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Pete Alonso hits homecoming homer in win Mets' 5-0 win over Blue Jays

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — After a winter of uncertainty, Pete Alonso finally came home to Citi Field, re-christening the ballpark in the best way he knows how.

Alonso’s first-inning opposite-field home run off Kevin Gausman led the Mets to a 5-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday afternoon. His third of the season and second in as many games, Alonso...Read more

Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Mookie Betts will join teammates for Dodgers' White House visit: 'This is not about me'

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts announced Friday he will accompany the team on its visit to the White House next week, when President Trump will recognize the club's World Series title.

There had been uncertainty over Betts' decision, given he declined to go to the White House with the Boston Red Sox in 2019 during Trump's first ...Read more

Robin Buckson/The Detroit News/TNS

Kerry Carpenter's two homers power Tigers to 7-4 win over White Sox

Sports / Baseball /

DETROIT — The Tigers treated a sellout crowd of 44,735 revelers to a very systematic and satisfying victory on a chilly home-opener at Comerica Park Friday, beating the Chicago White Sox, 7-4.

Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene provided the thump.

Carpenter hit a pair of home runs, drilling one off the foul pole in right field off right-handed...Read more

Stuart Cahill/BOSTON HERALD/TNS

Red Sox riding high with 13-9 win over Cardinals in home opener

Sports / Baseball /

BOSTON — After years defined by apathy and negativity, the Red Sox returned to a much different atmosphere when they arrived at Fenway Park on Friday. There’s been a shift within the club as well, but hours before first pitch chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said what matters most will be how the team performs going forward.

“...Read more

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Padres' perfect start comes to an end against Cubs

Sports / Baseball /

CHICAGO — The Padres’ historic run of perfection came to an end in one of baseball’s most historic settings.

The Cubs took advantage of an occasionally erratic Randy Vásquez for a 3-1 victory, the Padres’ first loss in eight games this season.

The frigid Friday afternoon game was the Cubs’ 150th home opener and their 110th at ...Read more

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Homes of Blake Snell, Richard Sherman broken into as burglars target pro athletes in Seattle area

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Turns out two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell had more on his mind than the lineup of the visiting Detroit Tigers last week when he made his first start as a Dodger.

A day earlier, his home in Woodway, Wash., was broken into, the latest in a disturbing string of burglaries targeting the homes of prominent professional ...Read more

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America/TNS

Bill Shaikin: What's the future for aging Angel Stadium? It feels like an increasingly uncertain one.

Sports / Baseball /

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels play their home opener Friday, the dawn of their 60th season in Angel Stadium.

Only three major league ballparks are older: Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, all of which have been refreshed and revitalized for new generations of fans.

Angel Stadium remains in limbo, with an increasingly uncertain ...Read more

Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS

The highest and lowest MLB payrolls -- and why the Dodgers aren't at the top

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers gladly — perhaps even gleefully — defer to the New York Mets.

In large part because of heavily deferred contracts to Shohei Ohtani and other top players, the Dodgers have a payroll slightly lower than that of their National League rival who signed outfielder Juan Soto to a record 15-year, $765-million contract ...Read more

Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Freddie Freeman to miss at least a week after being placed on injured list

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman's latest ankle issue will keep him out longer than initially expected.

During the Dodgers' travel day to Philadelphia on Thursday, the team announced Freeman had been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to March 31.

The moves means that Freeman won't be eligible to return to action until next weekend,...Read more

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Yankees continue historic offensive start, mash 3 homers in win vs. Diamondbacks

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — The Bronx Bombers were out to play on Thursday night.

After subpar offensive performances in the first two games against the Arizona Diamonbacks, the Yankees responded with a gargantuan punch in the series finale, mashing three more homers as they defeated the Diamondbacks, 9-7, to salvage the three-game set.

None other than Aaron...Read more

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Joe Starkey: Quit whining about torpedo bats and tush pushes. Use them. Praise them. Stifle them.

Sports / Baseball /

PITTSBURGH — Bring it on. That's what I say. That's what everybody should be saying about a pair of hot-button sports innovations: torpedo bats and tush pushes.

