Category: Sports News

It wasn’t quite as significant as the fifth inning of Game 5.

But, in the opening game of a World Series rematch at Chavez Ravine on Friday night, the Dodgers mounted a sixth-inning rally against the New York Yankees that carried its own profound importance.

The only real difference: They didn’t need the Yankees' help to do it.

Seven months to the day since the Dodgers’ historic comeback against the New York Yankees in last year’s World Series finale — when three Yankees errors keyed an infamous five-run fifth that propelled the Dodgers to their eighth championship in franchise history — the team produced an inning of similarly unexpected magic in the opener of this weekend’s Fall Classic rematch, scoring four times in the bottom of the sixth to turn a three-run deficit into an eventual 8-5 win at a sold-out Dodger Stadium.

Read more:Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery

The inning started with a Shohei Ohtani home run, his second of the night and MLB-leading 22nd of the season. It included a momentum-swinging double from Freddie Freeman, the MVP of last year’s Fall Classic reprising the role of Yankees killer again. What had once been a three-run New York lead officially evaporated when Andy Pages lined a tying single against a drawn-in infield. The Dodgers then went in front for the first time all night when Michael Conforto drew a bases-loaded walk three at-bats later, giving the Dodgers a lead they continued to add on.

For the Dodgers, nothing will compare to the ecstasy of last year’s fifth inning in Game 5; when a dropped ball from Aaron Judge, errant throw from Anthony Volpe and calamitous miscommunication between Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rizzo keyed the largest comeback in a title-clinching game in World Series history.

But, given the team’s sub-.500 play over the last three weeks, and a rash of injuries that got worse Friday when Mookie Betts was scratched with a toe problem and Evan Phillips was ruled out for the rest of the season because he'll need Tommy John surgery, Friday injected this trying stretch of the regular season with a sorely needed jolt of life.

For much of Friday, the Dodgers seemed headed to the kind of loss that had become commonplace over their 10-11 slide entering the night.

Their starting pitcher struggled, with Tony Gonoslin giving up four home runs in the first four innings — including a mammoth blast from Judge two batters into the game — to hand the Yankees a 5-2 lead.

Their lineup was struggling against a premium pitcher, putting major-league ERA leader Max Fried under little stress after an Ohtani homer to start the night.

And when the sixth inning began, there were few signs the tide was about to turn; the surging Yankees seemingly on a glide path to their 17th win in their last 21 games.

But then, as they did so many times during last year’s World Series, the Dodgers (35-22) flipped the script.

It started with Ohtani, the reigning National League MVP hitting a sky-high fly ball to right that just kept carrying for his 15th home run in the month of May (tying Pedro Guerrero in June 1985 and Duke Snider in August 1953 for the most in a single month in Dodgers history).

Then, the Dodgers just kept chipping away. Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith lined back-to-back singles. Freeman chased Fried from the game with an RBI double to left that got over Cody Bellinger’s head. Then, after the Yankees turned to right-hander Jonathan Loáisiga to face Pages, he hammered a ground ball single through a drawn-in infield to bring home the tying run.

A chess match ensued from there.

Tommy Edman hit into a fielder’s choice grounder in the next at-bat, but some heads-up baserunning by Freeman in a rundown between third base and home plate still got the team’s other two baserunners into scoring position.

With first base open, the Yankees intentionally walked Max Muncy, and summoned left-hander Tim Hill to face the left-handed hitting Conforto. But Conforto drew a full-count walk to plate the go-ahead score — giving the Dodgers their first lead of the night at 6-5.

The sixth inning ended on a Miguel Rojas double play. Yet, the Dodgers tacked on again in the seventh, when another double from Freeman set up Pages for a two-out, two-run single, Freeman racing home on his battered right ankle to score on a bang-bang play.

The Dodgers' bullpen, meanwhile, skirted danger a couple of times, throwing three scoreless innings after Gonsolin (who settled down after his early long ball struggles) got through the sixth.

Judge hit a one-out double against Jack Dreyer in the seventh, but Dreyer and fellow rookie Ben Casparius combined to get through the inning.

The Yankees put runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh against Casparius, but embattled closer Tanner Scott escaped it by getting pinch-hitter DJ LeMahieu to fly out.

Then, in the ninth, Alex Vesia atoned for the deciding three-run homer he surrendered in Cleveland on Wednesday by picking up his second save of the season — and securing one of the Dodgers’ most important, and unlikely, victories of the season.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

In a World Series rematch, Max Fried had his worst start this season and the Yankees bullpen imploded, allowing six unanswered runs across two innings, in New York's 8-5 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Friday night.

