Sports
MLB roundup: Triple play sends Padres to postseason
Sep 24, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third base Enrique Hernández (8) is out at second as San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth (9) throws to first for the out against Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas (11) during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. The sequence was part of a triple play. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Jake Cronenworth hit a two-run home run and helped turn an around-the-horn triple play to end the game as the visiting San Diego Padres clinched a spot in the National League playoffs with a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.
Cronenworth had two hits and three RBIs as the Padres secured their eighth playoff appearance all time and third since 2020. San Diego moved two games behind Los Angeles in the chase for the NL West title, with two games remaining in the series and five in the season.
San Diego starter Michael King (13-9) gave up just an unearned run on three hits in five innings and Suarez ended up with his 35th save as the Padres improved to 8-3 against the Dodgers this year.
Shohei Ohtani doubled, walked and scored a run for the Dodgers, whose magic number for clinching their 11th division title in 12 seasons remained at four. Los Angeles clinched a playoff spot on Friday. Rookie right-hander Landon Knack (3-5) gave up four runs on five hits over four innings.
Astros 4, Mariners 3
Jason Heyward delivered a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning and Houston clinched a fourth straight American League West title, beating visiting Seattle.
Josh Hader notched a four-out save for Houston, which captured its seventh division crown in the past eight years. Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker also homered for the Astros, who got 5 2/3 innings of three-run ball from Framber Valdez (15-7).
Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (8-12) surrendered four runs on five hits, including three home runs, over six innings.
Orioles 5, Yankees 3
Anthony Santander, Ramon Urias and Colton Cowser homered as visiting Baltimore held off New York, which was unable to clinch the American League East title.
A short time later, the Orioles clinched their second straight postseason berth when the Minnesota Twins lost to the Miami Marlins. The Orioles hold a four-game lead for the top AL wild card with five games to play.
Aaron Judge hit his major-league-leading 56th homer, but the Yankees had their magic number to clinch a second division title in three seasons remain at one.
Guardians 6, Reds 1
Tanner Bibee allowed one run over seven strong innings, Kyle Manzardo hit a solo homer and Lane Thomas added a two-run shot as Cleveland clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win over visiting Cincinnati.
Thomas totaled three RBIs, and Josh Naylor had two hits and two RBIs for the American League Central champion Guardians.
Spencer Steer had an RBI single for the Reds in their first game since manager David Bell was fired near the end of his sixth season with the club.
Braves 5, Mets 1
Michael Harris II had three hits and two RBIs to support right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach and help host Atlanta beat New York in the opener of a three-game series.
The win pulled the Braves within a game of the Mets in the race for the second wild-card spot in the National League and a half-game of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL wild-card spot.
Schwellenbach (8-7) yielded one run on three hits in seven innings. New York starter Luis Severino (11-7) lasted only four innings, giving up four runs on seven hits.
White Sox 3, Angels 2
Andrew Benintendi capped a three-run eighth inning with a go-ahead single as host Chicago edged Los Angeles to end a five-game losing streak.
Handcuffed by Angels rookie right-hander Jack Kochanowicz for seven innings, Chicago rallied to remain tied with the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in a single season in modern major league history. It was Chicago’s first win this year when trailing after seven innings.
Kochanowicz limited the White Sox to three singles and no runs. Angels second baseman Jack Lopez hit his first major league homer.
Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 5 (10 innings)
Trevor Story’s RBI double broke a 3-3 tie and ignited a three-run 10th inning, and visiting Boston beat Toronto.
Vaughn Grissom had three hits, including an RBI single in the 10th, for the Red Sox. Chris Martin (3-1) earned the win, and Chase Shugart got the last two outs for his first major league save.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run double and Davis Schneider scored twice for the Blue Jays. Bowden Francis allowed three hits in five scoreless innings.
Giants 11, Diamondbacks 0
Michael Conforto and Brett Wisely slugged three-run homers and San Francisco scored 10 runs on five homers while blasting Arizona in Phoenix.
Tyler Fitzgerald hit a two-run homer and Patrick Bailey and Heliot Ramos added solo shots as San Francisco won its fifth straight game. Logan Webb (13-10) gave up four hits and one walk in six innings for the Giants.
Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each had two hits for Arizona, which lost its third straight game. Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt (10-10) served up two homers and lasted just 2 2/3 innings.
Marlins 4, Twins 1
Xavier Edwards went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Miami held on to beat Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Jonah Bride finished 3-for-5 with a solo homer for the Marlins, who won the opener of a three-game series. Nick Fortes went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Royce Lewis drove in the lone run for Minnesota. The Twins have lost three games in a row and five of their past six to fall two games behind the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals for the final two American League wild-card spots.
