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Amed Rosario's two home runs powers Yankees' 5-3 comeback win over Athletics

Amed Rosario hit two home runs to lead the Yankees to a 5-3 comeback win over the Athletics on Tuesday night at The Stadium.

With the Yanks' offense as cold as the outdoor temperature, Rosario's second blast in the eighth helped New York avoid their first losing streak of the season. 

The Yankees (8-2) have now won the first game of each of their series to start the season.

Here are the takeaways....

-Cam Schlittler started the game by getting behind Nick Kurtz 3-0, but bounced back to strike out Kurtz and Shea Langeliers, throwing six straight strikes. The young right-hander would sit down the first six batters, but the A's led off the third with back-to-back singles. Kurtz would make Schlittler pay with a one-out double to give the A's a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Tyler Soderstrom doubled home the third Athletics run of the inning. 

It's the first runs Schlittler has allowed all year, ending a streak of 15 scoreless to start the season. 

Schlittler would gut through five innings to give the Yankees a chance. He tossed 84 pitches (58 strikes) across those five frames, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks. He also struck out seven batters.

-Rosario started at third base in place of Ryan McMahon and the move by manager Aaron Boone paid off. Rosario got around a 91 mph sinker up and in and deposited it 399 feet over the left field wall to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. 

Aside from that, the Yankees offense could not figure out A's starter Aaron Civale. Civale came into the game with a 6.35 ERA in seven career starts against the Yankees, including a 7.15 ERA in five starts at the Stadium. The right-hander allowed just one run on two hits and four walks while striking out six batters across five innings. 

-The Yankees went 0-for-7 with RISP entering the eighth, but going up against former Yankees reliever Mark Leiter Jr.,Giancarlo Stanton got the team their first hit with RISP with a single to score Cody Bellinger. Rosario followed, two batters later, with a three-run shot to put the Yankees up for good. It's the third time Rosario has had a multi-homer game (8/31/21 & 5/20/18).

-Another bright spot for the Yankees was the bullpen. After allowing four runs in their loss on Sunday, and three in their win on Saturday, they shut down the A's. 

Here's how the bullpen performed...

  • Jake Bird: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K
  • Brent Headrick: 1.0 IP, 2 BB, 3 K
  • Fernando Cruz: 1.1 IP, 2 BB, 1 K
  • David Bednar: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Game MVP: Amed Rosario

The Yankees offense stalled for most of this game, but Rosario's blast woke up the team and the fans. 

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees continue their three-game set with the Athletics on Wednesday night. First pitch of the middle game of the series is set for 7:05 p.m.

Will Warren (1-0, 2.70 ERA) will take the mound against former Yankee Luis Severino (0-1, 6.48 ERA).

Posted on

Amed Rosario's two home runs powers Yankees' 5-3 comeback win over Athletics

Amed Rosario hit two home runs to lead the Yankees to a 5-3 comeback win over the Athletics on Tuesday night at The Stadium.

With the Yanks' offense as cold as the outdoor temperature, Rosario's second blast in the eighth helped New York avoid their first losing streak of the season. 

The Yankees (8-2) have now won the first game of each of their series to start the season.

Here are the takeaways....

-Cam Schlittler started the game by getting behind Nick Kurtz 3-0, but bounced back to strike out Kurtz and Shea Langeliers, throwing six straight strikes. The young right-hander would sit down the first six batters, but the A's led off the third with back-to-back singles. Kurtz would make Schlittler pay with a one-out double to give the A's a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Tyler Soderstrom doubled home the third Athletics run of the inning. 

It's the first runs Schlittler has allowed all year, ending a streak of 15 scoreless to start the season. 

Schlittler would gut through five innings to give the Yankees a chance. He tossed 84 pitches (58 strikes) across those five frames, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks. He also struck out seven batters.

-Rosario started at third base in place of Ryan McMahon and the move by manager Aaron Boone paid off. Rosario got around a 91 mph sinker up and in and deposited it 399 feet over the left field wall to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. 

Aside from that, the Yankees offense could not figure out A's starter Aaron Civale. Civale came into the game with a 6.35 ERA in seven career starts against the Yankees, including a 7.15 ERA in five starts at the Stadium. The right-hander allowed just one run on two hits and four walks while striking out six batters across five innings. 

-The Yankees went 0-for-7 with RISP entering the eighth, but going up against former Yankees reliever Mark Leiter Jr.,Giancarlo Stanton got the team their first hit with RISP with a single to score Cody Bellinger. Rosario followed, two batters later, with a three-run shot to put the Yankees up for good. It's the third time Rosario has had a multi-homer game (8/31/21 & 5/20/18).

-Another bright spot for the Yankees was the bullpen. After allowing four runs in their loss on Sunday, and three in their win on Saturday, they shut down the A's. 

Here's how the bullpen performed...

  • Jake Bird: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K
  • Brent Headrick: 1.0 IP, 2 BB, 3 K
  • Fernando Cruz: 1.1 IP, 2 BB, 1 K
  • David Bednar: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Game MVP: Amed Rosario

The Yankees offense stalled for most of this game, but Rosario's blast woke up the team and the fans. 

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees continue their three-game set with the Athletics on Wednesday night. First pitch of the middle game of the series is set for 7:05 p.m.

Will Warren (1-0, 2.70 ERA) will take the mound against former Yankee Luis Severino (0-1, 6.48 ERA).

Posted on

Amed Rosario's two home runs powers Yankees' 5-3 comeback win over Athletics

Amed Rosario hit two home runs to lead the Yankees to a 5-3 comeback win over the Athletics on Tuesday night at The Stadium.

With the Yanks' offense as cold as the outdoor temperature, Rosario's second blast in the eighth helped New York avoid their first losing streak of the season. 

The Yankees (8-2) have now won the first game of each of their series to start the season.

Here are the takeaways....

-Cam Schlittler started the game by getting behind Nick Kurtz 3-0, but bounced back to strike out Kurtz and Shea Langeliers, throwing six straight strikes. The young right-hander would sit down the first six batters, but the A's led off the third with back-to-back singles. Kurtz would make Schlittler pay with a one-out double to give the A's a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Tyler Soderstrom doubled home the third Athletics run of the inning. 

It's the first runs Schlittler has allowed all year, ending a streak of 15 scoreless to start the season. 

Schlittler would gut through five innings to give the Yankees a chance. He tossed 84 pitches (58 strikes) across those five frames, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks. He also struck out seven batters.

-Rosario started at third base in place of Ryan McMahon and the move by manager Aaron Boone paid off. Rosario got around a 91 mph sinker up and in and deposited it 399 feet over the left field wall to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. 

