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Bolte Flashes In Athletics’ Win Over Cardinals

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 13: Henry Bolte #33 of the Athletics is congratulated by manager Mark Kotsay #7 after Bolte hit an RBI sacrifice fly scoring Nick Kurtz #16 against the St. Louis Cardinals in the bottom of the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park on May 13, 2026 in Sacramento, California. The RBI was the first of Bolte's career. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The A’s got back in the win column on Wednesday evening, bouncing back from a series-opening loss by beating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 in convincing fashion in front of the Sacramento crowd. And a certain outfielder had an… electric debut. Too much?

Ginn dominates again

Right-hander J.T. Ginn entered this contest coming off the best outing of his career, an eight inning, one-run performance against the Philadelphia Phillies. So how would he top that outing in tonight’s contest?

It wasn’t quite as dominant but it was just as effective. Ginn bounced around a lot of trouble tonight, giving up hits in every inning. He got out of some tight squeezes and got some major help from his defense

Ginn couldn’t hold them back forever. The Cardinals’ efforts finally paid off for them in the top of the fourth. Back-to-back-to-back singles (plus a fielding error from Colby Thomas in right) brought in St. Louis’s first run and with no outs the game felt in the balance. Ginn needed a couple big plays to get out of this jam with no more damage done.

He buckled down and struck out the next batter on three pitches. Out one. Then his battery mate this evening, the newly acquired Jonah Heim who was making just his second start for the A’s, made an absolutely heads-up play by quick-throwing to third base to get a run down out:

Two down. The final out of the frame was a battle but same result for Ginn: another punchout, and escaping with minimal damage done. Ginn would go two more innings after that, allowing a single but stranding the runner in each frame. His night was done after six full frames.

  • J.T. Ginn: 6 IP, 9 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 95 pitches

The 26-year-old continues to impress since joining the rotation. He now has 3.12 ERA on the season, but as a starter he’s now at a 2.97 mark. And that’s counting that horrible five-run outing he had recently. Ginn’s spot in the rotation seems as solid and cemented as it’s ever been. He’ll hope to continue his breakout next time out, which lines up to be Sunday in the homestand finale against the San Francisco Giants.

A’s bats wake up for big fourth

On the other side of things, the Athletics’ offense was facing a pitcher having an uneven year in left-hander Matthew Liberatore. The A’s bats were quiet for most of the first few innings. I say quiet because…

… Henry Bolte got his first big league hit! On the second pitch he saw in his first at-bat in the bigs. And the first hit of the game for the A’s as well. Give that man that ball! It’s sure to be the first of many for the young outfielder just beginning his career. In fact, he didn’t wait around long for his second base knock as he got #2 out of the way in his second plate appearance:

Other than that the A’s couldn’t muster much against Liberatore for the first four innings tonight. They did manage to get back-to-back singles to start the third and had runners on the corners with no outs, but some bad baserunning wiped that away. Michael Stefanic, who was only just recalled from Triple-A, was picked off of first base before Shea Langeliers lined out to the shortstop baseman, who threw to the third baseman who then tagged a wandering Darell Hernaiz out for the third of the inning. Frustrating isn’t a large enough word for that sequence of events.

Now down 1-0 entering the bottom of the fifth it was time to get to work. The A’s started with back-to-back one-out singles followed by a walk to Langeliers. That loaded the bases for the lefty-on-lefty matchup the Cardinals probably wanted, Liberatore vs. Nick Kurtz. The power hasn’t quite been there for the young first baseman yet this year but it showed itself in a big way tonight as Kurtz clobbered a slider that didn’t slide, sending it over the fence in center field for a grand slam to take the lead:

I think everyone in that stadium was holding their breath for a moment there. That was almost a web gem from the Cards’ center fielder but thank god it wasn’t. That was Kurtz’s sixth home run of the year, one that gave the A’s the lead and got Ginn off the hook for a loss and put him in line for a win. That also extended Kurtz’s on-base streak, and he’s slowly but steadily climbing the leader board:

Now with a lead the rest of the game felt like it was on cruise control. The A’s threatened again that same inning against Liberatore but couldn’t break through. No matter, that extra work might have been the difference in him leaving the game after the frame.

Late innings

With Ginn out of the game and in line for the win, Mark Kotsay turned to his bullpen, first going with Justin Sterner to start the seventh. He ran into some fast trouble and not looking to let the Cardinals find sudden life again Kotsay quickly turned to Hogan Harris to get out of the jam. He got out of the frame but not before St. Louis brought home their second run on a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 4-2.

The A’s quickly got that run back in the bottom half. Nick Kurtz hit a leadoff double, moved to third on a single and came home to score on an RBI sac fly from, you guessed it, Bolte. That was his first career RBI right there! Then in the eighth, just for good measure, tonight’s third baseman Zack Gelof got in on the fun with a solo blast to right center, his fourth of the year:

Right-handers Luis Medina and Jack Perkins each provided an inning of work at the end with both having scoreless appearances and shutting the door on the Cardinals. Win #22 achieved.

A fantastic night at the ballpark if you were there. Obviously the big hit came from Kurtz with that back-breaking grand slam in the fifth, but the story of tonight has to be Henry Bolte in his big league debut. 2-for-2 with his first big league RBI sac fly. One of those hits he flashed his speed on an infield ground ball. He added in a well-worked two-out walk just to show off some of his strike zone recognition to boot. Oh, and that defense we’ve heard so much about?

This kid had one heck of a debut and we’re all wondering what he’ll do for us the rest of the season. The outfield has been a weakness all year but with Bolte the ceiling just got pushed way higher. Fair to expect him in the lineup tomorrow?

Other than the fantastic Bolte, Ginn was dominant yet again, the bullpen mostly did it’s job, and the errors the A’s made in the field didn’t end up costing them. The Mariners lost tonight so the A’s take a two-game lead over them in the AL West, though because the Rangers didn’t play tonight they’ve leapfrogged the M’s for second in the AL West. With as close as the top of the division has been all season this is something that could go on for the next five months.

