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I know it has been said many times on social media and by other outlets, but the way NBC has approached “Sunday Night Baseball” has been very refreshing. Having Jason Benetti by the quarterback for three other personalities that rotate weekly is a great hook for MLB’s standalone game of the week. Benetti’s two boothmates have ties to the teams playing and are generally former players, with another acting as an on-field analyst. In this week’s case, Orel Hershiser and Roger Clemens were in the booth, with CC Sabathia at field level for Game 2 of the Los Angeles Dodgers–New York Yankees doubleheader. It was terrific conversation that raised the level of an ordinary bullpen game by both teams. Next week, Benetti’s talents will be tested with the presence of John Kruk and Joe Girardi in the booth and Joey Votto on the field as the Yankees face the Philadelphia Phillies. It certainly will be entertaining — at least for those of us with a sense of humor.
Today’s Headlines
Red Sox Roll To 13th Consecutive Win
Some streaks have a little more legitimacy than others. This one is definitely legit after this weekend. The Boston Red Sox won their 13th straight, beating the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 behind six strong innings from right-handed starter Sonny Gray and a two-run homer from All-Star Willson Contreras, completing a four-game sweep. The streak matches the second-longest in Red Sox history, set in 1948, and is two shy of the franchise record of 15 done in 1946. The Red Sox have gone from last place in the AL East just two weeks ago to third place and two games above .500 at 50-48, now holding the third and final AL wild-card spot. The streak also matches the longest for an interim manager, following the 1991 run by Jim Fregosi and the Philadelphia Phillies. Chad Tracy replaced Alex Cora on April 25.
Dodgers Settle For Split After Yamamoto Gem
In the interest of fairness, the New York Yankees did notch a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the nightcap of a split doubleheader. But the performance of the day definitely belongs to superstar Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pitched the first regular-season complete game of his career in an 8-2 victory in the opener. Yamamoto struck out seven, allowed four hits and no walks. Yamamoto famously had back-to-back complete games during last year’s World Series run. Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Tommy Edman each had two RBIs, with Edman scoring three times as the Dodgers broke open a tight game with a five-run ninth. Yamamoto’s effort saved the Dodgers’ arms for the second game. Both teams went to a bullpen game and it turned out to be a pitchers’ duel. Cody Bellinger provided the Yankees a first-inning run that looked like it was going to stand up as the teams trotted out 12 arms from the bullpen in the game. But Edman hit his second homer of the year to tie it in the top of the eighth. Jazz Chisholm Jr. responded in the bottom of the eighth with his 14th blast of the season, an opposite-field shot, and the Yankees had a 2-1 victory.
Contreras Crushes Walk-Off HR To Foil Marlins
If someone asks you to explain how the Milwaukee Brewers keep winning games, just say you can’t. What the Brewers do is beyond explanation, but they just keep ripping off wins in different ways. William Contreras‘ one-out three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning yanked a victory away from the Miami Marlins, who lost to the Brewers 3-1. The Crew swept the three games thanks to three comeback victories, of which they have 29 this season, tied for the most in MLB. That has helped the Brewers build the second-best record in baseball at 62-37. But this win almost didn’t happen thanks to a sensational outing by Marlins right-handed starter Eury Pérez, who struck out nine in six shutout innings in which he allowed just one hit. Esteury Ruiz provided the only run the Marlins thought they would need with a one-out homer in the third inning. But that should have been a clue that Contreras would come up big at some point. In case you don’t remember, Ruiz was the only player the Brewers gave up in a three-way trade with Atlanta and the Oakland A’s after the 2022 offseason that sent Contreras and reliever Joel Payamps to Milwaukee.
D’backs Pull Off Epic Comeback, Win In 10
Are the Arizona Diamondbacks setting themselves up to pull off more second-half shenanigans? Down 7-0 after five innings, the D’backs tied it by the end of the eighth and won it in the 10th on Max Kepler’s one-out double off the right-field wall for an 8-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. This matched the largest comeback in franchise history (Aug. 29, 2022, vs. the Philadelphia Phillies in a 13-7 win). Geraldo Perdomo had a two-run inside-the-park home run in the seventh to pull the D’backs within 7-5, then Nolan Arenado smashed a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth to tie it 7-7. After the Cardinals were held scoreless in the top of the 10th, Kepler stepped up with one out and automatic runner Jorge Barrosa on second, lining a shot over the right fielder’s head to easily score the winning run.
