple-A. In his most recent outing in Scranton, his fastball sat in the 94-95 mph range, but it has been known to be a bit harder on occasion. The pitch has some bat-missing carry and armside run. A rival scout told Yankees insider Erik Boland that the pitch is “a legit 70 (on the 20-80 scouting scale) that he can locate to both sides.” It may not have triple-digit velocity, but its movement profile and Rodríguez’s command of the pitch give it a promising future. The slider has considerable horizontal and vertical movement and is one of his preferred pitches against right-handers.
He uses the sinker as a weapon to induce weak contact on the ground, and it usually works. Rodríguez is smart on the mound and knows how to use each pitch to achieve his objective. In that Triple-A start last week, Rodríguez tried to establish his fastball early, and by the end of the outing, he was prioritizing his breaking and offspeed stuff: the slider, the curveball, and the changeup. It worked, as he pitched 5.2 innings of one run ball, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out seven.
Those who watched the World Baseball Classic also saw Elmer dominate Cuba in pool play, pitching three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit on behalf of Team Puerto Rico. He did walk three, but fanned three to get the win.
The Yankees feel it’s the right time to bring Rodríguez up and let him show what he can do. According to Boland, New York “had Elmer Rodríguez slightly ahead of Carlos Lagrange in terms of closest to being big-league ready as a starter,” so he is the first one of the two getting a shot. Rodríguez can consistently repeat his delivery, which results in good control and command. He is also sneaky athletic and gets excellent extension towards the plate, increasing the effectiveness of his pitches. The overall package falls short of ace status, but if everything works out as expected, Rodríguez can be a solid mid-rotation arm for the Yankees for years to come. He represents yet another weapon for a rotation that has plenty of them.
TORONTO, ON - April 28 Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) gives a tip of his cap to the fans as he leaves the game in the 6th inning.The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 3-0 at the Rogers Centre in MLB baseball actionApril 28 2026 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
Tenacious pitching was the star of the show last night in Arlington, with a great deal of excellent defense from both sides, as well. Oh, and Lady Luck too. Plenty of plays come down to skill, but sometimes, fortune just has to favor you, too. To wit, Fernando Cruz could practice this throw all day long and still chuck into left field about half the time at the very least. I couldn’t believe that Ryan McMahon was actually able to make something from it. So factor his skill into the equation! Great win for the Bombers. Now, to see what young gun Elmer Rodríguez has to offer against Nathan Eovaldi in his MLB debut.
Here’s what else was going on among notable teams around the Junior Circuit.
Toronto Blue Jays (13-16) 3, Boston Red Sox (12-18) 0
The mini-three-game winning streak that actually began just before Alex Cora was fired has come to a close, and it was at the hands of one of the most anticipated pitchers of the season. Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage was one of the stories of their memorable 2025 World Series run, dominating the Yankees, Mariners, and Dodgers at different points that postseason despite having just three career starts to his name before October. So he’s actually still Rookie of the Year-eligible entering 2026, though he’ll have to overcome the obstacle of shoulder inflammation that put him on the shelf in the season’s first calendar month. (The incredible Kevin McGonigle will also be a massive hurdle until [if??] he slumps.)
The pressure is on Yesavage to not only look sharp but also get the pitching-ravaged Jays back on track amid a subpar beginning to 2026. He got off on the right foot on Wednesday, firing shutout ball at Rogers Centre, allowing four hits and striking out three, fanning Willson Contreras to end his night. Yesavage could no doubt have lasted longer than 5.1 innings, but the Jays cut his outing at 74 pitches since they’re still building him back up.
On the other side, fellow rookie Payton Tolle wasn’t as sharp as he was last time out against the Yankees. The Jays plated two in the third on a Kazuma Okamoto single that scored Andrés Giménez and the doubling Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The three hits that Tolle surrendered in that inning were the only ones he allowed, but his bad control burned him in the fifth. With two down, he walked Myles Straw and Ernie Clement on a combined 10 pitches, moving his free pass total to four on the night.
Interim skipper Chad Tracy gave Tolle the hook with Guerrero due up. Zack Kelly offered no relief, as Guerrero singled in an insurance run. Boston failed to muster a hit against the Toronto bullpen, which saw Jeff Hoffman throw an encouraging perfect seventh and Louie Varland tighten his newly-found grasp on the closer’s job by striking out Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Trevor Story in order in the ninth.
Tampa Bay Rays (18-11) 1, Cleveland Guardians (15-16) 0: The other notable debut from Wednesday was the first career game for top Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 pick of the 2024 MLB Draft. He went hitless with a pair of walks, but his Cleveland teammates only mustered four knocks combined against a tough Nick Martinez and Tampa Bay bullpen. Martinez kept them off the board to lower his season ERA to a surprising 1.70, and though Tanner Bibee was only burned by an RBI single from Jonathan Aranda, that was enough to beat the punchless Guardians. The Rays quietly have the second-best record in the American League behind the Yankees.
