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.

Aaron Judge’s unknown injury return can’t come soon enough for Yankees — and Ben Rice

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in the dugout, Image 2 shows New York Yankees' Ben Rice strikes out swinging as Boston Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez watches
The entire Yankees lineup has been woeful without Aaron Judge, but Ben Rice in particular has struggled.

BOSTON — There’s still no date set for Aaron Judge to get his fractured right rib imaged again, according to Aaron Boone, which means the Yankees can’t begin to point to a day when their best player might be back in the lineup.

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It can’t come soon enough.

For a third straight game, the Yankees were held without a hit until at least the fifth inning.

And in Sunday’s 5-4, 10-inning loss that finished off a nightmarish weekend at Fenway Park, the Yankees didn’t get a hit against ex-Yankee Sonny Gray until the eighth.

Aaron Boone called it “a terrible weekend” made worse by Sunday’s performance.

“Overall, we’re not swinging the bats great this weekend,’’ Boone said. “We had some pitches to hit [and] just missed a couple of them.”

Aaron Judge is pictured during the Yankees’ June 16 game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Clearly, they’re not very intimidating without Judge.

“Certainly, having Aaron Judge in the lineup changes our team in a profound way,’’ Boone said before the game.

They had scored just five runs over the first three games of the series and didn’t break through Sunday until Boston’s defense collapsed in the top of the ninth.

And in clutch situations, they’ve been especially bad, as they’re 7-for-72 with runners in scoring position since June 18.

“Give them credit, they threw the ball well,’’ hitting coach James Rowson said of Boston’s pitchers. “It was a tough couple of games, but in the grand scheme of things, I feel good about our guys and have confidence in them. You’re gonna have tough series and this, obviously, was one.”

Ben Rice has been especially impacted.

The first baseman had an OPS of 1.056 in 54 games before Judge went out with the rib fracture and entered Sunday with a .686 OPS in 23 games since then.

He went hitless Sunday.

Ben Rice strikes out during the Yankees’ June 27 game against the Red Sox. AP Photo

Boone said Rice was fine at the plate without Judge before the last week, when the manager believes Rice has struggled.

He’s in a 2-for-28 slump, as the combination of not having Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham available has taken a toll.

“We’re going through it a little bit on the injury front, which gives you opportunities to find out about depth [and] who’s gonna be part of having a meaningful role moving forward.”

The Yankees will count on Rice the rest of the way, with or without Judge.



“I don’t see guys pressing, including Ben,’’ Rowson said. “When you miss that caliber of hitter Judge is, it’s an adjustment period for everyone. Guys have done a good job stepping up without Judge, and you’re gonna have stretches like this.”

Including Rice.

“Ben is already a threat in this league, with or without Judge,’’ Rowson said. “Pitchers gameplan against Ben Rice. Maybe it’s tougher for him now, but he’s capable and ready for it. We’ve got to bounce back.”

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But this was seen as a bit of a test for Rice, who has spent much of the first half of the season in the American League MVP race, typically hitting directly in front of or behind Judge.

The last few weeks have shown again how vital Judge is to their offense.

Boone said Judge was doing some upper-body work but was unclear what those workouts entailed.

Sunday marked four weeks since Judge last played in a game.

The Yankees are 12-12 in that stretch and after leading the league in homers and ranking second in OPS and fourth in runs with Judge, the Yankees are tied for sixth in homers but 19th in runs scored and 22nd in OPS since June 1.

Boone called his team an “incomplete [and] unfinished product” Sunday.

That’s especially true without Judge.

Yankees, Aaron Boone embracing ‘grind’ of not letting ‘terrible weekend’ snowball

Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated the obvious after his side let a two-run lead slip away in a 5-4 loss in 10 innings on Sunday as the Boston Red Sox completed a four-game sweep at Fenway Park.

“Obviously, a terrible weekend for us,” Boone said after losing an eighth game in the last 11.

“It’s one of those crap moments of the season, crap times of the season, where you have a really rough weekend against a division rival,” the skipper said later. “But you gotta get over it quickly, and understand we got a homestand starting tomorrow. Pick ourselves up.”

How does the manager not let the rough weekend keep snowballing? 

“That’s what we do, baby,” Boone answered with a wry smile. 

