Any hopes the Texas Longhorns had of contending in the College World Series took a massive blow on Saturday at Charles Schwab Field in a 7-1 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs as right-hander Joey Volchko delivered the best outing of his career, striking out a career-high 15 batters in a complete game for the first Bulldogs win in Omaha since 2008.
Volchko took control early by striking out the first three batters he faced and never faltered, pouring in strikes early in the count and missing bats with the glove-side run on his four-seam fastball and electric slider. Of the 114 pitches thrown by the Stanford transfer, 84 went for strikes as Texas only managed four hits, two by sophomore shortstop Adrian Rodriguez, who scored the only run for the Horns in the fifth inning. Volchko’s ability to fill up the strike zone resulted in Texas only drawing one walk.
The Horns went 1-for-9 (.111) with runners on and 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position as only one player in the starting lineup, junior first baseman Ashton Larson, avoided a strikeout. Larson went 0-for-3.
As Volchko worked ahead in count, Texas responded by trying to attack the first pitch, a strategy that worked as poorly as attempting to get deep in at bats. After junior right fielder Aiden Robbins worked a full count against Volchko to start the game before striking out, the Horns didn’t get to a three-ball count again until pinch-hitter Josh Livingston in the eighth inning.
The Bulldogs took advantage of early mistakes by the Longhorns as sophomore left-hander Dylan Volantis struggled with his command in the first inning, walking the first batter he faced before giving up a line-drive home run off the foul pole in left field by center fielder Rylan Lujo.
Even as Volantis became more effective, it backfired when junior catcher Carson Tinney airmailed a soft throw on a swinging strikeout that allowed Georgia to put a runner on first with one out after Lujo’s homer. A soft single through the right side of the Texas infield increased the pressure on Volantis, who was able to record the second out before hitting a batter and giving up two unearned runs when Tinney made another mistake on a swinging strikeout, missing his throw to first instead of trying to get the runner out at home.
So the Bulldogs took command of the game after the first inning with the benefit of only one hit as Tinney committed his third and fourth errors of the season in an uncharacteristically shaky performance.
Volantis wasn’t always able to work in the zone over the ensuing innings, hitting two more batters, even though he didn’t allow another hit until the seventh when he gave up an RBI double and a two-run single when Georgia scored three unearned runs thanks to an error by junior third baseman Casey Borba.
If the game wasn’t already out of reach for Texas before the seventh, it certainly was afterwards as the top four batters in the lineup combined to go 0-for-15 with 11 strikeouts, including four by redshirt senior second baseman Temo Becerra.
The Horns also saw junior designated hitter Ethan Mendoza depart in the eighth inning with an injury after hitting a single up the middle.
With the season on the line, Texas faces Alabama on Monday at 1 p.m. Central in an elimination game. The Tide lost to the Sooners 9-0 in the early game on Saturday.
Jun 13, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks 7th ave. squad celebrating outside of Madison Square Garden on Plaza 33 while watching the conclusion Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. Mandatory Credit: Brenden Willsch-Imagn Images | Brenden Willsch-Imagn Images
It was nearly a home game. According to TickPick data, New York and New Jersey residents bought 45% of the tickets to Game Five in San Antonio. You could hear it in the opening minutes, when the ‘Bocker backers were just as loud as the Spurs fanatics.
Unfortunately, the visiting team didn’t give a lot to cheer about early on. Once again, the Knicks fell behind by double digits. They scored the fewest first-quarter points of the season, down 23-13, and trailed at halftime, 42-37. But the Knicks can never be counted out when Captain Jalen Brunson wears an orange and blue cape. Scoring 45 (rest of team: 49), Jalen led the troops on another rally, this time from 16 down. With big shots in the fourth and big misses by the Spurs, the Knicks pulled ahead with three minutes to go and held for a 94-90 win.
Hang the banner! They’re the champs!
Each team stumbled through the first two minutes. The Knicks missed four shots, while the Spurs missed one and turned the ball over before Wemby dunked around 9:30 and Jalen Brunson answered with a three-ball. From there the Knicks continued to brick (missing 13 of their initial 15 shots) and fell behind by six before OG Anunoby hit a catch-up corner three. At the midway point, coach Mike Brown, hoping to get some offensive mojo working, subbed Landry Shamet for OG. Harper worked Shamet for a layup, and then Landry was way off from deep as the shot clock expired. That ShamWow magic was all tapped out, apparently.
SWAT THE THREE-POINT ATTEMPT. STUFF THE SHOT INSIDE.
Going up by double digits, the home team scored 12 of their first-quarter points in the paint, while New York had scored none. The home-viewing audience saw a lot of contact on the court, but the refs—much closer to the action—saw very few fouls to call. Perhaps that had something to do with Scott “The Extender” Foster heading the officiating crew.
Brown sent Anunoby back in and swapped Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns for Alvarado and Mitchell Robinson.
Through the first four games, New York had not managed more than 25 points in a quarter, while San Antonio had averaged 34. Tonight was the ugliest first frame yet. The visitors had just 10 points before Brunson swished from deep with a minute left. When the period concluded, both teams had recorded their lowest first-quarter point totals of the series. Spurs up, 23-13.
