Mateer followed former Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Oklahoma this past offseason.
Darryl Strawberry congratulates Pete Alonso on passing his Mets HR record
Pete Alonso stands alone in the record books.
The slugger crushed his 253rd career home run in the bottom of the third on Tuesday night, officially passing Darryl Strawberry for the Mets franchise record.
Alonso tied Strawberry’s mark this weekend in Milwaukee, and he didn’t waste any time jumping in front of him back in the home ballpark.
Strawberry took a minute to congratulate the big man in a video shared on the team’s social media pages.
“I just want to say congratulations on breaking the home run record,” he said. “You have worked hard, you have stood up in the pressure of New York City, and you have played well -- it is well deserved, you are a homegrown player.
“Again, congratulations and continue to have great success.”
Darryl Strawberry congratulates Pete Alonso on breaking his Mets home run record 🤝
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 13, 2025
(via @Mets) pic.twitter.com/ly8rDtYl6G
Tom Brady: Bill Belichick will prepare North Carolina players to play at ‘next level’
In an appearance on Joel Klatt's podcast, former NFL quarterback Tom Brady discussed what players at UNC can expect from Bill Belichick and more.
Astros All-Star closer Josh Hader placed on 15-day injured list with shoulder strain
HOUSTON (AP) Houston Astros All-Star closer Josh Hader was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a strained left shoulder.
The move, retroactive to Monday, comes after the left-hander reported shoulder discomfort before Monday's game against the Boston Red Sox.
“It's (a) punch in the gut,” manager Joe Espada said. “But ... he's seeing doctors right now. We're getting more tests done and hopefully this is not going to be a long-term thing.”
Espada added that they don't yet know the severity of the injury and should know more after additional testing.
Espada said he would not name a closer to fill in while Hader is out, but would use his relievers based on matchups.
“I feel good about all those guys,” Espada said.
Hader, who is in his second season in Houston, is 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA and is tied for third in the majors with 28 saves in 48 appearances this season.
To take his spot on the roster, the AL West-leading Astros reinstated right-hander Shawn Dubin from the 15-day injured list. They also designated right-hander Hector Neris for assignment and recalled left-hander Colton Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-08-13 21:23:43
Frustration gets the best of Suarez as Phillies see winning streak come to end
Frustration gets the best of Suarez as Phillies see winning streak come to end originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
CINCINNATI — It wasn’t just one pitch that threw off the night for Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez, though it certainly did seem to play a big part.
After striking out Matt McLain to start the third inning, Suarez allowed consecutive singles before getting TJ Friedl to bounce into a fielder’s choice. After going 0-2 on Spencer Steer, Suarez appeared to freeze him with a sinker. The pitch appeared to be in the strike zone, so much so that Suarez made his way to within about 10 feet of catcher Rafael Marchan and home plate umpire Will Traynor.
Three pitches later, Steer hit a two-run double to plate the Reds’ first runs in what would become a 6-1 loss for the Phillies at Great American Ballpark.
That lack of a strike call may have started a bad night for Suarez, who again jawed with Traynor in the sixth, but it wasn’t the only thing that was wrong with the left-hander on this night.
In fact, things haven’t been going well for quite some time for Suarez. In his last six starts, which have composed of 35 1/3 innings, Suarez has given up 46 hits and 24 earned runs for a 6.11 ERA during that span.
“I think I could have gotten out of those innings with way less damage than we did,” Suarez said. “I think I just mentally blocked at that point and I just stopped trying to execute those pitches. I think I was just throwing the ball.”
His manager didn’t like the reaction from his pitcher too much, either.
“You got to shut that down. If it did (affect Suarez), you can’t let that happen,” Rob Thomson said. “You got to stay focused, stay composed and keep pitching. Those things are going to happen. The iPad on the bench, it just barely ticked that, but who knows how those boxes are. I don’t know if they’re accurate or not. But, that’s something you can’t control and you’ve just got to keep pitching.
“Because of his last few outings, I think he wants to do well and maybe he’s just off a little bit. But he’s got to shut that down.”
Before the game, Thomson was answering a question about the possible availability of starter Aaron Nola. Thomson said they’d have to wait on how Nola pitched and felt after starting Tuesday in Lehigh Valley, then said the organization would “have to see where Ranger is at after tonight’s game.”
Suarez insisted that he’s fine.
