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Ethan Salas back into MLB top 100 prospects

After the first month of the minor league season, MLB Pipeline reposted their top 100 prospects list with the graduation of St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt. Catcher Ethan Salas, playing with the San Antonio Missions, has taken the 100th spot and re-entered the list after being left off at the start of the season.

He joins LHP Kruz Schoolcraft as the only two Padres prospects on the top 100 list, Schoolcraft is listed at No. 78. Salas has had an impressive first month with the Double-A Missions, again showing why he was so highly thought of as a 17-year-old. After losing all but 10 games of last season to a back injury, Salas spent the bulk of the year and the offseason working on his physical makeup and the mental side of the game. Reportedly gaining 15-20 pounds during that time, Salas studied film and worked with coaches to refine his mental approach and begin work on altering his swing.

Baseball America predicted his return to the prospect list on May 4.

The Padres have another young player attracting attention throughout baseball. Centerfielder Ryan Wideman, 22, who has blazed through the first month of the season with the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm, has been ranked No. 4 in the Padres system by ESPN (si.com is spreading the news). That puts Salas, Schoolcraft and LHP Kash Mayfield the top three with Wideman and RHP Tucker Musgrove rounding out the top five, according to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.

Lake Elsinore Storm (5-1 over the week)

In other good news, Lake Elsinore has continued its winning ways and now sits atop the California League South Division with a 17-10 record. Newcomer, Qrey Lott, 21, brought up from Arizona to replace the injured Kale Fountain, has started with a bang. In eight games and 20 at-bats, the undrafted free agent from Northwest Florida State College is hitting .400/.500/.750 with a 1.250 OPS while playing both outfield corners. He has two home runs and nine RBI with four walks over those eight games.

The two other undrafted free agents playing with the Storm, Connor Westenburg and Bradley Frye, continue to hit well. Infielder Frye sits with a .347/.414/.507 line and has two home runs and 17 RBI. Outfielder Westenburg is hitting .315/.390/.425 with no homers but 13 RBI with four doubles and two triples.

Of the starters for the Storm, RHP Winyer Chourio has five games/four games started and 17 innings pitched with a 2.12 ERA. He leads the team in strikeouts with 26 and has eight walks. Fellow righty Bryan Balzer, the Japanese pitcher signed by the Padres in 2023 for $10,000, has finally found his stride after spending last season getting his feet under him. Not long after signing with the team he had Tommy John surgery and spent last season with the Storm working his way back into effectiveness.

Balzer, 21, has five games/four starts with 22 innings pitched and a 3.68 ERA. He is right behind Churio with 25 strikeouts and nine walks. Balzer boasts a four-seam fastball up to 97 mph, a sinker that sits around 93-94 mph, a sweeper, a changeup and a splitter (informative write-up here).

Reliever Ethan Long has three saves and a 1.35 ERA over 6.2 innings while striking out five. Javier Chacon has a 1.59 ERA over 17 innings with 24 strikeouts in his eight appearances.

The Storm benefited from the first two starts by Padres pitcher Lucas Giolito. He started two games and seven innings but did not factor into the decision for either game. He has now moved on to San Antonio for his start today.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (12-15 record, 4th in Midwest League East)

OF/1B Alex McCoy leads the TinCaps with a .330 average and has five home runs and 14 RBI. He has also walked six times with 24 strikeouts. Outfielder Jake Cunningham continues to reassert himself with Fort Wayne, showing a .325 average and .391 OBP with six home runs and 16 RBI. He also leads the team in slug at .636 and has the best OPS at 1.027.

RHP Carson Montgomery has four starts and 17 innings pitched with a 2.12 ERA with 13 strikeouts and seven walks. In his first season back after Tommy John surgery, Montgomery made his debut with the Storm in 2024 but this is his first full professional season. He is a sinker/slider pitcher that also mixes in a changeup so it would be expected that he would have a high ground ball rate.

Reliever Clay Edmondson, a 14th-round pick from the 2025 draft, has five saves and a 0.75 ERA in his 12 innings pitched with 16 strikeouts and three walks. The sidearmer, who hits the mid-90’s with his fastball, has appeared in 10 games and allowed no home runs so far.

San Antonio Missions (7-20 record, last in Texas League South)

The Missions continue to struggle through the start of the season despite the break out performances of Ethan Salas, infielder Carson Tucker and DH/1B Leandro Cedeno. Cedeno leads the team with a .345 average, .441 OBP, .586 slug and 1.027 OPS. he has played in 16 games with 58 at-bats and has three home runs and nine RBI. At 27, he is far older than anyone else on the Storm roster and is making his transition stateside after playing the last several seasons in Japan and Venezuela.

Not far behind is 19-year-old Salas who has a .307/.402/.573 line with a .976 OPS in 22 games and 75 at-bats. He has five home runs (tops on the Missions) and 14 RBI (also first) with 21 strikeouts and 12 walks. Salas hit those five home runs in the span of seven games and has been on fire for the past two weeks.

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Pitching for the Missions has been problematic. RHP Eric Yost is the best starter in his 6 games/3 games started and 22 innings pitched. He has a 3.27 ERA with 27 strikeouts to 15 walks. Top prospect Miguel Mendez is on the IL as is Luis Gutierrez.

Reliever Johan Moreno has appeared in 9 games and 15.2 innings pitched with a 1.15 ERA and a save. He has 17 strikeouts and 6 walks. Righty Francis Peña is staging a comeback after a rough 2025 second half. He sits at a 1.38 ERA in 13 innings pitched in his 9 appearances. He has 16 strikeouts but is still fighting with his command at times and has 14 walks.

El Paso Chihuahuas (15-18 record, 4th in Pacific Coast League East)

The Chihuahuas broke even over their past six games and have infielder Will Wagner back after his long stint on the injured list. Wagner strained an oblique early in spring training and just returned this past week to El Paso.

Outfielder Samad Taylor leads the team with a .330 average, a .750 slug, a .990 OPS and is second with six home runs and second with 21 RBI. Infielder Pablo Reyes leads with a .430 OBP due to his team leading 18 walks. Outfielder Jase Bowen has seven home runs to lead the team and infielder Mason McCoy has broken out the power this season with 24 RBI and six home runs.

Sung-Mun Song hit his first home run and has 15 RBI and three doubles but has struck out 27 times with 11 walks. His hard-hit rate remains low at 34.8% and he still has no barrel and a .354 slug. His home run was clocked at 94.6 mph off the bat. His line is a respectable .293/.364 otherwise and his OPS sits at .717.

