Category: Baseball

For most of my life, baseball was simply a game: a glove, a bat, a ball, and a field. I lived for Game 7 home runs and revered Cooperstown. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were larger than life, the Yankees were the Evil Empire and the Rockies were still new.

I never thought of baseball as a business until I became a business owner myself. Employing people and making decisions about wages, risk, and resources taught me how incentives shape behavior — and how systems create unintended consequences.

I see baseball differently now.

While each pitch still exists on its own, it is also connected to salaries, service time, bonus pools, revenue sharing, and the rules governing how 30 organizations compete for talent.

Those rules are being renegotiated.

The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, and another work stoppage is widely expected. Major League Baseball has proposed its first salary cap since 1994, when owners sought to keep team payrolls between 84% and 110% of the league average.

The MLBPA went on strike that August, the World Series was canceled, and the dispute lasted 232 days. Owners withdrew the cap proposal in February 1995, and the strike ended shortly after.

The Players Association has promised to reject the current proposal.

The disagreement is easy to frame as another baseball civil war: Owners want control, players want money. The reality is that both sides want both. Owners want greater control over labor costs and how organizations compete. Players want control over their careers and a fairer share of the value they create.

The useful question is not which side contains the better people. It is what kind of baseball each side’s self-interest would produce.

Why a cap won’t fix the cost of being wrong 

MLB connects a salary cap to hope, fairness, and competitive balance. But the reality is that money affects both the opportunities available to a club and the cost of being wrong, and a cap-and-floor system cannot fully resolve that tension on its own.

As of this writing, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers own the two best records in baseball despite operating with radically different payrolls.

Records and 2026 total payroll allocations through July 22, 2026, via Spotrac:

The Dodgers’ spending helps explain why MLB is pushing so aggressively for a cap. Milwaukee’s success does not make an equally strong case for a floor, however. It shows that payroll is only one part of competitive capacity.

On the surface, a cap and floor could increase parity by narrowing the spending range. But until the enforcement mechanisms are public, we cannot know whether those limits would function as hard boundaries or simply as costs teams could price into their decisions.

Clubs would still take calculated risks on both ends. The Dodgers may decide that exceeding a limit — and accepting the resulting penalty — is worth the competitive advantage. Milwaukee or Colorado may remain near the floor because spending substantially beyond it would expose them to risks they have less financial flexibility to absorb.

That difference would remain when contracts go wrong. Los Angeles can carry a failed deal, absorb salary in a trade, or buy another solution. A similar mistake could restrict a lower-revenue club.

Money does not guarantee good decisions. It creates optionality: the ability to recover when a decision fails.

A cap and floor could reduce the largest payroll disparities, but they would not make every organization equally capable of surviving mistakes. The system would still favor financially powerful clubs and organizations that allocate their resources intelligently.

MLB also argues that its proposal would raise compensation for younger and ordinary players who may never reach lucrative free agency. That deserves serious consideration. But improving minimum salaries, pre-arbitration compensation, and early-career security does not inherently require suppressing elite salaries or broadly restricting contract length and market freedom.

A cap and floor may change the outer boundaries. The more important questions concern how money is distributed, where it is reinvested, and how effectively clubs develop talent.

Competitive balance is not primarily a payroll-number problem. It is a resource-allocation, reinvestment, and talent-development problem.

A credible path is not a promised arrival 

A fair system should give every club a credible path to contention. It should not guarantee success.

Every organization should have enough resources to build a legitimate roster, invest in development, retain key players, and participate in the market. But shared money should come with meaningful expectations that it will improve the baseball operation. Revenue sharing without accountability can strengthen a business without making the team more competitive.

The MLBPA has publicly proposed increasing support for lower-revenue clubs while requiring that shared money be used to compete. Its proposal includes benefits for clubs that win, penalties for teams that fail to spend revenue-sharing payments on payroll, and other rewards for clubs active in acquiring players.

The enforcement mechanisms have not been made public, and that matters. A requirement is only as meaningful as the spending it recognizes, the accounting it permits, and the consequences for ignoring it.

For a recipient such as the Rockies, the question is not only how much support arrives, but also what the final agreement requires the organization to do with it.

Losing is allowed. Collecting assistance without making a genuine effort to compete should carry consequences.

The standard should be proof of effort, not proof of success: reinvestment in scouting, development, talent retention, organizational depth, and the major-league roster.

The CBA can require investment and accountability. It cannot require competence.

Lower-revenue clubs will still depend on careful commitments and a steady supply of affordable homegrown players.

But that development system is also up for grabs.

The amateur doorway

MLB has proposed reducing the amateur draft from 20 rounds to 12 and eliminating eligibility for high school seniors and junior-college players. The union wants to retain 20 rounds, preserve those entry points, and expand eligibility to college sophomores.

MLB’s reasoning is understandable. Older college players are easier to evaluate, require less development, and may reach the majors sooner, while colleges absorb more of the early cost and uncertainty.

That may be more efficient for clubs, but it also changes where access to professional baseball begins.

The draft has long provided several entry points: high school, junior college, and four-year college programs. Removing two would make college baseball a much larger gatekeeper.

Name, image and likeness compensation complicates the issue, but the high school players capable of commanding major NIL opportunities are probably the same players likely to receive significant draft bonuses. They will be found under either system.

The greater concern is the uncertain 18-year-old: the late bloomer, multi-sport athlete, raw pitcher or undersized shortstop. Under MLB’s proposal, that player would have to remain visible and continue developing elsewhere before a professional organization could select him.

That means more private instruction, showcases, travel, and early specialization. Moving development outside professional baseball does not eliminate its cost. It transfers that cost to families with far less ability to absorb it.

A draft system should find talent. It should not require families to purchase visibility.

A deeper draft and minor-league system also have value beyond the number of players who eventually reach the majors. A late-round pitcher with premium velocity gives hitters experience against an advanced skill. A strong defender or capable catcher can improve the development environment for everyone around him, even if his own major-league future never arrives.

A player can fail as a prospect and still contribute to player development.

Reducing the draft would remove many players who never produce major-league value. It could also narrow the talent pool and thin the competitive environment that helps more promising players develop.

Baseball cannot tell lower-revenue clubs to build through player development while narrowing the doorway through which developmental talent enters the organization.