This was the entirety of the Knicks offense. All of it:
Brunson: 25-foot three-pointer
Anunoby: Corner three
Anunoby: Two free throws
Brunson: 11-foot step-back jumper
Brunson: 27-foot three-pointer
To start the second quarter, Wemby blocked Alvarado on the perimeter and then stuffed Shamet in the lane, while Julian Champagnie made the deficit 13 at the other end. The Spurs applied full-court pressure, and the Knicks had trouble getting the ball across midcourt, let alone putting it in the hoop. Rookie Dylan Harper made free throws for a 15-point advantage. When Wemby hit from the corner, it was 16. Mike Brown needed a timeout to regroup the troops.
Brunson, Bridges, and Hart combined for a 17-7 run that brought the differential back to six with about 2:30 left in the half. The Spurs’ defense, which rocketed out of the gate like angry pit bulls, began to lose a step. When Anunoby nicked a Stephon Castle pass, Hart took it all the way for a layup—and Fox, trailing, shoved him from behind with two hands for a flagrant-1. It was a reckless play by Fox. The Knicks fans present erupted at the announcement, then again when Hart made the free throw, and then again when Bridges floated a bucket over Wembanyama.
Thanks to a buzzer-beater in traffic by Devin Vassell, the Spurs took a 42-37 lead into halftime. Stunned by those numbers? Us, too! That was the fewest points scored by the Knicks in a first half this season.
The glaring number is points in the paint: 18-6 Spurs. That’s a big gap, especially when neither team could shoot straight. The hosts had made two more field goals than the guests. The Knicks actually shot better from three (37% to 29%), thanks to Brunson making 3-of-4. On the glass, the Spurs held a 26-23 edge overall and had nine second-chance points. The Spurs had 14 bench points, the Knicks none. Turnovers, assists, and points off turnovers were essentially even. New York had taken 44 shots and scored only six paint points. Brunson led all scorers with 16; Harper led the Spurs with 11.
To start the third quarter, Towns was immediately dinged for a soft elbow on Wemby (who preceded that with a push-off). The Extender was all over it, whistling Karl’s fourth penalty of the night and sending him to the bench.
A few moments later, Wemby scored on a dunk, and Robinson pushed him gently from behind, earning the same flagrant-1 that Fox did earlier. Those two fouls by their centers were momentum killers for the Knicks. Wemby hit the freebie, Champagnie made a three, and Wemby made a bucket to make the hole 12 again. A Bridges three-pointer and a Brunson jumper cut it back to seven, and the see-saw continued.
Ariel Hukporti checked in around the eight-minute mark, but not for long—Wemby took the bench, and Brown opted for Shame, hoping for that elusive offensive surge.
At around the 5:30 mark, Wembanyama clearly violated Brunson’s landing area on a three-point attempt. Jalen landed on his foot, turning his ankle. The refs swallowed their whistle on the obvious flagrant. Why? Because it would have been his fourth flagrant-foul point and suspended him from Game Six.
Here’s a convenient place to drop this fun fact: Financial analysts tracking deep postseason runs note that a single Finals game hosted in a premier arena can clear $20 million or more in total building revenue. (h/t Inc. Magazine.) The league takes a 25% cut of all gate receipts from playoff games. Plus, economic impact studies frequently show that hosting a single Finals game can inject tens of millions of dollars into a city’s local ecosystem.
On the next sequence, Bridges was poked IN THE EYE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF FOSTER, but yet again, no whistle. The Spurs fans chanted DE-FENSE, but it should have been FOS-TER! With the Knicks playing 5-on-6, the Spurs went ahead by 15.
Mikal Bridges gets poked in the eye right in front of Scott Foster… No call 🤔 pic.twitter.com/rKF1win32V
Send your thoughts to asilver@nba.com. Maybe, if the NBA believes in ethical basketball, they will assess a belated flagrant on Wemby after reviewing the game.
Throughout the Finals, Shamet, McBride, and Clarkson have been mostly negatives. That continued tonight. One bench player who gave New York positive minutes was Hukporti, who blocked Kornet at the rim and fought for a timely offensive board.
Hart hit a triple, Brunson hit three freebies, and Robinson tipped in a Brunson miss to make the score 72-65 after three.
7-point game headed to the 4th, thanks to Mitchell Robinson!
The teams traded buckets to start the final frame. Shamet hit a three—finally—and Vassell answered. Early in the quarter, Hart blocked a driving Vassell and called for a foul. Brown challenged it. Even though Hart contacted the ball first, the challenge was unsuccessful. Send your thoughts to asilver@nba.com.
Shamet hurt his ankle coming down for a layup and exited the game. Hate to see him injured, but it might have been the only to stop Brown from playing him!
Wemby was actually called for a loose ball foul, then Brunson took him to the woodshed for a difficult finger roll. The score was 83-79 at the midway mark. Towns picked up his fifth foul around then, shoving Wemby from behind into Hart. That meant Robinson was back in the game when New York needed an offensive push to keep the game close or even go ahead.
Brunson made two free throws and a freight train layup to cap a 10-0 run. All knotted up at 83 with four and change remaining. Vassell made a jumper for a lead, but then fouled Brunson on a three (and violated his landing space, but shhh). Captain Clutch made all three freebies and took the lead. Fox missed on a pull-up, Robinson grabbed the board, and Brown called a timeout to beat Mitch Johnson to a Hack-A-Mitch.
Brunson was dinged for an offensive foul, and the Spurs missed a couple of point blank at the iron. They’d missed nine of their last ten shots, and then Vassell goaltended on an Anunoby dunk. 88-85 with two minutes left.
