Sports
Cubs aim to extend offensive surge at expense of skidding Mets
Apr 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ (8) watches his two-run home run against the New York Mets during the eight inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images The Chicago Cubs have a chance Saturday to do something they have achieved only twice since 1900.
The New York Mets can only hope they don’t inch closer to yet another bit of ignoble history.
The Cubs will look to remain red-hot Saturday afternoon when they host the free-falling Mets in the middle contest of a three-game series.
Jameson Taillon (0-1, 4.86 ERA) is slated to start for the Cubs against Freddy Peralta (1-1, 3.86) in a battle of right-handers.
The Cubs and Mets continued going in opposite directions Friday afternoon, when Moises Ballesteros hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run first-inning outburst that sparked Chicago to a 12-4 rout.
The win was the third straight for the Cubs, who have collected 10-plus runs in each of those games while outscoring the Mets and Philadelphia Phillies 33-10. Chicago last scored at least 10 runs in three straight games from Sept. 13-15, 2019, when the Cubs outscored the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 47-15 in a sweep.
The Cubs have scored at least 10 runs in at least four straight games twice in the past 126 years — first in a five-game stretch from June 1-6, 1930, and then in a four-game stretch from June 28-July 1, 2018.
“That number of runs, it means there’s a lot of people doing good things,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “One of the strengths of our team should be just the length of our lineup and just being able to get production everywhere in the lineup.”
The only solace for the Mets as they try to snap a nine-game losing streak is the fact the Cubs were slumping prior to their breakout. Chicago scored 73 runs in its first 16 games, during which it scored one run or none four times.
The Mets have been outscored 56-16 during their skid — the longest for the club since an 11-game losing streak from Aug. 28-Sept. 8, 2004. New York hasn’t lost more than 11 straight since dropping 12 in a row from Aug. 10-23, 2002.
The four runs the Mets scored Friday marked just the second time they scored more than two runs during the tailspin. They haven’t led at the end of an inning since the first inning of an 11-6 loss to the Athletics on April 11 — a span of 53 frames.
“We have got to be able to put a consistent game here where we’re clicking our best — with starters, playing defense, offensively,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “That has got to start.”
Despite the skid, Mendoza’s job apparently isn’t in jeopardy. President of baseball operations David Stearns said before the Friday defeat, “I think Mendy’s doing a really good job. I think he’s putting our players in a position to succeed. He’s enormously consistent.”
Peralta took the loss in his most recent start, when he allowed one run over six innings as the Mets fell to the Athletics 1-0 on Sunday. He is 9-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 22 career games (17 starts) against the Cubs.
Taillon didn’t factor into the decision on Sunday after giving up six runs over six innings in the Cubs’ 7-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He served up three homers and walked two but struck out 10.
Taillon is 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA in seven lifetime starts against the Mets.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Minnesota United blank Timbers for 3rd straight win
Apr 18, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota United FC forward Kelvin Yeboah (9) shoots the ball as Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman (20) and defender Brandon Bye (5) defend during the first half at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Tomas Chancalay had a goal and an assist as the Minnesota United won their third match in a row with Saturday night’s 2-0 victory against the Portland Timbers at Saint Paul, Minn.
Kelvin Yeboah scored the other goal, making it three matches in a row that he has a goal for the Loons (4-2-2, 14 points). Minnesota goalkeeper Drake Callender made two saves for the clean sheet.
Yeboah has half of his team’s 10 goals in MLS play. He’s the team’s only player with more than one goal.
James Pantemis made five saves for Portland (2-5-1, 7 points), which fell to 0-4-0 in road matches.
Chancalay scored his first goal of the season in the 16th minute off Jefferson Diaz’s assist.
Yeboah’s goal in the 60th minute capped a fastbreak with a short-range shot after Chancalay provided the final pass. Chancalay has four assists this year.
Portland has surrendered two or more goals in each of its last three road matches.
The Timbers began a busy stretch that includes several road assignments with a largely solid game despite failing to score. They held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks and a 55%-45% possession advantage, but Minnesota outshot the visitors 17-12, including 7-2 on shots on target.
The teams played to a 1-1 draw last August in the same stadium.
