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Less than a week before Jackie Robinson Day, MLB has revealed that the number of Black players in the league has increased in back-to-back years for the first time in more than two decades. On Opening Day this season, 6.8% of players (a total of 64) on rosters, injured lists and restricted lists were Black, up from 6.2% last year and 6% in 2024. The increase of sixth-tenths of a percentage point was the largest since a sevent-tenths rise from 2017 to 2018. There were another 17 Black players on 40-man rosters who were assigned to the minors before Opening Day.
Today’s Headlines
Walk-Off Hat Trick: Muncy’s 3rd HR Drops Rangers
There are three-homer games, and there are three-homer games. Max Muncy had the latter. The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ third baseman hit his third homer of the game, a solo shot with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to snap a tie and walk off the Texas Rangers 8-7. Muncy, who went 4-for-5 with five RBIs, is the second Dodger to have a walk-off blast as his third homer of the game (Don Demeter, April 21, 1959). Muncy’s trio of long balls overcame a three-run top of the ninth against Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz, who gave up four hits and a walk. Evan Carter hit a two-run homer and Ezequiel Duran tied the game with a two-out RBI single. Muncy’s other two homers were also solo shots, coming in the second and fourth innings. Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani broke another record. Ohtani singled in the fifth inning to reach base in his 44th straight game, eclipsing the mark for a Japanese-born player held by Ichiro Suzuki.
Walking Off In San Diego: This Time It’s Sheets
The start to the season wasn’t what the San Diego Padres drew up. But the last two nights have certainly made up for that. A day after Xander Bogaerts hit a walk-off grand slam in the 12th inning to beat the Colorado Rockies 7-3, Gavin Sheets provided the encore with a three-run blast in the bottom of the ninth for a 5-2 triumph. It was Sheets’ second homer of the night, his first two of the season, and his second career walk-off hit, both home runs. It was the Friars’ third straight win and sixth victory in seven tries since opening the season 2-5. Sheets and Luis Campusano homered in the fifth inning for a 2-0 Padres lead, but the Rockies battled back with a pair of runs in the eighth inning on RBI singles by Tyler Freeman and Jordan Beck. After closer Mason Miller, pitching the third straight day, struck out the side for the second night in a row in the top of the ninth, Jackson Merrill singled and Manny Machado walked before Bogaerts, the hero the previous night, flew out to right, setting up Sheets for his own dramatic moment. Miller has four appearances this season where he faced at least three batters and struck them all out. He also extended his scoreless streak to 28.2 innings. Combined with Muncy’s walk-off homer for the Dodgers, it is the second time the two NL West rivals hit game-winning blasts on the same day, the other coming when San Diego’s Jerry Turner and L.A.’s Bill Russell did it July 20, 1979.
Soroka Strikes Out 10, D’backs Rally Past Phillies
After going scoreless in their final 20 innings vs. the San Francisco Giants to complete a road trip, the Philadelphia Phillies immediately proved they could score as they faced the Arizona Diamondbacks. The first four hitters of the game singled, walked, doubled and then Brandon Marsh hit a three-run homer. But that was the highlight for the Phillies as the D’backs scored five times in the fifth inning to back right-hander Michael Soroka’s 10-strikeout performance in a 5-4 triumph. James McCann capped the big fifth inning with a go-ahead two-run double. For Soroka, it was his second double-digit game in three starts. Right-hander Paul Sewald earned his fourth save, but not before giving up a two-out triple to rookie Justin Crawford, recovering by getting Trea Turner to fly out.
Pirates Foil Cubs Once Shota Exits
It doesn’t take a lot to figure out the difference in the Pittsburgh Pirates–Chicago Cubs game. Cubs left-handed starter Shota Imanaga tossed six no-hit innings, but had reached exactly 100 pitches, ending his day. Left-hander Caleb Thielbar followed and gave up a single to Ryan O’Hearn on his third pitch and Bryan Reynolds lined the next offering into Wrigley Field’s left-field bleachers. It was quickly 2-0 and the Pirates hung on by that score for the win. Thielbar actually gave up all three Pirates hits in two-thirds of an inning. Imanaga walked one and struck out nine.
