First Pitch - June 5th

Recap of Yesterday’s Games:

🔥 Red Sox 11, Angels 9

The Boston Red Sox pulled off a wild 11–9 walk-off win over the Los Angeles Angels, avoiding a sweep and capping off a back-and-forth slugfest at Fenway Park.

Game Highlights

• The Angels jumped out to a 4–0 lead in the first inning, powered by Taylor Ward’s three-run homer.

• The Red Sox immediately responded with five runs in the bottom half, including a two-run double from David Hamilton.

• The game featured multiple lead changes, with the Angels ahead 7–5 after two innings and 9–8 entering the bottom of the eighth.

• Rafael Devers tied the game at 9–9 with an RBI single.

• In the bottom of the ninth, Abraham Toro singled before Ceddanne Rafaela launched a 308-foot walk-off homer around the Pesky Pole — the shortest walk-off home run in the Statcast era.

📊 Notable Stats

• Ceddanne Rafaela (BOS): 2-for-5, 2 RBIs, walk-off HR

• Taylor Ward (LAA): 1-for-4, 4 RBIs, HR

• David Hamilton (BOS): 1-for-5, 2 RBIs

• Cooper Criswell (BOS): 1.2 IP, 0 ER, Win

• Brock Burke (LAA): 1.0 IP, 2 ER, Loss

🧊 Pirates 3, Astros 0

Pittsburgh blanked Houston behind a sharp start from rookie Mike Burrows and early run support, clinching a 3–0 shutout at PNC Park.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Mike Burrows tossed 5.1 scoreless innings in his first MLB win, striking out six and allowing just five hits.

• The Pirates struck early with a groundout RBI by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and a sacrifice fly from Andrew McCutchen in the 2nd inning.

• Adam Frazier added a third run with a double-play RBI in the 3rd.

• The bullpen trio of Chase Shugart, Braxton Ashcraft, and David Bednar shut the door with 3.2 scoreless innings, with Bednar earning his 7th save.

• Ryan Gusto took the loss for Houston, allowing eight hits and three earned runs over 4.1 innings.

📊 Notable Stats

• Mike Burrows (PIT): 5.1 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 6 K

• David Bednar (PIT): 1.0 IP, SV, 0 H, 0 R

• Oneil Cruz (PIT): 2-for-4, 2 SB

• Isiah Kiner-Falefa (PIT): 1 RBI

• Jeremy Peña (HOU): 2-for-4, 2B

• Ryan Gusto (HOU): 4.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER

🦅 Nationals 2, Cubs 0

Washington shut out Chicago behind a dominant outing from MacKenzie Gore and timely late-inning hitting, evening the series with a 2–0 win at Nationals Park.

🔑 Game Highlights

• MacKenzie Gore tossed 7 shutout innings, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 7. He retired 21 of the final 23 batters after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the 1st.

• The scoreless deadlock was broken in the 7th when Amed Rosario launched a solo home run to right field.

• Nasim Nuñez added insurance in the 8th with a line-drive RBI double.

• Kyle Finnegan locked down his 17th save of the season, stranding two Cubs runners in the 9th to preserve the shutout.

• Matthew Boyd was solid for Chicago but took the loss despite allowing just two runs over 7.1 innings.

📊 Notable Stats

• MacKenzie Gore (WSH): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 7 K

• Matthew Boyd (CHC): 7.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 6 K

• Amed Rosario (WSH): 1-for-3, HR, RBI

• Nasim Nuñez (WSH): 1-for-3, 2B, RBI

• Kyle Finnegan (WSH): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, SV

🧊 Guardians 4, Yankees 0

Cleveland silenced New York with an early offensive burst and dominant pitching, securing a 4–0 shutout at Yankee Stadium.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Angel Martínez launched a two-run homer in the first inning, giving the Guardians an immediate lead.

• Daniel Schneemann added an RBI double later in the first, extending the lead to 3–0.

• Kyle Manzardo capped the scoring with a solo home run in the eighth inning.

• Luis Ortiz pitched 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out seven to earn the win.

• The Guardians' bullpen — Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis, and Emmanuel Clase — combined to complete the five-hit shutout.

📊 Notable Stats

• Luis Ortiz (CLE): 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 7 K

• Clarke Schmidt (NYY): 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 8 K

• Daniel Schneemann (CLE): 3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI

• Angel Martínez (CLE): 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI

• Kyle Manzardo (CLE): 1-for-4, HR

• Aaron Judge (NYY): 2-for-4Blue Jays 2, Phillies 1

🐍 Diamondbacks 2, Braves 1

Arizona edged Atlanta in a tense pitchers' duel, with Merrill Kelly's dominant outing and timely hitting securing a 2–1 win at Truist Park.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Merrill Kelly fired 7 scoreless innings, giving up just 1 hit and striking out 8.

• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. opened the scoring with an RBI single in the 3rd.

• Ketel Marte added a key insurance run in the 9th with another RBI single.

