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Pistons vs Cavaliers final score: Detroit’s season is over

May 17, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) dunks in the first half against the Detroit Pistons during game seven of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

I considered Game 6 a complete team effort in Detroit’s 115-94 win in Cleveland. Things were reversed in Game 7 tonight as Cleveland saw big games from their role players en route to a 125-94 victory. Detroit falls one game short from making it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The game started slow as both teams struggled to find offense. Cleveland took an early 8-7 lead after two Daniss Jenkins three-pointers and a Caris LeVert steal and score tied it up at 13. The Cavs were able to end the quarter on a 9-3 run capped off by a 40 ft buzzer-beater from Donovan Mitchell to take a 31-22 lead over Detroit.

Things didn’t look good early in the second as the Pistons missed eight consecutive field goals and Cleveland extended their lead to 15 after another Sam Merrill made three. Merrill would make his fourth three and the foul shortly after and Cleveland was able to reach a 20-point lead. They led 64-47 at halftime.

Cleveland was shooting 52% from the field while Detroit shot 38%. Not only did Cleveland’s defense look good, but Detroit’s offense wasn’t doing them any favors either. They struggled to generate good looks and find an impact outside of Cade Cunningham. Cade had 12 points at the half while bench guards Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson each had seven.

The reason the Cavs were so far ahead was due to the impact being made by Sam Merrill and Jarrett Allen who both had 15 points. Evan Mobley had 12 while Mitchell had 11 and Harden added six points. Cleveland will be a hard team to beat when Mitchell and Harden aren’t one of their top-three scorers.

Things got worse quick.

The Cavs started off on an 8-2 run that forced JB Bickerstaff to call a timeout with a score of 72-49. You could see the energy and hope draining from the Pistons players. Halfway through the third quarter, they gave up three consecutive extra possessions to Cleveland: Robinson fouled Harden for free throws, Stew fouled Allen on the boxout, Allen grabbed another rebound off his own missed free throw and was fouled again. It was clear Detroit knew they couldn’t win this game any longer. Cleveland added in an 11-0 run near the end of the third quarter and took a 99-73 lead heading into the fourth.

Detroit trailed by 30 for majority of the final quarter and would lose 125-94.

Daniss Jenkins was the leading scorer for Detroit with 17 points. Both Cunningham and Robinson had 13 points, though, Cade took 16 shots. Caris LeVert was the only other Piston in double figures. Starters Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren all finished with less than eight points.

Frankly, nobody on Detroit looked great or stood out. And yet, four Cleveland players finished with 20+ points and none of them were James Harden.

This is a rough way to go out. However, Detroit won 60 games, finished as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and won a playoff series for the first time in 18 years. There’s still a lot to be excited about. This roster has holes, some that were largely shown throughout this postseason, and Trajan Langdon can address those this summer.

As much as this loss is going to sting now, this team has come a long way in just the past two years – and the future is something to be excited about.

Go Stones.

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A way too early preview for Cavs vs. Knicks: From rock fight to shootout

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 24: James Harden #1 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the game against the New York Knicks on February 24, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers have punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they’ll take on the New York Knicks in a series that starts on Tuesday.

New York’s path to the Conference Finals was far less stressful than Cleveland’s. Their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks went six games, but the Knicks were firmly in control of that series except for a few standout showings from CJ McCollum. They then took care of business against a worn-out Philadelphia 76ers team by sweeping them in a matchup that never felt competitive.

The Knicks have been elite on both sides of the ball throughout this postseason, but are a far different test than what the Cavs have faced so far. They’ll be going from two straight rock fights to a shootout.

The Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons challenge opponents with their brute force. Conversely, the Knicks beat you with more finesse and skill. That’s a style the Cavs are more equipped to play, even if New York is more talented than either of their previous opponents.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns define the Knicks on both ends of the floor for better or for worse.

Their offense is dynamic because of this duo. Brunson is one of the most electric scoring guards in the league, who is efficient at all three levels. You can do things to make it difficult for him to get to his spots, but you can’t take Brunson’s scoring away entirely. He’s going to get his points.

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Towns’s shooting changes any offense he plays with. He’s one of the few legit stretch fives in the league, as he knocked down 36.8% of his 4.1 outside attempts a game. You simply have to stay with him on the perimeter. And unlike other stretch bigs, he’s elite at beating mismatches inside. Towns has one of the best post games as a scorer and a playmaker. So if you send help, he’s going to find one of New York’s open shooters on the perimeter.

On top of that, they have high-level wings in OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. Both are elite shooters and can beat teams off the dribble.

In short, the Cavs haven’t faced an offense with this many weapons. Containing them will be far more difficult than locking down their previous opponents.

However, the Cavaliers also haven’t faced a defense that their guards and bigs can attack as easily as New York’s.

New York has the second-best defensive rating in the postseason (106.1) and has held their opponent under 105 points in seven of their 10 postseason games. That’s unbelievably impressive. That said, a closer look under the hood shows that maybe there’s some fool’s gold there.

The Knicks gave up the second-most threes in the regular season and are giving up the fourth-most among playoff teams. In the regular season, their opponents knocked down 36.6% of their threes against them (21st). In the playoffs, they’re hitting just 32.2%. Shooting that poorly is why the Knicks have given up so few points so far.

Evaluating three-point defense is difficult. Not all outside looks are created equally. Part of a playoff game plan is to give up open threes to non-shooters. At the same time, this percentage is far below what you’d expect from a playoff team.

On top of that, teams are still getting to the rim against the Knicks.

New York gives up the eighth most shots at the basket among the 20 postseason teams, and teams are converting them. Teams have completed 71.2% of their looks at the rim (the 7th highest of the playoffs). That’s not an ideal percentage.

