Australian coach Andrew McDonald has flagged Travis Head as a wildcard option to open in the West Indies while acknowledging he is not in charge of a “perfect team”.
Clayton Kershaw tosses a gem, Shohei Ohtani homers twice in Dodgers' win over Giants
The offense scored 11 times. Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs. And the team regained sole possession of first place in the division.
But on a night of all-around excellence from the Dodgers, no one impressed quite like the man who endures as the most familiar face on the team.
Clayton Kershaw might only throw 90 mph (on a good fastball) now. He might lack the ever-imposing aura that emanated through the peak of his career.
But at 37 years old, and in his 18th MLB season, the future Hall of Fame left-hander can still consistently locate his pitches, still instinctively mix his three-pitch arsenal and still pitch — in every meaning of the word — his way through a big league outing.
Read more:Hernández: Cowardly Dodgers remain silent as ICE raids terrorize their fans
It’s why he wanted to keep playing this season, even after a 2023 shoulder surgery and 2024 toe and knee procedures. Why he still holds a place in the Dodgers’ starting rotation, one that has counted on him to compensate for a swath of injuries in the season’s opening two months. And why, when handed a big early lead Saturday against the San Francisco Giants, he knew exactly what to do, breezing through a scoreless seven-inning, three-hit, five-strikeout gem in the Dodgers’ 11-5 win at Dodger Stadium.
Saturday was not exactly a daunting task for Kershaw.
He was facing a Giants lineup that ranks 25th in the majors in batting average. He had the luxury of a six-run lead by the top of the third inning. The assignment, at that point, was simple: Get quick outs, keep his pitch count under control, and ensure a lopsided score stayed that way in a game that put the Dodgers (42-29) one game ahead of the Giants (41-30) in the National League West standings.
All that, he had done countless times before.
The fact he can still perform, however, inspired awe throughout the ballpark, with 51,548 in attendance witnessing his 65th career start featuring seven scoreless innings.
In the lead-up to the game, manager Dave Roberts noted a few simple keys for Kershaw against the Giants. An aggressive team, Roberts expected early contact that would require precision on pitches in the strike zone. He also noted the proliferation of right-handed bats in San Francisco’s lineup.
“We're going to need the slider tonight,” Roberts said. “If he could command that fastball on both sides of the plate, and present that slider as a strike, it should be a good outing for him.”
Kershaw began executing that script quickly.
In the first, he erased a leadoff walk to Jung Hoo Lee by getting Heliot Ramos to ground into an inning-ending double-play, snapping off an outer-half slider to escape one of his few jams.
In the second, he needed just four pitches to retire the side in order, capitalizing on a string of well-located offerings for a lightning-quick inning.
By the time Kershaw returned to the mound, the Dodgers had surged ahead.
Ohtani began the onslaught with his seventh leadoff home run of the season. The Dodgers ambushed Giants starter Landen Roupp — a second-year right-hander who entered with a 3.29 earned-run average in 13 starts — for five runs in the second.
Up 6-0, Kershaw found a groove. He stranded a leadoff double in the third, collecting the first of his five strikeouts along the way; a total that leaves him just 12 shy of reaching 3,000 strikeouts for his career.
He did the same thing in the fifth, ending the inning with two vintage swing-and-miss curveballs that left Tyler Fitzgerald looking silly.
On the whole, Kershaw got eight swings-and-misses, building upon the strides he took in a seven-strikeout performance against the St. Louis Cardinals last week.
And by the time he finished Saturday’s outing with a clean seventh inning — retiring nine of his last 10 batters en route to his first seven-inning start since 2023 — he was getting a standing ovation from the Chavez Ravine faithful, and a long line of high-fives from coaches and teammates in the dugout.
Prime Kershaw, this is still not. His fastball averaged only 88.4 mph, down a tick from its already diminished average, and it generated no whiffs. Even his slider, which remains his go-to secondary weapon, was fanned on only three times in 15 swings.
Yet, he posted a string of zeroes anyway. He lowered his season ERA to 3.25. And he showed that, even now, he is capable of greatness on any given night.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Ahmad Hudson Pledges to the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl
Tight end Ahmad Hudson (Ruston, LA/ Ruston High School), the four-star prosect has officially accepted his invitation to the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl.
Should The Penguins Deal Erik Karlsson? It May Not Be As Simple As It Seems.
With the 2025 NHL Draft just two weeks away and free agency to follow directly after, the trade market is beginning to heat up.
