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While the schedule on Monday was abbreviated, the action was hot and heavy. A major rivalry was renewed, there were walk-offs, an elite pitcher coming up big, an amazing home run robbery, and a pair of noteworthy losing streaks coming to an end. Oh, and don’t forget about a much-hyped MLB debut. Well, enough of the pseudo-spoilers, let’s get right to it.
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Today’s Headlines
Dodgers Take Round 1 Against Padres
The first rendition of the Los Angeles Dodgers–San Diego Padres rivalry (2025 version) lived up to what we all expected. After a lot of runs were scored in the first three innings, the bullpens settled things down and took the game to extras. Andy Pages doubled home the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th, then scored on Tommy Edman’s fortunate-bounce single off second base as the Dodgers pulled out an 8-7 win over the Padres at Petco Park. Jackson Merrill led off the bottom of the 10th with an RBI double, but he was stranded there as the Dodgers took the first of seven meetings over 11 days between the two NL West rivals. It was the first time the teams had faced each other since the Padres blew a 2-1 lead in the NL Division Series and watched the Dodgers go on to win the World Series. The game opened with offense taking control. Both scored twice in the first, the Padres once in the second, then both three times in the third for a 6-5 San Diego advantage. But only one more run would be scored over the next six innings, with the Dodgers tying it in the fifth. In the 10th, Pages snapped the tie with a double that bounced off the left-field wall to easily score automatic runner Max Muncy. Then, Edman hit a grounder up the middle that seemed destined for second baseman Jake Cronenworth’s glove, but instead ricocheted off second base and bounded into right field, scoring Pages. Merrill doubled home automatic runner Luis Arraez with one out, but left-hander Tanner Scott picked up his 12th save by retiring Gavin Sheets and Xander Bogaerts. Will Smith hit a three-run homer for the Dodgers, while Tyler Wade had a three-run triple for the Padres.
Naylor’s Walk-Off Slam Saves D’backs
The Arizona Diamondbacks were one out away from a four-run victory over the Seattle Mariners. But an injury and a shaky performance quickly saw that evaporate in the top of the ninth inning. Nonetheless, Josh Naylor made sure the D’backs came away with a four-run triumph when he belted a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 11th inning for an 8-4 decision over the Mariners. Seattle took advantage when closer Justin Martinez left after striking out the first two batters of the ninth, then issuing a walk and throwing two pitches to Donovan Solano. before summoning the medical staff to the mound, similar to what Corbin Burnes did last week. Right-hander Jeff Brigham got the emergency call, but didn’t retire any of the four batters he faced. The last one was Dominic Canzone, who demolished a two-run homer to right that tied the game 4-4. After a scoreless 10th and top of the 11th, the Mariners intentionally walked Ketel Marte with one out, then Geraldo Perdomo drew a walk to load the bases and set up Naylor for his eighth homer of the season and his second career walk-off blast.
Red Sox Make The Call For Anthony
Roman Anthony finally got the call to make his MLB debut. The outfielder, MLB’s consensus No. 1 prospect, was called up from Triple-A and batted fifth for the Boston Red Sox in the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. Playing right field, Anthony went 0-for-4 yet drove in a key run in the Red Sox’s 10-8 loss in 11 innings. Anthony walked and struck out, while also committing an error on a routine single to right. It was another player making their MLB debut who came through to win a milestone. Rays left-hander Ian Seymour, who grew up 30 miles from Fenway Park, pitched the final two innings and earned his first MLB win. In 58 games at Triple-A this season, Anthony had a .288/.423/.491 slash line with 10 homers and 29 RBIs. He hit a 497-foot grand slam Saturday. But it took an injury to Wilyer Abreu, who has a strained left oblique and was put on the 10-day injured list, for Anthony to be called up.
