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Lakers eliminate Rockets, advance to second round

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 1: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

After a couple of losses, the Lakers finally finished off the Rockets, beating them 98-78 in Game 6 to advance to the second round. 

Los Angeles went on an impressive 13-1 run to start the second quarter, giving them control of the game and they never looked back. 

Now the Lakers will face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round. That series will begin on Tuesday, May 5, in OKC.

The Lakers started this game by scoring a pair of baskets in the paint. Tari Eason started off hot for the Rockets, converting on his first two shots, and after a three by Jabari Smith Jr., Houston was in front 10-6. 

Points in the paint continued to be the focus for the purple and gold and after a dunk from Rui Hachimura, they had their first lead of the game. 

Unfortunately for LA, Houston had a much more balanced attack. Alperen Şengün scored inside and after an Eason dunk, the Rockets were back in control. 

With Austin Reaves starting, Luke Kennard was relegated to the bench and got his first minutes midway through the first quarter. He hit a corner three to give LA back the lead and end his two-game drought of not making a beyond-the-arc basket.

Jake LaRavia added a three of his own, making it a 9-0 run for Los Angeles.

Smith Jr. ended the scoring drought for the Rockets by knocking a pair of free throws, but LA was still ahead by five. 

In the closing minutes of the quarter, the Lakers bricked all their shot attempts, but so did the Rockets, leaving LA ahead 23-18 after 12 minutes.

In the second quarter, the Lakers got their offense going with a LeBron basket. Jake LaRavi added a three and, after another basket by James, LA was on a 7-0 run and Luka Dončić was jokingly signaling for Houston to call a timeout.

The Rockets didn’t, but after another basket from James, they took Luka’s advice and asked for a stop in play.

Houston finally scored off a free throw, but LaRavia immediately responded with a fastbreak dunk. This second-quarter shift from LaRavia was his best play of this series.

The Rockets literally couldn’t score, missing 15 consecutive shots. Reed Sheppard finally scored on a layup, but by then the Lakers were up 38-21. 

Sheppard scored again on a three and then Smith Jr. had a putback dunk to give the Rockets some offensive life. 

The Lakers maintained their advantage with some timely baskets, including a gorgeous spin move by Reaves inside.

Slowly, but surely, the Rockets began chipping away at the deficit with some free throws and defensive stops. After an Amen Thompson layup, Houston was down by just single digits. 

The Lakers continued to apply pressure on the rim and while it didn’t lead to makes, it did force the Rockets to foul and send them to the line. 

In the final moments of the second quarter, LeBron dished the ball to Hachimura for a three and then scored himself to send the Lakers to the locker room in front 49-31.

LA came out firing on all cylinders to start the second half. LeBron scored on the first possession, Hachimura knocked down a three and, after a basket by Reaves, LA was up by 20 points. 

The Lakers shifted into cruise control in the third, but Hachimura remained hot while the Rockets struggled to score or go on any kind of significant run. Reaves continued to look more and more comfortable in his second game back, beating Şengün to the rim for a smooth layup. 

Add in an impressive block by Smart on Eason’s dunk attempt and it was becoming increasingly clear this wasn’t going to be Houston’s night.

The Rockets finished the quarter with a 7-0 run to give themselves a puncher’s chance entering the fourth. Still, LA was in full control, leading 71-55 with 12 minutes left to play. 

The final period was more of the same for the Lakers. Hachimura hit a three to start the fourth and LeBron scored inside. After a Deandre Ayton putback, the lead was once again up to 20 points. 

The Rockets continued to struggle, unable to knock down any shots. Houston didn’t make their second field goal until there was 6:57 left in the game. 

Meanwhile, Hachimura kept on scoring on mid-range shots and was clearly in the flow state, slicing through the Houston defense.

Midway through the fourth, Sheppard hit a three. He was the only Rocket that had anything going. However, Smart responded with a three of his own, making it 91-67 Lakers. 

Then Jaxson Hayes had a slam dunk and Lakers head coach JJ Redick cleared out the benches as the game was over.

Key Player Stats

LeBron was magnificent in this game. His play is the main reason this contest was an easy win for Los Angeles. He ended the night with 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. 

Hachimura was a laser throughout the night, scoring 21 points and going 8-14 from the field with six rebounds. Austin Reaves struggled with his shot from distance, but got to the rim repeatedly to finish with 15 points on 7-14 shooting.

Ayton had just seven points, but grabbed 16 rebounds. Marcus Smart had a masterful game, finishing with seven points, seven rebounds, two steals, two blocks and an assist.

LaRavia had seven points, Hayes had five points and four rebounds and Kennard had three points, three rebounds and three assists.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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Christian Scott's career-high-tying eight strikeouts, Ronny Mauricio's go-ahead home run fuel Mets' 4-3 comeback win at Angels

The Mets won Friday's series opener at the Los Angeles Angels, scoring four runs across the sixth and seventh innings as they started their nine-game road trip on a high note.

Takeaways

  1. In Christian Scott's first start since he "couldn't throw the ball over the plate" -- last Thursday's 10-8 win against the Minnesota Twins -- he rebounded with his best MLB start since July 8, 2024, when he went 5.2 IP and allowed one hit in the Mets' 8-2 loss at the Pittsburgh Pirates. Scott tied his career high with eight strikeouts, a feat that he set May 11, 2024, when he threw six frames in the Mets' 4-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves. His return from Tommy John surgery has been a winding one, but Scott showed promise Friday. He allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and, most importantly, walked none.
  2. Francisco Alvarez and Marcus Semien delivered in the Mets' three-run sixth inning, capitalizing on the Angels' weak bullpen. Alvarez's one-out single put the Mets on the board before Semien, who left the bases loaded via an inning-ending flyout in the fourth, redeemed himself with a two-out single that scored Juan Soto and Alvarez to tie the game at 3-3.
  3. Ronny Mauricio snapped his 0-for-12 draught with the go-ahead home run on a one-out solo shot to right-center field, showing why the Mets cannot give up on him. He launched his first homer of the season in a clutch moment, rebounding from an inning-ending double play that killed the Mets' third and a fifth-inning flyout to center field when it looked like New York would get shut out.
  4. Soto returned to the outfield for the first time since last Wednesday's reactivation from the injured list, and he looked at home after eight games as the Mets' designated hitter. Soto's 1-for-3 night featured a second-inning walk and the aforementioned single in the sixth inning that sparked the Mets' three-run wakeup. In a struggling Mets offense, the lineup needs Soto healthy and humming. He took a subtle but big step by playing a clean game in the field and coming through at the plate.
  5. Carlos Mendoza's bullpen combination of Huascar Brazobán, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams was lights out. The four relievers each went an inning after Scott's exit, retiring 12 straight to end the game. Weaver (hold) and Williams (save) each struck out two.