A’s 5, Rangers 4
Jacob Wilson singled home Zack Gelof from second base in the bottom of the ninth inning as Oakland opened its three-day going-away party with a victory over defending champion Texas.
After closer Mason Miller (2-2) worked out of a first-and-third, one-out jam to preserve a tie in the top of the inning, Gelof led off the bottom of the ninth with a single off Josh Sborz (2-2).
Gelof stole second as Seth Brown was striking out before Wilson drilled Sborz’s next pitch into center field to complete the walk-off win.
Brewers 7, Pirates 2
Joey Ortiz drove in three runs to help visiting Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series.
Willy Adames had two hits, two runs and an RBI, Jackson Chourio contributed two hits and a run and Sal Frelick added two RBIs for the Brewers, who have won two in a row following a three-game skid.
Pirates starter Bailey Falter (8-9) surrendered four runs and five hits in five innings. Jared Triolo had three hits and an RBI and Joey Bart had two hits and a run for Pittsburgh, which has dropped three of four.
Tigers 2, Rays 1
Tarik Skubal tossed seven shutout innings, Wenceel Perez had a two-run double and streaking Detroit edged visiting Tampa Bay.
Skubal (18-4) limited the Rays to two hits and one walk while striking out seven. Beau Brieske pitched the last two innings to notch his first save for the Tigers, who have won seven of their past eight.
Rays starter Ryan Pepiot (8-7) gave up two runs and three hits in five innings. Tampa Bay reliever Mason Montgomery struck out all six batters he faced.
Royals 1, Nationals 0 (10 innings)
Five Kansas City pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout and the visiting Royals scored an unearned run to beat Washington in 10 innings, snapping a seven-game losing streak.
A throwing error by Nationals shortstop Nasim Nunez scored the game’s lone run. Bobby Witt Jr. had two hits for the Royals.
Angel Zerpa (2-0) pitched one inning for the win and Lucas Erceg tossed a perfect inning for his 12th save. Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan (3-7) took the loss.
Cubs 10, Phillies 4
Cody Bellinger drove in four runs and Seiya Suzuki knocked in a pair as Chicago cruised over Philadelphia.
Nico Hoerner and Bellinger each collected three hits for the Cubs, while Dansby Swanson, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Miguel Amaya and Suzuki chipped in with two hits apiece. The Cubs outhit the Phillies 15-7.
One night after they clinched the National League East with a 6-2 win over the Cubs, the Phillies watched their first three pitchers struggle. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber homered in a losing effort.
Cardinals 7, Rockies 3
Masyn Winn hit a two-run homer and drove in two more with a double in St. Louis’ four-run eighth inning, leading the Cardinals past Colorado in Denver.
Lars Nootbaar walked three times and scored twice and Andrew Kittredge (5-5) tossed a scoreless inning of relief for the Cardinals, who earned their third win in a row.
Aaron Schunk homered and singled while Charlie Blackmon tripled and doubled for Colorado. The Rockies fell for the fourth time in five games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves blast four homers to bypass Nationals
Apr 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (23) celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images Michael Harris II hit two home runs, Matt Olson smacked a three-run shot and the Atlanta Braves rallied from an early three-run deficit to claim an 8-6 win against the host Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.
The seventh multi-homer game of Harris’ career helped Atlanta manager Walt Weiss earn his 300th victory. Drake Baldwin homered for the second straight game for the Braves, who have earned at least a split of the four-game series.
Dylan Lee (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his second save. After walking 12 batters on Tuesday night, Braves pitchers issued only three free passes.
James Wood homered for the second straight game for Washington. Daylen Lile hit a three-run homer and Joey Wiemer had a pinch-hit solo shot.
Washington starter Zack Littell (0-3) allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits over six innings.
The Braves started in on Littell early as Baldwin homered to right center in the first to make it 1-0.
Washington jumped in front with a four-run first against Atlanta starter Didier Fuentes, who lasted just three innings while allowing seven hits and four runs.
Wood and Luis Garcia, Jr. opened the first with singles and, after two strikeouts, Lile delivered a homer to center. Jacob Young singled and scored when Jorbit Vivas doubled to right.
The Braves came right back. Ozzie Albies reached on a Vivas error and Harris homered to right. Mike Yastrzemski singled, went to third on a single by Jonah Heim and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ronald Acuna, Jr.
Harris struck again in the third as his solo shot gave the Braves a 5-4 lead.
