Deadspin | A’s manager Mark Kotsay wants better effort against Astros Apr 4, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics manager Mark Kotsay (7) pulls Athletics pitcher Luis Morales (19) out of the game during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images The Athletics will be looking for better results on Sunday as they host the Houston Astros in West Sacramento, Calif., with each team vying for its first series win against a divisional opponent in 2026. It’s been a tale of two blowouts so far in this first meeting between American League West rivals this season, with the A’s taking the opener 11-4 on Friday night and Houston responding with an 11-0 shutout on Saturday. Athletics manager Mark Kotsay is looking for a better effort from his team after that big loss. “We didn’t do anything well today,” he said postgame on Saturday. “That game was reflective of, in my opinion, past performances that we feel like we have put behind us, and we need to put behind us as a team.” He was critical of the pitching staff’s performance after five pitchers combined to give up 18 hits, walk 13 batters and strike out only five. “This is not reflective of the expectation level of our staff right now,” Kotsay said. “We talk about beating ourselves all the time. Today, we completely beat ourselves.” The A’s are second in walks in the majors with 47 as a staff in eight games, trailing only the Los Angeles Angels (48). Kotsay said his pitchers need to start locating their offspeed offerings better. “You’ve got to be able to keep big-league hitters off-balance,” he said. “You’ve got to have some type of secondary (pitch) you can throw in the zone for a strike and land it and get ahead.” He’ll also be hoping for an improvement from Jacob Lopez as he makes his first home start of 2026. Lopez (0-1, 6.75 ERA) struggled for control as he walked five batters and gave up three runs in four innings of a 4-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Monday. He did not take a decision in either of his previous two career starts against Houston, putting up a 0.87 ERA in 10 1/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits. If the A’s are able to pull out a victory, they will win their first series of the young season after starting 1-5 against the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves. Lance McCullers Jr. (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will take the mound for Houston for the rubber game. McCullers picked up the win in his season debut on Monday against Boston, striking out nine and allowing one run over seven innings. Over 15 starts against the Athletics in his career, McCullers is 7-3 with a 3.32 ERA. “He kept attacking,” Astros manager Joe Espada said after McCullers’ outing against the Red Sox. “He set the tone from the very beginning. He was going to control the at-bats.” McCullers has been in the Houston organization for his entire career, drafted in 2012 and debuting in 2015. He was an All-Star in 2017 when the Astros won the World Series, but he has thrown more than 100 innings in a season just once since 2018 while battling multiple injuries. He missed the 2019, 2023 and 2024 campaigns. He will be looking to build on the work of Tatsuya Imai, who worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out nine in Houston’s win on Saturday to set up Sunday’s decisive Game 3. Last season, the Athletics won the head-to-head series with Houston 8-5. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #manager #Mark #Kotsay #effort #Astros

Deadspin | A’s manager Mark Kotsay wants better effort against Astros
Apr 4, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics manager Mark Kotsay (7) pulls Athletics pitcher Luis Morales (19) out of the game during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images

The Athletics will be looking for better results on Sunday as they host the Houston Astros in West Sacramento, Calif., with each team vying for its first series win against a divisional opponent in 2026.

It’s been a tale of two blowouts so far in this first meeting between American League West rivals this season, with the A’s taking the opener 11-4 on Friday night and Houston responding with an 11-0 shutout on Saturday.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay is looking for a better effort from his team after that big loss.

“We didn’t do anything well today,” he said postgame on Saturday. “That game was reflective of, in my opinion, past performances that we feel like we have put behind us, and we need to put behind us as a team.”

He was critical of the pitching staff’s performance after five pitchers combined to give up 18 hits, walk 13 batters and strike out only five.

“This is not reflective of the expectation level of our staff right now,” Kotsay said. “We talk about beating ourselves all the time. Today, we completely beat ourselves.”

The A’s are second in walks in the majors with 47 as a staff in eight games, trailing only the Los Angeles Angels (48). Kotsay said his pitchers need to start locating their offspeed offerings better.

“You’ve got to be able to keep big-league hitters off-balance,” he said. “You’ve got to have some type of secondary (pitch) you can throw in the zone for a strike and land it and get ahead.”

He’ll also be hoping for an improvement from Jacob Lopez as he makes his first home start of 2026.

Lopez (0-1, 6.75 ERA) struggled for control as he walked five batters and gave up three runs in four innings of a 4-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Monday.

He did not take a decision in either of his previous two career starts against Houston, putting up a 0.87 ERA in 10 1/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits.

