Sports
MLB roundup: Yankees, mourning John Sterling's death, rout Orioles
May 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; The New York Yankees honor radio play-by-play announcer John Sterling before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer in the first inning, drove in four runs and reached base three times as the New York Yankees completed a four-game sweep of the visiting Baltimore Orioles by pulling away for a 12-1 victory on Monday.
The Yankees won for the 14th time in 16 games and just hours after longtime radio announcer John Sterling died. Sterling called games for 36 years until retiring after the 2024 season, and the Yankees conducted a moment of silence and laid a wreath at home plate before the game.
Judge gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead when he lifted a full-count curveball from Shane Baz (1-3) into the New York bullpen in right-center. It was Judge’s 14th homer of the season, tied for the major league lead, and 11th in his past 21 games. It was also Judge’s 53rd homer in 124 career games against the Orioles.
New York’s Cam Schlittler (5-1) allowed one run on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Baz was tagged for six runs, five earned, on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Dodgers 8, Astros 3
Alex Freeland and Kyle Tucker homered in support of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who worked six quality innings as Los Angeles won the opener of a three-game interleague series in Houston.
Freeland keyed a two-run second inning with his long ball, and Tucker ignited a four-run third by leading off that frame with his blast. The Dodgers did that damage against Ryan Weiss (0-3), who yielded seven runs, six earned, on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Yamamoto (3-2) allowed three runs on five hits. Will Smith had three hits, including two doubles, and Freeland also collected three hits.
Cubs 5, Reds 4
Pinch hitter Michael Conforto’s walk-off solo home run capped a two-run, ninth-inning rally and sent host Chicago past Cincinnati.
Conforto hammered a 3-2 fastball from Reds closer Emilio Pagan (2-1) into the seats in left-center field, giving the Cubs their sixth straight win.
Pete Crow-Armstrong opened the bottom of the ninth with a triple. Pagan struck out Dansby Swanson, but Nico Hoerner hit a deep fly ball to left field for a game-tying sacrifice fly. Conforto then ended the game. Ryan Rolison (2-0) struck out all three batters he faced in the top of the ninth.
Angels 6, White Sox 0
Munetaka Murakami had three hits, scored three runs and smacked his 14th homer to back Davis Martin as Chicago shut out Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif.
Miguel Vargas also homered to help the White Sox beat the Angels for the fourth time in eight days and win for the sixth time in seven games. Martin (5-1) gave up five hits and struck out a career-high 10 in seven innings.
Angels starter Jose Soriano (5-2) permitted five runs and eight hits over four innings, losing to the White Sox for the second time in as many starts. Nolan Schanuel and Travis d’Arnaud had two hits apiece for Los Angeles, which has lost 13 of its past 15 games.
Mets 4, Rockies 2
Carson Benge homered in the sixth inning to break up Tomoyuki Sugano’s no-hit bid, five New York pitchers combined to fan 11, and the Mets beat Colorado in Denver.
David Peterson (1-4), the third New York pitcher, fanned six in four innings. Devin Williams pitched a hitless ninth inning up his fourth save.
Mickey Moniak doubled and tripled to extend his hitting streak to 17 games and Jordan Beck tripled for Colorado, which has dropped the first four on its six-game homestand.
Phillies 1, Marlins 0
Aaron Nola tossed six scoreless innings and Bryce Harper homered to lift visiting Philadelphia over Miami in the finale of a four-game series. Nola (2-3) logged his best start of 2026, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out five in a crisp 94-pitch effort.
Harper took care of the offense, going 3-for-4 and homering in the third inning. Brad Keller allowed two baserunners in the ninth but logged his second save as the Phillies improved to 6-1 since Don Mattingly took over as interim manager.
Marlins starter Janson Junk (2-3) allowed one run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jakob Marsee and Kyle Stowers each recorded two singles.
Rays 5, Blue Jays 1
Ryan Vilade stroked his first homer Tampa Bay, a three-run shot in the first inning, as the Rays beat visiting Toronto in St. Petersburg, Fla., for their fourth straight win.
Jonathan Aranda went 3-for-4 and is 9-for-13 in his past three games for the Rays, and Taylor Walls delivered a two-run single. Nick Martinez (3-1) tossed five innings of one-run ball on five hits.
Blue Jays starter Eric Lauer (1-4) allowed three runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in Toronto’s lone run with a third-inning single, and rookie Yohendrick Pinango had his second three-hit outing in three games.
Red Sox 5, Tigers 4
Jarren Duran blasted a go-ahead three-run homer, Payton Tolle recorded his first major league win and Boston held off host Detroit.
The homer from Duran, one of his three hits, highlighted a five-run seventh. Marcelo Mayer added two hits and drove in a run. Tolle (1-1) gave up two unearned runs and just one hit in seven innings while striking out eight. He walked one batter in an efficient 83-pitch effort. Aroldis Chapman notched his seventh save.