Baltimore Orioles (14-15) 5, Houston Astros (11-19) 3: Taiwanese righty Kai-Wei Teng’s first start for the Astros had an inauspicious beginning, as Gunnar Henderson and Samuel Basallo both doubled in a two-run first for Baltimore. Houston got one back on a solo shot from Brice Matthews, but Pete Alonso countered with a two-run blast off Ryan Weiss and Adley Rutschman added insurance later with his second RBI single of the ballgame. Shane Baz threw 5.1 innings of one-run ball for the win and Ryan Helsley was perfect in the ninth.
Detroit Tigers (15-15) 2, Atlanta Braves (21-9) 5: The Braves continued their torrid start to 2026, gradually jumping out to a 5-0 lead against Detroit on the strength of a Ronald Acuña Jr. run-scoring double, an RBI knock from Mike Yastrzemski, and a two-run homer by Ozzie Albies against Tyler Holton. Veteran Martín Pérez’s inexplicably good run continued with five innings of zeroes before giving way to the Atlanta bullpen. The Tigers’ only damage was a two-run dinger in the ninth by Wenceel Pérez. Aaron Bummer recovered to get the final two outs to secure the victory.
Seattle Mariners (15-16) 7, Minnesota Twins (13-17) 1: The magic pixie dust from Minnesota’s unexpected 11-7 start has just about worn off, as they lost their 10th game in their last 12. Byron Buxton’s fifth-inning solo shot off Logan Gilbert was their only scoring, and after five scoreless innings, ace Joe Ryan faltered late on RBI singles from Josh Naylor and Cole Young. Naylor removed any doubt from the outcome of this matchup with a three-run blast in the eighth, and the M’s cruised.
Apr 28, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) takes a moment before taking the mound in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Diamondbacks News
Kelly, Hoffman Swatted by Brewers While Vargas Keeps Streak Alive While it is still too early to panic about Merrill Kelly, the veteran righty is looking more and more like the pitcher the Rangers acquired at the deadline last year and less and less like Merrill the Mainstay that the Diamondbacks hoped they were signing this last winter. Andrew Hoffman allowing eight runs while only recording one out in relief was more than Arizona could survive.
Brewers Pound Arizona Pitching Lopsided losses like the one last night are why the Diamondbacks have such a negative run differential despite their winning record.
Revisiting the Blaze Alexander Trade After Andrew Hoffman was slapped around last night, there is a very strong chance that the return from the Blaze Alexander trade, Kade Strowd, will be getting a call-up today or tomorrow.
Other MLB News
Phillies Fire Rob Thomson After losing 11 of 12, the Phillies’ front office parted ways with Manager Rob Thomson. They then attempted to hire Alex Cora before being rebuffed and settling for Don MAttingly.
It’s Getting Late Early for the Mets Twenty-nine games in, the team from Queens is tied with division rival Philadelphia for the worst record in all of baseball and sit 10.5 games out of first
Cristopher Sanchez has pitched extremely well out of the gate, allowing more than two runs only once through six starts.
My Giants vs. Phillies predictions expect him to lead the home team to victory against a struggling San Francisco offense.
Let’s take a closer look at my MLB picks on Wednesday, April 29.
Who will win Giants vs Phillies today: Phillies moneyline (-150)
The Philadelphia Phillies have not had a strong offensive season, but they’ve quietly been potent at home, at least against right-handed pitching. They sit sixth in SLG, ninth in OPS, and 10th in wOBA vs. righties.
That could be trouble for San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb, who has allowed at least three earned runs in five of six starts and has yet to find his footing.
The lone exception came against the Mets, who rank in the Bottom 3 in runs, SLG, and OPS.
Philadelphia is in a good spot to produce, and with Cristopher Sanchez on the mound, it won't take much to get a win.
COVERS INTEL: The Phillies trail only the Dodgers, Braves, and Rangers in hard-hit rate against righties at home.
Giants vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 7 (-105)
Sanchez has allowed two runs or fewer in five of six starts, including against the Giants in early April.
He has been flat-out dominant at home, allowing two or fewer in 18 consecutive starts. The last time he allowed more than a couple of runs at home was April 6 of 2025, against the powerhouse Dodgers.
He is well-positioned to neuter a Giants offense that ranks dead last in runs, homers, and stolen bases.
While the Phillies should have some success against Webb, the Giants have a strong bullpen that can help limit the damage and keep this game relatively low-scoring.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 7-3, +3.18 units
Over/Under bets: 3-7, -4.72 units
Giants vs Phillies odds
Moneyline: Giants +120 | Phillies -140
Run line: Giants +1.5 (-175) | Phillies -1.5 (+150)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-110) | Under 7 (-110)
Giants vs Phillies trend
The Giants have only hit the Team Total Over in 7 of their last 22 away games (-10.50 Units / -41% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Phillies.