If the A’s are able to pull out a victory, they will win their first series of the young season after starting 1-5 against the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves.

Lance McCullers Jr. (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will take the mound for Houston for the rubber game. McCullers picked up the win in his season debut on Monday against Boston, striking out nine and allowing one run over seven innings. Over 15 starts against the Athletics in his career, McCullers is 7-3 with a 3.32 ERA.

“He kept attacking,” Astros manager Joe Espada said after McCullers’ outing against the Red Sox. “He set the tone from the very beginning. He was going to control the at-bats.”

McCullers has been in the Houston organization for his entire career, drafted in 2012 and debuting in 2015. He was an All-Star in 2017 when the Astros won the World Series, but he has thrown more than 100 innings in a season just once since 2018 while battling multiple injuries. He missed the 2019, 2023 and 2024 campaigns.

He will be looking to build on the work of Tatsuya Imai, who worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out nine in Houston’s win on Saturday to set up Sunday’s decisive Game 3.

Last season, the Athletics won the head-to-head series with Houston 8-5.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #manager #Mark #Kotsay #effort #Astros

Sports news April 5, 2026

Apr 4, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics manager Mark Kotsay (7) pulls Athletics pitcher Luis Morales (19) out of the game during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images

The Athletics will be looking for better results on Sunday as they host the Houston Astros in West Sacramento, Calif., with each team vying for its first series win against a divisional opponent in 2026.

It’s been a tale of two blowouts so far in this first meeting between American League West rivals this season, with the A’s taking the opener 11-4 on Friday night and Houston responding with an 11-0 shutout on Saturday.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay is looking for a better effort from his team after that big loss.

“We didn’t do anything well today,” he said postgame on Saturday. “That game was reflective of, in my opinion, past performances that we feel like we have put behind us, and we need to put behind us as a team.”

He was critical of the pitching staff’s performance after five pitchers combined to give up 18 hits, walk 13 batters and strike out only five.

“This is not reflective of the expectation level of our staff right now,” Kotsay said. “We talk about beating ourselves all the time. Today, we completely beat ourselves.”

The A’s are second in walks in the majors with 47 as a staff in eight games, trailing only the Los Angeles Angels (48). Kotsay said his pitchers need to start locating their offspeed offerings better.

“You’ve got to be able to keep big-league hitters off-balance,” he said. “You’ve got to have some type of secondary (pitch) you can throw in the zone for a strike and land it and get ahead.”

He’ll also be hoping for an improvement from Jacob Lopez as he makes his first home start of 2026.

Lopez (0-1, 6.75 ERA) struggled for control as he walked five batters and gave up three runs in four innings of a 4-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Monday.

He did not take a decision in either of his previous two career starts against Houston, putting up a 0.87 ERA in 10 1/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits.

If the A’s are able to pull out a victory, they will win their first series of the young season after starting 1-5 against the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves.

Lance McCullers Jr. (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will take the mound for Houston for the rubber game. McCullers picked up the win in his season debut on Monday against Boston, striking out nine and allowing one run over seven innings. Over 15 starts against the Athletics in his career, McCullers is 7-3 with a 3.32 ERA.

“He kept attacking,” Astros manager Joe Espada said after McCullers’ outing against the Red Sox. “He set the tone from the very beginning. He was going to control the at-bats.”

McCullers has been in the Houston organization for his entire career, drafted in 2012 and debuting in 2015. He was an All-Star in 2017 when the Astros won the World Series, but he has thrown more than 100 innings in a season just once since 2018 while battling multiple injuries. He missed the 2019, 2023 and 2024 campaigns.

He will be looking to build on the work of Tatsuya Imai, who worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out nine in Houston’s win on Saturday to set up Sunday’s decisive Game 3.

Last season, the Athletics won the head-to-head series with Houston 8-5.