“I felt good,” he said. “I felt better than last time out. Overall, I felt better and look what happened. I missed a couple, that’s the game. I wouldn’t say it’s fatigue. I feel good, actually. I know I’ve had a couple of rough starts and I realize wondering if it could be fatigue, but it’s not. I just think about it as having to look back at those pitches that were missed, that I missed, and getting better at that point.”
And Nola appears ready, if not just about ready, to rejoin the team after being out since May 14. Tuesday against Buffalo, Nola pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed four hits, two earned runs. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out 11.
“He says he’s fine and he was really good the first two innings,” Thomson said of Suarez. “And then his command was off. The rest of his outing, really, he was getting ahead the first two innings. The third through the sixth, he was a lot of behind in the count, then he’s got to come in with too many pitches in the middle of the plate and he paid for it.”
The loss snapped a four-game win streak by the Phillies, with all the wins coming at the beginning of this 10-game road trip. The only thing that slowed down Cincinnati was a 28-minute rain delay following the sixth.
After getting through the first seven batters of the game without a hitch, Suarez allowed 12 of the next 21 batters to get on base via hits or walk. There was a home run, a bunch of singles, a couple of doubles, a hit batter, a pair of walks. Pretty much any way there was to get on base, the Reds did it off Suarez, who fell to 8-6 and had his ERA climb to 3.28, the first time it’s been that high since his fourth start of the season.
“Other than fatigue, I don’t think so, because he hasn’t complained of anything,” Thomson said of what could be behind Suarez’s struggles. “That’s the only thing I can really attribute it to. We’ll see.
“Nola had a good game tonight so we’ll see how he’s feeling tomorrow. Punched out the side in the first, third and fifth. Really threw well, 84 pitches so we’ll see how he is tomorrow. We’ll go to a sixth man, or bump him (Suarez), or something.”
There’s been a lot of news surrounding the Phillies’ pitching staff of late. It was revealed last week that Zack Wheeler was having shoulder soreness, though he and the team insist he’s fine. They picked up closing sensation Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline. Veteran David Robertson made his debut with the team on Monday. Reliever Jose Alvarado will come back from his suspension in about a week and Nola seems to have completed his rehab. And now they will have to figure out what is going on with Suarez.
After winning eight of their last 10 and playing such good baseball, a dud was bound to happen at some point. That’s somewhat expected in a 162-game season. But the supposed red flag on Suarez put a damper on what was already a damp night all around. A Bryce Harper home run in the ninth, his 18th of the year, saved the Phillies from being shut out.
“I think it’s mostly about getting on track on my starts and trying to replicate whatever we did during the first half of the season,” Suarez said. “As far as the mentality, it’s more about throwing those bad starts away and trying to start fresh and be better. I feel good.”
Fenerbahce see off Feyenoord to book Champions League playoff with Benfica
Jhon Durán helps Mourinho’s side to 5-2 aggregate win
Rangers advance to face Club Brugge in playoffs
José Mourinho is one round away from taking Fenerbahce back into the Champions League for the first time in 17 years.
The storied head coach’s team surged into the Champions League qualifying playoffs by overturning a two-goal deficit in a 5-2 qualifying round win against Robin van Persie’s Feyenoord.
Continue reading...Report: Ryan Johansen Flyers Saga Ends with Philadelphia Victory
According to multiple reports, the months-long legal battle between forward Ryan Johansen and the Philadelphia Flyers is now over.
On Tuesday, it was initially reported by NHL insider Darren Dreger that an arbitrator had ruled in favor of the Flyers in the grievance filed by Johansen in Aug. 2024.
Previously, on Aug. 20, 2024, the Flyers had terminated Johansen's contract, which had one year remaining at a $4 million cap hit, citing a "material breach."
Johansen, 33, played in all 63 regular season games for the Colorado Avalanche last season, scoring 13 goals, 10 assists, and 23 points before being dealt to the Flyers in the Sean Walker trade ahead of the NHL trade deadline on March 6, 2024.
Johansen had played against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 4, just two days prior.
However, the 6-foot-3 forward presented with an injury upon arriving in Philadelphia, which prevented him from being assigned by the Flyers to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, as per league rules.
Sources say an arbitrator has ruled in favour of the Philadelphia Flyers in a grievance filed by the NHLPA following the termination of Ryan Johansen’s contract in August, 2024. The Flyers cited a “material breach” as grounds for termination.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) August 12, 2025
Johansen's injury was a surprise to the Flyers, and the player insisted he wasn't able to perform and fulfill his duties on the ice.