Who's the MVP?

Walbert Urena, who stifled the Mets with one hit through five innings until Bo Bichette's comebacker knocked the 22-year-old RHP out of the game on the sixth's first at-bat. Urena, in his fifth MLB outing (third start), allowed one run on two hits while striking out four and walking three over five-plus frames. He threw 41 strikes on 68 pitches before exiting. When he did, the Angels unraveled.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets and Angels continue their three-game set with Saturday's 9:38 p.m. game on SNY.

Nolan McLean (1-2, 2.55 ERA) and Reid Detmers (1-2, 4.28 ERA) are set to start.

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‘Wrecking ball’ Ben Rice makes his case against lefties with big day at plate for Yankees

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) is greeted by New York Yankees third base/outfield coach Luis Rojas (67) as he rounds the bases on his three-run home run in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium, Image 2 shows New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) hits a single in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Bronx, NY
Ben Rice

Ben Rice took another step Friday in proving his value in the big leagues. 

At the start of the season, the Yankees were hesitant to use him against left-handed pitchers, often leaving the catcher-turned-first baseman out of the lineup. 

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However, he continued to make his case to the Yankees that he can be matched up against anyone when he ripped a fifth home run of the season off a lefty in the Bombers’ 7-2 win over the Orioles. 

In the bottom of the second inning, Rice hit a three-run blast off Cade Povich to give the Yankees an early 5-1 lead. 

The 27-year-old does not feel he has established himself against left-handed pitchers just yet. 

“I feel like I’ve taken some good at-bats against them. I don’t know if established would be the right word,” Rice said after the game. “I’m always confident in myself regardless of who is on the mound. Fortunately, today [I] was able to put a good swing on one but still got a long way to go.” 

This season, the left-handed hitter has more reps against righties. Before facing the Orioles, he went 22-for-71 (.310) with six home runs and a 1.116 OPS against righties.

New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) hits a single in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium, Friday, May 1, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

He was 10-for-27 (.370) with four homers and a 1.266 OPS against lefties. 

A year ago, Rice faced southpaws in 106 at-bats versus 361 against righties. 

New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) is greeted by New York Yankees third base/outfield coach Luis Rojas (67) as he rounds the bases on his three-run home run in the second inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

After the home run dagger, Rice went 1-for-2 against Povich before finishing the game 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Following the victory, he ranked second in OPS against lefties (1.308) in MLB. 

“We are continuing to see the evolution of one of the game’s really outstanding hitters, as simple as that,” Aaron Boone said. “He’s really disciplined. He’s got a really good plan night in and night out for who he is facing and what he wants to look for, and then he does a really good job controlling the zone. So, this is kinda that trajectory he’s been on since he first debuted.

“He’s just gotten better and better to the point of now he’s kinda been a wrecking ball.”

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'I Hope We Play Together One More Year': Malkin Wants Another Year, Pittsburgh Or Not

During the Pittsburgh Penguins' locker cleanout day on Friday, one of their longtime stars addressed some of the uncertainty concerning his future with the organization.

Evgeni Malkin, 40, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and as of now, he does not have a new contract for next season. He and GM/POHO Kyle Dubas plan to meet before Malkin heads home to Russia for the summer, but in the meantime, he addressed the Pittsburgh media Friday for what could be his final time in a Penguins' uniform. 

Malkin - drafted second overall in 2004 - has spent all 20 of his NHL seasons with the Penguins, and, for the first time, there seems to be some uncertainty about his future in Pittsburgh. With the direction the Penguins are headed in terms of getting younger - and him turning 40 this summer - it remains unclear whether or not Dubas will re-sign Malkin, who has amassed 533 goals and 1,407 points in his NHL career and was above point-per-game for the first time in three years this season.

Even if Dubas and the Penguins have not yet come to a decision regarding Malkin, it's clear what Malkin wants, as it has been for a long time and after 20 years of playing with Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang. 

"Now I want more, you know?" Malkin said. "It's different emotion when you play playoffs. Fans are crazy. First game against Philly, in warmup, it's probably, like, 18,000 already here. Again, yeah, I want to play again, for sure. It’s special two guys for me. Love to play together. And yeah, we're not happy we lost, but we try to fight every game. But sometimes, you're losing.

"But again, these are two special guys. I hope we play together one more year. But if not, I have great 20 years together. And never forget."

Penguins Head Coach Dan Muse Named Finalist For Jack Adams AwardPenguins Head Coach Dan Muse Named Finalist For Jack Adams AwardDan Muse has been nominated for the Jack Adams Award.

Malkin also made it clear that he wants to remain in Pittsburgh - and would accept a role change if he stays - but he would be willing to sign elsewhere if Dubas and the Penguins decide to go in a different direction.

"It's fine if I start wing next year. It’s coach wants me, and I help second line to play wing, it's fine. Nothing changes (for) me like crazy. Just, like, a little bit," Malkin said. "But I think it worked this year. I play not bad. I think it's play with Tommy [Tommy Novak] and Chinny [Egor Chinakhov]. But we see what coach wants (from) me. And it's always, like, you talk to individual, like with coach, and he tell you what role he wants to see (from you on) team. But for me, it's not been a problem."

