June 28th, 2025

Happy Saturday!
Last night brought the fireworks! High-scoring games and plenty of drama around the league. Thanks again for being part of First Pitch.

Honestly, the most eye-opening thing today was the Reds taking it to the Padres. They do a lot of things right and definitely have the talent to make a playoff run. Exciting baseball in Cincy!

Let’s jump into the action!

⚾ Headlines Around the League

Orioles Crush Rays 22–8 After Erasing 6–Run Deficit in Wild Comeback

Reds Dominate Padres 8–1 Behind Martinez’s Near No-Hitter, Steer’s 3-HR Outburst

Turner, Phillies Explode for 13 Runs After Delay in Rout of Braves

Mastrobuoni Delivers Late as Mariners Outlast Rangers in Extra-Inning Thriller

Ohtani Powers Dodgers in Kansas City Win, 5–4 Over Royals

Smith Homers vs. Former Team as Astros Beat Cubs 7–4 for Fifth Straight Win

🔥 Top Performances

Hitting

Pitching

📊 Final Scores and Highlights

Orioles 22, Rays 8

The Orioles flipped the script on Tampa Bay in a stunning reversal Friday night, storming back from a 6–0 hole to rout the Rays 22–8 behind a 21-hit explosion at Camden Yards.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Tampa Bay jumped ahead 6–0 in the 2nd inning with three homers, including a 3-run blast by Brandon Lowe

• Coby Mayo and Ramón Urías sparked Baltimore’s response with a pair of 2-RBI hits in the 2nd

• Gary Sánchez gave the Orioles the lead for good with a 2-run homer in the 5th, his 4th in 10 games

• Baltimore piled on with 14 runs across the final 4 innings, including homers by Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, and Mayo in a 7-run 8th

• The O’s posted their highest run total of the season and notched their first win after trailing by 6+ since 2022

📊 Notable Stats

Gary Sánchez (BAL) – 4-for-5, HR (4), 4 RBI, 3 R
Coby Mayo (BAL) – 2-for-6, HR (1), 4 RBI, 2 R
Gunnar Henderson (BAL) – 4-for-6, HR (9), 2 RBI, 2 R
Ramón Urías (BAL) – 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 3 R, SB
Colton Cowser (BAL) – 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 4 R, 3 2B
Tomoyuki Sugano (BAL) – 5.0 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 3 HR

Brandon Lowe (TB) – 3-for-5, HR (17), 4 RBI
Josh Lowe (TB) – 2-for-4, HR (5), RBI
Jonathan Aranda (TB) – 2-for-5, HR (9), RBI
Ryan Pepiot (TB) – 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB

Reds 8, Padres 1

In front of Reds royalty from the Big Red Machine era, Nick Martinez took a no-hitter into the 9th and Spencer Steer mashed three home runs as Cincinnati delivered a commanding 8–1 win over the Padres at Great American Ball Park.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Nick Martinez retired 22 straight batters after a 1st-inning walk and came within two outs of a no-hitter before exiting in the 9th after allowing a double

• Spencer Steer launched 3 homers in his first 3 plate appearances, driving in 4 runs in a career night

• Elly De La Cruz and Austin Hays each scored and contributed to a 4-run 5th inning that broke the game open

• Cincinnati pitching struck out 14 and held San Diego to just 1 hit, a 9th-inning double

📊 Notable Stats

Nick Martinez (CIN) – 8.0+ IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Spencer Steer (CIN) – 3-for-4, 3 HR (7, 8, 9), 4 RBI, 3 R
Elly De La Cruz (CIN) – 2-for-4, R, RBI, SB (22)
Austin Hays (CIN) – 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, R
Gavin Lux (CIN) – 1-for-4, RBI, R

Dylan Cease (SD) – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 8 K, 2 HR
Padres offense – 1-for-28, 8 K, 4 BB, 8 LOB
Elias Díaz (SD) – only hit of the night, a 9th-inning double

Phillies 13, Braves 0

After a surprise two-hour rain delay, the Phillies unloaded a season-high 13 runs and five homers — including two from Trea Turner — to shut out the Braves 13–0 in Friday’s series opener at Truist Park.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Trea Turner led the charge with 4 hits, 2 HRs, and 4 runs scored, including a solo shot in the 2nd and another in the 9th

• Otto Kemp hit his first career MLB homer — a 3-run blast in the 3rd inning

• Kyle Schwarber added his 25th HR of the year with a 2-run shot, also in the 3rd

• Phillies tallied 17 hits, including 7 extra-base knocks, and went 7-for-15 with RISP

• Philadelphia pitching allowed 9 hits but stranded 19 Braves baserunners in a combined shutout

📊 Notable Stats

Trea Turner (PHI) – 4-for-6, 2 HR (10, 11), 4 R, 2 RBI, SB (20)
Otto Kemp (PHI) – 1-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, BB
Kyle Schwarber (PHI) – 1-for-4, HR (25), 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 R, SB
Nick Castellanos (PHI) – 1-for-2, HR (9), 3 RBI, BB
J.T. Realmuto (PHI) – 3-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB

Alan Rangel (PHI) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Bryce Elder (ATL) – 2.0 IP, 8 H, 10 R (9 ER), 4 BB, 2 K, 3 HR
Braves offense – 9 H, 3 BB, 0 R, 7 K

Mariners 7, Rangers 6

Miles Mastrobuoni made a clutch sliding catch in the 11th and delivered the game-winning RBI single in the 12th, lifting the Mariners past the Rangers 7–6 in an extra-inning battle at Globe Life Field.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Mastrobuoni saved the game in the 11th with a difficult catch and drove in the winning run in the 12th

• Mariners blew a 5–1 lead after Logan Gilbert exited in the 6th; Rangers tied it 5–5 by the 7th

