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Tag: Professional baseball

  • Spring Training games set to begin across the Bay area

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Baseball fans are heading back to Florida as Grapefruit League spring training games begin this weekend across the state, with matchups scheduled in cities including Tampa, Clearwater, Bradenton, Dunedin, Lakeland, and Sarasota.

     The annual preseason tradition is expected to draw thousands of visitors, providing a significant boost for local tourism, hotels, and restaurants.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Florida’s Grapefruit League says it has spured a $679-million-dollar ecomnomic ompact to the State of Florida 

    • Games begin this Friday and run through the end of March 

    • Hotels in Tampa’s midtown district are seeing a spike in occupancy as it is in close proximity to Steinbrenner Field and the Yankees spring training facility  

    • For the scheudle of the Grapefruit Leagues spring training games, visit here: BN9 Spring Traing Guide 2026


    One of the biggest attractions each year is the New York Yankees, who play their spring training games at Steinbrenner Field.

    Located near Tampa’s rapidly growing Midtown district, the stadium sits close to a range of hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues that benefit from the seasonal influx of fans.

    Local hospitality leaders said the spring training season consistently brings a surge of visitors.

    Brittany Mattix, assistant general manager of the Midtown Aloft hotel, says the area becomes especially lively during rivalry games, when passionate fans from across the country travel to see their teams play.

    “Very busy. We’re super excited,” said Mattix. “We encounter every year during this time for spring training, especially during the rival game, such an influx of passionate people that are just very, very overwhelmed with joy to see their teams playing here. 

    “With it being in such close proximity, Midtown is a great place to be for this.”

    Spring training runs through late March, leading up to Opening Day March 26. During that time, many fans travel to Florida for extended stays—some remaining for the entire six-week season—helping sustain strong business activity throughout the region.

    The Yankees open their home schedule Friday at 1:05 p.m., facing the Baltimore Orioles.

    Local fans will also be heading south to Port Charlotte, where the Tampa Bay Rays hold spring training at Charlotte Sports Park.

    The Rays begin their preseason schedule Saturday at 1:05 p.m. against the Atlanta Braves.

    With multiple teams playing across Florida and fans arriving from around the country, regional tourism officials and local businesses expect another busy and economically important spring training season.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Nick Townley inspired by long line of Plant baseball legends

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Wade Boggs Field, the baseball stadium at Plant High School, has the footsteps of legends on it.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Plant baseball program has sent multiple players to the MLB

    • Jac Caglionone just got his number retired, meeting the current group of Panthers players

    • Nick Townley hopes to be the next guy in line

    • Townley is the ace of the staff, a senior pitcher who has impressive command on the mound


    “We’ve always had some pretty good players and there’s kind of a long line of tradition to that,” Plant baseball head coach Dennis Braun said.

    The program boasts an impressive list of alums on the outfield wall, which has numbers retired from left field all the way down to right field.

    “We’re one of the few schools that has a Hall of Famer in Wade Boggs and we might have a future couple more if they keep doing the things they’re doing,” Braun said.

    Braun is referring to 5-time MLB All-Star Pete Alonso and 4-time All-Star Kyle Tucker, both former Panthers who are two of the best hitters in baseball.

    The latest pro to get his number retired is Jac Caglianone, a 2021 Plant alum who was a two-way star for the Florida Gators and is already in the bigs with the Kansas City Royals. The current team was able to meet Cagnianone at the ceremony earlier this month, seeing a guy who sat in the same dugout they do move on to accomplish what he has accomplished.

    “Yeah, I think that’s what the motivation is, I think everyone wants to be them not all of them are going to be 6 foot 5 250 pounds and that’s a big part of getting to the level that they get to but I think that motivation is a big deal for them and I think it’s what makes the program grow,” Braun said.

    “It was really nice to see. Obviously, he’s one of the greats of high school baseball, and it was really nice to be able to see the impact he’s made here,” Plant senior pitcher Nick Townley said.

    Townley hopes to one day be the next guy in line.

    “Yeah it really does help my focus. It just helps me stay concentrated on my main goal here which is competing as a team and winning and focusing on getting better,” Townley said.

    Townley is the ace of the staff, a senior right-hander who doesn’t light up the radar gun with a ton of velocity but makes up for it with an impressive command on the mound.

    “Throughout the fall and early spring I’ve just been working on my pitch location and delivery, getting better at sequencing and finding out where hitters are weak against me so I can get them out in the best way,” Townley said.

    He got some preseason recognition from 813 Preps, a Hillsborough County high school baseball publication, ranking him as the 23rd best player in the area.

    “I thought it was pretty cool but the rankings don’t mean anything until we start playing games so I try not to focus on it much, yeah it for sure adds some pressure but I gotta go into games knowing that I still have a job to throw good pitches and compete with the hitters so that just helps me stay focused,” Townley said.

    “Being ranked means you’ve done something you’ve earned that and every year you’ve gotta earn it. Baseball is a tough game so I think it’s important for him to come back down a little bit and not get too caught up in that throw strikes rely on his defense and if he does those things I think he will have another great year,” Braun said.

    Of course, Townley dreams of making it to “The Show.” Every baseball player does. No program around here has sent more players to the pros than Plant lately, so he’s in a great spot to try and get that dream started here.

    “Even though you may not make it, you may not be them let’s do everything we can so if that day comes that we don’t you can hang your cleats up and say I did everything I could to be the best player I could and that’s what we’re trying to do every day,” Braun said.

    For now, Townley is focused on this season and getting his team to state.

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    Michael Epps

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  • Shane McClanahan ready to ‘enjoy the game again’ after 2 injured seasons

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    PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — There have been a ton of smiles this week at the Charlotte Sports Complex, the spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays, as pitchers and catchers reported.

    Perhaps the brightest smile of all came from Shane McClanahan on Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Shane McClanahan is a starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays

    •  He has missed the last two seasons because of injury

    •  Prior to the injury, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball and a two-time All-Star

    •  McClanahan has rejoined his teammates in Port Charlotte, with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training


    McClanahan has missed the past two full seasons because of injuries. Last spring, he could not feel his fingers in his left hand. Now, he’s throwing a baseball and doing what he loves here at spring training.

    “It’s crazy how much you miss this, just the little things like the playing catch, being around the guys, the working out and, you know, just enjoying the game again,” McClanahan said.

    After a strong rookie year, McClanahan caught fire in 2022, posting an earned run average under 2.00 in the first half of the season, and was the American League starting pitcher in the All-Star Game. In 2023, he had an 11-2 record until August, when he experienced forearm tightness. Tommy John surgery ended his season and started a long road to recovery.


    “It gives me a better appreciation for what I’ve missed,” he said. “I’ve missed the little things being in the clubhouse with the guys and the bus rides out to the fields, the plane rides, like you obviously missed playing, but you don’t realize, I think until you get it taken away from you, how special this atmosphere is.”

    McClanahan got off to a good start in last year’s spring training, but a triceps injury uncovered a nerve issue that required surgery, keeping him out.

    Now, the flame-throwing lefty is finally back. He told the media on Thursday that his arm feels good, he had a normal offseason workout program and is still being careful but is ready to get back out on the mound and in front of Rays fans.

    More Tampa Bay Rays spring training headlines


    “I mean they’re gonna see me on the mound, which is different from the past two years, but no, I think they’re still gonna see that same guy that loves this community loves this team, loves to win,” McClanahan said.

    His fellow pitchers are excited for him to play, too.

    “His presence and having that type of pitcher back in the rotation, that’s only gonna make us better, and we’re gonna try to do what we can so that he doesn’t have to take the brunt of the load and try to be the guy, the two-time All-Star that he is, and he can kinda ease himself back into it after not pitching for a while. But I’ve seen him throw a lot on TV and it’s nasty, so I’m excited to see it from the dugout,” Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepoit said.

    McClanahan is expected to lead a revamped rotation, with Drew Rasmussen and Pepoit returning and a couple new faces in Nick Martinez and Steven Matz joining them.

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    Michael Epps

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  • 2026 Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest: What you need to know

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays will be spending Valentine’s Day showing some love to their fans. The team is hosting a Fan Fest block party this Saturday right next to Tropicana Field. 

