The Spurs earned their first playoff series win since 2017, and will face the winner of the Denver Nuggets-Minnesota Timberwolves series in the Western Conference semifinals.
Wembanyama had a double-double in his second game back after missing Game 3 with a concussion. After his 27 points and 11 rebounds helped the Spurs prevail in Game 4, Wembanyama added 14 rebounds in Game 5. De'Aaron Fox led the Spurs in scoring with 21 points, with Julian Champagnie 19 and Dylan Harper adding 17 points, respectively.
Game 5 was never really in doubt for San Antonio, which stormed out to a 36-24 lead after one quarter of play and held a 65-50 lead at halftime.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 28: Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners hits a three-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning at Target Field on April 28, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Josh Naylor, Julio Rodríguez and Cole Young each collected three hits in the Mariners 7-1 win over the Twins Tuesday. The Mariners’ lineup picked up 12 hits in total, including five for extra bases, in what wound up being a comfortable win.
But the game wasn’t so comfortable early. Joe Ryan started for the Twins and was good as always, pounding the zone, getting ahead, and keeping the Mariners off balance through the first five innings. He got 13 called strikes on his fastballs, and five whiffs against the splitter and curve. I wouldn’t even say it was a bad performance by the Mariners against a pitcher like Ryan, who finished the day top 10 in the majors by WAR, but they were often caught in between and guessing wrong. This is what the first five innings looked like:
Things changed when the middle of the order stepped to the plate for the third time. With two outs, Julio got a hanging curveball and laced a grounder down the left field line, hustling into second for a double. Naylor followed by, flicking a single the other way to make the game 1-1.
The Mariners couldn’t get any more runs in the sixth, but they made Ryan work. After a leadoff double from Randy Arozarena in the top of the seventh, Ryan’s day was done. The Twins were forced to turn to a far less intimidating bullpen, and Young eventually plopped a single the other way to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead.
J.P. Crawford drew a leadoff walk in the eighth. Julio then hit a screaming double past the outstretched arm for Austin Martin in right field to put runners on second and third. That brought Naylor to the plate to face Cole Sands, who threw a top-rail cutter that bled back over the plate. Naylor turned on it and crushed it way out to right, taking a few steps back to admire the shot before proceeding around the bases.
The Mariners weren’t quite done. Young lead off the ninth with another single, Leo Rivas took a hit by pitch, and Julio doubled them both home with a sharp line drive to left, to finish off the score at 7-1.
It was another great day for the offense. The Mariners are up to a 105 wRC+ despite their early struggles and entered the day with a 126 wRC+ since April 10 (when they began the four-game rout of the Astros). It’s largely coming from the middle of the order, too, with Julio, Cal, Arozarena and Naylor each beginning Tuesday’s games with a wRC+ between 138 and 143 over that stretch. If they keep scoring five runs per game on average, the wins will eventually follow.
Logan Gilbert got the start for the Mariners, and it went the way it always does. He showed off a deep arsenal, got some whiffs and strikeouts, and ultimately struggled before exiting after five innings.
It was the fourth that got him, even if it wasn’t quite his fault. Josh Bell lead off the inning with a sharp grounder right down the line at first. The ball was so down the line, in fact, that it hit the bag, popped 15 (or 20? ) feet in the air over Josh Naylor’s head, and landed in right field for a single. Kody Clemens followed with what looked like a double play ball, but Cole Young forgot that he’s a good defender now, and dropped the ball on the transfer, putting runners on first and second. Gilbert later walked Luke Keaschall to load the bases. After battling to get two outs, Gilbert got Royce Lewis to hit a sharp grounder to Leo Rivas at third base, who raced to the bag and got the lead runner with a dive.
Gilbert got into more trouble in the fifth, this time on his own. Byron Buxton stepped to the plate to lead off the inning. Gilbert threw him a first-pitch fastball up — a pretty decent pitch — but Buxton seemed to be sitting on it and yanked it to left for a solo homer. It was somewhat amusing that ROOT was in the middle of presenting a graphic showing Buxton as the top home run hitting center fielder in the majors. “Did we do that?” Aaron Goldsmith asked, following a brief silence as the ball flew through the air.
The very next pitch, Gilbert hung a changeup middle-middle to Trevor Larnach, who launched it off the top of the high wall in right field for a double. Gilbert would eventually escape the inning with the game still 1-0, but by the time he did, the pitch count read 93 and his day was done.
