Author: rincon

Gavin Sheets‘ second homer of the game was a three-run, game-ending shot in the ninth inning, as the San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 5-2 on Friday night.

Colorado’s Juan Mejia (0-2) came on in the ninth inning and gave up a leadoff single to Jackson Merrill and walked Manny Machado. After Xander Bogaerts flied out, Sheets hit a 99.6 mph four-seam fastball 434 feet over the wall in right-center field.

San Diego starter Walker Buehler struck out four and allowed three hits in six scoreless innings. The 31-year-old right-hander, who spent his first eight MLB seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed a minor-league contract with San Diego in February. Mason Miller (1-0) struck out the side in the ninth.

Luis Campusano also homered and doubled for the Padres.

Colorado pinch hitter Hunter Goodman hit a two-out RBI single, moved to second when Tyler Freeman singled and scored on a hit by Jordan Beck to make it 2-all in the eighth inning.

Sheets hit a leadoff homer off Rockies’ starter Tomoyuki Sugano in the fifth inning and, after Miguel Andujar flied out, Campusano added a solo shot to make it 2-0.

Sugano gave up two runs and four hits in six innings.

Up next

Colorado’s Ryan Feltner (1-0, 4.32 ERA) is scheduled to face German Marquez (1-1, 4.50) in the second of a three-game set on Saturday.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The Chicago White Sox are expanding their tribute to Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and longtime fan of the baseball team.

The White Sox announced on Friday that they will hand out pope-themed hats to all fans who attend their Aug. 11 game against Cincinnati. The promotional item was originally limited to fans who had purchased specialty theme night tickets.

“The fans have spoken, and unlike some of our more limited quantity promotions, the White Sox Pope Hat is one we believe all fans should have the opportunity to take home,” Brooks Boyer, the chief revenue and marketing officer for the team, said in a release. “We viewed the promotion as a creative way to celebrate one of the franchise’s most popular fans, and by the overwhelming response we received, White Sox fans certainly agreed.”

The hats are shaped like the Pope’s miter, with the team’s sock logo in the middle. The White Sox said fans who had already purchased the specialty tickets would receive the hat and an additional item.

The pope, the former Robert Prevost, attended Chicago’s 2005 World Series opener against Houston and watched as his beloved team beat the Astros 5-3 on the way to a four-game sweep and its first title since 1917.

In May, the White Sox unveiled a graphic installation near the seat paying tribute to Pope Leo and that moment. The pillar artwork features a waving Pope Leo XIV, along with a picture from the TV broadcast of the future pope sitting with good friend Ed Schmit and his grandson, Eddie.

In June, Rate Field hosted an event honoring his election as the first American pope. A month later, at a pregame ceremony honoring the 2005 team, White Sox great Paul Konerko was presented a jersey signed by the pope, a gift from one No. 14 to another.

Pope Leo broke Vatican protocol by donning a White Sox cap last year. In October, he shouted “they lost” to someone who screamed “go Cubs.” And a few weeks ago, he gave a thumbs up to someone who yelled “God bless the White Sox!”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Oh, snap.

As the Seattle Mariners unveiled their third statue in franchise history outside T-Mobile Park, one of Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki, there was a blip.

A bronze statue that depicted Suzuki in his famed batting stance appeared to be defective when it was displayed Friday morning. Suzuki’s bat snapped near the handle, and the barrel veered off to the right-hand side.

After the ceremony, Suzuki joked that New York Yankees Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera got the best of him.

“I didn’t think Mariano would come out here,” Suzuki said with a smile, “and break the bat.”

It did not take long for the Mariners to fix the statue; Suzuki’s bat was soon turned upright and reconnected at the handle. Suzuki, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last summer, became only the third Mariners player to have his number retired by the franchise last year as well, joining Ken Griffey Jr. (No. 24) and Edgar Martinez (No. 11).

Griffey and Martinez joined Suzuki outside T-Mobile Park on Friday, and all three pulled a tarp off the statue together. Suzuki made history last summer as the first Japanese-born player inducted into the Hall of Fame, earning a near-unanimous 99.7% of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

The way a jovial Suzuki saw it, his statue having an imperfection was only fitting.