What it means for Colorado

Milwaukee offers a useful model. The Brewers remain competitive without the margin of the league’s wealthiest clubs because they know which traits they trust, develop around a recognizable philosophy, and take calculated risks before the market reaches the same conclusions.

They recently guaranteed more than $80 million to 21-year-old prospects Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara before either appeared in the majors. The contracts carry risk, but they reflect organizational conviction: Milwaukee identified players it believed in, guaranteed meaningful money, and secured years of cost certainty if those evaluations prove correct.

That is the kind of intelligence a fair system should reward.

The lesson for Colorado is not to copy Milwaukee’s roster. It is to build an organization that knows what it believes.

The Rockies have remained financially viable without becoming consistently functional. The franchise can generate revenue, appreciate in value, and remain stable despite decades of dysfunction.

Colorado does not need to manufacture a market. It already has the ballpark, geographic reach, and fan base. The arrival of Penner Sports Group adds something the franchise has rarely possessed: a deep-pocketed partner with experience building a modern sports organization.

That does not guarantee better baseball. The Monfort family still controls the club, and money cannot substitute for scouting, development, or judgment. But the Rockies are no longer operating with the same ownership structure, capital constraints, or organizational isolation that defined most of their history.

Historically, poor baseball performance in Colorado has rarely become financially painful enough to force meaningful change. A new CBA could alter that calculation by attaching conditions to shared revenue and creating incentives for clubs to turn assistance into competitive growth.

Exactly how those conditions and incentives would work remains unsettled.

But shared revenue should function as a bridge:

Receive support>Reinvest it competitively>Grow local revenue>Become less dependent on support.

A competitive Rockies team could increase attendance, sponsorship value, media interest, and regional attachment. But short-term improvement is not organizational health. Colorado must first build the infrastructure to sustain it: scouting, development, organizational depth, disciplined extensions, and flexibility when choices fail.

The timing may work in Colorado’s favor. The major-league roster is young, payroll commitments are relatively limited, and the next competitive window is likely to open under a new economic structure.

A new agreement could give the Rockies better resources, stronger incentives, and a more credible path to contention. It cannot scout for Colorado, solve pitching at elevation, or decide which players are worth building around. Those responsibilities still belong to the organization.

That is the balance baseball should pursue: give every franchise the means and reason to compete, then leave enough room for judgment, development and imagination to separate them.

On the farm

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes vs. Round Rock Express — postponed

Friday’s game between the Albuquerque Isotopes and Round Rock Express was postponed because of inclement weather and unplayable field conditions. The game will be made up Saturday as part of a doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m. MDT.

Double-A: Richmond Flying Squirrels 7, Hartford Yard Goats 0

Jean Carlos Sio’s three-run homer in the second inning ultimately provided all the offense Richmond needed. Hartford did not generate much at the plate, but the few openings it created were wasted. Cole Messina led off the third with the Yard Goats’ first hit, Dyan Jorge, Roc Riggio and Aidan Longwell collected three straight singles in the fourth, and Mike Antico opened the fifth with another single. None of it produced a run.

Hartford finished with five singles, went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight. Konner Eaton allowed three runs, two earned, across three-plus innings. Richmond added three runs against Davison Palermo in the fifth and one against Sam Weatherly in the eighth as the Yard Goats fell to 49-44.

High-A: Tri-City Dust Devils 9, Spokane Indians 5

Everett Catlett gave Spokane six strong innings, allowing two runs on three hits with six strikeouts and four walks. The Indians trailed only 2-1 before the game unraveled in the seventh. Kevin Bruggeman’s first home run of the season started a seven-run Tri-City inning against Justin Loer, and the Dust Devils kept piling on with an RBI triple, three walks, two singles and help from a Spokane error.

Spokane answered in the eighth. Tommy Hopfe doubled and scored on an Ethan Hedges single before Tanner Thach hit his third High-A home run of the season (14th overall), a three-run shot that cut the deficit to 9-5. The first five Indians reached in the inning, but the rally stopped there. Hopfe finished 2-for-5 with his 12th homer and 17th double, while Roynier Hernandez reached four times. Spokane fell to 45-49.

Single-A: Fresno Grizzlies 6, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 3

Fresno trailed 3-1 entering the bottom of the sixth before the offense flipped the game with five runs. Clayton Gray opened the inning with a single and Carlos Renzullo followed with his second home run of the season to tie it. Wilder Dalis doubled later in the inning before Kyle Fossum, Cam Hassert and Jeremy Ciriaco delivered three consecutive RBI singles to put the Grizzlies ahead 6-3.

Brady Parker allowed three runs on two hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. Dylan Crooks stranded an inherited runner and worked two scoreless innings for the win, lowering his ERA to 2.06, before Seth Clausen retired all five batters he faced with three strikeouts for his 10th save and a 1.38 ERA. Fresno improved to 52-42.

When Will the Rockies Get Former Gold Glove Winner Brenton Doyle Back From Injury? | SI.com

Now healthy enough to resume playing, Brenton Doyle has begun a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque and is hoping to return to Denver as quickly as possible. With the Rockies’ outfield suddenly crowded, the two-time Gold Glove winner says he is prepared to help in whatever role is available.

Here are the biggest movers on each club’s refreshed Top 30 list | MLB.com

MLB Pipeline examined the prospects making the biggest moves on each organization’s updated Top 30 list. For the Rockies, Cristian Arguelles has surged to No. 6 after carrying his dominance from the Dominican Summer League into the Arizona Complex League, while Jackson Cox has climbed into the top 10 after returning from Tommy John surgery to lead all minor leaguers in strikeouts.

Now an MLB selection, Ben Davis recounts playing in front of the ‘best fans in the country’ | 247sports.com

In this article from 247Sports.com, Ben Davis looks back on the emotion of being selected by the Rockies in the fourth round and ahead to the start of his professional career. The hard-throwing right-hander also reflects on his decision to return to Mississippi State for his final college season and thanks the coaches and fans who helped prepare him for pro ball — and who will continue cheering him on as he takes his first steps into it.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks! 

The Mets’ 2026 season is the gift that keeps on giving. In the team’s series-opening loss to the Dodgers last night at Citi Field, Juan Soto was pulled from the game with left calf tightness after just two plate appearances as a designated hitter. The team said that he’ll undergo an MRI today, and interim manager Andy Green acknowledged that it’s possible that Soto lands on the injured list.