RHP Evan Fitterer, 25, a free agent sign who was in the Marlins system for six years, has seven games and five starts for El Paso with a 0.98 ERA, 20 strikeouts and seven walks over his 18.1 innings pitched. That is an anomaly in the PCL with hitters only able to generate a .203 average against him. Lefty Jackson Wolf is the only other starter with an ERA below 5.00.

The best reliever is Ethan Routzahn with a 3.60 ERA in 15 innings and 13 appearances. He also has two saves and is tied with Alek Jacob for saves on the team. All other pitchers have ERA’s over 4.00 and many well over 5.00.

Yuki Matsui, who must be activated back to the Padres, finished his time in El Paso with a 4.97 ERA over 12.1 innings with 14 strikeouts and three walks.

The early season has not been kind to Chihuahuas pitching and their best starter, Matt Waldron, has been with the Padres since his third start with El Paso.

ACL Padres (Arizona Complex League)

The rookie league season has begun, and the Padres played their first game on last Saturday. They started the season against the Milwaukee Brewers rookies, and the season plays through July 23. There are undrafted free agents, 2025 draftees and international sign players on the roster. Several of the top players are transfers from last season’s Dominican Summer League team. As a side note, for those long-term Padres fans out there, former Padres pitcher Ernesto Frieri is the pitching coach for the ACL Padres.

Taiwanese pitcher Lan-Hong Su, the Padres No. 18 prospect, made his debut in the system. Su, 19, was the player signed by the Padres after missing out on Roki Sasaki in the international signing competition. He has high upside and should be closely monitored as he adds bulk to his 6-1 frame as well as development with MLB coaching.

Infielder Jhoan De La Cruz, infielder Luis De Leon and infielder Yimy Tovar are all international prospects to watch with the ACL team. Outfielder Cardell Thibodeaux, 22, drafted in the 15th round of the 2025 draft and former big leaguer Alex Verdugo, 29, who is working his way back from a sub-par 2025 where he was released by the Braves in July, both will be watched as well.

The ACL team played their first game last Saturday and lost to the Brewers 12-0 with five pitchers giving up eight hits and 12 earned runs with 12 walks. The offense only managed three hits over the game. IF De La Cruz went 0-for-2 with a walk and two strikeouts while 3B De Leon went 1-for-2. Catcher Ty Harvey, rehabbing from an injury, was 1-for-3 with a strikeout.

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Cade Cunningham scores 23, Tobias Harris has 20 to help Pistons beat Cavs in Game 1

DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham scored 23 points, Tobias Harris had 20 and the Detroit Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their second-round series.

Duncan Robinson added 19 points for the top-seeded Pistons, who ended an NBA record-tying 12-game postseason losing streak against a single opponent, a drought that dated to the 2007 Eastern Conference finals.

Game 2 is Thursday night in Detroit.

Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, ending his NBA-record streak of scoring 30-plus points in nine straight series openers.

James Harden had 22 points and Max Stus scored 19 for the No. 4-seeded Cavs, who pulled into a tie midway through the fourth quarter after trailing for most of the night and by as much as 18 points.

Cleveland center Jarrett Allen was limited to two points and three rebounds, coming off a 22-point, 19-rebound performance in an elimination game against Toronto.

THUNDER 108, LAKERS 90

OKLAHOMA CITY, (AP) — Chet Holmgren had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Oklahoma City routed Los Angeles in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell each added 18 points for the Thunder. The defending champions improved to 5-0 in the playoffs, despite missing 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams with an injured left hamstring for the third straight game. The Thunder shot 49.4% from the field and made 13 of 30 3-pointers.

Oklahoma City will host Game 2 on Thursday.

Los Angeles struggled to find offense without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who has missed the past month with an injured left hamstring. LeBron James scored 27 points and Rui Hachimura added 18 for the Lakers. Austin Reaves, who averaged 23.3 points in the regular season, was held to eight on 3-for-16 shooting.

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Colorado Rockies sign Jordan Romano to MiLB contract

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 22: Jordan Romano #68 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Thomas Harding of MLB.com is reporting that the Colorado Rockies have signed RHP Jordan Romano to a minor-league contract.

On April 26, the Los Angeles Angels designated Romano for assignment; on April 27, he was released. The Angels must still pay the remainder of is $2 million salary with the Rockies only responsible for the prorated league minimum based on the time Romano spends on the roster.

In recent years, Romano, 33, has struggled, so the Rockies decision to send him to their Scottsdale pitching facility makes sense.

Romano was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2014 MLB Draft (10th round) and with their MLB team from 2019-2024. During his time with the Blue Jays, he earned a 2.90 ERA in 229.2 IP. In 2022 and 2023, the closer was named to the American League All-Star Team.

However, his 2024 season, the last with the team, was marred by injury when he pitched just 13.2 innings and posted a 6.59 ERA. Romano had mid-season surgery to fix an impingement in his throwing shoulder and missed the remainder of that season.

In 2025, he signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he continued to struggle. Over 42.2 IP, he earned an 8.23 ERA.

While with the Angels, Romano had 8.o IP. He recorded a 10.13 ERA that included 12 Ks and four saves.

According to Baseball Savant, Romano boasts a three-pitch mix: a four-seamer (94.5 mph), a slider (84.7 mph), and a splitter (86.6), all of which have seen declines in velocity in recent years.

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Thunder pull away in second half to defeat Lakers in Game 1

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, works to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder's Alex Caruso.
Lakers forward LeBron James, posting up agianst Thunder guard Alex Caruso, finished with 27 points and six assists in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Phillips / Associated Press)

Lakers coach JJ Redick was succinct about what it was like for his group to face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder during the regular season.

“We sucked against this team,” he said pregame.

The Lakers lost all four regular-season games against the Thunder by double figures, making L.A.’s 108-90 defeat to Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs just another big loss to the talented Thunder.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 27 points and six assists while Rui Hachimura had 18 points, but Austin Reaves had only eight points, shooting three for 16 from the field.

The Lakers doubled-teamed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander frequently, limiting him to 18 points and forcing him into seven turnovers.

But the Thunder just turned to Chet Holmgren, who had a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, puts his right shoulder into Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, as he drives.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, driving to the basket against Lakers guard Austin Reaves, finished with 18 points on eight-of-12 shooting from the field and six assists in Game 1. (Kyle Phillips / Associated Press)

The Lakers shot only 41.7% (35 of 84) from the field and 30% (10 of 30) from three-point range while the Thunder shot 49.4% (42 of 85) from the field and 43.3% (13 of 30) from deep.

