Category: Baseball

The Cubs signed right-hander Tyler Beede and assigned him to Iowa. If you’re confused and thought the Cubs signed Beede over the winter, they did. They also released him two weeks ago and re-signed him today.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs got blown over by the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 8-1.

Iowa starter Connor Noland gave up two-run home runs in the second and fifth innings and ended up with the loss. His final line was five runs on just three hits over 4.1 innings. Noland walked three, hit one batter and struck out just one.

The only Iowa run of the game came on a home run by right fielder Kevin Alcántara. It was the third-straight game that Alcántara homered in and was his fifth over just nine games to start the season.

Alcántara went 1 for 2 with a walk.

Iowa had only three hits tonight and first baseman Jonathon Long had the other two. He was 2 for 4.

Here’s the Alcántara home run.

A home run in three straight games for Kevin Alcantara! pic.twitter.com/a5fImXofWu

— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) April 8, 2026

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies trashed the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 14-6.

Jake Knapp pitched the first four innings and gave up four runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked one.

Nick Dean threw the next 2.2 innings and got the win because Knapp didn’t go five. Dean surrendered one run on four hits. He struck out four and walked one.

First baseman Edgar Alvarez put the Smokies on top 2-1 in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run. Alvarez finished 1 for 2 with three walks. He scored twice.

After Knapp gave up the lead a two-run home run in the top of the second, Knoxville struck back with an eight-run bottom of the second inning. Karson Simas started the party with a three-run home run. Simas went 3 for 4 with a triple and the home run. He scored twice. It was his second home run this year.

Shortstop Jefferson Rojas singled in another run in the second to make it 6-3 Knoxville. But his big blow was a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning, also his second on the season. Rojas finished 2 for 5 with four total RBI. He scored twice.

Left fielder Jordan Nwogu hit a two-run double in the second. Nwogu went 1 for 5 with a run scored.

Carter Trice was 2 for 4 with a bases-loaded walk in the second inning. He scored once.

Seiya Suzuki played seven innings in right field and went 3 for 5 with two doubles. He scored three times.

Every batter in the starting lineup had at least one hit.

Here’s the home run by Rojas. [VIDEO]

Suzuki’s three hits.

Seiya Suzuki's rehab is going just fine, thank you.

The @Cubs slugger doubles twice and finishes with three hits to lift his OPS to 1.082 in 4 rehab games with @smokiesbaseball. pic.twitter.com/i4YnI7W8lE

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 8, 2026

South Bend Cubs

The good news is that South Bend finally got to play a game tonight. The bad news is that South Bend was blasted by the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 10-1.

Koen Moreno started, but he didn’t make it out of the first inning. Moreno was hammered for seven runs on five hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. One of the hits was a three-run home run by Anyelo Encarnacion.

Center fielder Kane Kepley went 2 for 4 with a double that led off the game. He scored South Bend’s only run on a single in the first by catcher Owen Ayers. Ayers also went 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans captured the Columbia Fireflies (Royals), 5-1. The Pelicans are now 4-0 to start the year.

Victor Zarraga started and allowed a solo home run in the second inning but nothing else crossed the plate. Zarraga allowed one run on five hits over three innings. He walked one and struck out one.

Mason McGwire threw the next two innings and got the win. McGwire gave up no runs and just one hit. He struck out three and walked three. Still too many walks, but that’s probably the best outing of McGwire’s career.

Riely Hunsaker, whom the Cubs took in the 16th round out of Lamar last year, was strong in his professional debut. Hunsaker went three innings and allowed just one hit and no runs. He struck out five and walked only one.

The Pelicans scored five runs on just five hits. But five walks and three hit batsmen helped their cause. So did three sacrifice flies.

Left fielder Eli Lovich went 2 for 3 with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Lovich also walked once and scored twice.

Shortstop Ty Southisene was 2 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored one run and drove in one.

The Cubs signed right-hander Tyler Beede and assigned him to Iowa. If you’re confused and thought the Cubs signed Beede over the winter, they did. They also released him two weeks ago and re-signed him today.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs got blown over by the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 8-1.

Iowa starter Connor Noland gave up two-run home runs in the second and fifth innings and ended up with the loss. His final line was five runs on just three hits over 4.1 innings. Noland walked three, hit one batter and struck out just one.

The only Iowa run of the game came on a home run by right fielder Kevin Alcántara. It was the third-straight game that Alcántara homered in and was his fifth over just nine games to start the season.

Alcántara went 1 for 2 with a walk.

Iowa had only three hits tonight and first baseman Jonathon Long had the other two. He was 2 for 4.

Here’s the Alcántara home run.

A home run in three straight games for Kevin Alcantara! pic.twitter.com/a5fImXofWu

— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) April 8, 2026

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies trashed the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 14-6.

Jake Knapp pitched the first four innings and gave up four runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked one.