The Knicks are vulnerable in the pick-and-roll. Brunson isn’t a good point of attack defender, and Towns struggles to defend in space. Towns can hold his own in the post with his size and length, but if you get him moving, his poor body control can lead to him getting in foul trouble.

This will be by far the easiest matchup offensively for Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. They will have much more room to operate in the pick-and-roll and won’t have to finish inside through as many sturdy defenders.

Establishing the pick-and-roll will help get the bigs going, as well. Harden has shown great chemistry with both bigs, but particularly with Jarrett Allen. That hasn’t been on display as much in the postseason due to the opponent. It will be again in this matchup.

The Cavs only played the Knicks once in the regular season with Harden, but they were able to establish the pick-and-roll easily. This resulted in New York attempting to send wings to slow down the action, which opened up the floor for the Cavs to playmake from the perimeter.

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Evan Mobey has elevated his offensive game this postseason. He’s done a good job of beating mismatches, and New York will give him plenty of opportunities to continue that trend.

Combine that with them giving up far more outside shots, and there are simply way more ways for the Cavs to attack this opponent than they had versus the Raptors and Pistons.

This will be a much freer-flowing series with two elite offenses. Whoever gets the more consistent contributions from their stars and better shooting from the role players will likely head to the NBA Finals.

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Cavs dominate Game 7, punch ticket to Eastern Conference Finals

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 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 booked their tickets to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018, defeating the Detroit Pistons behind a dominant Game 7 showing.

Cleveland’s process was strong from the jump. Donovan Mitchell got them rolling with his playmaking, racking up 5 assists in the first half as the Cavs had 10 assists on their first 13 field goals. That, combined with starting Max Strus in place of Dean Wade, allowed the Cavalier offense to get off to a hot start.

The Cavs won the first quarter for what felt like the first time all series and carried that momentum forward.

Sam Merrill leaped off the bench and nailed four three-pointers in the first half. His three-point barrage fueled the Cavs while both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen pounded the paint to build a comfortable 20-point lead. Defense turned into offense, and it felt like this team could do no wrong.

At one point in the second quarter, the Cavs had more assists (17) than the Pistons had made field goals (14). The ball was humming, and Cleveland reaped the rewards.

The lead only swelled from there.

Cleveland’s execution was relentless. They generated a clean look every time down the floor, with mounting pressure on the rim from Allen. He stormed downhill repeatedly, thundering multiple dunks in the third quarter. On the other end, the Cavs defended on a string, ramping up the intensity even as their lead was in the 20s.

That’s how you deliver a knockout blow.

Mitchell deserves credit. He’s struggled throughout the postseason and has let some of his worst tendencies lead the way in Cleveland’s losses. As such, Mitchell faced more pressure than anyone entering this game. He had a lot on the line, and he responded by playing arguably the best game (from a process standpoint) of his playoff career.

The Cavs were led in scoring by Mitchell with 26 points, to go with 8 assists and 0 turnovers. Allen added 23 points while Mobley (21 points) and Merrill (23 points) contributed in key stretches.

It’s fitting that Cleveland has shown so much growth in the last two rounds, and will now receive the ultimate test of that growth by facing the opponent who gave them their first whooping in 2023. Tonight’s win is worth celebrating. On Tuesday, we’re right back in the fire.

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Knicks will face Cavaliers in Eastern Conference finals — here’s how the two teams stack up

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Jalen Brunson in action for the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs, Image 2 shows Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) during the first half in game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.

The Knicks’ extended break is finally over. It’s back to game mode.

There is no more sitting back and watching to learn who their opponent will be in the Eastern Conference finals. It will be the Cavaliers, after their 125-94 Game 7 win over the Pistons in Detroit.

Game 1 is set for Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.

For most of the regular season and entering the postseason, it seemed a given that the Knicks would have to go through the Celtics and Pistons to reach the Finals. As it turns out, they won’t face either.

Jalen Brunson in action for the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Now with the matchup set, let’s break down the top storylines:

The rest factor 

The Knicks last played May 10 — which means they will have had nine days of rest before Tuesday’s Game 1. That was critical for OG Anunoby, who has been recovering from a right hamstring strain that kept him out of Games 3 and 4 of the second round.

The Cavaliers, on the other hand, will have less than 48 hours between Sunday’s win and Game 1. The two teams will begin the series on complete opposite ends of the rest spectrum.

“It’s good to give your body some rest,” Miles McBride said after practice Friday. “Be able to sit back and watch your opponents beat each other up in a sense.”

The Karl-Anthony Towns transformation 

It has certainly been well documented how, after trailing 2-1 in the first round against the Hawks, the Knicks changed their offense. They’ve implemented a system that has Towns — not Jalen Brunson — facilitate with the ball in his hands at the elbows, allowing the others, including Brunson, to cut and set screens for each other around him.

But that was with Onyeka Okongwu, the shell of Joel Embiid and the past-his-prime Andre Drummond guarding Towns. The conference finals will be a different story.

Evan Mobley — the reigning Defensive Player of the Year — and Jarrett Allen are much more athletic and stronger defenders than anyone Towns has faced this postseason. Will Towns still be able to command the offense? Or will Mobley and Allen limit his impact?

Knicks perimeter defense 

It’s been a roller coaster in this department for the Knicks. For the first half of the year, they struggled. For the second half of the year, it was much improved.

For the first half of the first round, CJ McCollum torched them. For the second half of that series, after switching Josh Hart onto him, the Knicks made him a nonfactor. Then last round, Mikal Bridges did a terrific job stifling Tyrese Maxey.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) during the first half in game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Cavaliers present a two-headed threat on the perimeter with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Bridges will presumably guard one of them, likely Mitchell. Hart could match up with the other. Anunoby is an option as well.

“Point of attack is important, it’s the most important thing,” Towns said Friday. “To have our wings and our guards playing defense at the perimeter at a high level, it makes my job easier but also makes our team better.”