Game 2 is here Thursday night.

The Lakers didn’t help themselves at the beginning of the fourth quarter, turning the ball over on two of their first three possessions. When Marcus Smart, who finished with 12 points on four-of-15 shooting and seven assists, turned the ball over to Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso waltzed in for a layup, the Lakers went down by 15 points and had to call a timeout with 10 minutes and 41 seconds left to regroup.

The Lakers never did.

They fell into a 19-point hole in the final 12 minutes of play and never recovered.

The Lakers lost by almost 30 points per game in their four-game series against the Thunder during the regular season, and one of the games was a 43-point shellacking.

But the Lakers found their groove in the first round against the Houston Rockets and that has fueled their belief in this series against the Thunder.

“We've been able to execute, even just going back to the last three games of the regular season,” Redick said. “Again, we kind of had to reset with not a lot of time and build something a little bit new on the fly. I think our guys were able to find their way and find their way from an execution standpoint, and for the most part, did a good job of that on both ends in the Houston series.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, makes one of his three basketball on a layup past Thunder center Chet Holmgren.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves makes one of his three baskets on a layup against Thunder center Chet Holmgren, but Reaves finished with only eight points on three-of-16 shooting from the field in Game 1. (Kyle Phillips / Associated Press)

"This is a different team and the best team, and it's going to require more. I think every round that you advance in the playoffs, you need to elevate all of the stuff even more. 
That's our attention to detail, that's our belief, that's our poise. We got to be great in all those areas.”

The Lakers talked every practice about the runs the Thunder go on and how they had to limit them.

Well, it happened at the end of the first quarter, when Oklahoma City scored the last five points of the period, and it happened at the outset of the second quarter, when the Thunder scored the first five points to open a 10-point lead.

Redick leaped off the bench to call a timeout with 10:36 left in the second to get things back in order for the Lakers.

The Lakers recovered, but they then went down 56-43 in the second quarter and had to recover again.

They did, pulling to within 61-53 at the half.

Note: Lakers reserve forward Jarred Vanderbilt injured his right finger in the second quarter and didn’t return. Vanderbilt tried to block a dunk by Holmgren, but instead hit hand on the backboard and went down in pain.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Lakers struggle offensively in Game 1 loss to Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Lakers were far from perfect with their game plan execution during Tuesday’s 108-90 Game 1 loss to the Thunder at Paycom Center.

But they did enough to hang around against the defending NBA champions. 

They disrupted Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s offensive rhythm with aggressive defensive coverages.

They took care of the ball in the first half, which helped them keep the score close.

The Lakers were far from perfect when it came to their game plan execution during Tuesday’s 108-90 Game 1 loss to the Thunder at Paycom Center. AP
But they did enough to hang around against the defending NBA champions.  AP

But it wasn’t enough to pull off the victory, with coach JJ Redick pulling his main rotation players with 1:45 remaining with his team trailing 105-87 after watching his team struggle to put together an effective offense for most of the second half.

“I don’t think there was a turning point,” Redick said. “It was a general theme throughout the night: When we made game-plan mistakes, it bit us.”

The Lakers scored just 37 second-half points after having 53 points in the first two quarters. 

LeBron James led the Lakers with 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting to go with 6 assists, 4 rebounds.

Rui Hachimura had 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting while Deandre Ayton added a 10 point-11 rebound double-double, but the offense was stuck in the mud for most of Tuesday night.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting to go with 6 assists, 4 rebounds. AP

Austin Reaves (8 points on 3-of-16 shooting to go with 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers) struggled. So did Marcus Smart (12 points on 4-of-15 shooting to go with 7 assists and 4 rebounds).

And the Lakers didn’t get much scoring from their bench, which only produced 15 points compared to the Thunder’s 34. 

The Thunder were led by a 24 point-12 rebound double-double from Chet Holmgren, while Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell both scored 18 points.  

Austin Reaves (8 points on 3-of-16 shooting to go with 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers) struggled. So did Marcus Smart (12 points on 4-of-15 shooting to go with 7 assists and 4 rebounds). AP

What it means 

The Lakers are trailing in the second round playoff series, 0-1, after Tuesday’s loss.

Tuesday marked the fourth time in five matchups they lost to the Thunder by at least 18 points this season. 

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Turning point

When the Thunder went on a 7-0 run after the Lakers cut their deficit to four midway through the third quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander hit a pull-up jumper to start the Thunder’s run, with the Lakers getting a pair of missed 3s from Reaves and one from Smart during their scoring drought, before Lu Dort knocked down a 3 after a turnover from Jaxson Hayes.

After another turnover from Reaves, which was his fourth of the game, Cason Wallace made a layup to put the Thunder up 76-65, with Redick calling timeout at the 4:35 mark to slow down the run. 

The Lakers trailed by at least eight points for the remainder of the game. 

Gilgeous-Alexander hit a pull-up jumper to start the Thunder’s run, with the Lakers getting a pair of missed 3s from Reaves AP

MVP: Chet Holmgren

During a game Gilgeous-Alexander uncharacteristically struggled with taking care of the ball (7 turnovers) as the Lakers sent multiple defenders his way, Holmgren stepped up with play finishing, serving as a release valve for the offense and providing a strong rim presence. 

Holmgren led the Thunder with 9 first-quarter points and had most of his scoring total (18) by halftime, helping his team take a 61-53 lead going into the third quarter.  

Stat of the game: 41.7%

That was the Lakers’ field goal percentage against the Thunder, a reflection of their offensive struggles. 

Up next

The Lakers and Thunder will match up again on Thursday at Paycom Center for Game 2 of the second round series.

The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. PT.

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Jarred Vanderbilt suffers nasty dislocated pinky injury in Game 1 vs. Thunder

May 5, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) walks off the court and to the locker room in pain after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half during game one of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

A nasty injury for Jarred Vanderbilt may have not just ruled him out for the game, but for an extended time.

In the second quarter of Tuesday’s Game 1, Vando tried to block a fastbreak dunk attempt by Chet Holmgren and, in the process, smacked the backboard with his hand. He immediately doubled over in very obvious pain and exited the game.

Late in the game, after Vando had already been ruled out for the contest, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that he had suffered a full dislocation of his pinky finger.