At the other end, Towns fouled out when called for an offensive foul when Wemby charged into him. Wemby missed one of two, and the Knicks fans were delirious. Harper and Cap traded buckets, and with a minute left, the Knicks lead was two. Hart missed from yard, Harper got the ball and ran the length of the floor, but blew the game tying layup with 27 seconds on the clock.
Hart was fouled and made the first. He missed the second, but Mitchell Robinson hauled in the biggest rebound of his career. The ball kicked out to Anunoby, who was fouled and made one of two. This time Vassell grabbed the board and called a timeout. Knicks up, 92-88. Just 20 seconds left.
Out of the break, the Spurs ran the same play the Knicks did to win Game Four—Castle inbounded, then dunked the putback of a Wemby miss. It was Castle’s first field goal of the night, after missing nine straight.
Out of the Knicks timeout, Brunson was mauled at halfcourt by Wemby and Harper but Foster ignored it. The ball finally reached Bridges, who was given a foul. At the line, Bridges missed the first but canned the second. 93-90. Spurs timeout, nine seconds left.
Shamet (back in the game) fouled Harper, and the rookie, who led his team with 25 points, wilted in the moment. He missed both, then fouled the rebounding Anunoby. OG missed one, made one, and the game ended with Wembanyama missing from deep. How fitting.
The Larry O’Brien trophy was presented. Jalen Brunson was named the MVP. Karl-Anthony Towns was finally a champion. The remaining Knicks fans at the Frost Bank Center celebrated. I cried. You cried. And after 53 years of wandering the desert, we finally made it home.
Joey Volchko made College World Series history on Saturday, June 13, in Georgia's 7-1 win over Texas, delivering a masterful performance while being virtually untouchable.
The 6-foot-4 starter finished his first-career complete game with a career-high 15 strikeouts against the Longhorns, holding their lineup to one unearned run on four hits and a walk. He needed 114 pitches in the complete game, and dominated hitters with virtually untouchable cutter and sweeper combination.
Volchko's start led the way for Georgia's first College World Series win in over 18 years, and his 15 strikeouts were the most by any pitcher in program history in Omaha, Nebraska.
Volchko, the No. 73-ranked prospect of the 2026 MLB Draft by MLB Pipeline, has struggled with command at times in 2026, entering June 13's game with 45 walks in 86 1/3 innings pitched. But his strike-throwing was on point against Texas, walking one hitter while throwing 84 of his 114 pitches for strikes.
He lowered his ERA by nearly 0.40 points, as his average reduced from 4.07 to 3.68 after the career performance. The first-year transfer from Stanford flashed overpowering stuff all night against the Longhorns, touching 96 mph on his cutter while mixing in devastating sweepers and curveballs that kept Texas off balance.
The Bulldogs got out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Texas ace Dylan Volantis, a first-team All-SEC pick this season, due to multiple errors from the Longhorns defense. From there, it was a pitchers' duel between Volchko and Volantis, the latter of whom allowed seven runs, only two of which were earned.
Should Georgia reach the national championship series, Volchko would be fresh enough to make another start, which at that point would come with huge expectations after the imposing showing.
Here's what to know of Volchko after his powerful win against Texas in the College World Series:
Joey Volchko stats
Volchko had his career-best start against Texas in the College World Series on June 13, tossing a complete game with no earned runs. Here's his final line against the Longhorns, along with his season stats:
vs. Texas: One run (unearned) on four hits with one walk and 15 strikeouts across nine innings. Threw 84 of 114 pitches for strikes.
2026 season: 11-2 record with a 3.68 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 95 1.3 innings pitched.
Joey Volchko MLB draft projection
Volchko is MLB Pipeline's No. 73-ranked prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft. MLB Pipeline notes his potential as a front-line MLB starter, although only if he can blend his power with more finesse.
Clearly, he showed it against Texas.
"He has a durable 6-foot-4 frame, athleticism and a quick arm that could help him fit in the front half of a rotation if he can find some finesse to go with his power," MLB Pipeline writes.
MLB Pipeline also gives Volchko a 60-grade fastball and a 60-grade slider, although his splitter, curveball and command were graded at 40, which is below average. Overall, he's a 50-grade prospect, according to the prospect evaluators.
The out-of-control Knicks fans were seen smashing up a cop car outside of Madison Square Garden, while others destroyed MTA and school buses among the madness in the hours after New York’s historic win on Saturday night.
Two maniacs were seen jumping on top of the car and smashing up its front windshield , according to a video posted byFreedomNews TV.
A NYPD cop car windshield was smashed during the mayhem Saturday night. FNTV
In another wild scene captured on video, NYPD officers took down a crazed fan and shoved several others back outside the garden.
The detained man, wearing a Knicks Finals sweatshirt, was handcuffed and escorted away but appeared to have been let go and ordered onto a sidewalk.
It wasn’t immediately clear how many people had been arrested amidst the chaos as of early Sunday.
A Spurs fan had hopped into a police vehicle in an attempt to escape the packed Knicks crowd that had surrounded it.
Knicks fans immediately started getting rowdy on Saturday night. FNTVSmoke erupts on the streets of New York as Knicks fans celebrate the championship at Bryant Park on June 13, 2026. REUTERSA crowd of people climbs on top of a school bus as Knicks Fans celebrate the team’s NBA Championship on June 13, 2026. Christopher Sadowski for NY PostA fan climbs a pole in Bryant Park after Game 5 of the NBA Finals. REUTERS
Hundreds of NYPD officers in riot gear raced into the area, pushing the rabble-rousers off of W31st Street.