Sale Snaps Atlanta Streak
Sitting on seven consecutive losses, including the last five all by one run, Atlanta needed a spark from somewhere. Chris Sale was happy to provide it. The left-hander and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner struck out 11 over seven innings as Atlanta ended that season-worst seven-game skid with a 7-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Sale allowed five hits, two walks, and one run, while striking out the side in the fourth and sixth innings. He also received much-appreciated help from the offense, with Ronald Acuña Jr. hitting a solo homer and Matt Olson a two-run shot in the fifth inning, then Atlanta pouncing on the Brewers’ bullpen with Eli White hitting a two-run homer in the eighth and two more runs coming across in the ninth.
Bunts Help Phillies Halt Skid
The Philadelphia Phillies have their share of sluggers, so it was a little odd that the team turned to bunts with the game on the line in the 11th inning. But that is what a teamwide funk will do. Back-to-back bunt singles set up Brandon Marsh’s walk-off single off the wall in center to give the Phillies a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. The Phillies entered the game having lost five straight and nine of 10. After the Cubs took a 3-2 lead on Pete Crow-Armstrong’s double in the top of the 11th, J.T. Realmuto tied it with a leadoff single in the bottom half, scoring the automatic runner. Bryson Stott then reached on a bunt single to third base, followed by Otto Kemp’s bunt single to first base, loading the bases. That set up Marsh, who delivered a much-needed key hit and a victory. Right-hander Zack Wheeler returned to the Phillies’ rotation following the birth of his fourth child and struck out seven over six innings, allowing three hits and a run. For Kemp, the bunt single was his third hit of the night and the third of his MLB career.
Francona Wins In Return To Cleveland
Is the real reason why Terry Francona joined the Cincinnati Reds this offseason to become the first manager to win the Ohio Cup for both sides? Probably not. But Francona returned to Cleveland to face his former team, and the Reds made him a winner, beating the Cleveland Guardians 7-4 to clinch this year’s Ohio Cup. While the Guardians scored three runs in the third inning and another in the seventh, the Reds scored single runs in seven of nine innings. In that theme, Jake Fraley was the only Reds player to drive in multiple runs, hitting a game-tying solo homer in the fourth inning. Fraley also drove in the game’s first run on a second-inning single. Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s fifth-inning sacrifice fly put the Reds on top for good at 4-3. TJ Friedl also hit a solo homer in the third inning.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Scaling The Wall
You can’t make these types of catches in West Sacramento. Athletics rookie center fielder Denzel Clarke gets plenty of style points in robbing a home run off the bat of Nolan Schanuel of the Los Angeles Angels in the bottom of the first inning. And it brought a little appreciation from someone who has done this a few times before.
Catch of the year?! 😳
Holy cats, Denzel Clarke.
— Sam Dykstra (@samdykstramilb.bsky.social) 2025-06-10T01:58:32.444Z
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, currently on trial in the Dominican Republic for charges including sexual abuse of a minor, has been charged with illegal gun possession stemming from a November incident.
⚾ Miami Marlins left-handed starter Ryan Weathers went on the 60-day IL due to a strained left lat. That happened the day after he was struck in the head by a line drive. That move opened a spot on the 40-man roster for right-handed starter Eury Pérez, who started Monday in his return from Tommy John surgery.
⚾ Cincinnati Reds ace right-hander Hunter Greene is heading to Los Angeles to see a specialist regarding his strained right groin and back injuries. Greene went on the 15-day injured list a week ago.
⚾ Cleveland Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas was activated from the 10-day IL. He had been out with right plantar fasciitis. Two other Guardians, outfielder Will Brennan and right-hander Andrew Walters, had Tommy John surgery.
⚾ Atlanta right-handed starter AJ Smith-Shawver, already on the 60-day IL, underwent Tommy John surgery.
⚾ Left-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel, who made one appearance for Atlanta this season before being designated for assignment, cleared waivers and opted for free agency instead of going to the minors.
Articles You Should Read
Mock draft 4.0: Latest first-round predictions for every team — Carlos Collazo, Baseball America
Yankees’ room for improvement on display vs. Red Sox — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News
Tigers “reaping the benefits” of everything Torres does — Chris McCosky, Detroit News
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