    The party will take place outside of Tropicana Field because the team is still making repairs inside the ballpark.

    Make sure you get there early if you would like to be able to get in there and get first pick on any items you may be looking for.

    Admission is free, but you will still need to claim a ticket on the Rays website. Parking will be available for free in lots 1, 2, 6 and 7 at Tropicana Field. Be aware of traffic as there will be no vehicle traffic permitted on 16th Street South. You can access lots 1,2 via 17th Street S or 5th Ave S.

    Event Information:

    Activities:

    • A community yard sale that will benefit the official charity of the Tampa Bay Rays
    • Opportunities to interact with players
    • Games, mascots and entertainment
    • And more…

    Security and What You Can Bring:

    Guests will be required to clear a security screening before entry. Bags will also NOT BE permitted into the event. This includes purses, duffle bags, backpacks, string/cinch bags and or coolers. If you have a small item that is 4″ x 6″ or less, such as a fanny pack or small clutch, that will be allowed. 

    You are allowed to bring water bottles, strollers, umbrellas, accessibility or medical equipment, cameras with lenses smaller than 12-inches.

    Map:

    For more information, visit the Rays Fan Fest website.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • MLB Spring Training 2026: Teams, locations and more

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    PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Pitchers and catchers are back, signaling another Opening Day is not too far ahead.

    But first comes the state’s annual rite of spring, Major League Baseball’s Spring Training and the Grapefruit League across Florida.

    The Tampa Bay Rays, who return to Tropicana Field this year for the regular season after spending last season outdoors at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, welcome players to camp on Feb. 11 with the first full squad workouts set for Feb. 17. The Rays will play their first spring training game on Feb. 21 against the Atlanta Braves in Port Charlotte.

    With new ownership and a revamped roster, the new-look Rays are saying hello to a lot of new faces and will spend camp filling in lineup spots, establishing depth and finalizing their pitching staff, particularly among their relievers. 

    Meanwhile, 14 other teams are opening camp in the coming days across the state of Florida. (See map below). Cactus League Information

    When the players are back on the field, a big focus this spring will be robotic umpires and the World Baseball Classic.

    In what could be the last full season before a labor confrontation over a possible salary cap proposal, players are preparing for the Automated Ball-Strike system, giving teams a chance to appeal pitch calls by the plate umpire to so-called robot umps.

    ABS was tested in 13 spring training ballparks last year, and teams won 52.2% of 1,182 challenges, which averaged 13.8 seconds. Major League Baseball’s 11-man competition committee voted in September to approve regular-season use for 2026.


    🧢WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 🧢

    The World Baseball Classic is back in 2026.

    Japan will try for its fourth title and second straight when players leave their clubs for the sixth edition of the tournament, to be played from March 5-17 in Houston; Miami; San Juan; Puerto Rico; and Tokyo.

    Rosters on the 20 national teams include 306 players under major league and minor league contracts, including 78 All-Stars.

    The tournament will begin on March 5 at the Tokyo Dome (March 4 at 10 p.m. ET in the U.S.) with Chinese Taipei and Australia playing in the first game. The other pools — located at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Daikin Park in Houston; and LoanDepot Park in Miami — will begin play on March 6.

    Here are the Tampa Bay Rays players taking part in the tournament:

    Here’s what you need to know before the WBC first pitch.

    ⚾2026 Florida Grapefruit League Team Capsules and Locations ⚾

    Atlanta Braves – CoolToday Park, North Port

    Baltimore Orioles – Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota

    Boston Red Sox – JetBlue Park at Fenway South, Fort Myers

    Detroit Tigers – Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland

    Houston Astros – Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach

    Miami Marlins – Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter

    Minnesota Twins – Hammond Stadium at Lee County Sports Complex, Fort Myers

    New York Mets – Clover Park, Port St. Lucie

    New York Yankees – George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa

    Pittsburgh Pirates – LECOM Park, Bradenton

    Philadelphia Phillies – BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater

    St. Louis Cardinals – Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter

    Tampa Bay Rays – Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte

    Toronto Blue Jays – TD Ballpark, Dunedin

    Washington Nationals – Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach

    🏟️ SPRING TRAINING STADIUMS 🏟️

     

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Phillies begin unpacking equipment in preparation for spring training

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pitchers and catchers will report for their first workouts for Major League Baseball spring training starting Tuesday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pitchers and catchers start reporting for spring training in Florida this week

    • Phillies staff members are already unloading trucks with the supplies the team will need

    • They are bringing 2,400 baseballs, 140 batting helmets and 1,200 baseball bats this spring

    • Spring training games begin Feb. 20

    Florida is home to baseball’s Grapefruit League, and thousands of fans will flock to the Tampa Bay area to watch their favorite teams because seven of the franchises call the Tampa Bay area home during spring training, bringing a huge economic impact. Throughout Florida, more than 1.4 million fans visited for spring training in 2025, generating about $687,000 annually for the state and creating more than 7,000 jobs, according to data from the Florida Sports Foundation and studies of the Grapefruit League.

    That means teams like the Philadelphia Phillies have to start getting ready.

    When the equipment trucks start pulling into Baycare Ballpark, it marks the unofficial start to spring training in Clearwater.

    Phillies staff members like clubhouse attendant Tim Schmidt wait months for the trucks full of gear and supplies.

    “It’s been on my calendar for a while, so yeah, it’s nice that it’s here, and I’m excited to get it underway, and I’m ready to see the guys,” Schmidt said.

    Filled to the brim, it takes the whole staff, as well as some help from a forklift, to unload all the supplies needed for spring training.

    The Phillies are bringing 2,400 baseballs, 140 batting helmets and 1,200 baseball bats this spring, Schmidt said.

    Among all the people who helped unload the trucks was Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector.

    He said it’s a day he looks forward to every year.

    “Our sign of spring is the Phillies equipment truck arriving,” Rector said. “That’s a little bit more predictable than the groundhog.”

    Spring training has been in Clearwater for about 100 years, including the Phillies here for most of that time, Rector said.

    “Such a strong connection with our citizens,” Rector said. “They’ve been here for 80 years. It’s almost like seeing family come home.”

    Schmidt said it was going to be a long day because there is a lot to unpack before the players arrive.

    Still, the work isn’t an issue.

    He’s ready to focus on the season.

    “Once we get down here, it’s go time,” Schmidt said. “We don’t really stop until the playoffs are over.”

    The seven teams that will be in the Tampa Bay area for the next few weeks, honing their skills before the regular season begins, are the Phillies, the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves.

    Spring training games begin Feb. 20, and tickets are on sale now.

     

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    Matt Lackritz

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  • Rays release Spring Training ticket information

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have announced spring training ticket information for the 2026 exhibition season.

    The Rays Spring Training facility is Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte. Spring Training tickets will go on sale to the public on Wednesday, January 14 at 10 a.m. Fans can visit RaysBaseball.com/Spring to purchase tickets. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Tampa Bay Rays release Spring Training ticket information

    • Rays open on Saturday, February 21 at home against the Atlanta Braves.

    • MORE INFORMATION: Tampa Bay Rays

    The Rays open on Saturday, February 21 at home against the Atlanta Braves.

    All home games at Charlotte Sports Park will begin at 1:05 p.m. The Rays will also host an exhibition game against the Netherlands national team on Wednesday, March 4, ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

    Rays Insiders, Rays Season Members, Corporate Partners, and Rays Spring Training Season Ticket Holders will have presale opportunities prior to the general public on-sale date. Details on presale opportunities will be communicated via email.

    New this season, the Rays are introducing a spring training three-game package.

    Fans can pick their three favorite games to enjoy at Charlotte Sports Park and save on ticket fees at checkout. Up to six, three-game packages can be purchased per account. To purchase, visit RaysBaseball.com/Spring. 

    For the full spring training schedule, visit RaysBaseball.com/Spring.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Right on schedule: With roof fixed, cleanup continues inside the Trop

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Spectrum News got an inside look Wednesday inside Tropicana Field, with officials saying work is on track to wrap up in time for Opening Day in 2026.