Again, it was the standard five-and-dive outing that has been the standard for Gilbert throughout his career. (For a refresher, Zach Mason dug into this over the offseason). Outings like Tuesdays technically make him a top 25 starting pitcher in the majors, and they often help the Mariners win, but that in-game longevity continues to stand in the way of reaching the next level.
Still, Gilbert did his job, got the ball to the bullpen with just one run on the board, and the lineup eventually found some runs. The Mariners go for their first back-to-back series wins of 2026 on Wednesday at 10:40 a.m.
Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick (10) rounds first base after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Brewers’ offense is still weathering the storm as they wait for some of their top batters to return from the injured list. On Tuesday night, they didn’t need their power hitters, as a barrage of singles and walks gave them a decisive 13-2 win over the Diamondbacks.
Chad Patrick started the game for the Brewers with a scoreless first inning, working around a leadoff work as he struck out two. Meanwhile, the Brewers put the pressure on Merrill Kelly right away. Garrett Mitchell led off for the Brewers with a leadoff walk. He tried to get the Brewers into scoring position right away, but was caught stealing second for the first out. That ended up being a big out after William Contreras drew a walk and Brice Turang singled. Tyler Black moved them both up with a groundout, then Kelly walked Jake Bauers. The strategy worked as Kelly struck out Brandon Lockridge to end the inning.
At the start of the second inning, there was a scary moment for Patrick. He was having trouble seeing and needed assistance on the field. He remained in the game and retired the side in order, partially thanks to a double play that erased a leadoff walk. After the game, Patrick talked about how he couldn’t see for 15-20 seconds and what he was feeling.
"It felt like my eyeballs were at the top of my head"
Back on offense, the Brewers gave Patrick some run support. The first run came from Sal Frelick, who hit a leadoff home run into the Diamondbacks’ bullpen for a 1-0 lead. It was the Brewers’ first home run since April 18th against Miami, and just their second home run in the last 14 days.
Both starters traded scoreless third innings, and Patrick added a scoreless fourth as well. As for the Brewers, they added on in the fourth. Back-to-back walks from Lockridge and Frelick gave the Brewers two baserunners, and David Hamilton moved them up on a groundout. Joey Ortiz brought them in with a single into shallow center field, scoring both. Ortiz would end up getting caught stealing second — catcher James McCann’s second caught stealing of the night —but the Brewers increased their lead to 3-0.
Patrick entered the fifth inning with a modest no-hit bid going, but he struggled hard in the inning. He walked the first three batters he saw that inning. The Diamondbacks were threatening as Alek Thomas hit a hard line drive between first and second, but Turang was positioned in the right spot and made a jump to rob Thomas of a hit.
It ended up only delaying the Diamondbacks by a batter, though. The next batter, McCann, hit a ground ball between second and third and into left field. That scored two runs and closed the gap to 3-2. A sacrifice bunt from Ildemaro Vargas moved runners up to second and third, but Patrick got a ground ball from Ketel Marte to escape the inning.
Patrick finished his night with five innings pitched and two runs allowed. He allowed just the one hit, but it was a two-run RBI single that momentarily got the Diamondbacks back in the game. While he did strike out five batters, he also walked five. Of his 98 pitches, he threw 60 for strikes.
That stumble in the fifth wouldn’t deter the Brewers offense. Contreras and Turang hit a single and double with one out to put runners in scoring position again. This time, they would not be stranded as Black singled to center, scoring them both and giving the Brewers their three-run lead back.
The Brewers were not done. In the sixth, the Diamondbacks went into their bullpen and brought in Andrew Hoffman. The Brewers pecked away at him. Here’s a rundown of what the Brewers did against Hoffman:
Frelick single
Hamilton single
Ortiz single
Mitchell RBI single (6-2)
Contreras two-RBI single (8-2)
Turang walk
Black broken-bat bloop RBI single (9-2)
Bauers two-RBI single (11-2)
Lockridge pop out
Frelick reaches on catcher’s interference (challenged and upheld)
Hoffman threw 38 pitches and only recorded one out in his appearance. After Hamilton’s ground-rule double — which likely clears the bases if it stays in play — the Diamondbacks brought in Ryan Thompson to finish the inning. He quieted the Brewers’ bats with a strikeout of Ortiz and pop out from Mitchell to end the inning.
From there, the Brewers brought in the reserves and filed this one away quietly. After a clean sixth for Shane Drohan, Jake Woodford recorded a three-inning save to finish out the game. Drohan had a strikeout, while Woodford allowed just two hits and struck out two.