He added: "I mean, I want to play NHL, for sure. But again, I know it's not easy for Kyle. Maybe he wants new blood here. I understand it's business, and I understand he wants maybe new team, see new faces here. But for me, I want to play one more year in the NHL. I'm not looking back to KHL, play in Russia.

"But if not Pittsburgh, I hope some team."

'There's A Lot To Build On': Penguins Confident 2025-26 Season Is Just The Starting Point For Contention'There's A Lot To Build On': Penguins Confident 2025-26 Season Is Just The Starting Point For ContentionAfter being eliminated from the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins are confident that they'll be back in the post-season in the years to come.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

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RJ Barrett hits ridiculous game-winning shot to send Raptors to Game 7

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows RJ Barrett scores the game winning shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 6 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, Image 2 shows RJ Barrett celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-110 with a game-winning shot in overtime.
RJ Barrett

RJ Barrett did the Tyrese Haliburton.

And Haliburton noticed.

During Game 6 between the Raptors and Cavaliers on Friday night, the score was 110-109 as No. 5 seed Toronto, with its season on the line, scrambled on its potentially final possession at home against No. 4 seed Cleveland.

Scottie Barnes attempted to drive on Dean Wade, saw help from Evan Mobley and kicked it out to the Toronto-born Barrett near the top of the key. Barrett fired up a shot that hit back iron before elevating high in the air, dropping into the net with 1.2 seconds remaining, awarding Toronto a 112-110 lead, which held as the final score.

RJ Barrett celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-110 with a game-winning shot in overtime. Getty Images

The shot was reminiscent of Haliburton’s Game 1, game-tying heartbreaker in New York against the Knicks in last year’s Eastern Conference finals.

“That looked familiar,” Haliburton wrote on X on Friday night.

In the game, Haliburton made what was initially thought to be a three-point shot, which would’ve given Indiana the victory, but instead tied the game at 125 each heading into overtime.

Despite getting a break with Haliburton’s foot being on the line, the Pacers won 138-135 in overtime, taking a 1-0 lead in the series, which jump-started their eventual 4-2 victory and trip to the NBA Finals, where they pushed the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder to Game 7, where Haliburton ruptured his Achilles.

RJ Barrett scores the game winning shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 6 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. NBAE via Getty Images
Tyrese Haliburton hits the game tying shot against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals on May 21, 2025 at Madison Square Garden. NBAE via Getty Images

With a chance to win the series, Cleveland had time for one final possession, but Evan Mobley was short on a 3-point shot, giving the Raptors the win to tie the series 3-3 to force a Game 7 on Sunday.

The winner of Sunday’s Game 7 will see the winner of another Game 7 on the same day, between the Pistons and Magic, in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Tyrese Haliburton missed the 2025-26 season with an Achilles injury. NBAE via Getty Images

The Magic, with a 3-2 lead, led the Pistons 60-38 at halftime before suffering a historic collapse, where they missed 23 straight shots, 27 of their last 28 attempts, and scored just 19 second-half points en route to a 93-79 Detroit victory.

In the 112-110 win, Barrett — Toronto’s leading scorer in the series — finished with 24 points and four made threes with nine rebounds. Scottie Barnes (25 points) and Ja’Kobe Walter (24 points) — who started in place of the injured Brandon Ingram — also emerged for the scrappy fifth seed.

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Lakers star LeBron James reaches another postseason scoring milestone

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakersfinished off their Western Conference first-round series against the Houston Rockets on Friday, May 1.

The 41-year-old superstar finished with 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Lakers beat the Rockets 98-78 in Game 6.

He produced 18 points and was responsible for seven of Los Angeles' 18 successful shot attempts from the field throughout the first two quarters of play.

During the game, James reached 1,500 career playoff points as a member of the Lakers.

He reached the mark with a 4-foot, two-point shot, giving the Lakers a 32-18 lead with 9:26 left in the second quarter. James entered Game 6 with 1,489 playoff points for the Lakers.

LeBron James career playoff points

James is currently the NBA’s all-time leader with 8,428 career points scored in the postseason. He scored a career-high 748 during the 2017-18 postseason while playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The most he scored in a single postseason with the Miami Heat was 697 in 2011-12. He finished with 580 with the Lakers on the way to winning the 2019-20 NBA title.

  • Cleveland Cavaliers: 4,573 (2003-2010, 2014-2018)
  • Los Angeles Lakers: 1,517 (2019-2026)
  • Miami Heat: 2,338 (2010-2014)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James reaches another postseason scoring milestone

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With Yankees' reinforcements coming, Will Warren makes latest pitch to stay in starting rotation

It's no secret that the Yankees are on the verge of a roster crunch when it comes to their starting pitching.

Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole are both expected to rejoin the team before the end of June, and that means two spots in the rotation are needed to facilitate their returns. Rodon will likely take the spot of rookie Elmer Rodriguez, who was just called up this week, but whose spot will Cole take?

Will Warren is an option, but if he continues to pitch the way he did in Friday's 7-2 win over the Orioles, the Yankees may have to look elsewhere.

Warren struck out nine batters, allowing two runs (one earned) across 6.1 innings on just three hits and one walk. He's now 4-0 with a 2.39 ERA and 46 strikeouts in seven starts this season. Warren has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his seven starts, the most in the majors.

"We say he’s the guy we haven’t talked about, and it’s just been the body of the work, starting from spring training, has been excellent over and over again," Aaron Boone said. "Stuff’s been excellent, the strike-throwing is there, he was just in command. ... Just another really strong performance."

Warren had few words when talking about his recent success, almost bashfully when speaking about it, but boiled it down to confidence.  