All dislocated fingers are not created the same. While Kobe Bryant memorably popped his back into place, that isn’t always the case with them, and especially one as gruesome’s as Vando’s was.

While the injury was never shown, the reaction of the OKC bench after the injury gives an idea of how nasty it was.

After the game, Charania confirmed that the bone broke through the skin, requiring stitches.

The Lakers already don’t have much in the way of forwards as is, so losing Vando against an OKC with lots of them is a blow. If it is a dislocation, which it sure looks to be, then it’s also likely not just a one-game injury either.

That it’s on his non-shooting hand might help the situation, but it seems more likely the Lakers will have to figure out a new plan and potentially insert someone else into the rotation in Vando’s spot moving forward. That could be Maxi Kleber if they’re looking to replace him with another forward, or it could be Bronny James, who stepped into the rotation when Austin Reaves was out.

The most important thing, though, is that Vando is healthy after what appears to be a pretty nasty injury.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Mike Brown not getting caught up in James Dolan’s Knicks NBA Finals mandate: ‘I’m coaching to win’

Mike Brown reacts on the sideline during the Knicks' Game 1 blowout win over the 76ers.
Mike Brown reacts on the sideline during the Knicks' Game 1 blowout win over the 76ers.

Pressure? 

Mike Brown scoffed at the notion. 

Even if owner James Dolan said in January he felt the Knicks “absolutely” had to reach the NBA Finals and “should” win them, the first-year coach had that mindset all along after taking the job. 

“People have talked about a mandate — like I’m coaching to win,” Brown said Tuesday. “It doesn’t matter what others say. I’m disappointed if we’re not in the Finals and having a chance to win it.”

Mike Brown reacts on the sideline during the Knicks’ Game 1 blowout win over the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

They certainly look capable of getting to the NBA Finals now, after advancing in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year in emphatic fashion and crushing the 76ers on Monday to start the Eastern Conference semifinal series. 

The Knicks are hitting on all cylinders, the first team in NBA history to win three straight playoff games by at least 25 points. 

When the Knicks moved on from Tom Thibodeau last spring after reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000, Brown wasn’t their top choice.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown talks to reporters on May 5, 2026 ahead of their Game 2 matchup against the 76ers on Wednesday. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

But after missing out on a few targets, most notably Jason Kidd, they settled on Brown. 

It hasn’t necessarily been smooth sailing. The Knicks trailed the Hawks 2-1 in the first round, before dominating the rest of the series.

Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t have particularly strong regular seasons.

But both have come on in the playoffs, and Brown deserves some credit for how well this group is performing. 

“The opportunity for this job came open, and I was just intrigued by the players,” he said. “I was intrigued by being in New York, calling Madison Square Garden my home court, being around the fans, hanging with [team president] Leon Rose who I’ve known for many years. He’s just a fantastic human being. And being around the players on that roster, and that’s all I looked at it as. 

“The mandate and all that other stuff, like that’s what I expect, that’s what I want to do, and hopefully it can happen, but who knows.”

Brown isn’t ready to anoint this group just yet. While he likes how they are playing, he believes there is room for growth.

It is that same even-keeled approach that served the Knicks well in the Hawks series, when others outside the franchise were panicking. 

“He doesn’t listen to the outside noise and doesn’t let that affect him. And he’s focused every day on how he can come in and make this team better,” Josh Hart said. “He listens to his coaches and listens to us with our feedback and what we have to say and asks us questions and stuff like that. So I think it’s just a good line of communication with everyone within the organization. 
 And he’s doing an amazing job with that outside noise.”

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Red Sox 10, Tigers 3: Framber Valdez is a spineless scoundrel

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 05: Framber Valdez #59 of the Detroit Tigers walks to the clubhouse after being ejected from the game during the fourth inning of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park on May 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There’s many, many reasons why baseball is the best game on Earth, but one of my favorites is its relentless ability to produce wildly unexpected results. Take tonight as a perfect example: This was as close to a guaranteed Red Sox loss on paper as you could get. You had (among other things):

  • Brayan Bello and his 9.12 ERA set to go on the mound as the bulk guy.
  • Brayan Bello pitching so poorly in recent starts that the Red Sox used Jovani Moran as an opener in front of Bello (where he immediately gave up two runs in the first inning).
  • Roman Anthony away from the team seeing a hand specialist in Boston hoping to avoid a trip to the IL.
  • Masataka Yoshida and Marcelo Mayer both on the bench because of a lefty on the mound for Detroit.
  • Jarren Duran going 0-5 with three strike outs from the top of the lineup when he’d been the team’s hottest hitter over the last handful of games.
  • Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman both likely running on empty as they had each pitched in both of the last two games. (So even if the Sox got a small lead, they might have had trouble holding it.)
  • Lastly, they were on the road facing Framber Valdez, who had held opponents to two earned runs or less in six of his seven starts this season.

So what did that combination of ingredients produce? The most dominant Red Sox victory of the season of course! (Yes, more dominant than the 17-1 win in Baltimore. That score was largely inflated by a position player pitching the ninth inning.) Once again, baseball’s gonna baseball!

And apparently, Framber Valdez is gonna Framber Valdez, because after spending the first three innings of this game getting his face ripped off, he decided he wanted out by any means necessary. The only problem was his manager, A.J. Hinch, had other ideas.

After losing Tarik Skubal to elbow surgery and having to run a bullpen game yesterday, Hinch and the Tigers needed innings out of Valdez tonight. So even though Valdez was getting his teeth kicked in during the first three innings to the tune of eight runs allowed – Which let’s face it, is about 15 runs against a normal lineup the way the Red Sox bats have looked in 2026 — he was sent back out there for the fourth with his pitch count sitting at just 56 bullets fired.

The first thing he did in an act of defiance was serve up this meatball to Willson Contreras, which couldn’t have been any more in the Goldilocks zone unless it was in the Three Bears fairytale.

Here’s what Willson Contreras did with that early birthday gift (it’s coming up next week on the same day as Roman Anthony’s):

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But that moonshot still didn’t get Framber Valdez out of the game — Because again, A.J. Hinch needed innings from his pitcher. So after giving up another home run to Wilyer Abreu, Valdez took matters into his own hands by getting himself ejected. And he did this on his very first pitch of the next at bat that drilled Trevor Story in the back right between the numbers:

View Link

You want to know why this guy didn’t get signed off the free agent market until February despite oodles of talent and plenty of plus pitches? This clown show right here!