Nick Dean threw the next 2.2 innings and got the win because Knapp didn’t go five. Dean surrendered one run on four hits. He struck out four and walked one.

First baseman Edgar Alvarez put the Smokies on top 2-1 in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run. Alvarez finished 1 for 2 with three walks. He scored twice.

After Knapp gave up the lead a two-run home run in the top of the second, Knoxville struck back with an eight-run bottom of the second inning. Karson Simas started the party with a three-run home run. Simas went 3 for 4 with a triple and the home run. He scored twice. It was his second home run this year.

Shortstop Jefferson Rojas singled in another run in the second to make it 6-3 Knoxville. But his big blow was a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning, also his second on the season. Rojas finished 2 for 5 with four total RBI. He scored twice.

Left fielder Jordan Nwogu hit a two-run double in the second. Nwogu went 1 for 5 with a run scored.

Carter Trice was 2 for 4 with a bases-loaded walk in the second inning. He scored once.

Seiya Suzuki played seven innings in right field and went 3 for 5 with two doubles. He scored three times.

Every batter in the starting lineup had at least one hit.

Here’s the home run by Rojas. [VIDEO]

Suzuki’s three hits.

Seiya Suzuki's rehab is going just fine, thank you.

The @Cubs slugger doubles twice and finishes with three hits to lift his OPS to 1.082 in 4 rehab games with @smokiesbaseball. pic.twitter.com/i4YnI7W8lE

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 8, 2026

South Bend Cubs

The good news is that South Bend finally got to play a game tonight. The bad news is that South Bend was blasted by the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 10-1.

Koen Moreno started, but he didn’t make it out of the first inning. Moreno was hammered for seven runs on five hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. One of the hits was a three-run home run by Anyelo Encarnacion.

Center fielder Kane Kepley went 2 for 4 with a double that led off the game. He scored South Bend’s only run on a single in the first by catcher Owen Ayers. Ayers also went 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans captured the Columbia Fireflies (Royals), 5-1. The Pelicans are now 4-0 to start the year.

Victor Zarraga started and allowed a solo home run in the second inning but nothing else crossed the plate. Zarraga allowed one run on five hits over three innings. He walked one and struck out one.

Mason McGwire threw the next two innings and got the win. McGwire gave up no runs and just one hit. He struck out three and walked three. Still too many walks, but that’s probably the best outing of McGwire’s career.

Riely Hunsaker, whom the Cubs took in the 16th round out of Lamar last year, was strong in his professional debut. Hunsaker went three innings and allowed just one hit and no runs. He struck out five and walked only one.

The Pelicans scored five runs on just five hits. But five walks and three hit batsmen helped their cause. So did three sacrifice flies.

Left fielder Eli Lovich went 2 for 3 with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Lovich also walked once and scored twice.

Shortstop Ty Southisene was 2 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored one run and drove in one.

The Cubs signed right-hander Tyler Beede and assigned him to Iowa. If you’re confused and thought the Cubs signed Beede over the winter, they did. They also released him two weeks ago and re-signed him today.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs got blown over by the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 8-1.

Iowa starter Connor Noland gave up two-run home runs in the second and fifth innings and ended up with the loss. His final line was five runs on just three hits over 4.1 innings. Noland walked three, hit one batter and struck out just one.

The only Iowa run of the game came on a home run by right fielder Kevin Alcántara. It was the third-straight game that Alcántara homered in and was his fifth over just nine games to start the season.

Alcántara went 1 for 2 with a walk.

Iowa had only three hits tonight and first baseman Jonathon Long had the other two. He was 2 for 4.

Here’s the Alcántara home run.

A home run in three straight games for Kevin Alcantara! pic.twitter.com/a5fImXofWu

— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) April 8, 2026

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies trashed the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 14-6.

Jake Knapp pitched the first four innings and gave up four runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked one.

Nick Dean threw the next 2.2 innings and got the win because Knapp didn’t go five. Dean surrendered one run on four hits. He struck out four and walked one.

First baseman Edgar Alvarez put the Smokies on top 2-1 in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run. Alvarez finished 1 for 2 with three walks. He scored twice.

After Knapp gave up the lead a two-run home run in the top of the second, Knoxville struck back with an eight-run bottom of the second inning. Karson Simas started the party with a three-run home run. Simas went 3 for 4 with a triple and the home run. He scored twice. It was his second home run this year.

Shortstop Jefferson Rojas singled in another run in the second to make it 6-3 Knoxville. But his big blow was a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning, also his second on the season. Rojas finished 2 for 5 with four total RBI. He scored twice.

Left fielder Jordan Nwogu hit a two-run double in the second. Nwogu went 1 for 5 with a run scored.

Carter Trice was 2 for 4 with a bases-loaded walk in the second inning. He scored once.

Seiya Suzuki played seven innings in right field and went 3 for 5 with two doubles. He scored three times.

Every batter in the starting lineup had at least one hit.