Aside from that, the Yankees offense could not figure out A's starter Aaron Civale. Civale came into the game with a 6.35 ERA in seven career starts against the Yankees, including a 7.15 ERA in five starts at the Stadium. The right-hander allowed just one run on two hits and four walks while striking out six batters across five innings. 

-The Yankees went 0-for-7 with RISP entering the eighth, but going up against former Yankees reliever Mark Leiter Jr.,Giancarlo Stanton got the team their first hit with RISP with a single to score Cody Bellinger. Rosario followed, two batters later, with a three-run shot to put the Yankees up for good. It's the third time Rosario has had a multi-homer game (8/31/21 & 5/20/18).

-Another bright spot for the Yankees was the bullpen. After allowing four runs in their loss on Sunday, and three in their win on Saturday, they shut down the A's. 

Here's how the bullpen performed...

  • Jake Bird: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K
  • Brent Headrick: 1.0 IP, 2 BB, 3 K
  • Fernando Cruz: 1.1 IP, 2 BB, 1 K
  • David Bednar: 1.0 IP, 1 K

Game MVP: Amed Rosario

The Yankees offense stalled for most of this game, but Rosario's blast woke up the team and the fans. 

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees continue their three-game set with the Athletics on Wednesday night. First pitch of the middle game of the series is set for 7:05 p.m.

Will Warren (1-0, 2.70 ERA) will take the mound against former Yankee Luis Severino (0-1, 6.48 ERA).

Posted on

Jays Lose to Dodgers, 4-1

TORONTO, ON - April 7 Jesus Sanchez (12) of the Jays is safe at second in the second on a double as Hyeseong Kim (6) of the Dodgers can't apply the tag in time.The Toronto Blue Jays played the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Rogers Centre in MLB baseball actionApril 7 2026 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images

But hey, at least nobody seems to have gotten hurt.

Kevin Gausman had a strong first two innings. He walked Shohei Ohtani to start the game, but then retired the next six Dodgers. They go to him in the third, though. Hyeseong Kim lead offf with a line double to centre, then Alex Freeland laid down a sac bunt that he actually beat out to put men on the corners. An Ohtani single cashed one runner, and a Will Smith fielder’s choice plated another, staking LA to a 2-0 lead. He bounced back, getting out of that inning and retiring the side in the fourth.

LA added on in the fifth. Kim walked, then advanced to second on what looked to me like a pretty questionable balk call. John Schneider protested and got himself tossed. It was an extremely quick hook, before Schneider appeared to even raise his voice. Either home plate ump Dan Marzel is having a bad day, or Schneider said something to get the heave and try to fire up the troops. Anyway, that set Kim up to come home to score on a Freeland line single. Gausman was able to stop the bleeding there, getting a strikeout and a pair of fly outs.

Freddie Freeman opened the sixth with a ground ball single. Gauman got Teoscar Hernandez swinging, but another ground single by Andy Pages knocked him out of the game. Mason Fluharty got the call to face the lefty Max Muncy, grounding him out and then getting Kim swinging to preserve the margin at three. Overall it wasn’t a great outing for Gausman, but it was serviceable. He allowed three runs over 5.1 innings, conceding five hits and two walks with five Ks.

On the other side, a lineup that’s been struggling for a week did not show signs of breaking out against Yoshinobu Yamamoto early on. He struck out the side in the first, then erased a Jesus Sanchez double with a couple pop outs and another K in the second. He got back to facing the minimum at that point, retiring a full turn of the lineup in order over the next three innings. Andres Gimenez broke the streak, leading off the sixth with a soft single to right. One batter later, George Springer lined a double to the wall in right to finally get the Jays on the board. A Daulton Varsho walk put the tying run aboard, but a pair of ground outs prevented them from capitalizing.

Fluharty came back out to start the seventh, giving up a double to Freeland but then getting Ohtany to fly out and striking out Kyle Tucker. That was the end of his night, as Louis Varland was summoned to handle the rightie Will Smith. He got his man, with a harmless fly to right.

Moto on Moto violence opened the bottom of the seventh, as Kazuma Okamoto won a challenge to stay alive and then took a Yamamoto fastball off the wall in centre for a double. Ernie Clement followed by bunting for a single, which knocked the Dodgers starter out of the game. Reliever Alex Vesia walked pinch hitter Davis Schneider, loading the bases. It would be another squandered opportunity, though, as a pair of soft fly outs and a strikeout ended the inning.

Varland came back for the eighth, retiring the side with a pair of Ks. Blake Treinen didn’t strike anyone out in the bottom half, but he didn’t give up a base runner either.

The Dodgers added an insurance run in the ninth. Jeff Hoffman got the first two batters swinging. Freeland hit a soft grounder into the second base hole. Vlad made a play on the ball but missed his throw to the bag to allow Freeland to reach. Brandon Valenzuela backed him up, but tried a sneak throw to get Freeland stepping off first and sailed the throw into right, allowing the runner to advance. A Kyle Tucker single scored him before Hoffman got a pop out to end the inning. They didn’t wind up needing the extra breathing room, as closer Edwin Diaz worked around a walk to Clement and a Gimenez line single to escape the bottom of the ninth without the Jays managing to close the gap.

Jays of the Day: Clement (0.10)

Less so: Gausman (-0.12), Vlad (-0.13), Valenzuela (-0.18 and an error)

Mercifully, we only have one more against LA and then an off day. They’ll have to deal with Shohei Ohtani (1-0, 0.00), but they do get to send Dylan Cease (0-0, 2.79) out themselves. First pitch goes at 3:07pm ET.

Posted on

Jays Lose to Dodgers, 4-1

TORONTO, ON - April 7 Jesus Sanchez (12) of the Jays is safe at second in the second on a double as Hyeseong Kim (6) of the Dodgers can't apply the tag in time.The Toronto Blue Jays played the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Rogers Centre in MLB baseball actionApril 7 2026 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images

But hey, at least nobody seems to have gotten hurt.

Kevin Gausman had a strong first two innings. He walked Shohei Ohtani to start the game, but then retired the next six Dodgers. They go to him in the third, though. Hyeseong Kim lead offf with a line double to centre, then Alex Freeland laid down a sac bunt that he actually beat out to put men on the corners. An Ohtani single cashed one runner, and a Will Smith fielder’s choice plated another, staking LA to a 2-0 lead. He bounced back, getting out of that inning and retiring the side in the fourth.

LA added on in the fifth. Kim walked, then advanced to second on what looked to me like a pretty questionable balk call. John Schneider protested and got himself tossed. It was an extremely quick hook, before Schneider appeared to even raise his voice. Either home plate ump Dan Marzel is having a bad day, or Schneider said something to get the heave and try to fire up the troops. Anyway, that set Kim up to come home to score on a Freeland line single. Gausman was able to stop the bleeding there, getting a strikeout and a pair of fly outs.

