PHOENIX — Arizona left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. left the Diamondbacks’ game Friday night against the Colorado Rockies because of left hamstring tightness after making a sliding catch.
Gurriel made the impressive play for the first out of the sixth inning, sprinting hard toward left center before sliding feet first while making the grab. He grimaced after the catch before slowly standing up.
After a short conversation with manager Torey Lovullo and medical staff, the 32-year-old Cuban walked slowly off the field. He was replaced by Jorge Barrosa, who played center while Ryan Waldschmidt moved to left.
Gurriel returned to the lineup April 18 after missing roughly eight months with a torn ACL in his right knee. He is batting .228 with a homer and 11 RBIs, including two RBIs on Friday night before leaving the game.
With the Mets in the midst of a grueling stretch of 16 straight games, New York will need reinforcements and are reportedly going to rely on a couple of young arms.
The Athletic's Will Sammon reports that after Jonah Tong's impressive season debut in relief in the Mets' 2-1 loss to the Marlins on Friday, the young right-hander will be rewarded by staying with the big league team. While his role is not yet known, Sammon reports that it is expected that Tong will pitch against the Reds on Wednesday.
Tong allowed just one walk in three scoreless and hitless innings on Friday while striking out two batters. It's arguably the most impressive he's looked with the Mets and the team hopes this time around, things will be different.
The right-hander struggled in his brief time with the Mets at the end of the 2025 season, going 2-3 with a 7.71 ERA over five starts.
In addition, Sammon is reporting that the Mets are expected to promote right-handed reliever Jonathan Pintaro.
Pintaro, 28, has pitched well in Triple-A Syracuse this season. He's pitched to a 2.81 ERA while striking out 32 batters in his 15 appearances (25.2 innings). He appeared in one game in the majors in his career, and it came last season with the Mets.
Back on June 25 against the Braves, Pintaro allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one batter in just 0.2 innings pitched.
The corresponding move for Pintaro is not yet known, but it's possible that if Tong pitches on regular rest, he could take Zach Thornton's spot on the roster. Freddy Peralta and Christian Scott are set to pitch this weekend, which leaves Nolan McLean and David Peterson going Monday and Tuesday before Tong on Wednesday.
The Mets are set to take on the Marlins at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday, and if Pintaro is indeed being promoted, the move will arrive before first pitch.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: Robert McCray V #18 drives to the basket during the game during the 2026 G League Combine on May 10, 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 Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
McCray , Conwell and Hopkins all played at least four years of college. McCray was All-ACC Third Team this past season, Conwell was Second Team All-ACC this past season and Hopkins was Second-Team All-Big East.
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 10: Bryce Hopkins #36 dribbles the ball during the game during the 2026 G League Combine on May 10, 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 Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With limited draft assets after trading for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal back in 2023, Phoenix is limited with its draft assets and traded away the pick they had in the first round of the 2026 draft back at the 2025 trade deadline to deal Jusuf Nurkić to the Charlotte Hornets.
Despite the limited future draft picks and young players the Suns have, reports suggest that Phoenix could look to move into the first round. Phoenix traded into the first round last season and selected Khaman Maluach with the 10th overall pick after trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets last offseason.
Whether they stay at 47 or acquire another draft pick, Phoenix is doing their due-diligence on projected second rounders. The First Round of the NBA Draft is on Tuesday June 23rd with the Second Round on the 24th.
May 22, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Chadwick Tromp (39) celebrates after a walk-off single against the Washington Nationals in the eleventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves improved to 36-16 after Friday night’s 5-4 win over the Washington Nationals. The win came in walk-off fashion, and this time, Chadwick Tromp was the hero, ripping a hit in the 11th inning to score Eli White.
The hit capped a memorable night for Tromp, the fourth string catcher, who not only recorded two hits on the night, but also tallied the first walk-off hit of his career. The Braves hope this version of Tromp continues to suit up since the usual backstops are sidelined with injury.
The series continues this afternoon at 4:10 ET behind Grant Holmes.
Alex Lodise launched two home runs on Thursday for the Augusta GreenJackets. More in the minor league recap.
MLB News:
The Colorado Rockies placed outfielder Mickey Moniak on the 10-day injured list with right ankle tendinitis. It’s already his second stint on the IL this season.