Portland stays on the road next Saturday, visiting San Diego FC. Minnesota plays twice next week, visiting FC Dallas on Wednesday before hosting LAFC on Saturday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Troy Johnston's clutch double leads Rockies' comeback win over Dodgers
Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (23) is congratulated by designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) after a two-run home run during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images Troy Johnston hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning and the Colorado Rockies held on for a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night in Denver.
Johnston had three of Colorado’s seven hits as the Rockies won for only the second time in nine games.
Kyle Tucker and Dalton Rushing homered for the Dodgers, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Shohei Ohtani was 1-for-4 to extend his on-base streak to 50 games.
Brennan Bernardino (2-0) delivered 1 1/3 no-hit innings in relief, and Victor Vodnik pitched the ninth for his third save.
Will Klein (1-1) allowed hits to each of the first three batters he faced in the sixth, including Johnston’s game-winning double.
The first two Dodgers reached in the eighth against Jaden Hill and they loaded the bases with two outs before Hill retired Max Muncy on a groundout to second base.
Colorado starter Ryan Feltner went 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and five hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
Los Angeles starter Emmet Sheehan gave up two runs on four hits in five innings, with two walks and four strikeouts.
The Dodgers led 2-0 two pitches into the game. After Ohtani hit the first pitch into play and reached on an error by Johnston, Tucker drove the first pitch he saw into the second deck in right for his third home run with the Dodgers.
TJ Rumfield’s RBI single made it 2-1 in the bottom of the first.
Rushing’s solo homer with one out in the second restored the two-run lead.
Kyle Karros’ sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning made it 3-2, scoring Johnston, who had singled, stolen second and moved to third on a groundout.
The Dodgers threatened when Freddie Freeman tripled with one out in the visitor’s half of the sixth. But Karros at third dove to stop Teoscar Hernandez’s grounder down the line, retiring him at first. Bernardino replaced Feltner and struck out Muncy to end the threat.
The Dodgers threatened with a pair of two-out singles in the ninth before Tucker’s flyout to left ended the game. Los Angeles was hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position, stranding eight in the narrow loss
–Field Level Media
Sports
Flyers emerge with win over Penguins in opening tussle of playoff series
Apr 18, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Cam York (8) checks Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) in front of Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) during the first period against in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Porter Martone scored a timely goal late for the Philadelphia Flyers, who skated away with a 3-2 road victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven, first-round playoff series on Saturday night.
Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale also scored for Philadelphia. Trevor Zegras, Denver Barkey, Rasmus Ristolainen, Christian Dvorak and Travis Konecny registered assists.
Dan Vladar stopped 15 shots for the Flyers, none bigger than a point-blank stop on Anthony Mantha in the closing seconds to preserve the win.
Evgeni Malkin scored his 68th postseason goal for the Penguins and assisted on Bryan Rust’s goal. Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson earned assists.
Stuart Skinner faced 20 shots and made 17 saves.
The postseason renewal of the Battle of Pennsylvania was exactly that for the two teams ending lengthy playoff droughts. It was a physical affair that featured just 26 shots on goal and 59 hits through the first two periods. That favored the Flyers, who finished the season fourth in the league in hits.
Martone, the 19-year-old who joined Philadelphia from Michigan State on March 31, scored what appeared to be an insurance goal with 2:37 left that gave the Flyers a 3-1 lead. That prompted Pittsburgh to pull Skinner for a sixth attacker.
A tussle between Penguins star Sidney Crosby and Sanheim sent both to the penalty box with 1:09 left, and Rust made it a one-goal game from the high slot eight seconds later.
Drysdale gave Philadelphia the lead midway through the second. Zegras skated behind the net and found the defenseman in the faceoff circle. Denver Barkey also assisted on the goal and further helped by screening Skinner.
Less than seven minutes later, Malkin provided the equalizer as the Penguins applied pressure in the attack zone. Vladar stopped Rakell but allowed a long rebound to his right that Novak tapped to the 39-year-old, who scored from the faceoff circle with 4:09 left in the period.
Sanheim reclaimed the lead for Philadelphia at the midway point of the third.
Pittsburgh’s 17 shots on goal were its fewest in a postseason game since the Penguins mustered just 12 in Game 5 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final against the Nashville Predators.
–Field Level Media
