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Mets tee off against Phillies with home run barrage to snap seven-game losing streak

The Mets took out some recent frustration at the plate on Saturday night, pummeling the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 11-4.

Here are the takeaways...

-Mired in a team-wide slump during its seven-game losing streak, New York's offense busted out in a huge way on Saturday by drilling seven home runs, including three straight by Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto in the third inning. It was the first time the Mets hit back-to-back-to-back home runs since Oct. 4, 2022 against the Washington Nationals.

-Nimmo and Soto each had two homers with Nimmo's first coming in the first inning that gave New York a 1-0 lead. Soto's second blast of the night happened in the fifth which extended the Mets' advantage to 5-3.

-Including Pete Alonso, New York's top four in the lineup combined to go 10-for-18 with every hitter finishing with a multi-hit game. Soto had the biggest night of all with a 4-for-5 performance with four RBI and two runs scored.

-With his home run to lead off the third and start the three-peat, Lindor snapped an 0-for-19 skid. It was also the shortstop's first long ball in 16 games which spanned 64 at-bats. The Mets have now won the last 28 games in which Lindor has hit a home run. He also added a two-run double high off the right-field wall in the sixth inning to give him three RBI on the night.

-Jared Young smacked a solo shot of his own in the eighth for his only hit and Francisco Alvarez added another bomb in the ninth as part of a 2-for-5 game.

-On the mound for New York was Griffin Canning who stumbled out of the gates, allowing the Phillies to score two runs in the first inning after the Mets gave him a quick lead. The right-hander gave up another run in the second to put his team down 3-1 and it appeared as if New York was in for another disappointing game.

However, Canning steadied the ship after the Mets' offense bailed him out and ended up going 5.0+ innings. In total, he gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out four and doing enough to earn his seventh win of the season.

-Huascar Brazoban (2 IP), Ryne Stanek (1 IP) and Chris Devenski (1 IP) pitched in relief of Canning and finished out the game without allowing a run. The same can not be said about Philadelphia's bullpen who needed five guys to come in after starter Mick Abel left before the start of the fourth inning. This sets New York up well for Sunday's rubber game.

Game MVP: Mets offense

For the first time in a while, the Mets had a laugher and totaled 11 runs on 15 hits, including seven home runs.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets cap off their six-game road trip with a Sunday night tilt against the Phillies. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

LHP David Peterson (5-2, 2.60 ERA) will face off against LHP Jesus Luzardo (6-3, 4.41 ERA).

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Clarke Schmidt pitches seven hitless innings, Yankees lose no-hit bid vs. Orioles in the eighth

NEW YORK — Clarke Schmidt exited the mound after getting through his seventh hitless inning and exchanged a glance with manager Aaron Boone in the dugout as an indication he was not continuing.

While Schmidt was disappointed, the right-hander certainly understood not going beyond the seventh inning to continue his no-hit bid.

Schmidt was pulled after tying a career high with 103 pitches, and the New York Yankees lost a no-hit bid against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday when Gary SĂĄnchez singled to start the eighth against J.T. Brubaker.

“It’s more him like looking at me like this is it for you right here,” Schmidt said after the 9-0 win. “There’s a little bit of a back-and-forth where you’re having a conference, some dialog, but you can tell with the look in his eyes, it’s ‘You’re at (103). We’re not driving you to 130 today.’”

“You’re going to power through pitch limits or within reason,” Boone said. “Today was not that day for Clarke.”

Schmidt threw 27 pitches in the first inning, when he issued consecutive walks to Jordan Westburg and Gunnar Henderson. He stranded a runner in the fourth after hitting Ryan O’Hearn with a pitch.

Schmidt breezed through a nine-pitch fifth inning and needed eight pitches to get through the sixth.

“I knew he was struggling a little bit, even in the fifth, in the sixth and when he came through in that seventh and I was kind of down there waiting,” Boone said. “I knew he was done.”

Schmidt threw 21 pitches in the seventh as Brubaker warmed up. He ended by retiring Colton Cowser on a fly ball to center field.

“Unbelievable,” Brubaker said of Schmidt. “He absolutely dominated with every single pitch he had in the arsenal and went right after their hitters and that can go show you what attacking hitters can do and it can put you in a really good spot.”