May 22, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) reacts following a third-period goal past Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41). Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
After a frustrating loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1, the Colorado Avalanche we back at it two night later hoping to even up this Western Conference Finals series. An even more frustrating loss ensued as the Avalanche gave up their first third period lead and dropped this game 3-1. Vegas now takes a 2-0 series lead for a pair of games upcoming in their building.
The Game
Minus Cale Makar again, this game felt like the first meeting between these two teams. It was a cautious approach by both sides and Vegas earned a healthy amount of the shot share. But before the end of the period Colorado would strike first. Ross Colton fired on a rebound off of a Brent Burns shot to put the Avalanche up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play.
The second period went scoreless but each team had their opportunities on the man advantage but couldn’t cash in. A Vegas four-minute power play was interrupted by their own penalty and Colorado had some good looks on the four-on-four. Vegas was held to just four shots in the period but the score was still just 1-0 Colorado.
Midway through the third period it seemed Colorado was going to nap their way to a 1-0 victory since they hadn’t lost a game all year entering the third period with a lead but Vegas found some puck luck and got back into the game. First Jack Eichel unleashed a blistering shot and found Scott Wedgewood off his angle slightly to hit the far side post and in. Then just two minutes later Ivan Barbashev found a loose puck in the slot and gave Vegas a lead for the first time in the contest.
Now scoring was an urgent matter and the Avalanche made a push and then pulled Wedgewood for the extra attacker but Carter Hart shut everything down and Vegas secured a 3-1 victory after Barbashev found the empty net for his second goal of the evening.
Takeaways
Cale Makar can’t be replaced but it’s still no excuse for $64 million worth of forwards who couldn’t find any offense in this contest. Ross Colton, the lone goal scorer for Colorado, played a team-low eight minutes of ice time. The rest had two ineffective power plays and largely didn’t shoot the puck. When Nathan MacKinnon only has one shot on goal, that’s usually a symptom of a loss.
This is the first true patch of adversity the Avalanche have faced all season long but there’s still time for them to respond. It’s an uphill climb to get back into the series, and probably would need a Game 7 victory, but it’s not supposed to be easy getting to the Stanley Cup finals.
Upcoming
The series shifts to Vegas for Game 3 on Sunday, May 24th at 6 p.m. MT on ESPN.
May 22, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball over Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) in the second half during game three of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Things felt great coming into the game: the Spurs had their full roster available, they did what they needed to do in OKC by stealing a win, and they had appeared a healthy guard trio away from a big win. While they got their wish in that regard, outside of an insanely hot start in which they quickly got ahead 19-4, the Spurs’ offensive rhythm and bench production was nonexistent, and once they were behind by double digits early in the second half, they couldn’t do enough to make any kind of comeback attempt, losing Game 3 108-123 and handing homecourt advantage back to the Thunder.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with a steady but quiet 26 points while only grabbing 4 rebounds, and Devin Vassell quietly continued to be their most steady player in this series with 20 points on 50% shooting, including 3-6 form three. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 26 points on an inefficient 6-17 shooting but 12-12 from the line, and Jared McCain gave them 24 off the bench.
Observations
The Spurs got two big announcements about an hour before tip-off: that Victor Wembanyama made the All-Defensive First Team, and more importantly, that De’Aaron Fox (ankle) and Dylan Harper (adductor) were cleared to play — in Fox’s case, for the first time this series. On the other side, the Thunder got two players on the All-Defensive Teams in Chet Holmgren (1st) and Cason Wallace (2nd), but Jalen Williams was ruled out after he left Game 2 having aggravated the same hamstring that kept him out of the first two rounds.
The Spurs were red hot right out of the gate in front of their fired up home crowd, starting on a 10-0 run in the first two minutes. It was kicked off by Fox looking like himself and driving by Lu Dort for a lay-up, Wemby hitting a step-back three over nemesis Isaiah Hartenstein, and Devin Vassell hitting a transition three off a defensive rebound. It stretched to 15-0 after a Thunder timeout before a Hartenstein floater got them their first points. The Spurs just missed the record for a run to start the game in the play-by-play era, which is a 16-0 run.
But of course, the instant Wemby (and Fox) sat, the Thunder went on a 15-5 run in no small part thanks to Alex Caruso and Jaylin Williams (the other JWill) getting hot from three, and a 19-4 lead was quickly cut to five. Considering how good the Spurs bench has been all season, it’s bizarre how ineffective they’ve been in this series. Luke Kornet hasn’t been nearly as effective protecting the rim, and scoring has been inconsistent all around.