“You gotta love this stuff. You gotta eat this stuff up. It’s a sickness. That’s what the grind is,” he continued. “We got a really good freakin team. We played crappy on this trip, kinda. Feels bad. Kinda pisseed off, right? But it’s what we do. 

“It’s what you signed up for. We’ll dig ourselves out of it and get it going here in short order.” 

The game slipped away in the 10th when Fernando Cruz, who had been masterful with his splitter, was only able to retire one of the four batters he faced in the three-run inning as the splitter stayed up in the zone.

“Cruzer had a tough one, left some pitches up for ‘em,” Boone said, adding he didn’t think there were any issues for the reliever other than locating his best pitch. “Credit to them, couple good swings against him. Obviously, trust Cruzer there in that situation all the time.

“They got to him today, and that’s part of it.”

“Not being able to pick up my guys is most impacting me,” Cruz said after the loss. “The best teams go through stretches like this, and champions and great teams in history go through stretches like this, and especially games like this. For me, it's a formation. It's something that is forming me into a better athlete and a better pitcher, and I'm gonna be better next time."

But the reliever’s extra-inning wobble was hardly the lone issue. After being held hitless through the first 7.1 innings against Sonny Gray on Sunday, that meant the last three Red Sox starters combined for 17.1 innings before allowing a hit, following good outings from Payton Tolle on Friday and Jake Bennett on Saturday.

"I think, overall, not swinging the bats great this weekend," the skipper said. "I felt like we got some pitches to hit, some in the center of the plate where [Gray] was coming after us. And maybe just missed a couple of 'em or just didn't put 'em in play with enough authority."

The positives came in not going down meekly. Against Aroldis Chapman in the ninth, the Yankees rallied for two runs to tie the score and two more in the 10th to grab a lead against Justin Slaten.

“Love the fight, the comeback there, pressure them in the ninth and the 10th,” Boone said, adding that, “We did a good job of pitching for the most part today.”

And that was another positive. Starter Carlos Rodon was sharp early and gutted through five innings before Paul Blackburn and David Bednar put up zeros, meaning through nine innings the Yankee arms had not been charged with an earned run.

But that is where silver linings only go so far when the sky is full of clouds over Beantown: The Yanks did not get enough hits – just nine total over the final three games – or timely ones – 1-for-13 with RISP – and gave away outs and runs – committing five errors over in the first and final game, accounting for seven unearned runs.

“The bottom line is, we gotta get it going offensively, and when we’re not scoring, we just didn’t play clean enough here,” Boone said.

Rodon, who surrendered two unearned runs on one hit and four walks with six strikeouts, said it simply: “Winning cures everything, so that’s the goal."

Red Sox rally past Yankees 5-4 in 10 innings to complete 4-game sweep after Gray loses no-hit bid

BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran singled home the winning run to cap a three-run rally in the 10th inning after Boston blew a two-run lead in the ninth, and the Red Sox finished a four-game sweep of the rival New York Yankees with a 5-4 victory Sunday night.

Boston starter Sonny Gray took a no-hitter into the eighth against his former team before Amed Rosario singled with one out. That ended a brilliant outing for Gray, who had nine strikeouts to reach 2,000 for his career.

But the Yankees scored twice in the ninth off All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman to tie it 2-all, aided enormously by a brutal throwing error from two-time Gold Glove right fielder Wilyer Abreu.

New York scratched across two more runs in the 10th, taking advantage of another throwing error by Abreu after Rosario’s sinking liner squirted out of his glove for an RBI single. But right-hander Fernando Cruz (4-3) was unable to hold the lead after closer David Bednar had pitched the previous two innings.

Boston’s first four-game sweep of the Yankees at home since 2018 marked the first four-game winning streak this season for the last-place Red Sox.

New York arrived at Fenway Park with the best record in the American League but left a game behind Tampa Bay atop the AL East.

Anthony Seigler led off the bottom of the 10th with an RBI single that trimmed Boston’s deficit to 4-3. Pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida followed with a double before a sacrifice fly by Tsung-Che Chung tied it at 4 and advanced Yoshida to third.

New York brought in Rosario from left field to form a five-man infield, and Duran hit a line drive to right where nobody was standing.

Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was ejected for arguing after he was called out on a check-swing for strike three to end the sixth.