    The Trop, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, was badly damaged in October 2024 by Hurricane Milton, with the roof panels being ripped off and damage happening inside.

    The last roof panels were replaced late last month, and now some finishing touches are taking place on the field, in the stands and around other areas of the venue.

    Beth Herendeen, the city’s managing director for development administration, says that, in essence, the building is dried-in, protected from the elements.

    Crews are working on drywall and painting the seats, and the air conditioning and lights are working.

    Herendeen said an extra 30 days were built into the schedule in case of storms like last year’s, but the quiet hurricane season of 2025 helped move things along.

    “We would have been on schedule anyway. That was built in, but it’s allowed us to get a little bit ahead of schedule. A project of this size, there are unknowns and unforeseen things, so we’ll take that time,” she said.

    A new stadium sound system will be installed this month and tested in January. 

    Flooring on the Viva deck will also be installed this month, along with backstop netting.

    Officials said there was mold and mildew to contend with as part of repairs. The city is working with Greenfield Environmental, and the Rays also have an industrial hygienist.

    A remediation company has also been on site.

    Based on recommendations from those experts, they’re either cleaning and encapsulating or removing and replacing any areas with damage.

    [ad_2] Sarah Blazonis
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  • Rays plan return to Tropicana Field after hurricane repairs

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays are heading home.

    The team announced Wednesday it will return to an updated Tropicana Field for the 2026 season after playing its entire 2025 home schedule at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa while damage to the Trop caused by Hurricane Milton in October 2024 was repaired.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Rays announced Wednesday it will return to an updated Tropicana Field for the 2026 season

    • Repairs to the stadium’s roof and other internal areas are ongoing

    • Rays are planning to play their home opener against the Chicago Cubs on April 6 after starting the season on the road 
    • 2026 Single-game tickets go on sale Thursday

    “We are excited to return home to Tropicana Field in April and to once again join our fans and neighboring businesses in downtown St. Petersburg in celebrating the return of Rays baseball,” team CEO Ken Babby said in a statement.

    Repairs to the stadium’s roof and other internal areas are ongoing, and the Rays are planning to play their home opener against the Chicago Cubs on April 6 after starting the season on the road.

    The team announced several new ticket options that go on sale Thursday, as well as ballpark upgrades including an expanded main videoboard, new video displays behind home plate and along both foul poles, a new sound system and updated suite interiors.

    The club is planning events to celebrate former Rays third baseman Evan Longoria to commemorate his time with the franchise, including induction into the team hall of fame.

    The Rays finished with a 41-40 record at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees, and sold out 61 of 81 games while drawing 786,750 fans. Playing home games in an open-air ballpark for the first time, the Rays experienced 17 rains delays over 16 games for a total of 17 hours, 47 minutes.

    Tropicana Field’s roof was torn to shreds by Hurricane Milton. The stadium that opened in 1990 featured what the team called the world’s largest cable-supported domed roof, with the panels made of “translucent, Teflon-coated fiberglass” supported by 180 miles of cables connected by struts.

    The team has new owners, who are starting a search for a new ballpark that could open in 2029.

    The Rays have struggled with poor attendance at the Trop, although they have at times been successful on the field with World Series appearances in 2008 and 2020.

    Tampa Bay went 77-85 this year and missed the playoffs.

    The team also announced infielder Bob Seymour has been released to pursue a playing opportunity in Asia, and left-hander Nate Lavender was returned to the New York Mets after clearing outright waivers.

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    Associated Press

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  • Dodgers beat Blue Jays, 5-4, in Game 7 of World Series

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    TORONTO — Will Smith homered in the 11th inning after Miguel Rojas connected for a tying drive in the ninth, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in Game 7 Saturday night to become the first team in a quarter century to win consecutive World Series titles..

    What You Need To Know

    • Los Angeles overcame 3-0 and 4-2 deficits and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to become the first repeat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, and the first from the National League since the 1975 and ’76 Cincinnati Reds

    • Smith hit a 2-0 slider off Shane Bieber into the Blue Jays’ bullpen in left, giving the Dodgers their first lead of the night

    • Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw 96 pitches in the Dodgers’ win on Friday, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and threw 43 pitches over 2 2/3 innings for his third win of the Series.

    • Visiting teams had won four straight Game 7s dating to 2014 after home teams won nine in a row from 1982 to 2011



    Los Angeles overcame 3-0 and 4-2 deficits and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to become the first repeat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, and the first from the National League since the 1975 and ’76 Cincinnati Reds.

    Smith hit a 2-0 slider off Shane Bieber into the Blue Jays’ bullpen in left, giving the Dodgers their first lead of the night.

    “You dream of those moments, you know, extra innings, put your team ahead — I’ll remember that forever,” Smith said.

    Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw 96 pitches in the Dodgers’ win on Friday, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and threw 43 pitches over 2 2/3 innings for his third win of the Series.

    He gave up a leadoff double in the 11th to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was sacrificed to third. Addison Barger walked and Alejandro Kirk hit a broken-bat grounder to shortstop Mookie Betts, who started a title-winning 6-4-3 double play that ended baseball’s 150th major league season, the first that began and ended outside the United States.

    Los Angeles used all four of its postseason starting pitchers, with Yamamoto joined by Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.

    “We’ve got a special group of guys, man,” Smith said. “We just never gave up. … Oh man, that was a fight, for seven games.”

    With their ninth championship and third in six years, the Dodgers made an argument for their 2020s teams to be considered a dynasty. Dave Roberts, their manager since 2016, boosted the probability he will gain induction to the Hall of Fame.

    Bo Bichette put Toronto ahead in the third with a three-run homer off Ohtani, the two-way star pitching on three days’ rest after taking the loss in Game 3.

    Los Angeles closed to 3-2 on sacrifice flies from Teoscar Hernández in the fourth off Max Scherzer and Tommy Edman in the sixth against Chris Bassitt.

    Andrés Giménez restored Toronto’s two-run lead with an RBI double in the sixth off Glasnow, who relieved after getting the final three outs on three pitches to save Game 6 on Friday.

    Max Muncy’s eighth-inning homer off star rookie Trey Yesavage cut the Dodgers’ deficit to one run, and Rojas, inserted into the slumping Dodgers’ lineup in Game 6 to provide some energy, homered on a full-count slider from Jeff Hoffman.

    Toronto put two on with one out in the bottom half against Snell, and Los Angeles turned to Yamamoto.

    He hit Kirk on a hand with a pitch, loading the bases and prompting the Dodgers to play the infield in and the outfield shallow. Daulton Varsho grounded to second, where Rojas stumbled but managed to throw home for a forceout as catcher Smith kept his foot on the plate.

    Ernie Clement then flied out to Andy Pages, who made a jumping, backhand catch on the center-field warning track as he crashed into left fielder Kiké Hernández.

    Seranthony Domínguez walked Betts with one out in the 10th and Muncy singled for his third hit. Hernández walked, loading the bases. Pages grounded to shortstop, where Giménez threw home for a forceout. Guerrero fielded a grounder to the right side and threw to pitcher Seranthony Domínguez covering first, just beating Hernández in a call upheld in a video review.

    The epic night matched the Marlins’ 3-2 win over Cleveland in 1997 as the second-longest Series Game 7, behind only the Washington Senators’ 4-3 victory against the New York Giants in 1924.

    The memorable matchup included the World Series’ first pinch-hit grand slam, the first complete game in a decade, an 18-inning Game 3 featuring Ohtani reaching base nine times, six outs on the bases and Freddie Freeman becoming the first to hit two walk-off homers, the first back-to-back homers opening a game, a 22-year-old striking out a rookie record with 12 just six weeks after his debut and the first game-ending double play in which an outfielder had a putout or assist.

    Visiting teams had won four straight Game 7s dating to 2014 after home teams won nine in a row from 1982 to 2011.

    Emotions were high, with benches and bullpens clearing when Giménez was hit on the right hand by a 96.4 mph fastball from Dodgers reliever Justin Wrobleski in the fourth. No punches were thrown.

    Ohtani was given extended time after ending the top of the first on base and making the final out of the third, causing the between-innings break to reach 4 1/2 minutes.