–Field Level Media

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Why Taylor Swift Allegedly Feels ‘Relief’ After Blake Lively’s Loss

Deadspin | Ketel Marte, D-backs walk off Braves in 10th Apr 5, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) celebrates his two run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the tenth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images Ketel Marte laced a walk-off double in the bottom of the 10th to propel the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 6-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday in Phoenix. Corbin Carroll went 3-for-4 with an RBI triple, while Ildemaro Vargas drove in two runs on a triple for the Diamondbacks, who earned consecutive one-run wins to split the four-game series. Taylor Rashi (1-0) earned his first career win, throwing a perfect top of the 10th in his season debut. In the bottom of the frame, Marte doubled on the first pitch from Joel Payamps (0-1) to score the automatic runner and end the game. Brandon Pfaadt threw 4 2/3 innings of three-run ball, allowing six hits while striking out two and walking two. Drake Baldwin went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs for the Braves. Martin Perez allowed four runs on five hits in his first start of the season, striking out one and walking one. Against Jonathan Loaisiga in the top of the ninth, Jorge Mateo, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Baldwin laced consecutive singles to pull the Braves even at 5-5. Raisel Iglesias threw a perfect bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras. Atlanta struck first two batters in, as Baldwin cracked his fourth homer of the season to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Marte began the bottom of the first with a double and scored on Geraldo Perdomo’s one-out sacrifice fly. After Carroll’s single and Nolan Arenado’s one-out walk in the fourth, Vargas drove in both runners with a triple to right to give Arizona a 3-1 lead. The Braves tied the game in the top of the fifth. Mauricio Dubon led off with a double and scored on Pfaadt’s wild pitch. Mateo then walked, Acuna singled and Baldwin knotted the score at three apiece with an RBI single. Taylor Clarke relieved Pfaadt after 79 pitches. Carroll chased Perez with a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth. After Carroll stole second, Tyler Kinley allowed Arenado’s go-ahead single. Atlanta answered again as Baldwin’s RBI single off reliever Ryan Thompson tied the score at four in the top of the seventh. Atlanta’s Dylan Lee surrendered Jorge Barrosa’s double and Carroll’s triple in the eighth, returning the lead to Arizona. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Ketel #Marte #Dbacks #walk #Braves #10th

#Deadspin #Ketel #Marte #Dbacks #walk #Braves #10th">

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Apr 5, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) celebrates his two run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the tenth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images

Ketel Marte laced a walk-off double in the bottom of the 10th to propel the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 6-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday in Phoenix.

Corbin Carroll went 3-for-4 with an RBI triple, while Ildemaro Vargas drove in two runs on a triple for the Diamondbacks, who earned consecutive one-run wins to split the four-game series.

Taylor Rashi (1-0) earned his first career win, throwing a perfect top of the 10th in his season debut. In the bottom of the frame, Marte doubled on the first pitch from Joel Payamps (0-1) to score the automatic runner and end the game.

Brandon Pfaadt threw 4 2/3 innings of three-run ball, allowing six hits while striking out two and walking two.

Drake Baldwin went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs for the Braves. Martin Perez allowed four runs on five hits in his first start of the season, striking out one and walking one.

Against Jonathan Loaisiga in the top of the ninth, Jorge Mateo, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Baldwin laced consecutive singles to pull the Braves even at 5-5. Raisel Iglesias threw a perfect bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras.

Atlanta struck first two batters in, as Baldwin cracked his fourth homer of the season to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Marte began the bottom of the first with a double and scored on Geraldo Perdomo’s one-out sacrifice fly.

After Carroll’s single and Nolan Arenado’s one-out walk in the fourth, Vargas drove in both runners with a triple to right to give Arizona a 3-1 lead.

The Braves tied the game in the top of the fifth. Mauricio Dubon led off with a double and scored on Pfaadt’s wild pitch. Mateo then walked, Acuna singled and Baldwin knotted the score at three apiece with an RBI single.

Taylor Clarke relieved Pfaadt after 79 pitches.

Carroll chased Perez with a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth. After Carroll stole second, Tyler Kinley allowed Arenado’s go-ahead single.

Atlanta answered again as Baldwin’s RBI single off reliever Ryan Thompson tied the score at four in the top of the seventh.

Atlanta’s Dylan Lee surrendered Jorge Barrosa’s double and Carroll’s triple in the eighth, returning the lead to Arizona.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Ketel #Marte #Dbacks #walk #Braves #10th">Deadspin | Ketel Marte, D-backs walk off Braves in 10th

Apr 5, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) celebrates his two run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the tenth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images

Ketel Marte laced a walk-off double in the bottom of the 10th to propel the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 6-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday in Phoenix.

Corbin Carroll went 3-for-4 with an RBI triple, while Ildemaro Vargas drove in two runs on a triple for the Diamondbacks, who earned consecutive one-run wins to split the four-game series.

Taylor Rashi (1-0) earned his first career win, throwing a perfect top of the 10th in his season debut. In the bottom of the frame, Marte doubled on the first pitch from Joel Payamps (0-1) to score the automatic runner and end the game.