"Feel good," Warren said. "Confident taking the mound every five days."

But it's a bit more than that. Boone pinpoints the experience Warren has gained after pitching most of the 2025 season. Warren made 33 starts and pitched to a 9-8 record and a 4.44 ERA, and while it wasn't great, the trial-by-fire the young right-hander had to endure is seemingly paying off in the early going this season.

Two examples of that learned experience appeared in Friday's game. 

Pregame, Warren and Austin Wells figured out that the changeup against lefties will work. Warren threw that pitch 12 times on Friday, 11 to left-handers, and got three whiffs. Of the three hits allowed, only one came off a left-handed bat. 

The second was adjusting mid-game. Warren recognized early that he wasn't executing with his four-seamer and so he went more to the offspeed stuff and it worked. Warren throws his fastball 43 percent of the time, which went down to 32 percent on Friday.

"The ability to execute what I wanted to do wasn't there tonight, so we kind of shifted," Warren said. "More offspeed than I’m used to. Just being able to shift and still have confidence throwing out there and getting the results was nice, too." 

That perception and confidence is serving Warren well

"We're just talking about a young, talented guy that's shown really good aptitude over the years, and I think a love for the craft and an expectation to be really good," Boone said of Warren's improvement. "He's not satisfied. For all the good he did last year, he’s not satisfied.

"He’s continued to lean into his strengths while also attacking some of his weaknesses…really understanding more this year and doesn’t have to nibble as much. He trusts his stuff in the zone. He knows he can beat you in a lot of different ways."

"Another year under my belt. You learn a lot out there," Warren said of his improvements. "Talk about it in here all you want, but it’s about getting your feet wet and learning as the game goes long. Have a solid staff to ask questions and learn from. It’s a mix of that."

Yankees starters have posted a major league-best 2.70 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 32 starts this season, and Warren has contributed greatly to that. He's pitched at least 6.0 innings in his last three starts, and the Yankees are 6-1 in Warren's starts this year.

So, what will happen when reinforcements do come?

Warren said there's "friendly competition" among the Yankees' starters. While they all want each other to succeed and feed off each other, they have fun trying to outdo the last starter. But Warren knows it's out of his control and all he can do is keep doing what he's doing.

"We’re going to have the best staff in all of baseball when [Rodón/Cole] come back," Warren said. "Best pitchers are going to pitch the majority of innings. I gotta make sure I keep going out there and doing my job."

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Michael Harris II delivers again as Braves rally from big early hole to stun Rockies

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 01: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves circles the bases after hitting a 2 RBI home run against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning at Coors Field on May 01, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This Braves road trip couldn’t have started much worse, with the team facing a 5-0 deficit in the first inning.

It ended, though, like so many games have this season. With Atlanta celebrating a victory.

The Braves rallied from a 6-0 second-inning deficit for an 8-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a nine-game road trip Friday night in Denver, securing their 12th comeback victory of the season.

The Braves (23-10) got a run back on Matt Olson’s 10th homer in the fourth inning and another on Jonah Heim’s RBI groundout in the seventh.

The real damage, though, was done in the eighth, when Atlanta loaded the bases with one out before Mauricio Dubon promptly unloaded them with a three-run triple down the right-field line. Austin Riley — who had a two-hit night — tied the game in the next at-bat with a sacrifice fly down the right-field line.

After a scoreless eighth from Didier Fuentes, a leadoff walk in the Braves ninth put a runner on for pinch hitter Michael Harris II, who is still producing despite being limited with a sore quad, lofting a go-ahead two-run homer to right with an assist from the thin Denver air.

Robert Suarez worked a scoreless ninth for his first save, preserving Fuentes’ bad night.

Ronald Acuña Jr. and Dubon each had two hits as well for the Braves.

It’s tied for the franchise’s largest-ever comeback at Colorado. And given how it started, it’s that much more impressive.

Atlanta was in a 3-0 hole before Grant Holmes recorded an out in the bottom of the first. On the play where the Braves finally recorded an out, the Rockies tacked on two more runs thanks to a Matt Olson throwing error.

When the dust had finally settled after a first inning which saw the Rockies bring 10 batters to the plate, the Braves were in a 5-0 hole.

Colorado made that 6-0 when Mickey Moniak led off the second with a moonshot to right.

But for as bad as Holmes was early, he saved his outing, relatively speaking, over his final four innings. After a 38-pitch first inning, he needed just 49 pitches to get through the second through fifth.

After the Moniak homer, Holmes allowed just one more hit, one more walk and no strikeouts over his last four innings. At the time, it seemed that was just going to be a good thing for the preservation of the bullpen on the fourth day of a stretch which will see the Braves play on nine straight days.

But as the offense woke up, it wound up being critical that Holmes settled in to keep Atlanta’s dangerous offense in striking distance.

Anthony Molina, called up the major league roster on Friday, followed with two no-hit innings where he allowed just one walk.

After the Rockies had five hits and six runs in the opening one-plus inning, they managed just three hits the rest of the way.

Mind you, it wasn’t a particularly great game for the Braves offense either, which started slow and finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

But this team has shown time and time early again this season that it doesn’t need to play its best game to win.

That was certainly the case Friday night at Coors Field.

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Raptors pull out gutsy win to force game 7

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 01: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-110 in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 01, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It was win or go home for the Toronto Raptors on Friday night as they hosted game six IN the 6ix against Cleveland. After losing game five, the Raptors either had to win to force a game seven or be eliminated from the playoffs. There were a few tough blows for the Raptors before the game even started, with Brandon Ingram being a late scratch due to a heel injury he’s been battling for a while now. He joined Quickley on the bench, meaning the Raptors were down two starters.

Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter filled those spots for the Raptors instead. The atmosphere in Toronto was absolutely rocking as the game started, and the Raptors fed into it immediately. They played tough defence, got stops, and were sharing the ball enough to gain a 10-point lead at halftime.