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Brunson’s takeovers 

Dyson Daniels gave Brunson a few issues early in the first round before Brunson, like he seemingly does with everyone, figured him out, particularly after the Knicks offensive change. The 76ers had no answer for Brunson, who torched VJ Edgecombe.

For the postseason, Brunson is averaging 27.4 points per game — on excellent 48.5 percent shooting from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range — along with 6.1 assists.

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown speaking to the media after practice at the New York Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, New York. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Dean Wade, though, guarded Brunson about as well as anyone in the regular season. Can he bother Brunson?

Those regular-season matchups were before the Knicks offensive change, also.

Home court advantage 

The Knicks would have had to start on the road if it was the Pistons, but now own home-court advantage since it’s the Cavaliers. Playing the first two games at MSG — with the Cavaliers coming off a tiring series — could have a big impact. As can having a potential Game 7 at home.

Mike Brown’s full circle moment 

The only time Brown has made the Finals as a head coach was with the Cavaliers in 2007. It would be poetic if he returns by toppling the team that gave him his first opportunity as a head coach.

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Anthony Volpe nearly plays Subway Series hero with Yankees future in flux: ‘That’s the guy we know’

New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe hitting a 2-run RBI single.
New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) 2-run RBI single during the sixth inning when the New York Mets played the New York Yankees Sunday, May 17, 2026 at Citi...

By the end of Sunday, the Yankees turned a potential feel-good game for Anthony Volpe into a brutal loss.

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But they need Volpe’s big day to matter more in the long run than the 7-6 walk-off loss to the Mets at Citi Field.

In his fourth game of the season, after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and then losing his starting shortstop job to José Caballero, Volpe went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, a double and two walks.

It looked like he was going to be the hero after his two-run single in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie, but the bullpen surrendered leads of 5-1 and 6-3 to overshadow any positives.

“Incredible: That’s the guy we know,” Aaron Judge said. “That’s why he’s been our shortstop for the last couple seasons, is when we need him in a big spot, he comes up big for us. Made some good plays, had some big swings for us, took his walks when he needed to in some tough situations. He keeps getting more at-bats, more at-bats — he’s coming off a big shoulder surgery, so the first couple games are going to be a little tough.

Anthony Volpe connects on a single during the Yankees’ May 17 loss. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

“But I was definitely encouraged by what I saw today.”

Volpe, who collided with Max Schuemann as both tried to make a play on Carson Benge’s walk-off chopper over the mound in the bottom of the 10th, reached base in nine of his 13 plate appearances in the Subway Series, going 2-for-6 with seven walks — one of which came with the bases loaded Sunday to drive in another run in the seventh inning.

“I’m just trying to stay within myself, stay within my approach and put good swings on good pitches,” Volpe said. “Obviously, it fluctuates, but I just want to stay locked into that. Every day, that’s what I can control.”

Volpe cannot control that Caballero expects to miss only the minimum 10 days on the injured list with a fracture in his right middle finger — he is eligible to return Friday — and that manager Aaron Boone has already said he expects Caballero will get his starting job back when he returns.

But the 25-year-old Volpe at least has the opportunity to give the Yankees something to think about if he can show enough on both sides of the ball while Caballero is out.

Volpe’s first hit of the season came on a 104.5 mph double to the gap off Freddy Peralta in the second inning before he struck out in his second at-bat.

He delivered a two-run single off lefty Sean Manaea with the bases loaded in the sixth to put the Yankees ahead 3-1.

After walking in a run in the seventh, Volpe drew another 3-2 walk against Devin Williams in the top of the 10th, only for Austin Wells to follow by grounding into an inning-ending double play.

“Just trying to do my job and contribute in any way I can,” Volpe said. “I got some good pitches to hit and put some good swings on them.”

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Should the Utah Jazz trade up for the #1 pick?

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Darryn Peterson looks on during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Outside of drafting two hall-of-famers in a row in John Stockton and Karl Malone, the Utah Jazz jumping to #2 in the 2026 could be considered the second-best stroke of luck in franchise history. But it’s so much more than simply jumping in the lottery. If we’re just looking at that in a vacuum, it probably doesn’t have more gravitas than drafting Deron Williams #3 overall and getting Carlos Boozer in restricted free agency or Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert being drafted somewhat close together. It’s the moves that led up to jumping to #2 that make it that much more impactful. Those moves included:

  • Keeping Lauri Markkanen while still managing a high-lottery finish.
  • Drafting Keyonte George at #16 and developing him into a rising star.
  • Trading non-Jazz picks acquired during the rebuild for Jaren Jackson Jr.
  • Trading for Walker Kessler (and potentially re-sizing)
  • Drafting Ace Bailey at #5.

When you add everything up, adding the #2 pick to this series of building blocks has a chance to be the final piece to a championship core.

Before the season started, Darryn Peterson was the consensus #1 pick by most draft experts. Even this week, Jonathan Givony had him at #1 still, despite his up-and-down season at Kansas.

Therefore, if the Washington Wizards end up picking AJ Dybantsa, then the Jazz come out of the draft with a #1-caliber player. The laziest trade idea making the rounds is to trade Ace Bailey and the #2 pick for the #1 pick. But if you have Darryn Peterson on the board to be picked up for nothing, why would you give up the assets that led to you having one of the top up-and-coming rosters in the league? On top of that, the fact that the Wizards might be willing to trade the #1 pick to the Jazz for #2 tells you everything you need to know. You wouldn’t dream of trading the #1 pick if you didn’t think the #2 pick was just as valuable.

Utah is going to end up with a franchise-altering talent in this draft without moving up, and so, no, the Utah Jazz should not trade up. They have done the necessary work already to put them in this position. They’ll keep their top prospect in Ace Bailey and keep building one of the best young rosters in the NBA.