Brandon Pfaadt threw 4 2/3 innings of three-run ball, allowing six hits while striking out two and walking two.

Drake Baldwin went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs for the Braves. Martin Perez allowed four runs on five hits in his first start of the season, striking out one and walking one.

Against Jonathan Loaisiga in the top of the ninth, Jorge Mateo, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Baldwin laced consecutive singles to pull the Braves even at 5-5. Raisel Iglesias threw a perfect bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras.

Atlanta struck first two batters in, as Baldwin cracked his fourth homer of the season to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Marte began the bottom of the first with a double and scored on Geraldo Perdomo’s one-out sacrifice fly.

After Carroll’s single and Nolan Arenado’s one-out walk in the fourth, Vargas drove in both runners with a triple to right to give Arizona a 3-1 lead.

The Braves tied the game in the top of the fifth. Mauricio Dubon led off with a double and scored on Pfaadt’s wild pitch. Mateo then walked, Acuna singled and Baldwin knotted the score at three apiece with an RBI single.

Taylor Clarke relieved Pfaadt after 79 pitches.

Carroll chased Perez with a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth. After Carroll stole second, Tyler Kinley allowed Arenado’s go-ahead single.

Atlanta answered again as Baldwin’s RBI single off reliever Ryan Thompson tied the score at four in the top of the seventh.

Atlanta’s Dylan Lee surrendered Jorge Barrosa’s double and Carroll’s triple in the eighth, returning the lead to Arizona.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Ketel #Marte #Dbacks #walk #Braves #10th

Even 45 dot balls couldn’t mask the lapses as many of Gujarat Titans’ bowlers “were just a little bit off their rhythm and lines in particular,” admitted batting coach Matthew Hayden after a six-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in a boundary-laden IPL contest here on Saturday.

The Titans conceded 13 wides, which proved costly in a narrow defeat. “(Mohammed) Siraj had an off day. Simple as that. When we reviewed his pitch map, it was a little bit too short and a little bit too wide,” he said.

Hayden felt “the game was absolutely in the bag,” pointing to key decisions against an on-song Ravi Bishnoi (four for 41) and a costly run out of Shahrukh Khan. The 54-year-old called for a “little bit of cohesion” in the “entire batting line-up,” adding that there was a need for “that little attention to detail around winning a game amongst a partnership that does start.”

Hayden said Kagiso Rabada (23 n.o.) “was magnificent with the bat,” adding that he “showed, as a frontline bowler, that commitment to batting counts, especially in run chases.”

Player-of-the-Match Bishnoi revealed his most effective tactic of the night. “There was a big boundary on one side, and there were many left-handers in the opposition. So, I was trying to bowl googlies from middle and leg (stumps). The attempt was to make the left-handers hit the balls going away towards the longer end. Sai (Sudharsan) and Washi (Washington Sundar) both got out. So, that tactic I discussed with the captain (Riyan Parag) and Dhruv (Jurel) behind (the stumps) worked,” he said.

Published on Apr 05, 2026

#IPL #Bowlers #day #cost #Gujarat #Titans #Rajasthan #Royals #Matthew #Hayden">

IPL 2026: Bowlers’ off day cost Gujarat Titans against Rajasthan Royals, says Matthew Hayden Even 45 dot balls couldn’t mask the lapses as many of Gujarat Titans’ bowlers “were just a little bit off their rhythm and lines in particular,” admitted batting coach Matthew Hayden after a six-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in a boundary-laden IPL contest here on Saturday.The Titans conceded 13 wides, which proved costly in a narrow defeat. “(Mohammed) Siraj had an off day. Simple as that. When we reviewed his pitch map, it was a little bit too short and a little bit too wide,” he said.Hayden felt “the game was absolutely in the bag,” pointing to key decisions against an on-song Ravi Bishnoi (four for 41) and a costly run out of Shahrukh Khan. The 54-year-old called for a “little bit of cohesion” in the “entire batting line-up,” adding that there was a need for “that little attention to detail around winning a game amongst a partnership that does start.”Hayden said Kagiso Rabada (23 n.o.) “was magnificent with the bat,” adding that he “showed, as a frontline bowler, that commitment to batting counts, especially in run chases.”Player-of-the-Match Bishnoi revealed his most effective tactic of the night. “There was a big boundary on one side, and there were many left-handers in the opposition. So, I was trying to bowl googlies from middle and leg (stumps). The attempt was to make the left-handers hit the balls going away towards the longer end. Sai (Sudharsan) and Washi (Washington Sundar) both got out. So, that tactic I discussed with the captain (Riyan Parag) and Dhruv (Jurel) behind (the stumps) worked,” he said.Published on Apr 05, 2026 #IPL #Bowlers #day #cost #Gujarat #Titans #Rajasthan #Royals #Matthew #Hayden