Freddie Freeman opened the sixth with a ground ball single. Gauman got Teoscar Hernandez swinging, but another ground single by Andy Pages knocked him out of the game. Mason Fluharty got the call to face the lefty Max Muncy, grounding him out and then getting Kim swinging to preserve the margin at three. Overall it wasn’t a great outing for Gausman, but it was serviceable. He allowed three runs over 5.1 innings, conceding five hits and two walks with five Ks.

On the other side, a lineup that’s been struggling for a week did not show signs of breaking out against Yoshinobu Yamamoto early on. He struck out the side in the first, then erased a Jesus Sanchez double with a couple pop outs and another K in the second. He got back to facing the minimum at that point, retiring a full turn of the lineup in order over the next three innings. Andres Gimenez broke the streak, leading off the sixth with a soft single to right. One batter later, George Springer lined a double to the wall in right to finally get the Jays on the board. A Daulton Varsho walk put the tying run aboard, but a pair of ground outs prevented them from capitalizing.

Fluharty came back out to start the seventh, giving up a double to Freeland but then getting Ohtany to fly out and striking out Kyle Tucker. That was the end of his night, as Louis Varland was summoned to handle the rightie Will Smith. He got his man, with a harmless fly to right.

Moto on Moto violence opened the bottom of the seventh, as Kazuma Okamoto won a challenge to stay alive and then took a Yamamoto fastball off the wall in centre for a double. Ernie Clement followed by bunting for a single, which knocked the Dodgers starter out of the game. Reliever Alex Vesia walked pinch hitter Davis Schneider, loading the bases. It would be another squandered opportunity, though, as a pair of soft fly outs and a strikeout ended the inning.

Varland came back for the eighth, retiring the side with a pair of Ks. Blake Treinen didn’t strike anyone out in the bottom half, but he didn’t give up a base runner either.

The Dodgers added an insurance run in the ninth. Jeff Hoffman got the first two batters swinging. Freeland hit a soft grounder into the second base hole. Vlad made a play on the ball but missed his throw to the bag to allow Freeland to reach. Brandon Valenzuela backed him up, but tried a sneak throw to get Freeland stepping off first and sailed the throw into right, allowing the runner to advance. A Kyle Tucker single scored him before Hoffman got a pop out to end the inning. They didn’t wind up needing the extra breathing room, as closer Edwin Diaz worked around a walk to Clement and a Gimenez line single to escape the bottom of the ninth without the Jays managing to close the gap.

Jays of the Day: Clement (0.10)

Less so: Gausman (-0.12), Vlad (-0.13), Valenzuela (-0.18 and an error)

Mercifully, we only have one more against LA and then an off day. They’ll have to deal with Shohei Ohtani (1-0, 0.00), but they do get to send Dylan Cease (0-0, 2.79) out themselves. First pitch goes at 3:07pm ET.

Posted on

Jays Lose to Dodgers, 4-1

TORONTO, ON - April 7 Jesus Sanchez (12) of the Jays is safe at second in the second on a double as Hyeseong Kim (6) of the Dodgers can't apply the tag in time.The Toronto Blue Jays played the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Rogers Centre in MLB baseball actionApril 7 2026 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images

But hey, at least nobody seems to have gotten hurt.

Kevin Gausman had a strong first two innings. He walked Shohei Ohtani to start the game, but then retired the next six Dodgers. They go to him in the third, though. Hyeseong Kim lead offf with a line double to centre, then Alex Freeland laid down a sac bunt that he actually beat out to put men on the corners. An Ohtani single cashed one runner, and a Will Smith fielder’s choice plated another, staking LA to a 2-0 lead. He bounced back, getting out of that inning and retiring the side in the fourth.

LA added on in the fifth. Kim walked, then advanced to second on what looked to me like a pretty questionable balk call. John Schneider protested and got himself tossed. It was an extremely quick hook, before Schneider appeared to even raise his voice. Either home plate ump Dan Marzel is having a bad day, or Schneider said something to get the heave and try to fire up the troops. Anyway, that set Kim up to come home to score on a Freeland line single. Gausman was able to stop the bleeding there, getting a strikeout and a pair of fly outs.

Freddie Freeman opened the sixth with a ground ball single. Gauman got Teoscar Hernandez swinging, but another ground single by Andy Pages knocked him out of the game. Mason Fluharty got the call to face the lefty Max Muncy, grounding him out and then getting Kim swinging to preserve the margin at three. Overall it wasn’t a great outing for Gausman, but it was serviceable. He allowed three runs over 5.1 innings, conceding five hits and two walks with five Ks.

On the other side, a lineup that’s been struggling for a week did not show signs of breaking out against Yoshinobu Yamamoto early on. He struck out the side in the first, then erased a Jesus Sanchez double with a couple pop outs and another K in the second. He got back to facing the minimum at that point, retiring a full turn of the lineup in order over the next three innings. Andres Gimenez broke the streak, leading off the sixth with a soft single to right. One batter later, George Springer lined a double to the wall in right to finally get the Jays on the board. A Daulton Varsho walk put the tying run aboard, but a pair of ground outs prevented them from capitalizing.

Fluharty came back out to start the seventh, giving up a double to Freeland but then getting Ohtany to fly out and striking out Kyle Tucker. That was the end of his night, as Louis Varland was summoned to handle the rightie Will Smith. He got his man, with a harmless fly to right.

Moto on Moto violence opened the bottom of the seventh, as Kazuma Okamoto won a challenge to stay alive and then took a Yamamoto fastball off the wall in centre for a double. Ernie Clement followed by bunting for a single, which knocked the Dodgers starter out of the game. Reliever Alex Vesia walked pinch hitter Davis Schneider, loading the bases. It would be another squandered opportunity, though, as a pair of soft fly outs and a strikeout ended the inning.

Varland came back for the eighth, retiring the side with a pair of Ks. Blake Treinen didn’t strike anyone out in the bottom half, but he didn’t give up a base runner either.

The Dodgers added an insurance run in the ninth. Jeff Hoffman got the first two batters swinging. Freeland hit a soft grounder into the second base hole. Vlad made a play on the ball but missed his throw to the bag to allow Freeland to reach. Brandon Valenzuela backed him up, but tried a sneak throw to get Freeland stepping off first and sailed the throw into right, allowing the runner to advance. A Kyle Tucker single scored him before Hoffman got a pop out to end the inning. They didn’t wind up needing the extra breathing room, as closer Edwin Diaz worked around a walk to Clement and a Gimenez line single to escape the bottom of the ninth without the Jays managing to close the gap.