“In the Hall of Fame, I was short one vote,” Suzuki said. “Today, the bat was broke. It kind of lets me know that I’m still not there, that I still need to keep going. So, this is a good example of that.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The Colorado Rockies are bringing in Denver Broncos owners Greg and Carrie Walton Penner through a minority investment from the Penner Sports Group.

Rockies chairman & CEO Dick Monfort and owner/general partner Charlie Monfort announced the deal Friday. It’s been approved by Major League Baseball,

The Penner group is purchasing approximately a 40% share of the Rockies, a person with knowledge of the situation said. That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the figure hasn’t been released. The group becomes the largest minority partner for the Rockies, a team Forbes has valued at $1.68 billion.

Dick and Charlie Monfort will continue their roles, with Walker Monfort serving as the team’s president. The organization said the investment allows the club to “retire all outstanding debt” in addition to providing an enhanced experience at Coors Field.

“Greg and Carrie have proven that they share the same passion for our region and a strong commitment to compete at the highest level,” Dick Monfort said in a statement. “We are thrilled to add them to the Colorado Rockies’ ownership group as we best position this franchise for long-term sustained success.”

The Rockies are off to a 6-7 start this season. They made big changes in the offseason after a third straight year with 100 or more losses. The front office is now led by Paul DePodesta, the president of baseball operations, and general manager Josh Byrnes.

The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group bought the Broncos from the Pat Bowlen Trust in August 2022 for a then-record $4.65 billion. Walmart heir Rob Walton also is an owner, while Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, Mellody Hobson and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice serve as limited partners.

Denver made it to the AFC championship game last season before losing 10-7 to the New England Patriots.

“While our focus remains firmly on the Broncos, we look forward to being supportive, long-term partners of the Rockies and Major League Baseball,” the Penners said in a joint statement. “We’ve enjoyed getting to know the Monforts and are grateful to join Dick and Charlie in the Rockies’ ownership group along with the other partners.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

We’re two weeks into the MLB season and while still very early, with just a handful of games to judge, teams and players are starting to give us clues as to who they might be going forward.

Despite losing three out of their last four games, the Yankees sit atop the American League East with an 8-6 record heading into the weekend. 

They will play a division opponent for the first time this season, as they travel to Tampa to take on the Rays for three games. Dominant starting pitching has been the story for the Bronx Bombers, as the 2.35 team ERA ranks second in baseball only behind the Braves. 

While the pitchers have carried the Yankees, a look at some advanced hitting stats makes me think the American League MVP could be given to a Yankee for the third consecutive year … but perhaps not to the guy you have in mind. 

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Aaron Judge has won three MVPs and will be headed to Cooperstown five years after he retires. Teammate Giancarlo Stanton might be going to the Hall of Fame alongside him. But Ben Rice — at now 65-1 odds — is the guy I have my eye on as a sleeper to be in the MVP mix into the fall. 

Rice — an Ivy League grad from Dartmouth — grew up as a Yankees fan, even though he lived in Massachusetts. In 2025, Rice quietly hit 26 home runs, despite being in a platoon situation that limited him to fewer than 500 at-bats. 

This year, Rice is a full-time player and looks poised for a breakout season.

Through 11 games, Rice is hitting .324 with three home runs and has drawn a walk per game, putting his on-base percentage at .476. 

Yes, it’s early, but the advanced stats back up the opinion that Rice is an elite bat. 

Rice ranks in the 100th percentile in Baseball Savant’s hard-hit rate and near the top in several of their advanced stats. Last year, he was in the 97th percentile of hard-hit rate, while his expected batting average was .283. That was much better than the .255 he ended up with after hitting into some tough luck throughout the year. 

Rice is also playing in a favorable home venue, with the shallow right field dimensions of Yankee Stadium tailor-made for lefty sluggers. 

With all this in mind, yes, Judge is the favorite to win this award once again and for good reason. But Rice was 150-1 just a few days ago and is now 65-1. People are seemingly starting to realize the elite potential that his bat carries. 

At 65-1, this is worth a wager, even if it’s a smaller one. I expect Rice to have a monster season now that he is a full-time player and for his odds to win MVP to shrink as we head toward the summer.