It was the fifth time in team history a pitcher threw at least seven hitless innings and did not finish the no-hitter. The previous instance was Oct. 3, 2022, at Texas when Luis Severino was pulled after seven and Josh Jung singled in the eighth off Miguel Castro.

Brubaker threw two strikes to SĂĄnchez, but the former Yankees catcher hit a clean single to left one pitch after first base umpire Jansen Viconti said he checked his swing. After the hit, some in the crowd of 46,142 lightly booed.

“Everybody in the stadium knows the situation,” Brubaker said. “I’m not ignoring it. Anytime I toe the rubber, I don’t want to give up a hit. At the end that’s always the goal. It happened to be that there was the no-hitter going.”

Brubaker finished New York’s second one-hitter this season by retiring Dylan Carlson. It was the Yankees’ 73rd one-hitter and sixth since the start of the 2022 season.

Schmidt threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of 24 hitters, struck out five and walked two. He ended the game with a scoreless inning streak of 25.1, the third-longest by a Yankees player since 1961. Only Gerrit Cole (25 2/3 innings in 2023) and Catfish Hunter (26 innings in 1975) had longer scoreless streaks.

New York has thrown 24 no-hitters in team history. The last was June 28, 2023, in Oakland when Domingo Germán threw the Yankees’ major league-leading fourth perfect game.

The Orioles have been no-hit 15 times in team history. Baltimore was last held hitless on Aug. 12, 2015, in Seattle by Hisashi Iwakuma.

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Rafael Devers hits first home run for Giants against former team Red Sox

SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers hit his first home run for the Giants, connecting against his former Boston Red Sox team just six days after being traded to San Francisco.

Devers began his first series against the Red Sox by going 0 for 5 on Friday night and grounding out in his first at-bat Saturday. He then delivered just what his new team had been expecting when he hit an opposite-field drive off Brayan Bello over the left-field fence for a two-run homer in the third inning.

Devers got loud cheers from the big crowd in San Francisco as he rounded the bases for his 216th career home run that just happened to be caught by a fan in a Red Sox T-shirt.

Devers became the 10th player to homer for and against the same team in a span of seven days or fewer, according to Sportradar. The last player to do it was Abraham Toro, who homered for Houston against Seattle on July 26, 2021, and then for the Mariners against the Astros the next day.

This is the third time it happened with a player traded by the Red Sox. Don Lenhardt and Walt Dropo both did it in 1952, with their homers for Detroit against Boston coming in the same game on June 6 that season, three days after they were traded together in an eight-player deal.

Devers was traded by Boston less than two years into a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension that he signed in 2023.

Devers’ relationship with the Red Sox began to deteriorate when the team signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman during spring training and asked Devers to move to DH; he balked before agreeing to the switch. When first baseman Triston Casas sustained a season-ending knee injury, the Red Sox approached Devers about playing the field and he declined, saying the front office “should do their jobs” and look for another player.

A day after Devers’ comments to the media about playing first, Red Sox owner John Henry, team president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers and manager Alex Cora.

Devers’ stance didn’t change and he was eventually traded to San Francisco where he is practicing at first base to play there later this season. Devers said Friday that he wouldn’t have done anything differently in his time in Boston, adding that he was as happy as he has been in years after joining the Giants.

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Braves place reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale on injured list with fractured rib cage

MIAMI — The Atlanta Braves placed reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale on the 15-day injured list Saturday because of a fractured left rib cage.

“He was doing his exercises (Friday) and felt like something wasn’t right,” manager Brian Snitker said before the Braves’ game Saturday against the Miami Marlins. “So they had him looked at and it showed what it showed.”

In his previous start, against the New York Mets on Wednesday, Sale sprinted off the mound and made a diving stop of a grounder hit by Juan Soto and threw him out for the first out in the ninth. He then struck out Pete Alonso and was lifted after allowing a single to Brandon Nimmo.

“It’s just a freak thing. An unfortunate thing,” Snitker said. “I saw him after the game that night and he was doing his postgame workout. And then I saw him the next day and I think he maybe felt a little uncomfortable the next day. But then (Friday) is when he wanted to get it checked out.”