And the Pittsburgh Penguins seem to be near the center of it all.
As reported by hockey insider Pierre LeBrun of TSN, the Penguins appear to be the only "true sellers" in the NHL this offseason, which puts them in a prime position to gather a lot of assets - and, possibly, some prior to and during the draft.
Forward Bryan Rust's name has been thrown around a lot over the past several days, as has Rickard Rakell's - both of whom are fresh off career years. The other guy in the spotlight is defenseman Erik Karlsson, who originally came to the Penguins via a blockbuster trade with the San Jose Sharks during the summer of 2023.
There is an overarching sentiment from many fans and people around the organization that expect Karlsson to be dealt as soon as this summer. While the Penguins may be wise to get out of the $10 million they owe Karlsson for two more years during a period of transition - or, at least, a large portion of it - it may not be as simple as it seems.
And, really, this has nothing to do with immovability or trade value. Yes, Karlsson has a full no-movement clause, and he would have to approve any potential destination. But the 35-year-old three-time Norris Trophy winner - who recorded 11 goals and 53 points to go along with a minus-24 last season - certainly still has value to contending teams looking for a puck-moving defenseman.
Actually, the issue lies within the Penguins' roster.
As reported by The Athletic's Josh Yohe - and as gathered from general sentiment throughout the organization - the Penguins realize that Kris Letang's role as a top-pair defenseman are likely behind him. While this is no fault of Letang's - Father Time is unbeaten - it does pose a problem for the Penguins if they truly are trying to deal Karlsson.
Right now, they have no other defenseman on their roster or in their system who can handle top-four minutes. But - assuming Matt Grzelcyk walks in free agency - they also have no one on the left side who is capable of playing consistent top-four minutes.
Bryan Rust Is In High Demand. But Is Trading Him The Right Call?It is sure to be an active, interesting offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Therefore, if Karlsson is dealt, the Penguins - even if they're not planning to be contenders next season - would need to somehow get their hands on three top-four defenseman prior to the onset of the 2025-26 season. Again, playing top-four minutes isn't only about skill, ceiling, and ability. It's also about physically and conditionally being able to handle the demand of top-four minutes.
Even for a team in the basement, that's a steep hill to climb. Sure, Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke may be in the roster conversation next season, but neither are ready for a full-time top-four role, nor should the Penguins expect them to be.
In other words, if the Penguins are to deal Karlsson, they need to make sure they have a plan to replace him. If they don't, there's a good chance that would be a massive, massive problem for Pittsburgh.
Penguins Have Prime Opportunity To Target Lightning's Top Forward ProspectOn Saturday, news about the potential departure of the Tampa Bay Lightning's top prospect from the organization became one step closer to being confirmed.
Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Photo Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Mets Prospect Roundup: Jett Williams has three more hits, Kevin Parada continues recent tear
With the minor league season in full swing, let's take a look at how some of the Mets' top prospects have been doing lately.
SS/CF Jett Williams, Double-A Binghamton
After a rare 0-for-5 on Friday night, Williams roared back on Saturday with a three-hit performance while playing center field for just the eighth time this season.
The 21-year-old went 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored from the leadoff spot to raise his batting average to .298. Williams also boasts a .404 on-base percentage and a .928 OPS while still maintaining his elite speed with 18 steals.
He's really begun to heat up lately as Williams has multiple hits in six of his last eight starts, hitting two home runs, two triples and five doubles during that stretch.
Following a lost season last year due to injuries, Williams is back to doing what he did in 2023 which earned him the Minor League Player of the Year award for the Mets.
C Kevin Parada, Double-A Binghamton
Another player on fire at the dish is Parada who went 2-for-4 with two doubles in Saturday's 8-2 win.
It hasn't always come easy for the former first-round pick, but lately the catching prospect has begun to figure things out with three straight multi-hit games.
Through 35 at-bats in June, Parada is slashing .371/.439/.800 with four home runs and 10 RBI. Over the least three games, the 23-year-old has raised his batting average from .190 to .219.
1B/OF Ryan Clifford, Double-A Binghamton
With another two hits on Saturday, Clifford extended his hitting streak to eight games and is 12-for-30 during that time. The lefty-swinging first baseman hit his 12th double and added two RBI which gives him a team-high 38 RBI this season.
Since joining the Mets organization, Clifford has been known as a power threat and has hit 30 home runs and 33 doubles in 158 games for the Rumble Ponies.
