Gregg Popovich has been around the San Antonio Spurs all season, talking to players at practices, offering advice, and being the wise elder statesman that he is.
However, he is no longer the coach, so he had not entered the team's locker room postgame all season long... until after Game 3. That ugly loss changed things and Popovich lit a fire under the team, De'Aaron Fox told the Showtime crew in NBC after the Spurs bounced back in Game 3. “Pop's been around throughout the course of the season, but that was the first time he walked into the locker room. And it was like, 'Nah, that BS. That's not how we play basketball.' And obviously he had some choice words for us. That was the first time all season he came into the locker room right after the game and told us how he felt — and everybody felt that. Mitch (Johnson, Spurs coach), B-Wright (Brian Wright, Spurs GM) was in there, all the players down to the staff. And that was the first time I seen that. Everybody was in there, trainers, everybody’s in there. We close the doors, we don’t let anybody know what’s going on in there. We open that door, we see Pop come in, and it’s like, ‘Awwww.'”
The Spurs and Thunder are tied 2-2, but it feels like San Antonio has the momentum as the series shifts back to Oklahoma City for a critical Game 5 on Tuesday night, which tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET and you can watch on NBC or stream on Peacock.
The Chicago Blackhawks should be looking to add some proven NHL talent to their roster this summer. When looking at potential trading partners, the Colorado Avalanche stand out.
The Avalanche are entering the summer with limited cap space and may need to move out at least one player. Due to this, the Blackhawks should consider targeting these two Avalanche forwards if they become available this off-season.
Ross Colton
The Blackhawks moved on from valuable veteran talent this season, like Jason Dickinson and Nick Foligno. Because of this, they could use an experienced forward who could be a good mentor for their younger players as they continue their rebuild.
With this, a player like Ross Colton could be a nice pickup for the Blackhawks. The 29-year-old forward is a former Stanley Cup champion who plays multiple positions and works in all situations. He is a potential trade candidate to watch due to his $4 million salary until the end of next season, so he could be a player worth bringing in. If he performed well in Chicago next season, he would also give the Blackhawks a valuable trading asset at next year's deadline.
Jack Drury
If the Blackhawks want to improve their bottom six this off-season, a solid all-around center like Jack Drury could grab their attention. The 2018 second-round pick is a pending restricted free agent who could be worth taking a chance on.
Drury would have the potential to be a nice replacement for Dickinson due to his solid defensive play and penalty-killing ability. Furthermore, at 26 years old, he is young enough that he could fit in well on a team on the rise like the Blackhawks.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager still had not resumed actual baseball activities Monday, the day that he could have been eligible to return from the injured list because of lower back inflammation.
Manager Skip Schumaker said the two-time World Series MVP went through some drills before the series opener against Houston but was “still probably a few days away” from batting practice or taking groundballs. Seager was mired in a career-worst 0-for-27 slump when put on the 10-day IL.
Seager wasn’t in the Rangers clubhouse when it was opened to reporters before the game.
Third baseman Josh Jung was out of the starting lineup for the second game in a row since banging his left shoulder hard on a diving defensive play Saturday. An MRI on Monday showed no significant issues in his non-throwing shoulder.
Jung tore the labrum in that shoulder during a weightlifting session just before the start of spring training in February 2022, seven months before his big league debut. He said he hadn’t felt any pain in that shoulder since then, which is was what concerned him.
Jung took some swings off the tee and went through his usual defensive routine Monday.
“I had zero range of motion left when I tore my labrum the first time,” he said. “I couldn’t lift my arm. I have full range of motion, and strength has been pretty good.”
Seager’s scratch and slump
The Rangers scratched a planned live batting practice session for Seager on Saturday, a day after he had jogged on the field and hit in the cage.
“I don’t know if it’s a setback,” Schumaker said. “I just think it hasn’t recovered as fast as we hoped for it.”
The 32-year-old Seager started 42 of the Rangers’ first 43 games, and said before the IL stint that physically he felt “completely fine.” He was hitless over his last seven games while playing 24 in a row over 27 days after his only previous game off April 16.
“We were monitoring and talking with him every day. ... I don’t think that was part of the deal,” Schumaker said. “He’s trying to get out of the slump that he was in. So I think there’s a lot of swings, and a dive up the middle, and I think all of it just kind of caught up to him a little bit.”