The Brewers recorded 15 hits as a team, their second-most in the season. With their six walks, their 21 baserunners is also their second-most as a team this season. Black led the offense with a three-hit day. Contreras, Turang, Frelick, Hamilton, and Ortiz all had two-hit days. Lockridge was the only starter that did not record a hit, but still reached base once with a walk. As a team, the Brewers went 8-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Of their fifteen hits, just three went for extra bases: Frelick’s home run and doubles from Turang and Hamilton.
Following that burst of offense, game two of the series will take place tomorrow evening. Brandon Sproat gets the start against Eduardo Rodriguez of the Diamondbacks. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m.
Drew Romo launched his first two career homers in Chicago’s second straight win. | (Getty Images)
Davis Martin and the White Sox (13-17) picked up a sound win over the Los Angeles (12-19), earning Martin his fourth win of the season and the team finally taking a series win at home. The bullpen was nearly spotless, the offense mashed two home runs off one of the game’s best pitchers, and Drew Romo had himself a night with his first two career homers — one from each side of the plate.
Prior to tonight’s game, righthander José Soriano had only given up one run in his six starts (37 2/3 innings), and the Chicago White Sox did what seemingly no other team could do: score more than one tally against him. In fact, the Good Guys scored three onsixhits, two of which were home runs — a solo shot from Colson Montgomery and a two-run bomb from Romo, this one from the left side.
Soriano came into Tuesday’s game, surrendering just one extra-base hit (a double), and left with two South Side deep balls to sour his start. He tossed a clean first inning, but Montgomery clearly didn’t care about the Cy Young hype, as Colson smoked one over the right field fence in the bottom of the second to give the White Sox a one-run lead, and hand Soriano his second earned run of the season.
For the White Sox, Martin was his usual self: consistent and efficient. Tonight, he was more effective than the best pitcher in baseball, allowing one run on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking one batter to maintain his low walk rate, and striking out seven. The one run that the Angels scored off of Martin came in the top of the fourth after Nolan Schanuel ripped a one-out double to put himself into scoring position, and was subsequently driven in on a single from Jo Adell to tie the game up at one.
Thankfully, Martin would be back on the hook for the win as the Good Guys stole the lead back in the bottom of the fourth when Romo smashed a two-run, line-drive bomb out to right for the first home run of his major league career, 3-1. Soriano left after the fifth inning and ultimately took the loss. His ERA is still sitting below 1.00, but it shot up to 0.84 after beginning the game at 0.24. Sure, the Sox might not be good this season, but they just might be that thorn in teams’ sides with their recent offensive trends.
This game was officially trademarked as the Drew Romo Game when the switch-hitting catcher launched his second homer of the night on his next at-bat, this time from the right side of the plate, making it 4-1. As Steve Stone and John Schriffen called out on the broadcast, he is the first catcher in White Sox history to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game.
Davis came back out for the sixth and got through the first two outs before giving up a base hit and ending his day there at 98 pitches, leaving it in the South Side bullpen’s inconsistent hands. Thankfully, as a whole, they were solid, and outside of one run given up in the eighth, the Angels mustered just two hits against the White Sox arm barn, who combined for six strikeouts.
For 1 1/3 innings following Martin, lefthander Sean Newcomb earned the hold and racked up three Ks while allowing just two base runners: a base hit and a walk. Things got dicey for the eighth solely because Jordan Leasure came in to pitch, and if you’re like me and over the Leasure Experiment, you already anticipated the home run that he gave up tonight to Josh Lowe. The good news is that it was just a solo homer, so the South Siders still had a three-run lead.
The bad news is that in seven of 13 appearances this season, he has given up at least one run, and four of the last five of his outings have been full of chaos, with seven runs allowed in 3 1/3 innings. On top of that, he ranks sixth-worst in all of baseball with 3.00 home runs allowed per nine innings (HR/9), but Leasure was able to clean up his own mess this time after forcing a ground out and two strikeouts to get out of the inning before anything got out of hand.
Ranking just six slots below Leasure in HR/9 is righthander Seranthony Domínguez, who came out to close the ninth inning and earned the save while securing the win for Davis Martin. Recently, Domínguez’s outings have had a similar feel to Leasure’s, but much more spotty. At least tonight, we got the elite version of Seranthony for his seventh save of the season, forcing a double play to end the inning while confirming the series win for the Good Guys a day early.
Now 6-4 in their last 10, the White Sox have actually been hanging in games and have players that are exciting to watch and easy to root for. Despite a 1-for-5 night with four strikeouts, Munetaka Murakami has still been something special, while 24-year-old Colson Montgomery continues to flash his power with a homer in five of his last 10 games.