The surging officers detained several people, taking them to the ground as the rest of the crowd ran off the street, according to video posted on X.
Officers on horseback took over an intersection on 8th Avenue, trying to disperse the crowd outside of the arena.
Officers say they haven’t worn this much protection in the streets of the city since COVID
“I’ve been doing this job for 20 years and I’ve never had to wear riot gear,” one officer told The Post outside MSG.
A person is detained in front of a destroyed NYPD vehicle during a chaotic scene in New York on June 14, 2026. Michael Nagle for NY PostKnicks captain Jalen Brunson holds up the MVP trophy next to owner James Dolan after winning the NBA Finals in San Antonio on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostVideo captured cops lining up to potentially face fans. FNTVOne person is seen taken away by NYPD in the video. FNTV
A frenzied mass spread to Times Square to continue the celebration, where dozens of people, some decked out in Knicks gear, climbed on top of an MTA bus
Two school buses and an MTA bus were taken over by rowdy groups as the madness turned chaotic after midnight.
Several instigators began to destroy one of the buses, ripping the front paneling from the engine compartment and swinging the debris to the approval of the delirious crowd, according to video shot by The Post.
At one point, a shirtless man spiked the engine grill cover onto the street before two other men jumped on top of it.
People hold flares as they take over a school bus in Times Square as thousands of Knicks fans celebrate the team’s win. Christopher Sadowski for NY PostTwo people are arrested by the NYPD along 9th Avenue after the Knicks win on June 13, 2026. Aristide Economopoulos for NY PostFans climb inside a school bus parked along 42nd Street in Times Square. REUTERSKnicks fans walk past a car that was damaged after people jumped on top of it on 9th Avenue. Aristide Economopoulos for NY PostKnicks fans sitting on top of a school bus watch as others dismantle a barrier set up in Times Square. REUTERS
“We want everybody tonight, in New York, be safe,” Dolan told reporters in the post-game press conference. “OK, celebrate, but be safe.”
The New York Post front cover for June 14, 2026.A rowdy crowd ignites a fire in the streets near Bryant Park after the Knicks win on June 13, 2026. REUTERSA person stands on top of a car as thousands of Knicks fans flooded the streets of NY after the team’s win. AP Photo/Heather KhalifaA man uses his arms as a hoop as another shows off his Knicks’ Jalen Brunson jersey on top of a pole at the intersection of W34th and 9th Avenue on June 13, 2026. Aristide Economopoulos for NY PostKnicks fans perched on the New Victory Theater after the historic win. Jennifer Bain
Knicks fans across the state raced down to the city Saturday to watch the final game on the streets of New York.
“It feels amazing,” Yanal Zeid told The Post. “The city is electrified right now. There’s no further of coming together than this. This is the most you will see a city come together. We are bonding, we’re completely tied together now. It’s amazing.”
This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 13: Eli White #36 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Saturday, June 13, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Evan Yu/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As we nervously await the diagnosis on what appeared to be a pretty grim injury to Spencer Strider’s throwing arm, the Braves scraped a win in Flushing with their fifth starter and missing two of their most productive bats. While there is some pitching depth returning from injury, in the form of Hurston Waldrep, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Spencer Schwellenbach, none of those can be taken for granted. This team is in a great spot in the standings and is getting significant offensive firepower back, but they have a real need to add pitching and likely another viable bat at the deadline. With the exploding farm system
Brunson, who finished with 45 points and was unanimously named NBA Finals MVP, was emotional in his postgame interview on ESPN.
Jalen Brunson drives to the basket for a layup in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Game 5 win over the Spurs to claim the NBA championship. NBAE via Getty Images
“I don’t know what I am feeling. I’m in awe. Whenever people counted us out, we came back and did something about it,” Brunson said.
The Spurs, once again, had the Knicks down double digits in Game 5 but New York pushed past them with a 29-18 fourth quarter to claim the franchise’s first championship in 53 years.
“My confidence comes from my work ethic,” the 29-year-old Brunson said. “All I can think of is all the hours in the summer, every summer since I ever can remember making this a reality. I’d just be alone in the gym.”
Brunson did not have an answer for what it meant to accomplish this goal with his father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.
ESPN’s Lisa Salters said the answer was obvious as tears streamed down Brunson’s face as a picture-in-picture showed Rick joyously celebrating.
“You can see it,” Brunson said, repeating Salters’ line.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 01: Paul Sewald #38 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a ninth inning pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field on June 01, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. Diamondbacks won 4-1. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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The Diamondbacks bullpen may be getting reinforcements shortly, in the long-absent shape of A.J. Puk, who last pitched for the team on April 17 last year. He has been on rehab assignments in the minors, and has made five appearances there since May 23. However, I use the word “may”, since Nick Piecoro reported yesterday that Puk was experiencing shoulder discomfort as a result of those outings, and will undergo an MRI. So his return is now at least a few weeks off. I’m just glad that when we posed this week’s question, “when he’s healthy” was affixed to the end. Anyway, the topic was whether or not Puk should take over from Sewald immediately. Here are the results.
That’s quite a resounding show of support for Sewald. To his credit, Paul has been almost perfect in the role, with just one blown save in sixteen opportunities, and a 2.30 ERA there. Of course, there are the four losses and a 5.87 ERA over his ten appearances in non-save situations. But closers tend to be measured largely by how they close, and it’s hard to argue against Sewald there. It’s very much a “Ride or die” mentality there: as long as you don’t blow saves, nobody is too bothered what happens. My concerns, personally, are more whether Sewald can be as effective going forward, because the peripherals aren’t great, and suggest he may be over-performing.