Seager last played May 13 at home against Arizona. Texas then had an off day and Seager was getting an extended break not playing in the series opener at Houston on May 15 before waking up with back spasms.
“So ironic that it was literally on the off day in Houston, and then here we are,” Schumaker said.
Seager has seven homers and 20 RBIs while hitting .179 — that average ranked 165th out of 170 qualified MLB hitters going into Monday’s game. In the fifth season of a $325 million, 10-year deal, Seager has 28 hits, 22 walks and 50 strikeouts in 182 plate appearances.
Langford and Smith updates
Left fielder Wyatt Langford, out since April 22 because of a right forearm strain, took BP in the cage Monday. If he continues to progress without any issues, he could take live BP and run bases by Friday and potentially begin rehab games next weekend.
Second baseman Josh Smith, after being hospitalized to be treated for viral meningitis, could be back at the ballpark in the next couple of days, according to Schumaker.
Smith was recovering from a right glute strain when he started feeling ill and was hospitalized. He hasn’t be around the team in nearly two weeks.
DENVER, CO - MAY 19: Tanner Gordon #29 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tanner Gordon will be looking to help the Rockies break a two-game losing streak and perform better than the last time he faced the Dodgers when he takes the mound for Colorado in the series-opening game in Los Angeles tonight.
After a solid 2026 debut, when he threw four scoreless innings against the Astros on April 15, Gordon has struggled. His second game came against the Dodgers when he gave up six runs on seven hits, including three homers, in four innings in a 12-3 loss on April 20 at Coors Field.
In seven starts, Gordon is 0-0 with a 6.59 ERA in 27.1 innings with 30 strikeouts, six walks and six homers. With Jose Quintana forced to leave Sunday’s game after 1.1 innings with elbow soreness and with him now headed to the IL, the Rockies could use a longer start from Gordon to give some relief to the bullpen.
The Rockies (20-34) are going through a rough May where they have put up a 6-16 record, including dropping five of their last six games. In their only showdowns with the Dodgers this season, Colorado split a four-game series against L.A. at Coors Field in April.
The Dodgers (33-20) are returning to Dodger Stadium after going 7-2 on their latest road trip against the Brewers, Padres and Angels. Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 4.93 ERA) will be on the mound for L.A. The 26-year-old RHP has given up nine home runs and 13 walks with 51 strikeouts in 45.2 innings in nine starts.
The Rockies faced Sheehan on April 18. In a 4-3 Rockies victory, Sheehan earned a no-decision when he surrendered two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings.
First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. MDT
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM KOA Rockies Radio Network; KNRV 1150 AM (Spanish)
The Los Angeles Dodgers activated the fan favorite utilityman from the 60-day injured list on Monday, May 25 after Hernández missed the first 53 games of the season while recovering from offseason elbow surgery. Hernández is in the starting lineup and will make his 2026 debut against the Colorado Rockies.
Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment in a corresponding move, the Dodgers announced. Hernández will bat ninth in the order and gets the start at third base in place of Max Muncy, who was hit by a pitch on his right wrist in the Dodgers' 5-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, May 22 and has missed the last two games.
"He'll bounce around, which he has the ability to do," manager Dave Roberts told reporters. "He'll play some third. He'll play some second. If there's an opportunity to spell somebody out there in the outfield, he might do that, too. He'll be available off the bench in pinch-hitting spots, but some of it depends on Max, how Max is feeling, and see how that goes."
Monday will mark Hernández's 10th season with the Dodgers in his 12-year big league career. Last October, he became the franchise's all-time leader in postseason appearances (92) as he hit .250 with nine runs, one home run and seven RBI in 17 playoff games as the Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series title.
"October Kiké" made arguably the biggest play of the season in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the Fall Classic when, with the tying runs in scoring position for the Toronto Blue Jays, he ran full sprint into shallow left field to snag a line drive from Andrés Giménez and immediately fired a dart to Miguel Rojas at second base, who scooped it for a game-ending double play to force a Game 7.
And, as everyone wouldn't find out until he announced it later on his Instagram, Hernández did it all on a torn muscle/extensor tendon in his left elbow.