The series wraps up tomorrow evening in the series finale. Left-hander Jacob Lopez draws the start for what’ll be his ninth assignment. Things have not gone well for Lopez as he’ll bring a bloated 6.11 ERA into tomorrow’s contest. On the bright side for him he’s coming off a good start last time out when he pitched 5 1/3 innings against the Orioles, allowing just two runs on three hits in Baltimore. That quality outing gave him his third win of the year but the leash can’t be all that long considering his struggles all year. Everyone will be hoping this is the beginning of him turning his season around but another bad start could push Mark Kotsay to reconsider his spot in the starting five.

He’ll be opposed by right-hander Michael McGreevy, who is off to an absolutely stellar start to his season. The third-year starter has a pristine 2.18 ERA through eight starts and has been a big reason why St. Louis is actually outperforming expectations this season. There’s some underlying stats that may concern how sustainable this is but the control-oriented pitcher won’t be an easy task for the A’s offense to take on. None of the Athletics have seen him before so it’ll be a brand new challenge for our A’s.

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Shohei Ohtani’s gem helps Dodgers snap four-game losing skid

May 13, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Dodgers are back in the win column as they snapped their four-game losing streak behind another dominant performance from Shohei Ohtani on the mound. The Dodgers broke through early and kept their foot on the gas as they shut out the San Francisco Giants for the second time this year, winning on Wednesday by a final score of 4-0.

It was looking like more of the same for the Dodgers offensively, as after a leadoff double from Kyle Tucker in the bottom of the second, the Dodgers stranded him at third while plummeting to a .125 batting average as a team with runners in scoring position to that point.

The Dodgers atoned for stranding Tucker with a leadoff home run from Santiago Espinal in the bottom of the third that just scraped over the left field wall. It was Espinal’s first home run as a Dodger and it was his first home run at the big league level since Aug. 30, 2024 when he was with the Cincinnati Reds. Mookie Betts immediately followed up Espinal with a long home run 414 feet deep into the pavilion— his first since returning from the injured list— giving the Dodgers an early two-run lead.

The Dodgers added another pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, as Teoscar Hernández brought home Tucker with an opposite-field single to make it a three-run lead before Alex Call drove home Hernández on a sacrifice fly.

Once Ohtani received his first runs of support since April 15, he was lights out on the mound, striking out the side in the fourth inning and retiring eight in a row after allowing the two-out walk to Luis Arraez in the third.

Arraez would get the best of Ohtani again in the top of the sixth with the Giants’ first hit since the first inning, but the two-way superstar worked around the baserunner as he registered his seventh consecutive quality start. Ohtani is now the only Dodger pitcher to pitch at least six innings in every start this year.

The Giants gave Ohtani a scare in the top of the seventh, as they put two men on with a pair of one out singles from Willy Adames and Matt Chapman. Ohtani got Drew Gilbert to fly out to deep left-center field, but Adames thought the ball had landed and was doubled up at second to end Ohtani’s night. Ohtani tossed a season-high 105 pitches, while he now lowers his MLB-best ERA to a microscopic 0.82.

Tanner Scott added another scoreless inning in the eighth to what has already been a bounce back season, while Kyle Hurt worked around a leadoff double from Devers in the ninth to secure the shutout victory.

Kyle Tucker is continuing to heat up in the month of May, as he connected a pair of doubles against Ray to give him his third multi-hit game over his last nine games. Tucker has a batting average of .370 with six extra-base hits while waking seven times and striking out just six times over that span.

Game particulars
  • Home runs— Santiago Espinal (1), Mookie Betts (3)
  • WP— Shohei Ohtani (3-2): 7 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
  • LP— Robbie Ray (3-5): 4 2/3 IP, 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Up next

The Dodgers wrap things up at home against the Giants on Thursday (7:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA) before heading down 31 miles south for a three-game set against the Angels beginning Friday. Emmet Sheehan starts the finale against Landon Roupp.

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Pistons vs. Cavs final score: Unkind whistle, unacceptable mistakes doom Detroit

May 13, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) is defended by Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) in the first half during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

I’m going to make this recap short. I just got back from an absolutely infuriating basketball game with thousands of my Pistons fan friends, and way too many Cavs fans. Walking through the concourse and to the parking lot around a bunch of elated Cavs fans — who knew they got away with something — not fun! In the end, the Detroit Pistons lost 117-113 in overtime and now face a 3-2 deficit heading to Cleveland in a possible elimination game.

Look, the free-throw disparity that has plagued Detroit for the three games prior did not abate tonight. Detroit shot 20 free throws on their home floor and the Cavaliers shot 38. The most egregious was thanks to a bunch of James Harden contortions and selling calls. It was maddening.

But most important was a critical no call that should have gone Detroit’s way and very well could have delivered the Pistons a victory. The Pistons had a nine-point lead with just under three minutes left but let it dwindle away and suddenly the game was tied and the Cavs had the ball on what could have been the final possession.

Ausar Thompson, who was brilliant all night, hounded Donovan Mitchell at the top of the key and blocked the ball from behind as Mitchell went up for a potential game-winning shot. As Ausar attempted to retrieve the loose ball he was clearly tripped by Jarrett Allen. A whistle sends Ausar to the free-throw line with two chances to put Detroit ahead with under 1.5 seconds left. But there was no whistle. Instead, the ball bounced across the floor and time expired.

That was one of a dozen calls that will make any Piston fan furious and will haunt the team for the rest of the offseason unless they can pull off a miracle and win the next two games.

The Pistons did not play perfect basketball, but it felt like they played well enough to win. Cleveland outlasted Detroit thanks to Max Strus hitting six threes, James Harden hitting shots and selling calls, and the Pistons inability to score in the final minutes to truly ice the game. And the refs. It’s not an excuse. The game was simply way too dictated by the referees tonight not to mention it. To pretend the refs calls didn’t dictate this entire game is to put your head in the sand. It’s simply really hard to make up the deficit caused by spotting the opposing team 13 points at the free-throw line.

Cade Cunningham played a great game, scoring 39 points, hitting six threes, and adding nine assists and seven rebounds. He seemed to tire late and was less assertive in the final minutes of the fourth when the Pistons squandered a nine-point lead. But he gave the team everything he could tonight.

