Orioles minor league recap 6/29: Tides split doubleheader, Delmarva’s offense explodes

SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Enrique Bradfield Jr. #99 of the Baltimore Orioles bunts during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Triple-A: Durham Bulls 7, Norfolk Tides 0 (F/7)

Norfolk’s Nestor German allowed four runs in the game’s first two innings, and since the Orioles got one-hit by three Durham pitchers, this added up to a loss. Cameron Weston allowed three runs in 1.2 innings of work, and José Espada pitched 1.1 scoreless. The only Tides hit: a Ryan Noda double.

Box Score

Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 2, Durham Bulls (TBR) 1 (F/7)

Runs were scarce in the bottom half of the doubleheader, but the Tides came out on top. In the first inning, Enrique Bradfield singled, stole second, and took third on a bad throw by the Bulls’ catcher. Call it an EBJ triple. A sac fly brought him home. Bradfield also doubled later in the game, but Heston Kjerstad lined into an unlucky double play, so there’d be no run. The Tides did scratch across a second run in the sixth inning, through as Bryan Ramos singled, EBJ bunted him over, and Kjerstad singled him home.

Four Tides pitchers combined to shutout Durham until the final frame: Yaqui Rivera (2.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB), Dietrich Enns (W, 2.1 IP, 0 H, 3 K) and Nick Raquet (1 IP, 0 H, 1 K).

Box Score

Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox vs. Harrisburg Senators (WSH) – PPD (rain)

Lots of rain this weekend. The Baysox’s Sunday scheduled game will be made on a date TBD.

High-A: Wilmington Blue Rocks (WAS) 4, Frederick Keys 2

The Keys dropped the series finale on Sunday as a tie game in the seventh became a 4-2 loss courtesy of a bases-loaded walk and an RBI groundout off Frederick’s Tyson Neighbors.

Wilmington had struck first with a two-RBI single in the first inning off Carson Dorsey, but the Keys cut the deficit in half at 2-1 off an RBI from Leandro Arias in the third, then tied it in the top of the seventh on Yamil Bucce’s fourth homer of the season. Ike Irish doubled, and Wehiwa Aloy finished 2-for-3 with a walk.

Box Score

Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 11, Fayetteville Woodpeckers (HOU) 4

This was a 0-0 game into the fourth and then the Shorebirds exploded for a five-run inning. Three home runs—by Braylon Whitaker, DJ Layton, and Joshua Liranzo—helped. They added two more in the fifth when Miguel Rodriguez hit a two-run single. Then they rallied for four more runs in the seventh on a parade of singles: four in that inning alone, plus two steals.

Whatever this was, it wasn’t a banner day for Fayetteville pitching. Every Shorebird had a hit or more on a day they racked up 15. Whitaker finished 1-for-3 with that homer and a pair of walks. Stiven Martinez went 3-for-5 with three runs scored. DJ Layton had two hits, including a homer, plus two walks.

The pitching barely mattered, but starter Stephen Still, a May free agent signing, pitched five one-run innings with eight strikeouts. Michael Caldon allowed Fayetteville to get closer, with a three-run homer allowed, but J.D. Hennen and Zac Lampton turned in good outings in relief.

Box Score

Monday’s Schedule

There are no scheduled games for today.

If the Red Sox are going to go on the run Craig Breslow’s been calling for, now is the time

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 28: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as he scores on a single that was hit by Caleb Durbin #5 during the fourth inning of a game against the New York Yankees on June 28, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Have you seen Dune: Part Two?

Excellent picture; that and its predecessor are both well worth your time. I feel like I’m a bit of a Dune fraud since I haven’t read the books, but Denis Villeneuve’s series has been awesome so far. I digress.

In the sequel, without giving too much away, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) takes some cool ass liquid and begins to gain the power to clearly identify countless outcomes to future events. That clairvoyance makes him realize that while his odds of victory (again, to keep things general) are slim, there is one pathway that he and his allies can take to achieve their goals.

In other news, the Yankees suck.

It’s Monday Morning Brushback time, y’all.

………They couldn’t possibly, right?

The 2026 Boston Red Sox season has been catastrophic from the word “go.” The won the very first game of the season in Cincinnati, dropped the second game of the opening series against the Reds to drop back down to .500, and then proceeded to fail to get back to .500 from game number three on. Guys have gotten hurt, fired, called up, sent down, and straight up roasted by some members of the fan base during that entire time, all while Boston’s gap from .500 remains double-digits as we begin the week of this nation’s 250th birthday.

Throughout that time, there’s been one refrain that Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow has continued to share with the media, fans, and anyone else that would continue to listen to him. His idea is that all these Red Sox have to do – the team with statistically one of the worst offenses in the league (though a really good pitching staff, to keep everything fair) while playing half of its game at a hitter’s paradise, the team that experienced about 25 hours above .500 this season (not a typo; I did the math on it) is going to go on a run. The illusive, wonderful, dare I say mythical run is the thing that can fix all of this. The roster, he believes, is still good enough to compete in spite of the record; he thinks it’s just a matter of getting the motor up and running (or whatever platitude you wanna use).

I’m sure you’ve seen those comments made by Breslow in recent weeks, but just in case you need the proof: instances of The Magical Run being referenced can be found here, here, here, and here.

In recent weeks, the more I’ve heard or read these types of comments from Breslow, the more and more I’ve felt like I’ve been taking crazy pills.

Granted, I tweeted that before we went on to sweep the Yanks in four games at Fenway this weekend. The situation’s still bad, but here comes that nasty ol’ friend named Hope coming back to try and sneak into the home they were properly evicted out of a while ago.

One part of me understands that as the leader of the front office, Mista Breslow is sorta required to say stuff like that to a certain extent. Regardless of how far fetched it may seem to say you still believe in a team that is setting up shop with the rest of MLB’s basement dwellers, your directive as a CBO likely includes putting up the image of a united front, trying to portray an environment where everyone is rowing in the same direction, all that fun stuff. The other part of me sees that facade fall apart when I remember that only six clubs have as many or fewer wins than the Red Sox do as of this morning. Enough said.