Sorry, Wizards fans, the Utah Jazz are absolutely fine where they are. The #2 pick is just as valuable as the #1 and the Jazz come out the winner regardless of what happens this draft.

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Purple Row After Dark: Who would make the 2026 Rockies more fun to watch?

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 11: Manager Bud Black of the Colorado Rockies locker at Coors Field on Tuesday, September 11, 2018. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images

The 2026 Rockies appear poised to win more games than they did the past couple seasons, but realistically, they are only fighting to avoid 100 losses. That’s improvement, but the season is clearly a transitional one attempting to set the stage for a more exciting future.

Given that, let’s imagine a world where we could magically have any player don a Rockies uniform for the rest of the season.

If you could add any one player to the 2026 Rockies roster, with the sole purpose of making them more fun to watch despite knowing that they aren’t playoff bound, who would it be?

Some rules for this:

  • This player could not be kept beyond this season. They’d be returned to their actual team next year.
  • The Rockies couldn’t trade this player in order to try and get long-term value from them.
  • This should be an active player. No picking Babe Ruth just to see if he could adjust to 100+ mph velocity.

With all that being said, who would you most enjoy seeing in a Rockies uniform the rest of the season?

Is it an MVP candidate able to make more games close and tense? Maybe you have a sentimental favorite that you’d just like to see in the purple pinstripes again? Perhaps you are just curious about what effect playing home games at Coors would have on someone in particular?

Whatever your pick or reasoning, share it in the comments!

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San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series preview, predictions: Can Wembanyama slow Thunder?

Before the playoffs even started, this was the series everybody pointed to, the one everybody wanted to see.

The San Antonio Spurs vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. The battle of the two best teams in the NBA. The first playoff meeting of what shapes up to be the rivalry that will define the NBA's next five years (at least). Victor Wembanyama vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, two of the top three vote getters in the MVP race. It's the first time two 62-win teams have met in the playoffs since the 1988 NBA Finals (when Chicago beat Utah)

"They're playing really well right now. We're playing really well right now," the Spurs' Stephon Castle said. "We're in each other's way of going to the finals, so I think it'll be a good series."

Here's everything you need to know about the series.

San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City Playoffs Schedule 2026

All times are Eastern (* = if necessary).
Game 1: San Antonio at Oklahoma City, Monday, May 18 (8:30 ET, NBC and Peacock)
Game 2: San Antonio at Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 20 (8:30 ET, NBC and Peacock)
Game 3: Oklahoma City at San Antonio, Friday, May 22 (8:30 ET, NBC and Peacock)
Game 4: Oklahoma City at San Antonio, May 24, (8 ET, NBC and Peacock)
*Game 5: San Antonio at Oklahoma City, May 26 (8:30 ET, NBC and Peacock)
*Game 6: Oklahoma City at San Antonio, May 28, (8:30 ET, NBC and Peacock)
*Game 7: San Antonio at Oklahoma City, May 30 (8:30 ET, NBC and Peacock)

Player to watch: Victor Wembanyama

Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy Basketball Lead writer
Through two rounds, Wembanyama and the Spurs have not been hampered much by their collective lack of NBA Playoff experience. Sure, he was ejected from Game 4 due to a moment of frustration, but he responded with a dominant showing in Game 5 and then eliminated Rudy Gobert from the proceedings in Game 6 of the Minnesota series. The matchup with Oklahoma City's frontcourt, particularly Chet Holmgren, is likely to be far more challenging for Wembanyama.

In 10 games this postseason, Wemby is averaging 20.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 4.1 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers per, while shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 84.5 percent from the foul line. Given what he's achieved thus far, a dominant showing in the conference finals would go a long way toward kicking off the NBA's "Wemby Era." And even with San Antonio's mastery of the Thunder during the regular season, they're going to need dominance from their 7-foot-4 phenom to take down the reigning champs.

Keys to watch for in Spurs vs. Thunder

Chet Holmgren vs. Victor Wembanyama

Nothing brings out the fire in Wembanyama like going against Chet Holmgren. They both play down any rivalry between the "unicorn" big men, but both seem to get up for facing each other.

Now we get up to seven games of it, with a trip to the Finals on the line.

Holmgren has to score in this matchup. In the regular season meeting, Wembanyama played off Holmgren at the arc, daring him to shoot 3-pointers — he shot 36.2% from deep this season — and then using his length and athleticism to take away drives and plays inside from Holmgren. That also lets Wembanyama play back more in the paint and try to clog things up for Gilgeous-Alexander and other Thunder players looking to drive. If he can do that again, it's a big plus for San Antonio. Holmgren has to do enough to keep him from camping out inside and getting comfortable.

Spurs defense on Gilgeous-Alexander

While the Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Thunder, they did try something different in defending OKC: They double-teamed Gilgeous-Alexander hard and were physical with him from the start. The Lakers threw everything at him and essentially dared anyone else to beat them. It took a bit for Gilgeous-Alexander to adjust.

The problem is, the Thunder do have plenty of other options. Against the Lakers, that started with Ajay Mitchell as a playmaker — he averaged 22.5 points per game against Los Angeles — and Holmgren in the paint. That was too much for the Lakers to handle.

San Antonio is different. What the Spurs bring to the table is bigger, better defending guards in Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and De'Aaron Fox. They also have Wembanyama patrolling everything behind them. San Antonio isn't going to go as crazy throwing everything at SGA, but they have watched and learned from what the Lakers did, which is why the third key to this series is…

Jalen Williams returns

After missing half of the first-round series against Phoenix and the entire series against Los Angeles with a hamstring strain, Jalen Williams is listed as available and is set to play for the Thunder against the Spurs.