The lead was gone after the Thunder opened the second quarter hitting three straight threes as part of an 11-0 run that spanned both quarters before the Spurs hit a couple to briefly get their offense going again. The Thunder went on another 9-0 after the Spurs had taken a 45-43 lead again while Wemby — who admittedly was cold in the quarter — sat, and then they went on a 6-0 run to take 58-51 halftime lead. After that 15-0 start, the Spurs only hit 11 shots the rest of the half, with little ball movement and seemingly no one willing to step up.
The Spurs were still slow out of halftime with the Thunder stretching the lead to double digits. Then, Ajay Mitchell committed a flagrant foul on Castle as he drove to the hoop off a steal. Vassell came to his defense and shoved Mitchell, he pushed back, and both to receive technicals. Vassell (or “Vastle”, as the refs continue to call him) is usually pretty chill, so it was good to see someone step up and try to light a fire under the team after they had been so sluggish ever since that 19-4 start to the game.
The turnovers were down some (15 on the night) with Castle no longer on ball-handling duties, so he only had one, but that also diminished his effectiveness on offense. He was just 1-8 from the field but at least seemed to be trying by driving and drawing free throws, where he was 11-14 from the line.
Fox re-aggravated his ankle twice late in the third quarter before limping off and looking dejected on the bench, although he gave it another go in the fourth quarter. While he was the best of the three guards with 15 points and 6 assists on 7-14 shooting, Harper and Castle were very limited in their offensive contributions, with a combined 20 points on 3-15 shooting. Coming in, it seemed like a boost to have all three guards again, but instead no offense was being run: no pick and rolls, no set plays, seemingly just everyone taking turns playing iso-ball, with no one being effective.
The Spurs remained between 8-15 points behind throughout most of the second half largely by getting to the line, but similar to the second half of game 2, they could never find enough offensive rhythm or get enough consecutive stops (or stop committing dumb fouls) to go on any kind of game-changing run.
The Spurs are going to have to find some production from their bench if they want to get back in this series. The second unit was vastly outscored for the third game in a row, this time 76-23. While no one stepped up for the Spurs, the Thunder got a combed 57 points from Caruso, JWill and McCain. While none of the starters were great in this one (outside of maybe Vassell, Wemby was merely solid), it was the bench minutes where the Spurs ultimately got behind and couldn’t climb back out.
MILWAUKEE –– Max Muncy didn’t dodge the literal bullet. But he’s hopeful he skirted a figurative one.
After getting hit in the right wrist by a 95.5 mph sinker from Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby in the eighth inning of Friday’s loss in Milwaukee, Muncy left the game early but got good news back in the Dodgers’ clubhouse, with initial X-rays on the injury coming back negative.
“It hurts (but) it’s not broken,” Muncy said. “It is a relief. We just gotta monitor the next couple days. Typically, especially in that area, the X-rays never come back positive immediately. It kind of forms a little bit. But I’m pretty sure it hit half my wrist pad and then half my wrist … I haven’t looked at (the replay) yet, but that’s kind of what I was feeling.”
Max Muncy didn’t dodge the literal bullet. But he’s hopeful he skirted a figurative one. Getty Images
Manager Dave Roberts echoed that sentiment, saying that while Muncy is unlikely to play the rest of this weekend’s series, the club’s initial expectation is that he avoided anything more serious.
“I think it got enough of that pad to protect him,” Roberts said. “So he’ll be down for the next couple days, just to make sure we get that swelling out. But I think right now we’re breathing a sigh of relief.”
Any extended absence of Muncy, 35, would represent a major blow to the Dodgers’ offense.
The third baseman is batting .258 this season with a team-leading 12 home runs, as well as 19 RBIs and a .878 OPS. He has also said repeatedly that his swing is in as good a place as it has been in years, having finally gotten over elbow and oblique problems that have limited his playing time the last four seasons and disrupted the mechanics of his stroke at the plate.
Muncy has suffered a right wrist fracture before, missing two weeks late in the 2019 season after getting hit by a pitch in a similar area.
Muncy has suffered a right wrist fracture before, missing two weeks late in the 2019 season after getting hit by a pitch in a similar area. Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
This time, however, he said the pain wasn’t quite so intense.