How to watch Giants vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-Bay Area, NBCS-Philadelphia
Giants starting pitcher
Logan Webb (2-3, 4.86 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
Cristopher Sanchez (2-2, 2.94 ERA)
Giants vs Phillies latest injuries
Giants vs Phillies weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers meet this afternoon in a matchup that couldn't be more different on the mound, with a 36-year-old veteran on one side and a 22-year-old making his major-league debut on the other.
The Yankees have won nine of their last ten games, and my Yankees vs. Rangers predictions don't expect them to slow down here.
Read all about it in my MLB picks for Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
Who will win Yankees vs Rangers today: Yankees moneyline (-113)
Yes, the New York Yankees will give the ball to Elmer Rodriguez, making his MLB debut on the road.
Yes, he’ll be facing a pitcher who has been around the block a time or two. But it still isn’t enough to nullify the issues facing Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, or the Yankees' bats.
It's the same story that has made the Yankees look more like actual contenders rather than paper tigers: They have the lowest chase rate in the sport at just under 26%.
That likely means Eovaldi is forced to come off his split and throw more fastball stuff. And just as has been the case for the last five years or so, New York is one of the better fastball-hitting teams in the sport, ranking within the Top 3 in barrel and hard-hit rates.
Rodriguez's debut introduces a ton of volatility, but he’s a legitimate prospect who will do enough against a struggling Rangers offense.
COVERS INTEL: If the season ended today, Eovaldi would finish with the highest hard-hit rate of his career at 49%.
Yankees vs Rangers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)
Two factors push this toward the Over.
Eovaldi's contact profile is one of the worst in baseball right now, at least for a starting pitcher. His hard-hit rate ranks in the Bottom 20%, and his average exit velocity ranks in the Bottom 30%.
Against a disciplined Yankees lineup, he will have a tough afternoon once they get into counts and force him to attack the zone.
On the other side, Rodriguez is making his major-league debut. That’s the analysis. I like his outlook, and this isn’t the worst team to face right now either, but the fastball-heavy stuff makes him very vulnerable to the long ball.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 11-8, +2.67 units
Over/Under bets: 12-8, +3.8 units
Yankees vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Yankees -120 | Rangers +100
Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+139) | Rangers +1.5 (-168)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-115) | Under 8.5 (-105)
Yankees vs Rangers trend
The New York Yankees have covered the Run Line in 26 of their last 40 away games (+15.35 Units / 35% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Rangers.
How to watch Yankees vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
First pitch
2:35 p.m. ET
TV
YES, RSN
Yankees starting pitcher
Elmer Rodriguez (Triple-A: 1-2, 1.27 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Nathan Eovaldi (2-4, 5.79 ERA)
Yankees vs Rangers latest injuries
Yankees vs Rangers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Apr 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Randal Grichuk (34) reacts after striking out against the Athletics during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
The Yankees were set for a bit of a roster crunch this week, one that had fans wondering exactly how the club would piece together the puzzle. Well, we have part of the answer now, as this morning the Yankees announced that they had designated outfielder Randal Grichuk for assignment to clear a spot on the active roster for Elmer Rodríguez.
Grichuk signed a minor league deal this offseason with the hope that he’d give Aaron Boone another right-handed option off the bench against left-handed pitchers. The idea was fine enough in theory, but Grichuk hasn’t quite gotten there in practice, slashing .194/.212/.323 this year in limited playing time. Grichuk did make solid contact during his time with the Yankees, posting exit velocity and hard hit rates better than league average, but he also showed ugly plate discipline and was never much of a fielder. His case for remaining on the roster long term was thin unless he provided real thump at the plate.
The 34-year-old will now hit waivers, and if he clears he’ll have the option to elect free agency. For the Yankees, they’ll still have roster decisions later this week to work out, as a corresponding move will be needed once Anthony Volpe is activated (infielder Max Schuemann figures to get a ticket back to Triple-A). But for now, with this bit of roster business sorted out, we can fully turn our attention to today’s main event: Rodríguez’s major league debut this afternoon in Texas.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: A detail of a Wilson glove and Los Angeles Dodgers hat in the dugout during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on April 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was an incredibly satisfying day for the Dodgers minor league affiliates, going four for four with wins of every kind, from dramatic close affairs, as in the one-run victory in Ontario, to a complete blowout with a 10-run lead in Tulsa.
Player of the day
Blake Snell’s rehab outing was the headline of a matchup between the Tower Buzzers and the Storm, but for as important as he was in a 4-3 win for Ontario, none of it would have happened without the heroic efforts of outfielder Ching-Hsien Ko.