Here are the takeaways...

-In a matchup between the two reigning MVPs, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani showed why they were deserving of that honor early in this one. Judge took Tony Gonsolin deep on the third pitch he saw with one out to put the Yankees out in front. Ohtani jumped on a Fried sinker over the middle of the plate to lead off the first with his league-leading 21st homer of the year.

It's the first time in MLB history that both reigning MVPs homered in the first inning of the same game.

-They wouldn't be the only former MVPs to hit a longball in this one. Paul Goldschmidt launched a leadoff homer in the third to put the Yankees up 5-2 over the Dodgers. How did the Yankees score their other three runs? Via the home run, of course. Austin Wells hit the first pitch from Gonsolin over the right field wall to lead off the second and Trent Grisham capped off that inning with a two-run shot.

Friday was the third game this season that the Yankees hit four-plus home runs in the first three innings of a game, the most in franchise history. (h/t Katie Sharp)

-Fried entered the game with a sub-2.00 ERA so it was odd that he allowed two runs in the first two innings. But the southpaw settled in, pitching three straight scoreless innings but it fell apart in the sixth. After Ohtani led off with his second homer of the game, Fried allowed three straight hits, including an RBI double to Freddie Freeman. Manager Aaron Boone pulled his starter with men on second and third and no outs. First out of the pen was Jonathan Loaisiga to face Andy Pages. Pages singled to left to tie the game at 5-5. After a fielder's choice, Max Muncy was intentionally walked and Tim Hill was brought in to get the left-hander Michael Conforto. Unfortunately, Hill walked Conforto on six pitches to bring in the go-ahead run. A double-play ended the four-run inning but it was a disaster for Fried and the Yankees.

Fried entered the game allowing 10 runs in his first 11 starts without allowing more than two earned runs in a start, but gave up six earned runs on eight hits across five-plus innings while striking out three batters. His ERA went from 1.29 to 1.92 after the start.

-The bullpen in the seventh didn't fare much better for the Yanks. After Hill got Ohtani to fly out, Yerry De los Santos came in. He got Teoscar Hernandez to ground out but then imploded, giving up a single to Will Smith, then Freeman doubled. Page singled to drive in both runners and put the Dodgers up 8-5.

-After Goldschmidt's homer in the third, the Yankees offense was stagnant but they had a chance to get back in this game in the eighth. With runners on first and third and no out, Boone brought up J.C. Escarra to face the righty. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts put in the lefty Tanner Scott, and Boone swapped Escarra for DJ LeMahieu, but the veteran infielder flew out to end the threat.

Judge finished going 2-for-5 while Ben Rice (2-3) and Grisham (2-5) were the only Yankees to have a multi-hit game.

Game MVP: Freddie Freeman

The 2024 World Series MVP had three hits and was in the middle of every Dodgers rally

Highlights

Aaron Judge homers to put the Yankees ahead! pic.twitter.com/0YLvkJzV8A

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 31, 2025

Austin Wells solo homer!! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3o5hiJ3kkD

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 31, 2025

AND ANOTHER! Trent Grisham launches a 2-run homer to extend the lead 💪 pic.twitter.com/6Lj0hxTTS7

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 31, 2025

Yankees are ROLLING 🔥

Another home run, this time by Paul Goldschmidt! pic.twitter.com/BZ4e9FzwRd

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 31, 2025

Aaron Judge dives for the grab and the out!

(via @Yankees) pic.twitter.com/EH91Upfnxf

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 31, 2025

What's next

The Yankees continue their three-game series with the Dodgers on Saturday night at 7:15 p.m.

Francisco Lindor's two home runs in Friday's 4-2 win over the Colorado Rockies, a series opener that saw the Mets (35-22) rebound from Wednesday's 9-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox, are a good sign for New York.

After an 0-for-5 day at the plate against the White Sox (18-38), Lindor bounced back with long balls from both sides -- leading off the first and eighth innings -- to handle the Rockies (9-48).

Lindor was in a 4-for-25 rut stemming from last Friday's 7-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It continued throughout the week, but he turned a corner by turning his four at-bats into three hits that sparked the Mets.

"That's part of the 162 where they're going to go through some ups and downs," said Carlos Mendoza. "It's not going to be perfect all the time. But when you see him going -- especially from the left side -- left-center (field) like that, that's when he's clicking.

"From the right side, obviously, hitting the ball to the pull side and then a bullet up the middle -- balance, in a position to make some really good swing decisions and then obviously hitting the ball with authority."

