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Memorial Day is also big for college baseball as the bracket is announced for the Division I tournament. Big Ten Conference regular-season and tournament champion UCLA is not only the top-ranked team entering the tournament, but the Bruins also have the probable No. 1 pick in this summers draft in shortstop Roch Cholowsky. Baseball America has some of the best coverage of the college game, so check out what the BA writers are talking about.
Today’s Headlines
Drought Over: Astros’ Trio Tosses First No-No Since 2024
For the first time since the 2024 season, MLB has a no-hitter. And, boy, was this an unusual one. Right-hander Tatsua Imai, left-hander Steven Okert and right-hander Alimber Santa, making his MLB debut, combined on a no-hitter as the Houston Astros rolled past the Texas Rangers 9-0. It was the first no-hitter since the Chicago Cubs had a combined no-no Sept. 24, 2024. Last year was the first season since 2005 that there was no a no-hitter. Imai, whose struggles in his first year in MLB after coming over to Japan led to an injured list stint where he worked on his mechanics in the minors, nearly didn’t make it out of the first as he walked the first two batters he faced only to rebound and last a season-high six innings with four walks and two strikeouts. Okert pitched the seventh with a walk and a strikout, then Santa came on for his first MLB appearance and pitched two perfect innings with a game-ending strikeout. How rare is it to participate in a no-hitter while making your MLB debut? Santa is the first to do so since Bumpus Jones pitched a no-hitter for the Cincinnati Reds on Oct. 15, 1892. It was the 18th no-hitter in Astros history.
Deja Moo: Cowser Walks It Off For Second Straight Day
It has been a frustrating first part of the season for Colton Cowser and the Baltimore Orioles. Can what happened in the last 24 hours change the fortunes for both? For the second day in a row, Cowser launched a walk-off homer, this one a tiebreaking two-run shot with one out in a four-run 13th inning that gave the Orioles a 9-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Cowser cranked out a three-run homer in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader vs. the Detroit Tigers that erased a 3-2 deficit and gave the Orioles a 5-2 win. Those homers on consecutive days were his second and third of the season. His 2026 hit a low point May 15 when his slash line was at .169/.270/.195. Two days later, he hit his first homer of the season, which has led to him seven of his 14 RBIs for the season since then. It was a crazy game as each scored twice in the 11th and once in the 12th before the Rays scored twice in the top of the 13th. Cowser is the fifth player in the last 25 years to hit two walk-off homers in a three-game span.
Misiorowski Blistering Again, K’s 12 In Brewers’ Victory
An MLB ace is not necessarily a No. 1 pitcher. An ace is a pitcher who you expect an elite performance each time out. Jacob Misiorowski is slowly becoming an ace. Showing a maturity that wasn’t there during his rookie season, the flamethrowing right-hander is shattering speed records with each outing. The Miz took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and matched his career high with 12 strikeouts over seven innings in the Milwaukee Brewers‘ 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. In the first inning alone, Misiorowski threw eight pitches at 103 mph or better, something no other pitcher has ever done. Over his 96 pitches (71 strikes), he was at 100 mph or better on 57 of them, 10 more than any pitcher has done in the pitch-tracking era (2008). He also became the first pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts. Misiorowski allowed one run — his first in May — on two hits with just one walk. Christian Yelich hit a two-run homer and Andrew Vaughn had three hits, including two doubles, and an RBI for the Crew.
Pirates Send Streaky Cubs To 9th Consecutive Setback
When you are in a funk, you are in a funk. Not even a terrific pitching performance can get you out of a slump. And that is the situation the Chicago Cubs find themselves in. The Cubs, who have two 10-game winning streaks this year, lost their ninth in a row despite six strong innings from right-handed starter Ben Brown in a 2-1 setback to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Henry Davis hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the bottom of the seventh that provided the difference for the Pirates. Pittsburgh got its own strong pitching performance as right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski scattered five hits over five innings, rookie right-hander Wilber Dotel allowed a hit while striking out four over three innings and left-handed closer Gregory Soto tossed a perfect ninth for his sixth save. Dotel, in his fifth MLB game, earned his first victory.