Back in early April, Soto suffered a right calf injury and spent three weeks on the injured list. On the same day that he returned, Francisco Lindor suffered a calf injury of his own, one that turned out to be more severe, as he spent two months on the injured list. The fact that the Mets’ two best position players have so rarely played together this season—having come into the year as two of the most durable players in the sport—kind of sums up the season. If both had been healthy all season, you’d have reasonably expected them to combine for something like 11-12 WAR, and here we are in late July with them having combined for just 3.7 fWAR and 3.4 bWAR.

When he has been healthy, Soto has been the best hitter in the National League. In 359 plate appearances, he’s hit .283/.408/.539 with a 159 wRC+. Only two American League hitters—Yordan Alvarez and Ben Rice—have been better by wRC+ at the time of this writing.

If everything goes right, 10 years from now Aiden Ruiz hopes he will be “on a similar path as Francisco Lindor, a Hall of Fame shortstop.” 

The Queens native took a step toward that goal Wednesday, signing a $3.5 million deal with the Pirates after they selected him in the second round of the MLB draft. 

“My parents were crying, my siblings were crying. It’s just something we all dreamed of for me,” Ruiz told The Post about getting drafted. 

“Everybody was all in, and there’s no way I would have accomplished it without them.” 

Ruiz and his family grew up in New York after his late grandfather, Sandalio, left Puerto Rico for a new life. 

It was there Sandalio shared his love of the game with his family, inspiring them all to pick up the bat at some point. 

Ruiz’s dad, Sam, played in the minor leagues and his brother for Division III Northern Ohio, while both his mom and sister played softball. 

The 19-year-old said despite being a Mets fan, if his grandfather were there to see his name called, he would have thrown off his Amazin’ hat to don the Pittsburgh black and yellow. 

New York is also where Ruiz played for Stony Brook School on Long Island, slashing .403/.547/.625 with six doubles, two triples, two home runs, 17 RBIs, 21 walks and 23 stolen bases on his way to a NYSAIS state championship his senior year. 

His impressive play led to a commitment to Vanderbilt, which he will pass up on in favor of joining the Pirates system. 

The shortstop said playing in New York “put a chip on [his] shoulder” and added grit to his game because “Northeast players are not found enough.” 

Living in the baseball-crazed city gave him the chance to watch legendary players take the field for the Mets and Yankees every summer as well. 

One of those superstars, Lindor, is now his mentor. 

The two are represented by the same agency and train together in the summer at Lindor’s former Florida high school, Montverde Academy. 

Ruiz said they talk a lot about fielding, something that has helped the shortstop play “future Gold Glove-caliber defense,” according to MLB.com. 

Now signed with the Pirates, the 19-year-old has added a few more mentors in the form of teammates. 

Notably, Konnor Griffin, the 20-year-old shortstop and former No. 1 overall selection in 2024, already has met with Ruiz. 

Though they play the same position, Ruiz doesn’t see their relationship as a competition and is just focused on perfecting his own game. 

“What separates Konnor Griffin from other kids that are his age is knowing that you belong there, seeing his confidence and the way he walks, the way he talks,” Ruiz said. 

If given the chance, Ruiz added he would play anywhere for the Pirates, as long as he can help add to the “winning culture” and learn from the veterans on the team.

The Detroit Tigers took the second of the four-game home series against the Kansas City Royals on Friday night with a narrow 2-1 victory. Tarik Skubal was his dominant self over 7 1/3 innings of work and the offense managed to muster up just enough for the win for the second night in a row.

With a series win in the crosshairs, right-hander Casey Mize will take the mound on Saturday afternoon for the Ole English D. The 29-year-old has had mixed results this month, which has averaged out to a solid 3.45 ERA and a 3.11 FIP stretching across 15 2/3 innings, allowing 17 hits (one home run) and five walks while striking out 14 over that span.

On the other side of the equation is fellow righty Michael Wacha, who has been solid so far in his 14th season of big league ball. The 35-year-old has had a rough month of July, however, posting a 5.91 ERA and 5.36 FIP over his last three starts stretching across 10 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits (two home runs) and five walks while striking out 10, plus a hit-by-pitch.

Wacha faced the Tigers earlier this year, tossing seven frames of scoreless ball on a pair of hits and walks while striking out six, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch en route to a 5-1 victory at Comerica Park.

Here is a look at how the two match up on Saturday afternoon in the D.

Detroit Tigers (50-54) vs. Kansas City Royals (43-62)

Time (ET): 1:10 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site:Royals Review
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 105: RHP Casey Mize (4-6, 2.79 ERA) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (5-7, 3.66 ERA)

MIZE

WACHA

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L, 1-8 vs. Syracuse Mets

SS George Lombard Jr. 1-3, 1 BB, 1 K — no fretting about him not starting this time
C J.C. Escarra 1-4, 3 K, catchers’ interference
CF Spencer Jones 0-4, 2 K
DH Marco Luciano 0-3, 1 BB, 3 K
RF Yanquiel Fernández 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB
2B Oswaldo Cabrera 2-4
3B Tyler Hardman 0-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. 1-4, 2 K
LF Kenedy Corona 0-4, 3 K

Adam Kloffenstein 4 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HR (loss)
Chris Kean 1 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 BB
Carson Coleman 0.2 IP, 3 R, 4 H
Danny Watson 1.1 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Yerry De Los Santos 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K

Double-A Somerset Patriots:W, 5-4 at New Hampshire Fisher Cats

2B Connor McGinnis 2-4, 1 BB, 1 K
DH Jace Avina 2-5, 1 HR, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 K
3B Coby Morales 3-5, 1 R, 1 SB
CF DJ Gladney 3-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB — go-ahead RBI single in the ninth
LF Jackson Castillo 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 SB
RF Cole Gabrielson 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB
1B Josh Moylan 1-4, 1 RBI
C Manuel Palencia 1-4, 1 K, throwing error
SS Owen Cobb 0-4, 1 K, throwing error

Jack Cebert 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 7 K — 1.74 ERA in July after being north of five in May and June
Geoffrey Gilbert 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Kevin Stevens 1.2 IP, 0 R, 2 K
Michael Arias 0.2 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 K (win)
Tony Rossi 0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K (save)