Still just 21 years old, it'll be interesting to see if New York promotes him to Triple-A sooner rather than later with this kind of production.
OF Carson Benge, High-A Brooklyn
Down a level, Benge continues to shine in his first full season in the minors.
Locked in a scoreless tie through the sixth inning with the Asheville Tourists, the Houston Astros' High-A affiliate, Benge knocked in the game's only run with a single to give the Cyclones a 1-0 win. He finished 1-for-4 and is hitting .302 over 54 games.
The game-winner improved Brooklyn's record to 42-20, good for first in their division.
RHP Nolan McLean, Triple-A Syracuse
The closest to a major league call-up, McLean had another solid outing despite a 5-1 loss for Syracuse. The right-hander went six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks. He struck out three and threw 90 pitches (55 strikes).
McLean has now allowed two earned runs or fewer in five straight starts and has a 2.56 ERA in seven games (five starts) since his promotion to Triple-A.
After getting off to dominating start in Double-A this season (3-1, 1.37 ERA in five starts), the 23-year-old owns a 2.08 ERA (1.17 WHIP) overall.
The Mets will surely like to see more of the same from McLean this season before they even think about calling him up to the big leagues, but his continued success is nipping at the heels of teammate and fellow top prospect Brandon Sproat who has had a tough time transitioning to Triple-A, owning a 5.31 ERA (1.42 WHIP) in 13 starts.
Michigan Panthers’ UFL title hopes scorched by D.C. Defenders in 58-34 loss
A record-setting performance derailed the Michigan Panthers’ dreams of the franchise’s first title in more than 40 years, in a 58-34 loss to D.C.
Michigan Panthers’ UFL title hopes scorched by D.C. Defenders in 58-34 loss
A record-setting performance derailed the Michigan Panthers’ dreams of the franchise’s first title in more than 40 years, in a 58-34 loss to D.C.
Stanley Cup Final: Panthers Defeat Oilers, Now One Win Away From Glory
The good news for Edmonton Oilers fans is Connor McDavid scored. The bad news is that Brad Marchand scored more for the Florida Panthers.
Florida took another step toward a repeat Stanley Cup thanks to a 5-2 victory on Edmonton ice to push the series to 3-2.
"The more times you're in a situation like this, the more comfortable you're going to be," Sam Reinhart told reporters post-game. "We've been staying in the moment very well all post-season, and it's just about handling your day."
Edmonton came out with vigor, and Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had to be sharp. Connor Brown got the first good chance of the game with an early breakaway, but 'Bob' was there to make the stop. When Bobrovsky needed help, his defensemen and forwards did a great job either clearing pucks out of danger or getting their sticks in lanes to deflect away potential Oilers chances.
That solid play paid off midway through the period when Marchand made an incredibly heady play off a center-ice faceoff.
Marchand anticipated the draw and grabbed the puck, losing Vasily Podkolzin in the process. Marchand then snuck through the Edmonton defense and put a wrister past Calvin Pickard for a 1-0 Cats lead. No. 63 nearly helped Florida get another when he sent a pass across Pickard to a wide-open Eetu Luostarinen, but the big Finn couldn't get enough on the puck.
The Panthers would indeed get their two-goal lead late in the first, however. Edmonton D-man Evan Bouchard blocked a Matthew Tkachuk shot, but the rebound went to Sam Bennett, who rifled one in from between the hashmarks.
Florida got into a bit of penalty trouble in the second, but came out unscathed. Bobrovsky bobbled a shot and had to be sharp on the Corey Perry rebound and McDavid hit the post another time, but close doesn't count.
Things really revved up in the third and once again, Marchand was in the thick of it. On a very similar play to his first goal, the veteran jumped on the puck off a faceoff and dashed down the ice. This time, he flipped the puck through defenseman Jake Walman before going backhand on Pickard, all with Perry right on his back.
"It started with a great stick at our line from (Luostarinen), and then I just tried to get inside and get the puck on net," Marchand said. "I don't really, to be honest, know what happened. I haven't seen a replay. It just found its way in, so it's a good feeling."
The 3-0 lead was shortlived, as McDavid finally got a goal in the series (though for the record, his assists have been all-timers). The Oilers captain took a nifty pass from Bouchard and buried one in tight on Bobrovsky.
Undaunted, Florida pushed the lead back when Aleksander Barkov stole the puck off Perry behind the Edmonton net, centering a pass for Sam Reinhart, who made no mistake with a wrister to make it 4-1.