That matters in what is expected to be a long, physical series, though it's worth watching how long it takes Williams and Mitchell to get used to their changed roles. Williams gives the Spurs another high-level shot creator and scorer and another physical, quality defender to throw at San Antonio's guards. We'll see how rusty he is early, but the Thunder need Williams — who battled injuries all season — to be close to his All-NBA self from last season if this team is going back to the NBA Finals.

Predictions

Kurt Helin (NBA lead writer): Thunder in 7

I'm not going to call this the real NBA Finals (because I thought the same thing a year ago, and the Pacers almost proved me wrong), but the winner here will be the heavy favorite in the next round. The Spurs are uniquely constructed to give Oklahoma City trouble, and their defense and maturity make them a legitimate threat to win the series. That said, I am going to bank on the Thunder's experience in these moments and the diversity and depth of their shot creation to be enough to win, but this goes the distance.

Raphielle Johnson (fantasy basketball lead writer): Thunder in 7

This series is poised to be a classic, given what the teams have accomplished thus far and the talent (players and coaches) on display. Some will make a lot of what happened during the regular season, but the playoffs are an entirely different matter. The Spurs clearly aren't interested in "waiting their turn," and rightfully so. However, I like the Thunder to win in seven games. Defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander without fouling is an immense challenge, and supporting cast members like Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain have played well in these playoffs.

Jay Coucher (NBA lead betting analyst): Thunder in 7

The Thunder will likely struggle to score in the halfcourt against Victor Wembanyama, who has found an extra gear in the playoffs, but expect the tipping point of the series to be 1) OKC having home court advantage, and 2) OKC generating just enough San Antonio turnovers to juice their own offense.

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Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki produces career outing vs Angels

Roki Sasaki has begun to turn things around at the right time for the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation.

Sasaki was credited with the win after the Dodgers’ 10-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday after producing a career-high eight strikeouts while allowing just four hits and one earned run in seven innings pitched.

The Japanese pitcher's success comes at a good time for L.A.'s pitching staff. The Dodgers will be without Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, who were both placed on the injury list earlier this month.

“(Sasaki) had command of the fastball, command of the split, forkball and mixed in the slider when needed,” Dave Roberts told reporters after the game.

Sakaki deferred some of the credit for his dominant outing to catcher Dalton Rushing.

“I think Rushing did a great job calling a game with the pitch selection,” Sasaki said to reporters through a translator.

Entering the weekend, Sakaki had a 5.88 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 33.2 innings pitched in his first seven starts of the season.

The right-hander came into his own and played a key role for the Dodgers during the 2025 postseason after spending some time in the bullpen last season.

Watch Roki Sasaki throw eight strikeouts vs. Angels

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki produces career outing vs. Angels

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To make Subway Series win matter, Mets must hang in through injuries, rotation uncertainty

For a few hours between late Friday night and Saturday afternoon, the pulse of the New York Mets’ 2026 season was faint.

Their best starter, Clay Holmes, was suddenly joining a variety of other key teammates on a growing injured list. Their crosstown rivals, having the exact opposite season to the Mets in every way, looked indisputably superior. Their manager, normally chipper, admitted that after taking jab after jab after jab this spring, his team was finally staggering backward from the blows.

Then came Saturday’s win, which included a gritty showing from the lineup and a gutsy showing from the bullpen. Then came Sunday’s stunner, which featured the Mets’ first ninth-inning comeback since Jose Iglesias wore their jersey. Sometimes wins like those change everything for teams sputtering early in the season. Sometimes, they don’t.

If the Mets are to make this one count, they will have to do exactly what they did this weekend: Make the best of what they have and hang in there.

For example: As they fly to Dulles Airport Sunday night, the Mets’ pitching staff remains in relative disarray. The team has not yet announced a rotation replacement for Holmes, who would normally have pitched Wednesday against the Nationals.

One would-be candidate, red-hot 24-year-old Jack Wenninger, threw 60 pitches for Triple-A Syracuse Sunday, which would almost certainly rule him out for Wednesday. Jonah Tong recorded just five outs in his most recent start.

The likeliest fill-in might be lefty Zach Thornton, a former fifth-round pick who owns a 3.16 ERA  in 37 innings this season and owns a 2.25 ERA in two starts since being promoted to Triple-A. Thornton, 24, also pitched Friday, meaning he is perfectly lined up with Holmes’s turn.

In the meantime, the Mets still face a decision about Sean Manaea, who struggled early in his four innings of relief against the New York Yankees Sunday, but settled in enough that Carlos Mendoza said later he was encouraged by the way Manaea was able to get soft contact from the Yankees lineup in his last two innings.

As a former starter relegated to occasional mop-up duty, Manaea also represents an obvious choice to replace Holmes for purely logistical reasons. But the 57 pitches he threw today likely rule out a Wednesday start – though perhaps not a Wednesday opening.

Thus far, the Mets have avoided any firmer decision on Manaea, who has $43 million remaining on his contract but has struggled enough that Mendoza has had to work around him in the bullpen at times – a concession they have hardly been able to afford amid their early season struggles.

That he settled in and kept the Mets close through four innings Sunday preserved every reliever but Devin Williams, meaning they do not necessarily need to find a fresh arm by the time they play the Nationals Monday. Still, if the bullpen finds itself needing reinforcements before Manaea can safely pitch again, the Mets could find themselves choosing between keeping him on the roster and giving themselves enough arms at a time when they cannot afford to give away any late leads.

Getting him right – and the fact that Manaea’s sinker sat around 92 miles per hour is promising – would increase the Mets’ chances of revival. But the Mets do not have time to waste.

As a result, they seem to be showing increased urgency with first baseman Jorge Polanco, who has been out since mid-April with Achilles bursitis. Last week, Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said the team was waiting for Polanco to be asymptomatic before ramping him up for everyday duty. But in the days since, Polanco has hit during batting practice more than once, done defensive work, and gone through agility drills.