So did Daniss Jenkins, a surprise starter in place of the injured Duncan Robinson. The young guard had 19 points and played his butt off on the defensive side of the ball. Isaiah Stewart played solid minutes in the first half, even hitting two from deep. Paul Reed played 17 second-half minutes and scored 10 points on quality shooting and added eight rebounds.

They just couldn’t do enough. On to Cleveland to try to save the season.

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Cleveland rallies from 9 points down in the final 3 minutes to force OT, wins in Detroit to take 3-2 lead

This is what playoff experience looks like — and why it matters.

Detroit took a nine-point lead with three minutes to go on a Tobias Harris 3-pointer. From that moment on through the end of overtime, Cleveland stepped up, outscoring Detroit 23-10, shooting 50% to the Pistons 23.5%, Cleveland was 2-of-3 from beyond the arc while Detroit was 0-of-5, and Donovan Mitchell led the way shooting 4-of-5 in that stretch with nine points, while Cade Cunningham was 1-of-4 for two points as Cleveland doubled him and dared anyone else to beat them.

The result was Cleveland's first road win in these playoffs, a 117-113 victory that sends them home with a 3-2 series lead and a chance to close out the series on Friday night on their home court.

"You're going to have to choke the life out of this team," Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of his team. "We're not going to go down without a fight. We're not going to go down without kicking, punching, grabbing, clawing. That's just who we are."

Pistons fans were livid about a play at the end of regulation. After Ausar Thompson made a brilliant read on Mitchell and stripped the ball away, it looks like Jarrett Allen fouls Thompson going for the loose ball. Crew Chief Tony Brothers, standing right there, sees the play but chooses not to decide the game on a foul away from the basket. There was no call and the game headed to overtime.

"During live play, both players were going for the ball and there was incidental contact with the legs with no player having possession of the ball," Brothers told a pool reporter of the no-call after the game.

That call is not why the Pistons lost the game.

Cleveland was the mentally tougher team on the night — they trailed by 15 at one point, by nine late, and just kept making plays. It was Cleveland's best defensive effort of the series. Detroit made plays, but when Cleveland doubled Cunningham and dared anyone else to beat them, nobody stepped up. It was another rough night for Jalen Duren, who did not play in the entire fourth quarter, as Bickerstaff chose to go with Paul Reed.

Cunningham scored 39 on the night, with nine assists and seven rebounds. Daniss Jenkins added 19, and Tobias Harris had 13 points but on 6-of-19 shooting.

Cleveland got 30 points on the night from James Harden, who was at times brilliant and at times made head-scratching plays. Mitchell came on late with 21 points, but the unsung hero of the night was Max Strus, who scored 20 on the night, making 6-of-8 from 3-point range, plus playing strong defense. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen combined for 35 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks.

Jenkins got his first playoff start for Detroit because Duncan Robinson was a late scratch. Without Robinson, the Pistons still opened the game 5-of-9 from 3, with Isaiah Stewart going 2-of-2 on above-the-break 3-pointers, and after one quarter it was 29-27 Pistons. Detroit forced six turnovers which led to 11 points, and Cade Cunningham had 10 points.

Detroit started the second quarter shooting 8-of-8 from the floor, three of those makes by Harris, and stretched their lead out to 15. Give the Cavaliers credit, they responded with an 8-0 run to keep it in single digits at the half.

Cleveland was careless with the basketball in the first half, turning the ball over 10 times leading to 20 points for Detroit, and that's why the Pistons led 60-52 after 24 minutes.

Once again the third quarter belonged to Cleveland. The Cavaliers stopped turning the ball over (just twice in the fourth), moved the ball well, and Harden scored 9, while the Pistons shot just 33.3% from the floor. It was Cleveland by four at the end of three.

Then Detroit started the fourth on a 5-0 run to retake the lead. The Cavaliers started the fourth 0-of-9 (plus two shots blocked and three turnovers) and the Pistons went on a 12-0 run and took an eight-point lead.

But as they had been all night, the Cavaliers were resilient. They fought back. And now they can close out the series at home.

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Player Grades: Cavs vs Pistons Game 5 – Max Strus goes nuclear

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 13: Max Strus #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a three point basket against Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter in Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off their gutsiest win of the 2020s. Let’s celebrate before getting nervous about Game 6 on Friday.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers

This game started as a disaster. It nearly ended as one, too.

Mitchell was stripped on the final possession. His turnover, combined with a horrific shooting night, could have cost them an inspiring comeback.

Thankfully, Mitchell has a short memory. He scored seven points in overtime, pushing the Cavs over the finish line and saving himself from a bummer night.

Frustrations aside, I did think Mitchell was taking good shots in the flow of the offense. His process was better than the results. That, and his overtime scoring, explain the grade.

Grade: C-

James Harden

30 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 6 turnovers

Harden put the first two games of this series in the past and had the Cavs offense on his back tonight. Sure, we had the occasional turnover that makes you want to pull your hair out. But Harden’s shot-making was one of the only things keeping Cleveland in the game.

The Cavs offense was prone to droughts in previous years. Winning a game that involved poor shooting from Mitchell felt impossible. That’s no longer the case, as Harden’s kept them above water even in Mitchell’s worst moments. That’s huge.

His carelessness with the ball (six turnovers) and occasional lack of effort defensively ding his grade. Still, it’s a make-or-miss league, and the Cavs wouldn’t be leading 3-2 in the series if he wasn’t making shots tonight.

Grade: A

Evan Mobley

19 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks

Mobley took a while to get going tonight. His playmaking was a bright spot, but the Cavs need him to do more than create in the short roll. Once he started scoring and re-establishing himself on defense, the game suddenly became winnable.

The Cavs leaned on Mobley heavily down the stretch. He scored seven points in the closing minutes of regulation to erase a nine-point deficit. He also shut things down defensively, turning the tide and stifling Detroit in the clutch.

Grade: A+

Jarrett Allen

16 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks

It’s easy to miss how impactful Allen has been for the Cavs this postseason. Smaller nights like tonight can fly under the radar. But an efficient double-double and elite rim protection from your fourth-best player is a luxury. Allen has thoroughly outplayed Jalen Duren in this series and deserves recognition.