In desperation, the Oilers pulled their goalie with five minutes remaining and it nearly paid off soon after, when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' shot deflected off Niko Mikkola's stick and hit the post.
But it was Perry getting the next goal, spinning around from near the blueline with a shot that fooled Bobrovsky with a little more than three minutes to go.
The drama ended with a little more than a minute to play when Luostarinen air-mailed an empty-netter from his own zone to give Florida a comfortable 5-2 lead.
The Oilers are now on the brink of elimination in the Cup final yet again. Last year, they won three straight games to force a Game 7. They just need to win one to tie the series at 3-3, but their opponent is on the edge of glory.
"Knowing that we're in a difficult situation, win our last two games, is something that we're confident that we can do that," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. "We've been through difficult situations before, and it was just another one that we'll overcome.
Florida has a chance to clinch back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in Game 6 on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET in front of its home fans.
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Panthers take down Oilers in Game 5, move one win away from second straight Stanley Cup
The Florida Panthers are one victory away from winning the Stanley Cup.
Florida continued their excellent play on the road during the postseason, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers now return to South Florida holding a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
It was Florida who cracked the ice, and the goal came on an amazing individual play by veteran Brad Marchand.
Directly of a center ice faceoff that Anton Lundell pushed through Leon Draisaitl, Marchand jumped past the Oilers’ front line and snatched the puck from behind Draisaitl.
Marchand then made a great juke to get by Mattias Ekholm and speed in on a semi-breakaway, lifting the puck over the glove of Calvin Pickard to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead at the 9:12 mark.
Shortly after Florida killed off an Oilers power play, Matthew Tkachuk came flying down the right side of the ice and into the Edmonton zone, but his shot was blocked by Jake Walman.
Sam Bennett was right there to pick up the puck and quickly fire it past a suddenly out of position Pickard to double the Cats’ lead late in the opening period.
The story of the middle frame – much like in Game 4 – was Florida’s penalty kill.
This time, the Panthers picked up a pair of massive PKs and didn’t allow Edmonton to gain any momentum, holding on to their two-goal lead and carrying it into the third.
Early in the final frame, Marchand scored what could very well end up being the goal of the Final.
Once again right off a faceoff, this time in the Florida end, Marchand came flying through the circle and pushed the puck up the ice.
After it was poked ahead by Eetu Luostarinen, Marchand sped into the Oilers zone, dangled the puck through Walman’s legs and beat Pickard five-hole to extend Florida’s lead to 3-0.
Just over two minutes later, Connor McDavid gave the dormant Rogers Place crowd some life, making a nice inside-out move and beating Sergei Bobrovsky, getting the Oilers on the board with 12:36 to go.
Unfortunately for the home fans, the excitement would be short lived.
An absolute snipe of a wrist shot by Sam Reinhart went through two Oilers defenders and past a screened Pickard, restoring Florida’s three-goal lead just 46 seconds later.
With Pickard on the bench, Corey Perry fired a long slapshot that got past a screened Bobrovsky, cutting Florida’s lead to 4-2 with 3:13 left.
With 1:19 to go, Eetu Luostarinen sealed the victory with an empty net goal from all the way in Florida’s zone.
The Panthers now head back to Sunrise with a chance to win their second straight Stanley Cup.
What a time to be alive.
On to Game 6.
QUICK THOUGHTS
Florida has scored the first goal in four straight Final games.
Marchand has now scored six goals during the Stanley Cup Final, the first player to do that in 37 years.
As for the playoffs, Marcahand is up to ten goals and 20 points.
Reinhart has scored goals in each of Florida’s past three games. He has six points during the run.
Anton Lundell has points in four straight after picking up an assist on Marchand’s goal.
Sasha Barkov has three assists over his past two games. He had the primary helper on Reinhart’s third period snipe.
Luostarinen has multi-point outings in two of his past three games.
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Photo caption: Jun 14, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in game five of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)
Fashionably Late: Top 10 Ottawa Senators Draft Picks Taken After Round 3
It goes without saying that NHL franchises often find their future stars in the early rounds of the draft. That includes the Ottawa Senators, whose best three players, Jake Sanderson, Tim Stutzle, and Brady Tkachuk, were all top five overall selections.
But several popular and productive players were drafted after the third round, well after a lot of the NHL media had left the draft and gone home.