The Tigers needed a big start from Valdez tonight after yesterday’s Tarik Skubal news, and not only did he not deliver, but he got into a pissing match with his manager about leaving the game that escalated to the point where he found a way for the umpires to throw him out instead. What a weasel move!

But of course, he wasn’t going to admit that:

If he couldn’t pitch, Valdez would make a really great used car salesman.

Meanwhile, Over The Monster’s own Jake Roy has a question for everybody:

From there, Jake did more research and found even more damning evidence:

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy also wasn’t buying what Valdez had to say:

Even Valdez’s own manager wasn’t defending him. Here’s A.J. Hinch’s comments on the matter:

“We play a really good brand of baseball here. That didn’t feel like it. I’m not judging intent. But I know when you go out on the field in those confrontations, you usually feel like you are in your right. It didn’t feel good being out there.”

When your own skipper is throwing you under the bus, that really says it all.

Three Studs

Ceddanne Rafaela: 3-5 with four RBI including this first inning home run to the opposite field to set the tone.

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Wilyer Abreu: Went 3-4 with a home run. Here’s his blast:

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Brayan Bello: I have to give credit where credit is due. As much as I’ve hated watching Bello pitch this season, he did his job tonight covering the middle seven innings to the tune of just one earned run, and perhaps more importantly, just one walk. It will be interesting to see what the team does from here because unlike tonight, it appears they’re going to have options.

Bonus Stud

Alec Gamboa: Made his major league debut in the ninth inning and sent the Tigers down in order. Here’s his first career strikeout and his family’s elated reaction:

This stuff never gets old! And also, it’s another one of those reasons why baseball is the best game we’ve got.

Three Duds

Jarren Duran: 0-5 with three strikeouts. This comes just one night after he hit an opposite field three-run homer in a one-run game. Again, baseball being baseball.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 0-4 from the bottom of the lineup. His OPS is down to .449.

Jovani Moran: His opening inning looked a lot like most of Brayan Bello’s starts this year, giving up a pair of runs on a pair of walks and three hits. However, this was one of the RARE games where it didn’t really matter what the starting pitcher did.

Looking ahead, Sonny Gray is due to come off the IL tomorrow evening and face off against Jack Flaherty, who has gotten rocked in each of his last two starts. I would say this puts the Sox in a great position to sweep the Tigers, but if today taught us anything, it’s that baseball games aren’t played on paper and tend to be wildly unpredictable.

Oh, and also that Framber Valdez is a spineless scoundrel. We got a front row seat for that lesson.

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Winners and Losers: Cavs vs Pistons Game 1 – Unforced errors seal their fate

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 05: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 05, 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 missed an opportunity to steal Game 1 against the Detroit Pistons.

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

LOSER – Turnovers

Cleveland turned it over 20 times tonight, allowing 31 points off those turnovers. That might be the fastest way to guarantee yourself a loss on the road.

The ball was especially slippery for James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, who combined for 10 turnovers to just 9 assists. Harden was the primary culprit, coughing it up seven times tonight and a whopping 43 times throughout the playoffs so far.

Harden has felt like an offensive stabilizer for the Cavs. Even more so when Mitchell was struggling in round one. But he’s got to be more careful with the ball, or these ugly turnovers will seal their fate. There’s no way around it.

As for Mitchell, the Cavs are waiting for him to spark back to life. He’s been dormant since Game 2 versus Toronto — and they can’t afford for their star player to finish games with more turnovers than assists. Cleveland is desperate for some efficient playmaking, and neither Mitchell nor Harden is ringing that bell at that moment.

WINNER – Max Strus

You can only afford so many record scratch moments in the NBA Playoffs. If you aren’t sure what I’m talking about, imagine a perfect drive-and-kick opportunity that turns into a Dean Wade pumpfake that resets the offense.

That’s a record scratch.

The Cavs have loved having Wade on the floor with the core four, as his defensive versatility turns them from mediocre to elite. But Wade’s inability to shoot with volume or create off the dribble has severely limited his ceiling on the big stage. Strus doesn’t have that problem.

You won’t get the same defensive effort from Strus, but the Cavs offense has access to more options when he’s on the court. That’s because he’s a volume shooter who puts pressure on a defense to stay attached to him. The Cavs guard-guard screens are effective with Strus being a threat to pop for a three-point attempt.

Strus scored 19 points on 7-13 shooting tonight (4-8 from deep). He also added 5 rebounds. We know that Strus is a streaky shooter and could just as easily struggle in his next game. Still, added offensive production from Strus is something the Cavs can reasonably expect to get at various points in a playoff series. Tonight was one of those nights. They should have taken advantage.

LOSER – Rotations

There’s a reason that most teams shrink their rotations once the playoffs begin. You aren’t going to find more than eight or nine guys who can hang on the floor as the margins for error get smaller.

The Cavs played 11 guys tonight. That’s hard to explain.

Sure, Sam Merrill left the game with a hamstring after only playing seven minutes. So a spot in the rotation was opened for Keon Ellis to get his first run in four games. And, Jarrett Allen found himself in foul trouble, so Thomas Bryant was dusted off the bench for a few runs.

But the problem isn’t that Bryant and Ellis had to play minutes in a pinch. It’s that Kenny Atkinson chose to dig deeper into his bench rather than simply adding more responsibility to his star players. Again, there’s a reason most teams choose the latter in the playoffs. You’d rather lose with your best players deciding the game than start the fourth quarter with three reserves.

Seriously, the Cavs opened the fourth with Bryant, Ellis, and Dennis Schroder on the court. It didn’t go well, and all momentum from their third-quarter rally was lost.

No one played more than 36 minutes tonight for Cleveland. Allen, who was the hero in Game 7, played just 18 minutes with four fouls. Are we aware that fouling out doesn’t come with a suspension? Why not trust the Fro to play with two fouls to give instead of playing him just eight more minutes than Bryant?

Conversely, Cunningham played 43 minutes for Detroit. Tobias Harris played 39. There’s value in leaning on your best players. The Cavs will need to do that moving forward.

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Cubs BCB After Dark: What’s your favorite 2026 home run?

May 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Michael Conforto (20) celebrates with teammates after hitting a game winning solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

It’s Tuesday night here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Thank you for stopping in. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. We’ve still got a few tables available. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last night I asked you to grade Craig Counsell’s job as manager. I said over his entire tenure because I think it’s hard to not give him an “A” for this year unless you’re a complete curmudgeon. Also, because I think 35 games is too small of a sample size in baseball to judge anything. With that in mind, 47 percent gave Counsell an “A” and 46 percent gave him a “B.” The rest gave him a “C” and not even one single person voted “D” or “F.”

