NEW YORK — And just like that, the Mets are back to .500.

Harrison Bader’s tie-breaking two-run double against Pirates reliever Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning Monday proved to be the game-winner in the Mets’ 6-3 victory at Citi Field, evening their record for the first time since Opening Day.

With runners on second and third and ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Like a linebacker at the goal line, Jeff Hoffman lowered his right shoulder — his pitching shoulder — and blocked home plate.

That’s what it took for the punchless Phillies to win Monday night.

With two outs in the ninth inning of a tie game against the struggling Rockies, Hoffman skipped a slider in the dirt that got ...Read more

CHICAGO — Seth Lugo continued his torrid start with the Kansas City Royals on Monday night in Chicago.

Prior to Monday’s game, Lugo had pitched to a 1.45 ERA through three starts. Each outing registered as a quality one, as Lugo had surrendered just three earned runs in 18 2/3 innings.

Lugo lowered those numbers in the Royals’ series ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — The Padres looked tired, an understandable plight following a flight halfway across the country through the night and well into the morning.

Then suddenly, they were wearing out Brewers pitcher Joe Ross with an impossibly quick barrage that was difficult to fathom.

With a few hard singles and a few soft singles and a passed ball...Read more

MIAMI — Finally having chased Edward Cabrera, the Marlins starter who flummoxed the Giants for six innings Monday night, it didn’t initially look like their luck had shifted when Matt Chapman lined a surefire single into center field that found the outstretched mitt of a diving Jazz Chisholm Jr.

But the next batter, Thairo Estrada, on a ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Cedric Mullins had already left his frustrating start behind with a six-game hitting streak and a home run Sunday.

On Monday, the Orioles center fielder went supernova with a home run, three RBIs and one of the greatest catches of his career in a 7-4 win over the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards.

The Orioles (10-6) spent much of ...Read more

TORONTO — While John Sterling’s retirement commanded all of the attention in the Yankees’ universe on Monday, the team began a three-game series against the Blue Jays north of the border.

The opener, part of Major League Baseball’s annual Jackie Robinson Day celebration, didn’t go the Yankees’ way, as the team lost, 3-1. Toronto’s...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A day after Mike Trout lamented his performance with runners in scoring position, he delivered his biggest hit of the young season.

Trout belted an eighth-inning two-run homer to give the Angels the lead on their way to a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.

It was Trout’s seventh homer of the season ...Read more

NEW YORK — Yankees broadcaster John Sterling is stepping away from the radio booth for good.

The Yankees announced Monday afternoon that Sterling, the long-time radio voice of the club, is retiring effective immediately.

“I am a very blessed human being,” the Upper East Side native said in a press release. “I have been able to do what ...Read more

BOSTON — “The vibe is different, and it should be fun,” said Alex Cora before Fenway Park’s annual Marathon Monday morning game. “I always loved it.”

Unfortunately, the vibe was painfully familiar and decidedly not fun when the Red Sox fell to the Guardians 6-0 a few hours later in a game punctuated by a terrifying collision between...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Padres began their weekend here with an exhilarating comeback and then stayed through a unique couple days, biding their time and squandering opportunities before coming away with something rare.

With a 6-3 victory over the Dodgers on Sunday, they won a second consecutive series at Dodger Stadium for the first time in 11 ...Read more

SEATTLE — Chicago Cubs closer Adbert Alzolay was confident the replay review would vindicate him.

Alzolay’s perfectly-timed pickoff move with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday caught Seattle Mariners pinch runner Julio Rodríguez, aided by first baseman Michael Busch’s well-timed tag. The on-field call by first base umpire...Read more

OAKLAND, Calif — It was the fourth inning Sunday and the Athletics were trailing the Washington Nationals by three runs, a deficit that would soon climb to five.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay looked around the dugout and wasn’t pleased with what he saw. He made that known.

“Just a few kind words to let ‘em know I wasn’t really happy with...Read more

NEW YORK — The Mets honored one of the best pitchers to ever throw a ball in orange and blue Sunday at Citi Field. Right-hander Jose Butto then followed that up with a performance that would make Dwight Gooden proud.

Butto dueled Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans for six scoreless innings in his second Major League start of the ...Read more

DETROIT — The Tigers’ offensive struggles were lingering like a bad smell on Sunday.

Down 3-0 in the eighth inning, having been utterly stymied by Twins’ 6-9 right-hander Bailey Ober for six-plus innings, they looked dead in the water.

And then Javier Báez leaned into a hanging, 2-2 sweeper from lefty reliever Caleb Thielbar and sent ...Read more

A milestone home run by Aaron Judge and late-game hitting heroics from Anthony Volpe weren’t enough for the Yankees to finish off a three-game sweep in Cleveland.

The Yankees’ infield failed to make multiple critical plays Sunday during the Guardians’ three-run 10th-inning rally, which proved to be the difference in Cleveland’s 8-7 win....Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Leadoff hitter Yandy Diaz admitted he felt pressure to get a struggling Rays offense going after it was held to four runs in the first two games of the series against the Giants. Sunday, however, the rest of the lineup showed it can be dangerous even without Diaz and Randy Arozarena carrying it.

Rene Pinto hit two of ...Read more

MIAMI – As Marcell Ozuna’s ball sailed over the wall in left-center field, it washed away the potential disappointment of the disaster that had unfolded in the previous hour. The Braves were on the brink here, but Ozuna – who is scorching hot and loves hitting in Miami – saved them in dramatic fashion.

With Atlanta down to its final ...Read more

BALTIMORE — The drill had been repeated so frequently it largely lost its mojo. “Now batting, Jackson Holliday …” followed by fans pushed forward in their seats, cellphone cameras at the ready, awaiting the inevitable: Jackson Holliday’s first major league hit.

It took him four games in five days, split by a day of rest, and an 0-for-...Read more