Up next

Yankees LHP Ryan Weathers (3-5, 3.95 ERA) faces Detroit RHP Casey Mize on Monday as New York returns home and opens a three-game series against the Tigers.

Boston is scheduled to start LHP Ranger Suarez (3-3, 2.83) against Washington LHP Andrew Alvarez on Monday to open a three-game set at Fenway Park.

LA Dodgers' Dave Roberts closes in on managerial milestone

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is closing in on his 1,000th managerial career victory.

Roberts earned his 998th victory as the Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres, 4-2, on Sunday, June 28.

Roberts will start the week just two wins shy of the milestone, with the chance to accomplish the feat on Tuesday in the second game of a three-game series against the Athletics in Sacramento.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) gestures during batting practice before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 10, 2026.

Roberts has earned every one of his managerial victories while with the Dodgers, despite starting his managerial career with a single game for the Padres.

He served as interim manager for the Padres on June 15, 2015, following San Diego's firing of Bud Black. The Padres suffered a 9-1 loss to the then-Oakland Athletics at Petco Park. Pat Murphy was hired to take over as interim manager for the rest of that season.

Roberts would start his tenure with Los Angeles in 2016, finishing the season as the Manager of the Year after leading the Dodgers to a 91-71 record.

He’s won three World Series titles and five National League pennants with the Dodgers.

When do Dodgers play next?

The Dodgers will play the first game of a three-game series against the Athletics on Monday, June 29. The game will start at 6:40 p.m. PT.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LA Dodgers' Dave Roberts closes in on managerial milestone

Yankees fans fume as NBC preempts Red Sox clash with storm-delayed Travelers

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Two golfers shake hands on the green, Image 2 shows Boston Red Sox's Willson Contreras slides safely into home plate as New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells reaches for the ball, Image 3 shows NBC Sports Logo

Baseball fans were not happy with NBC’s decision to stick with golf over the broadcast of the Yankees-Red Sox game on Sunday night. 

The final round of the Travelers Championship was delayed for nearly 90 minutes due to rain at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., pushing the PGA Tour event into the baseball timeslot and forcing execs to only air the baseball game on Peacock and NBCSN at first. 

The decision enraged baseball fans, who took to social media to air their grievances as they turned on NBC only to see golf on and not the rivalry baseball game. 

The Red Sox defeated the Yankees on June 28. AP Photo/Steven Senne

“Can I just ask @nbc why golf is being aired over the Yankees Vs. Red Sox Game? This is un-American,” one disgruntled viewer wrote on X. 

“So #nbc acquires the rights to #Yankees v Redsox so we can tune into golf?” another person wrote. 

“Would be nice to watch the Yankees game if NBC actually cared to get boring ass golf off our TV screens,” one user on X chimed in. 

“@nbc nobody in the NY area gives a flying you know what about a non major golf ending right now. Give us Yankees-Red Sox as promised,” someone else said on X. 

Caddie Ted Scott and Scottie Scheffler of the United States shake hands on the 18th green after finishing their round during the final round of the Travelers Championship 2026. Getty Images

“Yankees/Sox being preempted by NBC in favor of a non major PGA tournament shows how unserious they are about MLB as a product,” a fan complained. 

To add to the situation, the Travelers Championship didn’t even end on Sunday. 

Due to Scottie Scheffler making a putt on the 18th hole, he forced a playoff against Viktor Hovland that will now take place on Monday morning at 9 a.m. 

That will air on Golf Channel. 

After all was said and done, Yankee fans may have wished NBC aired anything but the game, because when they did finally join the baseball game in progress around 8:30 p.m, the Red Sox’s Caleb Durbin was hitting a two-run single to give Boston a 2-0 lead.

The Yankees ended up losing the game 5-4 in 10 innings.

Kodai Senga looks sharp as a Mets reliever despite allowing decisive homer

New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga throws to the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth inning.
Kodai Senga throws a pitch during the Mets' June 28 loss to the Phillies.

Kodai Senga took a step back into the bullpen and took a step forward in performance.

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In his first major league outing as a reliever, Senga was much sharper than he had looked as a failed starter, even if the home run he served up to Kyle Schwarber became the difference in a 5-4 loss to the Phillies at Citi Field on Sunday.