Grade: A

Dean Wade

0 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal

Wade has not scored since the second quarter of Game 3. He’s only attempted three shots in his last 63 minutes of the series. That’s… not enough.

Still, Wade’s helped put the Cavs defense where it needs to be. They don’t have enough size on the wing to cut him from the rotation. And, he’s honestly been as helpful as anyone can be while being a zero on offense. That’s worth something.

Grade: C–

Max Strus

20 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block

The Cavs don’t win tonight without Strus. Point blank period.

Strus made all the winning plays. His three-point barrage in the first half was key to keeping the game competitive. He continued pouring it on in the second half while ramping up the defensive intensity to push Cade Cunningham over the edge. His physicality wore on Cade throughout the game and eventually rang victorious in the closing minutes.

Grade: A+++

Jaylon Tyson

0 everything, 3 minutes

Tyson got into a scuffle with Isaiah Stewart and Tobias Harris only moments after checking into the game. I thought that might fuel the Cavs. Instead, it actually deflated them. Tyson was on the floor as Detroit opened the second quarter, shooting 8-8 from the field, and worked towards their biggest lead.

Grade: F

Dennis Schroder

5 points, 5 assists, 2 turnovers

I don’t have anything new to say about Schroder. He’s earned his place in the rotation and is an important cog in the machine offensively. Even the tiniest bits of usage that Schroder can carry help take the load off Mitchell and Harden’s shoulders.

Grade: C+

Sam Merrill

6 points, 1 assist, 1 steal

I’m just waiting for Merrill to let loose in one of these games. He entered tonight as the second-worst ‘open’ shooter of the playoffs and went 2-5 on mostly clean looks today. That can’t be sustainable, right? Sam feels too talented to keep missing good looks.

Grade: D+

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Christian Scott 'fought' in 'gritty outing', Mets' bullpen comes up 'huge' in win over Tigers

On a night where Carson Benge was the hero with his game-winning hit in the 10th inning against the Detroit Tigers, Christian Scott and the Mets’ bullpen should not be forgotten.

While Scott only lasted 4.2 innings after throwing a season-high 89 pitches (59 strikes), he limited the damage after the Tigers scored two in the first inning to take a quick 2-0 lead.

The right-hander didn’t have his best stuff, allowing seven hits and two walks, but he battled his way through constant traffic and kept New York within striking distance while he was on the mound.

“He just had a hard time putting hitters away,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “The times that he got ahead he had a hard time – they fouled off some pitches, three-ball counts, but he fought and I thought he gave us a chance. So yeah, I think it was okay.”

Scott still finished with five strikeouts on the night which puts him at 20 Ks in 15.2 innings this year and he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his four starts this season after holding Detroit to two earned runs. His season ERA is 3.45.

Actually, one could argue those runs should not have been charged to Scott at all after Benge misplayed a routine fly ball in right field which resulted in a double and eventually two runs scoring. 

Without that mistake, which is all part of the learning experience for a rookie, it could’ve been an entirely different outing for Scott who is still searching for his first major league win.

“I thought I did a good job of filling it up,” Scott said of his start. “They had a really good game plan against me, didn’t really get a lot of swings at the top of the zone with the four-seam. Made me go deeper in counts, obviously I want to go later in the game, but all the credit goes to the bullpen. 

“They did an unbelievable job starting with [Huascar Brazoban] going two-plus there. Really kept us in the game. Obviously made them work a little harder than I wanted to, but overall, pretty gritty outing. A lot of pitches out of the stretch, they had a lot of runners on, but felt like even without my best stuff I was able to get some outs when I needed to.”

After Scott left (and the Mets still down 2-1), Brazoban entered and pitched 2.1 perfect innings with two strikeouts, lowering his sterling ERA to 2.14. 

Not only did New York eventually tie it in the seventh, Brazoban’s performance also bridged the gap to the team’s late-inning relievers in Luke Weaver and Devin Williams who both pitched scoreless innings before Brooks Raley also shut the door in the 10th inning, stranding the ghost runner.

“For him to go two-plus [innings] and keep the game there; he was pitch-efficient, he was attacking [the strike zone] and he gave us an opportunity to hand the ball to the guys at the back end of the bullpen. It was huge,” Mendoza said about Brazoban. “All of those guys did their part, but Brazoban, getting two-plus [innings] from him was huge.”

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Mets expecting imminent Francisco Lindor update as injuries keep mounting

New York Mets player Francisco Lindor in the dugout.
04/30/26: New York Mets Francisco Lindor in the dugout against the Washington Nationals in the 9th inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York, USA, Thursday, March 30, 2026. Photo...

The Mets are nearing another Francisco Lindor update, and given Francisco Alvarez’s recent right meniscus tear along with Juan Soto’s concerning early exit Wednesday, they need it to be a positive one.

Lindor underwent a follow-up MRI exam on his strained left calf Wednesday morning ahead of the Mets’ 3-2 walk-off win in 10 innings against the Tigers at Citi Field.

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Manager Carlos Mendoza anticipates he will have the results by Thursday.

The injury has sidelined the shortstop since April 22. Lindor got hurt scoring from first base during the fourth inning of the 3-2 win over the Twins to end their 12-game skid.

Initially, the Mets did not picture a quick return for the five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. However, Mendoza said Lindor is “feeling better.”

It would be a huge boost for the Mets if they can get Lindor back sooner rather than later. He went down in the same game that featured the return of Juan Soto, who had missed the previous 15 games because of a right calf strain.

The Mets lost Alvarez to the IL on Wednesday, and he will be out six to eight weeks while Soto is day to day. This comes on the heels of the promotion of rookie A.J. Ewing, who powered the Mets to a 10-2 win Tuesday and scored the winning run on Wednesday.

Francisco Lindor in the dugout during a game earlier this season. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

Asked if he is worried about his optimal roster not having a shot together to turn things around in Queens, Mendoza explained he couldn’t think about that possibility.

“My job is to get the best out of them today and continue to take it one day at a time,” he said. “If I’m worried about when are these guys going to get back. … that won’t help us. Our job is to go out there and find a way to get the job done.”