Here’s the home run by Rojas. [VIDEO]

Suzuki’s three hits.

Seiya Suzuki's rehab is going just fine, thank you.

The @Cubs slugger doubles twice and finishes with three hits to lift his OPS to 1.082 in 4 rehab games with @smokiesbaseball. pic.twitter.com/i4YnI7W8lE

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 8, 2026

South Bend Cubs

The good news is that South Bend finally got to play a game tonight. The bad news is that South Bend was blasted by the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 10-1.

Koen Moreno started, but he didn’t make it out of the first inning. Moreno was hammered for seven runs on five hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. One of the hits was a three-run home run by Anyelo Encarnacion.

Center fielder Kane Kepley went 2 for 4 with a double that led off the game. He scored South Bend’s only run on a single in the first by catcher Owen Ayers. Ayers also went 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans captured the Columbia Fireflies (Royals), 5-1. The Pelicans are now 4-0 to start the year.

Victor Zarraga started and allowed a solo home run in the second inning but nothing else crossed the plate. Zarraga allowed one run on five hits over three innings. He walked one and struck out one.

Mason McGwire threw the next two innings and got the win. McGwire gave up no runs and just one hit. He struck out three and walked three. Still too many walks, but that’s probably the best outing of McGwire’s career.

Riely Hunsaker, whom the Cubs took in the 16th round out of Lamar last year, was strong in his professional debut. Hunsaker went three innings and allowed just one hit and no runs. He struck out five and walked only one.

The Pelicans scored five runs on just five hits. But five walks and three hit batsmen helped their cause. So did three sacrifice flies.

Left fielder Eli Lovich went 2 for 3 with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Lovich also walked once and scored twice.

Shortstop Ty Southisene was 2 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored one run and drove in one.

Taj Bradley and Tarik Skubal traded scoreless innings tonight, until the Twins broke through in the 5th. After a pair of 1-out walks by Byron Buxton and Austin Martin, Luke Keaschall singled up the middle for the first run. Then, Ryan Jeffers doubled down the right field line, scoring 2 more runs. Two batters later, Josh Bell doubled to left for the 4th run of the inning, knocking the Tigers ace out of the game.

Taj Bradley kept the Tigers off the scoreboard through 6 innings, working his way out of a bases loaded jam in the 2nd, and stranding baserunners in various others, picking up 9 strikeouts. In the 7th, with the pitch count approaching 100, Derek Shelton left him in the game. After Spencer Torkelson and Parker Meadows singled, Taj picked up strikeout number 10 against Jávier Baez. Taylor Rogers entered in relief, getting Jahmai Jones to fly out before Kevin McGonigle singled to score Torkelson. He ended the inning by striking out Gleyber Torres looking.

In the top of the 8th, Rogers got Riley Greene to strike out before giving way to Cole Sands. After a line out, Sands gave up two walks. Eric Orze entered, and got Kerry Carpenter, the tying run, to strikeout to end the threat.

The Twins made some more noise with the bats in the 8th, but left the bases loaded, taking their 3 run lead to the 9th. Orze gave up a double to Baez and a double to McGonigle to make it a 4-2 game, with Justin Topa coming in for the save. He got Torres to ground out, and, after a Greene walk, Dillon Dingler grounded out to end the game.

Studs:

Taj Bradley: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 10 K

Josh Bell: 3-4, 2B, RBI

Ryan Jeffers: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Duds:

NO DUDS TWINS WIN!!

Taj Bradley and Tarik Skubal traded scoreless innings tonight, until the Twins broke through in the 5th. After a pair of 1-out walks by Byron Buxton and Austin Martin, Luke Keaschall singled up the middle for the first run. Then, Ryan Jeffers doubled down the right field line, scoring 2 more runs. Two batters later, Josh Bell doubled to left for the 4th run of the inning, knocking the Tigers ace out of the game.

Taj Bradley kept the Tigers off the scoreboard through 6 innings, working his way out of a bases loaded jam in the 2nd, and stranding baserunners in various others, picking up 9 strikeouts. In the 7th, with the pitch count approaching 100, Derek Shelton left him in the game. After Spencer Torkelson and Parker Meadows singled, Taj picked up strikeout number 10 against Jávier Baez. Taylor Rogers entered in relief, getting Jahmai Jones to fly out before Kevin McGonigle singled to score Torkelson. He ended the inning by striking out Gleyber Torres looking.

In the top of the 8th, Rogers got Riley Greene to strike out before giving way to Cole Sands. After a line out, Sands gave up two walks. Eric Orze entered, and got Kerry Carpenter, the tying run, to strikeout to end the threat.

The Twins made some more noise with the bats in the 8th, but left the bases loaded, taking their 3 run lead to the 9th. Orze gave up a double to Baez and a double to McGonigle to make it a 4-2 game, with Justin Topa coming in for the save. He got Torres to ground out, and, after a Greene walk, Dillon Dingler grounded out to end the game.

