MLB roundup: Braves sweep Marlins in historic doubleheader

Saturday in Major League Baseball was a truly historic day, a day that transcended the box scores and marked a monumental step forward for the sport. In Atlanta, Jen Pawol broke a barrier over 150 years in the making by becoming the first woman to umpire a big-league game. It was a celebrated and seamless debut that rightly became the top story of the day. Beyond that incredible milestone, the on-field action was equally unforgettable, featuring a bizarre walk-off, a franchise home run record being tied, and superstars continuing their incredible power surges. It was a day of monumental firsts and unforgettable moments that will be etched in the sport’s history books, providing a rich tapestry of stories for fans and sports handicappers to reflect upon.

Jen Pawol Makes History as First Woman to Umpire MLB Game

History was made at Truist Park on Saturday afternoon as umpire Jen Pawol, 48, took her position at first base, officially becoming the first woman to umpire in Major League Baseball’s long history. The groundbreaking moment occurred in the first game of a doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. Pawol handled her duties flawlessly in a moment celebrated by players and fans alike. The game itself saw the host Braves win 7-1, powered by a three-run homer from Michael Harris and a strong start from Hurston Waldrep, but the result was secondary to the historic occasion. Pawol’s debut is a massive story that will be a top headline on all sports picks sites.

Pitch Clock Violation Leads to Brewers Homer; Alonso Ties Mets Record

In one of the wildest finishes of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers benefited from a late pitch clock violation to fuel a 7-4 victory over the skidding New York Mets. With the game tight in the seventh inning, William Contreras hit an inning-ending flyout, but it was negated because the Mets pitcher was called for a pitch clock violation. Given new life, Contreras stepped back to the plate and crushed the very next pitch for a two-run homer. The game also saw Mets slugger Pete Alonso tie the franchise’s all-time home run record with his 252nd career blast, moving him alongside Darryl Strawberry. His pursuit of the record has been a top story on the league leaderboard.

Julio and Cal Raleigh Power Mariners Past Rays

The Seattle Mariners’ dynamic duo of Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh continued their incredible power display in a 7-4 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. Rodriguez hit two home runs, while Raleigh launched his major league-leading 44th long ball of the season. The Mariners have won six straight games and are surging behind their superstars.

Gurriel’s Walk-Off Double Lifts Diamondbacks in Thriller

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was the hero in Phoenix, hitting a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 6-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The hit came after Corbin Carroll, who homered for the third straight game, tied the game earlier in the inning. The dramatic finish was another exciting moment for fans following the live odds and scores.

Around the League

The Atlanta Braves completed their doubleheader sweep of the Miami Marlins with an 8-6 victory in the nightcap, powered by two long home runs from Marcell Ozuna. In Texas, the Philadelphia Phillies got a key two-run double from Max Kepler in the seventh inning to rally past Jacob deGrom and the Rangers 3-2.

In other action, the Kansas City Royals earned a 2-0 shutout victory over the Minnesota Twins, thanks to a dominant 5 2/3 scoreless innings from starter Noah Cameron. The visiting Chicago Cubs also got a great pitching performance from Colin Rea, who allowed just one run in six innings to lead them to a 9-1 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Los Angeles Dodgers finally snapped their losing streak, as Shohei Ohtani hit his 40th homer and Blake Snell struck out 10 in a 9-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Washington Nationals held on for a 4-2 road victory over the San Francisco Giants, a game in which both James Wood and Rafael Devers hit home runs. The visiting Los Angeles Angels used a three-run homer from Jo Adell to power past the Detroit Tigers 7-4. In Cincinnati, the Reds got a three-run homer from Spencer Steer and a dominant debut from new acquisition Zack Littell, who tossed seven strong innings in a 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs.

The Cleveland Guardians won their fifth straight game, shutting out the Chicago White Sox 3-1 behind a strong start from Joey Cantillo. In a pair of extra-inning games, the San Diego Padres got a 10th-inning walk-off single from Ramon Laureano to beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4, while the Houston Astros fell to the Red Sox in a separate 10-inning game, 2-1. Finally, the Pittsburgh Pirates outslugged the Colorado Rockies 9-5.