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    Associated Press

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  • Ramírez passes Thome on Cleveland RBIs list as Guardians beat Rays 2-1

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    By  KRISTIE ACKERT

    TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — José Ramírez passed Jim Thome to move into sole possession of second place on the Cleveland’s career RBIs list, helping the Guardians to a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 Sunday in a game with wild-card race implications.

    Ramírez hit a tying triple in the two-run sixth off Garrett Cleavinger (1-5) for his 938th RBI and trails only Earl Averill’s 1,084.

    Gabriel Arias had an RBI single later in the inning against Kevin Kelly that scored David Fry, who slid home headfirst just ahead of right fielder Josh Lowe’s throw.

    Cleavinger entered to start the sixth with a 20-inning scoreless streak, the active major league high. The run was the first he allowed since July 5.

    Cleveland (72-70) won the last three games of the four-game series and moved ahead of the Rays (71-72). Seattle (75-68) leads for the third and final wild card.

    The game drew 8,155, the 16th time in 74 home games the Rays did not sell out 10,046-capacity Steinbrenner Field.

    Left-hander Parker Messick (2-0), a 24-year-old left-hander making his fourth major league start, allowed one run and eight hits in six innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Messick is from Plant City, less than 30 miles away, and was pitching before family and friends .

    Rays rookie Carson Williams homered in the fifth on a fastball, ending an 0-for-12 slide.

    Cade Smith struck out the side in the ninth for his 11th save in 16 chances.

    Key Moment

    Brandon Lowe’s first-inning, two-out fly ball landed on the right-field warning track behind George Valera and Junior Caminero, who started on first, failed to run hard and only reached first. Caminero was stranded when Christopher Morel flied out.

    Key Stat

    Rays starter Drew Rasmussen was removed after 82 pitches over five scoreless innings.

    Up Next

    Guardians: RHP Slade Cecconi (5-6, 4.78) starts a homestand opener against Kansas City and RHP Ryan Bergert (2-1, 2.61).

    Rays: Have not said who will start Tuesday’s series opener at the Chicago White Sox.

    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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  • Davey Johnson, who managed Mets to title, dies at 82

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    Davey Johnson, an All-Star second baseman who won the World Series twice with the Baltimore Orioles as a player and managed the New York Mets to the title in 1986 has died. He was 82.

    Longtime Mets public relations representative Jay Horwitz said Johnson’s wife informed him of his death after a long illness. Johnson was at a hospital in Sarasota, Florida, when he died.

    Johnson played 13 major league seasons with Baltimore, Atlanta, Philadelphia and the Chicago Chicago Cubs from 1965-78 and won the Gold Glove three times. He managed the Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals during a span from 1984-2013.

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  • St. Pete vote to fix Tropicana field delayed once again

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A vote that would formally green light repairs to hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field has been delayed until next month.

    City Council member Corey Givens Jr said an email bumping the vote came from the city administrator Friday as council members were preparing to return from spring break.

    Givens said he felt blindsided and there was no reason listed for the delay, but fears pushing the vote even further could complicate plans or make the project more expensive.

    What You Need To Know

    • City is contractually obligated to fix Tropicana Field 

    • Rays stated they plan to play at Tropicana Field starting opening day 2026

    •  St. Pete now has less than one year to complete repairs 

    • MORE: Latest updates regarding stadium plans


    “Kicking the can down the road is going to make matters even worse,” he said. “I’m looking forward to finding this out myself, why this has been delayed. I’m certainly open to transparency and communication, which is something we haven’t been getting.”

    To date, the repairs to fix Tropicana Field are expected to cost the city just over $22 million.

    The vote regarding ballpark repairs is now slated to take place in early April.

    This delay puts the vote after the March 31 deadline when the Rays would have had to formally move forward with the deal. While owner Stu Sternberg announced on March 13 that the Rays do not plan to move forward, the contract formally expires at the end of the month.

    Due to spring break, Thursday also marks the first time city council members are meeting since the Rays announced they would not be moving forward with the new stadium plans. While there’s no formal agenda item regarding the failed deal, a topic regarding property insurance for Tropicana Field is listed on the agenda.

    St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch says he plans to move forward with redeveloping parts of the Historic Gas Plant District while also leaving a window open for negotiations only if there is a new ownership group.

    “We’re not going to hold up the development of that land for another 20 years or 15 years, because of the latest speculative offer that was made out there,” he said.

    Welch says city council members now have a lot to talk about.

    He went on to say that he has not seen any documentation from the Rays regarding their claim that a series of delays at the city and county level made the new ballpark project more expensive.

    “No, I don’t buy it,” he said. “I have asked several times. They show me what the cost overrun is, so that proof has never been provided… if you really want help to address that gap, then you show your partners what that gap is.”

    In a statement, Sternberg said he anticipates the Rays will be playing at Tropicana Field again starting Opening Day 2026.

    That leaves less than a year for repairs to be completed.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Dodgers beat Yankees, win 2024 World Series

    Dodgers beat Yankees, win 2024 World Series

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    NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Dodgers won their second World Series championship in five seasons, overcoming a five-run deficit with the help of three Yankees defensive miscues and rallying on sacrifice flies from Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts in the eighth inning to beat New York 7-6 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

    What You Need To Know

    • Dave Roberts won his second championship in nine seasons as manager as the Dodgers, matching Lasorda and trailing the four of Walter Alston

    • The Dodgers won for the fourth time in 12 Series meetings with the Yankees

    • New York remained without a title since winning its record 27th in 2009

    • The Dodgers earned their eighth championship and seventh since leaving Brooklyn for Los Angeles — their first in a non-shortened season since 1988

    Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, Alex Verdugo’s RBI single chased Jack Flaherty in the second and Giancarlo Stanton’s third-inning homer against Ryan Brasier built a 5-0 Yankees lead.

    But errors by Judge in center and Anthony Volpe at shortstop, combined with pitcher Gerrit Cole failing to cover first on Betts’ grounder, helped Los Angeles score five unearned runs in the fifth.

    After Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly put the Yankees back ahead 6-5, the Dodgers loaded the bases against loser Tommy Kahnle in the eighth before the sacrifice flies off Luke Weaver.

    Winner Blake Treinen escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the bottom half by retiring Stanton on a flyout and striking out Anthony Rizzo.

    Walker Buehler, making his first relief appearance since his rookie season in 2018, pitched a perfect ninth for his first major league save.

    “We’re obviously resilient, but there’s so much love in the clubhouse that won this game today,” Betts said. “That’s what it was. It was love, it was grit. I mean, it was just a beautiful thing. I’m just proud of us and I’m happy for us.”

    When Buehler struck out Verdugo to end the game, the Dodgers poured onto the field to celebrate between the mound and first base, capping a season in which they won 98 games and finished with the best regular-season record.

    “There’s just a lot of ways we can win baseball games,” Buehler said. “Obviously the superstars we have on our team and the discipline, it just kind of all adds up.”

    Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ record-setting $700 million signing and baseball’s first 50-homer, 50-steal player, went 2 for 19 with no RBIs and had one single after separating his shoulder during a stolen base attempt in Game 2.

    Freddie Freeman hit a two-run single to tie the Series record of 12 RBIs, set by Bobby Richardson over seven games in 1960. With the Dodgers one out from losing Friday’s opener, Freeman hit a game-ending grand slam reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s homer off Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley in 1988’s Game 1 that sparked Los Angeles to the title.

    The Dodgers earned their eighth championship and seventh since leaving Brooklyn for Los Angeles — their first in a non-shortened season since 1988. They won a neutral-site World Series against Tampa Bay in 2020 after a 60-game regular season and couldn’t have a parade because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    These Dodgers of Ohtani, Freeman & Betts joined the 1955 Duke Snider and Roy Campanella Boys of Summer, the Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale era that spanned the three titles from 1959-65, the Tommy Lasorda-led groups 1981 and ’88 and the Betts and Clayton Kershaw champions of 2020.

    Dave Roberts won his second championship in nine seasons as manager as the Dodgers, matching Lasorda and trailing the four of Walter Alston. The Dodgers won for the fourth time in 12 Series meetings with the Yankees.

    New York remained without a title since winning its record 27th in 2009. The Yankees acquired Juan Soto from San Diego in December knowing he would be eligible for free agency after the 2024 Series. The 26-year-old star went 5 for 16 one RBI in the Series heading into intensely followed bidding on the open market.

    Judge finished 4 for 18 with three RBIs.

    Cole didn’t allow a hit until Kiké Hernández singled leading off the fifth. Judge, who an inning earlier made a leaping catch at the wall to deny Freeman an extra-base hit, dropped Tommy Edman’s fly to center. Shortstop Anthony Volpe then bounced a throw to third on Will Smith’s grounder, allowing the Dodgers to load the bases with no outs.

    Cole struck out Lux and Ohtani, and Betts hit a grounder to Rizzo. Cole didn’t cover first, pointing at Rizzo to run to the bag as Betts outraced the first baseman.

    Freeman followed with a two-run single and Teoscar Hernández hit a tying two-run double. Max Muncy walked before Kiké Hernández grounded into a forceout on Cole’s 48th pitch of the inning.

    “We just take advantage of every mistake they made in that inning,” Teoscar Hernández said. “We put some good at-bats together. We put the ball in play.”

    Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly off Brusdar Graterol put the Yankees ahead 6-5, but the Dodgers rallied one last time in the eighth.

    Kiké Hernández singled off Tommy Kahnle leading off. Edman followed with an infield hit and Smith walked on four pitches. Lux’s sacrifice fly off Luke Weaver tied the score. Ohtani reached on catcher’s interference and Betts followed with another sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers their first lead.

    Purchased by Guggenheim Baseball Management in 2012, the Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman from Tampa Bay to head their baseball operations two years later. He boosted the front office with a multitude of analytics and performance science staff, and ownership supplied the cash.

    Los Angeles went on an unprecedented $1.25 billion spending spree last offseason on deals with Ohtani, pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton, and outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Much of the money was future obligations that raised the Dodgers’ deferred compensation to $915.5 million owed from 2028-44.

    Faced with injuries, the Dodgers acquired Flaherty, Edman and reliever Michael Kopech ahead of the trade deadline, and all became important cogs in the title run. The additions boosted payroll to $266 million, third behind the Mets and the Yankees, plus a projected $43 million luxury tax.

    Up next

    Los Angeles opens its spring schedule on Feb. 20 against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch, and the Yankees start the next day against Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida.

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  • Dodgers beat Yankees, win 2024 World Series

    Dodgers beat Yankees, win 2024 World Series

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    NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Dodgers won their second World Series championship in five seasons, overcoming a five-run deficit with the help of three Yankees defensive miscues and rallying on sacrifice flies from Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts in the eighth inning to beat New York 7-6 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

    What You Need To Know

    • Dave Roberts won his second championship in nine seasons as manager as the Dodgers, matching Lasorda and trailing the four of Walter Alston

    • The Dodgers won for the fourth time in 12 Series meetings with the Yankees

    • New York remained without a title since winning its record 27th in 2009

    • The Dodgers earned their eighth championship and seventh since leaving Brooklyn for Los Angeles — their first in a non-shortened season since 1988

    Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, Alex Verdugo’s RBI single chased Jack Flaherty in the second and Giancarlo Stanton’s third-inning homer against Ryan Brasier built a 5-0 Yankees lead.

    But errors by Judge in center and Anthony Volpe at shortstop, combined with pitcher Gerrit Cole failing to cover first on Betts’ grounder, helped Los Angeles score five unearned runs in the fifth.

    After Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly put the Yankees back ahead 6-5, the Dodgers loaded the bases against loser Tommy Kahnle in the eighth before the sacrifice flies off Luke Weaver.

    Winner Blake Treinen escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the bottom half by retiring Stanton on a flyout and striking out Anthony Rizzo.

    Walker Buehler, making his first relief appearance since his rookie season in 2018, pitched a perfect ninth for his first major league save.

    “We’re obviously resilient, but there’s so much love in the clubhouse that won this game today,” Betts said. “That’s what it was. It was love, it was grit. I mean, it was just a beautiful thing. I’m just proud of us and I’m happy for us.”

    When Buehler struck out Verdugo to end the game, the Dodgers poured onto the field to celebrate between the mound and first base, capping a season in which they won 98 games and finished with the best regular-season record.

    “There’s just a lot of ways we can win baseball games,” Buehler said. “Obviously the superstars we have on our team and the discipline, it just kind of all adds up.”

    Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ record-setting $700 million signing and baseball’s first 50-homer, 50-steal player, went 2 for 19 with no RBIs and had one single after separating his shoulder during a stolen base attempt in Game 2.

    Freddie Freeman hit a two-run single to tie the Series record of 12 RBIs, set by Bobby Richardson over seven games in 1960. With the Dodgers one out from losing Friday’s opener, Freeman hit a game-ending grand slam reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s homer off Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley in 1988’s Game 1 that sparked Los Angeles to the title.

    The Dodgers earned their eighth championship and seventh since leaving Brooklyn for Los Angeles — their first in a non-shortened season since 1988. They won a neutral-site World Series against Tampa Bay in 2020 after a 60-game regular season and couldn’t have a parade because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    These Dodgers of Ohtani, Freeman & Betts joined the 1955 Duke Snider and Roy Campanella Boys of Summer, the Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale era that spanned the three titles from 1959-65, the Tommy Lasorda-led groups 1981 and ’88 and the Betts and Clayton Kershaw champions of 2020.

    Dave Roberts won his second championship in nine seasons as manager as the Dodgers, matching Lasorda and trailing the four of Walter Alston. The Dodgers won for the fourth time in 12 Series meetings with the Yankees.

    New York remained without a title since winning its record 27th in 2009. The Yankees acquired Juan Soto from San Diego in December knowing he would be eligible for free agency after the 2024 Series. The 26-year-old star went 5 for 16 one RBI in the Series heading into intensely followed bidding on the open market.

    Judge finished 4 for 18 with three RBIs.

    Cole didn’t allow a hit until Kiké Hernández singled leading off the fifth. Judge, who an inning earlier made a leaping catch at the wall to deny Freeman an extra-base hit, dropped Tommy Edman’s fly to center. Shortstop Anthony Volpe then bounced a throw to third on Will Smith’s grounder, allowing the Dodgers to load the bases with no outs.

    Cole struck out Lux and Ohtani, and Betts hit a grounder to Rizzo. Cole didn’t cover first, pointing at Rizzo to run to the bag as Betts outraced the first baseman.

    Freeman followed with a two-run single and Teoscar Hernández hit a tying two-run double. Max Muncy walked before Kiké Hernández grounded into a forceout on Cole’s 48th pitch of the inning.

    “We just take advantage of every mistake they made in that inning,” Teoscar Hernández said. “We put some good at-bats together. We put the ball in play.”

    Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly off Brusdar Graterol put the Yankees ahead 6-5, but the Dodgers rallied one last time in the eighth.

    Kiké Hernández singled off Tommy Kahnle leading off. Edman followed with an infield hit and Smith walked on four pitches. Lux’s sacrifice fly off Luke Weaver tied the score. Ohtani reached on catcher’s interference and Betts followed with another sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers their first lead.

    Purchased by Guggenheim Baseball Management in 2012, the Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman from Tampa Bay to head their baseball operations two years later. He boosted the front office with a multitude of analytics and performance science staff, and ownership supplied the cash.

    Los Angeles went on an unprecedented $1.25 billion spending spree last offseason on deals with Ohtani, pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton, and outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Much of the money was future obligations that raised the Dodgers’ deferred compensation to $915.5 million owed from 2028-44.

    Faced with injuries, the Dodgers acquired Flaherty, Edman and reliever Michael Kopech ahead of the trade deadline, and all became important cogs in the title run. The additions boosted payroll to $266 million, third behind the Mets and the Yankees, plus a projected $43 million luxury tax.

    Up next

    Los Angeles opens its spring schedule on Feb. 20 against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch, and the Yankees start the next day against Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida.