Jays of the Day: Clement (0.10)

Less so: Gausman (-0.12), Vlad (-0.13), Valenzuela (-0.18 and an error)

Mercifully, we only have one more against LA and then an off day. They’ll have to deal with Shohei Ohtani (1-0, 0.00), but they do get to send Dylan Cease (0-0, 2.79) out themselves. First pitch goes at 3:07pm ET.

Posted on

Mets' comeback spirit product of pinch-hit heroics, tough bullpen

The 2025 Mets had a terrible time turning around games late. Through 11 games of the 2026 season, the Mets are showing a penchant for late-inning drama.

“We’re never out of games,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after his club’s 4-3 win that saw them score one run in the eighth to tie it before Ronny Mauricio's walk-off hit in the 10th.

“We’re gonna continue to grind at-bats, and it’s a good feeling in the dugout. Understanding that we get one guy on, we got the ability to keep the line moving. And it’s good to see it this early,” he said of the comeback culture being established in the season’s first fortnight.

Before Tuesday’s heroics, the Mets overturned a one-run deficit in the 11th for a win over Pittsburgh and a 2-1 deficit with a four-run eighth for a win in San Francisco.

Mendoza called last year’s stats – which had the Mets going 0-70 when trailing after eight innings – “crazy.”

“It’s hard to explain, it’s baseball,” the skipper said. “Here we are within the first 10, 11 games, coming back, it’s good to see.

“I think it’s guys trusting each other, trusting their preparation, their game plan, not panicking, and just continuing to have fun, and continue to have good at-bats.”

And part of being able to come back is the bullpen keeping the game close. On Tuesday, the Mets’ final four relievers came into the game looking to keep the deficit to one run, and they delivered five shutout innings, capped by Devin Williams and Luke Weaver in the ninth and 10th.

"They are used to pitching in high-leverage situations,” Mendoza said of Williams and Weaver. “That's what we brought them in for, to lock games down, to keep games in there for us, and today was a perfect example.”

So far, the bullpen has allowed just seven runs over its first 43.1 innings, second-fewest in baseball, and is holding opponents to a .213 average, seventh-lowest.

Pushing the right buttons

The decision to send up Ronny Mauricio in the 10th may have been Mendoza’s best call of the day, but it only came about because he pushed the right button earlier in the game, too.

On Sunday, Jared Young was called upon to fill in for Brett Baty and make just his second-ever start in the outfield. He went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and collected an outfield assist before he was substituted for pinch-hitter Luis Torrens, who hit the game-winning two-RBI double.

On Tuesday, he was called who was called upon to pinch-hit with runners on the corners and one out in the eighth inning and came through with the game-tying sacrifice fly.

“He’s gonna continue to give you professional at-bats,” Mendoza said, adding that it was likely just the wind that kept Young’s fly ball to right from being a three-run home run. “It’s one of those nights that that ball doesn’t go out, but it was like 107 [mph off the bat] with a 39 [degree launch angle]. That ball should be in the bullpen.”

“He’s a pro,” the skipper continued. “He’s another guy that understands his role. Another guy that, even though his name is not in the lineup, he knows opportunities are coming.”

Mendoza said that with the Diamondbacks’ righty-heavy bullpen, there were a couple of pitchers he was targeting who would present matchup troubles for his righty batters. Jonathan Loáisiga was one of them, which is why he lifted Mark Vientos, who has been swinging a hot bat himself, for Young in that situation.

“You watch the inning unfold,” he said, mentioning hits from lefties Jorge Polanco and Baty, “the game is basically telling you to continue to trust your guts there.”

“And as hard as it is to take the bat away from Mark,” the skipper added, “it’s first and third, double-play is in play, Loáisiga is a big-time groundball pitcher. You got a pretty good left-handed bat off the bench, I felt like I needed to do it. I’m glad he got the job done.”

Hold onto your hats

The Mets moved the start time of Tuesday’s game up by three hours because of the expected cold temperatures and windy conditions, but there was no escaping the cold and wind even with the mid-afternoon first pitch. 

“Tough conditions overall,” Mendoza said. “With how windy it was, that ball was moving pretty much everywhere.”

“Crazy,” starter Freddy Peralta said of the conditions. “It was a battle. From the first pitch of the game, I knew. I was a little uncomfortable. But it’s gonna happen. We’re gonna have days like that.”

Was it the wind or the cold? “It was a little bit of everything,” the starter said, “but it was more the wind. It was coming straight from [behind] home plate to me, but I was trying to make adjustments.”  

Weaver said it is all part of the game. 

“The winds kinda blowing in pretty hard in your face,” Weaver said. “I don’t know. I’m in a box most of the game, so the heat is on and it feels pretty good until you get out into the climates. You’re really hoping to be efficient. 

“But at the end of the day, it’s early in the season, you know you’re gonna get this every year. And then it’s gonna get really hot and then we’re gonna complain about that, too. And then we’ll get to September and we’ll be right back to where we started. Just happy to be here.”

Posted on

Mets' comeback spirit product of pinch-hit heroics, tough bullpen

The 2025 Mets had a terrible time turning around games late. Through 11 games of the 2026 season, the Mets are showing a penchant for late-inning drama.

“We’re never out of games,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after his club’s 4-3 win that saw them score one run in the eighth to tie it before Ronny Mauricio's walk-off hit in the 10th.

“We’re gonna continue to grind at-bats, and it’s a good feeling in the dugout. Understanding that we get one guy on, we got the ability to keep the line moving. And it’s good to see it this early,” he said of the comeback culture being established in the season’s first fortnight.

Before Tuesday’s heroics, the Mets overturned a one-run deficit in the 11th for a win over Pittsburgh and a 2-1 deficit with a four-run eighth for a win in San Francisco.

Mendoza called last year’s stats – which had the Mets going 0-70 when trailing after eight innings – “crazy.”

“It’s hard to explain, it’s baseball,” the skipper said. “Here we are within the first 10, 11 games, coming back, it’s good to see.

“I think it’s guys trusting each other, trusting their preparation, their game plan, not panicking, and just continuing to have fun, and continue to have good at-bats.”

And part of being able to come back is the bullpen keeping the game close. On Tuesday, the Mets’ final four relievers came into the game looking to keep the deficit to one run, and they delivered five shutout innings, capped by Devin Williams and Luke Weaver in the ninth and 10th.

"They are used to pitching in high-leverage situations,” Mendoza said of Williams and Weaver. “That's what we brought them in for, to lock games down, to keep games in there for us, and today was a perfect example.”

So far, the bullpen has allowed just seven runs over its first 43.1 innings, second-fewest in baseball, and is holding opponents to a .213 average, seventh-lowest.

Pushing the right buttons

The decision to send up Ronny Mauricio in the 10th may have been Mendoza’s best call of the day, but it only came about because he pushed the right button earlier in the game, too.