Here’s a look at the top 10 Senators draft picks (along with a few links from our archives) who were selected in the fourth round or later, yet went on to make a lasting impact with Sens fans. We steered away from excellent late Sens picks like Pavol Demitra or Brooks Laich, who made their names elsewhere.
1. Daniel Alfredsson – 133rd Overall (6th Round, 1994)
No surprise here. Alfredsson remains the greatest player in franchise history. Drafted in the sixth round, Alfie racked up 1,108 points in 1,246 games and served as team captain for 13 seasons. He won the Calder Trophy in 1996, led the team to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, and went from sixth-rounder to Hall of Famer.
2. Mark Stone – 178th Overall (6th Round, 2010)
The Senators had only four draft picks in 2010 and had they known Stone would turn out so well, they probably wouldn't have chosen Jakub Culek and Marcus Sorensen before taking Stone in round six with their third pick. Stone became one of the best wingers in franchise history before being traded to Vegas in 2019.
Gotta See It: Former Senator Mark Stone Leads Vegas to the Stanley CupSenators fans weigh in on their emotions Tuesday night after Vegas captain Mark Stone was presented with the Stanley Cup.
3. Chris Neil – 161st Overall (6th Round, 1998)
Chris Neil was the heartbeat of the Senators for over a decade. A physical force and enforcer, Neil played 1,026 NHL games, all with Ottawa, and became a fan favourite. He provided grit, leadership, and was always ready to defend teammates.
4. Drake Batherson – 121st Overall (4th Round, 2017)
Drafted in the fourth round as a bit of a project, Batherson has blossomed into a top-six forward. With great vision, hands, and offensive instincts, he's quickly become a key piece of Ottawa’s current group. He’s already cracked the 20-goal mark three times and continues to develop.
5. Jean-Gabriel Pageau – 96th Overall (4th Round, 2011)
Born in Ottawa and drafted by his hometown team, Pageau made his name with strong two-way play and timely goals. None more memorable than his four-goal playoff game against the Rangers in 2017. A solid playoff performer and dependable center, Pageau was a late-round steal.
6. Mike Hoffman – 130th Overall (5th Round, 2009)
Hoffman was one of Ottawa’s most consistent offensive threats in the 2010s. Known for his deadly shot and skating, he scored six straight 20+ goal seasons and was a mainstay on the power play. Though his time in Ottawa ended amid controversy, his on-ice production made him one of their best late-round finds.
Has Former Ottawa Senator Mike Hoffman Played His Last NHL Game?In just five years, the 34-year-old winger went from being a 70-point NHL scorer to not being able to find a contract.
7. Ryan Dzingel – 204th Overall (7th Round, 2011)
Dzingel turned heads with his speed and energy, cracking Ottawa’s top six after being a seventh-round pick. He scored 20+ goals in back-to-back seasons before being traded in 2019. He later returned for a second stint, but it was his early impact that showed off his draft-day value.
8. Magnus Arvedson – 119th Overall (7th Round, 1997)
Nicknamed "The Machine" by Jacques Martin, Arvedson was a reliable two-way forward who brought consistency and smarts to Ottawa’s lineup in the late ’90s and early 2000s. He scored 47 points in his second season and even received Selke Trophy votes that year, finishing second for the award in 1999.
9. Mark Borowiecki – 139th Overall (5th Round, 1989)
Borowiecki played nine seasons with the Senators. Over his 12-season NHL career, he appeared in 458 regular-season games, recording 15 goals, 41 assists, and 848 penalty minutes. He became a fan favourite for his tireless work ethic, leadership, and willingness to take on anyone. Boro came back and settled in Ottawa with his family and works in player development with the Nashville Predators.
Former Senator Mark Borowiecki: "My Career as a Pro Hockey Player Has Come to an End"The man they call "Borocop" in Ottawa has announced his retirement and, after a fine hockey career, he's now looking to "pay it forward."
10. Ray Emery – 99th Overall (4th Round, 2001)
Emery’s fiery personality and style made him a fan favorite. Drafted in the fourth round, he was the Senators’ starting goalie during their run to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final. Though his time in Ottawa was relatively brief, his postseason heroics left a lasting legacy.
Looking Back on the Life and Career of Former Ottawa Senators Goalie Ray EmeryJust a month before the fiery Ray Emery backstopped the Senators' run to their only Cup Final, The Hockey News profiled Emery's extremely interesting life and career to that point.