• Both teams traded runs in the 10th before Seattle pulled ahead for good

• Seattle stranded 39 runners but collected 16 hits and 5 walks

• Eduard Bazardo pitched two shutout innings in extras to earn the win

📊 Notable Stats

Miles Mastrobuoni (SEA) – 1-for-2, GW RBI in 12th, key catch in LF
Julio Rodríguez (SEA) – 3-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R, HBP
J.P. Crawford (SEA) – 3-for-6, 2 R
Jorge Polanco (SEA) – 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Logan Gilbert (SEA) – 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

Corey Seager (TEX) – 1-for-3, HR (8), RBI, 2 BB, HBP
Josh Smith (TEX) – 2-for-5, 2 R, BB
Marcus Semien (TEX) – 1-for-6, 2B, RBI
Rangers bullpen – 9.0 IP, 11 H, 4 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 4 K

Dodgers 5, Royals 4

Shohei Ohtani reminded everyone why he’s the sport’s biggest star, launching a 429-foot homer and smoking a 112.4 mph triple in the Dodgers' 5–4 win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Ohtani crushed his 29th homer in the 1st and added a triple in the 5th, driving in 2 runs

• The Dodgers hit two homers but managed just four total hits — all from Ohtani, Muncy, and Betts

• Dustin May allowed 4 runs over 4 innings, but LA’s bullpen tossed 5 scoreless to hold the lead

• Max Muncy gave LA a cushion early with a 2-run shot in the 2nd

📊 Notable Stats

Shohei Ohtani (LAD) – 2-for-3, HR (29), 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Max Muncy (LAD) – 1-for-3, HR (13), 2 RBI, BB
Mookie Betts (LAD) – 1-for-4, RBI
Dustin May (LAD) – 4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) – 1-for-5, HR (11), 2 RBI
Maikel Garcia (KC) – 2-for-5, 2B
Kyle Isbel (KC) – 2-for-3, 2B, RBI
Royals bullpen – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Astros 7, Cubs 4

In a highly anticipated matchup featuring Kyle Tucker’s return to Houston, it was Cam Smith — the player Houston acquired for Tucker — who stole the spotlight. Smith launched a three-run homer and reached base all four times to lead the Astros to a 7–4 win over the Cubs on Friday night at Daikin Park.

The win was Houston’s fifth in a row and another statement victory against a first-place team, following a sweep of the NL East-leading Phillies earlier in the week. The Astros are now 31–13 at home this season.

🔑 Game Highlights

• Cam Smith, traded from the Cubs in December, crushed a 3-run homer in the 4th inning and reached base four times

• Yainer Diaz hit a 3-run blast in the 3rd, helping the Astros race to a 7–1 lead through four innings

• Brandon Walter allowed just 1 run over 6 innings to earn the win

• Cade Horton, facing a fellow top rookie in Smith, lasted only 4 innings and gave up both homers

• Houston has now won five straight, including back-to-back wins over division leaders

📊 Notable Stats

Cam Smith (HOU) – 2-for-2, HR (6), 3 RBI, 2 BB, 2 R
Yainer Diaz (HOU) – 3-for-4, HR (10), 3 RBI
Jose Altuve (HOU) – 1-for-4, 2 R, BB
Brandon Walter (HOU) – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Matt Shaw (CHC) – 2-for-4, 2 2B (10, 11), 3 RBI
Nico Hoerner (CHC) – 1-for-3, HR (2), 2 R, BB
Cade Horton (CHC) – 4.0 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 2 K

Other scores around the league:

Mets 1, Pirates 9
M. Keller (PIT): 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 SO, 1 BB
B. Reynolds (PIT): 2-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI

Athletics 0, Yankees 3
W. Warren (NYY): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 7 SO, 4 BB
D. Williams (NYY): 1.0 IP, 1 SO

Twins 4, Tigers 1
D. Festa (MIN): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 6 SO
J. Duran (MIN): 1.0 IP, 1 SO

Cardinals 5, Guardians 0
S. Gray (STL): 9.0 IP, 1 H, 11 SO
A. Burleson (STL): 2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 0
J. Berrios (TOR): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 8 SO, 1 BB
G. Springer (TOR): 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI

Giants 3, White Sox 1
L. Roupp (SF): 5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 SO, 2 BB
C. Doval (SF): 1.0 IP, 2 SO

Rockies 6, Brewers 10
J. Quintana (MIL): 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 5 SO, 2 BB
J. Chourio (MIL): 1-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI

Nationals 15, Angels 9
J. Bell (WAS): 1-4, 3 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
J. Young (WAS): 2-5, 2 R, 3 RBI

Marlins 9, Diamondbacks 8
O. Lopez (MIA): 3-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
G. Perdomo (ARI): 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI

⚾ Must-Watch Games Today

🔥 Phillies (48-34) at Braves (37-44)

First Pitch: 7:15 PM ET
Pitching Matchup: Jesús Luzardo (4.08 ERA) vs. Spencer Schwellenbach (3.21 ERA)
Philadelphia goes for back-to-back wins while Atlanta tries to stop their 3-game slide.

🐻 Cubs (48-34) at Astros (49-33)

First Pitch: 7:15 PM ET
Pitching Matchup: Colin Rea (4.42 ERA) vs. Lance McCullers Jr. (4.91 ERA)
Two division leaders square off as Rea and McCullers both look to bounce back.

🍁 Blue Jays (44-37) at Red Sox (40-43)

First Pitch: 4:10 PM ET
Pitching Matchup: Chris Bassitt (3.61 ERA) vs. Lucas Giolito (4.53 ERA)
Toronto aims to keep pace in the Wild Card race while Boston tries to end a 6-game skid.

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