To quote The X-Files, though: I want to believe. I want to see the narrow path forward for this Red Sox season. I want a reason to continue to watch this team other than the fact that I write for OTM! I want to stay locked in during the summer! In spite of what I’d call a (rightfully) pessimistic mood (maybe even apathetic) I’ve had in these articles as of late, I want an excuse to stay optimistic. I want some hope, as dull as any light of hope may be right now.

And to be fair to Breslow, you can squint and see a possibility (not sure if you can tell that I’m trying to add qualifiers wherever possible) where maybe the Sox can crawl their way back into at least being in the conversation in this dogshit American League that we’re seeing in 2026. Prior to the start of play on Sunday, we were the only Junior Circuit team with a positive run differential that could not lay claim to a playoff spot. The pitching is still quite encouraging… just don’t ask me about the consistency of the bats. I’m still gonna go ahead and say that the campaign remains on life support, but the flat line hasn’t fully kicked in yet. Sunday night’s win might’ve been the best of the season. To fight back after that brutal half-hour stretch in the ninth and tenth inning takes something that this club has lacked just about all year: character.

All of that is to say this: if the Red Sox are gonna go on this season-saving run that Breslow keeps going on about, it’s gotta start – or continue, I suppose, following the weekend at Fenway – right here this week. I reserve the right to start believing in something beyond the trade deadline if they can keep this momentum going, because sustained momentum would be a novel concept for the 2026 Red Sox. The opportunity is there, but I think this might be the last legit one before the trade deadline–and therefore, it could be the last chance for Breslow’s team to make good on his “we just gotta get hot” claims before he’s shown the door. After all: I had said that Breslow was officially driving the boat after April’s house clearing. If he’s so convinced that the only thing his roster needs is a hot stretch, now would be the time to see it through.

To me, it’s quite simple: this so-called “run” the CBO’s been on about has to happen leading up to the All-Star Break.

The Nationals, who are hovering right around .500 and score about as many runs as they let up, are coming into town for three games starting tonight. We then head out on the road prior to the holiday to take on one of the only teams in the league that are undoubtedly worse than us: the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California of the United States of North America of the Western Hemisphere of Earth. From there, a trip to the South Side of Chicago to take on the Pale Hose marks the toughest matchup on paper leading up to the Midsummer Classic. We finish up the first half of the season in Queens to face another team in crisis in the Mets. One team is legally obligated to win those games on any given night, believe it or not.

Within that group, I see one solid team, one OK team, and two awful teams in that stretch of 12 games. One could certainly call us awful, too, and we did just drop two out of three games to arguably the most inept organization in the sport before giving the Yankees the business. But that’s not the point.

The point is that now might be the last chance in 2026 to go on that run that could change the perception of the season before we reach a point of no return. I’m not saying Boston has to run the table here–hell, I don’t even know what a successful record in that stretch specifically looks like. Maybe it’s 8-4, or does it have to be 9-3 or better considering the hole we’ve already dug ourselves in? Let me know what you think below in the comments.

And just to be clear here: even if the Red Sox enter the break on a heater, they’re still very likely to be behind the eight ball in the grand scheme of things. One fantastic two-week stretch does not automatically save the season nor erase any of the problems that we had prior to the hot stretch. At the very least, though, it could–key word could, before you all yell at me–change the dynamic by the time the ASG begins in Philly.

If the Red Sox don’t take advantage of these next two weeks, it’s back to our regularly scheduled programming filled with “Fire Breslow” and the like. If they do strike now, perhaps the tune we take on is drastically different. This feels like the last chance for them to realistically do so, though.

To bring it back to Dune……..

“Our enemies are all around us and in so many futures they prevail. But I do see a way. There is a narrow way through.”

Last call for “The Run,” Craig. Bar’s closing.

Song of the Week: “Lost Boys” by Phoebe Bridgers

The queen is back.

Same time and same place next week, friends. Enjoy your holiday and go Sox!

Atlanta Braves News: West Coast Woes, AJ Smith-Shawver Rehab Starts, More

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 28: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the fifth inning at Oracle Park on June 28, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

June cannot end soon enough for the Atlanta Braves.

It was another miserable week for the Braves, as Sunday was just the latest disappointing performance despite another awesome effort from ace Chris Sale. It truly has been an entire month of struggles for the Braves, who know see that the NL East division lead is down to three games over the Phillies. However, neither Walt Weiss or the Braves seem to concerned about anyone else but themselves. The focus remains on righting the ship as the calendar turns to July.

Braves News

AJ Smith-Shawver, on his way back from last year’s Tommy John Surgery, will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday.

Tate Southisene produced his first home run for Rome over the weekend.

Mark Bowman highlights how Chris Sale continues to look highly impressive in his starts but also how the lack of support remains a concern.

MLB News

The Boston Red Sox decided to show a bit of life with a 4-game sweep of the Yankees.

The Rangers placed outfielder Wyatt Langford on the IL due to a hamstring strain.

The Feed

And for a bit of positivity, Eric Hartman once again went deep on Sunday.

‘The Cardinal Countdown: 69 Days Until Kickoff.’

Cardinals History By The Numbers

I’m going to attempt to jog your memory. A few years back there was a guy who made a few notable plays for the Cardinals during his collegiate career. While his legs were often the focus or talk of the town, his arm was equally impressive, and he slung the ball around the field with ease more times than I can even recall. While most are aware of his accomplishments, there may be a few fans here and there that have since forgotten about the records of the young man who took the field from 2015 to 2017. I believe his name was….Jackson. Lamar Jackson.

The Heisman trophy winning QB from Florida certainly made a mark on the program, and in doing so hung 69 career passing touchdowns on the record books, a Top 10 ranking in program history even though it was only three seasons long, and included another 50 touchdowns on the ground. It would be cool to watch all 119 touchdowns wouldn’t it? Well, here is a video I’ve watched more times than I care to publicly announce. Enjoy.

Detroit Tigers hit the road to take on New York Yankees this week

The Detroit Tigers failed to split their four-game weekend series against the Houston Astros on Sunday, falling 7-5 in 10 innings after taking a 3-0 lead into the seventh. Jack Flaherty gave his team five frames of shutout ball with a whopping nine strikeouts, but the trio of Tyler Holton, Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen failed in their tasks out of the bullpen.