Drafting is a mix of smart scouting and luck, but Ottawa’s past success with players outside the top three rounds drives home how crucial scouting and development are. From a franchise icon like Alfredsson to players like Stone and Batherson, the Senators have unearthed more than their fair share of late-round gold.
Fans are hoping they have a few more solid sleepers in mind at this year's draft June 27-28.
Banner image credit: Imagn Images
Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa
Kevin Durant's list of preferred trade destinations doesn't include Knicks
Kevin Durant is one of the biggest names available this offseason and new reports have determined the teams he would agree to be traded to, and it doesn't include the Knicks.
Despite reports in recent weeks that the Knicks made an offer to acquire Durant at this past season's trade deadline and that New York has interest in a potential trade for the soon-to-be 37-year-old, Durant has not made it known he wants to return to NYC.
According to multiple reports, Durant's preferred trade destinations are the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat, and he would commit to those teams long-term.
Durant has one year left on his current deal -- with a cap hit of $54.7 million during the 2025-26 season. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent after next season, so any team that trades for him would want to sign him to an extension.
SNY's Ian Begley reported in the wake of Tom Thibodeau's firing that it's unlikely the Knicks would trade for Durant. Begley maintained that stance early Saturday, writing on Twitter that it's "a long shot that Durant ends up in New York" but that "important Suns voices" want to add a starting-caliber center this offseason, and while there are ways to acquire such talent, trading Durant is the "clearest path" for Phoenix.
Begley confirmed reports that the Minnesota Timberwolves are interested in Durant, with The Athletic reporting late Saturday that Phoenix and Minnesota have discussed potential deals involving Durant.
Durant, a 15-time All-Star, averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists with the Suns in 62 games last season, before an ankle injury ended his season.
In 17 seasons, Durant has averaged 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting 39.0 percent from three-point range. A four-time scoring champion, Durant is eighth on the all-time scoring list with 30,571 career points.
Yankees drop second straight to Red Sox after 4-3 loss
The Yankees dropped another close one in the second game of their three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night by a score of 4-3.
Here are the takeaways...
-Hoping to get past his previous outing against the Red Sox in his last start on June 8 at Yankee Stadium, where he allowed five earned runs in five innings, Carlos Rodon let Boston tag him for another run in the bottom of the first inning to kick things off.
Rob Refsnyder led off the inning with a double that just scraped the left field foul line and was almost stranded at second after Rodon retired the next two. With two outs, Carlos Narvaez grounded one to the left of shortstop Anthony Volpe, who managed to get to the ball, but with all of his momentum taking him towards third base, he tried channeling his inner Derek Jeter and jump-threw the ball to first base.
The ball was down the line and even though Paul Goldschmidt came off the bag, he let the ball skip past him, which allowed a run to score. It was ruled a single while Volpe was charged with a throwing error.
-Rodon kept the Red Sox scoreless until the fourth inning, where they scored another run thanks to doubles by Narvaez and Trevor Story, who lined one up the middle and caught Volpe sleeping at second base to hustle into second before the shortstop could tag him out.
-Volpe got a measure of revenge leading off the next half inning, hitting one off the Green Monster but being held to a single. The Yankees would not score in the frame.
-Boston scored again in the fifth on Romy Gonzalez's RBI double, which drove in Kristian Campbell, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
-Down 3-0 through five innings and 90 pitches, Rodon went back out to start the sixth but was pulled after Story's leadoff double. Yerry De los Santos came in for relief but couldn't strand Story at second, allowing the inherited runner to score and putting an end to Rodon's night.
The lefty's final line: 5+ IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 4 K.
-New York's offense was held in check for most of the night against rookie right-hander Hunter Dobbins, who pitched six scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out five.
With Dobbins out of the game, the Yanks finally broke through in the seventh with two runs off Luis Guerrero to make it 4-2. After back-to-back walks began the inning, Jasson Dominguez singled home a run before Austin Wells followed with an RBI single of his own. They were the first Yankees not named Aaron Judge to have an RBI in the team's last 30 innings played.
The inning could've been bigger had Dominguez not been picked off and caught stealing third base for the third out after it appeared he thought Trent Grisham struck out to end the inning.
-The game's score stood at 4-2 as New York went up to bat in the ninth inning. Goldschmidt ripped a double off The Monster to start things off against Greg Weissert, who traded to two groundouts to second base for a run to score. Down to their final out, Dominguez also hit a double to put the tying run in scoring position. On a 3-1 pitch in the zone, Wells smashed one to the deepest part of the ballpark for a flyout to end the game.