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:L, 1-9 at Wilmington Blue Rocks

3B Roderick Arias 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, missed catch
SS Core Jackson 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K
C Eric Genther 0-4
1B Kyle West 0-4, 3 K
RF Enmanuel Tejeda 0-4
DH Robbie Burnett 0-3, 2 K
CF Camden Troyer 1-2, 1 BB — broke up the no-hit bid in the eighth with his single
LF Luis Durango 0-3, 1 R
2B Santiago Gomez 0-3, 1 K

Bryce Cunningham 3.2 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 3 BB, 2 K (loss)
Bryce Warrecker 0.1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 HR
Wilmy Sanchez 1 IP, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Sean Paul Liñan 3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K

Low-A Tampa Tarpons:W, 6-5 at Palm Beach Cardinals

DH Dax Kilby 1-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K
SS Jackson Lovich 0-5
LF Luis Puello 2-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
1B Hans Montero 1-4, 1 K, 1 CS
3B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek 1-3, 1 BB, 1 SB, 1 CS
RF Willy Montero 0-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 SB
RF Gabriel Lara 0-0
2B Christofer Reyes 1-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 2 K
CF Isael Arias 2-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 K, 1 CS
C Ediel Rivera 0-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K

Justin West 6 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR (win)
Jordarlin Mendoza 1.2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 4 K, 1 HR (hold)
Austin Breedlove 1.1 IP, 0 R, 2 BB (save)

Florida Complex League Yankees: Season over

Dominican Summer League Yankees:L, 1-6 (7) at DSL White Sox

CF Isaias Castillo 2-4, 1 R, 1 SB
DH Stiven Marinez 1-2, 1 BB
RF Yostin Pena 0-3, assist
2B Juan Torres 0-3
C Cesar Lopez 2-3
1B Poly Ojeda 0-2, 1 BB, 1 K
3B Adrian Feliz 1-2, 1 BB, throwing error
SS Abrahan Pichardo 0-3
LF Eliezer Adames 0-2, 1 BB, 2 K

Jhon Beltre 3 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 K (loss)
Yunior Jerez 3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 K

Dominican Summer League Bombers:W, 13-5 vs. DSL Cardinals

CF Ruben Castillo 3-5, 1 RBI, 3 R, 2 SB, assist
SS Dariel Santana 1-2, 2 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 2 SB, 1 CS, throwing and fielding errors
DH Alessandro Rodriguez 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2B Carlos Bello 2-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SB, 1 CS
RF David Carrera 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 SB
C Kenneth Melendez 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
3B Germayhoni Beltre 1-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 CS
1B Edgar Jimenez 3-5, 1 3B, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 K
LF Richard Meran 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Jose Sanchez 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K
Sebastian Castillo 3 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K (win)
Ronald Tejada 2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K

LeBron James is a Sixer, which is cool.

But don’t let that distract you from what’s going on with the Phillies, which is, uh, something.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• The team signed their first round pick yesterday for over slot money.
• The deadline is near, which means it’s a good time to take a look at the farm system and where it stands prior to said deadline ($).
• Noted suit aficionado John Kruk will be forced to wear one yet again this weekend with the Phillies back on NBC.
• If rental pitchers is what you wish for the Phillies to acquire at the deadline, here are seven names that could be on the radar.

MLB news:

• Speaking of prospects, here’s a good look at all 30 teams in terms of which ones they’d move and which ones they’d like keep.
• If you thought that Cincinnati was going to rebuild following this season, guess again. They want to “retool” ($).
• The Mariners might finally make a move from their vaunted starting pitching depth ($)? It’s about time.

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (49-50)

SYRACUSE 8, SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE 1 (BOX)

Jonah Tong struck out nine, that’s nice. He also walked four and only made it through 4.2 innings. Really just a lost season for the right hander as he continues to search for a new pitch mix. Anyway, Ronny Mauricio had 4 RBI in a comfortable win.

• 2B Ji Hwan Bae: 1-4, R, 2 RBI, BB, K, 2 SB (34)
• RF Nick Morabito: 0-1, 2 R, 2 BB, SB (32)
• SS Ronny Mauricio: 2-5, R, HR (9), 4 RBI
• 1B Ryan Clifford: 1-4, 2 RBI, BB, K
• LF MJ Melendez: 1-5, 2B, 2 K
• REHAB ALERT: DH Mike Tauchman: 1-5
• 3B Christopher Morel: 1-3, R, BB, K
• C Ben Rortvedt: 2-3, 2 R, 2B, BB
• CF Cristian Pache: 1-3, R, 2 K
• RHP Jonah Tong: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
• LHP Joe Jacques: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, W (3-0)
• LHP Nate Lavender: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• RHP Dan Hammer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (34-60)

PORTLAND 8, BINGHAMTON 1 (BOX)

Whoof.

• C Chris Suero: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, 2 K, E (11)
• CF John Bay: 1-3, 2B, BB, 2 K
• 1B Corey Collins: 0-3, BB, 2 K
• LF Jose Ramos: 0-3, BB, 2 K
• DH Kevin Parada: 0-4, 2 K
• 3B JT Schwartz: 0-3, BB, K, E (3)
• RF Vincent Perozo: 0-4, 2 K
• 2B Jaylen Palmer: 0-2, R, BB, SB (8)
• SS Nick Lucky: 0-3, 2 K
• RHP Danis Correa: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• LHP Felipe De La Cruz: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
• RHP Douglas Orellana: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, L (7-3), BS (4)
• RHP Brendan Girton: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• RHP Brian Metoyer: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (38-54)

GAME 1: BROOKLYN 4, JERSEY SHORE 3 / 8 (BOX)

Game 1 went to the Cyclones after they scored three in the eighth inning on singles from Yonatan Henriquez and Mitch Voit as well as a bases loaded walk to Daiverson Gutierrez. Voit had three this on the day, but also made an error and was caught stealing.

