Sports
MLB roundup: Dodgers beat Rockies, spoil Blackmon’s farewell
Sep 29, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon (19) and wife Ashley and daughter Josie and son Wyatt wave to fans following the loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Shohei Ohtani fell short in his bid to become the first National League Triple Crown winner since 1937, but Chris Taylor’s home run helped power the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday in Denver to spoil Charlie Blackmon’s final game.
Ohtani, who led the NL in home runs (54) and RBIs (130), finished with a .310 average after going 1-for-4 on Sunday. San Diego’s Luis Arraez went 1-for-3 to all but lock up the title with a .314 average. Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna finished Sunday at .304 and will have a slight chance to win the batting title on Monday, when the Braves and Mets play a doubleheader in Atlanta.
Ohtani also stole his 59th base and Teoscar Hernandez had two hits for the Dodgers (98-64), who finished the season with the best record in baseball.
Blackmon, who is retiring after 14 major league seasons spent entirely with the Rockies, was given a standing ovation before the game. He went 1-for-2 before being removed in the third to another standing ovation. Sam Hilliard homered, but Colorado (61-101) sent Blackmon into retirement with a loss.
Mets 5, Brewers 0
David Peterson tossed seven innings of one-hit ball and earned the win, and visiting New York beat Milwaukee to ensure itself an opportunity to play for a postseason berth Monday.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Mets (88-72), who can clinch a National League wild-card spot by winning at least once in Atlanta against the Braves during Monday’s makeup doubleheader. The teams had the final two games of their series postponed last week due to Hurricane Helene.
The Mets are in a virtual tie for the final two wild-card spots with the Arizona Diamondbacks (89-73) and the Braves (88-72). Francisco Lindor was 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and two stolen bases against the NL Central-winning Brewers (93-69), who are slated to begin an NL wild-card series Tuesday against the sixth seed.
Diamondbacks 11, Padres 2
Ketel Marte’s two-run home run highlighted a six-run fourth inning as Arizona kept its wild-card playoff hopes alive with a victory over San Diego in Phoenix.
Eugenio Suarez and Randal Grichuk also homered for the Diamondbacks (89-73), who now await the results of the Mets-Braves doubleheader on Monday. Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt (11-10) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out nine.
Elias Diaz and Jake Cronenworth drove in runs for the Padres (93-69), who will host a wild-card playoff series beginning Tuesday.
Royals 4, Braves 2
Visiting Kansas City got home runs from Michael Massey and Hunter Renfroe to beat Atlanta, salvaging a game from their three-game series and preventing the hosts from clinching a spot in the postseason.
Gio Urshela homered for the Braves (88-72), who now need one win over the Mets in Monday’s doubleheader to secure a wild-card spot.
Alec Marsh (9-9) pitched five solid innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and two strikeouts for the Royals (86-76), who head into a wild-card series against the Baltimore Orioles.
White Sox 9, Tigers 5
Lenyn Sosa hit a three-run homer and visiting Chicago closed out its season with a win over playoff-bound Detroit.
Sosa had three hits and scored three runs and Bryan Ramos supplied two hits, two runs and two RBIs for the White Sox (41-121), who won five of their last six games.
Kerry Carpenter blasted a grand slam for the Tigers (86-76), who clinched an American League wild-card playoff berth when they beat the White Sox on Friday. Detroit will travel to Houston to face the AL West champion Astros in the playoff opener on Tuesday.
Orioles 6, Twins 2
James McCann hit a three-run home run, Jordan Westburg drove in a pair and Baltimore pulled away to defeat Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Heston Kjerstad hit a solo home run for the Orioles, who completed a three-game sweep to finish the regular season. The Orioles will return home to host the Royals in the American League wild-card series, beginning Tuesday.
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. hit his first career home run for Minnesota. Carlos Santana hit a solo shot for the Twins, who finished the season with 27 losses in their last 39 games to squander a shot at the postseason.
Phillies 6, Nationals 3
Kyle Schwarber and Weston Wilson each drove in two runs as Philadelphia wrapped up its regular season with a road victory over Washington.
Kody Clemens made a game-saving catch in left field to seal the victory for Philadelphia (95-67), which finished with its highest win total since going 102-60 in 2011. The Phillies will head to the playoffs for the third straight season — this time as the No. 2 seed in the National League — and will play their postseason opener Saturday at home.
In his final tune-up for the postseason, Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola (14-8) struck out seven in five innings. He gave up three runs and nine hits, including a liner off his right hip, although he stayed in the game. Washington finished 71-91 for the second straight season, marking the club’s fourth straight 90-loss-plus campaign. Dylan Crews went 3-for-3 and Luis Garcia Jr. homered.
Yankees 6, Pirates 4
Alex Verdugo hit a tiebreaking two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and New York held on for a win against visiting Pittsburgh.
Trent Grisham had a two-run home run and an RBI single and Gleyber Torres had two doubles and scored twice for the Yankees (94-68), who will open the American League Division Series at home next Saturday.