PICK: Ben Rice (+6500) AL MVP

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

There is always baseball happening — almost too much baseball for one person to follow themselves.

Don’t worry, we’re here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn’t have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:

Padres walk it off in extras with a grand slam

Sure, the subhed tells you the result, at least in vague terms, but it’s the details that truly make this an early classic of the 2026 season. There wasn’t all that much scoring early on in this Padres-Rockies tilt: Colorado center fielder Brenton Doyle hit a solo shot in the third inning off of San Diego starter Randy Vasquez, then Padres’ right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. answered back in the bottom of the frame with a sac fly. Neither team would score again through the first nine innings — San Diego closer Mason Miller made extra sure of that in the ninth, when he struck out the side to give the Padres one last chance at avoiding extras. 

Filthy. Once Miller was out of the game, though, Colorado’s bats woke back up. Right fielder Tyler Freeman, who had entered the game in the eighth as a pinch-hitter, singled in Willi Castro to put the Rockies ahead for the second time in the game.

The Padres would once again answer in the same inning, however, as they did in the third, and yet again on a sac fly, this time from the bat of third baseman Manny Machado. That’s all San Diego could muster, though, as shortstop Xander Bogaerts grounded out with two runners in scoring position, forcing the game to the 11th… where the Rockies once again scored. Third baseman Kyle Karros began the inning at second base, and catcher Brett Sullivan immediately doubled him home.

The Rockies sent lefty Brennan Bernardino to the mound in the bottom of the 11th, with Bogaerts starting out at second. First baseman Gavin Sheets singled him to third, but then DH Nick Castellanos lined out and pinch-hitter Ramon Laureano struck out, leaving the Padres with the game-tying run at third and their final out. Catcher Luis Campusano, who entered the game earlier after starting backstop Freddy Fermin was lifted for a pinch-hitter, would hit a double to drive in Bogaerts and tie the game in San Diego’s final chance.

Second baseman Jake Cronenworth would pop out to end the threat, giving the Rockies another shot — for the first time since the ninth, though, San Diego kept Colorado’s hitters in check, leaving the game tied in the bottom of the 12th. There, the Rockies replaced Bernardino with Valento Bellozo, and leadoff batter Tatis bunted Cronenworth to third. Then, Bellozo intentionally walked center fielder Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado to face Bogaerts, who isn’t the hitter he used to be but, even more importantly, isn’t Merrill nor Machado, either. The result? A walk-off grand slam, the ultimate form of the revenge dinger following an intentional walk.

Now, it’s tough to blame the Rockies for this, since they were attempting to both create a force at any base in a situation where the winning run was already at third, and two of the Padres’ best hitters were coming to the plate with one out. Bogaerts isn’t a pushover, but he’s not an up-and-coming star nor a future Hall of Famer who still hits like that’s the case. He can still get a hold of one, though, and he sure did here to win the game.

The Rockies were denied a chance at getting over .500 for the first time since the 2022 season, while the Padres pushed over that mark after a tough first week with a 1-4 start. It’s early for both teams, of course, but: what a game.

Nailed it

This isn’t a bunt, no, but spiritually? It is nothing but a bunt. And it’s a beautiful (not) bunt at that. Royals’ star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. hit the pin on the green with this one.

The Royals might not have won against the White Sox — Kansas City fell to Chicago, 2-0 — but Witt, at least, managed to involve himself in a couple of notable plays. This one with his bat, and then another with his glove.

What a play!

And oh, what a play with his glove it was. Check this grounder right up the middle from White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami, and the hop it takes right before it gets to Witt. He handles it no problem — his quick adjustment here would be a highlight on its own — but the play doesn’t end there.

Witt takes the ball himself to second from the deep infield, then manages to get a throw to first on the run, where first baseman Vinny Pasquantino makes quite the pick himself to get the double play. Whew.

Scoring from first is exhausting

Murakami gets the double-highlight treatment, too, as, for the first run of the game — which also ended up being the winning one in the end — he ran all the way from first to third on this double off the bat of shortstop Colson Montgomery.

What’s impressive here is that Murakami didn’t really get going until he rounded second, since at first he was hanging back to see if it was even safe to advance. Once he got going, though, he didn’t stop, and slid headfirst into home well ahead of any possible play.