Honestly, that’s about as good an endorsement as a manager can get from the fans in the stands without winning a World Series.

On Tuesdays I don’t do any movie stuff, but there’s always time for jazz. You can skip it if you want.

Tonight we’re taking a visit to Brazil as the legendary Antonio Carlos “Tom” Jobim plays some of his bossa nova classics “One Note Samba” and “Desafinado.”

This is from 1964.

Welcome back to everyone who skips all that jazz.

The Cubs got their first walk-off home run of the year last night from an unlikely source—pinch-hitter Michael Conforto.

That was a big home run, obviously. But was it the best? Was it your favorite? Was it the one that made you yell so loud you woke the neighbors? Or was there another one that had your family check in on you to make sure you were OK?

I’ve picked six home runs that I think are candidates for the best Cubs home run of the year (so far). I only picked home runs from wins. Then I looked at home runs with a high Win Probability Added. I didn’t go exclusively with that because there were some that maybe didn’t look big at the moment but turned out to be big in the end. (Happ’s home run is like that.) Maybe you would have another list, but I’m the one here writing the article. You can vote for “other” if you have another candidate.

To refresh your memory, here are the candidates.

Carson Kelly’s 3-run pinch-hit home run vs the Mets on April 18 [VIDEO]. Kelly’s home run broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning. The Cubs went on to win 4-2.

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Seiya Suzuki’s solo home run against the Phillies on April 23 [VIDEO]. The home run gave the Cubs an 7-6 lead in the bottom of the eighth. It was spoiled a bit by Caleb Thielbar giving up a home run in the top of the ninth and blowing the save, but the Cubs would win in extra innings to sweep the Phillies and win their ninth straight.

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Dansby Swanson’s two-run home run in the top of the ninth versus the Dodgers on April 24 [VIDEO]. This was a big one. The Cubs trailed this game 4-0 until they scored three in the seventh, one in the eighth and took the lead for good on Swanson’s homer. The win was the Cubs’ tenth-straight.

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Matt Shaw’s solo home run versus the Padres on April 29 [VIDEO]. The Cubs were beating the Padres 4-3 in the top of the eighth. It turned out to be a huge insurance run after the Padres clawed back another run in the bottom of the inning. The Cubs would go on to win 5-4.

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Ian Happ’s solo home run against the Diamondbacks on May 2 [VIDEO]. The wind was blowing in on this one and neither team could manage much offense. It looked like the Cubs were going to win this game 1-0 until they scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. They ended up winning 2-0.

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And finally, Conforto’s walk-off home run from last night [VIDEO].

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So now it’s time to vote.

Thanks for stopping by. Please get home safely. We want to have you as a customer for a long time. Recycle any cans and bottles. Check around for any personal items. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark.

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Lakers struggle to find offense as Thunder take Game 1

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

A rough offensive night for the Lakers left them struggling to find enough scoring to keep up with the Thunder in Game 1 as they fell to OKC, 108-90.

After a fast start to the contest, LA trailed OKC for the final three quarters. However, the lead would ebb and flow as the purple and gold had brief runs that seemed to get them back into the game.

Each time, though, the Thunder had a response to gain breathing room once more. By the end of the game, the Lakers had run out of gas as OKC had repeatedly found answers to the problems LA presented them.

The Lakers shot 41.7% from the field and 33.3% from the 3-point line. They turned the ball over 17 times, leading to 20 points for OKC.

LA started hot offensively, going up by seven early. OKC eventually caught up and tied the game, but LeBron continued his hot shooting. He was cooking with 10 points, the first player from either team in double figures. Chet Holmgren was leading the Thunder with seven points.

At the 6:56 mark, it was a tie game.

The Lakers did a great job defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who only had three points on two shot attempts. Los Angeles was shooting 47% from the field, while Oklahoma City was at 42%. 

At the 2:37 mark, LA was up by three. 

Jaylin Williams scored on a triple to tie it up again as part of a 9-2 OKC run to take a five-point lead going into the second. 

Both teams opened the second period missing their first shot attempts before Ajay Mitchell was fouled and converted on both free throws. Jared McCain then drained a 3-pointer, putting even more distance on OKC’s lead and forcing a timeout.

Ayton stopped the bleeding for LA with back-to-back baskets. 

The Lakers cut the deficit to three thanks to Ayton scoring again and Luke Kennard converting on three free throws. Cason Wallace stopped Los Angeles’ run with a triple. OKC responded well, giving themselves a bigger lead. 

Austin Reaves scored his first field goal on a layup. 

After a dunk by Holmgren, Jarred Vanderbilt, who was defending him, doubled over in pain and went straight to the locker room. He would eventually be ruled out for the game.

Marcus Smart splashed his first 3-pointer of the half. SGA started cooking, scoring a quick four points to make it a double-digit lead for Oklahoma City.

Smart stopped OKC’s 8-1 run with a triple. With the half winding down, Kennard knocked down a much-needed 3-pointer. On the other end, LeBron stole the ball and took it all the way for a dunk to make it a single-digit deficit. 

At halftime, the purple and gold were down by eight. 

Mitchell opened the third with a layup for the Thunder. After a few missed attempts from Ayton, Holmgren dunked on the other end. He was now up to 20 points. Smart got the Lakers on the board with a midrange jumper. 

LA continued to hang around with Smart scoring again, and Rui Hachimura knocked down his first 3-pointer of the game. 

It was a seven-point deficit at the 8:03 mark. Los Angeles was playing good defense and doing well, keeping themselves within striking distance. Hachimura drained another triple and made it a four-point deficit. 

SGA was up to five turnovers. 

It didn’t matter as OKC scored seven in a row, forcing a timeout from Los Angeles. Out of the break, LeBron scored a bucket in the paint. The quarter closed on a four-point play by Mitchell. Going into the fourth, the Lakers were down by 12. 

A Los Angeles turnover started the final frame. Luckily for LA, the Thunder missed on the other end, which led to Hachimura being fouled and converting one of two free throws.

Oklahoma City then scored four in a row, which included a dunk by Alex Caruso, to make it a 15-point game. McCain drained two triples in a row as OKC built the lead to 19 points.