Despite the steallar play in the first half, the Raptors’ tired legs got ahead of them in the second half. The Cavaliers slowly inched back until it was a one posession game. Of course, because why not in this series, the game went to overtime. Overtime ended up being a gritty rock fight (shocker), but a highlight was Jamal Shead’s sixth foul being overturned by a well timed coach’s challenge.

It was a one-point game in the waning seconds as the Raptors had the posession, and who else to have the ball in his hands than RJ BARRETT? In another Raptors playoff moment that involved a gravity-defying rim bounce, the ball went in, giving the Raptors the lead. What a moment for the hometown kid.

According to Scottie, RJ looked at him and said “I got you Scott” before making the series-saving shot. The Raptors win the game 112-110. You can’t script it any better than that.

Scottie Barnes had a massive game, just coming up huge in every way with a 25 point, 14 assist, 7 rebound, 3 steal, 3 block stat line. The MVP chants he got were well deserved as the was everywhere for his team. RJ Barrett scored 24 points of his own along with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. Ja’Kobe Walter had 24 points as well, with 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block.

So much about this game proved the growth of the Raptors in the past 12 months. A year ago, they were a lottery team — now? They are holding their own in a playoff series off of some incredible performances. They are winning these clutch game situations. No matter how game seven goes, there is so much to look on in this Raptors series as a success.

It’s not just the growth of Barnes either, though that’s a highlight. It’s the way Barrett has stepped up, the way Jamal Shead has been so important on the floor — so much so that Darko risked a challenge to keep him in the game. It’s the way Ja’Kobe Walter had that next man up mentality, or the way this team has stayed in the series despite being down two starters for most of the series. So much about this series has showed the progression of the Raptors, but also who they should focus their team building efforts on going into next season.

The Raptors have never won a playoff game Cleveland. Ever. How poetic would it be for this team to break that streak? They have proven time and time again that they are gritty, that they don’t give up. Of course, this series has far exceeded expectations of what people thought was possible from this team, but getting the win and going to round two would just be beyond any expectations. It would be fun. Raptors fans haven’t had much of that in the past few years. Let’s keep it going. Back to Cleveland we go.

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Dodgers walked all over in 7-2 loss to Cardinals Friday night.

May 1, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images | Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

The Dodgers (20-12) failed to get their bats going in a 7-2 loss to the Cardinals (19-13) Friday night at Busch stadium in St. Louis. The L.A. bats didn’t muster much against the Marlins this week, including in Wednesday’s series finale. They got their first day off in two weeks, and a break was what we thought they needed.

Unfortunately the slumping offense continued for the Dodgers to sour the start of the road trip. The offense has only scored four runs the last three games. Shohei Ohtani went 0-for-5 with a strikeout, and his batting average has now dipped to .261 on the season. Overall, they went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.

Small Mistakes add up in 3-Run First

Sheehan made 30 pitches and surrendered four base hits including a home run in a disastrous chain of events in the first inning. A throwing error by Smith and scoring balk called on Sheehan minutes after the fact added fuel to the fire before Gorman dealt the big blow.

With Nolan Gorman batting, Iván Herrera scored on a balk. The umpires convened for a seemingly long time, and they came back to call the balk to bring in the first run of the inning for St. Louis.

Miguel Rojas missed the tag on a pickoff attempt of  Iván Herrera on second base. Will Smith’s throw sailed by Rojas into center field and allowed the runners to move to second and third with two outs for third baseman Nolan Gorman.

Then the big blow came. Nolan Gorman crushed a Sheehan four-seamer for a two-run home run to make it 3-0.

After Pages singled, Max Muncy doubled deep off the center field wall on an 0-2 Liberatore pitch to get the Dodgers on the board. Muncy now has 11 hits in his last 10 games.

Sheehan had a nice bounce back inning in the second and retired the side in order, but Alec Burleson took another two-strike pitch deep in the third for a solo home run to make it 4-1.

Smith and Teoscar Hernández opened the fourth inning with back-to-back singles, but the promising start quickly faded and ended in Pages who grounded into a double play.

Jordan Walker went 3-for-3 against Sheehan, doubling with two out in the bottom of the fifth to chase Sheehan from the game. Jake Dreyer came in and did his job to retire the dangerous Gorman and send the game to the sixth.

Smith’s ABS Success Expands with Challenge at the Plate

Smith has been effectively using ASB challenges behind the plate to nab strikes back this season, but he also won a challenge as a batter at the plate to give the Dodgers another opportunity with a runner in scoring position with the first walk of the night for the Dodgers.

A nine-pitch plate appearance by Hernandez brought up Tucker with the bases loaded and one out. The Dodgers doubled their score on a Tucker sac fly. It was also the final batter for Liberatore. Pages lined out to center against St. Louis reliever George Soriano to strand another two runners.

Walker picked up his fourth run of the game, a double off Alex Vesia in the bottom of the seventh. A throwing error on Hernandez allowed Walker to reach third. The Red Birds scored their third run of the inning against Edgardo Henriquez after a spicy Masyn Winn hit-by-pitch and scoring groundout.

Hyeseong Kim doubled with two outs in the top of the ninth to give Ohtani one more opportunity. The slumping slugger flied out to center field to end the game and seal the third consecutive loss for the Dodgers.

Friday particulars

Home runs: Nolan Gorman (5), Alec Burleson (5)

WP — Matthew Liberatore (1-1): 5 2/3 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts (96 pitches)

LP — Emmet Sheehan (2-1): 4 2/3 IP, 8 hits, 4 runs, no walks, 8 strikeouts (97 pitches)

Up next

Roki Sasaki (1-2, 6.35 ERA, 1.81 WHIP) starts the second game of the series, coming off one of his best MLB starts so far (4:15 p.m.; FOX). Michael McGreevy (1-2, 2.97 ERA, 0.90 WHIP), the California native, starts for the Cardinals.