Kodai Senga (lumbar spine inflammation) threw a bullpen session on the Citi Field mound with hitters standing in ahead of Wednesday’s game. Mendoza said Senga “looked fine” and will see how he responds to determine the next step.

Jared Young (left knee meniscus tear) is set to begin a rehab assignment by the end of this week.

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Brett Kulak scores 3:52 into OT, Avs advance to West final with 4-3 win over Wild

Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild Game 4

DENVER, CO - MAY 13: Left wing Joel Kiviranta (94) of the Colorado Avalanche reacts to a goal by teammate center Parker Kelly (17) of the Colorado Avalanche during the second period of Game 5 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Timothy Hurst/Denver Post via Getty Images

Brett Kulak scored 3:52 into overtime after Nathan MacKinnon tied it late in regulation and the Colorado Avalanche advanced to the Western Conference final with a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

Kulak capped a wild comeback for the Avalanche, who trailed 3-0 midway through the second period. Colorado moves on to the conference final for an eighth time since relocating to Denver in 1995-96.

The Avalanche will face the Vegas-Anaheim winner. Vegas leads that series 3-2.

With Minnesota up 3-1, Jack Drury scored with 3:33 remaining to set the stage for MacKinnon’s goal with 1:23 left with the Colorado goal empty. The star forward sent a shot from the left side past Jesper Wallstedt and into a small space in the top left corner.

In overtime, Martin Necas took the puck, glided behind the net and back out front, where he found an open Kulak. Without missing a stride, he lined it past Wallstedt.

Kulak joined the Avalanche on Feb. 24 as part of a deal that Samuel Girard to Pittsburgh. Kulak was the 16th Avalanche player to score in the series.

“You always like to dream about it,” Kulak said. “The player I am, I’m not the guy (they’re) looking down the bench, hollering, ‘Get out there, go win it for us.’”

It was a rare series-ending win at home for Colorado, too. The last time the Avalanche won a series on home ice was 2008 against the Wild, when the team had Hall of Famers Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg.

“That was fun,” MacKinnon said. “A lot of fun.”

Marcus Johansson scored 34 seconds into the game and Nick Foligno added two goals to give the Wild a 3-0 after the first period. It led Colorado to take out Mackenzie Blackwood after the first and insert Scott Wedgewood, who made seven saves.

The Avalanche overcame a three-goal deficit to win a playoff game for just the third time in 53 tries since moving to Denver. The Wild had been 21-0 when leading a playoff game by at least three goals before the elimination loss.

Wallstedt stopped 30 shots for the Wild. Matt Boldy and Nico Sturm each had two assists for a banged-up Wild team that was missing center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin all series.

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Braves News: Injury updates, Eric Hartman, more

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Eric Hartman #64 of the Atlanta Braves hits a single during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Some good stuff has been happening on the farm for this Braves franchise this year, as a number of position-player prospects have been really showing out, including shortstops John Gil and Tate Southesene. Perhaps the most impressive has been 2024 20th round pick, Canadian centerfielder Eric Hartman. Hartman joined Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list and for due reason. He has been absolutely raking, to the tune of a 182 wRC+ and a .695 SLG. Hartman is well known for elite speed, but his power and exit velocities have been arguably most impressive this season and what the Baseball America crew discussed as important to this ranking so early in the season. While I’m not a prospect expert, its really nice to see the Braves with a handful of exciting hitting prospects again after such a pitching dominated system for the last number of years.

Braves News

Walt Weiss gave a number of injury updates that were generally positive or neutral on Ronald Acuna, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, Eli White, and Joe Jimenez.

Weiss also discussed the need for adjustments to the team’s baserunning, as pickoffs stack up.

Draft expert Matt Powers took a look at the recent history of the 9th overall pick in the draft, as the Braves own that pick in the upcoming draft.

The Braves won again Wednesday night, with brilliant pitching and offensive heroics, clinching the series against the formidable Cubs.

MLB News

The Dodgers signed Jason Heyward to their front office as a special assistant.

Braves’ legend Max Fried left his start Wednesday with left elbow discomfort, but he did not seem to think it would be anything more than a short term issue.

Mets’ catcher Francisco Alvarez received meniscus surgery and may miss around two months.

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Mets appear to avoid worst with Juan Soto’s right foot injury scare in sigh of relief

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) fouls a ball off his right foot.on a swing during the third inning when the New York Mets played the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at Citi Field in Queens, NY, Image 2 shows Juan Soto later left the game
Juan Soto

Juan Soto dodged a bullet. 

The Mets star provided his team with yet another injury scare after fouling a ball off his right foot and leaving Wednesday’s 3-2 win early, but he’s “day to day,” according to Carlos Mendoza in a massive sigh of relief for the organization.

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The manager added that X-rays came back negative. 

Soto, who missed about three weeks in April with a right calf strain, hobbled away from the batter’s box and kneeled in pain after the moment occurred against the Tigers in the bottom of the third inning. 

Though he managed to finish his at-bat — and returned to the plate once more in the sixth inning — his night was noticeably cut short an inning later as Mets fans held their collective breath. 

“I was concerned as soon as he got hit,” Mendoza said. “We went out there, and you could tell that he was in pain. And then just that second at-bat didn’t look right.” 

Juan Soto fouls a ball off his right foot during the third inning of the Mets’ 3-2, 10-inning win over the Tigers on
May 13, 2026 at Citi Field. He later was forced to exit the game in the seventh inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Soto’s exit took place as he was due to come up with two outs and runners on the corners, with MJ Melendez replacing him. That inning ended soon after when eventual walk-off hero Carson Benge was caught stealing home. 

Soto finished the night 0-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout, though the mood will be positive after his minor prognosis and the Mets’ 3-2 win. 

Soto’s injury scare came mere hours after Mendoza announced Francisco Alvarez would be undergoing surgery for a torn right meniscus — and with starters Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. all out injured as well. 

Juan Soto later left the game after the foul ball off his right foot. Robert Sabo for NY Post

The Mets also lost Ronny Mauricio to a left thumb fracture shortly after calling him up from Triple-A Syracuse, as they’ve been consistently undermined by injuries in their efforts to undo their difficult start to the season. 