The Tower Buzzers first got on the board in the third inning, when Ko hit an RBI double into center field. Trailing 3-2 in the ninth, the home side needed to pull something out of the hat, and they did so in the form of a Ko solo shot, his third of the year in what has been quite a productive campaign. Ontario would go on to win that game in the 10th on a balk, and they ended the game with only a pair of extra-base hits, both coming from Ko.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
A scoring outburst in the opening frame, headlined by a couple of home runs from Ryan Ward and Jack Suwinski, was sufficient for the Comets to secure their 13th win of the season by a score of 7-3. It was a game that could be split into two uneven parts, as nine of the 10 total runs were scored in the first two innings. Gervasse, McDermott, and Rosario combined to throw four scoreless innings for the Comets’ bullpen, allowing just one hit.
Although he didn’t get an RBI, James Tibbs III—to the surprise of absolutely no one—was the Comets’ most productive hitter in the game, finishing it 3 for 4 and as the only hitter to score a run multiple times.
Double-A Tulsa
You get a home run, he gets a home run, everyone gets a home run. That’s what it felt like as six different Driller hitters combined to hit seven long balls in a 17-7 win. The source of the two-homer game was the most unlikely one, in the form of ninth-hole hitter Chris Newell. Zyhir Hope, Josue De Paula, Zack Gelof, Griffin Lockwood-Powell, and Joe Vetrano all went yard once.
Home run derby? Nah… just today’s game 😏
Your Tulsa Drillers hit 7 home runs including a grand slam during today's game! pic.twitter.com/2WhwmZm9vA
Pitching-wise, Adam Serwinowski had a particularly troublesome start, which kept this game relatively close until a seven-run outburst for the Drillers in the eighth. Unlike the Missions, who saw each of their relievers struggle, the Drillers leaned into Myles Caba’s outstanding work. The southpaw even earned the win by striking out five of the seven batters he faced in two scoreless frames.
High-A Great Lakes
In a similar fashion to the blowout win of the Drillers, the Loons took part in a high-scoring game with both starters struggling heavily, but their bullpen was able to stabilize things, whereas their opponent never got into a rhythm. Delivering 5.2 scoreless innings in relief, Cody Morse and Jakob Wright contained a Chiefs offense that had scored a run in four out of the first five frames.
Offensively, the Loons didn’t deliver the home run derby we saw with the Drillers—Logan Wagner was responsible for the team’s only home run in the game—but 18 hits are likely to bring damage in any form they come; Nico Perez and catcher Jesus Galiz were the two that reached base at least four times, with everybody but DH Eduardo Guerrero getting at least one hit.
Class-A Ontario
If you want to read more about it, here is a breakdown of Blake Snell’s second rehab outing in his journey towards a 2026 MLB debut.
The 4-3 win had some quality pitching from both sides behind it, but each offense has plenty of reasons to lament not achieving a better output, as they combined to go 2 for 29 with runners in scoring position. Ko was not only responsible for the Tower Buzzers’ two sole extra-base hits, but he was also the only hitter in the game with multiple hits. It’s no surprise that this game would end in such a unique way, with a walk-off balk for the Tower Buzzers in the 10th.
Because Snell only covered three innings, Ontario needed some length out of its bullpen, and that came in the form of four scoreless from Hyun-Seok Jang, who earned five of the game’s absurd 30 strikeouts, combining both squads.
Transactions
The Oklahoma City Comets placed right-hander Ryder Ryan on the 7-day IL. Another right-handed pitcher, Dave Bautista, was assigned to the DSL.
Tuesday’s scores
Round Rock 3, Oklahoma City 7
Tulsa 17, San Antonio 7
Great Lakes 11, Peoria 4
Ontario 4, Lake Elsinore 3
Wednesday’s schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Tulsa (Evan Shaw) vs. San Antonio (Victor Lizarraga)
3:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Sean Patick) vs.Peoria (Blake Alta)
4:45 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Logan Allen) at Round Rock (TBD)
5:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) VS. Lake Elsinore (TBD)
Apr 27, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young (2) hits a RBI fly ball against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Hello folks and happy Wednesday!
The Mariners bats came alive yesterday as the team feasted on the Twins’ bullpen to the tune of a 7-1 victory. In particular, it was a great game from second baseman Cole Young, who is beginning to round into form offensively with a .278/.352/.407 slash line heading into today’s action.
How have your expectations for Young evolved over the course of the season? Just how far do you think he can go?
— The Late Innings Show (@LateInningsShow) April 28, 2026
Meanwhile, Jeff Passan had Cal Raliegh on his podcast to discuss the origin of the Big Dumper nickname, coaches calling pitches from the dugout, and more.
There are layers to Rob Refsnyder’s go-ahead home run against the Cardinals.
#Mariners bullpen catcher Justin Novak performed a Japanese salt ritual for Rob Refsnyder, intended to "keep things light" for the scuffling outfielder.
Two days later – Novak caught Refsnyder's go-ahead home run in the visiting bullpen.
We had another April managerial change yesterday, with the Phillies canning skipper Rob Thomson. Don Mattingly, the father of Phillies GM Preston Mattingly, will take over in his place. Alex Cora was reportedly offered the Philadelphia gig but turned it down so he could spend time with his family.