Atlanta broke it open in the fourth. Heim and Acuna drew one-out walks and, with two outs, Olson homered to right to make it 8-4.
The Nationals cut the deficit in half in the sixth on solo homers by pinch-hitter Wiemer and Wood, whose 413-foot shot was his National League-leading ninth of the season.
Washington got the tying runs on with two outs in the eighth, but Tyler Kinley struck out Curtis Mead.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Max Fried dominates as Yankees nearly blank Red Sox again
Apr 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Amed Rosario had four RBI in just two plate appearances and Max Fried pitched eight shutout innings, leading the visiting New York Yankees to a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.
Rosario’s three-run shot in the first inning was all that New York needed, as Fried (3-1) allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out nine, completing a masterful outing in exactly 100 pitches.
Adding to the New York offense, Giancarlo Stanton went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored, while Aaron Judge crossed the plate twice.
Jarren Duran (3-for-4) doubled twice and knocked in Boston’s only run with a ninth-inning single.
Boston left-hander Ranger Suarez (1-2) took the loss after allowing four runs through 4 2/3 innings, but the relief duo of Zack Kelly and Eduardo Rivera pitched scoreless, one-hit ball the rest of the way.
Rivera, who was recalled from Triple-A Worcester earlier in the day, pitched 3 1/3 innings of one-hit ball in his MLB debut. He struck out three.
The Yankees picked up where they left off in Tuesday’s series-opening shutout, breaking Suarez’s 14-inning scoreless streak by jumping out to a 3-0 lead on Rosario’s homer over the Green Monster. Judge drew a one-out walk and Stanton doubled two batters later with two outs to set the table.
Fried worked out of a two-on, no-out jam in the second to keep the home team scoreless, striking out three consecutive batters after Andruw Monasterio walked and Duran knocked a high wall-ball double to lead off the frame.
In the third, Judge stung a leadoff single and Stanton banged a one-out double to left. Rosario then sent a line-drive sac fly to left, extending the New York lead to 4-0.
The Red Sox were unable to cash in baserunners in the next two innings, as Wilyer Abreu had a two-out knock in the third and Duran added his second two-bagger in the fourth. Following the latter knock, Fried retired the final 14 batters he faced.
Brent Headrick was one strike away from pitching New York’s third consecutive shutout for the first time since 1962, but Duran’s knock through the middle scored Trevor Story to break up the bid in the ninth.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Casey Mize fires 6-plus strong innings as Tigers handle Brewers
Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle (7) hits an RBI double against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images Spencer Torkelson hit his first homer of the season, a two-run shot, and Kerry Carpenter added a solo blast as the host Detroit Tigers downed the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday.
Torkelson, who hit 31 homers last season, made a winner of starter Casey Mize. In six-plus innings, Mize (2-1) gave up one run and three hits while walking three and striking out seven.
Kenley Jansen escaped a ninth-inning jam to record his sixth save.
Detroit’s Riley Greene had two hits and scored a run, Colt Keith supplied two hits and an RBI and Kevin McGonigle scored a run and knocked in another.
DL Hall served as an opener for the Brewers. He tossed two scoreless innings before Chad Patrick (1-1) took over. Patrick allowed four runs and six hits in four innings, with one walk and two strikeouts.
William Contreras and Jake Bauers knocked in Milwaukee’s runs in the middle game of a three-game series. The decisive game of the set is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
The Brewers opened the scoring in the third inning. Brice Turang drew a two-out walk, stole second and came home on Contreras’ single.
Detroit took the lead for good in the fourth. Greene ripped a one-out double to center. Torkelson then clobbered a Patrick sinker 400 feet over the left-center-field wall to make it 2-1.
The Tigers stretched their lead to 4-1 in the fifth. Javier Baez led off with a single. One out later, McGonigle battled through a 10-pitch at-bat before drilling a double off the right field wall to score Baez. McGonigle moved to third on a groundout and scored on Keith’s line single to right.
Milwaukee cut Detroit’s lead to 4-2 in the eighth. Pinch hitter Luis Rengifo led off with a single. He advanced on a groundout and scored on Bauers’ two-out single off Will Vest.
Detroit got that run back in the bottom of the inning on Carpenter’s blast to right off Carlos Rodriguez. It was Carpenter’s fifth homer of the year.
The Brewers made it interesting in the ninth, loading the bases with two outs. Turang then bounced out to first to end the contest.
–Field Level Media
Braves blast four homers to bypass Nationals
Max Fried dominates as Yankees nearly blank Red Sox again