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Dodgers power outage goes on in another listless loss to Cardinals

ST. LOUIS –– Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he had a “good feeling” about his slumping offense at the start of a six-game road trip Friday afternoon.

“The road, ironically, has been better for us,” he insisted. 

By the end of the night, however, that theory couldn’t have felt less true.

En route to losing three straight games for the first time this year, the Dodgers star-studded lineup remained ice cold in a 7-2 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals, managing just seven hits against a Cardinals pitching staff with the fifth-worst team ERA in the majors.

En route to losing three straight games for the first time this year, the Dodgers star-studded lineup remained ice cold in a 7-2 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
For a fourth-straight game, the Dodgers (20-12) failed to hit a home run, their longest homer drought since June 2023. Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

For a fourth-straight game, the Dodgers (20-12) failed to hit a home run, the longest homer drought for the club since June 2023. And the few times they did get runners aboard, they couldn’t capitalize, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position while leaving eight men stranded on base.

“I don’t have an answer for tonight,” Roberts said. “Obviously, they got big hits. There were some line drives that were right at guys. But in total, they swung the bat better than we did. We didn’t play well enough.”

It didn’t help that, early on Friday, the Cardinals (19-13) jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead against Emmet Sheehan. 

Still, for a Dodgers team that has invested more than $1 billion into its batting order in recent years, this recent slump is starting to grow maddening.

They initially got on the board Friday via a Max Muncy RBI double in the second. But after that, they scored just one more time, failed to record another extra-base hit until Hyeseong Kim’s double with two outs in the ninth, and slipped to 5-8 in their last 13 games –– having scored four runs or fewer eight times in that stretch.

“It’s been hard,” outfielder Teoscar Hernández said. “Obviously, we don’t want to start the season the way we have started. But we have done a lot of work. Everybody knows this is not easy, hitting, being consistent. We just have to go up there trying to have good at-bats. Create situations. Put the ball in play. Get on base.”

Lately, they’ve failed to do all of the above, enduring another night in which there were few good feelings.

They initially got on the board via a Max Muncy RBI double in the second. Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
It didn’t help that, early on Friday, the Cardinals (19-13) jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead against Emmet Sheehan.  Getty Images

What it means

As part of his optimistic pregame message, Roberts said he wanted his hitters to be “really locking in on our zones, having a plan, and then going and executing.”

Instead, another listless night followed.

The most glaring problem of late has been the club’s lack of power. In the season’s first 22 games, they belted 42 home runs with a .507 team slugging percentage (both best in the majors up to that point). Since then, however, they have only three long balls and a .306 slugging percentage in their last 10 games (worst in the majors over that span).

“I think that there’s some pitches that we’re getting that we’re missing,” Roberts said. “I think the intent is still to hit the ball hard, take good at-bats.”

Roberts noted that there still needs “to be a balance of slug (with) base hits and all that stuff.”

Still, for a lineup built on star power, an inability to hit for power has come as a surprise.

“I think right now, certain guys, a lot of guys, are trying to find their swing,” Roberts said. “They’re just not too comfortable.

Who’s hot

Anyone who gets to pitch against the Dodgers right now, including even Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore.

Entering Friday, he had a 4.75 ERA and was coming off a five-run clunker to the light-hitting Seattle Mariners offense. But against the Dodgers, he cruised right along, navigating traffic en route to a 5 ⅔-inning, two-run start.

After Muncy’s double in the second, the Dodgers came up empty in a two-on, no-out opportunity in the third, when Kyle Tucker lined out and Andy Pages hit into an inning-ending double-play. In the sixth, the bases were loaded with one out, but a sacrifice fly from Tucker was all the Dodgers could produce.

By the end of the night, Shohei Ohtani was 0-for-5, Freddie Freeman was the team’s only batter with multiple hits, and the club had been held to five total runs during this three-game losing skid. 

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By the end of the night, Shohei Ohtani was 0-for-5, Freddie Freeman was the team’s only batter with multiple hits, and the club had been held to five total runs during this three-game losing skid.  Getty Images

Who’s not

A couple starts ago, Emmet Sheehan thought his fastball velocity troubles were behind him. Since then, the problem has only gotten worse.

On Friday, the right-hander averaged a season-low 93.4 mph with his four-seamer –– including a 92.9 mph heater in the first inning that Nolan Gorman hit for a two-run homer, and another at 89.7 mph in the fourth that marked the slowest fastball of his MLB career.

It didn’t prevent him from still striking out eight batters in his 4 ⅔-inning, four-run start. But it wasn’t his only issue either, not on a night he balked in a run (when he made a mental mistake by forgetting to signal to the umpires he was pitching out of the stretch) and gave up another solo home on a low slider to Alex Burleson in the third.

With the Dodgers facing a key rotation decision as Blake Snell nears his return, Sheehan’s lack of velocity (he averaged 95.6 mph with his fastball last year) will nonetheless remain a concern, especially with his overall ERA still up at 5.23.

“There’s nothing I can point to to say, this is the reason,” said Sheehan, who reiterated that he’s 100% healthy and instead working through mechanical flaws. “We’re working really hard on it. We’re going to continue to work really hard on it. That’s all we can do.”

Up next

Like Sheehan, fellow right-hander Roki Sasaki is fighting to keep his rotation spot at the moment. He’ll take the mound Saturday, trying to improve his 1-2 record and 6.35 ERA. Michael McGreevy (1-2, 2.97 ERA) goes for St. Louis.

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Pete Alonso soaking in ‘really special’ trip down memory lane in NYC return with Orioles

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) home run during the second inning when the New York Yankees played the Baltimore Orioles Friday, May 1, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY, Image 2 shows Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) rounds the bases on his solo home run in the second inning
Pete Alonso Orioles

From landing late in New York on Thursday night to first pitch in The Bronx on Friday, Pete Alonso had already taken several trips down memory lane on his initial return to his former home of over seven years. 