In a wild turn of events, as of the Sox game ending, every team in the AL Central has lost or is losing, with the Guardians, Twins, and Tigers all dropping their matches Tuesday, and the Royals losing to the Athletics in the fifth inning. Might the Good Guys pick up a game on the entire division? This can’t be the same team that The Athletic ranked as the worst in the entire league, can it?
Erick Fedde will take the mound in the series finale tomorrow, making his fourth start of the season. It’s a bit of an earlier start on Wednesday, with first pitch taking place at 12:10 p.m. CT before the Sox head back out to the West Coast.
0% commission sign outside a money exchange on Oxford Street on 9th July 2023 in London, United Kingdom. Oxford Street is a major retail centre in the West End of the capital and is Europes busiest shopping street with around half a million daily visitors to its approximately 300 shops, the majority of which are fashion and high street clothing stores. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images) | In Pictures via Getty Images
The 15-15 Guardians hosted the Rays last evening, and they took things very easy on their guests.
Tanner Bibee was on the top of his game, but broke one of the Guardians Pitching Commandments when he allowed one (1) single run. Big mistake; that’ll drop you to 0-4, sir. Perfect game or bust.
On the offensive side, Travis Bazzana debuted and walked twice. There are no other nice things to say. We don’t have to watch Juan Brito for a little while. Does that count?
Around baseball
• The Tigers also lost and lead the vision at 15-15
• The Chicago White Sox are 2 games out of first place. Yes, you read that correctly. Yes, they are 13-17.
• Preston Mattingly is the GM of the Phillies; his father is now manager of the Phillies. Rob Thomson was fired yesterday, and the recently available Alex Cora obviously turned down the job since he is getting paid a fortune to not manage.
Karl-Anthony Towns is greeted by Jose Alvarado celebrate a score during the Knicks' 126-97 Game 5 blowout win over the Hawks on April 28, 2026 at Madison Square Garden.
The Hawks don’t have an answer for Karl-Anthony Towns, and the Knicks are making sure to exploit that mismatch.
Early in the series, they weren’t going to Towns nearly enough. Over the past two games, that has changed, and now the Knicks are within one win of advancing past the first round of the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
Towns was again terrific, a dominant force as the Knicks crushed Atlanta 126-97 in a one-sided Game 5. They ran offense through the big man, and the Hawks couldn’t stop him. Three days after notching the first playoff triple-double of his career, Towns produced 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, keying the easy victory.
Karl-Anthony Towns is greeted by Jose Alvarado celebrate a score during the Knicks’ 126-97 Game 5 blowout win over the Hawks on April 28, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Jason Szenes for New York Post
In the last two games, he has 16 assists.
“I feel like passing’s been my thing since I came into the league. Sometimes the scoring gets more noticed than the passing,” Towns said. “But I’m glad I have the opportunity to show what I can do, passing-wise. I’ve just got to continue to stay disciplined, continue to make the right play, regardless if it’s the scoring play or the hockey assist.”
Atlanta tried to use quickness on Towns, going with long and athletic guard Dyson Daniels on him, but Towns overpowered him and passed over the top.
Towns was particularly effective in the first half, notching 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists, as the Knicks built a 14-point lead.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after scoring. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
There has been a clear change in the Knicks’ offense the last two games. They have featured Towns more and let Jalen Brunson play off the ball. Coincidentally or not, the captain had his best game of the series in Game 5, scoring 39 points on 15-for-23 shooting.
“I’m always just thinking about impacting winning. As long as I can do that every single day I step on the court, I just think about that,” Towns said. “How can I help my teammates be the best version of themselves with my game, and do whatever it takes to help our team be in a position to win. As long as I do that every single night, I’m happy with the man I see in the mirror.”
“He’s been one of the best point guards and players in the NBA, so I don’t know if I was the reason for that,” Towns said. “When I watch the tape, and hopefully I can come back [Wednesday] when we watch the film and say I helped him be who he’s always been.”
Apr 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (10) battle for a loose ball during the third quarter during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Houston Rockets are now competing against history.
In order to advance past the Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets will need to win their next three games to become the first NBA team to ever come back from a 3-0 deficit and advance.
That task gets taller as Austin Reaves seems destined to make his return tonight in Los Angeles. With the Lakers taking the first three games, LA was able to keep both Reaves and Luka Doncic in rest mode. Now LA can get Reaves some action before a potential second round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. For the first time in the series, the Lakers are the betting favorites to win an individual game.