Instead, we have naysayers.

Innovation always attracts naysayers.

I believe it was either Albert Einstein or Albert Pujols who said, "Great spirits have often encountered violent ...Read more

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Paul Sullivan: April is here, and Cubs and White Sox fans are already in midseason form

Sports / Baseball /

CHICAGO — Months from now we might not remember the great tarp incident at The Rate or the Chicago Cubs bullpen implosions at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Everything seems magnified at the start of a baseball season, especially for Cubs and White Sox fans who hope to exorcise the nightmares of the last few years.

Fortunately they’re already in ...Read more

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Astros spoil Twins home opener by rallying to 5-2 victory

Sports / Baseball /

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Ryan, buzzkill.

The Twins’ home opener was off to a rousing start on Thursday, Target Field alive with excitement over Matt Wallner’s leadoff triple, Byron Buxton’s can’t-catch-him infield hit and stolen base, and Trevor Larnach’s opposite-field single. One inning into the first of 81 home games, the Twins were ...Read more

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Braves transfer Reynaldo López to 60-day injured list

Sports / Baseball /

ATLANTA — We have a bit more clarity on Reynaldo López’s timeline — not when he will return, but when he will not return.

The Braves transferred López, who is dealing with right shoulder inflammation, to the 60-day injured list. This means he’ll be out until at least June.

The Braves did this to create a 40-man roster spot for ...Read more

Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Taijuan Walker tosses six scoreless innings as Phillies sweep Rockies

Sports / Baseball /

PHILADELPHIA — It had been a long time since Taijuan Walker was cheered at Citizens Bank Park.

Boos from the home crowd had been a soundtrack to the right-hander’s prolonged struggles in 2024. Walker was even booed this year in spring training after getting hit hard in his final two starts, and again when he was introduced in the Phillies�...Read more

Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America/TNS

Miller Gardner, son of ex-Yankees player, died from carbon monoxide poisoning, officials say

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — Miller Gardner — the 14-year old son of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner — died from carbon monoxide poisoning, Costa Rican authorities confirmed Wednesday.

A blood test for carbon monoxide showed a saturation level of 64% in Gardner’s body, Costa Rican officials said. Concentrations above 50% are considered lethal.

...Read more

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Shohei Ohtani MVP bobbleheads were free at Dodger Stadium. Now they cost up to $1,450 online.

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani ended Wednesday's Dodgers game in spectacular fashion, sending the first pitch he saw from Atlanta Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias 399 feet over the center-field wall for a walk-off home run and a 6-5 Los Angeles win.

It just so happened that everyone who witnessed that moment at Dodger Stadium had a tiny replica ...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Bill Plaschke: Who says the Dodgers can't go 162-0? Dramatic win over Braves extends a perfect start.

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — 162-0?

Why not?

Shohei Ohtani is rounding the bases with his right fist in the air and Dodger Stadium is shaking with its roar filling the sky and anything is possible.

162-0?

It could never happen. But after Wednesday night, are you willing to say it can't happen?

The Dodgers were seemingly destroying their season-opening, ...Read more

Charlie Morton stars and struggles in Orioles' 8-4 loss to Red Sox

Sports / Baseball /

BALTIMORE — Watching Charlie Morton pitch isn’t for the faint of heart.

In two innings Thursday afternoon, he’d watch as many home runs sail over his head. Boston Red Sox right-handers Alex Bregman and Kristian Campbell went 397 feet and 389 feet, respectively, over the newly adjusted porch in left field. Both came right after a walk. ...Read more

Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Fredi González managed against the Phillies. Now he's found a 'fulfilling' way to give back: coaching at Ursinus College.

Sports / Baseball /

PHILADELPHIA — When Ursinus College announced its baseball staff for the 2025 season, one name stood out among the rest.

Bench coach, Fredi González.

It sounded familiar, so the players began to Google him.

They saw that González was a major league manager for 10 years, and a minor league player for six. But what really caught their ...Read more