“He was really good today,” interim manager Andy Green said after Senga allowed two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four in five innings.

The 2023 All-Star and 2024-26 mystery had fallen out of the rotation after seven games in which he owned a 10.08 ERA.

But Senga — who was needed on an afternoon the Mets essentially threw a bullpen game while four of their relievers were not available because of recent workload — entered in the fifth without complaint, saying the Mets afforded him plenty of time to warm up for a job that “I haven’t done” often.

Kodai Senga throws a pitch during the Mets’ June 28 loss to the Phillies. Jason Szenes for the NY Post

He had no issues with Trea Turner, Schwarber and Bryce Harper and looked as if he had rediscovered his forkball.

He encountered trouble in the sixth, walking Alec Bohm before a Brandon Marsh double, but Senga used forkballs to strike out J.T. Realmuto and Derek Hill, sandwiched between a Bryson Stott groundout.

Senga remained for the seventh, when he faced the top of the Phillies order for a second time because Green had no other reliever to turn to.

Senga got ahead of Schwarber 1-2 before missing down the middle with a fastball that was demolished for a game-swinging two-run homer.

Senga acknowledged that he could have chosen a different pitch or at least hit his spot better, trying to throw the fastball up and out of the zone.

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“You get to 1-2 on one of the best hitters on the planet, you want to locate better,” Green said. “I don’t want to take anything away from his outing — he came out of the bullpen, he gave five really strong innings.”

The Mets, who are using four starting pitchers and have an off-day Thursday that delays the need for a fifth, very much could use a reemergence from Senga, but that hope has dwindled.

Senga said his role is ultimately “up to me” because his performance will dictate how he is used.

“If I can’t compete and be in the zone … then I don’t deserve a spot in the rotation,” Senga said through interpreter Hiro Fujiwara. “But on the flip side, if I am able to compete, I do feel like I can throw in the rotation.”

Seattle Mariners acquire INF Buddy Kennedy from San Francisco

Jun 1, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; San Francisco Giants infielder Buddy Kennedy delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

The Mariners have made the first move in what’s sure to be a rip-roaring Trade Deadline season, acquiring INF Buddy Kennedy from the Giants in exchange for cash considerations.

Kennedy was designated for assignment by San Francisco earlier this morning as outfielder Heliot Ramos returned from the Injured List.

The 5’10” infielder has spent most of the season with Triple-A Sacramento, hitting well, even for the PCL. He’s in the 78th percentile for xWOBA, has a nearly identical K% and BB% (12.6%/12.1%) and rarely whiffs. This all has come out to a .322 batting average and a 152 wRC+. He’s made just a minimal impression in the bigs this season, with 8 plate appearances in 7 games, and zero hits.

Kennedy is likely to head to Tacoma. He can play 3B and 2B in a pinch, and will likely backfill Patrick Wisdom’s role if Wisdom is called up to take over right-handed pinch hitting duties from the currently-employed Rob Refsnyder.

The 27-year-old has not found much traction in the five years since his debut with Arizona in 2022. He’s amassed less than 200 plate appearances across 74 games, with a career 50 wRC+. On the mound, Kennedy has made one appearance this season, pitching one inning and giving up four runs, all earned.

David Ross interested in shot at Mets manager opening: ‘I hope they call’

There will be plenty of buzz around the Mets’ managerial opening leading up to this offseason. 

Albert Pujolsconfirmed during an MLB Network appearance earlier this week that he’d have interest in the job if the team decided to move on from Carlos Mendoza, as they did. 

Now, another free agent skipper is throwing his name into the ring. 

David Ross told Dan Martin of the NY Post prior to Sunday Night Baseball that he’d love to get a shot at the gig. 

“I hope they call,” he said. “It would be nice. It would be cool."

Ross now works for ESPN, but he was previously the head man for the Cubs.  

He led them to a first-place finish during the COVID-shortened season, but they were quickly sent packing as the Marlins swept them in two games in the Wild Card series. 

Chicago failed to reach the playoffs each of the next three years. 

After back-to-back seasons finishing under the .500 mark, Ross led them to 83 wins in 2023, which left them just one game shy of another Wild Card berth. 

That offseason, the organization decided to move on from him so they could bring in Craig Counsell on a five-year deal.