Dillon Dingler produced a two-run double for Detroit, one of only three Tiger hits. Ricky Vanasco (0-1) was charged with four runs after recording only two outs.
Royals 6, Guardians 2
Bobby Witt Jr.’s solo homer ignited a four-run fourth inning, Michael Wacha threw seven innings of two-run ball and Kansas City won its fourth straight game, beating visiting Cleveland.
Vinnie Pasquantino added two hits with an RBI for the Royals, who overcame an early 2-0 hole to win for the ninth time in 12 games after losing eight in a row. Wacha (3-2) got back on track from yielding 10 runs over 10 1/3 innings while losing each of his previous two starts.
Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee (0-5), who entered 4-0 in nine career starts vs. Kansas City, didn’t allow a hit until the fourth, but exited after the inning having allowed four runs on five hits. He threw 39 of his 77 pitches in the fourth inning.
Cardinals 6, Brewers 3
Ivan Herrera hit a three-run double, JJ Wetherholt drove in two and host St. Louis defeated Milwaukee.
Herrera, Wetherholt, Victor Scott II and Nolan Gorman had two hits each for the Cardinals, who have won seven of their past eight games. Kyle Leahy (4-3) allowed a run and six hits in 5 1/3 innings, and Riley O’Brien got the final two outs for his 10th save.
Brice Turang (3-for-5, two RBIs) homered and Jackson Chourio went 4-for-4 with two doubles and a walk in his first five plate appearances of 2026 for the Brewers, who lost their second straight. Milwaukee starter Chad Patrick (2-2) gave up four runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Mariners 5, Braves 4
Luke Raley and J.P. Crawford homered in a five-run sixth inning as Seattle rallied to defeat visiting Atlanta in the opener of a three-game interleague series.
The Mariners snapped a three-game skid and halted Atlanta’s three-game winning streak on a night all nine runs scored via the long ball. The major-league-leading Braves lost for just the fourth time in the past 19 games.
Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (2-3) got the victory despite allowing four solo home runs. The right-hander gave up four runs on six hits over six innings. Braves reliever Tyler Kinley (3-2) was charged with two runs in his lone inning.
Giants 3, Padres 2
Minor league call-up Trevor McDonald allowed just two hits in seven innings, Casey Schmitt homered and San Francisco opened a six-game homestand with a victory over San Diego.
Rafael Devers drove in Luis Arraez twice, with a single and a sacrifice fly, teaming with Schmitt to produce all of the offense as the Giants snapped a six-game losing streak. McDonald (1-0) permitted one run in his first big-league appearance of the year.
After Jackson Merrill hit McDonald’s sixth pitch for a solo home run, the Giants immediately countered with a pair of runs in the last of the first inning to take a lead they never relinquished. Padres starter Randy Vasquez (3-1) gave up three runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Michael Conforto's pinch-hit walk-off shot lifts Cubs over Reds
May 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Michael Conforto’s walk-off solo home run capped a two-run, ninth-inning rally and sent the Cubs to a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on a rainy Monday night in Chicago.
Conforto, pinch-hitting for Matt Shaw, hammered a 3-2 fastball from Reds closer Emilio Pagan (2-1) into the seats in left-center field, giving the National League Central-leading Cubs their sixth straight win.
Pete Crow-Armstrong opened the bottom of the ninth with a triple off the glove of Reds center fielder Dane Myers, who appeared to have the ball in his glove as he collided with the Wrigley Field’s ivy and brick wall. The ball fell to the ground and Crow-Armstrong raced to third base.
Pagan struck out Dansby Swanson, but Nico Hoerner hit a deep fly ball to left field for a game-tying sacrifice fly. Conforto then ended the game.
Ryan Rolison (2-0) struck out all three batters he faced in the top of the ninth.
Elly De La Cruz had three hits and Spencer Steer had two for the Reds, who lost their fourth straight game.
Steer drove in pinch runner Blake Dunn with a tiebreaking run in the top of the eighth for a 4-3 Reds lead.
Cincinnati’s Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a two-run home run and JJ Bleday socked a solo homer in a game that was delayed 100 minutes due to inclement weather. Those blasts put the Reds up 3-0 through the top of the fourth.
The Cubs tied the contest with one swing in the bottom of the fourth when Seiya Suzuki (2-for-3) took Reds starter Chase Petty deep over the wall in center field for a three-run shot.
In the eighth, Nathaniel Lowe drew a leadoff walk off Cubs reliever Ben Brown. Dunn pinch-ran and stole second base before Steer singled to left field. Dunn beat the throw home, getting his right hand on home plate just before being tagged.