With the 10-game homestand now in the books, the Motor City Kitties hit the road for their next six matchups starting in the Bronx against the New York Yankees on Monday. Right-hander Casey Mize, who has struggled in his two games since returning from the injured list, will open things up on the mound.

The 29-year-old has put up a 6.10 ERA and 4.46 FIP over his last two starts, which includes his most recent outing against the Yankees at Comerica Park in which he surrendered four runs on eight hits (one home run) and a walk while striking out six in 5 2/3 frames of work. That stretch saw Mize add two losses to his total and extend the streak to four defeats over his last four decisions.

Up against him is left-hander Ryan Weathers, who has found a groove over his last two starts to the tune of a 1.46 ERA and 2.62 FIP stretching across 12 1/3 innings for a pair of quality starts. That includes the last time he saw the Tigers, in which the 26-year-old allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out six across six innings for his fifth win of the 2026 campaign.

Here is a look at how the two hurlers match up in the series opener on Monday night.

Detroit Tigers (35-49) vs. New York Yankees (48-35)

Time (ET): 7:05 p.m.
Place: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
SB Nation Site:Pinstripe Alley
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 85: RHP Casey Mize (2-5, 2.95 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Weathers (3-5, 3.95 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Mize1158.025.16.134.42.781.8
Weathers1586.226.96.841.44.181.1

MIZE

WEATHERS

2026 Brewers Week in Review: Week 14

Jun 27, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA;Chicago Cubs/ designated hitter Seiya Suzuki (27) is tagged out by Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) in the seventh inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Last Week’s Results

  • Monday: Brewers 2, Reds 1
  • Tuesday: Brewers 2, Reds 0
  • Wednesday: Brewers 6, Reds 5
  • Friday: Brewers 6, Cubs 2
  • Saturday: Cubs 8, Brewers 2
  • Sunday: Cubs 4, Brewers 3

Division Standings

  • Milwaukee Brewers: 50-31
  • Chicago Cubs: 46-38 (5.5 GB)
  • St. Louis Cardinals 43-38 (7.0 GB)
  • Pittsburgh Pirates: 42-42 (9.5 GB)
  • Cincinnati Reds: 39-43 (11.5 GB)

Last Week

  • Brewers: 4-2
  • Cubs: 6-1
  • Cardinals: 2-4
  • Pirates: 3-3
  • Reds: 2-4

Top Pitching Performance of the Week

The Brewers weren’t short on solid pitching performances this week, so we’ll make this a “Brandon” award for Brandon Sproat and Brandon Woodruff. Sproat went six scoreless frames with just one hit and one hit batter while striking out 10 in a strong showing against the Reds, while Woodruff made a pair of scoreless starts, totaling 11 2/3 innings against the Reds and Cubs with 16 strikeouts and just two hits and two walks allowed. Those two helped contribute to this crazy pitching stat:

Honorable mentions go to Shane Drohan (4 1/3 scoreless innings in his start), Trevor Megill (four scoreless innings over four appearances), Abner Uribe (4 2/3 scoreless innings over four appearances), Jacob Misiorowski (six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts), and Kyle Harrison (five innings of two-run ball with nine strikeouts).

Top Hitting Performance of the Week

There were no clear standouts for the Brewer offense this week, as Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio tied for the team lead with seven hits, though both batted just .269 (26 at-bats each). William Contreras had the best all-around week, though, as he went 6-for-18 with a pair of homers, four RBIs, three runs, and four walks for a solid .333/.455/.667 line.

Injury Notes & Roster Moves

  • The Brewers officially activated RHP Brandon Woodruff from the injured list ahead of Monday’s series opener in Cincinnati, and his return could not have gone smoother. Across six scoreless frames, he allowed just one hit and no walks, striking out 10. Left-handed reliever Drew Rom was optioned to Triple-A Nashville as the corresponding move.
  • After officially clearing waivers, third baseman Luis Rengifo was released by the Brewers on Tuesday.
  • Reliever Abner Uribe, who was given a one-game suspension for his WWE-style crotch chops toward the Cardinals’ dugout in late May, dropped his appeal and served his suspension on Wednesday after pitching the two nights before.
  • Reliever Peter Strzelecki, who opted out of an outright assignment to Triple-A Nashville in late May, re-signed with the Brewers on a minor league deal on Wednesday after being released by the Yankees (who had signed him to a minor league deal). He’s now back in Nashville, where he picked up the save in a scoreless inning of work on Thursday night.
  • Left-hander Jared Koenig, who missed more than two months with a left elbow sprain, was activated from the injured list on Friday. Right-hander Craig Yoho was optioned to Nashville as the corresponding move.

On Deck

  • Monday: vs. Reds (6:40 p.m.)
  • Tuesday: vs. Reds (6:40 p.m.)
  • Wednesday: vs. Reds (7:10 p.m.)
  • Thursday: vs. Reds (1:10 p.m.)
  • Friday: @ Diamondbacks (8:45 p.m.)
  • Saturday: @ Diamondbacks (8:40 p.m.)
  • Sunday: @ Diamondbacks (3:10 p.m.)

Orioles news: O’s drop another series

Jun 28, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz (55) watch his team play in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: the O’s just lost a series that they absolutely should have won, all because they did a whole lot of dumb stuff.

The Birds’ latest embarrassment came against their regional rival Nationals, who completed a season series win, four games to two. The O’s dropped yesterday’s rubber game because Kyle Bradish couldn’t throw strikes, Coby Mayo couldn’t throw the ball to first, and the Orioles couldn’t figure out how to hit a guy with a 5.40 ERA. Your 2026 Orioles, ladies and gentlemen. Alex Church recapped the fruitless O’s effort.

The O’s have won just one of their last seven series — against the Dodgers, oddly enough — and are 9-13 in that span. Their defeat yesterday clinched their third consecutive losing month. They’re one loss away from matching their season-low of eight games under .500. At 39-46, they’re also just two games better than the 2025 Orioles — the gold standard of underachieving O’s teams — were at the same point of the season. And the Orioles are 0-2 since Mike Elias told reporters that he intends for the team to be buyers at the trade deadline. He’s got a little over a month to change his mind.