He goes into this Cincinnati series with 15 saves, a number exceeded by only a handful of pitchers this season. But among the 190 relievers with 20+ IP in 2026, his ERA is very much middle of the pack, at #91. His xERA (using exit velocity, launch angle, and sprint speed to model what a player’s ERA “should” be) isn’t bad, coming in 26th at 2.63. But his FIP (Fielding Independent ERA) of 3.88 is 111th and his xFIP of 4.26 is 129th. The main reason for concern is, far more balls in play are becoming outs than you’d expect. His BABIP is .148 – about half league average, and the third lowest of those 190 pitchers.
It does help that he’s not allowing a lot of line drives, which tend to be the engine room which powers BABIP. At 12.3%, Sewald owns the 15th-lowest rate. In addition to doing a good job of limiting hard contact and barrels, he has been successful in getting pitchers to chase, particularly with his sweeper to right-handers. They are 6-for-39 with 12 strikeouts and a feeble .457 OPS against Paul. Considering his low cost – just $1.5 million for the year – he has been a bargain, and has likely already been worth more than that. You just have to look at struggles around the league of far more high-priced closers, to understand why I doubt we’ll see changes in Arizona anytime soon.
Jun 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen (22) hits a sacrifice fly to score a run during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Noah Cameron had a rough start, the bullpen couldn’t hold it together, and finally, the defense let the Royals down. In a game where the Astros scored seven of their runs via home run, they finally defeated the Royals with a groundball hit right to Bobby Witt Jr. that the Royals failed to convert into a double play. The final score was 8-7 in favor of the bad guys.
As described in the game discussion post earlier, Noah Cameron has been one of the best pitchers over the last month. You’d be forgiven, however, if you didn’t believe it from watching him tonight. On the one hand, he pitched three hitless, walkless innings to start the game. But he gave up a two-run home run in the fourth and another in the fifth. He gave up two more hits after that and got pulled for John “Gas Can” Schreiber.
The first inning went poorly for the Royals, who went down in order on only eight pitches. But starting in the second, they began to make some noise. Jac Caglianone took a one-out walk and went to third on a Salvador Perez groundout. Michael Massey came through with an RBI single, and the Royals had their first lead.
In the bottom of the third, Kameron Misner led off with an infield single. Carter Jensen grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Bobby Witt Jr. managed to flick a ball off the end of his bat into right field. Vinnie Pasquantino came through with an RBI single. That sent Bobby to third, where he was able to score on a passed ball a few pitches later. A 3-0 lead with Cameron on the mound felt pretty secure, but that’s when the first two-run bomb came. Lane Thomas smacked a solo shot into the fountains the next inning, and all seemed well again. But that’s when the second of the two-run bombs came against Cameron.
The Royals failed to score in the fifth, so the Astros decided to take the lead in the sixth as the wind picked up and the clouds loomed even more. Brice Matthews belted a solo home run off of ol’ Gas Can. Schreiber otherwise did yeoman’s work, striking out 3 in his 1.2 innings of relief.
The Royals came back with a vengeance in the bottom of the sixth. Salvy singled to center and Massey doubled him to third. Thomas took a walk to load the bases for hometown-hero-in-waiting Misner. Unfortunately, we’re all still waiting because he popped up a 3-2 pitch that may have been ball 4 for the first out. But the hometown hero we already knew we had, Carter Jensen, smoked a changeup at 100.8 MPH into left center to clear the bases and give the Royals a 7-5 lead.
That’s just a really pretty swing. Going the other way against a changeup pitcher is almost always the right idea, and Carter did it perfectly.
The Royals tried to score more after Bobby hit a pop-fly double to right-center that could only advance Carter to third. Unfortunately, Isaac Collins was batting in the three hole after Vinnie Pasquantino appeared to injure his wrist – more on that in a minute – in his previous at-bat. Collins flew out to shallow left, and the Royals tried to score Jensen from third anyway. He was thrown out handily. Still, with horrible storms on the radar, all the Royals needed to do was hang on to that lead for a little while longer.
Daniel “Danny Drips” Lynch IV came in to pitch the seventh and performed a clean inning. By this point, the grounds crew had the tarp uncovered and were all standing behind it, ready to start rolling it out at a moment’s notice. The Royals went quietly in the bottom of the seventh. Royals fans were looking nervously at the tarp, hoping it would come on the field sooner or later, and we could all call it an early night with a Royals victory.
Instead, out of the bullpen came Matt Strahm-boli. If you’ve been paying attention, you knew that he’d allowed solo home runs in each of his last four appearances, five of his last six, and six of his last eight. But with a two-run lead, a solo home run couldn’t do them in. So he hit a batter before allowing Jose Altuve to go yard and re-tie the game. It wasn’t what you’d call a rainmaker, but it got the job done. Strahm managed to get the next batter out, but the rain immediately followed, and so did the tarp. Just two batters too late.
This is as good a time as any to talk about Vinnie, I guess. After he hit a pop-up in the bottom of the fifth, he immediately reacted as if something had happened to his right hand. He held it gingerly as he jogged to first, and when he got back to the dugout, he immediately went up the tunnel. The Royals later reported that it was a right hamate injury. It’s unclear whether it’s broken, but hamate injuries can be a massive problem for hitters.