-The Yankees' top three of the batting order (Grisham, Judge, Ben Rice) combined to go 0-for-12 with six Ks.
Game MVP: Hunter Dobbins
The rookie turned in a masterful performance to grab his fourth win of the season.
Highlights
Jasson Domínguez gets the Yankees on the board pic.twitter.com/zdjwmal2T0
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) June 15, 2025
Austin Wells hits an RBI single for the Yankees’ second run of the evening pic.twitter.com/3duxM5Eans
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) June 15, 2025
What's next
The Yankees conclude their three-game set with the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 p.m.
LHP Max Fried (9-1, 1.84 ERA) pitches for New York and will be opposed by Boston's RHP Brayan Bello (2-1, 3.96 ERA).
The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: React To Game 5 Between Oilers And Panthers
Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.
After each game of the Stanley Cup final, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.
On tonight's show, Katie Gaus and Michael Traikos react to Game 5 between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers with Avry Lewis-McDougall joining live from inside Rogers Place.
During the game, join the conversation in the comment section and send in your questions. They may end up on the post-game show.
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Mets, Tylor Megill discuss what went wrong in fourth inning against Rays: 'It spiraled on him'
You never want to give teams extra outs, and that was especially the case for Tylor Megill and the Mets on Saturday evening.
Taking a 2-1 lead into the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, the wheels fell off for Megill and the Mets.
It started with Megill allowing a game-tying solo shot from Junior Caminero on a sinker running in. Although the pitch resulted in a home run, props to Caminero for getting around it and launching it into the stands.
The next batter, Megill hit with a slider before a single and a strikeout led to arguably the biggest play of the inning. With one out and runners on first and third, Taylor Walls laid down a sacrifice bunt. Megill should have taken the out at first but while fielding, he took a look at home before turning to throw to first base. The big right-hander, however, could not grip the ball and it trickled away for an error.
Now with the Rays in front by one run, Megill struck out the next batter, in what should have been out the final out. Instead, back-to-back singles scored two more runs, then a walk loaded the bases. Megill then threw a wild pitch that allowed the fifth run of the inning to cross home plate before walking the bases loaded again, forcing manager Carlos Mendoza's hand.
"He was fine for the first time through the order. And then in that fourth inning, even after the first and third, he gets the strike out and then he doesn’t make the play on that bunt," Mendoza said of Megill's outing. "That’s two outs and then he gets the next guy… And then it spiraled on him. Base hit, base hit.
"There was a lot of non-competitive pitches, especially the secondary, there were a few pitches, ball out of the hand where he’s bouncing. And then when he came back in the zone, they were all over him. He lost it there, pretty much."
Jose Castillo came in and got the final out of the fourth without any more damage but Megill's final line was not pretty. He allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits, two walks and two HBP.
It was the most runs Megill has allowed this season and the most he's allowed since June of last year. But of all the moments in that fourth inning, Megill says the HBP after Caminero's home run was the difference.
"Biggest difference, probably the hit-by-pitch," Megill said. "Didn’t have a feel for the slider, especially coming in on the backfoot on the lefties. After that, made some good, quality pitches, sinker down and away, found a hole up the middle. The slider fell in short. Then a couple of walks, then a hung slider. By then, kinda ran up and was taken out."
On his error, Megill said the ball felt like it went through his fingers, but admitted that while the ball was slick from the wet field, it wasn't an excuse. He had to secure the ball.
"I should get my hand into my glove, secure it instead of trying to flip it into my hand," he said.
On the wild pitch, Megill said he simply "pulled" the backdoor sinker.
But Megill's error wasn't the only one by a Mets pitcher on Saturday. Castillo led off the sixth with a fielding error that eventually came around to score. The Rays scored four runs on those two fielding errors, which was the difference in their 8-4 win over the Mets.
"We’ve been playing pretty good defense. They are a good team," Mendoza said of the Rays. "When you give them extra outs, they play the small game. We saw it today. They get the bunt down, go the other way, put the ball in play and they are aggressive. That’s who they are. When you give good teams extra outs, extra bases, you are going to pay for it."
It's the first time the Mets have lost back-to-back games since mid-May and have now lost their second home series of the year (10-2). The Mets will look to salvage a win on Sunday before heading to Atlanta and Philadelphia for two consecutive divisional series.
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