• 3B Yonatan Henriquez: 1-4, R, RBI, 2 K
• SS Mitch Voit: 3-4, RBI, E (9), CS (8)
• DH JT Benson: 0-3, R, BB, 2 K, SB (11)
• 2B Jamari Baylor: 1-3, RBI, K
• C Daiverson Gutierrez: 1-3, RBI, BB
• 1B Trace Willhoite: 1-4, 2 K
• RF AJ Salgado: 1-3, K
• LF Kevin Villavicencio: 0-3, R, SB (5)
• CF Sam Biller: 0-2, R, K
• P Noah Hall: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, E (2)
• P Cristofer Gomez: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, W (1-3)

GAME 2: JERSEY SHORE 5, BROOKLYN 0 / 7 (BOX)

Two hits and two errors didn’t cut it in game 2. At least it was a split.

• 3B Yonatan Henriquez: 0-3, K
• SS Mitch Voit: 0-3
• RF JT Benson: 0-3, K
• C Ronald Hernandez: 1-2, BB, K, E (11)
• DH Jamari Baylor: 0-3, 3 K
• 1B AJ Salgado: 1-3, K
• 2B Colin Houck: 0-2, 2 K, E (13)
• CF Yohairo Cuevas: 0-2, 2 K
• LF Sam Biller: 0-2, K
• RHP Parker Carlson: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, L (1-4)
• RHP Hunter Hodges: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
• RHP Josh Blum: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (43-50)

FORT MYERS 9, ST. LUCIE 3 (BOX)

Ugly pitching performance in the middle innings from Tyler McLoughlin and Ernesto Mercedes. The offense wasn’t great either, and Antonio Jimenez seems to be struggling again.

• SS Antonio Jimenez: 0-5, 3 K
• 3B Andy Ibáñez: 1-4
• 3B Jackson Hauge: 1-1, R, HR (2), RBI
• CF Trey Snyder: 1-4, BB, K, 2 SB (16)
• RF Randy Guzman: 0-3, BB, 2 K
• DH Julio Zayas: 0-3, BB, K
• C Chase Meggers: 0-3, BB, K, E (14)
• LF Taylor Darden: 1-3, BB
• 2B Jeremy Rodriguez: 1-4, R, K
• 1B Jack Scanlon: 1-4, R, HR (1), 2 RBI, K
• RHP Christian Rodriguez: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, L (3-4)
• RHP Tyler McLoughlin: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Ernesto Mercedes: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• RHP Caden Wooster: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Rookie: FCL Mets (24-32)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

Rookie: DSL Mets Orange (20-19)

DSL METS ORANGE 6, DSL NATIONALS 4 (BOX)

• DH Wandy Asigen: 0-4, 3 K
• SS Sebastian Toro: 1-4, 2 R, 2B, SB (7)
• C Cesar Acosta: 1-3, BB, K
• LF Jhonael Cuello: 1-4, R, RBI, SB (24)
• 1B Yadier Fuentes: 1-3, R, RBI, BB
• CF Ryan Rudas: 0-3, 2 R, BB, 4 SB (16)
• 3B Jose Padilla: 1-2, 2B, BB, K, 2 SB (5), E (12)
• 2B Roni Garcia: 0-2, RBI, K
• RF Aiberson Blanco: 0-3, 2 K, E (1)
• RHP Oscar Montero: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
• RHP Olmedo Barria: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, W (5-0)

Rookie: DSL Mets Blue (14-24)

DSL MARLINS 8, DSL METS BLUE 4 (BOX)

• 2B Johnderis Sanchez: 0-3, BB, K, SB (24), CS (5), E (11)
• DH Dayron Oramas: 1-4, R, 2 K
• CF Henry Manrique: 2-4, 2 R, 2B, K
• 1B Frank Moreno: 1-4, R, RBI, K
• RF Royner Bravo: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, K, E (2)
• SS Michalle Mercedes: 1-4
• 3B Angel Ozuna: 0-4, 2 K
• LF Emerson Estevez: 0-2, BB
• C Adrian Silva: 0-3, K
• C Adrian La Rosa: 0-1
• RHP Leyvi Rodriguez: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, E (2), L (1-5)
• RHP Yunior Canario: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• LHP Cristopher Hernandez: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• RHP Randiel Vicente: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Ronny Mauricio

GOATS OF THE NIGHT

Ernesto Mercedes

MLB Trade Rumors | Charlie Wright: The Yankees rearranged their planned starters for this weekend’s series in Philadelphia. Cam Schlittler was bumped up to start Friday on normal rest, with Will Warren pushed back to Sunday. Warren appeared in relief Wednesday to help provide some coverage during a doubleheader. With Max Fried back in the rotation and Carlos Rodón on the comeback trail, Warren’s recent usage suggests his spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy.

MLB.com | Thomas Harrigan: The Yankees have gotten virtually no offensive production from the catcher position this season. With the trade deadline looming, expect them to pursue an upgrade. The most likely candidate is Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers, a righty bat who’s a free agent after the season. The Athletics’ Shea Langeliers and Colorado’s Hunter Goodman are higher-upside plays with more years of club control, but there’s no guarantee either will be moved. The Mets’ Francisco Alvarez and Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman loom as longshots, with Cincinnati’s Tyler Stephenson and Minnesota’s Victor Caratini less exciting backup plans should the rest fall through.

NJ.com | James Mertz: Paul Blackburn has broken out with the Yankees this year after moving to the bullpen full-time, posting a 2.00 ERA in 35 outings. He attributes the career renaissance in part with the consistency the Yankees have provided. The veteran contrasts that with his tenure with the Mets, who constantly shuttled him between the rotation and the bullpen. “I felt like we were just playing a video game,” he said of his time across town, during which he posted a 6.00 ERA in 12 games.

CBS Sports | Rotowire Staff: Luis Gil faced live batters on Friday for the first time since early May, throwing BP. He’s been on the minor-league IL, working back from right shoulder inflammation. The former Rookie of the Year was disastrous in four starts early this year and has no guaranteed role upon his return.

Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers remains uncertain for the foreseeable future.

Ohtani participated in a bullpen session on Wednesday, July 22 in Philadelphia and is scheduled for another session on Saturday, July 25 in New York.

The sessions could be viewed as a step forward, but he isn’t expected to pitch next week.

"That's too early,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “I feel very good that it won't be next week.”

The two-way star was pulled from his scheduled start before the MLB All-Star break due to inflammation and irritation in his left knee.

"Every player wants to get back out there and do what they do. But I think he understands it's not about July, it's about October," Roberts said. "So, we've already taken a lot of time to get him back to full health, so we're not going to start earlier than we need to."