On Aug. 20, 2024, in response to the Flyers terminating Johansen's contract the same day, agent Kurt Overhardt issued a statement on his client's behalf, claiming that Johansen had suffered "a severe hockey injury that requires extensive surgery, which has been scheduled."
Whatever transpired since then clearly did not work in the veteran forward's favor, as evidenced by the latest reports.
One Flyers Prospect Nobody Is Talking About Ahead of 2025-26 SeasonThe Philadelphia Flyers have quite a few roster spots ready to be filled by up-and-coming prospects next season, but there's one prospect who should be talked about much more.
With the saga apparently ending with a Flyers victory, don't expect any cap charges to be lodged against Philadelphia in the 2025-26 season or beyond.
Mets’ Tylor Megill battles, strikes out four in first rehab start with Binghamton
Tylor Megill took a big step towards a potential late-season return on Tuesday.
The big Mets starting pitcher made his first rehab appearance down with Double-A Binghamton, though he wasn’t particularly sharp.
Megill retired the first two batters he faced, then struggled to put the inning away as the next two reached on a walk and single, but he punched out the cleanup hitter to escape without any damage.
He needed 23 pitches to battle his way through the opening frame.
Binghamton’s offense handed Megill a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning, and he picked up two more strikeouts in the second, but ended up being pulled after allowing a pair of singles.
Luis Moreno entered and retired the next batter easily to close his line with no runs allowed on three hits and a walk while striking out four in just 1.2 innings of work.
Megill did mix in his full arsenal as he threw 41 pitches, 27 of which were strikes.
The right-hander has been sidelined since the middle of June due to a right elbow sprain.
He was putting together another inconsistent campaign prior to the injury, pitching to a 3.95 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 89 strikeouts across 14 big league starts.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Mets utilize Megill when he is ready to return.
Frankie Montas' spot in the rotation is open at the moment with him sliding to the bullpen, but all signs point to the team calling up top prospects Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean to jump into the mix.
Megill has just seven appearances in his career as a reliever.
Why The Minnesota Wild Signed Jack Johnson To A PTO
The Minnesota Wild announced on Monday the signing of defenseman Jack Johnson to a professional try out (PTO).
Johnson, 38, has played 19 seasons in the NHL and if he signs a contract with the Wild it will be his 20th season.
The 6-foot-1 defenseman brings loads of experience and has won the Stanley Cup before. He is a left-shot defender as well.
Minnesota traded left-shot defender Declan Chisholm to the Washington Capitals at the NHL Draft and let Jon Merrill leave for free agency.
Zeev Buium is expected to replace one of them and be an NHL regular this year. We also know that Jonas Brodin had off-season surgery and could miss the start of the season.
In the AHL they have, Carson Lambos, Stevie Leskovar, Matt Kiersted, Ben Gleason and Jack Peart under contract as left-shot defenders.
Lambos, 22, was drafted in the first round of the 2021 draft and has been in the AHL the last two seasons. He recorded five goals and 19 points in 68 games for the Iowa Wild last year and was even called up to the Wild during the regular season.
He did not debut but is considered almost ready to be an NHLer. Wild General Manager Bill Guerin said they need some of their younger guys to step up and make impacts this season and Lambos is one of those guys.
No spot is guaranteed.
On the right-side, the Wild have Jared Spurgeon, Brock Faber, Zach Bogosian and David Jiricek. One of either Bogosian or Jiricek could play their off-sides to start the season but the Wild elected not to do that during the regular season when they had injuries.
Guerin has always talked about healthy competition and younger guys pushing for spots that older guys have. Johnson is 16 years older than Lambos and has played in 1,228 NHL games in his career.
The Wild also signed Kiersted who has played in 39 career NHL games over the last four seasons.
So, there will be some competition during training camp and there is nothing wrong with that. If Johnson is good and fits well with the Wild, then they can sign him to a contract. If not, there is no harm with the PTO.
Recent Minnesota Wild Stories
- Wild Sign Jack Johnson To A PTO.
- Revisiting 2024-25 Bold Predictions.
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The Sabres Did Well Against Powerhouse Jets Last Season; Can They Do It Again?
The Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 schedule has been out for a while now, and THN.com's Sabres site has been dutifully analyzing each Sabres opponent next year in our "Know Your Enemy" series. We're nearing the end of the series, as we get set to start breaking down Buffalo's Pacific Division rivals on Wednesday.