Typically, even once a hitter returns from the IL, they will not have any power in their swing until the following season. Blake Mitchell had a hamate injury in Spring Training last year. He was able to come back at the beginning of May, but finished the year with only 13 extra-base hits in 60 games. For comparison, he had 37 in 111 games the year before, and he’s already got 18 in 53 games this year. It’s possible he could return to form; Corbin Carroll had a hamate injury in Spring Training this year, and he’s been just fine since returning. But I wouldn’t advise you bet on it.
The Royals can ill afford to lose Vinnie, as he was finally getting hot. It’s an arbitrary endpoint, but he was slashing .289/.379/.408/.787, good for a 116 wRC+, over his last 20 games entering tonight. If you shrink the sample, the numbers can get even higher. But now it seems like the Royals might not have the real Vinnie until sometime next year. If they were still on the fence about selling after the Rangers series, they probably shouldn’t be anymore. Considering how many potential buyers there are and how few teams know whether they should be sellers or not, perhaps the Royals could get a good deal done if they wanted to jump the market. Of course, they’d probably need to trade Michael Wacha and/or Seth Lugo because Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic have each suffered additional setbacks in their returns over the last week, and we’re awaiting the results of additional testing before we can even begin to know what their new timelines might be.
When the rain delay ended, Alex Lange-xiety came to pitch as the only reliever who had yet to appear in the series. He got the final two outs of the eighth, but the Royals did nothing in the bottom half. Lange came back out for the ninth because, yeah, everyone else had already pitched too much or in this game. Maybe Beck Way or Eli Morgan could have pitched, but they’re not exactly anyone’s top choice in a close game. Lange walked pinch-hitter Joey Loperfido to start the inning, then got Jeremy Peña on a shallow fly to left. He convinced Yordan Alvarez to pound one into the ground, but it hopped over Caglianone at first.
With runners at first and third, the Royals played the infield back, hoping for a double play ball. And that’s exactly what they got, an easy roller straight to Witt. He threw to second for the first out, but Loftin yanked the throw to first, and Caglianone couldn’t get to it. The broadcast crew wondered if Caglianone should have caught it, and I don’t know, maybe if he had been able to wait a moment longer before entering his stretch, but the guy has primarily been a right fielder for about a year now, and I think that would be a tough play for any first-baseman. It’s only because he’s a lefty that he even got close to it. I’m not going to harp on him whiffing on what was truly an awful throw by Loftin.
The Royals looked like they might tie it again in the bottom of the ninth when Bobby hit a one-out double. Collins, still batting in the three hole, smacked a liner over Peña’s head at short, but he made an amazing leap and caught it. Unfortunately, Bobby was trying to get a good break so he could score. Peña was able to lob it to second to complete the Astros’ double play and end the game. Because, of course, the Astros were able to make the far more difficult game-saving double play. When it rains, it pours.
Anyway, the Royals get to try to avoid the sweep tomorrow. A phrase we’ve had to speak or type far too many times this year. Spencer Arighetti (2.21 ERA, 9.1% K-BB%) will go for Houston. Stephen Kolek (3.14 ERA, 12.2% K-BB%) will take the ball for KC. The game is scheduled for 1:10 Kauffman time, if you care to keep watching.
May 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek (13) celebrates his three point shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter of game one of the eastern conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Five times, the San Antonio Spurs led by at least 12 points in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Four times, the New York Knicks said “I don’t think so.”
On Saturday, the Knicks rallied from down 16 to score a 94-90 victory over the Spurs and close out the Finals, 4-1. It’s New York’s first title since 1973.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALL OF THIS MEANS THAT FORMER MARQUETTE STAR AND 2023 BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR TYLER KOLEK IS AN NBA CHAMPION!
Did TK play in the Finals? Mind your business! All that matters is that he’s getting a ring and that’s awesome. Is it more or less awesome than noted Villanova guy Jalen Brunson putting up 45 points in the closeout game and dragging the Knicks across the finish line at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Saturday night? I’ll let you decide.
Stay tuned for Tyler Kolek At The Knicks Parade updates!
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks the shot of Jose Alvarado #5 of the New York Knicks during the game during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the NBA Finals to win their first NBA Championship since 1973. Despite building a 16-point lead, the Spurs allowed the Knicks to storm back in the fourth quarter in a 94-90 loss. It’s the first time in franchise history that San Antonio lost the Finals on its home court.
The Spurs’ offense struggled all game, but particularly in the fourth quarter. San Antonio scored just 18 points compared to the Knicks 29 points in the final frame. Neither team shot the ball particularly well from the field, but New York had the best player in the building in Jalen Brunson. The Knicks’ star guard had 45 points on 14-27 shooting from the field.
San Antonio’s starting backcourt was ice cold, as De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle combined for 13 points on 4-25 shooting from the field. They got a boost off the bench from Dylan Harper, who led the Spurs in scoring with 25 points in 31 minutes. Victor Wembanyama started the game on a roll, but couldn’t find his footing in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks on 7-19 shooting from the field.
In this young core’s first postseason, they took their run all the way to the NBA Finals. With one of the best players in the league in Wembanyama, a solid young supporting cast, and plenty of assets to work with, San Antonio could be fighting for a championship in the years to come.
Observations:
The game took on a familiar form. The Spurs got up big in the first quarter by playing elite defense and moving the ball well on offense. As the game went along, and the physicality of the Knicks started to set in, the Spurs got away from what made them successful. The ball movement stopped, and their defense couldn’t keep up with their lack of offense.