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Even 45 dot balls couldn’t mask the lapses as many of Gujarat Titans’ bowlers “were just a little bit off their rhythm and lines in particular,” admitted batting coach Matthew Hayden after a six-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in a boundary-laden IPL contest here on Saturday.
The Titans conceded 13 wides, which proved costly in a narrow defeat. “(Mohammed) Siraj had an off day. Simple as that. When we reviewed his pitch map, it was a little bit too short and a little bit too wide,” he said.
Hayden felt “the game was absolutely in the bag,” pointing to key decisions against an on-song Ravi Bishnoi (four for 41) and a costly run out of Shahrukh Khan. The 54-year-old called for a “little bit of cohesion” in the “entire batting line-up,” adding that there was a need for “that little attention to detail around winning a game amongst a partnership that does start.”
Hayden said Kagiso Rabada (23 n.o.) “was magnificent with the bat,” adding that he “showed, as a frontline bowler, that commitment to batting counts, especially in run chases.”
Player-of-the-Match Bishnoi revealed his most effective tactic of the night. “There was a big boundary on one side, and there were many left-handers in the opposition. So, I was trying to bowl googlies from middle and leg (stumps). The attempt was to make the left-handers hit the balls going away towards the longer end. Sai (Sudharsan) and Washi (Washington Sundar) both got out. So, that tactic I discussed with the captain (Riyan Parag) and Dhruv (Jurel) behind (the stumps) worked,” he said.
Published on Apr 05, 2026

#IPL #Bowlers #day #cost #Gujarat #Titans #Rajasthan #Royals #Matthew #Hayden">IPL 2026: Bowlers’ off day cost Gujarat Titans against Rajasthan Royals, says Matthew Hayden

Hayden said Kagiso Rabada (23 n.o.) “was magnificent with the bat,” adding that he “showed, as a frontline bowler, that commitment to batting counts, especially in run chases.”

Published on Apr 05, 2026

#IPL #Bowlers #day #cost #Gujarat #Titans #Rajasthan #Royals #Matthew #Hayden

Deadspin | Gabriel Arias, CJ Kayfus help Guardians split twin bill with Cubs Apr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; The Cleveland Guardians celebrate a win over the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images Gabriel Arias’ RBI single highlighted a three-run eighth inning for the Cleveland Guardians, who rallied to beat the visiting Chicago Cubs 6-5 in the nightcap of a Sunday doubleheader. The Guardians overcame deficits of 3-0 and 4-3 to wrangle a split with the Cubs, who won the opener 1-0. CJ Kayfus went 2-for-2 with a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth to make it 3-1. With one out in the eighth, he rallied from an 0-2 hole to smack his first home run of the season to right field off Jacob Webb (0-1) and tie the contest 4-4. Chase DeLauter followed with a single, and Rhys Hoskins walked to bring up Arias, who lined a shot into left field to score DeLauter. Cleveland reliever Cade Smith gave up a run on two walks and a hit in the ninth. Ian Happ’s single cut the lead to one, but Smith got Carson Kelly looking to earn his third save of the season and give the Guardians their second win in the three-game series. Chicago used the long ball to get up early. Matt Shaw led off the Cubs third with his first of the season. That was the only run Cleveland starter Parker Messick gave up over five innings. He allowed two hits and three walks while striking out six. Dansby Swanson hit his first homer of the season, a two-run shot off Matt Festa, in the sixth inning. After the Guardians tied it with a three-run sixth, Happ’s lead-off homer in the eighth off Shawn Armstrong (1-0) put the Cubs back ahead. Cleveland chased Cubs starter Shota Imanaga after Steven Kwan started the sixth with a double. Ben Brown relieved Imanaga but gave up a walk to Angel Martinez. One out later, Kayfus singled and DeLauter hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. After Hoskins walked, Arias singled up the middle to score Kayfus and tie the game. Arias went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Imanaga allowed just one run in five-plus innings, giving up three hits and a walk while striking out four. Webb was charged with all three eighth-inning runs, giving up three hits and a walk in a third of an inning. Despite allowing the go-ahead homer, Armstrong got the win, striking out two in 1 1/3 innings. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Gabriel #Arias #Kayfus #Guardians #split #twin #bill #Cubs

#Deadspin #Gabriel #Arias #Kayfus #Guardians #split #twin #bill #Cubs">

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Apr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; The Cleveland Guardians celebrate a win over the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Gabriel Arias’ RBI single highlighted a three-run eighth inning for the Cleveland Guardians, who rallied to beat the visiting Chicago Cubs 6-5 in the nightcap of a Sunday doubleheader.