On Sunday, Jared Young was called upon to fill in for Brett Baty and make just his second-ever start in the outfield. He went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and collected an outfield assist before he was substituted for pinch-hitter Luis Torrens, who hit the game-winning two-RBI double.

On Tuesday, he was called who was called upon to pinch-hit with runners on the corners and one out in the eighth inning and came through with the game-tying sacrifice fly.

“He’s gonna continue to give you professional at-bats,” Mendoza said, adding that it was likely just the wind that kept Young’s fly ball to right from being a three-run home run. “It’s one of those nights that that ball doesn’t go out, but it was like 107 [mph off the bat] with a 39 [degree launch angle]. That ball should be in the bullpen.”

“He’s a pro,” the skipper continued. “He’s another guy that understands his role. Another guy that, even though his name is not in the lineup, he knows opportunities are coming.”

Mendoza said that with the Diamondbacks’ righty-heavy bullpen, there were a couple of pitchers he was targeting who would present matchup troubles for his righty batters. Jonathan Loáisiga was one of them, which is why he lifted Mark Vientos, who has been swinging a hot bat himself, for Young in that situation.

“You watch the inning unfold,” he said, mentioning hits from lefties Jorge Polanco and Baty, “the game is basically telling you to continue to trust your guts there.”

“And as hard as it is to take the bat away from Mark,” the skipper added, “it’s first and third, double-play is in play, Loáisiga is a big-time groundball pitcher. You got a pretty good left-handed bat off the bench, I felt like I needed to do it. I’m glad he got the job done.”

Hold onto your hats

The Mets moved the start time of Tuesday’s game up by three hours because of the expected cold temperatures and windy conditions, but there was no escaping the cold and wind even with the mid-afternoon first pitch. 

“Tough conditions overall,” Mendoza said. “With how windy it was, that ball was moving pretty much everywhere.”

“Crazy,” starter Freddy Peralta said of the conditions. “It was a battle. From the first pitch of the game, I knew. I was a little uncomfortable. But it’s gonna happen. We’re gonna have days like that.”

Was it the wind or the cold? “It was a little bit of everything,” the starter said, “but it was more the wind. It was coming straight from [behind] home plate to me, but I was trying to make adjustments.”  

Weaver said it is all part of the game. 

“The winds kinda blowing in pretty hard in your face,” Weaver said. “I don’t know. I’m in a box most of the game, so the heat is on and it feels pretty good until you get out into the climates. You’re really hoping to be efficient. 

“But at the end of the day, it’s early in the season, you know you’re gonna get this every year. And then it’s gonna get really hot and then we’re gonna complain about that, too. And then we’ll get to September and we’ll be right back to where we started. Just happy to be here.”

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Mets' comeback spirit product of pinch-hit heroics, tough bullpen

The 2025 Mets had a terrible time turning around games late. Through 11 games of the 2026 season, the Mets are showing a penchant for late-inning drama.

“We’re never out of games,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after his club’s 4-3 win that saw them score one run in the eighth to tie it before Ronny Mauricio's walk-off hit in the 10th.

“We’re gonna continue to grind at-bats, and it’s a good feeling in the dugout. Understanding that we get one guy on, we got the ability to keep the line moving. And it’s good to see it this early,” he said of the comeback culture being established in the season’s first fortnight.

Before Tuesday’s heroics, the Mets overturned a one-run deficit in the 11th for a win over Pittsburgh and a 2-1 deficit with a four-run eighth for a win in San Francisco.

Mendoza called last year’s stats – which had the Mets going 0-70 when trailing after eight innings – “crazy.”

“It’s hard to explain, it’s baseball,” the skipper said. “Here we are within the first 10, 11 games, coming back, it’s good to see.

“I think it’s guys trusting each other, trusting their preparation, their game plan, not panicking, and just continuing to have fun, and continue to have good at-bats.”

And part of being able to come back is the bullpen keeping the game close. On Tuesday, the Mets’ final four relievers came into the game looking to keep the deficit to one run, and they delivered five shutout innings, capped by Devin Williams and Luke Weaver in the ninth and 10th.

"They are used to pitching in high-leverage situations,” Mendoza said of Williams and Weaver. “That's what we brought them in for, to lock games down, to keep games in there for us, and today was a perfect example.”

So far, the bullpen has allowed just seven runs over its first 43.1 innings, second-fewest in baseball, and is holding opponents to a .213 average, seventh-lowest.

Pushing the right buttons

The decision to send up Ronny Mauricio in the 10th may have been Mendoza’s best call of the day, but it only came about because he pushed the right button earlier in the game, too.

On Sunday, Jared Young was called upon to fill in for Brett Baty and make just his second-ever start in the outfield. He went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and collected an outfield assist before he was substituted for pinch-hitter Luis Torrens, who hit the game-winning two-RBI double.

On Tuesday, he was called who was called upon to pinch-hit with runners on the corners and one out in the eighth inning and came through with the game-tying sacrifice fly.

“He’s gonna continue to give you professional at-bats,” Mendoza said, adding that it was likely just the wind that kept Young’s fly ball to right from being a three-run home run. “It’s one of those nights that that ball doesn’t go out, but it was like 107 [mph off the bat] with a 39 [degree launch angle]. That ball should be in the bullpen.”

“He’s a pro,” the skipper continued. “He’s another guy that understands his role. Another guy that, even though his name is not in the lineup, he knows opportunities are coming.”

Mendoza said that with the Diamondbacks’ righty-heavy bullpen, there were a couple of pitchers he was targeting who would present matchup troubles for his righty batters. Jonathan Loáisiga was one of them, which is why he lifted Mark Vientos, who has been swinging a hot bat himself, for Young in that situation.

“You watch the inning unfold,” he said, mentioning hits from lefties Jorge Polanco and Baty, “the game is basically telling you to continue to trust your guts there.”

“And as hard as it is to take the bat away from Mark,” the skipper added, “it’s first and third, double-play is in play, Loáisiga is a big-time groundball pitcher. You got a pretty good left-handed bat off the bench, I felt like I needed to do it. I’m glad he got the job done.”

Hold onto your hats

The Mets moved the start time of Tuesday’s game up by three hours because of the expected cold temperatures and windy conditions, but there was no escaping the cold and wind even with the mid-afternoon first pitch. 

“Tough conditions overall,” Mendoza said. “With how windy it was, that ball was moving pretty much everywhere.”

“Crazy,” starter Freddy Peralta said of the conditions. “It was a battle. From the first pitch of the game, I knew. I was a little uncomfortable. But it’s gonna happen. We’re gonna have days like that.”

Was it the wind or the cold? “It was a little bit of everything,” the starter said, “but it was more the wind. It was coming straight from [behind] home plate to me, but I was trying to make adjustments.”  