For now, though, it appears they can exhale when it comes to Soto’s health, with Mendoza even refusing to rule him out of Thursday afternoon’s series finale against Detroit. 

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A win in that contest would give the Mets their first series sweep of the season and give them some much-needed momentum heading into the Subway Series.

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Winners and Losers: Cavs vs Pistons Game 5 – Evan Mobley comes up clutch

DETROIT, MI - MAY 13: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 13, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers stole Game 5 from the Detroit Pistons, rallying back behind some timely shots from Evan Mobley.

Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.

WINNER – Evan Mobley

This game wasn’t pretty in the beginning for Evan Mobley. In fact, he was working his way towards a LOSER tonight when he failed to post up both Cade Cunningham and Caris LeVert. Those are matchups he needs to win.

But as the game went on, it became impossible to deny Mobley’s impact.

He was making strong reads as a playmaker all night. Mobley has found a niche for creating in the short-roll, diming Jarrett Allen multiple times in this game and bending the help defense to kick out to the perimeter. He ended the night with a playoff career-high 8 assists.

That’s impressive, but not that impressive. Let’s get to the good stuff.

Mobley sprang to life by yamming a driving dunk in the second half. He then showed off his range by banging home a three-pointer on the next play. All of a sudden, the Cavs had momentum.

This continued into the fourth quarter, when Mobley’s clutch shot-making helped the Cavs recover from a nine-point deficit and force overtime. It’s worth noting that Mobley has converted on a number of timely three-pointers this postseason, including the first round against Toronto.

Mobley finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks, and a steal. The second game in a row that he’s dipped his hand into multiple cookie jars and walked away as a winner.

LOSER – First Half Turnovers

Can I be honest? I’m kinda tired of typing this. It’s almost insulting to the wonderful readers of Fear the Sword that I keep reminding everyone why taking care of the ball is important. We’re all aware.

Yet, it’s important enough to keep hammering home.

The Cavs conceded 27 points off turnovers. 20 of those came in the first half. Coughing it up and allowing the Pistons to score in transition is the primary thing the Cavs should worry about in this series. They lost games 1-2 because of it, and they nearly repeated history tonight.

WINNER – James Harden

James Harden netted his first 30+ point playoff game as a Cavalier. It was his 50th career game of 30+ points in the postseason.

Couldn’t have come at a better time.

Harden, even when he’s turning it over and walking back on defense, has somehow managed to keep the Cavs alive throughout these playoffs. Other than games 1-2, where he actively cost them from winning, Harden has been a lifeline for Cleveland.

Tonight was more of that. Harden took a sputtering Cavalier offense and towed them to the finish line. His isolation scoring ensured that Detroit could never pull too far away, immediately bringing the Cavs back into range after the Pistons went up by 16 points.

There’s a sense of calm that Harden brings to the roster. Again, even when everything is burning down, Harden keeps the same demeanor. That can frustrate you when the team loses. It might seem like he doesn’t have any sense of urgency. But when the Cavs rally back? Harden’s composure is a bright spot. He didn’t allow them to panic, and that resilience won out in the end.

WINNER – Max Strus

In a just world, Max Strus will be remembered as a Cleveland legend. The only thing that’s left is a deep playoff run under his belt. Maybe he gets it this year.

Strus does everything a blue-collar city should love. Grit, tenacity, and nonstop hustle. He’s a streaky shooter, but that motor never shuts off. That’s allowed him to be impactful in games where he doesn’t have his shot rolling. And when his shot is falling like tonight? It’s a cherry on top.

The Cavs fell behind early in this game due to turnovers. It was Strus, alongside Harden, who connected on timely buckets to keep things under control. He continued to nail momentous shots in the second half — on top of hustling for loose balls and second-chance opportunities.

Strus, who came up with a clutch steal in Game 3, did it again tonight when he stole the ball and passed to Mitchell for a layup in overtime.

If that wasn’t enough, he also won over Charles Barkley tonight.

It wasn’t perfect for Max. He had a difficult time keeping Cade Cunningham away from his spots defensively. That resulted in the best game Cade has had all series. But Strus eventually started to win that battle, wearing Cunningham down as the game went on. And, he fueled the Cavaliers with his 20 points, making up for anything he conceded to the opposing team’s All-NBA star.

LOSER [and partial WINNER] – Donovan Mitchell

The highs… and the lows.

Mitchell scored a historic 39 points in the second half of Game 4. It feels like he maybe should have saved some of that for tonight. If Mitchell could have replicated even sixty seconds of that performance, the Cavs would have won comfortably.

The Pistons’ defense had Mitchell totally in a box for most of this game. He began 3-11 from the floor and 0-7 from downtown.

This game was begging for Mitchell to take over. But it wasn’t happening. At one point in the fourth quarter, Mitchell missed a wide-open three-point attempt from the corner that led to a transition three from Detroit. A devastating six-point swing with the game hanging in the balance.

On the final possession, Mitchell had the world in his hands with a chance to win the game. He was absolutely smothered by Ausar Thompson and turned it over without getting a shot up. Rough.

It wasn’t all bad, thankfully. Mitchell sparked just enough fire to help the Cavs get over the hump in overtime. He scored half of Cleveland’s 14 points in the extra frame, drilling his first three-pointer of the night and bursting to the hoop for a pair of buckets.

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NBA playoff takeaways: Cavaliers win as Pistons let Cade Cunningham down

In the all-important Game 5, the Cavaliers did something they hadn’t done all postseason long: they won away from Cleveland.

The Cavs outlasted the Detroit Pistons Wednesday, May 13 to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals, putting them one victory away from a date in the conference finals with the New York Knicks.

And now the series will head back to Cleveland, where the Cavaliers haven’t lost in the playoffs, winning all six games they’ve played at Rocket Arena.

James Harden led all Cavaliers with 30 points on 8-of-21 shooting (38.1%), while Donovan Mitchell added 21 and Evan Mobley chipped in 19.

The Cavaliers won, 117-113, in overtime.