Lindor is up to 12 home runs and 33 RBI through 56 games.

"There's been a lot of PT work, there's been a lot of talking with the coaches and just studying film and I'm still not there yet," said Lindor, who is slashing .278/.347/.480. "I've got to continue to work. I've been watching Pete (Alonso) a lot, watching other guys -- Tyrone (Taylor) -- the way they do things. And it's just like trying to pick up some things -- (Francisco Alvarez), same thing. We don't hit the same, but we all have similar movements. Once I can do the movement, my body aligns correctly, things should fall."

"I'm healthy, but making sure my body is moving correctly -- making sure I'm rotating the right way, making sure I'm repeating the patterns that swing has," Lindor added.

Between Lindor's opening and closing homers, plus Juan Soto's RBI double and Starling Marte's solo shot, David Peterson and the Mets' bullpen had enough run support to work with while holding the Rockies to two runs on six hits in the two hours and 17 minutes of game time.

"Any time you can jump on a team and get an early lead, it gives the offense rhythm, gives us the lead to go out there and pitch and get after guys," said Peterson (4-2, 2.69 ERA), who allowed one run on five hits while striking out five and walking one in 5.2 IP. "It's always good to get some runs early and be able to have the lead like that."

Baseball fans can't turn on a Mets game without hearing about the early-season struggles of Juan Soto.

The slugger who signed a massive contract this offseason has not had the year everyone projected. Entering Friday's series opener against the Rockies, Soto was hitting just .224 batting average with a .352 OBP and slugging .393. In the series prior to this weekend, a three-game set against the lowly White Sox, Soto went hitless (0-10) with a pair of walks.

Soto's troubles at the plate caused manager Carlos Mendoza to be inundated with daily questions about his slugger, and even president of baseball operations David Stearns was asked when he made himself available before Friday's game.

The messaging has always been patience; that the man who smashed 41 homers and slashed .288/.419/.569 with a .988 OPS a season ago will eventually find it. Well, while it's way too early to say Soto is back, Friday's performance could be the start of something.

Soto went 2-for-4, including an RBI double in the third inning that put the Mets up 2-0. His double snapped a 0-for-17 hitless streak.

"Feels great," Soto said of his RBI knock after the game. "Any time you come through for the team, it’s a good feeling."

Juan Soto brings in Francisco Lindor with an RBI double! pic.twitter.com/mvSy9D0DyB

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 31, 2025

Soto was asked about his batting stance and how he's seemingly adjusted it to be more balanced on the lower body. The slugger acknowledged the work he's been putting in at the plate mechanically, but also working on his timing and making good decisions. Soto has notably taken more pitches in the zone, which has led to him getting behind in the count and striking out more. But it's a work in progress that, at least for one game, is paying off.

"I’ve been working a lot on my swing to try and try to figure out the best way to come through for the team," he explained. "It takes work and time. It looks a little different, but we keep working."

Aside from his two hits, Soto also made a great running catch to rob the Rockies of extra bases. Soto said he was fooled by the hitter's swing and, according to teammate Francisco Lindor, the ball carried more than it has all season, which forced the 2024 Gold Glove finalist to have to adjust on the fly.

"I made a really good adjustment. I felt like he hit it off the hand," Soto said of his catch. "When I started to see the ball fly, I realized he hit it better than I thought, had to make an adjustment and just move back."

"It was pretty cool. For a second when I looked, I didn’t think he had a chance, the ball was carrying a little more today than usual," Lindor said of Soto's catch. "I don’t think he was expecting it. He played it well."

Lindor, whose two homers lifted the Mets to a 4-2 win on Friday, knows all too well struggling as the high-profile Mets acquisition. The shortstop weathered that storm to become one of the most beloved players and was the NL MVP runner-up, and has become the de facto team captain. So like his manager and the front office, he's asked about Soto all the time, and he echoes them every time. That Soto's struggles are temporary.

"I think he’s only going to continue to climb," Lindor said. "Everybody from the outside keep saying ‘Where’s Soto? Where’s Soto?’, we’ve seen it. He’s had good at-bats weekly, overall, he ends up with good at-bats, and today, the ball fell for him. He’s going to be great. He’s going to end up with his normal numbers and hopefully from here on out, there’s more luck on his side."

"It's always good to see him and all of our guys having a good night," Mendoza said. "I thought not only at the plate but defensively -- I thought he made a nice play cutting that ball down the right field line and keeping that runner from scoring from first base with two outs, so yeah. He's going to get through it. He's too good of a hitter. Obviously, good night for him, Lindor, some of the guys, but it was good to see Soto finally getting some good results there."