“The biggest thing I always took with me from that (2019 injury) was just the nauseous feeling that you get, and I didn’t quite have that tonight,” he said. “So that’s why I’m feeling pretty optimistic about it.”
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The Dodgers will have options to replace Muncy over the next several days, with Santiago Espinal set to handle third base on Saturday and Kiké Hernández scheduled to return from the injured list for his season debut on Monday back in Los Angeles.
If all goes well with Muncy, though, he could be back in action by Tuesday.
“It hurt really, really bad,” he said. “In that moment, you’re trying to figure out what you can feel. Trying to assess how bad you think it is.
May 22, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) skates with the puck during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche in game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
DENVER — Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev scored in a 2:07 span in the third period and the Vegas Golden Knights stunned the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Friday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final.
Eichel tied it, then set up Barbashev for the go-ahead goal with 8:38 remaining. Barbashev added an empty-netter with 1:03 remaining. The comeback stunned the capacity crowd and wiped out the top-seeded Avalanche’s 1-0 lead.
By winning twice at Ball Arena, the Golden Knights put the Avalanche in a huge hole. Since 1982, road teams that started 2-0 in the conference finals have a 13-0 series record.
Carter Hart had another stellar performance, stopping 29 shots. He made 36 saves in a 4-2 win on Wednesday.
Colorado was cruising after Ross Colton opened the scoring in the first period.
Eichel lined a shot past Scott Wedgewood for his first goal in 11 games to get Vegas on the board. The Golden Knights then took advantage of a turnover as Eichel sent a pass to Barbashev, who rang in a shot off the post.
Game 3 is Sunday in Las Vegas. The Avalanche are hoping to have star defenseman Cale Makar back in the lineup. He has missed the last two games because of an upper-body injury.
Before the Golden Knights’ rally, the Avalanche were 45-0-0 when leading after two periods in the regular season and playoffs combined.
Vegas struggled on the power play, going 0 of 4. The team also saw defenseman Brayden McNabb limp to the locker room in the first period soon after taking a check along the boards. He returned for the third period.
Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson briefly left late in the second period after delivering a check on Barbashev and then ramming his face into the boards.
Taylor spent the majority of his career as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he won two World Series titles.
He helped lead the Dodgers to their first World Series championship in over 30 years, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in a six-game series back in 2020.
He won the second title of his career with the Dodgers winning a five-game series against the New York Yankees in 2024.
Among his career accolades, which include an All-Star nod in 2021, Taylor was named the co-National League Championship Series MVP, along with teammate Justin Turner, in 2017 after Los Angeles beat the Chicago Cubs. Taylor had a 1.221 OPS, three runs batted in and two home runs during that series, which sent the Dodgers to the Fall Classic for the first time in 29 years.
Chris Taylor: 10 years with the Dodgers, 2017 NLCS MVP, 2021 All-Star, 2x World Champ — an impactful career. https://t.co/O57vUpHxE7
He started his career as a member of the Seattle Mariners after he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 draft out of the University of Virginia.
After two-plus years in Seattle, he was traded to Los Angeles for Zach Lee in June 2016. He was released by the Dodgers during his 10th season with the club before signing with the Angels as a free agent in 2025. He was released by the Angels in March and returned to the organization nearly a week later. He finished out his career playing in their minor league system, with the Salt Lake Bees.
Chris Taylor's career
Taylor finished his career with 860 hits, 110 home runs, 516 runs and 443 RBI. He also had 91 stolen bases.
He was named an All-Star for the only time in his career in 2021.
Craig Kimbrel throws a pitch during the Mets' May 18 game.
MIAMI — Craig Kimbrel struggled with the Mets, making it hardly surprising — his career numbers aside — that he became a roster casualty on Friday, when he was designated for assignment.
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Jonah Tong was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to give the Mets a fresh bullpen arm as they faced the Marlins.
Kimbrel, who turns 38 next week, owned a 6.00 ERA in 14 appearances for the Mets.
In his most recent outing Wednesday, he allowed two earned runs over 2 ²/₃ innings against the Nationals.
The right-hander has earned 440 career saves during a career that could potentially earn him a Hall of Fame plaque.
Manager Carlos Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns informed Kimbrel of the decision after Thursday’s game in Washington.
Craig Kimbrel throws a pitch during the Mets’ May 18 game. Getty Images
“[Kimbrel] is such a pro, and we appreciate him and have nothing but respect, and wishing him the best,” Mendoza said. “We’ll see what happens here as he goes through waivers.”