Here are takeaways from Game 5 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons:

The Cavaliers, frankly, got lucky with all their turnovers

In some ways, this is a game the Cavaliers shouldn’t have won. Their star players, Harden and Mitchell, combined to shoot just 38.5%. They faced a 15-point deficit in the second quarter. But more concerning were 17 turnovers, many of them inexcusable.

The Cavaliers were far too casual with their ball security, floating lazy passes across the court and telegraphing them at times. That allowed Detroit to turn those giveaways into 27 points, and it’s also why the Pistons claimed a 23-7 edge in fast-break points.

The Cavaliers were better in the second half, but that careless offense can completely sabotage a team’s chance of winning. Cleveland should consider itself fortunate, because if the Cavs move on to the conference finals, the Knicks won’t let them off easy.

The Detroit Pistons are far too dependent on Cade Cunningham

It was another banger for Cunningham, Detroit’s unquestioned star. Cunningham scored 39 points on 13-of-27 shooting, adding 9 assists and 7 rebounds. Yet, once again, the Pistons wasted a marvelous game from Cunningham because his supporting cast has not been able to contribute sufficiently.

Daniss Jenkins, making his first career postseason start, did score 19 in a solid 8-of-17 night, even though he struggled from 3-point range (2-of-8). But Tobias Harris (13 points) and Jalen Duren (9 points and 5 rebounds) struggled. This is becoming thematic for the Pistons.

As long as they look to Cunningham to be their savior — particularly in the clutch, when teams can play a little more physically and throw double-teams at him — Detroit will struggle to advance deep into the playoffs.

Cunningham is stellar, one of the top 10 basketball players in the world. But the pressure and responsibility placed on his shoulders is unsustainable, and it also leads to unforced errors; his 6 turnovers Wednesday night — including a debilitating one late in overtime — are an issue he needs to fix.

Game 6 can end a lot of narratives

Donovan Mitchell has had some massive playoff games in his career, but his teams have never broken through the conference semifinal round. James Harden, despite a handful of big postseason performances across his 185 career playoff games, has a reputation — one that’s unfair, frankly — of shrinking when it matters most.

But if Cleveland can defend homecourt Friday, May 15 to get Cleveland through to the Eastern Conference finals, Mitchell and Harden will have the chance to reframe those narratives.

There have been times this series when both have struggled somewhat. Yet, when Cleveland has needed clutch buckets, it has been both Mitchell and Harden to deliver.

The Pistons, who are 1-4 this postseason on the road, will be playing desperate, so the Cavaliers will need to be prepared and ruthless. Look for Mitchell and Harden to try to set the tone.

Paul Reed is eating into Jalen Duren’s minutes. Is a benching next?

Probably not. Duren, after all, was a first-time All-Star this season and still does impact the game on the defensive end, which doesn’t always show up in box scores.

But Reed once again outplayed Duren, and it’s clear that Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff is adjusting his rotations because of it. Reed played a series-high 17 minutes Wednesday night, which was just eight fewer than Duren’s 25 minutes.

Reed scored 10 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and blocked 2 shots, while Duren scored 9 points, picked up 5 rebounds and didn’t record a block.

Duren’s plus-minus of -16 was the team low Wednesday night and he has now posted a -42 over the last three games of the series.

In the regular season, Duren had developed a steady mid-range jumper that simply is not part of his game right now. It seems the only offense Duren contributes are putbacks or the occasional lob; he took just 5 shots Wednesday, compared to 7 from Reed, who is simply playing with more energy and pace as soon as he steps onto the floor.

It appears to be a confidence issue for Duren, and Detroit needs him to at least work the glass, because his offensive rebounding can give the Pistons second chances and his defensive rebounding can spring transition opportunities.

That's the Evan Mobley (and Max Strus) the Cavaliers needed

At times in the playoffs, Mobley has found it difficult to assert himself offensively. The last three games, though, have been steady progress. Mobley scored 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting, grabbed 8 rebounds and swatted away 3 blocks. He hit a pair of 3-pointers, the first at the end of the third quarter, and the second with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter to close Detroit’s lead to two points.

Strus was also electric, going 6-of-8 from 3-point range to score 20 points off the bench, adding 8 rebounds. When he ignites, Strus is a key part of Cleveland’s offense and can help launch runs. He scored 64.5% of the team’s bench points Wednesday night. In order to close out Detroit in Game 6, the Cavs will need the same type of production from both.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoff takeaways from Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5

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Ex-Blackhawks Captain Nick Foligno Scores Twice For Wild But Avalanche Win Series

On Thursday night, it looked like the Minnesota Wild was going to extend their series with the Colorado Avalanche to a sixth game when Nick Foligno's second of the game made it 3-0 in the first period. 

The Colorado Avalanche slowly but surely crawled back into the game, however, and Nathan MacKinnon tied it with 1:23 remaining in regulation. In overtime, Brett Kulak scored to send Colorado to the Western Conference Finals. 

The Chicago Blackhawks did Nick Foligno a favor when they traded him for "future considerations" on deadline day. He was able to join his brother for a playoff run, but it is over now. 

Foligno has been an incredible NHL player over the years. He had a handful of all-star type years, but has mostly been a great role-player and leader. The Chicago Blackhawks and a lot of their players will be impacted by his presence for a long time. 

When Foligno first left the Chicago Blackhawks, the coaching staff and players were honest about how much they were going to miss him. They also stressed that they were happy that he got to go be a part of a winning environment. 

"He's been awesome for the organization," Jeff Blashill said. "He's an outstanding human being. I'll miss him personally, and we'll miss him as a group."

Now, Foligno is a free agent who will make a decision about his NHL future over the summer. It's hard not to selfishly desire to see him play with his brother in the NHL for an entire season, but he deserves this chance to make his own decision.

The Avalanche is now the last team standing from the Central Division. They will face the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks, who have a 2-2 series tie heading into Thursday night's Game 5. 

Colorado ended Foligno's season, but it has been clear from the beginning of the season that they were the best team in the division and in the conversation for the best team in the league. Now, they will represent the Central in the final four as the favorite to win the Stanley Cup. 