Studs:

Taj Bradley: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 10 K

Josh Bell: 3-4, 2B, RBI

Ryan Jeffers: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Duds:

NO DUDS TWINS WIN!!

Taj Bradley and Tarik Skubal traded scoreless innings tonight, until the Twins broke through in the 5th. After a pair of 1-out walks by Byron Buxton and Austin Martin, Luke Keaschall singled up the middle for the first run. Then, Ryan Jeffers doubled down the right field line, scoring 2 more runs. Two batters later, Josh Bell doubled to left for the 4th run of the inning, knocking the Tigers ace out of the game.

Taj Bradley kept the Tigers off the scoreboard through 6 innings, working his way out of a bases loaded jam in the 2nd, and stranding baserunners in various others, picking up 9 strikeouts. In the 7th, with the pitch count approaching 100, Derek Shelton left him in the game. After Spencer Torkelson and Parker Meadows singled, Taj picked up strikeout number 10 against Jávier Baez. Taylor Rogers entered in relief, getting Jahmai Jones to fly out before Kevin McGonigle singled to score Torkelson. He ended the inning by striking out Gleyber Torres looking.

In the top of the 8th, Rogers got Riley Greene to strike out before giving way to Cole Sands. After a line out, Sands gave up two walks. Eric Orze entered, and got Kerry Carpenter, the tying run, to strikeout to end the threat.

The Twins made some more noise with the bats in the 8th, but left the bases loaded, taking their 3 run lead to the 9th. Orze gave up a double to Baez and a double to McGonigle to make it a 4-2 game, with Justin Topa coming in for the save. He got Torres to ground out, and, after a Greene walk, Dillon Dingler grounded out to end the game.

Studs:

Taj Bradley: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 10 K

Josh Bell: 3-4, 2B, RBI

Ryan Jeffers: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Duds:

NO DUDS TWINS WIN!!

Huascar Brazobán thought he had just gotten out of a big-time jam in the top half of the fifth inning on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field. And in all other years of Major League Baseball’s history, the Mets' reliever did just that.

But this season is different from all others before it, and home plate umpire Brian O'Nora’s called strike three was merely an initial ruling and not the final word declaring Adrian Del Castillo guilty of being caught looking at a fastball on the inside corner to leave the bases loaded. 

The Diamondbacks’ DH initiated the appeals process and the ABS challenge system quickly overruled O’Nora’s enthusiastic call as the right-hander’s pitch was 0.3 inches off the plate. 

“It plays a big factor, big role,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of ABS after the game. “It was a really good challenge from [Del Castillo], really close pitch. Gotta give them credit there.”

Brazobán, who celebrated as a reliever is expected to after believing they ended a threat and preserved a 2-0 lead, had to quickly regain his composure for a 2-2 count. But it was Del Castillo who triumphed, driving the very next pitch, a 90 mph changeup that went right over the heart of the plate, into right field for a game-tying single. 

“They got him there,” the manager said.

Mendoza added that the mental side of the new ABS challenge system was something they discussed with the players at the start of spring training.

“That particular spot right there, when there’s traffic, when there’s runners on. And you think you executed a pitch, you get the call, and then the hitter challenges,” Mendoza continued. “And then you gotta get back on the mound. That’s not an easy situation, and it’s new for all of us here.

“You think you’re out of the woods, and before you know it, you gotta get back on the mound.”

Reliever Luke Weaver called the situation the “challenge part” of the new system.

"I think that is the perfect example of what the ABS has for us,” Weaver said. “We want to get things right. We want the hitter obviously wanting to be right, and he was, but it's very close.”

He added that while he hasn’t gotten to experience the emotion of a big overturn going against him, “I just imagine that your body just kind of tends to want to lean towards the celebratory part of it, but you've kind of got to hold yourself.”

“It's kind of like the play in the field when the challenge happens. You see it as an out, and then you start to walk, and the umpire holds you up. There's this weird no man's land feel,” he continued. “I think it's a similar thing with the ABS, and in a crucial moment like that in a big inning, it's just so close.

“It can be disheartening, but I think if you're in a good frame of mind, which it's not always going to happen, I think you've got to fight for that. I think you've got to fight to be prepared for the worst and then be excited when it happens, because it's going to happen your way at some point."

The Diamondbacks took advantage of baseball's new reality by scoring three runs, including an RBI bloop double one batter later, but for Brazobán and the rest of the Mets, the learning experience was served with a side of victory after a walk-off win in the 10th. 

Huascar Brazobán thought he had just gotten out of a big-time jam in the top half of the fifth inning on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field. And in all other years of Major League Baseball’s history, the Mets' reliever did just that.

But this season is different from all others before it, and home plate umpire Brian O'Nora’s called strike three was merely an initial ruling and not the final word declaring Adrian Del Castillo guilty of being caught looking at a fastball on the inside corner to leave the bases loaded. 

