Sports
Jake McCarthy's first career grand slam seals Rockies' comeback over Mets
May 7, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Jake McCarthy (31) hits an RBI double in the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Jake McCarthy hit a grand slam in the eighth inning and drove in five runs, and the Colorado Rockies beat the New York Mets 6-2 in Denver on Thursday.
Antonio Senzatela (2-0) tossed two innings of relief for the victory for Colorado, which ended a six-game skid and salvaged the final game of its homestand. Starter Jose Quintana allowed two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings.
The Rockies rallied from down 2-0 to tie it with runs in the fourth and sixth innings, then won it against reliever Craig Kimbrel (0-2).
TJ Rumfield and Troy Johnston led off the eighth with singles and Willi Castro walked to load the bases. McCarthy’s blast hugged the right-field foul pole, just staying fair for his first career grand slam and second home run in as many games.
The fair call was upheld after an umpire review.
New York’s first two batters reached to start the ninth inning but Senzatela struck out Francisco Alvarez and MJ Melendez and got Vidal Brujan on a pop-up to end the game.
Austin Slater had two hits for the Mets, who are 4-2 on their nine-game road trip that concludes in Arizona this weekend.
New York went ahead in the second inning against Quintana, Slater led off with a single, Marcus Semien walked and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Andy Ibanez drove in Slater with a sacrifice fly and Tyrone Taylor made it 2-0 with an RBI single to left.
Taylor was thrown out trying to take second to end the inning.
The Rockies got a run back in the fourth off of starter Christian Scott. Tyler Freeman reached on a one-out bunt single, Johnston drew a two-out walk and Castro singled to drive in Freeman.
Scott struck out six and scattered three hits and left with the lead after 4 2/3 innings, but Colorado tied it in the sixth.
Rumfield and Castro walked to put runners on first and second with two outs and McCarthy blooped an RBI double to center off reliever Huascar Brazoban.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Another Masters in the bag, Rory McIlroy determined to extend major success
Rory McIlroy tees off on the third hole during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Rory McIlroy reflected on his second career Masters victory before arriving at the Truist Championship and came away with one lasting emotion.
“I feel like if anything I’m more motivated after what happened at Augusta this year than I’ve ever been,” McIlroy said Wednesday at Quail Hollow, site of this week’s PGA event and his first career victory on Tour in 2010.
Upon completing the career Grand Slam last year, McIlroy became the sixth player to accomplish the feat and first since Tiger Woods in 2000. He won his sixth career major last month, claiming another green jacket at Augusta.
But when McIlroy had a moment to fully crack open what the latest major victory meant to him, the 37-year-old Northern Irishman came to the realization the new trophy only pushes him to chase the next one even harder.
“I felt like winning the Grand Slam was going to be this life-changing thing,” he said. “And in some ways it was. But in other ways I had to remember like, ‘No, I still have a lot of my career left and I want to keep playing and keep competing.’ So this year I think winning was validation for all the work that I’ve put in over the last few years to get myself back to this place where I’m winning majors. I’m excited for the road ahead.”
Before he shifts the target to the PGA Championship next week, McIlroy arrived in North Carolina as the top-ranked player in the field. No. 2 McIlroy won’t have to contend with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler this week.
He’s feeling refreshed after a short stint away from the course. McIlroy said he went to New York with his wife, Erica, and attended the State Dinner at the White House.
“I gave myself a good 10 days to enjoy myself and then thought I needed to get back on the range and start to practice and get ready for this stretch coming up,” he said.
The Truist Championship is a PGA Tour Signature Event and has a $20 million purse. McIlroy won the event in 2024 and four of his 30 victories are at Quail Hollow (2010, 2015, 2021).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (elbow) set for Wednesday surgery
Apr 29, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is scheduled to undergo surgery on his left elbow Wednesday.
The surgery to remove loose bodies in his pitching elbow is being performed by prominent surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, per the New York Post, which added he could return to pitch in about two months.
Skubal experienced discomfort last Wednesday in his start against the Atlanta Braves. He gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings and departed the game with a 3-2 lead, but the Detroit bullpen couldn’t hold the advantage in the 4-3 loss. Skubal struck out seven.
In a throwing session on Sunday, Skubal reported further discomfort, and testing revealed the loose bodies, manager A.J. Hinch said Monday.
Skubal, 29, is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA over seven starts this season. He led the American League with a 2.21 ERA over 31 starts and 195 1/3 innings last season when he won his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award.
–Field Level Media
Sports
USGA: 'Not a race' for U.S. Open to match Masters prize money
Jun 12, 2024; Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA; Chief executive officer Mike Whan with the USGA address the media during a press conference for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst No. 2. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images The U.S. Open has yet to decide if it will give the Masters a run for its proverbial money on payouts, USGA CEO Mike Whan told Front Office Sports.
The 2026 Masters increased its prize money by $1.5 million to a record purse of $22.5 million, with Rory McIlroy pocketing a record-setting winner’s check of $4.5 million.
The U.S. Open’s purse over the last two years was $21.5 million, with J.J. Spaun taking home $4.3 million for winning the tournament in 2025.
“To be determined,” Whan told FOS on Tuesday at the U.S. Open media day when asked about a potential payout boost. “We make that decision with the board usually the week before we play. But to me, it’s not a race. It wouldn’t bother me a bit if Augusta was more or less the same.”
The U.S. Open has paid out the largest purse among the four major championships since 2017.
“It’s funny to admit this out loud, but no, we really don’t talk about it,” Whan said of the monetary difference among the major championships. “… But if you ask me right now what the purse of the other two majors were, I don’t think I’d get within a million dollars of correct.”
–Field Level Media
Another Masters in the bag, Rory McIlroy determined to extend major success
Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (elbow) set for Wednesday surgery