But for now, we're wrapping things up in the Central Division by looking at the Winnipeg Jets, who were the best regular-season team in the NHL last year. The Jets have made some notable additions, including star center Jonathan Toews and wingers Tanner Pearson and Gustav Nyquist. But will that be enough to give Winnipeg the edge over the Sabres in their two games this season? Read this column to find out our answer to that question.
And once you've finished checking out that column, be sure to sign up as a member of the Sabres community on THN.com. Your opinion counts, and we want to hear it.
Canadiens Young Star Should Hit New Level
There is no question that forward Juraj Slafkovsky is one of the Montreal Canadiens' core pieces moving forward. The 2022 first-overall pick has already emerged as a key forward in their lineup, and this certainly remained the case during the 2024-25 season.
Slafkovsky had another solid year for the Canadiens, as he scored 18 goals and set new career highs with 33 assists, 51 points, and 194 hits in 79 games. This was after the 6-foot-3 winger scored 20 goals and posted 50 points in 82 games with the Canadiens during the 2023-24 season.
Overall, Slafkovsky is continuing to demonstrate good upside with the Canadiens. With this, it would not be surprising in the slightest if we see Slafkovsky hit a brand new level next season for the Original Six club.
Slafkovsky is still just 21 years old, so he undoubtedly still has time to improve his all-around game even further. Keep in mind, this past season was only his third NHL campaign, so he is still developing his game as he continues to adjust to the NHL level.
With Slafkovsky being one of the Canadiens' most important young players, they are also only going to continue to give him plenty of opportunities to succeed. When looking at their roster, he should begin the season on their first line and power play. Thus, the potential for him to hit a new level offensively will be there in 2025-26.
Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see what kind of campaign Slafkovsky can put together for the Canadiens next season from here.
Canadiens Defenseman Named As Top Breakout CandidateThe Montreal Canadiens are one of the NHL's most exciting teams right now, as they are on the rise and have several promising young players on their roster. After making the playoffs in 2024-25 and following that up with a busy off-season, their goal will be to take another notable step in the right direction this upcoming campaign. Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Are Winnipeg Jets Too Good To Lose To Buffalo?
The Buffalo Sabres are facing a massive amount of pressure to end their 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought next season. But if they're to do so, they're going to need to win the majority of series they play against every NHL team. And that includes taking on top-tier teams like the Central Division-champion Winnipeg Jets.
The Jets were the NHL's best regular-season team last year, and Winnipeg won their first playoff round before falling to the Dallas Stars in Round 2. But how will the Jets do against the Sabres next season? Read on below, and you'll find out THN.com's best guess to answer that question as we continue our "Know Your Enemy" series.
BUFFALO SABRES VS. WINNIPEG JETS
NEW JETS PLAYERS: Jonathan Toews, C; Gustav Nyquist, LW; Tanner Pearson, LW; Cole Koepke, LW
2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-0-1, Jets 1-1-0
2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: December 1 at Buffalo; December 5 at Winnipeg
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Jets made a significant number of additions this summer -- most notably, signing former Chicago Blackhawks superstar center Jonathan Toews. Granted, Toews is now 37 years old and hasn't played hockey since 2022-23, but if he can come in and give Winnipeg solid minutes as their second-line center, the Jets are going to be extremely difficult to beat for any team, the Sabres included.
That said, Winnipeg showed they weren't a perfect team in the second round against Dallas, and it was easy to see why. For one thing, star goalie Connor Hellebuyck posted sub-par playoff statistics for the third straight season, posting an .866 save percentage last spring. And the Jets' special teams were also a significant letdown.
Thus, Buffalo needs to be pushing the envelope in Winnipeg's defensive zone -- and the Sabres also need to strike the Jets repeatedly in the span of four days at the start of December. Playing Winnipeg twice in that span -- with another game against the Philadelphia Flyers in-between those two games -- is going to be rather taxing on the Sabres. But the way they respond will help dictate where Buffalo winds up in the Atlantic Division standings next season.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Will Mammoth Maul Buffalo As Utah Seeks First Playoff Appearance?The NHL's off-season rolls on, and every day brings with it more hockey talk. And in this ongoing THN.com series, we here at the Sabres site are focusing on the Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 regular-season schedule -- and specifically, Sabres opponents who could get in the way of Buffalo's Stanley Cup playoff aspirations.
Certainly, splitting their two games last season -- with the Sabres avoiding losing in regulation-time in their one overtime loss to the Jets -- has to make Buffalo feel confident they can hang with Winnipeg. But in addition to Toews, the Jets have also added veterans in greybeard winger Gustav Nyquist and depth scorer Tanner Pearson. And although losing departed winger Nikolaj Ehlers on the free-agent market will hurt the Jets' offensive potency, replacing his offense with the contributions of Toews, Nyquist and Pearson will soften the blow.