In the biggest game of the season, the Spurs needed more from their starting backcourt. Fox and Castle never found a rhythm. Neither of them got clean looks at the rim, and their shots completely abandoned them. To make matters worse, they didn’t get their teammates involved either. Fox finished the game with 5 assists, and Castle finished with 4.
Wembanyama is going to be the focus for a lot of people coming out of the loss. He was absent for a lot of the fourth quarter offensively, going 1-5 from the field during the final frame. Wembanyama didn’t get many clean looks at the hoop late as the Knicks sold out, leaving other Spurs open to make sure he didn’t have easy lanes to the basket. He passed out of a lot of shots late as he struggled to create his own shot.
Once again, San Antonio didn’t seem to have the advantage in front of their home crowd. The Spurs got BOOED when they took the floor. The post-game celebration was filled with Knicks fans. It seemed to play a factor for most of the series.
One player who donned the Silver and Black this season won a ring: Jeremy Sochan.
Mike Breen, ESPN’s lead broadcast voice for the NBA Finals and the longtime voice of the Knicks for MSG Network, got to make arguably the biggest call of his play-by-play career on Saturday night.
“It’s over! It’s over! Knick fans, this is not a dream!” Breen, a Yonkers native, said as the clock ticked down on the Knicks’ 94-90 win in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, a victory that gave them their first title since 1973. “Your long, long wait is ended. Go ahead and cry: after 53 years, the Knicks are finally NBA Champions once again!”
The 65-year-old, well-known for his iconic “Bang!” call to signify a big-shot shot, knew he’d have to keep his composure as the clock ticked to zero on a potential Knicks championship.
“The No. 1 thing for me is I’ve got a job to do, and I have to do a professional job,” Breen said on a media call ahead of the NBA Finals. “And with all the responsibilities that go into it, both prior and during the course of the series, that’s what I’m concentrating on now.
“As the series goes on every year, no matter who’s in it, you try and think of OK, how am I going to word this? How am I going to wrap up, summarize, what this means to the winning team, what it means to the losing team, and you wait ’til the series goes on before you really get into those thoughts.”
Knicks celebrate after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. AP Photo/Ross D. FranklinThe Post’s front page on June 14, 2026: “CHAMPS!”
“I do know what it would mean to the city and to the fans of the city,” he said. “It might be one of the great moments in the history of New York sports if they win because of what the fan base has gone through and how loyal they’ve been to the team.
Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler and Mike Breen pose for a photo before Game 5 between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks NBAE via Getty Images
Jun 13, 2026; Omaha, NE, USA; Georgia Bulldogs starting pitcher Joey Volchko (37) throws the opening pitch against the Texas Longhorns at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Entering the Men’s College World Series, Georgia’s offense was the story for the Bulldogs. Led by Golden Spikes finalist Daniel Jackson, the Bulldogs were among the team leaders in several offensive categories this season, and led the nation with a whopping 174 home runs.
And while that offense showed up Saturday night against Texas, scoring 7 runs in a 7-1 win, the big story in Omaha was the outing from starting pitcher Joey Volchko.
The right-hander went the distance for Georgia, allowing four hits and one unearned run, while striking out 15 in a dominant performance.
And the most impressive stat of the night from Volchko? He walked just one batter, and that came in the ninth inning on his 105th pitch of the night.
Volchko showed impressive command throughout the night, particularly with his breaking stuff. He features a slider with bite, and he consistently used that early in the count to get ahead of hitters, but he also came back to it to finish hitters off late in the count. You can see that on this cutup from early in the game:
The real command Volchko showed came during that interview, as Tre Phelps and company draped the righty with Sour Power Candy Belts as he spoke with ESPN.
It was also his first career complete game.
Georgia will take on Oklahoma on Monday night, while Texas will square off with Alabama in an elimination game on Monday afternoon.
It was a bullpen game for Iowa tonight as Ty Blach started, pitched two innings and retired all six batters he faced. Blach struck out two.
Vince Velazquez went the next four innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Mostly he gave up two runs on a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. Velazquez walked two and struck out five.
Luis Peralta pitched the bottom of the seventh inning, surrendered two runs on three hits and took the loss. Peralta walked one and struck out two.
Right fielder Kevin Alcántara was 2 for 4 with a two-run double in the sixth inning. Alcántara doubled twice.
First baseman Jonathon Long was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.
The Knoxville Smokies greased the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 12-5. The win and the Lookouts loss moved the Smokies into a tie for first place in the Southern League North Division.
Starter Tyler Schlaffer pitched two innings and gave up three runs on four hits. Schlaffer walked two and struck out three.
Frankie Scalzo Jr. didn’t allow a run over the next three innings and got the win. Scalzo gave up three hits. He struck out one and walked no one.
Jackson Kirkpatrick pitched the next two innings and struck out all six batters he faced swinging.
Third baseman Jefferson Rojas hit a three-run home run in the third inning, his tenth on the season. Rojas went 3 for 5 and scored twice.
Right fielder Alex Ramírez was 3 for 5 with a double and two steals. He drove in two and scored twice.
Second baseman Hayden Cantrelle went 3 for 5. He scored once and had one run batted in.
Catcher Owen Ayers was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Ayers scored twice.
Shortstop Karson Simas went 2 for 6 with a double and a run scored.