Weaver said it is all part of the game. 

“The winds kinda blowing in pretty hard in your face,” Weaver said. “I don’t know. I’m in a box most of the game, so the heat is on and it feels pretty good until you get out into the climates. You’re really hoping to be efficient. 

“But at the end of the day, it’s early in the season, you know you’re gonna get this every year. And then it’s gonna get really hot and then we’re gonna complain about that, too. And then we’ll get to September and we’ll be right back to where we started. Just happy to be here.”

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Dodgers fend off comeback attempts from the Jays

Apr 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

It wasn’t always easy, but the Dodgers took an early lead and never relinquished it, beating the Jays 4-1. For the third time in a row, following in the footsteps of their two games versus Kevin Gausman in last year’s World Series, the Dodgers scored exactly three runs against the Blue Jays starter. After the outburst of 14 runs in the previous win, a performance like that from Gausman has its value for Toronto, but going up against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it wasn’t quite enough for the home team to avoid their sixth straight defeat.

Standing out defensively since his call-up replacing the recently injured Mookie Betts, Hyeseong Kim got the scoring started in the third inning—Kim doubled off Gausman and came around to score on a massively long single off the wall from Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers’ DH hit the ball with such force that when it came off the wall, he had no choice but to stand pat at first on what looked like an extra-base hit. Los Angeles added one more run when Will Smith was able to avoid the double play, hitting with one out and runners at the corner.

Unlike in the two World Series games, Gausman couldn’t get the quality start, removed after a pair reached in the sixth with still a manageable pitch count at 84. Facing this lefty-heavy Dodger lineup, the Blue Jays went to Mason Fluharty, who got Max Muncy and Kim to close the threat.

The thing about an apparent dominant win due to great pitching is that you’re still always on edge. Through five innings, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had been spotless, and the only hitter to reach base did so as Kyle Tucker misjudged a deep fly ball, resulting in a double to Jesús Sánchez that should’ve been an out. In the sixth, Yamamoto dialed up the excitement meter—George Springer hit an RBI double, and one walk later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came up as the go-ahead run at the plate. Perhaps a bit anxious for a signature moment, Vladdy hacked at a well-located splitter down and away for a harmless forceout, quickly followed by another groundout to end the inning.

While the Jays chose to err on the side of caution in the sixth when Gausman was laboring, the Dodgers pushed the envelope with Yamamoto, a decision that ultimately proved ill-advised. Yamamoto became the first Dodger starter to pitch into the seventh inning, but failed to record an out in it. After an overturned strike-three call on Kazume Okamoto, the Blue Jays third baseman hit a double and advanced to third on a bunt single from Enie Clement. Those would be the two hitters Yamamoto would face in the seventh before Alex Vesia would come in for his 300th appearance as a Dodger, few bigger than this one. Vesia loaded the bases with a walk before retiring three straight and stranding his inherited runners. A lazy fly ball wasn’t enough for the slow Okamoto to try and score from third; a strikeout later, and all that stood in the way of Vesia preserving the 3-1 lead was George Springer. Dave Roberts had Blake Treinen warming in the bullpen and could’ve gone for the righty-righty matchup, but he trusted Vesia, who rewarded that trust with another flyout.

Given the drama of innings six and seven, the Dodgers added a much appreciated insurance run in the ninth—Alex Freeland advanced to second on an infield single courtesy of some sloppy defense from the Jays, Ohtani was intentionally walked, and Kyle Tucker overcame his three strikeouts in the previous at-bats to drive him in. Edwin Díaz did allow a couple of hitters to reach in the ninth, bringing up the tying run, but a strikeout to Tyler Heineman sealed the win.

An important note about this game is that in the fifth inning, right before the Dodgers scored their third run, John Schneider was ejected for arguing a balk call on Gausman. Contextualizing this moment, Schneider and the Jays are not only coming off a blowout defeat against the Dodgers but also a shocking sweep at the hands of the White Sox in their previous series.

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: none

WP — Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1): 6+ IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts

LP — Kevin Gausman (0-1): 5.1 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts

SV— Edwin Díaz (4): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

Up next

The Dodgers will meet a familiar foe in an unfamiliar territory. Looking for his first win since joining the Blue Jays, Dylan Cease will square off against Shohei Ohtani in the final game of this road trip for the Dodgers. Be ready for an early start with the first pitch set for 12:07 pm (PT).

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Dodgers fend off comeback attempts from the Jays

Apr 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

It wasn’t always easy, but the Dodgers took an early lead and never relinquished it, beating the Jays 4-1. For the third time in a row, following in the footsteps of their two games versus Kevin Gausman in last year’s World Series, the Dodgers scored exactly three runs against the Blue Jays starter. After the outburst of 14 runs in the previous win, a performance like that from Gausman has its value for Toronto, but going up against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it wasn’t quite enough for the home team to avoid their sixth straight defeat.

Standing out defensively since his call-up replacing the recently injured Mookie Betts, Hyeseong Kim got the scoring started in the third inning—Kim doubled off Gausman and came around to score on a massively long single off the wall from Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers’ DH hit the ball with such force that when it came off the wall, he had no choice but to stand pat at first on what looked like an extra-base hit. Los Angeles added one more run when Will Smith was able to avoid the double play, hitting with one out and runners at the corner.

Unlike in the two World Series games, Gausman couldn’t get the quality start, removed after a pair reached in the sixth with still a manageable pitch count at 84. Facing this lefty-heavy Dodger lineup, the Blue Jays went to Mason Fluharty, who got Max Muncy and Kim to close the threat.

The thing about an apparent dominant win due to great pitching is that you’re still always on edge. Through five innings, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had been spotless, and the only hitter to reach base did so as Kyle Tucker misjudged a deep fly ball, resulting in a double to Jesús Sánchez that should’ve been an out. In the sixth, Yamamoto dialed up the excitement meter—George Springer hit an RBI double, and one walk later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came up as the go-ahead run at the plate. Perhaps a bit anxious for a signature moment, Vladdy hacked at a well-located splitter down and away for a harmless forceout, quickly followed by another groundout to end the inning.

While the Jays chose to err on the side of caution in the sixth when Gausman was laboring, the Dodgers pushed the envelope with Yamamoto, a decision that ultimately proved ill-advised. Yamamoto became the first Dodger starter to pitch into the seventh inning, but failed to record an out in it. After an overturned strike-three call on Kazume Okamoto, the Blue Jays third baseman hit a double and advanced to third on a bunt single from Enie Clement. Those would be the two hitters Yamamoto would face in the seventh before Alex Vesia would come in for his 300th appearance as a Dodger, few bigger than this one. Vesia loaded the bases with a walk before retiring three straight and stranding his inherited runners. A lazy fly ball wasn’t enough for the slow Okamoto to try and score from third; a strikeout later, and all that stood in the way of Vesia preserving the 3-1 lead was George Springer. Dave Roberts had Blake Treinen warming in the bullpen and could’ve gone for the righty-righty matchup, but he trusted Vesia, who rewarded that trust with another flyout.

