Sports
Giants seek better outcome at home against similarly inconsistent Padres
Apr 18, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello (23) looks on against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images Two teams struggling offensively hope a change of scenery can provide a cure when the San Diego Padres open a three-game road series against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.
The National League West rivals will be meeting for the second time this season, with the Giants having won two of three in San Diego in the initial head-to-head in the first week of the schedule.
The Giants have won just four of nine series since then, neither of which came on a just completed 0-6 trip to Philadelphia and Tampa Bay in which the visitors never homered and totaled just nine runs.
To add insult to injury, both getaway-day games were lost in extra innings, including a 2-1, 10-inning affair against the Rays on Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
“On the mental side, it’s a confidence challenge,” first-year Giants manager Tony Vitello explained to reporters after Sunday’s loss. “Confidence is a choice, but it’s not an easy choice. A lot of times it’s dictated by results and outcomes, and we literally had nothing to show for the road trip.”
The trip also had a negative impact in another way. Because of a rainout in Philadelphia and a subsequent doubleheader on Thursday, Vitello opted to use two of his starting pitchers — Logan Webb and Adrian Houser — in the twin bill.
So, instead of having Hauser rested and ready to throw the series opener Monday, the Giants are expected to start Trevor McDonald in his season debut after recalling the right-hander from Triple-A.
McDonald was summoned from Triple-A Sacramento to possibly start the second game Thursday as the doubleheader-allowed 27th man, but Vitello chose to go with Hauser. McDonald was sent back to Sacramento the next day.
The 25-year-old has pitched four games for the Giants over the past two seasons (two starts), none of which having been against the Padres. He is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA, three walks and 15 strikeouts over 18 innings in 2024-25.
San Diego completed a 2-4 homestand with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. The Padres, who had lost their previous four games, were held to four runs or fewer for the fifth straight time.
Mason Miller saved the streak-snapping win with a three-strikeout performance in a one-run game in the ninth inning, recording his major league-leading 11th save.
The record-setting closer recorded his first 48 saves for the team that used to reside across the San Francisco Bay — the then-Oakland Athletics. He’s been even better as a second-year Padre, striking out 32 in 16 1/3 innings this season.
Without intending to disrespect his A’s coaches, Miller has credited Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla for his rise to prominence in San Diego.
“The results and the success of the pitching here in recent years under Ruben is undeniable,” Miller assured the media recently. “He does a great job of empowering his guys, supporting them, pushing them, challenging them.”
Right-hander Randy Vasquez (3-0, 2.94 ERA) is expected to get the ball to get the series rolling for the Padres. He did not pitch in the earlier series against the Giants and, in fact, has never faced them in his four-year career.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Steven Kwan saves run, drives in 2 as Guardians beat Marlins
Jul 11, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) throws against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images Nine-hole hitter Steven Kwan lined a two-out, two-strike, two-run double and also produced a run-saving defensive gem, leading the Guardians to a 4-1 win over the host Miami Marlins on Saturday afternoon.
Cleveland also got a two-out, two-strike, two-run double from eight-hole hitter Patrick Bailey in the eighth to add some insurance.
Tanner Bibee, who started this season 0-7 with six no-decisions, earned the win. Bibee (3-9) turned in a quality start, allowing five hits, four walks and one run in 6 2/3 innings.
Eury Perez, who pitched seven perfect innings in his previous start, took the loss. Perez (5-7) allowed eight hits, two walks and two runs in six innings. He struck out six.
Cleveland loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning, but Perez struck out Kyle Manzardo and got Kahlil Watson to bounce into a double play.
Miami threatened in the third on two-out walks to Otto Lopez and Kyle Stowers. Xavier Edwards then followed with a single that nearly scored Lopez. However, before Lopez could step on home plate, Stowers was thrown out by Kwan, a four-time Gold Glove winner in left field. On the play, Stowers made too wide a turn from second base.
Cleveland opened the scoring in the fourth on a rally that started with singles from Gabriel Arias and Petey Halpin. The Guardians then executed a double steal before Kwan gave them a 2-0 lead with his opposite-field double down the left-field line.
Miami got on the board in the seventh as rookie Joe Mack doubled, took third on a groundout and scored on Liam Hicks’ bloop single.