Joey Bart had two hits, an RBI and a run and Joshua Palacios drove in two runs for the Pirates (76-86), who finished last in the National League Central.
Reds 3, Cubs 0 (10 innings)
Elly De La Cruz drove in a pair on a go-ahead triple while Jake Fraley finished 3-for-4 as visiting Cincinnati beat Chicago in 10 innings.
After nine scoreless innings, De La Cruz slashed a two-run triple off Ethan Roberts (1-1). Tyler Stephenson then added an insurance run with a single, extending the Reds’ lead to 3-0. Cincinnati (77-85) snapped a five-game losing streak but missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
Chicago had its two-game winning streak snapped as the offense mustered just three hits. The Cubs finished 83-79 for a second consecutive year and missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season.
Red Sox 3, Rays 1
Quinn Priester limited visiting Tampa Bay to one run on four hits in five innings to help Boston avoid a three-game sweep.
Priester, called up from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, was making his debut with Boston after being acquired from Pittsburgh at this year’s trade deadline. He struck out two and walked one. Priester (3-6) went 2-6 with a 5.04 ERA in 10 games with the Pirates earlier this year.
The victory ended Boston’s three-game losing streak. The Red Sox (81-81) finished third in the American League East. The Rays (80-82) posted their first losing season since 2017 and finished fourth in the East.
Cardinals 6, Giants 1
Brendan Donovan homered, Alec Burleson drove in three runs and visiting St. Louis denied San Francisco a .500 season with a season-ending victory.
Rookie Michael McGreevy (3-0) completed an unbeaten season with eight strong innings, helping the Cardinals take two of three in the series to wrap up a 6-2 year-ending run. St. Louis (83-79) finished in a tie with the Chicago Cubs for second place in the National League Central.
Hayden Birdsong (5-6) was pulled after Burleson’s hit, charged with three runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out 11. Casey Schmitt had two hits and a run for the Giants (80-82), who took fourth place in the NL West.
Marlins 3, Blue Jays 1
Jonah Bride had two hits, a walk and two RBIs as visiting Miami defeated Toronto to complete a three-game sweep.
Otto Lopez — a former Blue Jay — and Xavier Edwards added two hits each for Miami (62-100), which won its last four games.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 0-for-2 with two walks for Toronto (74-88) to finish the season with 199 hits. He was trying to become the sixth Blue Jay to reach 200 hits in a season. Toronto finished the season with a 1-5 homestand and dropped eight of its final nine contests.
Rangers 8, Angels 0
Nathan Eovaldi worked seven scoreless innings and rookie Dustin Harris went 2-for-4 with three RBIs to help Texas sweep the series against Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif.
Eovaldi (12-8) struck out five while yielding four hits for the Rangers (78-84), and Harris hit his first major league home run in his second career game.
Starter Jack Kochanowicz (2-6) gave up three runs on six hits in seven innings for the Angels (63-99), who dropped six in a row and nine of their final 10 games.
Mariners 6, Athletics 4
Logan Gilbert took a perfect game into the sixth inning and Cal Raleigh homered for a third consecutive game as Seattle defeated visiting Oakland to sweep the three-game series.
Gilbert (9-12) retired the first 17 batters he faced before Oakland’s Nick Allen lined a single to left field with two outs in the sixth. That was it for the right-hander, who struck out seven. Justin Turner added a two-run double for the Mariners (85-77), who fell short of the playoffs despite winning eight of their last 10 games.
Tyler Nevin and Darell Hernaiz both drove in two runs for the A’s (69-93), who were wearing their gray road uniforms with “Oakland” stitched across the front for the final time.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Frederik Andersen, Hurricanes look to shut down Senators in Game 2
Apr 18, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) looks against the Ottawa Senators during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images Finding space on the ice is expected to be an ongoing challenge for the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes in their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series.
So, finding any small edge will be critical when they meet in Game 2 on Monday night at Raleigh, N.C.
“The first round always has all the energy in the world and that’s what you expect,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
Carolina won 2-0 in the first game Saturday behind Frederik Andersen’s 22-save performance.
Both teams had difficulty finding openings and more of that could be in the works.
“I don’t think this series it’s ever going to look like there’s a ton of space out there,” Senators coach Travis Green said. “It’s going to look very similar every night. I think at the end of every game, both teams are going to feel like there wasn’t space on the ice and I don’t see changing.”
So, it came down to what the goalies could do.
“The goalies had to really shine,” Brind’Amour said.
Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark made 27 saves Saturday, but he fell to 5-11 in career playoff games. He was sharp as well, though Andersen stole the spotlight when it wasn’t clear leading up to the series opener if he would be Brind’Amour’s choice.
He had to decide between Andersen and rookie Brandon Bussi. Andersen got the call.
“He was up to the challenge,” Brind’Amour said. “We have good options and both guys have played well. Clearly, experience, I think won out. … Freddy has a track record and we know what he’s capable of.”