Mendoza said it was made clear to Kimbrel that he would be welcomed back if he’s unclaimed.
“That’s what we told him here; we like being selfish here and would like to keep him around,” Mendoza said. “But also understanding there might be some options for him out there, especially with he way he’s been throwing the ball as of late. What he was able to do the other day, he went three ups, that was something he’s never done before in his career and he bounced back well.”
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) celebrates his three-run home run during the first inning of their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, May 22, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Brewers got right down to business tonight. They came after Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski early, and before anyone seemed to know what was happening, the Brewers had the lead. They added to that lead in the second inning, and while Wrobleski settled down and the Brewer offense turned quiet, the early lead proved more than enough for Milwaukee starter Logan Henderson and the relievers who closed this one out. When all was said and done, the Brewers had won their ninth consecutive regular-season game against the Dodgers (though most Brewers fans will only really care about the not-regular-season games sandwiched in between this win and the last one).
Henderson, a player who doesn’t typically walk many batters, looked a little tentative with the game’s first batter, Shohei Ohtani, at the plate, and walked him on five pitches. He went right after Mookie Betts, though, and struck him out on three pitches for the first out. Henderson struck out Freddie Freeman, too, perhaps with the aid of a favorable call on strike two. With Kyle Tucker batting, Ohtani appeared to steal second base, but a Brewers challenge overturned the call and Ohtani was out to end the inning.
Jackson Chourio got the Brewer offense started with a perfectly placed ground ball that made it through the middle of the infield. Brice Turang followed with a better-struck single to center, and the Brewers were in business early with runners on first and second and nobody out. On Wrobleski’s eighth pitch, the first to William Contreras, the Brewer catcher jumped on a slider over the lower-inside part of the plate and crushed it down the left-field line. It stayed inside the foul pole, and the Brewers had a 3-0 lead before they made an out.
Christian Yelich became the first Brewer out when he hit a little pop-up to shortstop, but Andrew Vaughn, the next batter, kept things going with a single to center. Jake Bauers singled, too. Luis Rengifo blooped a single just over Betts at shortstop, too, and six of the first seven Brewers had hits and they had the bases loaded with one out and three runs already in. Sal Frelick was next, and while he couldn’t keep the hit parade going, he did hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Vaughn. Joey Ortiz then walked, which brought Chourio to the plate for the second time in the inning, this time with the bases loaded. Wrobleski left a curveball hanging right over the middle on his first pitch to Chourio, but he was only able to foul it off; Chourio battled for 10 pitches after falling behind 0-2, but ultimately struck out swinging on a high 3-2 fastball that would’ve been ball four. Still: the Brewers punched first, and hard, in the bottom of the first, and handed Henderson a four-run lead.
Henderson got through the second with no trouble (and picked up a couple of strikeouts in the process). The Brewers struck again in the second: with one out, Contreras singled to right. After a Yelich popout, Vaughn hit his fourth double of the year to right-center, Contreras came around to score, and the Brewers extended their lead to 5-0.
Little did we know, the scoring would freeze there for quite a while. Henderson had another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third, and Wrobleski—who barely made it through the first inning and had trouble again in the second—settled in. He had a quick and easy bottom of the third, a 1-2-3 fourth, and erased a leadoff walk with a double play in another three-batter fifth.
Henderson, meanwhile, had a trying fourth inning but got through it without relinquishing the lead. A leadoff single by Ohtani and uncharacteristic walks to Freeman and Andy Pages loaded the bases with two outs, but Max Muncy popped out and the inning was over. Teoscar Hernández hit a leadoff single in the fifth, but Henderson got the next three.
That ended Henderson’s night: he pitched five innings (and threw 85 pitches), allowed just two hits, and didn’t allow any runs. He did walk three batters, which is unusual for Henderson, but he struck out seven and lowered his season ERA to 2.74. Henderson made a little history, too:
Shane Drohan was the first pitcher out of the Brewer bullpen, as he took over in the top of the sixth. Drohan also had some control issues tonight; he walked the leadoff hitter, Betts, and after a strikeout of Freeman, walked Tucker, too. But Pages struck out and Muncy flew out, and the shutout continued. Wrobleski was replaced by Paul Gervase in the bottom of the sixth, and except for a two-out walk to Ortiz, he had no trouble.