The Cubs loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth against Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft on three walks, one of them intentional walk. Ashcraft struck out Carson Kelly swinging to escape the jam.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jalen Brunson, red-hot Knicks blow out Sixers in Game 1
May 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (1) and forward Paul George (8) and guard Quentin Grimes (5) during the second quarter of game one of the eastern conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Jalen Brunson scored 27 of his game-high 35 points in the first half Monday night for the New York Knicks, who remained red-hot by routing the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night in New York.
The Knicks, who eliminated the Atlanta Hawks with a 140-89 win in Game 6 of a first-round series on Thursday, became just the second team in NBA history to end one series and begin another with consecutive victories by at least 30 points.
In 1986, the Boston Celtics beat the Hawks 132-99 to end an Eastern Conference semifinal series before routing the Milwaukee Bucks 128-96 in Game 1 of the conference finals. The Celtics went on to win the NBA title.
“I can’t deny that our guys are playing pretty good basketball,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “And I’ve got to give them credit, especially where credit’s due. They’re trying to focus on the details, no matter what the score is.”
These Knicks, who won the final three games over the Hawks by a combined 96 points, are the first NBA team to win three straight playoff games by at least 25 points apiece.
New York picked up Monday where it left off on both ends of the floor against Atlanta.
New York shot 63.1% (53-for-84), a franchise record for a playoff game. The Knicks shot 51.4% (19-for-37) from 3-point range, their best mark ever for a playoff game in which they hoisted at least 30 attempts.
The Knicks also allowed fewer than 100 points for the fourth straight game.
“Wasn’t any fun to be a part of, to be honest, and watch,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. “But it’s 0-1. Doesn’t really matter if it’s six points or 36 or whatever the hell it was.”
OG Anunoby had 18 points for New York, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges added 17 points each. Starters Towns, Bridges and Josh Hart all exited late in the third quarter while Brunson and Anunoby sat the entire fourth.
Paul George scored 17 points for the 76ers, who advanced to the conference semifinals by overcoming a three-games-to-one deficit against the Celtics — the first such comeback in Philadelphia history.
Joel Embiid had 14 points while Tyrese Maxey scored 13 points. VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr. each added 12 points.
The 76ers took a one-possession lead five times in the first quarter, but Brunson hit the go-ahead basket for the Knicks every time, including the 3-pointer with 3:57 left that put New York up for good at 21-19.
The Knicks went ahead by double digits for good at 49-37 on Towns’ 3-pointer with 6:43 left in the second. Brunson ended the half on his own 11-3 run to extend New York’s advantage to 74-51.
The Knicks were up 109-78 at the end of the third and led by as many as 40 in the fourth.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Newly promoted Trevor McDonald pitches Giants past Padres
May 4, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Trevor McDonald (72) pitches the ball in his major league debut during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Minor league call-up Trevor McDonald allowed just two hits in seven innings, Casey Schmitt homered and the San Francisco Giants opened a six-game homestand with a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday.
Rafael Devers drove in Luis Arraez twice, with a single and a sacrifice fly, teaming with Schmitt to produce all the offense McDonald (1-0) and two relievers would need to snap a six-game losing streak.
After Jackson Merrill hit McDonald’s sixth pitch for a solo home run three batters into the game, the Giants immediately countered with a pair of runs in the last of the first inning to take a lead they never relinquished.
Schmitt socked his fifth homer of the season on Padres starter Randy Vasquez’s ninth pitch to get San Francisco even. Arraez followed with a double, and Devers came through one out later with an RBI single to center.
The Giants’ only other scoring came in the sixth, when Arraez doubled again, advanced to third on a groundout by Heliot Ramos and this time raced home on a Devers fly ball to right field.
The multiple-RBI game was the first for Devers in almost a month, since he drove in a season-best four runs in a home win over the Philadelphia Phillies on April 8.
McDonald, promoted from Triple-A Sacramento earlier in the day, matched his career best with a seven-inning effort in his first major league appearance of the season. He gave up just the first-inning run, struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
The only other hit he allowed in his third career major league start was also delivered by Merrill — a single leading off the fourth.
Giants reliever Keaton Winn needed just eight pitches to throw a 1-2-3 eighth. Caleb Kilian yielded a leadoff homer to Ramon Laureano in the ninth before registering three straight outs, two via strikeout, finishing off McDonald’s second career big-league win.
Kilian, a fourth-year major-leaguer, was credited with his first career save.
The homers were the fourth of the year for Merrill and fifth for Laureano.
Vasquez (3-1) was charged with all three Giants runs in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out two.
Arraez and Merrill were the only players in the game with multiple hits. The Giants had six hits to the three collected by the Padres, who took their fifth loss in six games.
–Field Level Media
Michael Conforto's pinch-hit walk-off shot lifts Cubs over Reds
Jalen Brunson, red-hot Knicks blow out Sixers in Game 1