Three months into the season, the Orioles haven’t gotten any better. Elias and the players continue to talk a big game about how a turnaround is just around the corner, how the team just needs more time for things to click, and they’ll soon become a force to be reckoned with. There is, unfortunately, no evidence that such a thing is ever going to happen. They haven’t cleaned up their sloppy play and poor fundamentals at all; if anything, they’ve only gotten worse throughout the season. And with each passing day, the Orioles’ chances of putting together an extended winning stretch are getting slimmer and slimmer. They’ve passed the halfway mark of the schedule and are only sinking deeper into quicksand.

Adding an extra layer of pain is watching the Orioles get passed in the standings by teams that weren’t even supposed to be contenders this year, like these Nationals. The Nats were thought to be a rebuilding club that was a year or two behind the Orioles’ progress; instead, they’re an above-.500 team that has thoroughly outclassed the Birds this year.

Then there’s the Orioles’ next opponent, the White Sox, who are coming off of three straight 100+ loss seasons, including a historically abysmal 41-121 just two years ago. This year the White Sox are the most out-of-nowhere success story in baseball, leading the AL Central with a 43-39 record, 5.5 games better than the Orioles. The White Sox had barely started to rebuild and are already an exciting, hungry team full of promising young players. The O’s, meanwhile, have completely flatlined in what was supposed to be their window of contention. It’s sad.

The Orioles are overdue for a brutally honest assessment of their organization and the many mistakes that have led to this point. That kind of thorough accounting might not take place until the offseason, which means we’re stuck watching this team in its current form for the next few months.

Lucky us.

Links

Orioles start fast and fade in 6-4 loss to Nationals, Bradish ties career high in walks (updated) – School of Roch

Remember the first inning? That was nice. Everything that happened afterwards, not so much.

Adley, Beavers activated as Orioles DFA Huff, option Jackson – MLB.com

I know that Jeremiah Jackson hasn’t hit much since his hot April, but what exactly is the thought process that leads the Orioles to send him down instead of a completely unnecessary third catcher?

Sail250 air show flies over Camden Yards during Orioles-Nationals game – The Baltimore Banner

Kudos to the Blue Angels for giving the Camden Yards crowd their only entertainment yesterday.

Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson on slump: ‘One of the most frustrating things’ – The Baltimore Sun

Says Gunnar: “It sucks. It’s baseball.” The motto of the 2026 Orioles, everyone!

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And happy 25th birthday to Gunnar Henderson. The O’s shortstop has already racked up quite a few accolades in his young career, including AL Rookie of the Year in 2023 and fourth place in the MVP voting in 2024. His 2026 season, as we all know, hasn’t gone quite as well. But what better day than his birthday to start turning things around?

Former Orioles born on this day include infielder Emmanuel Rivera (30), left-hander Pedro Viola (43), and righties Travis Lakins Sr. (32) and the late Dizzy Trout (b. 1915, d. 1972).

On this date in 2007, the Orioles’ Aubrey Huff hit for the cycle in a 9-7 loss to the Angels. At the time he was just the third player in the 54-year history of the Orioles to accomplish the feat, but the O’s have since done it four more times.

And in 2013, Chris Davis bashed his league-leading 30th homer of the year in just his 82nd game, part of a two-dinger day against the Yankees. He ultimately finished the season with an MLB-best 53 home runs. Man, vintage Chris Davis was something else.

Random Orioles game of the day

On June 29, 1990, the Orioles defeated the Twins, 6-2, at the Metrodome. Baltimore’s own Dave Johnson earned the win with 6.2 innings of two-run ball, and Curt Schilling — yes, that one — finished things off with 2.1 scoreless frames to earn his first career save. The O’s offense collected 12 hits, including three by Ripken brothers Cal Jr. and Billy, and catcher Bob Melvin drove in two runs. Despite the win, the Orioles remained well under .500 at 33-41.

Phillies news: Kyle Schwarber, Andrew Painter, Wyatt Langford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies watches the flight of his seventh inning two run home run against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 28, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Imagine getting to 30 home runs before the calendar even flips to July? Kyle Schwarber just did that, becoming the fastest player in team history to do so.

It’s just so impressive how each season, he seems to be getting better. The strikeouts are high, but who really cares when he hits for this much power. I feel like another high finish in the MVP vote is in the offing.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news:

Mets Daily Prospect Report, 6/29/26: Mostly monotonous Mets

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (38-37/4-2)

SYRACUSE 5, LEHIGH VALLEY 4 (BOX)

Manager Dick Scott went with something a little different, having reliever Dan Hammer start the game before bringing in starter Jack Wenninger, but the move didn’t seem to really have much of an impact- Hammer pitched a scoreless inning in the first and Wenninger was so-so, allowing three runs over the next five. Trailing by a run, Syracuse tied things up in the seventh on a wild pitch and then took the lead on a Vidal Brujan RBI single. After Lehigh Valley tied things up in the bottom of the inning, Syracuse once again took a late lead in the eighth on a Ben Rortvedt RBI double and that ended up being the final score.

·  SS Vidal Bruján: 1-5, RBI, 3 K, 2 SB (6, 7), E (5)

·  CF Nick Morabito: 1-5, 2B, RBI, K

·  2B Ji Hwan Bae: 0-3, R, BB, SB (27)

·  RF Ryan Clifford: 0-2, 2 BB, K

·  3B Yonny Hernández: 2-4, R, RBI, CS (2)

·  C Ben Rortvedt: 1-4, 2B, RBI, K

·  1B Grae Kessinger: 1-3, 2 R, BB, K

·  DH Hayden Senger: 1-3, R, BB, K

·  LF Cristian Pache: 1-4, 2 K, E (4)

·  RHP Dan Hammer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Jack Wenninger: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, WP, HBP

·  RHP Ryan Lambert: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, WP, W (3-1), BS (1)

·  LHP Nate Lavender: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, S (2)

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (27-42/1-6)

ERIE 6, BINGHAMTON 5 / 10 (BOX)

The first time through the order, Bryce Conley looked good, blanking Erie for three innings, allowing just a single hit while striking out four. His second time through the order? Not so much. In the fourth, he gave up a two-run homer to right fielder Chris Meyers to tie the game at 2-2. In the fifth, he loaded up the bases on a pair of singles and a hit batsman and then gave up a double to Meyers, scoring two more runs. In the sixth, he allowed a solo homer to third baseman E.J. Exposito to make it a 5-2 ballgame. Chris Suero manufactured a run in the seventh, knocking a double, stealing third, and coming home on a wild pitch, but it looked like the Rumble Ponies were going to after a strike-‘em-out-throw-‘em-out double play ended the seventh, and then three consecutive strikeouts ended the eighth. In the bottom of life, they showed new life and came galloping back, tying the game up at 5-5 on an RBI single off the bat of Jose Ramons and a Nick Lorusso RBI groundout. In the tenth, JT Schwartz was thrown out at the plate, negating Binghamton’s chance to score. Erie didn’t have that issue, and just like that, momentum shifted and game over with another Chris Meyers RBI.