Mets starter Kodai Senga, who has been struggling this season, was placed on the injured list with lumbar spinal inflammation.
Florida St. infielder Alex Lodise (1) reacts to his double at second base during the first inning of an NCAA college baseball matchup Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at VyStar Ballpark in Jacksonville, Fla. FSU rallied to defeat UF 8-4 off a walk-off grand slam from Alex Lodise in the ninth inning. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Alex Lodise was off to an underwhelming start in Augusta with high strikeouts and not nearly as much power production as we had hoped, but the first game of the week was a chance for him to break out as he went deep twice as part of Augusta’s 12-run, five home run performance. Luis Guanipa also added to the tally with a tank in the game, and Augusta gave the system most of the cheering potential on Tuesday. That said, Isaiah Drake and John Gil can by no means be discounted as both had good games in Rome to continue their streaks of solid play.
(18-10) Gwinnett Stripers 10, (13-15) Charlotte Knights 7
Jim Jarvis, SS: 3-5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, .343/.464/.510
Sean Murphy, C: 1-4, 2B, BB, .222/.300/.333
Nacho Alvarez, Jr., 3B: 1-5, 2B, .197/.276/.236
Javy Guerra, SP: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0.71 ERA
Daysbel Hernandez, RP: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 5.79 ERA
It was a slow week for Jim Jarvis at the plate against Jacksonville, but he immediately got back on track in the series opener in Charlotte and led a scoring outburst from the Stripers. Jarvis clubbed a two-run home run in the third inning to put Gwinnett on top in the game, and they never relinquished that lead. Jarvis’s home run was his fourth of the season, bringing him already within one of his career high through just 27 games, and his contributions were far from over. He added an RBI single in the sixth inning as part of Gwinnett’s six run frame which carried them in the runs column for the whole game, and capped off his evening with an eighth inning double. That sixth inning also featured a big appearance from Sean Murphy, who kept a soft liner fair down the left field line for an RBI double. Murphy has certainly not been his best during his rehab stint in the system, but tonight was a good step for him. In addition to it being his second straight game with a hit he also caught all nine innings and went 4-4 on ABS challenges behind the dish.
With the depleted starting staff the Stripers turned to a committee approach to pitching this game, and almost ran into a wall in the late innings after a strong start to the game. Javy Guerra and Anderson Pilar have been incredible for the Stripers on the mound this season so it’s no surprise that both were on their A game in this one, combining to go five innings with only one run allowed while the offense opened up a 9-1 lead. The Stripers turned it over to Daysbel Hernandez in the sixth inning, who managed to pitch a scoreless inning though it’s clear he is not yet at the top of his game. His fastball velocity is starting to work back towards normal, sitting at 96.5 mph in this game, but he still doesn’t have the same juice he did last season. The positive note was just how well he was landing his slider in this game. He had a few very bad misses, but what for the most part he was throwing both his pitches in solid locations and didn’t make significant mistakes in the inning he threw. The game was plodding along nicely until the seventh inning when Austin Pope had a blowup outing, allowing a walk, five hits, and four runs before being pulled after retiring only one hitter. Charlotte drew even closer with a run off of James Karinchak in the eighth inning and a home run off of Ian Hamilton in the ninth, and following that long ball Hamilton got into a dangerous situation with two outs. He allowed a hard single to old friend Jarred Kelenic, then a bloop hit to bring the tying run up, a hitter whom he walked to load the bases. With his back against the wall Hamilton locked in at the right time, getting three swinging strikes on his slider to retire the final hitter.
Cam Caminiti, SP: 5 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 5.63 ERA
We like to see good games from Isaiah Drake and John Gil, and those two helped lift an underwhelming evening for Rome who didn’t really get any offense going until the game was mostly wrapped. Drake had a solid hit in the first inning that got snagged for an out, but he wasn’t done in the game and had a couple of other hits. His double in the eighth inning down the left field line kicked off the big inning for Rome, leading to three runs to make the final score look a little more respectable for them. Drake would end up scoring on an odd play, when Cody Miller beat out a tapper down the first base line that the pitcher apparently missed the tag, though he would argue otherwise. On that play John Gil, who earlier walked, was able to come all the way in to score from second base, capping another solid performance from him to further boost his numbers. Gil’s lone hit in the game came in the fourth inning when he hit a screaming liner over shortstop for a single. Then, with just a bobble from the left fielder Gil had enough time to advance to second base, showing again what an impact his speed can make on the bases. After a perfect week at the plate Eric Hartman’s hitting streak came to a quiet close with an 0-4 performance. He had a decently well-hit ball in the fourth inning on a fly out that advanced, but otherwise had a non-impactful game for the first time in awhile.