Given the drama of innings six and seven, the Dodgers added a much appreciated insurance run in the ninth—Alex Freeland advanced to second on an infield single courtesy of some sloppy defense from the Jays, Ohtani was intentionally walked, and Kyle Tucker overcame his three strikeouts in the previous at-bats to drive him in. Edwin Díaz did allow a couple of hitters to reach in the ninth, bringing up the tying run, but a strikeout to Tyler Heineman sealed the win.

An important note about this game is that in the fifth inning, right before the Dodgers scored their third run, John Schneider was ejected for arguing a balk call on Gausman. Contextualizing this moment, Schneider and the Jays are not only coming off a blowout defeat against the Dodgers but also a shocking sweep at the hands of the White Sox in their previous series.

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: none

WP — Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1): 6+ IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts

LP — Kevin Gausman (0-1): 5.1 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts

SV— Edwin Díaz (4): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

Up next

The Dodgers will meet a familiar foe in an unfamiliar territory. Looking for his first win since joining the Blue Jays, Dylan Cease will square off against Shohei Ohtani in the final game of this road trip for the Dodgers. Be ready for an early start with the first pitch set for 12:07 pm (PT).

Posted on

Dodgers fend off comeback attempts from the Jays

Apr 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

It wasn’t always easy, but the Dodgers took an early lead and never relinquished it, beating the Jays 4-1. For the third time in a row, following in the footsteps of their two games versus Kevin Gausman in last year’s World Series, the Dodgers scored exactly three runs against the Blue Jays starter. After the outburst of 14 runs in the previous win, a performance like that from Gausman has its value for Toronto, but going up against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it wasn’t quite enough for the home team to avoid their sixth straight defeat.

Standing out defensively since his call-up replacing the recently injured Mookie Betts, Hyeseong Kim got the scoring started in the third inning—Kim doubled off Gausman and came around to score on a massively long single off the wall from Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers’ DH hit the ball with such force that when it came off the wall, he had no choice but to stand pat at first on what looked like an extra-base hit. Los Angeles added one more run when Will Smith was able to avoid the double play, hitting with one out and runners at the corner.

Unlike in the two World Series games, Gausman couldn’t get the quality start, removed after a pair reached in the sixth with still a manageable pitch count at 84. Facing this lefty-heavy Dodger lineup, the Blue Jays went to Mason Fluharty, who got Max Muncy and Kim to close the threat.

The thing about an apparent dominant win due to great pitching is that you’re still always on edge. Through five innings, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had been spotless, and the only hitter to reach base did so as Kyle Tucker misjudged a deep fly ball, resulting in a double to Jesús Sánchez that should’ve been an out. In the sixth, Yamamoto dialed up the excitement meter—George Springer hit an RBI double, and one walk later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came up as the go-ahead run at the plate. Perhaps a bit anxious for a signature moment, Vladdy hacked at a well-located splitter down and away for a harmless forceout, quickly followed by another groundout to end the inning.

While the Jays chose to err on the side of caution in the sixth when Gausman was laboring, the Dodgers pushed the envelope with Yamamoto, a decision that ultimately proved ill-advised. Yamamoto became the first Dodger starter to pitch into the seventh inning, but failed to record an out in it. After an overturned strike-three call on Kazume Okamoto, the Blue Jays third baseman hit a double and advanced to third on a bunt single from Enie Clement. Those would be the two hitters Yamamoto would face in the seventh before Alex Vesia would come in for his 300th appearance as a Dodger, few bigger than this one. Vesia loaded the bases with a walk before retiring three straight and stranding his inherited runners. A lazy fly ball wasn’t enough for the slow Okamoto to try and score from third; a strikeout later, and all that stood in the way of Vesia preserving the 3-1 lead was George Springer. Dave Roberts had Blake Treinen warming in the bullpen and could’ve gone for the righty-righty matchup, but he trusted Vesia, who rewarded that trust with another flyout.

Given the drama of innings six and seven, the Dodgers added a much appreciated insurance run in the ninth—Alex Freeland advanced to second on an infield single courtesy of some sloppy defense from the Jays, Ohtani was intentionally walked, and Kyle Tucker overcame his three strikeouts in the previous at-bats to drive him in. Edwin Díaz did allow a couple of hitters to reach in the ninth, bringing up the tying run, but a strikeout to Tyler Heineman sealed the win.

An important note about this game is that in the fifth inning, right before the Dodgers scored their third run, John Schneider was ejected for arguing a balk call on Gausman. Contextualizing this moment, Schneider and the Jays are not only coming off a blowout defeat against the Dodgers but also a shocking sweep at the hands of the White Sox in their previous series.

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: none

WP — Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1): 6+ IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts

LP — Kevin Gausman (0-1): 5.1 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts

SV— Edwin Díaz (4): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

Up next

The Dodgers will meet a familiar foe in an unfamiliar territory. Looking for his first win since joining the Blue Jays, Dylan Cease will square off against Shohei Ohtani in the final game of this road trip for the Dodgers. Be ready for an early start with the first pitch set for 12:07 pm (PT).

Posted on

Reds storm back with late rally to beat Marlins in extra innings

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 5: Elly de la Cruz #44 and teammate Matt McLain #9 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate the team's win following the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on April 5, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sandy Alcantara was the runaway winner of the National League Cy Young Award back in 2022 and, when right, remains one of the elite pitchers in all of Major League Baseball.

Since then, though, he’s had his share of hurdles. Tommy John surgery cost him all of the 2024 season, and his 2025 season – while thorough with 174.2 IP – featured a shell of his former self as command issues left him pitching from behind in counts like never before.

On Tuesday night vs. the Cincinnati Reds, though, Sandy looked every bit the part of his former self. For eight innings, he held Cincinnati scoreless, and did so in efficient enough fashion that he was brought back out for the Top of the 9th having allowed just a pair of hits all night. That changed immediately with a Matt McLain double with 1-out, and after Alcantara walked Elly De La Cruz the Marlins manager opted to turn to his bullpen with his ace at 95 pitches and the Marlins holding a perilous 2-0 lead.

The Reds proceeded to feast.

A double steal, a Sal Stewart sac fly, and a wild pitch by reliever Anthony Bender later and the game was tied a 2-2. And after Emilio Pagán flirted with (and avoided) disaster in the Bottom of the 9th, Cincinnati exploded for four runs in the Top of the 10th to seize a commanding lead.