·  C Chris Suero: 2-3, 4 R, 2 2B, 2 BB, SB (20), E (9)

·  CF Jose Ramos: 1-4, RBI, BB, K, CS (2)

·  3B Nick Lorusso: 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, BB, K

·  1B JT Schwartz: 0-5, 3 K

·  DH Vincent Perozo: 0-5, 4 K

·  LF Matt Rudick: 1-4, 2 K, HBP

·  2B Wyatt Young: 1-5, 2 K

·  RF Jaylen Palmer: 0-2, BB, K, HBP

·  SS Kevin Villavicencio: 1-4, R, K

·  RHP Bryce Conley: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HBP

·  RHP Douglas Orellana: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HBP

·  RHP Garrett Stratton: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

·  RHP Zach Peek: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, L (2-1)

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (25-40/5-4)

BROOKLYN 5, JERSEY SHORE 1 (BOX)

Nicolas Carreno got things started with four scoreless innings and the bullpen took over from there, throwing three more before Juan Arnaud allowed a run in the top of the eighth. That run would end up the BlueClaws’ only run of the ballgame. The Cyclones, on the other hand, got on the board in the bottom of the third on a Ronald Hernandez homer and then plated four more in the sixth on an RBI double off the bat of Colin Houck and a three-run homer off the bat of Yohairo Cuevas.

·  2B Mitch Voit: 2-3, BB, K

·  3B Yonatan Henriquez: 0-4

·  C Ronald Hernandez: 1-3, R, HR (6), RBI, BB, K

·  LF John Bay: 1-3, R, HBP

·  DH Daiverson Gutierrez: 0-4, K

·  1B Corey Collins: 0-3, R, BB, K

·  SS Colin Houck: 1-4, R, 2B, RBI, 3 K, E (9)

·  RF Yohairo Cuevas: 2-3, R, HR (2), 3 RBI, BB, K, SB (4)

·  CF Sam Biller: 0-4, 3 K

·  LHP Nicolas Carreno: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Bryce Jenkins: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, W (2-2)

·  RHP Cristofer Gomez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, H (1)

·  RHP Hoss Brewer: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

·  RHP Juan Arnaud: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

·  RHP Hunter Hodges: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, WP

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (33-33/2-5)

FORT MYERS 6, ST. LUCIE 5 (BOX)

The St. Lucie Mets went down swinging, but they still dropped this one to the Mighty Muscles, their fourth loss in a row. The Mets got on the board first, scoring a run in the top of the second, but Ethan Lanthier, who just activated and was making his first non-rehab start since injuring his elbow in April 2025, allowed a pair of runs in the second to give Fort Myers the lead, a lead they would hold on to for the rest of the ballgame. In the ninth, trailing 6-3, St. Lucie loaded up the bases with no outs, but a two-run single by Trey Snyder was all they were able to manage before recording three outs. The rehabbing Dedniel Nunez pitched in the bottom of the fourth and, after recording two quick outs, allowed back-to-back singles that resulted in a run before recording a strikeout to end the inning.

·  CF Trey Snyder: 1-5, 2 RBI, K

·  LF Branny De Oleo: 2-4, R, 2B, RBI

·  SS Antonio Jimenez: 0-5, K

·  1B Julio Zayas: 0-3, RBI, K

·  RF Simon Juan: 1-4, R, 2B, K

·  C Chase Meggers: 3-4, R, 2 2B, RBI

·  3B Taylor Darden: 0-2, R, BB, K

·  2B Jeremy Rodriguez: 2-3, R, BB, K

·  DH Jackson Hauge: 2-4, K

·  RHP Ethan Lanthier: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, L (0-1)

·  RHP Christian Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

·  REHAB ALERT RHP Dedniel Núñez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

·  LHP Conner Ware: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, HBP

·  RHP Elwis Mijares: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

ROSTER ALERT: St. Lucie Mets activated RHP Ethan Lanthier from the 60-day injured list.

Rookie: FCL Mets (15-24)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Yohairo Cuevas

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Bryce Conley

Chicago Cubs history unpacked — June 29

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to Frank Schwindel, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in 2004 – At Bank One Ballpark, the Diamondbacks’ 40-year-old fireballer Randy Johnson records his 4,000th career strikeout to become the fourth player in major league history to reach the plateau. The “Big Unit” needs fewer innings (3,237.1) than Nolan Ryan (3,844.2), Roger Clemens (4,151) or Steve Carlton (4,991.1) to accomplish the feat, and other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

Today in Cubs history:

Cubs Birthdays:Frank Schwindel*, Brooks Raley, Pedro Valdés, Bruce Kimm, John Boccabella, Bob Shaw, Bobby Morgan. Also notable: Harmon Killebrew HOF. Wilbert Robinson HOF.

Today in history:

  • 1613 – Shakespeare‘s Globe Theatre in London burns down during a performance of “Henry VIII”.
  • 1863 – George Armstrong Custer, aged 23, appointed Union Brigadier General.
  • 1940 – Batman Comics, mobsters rub out a circus highwire team known as the Flying Graysons, leaving their son Dick (Robin) an orphan.
  • 1953 – Oklahoma governor declares today “Maria Tallchief Day” in honor of Native American prima ballerina Maria Tallchief.
  • 1958 – FIFA World Cup Final, Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden: Vavá and Pelé each score two goals as Brazil defeats Sweden 5-2.
  • 1963 – Beatles’ first song “From Me to You” hits UK charts.
  • 1967 – Keith Richards is sentenced to 1 year in jail on drugs charge.
  • 1971 – Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are sentenced for a drug offense.
  • 1979 – Mascot San Diego Chicken is reborn at Jack Murphy Stadium.