Ross’ Cubs went 262-284 over that four-year span. 

His bench coach during that time was none other than Mets interim manager Andy Green.

Ross told Martin that he didn't receive any interest for managerial openings this past offseason, but he'd certainly be up to the task if the Mets come calling.

Red Sox Walk Off Yankees In Ten Innings To Clinch Series Sweep

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 28: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox walks it off in the tenth inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on June 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This baseball game had a lot of things that most baseball games don’t have. Here’s a list of those things.

1. A No-Hit Bid

Sonny Gray took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. He had everything working for him. His fastball and cutter each held strike rates over 80%, while his sweeper and curveball returned four whiffs apiece. He threw first-pitch strikes to 20 of 24 hitters, and lived on the edges once he was ahead. He clearly tired as the game went on due to a few too many deep counts, but the start was fantastic nonetheless.

The last three Red Sox starters have taken no-hitters into the fifth inning or later. While that’s obviously an outlier, it’s what the front office had in mind when putting this team together. That style of baseball is largely unsustainable over 162 games, but it sure is fun to watch when it’s working.

2. Caleb Durbin remaining hot

In the fourth inning, Caleb Durbin singled in two runs. Coming into tonight, he had a 0.963 OPS with 10 RBIs in June. Tonight, he was 1-4 with two more RBIs, a run scored, and two stolen bases. It took him a while, but he’s starting to look like the player Red Sox fans thought they were getting from Milwaukee.

3. A pair of Yankees fans got engaged in the stadium

Whose terrible idea was that? Which one of them wanted to get engaged at Fenway Park? What a terrible idea.

4. Tyron Guerrero in a high-leverage spot

It was Guerrero, not Garrett Whitlock or Justin Slaten, who came in to relieve Sonny Gray after the no-hit bid was broken up. He pitched to two hitters, getting a groundout and a flyout to keep the score at 2-0. Whitlock pitched four times this week, and they likely wanted to stay away from him, but it’s still notable that Guerrero was the trusted arm in that spot.

5. An Enthusiastic Umpire

I don’t have any video evidence, but the umpire was very excited about ABS reviews. He really seemed to enjoy announcing the result of the review to the stadium. I love people who love their job.

6. An absolute meltdown by Wilyer Abreu

In the ninth inning, with a runner on first and second, Ben Rice flew out to deep right field. For some reason, Abreu attempted to throw the runner out who was trying to advance to third with a two-run lead. The throw got away from everyone, the runner scored, and the runner on first advanced all the way to third. The next hitter hit a ground ball that was able to score the runner and tie the game.

In the tenth inning, Abreu dropped a fly ball that would have been a double play had he caught it. His throw also got away, allowing the hitter to advance to second and later score. Just a nightmare of a game in right by Abreu.

7. Roger Clemens made an explicit joke

Roger Clemens also joked about being aroused by Sonny Gray’s mechanics in response to a question about the pitch clock, which was weird. In general, the booth had very little chemistry. I guess that’s what happens when you never work together.

8. Tsung-Che Cheng Recording An RBI

Recording an RBI is a game that most baseball games include. It’s on this list because the guy who recorded it only has one career RBI. This one also happened to come in the tenth inning to tie the game.

9. A RED SOX WALK-OFF WIN

A day after getting into another altercation with a fan yesterday. He was testy with the media after the game, denying that anything had happened. I’m not sure specifically what happened, but it was definitely something. He came off the bench on Sunday and came to the plate with the winning run on third.

Personally, I think it’s kinda bullshit that he gets to pump his chest and answer all the questions after a walk-off hit just one day after clamming up and not answering any questions. Nobody cares what I think about media etiquette, though, so I’ll just sit happily with this win.

That’s the Red Sox’s longest winning streak of the season, and it brings them back to ten games under 0.500. I don’t want to believe in this team, but it’s kind of hard not to, given the strength (or lack thereof) of the American League. The smart move is to sell off pieces at the deadline. The fun move is to try to make the playoffs and pitch teams to death when you get there. Before you jump on me, I know we’re less than a week removed from losing a series to the Colorado Rockies. This team is not going anywhere. But what if they do…

The Washington Nationals come to town tomorrow. Let’s keep it rolling.

