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Tampa Bay looks to lengthen gap above Blue Jays

MLB: San Francisco Giants at Tampa Bay RaysMay 3, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) celebrates a win during the tenth inning against San Francisco Giants at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Rays will renew their American League East rivalry with the Toronto Blue Jays when they open a three-game series Monday night in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The second-place Rays find themselves firmly entrenched near the top of the standings, and Jonathan Aranda helped them show they plan on being there for the long haul with a walk-off single to score Chandler Simpson with the game-winning tally in the 10th inning as the Rays swept away the visiting San Francisco Giants 2-1.

“I was thinking about the at-bat even before in the previous inning,” said Aranda through an interpreter after finishing his 4-for-5 showing following an intentional walk to All-Star slugger Junior Caminero. “I didn’t think they were going to put Junior on, so when they put him on, I was a little surprised. I was just there to do my turn.”

The victory gave Tampa Bay — 16-5 in its past 21 games — its fourth series sweep as the team prepares to face the Blue Jays, who fell behind early and lost 4-3 Sunday in Minnesota to split their series with the Twins.

Monday’s starter for Tampa Bay, Nick Martinez (2-1, 1.70 ERA), has used a nasty changeup to carve up opposing hitters to the tune of a .206 batting average.

In his most recent start, the right-hander blanked the Cleveland Guardians on three hits in seven innings for Tampa Bay’s first shutout.

The first-year Rays hurler is 1-2 with a 6.66 ERA in six career outings (four starts) against Toronto.

Dangerous middle-of-the-order hitter Yandy Diaz, batting .333 with five home runs, 21 RBIs and 19 runs, is being monitored for oblique tightness and missed the last two games in the series. He left Friday’s 3-0 win after homering earlier.

Toronto’s split in the Twin Cities was not the ordinary win two, lose two scenario.

In fact, the third-place Jays might consider themselves fortunate to come to Florida with the split and remain two games under .500.

Trailing the Twins 4-3 Saturday as they headed to the top of the eighth, the Blue Jays crafted a monstrous eight-run frame and soared away 11-4, giving them a second win through three games with a chance to clinch the series on Sunday.

That did not happen, as they fell behind 4-0 through five innings and could not complete the comeback in a 4-3 loss.

In Saturday’s win, outfielder George Springer was hit in the foot by a slider from Minnesota’s Connor Prielipp — in the exact same spot where Springer suffered a fractured toe on April 11 that forced him to miss 18 days.

The area continues to be a problem.

“It’s not any worse than it was,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “It went right off that guard he has on his spikes, thankfully. You probably saw him just laughing as he was sitting there on the ground. We’ll see how he is.”

The 36-year-old Springer, who was in the lineup in his fourth game back, did not play on Sunday, though Schneider said he would have had the day off, anyway.

He is hitting just .212 with two homers and seven RBIs through 18 games.

Left-hander Eric Lauer (1-3, 6.00) will start Monday again in place of rehabbing Jose Berrios. The veteran is 1-2 with a 7.08 ERA in seven career appearances (four starts) against the Rays.

–Field Level Media

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Contentious third-period goal carries Knights past Ducks in Game 1

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden KnightsMay 4, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) defends his net as a deflection by Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) lifts over the cross bar during the first period of game one of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Ivan Barbashev scored a controversial go-ahead goal with 4:58 remaining in the third period, leading the Vegas Golden Knights to a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of their Western Conference second-round playoff series on Monday in Las Vegas.

Barbashev’s goal came after the Golden Knights regained possession in the right corner when Anaheim defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who was screening Jack Eichel, and the rest of the Ducks let up while anticipating an icing call. Barbashev had fired the puck into the zone from behind the red line.

However, icing was waived off at the last second and Pavel Dorofeyev crossed a pass to Barbashev, who roofed a shot from the left side of the crease for the game-winner.

Carter Hart stopped 33 of 34 shots, Mitch Marner scored a empty-net goal and had an assist and Brett Howden also tallied for Vegas, which improved to 28-8-3 all-time against Anaheim, including 16-3-1 at home.

Mikael Granlund scored a goal and Lukas Dostal finished with 19 saves for Anaheim.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Wednesday in Las Vegas.

Shortly after Anaheim’s Troy Terry rang a wrist shot from the right circle off the right post, Vegas took a 1-0 lead at the 3:14 mark of the second period. Howden, who scored only 12 goals in 58 regular-season games, produced his fifth in seven playoff games when he redirected Marner’s cross-ice pass through traffic inside the left post.

Anaheim had an excellent chance to tie it midway through the period when Leo Carlsson made a highlight-reel spinning pass to LaCombe alone at the edge of the right circle. However, LaCombe, the team’s leading scorer in the Ducks’ first-round win over Edmonton with nine points, passed up a shot at a wide-open net to pass to Terry in front of the blue paint. The puck slid past Terry’s stick.

The Ducks tied it 1-1 with 6:03 to go in the third period. LaCombe drove down the left wing and crossed a pass to Granlund, who ripped in a wrist shot for his third goal of the playoffs.

Vegas regained the lead just 65 seconds later on Barbashev’s goal as Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville and the Ducks bench angrily protested the non-icing call.

The Ducks pulled Dostal for an extra attacker with 1:55 to go, and Marner sealed the win with a length-of-the-ice empty-netter with six seconds remaining.

–Field Level Media

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Munetaka Murakami homers again as White Sox top Angels

MLB: Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles AngelsMay 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) watches the flight of the ball on a two-run home run in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Munetaka Murakami had three hits, scored three runs and smacked his 14th homer to back Davis Martin as the Chicago White Sox shut out the Los Angeles Angels 6-0 on Monday in Anaheim, Calif.

Miguel Vargas also homered to help the White Sox beat the Angels for the fourth time in eight days. Chicago has won six of its last seven to move one game below .500.

Andrew Benintendi had four hits and one RBI, Jarred Kelenic had three hits, and Vargas and Sam Antonacci each had two hits as the White Sox racked up 16 overall.

Martin (5-1) gave up five hits, struck out a career-high 10 and didn’t walk anybody over seven shutout innings in winning his third straight decision. He has allowed one or no runs in five of his past six starts.

Sean Newcomb struck out four in two perfect innings to complete the shutout.

Los Angeles’ Jose Soriano (5-2) served up two homers while being touched up by Chicago for the second straight outing. He had a microscopic 0.24 ERA over his first six starts before giving up eight runs and 14 hits over nine innings in the two starts, raising his ERA to 1.74.

Soriano permitted five runs and eight hits over four innings on Monday. He struck out five and walked three.

Nolan Schanuel and Travis d’Arnaud had two hits apiece for the Angels, who have lost 13 of their past 15 games.

Soriano walked Antonacci and Murakami to open the game before striking out the next two batters. Chase Meidroth then delivered a run-scoring single to center, and Benintendi followed with a ground single to center to make it 2-0.

In the fourth, Antonacci singled to left with one out and Murakami followed with a 429-foot blast to center to join to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in a tie for the major league home run lead.

Three pitches later, Vargas jumped on Soriano’s fastball and homered to right-center to make it 5-0.

The White Sox added on in the eighth when Murakami, Vargas and Colson Montgomery hit consecutive two-out singles off Mitch Farris.

–Field Level Media

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MLB roundup: Yankees, mourning John Sterling's death, rout Orioles

MLB: Baltimore Orioles at New York YankeesMay 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

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