The Dodgers finally broke through in the top of the seventh. A fielding error by Rengifo put the leadoff batter, Hernández, on base, and a single by Dalton Rushing put runners on first and second. Pinch-hitter Miguel Rojas flew out to right, Hernández advanced to third, and with runners on the corners and one out, Pat Murphy opted to bring in Aaron Ashby to face Ohtani. Ohtani flew out harmlessly to left, which scored a run, but the Brewers were one out away from getting out of the inning. They got that out when Betts grounded out to third, a play which was challenged (Vaughn had to stretch quite a ways to catch Rengifo’s throw) but upheld on review. After six-and-a-half, the Brewers still led 5-1.
The Brewer half of the seventh went by with nothing except a one-out single for Contreras, his third hit of the game. The Dodgers got a leadoff baserunner in the eighth when Ashby walked Freeman, but Ashby got Tucker and Freeman was out at second on a Pages ground ball. Muncy was hit by a pitch, and with Hernández coming up, Murphy opted for the matchup and brought in the right-handed Chad Patrick. Patrick got Hernández to ground out to first, and the inning was over.
Milwaukee went quietly in the bottom of the eighth. Patrick stayed on for the ninth, and quickly got three harmless flyouts. Just under a week after his first career save, Patrick had his second.
Credit to Wrobleski for settling things down after Milwaukee’s early explosion, but with the way this team has been pitching lately, five runs was more than enough. Henderson didn’t look quite as sharp as he has in some of his other outings, but there’s no arguing with five scoreless innings. Since rejoining the rotation in early May, he’s allowed just five earned runs in 21 innings (a 2.14 ERA).
Offensively, Contreras was the big star. He was 3-for-4 with the big hit of the night, the first-inning three-run homer that ultimately provided the Brewers with everything they needed. Vaughn also had a nice night, as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored.
The Brewers will go for another series victory and a fifth straight win (and ten straight regular-season games against the Dodgers) tomorrow evening. Roki Sasaki and Robert Gasser will face off in that one, with first pitch at 6:15 p.m.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 22: Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after an RBI double during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 22, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Entering the eighth inning down by a run, the Tampa Bay Rays did what they have done all year. They found a way. This time, they turned a one run deficit into a three-run lead in a matter of six batters and flipped the script in the Bronx. Facing reliever Tim Hill, Simpson reached on an error by Jose Caballero to start the inning. Caminero singled up the middle and Simpson took the extra bag advancing to third. With runners on the corners, Aranda doubled to tie the game at 1-1. The Yankees then intentionally walked Diaz to load the bases with nobody out. Palacios promptly delivered with a ground ball single that deflected off of Hill’s glove and over a leaping Caballero. Two runs scored and the Rays took a 3-1 lead. Vilade then drove home a pinch running Willaims to extend the lead to 4-1.
Prior to the eventful top of the eighth, this game was basically all Yankees, despite the slim one run margin. Gerrit Cole, making his first start since the 2024 World Series, was dominant. Had he not been making what was essentially another rehab start at the major league level, he may have gone the distance tonight.
Opposite Cole was Nick Martinex who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. he too was great, but made one mistake more than Cole and left after six trailing. Nonetheless, he did his job and kept it close.
This game felt like it could get away from the Rays at any moment. The Yankees had traffic on the bases in each of the six innings Martinez worked. In the first, he worked around a leadoff double. In the second, he worked around a leadoff single. In the third, another leadoff double. In the fourth, a two out single.
In the fifth, Wells finally tagged Martinez and sent a solo blast over the wall in right-center to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. It was Well’s fourth homer of the year, and second off Martinez. Grisham then singled, and again Martinex worked around it.
In the third, the Yankees almost broke through, but Johnny DeLuca had other plans as he gunned down Grisham at the plate on what would have been a RBI-single by Ben Rice.
Martinez tossed six innings of one run baseball, allowing nine hits while striking out and walking one.
Cole settled in nicely after working around a first inning a pair of baserunners in the first. He retired ten in a row and didn’t allow the Rays their second hit of the game until the fifth inning. He finished with six shutout innings allowing just two hits, three walks. He punched out a pair.
Baker came on in the ninth to close the door with the Rays up 4-2 and did just that despite allowing a one out walk to Austin Wells, which allowed Judge a chance to tie it with one swing of the bat. Judge came close but remained mired in his slump, ending the game on a flyball to left center.