Diaz, Rays Ding Gil In Rotation Return
New York Yankees right-handed starter Luis Gil had a welcoming committee as he returned to the rotation. Only they were wearing Tampa Bay Rays uniforms. Yandy Díaz hit a two-run homer in the first inning to spoil Gil’s comeback as the Rays handed the Yankees their third straight loss with a 5-3 decision. Left-hander Steven Matz struck out seven and combined with four relievers to allow just five hits. The Yankees jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first that included an Amed Rosario triple, but the Rays struck right back in the bottom half. Diaz took a Gil slider the opposite way to tie it and the Rays took the lead in the second inning when Chandler Simpson beat out a potential double-play grounder to second base, driving in Taylor Walls.
By The Numbers
478 Detroit Tigers closer Kenley Jansen earned his second save of the season and 478th of his career in a 2-0 victory over the Miami Marlins. That ties him for third in MLB history in career saves with Lee Smith.
26 Right-handed starter J.T. Ginn and four relievers combined on a six-hit shutout in the A’s 4-0 win over the New York Mets, running the staff’s scoreless streak to 26 innings.
52 Atlanta slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. ended the second-longest homerless drought to begin a season at 52 when he homered in an 11-5 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. He began the 2024 season with 65 homerless at-bats.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Breaking: Ichiro
It is a good thing Ichiro Suzuki has a good sense of humor. How else can you react to a statue of yourself being unveiled outside the stadium you made so many memories in? Suzuki immediately noticed that pulling off the drape broke the bat on his statue that the Seattle Mariners unveiled. The Mariners also had a bobblehead scheduled to be given away, so they had to make some last-minute alterations.
Long Time Coming
You could tell how relieved Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena was when he finally hit his first homer of the season. Essentially, he struck a pose, then sped around the bases as only he can do.
No Takebacks
Nick Gonzales of the Pirates tapped his helmet after being rung up on strike three, but then tried to convince home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz that he didn’t want to challenge. Ortiz kept the challenge going, but it was Gonzales who came out on top in that battle. But Gonzales flew out on the eighth pitch of the at-bat.
There’s A First
You always remember the firsts of your MLB career, which is why Toronto Blue Jays rookie catcher Brandon Valenzuela won’t soon forget his first homer, which came off Minnesota Twins right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson.
Splashdown!
The folks at Citi Field in New York were treated to the return to Earth of the four astronauts aboard Artemis II following their historic mission around the moon. The craft landed in the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of San Diego.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki was activated from the 10-day injured list following his right knee injury in the World Baseball Classic with Japan. Outfielder Dylan Carlson was designated for assignment. The Cubs also placed right-hander Phil Maton (right knee tendinitis) on the 15-day IL and called up right-hander Ethan Roberts.
⚾ Penner Sports Group, which owns the NFL’s Denver Broncos, has purchased a minority share of the Colorado Rockies. The group purchased a 40% stake in the team, which has been approved by MLB.
⚾ Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows went on the 10-day IL with a fractured radius bone in his left arm and a concussion. Outfielder Wenceel Pérez was called up from Triple-A. Meadows, who also had five stitches in his cheek, and left fielder Riley Greene collided during Thursday’s game.
⚾ A’s designated hitter-outfielder Brent Rooker (strained oblique) was placed on the 10-day IL, with infielder-outfielder Zack Gelof called up from Triple-A. Rooker left Thursday’s game during his first-inning at-bat.
⚾ Houston Astros right-handed starter Cristian Javier went on the 15-day IL with a Grade 2 strain of his right shoulder and outfielder Jake Meyers on the 10-day IL with a Grade 2 strain of his right oblique. Right-hander J.P. France and outfielder Taylor Trammell were called up from Triple-A.
⚾ New York Mets right-handed starter Clay Holmes left the game vs. the A’s in the sixth inning with left hamstring tightness.
⚾ The Minnesota Twins will be placing third baseman Royce Lewis and right-hander Cody Laweryson on the injured list. Lewis has a sprained left knee and Laweryson has a strained right forearm.
⚾ Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford was removed from the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with tightness in his right quad.
Articles You Should Read
Don’t let Rangers’ new City Connects fool you into thinking the team is inclusive — Leah Vann, Houston Chronicle
Should John Henry sell the Red Sox? — Steve Buckley, The Athletic
Twins’ Jeffers getting comfortable at and behind the plate — Matt Trueblood, Twins Daily
Pitching on the margins — Mike Gianella, Baseball Prospectus
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