Looking at the seven hits and runs allowed it would be easy to write this off as a poor day on the mound for Cam Caminiti, but that wouldn’t feel like an entirely fair evaluation of his performance. Early on in this outing Caminiti worked quickly and efficienty, almost never falling behind in the count and forcing a combination of weak contact and swing and misses that had him through three easy innings. An error helped bring home a run and he did allow a double on a slider below the zone that the hitter scooped into left field, but all in all he looked solid even if his slider wasn’t at its best all the time. As the game progressed he started to settle in to slinging those sliders across the zone to lefty hitters, but in the fourth inning he just started bleeding singles. It was rarely poor locations or hard hits that did him in, but a series of soft singles that led to two runs to further the hole in the game for Rome. A bunt single and a roller through the right side of the infield accounted for the two hits and runs in the next inning, but he finished off the frame with his best fastball of the game. He went up above the zone for a whiff to strike out a hitter to end the inning, one of his strikeouts in the game. His worst pitch was probably the 0-2 fastball down the middle that got smacked for a single to lead off the sixth and he was pulled after walking the next hitter, but overall Caminiti’s execution in this game far outpaced his actual performance. Certainly there could have been occasions he made slightly better pitches with his slider to get whiffs late in counts, but he pitches significantly better than the line would indicate and I wouldn’t in any way put it in the same category as the struggles he had last week.
Swing and Misses
Cam Caminiti – 13
Trent Buchanan – 6
(13-9) Augusta GreenJackets 12, (6-16) Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 4
Luis Guanipa, CF: 2-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, .329/.352/.557
Logan Forsythe, SP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 2.70 ERA
Aivan Cabral, RP: 4 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 3.50 ERA
April has felt like a slow wait to see when Alex Lodise would break out. The strikeout rates have been a bit concerning, but his contact quality has been there since the beginning and with three multi-hit performances last week it felt like only a matter of time before he would have a big day at the plate. That day came in the opener of the series against Kannapolis. The GreenJackets routed the Cannon Ballers thanks to five home runs in the game, and two of those came off of the bat of Lodise as he drove in five runs. Interestingly the GreenJackets didn’t do a whole lot the first time through the order against Kannapolis starter Truman Pauley, and trailed 2-0 going into the fifth inning, but Cooper McMurray woke up a sleeping giant by crushing a game-tying home run in the bottom of the fifth. A few batters late and Lodise got his first. He unloaded on one to left field for a two-run home run, and after the fifth inning Augusta held on to a 5-2 lead. That lead grew in the next inning, and Luis Guanipa had a big hand in that four run frame. He got to look at a slow breaking ball on the inning corner of the plate and had all day to get his quick hands around on the pitch, and he absolutely launched the pitch off of the apartment buildings in left field. Guanipa had a great game in his own right, starting out in the first inning with a deep fly ball that bounced off of the center field wall and allowed Guanipa to streak in to third base with a triple. Guanipa also drew a walk in the fifth inning, a hugely welcome sign for him, and in his final at bat hit a ball hard into the gap that the left fielder was positioned perfectly on to track down for a line out. Lodise added on by showing off his power with a no doubter the opposite way in the eighth inning, and two batters later Nick Montgomery got in on the action with a long home run of his own.
It took a bit of time for the pitching staff to get their bearing after the long rain delay, and Logan Forsythe was the victim of that. Forsythe’s command issues finally came around to hurt him after a decent start to the season as he walked three hitters in 1 2/3 inning and seemed to really have no idea where anything was going. He had to give way to Carter Lovasz early in the game, and Lovasz thankfully was able to settle it down quickly. He dominated with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, striking out three batters. Aivan Cabral had the job of providing long relief for Augusta, and while he was just okay it was plenty for Augusta after they scored nine runs in two innings. Cabral allowed a ton of contact on his sinker and it turned into seven hits over four innings of work, but with such a solid defense behind him they were able to keep him from really getting into serious trouble. The most impressive looking of Augusta’s pitchers was Styven Paez, though his command is obviously a major problem at this stage. The Braves can hope that Paez is a late bloomer who can grow into some command, as his upper 80’s sweeper has legit major league potential and pairs well with a fastball that can really get up on hitters thanks to Paez’s low release and solid carry. It’s sort of a dime-a-dozen relief profile in the minor leagues at this point, and given the effort in Paez’s delivery it’s hard to project his command coming along too well, but it’s never a bad thing to have a few cheap guys in the system with some middle relief potential.
Apr 17, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics center fielder Denzel Clarke (1) attempts to catch the ball during the first inning of the game against the Chicago White Sox at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Happy Wednesday A’s fans!
This week is the Athletics second weeklong home stand of the season. Tonight, the team will play its second of three games against the Kansas City Royals. This weekend, Stephen Vogt’s Cleveland Guardians come to California’s capital for a three-game series. The A’s need to do better this week after dropping two out of three to the Chicago White Sox to conclude their most recent stretch of games at Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park.