He stumbled over a few words when expressing what it means to him to be back in the city after leaving the Mets for a five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles. 

Alonso immediately thought of his first taste of professional baseball with the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2016. He remembered playoff moments from 2022 and ’24 — the “most special baseball” he played. 

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) hits a solo home run in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium, Friday, May 1, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) home run during the second inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post

He also reflected on his last time in New York. The Mets finished off an 11-inning game against the Nationals in their final homestand of the 2025 season and the next day, he and wife Haley went to Mount Sinai Hospital to welcome their first child together, a boy. 

“There’s a lot of things you think about after being here for so long,” Alonso said before the Orioles’ 7-2 loss to the Yankees. “Being in Manhattan, in the city, just looking back and thinking about that is really special.” 

Alonso continued to leave his mark on the city, hitting a home run off Will Warren in his first at-bat Friday. He went 1-for-2 with two walks and scored both of the Orioles’ runs. 

Walking around Friday, the five-time All-Star felt he was “just back in the old neighborhood.” 

He spent time pondering some of his favorite restaurants in the city, citing his favorite Italian spot, Ci Siamo, as a must-visit. “Shoutout chef Hillary,” he said. 

The 31-year-old didn’t assume anything about the game that preceded his son’s birth, whether it would be his last game at Citi Field. 

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) rounds the bases on his solo home run in the second inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

“I wasn’t thinking about it,” he said. “I was just more thinking about, ‘I can’t believe the season is over,’ because there was hopes for more, but obviously we didn’t do the job at the time. I was more shifted to family and how it was time to be dad, be husband. Let the dust settle and enjoy being parents for the first time. 

“That was where my mind was at initially. I didn’t really start thinking about free agency until the World Series was over.” 

Since arriving in Baltimore, Alonso hasn’t yet brought his best to the plate. Entering Friday, he was hitting .198 with four home runs and a .668 OPS through 31 games. 

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Former Red Wings Goalie Alex Lyon Leads Sabres To 2nd Round For The 1st Time Since 2007

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Because the Buffalo Sabres managed to finally return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011, it ended what was the longest active postseason drought in the NHL.

Unfortunately, it means that the Detroit Red Wings, who haven't qualified since 2016, now own that distinction. 

Adding insult to injury for the current Red Wings is that so many players, some of whom played in Detroit as recently as this and last season, have played key roles in their new respective club's playoff success.

Not only did Vladimir Tarasenko, who managed just 11 goals with the Red Wings last season, more than double his total this year with the Minnesota Wild and help them secure their first playoff series win in 11 years, but another former Red Wing has also helped his new club advance for the first time in nearly twice as long.

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Goaltender Alex Lyon, now with the Sabres after playing two seasons in Detroit, made 25 saves to help Buffalo clinch their playoff series over the Boston Bruins. In doing so, the Sabres are on to the second round for the first time since 2007. 

Lyon was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Red Wings in 2023 after he'd served as the backup to Sergei Bobrovsky during what would be their first of three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final. During his time with the Red Wings, Lyon went 35-27-6 with a 2.96 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage.

Following Detroit's acquisition of John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks last offseason, and with Cam Talbot still under contract for another year, Lyon was deemed expendable. 

He joined the Sabres, signing a two-year, $3 million contract with a $1.5 million cap hit.


And so far, the move has paid off in spades for the Sabres. 

Lyon overtook former Sabres (and Red Wings) goaltender Dominik Hasek in the club record books for most consecutive victories, and is now the first Sabres goaltender since former Michigan State Spartan Ryan Miller 19 years ago to win a playoff series. 

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Winners and Losers: Cavs vs Raptors Game 6 – Comeback falls short

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 01: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts from the court against the Toronto Raptors during the third quarter in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 01, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers blew a chance at ending the series. Now they’ll face the Toronto Raptors for a Game 7 in Cleveland.

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

LOSER – Single Rims

I’ve seen enough. The NBA should invest in double rims, preferably ones that cause shots to rattle out more often.

Please, I’m begging you.

LOSER – Late Game Turnovers

Jokes aside, the Cavs had a golden opportunity to end the series. A one-point lead with the shot clock off and the ball in their hands.

They turned it over.

I understand having Dennis Schroder on the floor. He’s your slipperiest player who can dash into the backcourt and guarantee the ball is put into play. From there, however, problems emerge.

Let’s maybe use one of your timeouts before trying a jump pass? Especially when tossing a grenade to your team’s worst free-throw shooter (who also happens to be straddling the sideline and is smothered by an elite defender).

It’s not Schroder’s fault that Mobley lost the ball. But the process was questionable, and the results speak for themselves.

Worse, this isn’t even the first time the Cavs turned it over in a similar position. In Game 4, they choked away a late lead after Donovan Mitchell was forced into an eight-second violation.

LOSER – The Backcourt (for three quarters)

This has been the story of the series. The Cavs’ backcourt, to varying degrees, has thrown a 2-0 lead down the drain with some truly abysmal road performances.

We’ll start with the less egregious offender.

If you could magically remove the possessions where James Harden threw the ball straight to a Raptors defender, then I wouldn’t have many complaints. Hell, even cutting that number in half would be pretty sweet. But even with Harden raising the floor by keeping the offense alive in the non-Mitchell minutes, his erradic turnovers have led directly to Toronto’s fastbreaks, which have broken Cleveland’s back.

The Raptors had 25 points off turnovers tonight. Harden finished with 4 turnovers.

That pales in comparison to Donovan Mitchell. Who, by all accounts, has been awful since Game 2.

You can afford to have your best player struggle in the playoffs. That’s bound to happen for at least a game or two. But four out of six? That’s downright diabolical. That’s the stuff that causes you to rethink the future of your entire franchise.

Mitchell was once again out of sorts. Totally thrown out of whack by the Raptors’ swarming defense. He shot 2-10 from deep, mostly on desperation attempts — and failed to register an assist until the closing minutes despite commanding so much defensive attention.