*pictured.

Today on Pinstripe Alley – 6/29/26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees slides safely into second base past Javier Báez #28 of the Detroit Tigers during the game at Yankee Stadium on September 11, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

That series sucked. The last time the Red Sox swept the Yankees in a four-game set was 2018, which was very annoying but in hindsight more understandable because that was legitimately the best team in Boston history (108 wins, 11-3 record in October). They were a powerhouse. These Red Sox doing it when they entered with–no joke–the worst record in the American League is appalling. Awful, awful.

Can’t dwell on it though. Spit it out like an awful drink, cleanse the palate, and move on with Detroit coming to town.

Today on the site, Estevão will preview the upcoming three-game set against the Tigers, Kevin tackles the Rivalry Roundup, and Jonathan celebrates the 138th birthday of a man who was actually a longtime Tiger but also became a Yankee near the end: Bobby Veach. Later, Jonathan will return to run through the Yankeees’ top Trade Deadline priorities as that aspect of the season heats up, Peter breaks down his At-Bat of the Week, and Madison issues the mailbag prompt.

Today’s Matchup:

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers

Time: 7:05 p.m. EST

TV: YES Network, Detroit SportsNet

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Questions/Prompts:

1. Are there any Triple-A promotions you’d consider to try to jolt some life back into the Yankees’ lineup? Or is there so little there at the moment (especially with George Lombard Jr. hurt) that they’re probably best just riding it out at the moment?

2. Now that almost every team has hit the 81-game halfway point of the regular season, which do you think has been the biggest surprise?

Erie walk it off in extras, Bryce Rainer homers again

Worcester Red Sox 3, Toledo Mud Hens 1 (box)

Toledo couldn’t finish off the sweep and dropped its first game in a week, 3-1, against Worcester on Sunday.

After 15 runs on Saturday, there wasn’t much offense to speak of for the Mud Hens in this one. Toledo had only five hits, none going for extra bases. Two of those came in the second inning from Eduardo Valencia and Brett Callahan. Tyler Gentry grounded into a double play for the only Mud Hens run of the day.

Callahan had the only multi-hit day, singling again in the fifth. Andrew Navigato hit safely in the eighth, and Max Anderson got his in the ninth. The WooSox only walked two batters, so it was a pretty boring day on that side of the ball.

It’s a shame because the pitching staff was solid for most of the afternoon. Troy Watson got the start, going five inning and allowing one run on two hits and a walk — a first inning homer was the only real issue. Watson struck out five and left with the score tied 1-1.

Ricky Vanasco took over in the sixth and gave up three singles to break the tie. The third drove in both runs and ricocheted off his foot. The training staff checked him out, but Vanasco stayed in the game.

Woo-Suk Go got the seventh and worked around a pair of singles. Jack Little went 1-2-3 in the eighth, but the bats couldn’t make it a competitive finish.

Anderson: 1-4, K

Callahan: 2-4, K

Valencia: 1-2, R, 2 BB

Watson: 5.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 5 K,HR

Coming Up Next:The Mud Hens are at home next week against the Iowa Cubs, starting on Tuesdayat 12:05 p.m. ET.

(F/10) Erie SeaWolves 6, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 1 (box)

Erie won in walk-off fashion 6-5 in the 10th inning to finish the series with Binghamton 5-1.

Things got off to a rocky start with Lael Lockhart on the mound. The Rumble Ponies took the lead three batters in thanks to a leadoff double and single through the left side. Lockhart also balked in the first, but he didn’t give up any more runs.

The command was in and out for Lockhart. He plunked the leadoff man in the second, balked again and threw a wild pitch. Again, no runs scored, but it’s not a pretty inning by any means.

Binghamton got to him again in the third with a leadoff walk and an RBI double. Lockhart came back out for the fourth, but he finally got the hook after hitting another batter with two outs.

Fortunately, Chris Meyers tied the game up with a two-run homer. Thayron Liranzo drew the walk right before that.

Meyers had three of Erie’s nine hits on the day, including a go-ahead double in the fifth. This time, the bases were loaded, so Binghamton had to pitch to him. Credit to E.J. Exposito and Seth Stephenson for singling earlier in the inning. Liranzo was hit by a pitch for his second free pass of the day, loading the bags.

Yosber Sanchez and Johan Simon got the SeaWolves through the sixth, recording four and three outs, respectively. Both walked a batter, and Simon gave up a hit. Simon also had two strikeouts to Sanchez’s one, though.

Exposito homered in the sixth to give Erie some valuable insurance. Without that bomb, the SeaWolves don’t make it to extras.

Wandisson Charles got the seventh. He gave up a leadoff double, the runner stole third and Charles went too far inside for a wild pitch and an easy score. Charles was better in the eighth, striking out the side in order.

Tyler Owens couldn’t convert the save — his first blown save of the season. After the first out, Binghamton went single, walk, RBI single to make it a one-run game. Owens got a short chopper to third base, but Exposito didn’t have time for a play at home. He traded a run for an out instead. Tie game.

Erie had the winning run in scoring position in the ninth, but Stephenson and Peyton Graham couldn’t follow up on Joe Campagna’s one-out double.

Eric Silva took the mound in the 10th and almost gave up the go-ahead run, but a great throw from Meyers got to home plate in time for the tag.

Meyers basically won this one for Erie single-handedly. Of course, it was him who came up clutch in the bottom of the 10th with a one-out single to drive Graham in from third base. Walk-off wins are always sweet.

Meyers: 3-5, 2B (16), HR (5), R, 5 RBI, K

Exposito: 2-4, HR (11), R, RBI, K

Lockhart: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 K

Charles (H, 3): 2.0 IP, H, R, ER, BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves are on the road next week against the Akron RubberDucks, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.

Dayton Dragons 10, West Michigan Whitecaps 4 (box)

A rough day on the mound for West Michigan led to a lopsided 10-4 loss against Dayton on Sunday. The Whitecaps and Dragons end the series tied, 3-3.

The day started off nice, with Woody Hadeen walking and Bryce Rainer blasting a two-run homer. Clayton Campbell singled to give the Whitecaps three straight hits, but West Michigan only found four more hits the rest of the game.