"He's a tough competitor, tough player," Roberts told reporters. "And I don't think anyone appreciated just how severely injured he was. He was not gonna come out of the lineup and gave himself every opportunity to play, and then the pain that he was going through. That's kind of what makes him special."
Hernández, a free agent for most of the offseason, didn't re-sign with the Dodgers until Feb. 12 so that he could immediately be placed on the IL and not take up a spot on the 40-man roster. During that time in contract limbo, he played a key role in bringing closing pitcher Edwin Díaz to LA. Now, Hernández gets his chance to contribute on the field again.
"I know, just talking to him, he's excited to be back -- number one -- but also to be back healthy and be back competing again, playing again, getting active," Roberts told reporters. "Just getting his energy back, it's gonna be good for our group."
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson should be watched closely this off-season. After a tough season that saw him finish with an .870 save percentage, it would be understandable if the Flyers looked to upgrade their backup goalie spot.
If the Flyers end up making Ersson available for trade this summer or decide not to tender him a qualifying offer, he could generate some interest if teams believe he can be better next season.
Due to this, let's look at two teams that potential landing spots for Ersson if the Flyers decide to move on from him this off-season, whether through trade or free agency.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators could be a team to keep an eye on if Ersson becomes available. Their backup goalies, like James Reimer and Leevi Merilainen, struggled this season. Due to this, Ottawa could use another goalie, and Ersson would have the potential to be a decent backup for them if he bounced back from getting a change of scenery.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers are entering the off-season with both Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov as pending unrestricted free agents. If they end up losing Tarasov specifically, Ersson could make sense as a buy-low backup goalie target for a Panthers club with limited cap space.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder missed Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks on Monday night because of an illness.
Schroder is averaging 3.3 points and 15 minutes in the first three games of the series. The 13-year veteran was acquired from the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 1.
Schroder is averaging 5.5 points during the playoffs. He had 19 points, including three 3-pointers, in Cleveland's 125-120 victory over Toronto on April 29 in a first-round game.
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Knicks superfan Fat Joe may have to sit “All The Way Up” in the stands at Rocket Arena after the rapper said the Cavaliers “took the tickets away” he purchased to sit courtside for Game 4.
Fat Joe appeared on ESPN’s “NBA Today” live in Cleveland when he said, unprompted, that the Cavs took the tickets from him because they didn’t want Knicks fans sitting that close.
Fat Joe says the Cavs stopped him from buying courtside seats for game 3 & 4 . They told him no Knicks fans allowed via @espnpic.twitter.com/wmvmxeN9ai
“We had bought some courtside tickets to the game and once they found out it was superfan Fat Joe, they was like, I can’t sit courtside. New York Knick fans can’t sit courtside,” he said on the program. “They took the tickets away courtside after we purchased it, so shame on you all.”
In fact, Fat Joe wasn’t the only Knicks fan that semeed to have their tickets revoked.
At least 10 other Knicks fans with courtside seats had been called by a Cavaliers executive and told they no longer had seats, a league source told The Post.
After those fans were informed they no longer had courtside seats, the Cavs did relocate them to a higher section inside the arena for Game 4.
Knicks superfan Fat Joe claims the Cavaliers took his courtside tickets.
He also said that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert had ticketholders with courtside seats sign a DocuSign that they would not resell their tickets or they “would face a lifetime ban” by the team.
The Cavaliers did provide their side of the story when reached about the situation with Fat Joe.
“Playoff courtside seating is governed by a specific agreement that prohibits the resale or transfer of tickets without approval,” a Cavaliers spokesperson told The Post. “All courtside ticket holders are required to comply with the terms of the single-game playoff agreement.”
While not courtside, a number of Knicks celeb fans were on hand for Game 4.
Teams have tried to keep Knicks fans out of their arenas during the postseason, with the Sixers notably attempting to prevent visiting supporters from invading the City of Brotherly Love by limiting ticket sales to those who lived in the greater Philadelphia area.
The attempt fell flat as Knicks fans took over Xfinity Mobile Arena during the two games in Philly.
Those games also included appearances by Lee, Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan.