Yankees swept by Red Sox after blowing lead in extras as rally goes for naught in brutal loss

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Jarren Duran celebrating after hitting a walk-off single, with Austin Wells in the background, Image 2 shows New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. argues with home plate umpire Adam Hamari, Image 3 shows New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe slides past Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong

BOSTON — A late rally gave the Yankees a chance to finish a brutal weekend on a high note.

Instead, somehow, it only delayed the misery.

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On a night when Sonny Gray took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, Aroldis Chapman and the Red Sox defense melted down in the ninth inning, and the Yankees took the lead in the 10th, it still all came crumbling down for them in the bottom of the 10th to deliver one last knockout punch on the way back to New York.

After the Yankees took their first lead since Thursday night with two runs in the top of the 10th, the last-place Red Sox came back to win it in the bottom of the frame against Fernando Cruz, as Jarren Duran’s walk-off single lifted them to a 5-4 win that finished off a four-game sweep Sunday night at Fenway Park.

“Obviously a terrible weekend for us,” manager Aaron Boone said.

Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) hits an RBI single during the tenth inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“It’s one of those crap moments of the season, crap times of the season where you have a really rough weekend against a division rival. But you got to get over it quickly and understand we got a homestand starting [Monday].”

On a weekend in which they were dominated by Red Sox starting pitching — Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Jake Bennett and Gray combined for 26 ⅔ innings in which they gave up just three runs, 10 hits and six walks while striking out 28 — the Yankees (48-35) have now dropped eight of their past 11 after suffering their first four-game sweep to their archrivals since 2018.

Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) celebrates after scoring during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

The Red Sox (36-46) had not won four straight games all season until this series.

Asked how the Yankees make sure this does not turn into something worse than an awful four games, Boone leaned into the adversity.

“That’s what we do, baby,” he said. “You got to love this stuff. You got to eat this stuff up. It’s a sickness. That’s what the grind is. We got a really good freakin’ team. We played crappy on this trip kind of, feels bad, kind of pissed off. But it’s what we do. It’s what you sign up for. We’ll dig ourselves out of it and get it going here in short order. Bottom line is we didn’t play well this weekend and we got to do better.”

A month that began with the Yankees losing Aaron Judge to the injured list (his timeline for a return is still very fuzzy) is nearing an end with the club looking like it is feeling the effects of not having the back-to-back AL MVP in its lineup — along with Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham.

The Yankees had survived the early going, despite their IL continuing to grow, by getting contributions from different players up and down the lineup on any given night.

But now, they have all gone cold at the same time, resulting in a four-game sweep in which the Yankees combined to hit just 17-for-128 (.133) with 10 walks.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray (54) waves to the crowd while holding his cap during the eighth inning at Fenway Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“I think the success they had this weekend, they were very good at executing,” said Amed Rosario, who broke up Gray’s no-hitter with a single in the eighth inning and then put the Yankees ahead 3-2 with an RBI single to lead off the top of the 10th.

The night had begun like the last few before it, with Gray mowing down the Yankees.

New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. argues with home plate umpire Adam Hamari. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Tolle had retired the first 16 Yankees on Friday night before Bennett carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning Saturday.

Gray took flirting with history a step further before another former disgruntled Yankee, Chapman, flushed it in the ninth.

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But even after the Yankees rallied and went ahead in the 10th — all without Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was ejected in the sixth — thanks in part to right fielder Wilyer Abreu’s second error in as many innings, Cruz could not finish it off in the bottom of the inning.

He left pitches up that turned into a single, double, sacrifice fly and then Duran’s walk-off winner.

Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) hits an RBI single during the tenth inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. AP Photo/Steven Senne

“Great teams go through this,” Cruz said. “The best teams go through stretches like this. Champions and great teams in history go through stretches like this, especially games like this.”

But those teams make sure the bad stretches don’t extend too long, which is what the Yankees will be up against when they open a critical homestand Monday.

“We got outplayed,” said Carlos Rodón, who gave up two unearned runs (after an Oswaldo Cabrera fielding error) across five innings. “Although they’re last in the division, they’re still a solid club. They play good baseball. They make things happen, they’re aggressive.

“You got to turn the page and go out [Monday] and win a game. That’s it. Winning cures everything.”