Left fielder Carter Trice was 2 for 4 with a walk and a steal. Trice had one RBI and one run scored.
First baseman Cameron Sisneros was 2 for 3 with a sacrifice fly. He drove home two runs total.
Rojas’ home run and Ramírez’s single powered a six-run third inning.
Koen Moreno pitched the first five innings and gave up two runs on two solo home runs and five total hits. Moreno struck out three and walked no one, but he did hit one batter.
Jackson Brockett pitched the final four innings and got the save. Brockett allowed two runs on three hits, all of which came in the top of the ninth inning. He didn’t allow a baserunner over his first three innings. Brockett struck out five and walked no one.
First baseman Josiah Hartshorn hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, his seventh in 17 games with South Bend and 13th overall. Hartshorn was 1 for 4.
Later in the first inning, Left fielder Jose Escobar hit a two-run home run. It was Escobar’s first South Bend home run and his third overall. Escobar was a perfect 3 for 3 with a double, the home run and a walk. He drove in three runs total.
Catcher Justin Stransky capped off a five-run first inning by going back-to-back with Escobar for his third home run of the year. Stransky went 1 for 3 with a walk.
Third baseman Matt Halbach went 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Harsthorn’s home run.
Josiah Hartshorn swats his FOURTH homer in his past SIX games for the High-A @SBCubs 👀
Kaleb Wing started this game and took the loss after he allowed three runs over 2.1 innings. The runs came on one hit, four walks and a hit batter. Wing struck out three.
Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, his second on the season. Lumpuy was 2 for 5.
Shortstop Alexis Hernandez went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once.
Jun 13, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chad Patrick (39) gets a mound visit as catcher William Contreras (24) looks on in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia Phillies were very excited to be facing anyone not named Jacob Misiorowski tonight, and they sure showed it. After being limited to one hit on Friday, the Phillies offense exploded for 17 hits and nine runs against the Brewers staff on Saturday night.
It started in the second inning when Edmundo Sosa went deep off Shane Drohan to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. They would add two more in the 4th on a pair of hits by Bryson Stott and JT Realmuto to go up 3-0.
The Brewers would answer back in the bottom half though when Garrett Mitchell crushed his fourth home run of the season to dead center to get two runs right back. The Crew would then tie things up in the 5th when Jackson Chourio hit his first of two home runs on the night.
But then the momentum shifted right back to the Phillies. After giving up a single to Brandon Marsh, Pat Murphy opts to call in Chad Patrick from the bullpen. Patrick, who struggled in his last time out in Las Vegas, struggled again. He allowed five straight hits, including a 3-run-homer to JT Realmuto, five runs came in to score, and the Phillies were all of a sudden up 8-3.
However, that was not quite the knockout blow because the Brewers did battle back. They’ve proven they’re not out of any game, no matter how many runs they may be down. Jackson Chourio supplied a two-run blast in the 7th, his second homer of the game. It’s also his fourth career multi-HR game.
“He’s getting it. Be careful, it’s early but he’s getting it.” Pat Murphy said “Now his ball-strike is getting elite, that’s what happens when you wait for a strike.”
Then in the 8th, after the Phillies added another run on an RBI single from Marsh, the Brewers rallied once again, sending eight men to the plate. It got started with a Garrett Mitchell single, followed by a Sal Frelick walk and a Gary Sanchez infield single. A wild pitch during pinch-hitter Andrew Vaughn’s at-bat brought Mitchell home before Vaughn ended up getting the base on balls.
Christian Yelich brought home another on a sacrifice fly, then Jackson Chourio ripped an RBI single to left. Pinch-runner Luis Rengifo blew through the stop sign from Matt Erickson and ended up just beating the tag at home plate to make it a 9-8 ballgame.
However, Brice Turang struck out and William Contreras popped out to first with two runners on to finish the inning and end the threat.
The Phillies brought out their closer Jhoan Duran for the 9th and he set the Brewers down in order to seal the loss for the Crew.
It’ll be a very strong pitching matchup for the rubber match tomorrow with Kyle Harrison on the mound for the Crew and the Phillies will have their ace Cristopher Sanchez.
“We’ll try to help Miz’s case out a little bit” Pat Murphy said.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 13: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies is congratulated by manager Don Mattingly #8 after hitting a three run homer in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on June 13, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A night after being stuck with the pointy end of one of the finest pitching performances in modern memory, the Philadelphia Phillies (38-32) recorded a season-high 17 hits and held on for dear life in a 9-8 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers (42-26) on Saturday night.
The Phillies opened the scoring against Brewers’ lefty, Shane Drohan, in the second inning with a two-out solo shot by Edmundo Sosa, his fourth of the season.
The offense put up a five spot in the sixth, sending nine men to the plate with six straight hits to open the inning, punctuated by a mammoth three-run home run by JT Realmuto.
The entire starting lineup reached base with Bryce Harper being the sole member without a hit.
Two nightmare innings by Jose Alvarado and Brad Keller brought the five-run lead down to one and a crucial insurance run in the top of the eighth, brought by a two-out walk by Harper and back-to-back singles by Alec Bohm and Marsh, proved to be the decisive factor.
MIL – Jackson Chourio 2-run HR (8) 🔥 2nd HR of the game
📏 410 ft | 💨 102.3 mph | 📐 31° ⚾️ 92.6 mph cutter (PHI – LHP José Alvarado) 🏟️ Out in 18/30 parks
(@ShowCaseShabazz) 