Sale is 5-4 and has a 2.52 ERA through 15 starts this season. The 36-year-old left-hander threw a season-high 116 pitches and 8 2/3 innings against the Mets.

“It’s a tough blow for us and him,” Snitker said. “It was going so good. That’s a rough one.”

After six seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Sale was traded to the Braves in December 2023. Sale won the pitching Triple Crown in his first season in Atlanta, finishing with an NL high in wins (18) and strikeouts (225) and a league-low ERA of 2.38.

Snitker doesn’t have a timeline when his star pitcher will return.

“With bones like that, they’ve got to heal before you can start the process, but I have no idea how long it will be,” he said.

The Braves began Saturday at 34-40 and 11 games behind NL East-leading Philadelphia. They had won six of seven, including a three-game series sweep against the Mets, before losing the series opener at Miami on Friday.

In the corresponding move retroactive to Thursday, the Braves recalled left-handed pitcher Austin Cox from Triple-A Gwinnett.

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Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle accused of abuse by wife, MLB investigating

MLB: San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers

Jun 15, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle (64) throws during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Gary A. Vasquez/Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants said Major League Baseball is looking into allegations of abuse made by the wife of reliever Sean Hjelle.

Caroline Hjelle made a post on TikTok on Friday of her with the couple’s two children with a caption that said: “When my MLB husband abandons us on Mothers Day a week after this (video was taken) once I finally found about his affairs and stopped putting up with his abuse, so I’ve been raising two boys alone.”

The Giants said in a statement Saturday that they are “aware of these serious allegations” and that MLB is handling it.

Manager Bob Melvin said before Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox that Hjelle would be available to pitch.

“Obviously we’re aware of it,” Melvin said. “He told me about it last night. We talked to MLB. At this point, it’s in their jurisdiction right now so I really can’t comment on it further.”

Hjelle took the loss in Friday night’s game against the Red Sox, allowing a tiebreaking homer to Ceddanne Rafaela in the sixth inning.

Hjelle is 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA in six appearances this season.

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Phillies can't slow Mets' slugfest in loss that evens up big series

Phillies can't slow Mets' slugfest in loss that evens up big series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A weekend slate between the top two teams in the NL East consumed by national coverage was always going to elevate the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park.

Through two battles, the series has already lived up to the expectations 
 it just wasn’t in the Phillies’ favor Saturday night.

The Mets collected a 11-4 win over the Phillies, evened up the series, and once again, the clubs are tied for first in the division.

Whoever takes the series Sunday will enter the week on top.

The Mets’ recent skid was heavily due to the lack of offense — having scored 16 runs and were shutout three times in seven games.

With the ebbs and flows of baseball, it was only a matter of time before they could get to a starting pitcher. Unfortunately for the Phillies, in his fifth start in the majors, they got the best of Mick Abel.

Not only did Abel work an abnormally high pitch count in three innings (73), the Mets put on a show for their fans that made the two-plus hour trek down to Philly. MLB doesn’t even need to have the home run derby during the All-Star break because the Mets just had one of their own.

All four of Abel’s earned runs came on solo shots — one from Brandon Nimmo in the first inning. The other three were back-to-back-to-back in the third from Francisco Lindor, Nimmo and Juan Soto.

The 23-year-old’s night was done after collecting just nine outs.

“I gotta take it as it is, be honest with myself,” Abel said on his performance after the game. “I wasn’t locating my fastball, so that’s probably what I’m going to get after in my pen this week. 
 Just get back to work tomorrow.”

Abel’s early exit didn’t stop the home runs, though. Soto launched his second of the night 437 ft. in the fifth, Jared Young collected his third of the season in the eighth and Francisco Alvarez put the cherry on top with another in the ninth.

Lost count? That’s seven total. It was a complete slugfest. To compare, the Phillies have had eight home runs in the last seven games.

Even though the Phillies scored four runs, Saturday’s loss shouldn’t be a knock on the offense. After Abel allowed his four runs, Joe Ross and Michael Mercado both gave up three runs in relief. Taijuan Walker allowed the one run in the ninth.

It doesn’t matter which club is out there — it’s hard to win a game against a team that puts up double digits.