The Diamondbacks’ DH initiated the appeals process and the ABS challenge system quickly overruled O’Nora’s enthusiastic call as the right-hander’s pitch was 0.3 inches off the plate. 

“It plays a big factor, big role,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of ABS after the game. “It was a really good challenge from [Del Castillo], really close pitch. Gotta give them credit there.”

Brazobán, who celebrated as a reliever is expected to after believing they ended a threat and preserved a 2-0 lead, had to quickly regain his composure for a 2-2 count. But it was Del Castillo who triumphed, driving the very next pitch, a 90 mph changeup that went right over the heart of the plate, into right field for a game-tying single. 

“They got him there,” the manager said.

Mendoza added that the mental side of the new ABS challenge system was something they discussed with the players at the start of spring training.

“That particular spot right there, when there’s traffic, when there’s runners on. And you think you executed a pitch, you get the call, and then the hitter challenges,” Mendoza continued. “And then you gotta get back on the mound. That’s not an easy situation, and it’s new for all of us here.

“You think you’re out of the woods, and before you know it, you gotta get back on the mound.”

Reliever Luke Weaver called the situation the “challenge part” of the new system.

"I think that is the perfect example of what the ABS has for us,” Weaver said. “We want to get things right. We want the hitter obviously wanting to be right, and he was, but it's very close.”

He added that while he hasn’t gotten to experience the emotion of a big overturn going against him, “I just imagine that your body just kind of tends to want to lean towards the celebratory part of it, but you've kind of got to hold yourself.”

“It's kind of like the play in the field when the challenge happens. You see it as an out, and then you start to walk, and the umpire holds you up. There's this weird no man's land feel,” he continued. “I think it's a similar thing with the ABS, and in a crucial moment like that in a big inning, it's just so close.

“It can be disheartening, but I think if you're in a good frame of mind, which it's not always going to happen, I think you've got to fight for that. I think you've got to fight to be prepared for the worst and then be excited when it happens, because it's going to happen your way at some point."

The Diamondbacks took advantage of baseball's new reality by scoring three runs, including an RBI bloop double one batter later, but for Brazobán and the rest of the Mets, the learning experience was served with a side of victory after a walk-off win in the 10th. 

Huascar Brazobán thought he had just gotten out of a big-time jam in the top half of the fifth inning on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field. And in all other years of Major League Baseball’s history, the Mets' reliever did just that.

But this season is different from all others before it, and home plate umpire Brian O'Nora’s called strike three was merely an initial ruling and not the final word declaring Adrian Del Castillo guilty of being caught looking at a fastball on the inside corner to leave the bases loaded. 

The Diamondbacks’ DH initiated the appeals process and the ABS challenge system quickly overruled O’Nora’s enthusiastic call as the right-hander’s pitch was 0.3 inches off the plate. 

“It plays a big factor, big role,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of ABS after the game. “It was a really good challenge from [Del Castillo], really close pitch. Gotta give them credit there.”

Brazobán, who celebrated as a reliever is expected to after believing they ended a threat and preserved a 2-0 lead, had to quickly regain his composure for a 2-2 count. But it was Del Castillo who triumphed, driving the very next pitch, a 90 mph changeup that went right over the heart of the plate, into right field for a game-tying single. 

“They got him there,” the manager said.

Mendoza added that the mental side of the new ABS challenge system was something they discussed with the players at the start of spring training.

“That particular spot right there, when there’s traffic, when there’s runners on. And you think you executed a pitch, you get the call, and then the hitter challenges,” Mendoza continued. “And then you gotta get back on the mound. That’s not an easy situation, and it’s new for all of us here.

“You think you’re out of the woods, and before you know it, you gotta get back on the mound.”

Reliever Luke Weaver called the situation the “challenge part” of the new system.

"I think that is the perfect example of what the ABS has for us,” Weaver said. “We want to get things right. We want the hitter obviously wanting to be right, and he was, but it's very close.”

He added that while he hasn’t gotten to experience the emotion of a big overturn going against him, “I just imagine that your body just kind of tends to want to lean towards the celebratory part of it, but you've kind of got to hold yourself.”

“It's kind of like the play in the field when the challenge happens. You see it as an out, and then you start to walk, and the umpire holds you up. There's this weird no man's land feel,” he continued. “I think it's a similar thing with the ABS, and in a crucial moment like that in a big inning, it's just so close.

“It can be disheartening, but I think if you're in a good frame of mind, which it's not always going to happen, I think you've got to fight for that. I think you've got to fight to be prepared for the worst and then be excited when it happens, because it's going to happen your way at some point."

The Diamondbacks took advantage of baseball's new reality by scoring three runs, including an RBI bloop double one batter later, but for Brazobán and the rest of the Mets, the learning experience was served with a side of victory after a walk-off win in the 10th. 

After a pair of disappointing losses, the Tigers looked to right the ship on another chilly evening in Minneapolis. Despite having their ace on the mound, and the Twins putting together a far-from-fearsome lineup these days, those bats did enough to knock our starter around and secure a 4-2 victory for the Minnesotans.