PHILADELPHIA — Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice have been the most valuable Yankees this season. 

But Brent Headrick might not be far behind. 

Despite not being quite as sharp as he usually has been this season, the lefty reliever came through in the clutch again Friday night to escape a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning and preserve a 1-0 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. 

All it took was retiring one of the most fearsome hitters in the game, Kyle Schwarber, on a 3-2 count with two outs and the tying run on third base. 

“He’s electric,” said Schlittler, who pitched into the eighth inning. “He’s saved me plenty of times this season. … Doesn’t sometimes get the credit he deserves, but he’s been amazing.” 

Headrick, who has not allowed a run in a major league-best 44 of his 52 appearances this season, entered with runners on first and second with one out. He got some help from right fielder Jasson Domínguez and left fielder Cody Bellinger on strong throws home — Domínguez’s on a single that loaded the bases and Bellinger’s on Trea Turner’s line out — forcing the Phillies to hold J.T. Realmuto at third. 

Headrick then entered a full count against Schwarber — with some key blocks on balls in the dirt from catcher Ali Sánchez — before throwing a 95 mph fastball at the bottom of the zone that generated a chopper to second base for the third out. 

“Just throw my best stuff and trust it,” Headrick said. “That’s what you prep for. You love to be in those situations. Any time my name’s called, I’m going to pitch and give everything I have.” 

It made for a tense moment with zero margin for error, but in the process, Headrick lowered his ERA to 1.38, continuing to be a godsend for a bullpen that needed more trustworthy arms. 

“I think he’s been on the short list of guys that have been the best in the game, that aren’t the full-time closer or whatever,” Boone said. 

Boone, a longtime 76ers fan, was among those excited Friday about LeBron James announcing he was signing in Philadelphia. 

“Looks like they got a pretty good starting five in the mix,” Boone said with a big grin. “The East is getting interesting.” 

Boone’s 76ers fandom stems from spending part of his childhood growing up here while his dad, Bob, was playing for the Phillies. But he manages in New York and has also gotten to know some of the Knicks’ personnel during his tenure, so naturally he was asked whether he favored the Knicks or 76ers heading into next season. 

“The Knicks are the champs,” he said diplomatically. “But you bring Jaylen Brown in and LeBron, it’s two pretty good pieces I’d say. 

“I’ll be watching with interest, I’m sure, this winter.” 

Carlos Rodón (left elbow inflammation) is set to throw a “two-up” bullpen session Saturday — throwing a handful of pitches, sitting down and then getting back up for the equivalent of another inning — with about 35 pitches in total. If he gets through that session without issue, he should advance to facing hitters by next week. 

Boone said he still has “no idea” when Rodón might be ready to return to the rotation, though at this rate he will almost certainly need to go on a rehab assignment. 

Clarke Schmidt (Tommy John surgery) is scheduled to face hitters for a second time Sunday, throwing another simulated inning as he works towards a potential return later this season. 

Luis Gil (right shoulder inflammation) has advanced to facing hitters at the club’s player development complex, according to a video he posted on social media. … Dax Kilby, the Yankees’ first-round pick last summer, was activated off the injured list Friday for the first time this season at Single-A Tampa. The shortstop prospect, battling a hamstring injury, played in a rehab game in late May but then was out of action again until last week, when he played three rehab games without issue, clearing him to join Tampa’s roster.

Left-hander Drew Pomeranz has elected free agency.

If you want to know why I don’t do Dominican Summer League recaps, among the many reasons is that Cubs Blue lost to Pirates Gold today 21-17. Cubs Blue drew 18 walks and issued 11 of them.

Iowa Cubs

Rained out. Doubleheader on Saturday in Gwinnett.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies tossed out the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 4-3.

Luis Martinez-Gomez just dominated the Trash Panda. Martinez-Gomez pitched six innings and allowed two runs on two hits. Both runs scored on a home run and one of them was unearned. But Martinez-Gomez struck out a career-high 12 batters and walked no one. His career high for strikeouts before tonight was just seven. He blew past that.

Kenyi Perez relieved Martinez-Gomez to start the seventh and gave up the one-run lead after a double, a bunt and a sacrifice fly. But Perez got the win when the Smokies came back in the eighth. Perez’s final line was one run on one hit over one inning. He did not have a strikeout or a walk.

Tyler Ras retired the side in order in the ninth for the save. He also did not strike anyone out.

Right fielder Carter Trice hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth to give the Smokies the lead for good. It was Trice’s 12th home run this year. Trice also had an RBI double in the top of the first inning. Trice went 2 for 4.

Center fielder Alex Ramírez went 2 for 5 with a double. He scored once.

Here’s Trice’s RBI double and an RBI single for Andy Garriola, who was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch.

Trice’s home run.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs made boots out of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 9-8 in 11 innings.

Starter Alfredo Romero went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits. One of the two runs was unearned. Romero struck out five, walked one and hit one batter.

Nate Williams gave up two runs in the top of the 11th, but got the win when South Bend struck back for three runs in the bottom of the inning. Williams gave up two runs on one hit over one inning. One of the runs was unearned, naturally. Williams walked two and struck out one.

Catcher Justin Stransky singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Stransky went 2 for 5 with a walk and two runs scored. He also stole a base.

Earlier in the 11th, left fielder Kade Snell had a key RBI double. He then scored the winning run on Stransky’s hit. Snell went 1 for 5.

First baseman Michael Carico hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. It was his first home run for South Bend and eighth overall. Carico was 1 for 4 with a walk and he scored twice.

Right fielder Josiah Hartshorn went 3 for 5 with a walk and four RBI.

Center fielder Kane Kepley was 1 for 2 with three walks and he reached on catcher’s interference. Kepley also stole a base. He scored two runs.

Carico’s home run.

You need to watch this two-run single by Hartshorn and how Stransky leaps the catcher to avoid the tag.

Terrific defense from shortstop Angel Cepeda.

Snell’s big double.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans split a doubleheader with the Hickory Crawdads (Rangers), winning game one 2-1 in eight innings and losing game two 2-1.

Game one of the doubleheader was scoreless through seven innings. Starter David Avitia pitched four innings, giving up just three hits. He walked two and struck out two.

David Bracho did not allow a hit over the next three innings, but he did walk three batters. Bracho didn’t strike anyone out.