The Guardians overcame deficits of 3-0 and 4-3 to wrangle a split with the Cubs, who won the opener 1-0. CJ Kayfus went 2-for-2 with a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth to make it 3-1. With one out in the eighth, he rallied from an 0-2 hole to smack his first home run of the season to right field off Jacob Webb (0-1) and tie the contest 4-4.

Chase DeLauter followed with a single, and Rhys Hoskins walked to bring up Arias, who lined a shot into left field to score DeLauter.

Cleveland reliever Cade Smith gave up a run on two walks and a hit in the ninth. Ian Happ’s single cut the lead to one, but Smith got Carson Kelly looking to earn his third save of the season and give the Guardians their second win in the three-game series.

Chicago used the long ball to get up early. Matt Shaw led off the Cubs third with his first of the season.

That was the only run Cleveland starter Parker Messick gave up over five innings. He allowed two hits and three walks while striking out six.

Dansby Swanson hit his first homer of the season, a two-run shot off Matt Festa, in the sixth inning. After the Guardians tied it with a three-run sixth, Happ’s lead-off homer in the eighth off Shawn Armstrong (1-0) put the Cubs back ahead.

Cleveland chased Cubs starter Shota Imanaga after Steven Kwan started the sixth with a double. Ben Brown relieved Imanaga but gave up a walk to Angel Martinez. One out later, Kayfus singled and DeLauter hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. After Hoskins walked, Arias singled up the middle to score Kayfus and tie the game.

Arias went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Imanaga allowed just one run in five-plus innings, giving up three hits and a walk while striking out four.

Webb was charged with all three eighth-inning runs, giving up three hits and a walk in a third of an inning. Despite allowing the go-ahead homer, Armstrong got the win, striking out two in 1 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Gabriel #Arias #Kayfus #Guardians #split #twin #bill #Cubs">Deadspin | Gabriel Arias, CJ Kayfus help Guardians split twin bill with Cubs

Apr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; The Cleveland Guardians celebrate a win over the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Gabriel Arias’ RBI single highlighted a three-run eighth inning for the Cleveland Guardians, who rallied to beat the visiting Chicago Cubs 6-5 in the nightcap of a Sunday doubleheader.

The Guardians overcame deficits of 3-0 and 4-3 to wrangle a split with the Cubs, who won the opener 1-0. CJ Kayfus went 2-for-2 with a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth to make it 3-1. With one out in the eighth, he rallied from an 0-2 hole to smack his first home run of the season to right field off Jacob Webb (0-1) and tie the contest 4-4.

Chase DeLauter followed with a single, and Rhys Hoskins walked to bring up Arias, who lined a shot into left field to score DeLauter.

Cleveland reliever Cade Smith gave up a run on two walks and a hit in the ninth. Ian Happ’s single cut the lead to one, but Smith got Carson Kelly looking to earn his third save of the season and give the Guardians their second win in the three-game series.

Chicago used the long ball to get up early. Matt Shaw led off the Cubs third with his first of the season.

That was the only run Cleveland starter Parker Messick gave up over five innings. He allowed two hits and three walks while striking out six.

Dansby Swanson hit his first homer of the season, a two-run shot off Matt Festa, in the sixth inning. After the Guardians tied it with a three-run sixth, Happ’s lead-off homer in the eighth off Shawn Armstrong (1-0) put the Cubs back ahead.

Cleveland chased Cubs starter Shota Imanaga after Steven Kwan started the sixth with a double. Ben Brown relieved Imanaga but gave up a walk to Angel Martinez. One out later, Kayfus singled and DeLauter hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. After Hoskins walked, Arias singled up the middle to score Kayfus and tie the game.

Arias went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Imanaga allowed just one run in five-plus innings, giving up three hits and a walk while striking out four.

Webb was charged with all three eighth-inning runs, giving up three hits and a walk in a third of an inning. Despite allowing the go-ahead homer, Armstrong got the win, striking out two in 1 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Gabriel #Arias #Kayfus #Guardians #split #twin #bill #Cubs

Why Taylor Swift Allegedly Feels ‘Relief’ After Blake Lively’s Loss

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