These two would turn it around significantly. But the first three quarters are still important!

WINNER – The Fourth Quarter Rally

Alright, you don’t get within seconds of closing out a series without doing at least a few things right.

Mitchell turned it on in the fourth quarter. He finally broke free from Toronto’s shackles and found a nice home for himself in the mid-range. His floater helped fuel the comeback while Cleveland’s defense continued to ratchet up the intensity.

The Cavs held the Raptors to just 12 points in the fourth quarter. That’s as good as it gets defensively. If the Cavs could have been more effective on offense (only scoring 23 points themselves), they might have avoided overtime altogether.

This is where Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen deserve their flowers.

The two bigs came up huge throughout the rally. Mobley, in particular, scored 7 points in the clutch without missing a shot. He hit a corner three-pointer to cut into the lead, and then scored in isolation to force overtime in the final seconds.

Allen wasn’t as active in the scoring department but he applied maximum pressure on the glass. Allen grabbed contested board after contested board, helping the Cavs end possessions and extending them on the other side of the floor.

For a minute, this felt like the moment Cleveland was going to break through and prove they’re ready for the moment. Now they face elimination on Sunday.

LOSER – Wasting your challenge

WHY, KENNY? WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Sorry, I had to get this one out.

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Cubs Minor League Wrap: Palencia rehabs with Iowa

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 12: Daniel Palencia #48 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on April 12, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Daniel Palencia was throwing hard in St. Paul.

Mason McGwire might just be a prospect.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs declared the St. Paul Saints (Twins) to be heretics, 6-5.

Connor Noland put the I-Cubs in an early hole after he got battered around for five runs on six hits over four innings. He walked three and struck out one.

Daniel Palencia relieved Noland in the fifth inning. He struck out the first batter looking, then he gave up a single and then got a lineout to center field. Palencia was throwing 100 to 102 miles per hour to the first two batters and more like 98-101 to the third batter, Orlando Arcia. The St. Paul broadcasters said that the single that Kyler Fedko got off of a 101.6 mph fastball by Palencia was the fastest pitch that any Saint has gotten a hit off of in franchise history. Palencia threw 19 pitches before he was pulled, 14 of them were strikes.

Zac Leigh relieved Palencia in the fifth and got a ground out to second to get out of that inning. Then Leigh struck out the side in the sixth. Leigh got the win.

Gabe Klobosits came on in the ninth and allowed two baserunners on an error and a walk. But he retired the other three batters he faced, two by strikeout, to collect the save.

Center fielder Kevin Alcántara hit his International League-leading tenth home run to dead center field in the fifth inning with a man on. Alcántara added a two-run double in the seventh to give Iowa the lead. He was 2 for 4 with a walk and the four runs batted in.

First baseman Jonathon Long had a pair of doubles in a 3 for 5 night. Long scored once and drove one home.

Third baseman Pedro Ramírez was 2 for 5 and scored twice.

Shortstop Owen Miller was 2 for 4.

The Jaguar strikes.

Alcántara just missed going deep twice, but settled for a two-run double.

Long’s RBI double went to the right-center field gap.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies disposed of the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Padres), 6-1.

Starter Jake Knapp allowed just one unearned run on one hit over 4.1 innings. Knapp walked three, hit one batter and struck out four.

Tyler Ras relieved Knapp in the fifth and while he did allow an inherited runner to score and tie the game, he ended up getting the win after the Smokies scored two runs in the top of the sixth and re-took the lead. Ras’s final line was no runs on three hits over 1.2 innings. Ras struck out one and walked no one.

Right fielder Carter Trice opened the scoring with a solo home run in the third inning,. Trice was 1 for 5.

Left fielder Andy Garriola hit a solo home run in the sixth to break the 1-1 tie in the sixth inning. It was his fifth home run of the year. Garriola went 1 for 4.

DH Owen Ayers broke the game open with a three-run home run in the seventh inning. It was his second home run for the Smokies and eighth overall. Ayers was 1 for 5.

Center fielder Jordan Nwogu was 1 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were smelted by the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 6-2.

Brooks Caple started and gave up no runs over the first three innings. Caple allowed three hits and three walks while striking out two.

Alfredo Romero relieved Caple and allowed just one run over his first three innings of work. But he came out to pitch the seventh and after retiring the first two batters, he walked the next two and then left for Jackson Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick let in both of those runners, so Romero got tagged with the loss.

The final line on Romero was three runs on just one hit over 3.2 innings. He did walk five batters and struck out just one.

Kirkpatrick officially allowed one run on one hit over 1.1 innings. He walked one, hit one batter and struck out three.

Center fielder Kane Kepley went 1 for 2 with two walks and an RBI.

Catcher Justin Stransky was 1 for 2 with a walk and a run batted in.

Here’s a nice defensive play by Kepley.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans won their fourth-straight by walking off the Columbia Fireflies (Royals), 8-7.

Mason McGwire continued his big start to the season by allowing just one run on one hit over four innings. McGwire struck out four and walked two.

After Riely Hunsaker got rocked for six runs, five earned, over the three middle innings, the Pelicans came back. Elis Jerzembeck threw the final two innings without allowing a run and got the win. Jerzembeck surrendered two hits and issued one walk. He struck out three.

Catcher Logan Poteet was the hero tonight. Not only did he hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning, he hit an RBI infield single in the bottom of the ninth to end the game. It was Poteet’s third home run this year. Poteet went 2 for 4 with a walk and the home run. He had two runs scored to go with the three RBI.

Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy was 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI single.

Third baseman Derniche Valdez went 2 for 4 and scored once.

Here is a three-run double for second baseman Alexis Hernandez (1 for 4) and an RBI single for Lumpuy.

An game-tying RBI triple for left fielder Jose Escobar.

Here’s Poteet’s walk-off single.