After the Pelicans scored two runs in the top of the eighth, Yoendris Gonzalez gave up one unearned run on two hits in the bottom of the eight for the save. Gonzalez struck out one.

Shortstop Alexis Hernandez singled home the second run in the top of the eighth. He was 1 for 4.

Left fielder Derik Alcantara went 2 for 3.

Braylon Myers started game two and gave up one run on three hits over four innings. Myers struck out six and walked one.

Sam Mettert threw the final two innings, allowed a run on four hits, and got the loss. Mettert struck out two and walked no one.

Center fielder Ethan Conrad went 1 for 3 with an RBI double in the first inning in game two.

Catcher Ivan Cespedes was 2 for 3.

Kyle Tucker hammered the Mets, then said nice things about them. 

The slumping slugger, whom the Mets went after in free agency, homered and had two hits in the Dodgers’ 4-2 win at Citi Field on Friday night. 

“They’re great people over there. I had [Troy Snitker], their hitting coach, when I was in Houston. A few familiar faces over there,” Tucker said when asked about the Mets’ pursuit in the winter. “I think they have some really good players. Hasn’t necessarily worked out how they had hoped or wanted to have the season go, but it kind of happens sometimes. 

“It’s always a tough decision, trying to figure out where to go. I just felt comfortable coming out to LA. Everything’s been great since.” 

Tucker wound up signing a four-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers, $20 million more than the Mets offered. 

Early on, he hasn’t been worth the money. He was dropped in the batting order to seventh in the series opener, and has a slash line of .240/.333/.371 with a pedestrian .704 OPS.

He has only eight homers after averaging 26.8 over the previous five seasons. 

Posturing or an indication the Mets are planning to keep their catchers? 

In his press conference Friday, president of baseball operations David Stearns was asked about Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens being involved in potential trades. 

“Without commenting on any specific player or approach to any specific player, catching is really important,” he said. “We’re very fortunate to have two really good ones.” 

The Post’s Jon Heyman has reported that the Mets are willing to move the 24-year-old Alvarez for the right price. Alvarez and Torrens are under team control beyond this season. 

Ahead of his Hall of Fame induction this weekend, Carlos Beltrán revealed that Mets officials talked to him about managing the team after firing Carlos Mendoza, but he declined the opportunity. Stearns didn’t add much on the talks that two sides had. 

“I love having Carlos as a special assistant, he does a great job,” Stearns said. “I’m really excited for him and his family about what they’re about to experience this weekend. It’s very well-deserved.” 

Beltrán has served as a Mets special assistant for the last four seasons. 

Former Mets closer Edwin Díaz missed his new team’s return to his old home. He is on a rehabilitation assignment after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right throwing elbow in April. … Carson Benge became the first Mets rookie outfielder with two assists since Juan Lagares in 2013. … Actress Emma Stone was in the Mets dugout during batting practice to film a scene for her new movie, “The Catch.” It looks like Juan Soto has a cameo in the film. 

While a regulation MLB game is nine innings, it can take just one inning to change the entire landscape of a game. Unfortunately for the White Sox, they were on the bad end of an inning that was more horrifying than the recent Backrooms movie.

It was an odd game that had the good vibes flowing from the very beginning. The White Sox took advantage of wild Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti from the jump and put up three runs before the Astros could find a trash can to take advantage of. The White Sox would add on two more runs in the fifth thanks to a rally started by “small ball” walks/wild pitches/singles.

It appeared that nothing could stop the White Sox from taking another step closer to the AL Central crown — until the game turned around so quick it may have just gave all 28,657 in attendance whiplash.

Down 5-0, the Houston Astros dropped a snowman on the White Sox in the sixth inning. Of the 11 Astros who strolled to the plate and eventually ended up reaching base, nine were due to either a single, walk, or a hit batter. It wasn’t like Davis Martin and Bryan Hudson were throwing meatballs down the plate that were getting blasted to Hammond, they just couldn’t buy an out. Nevertheless, it was an incredibly surprising development, especially with Martin on the hill. After allowing just three hits over the first five innings, he allowed three hits and hit a batter in the sixth inning alone before he was yanked for Hudson.

While Martin’s meltdown alone was bad enough, it only got worse with Hudson having a complete blow up. Much like Martin, Hudson has been solid most of the year, but had an awful night; the southpaw could only get two outs while giving up four earned runs in the process.

Eventually and improbably, Seranthony Domínguez got the White Sox out of the inning. But much like going out after 2 a.m., when you have three separate pitchers throwing in the same inning, nothing good can result. The Astros onslaught stunned the crowd, and it’s hard to blame the offense for looking shellshocked the rest of the night.

Both fortunately and unfortunately, there wasn’t really much action after that sixth inning. Fortunately, because the South Siders didn’t get embarrassed any worse, but also unfortunately because it was truly that one inning that led to Chicago’s demise. It was a weird change from a team that hasn’t let too many games get away this year.

With a Cleveland Guardians loss, this 9-5 disappointment was more of a “no harm, no foul” situation. Even so, it still sucks to see a perfectly good win, and chance to gain another game atop the AL Central, go to waste due to one inning.

Out of all the sad South Side fans, my heart goes out to our SSS colleague Hannah Filippo, as not only did she have to watch the loss, but she also started Davis Martin in her fantasy league. You’ll get them next time, Hannah!

MVP
Braden Montgomery: 3-for-5, R, RBI, 2 K

Runners-Up
Chase Meidroth: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, K
Trevor Richards: 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K

Cold Cat
Bryan Hudson: 2/3 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, BB, K, LOSS (3-3)

Runners-Up
Davis Martin: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 K
Drew Romo: 0-for-3, .127 AVG and .515 OPS on the season

As you might have heard, the 2026 Seattle Mariners have struggled against left-handed pitching. Dominic Canzone, meanwhile, has been having a tremendous year at the plate. These things are related.

For most of the season, the Mariners have opted to platoon Canzone, preferring to use right-handed hitters such as Rob Refsnyder, Víctor Robles, and Mitch Garver in his place when the Mariners face a southpaw. This wasn’t an indefensible idea, with Canzone coming into the season with both a wOBA and xwOBA 50 points lower against lefties than righties.

But the team’s struggles against lefties have been so immense, their depth so depleted, and Canzone so hot, that he’s started playing everyday lately. The results have been mixed.