Graham Ashcraft allowed the Manfred Man to score in the Bottom of the 10th, but no more, and Cincinnati walked away with a 6-3 victory after spending most of the day under the thumb of one of the best arms in the sport.

Other Notes

  • Despite his white-hot spring, McLain entered play on Tuesday with just a lone extra-base hit to his name during the 2026 season. He doubled twice in this one, though, driving in a pair of runs and scoring once to take home the Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game award for the evening. One double came in the 9th, the other with runners on in the 10th…that’s #clutch!
  • Andrew Abbott was mostly solid in his start He fired 5.1 IP and scattered 6 hits and a pair of walks, yielding a pair of runs while striking out two on 91 pitches.
  • Jose Franco, meanwhile, was nails out of the bullpen. He tossed a pair of hitless, scoreless frames.
  • Nate Lowe got a crucial hit in the Top of the 10th to give the Reds a 3-2 lead after coming in off the bench earlier in the game. He effectively replaced Ke’Bryan Hayes in the lineup (with Sal Stewart sliding over to 3B) in a prime example of just how deep this Reds bench truly is right now.
  • The back of Hayes’ baseball card shows him hitting .107/.167/.107 with zero extra-base hits so far this season.
  • The Reds are 8-3 on the season and almost, almost have a net zero run differential. If the pesky Pirates would just stop winning, they’d have the NL Central lead outright!
Posted on

Reds storm back with late rally to beat Marlins in extra innings

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 5: Elly de la Cruz #44 and teammate Matt McLain #9 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate the team's win following the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on April 5, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sandy Alcantara was the runaway winner of the National League Cy Young Award back in 2022 and, when right, remains one of the elite pitchers in all of Major League Baseball.

Since then, though, he’s had his share of hurdles. Tommy John surgery cost him all of the 2024 season, and his 2025 season – while thorough with 174.2 IP – featured a shell of his former self as command issues left him pitching from behind in counts like never before.

On Tuesday night vs. the Cincinnati Reds, though, Sandy looked every bit the part of his former self. For eight innings, he held Cincinnati scoreless, and did so in efficient enough fashion that he was brought back out for the Top of the 9th having allowed just a pair of hits all night. That changed immediately with a Matt McLain double with 1-out, and after Alcantara walked Elly De La Cruz the Marlins manager opted to turn to his bullpen with his ace at 95 pitches and the Marlins holding a perilous 2-0 lead.

The Reds proceeded to feast.

A double steal, a Sal Stewart sac fly, and a wild pitch by reliever Anthony Bender later and the game was tied a 2-2. And after Emilio Pagán flirted with (and avoided) disaster in the Bottom of the 9th, Cincinnati exploded for four runs in the Top of the 10th to seize a commanding lead.

Graham Ashcraft allowed the Manfred Man to score in the Bottom of the 10th, but no more, and Cincinnati walked away with a 6-3 victory after spending most of the day under the thumb of one of the best arms in the sport.

Other Notes

  • Despite his white-hot spring, McLain entered play on Tuesday with just a lone extra-base hit to his name during the 2026 season. He doubled twice in this one, though, driving in a pair of runs and scoring once to take home the Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game award for the evening. One double came in the 9th, the other with runners on in the 10th…that’s #clutch!
  • Andrew Abbott was mostly solid in his start He fired 5.1 IP and scattered 6 hits and a pair of walks, yielding a pair of runs while striking out two on 91 pitches.
  • Jose Franco, meanwhile, was nails out of the bullpen. He tossed a pair of hitless, scoreless frames.
  • Nate Lowe got a crucial hit in the Top of the 10th to give the Reds a 3-2 lead after coming in off the bench earlier in the game. He effectively replaced Ke’Bryan Hayes in the lineup (with Sal Stewart sliding over to 3B) in a prime example of just how deep this Reds bench truly is right now.
  • The back of Hayes’ baseball card shows him hitting .107/.167/.107 with zero extra-base hits so far this season.
  • The Reds are 8-3 on the season and almost, almost have a net zero run differential. If the pesky Pirates would just stop winning, they’d have the NL Central lead outright!
Posted on

Reds storm back with late rally to beat Marlins in extra innings

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 5: Elly de la Cruz #44 and teammate Matt McLain #9 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate the team's win following the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on April 5, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sandy Alcantara was the runaway winner of the National League Cy Young Award back in 2022 and, when right, remains one of the elite pitchers in all of Major League Baseball.

Since then, though, he’s had his share of hurdles. Tommy John surgery cost him all of the 2024 season, and his 2025 season – while thorough with 174.2 IP – featured a shell of his former self as command issues left him pitching from behind in counts like never before.

On Tuesday night vs. the Cincinnati Reds, though, Sandy looked every bit the part of his former self. For eight innings, he held Cincinnati scoreless, and did so in efficient enough fashion that he was brought back out for the Top of the 9th having allowed just a pair of hits all night. That changed immediately with a Matt McLain double with 1-out, and after Alcantara walked Elly De La Cruz the Marlins manager opted to turn to his bullpen with his ace at 95 pitches and the Marlins holding a perilous 2-0 lead.

The Reds proceeded to feast.

A double steal, a Sal Stewart sac fly, and a wild pitch by reliever Anthony Bender later and the game was tied a 2-2. And after Emilio Pagán flirted with (and avoided) disaster in the Bottom of the 9th, Cincinnati exploded for four runs in the Top of the 10th to seize a commanding lead.

Graham Ashcraft allowed the Manfred Man to score in the Bottom of the 10th, but no more, and Cincinnati walked away with a 6-3 victory after spending most of the day under the thumb of one of the best arms in the sport.

Other Notes

  • Despite his white-hot spring, McLain entered play on Tuesday with just a lone extra-base hit to his name during the 2026 season. He doubled twice in this one, though, driving in a pair of runs and scoring once to take home the Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game award for the evening. One double came in the 9th, the other with runners on in the 10th…that’s #clutch!
  • Andrew Abbott was mostly solid in his start He fired 5.1 IP and scattered 6 hits and a pair of walks, yielding a pair of runs while striking out two on 91 pitches.
  • Jose Franco, meanwhile, was nails out of the bullpen. He tossed a pair of hitless, scoreless frames.
  • Nate Lowe got a crucial hit in the Top of the 10th to give the Reds a 3-2 lead after coming in off the bench earlier in the game. He effectively replaced Ke’Bryan Hayes in the lineup (with Sal Stewart sliding over to 3B) in a prime example of just how deep this Reds bench truly is right now.
  • The back of Hayes’ baseball card shows him hitting .107/.167/.107 with zero extra-base hits so far this season.
  • The Reds are 8-3 on the season and almost, almost have a net zero run differential. If the pesky Pirates would just stop winning, they’d have the NL Central lead outright!