The Phillies tacked on two runs in the first inning with three hits from Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos. It seemed like a promising start, and an early lead to build off, but things eventually faltered.

Despite the loss, it can’t be understated how consistent the lineup has looked in the last 10 games. They’ve scored 57 runs and have gone 8-2 during that stretch.

JesĂșs Luzardo (6-3, 4.41 ERA) takes the mound for a Sunday Night showdown as the Phillies look for their 17th series win this season. David Peterson gets the nod for New York — the lefty is 5-2 this season with a 2.60 ERA.

The Phillies will then hit the road for a six-game road trip making stops in Houston and Atlanta. Bryce Harper is expected to join the club on the trip but there’s still no definitive timeline on his return.

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Yankees' Clarke Schmidt, 'one of the more underrated starting pitchers in the game,' makes statement against Orioles

Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt did not get a chance to see the eighth and ninth innings through after throwing a career-high 103 pitches in Saturday's 9-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles, but his seven no-hit frames how good he can be.

"I kind of feel like Clarke's one of the more underrated starting pitchers in the game," said New York manager Aaron Boone. "It's two years now of really, really good stuff and to be under three now after a little bit of getting his feet wet at the start.

"What stands out to me is not just solely leaning on cutter, cutter -- because it's such an important pitch, such a good pitch for him, but he can back himself into a little bit of a corner. ... I like how he's using his arsenal right now. Really, in the last few (starts)."

Schmidt (4-3, 2.84 ERA), who had five strikeouts to two walks and one hit batter, agreed with Boone.

"Every time I go out there, I'm trying to prove myself," Schmidt said. "I've had a chip on my shoulder since I was a young kid. I always play with a chip on my shoulder. Every time I go out there, I have a chip on my shoulder.

"The lack of attention or attention to not being one of the top guys is a motivating factor for me and it's something that I'm always thinking about. I find ways to motivate myself very easily, so being underrated is another way to put it."

With three straight scoreless outings spanning 20.2 IP, Schmidt has kicked into another gear as he nears the halfway point of his third season in the Yankees' starting rotation.

"I think he's just getting better and better," said catcher J.C. Escarra. "Every time he goes out there, he has a better game than he did the last. I'm excited to see what the season has for him."

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Mets' Max Kranick's MRI reveals minor flexor strain, expected to miss 3-4 weeks

The Mets got some bad news on Saturday after an MRI revealed that Max Kranick has a minor flexor strain, which is expected to sideline the reliever for 3-4 weeks.

With their pitching already in a tough spot due to mounting injuries, Kranick's diagnosis puts even more strain on an already-beleaguered starting staff and bullpen.

Kranick, 27, owns a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances spanning 37 innings this season -- his first with New York. The right-hander last pitched for the club on June 15 when he went two scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Kranick's role on the Mets has been that of a Swiss Army knife, able to go multiple innings whenever needed while also coming in during big spots.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York claimed the righty before the start of the 2024 season. Kranick didn't make the team out of spring training, but he made 45 appearances in the minors and owned a 3.82 ERA over 70.2 innings.

The injury news comes on the same day the Mets recalled RHP Chris Devenski and RHP Tyler Zuber, optioning RHPs Blade Tidwell and Justin Garza in their place as the team continues to look for pitching help.

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Rafael Devers joins rare MLB company with first Giants home run against Red Sox

Rafael Devers joins rare MLB company with first Giants home run against Red Sox originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Rafael Devers joined a rare group of MLB players with his two-run blast in the Giants’ 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday at Oracle Park.

The home run, Devers’ first with the Giants, came just six days after his final home run for the Red Sox prior to be being traded last Sunday.

With the shot to left field, Devers became the 10th player in MLB history to homer for and against the same team in a span of seven days or less, per Sportradar. (h/t Josh Dubow)

It was Devers’ 15th home run of the 2025 MLB season, and proved to be decisive in a game where pitching ruled the day as San Francisco grinded out a one-run win in a low-scoring affair with Boston.

While the home run landed Devers in scarce company while also coming against his former team following a public breakup with no shortage of drama, the star slugger was far more focused on helping his new squad record a win than any personal achievment.