Tonight, it looked like a bad choice. In the first inning, Canzone struck out on three straight sliders from MacKenzie Gore. In the third, he ran to first so slowly (correctly, still being cautious with a hamstring) that he got doubled up on a 68-mph ground ball. When he got to face Gore for the third time, he barely got a piece of a hanging slider, then swung at a sinker a few inches above the zone and was quickly down 0-2.

That was an important moment in the game. Bryce Miller fell behind early when he threw a splitter that didn’t split to the Rangers second batter, Wyatt Langford, that was sent to the left field seats. The Mariners got that run back in a very small-ball second inning that featured good at bats from Josh Naylor, Cole Young, Weston Wilson(?), and Colt Emerson(!). But Miller just kept on struggling.

Miller never really let things get out of hand, and he was even sitting 96 for the first half of his outing. He ended up finishing his 5.1 innings with zero strikeouts, which is a first for his career, but he only walked one. And while he gave up a ton of air contact, though it came with just a single barrel. Even the two-run home run he gave up to Jake Burger wasn’t exactly a bad pitch, a 96-mph fastball above the zone. Burger just muscled it and it somehow kept carrying. It was certainly a night of bad results for Miller, but in a way that struck me as kind of fluky. His velo is down from his outstanding start to the season, when he was sitting 98, but he’s still been basically fine lately.

Nevertheless, that Burger tater brought the score to 3-1 entering the fifth inning. Emerson and Arozarena started the inning off with a pair of lead-off singles. A Julio fly out left two on and one out for Canzone, where he fell into that 0-2 hole.

But from there, Canzone fouled off a tough slider low and away. He laid off an uncompetitive four-seamer, and then went back to work, fouling off a tough sinker just above the zone. Buying those extra pitches was almost for naught, as a slider tumbled toward him breaking, breaking, breaking out of the zone. But Canzone extended his arms and flicked it. All that extra muscle he’s put on over the past couple years allowed him to take a pitch he barely got a piece of all the way to the wall in left-center field.

That double tied the game at 3-3, and it felt like the Mariners were in the driver’s seat. I will not buy into Dominic Canzone no matter how good he looks. At this point, I can’t abandon that position without everyone blaming me if he starts struggling. But Dommy Dearest still gets tonight’s Sun Hat Award for that very fine piece of hitting off a lefty.

However, with a four-game series and a seven-man bullpen, Dan Wilson opted to let a struggling Miller try to pitch the sixth inning. But he got just one out before giving up a single and a walk. Wilson went to Eduard Bazardo, who basically did his job, getting a pair of weakly hit balls. Unfortunately, both those balls found grass. That and a well-executed bunt got the score to 5-3 before Bazardo got out of the inning.

Colt Emerson got one of those runs back in the ninth, thanks to a well-struck double off a lethal lefty, Jacob Latz. He was moved to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch. It was one of two hits plus a walk, all off lefties for Emerson tonight. Cole Young also had a three-hit night. But with the team 51-53, these things just don’t cleanse the palate of a loss the way they would in April.

Blue Jays 4 Red Sox 6

So it was a better effort than we’ve seen of late.

Kuzuma Okamoto hit a three-run home run in the seventh (which got us back into the game). Andrés Giménez hit a sac fly in the eighth (which tied the game). That was homer 23 for Okamoto, setting a new Japanese Rookie home run record.

We had a bunch of hits, 9 with 3 walks.

Daulton Varsho had 3 hits (really good to see some hard contact from him). Vlad and Okamoto had two each. Kirk had a hit and a walk and Nathan Lukes had the other hit.

Clements (0 for 4), Springer (0 for 4, walk), Schneider (0 for 2, k), Urías (0 for 3, k), and Straw and Piñango shared an 0 for 4 (Lips with 2 strikeouts).

We were 2 for 8 with RISP.’.

We had a tough time, early in the game:

• In the first: Clement reached on an error to start the game. After two outs, Springer and Kirk each walked to load the bases. But Schneider struck out (he took a two-strike change up down the middle for strike three).
• In the second: Varsho singled to lead off but was stranded there.
• In the fourth: We had two on (Kirk and Varsho singles) with one out, but Urías (pop out) and Straw (line out) ended the fun.
• In the fifth: With one out, Vlad singled and Kazuma doubled. But Springer popped out and Kirk flied out.

On the pitching side:

Trey Yesavage wasn’t great. 4 innings, 5 hits, 3 earned, 1 walks with 9 strikeouts. He only had three outs that weren’t strikeouts. But he gave up 2 home runs.

Mason Fluharty pitched a clean inning with 2 strikeouts.

Braydon Fisher gave up a couple of hits, a walk and a run. in the sixth.

Jeff Hoffman gave up a double, got a ground out, walked a guy, got a fly out. Then he gave up a hardish line drive right to Vlad, who had it go off his glove for an error. Had Hoffman run to first (like he should have, they still would have got the out, but he didn’t. Bases loaded. But a ground out ended the inning.

CJ Van Eyk got the eighth. Tough spot for the rookie. Single. Pop out. Fly ball to the wall in left. The back to back doubles to left scored two. On the second Piñango was back at the wall and then Lips decided to play it off the wall. It hit low enough off the wall that he could have made the catch. But he managed to turn it into a double, and the Red Sox were up by two. Left field is a tough spot in Fenway, but he really ought to have made the catch. A single ended Van Eyk’s night.

Adam Macko finished off the inning, but it was too late.

We did have a chance in the ninth. Vlad walk to start the inning. But Okamoto (strikeout), Springer (fly out) and Kirk (strikeout) ended the hope.

Jays of the Day: Varsho (0.20 WPA), Okamoto (0.15) and Lukes (0.12). Vlad gets an honourable mention for 2 for 4 with a walk.

Other Award: Eyk (-0.34, tough spot, and could have used some defensive help), Yesavage (-0.12), Springer (-0.17), Schneider (-0.11) and Urías (-0.09). Let’s give one to Lips too (-0.08, plus the bad play in left).

A much better loss than the last few, but still a loss.

Tomorrow is a 4:00 Eastern start time. I hate late afternoon weekend starts. Dylan Cease (6-5, 2.67) vs. Sonny Gray (12-1, 2.48).