Watch Both Nick Foligno goals:

Image

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Cavaliers rally late to steal Game 5 road win over Pistons

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows James Harden, who scored a team-high 30 points, goes up for a layup during the Cavaliers' 117-1113 Game 5 overtime win over the Pistons on Dec. 13, 2026 in Detroit, Image 2 shows Donovan Mitchell, who scored 21 points, drives on Daniss Jenkins during the Cavaliers' Game 5 overtime win over the Pistons
Cavs Win game 5

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons put themselves on the brink of elimination again in the NBA playoffs, blowing a nine-point lead late in regulation of an overtime setback.

The Cleveland Cavaliers came back and beat Detroit 117-113 in overtime on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series, winning the first road game of the postseason matchup and earning their first win as visitors this postseason.

Cade Cunningham had 39 points and nine assists and Detroit’s defense turned 17 turnovers in 27 points — and that still wasn’t enough.

James Harden, who scored a team-high 30 points, goes up for a layup during the Cavaliers’ 117-113 Game 5 overtime win over the Pistons on May 13, 2026 in Detroit. Getty Images

Game 6 is Friday night in Cleveland, where the fourth-seeded Cavs will get the first of two chances to advance to face the Knicks in the East finals.

“You’re going to have to choke the life out of this team,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They’re not going to go down without a fight. They’re not going down without fighting. They’re not going to go down without kicking, punching, grabbing, clawing. That’s just who we are.

“We’ve been in this position before.”

The first-seeded Pistons were down 3-1 against the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic and won three straight to advance in the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

If Detroit can win in Cleveland, Game 7 will be back in the Motor City on Sunday.

Cade Cunningham, who scored a game-high 39 points, shoots over James Harden during the Pistons’ Game 5 overtime loss to the Cavaliers. AP

“If anybody can do it, I think we can do it,” Pistons center Jalen Duren said.

The Pistons looked like they were going to take control of the series, leading by 15 points in the second quarter and 103-94 with two-plus minutes left, but they blew it.

Cleveland successfully got the ball out of Cunningham’s hands down the stretch and none of his teammates could take advantage by making shots.

Donovan Mitchell drives on Daniss Jenkins during the Cavaliers’ Game 5 overtime win over the Pistons. Getty Images

Tobias Harris missed 13 of 19 shots and scored 13 points. Duren was limited to nine points and five rebounds in another lackluster performance this postseason by the All-Star.

Duren said Cunningham needs some help, especially on the offensive end.

“He’s going to do his thing every night, but as a team, as a group, we’ve got to be better,” Duren said.

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Recap: Avs roar back to win 4-3 in OT & earn conference final appearance

Well, the stage was set for the Colorado Avalanche to seal the series in front of fans on home ice tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Doing so would mark the first time they’ve achieved that since 2008.

It seems the Wild had other plans as they scored 3o seconds into the game, cashed in on two more first-period tallies.

MacKenzie Blackwood got the start but didn’t make it to the second period, with Scott Wedgewood not allowing a goal once he did enter the game.

It was a tough start, but the Avalanche decided they didn’t want to write the same old story and flipped the script, roaring back in the second and third period and inevitably sealing the series and game in overtime on Brett Kulak’s game-winner!

The Game

When I say things couldn’t have started worse for the Avalanche, that’s not being dramatic.

There was a drastic contrast between Colorado’s focus and Minnesota’s, with the Wild seemingly coming to play and the Avalanche struggling to wake up.

36 seconds into the game, Brett Kulak and Brent Burns marked the same player, and Ross Colton got caught watching as Marcus Johansson was left alone in the high slot and beat Blackwood glove side.

Just like that, it was 1-0 Wild, but the disaster wasn’t done unfolding.

Next, it would be Nick Foligno who first tipped one in and on through Blackwood as Brett Kulak was unable to cover a breaking Foligno, and the puck trickled through Blackwood’s five-hole.

It would be Nick Foligno yet again, just about four minutes later, this time on a play where Nico Sturm broke in, cleared a shot that likely should have been iced by Blackwood.

Instead, a rebound popped right back to Sturm, who beat Ahcan to the loose puck, found Foligno, who tucked it in. We would end the first frame 3-0 Minnesota Wild.

The Avalanche would dominate possession and chances in the second frame, showing some life.

The puck was pinned in the corner, but finally squeaked clear of the scrum. Kulak retrieved and sent a cross-ice pass over to Burns, who put it on net. Parker would cash in via the re-direct, bringing the score to 3-1 Wild.

The tide had shifted by the time the third period rolled around, but without another goal until well into the period, this one felt pretty much over.

That is, until Jack Drury scored on the re-direct with 3 and a half minutes left, re-igniting Ball Arena and Colorado’s chances at walking away victorious.

The Avalanche would get possession in the offensive end, pull Wedgewood, and go at it 6-on-5.

After a couple of attempts and some retrievals, Nathan MacKinnon was alone in his usual power play spot down near the goal line.

This time, instead of looking for the bumper, he picked the corner right by Wallstedt’s ear and in.

Ball Arena erupted, and we’d head to overtime in game five.

The Wild had a couple of grade-A looks that didn’t materialize, and it was clear that the Wild were gassed early in the extra frame.

Parker Kelly would send a beautiful stretch pass that found Martin Necas cruising into the zone. He wrapped around the net, looked in a dangerous shooting position, but instead passed to Brent Kulak, who had nothing but net in front of him.

He absolutely buried it, and the crowd once again went, dare I say… Wild.

Takeaways

Cale Makar was noticeably hobbled throughout the game, clutching at his right arm and shying away from shots and contact. The Avalanche did well to close out this series tonight so that Makar and others can begin healing in anticipation of the conference final.

Let the story of Brett Kulak inside this game be a lesson to all of us. You might start with some absolute duds, but if you stick to it and do the right things afterward, the puck might find your stick for the game-winner in overtime.

Before the season started, most Avs fans had said cup or bust, but reaching the conference final and getting beyond the second round has been difficult. Another dragon slayed.

One last takeaway: the sort of win that lives on forever if the Avalanche can continue their successful pursuit of the Stanley Cup.

Upcoming

We await the winner of the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights, who are set to play game six tomorrow at 7:30 MT, with Vegas leading the series 3-2.

Let us know what you thought of this contest in the comments!