• Justin Martínez recorded the final 5 outs and worked around a ninth-inning jam to earn the save.

• Chris Sale struck out 10 over 6 innings but took the loss despite allowing just 1 run.

📊 Notable Stats

• Merrill Kelly (ARI): 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 8 K

• Chris Sale (ATL): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 10 K

• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (ARI): 1-for-4, RBI

• Ketel Marte (ARI): 1-for-4, RBI

• Justin Martínez (ARI): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 4 K, SVRays 5, Rangers 4

🐯 Tigers 5, White Sox 4

Detroit jumped out early, weathered a mid-game comeback, and edged Chicago 5–4 with a clutch eighth-inning rally at Guaranteed Rate Field.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Riley Greene delivered a two-run single in the first inning as part of a four-run opening frame.

• Dillon Dingler and Javier Báez each added RBI singles to cap the Tigers' early surge.

• The White Sox clawed back with runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to tie the game at 4–4.

• In the eighth, Wenceel Pérez led off with a double and scored the go-ahead run on Colt Keith's bloop RBI double.

• Will Vest pitched two scoreless innings for the win, and Tommy Kahnle closed the ninth for his eighth save.

📊 Notable Stats

• Riley Greene (DET): 3-for-5, 2 RBI, R

• Colt Keith (DET): 1-for-4, RBI

• Will Vest (DET): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K, W (5–0)

• Tommy Kahnle (DET): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, SV (8)

• Mike Tauchman (CWS): 1-for-4, RBI, R

• Andrew Benintendi (CWS): 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI

🐦 Orioles 3, Mariners 2

Baltimore rallied late to edge Seattle 3–2 at T-Mobile Park, extending their win streak to five games.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Adley Rutschman tied the game in the sixth with a solo home run to right-center.

• In the seventh, Heston Kjerstad delivered a two-run triple down the right-field line to give the Orioles the lead.

• Emerson Hancock pitched 5.2 innings for Seattle, allowing one run on two hits with six strikeouts.

• Cade Povich gave the Orioles 5.1 solid innings, allowing two runs.

• Félix Bautista recorded his 11th save, stranding two Mariners in the ninth to seal the win.

📊 Notable Stats

• Adley Rutschman (BAL): 1-for-4, HR, RBI

• Heston Kjerstad (BAL): 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 3B

• Cade Povich (BAL): 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 5 K

• Félix Bautista (BAL): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, SV (11)

• Emerson Hancock (SEA): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 6 K

• Cal Raleigh (SEA): 2-for-4, RBI

🐲 Giants 6, Padres 5

San Francisco overcame a five-run deficit to stun San Diego 6–5 at Oracle Park, snapping a seven-game skid against their division rivals.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Gavin Sheets opened the scoring with a two-run triple in the first and added a two-run single in the fifth to give the Padres a 5–0 lead.

• Matt Chapman launched a two-run homer in the sixth to spark the Giants' comeback.

• In the seventh, Heliot Ramos tied the game with a two-run double, and Jung Hoo Lee followed with a go-ahead sacrifice fly.

• Sean Hjelle pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win in his season debut.

• Randy Rodríguez recorded the final two outs for his first career save.

📊 Notable Stats

• Gavin Sheets (SD): 2-for-5, 2B, 4 RBI

• Matt Chapman (SF): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI

• Heliot Ramos (SF): 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI

• Jung Hoo Lee (SF): 2-for-3, 2B, RBI

• Nick Pivetta (SD): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 5 K

• Sean Hjelle (SF): 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K, W (1–0)

• Randy Rodríguez (SF): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, SV (1)

🌿 Twins 6, Athletics 1

Minnesota extended Oakland’s losing streak to nine games with a 6–1 win, backed by early homers and strong bullpen work.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Ryan Jeffers opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first and added an RBI single in the ninth.

• Harrison Bader crushed a two-run homer in the fifth to extend the lead.

• Jacob Wilson drove in the A’s only run with a fifth-inning RBI double.

• Zebby Matthews earned his first MLB win, allowing one run over five innings.

• The Twins' bullpen — Louis Varland, Griffin Jax, Brock Stewart, and Jhoan Duran — combined for four scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts.

📊 Notable Stats

• Ryan Jeffers (MIN): 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

• Harrison Bader (MIN): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI

• Zebby Matthews (MIN): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 K, W (1–1)

• Jacob Wilson (OAK): 2-for-4, 2B, RBI

• Justin Sterner (OAK): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, L (1–3)

🗽 Mets 6, Dodgers 1

New York powered past Los Angeles behind Pete Alonso’s two-homer, five-RBI night and a dominant start from Griffin Canning, taking a 6–1 win at Dodger Stadium.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Pete Alonso opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning, then crushed a three-run shot in the eighth to put the game away.

• Juan Soto drove in a run with a first-inning groundout.

• Griffin Canning threw six shutout innings, striking out seven and allowing just three hits.

• Andy Pages broke up the shutout with a solo homer in the ninth.