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Fat Joe, a Bronx native, has a longstanding history of Knicks fandom and has been at Madison Square Garden plenty during the course of the team’s playoff run this season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 19: Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the third quarter of a game against the New York Knicks in Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: Nick Lodolo #40 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 25, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds looked perfectly miserable against New York Mets rookie Nolan McLean, at least in the Top of the 1st inning in the series opener at Citi Field. McLean breezed through the top of the Reds lineup by striking out the side to begin, with none of Blake Dunn, Elly De La Cruz, or JJ Bleday looking comfortable at all in the batter’s box.
Perhaps the Reds just needed to shake off some quick rust after being idle for three of the previous four days. Whatever it was, they flipped the switch shortly thereafter and eventually blasted the Mets prized rookie and the rest of their roster in a 7-2 win to begin their road trip.
Bleday later homered off McLean, Tyler Stephenson did, too, and that was more than enough to back the best start of Nick Lodolo’s blister-delayed 2026 season. The latter fired 6.0 IP of 6 H, ER, 0 BB, 7 K ball on 98 pitches, keeping New York’s offense completely off the board until a solo homer by Marcus Semien in the Bottom of the 6th.
For that, Lodolo takes home this game’s Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game award, something I certainly hope he does again another two-dozen times before the season’s end.
While Dunn and Elly struggled (0 for 9, 5 K) atop the order, it was the middle-back of the lineup that carried the offense on the day. Bleday homered, Eugenio Suarez went 2 for 3 with a walk, a double, and 2 runs scored, Nate Lowe walked twice, poked a soft double down the RF line, and scored, and Spencer Steer came up large with a key hit and drove in 3 on the day. That, of course, came before Stephenson in a Reds lineup that increasingly looks potent again with Ke’Bryan Hayes on the IL and TJ Friedl on the back of milk cartons all over the tri-state area.
It was an all-around excellent win, the Reds feasting on the Mets on a day when so much of Cincinnati spends feasting on metts. And the Reds now get to hand the ball to Chase Burns tomorrow in the second game of the series. That will commence at 7:10 PM ET, with the Reds with the serious upper-hand on paper.
Out of all the potential issues the Mets could face, this wasn’t supposed to be one of them. Nolan McLean was their constant. Their ace who could stabilize, solve everything and stop losing streaks single-handedly during his starts.
In an ideal world for the Mets, Carlos Mendoza wouldn’t have needed to walk to the mound in the fourth inning Monday and pull McLean after just 78 pitches.
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He wouldn’t have needed to turn to his bullpen that early. But after delivering the worst start of his career last week, McLean one-upped that on Memorial Day, lasting just 3 ¹/₃ innings in his shortest outing with the Mets, surrendering seven runs on five hits, walking two and hitting two more batters in the Mets’ 7-2 loss to the Reds at Citi Field.
“It’s just bad pitching, honestly,” McLean said, turning a question about his stretch and windup splits into a telling line that he hasn’t needed to utter much throughout his young career. “If I’m just gonna be straight up, I just haven’t been pitching my best, and I gotta be better.”
The usual issues appeared again for the Mets (22-32). They couldn’t manage to score more than two runs for the fifth consecutive game and now have their second four-game losing skid of the season. They made Reds starter Nick Lodolo, who entered with a 7.20 ERA, look like an All-Star. The boos at Citi Field were temporarily replaced by “Let’s go Knicks” chants.
Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) reacts after giving up a two-run RBI single to Cincinnati Reds left fielder Spencer Steer (7) in the fourth inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTMets third baseman Bo Bichette (19) hits a single in the fifth inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“I mean, they’re all frustrating,” manager Carlos Mendoza said when asked if this current stretch was more frustrating after the Mets appeared to turn a corner. “Especially when you’re not playing well. They’re all the same, to be honest with you. Yeah, it sucks.”
But around all that, McLean tossed what he called a second uncompetitive start in a row. The 24-year-old mostly breezed through opponents last season and at the start of 2026, too, and that’s exactly what happened Monday for his first 18 pitches.
McLean struck out the side in the first inning, but he quickly unraveled after hitting Reds third baseman Sal Stewart. He eventually loaded the bases and watched as Cincinnati scored its first two runs when Spencer Steer grounded into a fielder’s choice and McLean threw a wild pitch.
Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) is greeted by his teammates in the dugout after he scored on his solo home run in the sixth inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Then, JJ Bleday crushed a homer over the right-center field fence in the third, before Steer connected on a two-run single the following frame and Tyler Stephenson launched a two-run homer on the first pitch after a mound visit. McLean has allowed 16 runs, with 13 earned, across his last nine innings, walking four batters and hitting four others.
He has struggled to land his secondary pitches while also getting into bad counts, McLean and Mendoza agreed. McLean also admitted that he dealt with fatigue early Monday — perhaps trying to get “a little bit too much after it” to fix what went wrong after his start against the Nationals last week, he said. When he cruised through the opening frame, Mendoza thought, “Oh, he’s on today,” but everything unraveled from there.
And all it takes — with these Mets and this offense — is one bad inning to sink them, let alone three from their ace strung together. Marcus Semien homered in the sixth as part of a two-hit day to give a lineup missing Juan Soto (illness) for a second consecutive day a temporary jolt. Carson Benge added an RBI groundout the following frame to score Brett Baty.
But that was it. The Mets, as they’ve done all season, had other chances and failed to convert. They had runners on first and third with two outs in the third, but Mark Vientos rolled over a pitch and grounded out. They had the same situation again in the fifth inning, but this time, Vientos struck out on a curveball that hit him.
On most occasions, McLean could bail out the Mets. He could deliver a gem — or at least give them a chance to win. The last thing the Mets need is another rotation problem. Clay Holmes and Kodai Senga are already injured. Sean Manaea and David Peterson have already been demoted at different points, though Peterson is slowly working his way back. Freddy Peralta has mostly underwhelmed.
And now, at the very least, they have a worrying trend with McLean.
“He’s gonna get back on track,” Mendoza said. “He’s got too good of stuff for this to keep going. … It just sucks it happens on back-to-back outings, especially in the middle of this stretch.”
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 23: Mikal Bridges #25 and Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Three of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals on May 23, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks return to Rocket Arena tonight, leading the Eastern Conference Finals 3-0 over the exhausted Cavaliers. After building up (and blowing) a 22-point lead in Game One, Cleveland has been overwhelmed by New York’s pace, physicality, and depth of talent. Kenny Atkinson insists that his Cavs are winning analytically, but that’s the irrational talk of a desperate man. No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series, and, given New York’s 10-game murder streak, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, et al., are unlikely to be the first.
Tip off is at 8 PM EST on ESPN. This is your game thread. This is Fear the Sword. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool to each other, don’t injure yourselves with those black market confetti cannons, and go Knicks!
May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) brings the ball up court in the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
In just a short while, the Knicks will begin playing in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, needing just one more win to send the team to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. It has been a postseason to remember, as the Knicks are currently rocking a ten-game winning streak—making them just the tenth team in history to win ten straight games in a single postseason. And not only have they won, but they have largely dominated, as they have an NBA-record +234 point differential across their first thirteen playoff games.
Making the Finals would be a remarkable vindication for so many different individuals. For Leon Rose, who went from being a player agent with CAA to serving as the president for the Knicks and making a series of shrewd moves which positioned the franchise as perennial contenders. For Mike Brown, who has handled several ups and downs in his first season as the team’s head coach only to have them on the brink of history. And perhaps above all else, for Jalen Brunson, who has continuously been the recipient of skepticism over the ability of a small point guard to be the primary option for a legitimate championship contender. While the team is in this position because of the contributions of several players—from the starters to the bench players—Brunson has unquestionably been the face of the franchise since signing with the team in 2022, and leading them to the Finals would further cement his place on the Mount Rushmore of all-time greats in Knicks history.
Making the Finals would not be the end of the road, of course. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are currently locked in a 2-2 tie in the Western Conference Finals, and whichever team comes out on top would face the Knicks for the rights to raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Either squad would be a fearsome opponent, as the Thunder are the reigning champions and the Spurs have the best player on the planet in the form of the 7’4” Victor Wembanyama. The Knicks will likely be seen as underdogs regardless of which team they face off against, and given the team’s lengthy history of disappointment and heartbreak, fans could certainly be forgiven for expecting the other shoe to drop at any moment.