Cleveland came right back and extended its lead to 4-1 in the eighth. Manzardo was hit by a pitch, Watson doubled and Bailey nearly hit one out, settling for a two-run double off the wall in left.
In the bottom of the eighth, Kwan made another stellar play, sliding to grab a foul fly off the bat of Stowers.
With All-Star Cade Smith having pitched in each of the past three games, the Guardians turned to Colin Holderman, who pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fourth career save and first this year.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Pirates take Game 2 to sweep doubleheader against Brewers
Jul 11, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (5) throws to first base to turn a double play over Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Luis Lara (18) during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-3 and drove in the go-ahead run for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who defeated the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 to sweep a doubleheader on Saturday.
Starting pitcher Bubba Chandler struck out six while limiting Milwaukee to two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings for the Pirates, who won the first game 7-6.
Shane Drohan (4-3) allowed three runs on five hits and fanned six in 6 1/3 innings for the Brewers, who have lost three of their past four games after going 8-2 in their previous 10.
Pittsburgh went ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
Brandon Lowe connected for a one-out double, knocking a fly ball to center field. He then scored when Reynolds followed with a single to right.
Milwaukee threatened to take the lead in the top half of the frame against reliever Johan Ramirez (6-2). Joey Ortiz doubled and Christian Yelich was hit by a pitch, but a pop-out ended the inning.
Held to one baserunner on just one hit through the first three innings, the Pirates finally connected for more in the fourth. With one out, Reynolds lined a double down the right field line. Esmerlyn Valdez then followed with a home run to left field to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
It was Valdez’s 10th homer of the season and third straight game sending one out of the park. The 22-year-old rookie also had two in the opener of the doubleheader, including the go-ahead grand slam that gave Pittsburgh the win.
The Brewers tied it in the top of the fifth inning.
Joey Ortiz and Christian Yelich connected for back-to-back one-out ground-ball singles before Jackson Chourio grounded into a forceout that took out Yelich. Brice Turang then knocked a double off the wall in left field that drove in Ortiz and Chourio.
That ended Chandler’s outing, with reliever Brandon Eisert stepping in for his Pittsburgh debut. The Pirates acquired the left-hander, along with infielder Jacob Gonzalez, in a trade with the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Andruw Monasterio, Masataka Yoshida homer as Red Sox blank Mets
Jul 11, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rivera delivers a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Andruw Monasterio and Masataka Yoshida each belted two-run homers Saturday and five pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as the visiting Boston Red Sox blanked the New York Mets 4-0 for their eighth straight win.
Reliever Jovani Moran (2-2) got the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless work. Fill-in starter Eduardo Rivera fired 3 2/3 scoreless innings in just his second major league appearance. Rivera gave up one hit, walked two and struck out three.
Freddy Peralta (5-8) absorbed the loss after working 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs off three hits and five walks. Peralta whiffed six.
Monasterio gave Boston the only runs it would need when he pounced on a fastball right down the middle in the top of the fourth with one out and Caleb Durbin aboard after a walk. Monasterio pulled it an estimated 378 feet into the seats in left field for his fifth homer of the year.
Yoshida supplied insurance in the top of the eighth following a leadoff single by Durbin. Yoshida laced a cutter from reliever Tobias Myers an estimated 360 feet just inside the right field foul pole for his third homer of the season.
Most of the game’s remainder was an exhibition of futility for New York, particularly when it got runners into scoring position. Carson Benge walked and stole second to start the second but never even got to third as Rivera sandwiched two strikeouts around a popup.
The biggest blown chances came in the seventh and eighth. The Mets filled the bases with two outs in the seventh via walks by Eric Wagaman and Bo Bichette sandwiched around a single from Francisco Alvarez. But Justin Slaten slipped a called third strike by A.J. Ewing to quash the threat.
In the eighth, walks by Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor started the inning. Benge’s fly ball to right pushed Soto to third but Jorge Polanco bounced into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.
New York went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding nine for the day.
–Field Level Media
Steven Kwan saves run, drives in 2 as Guardians beat Marlins
Pirates take Game 2 to sweep doubleheader against Brewers