Things were a little tougher on the first-to-home front for Diamondbacks’ center fielder Alek Thomas, when right fielder Jorge Barrosa hit what would end up being a triple in the seventh inning against the Mets and reliever Luke Weaker.

There are two outs, so Thomas is off at the crack of the bat, but he is digging to make this run happen. The steps don’t look like they are coming easy nor fast, but Thomas keeps at it, and beats the throw home by a mile despite not looking like he’s flying around the bases.

Mets needed more McLean, less everyone else

This will work well enough as a segue. But first, a flashback! Mets’ starter Nolan McLean was dealing against Arizona, with the righty rolling for six innings, maintaining New York’s 1-0 lead with seven strikeouts against a pair of walks and just two hits. 

McLean entered the seventh at 85 pitches, so he had been fairly efficient to that point, but he gave that all away against the first few Diamondbacks batters here. Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo walked to lead off the frame (six pitches), and while McLean then struck out DH Adrian Del Castillo (four), rookie third baseman Jose Fernandez would single Perdomo into scoring position (five). At 100 pitches and with two runners on, McLean was lifted for Luke Weaver. Things immediately went south, as pinch-hitter Gabriel Moreno doubled in Perdomo, and then Alek Thomas reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Fernandez when the tag at the plate didn’t connect.

Moreno then scored on a sac fly to put Arizona up 3-1, and the triple that drove in Thomas happened next, giving the Diamondbacks a four-run inning. Arizona would tack on another three runs in the eighth, with Moreno doubling in the seventh and final run of the day.

McLean was charged with two runs, but that’s also on Weaver for not doing his job and getting two outs without giving up his inherited runners — he allowed those and two more besides to score. Luis Garcia didn’t do much better in the eighth, and the game was just out of reach for New York. Of course, the lineup scored just one run, too, so it’s not all on the relievers — McLean was the only one who seemed to get the job done on Thursday for New York.

The Tigers are reeling

It’s probably not great when a team is 13 games into a season but has already managed to lose five in a row. That’s the situation the Tigers find themselves in after being swept by the Twins, with Detroit now just 4-9 on the season after sitting at .500 on Saturday following an 11-6 win over the Cardinals.

The Tigers nearly won this one, too, or at least had a great chance of it. The game was tied 1-1 in the eighth after Detroit finally scored in the prior inning with a sac fly from DH Gleyber Torres, but the Twins answered back with two in the very next frame. 

Shortstop Brooks Lee — who entered into the game as a defensive substitution in the top of the eighth after a pinch-hitter replaced starting shortstop Tristan Gray — ended up singling in two runs off of the Tigers’ new pitcher for the inning, Will Vest. Detroit didn’t have any more runs to score, and Minnesota swept.

Bad news for Detroit, sure, but the Twins have won four in a row and are in second in the AL Central. Well, okay, that is also bad news for Detroit.

An A’s-Yanks pitchers duel

Just one run scored when the Athletics and Yankees faced off on Thursday. And it didn’t score until the seventh inning. Lefty Jeffrey Springs got the start for the A’s and went seven scoreless with six strikeouts against a pair of walks while giving up just one hit – huge news for a team that needs its rotation to improve – and Yankees’ southpaw Ryan Weathers was nearly as good. He got through eight innings with seven strikeouts and no walks, but gave up far more hits: seven in total.

While Weathers mostly scattered those hits and avoided giving up any runs, two in a row doomed him and the Yankees in the seventh. Designated hitter Max Muncy led off the inning with a triple to right on a sinker he hit right out of the bottom of the zone, and then left fielder Tyler Soderstrom immediately followed up with a single to right to score him.

Weathers sat the A’s down the rest of the inning, and then came back out for the eighth for a 1-2-3 frame. New York’s offense couldn’t make it happen against the Athletics’ bullpen, either — Justin Sterner and Hogan Harris combined for two hitless innings of relief — and the Yankees would lose the series finale, 1-0, for their second loss in a row: their first back-to-back defeats of 2026.

That baseball is dead

It could be worse, though. The Yankees could be this baseball, never to thrive again. But no, they get to try again on Friday, against the Rays.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports