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Mick Abel’s Dream MLB Debut Lifts Phillies Over Pirates
Philadelphia fans witnessed a franchise moment as top prospect Mick Abel tied a club record with nine strikeouts across six scoreless innings, guiding the Phillies to a narrow 1-0 victory and a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Abel, the 2020 first-round pick out of Jesuit High School in Oregon, matched a debut record set by Curt Simmons back in 1947. With five strikeouts in the first two innings—striking out the side in the second—Abel cemented his name in Philly’s history books. The Phillies’ sweep was sealed by a fifth-inning run scored by Nick Castellanos.
On the other side, Paul Skenes was equally impressive, giving up only one run on three hits while striking out nine over eight innings. Yet, the Pirates couldn’t generate offense, dropping Skenes to 0-3 in his last four starts.
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Houston Rallies Behind Paredes’ Heroics Against Texas
The battle of Texas saw a thrilling finish as Isaac Paredes smashed a three-run homer in the eighth, turning the game around for the Astros in a 4-3 victory over the Rangers. The four-game series ended in a split, but Paredes’ late-game power stole the show.
Jack Leiter had a no-hitter into the seventh, only for Yainer Diaz to crush a solo shot that opened the floodgates. Framber Valdez took the win, while Josh Hader notched his 11th save.
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Nationals Bombard Orioles with Power Surge
Baltimore’s struggles continued as Washington’s CJ Abrams hit the game’s first pitch over the wall—one of five home runs in a dominant 10-4 win over the Orioles. Luis Garcia Jr., Dylan Crews, and Josh Bell joined the home run party, marking the Nats’ first five-homer game since 2023.
The Orioles’ freefall included a six-game homestand sweep and the recent firing of manager Brandon Hyde.
Braves Outslug Red Sox at Fenway
The Braves’ offense erupted in Boston with a 10-4 win over the Red Sox, thanks to Marcell Ozuna’s home run and three RBIs. Atlanta put up 16 hits, with Verdugo and Riley contributing three apiece. They broke a 4-4 tie with a walk-fueled rally in the fifth.
Despite Rafael Devers’ grand slam, the Red Sox couldn’t keep pace with Atlanta’s relentless attack.
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Reds Stay Hot with Will Benson’s Power Display
Cincinnati swept the Guardians with a 3-1 win, powered by Will Benson’s two home runs. Benson, now riding a six-game hit streak, has homered in four straight games and is batting .526 during the stretch.
The Reds have bounced back to .500, while the Guardians are cooling off after a hot start to May.
Tigers Edge Blue Jays Behind Torkelson’s Big Day
Spencer Torkelson drove in all three of Detroit’s runs, including a go-ahead single in the seventh, as the Tigers outlasted Toronto 3-2. Dillon Dingler collected three hits, and Jackson Jobe pitched six solid innings.
Toronto’s homestand started rough at 2-4, while Detroit has won five of its last six.
Marlins Dominate Rays in State Rivalry Win
Otto Lopez, fresh off the injured list, smashed a three-run homer and Cal Quantrill threw an immaculate inning as the Marlins took down the Rays 5-1.
It was the first time Miami had won a series over Tampa since 2018. Quantrill’s electric fourth inning included nine strikes and three strikeouts.
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Brewers Snap Twins’ 13-Game Streak
Milwaukee avoided a sweep and halted the Twins’ 13-game winning run with a 5-2 win. Freddy Peralta threw five strong innings, and Isaac Collins along with Sal Frelick drove in two runs each.
Zebby Mathews had a rough debut for Minnesota, allowing four runs in three innings.
Royals Sneak Past Cardinals in Close Win
Maikel Garcia’s RBI single in the seventh helped Kansas City edge St. Louis 2-1. Starter Michael Wacha held the Cards to one run, and Alec Burleson’s home run was the only damage St. Louis could manage early.
The Royals snapped a four-game slide, slowing the red-hot Cardinals.
Cubs Sweep the White Sox in Crosstown Showdown
Seiya Suzuki knocked in two RBIs as the Cubs completed a three-game sweep of their city rivals. A key sixth inning gave them the lead for good, and Colin Rea gave Chicago 5.1 innings of solid work.
The Cubs have now beaten the White Sox eight straight times.
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Diamondbacks Blank Rockies Behind Marte, Kelly
Ketel Marte’s first-inning homer and Merrill Kelly’s dominant seven innings lifted Arizona over Colorado 1-0. Kelly allowed just one hit, taking a no-hitter into the sixth while striking out 11.
The Rockies are now 8-38, off to the worst start in modern MLB history.
Giants Complete Comeback Sweep Over A’s
Heliot Ramos bookended the Giants’ win with a homer and a tie-breaking RBI single in the eighth as San Francisco swept the A’s. Despite a stellar start from Jeffrey Springs, the bullpen faltered again.
Oakland’s promising outings keep getting wasted as their bullpen issues pile up.
Angels Top Dodgers in LA Showdown
The recap for the Angels-Dodgers finale is missing from the original article. Please share more if you’d like it included!
FAQs
How impressive was Mick Abel’s MLB debut?
Extremely. He matched a Phillies record with nine Ks and became the first in club history to strike out five in the first two innings of his debut.
Why did Baltimore fire manager Brandon Hyde?
A six-game losing streak and a 2-12 stretch led to Hyde’s dismissal as the Orioles’ performance fell apart.
Is Jack Leiter progressing in the majors?
Leiter was fantastic until the seventh, nearly completing a no-hitter. Despite the loss, his development is trending upward.
What’s an immaculate inning in baseball?
An immaculate inning is nine pitches, nine strikes, and three strikeouts—exactly what Cal Quantrill achieved.
Who’s the hottest hitter in MLB right now?
Will Benson is on fire with a six-game hitting streak, four homers, and a .526 average over that span.
Which team has the worst start in MLB history?
Currently, the 2024 Rockies are pacing toward that, sitting at 8-38—worse than the infamous 1988 Orioles start.