For Houston, tonight is about getting off to a good start and keeping the pressure on LA. If the Rockets can find a way to win tonight, they will head back to Houston for Game 6 and all of the pressure with be on the Lakers to not blow this thing.
Truly, it feels like the game will come down to which team’s role players continue to look like superstars. In Games 1-3, it was Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart. In Game 4, Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason had their moments. Performing at a high level on the road is difficult for young teams, and that’s one area that the Rockets have been unable to address.
Again, this team is the best at feeding you hope just to yank it away at the last second.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson and New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby reach for the ball during Game 5 on April 28, 2026.
For all the talk throughout this first-round series of the Knicks’ issues defending Hawks guard CJ McCollum, you haven’t heard much about Atlanta’s top player, Jalen Johnson.
That’s because he has been kept under wraps.
The 6-foot-8 Johnson was the Hawks leader in scoring (22.5), rebounding (10.3) and assists (7.9) during the regular season. It was a breakout campaign for the 24-year-old wing.
That success hasn’t carried over into the postseason. Held in check by the Knicks thus far, he averaged just 19.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.8 assists in the first four games of the series.
He had been inefficient, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from 3-point range.
It didn’t get much better in the Knicks’ 126-97 Game 5 blowout of the Hawks that gave them a 3-2 series edge. Johnson continued to struggle with his jump shot and finished with 18 points on 7-for-15 shooting.
“The physicality is much more intense,” Johnson told reporters earlier when asked about the biggest difference between the regular season and the playoffs. “They let a lot more stuff go. There’s not as many whistles blown, so just continue to play through that. Continue to fight physicality with physicality. Learning to continue to do that [for] all 48 [minutes].”
Jalen Johnson (left) and OG Anunoby battle for the ball during the Knicks’ 126-97 Game 5 blowout over the Hawks on April 28, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
The Knicks did a terrific job on Johnson in their Game 4 rout, limiting him to 4-for-12 shooting and 14 points.
It was a big part of their stellar defensive effort, holding Atlanta to a series-low 98 points, its fewest in a game since March 20.
“I think they just punked us,” Johnson, a first-time All-Star this season, said after the blowout loss. “We just didn’t match their intensity from the jump. Guys like [Josh] Hart, we need to match their energy.”
Jalen Johnson shoots over Mikal Bridges during the Knicks’ Game 5 blowout win over the Hawks. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
This is new for him, starting in the playoffs for the first time.
“The challenges that he’s encountered throughout the course of the season, [and] one of the reasons he’s gotten to where he is, is how he’s handled those challenges. The playoffs are really an extension of that,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said beforehand. “You don’t want to get hung up on whether the ball goes in or not. He’s taken some really good shots, and he’s made some, he’s missed some. The biggest thing is to continue to be aggressive and attack.”
The key to the Hawks’ two victories, CJ McCollum was missing in action Tuesday.
The veteran guard was held to six points on 3-for-10 shooting, as Atlanta’s offensive struggles continued. In the past two games, McCollum is 11-for-25 shooting from the field.
CJ McCollum was held to six points in the Knicks’ 126-97 Game 5 win over the Hawks on April 28, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Unsung hero
It felt like a quiet 39 points for Jalen Brunson, with everyone around him playing so well.
It was by far his best game of the series.
Brunson shot 15-for-23 from the field, didn’t force shots and also had eight assists and only one turnover in 35 quality minutes.
Key stat
52 — The Knicks’ positive point differential in the series over the past nine quarters.
Quote
“There is nothing that will deter the group. They’re a veteran group that knows what they want, and how to go get it no matter what’s in front of them.”
Jalen Brunson struggled over the first four games of the Knicks’ first round series with the Hawks.
The All-Star continued to get things done as a playmaker for New York’s offense, but he was missing some open looks he’s usually able to knock down with ease.
Heading into Thursday night’s crucial Game 5 matchup at the Garden, Brunson was shooting just 37 percent from the field since the first quarter of Game 1.
But the captain stepped up and delivered when the Knicks needed a win the most.
Brunson led all scorers with 39 points on an efficient 15-of-23 shooting from the field to help the Knicks regain control of the series with a massive Game 5 win.
It was the captain’s first 30-point showing this postseason and the 25th in his playoff career, which puts him in a tie with OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the league-high.
He also dished a game-high eight assists and turned the ball over just one time.
"Jalen was phenomenal," Mike Brown said. "Just a big-time game from a big-time player."