Rayner Castillo didn’t have it today. He walked the first three batters he faced to load the bases, and that got the bullpen up and working. Castillo struck out a batter and induced a popout, but the decision was already made to pull him. Jalen Evans took over and immediately gave up a two-run single to tie the game.

Dayton took the lead in the second off Evans, who was arguably worse than Castillo. After getting the first out, Castillo allowed a single, walked two batters and gave up a two-run double. He walked one more before getting out of the inning.

Inohan Paniagua got the third. A bad pickoff attempt turned into a run, and a throwing error from the catcher made it 6-2.

Stephen Hrustich gave the Whitecaps new life in the fourth, hitting a two-run homer to cut the four-run deficit in half.

Eliseo Mota was next out of the bullpen. He worked around a two-out single in the fourth but gave up a leadoff homer int he fifth. Luke Stofel faced the minimum in the sixth, inducing an inning-ending double play to erase a single. He came back out for the seventh and worked around a two-out single, giving the best performance for any Whitecap pitcher on the day.

CJ weins had a rough ninth, walking the bases loaded before recording the first out. A pair of singles brought all three of those baserunners home, and the Whitecaps went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth.

Rainer: 1-3, HR (8), R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K

Hrustich: 1-4, HR (3), R, 2 RBI

Campbell: 2-4, 2 K

Stofel: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps are at home next week against the Lake County Captains, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 3, Daytona Tortugas 1 (box)

Despite losing the series, 4-2, the Lakeland Flying Tigers ended the week in Daytona on a good note, with a 3-1 win over the Tortugas.

Connor Fenlong made his organizational debut after being signed on Friday out of the American Association Independent League. He previously pitched in the Kansas City farm system, making it up to High-A in 2024 before being released.

Fenlong gave Lakeland 4 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, working around five hits and a walk while striking out eight. It’s a shame he couldn’t get one more out to qualify for the win, but the numbers are solid.

The Flying Tigers only had one hit through the first three innings, but they broke through in the fourth to score all three of their runs. Edian Espinal led off with a single, Nick Dumesnil also singled and Hunter Dobbins crushed a three-run homer.

Xiomer Guacache finished out the fifth for Fenlong, stranding the bases loaded. Guacache worked around a two-out double in the sixth before turning it over Luke Hoskins in the seventh. Hoskins walked a batter, but there was no harm done.

Bryce Alewin went 1 2/3 innings, but Lakeland brought in Jan Caraballo with two on and two outs in the ninth. Caraballo gave up the first run of the day and walked a batter before getting the final out.

Great work from the bullpen today, but it was kind of a boring game. Still, a W is a W.

Yost: 0-4, BB, 2 K

Dobbins: 1-4, HR (5), R, 3 RBI, 2 K

Espinal: 2-4, R, K

Fenlong: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K

Coming up Next: The Flying Tigers are at home next week against the Palm Beach Cardinals, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

MLB power rankings: AL champion Blue Jays flail with Vladdy homerless at home

The Toronto Blue Jays are on the verge of a disastrous 10-game homestand, now losers of six in a row with old friend Bo Bichette and the directionless New York Mets coming to town.

Yet Vladimir Guerrero's failings at Rogers Centre have been a seasonlong affair.

With the season more than halfway over and the calendar flipping to July, Guerrero has yet to hit a home run at Rogers Centre this season - a span of 42 games and 181 plate appearances. His home slugging percentage is .300, down from .436 a year ago, while he's hit just seven home runs overall with an adjusted OPS of 94.

And the Blue Jays - after finally reaching .500 following a month in the red - dipped right back underwater following a four-game sweep by the Texas Rangers - an outcome that may have significant ramifications come season's end.

"It's no secret we're going to need Vlad," Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters Sunday, June 28, "if we want to be good."

The defending division and AL champs are now 10 1/2 games behind East-leading Tampa Bay and 9 1/2 behind the Yankees. At 39-45, they are deep in the thicket of mediocrity in the AL - Texas passed them just this weekend - and tumbled four spots to No. 20 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.

A look at our updated rankings:

Rogers Centre has not been kind to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. this season - he has yet to hit a home run in his home ballpark.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (+2)

  • Mookie Betts, officially back-back.

2. Milwaukee Brewers (+1)

  • Jackson Chourio has hit nine homers in June.

3. Atlanta Braves (-2)

  • Scored two or fewer runs in four games on 1-5 road trip.

4. Tampa Bay Rays (+1)

  • Junior Caminero on track to once again threaten Carlos Peña's franchise record of 46 home runs.

5. New York Yankees (-1)

  • Closer David Bednar hasn't allowed a run in five weeks.

6. Philadelphia Phillies (-)

  • Now 38-18 under Don Mattingly - and just three games behind Atlanta.

7. Chicago Cubs (+3)

  • David Peterson a winner in his Cubs debut.

8. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)

  • Andre Pallante has shaved his ERA from 5.31 last year to 3.59 through 15 starts.

9. Cleveland Guardians (-1)

  • Top 100 prospect Cooper Ingle called up, delivers key hit in second game.

10. San Diego Padres (+2)

  • Randy Vasquez has given up seven runs in consecutive start/bulk appearances.

11. Miami Marlins (+4)

  • Eury Perez makes successful return to mound and club remains majors-best 18-6 in June.

12. Chicago White Sox (-3)

  • They're plus-18 in run differential - thanks to a 22-1 thwacking of the Royals.

13. Washington Nationals (-)

  • Luis Garcia Jr. with 11 June home runs, first double-digit month for Nationals since Kyle Schwarber in June 2021.

14. Texas Rangers (+5)

  • They sniff first place for the first time since April 25.

15. Seattle Mariners (-4)

  • The piggyback pitching plan is on hold, at least for now.

16. Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)

  • Climb back to .500 just before starting a stretch of 22 straight agmes against teams with winning records.

17. Arizona Diamondbacks (-3)

  • Swept at Tampa Bay as Max Kepler, having served his PED sentence, joins the lineup.

18. Athletics (-)

  • Shea Langeliers will need a voting surge from Yolo County to become first A's catcher to start All-Star Game since Terry Steinbach in 1989.

19. Houston Astros (+3)

  • That's five consecutive series wins, with .500 in sight.