Tarik Skubal made his third start of the season, and he’s been doing Skubally things so far. Coming into tonight he’d struck out nine and walked exactly zero in thirteen innings. Would tonight be the night he’d walk a guy?

Making his third start of the year for the Twins was Taj Bradley. After two seasons in the Rays’ rotation, he was traded to Minnesota at the trade deadline for Griffin Jax. Remember last year when the Twins had a little fire-sale? I sure do. They managed to procure a pair of good young starters in Bradley and Mick Abel, who will no doubt be a pain for the Tigers.

With one out in the second, Zach McKinstry doubled to right field, and Spencer Torkelson hit a single to put runners at the corners. Parker Meadows then struck out on a nasty splitter for the second out, and Javier Báez got plunked to load the bases, but Colt Keith promptly grounded out to second and that was that.

Skubal found himself in a mini-jam of his own in the bottom of the inning, after a one-out double by Victor Caratini and a single by Josh Bell to put runners on the corners. But then Skubal bore down and got a strikeout and a flyout to get out of it.

The bottom of the next inning saw the Twins get two singles to lead off, and Austin Martin hit into a double play, putting the lead runner on third with two outs. But then a soft comebacker to Skubal got him out of the inning.

A similar thing happened in the next inning: a Kevin McGonigle throwing error and a single to centre put two runners on with two out, and Royce Lewis lofted a fly ball towards the left-field fence, but Riley Greene hauled it in for the third out. But you can only play with fire long enough before it singes your fingertips.

The bottom of the fifth featured Skubal’s first walk of the year, to Byron Buxton (check your Bingo cards, everyone). And then he went and walked the next hitter, Martin, to put another two runners on. Since you can only play with fire for so long before getting burned, Luke Keaschall singled to centre to score Buxton and open the scoring. Ryan Jeffers followed with a two-run double to right to score both Martin and Keaschall; he was 1-for-25 before this plate appearance off Skubal in his career. After a strikeout, Bell blasted a double to make it 4-0 and end Skubal’s day. Tyler Holton came in and got a sharp grounder to second for the third out, but the damage had been done.

In the top of the seventh, and with Bradley still on the mound, the Tigers got a pair of singles from Torkelson and Meadows. Báez struck out, Bradley left in favour of Taylor Rogers, and Keith was replaced by Jahmai Jones, who flew out to right and pushed Torkelson to third. McGonigle singled to left, scoring Torkelson and making the score 4-1. But Gleyber Torres struck out and the inning ended.

Connor Seabold replaced Holton to start the seventh, and he threw a pleasantly boring inning.

With two out in the top of the eighth, Cole Sands walked McKinstry and Torkelson, and Kerry Carpenter, who hadn’t started the past two days due to an illness, came on to pinch-hit for Meadows. Eric Orze replaced Sands to face Carpenter, but alas, he struck out and the threat was extinguished.

Seabold carried on into the bottom of the eighth, and perhaps he shouldn’t have, allowing a pair of singles to start the inning. After a strikeout and a walk, the bases were loaded with one out. Seabold then struck out Brooks Lee looking, surprising him with a low fastball, to bring up Buxton… who fouled-out to Torkelson for the third out.

The Tigers had some signs of life in the ninth: Báez doubled to lead off the ninth, but Jones struck out for the first out. McGonigle followed, and of course he came through, anticipating a splitter down and scraping it almost off the firt for a sharp double down the right field line. That knocked Báez in for a 4-2 score. Justin Topa replaced Orze, Torres grounded out for the second out, pushing McGonigle up to third; Greene walked to put runners at the corners. Alas, Dillon Dingler grounded out softly to shortstop and the game was over.

Kinda fun at the end, but ultimately… blehagain.

Final score: Twins 4, Tigers 2

Numbers and Things

• Coming into tonight’s game, the Tigers were tied for last (with the Orioles) in the American League with seven home runs.
• The Astros have the most homers with fifteen, but what jumps out the most with me for Houston is the number of doubles they’ve hit: they have 34, and the second-place team, Boston, has 19. Wow! (The Tigers are in third place with 18, so there’s your extra-base power, I guess.)
• On this day in 1795, France officially adopted the kilogram as its unit of mass. I’m a giant fan of the metric system, and the kilogram is the basic unit of mass around which lots of other units are built (the newton, the joule, the watt, and others). Ounces, pounds, bushels, hogsheads, fathoms, acres? Get outta here with that hot nonsense, buddy! Keep it metric!

After a pair of disappointing losses, the Tigers looked to right the ship on another chilly evening in Minneapolis. Despite having their ace on the mound, and the Twins putting together a far-from-fearsome lineup these days, those bats did enough to knock our starter around and secure a 4-2 victory for the Minnesotans.

Tarik Skubal made his third start of the season, and he’s been doing Skubally things so far. Coming into tonight he’d struck out nine and walked exactly zero in thirteen innings. Would tonight be the night he’d walk a guy?

Making his third start of the year for the Twins was Taj Bradley. After two seasons in the Rays’ rotation, he was traded to Minnesota at the trade deadline for Griffin Jax. Remember last year when the Twins had a little fire-sale? I sure do. They managed to procure a pair of good young starters in Bradley and Mick Abel, who will no doubt be a pain for the Tigers.

With one out in the second, Zach McKinstry doubled to right field, and Spencer Torkelson hit a single to put runners at the corners. Parker Meadows then struck out on a nasty splitter for the second out, and Javier Báez got plunked to load the bases, but Colt Keith promptly grounded out to second and that was that.

Skubal found himself in a mini-jam of his own in the bottom of the inning, after a one-out double by Victor Caratini and a single by Josh Bell to put runners on the corners. But then Skubal bore down and got a strikeout and a flyout to get out of it.

The bottom of the next inning saw the Twins get two singles to lead off, and Austin Martin hit into a double play, putting the lead runner on third with two outs. But then a soft comebacker to Skubal got him out of the inning.

A similar thing happened in the next inning: a Kevin McGonigle throwing error and a single to centre put two runners on with two out, and Royce Lewis lofted a fly ball towards the left-field fence, but Riley Greene hauled it in for the third out. But you can only play with fire long enough before it singes your fingertips.

The bottom of the fifth featured Skubal’s first walk of the year, to Byron Buxton (check your Bingo cards, everyone). And then he went and walked the next hitter, Martin, to put another two runners on. Since you can only play with fire for so long before getting burned, Luke Keaschall singled to centre to score Buxton and open the scoring. Ryan Jeffers followed with a two-run double to right to score both Martin and Keaschall; he was 1-for-25 before this plate appearance off Skubal in his career. After a strikeout, Bell blasted a double to make it 4-0 and end Skubal’s day. Tyler Holton came in and got a sharp grounder to second for the third out, but the damage had been done.

In the top of the seventh, and with Bradley still on the mound, the Tigers got a pair of singles from Torkelson and Meadows. Báez struck out, Bradley left in favour of Taylor Rogers, and Keith was replaced by Jahmai Jones, who flew out to right and pushed Torkelson to third. McGonigle singled to left, scoring Torkelson and making the score 4-1. But Gleyber Torres struck out and the inning ended.

Connor Seabold replaced Holton to start the seventh, and he threw a pleasantly boring inning.

With two out in the top of the eighth, Cole Sands walked McKinstry and Torkelson, and Kerry Carpenter, who hadn’t started the past two days due to an illness, came on to pinch-hit for Meadows. Eric Orze replaced Sands to face Carpenter, but alas, he struck out and the threat was extinguished.

Seabold carried on into the bottom of the eighth, and perhaps he shouldn’t have, allowing a pair of singles to start the inning. After a strikeout and a walk, the bases were loaded with one out. Seabold then struck out Brooks Lee looking, surprising him with a low fastball, to bring up Buxton… who fouled-out to Torkelson for the third out.

The Tigers had some signs of life in the ninth: Báez doubled to lead off the ninth, but Jones struck out for the first out. McGonigle followed, and of course he came through, anticipating a splitter down and scraping it almost off the firt for a sharp double down the right field line. That knocked Báez in for a 4-2 score. Justin Topa replaced Orze, Torres grounded out for the second out, pushing McGonigle up to third; Greene walked to put runners at the corners. Alas, Dillon Dingler grounded out softly to shortstop and the game was over.

Kinda fun at the end, but ultimately… blehagain.

Final score: Twins 4, Tigers 2

Numbers and Things

• Coming into tonight’s game, the Tigers were tied for last (with the Orioles) in the American League with seven home runs.
• The Astros have the most homers with fifteen, but what jumps out the most with me for Houston is the number of doubles they’ve hit: they have 34, and the second-place team, Boston, has 19. Wow! (The Tigers are in third place with 18, so there’s your extra-base power, I guess.)
• On this day in 1795, France officially adopted the kilogram as its unit of mass. I’m a giant fan of the metric system, and the kilogram is the basic unit of mass around which lots of other units are built (the newton, the joule, the watt, and others). Ounces, pounds, bushels, hogsheads, fathoms, acres? Get outta here with that hot nonsense, buddy! Keep it metric!

After a pair of disappointing losses, the Tigers looked to right the ship on another chilly evening in Minneapolis. Despite having their ace on the mound, and the Twins putting together a far-from-fearsome lineup these days, those bats did enough to knock our starter around and secure a 4-2 victory for the Minnesotans.

Tarik Skubal made his third start of the season, and he’s been doing Skubally things so far. Coming into tonight he’d struck out nine and walked exactly zero in thirteen innings. Would tonight be the night he’d walk a guy?