Getting their games with Winnipeg out of the way early next year is probably in Buffalo's best interest. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff currently has $3.9-million in salary cap space to improve his roster with, but it's not likely that he spends to the cap ceiling until later in the season, when he can address issues that arise during the year.
The good news for the Sabres in this rivalry is that it's not probable that they see Hellebuyck in both regular-season games. Instead, Buffalo may get backup netminder Eric Comrie for one of the games, and Comrie's individual numbers -- including a .914 SP and 2.39 goals-against average -- make him a bit more human than Hellebuyck looks to be, at least, in the regular-season.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Are Boosted Blues Bound To Beat Buffalo?The Buffalo Sabres are facing enormous pressure to end their 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought next season, and it's not hyperbole to say that the Sabres can't afford so much as a single off-night if they're going to be a playoff team. Every game really counts, and Buffalo needs to beat many above-average squads if they're going to earn a playoff berth in the highly-competitive Atlantic Division.
In any case, beating the Jets twice may be too much of an ask for Buffalo, as is the case for any other team. But doing what the Sabres did last year against Winnipeg -- winning one game, and getting the "loser point" in the other game -- is not asking too much of Buffalo. The Jets are a very good team that looks to have improved this summer, but the Sabres also are a different team, and one that should be coming out of the gate with a sense of urgency that may not be there for Winnipeg early on.
If the Sabres are able to hang with the Jets in their two games next season, it could be an indication Buffalo is going to silence their doubters and play post-season hockey after a stretch of failure that has stunned even the Sabres' most fervent supporters. Buffalo has a chance to send a blunt message to Winnipeg by beating them more than once, and doing so could prove to be the difference between the Sabres making or missing the playoffs.
Elias Pettersson's Revenge Year Is Nigh With Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks star center Elias Pettersson is hungry for a season to be happy about.
After a 2024-25 season that was a disappointment for everyone connected to the Canucks, Pettersson has come out of the gates swinging and making it clear he’s intent on putting in a far better performance next season. He’s more than capable of reaching that goal for the Canucks.
Pettersson recently told Peter Ekholm on NHL.com he’s put on muscle and is looking for revenge following last season’s underwhelming results, including his 15-goal, 45-point showing in 64 games.
"I know what I'm capable of," Pettersson told Ekholm last Wednesday in Sweden. "Actually, I haven't thought about it, but for myself, it's revenge. I'm not happy with last season."
The 26-year-old was embroiled in a feud with now-former Canucks star center J.T. Miller, and he dealt with two injuries in the past year.
Pettersson’s drop in production is part of why Vancouver missed out on Stanley Cup playoff action. But if Pettersson is ready to reverse last season’s regression, the expectations for him in 2025-26 should thrill Canucks fans.
It’s still fair to hold Pettersson to the standard he set in his peak seasons thus far, most notably, his 39-goal, 102-point performance in the 2022-23 campaign. Even a slight dip to the 34-goal, 89-point effort he got in 2023-24 would greatly help Vancouver’s playoff hopes next year, and it isn’t unreasonable to ask him to get there.
After all, Pettersson is an elite force when he takes advantage of his hard shot.
He consistently ranks near the top of the NHL in the number of shots that go between 70 and 100 miles per hour, and he can not only score a bunch of goals in high-danger areas but at mid-range as well, according to NHL Edge.
His 109 shots last season were far fewer than the 207 and 257 he had in the two previous campaigns, and it’s clear that improving his strength and recovering from his injuries should help him increase his shooting again.
Pettersson’s hunger to have an excellent season could rub off on his teammates as well.
To that end, Pettersson spoke specifically about one of the Canucks’ most notable off-season moves – the trade acquisition of former Edmonton Oilers right winger Evander Kane.
The rugged game Kane plays may not directly affect Pettersson if the two new teammates don’t play on the same line next year, but if Kane can produce a decent amount of goals, the pressure on Pettersson will subside. And that should lead to a better all-around showing from Pettersson.
"I was very happy when I saw that trade," Pettersson said. "It's a player that we need, a player who plays with grit and still can score goals."
But let’s focus on Pettersson specifically. Perhaps skeptics are right, and Pettersson’s play of late is more indicative of who he’s going to be in the long run. That would be crushing for the Canucks, who are set to pay Pettersson $11.6 million for the next seven seasons.