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  • Dodgers beat Yankees, win 2024 World Series

    Dodgers beat Yankees, win 2024 World Series

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    NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Dodgers won their second World Series championship in five seasons, overcoming a five-run deficit with the help of three Yankees defensive miscues and rallying on sacrifice flies from Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts in the eighth inning to beat New York 7-6 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

    What You Need To Know

    • Dave Roberts won his second championship in nine seasons as manager as the Dodgers, matching Lasorda and trailing the four of Walter Alston

    • The Dodgers won for the fourth time in 12 Series meetings with the Yankees

    • New York remained without a title since winning its record 27th in 2009

    • The Dodgers earned their eighth championship and seventh since leaving Brooklyn for Los Angeles — their first in a non-shortened season since 1988

    Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, Alex Verdugo’s RBI single chased Jack Flaherty in the second and Giancarlo Stanton’s third-inning homer against Ryan Brasier built a 5-0 Yankees lead.

    But errors by Judge in center and Anthony Volpe at shortstop, combined with pitcher Gerrit Cole failing to cover first on Betts’ grounder, helped Los Angeles score five unearned runs in the fifth.

    After Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly put the Yankees back ahead 6-5, the Dodgers loaded the bases against loser Tommy Kahnle in the eighth before the sacrifice flies off Luke Weaver.

    Winner Blake Treinen escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the bottom half by retiring Stanton on a flyout and striking out Anthony Rizzo.

    Walker Buehler, making his first relief appearance since his rookie season in 2018, pitched a perfect ninth for his first major league save.

    “We’re obviously resilient, but there’s so much love in the clubhouse that won this game today,” Betts said. “That’s what it was. It was love, it was grit. I mean, it was just a beautiful thing. I’m just proud of us and I’m happy for us.”

    When Buehler struck out Verdugo to end the game, the Dodgers poured onto the field to celebrate between the mound and first base, capping a season in which they won 98 games and finished with the best regular-season record.

    “There’s just a lot of ways we can win baseball games,” Buehler said. “Obviously the superstars we have on our team and the discipline, it just kind of all adds up.”

    Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ record-setting $700 million signing and baseball’s first 50-homer, 50-steal player, went 2 for 19 with no RBIs and had one single after separating his shoulder during a stolen base attempt in Game 2.

    Freddie Freeman hit a two-run single to tie the Series record of 12 RBIs, set by Bobby Richardson over seven games in 1960. With the Dodgers one out from losing Friday’s opener, Freeman hit a game-ending grand slam reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s homer off Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley in 1988’s Game 1 that sparked Los Angeles to the title.

    The Dodgers earned their eighth championship and seventh since leaving Brooklyn for Los Angeles — their first in a non-shortened season since 1988. They won a neutral-site World Series against Tampa Bay in 2020 after a 60-game regular season and couldn’t have a parade because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    These Dodgers of Ohtani, Freeman & Betts joined the 1955 Duke Snider and Roy Campanella Boys of Summer, the Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale era that spanned the three titles from 1959-65, the Tommy Lasorda-led groups 1981 and ’88 and the Betts and Clayton Kershaw champions of 2020.

    Dave Roberts won his second championship in nine seasons as manager as the Dodgers, matching Lasorda and trailing the four of Walter Alston. The Dodgers won for the fourth time in 12 Series meetings with the Yankees.

    New York remained without a title since winning its record 27th in 2009. The Yankees acquired Juan Soto from San Diego in December knowing he would be eligible for free agency after the 2024 Series. The 26-year-old star went 5 for 16 one RBI in the Series heading into intensely followed bidding on the open market.

    Judge finished 4 for 18 with three RBIs.

    Cole didn’t allow a hit until Kiké Hernández singled leading off the fifth. Judge, who an inning earlier made a leaping catch at the wall to deny Freeman an extra-base hit, dropped Tommy Edman’s fly to center. Shortstop Anthony Volpe then bounced a throw to third on Will Smith’s grounder, allowing the Dodgers to load the bases with no outs.

    Cole struck out Lux and Ohtani, and Betts hit a grounder to Rizzo. Cole didn’t cover first, pointing at Rizzo to run to the bag as Betts outraced the first baseman.

    Freeman followed with a two-run single and Teoscar Hernández hit a tying two-run double. Max Muncy walked before Kiké Hernández grounded into a forceout on Cole’s 48th pitch of the inning.

    “We just take advantage of every mistake they made in that inning,” Teoscar Hernández said. “We put some good at-bats together. We put the ball in play.”

    Stanton’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly off Brusdar Graterol put the Yankees ahead 6-5, but the Dodgers rallied one last time in the eighth.

    Kiké Hernández singled off Tommy Kahnle leading off. Edman followed with an infield hit and Smith walked on four pitches. Lux’s sacrifice fly off Luke Weaver tied the score. Ohtani reached on catcher’s interference and Betts followed with another sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers their first lead.

    Purchased by Guggenheim Baseball Management in 2012, the Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman from Tampa Bay to head their baseball operations two years later. He boosted the front office with a multitude of analytics and performance science staff, and ownership supplied the cash.

    Los Angeles went on an unprecedented $1.25 billion spending spree last offseason on deals with Ohtani, pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton, and outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Much of the money was future obligations that raised the Dodgers’ deferred compensation to $915.5 million owed from 2028-44.

    Faced with injuries, the Dodgers acquired Flaherty, Edman and reliever Michael Kopech ahead of the trade deadline, and all became important cogs in the title run. The additions boosted payroll to $266 million, third behind the Mets and the Yankees, plus a projected $43 million luxury tax.

    Up next

    Los Angeles opens its spring schedule on Feb. 20 against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch, and the Yankees start the next day against Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida.

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  • Dodgers beat Yankees 6-3 in thrilling World Series opener

    Dodgers beat Yankees 6-3 in thrilling World Series opener

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    LOS ANGELES — A nail-biter all night with a Hollywood ending. Game 1 of Yankees-Dodgers certainly delivered.

    Freddie Freeman hit the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history with two outs in the 10th inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in a drama-filled opener Friday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hobbled by a badly sprained ankle, Freeman homered on the first pitch he saw — an inside fastball from Nestor Cortes — and raised his bat high before beginning his trot as the sellout crowd of 52,394 roared

    • It was reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s stunning homer that lifted Los Angeles over the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series at Dodger Stadium — one of the most famous swings in baseball lore

    • “Might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts marveled
    • Freeman, an eight-time All-Star who missed three games during the National League playoffs because of his bum ankle, didn’t have an extra-base hit this postseason until legging out a triple in the first inning Friday

    “Might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts marveled.

    Hobbled by a badly sprained right ankle, Freeman homered on the first pitch he saw — a 92 mph inside fastball from Nestor Cortes — and raised his bat high before beginning his trot as the sellout crowd of 52,394 roared.

    “I cannot believe what just happened,” Roberts said. “That’s what makes the Fall Classic a classic, right, because the stars come out and superstars make big plays, get big hits, in the biggest of moments. … I’m speechless right now.”

    It was reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s stunning homer that lifted Los Angeles over the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series at Dodger Stadium — one of the most famous swings in baseball lore.

    Gibson, sidelined by leg injuries, came off the bench and connected against Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley.

    “I played the whole game, though,” Freeman said with a smile.

    Freeman, an eight-time All-Star who missed three games during the National League playoffs because of his bum ankle, didn’t have an extra-base hit this postseason until legging out a triple in the first inning Friday.

    “Actually felt pretty good,” said Freeman, who will donate his game spikes to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. “The last six days we treated it really well. I’ve been feeling pretty good. Right when I ran out to give high-fives to my teammates, I felt pretty good, because that was the first time I ran all week. So, ankle’s good.”

    After the home run, Freeman ran over to his father.

    “I was just screaming in his face. I’m sorry, dad,” Freeman said, laughing. “He’s been there since I was a little boy, throwing batting practice to me every day. So this is a moment, it’s my dad’s moment.”

    Giancarlo Stanton launched a two-run homer for New York in this much-hyped, star-studded matchup between two of baseball’s most storied and successful franchises — the third straight World Series opener to go extra innings.