Through the first full month of the season, the team has performed better on the road, playing in and winning more games against several quality opponents. If Mark Kotsay’s squad wants to make it through May competing with the Seattle Mariners and/or Texas Rangers for first place, then the Athletics must improve their level of play at home.
After getting through the first couple weeks of the season relatively injury-free, the A’s are starting to see injuries pile up among their position players. Just as the team got designated hitter Brent Rooker back from a 14-game absence with an oblique strain, they placed starting center fielder Denzel Clarke on the injured list with a bone bruise in his foot. As long as Clarke continues to suffer injuries that force him to miss time, he will not get the copious amount of plate appearances he needs to improve his offensive ability, which at the moment is way behind his prowess on the grass.
In Rooker’s absence, Carlos Cortes stepped up in a huge way. He is fresh off winning the American League Player of the Week Award, a well-deserved first career award for the late-blooming outfielder. This past week, Cortes hit .542 (13-for-24) with three homers, seven RBI, two doubles, a triple, four runs scored, a 1.083 slugging percentage and a .542 on-base percentage across six games.
Yesterday, third baseman Max Muncy joined Clarke on the injured list. He had been playing through a fractured finger which happened when he was hit on the hand by a pitch in a game two weeks ago. During last night’s game, left fielder Tyler Soderstrom hurt himself attempting to make a diving catch. Cortes replaced him and proceeded to get on base in all three of his at-bats. Hopefully it was just a precautionary removal as the team cannot afford to lose Soderstrom for an extended period of time.
Luckily, the Athletics’ pitching staff has mostly stayed healthy so far. On Sunday, they survived a scare involving J.T. Ginn, whose start ended abruptly due to right arm soreness. However, he is healthy, has no injury designation and is likely to make his next start. Given the A’s limited pitching depth, the team can ill afford too many injuries to pitchers if they want to take the next step and compete for the playoffs or at the very least finish the season with a winning record.
Last May, the Athletics franchise-worst 1-20 stretch put to rest any hopes they had of competing for the playoffs. What are you hoping to see from the team as May approaches? Can the bullpen keep up its strong performance or will it doom the team for a second-straight May?
The injury-bug continues to bite right-handed pitching prospect Braden Nett, who the A’s acquired along with De Vries and two other players in exchange for closer Mason Miller last July.
Unfortunately, RHP Braden Nett has landed back on the IL after making just one appearance for Triple-A Las Vegas… https://t.co/QPkzlSSc1D
— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) April 28, 2026
Max Muncy’s recent offensive slump was likely connected to the injury he had been playing through. Why did it take the A’s this long to diagnose and take action?
Max Muncy’s finger injury stems from when he was hit by a pitch on April 13 against the Rangers. Tried to play through discomfort until an MRI yesterday revealed the non-displaced fracture. He’ll be shut down from baseball activities for the time being.
The A’s may not be the only team bound for Las Vegas in the near future. In addition to a potential new NBA team, MLS is talking about possibly relocating the Vancouver Whitecaps from Canada to Southern Nevada. Does the city have the capacity to support all these professional sports franchises?
BREAKING NEWS: A special committee of MLS owners met earlier this month to discuss and evaluate the future of the Vancouver Whitecaps, including the possibility of relocation, sources briefed on the conversations told @PaulTenorio and @tombogert. pic.twitter.com/uifzYodGL7
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Hitting Coach Peter Fatse #62 of the Boston Red Sox carries a speaker during a spring training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 16, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I tried to be patient. I really did. It’s late April, and I know better than to overreact to a month of baseball from a team that was 43-45 last June before going on a tear. But there is a point where patience crosses the line into insanity, and Red Sox fans crossed it.
The Red Sox were 10-17 when the coaching staff got the ax. Last place in the AL East. They got swept at Fenway by the Yankees—THE YANKEES—and then went to Baltimore and got slaughtered 10-3 on Friday night. Seven losses in their last eight games. In a season that was supposed to be a real run at the division.
The underlying numbers were just as bad as the eye-test results. Boston was hitting .226/.310/.333 as a team. Their slugging percentage is 30th in baseball. Dead last. Their OPS ranked 24th. They’d hit 13 home runs through 26 games—also last in the majors and they’d scored just 90 runs all season, 26th ranked. Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu had combined for nearly half the team’s home runs just by themselves.
This was not a slump after a month of baseball. This was a structural failure, and you have to look somewhere to shake things up. That somewhere ended up being, well, just about everyone. But it certainly needed to be Pete Fatse.
The numbers tell you what’s wrong, but watching the games tells you why.
The Red Sox were swinging at 62% of pitches in the strike zone. League average is 66%. That lack of aggression and eye compounded across every at-bat: falling behind in counts, handing pitchers the advantage before a ball is even put in play. On middle-middle pitches—your bog-standard meatballs—they were swinging just 61% of the time. League average on those pitches is 73%. Did this team just lose their eye let alone their confidence? Dead last in baseball in swinging at the most hittable pitches a pitcher can throw. Embarrassing.