But with his fresh start next year, Pettersson has no excuses about showing who he really is. He’s going to be key to Team Sweden’s chances at the 2026 Olympic Games, and he’s got a new head coach in Adam Foote to form a new partnership with in Vancouver. Many people are pushing their chips behind him, and he knows it.
NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No. 7, Vancouver CanucksThe Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings enter the homestretch with the Vancouver Canucks in seventh place.
Pettersson is going to be front and center as the Canucks try to get back into the playoffs. He has a terrific opportunity to get the revenge he wants, because if he doesn’t get it, Vancouver may miss out on the post-season for the second consecutive season, and the spotlight on him would be somehow brighter than it already is.
But that’s a way off. For now, there’s still reason to believe Pettersson can answer the bell and have a bounce-back year for Vancouver. The Canucks are betting on him, and the way he responds could change the face and direction of the franchise.
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What we learned as Giants' hopes of chasing Padres down fade with lifeless loss
What we learned as Giants' hopes of chasing Padres down fade with lifeless loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — As the season started to collapse on the last homestand, the Giants at least could lean on one fact. They had seven games left against a San Diego Padres team they were hoping to chase down.
Their destiny was in their own hands, but it now looks like the Padres might instead put the final nail in the coffin. They have dominated the first two games of this stretch of seven meetings in 10 days, getting a 5-1 win Tuesday after a similar performance Monday.
The Giants are two games under .500 for the first time all year. They’re now nine games behind the Padres, who are a game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West race.
The long first inning Monday included a strange run on both sides. Robbie Ray got two quick outs, but Tyler Fitzgerald slipped on a popup to right, letting it fall for a two-out bloop. After a double put two in scoring position, Ray stumbled on the mound and got called for a balk that brought a run home.
The Giants countered in the bottom of the inning after two-time Gold Glove Award winner Manny Machado couldn’t handle a line drive hit right at him. That put two on for Wilmer Flores, who hit a swinging bunt that died in front of Machado, tying the game.
From there, it was all Padres.
The Giants scored one run for the second consecutive game and have totaled just four over their last four games, failing to reward the 145,000 fans who have come through the gates at Oracle Park. They have dropped 12 of 13 at home and fell under .500 in home games, which seemed impossible to accomplish earlier this year when it seemed they were walking someone off every other night.
Long Day For Ray
Ray became just the 10th big leaguer to throw at least 113 pitches in a game this season and the first Giant. It was his highest count since he came back from Tommy John surgery and the fifth-highest of his career. Ray had thrown 110-plus pitches just one other time since turning 30.
The Giants have pushed Ray and Logan Webb hard in recent weeks, in part because they traded away two of their best relievers. This was Ray’s fourth consecutive start of at least 100 pitches, and he hasn’t seemed to wear down at all. The Padres put four runs on his line, but three of them came in the first couple of innings, with Jose Iglesias doing most of the damage with a two-run homer that hit the top of the wall and bounced over.
Welcome Back
Before Saturday, Fitzgerald had never played a game in right field at any level. The Giants got him some experience in center and left the previous two seasons, but the need right now is in right, where they have been going with left-handed hitters Drew Gilbert and Grant McCray. Desperate for offense and a better matchup against Cortes, they recalled Fitzgerald, who started in right field for Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday and Sunday.
It was a somewhat windy night, and Fitzgerald misjudged the popup in the first. He looked much more comfortable after that and resembled a seasoned right fielder in the fifth when Manny Machado smashed one to the track. Fitzgerald got a good jump and easily got into position to make the catch.
Fitzgerald was hitless in two at-bats, flying out twice. He said before the game that he feels more comfortable than he did in his last big league stint, but he’s still searching for his 2024 power swing.
Dom Barrels
It’s tough to get a long hitting streak going when you’re not an everyday player. Sometimes you’ll get just one shot to swing the bat, and that was the case for Dominic Smith on Tuesday.
Smith pinch-hit for Fitzgerald with two on and one out in the sixth and bounced a single to right, extending his streak to 15 games, the longest of his career and longest active streak in the big leagues. He then was replaced by Gilbert, a pinch-runner. It was the third time that Smith has extended his streak as a pinch-hitter, which had not been done by a Giant since 1936.
The streak is the longest by a Giant since Donovan Solano reached 17 games in 2020. It didn’t lead to any runs, though. Patrick Bailey and Heliot Ramos followed with popups, stranding all three runners.