Homer-Happy White Sox Strike Again
Why are the Chicago White Sox suddenly fun to watch? Because they hit the long ball. Munetaka Murakami hit his AL-leading 18th homer and Drew Romo added a two-run blast as the White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 3-1. The White Sox entered the game having scored 48.1% of their runs via homers, the second-best mark in MLB. The victory move the White Sox, one of the worst teams in MLB the last two seasons, above .500 at 27-26. Murakami countered Brooks Lee’s solo shot in the top of the first with his own solo homer in the bottom half. Romo then snapped that tie in the second inning with his fifth of the season. From there, it was all pitching. White Sox left-handed starter Anthony Kay struck out five in six innings, with three relievers combining for three shutout innings. Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews lasted six innings and also fanned six, with right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson going two scoreless.
Franco Found Guilty Again In Retrial
A second trial in the Dominican Republic of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco resulted in another guilty verdict, only this one spares the former top prospect from any time behind bars. Franco was on trial as a result of an inappropriate relationship with a girl, at the time 14, and was found guilty of sexual and psychological abuse of a minor. However, the court gave Franco a judicial pardon, which means he will not go to prison. The mother of the girl was again found guilty and sentenced to 10 years for money laundering and “threats of exposure.” Franco remains on MLB’s restricted list, where he has been since August 2023 when the allegations first surfaced. He has yet to face any suspension from MLB as a result of this incident, while his ability to return to the U.S. to play again is unlikely due to the conviction.
By The Numbers
11 The New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals for the 11th straight time in the regular season, a 4-3 victory in the series opener.
6 Curtis Mead had his first career multihomer game as part of a six-homer night for the Washington Nationals in a 10-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians.
4, 9, 3 Ketel Marte had four hits and drove in three runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks won for the ninth time in 11 games with a 6-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. Marte has a nine-game hitting streak and this was his third straight game with three or more hits.
Best Moments From Yesterday
An Event-Filled Debut For Nishida
As an undrafted free agent out of Oregon, Rikuu Nishida’s path to an MLB roster was tougher than most. But when he made his MLB debut for the White Sox on Memorial Day, he certainly made it memorable. An infielder by trade, he started in right field and uncorked a laser beam of a throw to record an out in the second inning, then later got his first MLB hit. Twins batters kept him busy as Nishida had seven putouts.
Using Everything He Has
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage had trouble corralling this comeback by Javier Sanoja of the Miami Marlins.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping for a minimal stay on the 15-day injured list for star right-hander Dylan Cease, who has a mild left hamstring strain. This is Cease’s for stint on the IL in his previous eight MLB seasons. Right-handed reliever Tanner Andrews was called up from Triple-A. The Jays also activated outfielder Nathan Lukes (strained left hamstring) from the 10-day IL and optioned struggling outfielder Davis Schneider to Triple-A.
⚾ Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Enrique Hernández was activated from the 60-day IL, with another utilityman, Santiago Espinal, was designated for assignment. Hernandez had offseason surgery on his right elbow.
⚾ Colorado Rockies left-handed starter Jose Quintana was placed on the 15-day IL with a sprained left elbow. Left-hander Welinton Herrera was called up from Triple-A.
⚾ Cleveland Guardians left-handed reliever Erik Sabrowski (left elbow inflammation) went on the 15-day IL and right-handed reliever Codi Heuer was called up from Triple-A.
⚾ Former first-round draft pick Jarred Kelenic was designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox. Infielder-outfielder Rikuu Nishida was called up from Triple-A to make his MLB debut.
Articles You Should Read
One year into big-league career, Red Sox’s Mayer remains work in progress — Alex Speier, Boston Globe
Castellanos discusses end of Phillies tenure as he faces old team — Matt Gelb, The Athletic
As critters and losses pile up, Angels fans call on Moreno to sell — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times
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