With the win the Rays moved to a MLB-best 34-15 and 5.5 games up on the Yankees (up 7 games in the loss column). Over their last 26 games, they are now 22-4.
MESA, AZ - OCTOBER 18: JP Wheat #22 of the Mesa Solar Sox pitches during the game between the Glendale Desert Dogs and the Mesa Solar Sox at Sloan Park on Saturday, October 18, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Javier Assad started and gave up five runs in the first inning. He settled down after that, but he still got the loss. The final line on Assad was five runs on six hits over 3.2 innings. He walked two and struck out one.
First baseman BJ Murray drove in all four Iowa runs with two-run double in the first inning and another two-run single in the second. Murray was 2 for 4.
The Smokies were leading 1-0 in the second inning when the game was suspended because of weather. They’ll finish the game on Saturday followed by a seven-inning regularly-scheduled game.
It wasn’t a great start for Cole Reynolds, who allowed four runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings. He walked one and struck out four.
Three Cubs relievers didn’t give up a hit or a run the rest of the way. Adam Stone did walk in a runner inherited from Reynolds, but he got the win after pitching 1.2 innings. Stone walked four and struck out no one.
JP Wheat turned in one of his best outings with two innings. Wheat struck out three and walked one.
Ethan Bell retired the side in order in the ninth for the save. He struck out two.
Catcher Justin Stransky hit an RBI double int he second inning. He finished the night 1 for 4.
Right fielder Leonel Espinoza gave the Cubs a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning with an RBI single. He went 2 for 4. He scored on Stransky’s double.
Shortstop Ty Southisene and DH Kane Kepley pulled off a double-steal of second and home respectively in the seventh. Southisene went 1 for 4 with a hit by pitch. He scored once. Kepley went 1 for 5 and scored twice.
It was a great Myrtle Beach debut for last year’s fourth-round pick Kaleb Wing. Wing pitched four scoreless innings and gave up just one hit. That runner was thrown out stealing so the hit batter he had in the fourth meant he only faced one over the minimum. Wing struck out six.
Victor Zarraga pitched the next two innings and took the loss after giving up all three runs on three hits and three walks. Zarraga struck out one.
Third baseman Yahil Melendez doubled home two in the fourth inning. He was 2 for 4.
Second baseman Jose Escobar went 2 for 4 and scored once.
Some Wing highlights.
Kaleb Wing through four scoreless ends in his Myrtle Beach debut. He allowed one hit and struck out six. pic.twitter.com/U50EgD0leR
He entered Friday’s game maybe a little later than fans expected, but Mets right-hander Jonah Tong looked fantastic in his season debut against the Miami Marlins.
Tong, promoted on Friday morning with the expectation of pitching at some point during the weekend series in Miami, finished the series opener by going three scoreless innings and facing the minimum while striking out two.
“Great,” Tong said about being back with the big league club. “It was awesome to be out there with the boys again.”
There’s no doubt that Tong has the potential to be a special pitcher for the Mets, but after his promotion last year which followed his meteoric rise through the minor league system and ended with him making five starts for New York and pitching to a 7.71 ERA (1.77 WHIP), it’s good to see the 22-year-old return with a flourish.
In fact, not only did Tong struggle at times in his first taste at the big league level, he had a 5.68 ERA this season in nine starts at Triple-A.
“Very encouraging,” said manager Carlos Mendoza about Tong’s outing. “The velo, the fastball, the way that it was playing. The changeup was good, he attacked, the curveball. He gave us a chance.”
In the end, the Mets lost 2-1 after their offense, outside of Juan Soto, couldn’t muster much of anything.
But Tong, who entered in the sixth inning with his team down a run, kept the Marlins hitless over three innings in his first appearance as a reliever since 2024, when he was pitching for Single-A St. Lucie.
Nevertheless, the youngster wasn’t going to let that stop him from returning with a vengeance.
“I’ve done it in the past, especially growing up,” Tong said about pitching in relief “… Treat it no different and I’m thankful for all the vets that are around here and it’s just allowed me to have someone to talk to.”
While Tong is certainly surrounded by experienced veterans on the team who he can lean on, there are also a bunch of other rookies with the club now that might make him feel at ease, too.
Three of those rookies, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing and Nick Morabito, actually flanked the outfield together for the first time this season.