Mendoza said Sunday that Polanco will travel with the team to Washington this week so he can continue baseball activities and suggested for the first time that Polanco will either have to play through some discomfort or concede a long injured list stint.

“It’s getting to a point where, he’s gonna feel it, right? But just keeping it to a point where like, I can tolerate this,” Mendoza said. “Because if not, he’s going to be shut down for long period of time. So I think we just continue to go through baseball activities, continue to push it running-wise, and see how he reacts to that.”

Polanco would add depth to the Mets lineup – though in his absence, the Mets have had no choice but to allow for the emergence of A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge. Similarly, they will have to rely on Christian Scott to evolve into a reliable MLB starter and David Peterson to reestablish himself as one. Peterson expressed frustration with the Mets’ continued reliance on an opener before he pitches, but the results are indisputable: In 20 innings of bulk relief this year, his ERA is 2.25. In 23 1/3 innings as a starter, it is 8.10.

So the Mets must keep using an opener and crossing their fingers and doing whatever it takes to put whoever they have in the best position to succeed. They will have to make up ground with a tattered lineup while they wait for injuries to heal and sew them back together. Sunday, they proved it is possible. Monday, they must do it again.

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Yankees’ recent woes captured in one ‘no-man’s land’ collision as road trip ends with Subway Series disaster

New York Yankees players Anthony Volpe and Max Schuemann walking off the field after a loss.
Anthony Volpe and Ma

In one agonizing play to end Sunday’s crushing finale against the Mets, the Yankees offered a snapshot to encapsulate a brutal road trip.

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With runners on the corners and one out in a tie game, Tim Hill on the mound and the Yankees using a five-man infield, Carson Benge hit a chopper over the mound between Anthony Volpe and Max Schuemann.

The two collided, both going for the ball, costing them any chance of throwing out the runner at home as the Mets walked off with a 7-6 win at Citi Field.

It is impossible to know whether Schuemann or Volpe would have gotten the runner at the plate had either of them fielded it cleanly and without obstacles, but they never got to find out, ending a 2-7 trip against the Brewers, Orioles and Mets.

Anthony Volpe and Max Schuemann are pictured after the Yankees’ May 17 loss to the Mets. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

“Maybe, but we’re both just treating it do or die,” Volpe said. “That was the game.”

“I was just going to be aggressive. We have to be quick,” Schuemann said. “Tough play at the plate either way. I talked to Volpe about it, it’s just one of those things that we’re both going to be aggressive to that baseball no matter what. We both want to make a play.”

“It’s in no-man’s-land,” said manager Aaron Boone, who did not think the Yankees would have gotten Marcus Semien out at home even if the chopper had been fielded cleanly.

The Yankees had won nine of 12 series this season and tied in another before this road trip, when they dropped three straight series.

Four of their seven losses came by one run, giving them 10 on the season.

And two of those included walk-offs in games where David Bednar gave up a first-pitch home run on a curveball — last Sunday in Milwaukee, when Brice Turang walked him off, and this Sunday when Tyrone Taylor crushed a game-tying three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth when the Yankees were one out away from the win.

Now they finally return home for four games against the Blue Jays — the Yankees’ nemesis last season that crushed them in the ALDS — and three against the Rays, who swept the Yankees last month and lead the AL East.

“Couple [of] close games, but it’s just about finishing the job,” Aaron Judge said. “A couple games here where we got to close it out or some games in extras where we got to get a couple runs across and just don’t get the job done. The boys are playing hard though, that’s the biggest thing. Guys are playing tough and making the plays they need to, but just coming up a little bit short. We got to have a short memory and move on and get ready for the [homestand] because we got a big division opponent coming in.”

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A day after leaving 11 men on base, the Yankees stranded 10 more while going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

They had still looked to be in good position to take the series by getting out to leads of 5-1 in the top of the sixth and 6-3 in the top of the seventh.

But it all came crashing down late, first in the bottom of the ninth, when Bednar capped off a rough trip for the bullpen.

He allowed back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, then got two outs before leaving a curveball over the plate to Taylor.

Anthony Volpe reacts during the Yankees’ May 17 loss to the Mets. AP Photo

“Just not putting guys away early,” Bednar said. “Overall, that’s unacceptable, but especially in that spot, it’s just very frustrating.”

Then came the excruciating end.

After the Yankees pulled Schuemann in from left field with a runner on third, Hill hit Luis Torrens to bring up Benge.

Schuemann hovered as a third infielder on the right side, shaded just to the right of second base, and Benge chopped it between him and Volpe.

Schuemann picked it with his backhand but Volpe ran into him while also trying to make the play, preventing a throw, providing a fitting end for a forgettable trip.

“It’s very frustrating,” Schuemann said. “We’re a really good team. I think it’ll turn.”

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Steph Curry-Warren Buffett lunch earns massive bid at auction

Warren Buffett and his business partner, Moon Dog
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 15: Warren Buffet goofs off with Cleveland Cavaliers mascot Moon Dog prior to the game against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on December 15, 2014 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Steph Curry is making $62.6M for the Golden State Warriors next season. Based on how much someone paid just to have lunch with Curry, his wife, and Warren Buffett, the Warriors are getting a huge bargain.

Maybe they just really want to meet Ayesha?

The winning bidder gets a private lunch in Omaha, Nebraska, along with up to seven guests, to dine with the legendary investor and the legendary shooter. And the legendary co-star of “Irish Wish”!

You’d think San Francisco would have a better food scene than Nebraska, but Buffett is 95 years old, so you travel to him. Knowing virtually nothing about the Omaha food scene, we suspect they’ll serve steak.