Of Brunson’s 39 points, 22 of them came in the second-half.
He made just two buckets coming out of halftime, then the rest of them came in the fourth quarter as he put any doubts about this one to rest for good.
Brunson knocked down all five shots he took in that final frame takeover, and he went on a stretch where he scored 12 consecutive Knicks points at one point.
"The ball went in, but I was just happy that we were able to keep the lead and play well with it," he said. "They are a team that is capable of going on runs, as we know from earlier in the series, so I like how we played to keep the lead."
Brunson finding his scoring touch while Karl-Anthony Towns continues dominating certainly bodes well for the Knicks as they look to close this series out in Game 6.
Heading into Tuesday's game against the Washington Nationals, the Mets had scored five runs in an inning just twice all season. And both of those times came before the team's 12-game losing streak, in which the offense disappeared.
Following their disappointing sweep to the Colorado Rockies over the weekend, it was time for the team to find a way to score and get a win in a big way. Bo Bichette stepped up and got it going early with a leadoff home run, but no one else was able to follow with a hit. That is, until the fourth inning.
That's when New York was finally able to flip the switch, breaking out for seven runs in the fourth for their biggest inning of the season. Two runs scored on a hard hit grounder by Marcus Semien that got by Jorbit Vivas (and was ruled an error), another two on Carson Benge's single, one more on Bichette's sac-fly, and then Juan Soto delivered the blow with a two-run home run.
The Mets held on to the 8-0 win as the scoring outburst was exactly what they needed amid their rough stretch. After the game, Soto said he hopes the huge fourth inning will serve as a confidence boost for the team going forward.
"Win a game, actually," Soto said. "Just give a little confidence to the lineup and remember what we are capable of."
Starting pitcher Clay Holmes agreed, saying it was nice to see the offense have that type of inning after all they've been through.
"It's huge," Holmes said. "I think, it's hard to not in those times when it feels like everything's not going your way, to just have something go your way. When you feel that, you know it's a matter of time and it's nice to see.
"A lot of confidence in those guys. To see that type of inning and know that it's there, it's just fun to be a part of."
Soto didn't think the team felt a sense of relief after Vivas' error allowed them to score, but instead helped them turn it on and take advantage, even if they got a little bit of luck. He added that it was "cool to see" everyone stringing good at-bats together and appreciated everyone's effort.
"No, not relief," Soto said. "Things got to come together to come through. After the error, we just capitalized... Sometimes you just need a lucky rock in the middle of the field and it gets you going."
While the team will look to keep the momentum going on Wednesday, Holmes acknowledged the team's position (10-19) and discussed how performances like Tuesday's win can help them slowly begin to turn the season around.
"I think it'd be crazy to say you don't really know the situation as a player," Holmes said. "You know we haven't been playing well. You know the expectations here in New York. You're aware of it. Sometimes, the hard part is trying to do too much in situations of pressing and maybe trying to do things you don't need to.
"It's really just, you got to have a relaxed focus of who you are and what you can do and show up every day and do it. If you try to climb out of a hole in one day, it rarely ever works. So I think just in the setting, you're aware where you're at, but it should focus you in on who you are and what you need to do to help the team win.
During their crucial Game 5 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins were finally able to start getting to their game, which started back in Game 4. And a big part of their game is their ability to roll four lines and three pairings all throughout the game.
In this one, every player logged at least 10 minutes and 50 seconds of ice time as well as 17 shifts.
Well, every player except for defenseman Ilya Solovyov, that is.
The 25-year-old blueliner also logged just seven minutes and 33 seconds of ice time during Game 4, when he took the place of Connor Clifton in the lineup on the Penguins' third pairing next to Ryan Shea.
However, Penguins' head coach Dan Muse clarified to Pittsburgh reporters Tuesday that the decision to roll with five defensemen for much of Game 5 wasn't necessarily reflective of Solovyov's play, but, rather, the demands of the game they were playing in.
"I think every game's going to be a little bit different," Muse said. "I think we have some guys on our back end that are capable of logging big minutes. These have been very tight games - they're do-or-die - and we have some guys, too, that are playing high minutes right now and that are able to do that. When you have that, it might limit the minutes of somebody else like 'Solo,' but I think he's done a good job there within the minutes that he's played.
"Whether you play six, seven minutes, or you're playing 15 minutes - or whatever it might be - you've got to make the most of the minutes that you're given, and I think the d-men are doing that right now."