• Tony Gonsolin took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) over five innings.

📊 Notable Stats

• Pete Alonso (NYM): 2-for-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI

• Griffin Canning (NYM): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 7 K, W (6–2)

• Juan Soto (NYM): 0-for-4, RBI

• Andy Pages (LAD): 2-for-4, HR (12)

• Tony Gonsolin (LAD): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 6 K, L (3–2)

🏔️ Rockies 3, Marlins 2

Colorado completed its first series sweep since May 2024 with a 3–2 win over Miami, marking the Rockies' first three-game winning streak of the season.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Hunter Goodman sparked the offense with an RBI triple in the first inning and added a double, scoring once.

• Jordan Beck extended the lead with an RBI ground-rule double in the fifth.

• Brenton Doyle added a sacrifice fly in the sixth to make it 3–0.

• Kyle Freeland earned his first win of the season, tossing 6.1 innings and allowing two unearned runs.

• Tyler Kinley closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning for his second save.

📊 Notable Stats

• Hunter Goodman (COL): 2-for-4, 3B, 2B, RBI, R

• Jordan Beck (COL): 1-for-4, 2B, RBI

• Brenton Doyle (COL): 0-for-2, RBI (sac fly)

• Kyle Freeland (COL): 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R (0 ER), 4 K, W (1–8)

• Tyler Kinley (COL): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, SV (2)

• Heriberto Hernandez (MIA): 2-for-3, RBI

• Jesús Sánchez (MIA): 0-for-1, RBI (fielder’s choice)

🧀 Brewers 9, Reds 1

Milwaukee powered past Cincinnati with three home runs and a strong bullpen performance, clinching their 12th consecutive series win over the Reds.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Andruw Monasterio opened the scoring with an RBI single in the third inning.

• Jackson Chourio launched a two-run homer in the fifth, his 10th of the season.

• Daz Cameron followed with a two-run shot in the sixth, his first home run since July 2024.

• Isaac Collins capped the scoring with a three-run blast in the ninth.

• DL Hall started with three scoreless innings, and Quinn Priester earned the win with five innings of one-run relief.

📊 Notable Stats

• Jackson Chourio (MIL): 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

• Daz Cameron (MIL): 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

• Isaac Collins (MIL): 1-for-1, HR, 3 RBI

• Andruw Monasterio (MIL): 1-for-5, RBI

• Quinn Priester (MIL): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 K, W (3–2)

• Andrew Abbott (CIN): 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 6 K, L (5–1)

• Jose Trevino (CIN): 3-for-4, 2 2B

Royals vs. Cardinals – Postponed

👀 Notable Plays & Moments

💬 Editor’s Take

A daily dose of opinion, analysis, and mild overreaction.

I’m a Giants fan, I don’t think I need to say much today. Relieved to get a win somehow after the last two vs the Padres. Bullpen is washed and likely needs more help.

📅 Today’s Slate - What Are We Watching?

🔥 Top Matchups – June 5, 2025

Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs. Grant Holmes (ATL)
Pfaadt enters with 7 wins and is looking to rebound after a god awful start, facing off against Holmes in a National League matinee. DAY BASEBALL ON THE MAIN SCREEN!

Dylan Cease (SD) vs. Robbie Ray (SF)
Cease brings elite strikeout stuff into Oracle Park as the Padres try to take 3 out of 4.

Bryan Woo (SEA) vs. Zach Eflin (BAL)
Woo has been lights-out lately and will look to cool off a red-hot Orioles lineup riding a five-game win streak.

📅 MLB Schedule Today (ET)

• Diamondbacks @ Braves – 12:15 PM

• Royals @ Cardinals – 1:45 PM

• Tigers @ White Sox – 2:10 PM

• Phillies @ Blue Jays – 3:07 PM

• Twins @ Athletics – 3:35 PM

• Orioles @ Mariners – 3:40 PM

• Padres @ Giants – 3:45 PM

• Mets @ Dodgers – 4:10 PM

• Astros @ Pirates – 6:40 PM

• Cubs @ Nationals – 6:45 PM

• Guardians @ Yankees – 7:05 PM

• Rangers @ Rays – 7:35 PM

🩺 MLB Injury Updates

• Hunter Greene (Reds): Placed on the 15-day injured list with a recurring right groin strain.

• J.T. Realmuto (Phillies): Exited the game after being struck by a foul ball in the ninth inning.

• Collin Snider (Mariners): Placed on the 15-day IL due to a right forearm flexor strain.

🌟 Top Prospect Performances

• Jonah Tong (Mets): Fired five no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts in a dominant outing.

• Dustin Harris (Rangers): Hit for the cycle in a complete offensive performance.

• Moisés Ballesteros (Cubs): Crushed a three-run homer, his sixth of the season for Triple-A Iowa.

• Jacob Melton (Astros): Made his MLB debut, flashing elite speed and defensive instincts.

• Humberto Cruz (Padres): Showed off a mature pitch mix and command on the mound at just 18 years old.

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