    “You can’t sit here and mope. You can’t sit here and complain. You can’t shoulda, coulda, woulda,” Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said. “It’s time to go to work. We lost this game. Learn from it. See where we can improve and go out there and win the next one.”

    In the top of the 10th, Anthony Volpe grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop, scoring Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third after he stole two bases, to give New York a 3-2 lead.

    The speedy Chisholm singled off winning pitcher Blake Treinen and then stole second. Following an intentional walk to Anthony Rizzo, Chisholm swiped third base uncontested as Treinen was slow to the plate with Max Muncy playing deep at third.

    Tommy Edman made a diving stop to his left on Volpe’s grounder, but couldn’t get it out of his glove initially. He tossed to second to get Rizzo out as Chisholm came flying home with the go-ahead run.

    But the Dodgers weren’t done.

    Gavin Lux walked against losing pitcher Jake Cousins with one out in the bottom of the 10th and went to second on Edman’s infield single to second. Defensive replacement Oswaldo Cabrera knocked down the ball with his glove but it leaked into the outfield.

    That brought up star slugger Shohei Ohtani, a left-handed hitter. Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to his bullpen again for Cortes, a lefty starter who hadn’t pitched since Sept. 18 because of an elbow injury.

    After missing the AL playoffs, Cortes was added to the World Series roster Friday.

    “I ran into the (batting) cage and I told the guys in the cage, this game should have been the first baseball game ever on pay-per view,” Dodgers center fielder Kiké Hernández said.

    Left fielder Alex Verdugo made a running catch in foul territory to retire Ohtani on Cortes’ first pitch. Verdugo’s momentum sent him tumbling over the low retaining wall, advancing both runners one base because by rule it became a dead ball when Verdugo wound up in the stands.

    With first base open, New York intentionally walked Mookie Betts to load the bases and set up a lefty-on-lefty matchup of Cortes against Freeman.

    “I was on time for the heater,” Freeman said.

    His drive into the right-field pavilion sent Dodgers fans into a frenzy. It was the third walk-off homer in World Series history for a team that was trailing, following Gibson’s shot and Joe Carter’s drive for the Toronto Blue Jays that won the 1993 World Series against Philadelphia.

    Nelson Cruz hit the only other game-ending grand slam in postseason history, for Texas in the 2011 American League Championship Series against Detroit.

    “That’s stuff, you’re 5 years old in the backyard right there,” Freeman said. “That’s a dream come true, but it’s only one. We’ve got three more.”

    This is the 12th time the Yankees and Dodgers are meeting in the World Series, the most frequent matchup in major league annals, but their previous October clash was 43 years ago.

    While the Dodgers are seeking their eighth title and second in five years, the Yankees are in the Fall Classic for the first time since winning No. 27 in 2009.

    The first Series with a pair of 50-home run hitters in Judge (58) and Ohtani (54) opened quietly as Gerrit Cole, the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner, and Jack Flaherty dueled through four scoreless innings. Judge struck out swinging in his first three at-bats before hitting a single off Brusdar Graterol with two outs in the seventh.

    Ohtani was 0 for 3 before ripping a double off the right-field wall in the eighth. He raced to third on the play when second baseman Gleyber Torres mishandled Juan Soto’s throw, which became costly when Ohtani scored on a sacrifice fly by Betts that tied it 2-all.

    With two outs in the ninth, Torres sent a long drive to left-center. A fan wearing a Dodgers jersey reached over the wall and caught the ball. Umpires ruled fan interference and gave Torres a double, a call confirmed on video replay. The fan immediately left the area.

    Soto was intentionally walked before Judge popped out against Treinen to end the inning.

    The Dodgers broke through for a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Hernández tripled past Soto in right field and scored on Will Smith’s sacrifice fly.

    The Yankees answered right back in the sixth. Soto singled leading off before Judge struck out swinging for the third time. Stanton followed with a 412-foot shot to left off Flaherty for his 17th career postseason homer. Stanton grew up in the nearby San Fernando Valley, not far from Flaherty’s hometown of Burbank.

    Stanton, the ALCS MVP, connected on a knuckle-curve that hung slightly at the bottom of the strike zone. His sixth homer in 11 games this postseason came off his bat at 116.6 mph.

    After last weekend’s pennant-clinching win at Cleveland, Stanton said, “This ain’t the trophy I want. I want the next one.”

    The Yankees then loaded the bases. Chisholm singled off Anthony Banda and stole second. After Rizzo struck out, Volpe was intentionally walked. Austin Wells reached on an infield single that Edman smothered with a dive to save a run before Verdugo struck out swinging against his former team.

    Fernando Valenzuela, the 1981 NL Cy Young Award winner and Rookie of the Year who died earlier this week at age 63, was honored with a moment of silence before the game.

    Up next

    Game 2 is Saturday evening at Dodger Stadium, with Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón pitching against $325 million rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

    Rodón is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in three starts this postseason, with 22 strikeouts over 14 1/3 innings. Yamamoto is 1-0 in three postseason starts with a 5.11 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings.

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  • Dodgers beat Yankees 6-3 in thrilling World Series opener

    Dodgers beat Yankees 6-3 in thrilling World Series opener

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    LOS ANGELES — A nail-biter all night with a Hollywood ending. Game 1 of Yankees-Dodgers certainly delivered.

    Freddie Freeman hit the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history with two outs in the 10th inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in a drama-filled opener Friday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hobbled by a badly sprained ankle, Freeman homered on the first pitch he saw — an inside fastball from Nestor Cortes — and raised his bat high before beginning his trot as the sellout crowd of 52,394 roared

    • It was reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s stunning homer that lifted Los Angeles over the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series at Dodger Stadium — one of the most famous swings in baseball lore

    • “Might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts marveled
    • Freeman, an eight-time All-Star who missed three games during the National League playoffs because of his bum ankle, didn’t have an extra-base hit this postseason until legging out a triple in the first inning Friday

    “Might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts marveled.

    Hobbled by a badly sprained right ankle, Freeman homered on the first pitch he saw — a 92 mph inside fastball from Nestor Cortes — and raised his bat high before beginning his trot as the sellout crowd of 52,394 roared.

    “I cannot believe what just happened,” Roberts said. “That’s what makes the Fall Classic a classic, right, because the stars come out and superstars make big plays, get big hits, in the biggest of moments. … I’m speechless right now.”

    It was reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s stunning homer that lifted Los Angeles over the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series at Dodger Stadium — one of the most famous swings in baseball lore.

    Gibson, sidelined by leg injuries, came off the bench and connected against Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley.

    “I played the whole game, though,” Freeman said with a smile.

    Freeman, an eight-time All-Star who missed three games during the National League playoffs because of his bum ankle, didn’t have an extra-base hit this postseason until legging out a triple in the first inning Friday.

    “Actually felt pretty good,” said Freeman, who will donate his game spikes to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. “The last six days we treated it really well. I’ve been feeling pretty good. Right when I ran out to give high-fives to my teammates, I felt pretty good, because that was the first time I ran all week. So, ankle’s good.”

    After the home run, Freeman ran over to his father.

    “I was just screaming in his face. I’m sorry, dad,” Freeman said, laughing. “He’s been there since I was a little boy, throwing batting practice to me every day. So this is a moment, it’s my dad’s moment.”

    Giancarlo Stanton launched a two-run homer for New York in this much-hyped, star-studded matchup between two of baseball’s most storied and successful franchises — the third straight World Series opener to go extra innings.

    “You can’t sit here and mope. You can’t sit here and complain. You can’t shoulda, coulda, woulda,” Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said. “It’s time to go to work. We lost this game. Learn from it. See where we can improve and go out there and win the next one.”

    In the top of the 10th, Anthony Volpe grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop, scoring Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third after he stole two bases, to give New York a 3-2 lead.

    The speedy Chisholm singled off winning pitcher Blake Treinen and then stole second. Following an intentional walk to Anthony Rizzo, Chisholm swiped third base uncontested as Treinen was slow to the plate with Max Muncy playing deep at third.

    Tommy Edman made a diving stop to his left on Volpe’s grounder, but couldn’t get it out of his glove initially. He tossed to second to get Rizzo out as Chisholm came flying home with the go-ahead run.

    But the Dodgers weren’t done.