The 6-foot-3, 208-pound defenseman from Belarus is playing in his first NHL post-season. Solovyov has been solid enough defensively for the Penguins in these two games against the Flyers, but his footspeed is, potentially, a bit of a concern against a fast team like the Flyers, especially late in in these tight-checking games when the general pace of the game intensifies.
In 14 games with Pittsburgh during the regular season, he registered five assists, 10 penalty minutes, and was a plus-1. Between the Calgary Flames, Avalanche, and Penguins, he has a goal and 12 points in 45 career NHL games and has averaged 13 minutes and 46 seconds of ice time per game.
Still, Soto insisted the discomfort in his forearm is not a big deal after he served as the DH in an 8-0 win over Washington at Citi Field and hit his second homer of the season.
It came after Carlos Mendoza said Soto felt tightness for the first time after throwing Friday.
The discomfort led to an MRI, which was clean, and Mendoza said Soto — who has been limited to DH duty since coming back from a calf strain — could be in left field “in the next few days.”
Tuesday, at least, he felt good enough to help the Mets pile on the Nationals, and afterward, Soto said the outburst by the Mets, most of which came in a seven-run fourth, let the Mets “remember what we’re capable of.”
But they proved during his 15-game absence due to the strained right calf earlier in the season that they cannot withstand his loss for any length of time.
Juan Soto hits a two-run homer to score Ronny Mauricio (0) in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on April 28, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
And they might not be all that great even when Soto is in the lineup.
A healthy Soto, though, gives the Mets a chance.
He entered Tuesday just 3-for-15 with six walks and no extra-base hits since his return from the calf injury.
The 104 mph shot out to left-center on a sinker from Zack Littell was Soto’s first home run since April 1 and certainly would have been of greater value while they were being embarrassingly shut down by the Rockies last weekend instead of up 6-0 on the Nationals, but the Mets will take it.
And the Mets hope it’s a sign that Soto is close to finding his rhythm at the plate.
After struggling without their star, they lost Francisco Lindor to a calf strain the same day Soto returned.
Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) two-run homer during the fourth inning when the New York Mets played the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Soto added his calf is now “100 percent,” and he didn’t seem overly concerned about his arm, saying he felt “comfortable right now.”
He’ll keep receiving treatment for the forearm, as well as continue a throwing program, and his swing is unaffected.
Soto hasn’t played in the outfield since April 3 and has often said he prefers to play defense rather than be limited to DH.
While that’s not an option for the time being, Soto said he’s making the most of it as he attempts to get back into form by taking extra swings in the cages.
And for a Mets team that’s seen almost nothing but bad news, it’ll take any positive they can get.
John Garrett, beloved hockey broadcaster and former NHL goalie, died at the age of 74, the Canucks announced Tuesday.
Garrett was part of the Sportsnet broadcast team that was working the first-round playoff series between the Golden Knights and Mammoth. The Canadian sports network syndicated ESPN’s broadcast of Monday night’s game.
“It is with profound sadness we share the news of the sudden passing of John Garrett, a beloved colleague, friend, and one of the most familiar voices in Canadian hockey,” Sportsnet said in a statement. “‘Cheech’ was a legend. His warmth, [humor], and genuine love for the game endeared him to fans and colleagues alike. He brought insight, authenticity, and heart to every broadcast.
John Garrett of the Hartford Whalers circa 1980 in New York, New York. Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty
“He will be remembered not only for his remarkable career, but for the kindness and joy he shared with everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. John will be missed immensely. Our deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones.”
Garrett was the 38th overall pick by the Blues in the 1971 NHL Draft and spent six seasons in the NHL, playing for the Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Canucks.
He finished his NHL career with a 68-91-37 record with a 3.47 goals-against average and .866 save percentage.
Garrett was named to the NHL All-Star Game in 1983, which was held at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.
Garrett’s playing career also took him to the now-defunct World Hockey Association, where he spent six seasons, appearing with the Minnesota Fighting Stars, Toronto Toros, Birmingham Bulls and New England Whalers.
After he hung up his skates, Garrett moved into broadcasting as a color commentator on “Hockey Night in Canada” in 1986. He later joined Sportsnet in 1998.
Fans cheer as broadcaster John Garrett waves to fans during the Vancouver Canucks NHL game against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena April 8, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. NHLI via Getty Images
During that time, he worked as a color analyst on Oilers and Flames broadcasts before becoming part of the Canucks’ broadcasting team. The 2022-23 season marked his final one in the broadcast booth for the Canucks. He spent the past three seasons on national telecasts.