The Lakers tried one last time to get back into the game, pulling within 14 points with 6:08 left after a Hachimura triple. However, it’s as close as they would get as, with 3:50 left, Oklahoma City went up by 17, sealing the win for the Thunder. 

Key Player Stats

LeBron finished with 27 points, four rebounds and six assists. Ayton had 10 points, 11 rebounds and two assists. Austin Reaves had a rough offensive game with eight points on 3-16 shooting to go with his five rebounds and six assists. 

Smart pitched in with 12 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Hachimura put up 18 points, going 7-13 from the field. Kennard ended with seven points and five rebounds. 

Game 2 will be on Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 6:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

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When is Luka Doncic returning? Playoff injury update for Lakers star

Luka Doncic is still building towards a return, but it won't come in time for the start of the Western Conference semifinals.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Doncic for the start of their second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on "Inside the NBA."

Charania reports the Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis, and he is currently on a "slow path" in his recovery from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined for the past month.

"He's doing more and more on the court," Charania reported. "But right now, still not full-fledged running or full-contact workouts."

Did Luka Doncic play Tuesday night vs. Thunder?

No, he was out for Game 1.

When is Luka Doncic returning?

The timeline for his return is also still unclear, according to ESPN.

Doncic was seen putting shots up during Lakers practice on Monday, May 4, but he has yet to progress to 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 drills. Lakers head coach JJ Redick had no update for reporters.

Doncic has missed 11 games since straining his left hamstring against Oklahoma City on April 2. The Lakers have gone 7-4 in that span and ran out to a 3-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets before winning the series in six games.

The odds are stacked against Los Angeles yet again with a matchup against the defending NBA champion Thunder, who won a league-best 64 games in the regular season. The absence of Jalen Williams makes things slightly less lopsided, especially if the Lakers keep producing total team efforts with contributions from Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura.

Make no mistake, though: Doncic, who led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game and finished third in assists with 8.3 per game, will be needed this series, as evidenced by the result of Game 1.

It just remains to be seen when – or if – he'll be back in time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When will Luka Doncic return? Status for Lakers vs. Thunder series

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Shohei Ohtani, sticking to pitching, gives up first home runs as Astros beat him

Shohei Ohtani is no longer unsullied by the longball this season. Yet he was still pretty outstanding against the Houston Astros.

Ohtani absorbed his second loss of the season − and gave up his first and second home runs this year − as the Astros held off the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-1, on Tuesday, May 5 at Houston's Daikin Park.

It's Ohtani, so that also means even in defeat, superlatives are involved. And Ohtani worked a season-high seven innings − his longest outing since July 27, 2023, when he pitched a one-hitter − and took over the major league ERA lead.

His Tuesday outing ensured he had enough innings to qualify, and Ohtani's 0.97 ERA is the only mark below 1.00 among qualified starters. He's holding opposing batters to a .160 average, bested only by teammate Tyler Glasnow's .146 mark.

On this night, though, a train-tracks bomb from Christian Walker and an opposite-field wall-scraper from Braden Shewmake into Houston's Crawford Boxes were enough to beat him. The homers comprised two of the four hits the Astros managed against Ohtani, who struck out eight.

"The hits were homers, so in that sense it was efficient," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton, "but it wasn't something that was good."

And once again, the Dodgers kept Ohtani out of the lineup, so he could concentrate on pitching. On this night, they theoretically could have used him − but Ohtani is also 0 for his last 17 at the plate.

"I think offense, including myself, hasn't done a great job scoring runs. I'm sure if there was a situation where I was hitting well, they'd want me to hit and pitch as well," Ohtani said. "But I understand focus on pitching and turn the page on hitting."

Has his one-track mind when pitching hindered him at the plate?

"I don't think so personally that the pitching has affected the hitting," he says, "but at the same time it's been longer than expected. It's not ideal I'm trying to find that (hitting groove) in the game."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani pitching performance in Dodgers vs Astros not his best

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Cubs Minor League Wrap: Pedro RamĂ­rez named IL Player of the Month

Mar 17, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Pedro Ramirez against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Some honors for Cubs prospects came today. Infielder Pedro RamĂ­rez was named International League Player of the Month for April. RamĂ­rez batted .323/.398/.625 for the month and led the league-lead in home runs (seven), RBI (28) and runs scored (24). He also stole ten bases.

Right-hander Brooks Caple as named Midwest League Pitcher of the Month. Caple went 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA in four starts. He struck out 24 and walked only three over 18.2 innings for the month.

Fangraphs released their Top 34 Cubs prospects yesterday. It’s interesting because they take into account the first month of the season in these rankings. The now-graduated MoisĂ©s Ballesteros is number one, so their current top Cubs prospect is infielder Jefferson Rojas.

Here’s their top ten.

  1. Moisés Ballesteros
  2. Jefferson Rojas
  3. Pedro RamĂ­rez
  4. Jaxon Wiggins
  5. Kevin AlcĂĄntara
  6. Josiah Hartshorn
  7. Ethan Conrad
  8. Kane Kepley
  9. Brooks Caple
  10. Owen Ayers

Anyway, check out the full list.

There were a lot of moves in the system since Sunday.

Second baseman Hayden Cantrelle was moved from Triple-A Iowa to Double-A Knoxville

Right-hander Tyler Santana also went from Iowa to Knoxville.

Right-hander Brooks Caple was promoted to Knoxville from High-A South Bend.

Right-hander Jackson Kirkpatrick also went to Knoxville from South Bend.

Shortstop Alex Madera was demoted to South Bend from Knoxville.

Shortstop Geuri Lubo was sent to Low-A Myrtle Beach from South Bend

Right-hander Eli Jerzembeck was promoted to South Bend from Myrtle Beach.

Left-hander Pierce Coppola joins Myrtle Beach from the Development List.

Right-hander Jostin Florentino was assigned to the rookie ball ACL Cubs from Myrtle Beach. (That’s probably procedural as Florentino hadn’t pitched for the Pelicans yet this year.)

Catcher Haydn McGeary was released.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were sunk by the Columbus Clippers (Guardians), 9-6.

Ty Blach took the loss after giving up six runs on ten hits over the first 3.2 innings. Blach walked one and struck out three.

DH BJ Murray connected for a three-run home run in the fifth inning, his fifth on the campaign. Murray was 1 for 5.

Center fielder Justin Dean doubled and tripled in a 2 for 5 night. Dean drove in two and scored once.

A double for Kevin AlcĂĄntara. He was 1 for 2 with two walks.