“Really happy that I was able to contribute to the win,” Devers told reporters through interpreter Edwin Higueros after Saturday’s win. “Hopefully I will continue to contribute, give my 100 percent and hopefully we get some more wins 


“Nothing more special than any other home run that I hit. (Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello is) my brother out there but we know that once we cross that line we’re competing with each other. Whoever wins wins, and it was us this time.”

As San Francisco seeks to keep pace in a loaded National League playoff race, Devers’ bat figures to play a major role in determining the Giants’ ceiling moving forward.

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Clarke Schmidt's seven no-hit innings headline takeaways from Yankees' 9-0 win over Orioles

The Yankees rebounded from Friday's series-opening loss to the Baltimore Orioles with Saturday's dominant 9-0 win in which right-hander Clarke Schmidt's seven no-hit innings set the tone for a breakthrough that New York needed.

Takeaways

  1. How much better can Schmidt get? After 7.2 scoreless IP in this past Monday's 1-0 11-inning loss to the Los Angeles Angels, Schmidt delivered a no-hit encore. Schmidt (4-3, 2.84 ERA), who threw a career-high 103 pitches (70 strikes), fanned five and walked two before manager Aaron Boone pulled him for right-hander JT Brubaker. The reliever's first batter in the eighth inning, former Yankee Gary SĂĄnchez, broke up the combined no-hit bid by singling a 95 mph sinker up the middle and into center field on a 3-2 count. Regardless, Schmidt continues to trend up as he delivered his career-best outing.
  2. Four home runs, starting with Trent Grisham turning on Zach Eflin's 2-2 curveball at 78 mph and over the short porch for his 15th long ball of the season, were more than enough to support Schmidt. J.C. Escarra and Ben Rice added a solo shot apiece in the second and third innings to push the Yankees' 3-0 lead ahead before Anthony Volpe's fifth-inning leadoff blast buried the Orioles (33-43), 7-0.
  3. Volpe's ninth home run of the season was an exclamation point and came in an afternoon where he broke free from his 0-for-24 slump. Volpe's 3-for-4 day brings his slash line to .236/.308/.424 with 41 RBI through 75 games and figures to serve a much-needed confidence boost as he looks to build in the summer months of his third season.
  4. The Yankees (44-32) are 1.5 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays (43-34), who won Saturday's 8-3 game against the Detroit Tigers (48-30), for first place in the American League East Division. New York has a chance to take the three-game set from the Orioles and win its first series since June 10-12's sweep of the Kansas City Royals.

Who's the MVP?

Schmidt, who got all the run support that he needed with Grisham's first-inning home run before his dominant start.

Highlights

What's next

The rubber game between the Yankees and Orioles is set for Sunday at 11:35 a.m.

Right-handers Will Warren (4-4, 4.83 ERA) and Dean Kremer (6-7, 4.80 ERA) are in line to start.

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Mets recall Tyler Zuber, Chris Devenski from Triple-A Syracuse

The Mets recalled Triple-A Syracuse right-handed relievers Tyler Zuber and Chris Devenski before Saturday's game at the Philadelphia Phillies.

In a corresponding move, the Mets optioned right-handers Blade Tidwell and Justin Garza to Triple-A Syracuse.

In 23.2 IP over 21 Triple-A games this season with Syracuse, Zuber, 30, has allowed 16 runs (all earned) on 27 hits (three home runs) while striking out 21 and walking 11.

The 34-year-old Garza, meanwhile has allowed 11 runs (10 earned) on 20 hits (six home runs) while striking out 15 and walking four in 22.2 IP over 20 games this season for Triple-A Syracuse.

Originally, the Mets acquired Zuber in a July 30, 2024, trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for right-handed pitcher Paul Gervase.

Zuber's 2024 season with the Mets saw him log 16 games for Triple-A Syracuse, where he allowed 23 runs (22 earned) on 28 hits (two home runs) while striking out 18 and walking 15 in 16 IP.

He appeared in two games with the Rays last season, allowing one run on three hits (one home run) while striking out four and walking two over 3.1 IP.

Zuber's career started as a sixth-round pick by the Kansas City Royals at No. 180 overall in the 2017 MLB Draft. He spent most of the 2020-21 seasons in the big leagues with the Royals before the Arizona Diamondbacks claimed him off waivers Oct. 26, 2022.