“On behalf of the Aquilini family and everyone at Canucks Sports & Entertainment, we are devastated by this loss,” Michael Doyle, president, business operations for the Canucks, said. “John meant so much to this organization and to our fans. He brought an unmistakable energy, humour, and authenticity to every broadcast, and had a way of making people feel connected to our team and to each other.
“He will be deeply missed, not only for what he did, but for who he was.”
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 27: Moisés Ballesteros #25 of the Chicago Cubs looks on after connecting for a grandslam during the third inning of a gameagainst the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on April 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s another night here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest dive for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us for a while. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. We still have a few good tables. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last night I asked you if the Cubs should sign catcher Carson Kelly to a two-year extension. The slight majority of you thought it was a good idea, as 51 percent of you said yes. Thirty-one percent were against it and the rest of you were “If he’ll sign for cheap,”
On Tuesdays I don’t do movie stuff, but I’m sure I can find some music in here somewhere.
International Jazz Day is April 30 and it’s almost here. As mentioned before, Chicago is the host city of this day that we all celebrate the most American of art forms. Here’s a piece from International Jazz Day in 2023 featuring pianist Emmet Cohen and vocalist Cyrille Aimée. Joining them are Philip Norris on bass and John Lumpkin. This is Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner jazz standard “Almost Like Being in Love.”
Feel free to sing along if you want.
Welcome back to those who skip all that jazz.
Last night we got to see Moisés Ballesteros start behind the plate for the first time this year. At the plate, he was great with his first career grand slam. Defensively, I thought he looked shaky. So did Al in his recap, noting that he had a passed ball, let Ty France steal a base on him and made a bad ABS challenge. I’m going to let the ABS challenge slide a little bit since I thought the pitch was close enough to challenge. The only problem was that Matthew Boyd had made an ill-advised challenge earlier in the game and that meant the Cubs were out of challenges. So I guess Ballesteros should have known that the Cubs were down to one challenge. Also, Matthew Boyd shouldn’t be allowed to challenge pitches anymore.
Of course, those two bad ABS challenges came back to bite the Cubs when Ben Brown had clearly struck out Ty France with two out in the fifth inning, only for home plate umpire Dan Merzel badly blow the call. That’s exactly what the ABS system was designed to fix, but the Cubs couldn’t use it. France ended up walking and the Padres ended up scoring two runs in the inning. The Padres beat the Cubs by two runs.
But that’s an aside. What I want to ask you is do you think Moisés Ballesteros should keep catching? The scouting report on Ballesteros throughout the minor leagues was that he was a great hitter but that he really wasn’t good enough behind the plate to catch. So far in his major league career, he’s lived up to his scouting report. He looks like an elite hitter but a poor catcher.
Is it worth it to try to keep Mo Baller behind the plate? Or would you rather he just concentrate on hitting and maybe getting an occasional start at first base? If Ballesteros is as good a hitter as he’s shown us so far, he’s definitely a good enough hitter to stick at DH. Might he be even better if he didn’t have to work on improving his defense behind the plate. Maybe! It’s certainly no guarantee because he’s already pretty darn great, but I’ve always believed (and many scouts agree with me) that hitting skills of catchers develop late because they spend so much time working on their defensive responsibilities. Maybe that’s what happened to Carson Kelly.
The other reason to make him a full-time DH is that catchers get hurt. It’s a brutal life back behind the plate from foul balls and whatnot. Not only that, but constantly getting up and down out of a crouch can damage the knees.
On the other hand, if Ballesteros can manage to be even a below-average defensive catcher, that makes him a lot more valuable than if he were just a full-time DH. Also, as far as I know, Mo Baller still wants to catch. There’s something to be said for letting a young star do what he wants.
The Cubs faced this same dilemma with Kyle Schwarber a little over a decade ago. Eventually, the Cubs tried to play him in left field. That worked for a while, but he was certainly well below-average out there. Nowadays, Schwarber just serves as the DH almost exclusively and no one is second-guessing that choice.
(Before anyone suggests it, I believe that Ballesteros would be much worse than Schwarber ever was in left field. He can play first base and not be terrible, but with both Busch and Ballesteros being left-handed hitters, that doesn’t work well for the Cubs.)
I’m also going to give you the option of trading Mo Baller and making this issue someone else’s problem. I don’t think many of you will vote for it, but I’ll throw it out there for anyone who wants to bring it up.
Thanks for stopping by tonight. We’ve enjoyed having you. Please get home safely. Call a ride if you need to. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark.