Soto was asked about Stearns' comments and that he may be putting pressure on himself.

"I don’t say any pressure. I’ll say it’s more about coming through for the team," Soto said. "Everybody is hoping I come through and I want to hit for the team either way. Get some wins. I know I’ve been struggling and I haven’t been there for the team, but I will be.

"It’s a matter of time [until I stack games like today]. We don’t know when it’s going to come through. Just have to keep working on it."

Despite not getting hits, Soto drove in his sixth RBI in his last eight games after Friday. He had one in the previous nine games, so perhaps Soto has been a bit unlucky. We will all have to see what the next few games bring.

The Mets started their three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on the right foot with a 4-2 win in Friday's opener at Citi Field.

Takeaways

1. Left-handerDavid Peterson did his job as he allowed one run on five hits while striking out five and walking one in 5.2 IP. Peterson (4-2, 2.69 ERA) threw 59 strikes on 94 pitches and was one pitch away from six shutout frames, but he appeared to miss his spot on an 0-2 offering with two outs in the sixth. Ryan McMahon turned on Peterson's 91 mph fastball over the plate's inner half and for an RBI double, making manager Carlos Mendoza turn to right-hander Huascar Brazobán. Brazobán stranded runners on second and third base when Mickey Moniak flew out to Brandon Nimmo in left field. Peterson plunking Thairo Estrada and third baseman Mark Vientos subsequently missing Brenton Doyle grounder -- both with two outs -- were bad breaks that figure to leave Peterson dwelling on not getting through six full innings, but he ultimately did his job as the Mets (35-22) took care of business against the Rockies (9-48).
2. Speaking of getting the job done, shortstop Francisco Lindor flashed his bat and glove at pivotal points in the first, third and eighth innings. Offensively, that meant three hits -- and two home runs. Batting righty, Lindor set the tone with a leadoff dinger -- his fifth such long ball of the season -- when he sent Kyle Freeland's 1-2 fastball down the middle at 92 mph over the left-center wall. Two frames later, with the bases loaded and two outs, Lindor's leaping grab of Estrada's line drive to short saved Peterson from what would have likely been a two-run double in the gap, at least. In the eighth with the Mets clinging to a 3-2 lead, Lindor batted lefty and launched Seth Halvorsen's 2-2 pitch at 89 mph just over the left-center railing for the exclamation mark. After a 4-for-25 homestand in the Mets' six games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox from last Friday through Wednesday, Lindor bounced back at the plate with his three-hit evening -- it included a third-inning single -- while upping this year's homer total to 12.
3. Between Lindor's opening and closing solo shots,Juan Soto and Starling Marte gave the Mets a pair of key runs. Particularly, Soto's RBI double with two outs in third inning off Freeland was a personal boost as the Mets' offseason prize works through early-season struggles. Marte's third home run of the season, a one-out solo shot off Freeland in the fourth inning, gave the Mets and Peterson some cushion. Lindor led the charge, but the right fielder and designated hitter added key run support in moments that should not go overlooked.
4. The Mets need to take advantage of a soft run in the schedule and, despite dropping Wednesday's finale with Chicago (18-38), did what was required to open this weekend's series against Colorado. After taking two of the three-game set from the White Sox, the Mets must keep their foot on the gas pedal as they get the Rockies two more times before heading out to Los Angeles for a four-game series with the Dodgers (34-22).

Who's the MVP?

Lindor, whose offense and defense were clutch from start to finish.

Highlights

FRANCISCO LINDOR LEADOFF HOMER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/38iqd2Glgv

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 30, 2025

Francisco Lindor makes the leaping grab to end the third inning 👏 pic.twitter.com/hzQ7FyDfYA

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 30, 2025

Juan Soto brings in Francisco Lindor with an RBI double! pic.twitter.com/mvSy9D0DyB

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 31, 2025

Starling Marte solo homer! 💣 pic.twitter.com/ZW7kfLuX9K

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 31, 2025

TWO HOME RUNS ON THE NIGHT FOR FRANCISCO LINDOR! pic.twitter.com/dG7Qd7aLJb

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 31, 2025

What's next

The Mets and Rockies continue their series with Saturday's 4:10 p.m. matchup. Right-handers Kodai Senga (5-3, 1.46 ERA) and Antonio Senzatela (1-9, 6.50 ERA) are set to start.

Prior to the start of their three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave updates on a few players who are making their way back to the team...

