First Pitch - April 16th, 2026

☝️👇 3 Up, 3 Down
Merrill delivers a ridiculous two-way performance with a robbery and walk-off, Langeliers crushes the longest homer of the year, and Sal Stewart stays scorching with a monster 2 HR, 6 RBI night.

🌴 Padres 7, Mariners 6 — Merrill caps insane 5-run comeback with walk-off

🧢 Dodgers 8, Mets 2 — Ohtani dominates with 10 K in statement win

🗽 Yankees 5, Angels 4 — Caballero walks it off after late-game chaos

⚾➕ Extra Innings

⚾ Welcome to First Pitch - Today is Thursday, April 16th

Happy Thursday everyone!

Some personal news. My dog, who is depicted in the First Pitch cover photo, has been sick and is staying overnight at the vet for some additional tests. If you can, please keep her in your thoughts and hopefully everything works out. 🙏

On to baseball…

Absolute CHAOS out west last night as the Padres found a way to win again. San Diego pulled off an insane comeback, scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk it off against a Mariners team that has one of the best bullpens in the league.

Which means we get another unreal call from the GOAT Don Orsillo. Make sure to check out the Merrill highlights to kick off 3 Up 3 Down.

Speaking of announcers, we also got the return of Joe Buck on ESPN for the Mets Dodgers game. It just feels right hearing him call a game. Feels like October baseball, love him or hate him. Full highlights below!

We also had a full meltdown in the Giants game, as Devers snapped his bat after striking out. Check that out in the Extra Innings section.

Things are not okay for the Giants right now…

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✨ Merrill Magic: HR Robbery + Walk-Off Caps Wild Rally

Jackson Merrill robbed a home run earlier, then delivered a walk-off two-run double to finish off a stunning ninth-inning comeback.

💣 Langeliers Launches MLB’s Longest HR of the Season

Shea Langeliers crushed a 467-foot two-run homer, the longest blast in MLB this season, to spark the A’s to a win.

🚀 Rookie Sensation: Sal Stewart Dominates with 2 HR, 6 RBI

Stewart stayed scorching hot, delivering a monster performance and putting the game away early.

Padres 7, Mariners 6 — Merrill caps stunning five-run rally with walk-off

The Padres pulled off one of the wildest comebacks of the season, storming back from six runs down to walk off the Mariners in the ninth.

Seattle controlled the game early, building a 6-0 lead behind RBI hits from Dominic Canzone and Brendan Donovan, plus a two-run homer from Luke Raley.

San Diego finally broke through in the sixth when Xander Bogaerts launched a two-run homer, but the real fireworks came in the ninth. Down to their final outs, the Padres rallied with hits from Ramón Laureano and Luis Campusano to bring the tying run across.

That set the stage for Jackson Merrill, who delivered the knockout blow with a two-run double down the line to complete the comeback and send Petco Park into chaos.

📊 Notable Stats

Padres

Mariners

Dodgers 8, Mets 2 — Ohtani strikes out 10 as LA completes sweep

The Dodgers rode a dominant outing from Shohei Ohtani to an easy win over the Mets, locking up the series sweep at home.

Ohtani was electric from the jump, piling up strikeouts and holding New York to just one run over six innings. His scoreless streak ended in the fifth on an RBI double from MJ Melendez, but he quickly regrouped and finished with 10 strikeouts.

Los Angeles gave him early support with a two-run homer from Hyeseong Kim, then added on with a solo shot from Teoscar Hernández in the sixth.

The game broke open in the eighth when Dalton Rushing crushed a grand slam, and Kyle Tucker followed it up with a solo homer to put things completely out of reach.

📊 Notable Stats

Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
Dalton Rushing: 2-4, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R
Teoscar Hernández: 2-4, HR, RBI, 2 R
Hyeseong Kim: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI
Kyle Tucker: 1-5, HR, RBI

Mets

MJ Melendez: 2-4, RBI
Bo Bichette: 1-4, R
Marcus Semien: 1-3, RBI
Carson Benge: 1-4, R

Yankees 5, Angels 4 — Caballero delivers walk-off as Yanks capitalize on late miscue

The Yankees pulled off a thrilling comeback, walking off the Angels after a defensive miscue opened the door in the ninth inning.

New York jumped out early behind a solo homer from Aaron Judge and a two-run single from Trent Grisham, but the Angels stormed back with three homers. Adam Frazier and Logan O’Hoppe each went deep before Mike Trout crushed a go-ahead two-run shot in the fifth to flip the game.

The Yankees bullpen kept it within reach, setting up late drama in the ninth. A misplayed popup off the bat of Jazz Chisholm Jr. gave New York life, and Austin Wells followed with a walk to put the winning run on base.

That set the stage for José Caballero, who ripped a walk-off two-run double to complete the comeback and send Yankee Stadium into a frenzy.

📊 Notable Stats

Yankees

José Caballero: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Aaron Judge: 1-4, HR, RBI, R
Trent Grisham: 1-3, 2 RBI
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: 1-3, 2 R
Austin Wells: 1-2, R, 2 BB

Angels

Mike Trout: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
Logan O’Hoppe: 1-4, HR, RBI, R
Adam Frazier: 1-3, HR, RBI, R
Zach Neto: 1-2, R
Josh Lowe: 1-4