The Cleveland Guardians signed Zuber on a minor league contract Jan. 31, 2024, and invited him to spring training. The Rays signed him to a minor league contract May 14, 2024,

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Lefty Shota Imanaga will rejoin the Cubs next week in St. Louis

CHICAGO — Left-hander Shota Imanaga will rejoin the Chicago Cubs early next week in St. Louis following a sharp Triple-A rehab start on Friday, manager Craig Counsell said Saturday.

Counsell wasn't sure when Imanaga would be slotted into Chicago's rotation but said before the Cubs' game against the Seattle Mariners that the 31-year-old “is gonna make his next start in the big leagues."

Imanaga, who was 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA as a rookie last season, is coming back from a left hamstring strain. He got hurt covering first base during the sixth inning of a 4-0 loss at Milwaukee on May 4.

Imanaga is 3-2 with a 2.82 ERA in eight starts for the Cubs this season. His return is expected to provide a lift to the NL Central leaders, who entered Saturday 4 1/2 games in front of Milwaukee and St. Louis.

Imanaga tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings of two-hit ball for Triple-A Iowa at Nashville on Friday night. He struck out eight and walked two.

“Everything went great,” Counsell said. “Did what we hoped he would do. He's in a position to be ready. So he's going to join us in St. Louis and we'll figure out the next steps.”

Before the transition to Iowa, Imanaga pitched six scoreless innings over two rehab starts in the Arizona Complex League. He had a bullpen session in Arizona last Tuesday.

Imanaga signed a $53 million, four-year contract with Chicago in January 2024. He often dazzled in 29 starts last season, making the NL All-Star team and finishing fourth in balloting for the NL Rookie of the Year.

Also Saturday, the Cubs recalled right-hander Nate Pearson from Iowa and designated lefty GĂ©nesis Cabrera for assignment.

Pearson is 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA in 19 appearances since he was optioned to Iowa on April 15.

Cabrera had an 8.68 ERA in nine games with the Cubs. He signed with Chicago on May 29 after being designated for assignment by the Mets.

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Rafael Devers relishes first Giants home run in bounce-back win vs. Red Sox

Rafael Devers relishes first Giants home run in bounce-back win vs. Red Sox originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Ever since being traded to the Giants last weekend, Rafael Devers has been greeted with loud, prolonged ovations at Oracle Park nearly every time he strolls to the plate.

Facing his former Boston teammates on Saturday, the two-time Silver Slugger gave the home fans something to really cheer about in San Francisco’s 3-2 win over the Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.

After grounding out in his first at-bat, the 28-year-old slugger smashed an 0-1 fastball from Boston starter Brayan Bello into the left field stands, Devers’ first home run with the Orange and Black.

“Really happy that I was able to contribute to the win,” Devers said through interpreter Edwin Higueros. “Hopefully I will continue to contribute, give my 100 percent and hopefully we get some more wins.”

Devers made history with his 16th home run of the season. He is the seventh player in MLB history to hit his first 200 home runs with one team then have their first home run with a new team come against their former team.

It was a moment that Giants fans have eagerly been anticipating since the trade that went down on Father’s Day.

They had to wait a bit for it to happen.

Devers was just 3-for-16 (.187) with one RBI during his first four games with the Giants, although it did little to slow the groundswell of support that has been growing for Devers over the past week.

Fans continued to cheer his every move, elevating him to a fan favorite position that up to this point had been focused primarily on Jung Hoo Lee.

Seeing Devers finally get that much-anticipated home run surely made fans fall even deeper in love with the Giants’ newcomer, who has been welcomed in the Bay with open arms.

“They certainly have,” manager Bob Melvin said. “That’s kind of typical him, can just let it travel and catch it late and block it out to left field. He’s done it so many times in Boston, and this park kind of plays that way to lefties as well.

“To get that one of his back, feel good about that. Now (he) can kind of settle in and do his thing.”

Devers has tried to downplay the scuttle about facing his former team so soon after the trade. He was humble after Saturday’s game, too, insisting that homering against the Red Sox was not a huge thing for him indivually.

“Nothing more special than any other home run that I hit,” Devers said. “(Bello is) my brother out there but we know that once we cross that line we’re competing with each other. Whoever wins wins, and it was us this time.”

Devers said he has relished how the fans in San Francisco have treated him since the trade went down.

“I appreciate it very much but as we know San Francisco and Boston have the greatest fans both,” Devers said. “Now that I’m on this side I really do appreciate how they have received me.”

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Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle addresses abuse allegations made against him

Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle addresses abuse allegations made against him originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Giants reliever Sean Hjelle addressed accusations of abuse made by his wife on social media, saying he’s still in the process of trying to figure the situation out.

Hjelle didn’t get into specifics and said he plans to release an official statement on the matter in the coming weeks.

“I feel confident in saying that I will have one eventually,” Hjelle said following San Francisco’s 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox at Oracle Park. “I don’t have an exact timeline on that but I would like to actually get with the people that are handling the situation with me and for me before I make an actual statement.”

Caroline Hjelle’s post on TikTok on Friday included a caption that read: “When my MLB husband abandons us on Mothers Day a week after this (video was taken) once I finally found about his affairs and stopped putting up with his abuse, so I’ve been raising two boys alone.”

According to Hjelle, the couple have not been together for awhile and have been in the process of divorcing for about a year. Clerical and legal procedures have held matters up.

“We reached an agreement in mediation this offseason,” Hjelle said. “In the state of Virginia we had to wait a full year of separation, which was filed last May. So the official divorce decree has been delayed because of me starting in Sacramento, and per the terms of the agreement there were some nuances and what not.

“So that part has actually been delayed. But for all intents and purposes the divorce is a signature away from being officially finalized.”

The Giants released a statement earlier Saturday acknowledging that Major League Baseball has begun investigating the incident.

Hjelle hadn’t spoken publicly about it until Saturday and wants to wait until he gathers more information before making any further comments.

“I would like to talk with my agent, my lawyer,” Hjelle said. “This has been something that’s been going on for over a year now in terms of our relationship and our divorce and our separation and everything. But I don’t have any official comment right now.

“I just want to talk to the appropriate people, figure out what the steps are (and) just kind of take it in stride.”

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Yankees' Luis Gil faces live batters, looks 'really good' in 'important' return step

Yankees right-hander Luis Gil faced live batters before Saturday's 1:05 p.m. game against the Baltimore Orioles and "looked really good" in what was an "important" step for the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year's road to a 2025 season debut, New York manager Aaron Boone said.

"I think he was 95, 96 (mph)," Boone said of Gil's fastball velocity. "It looked every bit of that. Just the metrics on the four-seam was really good, too.

"And I thought he was in control of himself, too. So, free and easy. I thought he executed some really good changeups."

Gil has been on the 60-day injured list since March 24 with a right lat strain.

"It's important," Boone said of Gil facing live batters. "Fortunately, after the setback, it's been a slow buildup, but it's gone well, it feels like, every step of the way. So, that's been encouraging.

"And now, we start to build. Now we start to build lives, pitch counts and then eventually, now, getting into rehab games. So, definitely another important box to check."

While Boone does not yet know the number of live batting practices that Gil will have as he ramps up his rehab, an end-of-July target is "reasonable."

"I think, right now, it's a little slower buildup than that," Boone said of late July. "But yes, that's reasonable. I mean, the biggest thing is when do you get him to 75, 80 pitches. And I know we'll be methodical with that and careful with that.

"I don't know the schedule yet. I haven't looked that far ahead of how they have it built to when the date is. I would assume they have it built now, but it can be adjusted, too, along the way."

Gil, 27, was 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 151.2 IP over 29 regular-season starts for the Yankees' 2024 campaign.

"It is still a ways off, but yes, obviously, what he could bring would definitely be a good shot in the arm and kind of maybe one of those trade-deadline adds," Boone said.

"Obviously coming off of a really special season last year where he was so important for us, and I just think went through a lot of really good growth moments, too -- like, for winning the Rookie of the Year and having an outstanding year, he had some struggles along the way, too, and kind of navigated those, I think grew from those things.

"And now going through an injury, too, where not necessarily a major injury or surgical injury but certainly an injury that cost him enough time -- those things that can be learning things, too, for a young player."