20. Toronto Blue Jays (-4)

  • Shane Bieber's return gives rotation a far steadier look.

21. Baltimore Orioles (-1)

  • Still haven't won four in a row.

22. Cincinnati Reds (-1)

  • After getting swept at Milwaukee, a do-over at home against division bully.

23. Minnesota Twins (-1)

  • Bailey Ober nears return as he begins minor league rehab assignment.

24. Detroit Tigers (+1)

  • Blowing two late leads to Houston kills the little momentum they built up this month.

25. Boston Red Sox (+1)

  • Jarren Duran sits in the midst of 4-for-37 funk - then hops off the bench and walks off the Yankees.

26. New York Mets (-2)

  • A six-error game is like lighter fluid on a manager's hot seat.

27. Los Angeles Angels (+1)

  • You wonder if Temporary Adult In The Room John Mozeliak will hire a GM before the lockout or if the owner will save a few bucks with the industry shuttered.

28. San Francisco Giants (+1)

  • Utter organizational collapse makes their old June Swoons look quaint.

29. Kansas City Royals (-2)

  • Elbow surgery coming Wednesday for Cole Ragans. What they find in there will determine his 2027 prospects.

30. Colorado Rockies (-)

  • A three-homer game for Hunter Goodman, in case anyone had forgotten about him.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: AL champion Blue Jays flail with Vladdy homerless at home

Yankees news: What’s going on with Aaron Judge?

Jun 20, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) watches from the dugout in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Sportsnet: Let’s start with the worst news. Prior to Sunday’s series finale against Boston, manager Aaron Boone revealed there is no timetable for re-imaging injured slugger and three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge’s ribs. I guess the good news is that Boone mentioned Judge is doing some work in the weight room and has ramped from when he initially went on the IL in early June. Having Judge nowhere near returning is less than ideal. Entering Sunday night, the offense had thrice managed at least four runs in its last 10 games, winning all of them. They lost each of the other seven. With last night in the books, we can also note that they’ve been no-hit through four in each of the last three games (with Sonny Gray going 7.1 hitless last night).

Come back healthy, Cap. We need ya.

New York Post | Greg Joyce: Speaking of offensive ineptitude, Ben Rice is going through it the last little while. In his last six contests prior to Sunday night, Rice was 2-for-23 with a .174 OPS. Those figures only got worse with an 0-for-4 as the Red Sox finished their four-game sweep. Boone noted that Rice is pressing at the plate, saying “No doubt he’s grinding a little bit right now… there’s going to be weeks where it’s not easy, where you go through it a little bit.”

Baseball is hard, so it shouldn’t be a shock that even someone as good as Rice is slumping. Hopefully he figures it out sooner rather than later.

The Athletic | Chris Kirschner ($): Austin Wells has not figured it out. On the eve of Sunday’s finale against Boston, the Yankee backstop is, by one measure (wRC+), the worst qualified hitter in all of baseball. His .510 OPS is the worst by a Yankee since 1975. But, if you want reason to hope, Wells and the Yankees think it is there. Wells noted he felt more comfortable in the batter’s box Saturday than he has in a while. Moreover, in June, his groundball rate is decreasing, perhaps indicating desired contact. Gerrit Cole also spoke to what Wells bring as a defensive-minded backstop. With Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Trent Grisham all hurt and Rice scuffling, Wells being even a league-average hitter would be a giant boost to the offense.

Oswaldo Cabrera’s first game back since gruesome ankle injury comes with a costly Yankees error

Oswaldo Cabrera is pictured June 25 before the Yankees' game against the Red Sox.
Oswaldo Cabrera is pictured June 25 before the Yankees' game against the Red Sox.

BOSTON — For the first time since a gruesome ankle injury last May, Oswaldo Cabrera was back in a big league lineup Sunday night.

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It did not go as well as he had hoped, though, with a crucial fielding error giving way to a pair of runs early on the way to the Yankees’ crushing 5-4, 10-inning loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Cabrera went 0-for-3 while laying down a sacrifice bunt that keyed the Yankees’ two-run top of the 10th.

But his fielding error at third base loomed large in the fourth inning.

With a runner on first and one out in a scoreless game, Carlos Rodón got Willson Contreras to hit a hard grounder to third. Cabrera bobbled it and by the time he threw over to first, it was too late.

One out later, the Yankees should have been out of the inning, but instead Caleb Durbin came up next and hit a two-run single in what became a 37-pitch inning for Rodón, a big reason why he only lasted five innings.

The Yankees defense had let them down Thursday night, committing four errors, and then came back to bite them again Sunday.

“When we’re not scoring, we just didn’t play clean enough here this weekend,” manager Aaron Boone said.

Cabrera was making his season debut after being called up from Triple-A on Wednesday as an injury replacement for Ryan McMahon.

Oswaldo Cabrera is pictured June 25 before the Yankees’ game against the Red Sox. MLB Photos via Getty Images

It was his first major league game since fracturing his left ankle and sustaining ligament damage on an awkward slide home in a brutal scene in Seattle.

“He’s worked incredibly hard to overcome a really tough injury,” Boone said before the game. “He’s done it with grace and class and hard work, all while being Oswaldo, which is one of those people that makes the room better when he’s around.”


Longtime lefty killer Amed Rosario was in the lineup Sunday against righty Sonny Gray — breaking up his no-hitter in the eighth inning — putting a spotlight on his platoon splits that are the reverse of what he has done for his career.



Entering Sunday, the right-handed-hitting Rosario was batting .280 with an .842 OPS in 53 plate appearances against righties and .218 with a .665 OPS in 86 plate appearances against lefties.

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For his career, he was batting .263 with a .671 OPS against righties and .293 with a .791 OPS against lefties.

“Small sample, that’s what I make of it,” Boone said. “He’s going to kill lefties, I feel like.”

If we played it out another thousand at-bats, I think that would show itself. That said, I think he more than holds his own against righties, too. I feel like he’s a good hitter.”


Trent Grisham (right hamstring strain) is likely to start a rehab assignment Tuesday, which could last only one or two games before he rejoins the Yankees during this upcoming homestand.

He ran the bases again before Sunday’s game at Fenway Park, completing a weekend full of baseball activities.