Luis Gil's first bullpen session

Boone gave an encouraging update on 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil on Friday. The young right-hander threw a 15-pitch bullpen at Dodger Stadium and everything went well, according to the Yankees skipper.

It's the first time Gil has thrown off a mound since late February when he suffered a right lat strain during spring training.

Gil's return would boost the Yankees rotation which has weathered the season-ending injury to ace Gerrit Cole. Last season, the 26-year-old went 16-8 while pitching to a 3.55 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. Once Gil returns, the Yankees will have to decide whether they will go with a six-man rotation or put Ryan Yarbrough back into the bullpen as the team's long reliever.

Rehab plan for Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Chisholm is currently playing third base with Double-A Somerset, and Boone wants his infielder to play another minor league game on Saturday while starting at DH on Sunday. Chisholm could return as soon as Tuesday, where he'll play third base when he does, Boone said.

Fernando Cruz update

Cruz (shoulder) will throw a live BP on Saturday and he'll likely be activated when he's eligible next week, if that goes well.

Cruz has been one of the Yankees' best relievers this season. He pitched to a 2.66 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in his 21 appearances and has saved two games. He's struck out 35 batters in only 23.2 innings pitched this season.

Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips is scheduled to get Tommy John surgery next week and will miss the rest of the season, manager Dave Roberts announced Friday.

Phillips had missed the last three weeks because of forearm discomfort — and had not progressed in his recovery despite initial optimism that he would only miss the minimum 15 days on the injured list.

“Obviously, very disappointing," Roberts said, acknowledging some unfortunate surprise that what started as a seemingly minor issue became so severe. “More disappointed for Evan, but he just wasn't responding to the rest and then try to ramp back up. Ultimately, that was kind of the advice and the route he decided to go."

Phillips, 30, started this season in the IL while recovering from a partially torn rotator cuff he suffered in last year’s postseason.

He returned in late April and made seven scoreless appearances before getting hurt during the Dodgers' trip to Miami earlier this month.

“I do feel like I can still contribute,” Phillips said at the time of his initial placement on the IL as a “precautionary” move. “But I think what it comes down to is we don’t want to mess around with something in early May.”

Read more:Shaikin: 'Another log on the fire.' Yankees eager to avenge World Series meltdown against Dodgers

The abundance of caution didn’t lead to a better result.

Despite getting plasma-rich platelet injections, according to general manager Brandon Gomes, Phillips’ arm didn’t feel right as he attempted to restart playing catch in recent days.

"As we started getting into it, it wasn't really responding,” Gomes said. “We felt like this could be a possibility. So as he got deeper into the process and it wasn't really getting better, the decision to do it was pretty much evident with our information.”

Asked if Phillips’ elbow injury might have been a byproduct of his offseason shoulder issue, Gomes shrugged.

"It's tough to go down a thousand different rabbit holes."

Without Phillips, the Dodgers will be down one of their most trusted right-handed arms in recent years. Already, the club had been without Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates and Brusdar Graterol because of injuries. While they’re all expected to return in the coming weeks (in Kopech and Yates’ case) and months, Phillips’ absence will nonetheless leave a hole after posting a 2.22 ERA and 45 saves over five seasons with the Dodgers.

“Any time you lose that quality of a reliever, both on the field and the impact he has around the other guys, obviously it's going to hurt,” Gomes said. “But we have a really talented group that's there right now and guys that should be coming back.”

The Dodgers have begun adding externally, acquiring former Cincinnati Reds closer Alexis Díaz in a trade Thursday as the extent of Phillips’ diagnosis was becoming clear.

“Part of the Díaz trade was like, 'OK, we can potentially backfill there,'" Gomes said. “[But] that was in the works for a little while. Just kind of exploring different ways to continue to add to our depth.”

Betts out with toe injury

Shortstop Mookie Betts was not in the team’s lineup for Friday’s series opener against the New York Yankees because of a toe injury.

According to Roberts, Betts stubbed his toe after the team returned from this week’s trip on Wednesday. He was initially expected to play Friday, but had trouble putting on his cleats before the game.

Betts will get an X-ray, Roberts said, and is considered day-to-day.

“I think it was at home. It's probably a dresser, nightstand, something like that,” Roberts said of how Betts got hurt. “It's just kind of an accident.”

As for Betts’ prognosis, Roberts said, “hopefully it's benign, it's negative. Not sure, but I feel confident saying it's day-to-day. It's kind of for his tolerance. But putting on a shoe today was difficult for him."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.