Baldwin (5 Hits), Riley Blast A Pair
Some say the reason Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin struggled after coming off the injured list was that he was rushed back into the lineup. Even if that is true, Baldwin is now back in full form. Baldwin went 5-for-5 with a pair of solo homers to fuel Atlanta’s 8-5 win over the Texas Rangers. Slumping Austin Riley also went deep twice as part of a three-hit, four-RBI day. And just as those two have a big day, superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. could return in the four-game series against the San Diego Padres to begin the week. Atlanta had lost 19 of 29 entering the All-Star break and won two of three vs. the Rangers.
Valdez Goes Deep Again, Skenes Stellar
Just think where the Pittsburgh Pirates might be if Esmerlyn Valdez had been called up earlier or even started the season with the team. Valdez homered for the 12th time in 31 MLB games and superstar right-handed starter Paul Skenes fanned eight over seven innings as the Pirates cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. Valdez is the fourth player in MLB history with 12 homers and 31 RBIs in their first 31 MLB games.
Goodman’s Reaches 30 With 3 HRs In Rockies’ Loss
Not that the Colorado Rockies needed any further validation, but catcher Hunter Goodman is a big piece to build upon. Goodman cranked three homers, giving him 30 for the season, but the Rockies lost to the Cincinnati Reds 9-6. Tyler Stephenson homered twice for the Reds and ace right-hander Hunter Greene struck out seven over six innings. Two of Goodman’s long balls came off Greene as he became the first player in Rockies history to have two three-homer games in the same season and just the fourth player in franchise annals to have multiple three-homer games.
Ohtani Sidelined From Pitching Indefinitely
While Shohei Ohtani will remain in the Dodgers’ lineup, his balky left knee will keep him from rejoining the starting rotation for the immediate future. Ohtani had been scheduled to pitch Wednesday, but after a playing catch this weekend, he was scratched from that outing and manager Dave Roberts said it was going to be a bit before Ohtani pitches again. “Where we’re at right now, how we’re proceeding, I would say that it’s going to be some time,” Roberts said. “I’d say that it’s not going to be a day-to-day thing.” Ohtani has a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts with a 7.6% walk rate and 27.9% strikeout rate. Ohtani did throw a bullpen session between games of Sunday’s doubleheader and came out of it looking good.
By The Numbers
10 New York Mets rookie right-hander Nolan McLean struck out 10 over six scoreless innings in a 6-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, his third double-digit strikeout game this year.
17 Ty France and Jackson Merrill each hit a pair of homers, with France having a grand slam, as the San Diego Padres crushed the Kansas City Royals 19-2. The 17-run margin is the second-largest in Padres history behind a 21-0 win over the Rockies in 2025.
11 Washington Nationals rookie right-hander Foster Griffin allowed one run over seven innings in a 5-2 triumph over the A’s. It was the 11th win for Griffin, tied for second-most in the NL.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Sign Him Up For 2030
With the U.S. shifting its focus to the 2030 World Cup, Baltimore Orioles right-hander Brandon Young is already auditioning with this play in a 5-2 win over the Houston Astros.
Happy 104th!!!
As stat guru Sarah Langs loves to say, birthdays are important. And a key figure in baseball history celebrated another Sunday as Rachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s widow, turned 104.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ San Diego Padres right-handed starter Randy Vásquez was activated from the 15-day IL following a right ankle contusion. Left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta also returned from the bereavement list, with right-handed reliever Ron Marinaccio being DFA’d and right-hander Jhony Brito optioned to Triple-A.
⚾ Two-time World Series champion Duane Ward, a top reliever for the 1992-93 Blue Jays, died. He was 62. Ward was in Toronto for the festivities surrounding Joe Carter’s statue, but did not participate Saturday.
Articles You Should Read
The life and death of Duane Ward resonate among Blue Jays brotherhood — Mike Wilner, Toronto Star
With Smith out indefinitely, Dodgers need to trade for a catcher — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times
Epstein has no interest in running another MLB team — for now — Patrick Mooney, The Athletic
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