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Sometimes, a baseball game is more than just a game—it’s a fight. That’s what happened in Los Angeles on Thursday, as a tense rivalry boiled over, leading a wild night of baseball that also featured dramatic walk-off home runs, snapped losing streaks, and doubleheader drama.
Padres 5, Dodgers 3: Benches Clear as Padres Avoid Sweep
The bad blood between these rivals finally reached its boiling point. Xander Bogaerts had four hits, including a homer, to lead the Padres to a crucial 5-3 victory, but the real story was the ninth inning. Benches emptied after Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch, leading to the ejections of both managers. The tension is a factor that sharp sports handicappers often have to weigh in a heated series like this, as emotion can override strategy.
Diamondbacks 9, Blue Jays 5: Suarez’s Four RBIs Lead the Way
Eugenio Suarez was a one-man wrecking crew, driving in four runs with a homer and a double to power Arizona past Toronto. Ryne Nelson was sharp on the mound, allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings as the Diamondbacks salvaged the final game of the series.
Phillies 2, Marlins 1: Schwarber’s Late Homer Decides It
It was a classic pitcher’s duel in Miami, but Kyle Schwarber ended it with one swing. He blasted a solo home run with two outs in the eighth to give the Phillies a tense 2-1 victory. It was a nail-biter where the final odds and scores don’t tell the whole story of the game’s tension.
Twins 12, Reds 5: Buxton’s Power Surge Continues
Byron Buxton is seeing beach balls at the plate. He hit two more home runs—giving him four in the three-game series—to lead Minnesota to a dominant 12-5 win over Cincinnati, avoiding a sweep. The Twins’ offense exploded for 17 total hits.
Yankees 7, Angels 3: Back-to-Back Homers End Losing Streak
The Yankees finally stopped the bleeding. Trent Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt hit back-to-back homers to help New York snap a season-high six-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the Angels.
Brewers 8, Cubs 7: A Slugfest at Wrigley
Home runs were flying out of Wrigley Field as the Brewers outlasted the Cubs 8-7. Rhys Hoskins, Caleb Durbin, and Isaac Collins all went deep for Milwaukee. The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong made history, becoming the first player in franchise history with 20 homers and 20 steals before the All-Star break.
Giants 2, Guardians 1: Flores’ Pinch-Hit Double Saves the Day
Down to their final few outs, the Giants got a hero. Pinch hitter Wilmer Flores delivered a clutch two-run double in the seventh inning, and Logan Webb pitched seven stellar innings as San Francisco edged Cleveland 2-1 to snap a four-game skid.
Nationals 4, Rockies 3 (11 Innings): Wood’s Walk-Off Homer Snaps 11-Game Skid
Pure magic in the nation’s capital! James Wood launched his second home run of the game, a two-run walk-off shot in the 11th inning, to give Washington a thrilling 4-3 win and snap a miserable 11-game losing streak. Wood’s heroics delivered a massive win for his team and their backers, the kind of victory that gets highlighted on the leaderboard.
Tigers 9, Pirates 2 (Game 1): Skubal Dominates in Doubleheader Opener
Tarik Skubal remained perfect at home, improving to 6-0 as a starter in Detroit this season. He guided the Tigers to a 9-2 victory over Pittsburgh in the first game of their doubleheader, with Riley Greene driving in four runs.
Pirates 8, Tigers 4 (Game 2, 10 Innings): Pittsburgh Salvages a Split
The Pirates got their revenge in the nightcap. Pinch hitter Ke’Bryan Hayes sparked a four-run 10th inning with a go-ahead single as Pittsburgh fought back to earn a doubleheader split with an 8-4 victory.
Cardinals 5, White Sox 4 (Game 1): St. Louis Rallies Late
The Cardinals broke through in the eighth inning, with Willson Contreras hitting a game-tying two-run homer before Yohel Pozo delivered the go-ahead single. The 5-4 win handed the host Chicago White Sox their seventh straight loss.
Cardinals 8, White Sox 6 (Game 2, 10 Innings): St. Louis Completes the Sweep
The White Sox’s misery continues. Chicago erased a 6-1 deficit with a five-run seventh, only to lose in extra innings as the Cardinals scored twice in the 10th to complete a doubleheader and series sweep. The collapse is another tough blow for Chicago, a trend that many sports picks sites have been tracking.
Royals 4, Rangers 1: Rookie Homers Twice in Sweep
Rookie Jac Caglianone is making a name for himself. He homered twice to power the Royals to a 4-1 win over the Rangers, securing a three-game series sweep in Arlington behind a great start from Michael Wacha.
Braves 7, Mets 1: Strider Shines as Mets’ Skid Hits Six
The Braves are rolling while the Mets are reeling. Spencer Strider was dominant over six innings and Matt Olson drove in three runs as Atlanta cruised past New York 7-1, handing the Mets their sixth consecutive loss.
Athletics 6, Astros 4 (10 Innings): Kurtz’s Walk-Off Homer Wins It
Another walk-off! Nick Kurtz drilled a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Athletics a dramatic 6-4 victory over the Astros, earning a split in their four-game series.
Orioles 4, Rays 1: Cowser’s Blast Decides the Game
One swing was all it took. Colton Cowser hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning, and that was all the support Charlie Morton needed as the Orioles defeated the Rays 4-1 to split their four-game set.
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