That may be why Buffett hosted the action on eBay. It benefited the Curry’s confusingly-punctuated “Eat.Learn.Play.” foundation, which provides meals, tutoring programs, book distribution, and rebuilt playgrounds, basketball courts, and soccer pitches at Oakland schools. This Buffett windfall, one that rises to $18M thanks to Buffett matching the winning bid, comes on the heels of Curry raising $1.7M for Eat.Learn.Play by auctioning off a 70-sneaker collection in April.

Buffett started doing the auctions in 2000, and consistently raised at least $1M per lunch from 2008 on, peaking with a $19M bid in 2022. They revived the auction in 2024 and 2025 with Salesforce founder David Benioff, who raised only $1.5M the first year and “six figures” the second year. What a failure!

The Buffett auction originally supported the GLIDE Foundation in San Francisco and its work helping the homeless. This year, they switched to Curry, probably because Buffett was willing to return to hosting lunch if he could meet the Baby-Faced Assassin. Plus, we know how Curry feels about affordable housing.

We’re not sure what Curry and Buffett will talk about. Maybe the legendary investor has some ideas on how to best navigate the NBA luxury tax. Maybe he wants to produce a reboot of “Holey Moley.” Maybe the winning bidder desperately wants to get his spec script for “Goat 2: Goat In The City” to the right people.

Regardless, Steph Curry is putting up big numbers without stepping onto the court. And if you love the Warriors but don’t have $9M lying around, you can probably have lunch with a Golden State of Mind writer for nine bucks.

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Mariners promote top prospect Colt Emerson and place utilityman Brendan Donovan on IL

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners promoted top prospect Colt Emerson from Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday and placed All-Star utilityman Brendan Donovan on the 10-day injured list with a left groin muscle strain.

Emerson, 20, was originally announced in Tacoma’s lineup for the Rainiers’ home game against Sugar Land, but was scratched shortly before first pitch. Instead, he made the quick drive north to Seattle and will be the youngest Mariners player to make his major league debut since Félix Hernández did so at 19 years old on Aug. 4, 2005.

General manager Justin Hollander said the Mariners electing to call up Emerson wasn’t on his bingo card Sunday morning, nor was placing Donovan on the IL.

“I probably wouldn’t have taken the kids tidepooling in Deception Pass (State Park) this morning,” Hollander said with a chuckle. “But, we want to do the right thing for Colt. We also want to do the right thing for the Mariners. We think he’s the best option. This period will get him some runway. This is not a 15 at-bat or 20 at-bat tryout to see if he’s capable of taking the job and running with it for the rest of the year.”

Hollander confirmed that Emerson, who is viewed as the shortstop of the future in the Emerald City, will primarily see time at third base at the start of his major league career. He started five games at third base for the Rainiers this season.

J.P. Crawford, the longest-tenured player on Seattle’s roster, remains the everyday shortstop. Crawford, who started the season on the injured list with a right shoulder injury, is hitting .217 with six homers in 39 games.

Hollander said he, manager Dan Wilson and president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto convened Sunday morning and decided it was time to bring up the franchise’s top prospect.

Emerson signed a $95 million, eight-year contract April 1 – the biggest commitment at the time for a minor leaguer yet to make his major league debut. The Mariners selected Emerson with the 22nd pick in the 2023 draft, and his stock only rose from there.

Emerson had a breakout year in 2025, when he hit .285 with an .842 OPS, 16 homers, 28 doubles and 78 RBIs across three levels and established himself as a big league-caliber defender. This season in Tacoma, Emerson has hit .255 with an .816 OPS, seven homers, eight doubles and 26 RBIs.

Emerson got off to a slow start to the season as he dealt with a wrist injury, but Hollander said a cortisone shot has allowed him to bounce back at the plate recently.

“He looks loose, he looks comfortable, he looks confident up there,” Hollander said. “He’s starting to put together quality at-bat after quality at-bat. There’s no reason that can’t translate over to what happens on this field out here.”

Donovan missed Saturday’s game as he continues to be plagued by a left groin injury. Donovan also missed time from April 18 to May 7 with a left groin muscle strain, and dealt with right groin discomfort earlier in the season as well.

Hollander said Donovan reaggravated his left groin injury while trying to hit for the cycle in an 8-3 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday. Donovan will receive a platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection for his groin strain, as well as a different injection in his adductor, according to Hollander. There is no timeline yet for Donovan to return to play, but Hollander estimated it could be two to three weeks.

Donovan underwent sports hernia surgery in October 2025 shortly after his last season as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, which Hollander said the Mariners’ sports performance team anticipated could make him more susceptible to groin strains and core muscle strains.

“Our own internal view was that there would be some days where he didn’t feel good, at least for the first half of the season,” Hollander said. “I think the most important thing that we can do is that we’re putting him in position to go out there and feel good every day.”

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Dodgers think Roki Sasaki is finally on his way to realizing his potential after dominating Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Roki Sasaki’s eventful major league career finally appears to be going the way most everyone expected when he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers at the start of last season.

Sasaki pitched a career-high seven innings of four-hit ball in a 10-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, turning in the longest and most dominant start of his strange tenure in blue.

The 24-year-old right-hander racked up a career-best eight strikeouts with no walks, doing it all with a burgeoning confidence he lacked for most of last season. Sasaki (2-3) repeatedly baffled the Halos while attacking the strike zone with a 98 mph fastball and his proliferating selection of breaking pitches.

“I think he has confidence in who he is as a big league pitcher, and we’re seeing some of the fruits right now,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Although he did it against the team with the worst record in the majors, Sasaki’s stuff is clearly working at a high level he has rarely reached as a starter stateside.

He was already a ballyhooed young star in January 2025 when he chose the Dodgers as his big league home for at least the next six years. But after a rookie season in which almost nothing went as planned, Sasaki has only recently shown why every team in the majors wanted him in their rotation.