    Gavin Lux walked against losing pitcher Jake Cousins with one out in the bottom of the 10th and went to second on Edman’s infield single to second. Defensive replacement Oswaldo Cabrera knocked down the ball with his glove but it leaked into the outfield.

    That brought up star slugger Shohei Ohtani, a left-handed hitter. Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to his bullpen again for Cortes, a lefty starter who hadn’t pitched since Sept. 18 because of an elbow injury.

    After missing the AL playoffs, Cortes was added to the World Series roster Friday.

    “I ran into the (batting) cage and I told the guys in the cage, this game should have been the first baseball game ever on pay-per view,” Dodgers center fielder Kiké Hernández said.

    Left fielder Alex Verdugo made a running catch in foul territory to retire Ohtani on Cortes’ first pitch. Verdugo’s momentum sent him tumbling over the low retaining wall, advancing both runners one base because by rule it became a dead ball when Verdugo wound up in the stands.

    With first base open, New York intentionally walked Mookie Betts to load the bases and set up a lefty-on-lefty matchup of Cortes against Freeman.

    “I was on time for the heater,” Freeman said.

    His drive into the right-field pavilion sent Dodgers fans into a frenzy. It was the third walk-off homer in World Series history for a team that was trailing, following Gibson’s shot and Joe Carter’s drive for the Toronto Blue Jays that won the 1993 World Series against Philadelphia.

    Nelson Cruz hit the only other game-ending grand slam in postseason history, for Texas in the 2011 American League Championship Series against Detroit.

    “That’s stuff, you’re 5 years old in the backyard right there,” Freeman said. “That’s a dream come true, but it’s only one. We’ve got three more.”

    This is the 12th time the Yankees and Dodgers are meeting in the World Series, the most frequent matchup in major league annals, but their previous October clash was 43 years ago.

    While the Dodgers are seeking their eighth title and second in five years, the Yankees are in the Fall Classic for the first time since winning No. 27 in 2009.

    The first Series with a pair of 50-home run hitters in Judge (58) and Ohtani (54) opened quietly as Gerrit Cole, the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner, and Jack Flaherty dueled through four scoreless innings. Judge struck out swinging in his first three at-bats before hitting a single off Brusdar Graterol with two outs in the seventh.

    Ohtani was 0 for 3 before ripping a double off the right-field wall in the eighth. He raced to third on the play when second baseman Gleyber Torres mishandled Juan Soto’s throw, which became costly when Ohtani scored on a sacrifice fly by Betts that tied it 2-all.

    With two outs in the ninth, Torres sent a long drive to left-center. A fan wearing a Dodgers jersey reached over the wall and caught the ball. Umpires ruled fan interference and gave Torres a double, a call confirmed on video replay. The fan immediately left the area.

    Soto was intentionally walked before Judge popped out against Treinen to end the inning.

    The Dodgers broke through for a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Hernández tripled past Soto in right field and scored on Will Smith’s sacrifice fly.

    The Yankees answered right back in the sixth. Soto singled leading off before Judge struck out swinging for the third time. Stanton followed with a 412-foot shot to left off Flaherty for his 17th career postseason homer. Stanton grew up in the nearby San Fernando Valley, not far from Flaherty’s hometown of Burbank.

    Stanton, the ALCS MVP, connected on a knuckle-curve that hung slightly at the bottom of the strike zone. His sixth homer in 11 games this postseason came off his bat at 116.6 mph.

    After last weekend’s pennant-clinching win at Cleveland, Stanton said, “This ain’t the trophy I want. I want the next one.”

    The Yankees then loaded the bases. Chisholm singled off Anthony Banda and stole second. After Rizzo struck out, Volpe was intentionally walked. Austin Wells reached on an infield single that Edman smothered with a dive to save a run before Verdugo struck out swinging against his former team.

    Fernando Valenzuela, the 1981 NL Cy Young Award winner and Rookie of the Year who died earlier this week at age 63, was honored with a moment of silence before the game.

    Up next

    Game 2 is Saturday evening at Dodger Stadium, with Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón pitching against $325 million rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

    Rodón is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in three starts this postseason, with 22 strikeouts over 14 1/3 innings. Yamamoto is 1-0 in three postseason starts with a 5.11 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings.

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    Associated Press

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  • Rays outlast Diamondbacks 8-7 in 12 innings

    Rays outlast Diamondbacks 8-7 in 12 innings

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Dylan Carlson hit an RBI single in the 12th inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-7 to complete a three-game sweep Sunday after blowing a six-run lead.

    Jonny DeLuca led off with a sacrifice bunt against Justin Martinez (5-4) that moved automatic runner Alex Jackson from second to third. Taylor Walls walked before Carlson won it with his base hit to left field.

    Martinez worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 11th.

    Arizona was without a hit for six innings before staging its late comeback.

    “It was an exciting game, you could say,” Carlson said. “There were a lot of good things done in the game. A lot of contributions from a lot of guys.”

    Edwin Uceta (1-0) struck out two in a scoreless inning to get his first major league win.

    Walls and Arizona’s Joc Pederson each had a run-scoring single in the 10th.

    Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen and Tyler Alexander lost a combined no-hit bid in the seventh when Corbin Carroll flared a single off Alexander to shallow left that Walls, the shortstop, nearly caught barehanded.

    Rasmussen tossed two perfect innings as the opener before Alexander allowed three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

    Carroll cut Arizona’s deficit to 6-3 on a two-run homer against Alexander in the eighth. Adrian Del Castillo tied it with a three-run homer off closer Pete Fairbanks in the ninth.

    “There’s some really good moments, and some really identifiable moments where we’ve got to improve,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “We really fought hard. There’s no quit in this team. They’re hungry, and that’s what I’m going to focus on.”

    Fairbanks, who also blew a save on Friday, left with a lat strain with two outs in the ninth. He will be going on the injured list.

    Arizona star Ketel Marte aggravated his injured left ankle on a check-swing as a pinch hitter in the ninth and needed assistance to walk off the field. He was the designated hitter Saturday following a three-game absence because of a sprained left ankle.

    Lovullo had no update on Marte other than he was being examined.

    “It didn’t look great,” Lovullo said. “We need to probably re-evaulate and find out how quickly we can get him back.”

    Two other Arizona mainstays, first baseman Christian Walker (strained left oblique) and catcher Gabriel Moreno (strained left adductor), are on the injured list.

    The Diamondbacks have lost three in a row for the first time since June 26-28. They are still 30-13 since then and hold an NL wild-card spot.

    Brandon Lowe put the Rays up 2-0 in the third with a two-run homer off Merrill Kelly. José Caballero drove in two with a double during a three-run fifth that made it 5-0.

    “A lot of ups and downs,” Lowe said. “A lot of backs and forth just when you thought the game was done.”

    Kelly gave up six runs and eight hits over five-plus innings in his second start since returning from a strained right shoulder.

    Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz exited with a bruised left forearm after being hit by a pitch from Kelly leading off the first.

    Díaz, through a translator, said he is sore and considers himself day-to-day. X-rays were negative.

    Tampa Bay center fielder Jose Siri didn’t start for the third straight game after not running hard on a grounder Wednesday, but entered as a pinch hitter in the ninth. Rays manager Kevin Cash said before the game that Siri will start Monday night at Oakland.

    Siri declined to speak with reporters before Sunday’s game.

    UP NEXT

    Diamondbacks: The starters for Monday night’s game at Miami had not been announced.

    Rays: RHP Taj Bradley (6-7, 3.49 ERA) starts Monday night against Oakland RHP Joe Boyle (2-5, 7.39).

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    Associated Press

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  • Rays call up top prospect Junior Caminero

    Rays call up top prospect Junior Caminero

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays are calling up their top prospect from the minor leagues ahead of Tuesday night’s game.

    Junior Caminero, 21, is expected to be at Tropicana Field for tonight’s game against the Houston Astros.

    Caminero, who likely will play third base, is hitting .276 at Triple-A Durham with 13 homers and 34 RBIs.

    He played seven games at the major league level at the end of last season for the Rays, hitting .235 in seven games with a home run and seven RBIs.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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