Murray’s home run.

A two-run triple for Dean.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies overthrew the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 10-4.

Yenrri Perez started and got his first win of the year after five scoreless innings. Perez allowed three hits and issued one walk while striking out four.

Jackson Kirkpatrick got a rude introduction to Double-A. In the one inning Kirkpatrick pitched, he gave up four runs on two hits and three walks. Only two of the four runs were earned, however. Kirkpatrick struck out one.

The Smokies jumped out to an early lead when shortstop Jefferson Rojas hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. It was his fourth of the year. Rojas went 2 for 4 with a walk and three overall runs batted in.

Third baseman Karson Simas made it 4-0 with a two-run home run in the second, his third this year. Simas went 1 for 4 and scored twice.

Center fielder Carter Trice had two doubles and one triple in a 3 for 4 night. He also walked once. Trice went 3 for 4. He had three RBI and scored once.

DH Owen Ayers was 2 for 3 with two walks and two runs scored. He also had one run batted in.

The Rojas home run.

An up-close look at the Simas HR.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs stripped the Lansing Lugnuts (Athletics), 9-1.

Starter Cole Reynolds retired the first nine batters of the game in order before leaving after three innings. Reynolds struck out five.

Adam Stone pitched the next three innings and got the win because Reynolds didn’t go five innings. Shaw surrendered one run on four hits. He walked one and did not strike anyone out.

Nate Williams threw two scoreless innings and Kenyi Perez one to close out the game.

Center fielder Kane Kepley showed the wheels with two triples tonight. Kepley went 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored three runs and drove in one.

Shortstop Ty Southisene is off to a great start to his High-A career. Tonight Southisene was 2 for 3 with a double and a sacrifice fly. He had two RBI and one run scored.

Third baseman Matt Halbach was 3 for 4 and scored once.

Kepley’s first triple led off the bottom of the first.

Right-fielder Kade Snell just missed a home run. He settled for an RBI double. Snell was 1 for 5.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans boiled the Hickory Crawdads (Rangers), 7-5.

David Bracho threw the first 3.1 innings and allowed three runs on two hits and three walks. One of the three runs was unearned. Bracho struck out four.

Bracho left the game in the fourth inning with two on. He was relieved by Victor Zarraga, who gave up a three-run home run to the first batter he faced to make it 4-2 Crawdads. But he stayed in the game and got the win when the Pelicans came back. Zarraga allowed one run on three hits over 3.2 innings. He struck out two and walked no one.

Jordan Henriquez pitched the final two innings and got the save, despite giving up a solo home run in the eighth. Henriquez allowed one run on two hits. He struck out one and walked no one.

The Pelicans re-took the lead in the top of the sixth inning on a two-run home run by second baseman Jose Escobar. It was his second home run this year. Escobar was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Center fielder Josiah Hartshorn was 3 for 5 with a double. Hartshorn had three RBI and one run batted in.

Shortstop Alexis Hernandez also went 3 for 5 with a double. He scored three times.

RBI double in the first inning for Hartshorn.

Escobar’s home run.

ACL Cubs

Beat the Rangers, 8-7.

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76ers unfazed after taking ugly Game 1 loss to Knicks: ‘We’ll be ready’

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey #0 drives to the basket as New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti #55 gives chase in the second quarter.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey drives to the basket as New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti gives chase in the second quarter during Game 1 on Monday night.

Two years ago, the Knicks outscored the 76ers by just one point (650-649) throughout their thrilling six-game first-round series.

The rematch began with the 76ers’ worst playoff loss since 1982, their most points allowed in a playoff game since 1970 and the ninth-biggest blowout of any series opener in NBA history. The Knicks’ 137-98 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals also resulted in the 76ers becoming the second team in NBA history to lose three playoff games by at least 30 points in the same postseason.

But the Sixers bounced back from similar beatdowns in the first round, responding to a series-opening blowout loss in Boston with a 14-point win in Game 2.

Tyrese Maxey drives on Ariel Hukporti during the second quarter of the Knicks’ Game 1 blowout win over the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Then, after being embarrassed in Game 4 by the heavily favored Celtics, Philadelphia found rhythm and resolve, becoming the first team in franchise history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit.

“If we lose by seven points, or 70 points, it doesn’t really matter,” Tyrese Maxey said after Monday’s loss. “They won one game and we lost one game. We’re gonna make some adjustments and we’ll be ready for Game 2. Game 1 doesn’t carry over to Game 2.”

The Knicks started this series with advantages on paper, but also the edge of being off the previous three days, following three stress-free victories over the Hawks. 

The 76ers played their sixth game in 11 days, entering Madison Square Garden less than 48 hours after leaving Boston with one of the team’s biggest victories in decades.

“We can’t use the fatigue as an excuse,” Paul George said. “But it has been an emotional roller coaster. You go from a Game 7, you get one day off and then you’re right back into another matchup. I think there was some carryover of us trying to get up and trying to get prepared for this next matchup. But we definitely should have come out and did a better job.”

Rest and renewed purpose may not help against Jalen Brunson, who averaged 35.5 points in the 2024 series and just carved up the Sixers for 35 points in 31 minutes. Philly may have no answers for newly designated point center Karl-Anthony Towns, who is averaging eight assists in the past four games.

Jalen Brunson drives on Paul George defends during the third quarter of the Knicks’ Game 1 blowout win over the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

But the 76ers should expect more from Maxey, who attempted just one shot in the first 15 minutes of Game 1 and finished with his fewest points (13) since Jan. 26.

Embiid, who shot 3-for-11 from the field, scored his fewest points (14) since Dec. 4. And the 76ers — who rank seventh in fewest turnovers committed — gave away the ball 19 times in Game 1, leading to 25 points for the Knicks.

“We have to wash that one away and get back and provide a bunch more energy and physicality,” said 76ers coach Nick Nurse, who attended his brother’s funeral in Iowa on Tuesday, but is expected to be at the Garden tonight for Game 2. “I just felt like we were a full step slower defensively. We just seemed like we were chasing everything, didn’t guard the ball well enough, didn’t contest shooters well enough. They were obviously picking us apart, just moving a lot better than we were.

“I think it was a pretty tough night for everybody. I didn’t think we shot it particularly well, but I don’t think we generated good enough shots. We’re gonna have to figure out how to run more offense to get some of the same looks we got in the past series. Obviously it’s a new series. We gotta figure it out.”