“I actually felt better in my last outing, but today I felt able to throw strikes a little bit more,” Sasaki said through his interpreter. “Also the offense did a great job of scoring a lot of runs.”

Sasaki hasn’t been dominant in most of his starts, but Roberts said he is clearly trending upward. He is also working well with catcher Dalton Rushing, who received credit from Roberts for calling an outstanding game at Angel Stadium.

“He looked really good today,” Rushing said. “Obviously it’s really good momentum for him to carry forward, but at the same time, there’s opportunities for him to be even better. We know that’s not his ceiling. What he just did is obviously the best we’ve seen him to this point, but I trust that guy has got a lot more in the tank, and we’re going to continue to push. But it was fun to watch.”

Sasaki is again trying to carve out a permanent spot in the Dodgers’ rotation this season after famously failing to do so as a rookie. He subsequently missed 4 1/2 months with shoulder problems, but improbably returned as Los Angeles’ closer during its playoff run to a second straight World Series title.

Sasaki’s success as a reliever was a lifesaver for the short-handed Dodgers, but it didn’t change their long-term plans for him. Sasaki returned to spring training as a rotation member again — but then he repeatedly pitched poorly in Arizona and damaged his confidence.

Exactly half the batters he faced in spring exhibitions reached base, and Sasaki struggled for any control.

Roberts said the Dodgers’ message to Sasaki has been consistent: Stop worrying about minor mechanical tweaks or fine-tuning new pitches, and simply attack the strike zone with your already formidable talent.

It took a while for Sasaki to hear it, but now it’s loud and clear — and it turns out his aggressiveness is also improving his delivery. Sasaki generated 18 swing-and-misses from the Angels, a big factor in his career-high strikeout total.

“I think one of the reasons is mechanical,” Sasaki said of his recent success. “Things are kind of clicking, and I was able to execute really well throughout the game today.”

The Dodgers need Sasaki to be sharp as they attempt to get through yet another year of major pitching injuries. High-priced starters Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are out once again, and closer Edwin Diaz is also on the shelf along with Jack Dreyer, their most-used reliever.

Los Angeles is still pitching superbly, going into the weekend with the third-lowest ERA in the majors. Rushing and Roberts both expect Sasaki to be a big part of the effort to keep it that way.

“Pretty much it’s a confidence thing,” Rushing said. “He needs to trust his stuff, understand how good his stuff is, and execute. ... With the stuff he has, it’s easy to miss barrels, and we hadn’t quite got to see that just yet. Today was obviously a big step forward.”

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Cubs Minor League Wrap: Smokies storm back to beat Clingstones, 4-3

KNOXVILLE, TN - APRIL 01: Edgar Alvarez #25 of the Knoxville Smokies poses for a photo during the Knoxville Smokies photo day at Tennessee Smokies Stadium on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Randy Sartin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Cubs claimed right-hander Christian Roa off of waivers from the Orioles and assigned him to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs are Roa’s fourth team this year already.

Iowa blew a two-one lead in the ninth. Knoxville rallied after trailing by two in the ninth.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost their seventh-straight game, 4-3 to the Nashville Sounds (Brewers).

It was the best start to his Cubs’ career for Paul Campbell, who gave the I-Cubs five scoreless innings on just two hits. Campbell walked two and struck out four.

Corbin Martin gave up a game-tying solo home run in the sixth, but then Luis Peralta threw the seventh and eighth innings and retired all six batters he faced. Peralta struck out one.

But with the I-Cubs holding a 3-1 lead going to the bottom of the ninth, Gabe Klobosits came on for the save and he blew it, giving up three runs on two hits and three walks over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.

James Triantos was 3 for 4 with three steals today. He scored the first two Iowa runs and he singled home an insurance run in the eighth.

Shortstop Scott Kingery drove home Triantos once with a sacrifice fly and he doubled him home to break a 1-1 tie in the seventh. Kingery was 1 for 3.

Kingery’s double.

Triantos’ RBI single.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies canned the Columbus Clingstones (Braves), 4-3.

It was a bullpen game for the Smokies who started Frankie Scalzo Jr. Scalzo gave the Smokies two innings of no runs and one hit. He struck out three and walked one.

Jackson Kirkpatrick tossed the bottom of the ninth and Columbus tacked on an insurance run on a solo home run. Kirkpatrick would get the win when the Smokies rallied in the ninth. His final line was one run on one hit and one walk over one inning. Naturally enough, he struck out one.

Marino Santy pitched the ninth and while it was shaky, he nailed down his first ever professional save. Santy pitched one inning and allowed a hit and a walk. He struck out two.

First baseman Edgar Alvarez hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the top of the ninth, his fourth on the season. Alvarez went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Right fielder Alex Ramírez had an infield RBI single in the third inning for the first run of the game. Ramírez went 2 for 4.

Here’s Alvarez’s home run.

South Bend Cubs

After South Bend scored 74 runs in the first five games in Appleton against the Timber Rattlers, Sunday’s game was “rained out” and will not be made up. Honestly, I don’t know whether it was raining or not, but it was awfully convenient for a pitching staff that had been battered from pillar to post.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans had an allergic reaction to the Augusta Green Jackets (Braves), 7-4.

David Bracho started this game and allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits over four innings. Bracho walked two and struck out two.

It was a tandem start with Hayden Frank, who didn’t pitch as well and got the loss. Frank went the rest of the way, all five innings, and allowed five runs on six hits. However on the positive side, Frank struck out nine and walked only one.

Second baseman Alexis Hernandez tied the game up 2-2 in the third inning with a two-run home run. Hernandez went 1 for 3 with a walk.

First baseman Edward Vargas was 2 for 3. He scored on Hernandez’s home run and drove in one run with a single in the fifth.

That’s all three hits the Pelicans had this evening.

Here’s Hernandez’s first home run of the year.

ACL Cubs

Off day.