Making his third start of the year for the Twins was Taj Bradley. After two seasons in the Rays’ rotation, he was traded to Minnesota at the trade deadline for Griffin Jax. Remember last year when the Twins had a little fire-sale? I sure do. They managed to procure a pair of good young starters in Bradley and Mick Abel, who will no doubt be a pain for the Tigers.

With one out in the second, Zach McKinstry doubled to right field, and Spencer Torkelson hit a single to put runners at the corners. Parker Meadows then struck out on a nasty splitter for the second out, and Javier Báez got plunked to load the bases, but Colt Keith promptly grounded out to second and that was that.

Skubal found himself in a mini-jam of his own in the bottom of the inning, after a one-out double by Victor Caratini and a single by Josh Bell to put runners on the corners. But then Skubal bore down and got a strikeout and a flyout to get out of it.

The bottom of the next inning saw the Twins get two singles to lead off, and Austin Martin hit into a double play, putting the lead runner on third with two outs. But then a soft comebacker to Skubal got him out of the inning.

A similar thing happened in the next inning: a Kevin McGonigle throwing error and a single to centre put two runners on with two out, and Royce Lewis lofted a fly ball towards the left-field fence, but Riley Greene hauled it in for the third out. But you can only play with fire long enough before it singes your fingertips.

The bottom of the fifth featured Skubal’s first walk of the year, to Byron Buxton (check your Bingo cards, everyone). And then he went and walked the next hitter, Martin, to put another two runners on. Since you can only play with fire for so long before getting burned, Luke Keaschall singled to centre to score Buxton and open the scoring. Ryan Jeffers followed with a two-run double to right to score both Martin and Keaschall; he was 1-for-25 before this plate appearance off Skubal in his career. After a strikeout, Bell blasted a double to make it 4-0 and end Skubal’s day. Tyler Holton came in and got a sharp grounder to second for the third out, but the damage had been done.

In the top of the seventh, and with Bradley still on the mound, the Tigers got a pair of singles from Torkelson and Meadows. Báez struck out, Bradley left in favour of Taylor Rogers, and Keith was replaced by Jahmai Jones, who flew out to right and pushed Torkelson to third. McGonigle singled to left, scoring Torkelson and making the score 4-1. But Gleyber Torres struck out and the inning ended.

Connor Seabold replaced Holton to start the seventh, and he threw a pleasantly boring inning.

With two out in the top of the eighth, Cole Sands walked McKinstry and Torkelson, and Kerry Carpenter, who hadn’t started the past two days due to an illness, came on to pinch-hit for Meadows. Eric Orze replaced Sands to face Carpenter, but alas, he struck out and the threat was extinguished.

Seabold carried on into the bottom of the eighth, and perhaps he shouldn’t have, allowing a pair of singles to start the inning. After a strikeout and a walk, the bases were loaded with one out. Seabold then struck out Brooks Lee looking, surprising him with a low fastball, to bring up Buxton… who fouled-out to Torkelson for the third out.

The Tigers had some signs of life in the ninth: Báez doubled to lead off the ninth, but Jones struck out for the first out. McGonigle followed, and of course he came through, anticipating a splitter down and scraping it almost off the firt for a sharp double down the right field line. That knocked Báez in for a 4-2 score. Justin Topa replaced Orze, Torres grounded out for the second out, pushing McGonigle up to third; Greene walked to put runners at the corners. Alas, Dillon Dingler grounded out softly to shortstop and the game was over.

Kinda fun at the end, but ultimately… blehagain.

Final score: Twins 4, Tigers 2

Numbers and Things

• Coming into tonight’s game, the Tigers were tied for last (with the Orioles) in the American League with seven home runs.
• The Astros have the most homers with fifteen, but what jumps out the most with me for Houston is the number of doubles they’ve hit: they have 34, and the second-place team, Boston, has 19. Wow! (The Tigers are in third place with 18, so there’s your extra-base power, I guess.)
• On this day in 1795, France officially adopted the kilogram as its unit of mass. I’m a giant fan of the metric system, and the kilogram is the basic unit of mass around which lots of other units are built (the newton, the joule, the watt, and others). Ounces, pounds, bushels, hogsheads, fathoms, acres? Get outta here with that hot nonsense, buddy! Keep it metric!

Rangers 3, Mariners 2

Something that is good or, sometimes, less bad: J.P. Crawford, +.016 WPA
Something that is less good or, sometimes, bad: Dominic Canzone -.270 WPA

Game Thread Comment of the Day

Rangers 3, Mariners 2

Something that is good or, sometimes, less bad: J.P. Crawford, +.016 WPA
Something that is less good or, sometimes, bad: Dominic Canzone -.270 WPA

Game Thread Comment of the Day

Rangers 3, Mariners 2

Something that is good or, sometimes, less bad: J.P. Crawford, +.016 WPA
Something that is less good or, sometimes, bad: Dominic Canzone -.270 WPA

Game Thread Comment of the Day