Green said to win on the road in the playoffs the goalie has to play well (and he liked Ullmark’s outing) and a power-play goal or two would be a boost.
The teams combined to go 0-for-9 on power plays in Game 1, with the Hurricanes having five chances.
“They’re a quick team,” Green said. “They’re good in this building.”
Carolina’s relentless nature is something the Senators need to be ready for again.
“They’re deep,” Green said. “They’re good. … Carolina does a real good job of playing their game.”
Carolina’s Logan Stankoven supplied a goal and an assist in the series opener, extending a strong stretch. He had an eight-game points streak to end the regular season.
Three of Stankoven’s four multi-point postseason outings have come with the Hurricanes. His line has been rolling up strong numbers for the past few weeks.
“We have a lot of depth,” Stankoven said. “Since the break, our line has been clicking pretty good. We’ve been able to find each other and I think we’re all hungry to track pucks.”
Now the Hurricanes will look for upgrades on power plays.
“If we look at one area we’re not overly happy with is our power-play chances,” Stankoven said. “Every team as a series goes on makes adjustments.”
Carolina improved to 7-0 in its last seven postseason opening games. The Hurricanes put together some quality stretches in the offensive zone.
“They probably deserved to win analytically, and they did,” Green said.
The Hurricanes have won 12 of 18 all-time best-of-seven series when winning Game 1.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Keller directs Pirates over Rays to clinch series win
Apr 19, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) tags Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson (14) out at second base on a steal attempt during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Mitch Keller pitched seven strong innings, allowing two runs to help the host Pittsburgh Pirates score a 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon.
Coming off a 13-inning loss on Saturday where Pittsburgh used six relievers, Keller (2-1) preserved some arms for the Pirates bullpen and helped his team take two of three games against the Rays, who entered the series having won six in a row.
Bryan Reynolds backed up the pitching with two hits and three RBI to lead Pittsburgh’s bats, while Spencer Horwitz and Nick Yorke each hit solo home runs.
Nick Gonzales had two hits and an RBI and Jake Mangum also had two hits. The Pirates did it with the long ball and small ball as they recorded three bunt singles in a game for the first time since 1998.
After picking up his first win in three years in his previous start, Rays starter Shane McClanahan (1-2) was unable to follow up that success, nor spare Tampa Bay’s own taxed bullpen a day after it used seven relievers. He allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out five over 4 1/3 innings on 90 pitches.
Keller picked up his second win in his fifth start of the season after not doing so last season until his 17th start. He struck out five and gave up five hits and did not issue a walk on 89 pitches.
The Rays took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth on a two-run single by Hunter Feduccia off Keller, which was one of Tampa Bay’s six hits overall. Jonny DeLuca followed a Richie Palacios double and then stole second to set up Feduccia’s go-ahead hit.
The Pirates answered immediately when Joey Bart doubled and Billy Cook followed with a bunt single and stole second. Two batters later, Gonzales singled to drive in Bart, and Reynolds followed with a two-run single to put Pittsburgh ahead 4-2.
Right-hander Wilber Dotel was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis and made his major-league debut in the ninth. He allowed a solo home run to Junior Caminero, but then struck out Jonathan Aranda and retired Yandy Diaz on a ground out, and Cedric Mullins on a fly ball to center. The Pirates optioned reliever Cam Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Curtis Mead, Keibert Ruiz help Nationals tame Giants
Apr 19, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Curtis Mead (45) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Curtis Mead hit a two-run homer, Keibert Ruiz had two hits and the Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0 in Washington on Sunday to avoid a series sweep.
Andrew Alvarez (1-0), called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Rochester, pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings for the win, allowing three hits and striking out five without a walk.
PJ Poulin opened for Washington and was replaced by Miles Mikolas with two outs and two on in the first. Mikolas, who began the day with an 11.49 ERA, pitched four scoreless innings while allowing four hits in his best outing of the young season.
Rafael Devers and Drew Gilbert had two hits each for the Giants, who had won three straight, but went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
San Francisco’s Robbie Ray (2-3) gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
The Giants put runner on first and second with two outs in each of the first two innings but did not score.
The Nationals got an infield single and a walk to open the third inning but couldn’t cash in. Curtis Mead hit a blooper to shallow left field that dropped, but Keibert Ruiz briefly broke back towards second and was thrown out at third. Brady House flied to the warning track in center and CJ Abrams flied out.
Washington took a 3-0 lead in the fifth. Nasim Nunez reached on a bunt single and stole second. Ruiz hit shot to left center and Heliot Ramas made a diving effort but couldn’t come up with it. Nunez scored and Mead lined the first pitch he saw from Ray out to left for a two-run homer.
The first two Giants reached base in the eighth inning on an error and a single, but Casey Schmitt grounded into a double play and pinch hitter Jerar Encarnacion struck out.
–Field Level Media
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Frederik Andersen, Hurricanes look to shut down Senators in Game 2