Fatse went in front of reporters after a loss to the Cardinals two weeks ago and said the team needed to be more “convicted” before two strikes. Look, in theory that’s the right thing to want. But when your hitters are barely lifting the bat for the easiest pitches at the lowest rate in the league, “convicted” stops sounding like a coaching philosophy and starts sounding like a vague wish you whisper into the void. You can say it all you want. The results keep screaming back.
It didn’t stop with zone aggression. The Sox weren’t stealing bases—13 steals in 17 attempts through 26 games. They hit too many grounders, produced too few pulled fly balls, and generated almost no power from anyone outside of two hitters. This offense wasn’t just cold—it was in the Antarctic. The lack of confidence in themselves was beyond apparent.
The context surrounding this team kept getting worse. Sonny Gray—someone this team was relying on to be an innings eater—is on the IL with a hamstring strain. Roman Anthony—who hasn’t looked like himself and that’s frankly scary—has been in and out with a sore back. Payton Tolle got called up to eat Gray’s rotation spot, pitched an 11-strikeout GEM against the Yankees on Thursday, and the offense still could only scratch two runs across. Blowing that masterclass from Tolle is beyond reprehensible.
It’s not a pitching problem, though there are problems there too. The onus falls on a true lack of offensive identity. This lineup doesn’t know what it is or how it’s supposed to score.
The frustrating part is that the roster was never built to bash its way out of trouble. There’s no David Ortiz in there. No Mookie. Alex Bregman walked in free agency and wasn’t replaced with anyone who could fill that role. Trevor Story and Caleb Durbin both rank in the bottom three among all qualified MLB hitters in wRC+. Those are your 3-5 hitters on most days.
For a team constructed the way this one was—contact-oriented, built around traffic and pitch counts and manufacturing runs—EVERYTHING depends on staying aggressive in the zone, working counts, and doing damage when pitchers leave pitches over the middle. They continually play against an identity that’s embedded in the inherent construction of this roster.
Fatse had been here four+ years and frankly, it wasn’t not the first time we’d called for his head. He had beyond ample time to shape an approach. The results of his approach were abysmal in 2026.
Firing Fatse and co. doesn’t fix everything. It won’t turn Story into a .310 hitter or conjure a cleanup bat that Breslow didn’t acquire this winter. The roster still has real limitations, and those deserve their own conversation. But Fatse and the coaching staff represented the most actionable move available, and doing so at least signaled that the organization understood this was deeper than a bad April—that the approach being coached was part of the problem, not just a byproduct of a cold stretch.
American baseball player Bob Knepper, a pitcher for the Houston Astros, pictured during training, April 21st 1981. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Our 9th installment of the Legends Series features two-time All-Star Pitcher Bob Knepper. Knepper started 413 games throughout his major league career, spending several seasons as a reliable member of the Astros pitching rotation.
Q: The Dodgers will be coming to town here early next month. You had some amazing battles against L.A. in your day. Were they the biggest team to beat in the old N.L. West?
A: I started battling those guys even before I got to Houston. In 1978, I was facing them as a member of the Giants at Candlestick Park, so I already had that ingrained in me. The Dodgers were always the team to beat.
Q: You started 38 games in 1986. How special was that group?
A: We had a bunch of great guys, some amazing personalities, and a lot of the guys were having career years. Hal Lanier did a great job managing our club that year and it was a lot of fun.
Q: You made two All-Star appearances. Which was more special, 1981 or 1988?
A: I don’t know if one was more special than the other. You know in 1986, I thought Art Howe should’ve made the team, he was putting up some impressive numbers that season. Those appearances were a real privilege and honor. It’s a fun event.
Q: When you pitched, pitch counts weren’t a big thing. Could you do what you did in today’s game?
A: It’s certainly different. The entire culture of baseball has changed.
When I played, there was an expectation that you could go 9 innings. It’s a different world now.
Look at even the high school ranks, kids are playing baseball year-round. I honestly believe you only have so many pitches in your arm, why would you waste them in high school?
I think pitchers are being overworked early on in their careers, and the philosophy has just changed so much.
Q: How much did you want the challenge of taking the ball in the 9th inning?
A: I always enjoyed pitching in the 9th inning. I enjoyed facing adversity when I’d be a little tired or worn out and my stuff wasn’t as sharp. I’d take on that challenge head on because that’s what I was paid to do.
Q: Toughest hitters you ever faced?
A: You know, I’m not sure I ever struck out Pete Rose, and trust me, I tried. There were so many guys. Tony Gwynn and Mike Schmidt, Andre Dawson, they were all great hitters. Even when Jack Clark came back to the National League, it was such an enjoyable thing to try and strike him out. Dale Murphy was also a real challenge and when you recorded an out against that caliber of players, it warranted a fist pump.
COVERS INTEL: The Phillies trail only the Dodgers, Braves, and Rangers in hard-hit rate against righties at home.