“All rookie outfield today, which I thought was really special,” Tong said. “I was talking to [Morabito] on the bus today and I just said like it happens very rarely, especially for all these guys coming up around the same time, so it was awesome.”
As for his own growth and how he’s changed as a pitcher since looking a bit overwhelmed at times in the majors, Tong has definitely used that experience to help him improve, but also believes the road to reaching one’s full potential can be bumpy and he isn’t dismayed by the results he saw last year.
“Development is never a straight line and I just think that [I need to] stick with the process,” he said. “Our coaches down in Triple-A have always preached that and they have all the confidence in me, so why not have the confidence in myself?”
If Tong can continue to pitch like he did on Friday night, he will earn the confidence of more than just his Triple-A coaches.
May 22, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) and left fielder Yohendrick Pinango (24) celebrate a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Pirates 2 Blue Jays 6
That game had everything. Good pitching. Timely hits. Good defense. And stuff to argue about.
Let’s start with that.
In the eighth, Mason Fluharty started the inning with a walk and a single. In comes Louis Varland. He gets:
A wild pitch and a Bryan Reynolds ground out, scoring one and moving the, then, tying run to third. Ten pitches.
A much needed strikeout. Three pitches.
And a Jhostynxon Garcia ground out to end the inning. No I didn’t just make up that name. Yes I copied and pasted it. One pitch.
Great job by Varland to get out of the inning with us still winning. And he used 14 pitches.
The Jays scored three in the bottom of the inning, With Yariel Rodriguez warming up.
Double off the left field wall (right on the foul line) by Ernie Clement. There was a lot of discussion, on the field, about whether it was a homer or a double.
Jesús Sánchez also doubled, to the wall in right.
Brandon Valenzuela came up and tried to bunt, but, after a couple of attempts, Myles Straw (who was pinch running for Sanchez) noticed the Pirates third baseman was come down the third base line on the bunt attempt and stole third, being the 3B back to the bag. Valenzuela ended up walking.
Andrés Giménez after I said ‘hitting great with RISP, wasn’t a skill set’, struck out.
George Springer doubled down the right field line. The ball got stuck between the padding and a mesh ‘window’, giving us PTSD from last year’s playoffs. Both runners scored.
Vladimir Guerrero ground out and Daulton Varsho struck out.
We were up 6-2 and I figured John would go with Rodriguez, to save Varland some bullets for the weekend. If Yariel can’t get us out of the inning with a four-run lead, he shouldn’t be on the team.
They left Varland in. And he got through the ninth without a runner getting on. Two strikeouts and a ground out, on 17 pitches. 31 pitches on the night. I’d guess he won’t be available tomorrow. Maybe Sunday.
Kevin Gausman was terrific. 6.2 innings, 6 hits, 1 earned, 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. He was in control all the way. Or at least until he let the first two on in the seventh, but after getting two John came out to talk to him and apparently, Kevin didn’t make the case for staying in and Mason Fluhardy came in for the last out of the inning.
Mason had less luck in the eight, but we covered that above.
We got three in the third inning. Springer reached on catcher’s interference. He’s great at that. Vlad singled (George hustled to third). Varsho reached on a Spencer Horwitz error, scoring one. Kazuma Okamoto struck out, but Yohendrick Piñango doubled home two more. He crushed it, 114.8 mph. Clement struck out and Sanchez flied out (but they would help later).
And that was all our scoring until the eighth.
Bubba Chandler gave us some trouble early, but seemed to tire. I’m sure it is hard on a body to throw 100 mph.
We only managed five hits, but four of them were doubles. But took seven walks (and fifteen strikeouts). Okamoto and Gimenez were the only two in the lineup not to reach base (and they had seven strikeouts between them).
Jays of the Day: Gausman (0.19 WPA), Varland (0.19), Varsho (0.12) and Vlad (0.11).
Other Award: Okamoto (-0.12). He did have an amazing defensive play.
Tomorrow we have game two with the Pirates. A 3:00 Eastern start time. We get to see if the Jays can extend their win streak to four games against Paul Skenes (6-3, 2.62), perhaps the best pitcher in baseball. Patrick Corbin (1-1, 4.23) has the job of keeping the game close, so the Jays can beat up on the Pirate relievers.
And, just a heads up, Sunday’s game is an early start, 12:15 Eastern, so as not to interfere we the Leaf playoff game? No that’s not it. I don’t know why it is early.