Still, the way they have been playing, it’s tough to count the Knicks out against anybody. Fans have every right to believe that this could finally be the year. And either way, to go from the perennial losers that the Knicks were for most of this century to being just one win away from the Finals is an accomplishment that should not go overlooked. If and when they do finally finish the Cavaliers off and cement their title as Eastern Conference champions, it will be an emotional moment of jubilation—not just for the players and coaches and front office members, but for the entire city of New York.
Just one more win to make it to the final dance. Tune into ESPN at 8:00 to see if they can make it happen. Let’s go Knicks.
…oh, the Mets lost to the Reds today, by the way. Nolan McLean got the absolute crap kicked out of him for the second straight start. He gave up seven runs in just 3.2 innings of work. The bullpen trio of Austin Warren, Jonathan Pintaro, and Tobias Myers combined for 5.1 scoreless innings, but the bats couldn’t get the team back into the game against Nick Lodolo and the rest of the Reds pitching staff. Cleanup hitter Marcus Semien(?) hit a solo homer against Lodolo in the sixth and they also scratched out a run in the seventh and that was about it. The Mets have now lost four straight.
Big Mets winner: Carson Benge, +5% WPA Big Mets loser: Nolan McLean, -33% WPA Mets pitchers: -31% WPA Mets hitters: -19% WPA Teh aw3s0mest play: Carson Benge leadoff hit-by-pitch in the first, +3.6% WPA Teh sux0rest play: J.J. Bleday solo homer in the third, -9.1% WPA
Scott leaves after run of just one win in 11 games in 2026
Dean Solomon looms as a potential interim boss at Bombers
Essendon are not ruling out a return of James Hird as head coach, despite president Andrew Welsh insisting he’s not just bringing back an old Essendon boys’ club.
Welsh, who stood by the call to block Zach Merrett’s trade request last year, is adamant the Bombers “won’t be pushed around” even as they have sunk further into the doldrums.
The Mets lost their fourth straight game, falling to the Cincinnati Reds on Memorial Day, 7-2.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Nolan McLean came out firing and struck out the side in the first inning, but it was all downhill from there. The righty ended up allowing seven runs on five hits, including two home runs, with six strikeouts over 78 pitches into the fourth inning. His season ERA is now up to 4.40 after allowing 13 earned runs over his last two outings.
He hit Sal Stewart in the rib on an 88 mph changeup in the second inning and then loaded the bases on a single and walk. A run scored on a forceout as Bo Bichette's slow glove flip to second base caused a late throw to first. McLean then threw a wild pitch as the Reds took a 2-0 lead.
McLean nearly escape the third inning unscathed, but let up a solo home run to JJ Bleday with two outs that made it a 3-0 game. The right-hander allowed two more runs in the top of the fourth on Spencer Steer's single up the middle and then gave up a two-run homer to Tyler Stephenson as the Reds went up 7-0. McLean stayed in and plunked his second batter of the day before getting pulled from the game after 3.1 IP.
-- New York's hitting woes continued, failing to take advantage of runners in scoring position. Carson Benge was left stranded on second base in the second inning and Mark Vientos grounded out to end the third inning with runners on the corners.
The Mets found themselves in the same situation in the fifth inning and came up empty again, as Vientos struck out swinging on a ball that hit his leg. Overall, NY left eight on base and went 0-for-6 with RISP.
-- RHP Austin Warren cleaned up the mess in the fourth inning, getting the final two outs of the frame. He stayed in the game and tossed a scoreless fifth inning. Jonathan Pintaro entered in the sixth and made quick work of the Reds, retiring six straight through the seventh inning.
-- Marcus Semien got the Mets on the board with a solo home run in the sixth inning, cutting the deficit to 7-1. Brett Baty led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double and scored on Benge's groundout, making it a 7-2 game.
-- Tyrone Taylor appeared to injure his right leg running out of the batter's box on a groundout in the sixth inning. He was replaced on defense in the seventh by MJ Melendez, who took over in LF with Nick Morabito moving to RF. The team later said Taylor left with right hip pain.
-- Bichette had three of the Mets' nine hits, going 3-for-4.
Game MVP: Nick Lodolo
The Reds' left-hander kept New York's bats quiet, tossing six strong innings. He allowed one run on six hits and struck out seven with no walks.
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