Deadspin | Xander Bogaerts’ slam lifts Padres to 12-inning win over Rockies 
Apr 9, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Jake McCarthy (31) is tagged out at second base by San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) as he tries to strech a single during the fifth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Xander Bogaerts belted a grand slam in the bottom of the 12th inning Thursday night as the San Diego Padres rallied past the visiting Colorado Rockies 7-3.
Fernando Tatis Jr. started the inning with a sacrifice bunt that moved automatic runner Jake Cronenworth to third. After Valente Bellozo (0-1) intentionally walked Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado to fill the bases, Bogaerts lined a 1-0 pitch into the seats in left for his second homer of the year.
David Morgan (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings of relief to earn the win. Colorado got the go-ahead run to third in the top of the 12th, but Willi Castro was cut down at the plate on Brenton Doyle’s bouncer to Cronenworth at second.
Each team scored a run in both the 10th and 11th innings.
In the 10th, Tyler Freeman gave Colorado the lead with a one-out RBI single, but Machado lofted a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning to level the score.
In the 11th, both teams got RBI doubles from their backup catchers. Brett Sullivan put the Rockies up 3-2 with his hit into the right field corner, but San Diego’s Luis Campusano kept the game going with a two-out liner down the left field line.
Neither team’s starter or bulk reliever was around for the decision. Colorado’s Chase Dollander took over after Jimmy Herget pitched a 1-2-3 first inning and permitted a run on four hits and a walk over 4 1/3 innings, fanning three. San Diego’s Randy Vasquez gave up seven hits and a run in 5 2/3 innings, walking none and whiffing eight.
Vasquez’s only mistake was a low fastball to Doyle in the top of the third. The Rockies’ No. 9 hitter golfed it an estimated 408 feet over the wall in center field for his first homer of the year.
The Padres equalized in their half of the third. Freddy Fermin legged out an infield single with one out and reached third on Cronenworth’s single up the middle. Tatis lined a sacrifice fly to left that easily scored Fermin.
Colorado catcher Hunter Goodman was hit in the hand by a Vasquez pitch to start the top of the sixth and left the game later in the inning with a cut on his right middle finger.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #Xander #Bogaerts #slam #lifts #Padres #12inning #win #Rockies
Apr 9, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Jake McCarthy (31) is tagged out at second base by San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) as he tries to strech a single during the fifth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Xander Bogaerts belted a grand slam in the bottom of the 12th inning Thursday night as the San Diego Padres rallied past the visiting Colorado Rockies 7-3.
Fernando Tatis Jr. started the inning with a sacrifice bunt that moved automatic runner Jake Cronenworth to third. After Valente Bellozo (0-1) intentionally walked Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado to fill the bases, Bogaerts lined a 1-0 pitch into the seats in left for his second homer of the year.
David Morgan (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings of relief to earn the win. Colorado got the go-ahead run to third in the top of the 12th, but Willi Castro was cut down at the plate on Brenton Doyle’s bouncer to Cronenworth at second.
Each team scored a run in both the 10th and 11th innings.
In the 10th, Tyler Freeman gave Colorado the lead with a one-out RBI single, but Machado lofted a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning to level the score.
In the 11th, both teams got RBI doubles from their backup catchers. Brett Sullivan put the Rockies up 3-2 with his hit into the right field corner, but San Diego’s Luis Campusano kept the game going with a two-out liner down the left field line.
Neither team’s starter or bulk reliever was around for the decision. Colorado’s Chase Dollander took over after Jimmy Herget pitched a 1-2-3 first inning and permitted a run on four hits and a walk over 4 1/3 innings, fanning three. San Diego’s Randy Vasquez gave up seven hits and a run in 5 2/3 innings, walking none and whiffing eight.
Vasquez’s only mistake was a low fastball to Doyle in the top of the third. The Rockies’ No. 9 hitter golfed it an estimated 408 feet over the wall in center field for his first homer of the year.
The Padres equalized in their half of the third. Freddy Fermin legged out an infield single with one out and reached third on Cronenworth’s single up the middle. Tatis lined a sacrifice fly to left that easily scored Fermin.
Colorado catcher Hunter Goodman was hit in the hand by a Vasquez pitch to start the top of the sixth and left the game later in the inning with a cut on his right middle finger.
–Field Level Media
![CSK vs DC, IPL 2026: ‘Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well,’ says Chennai Super Kings coach Fleming Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that the criticism directed towards him following the side’s dismal start to the IPL 2026 season was ‘fair’.CSK has been winless in its last three encounters and is currently rooted to the bottom of the table, the same position where the side finished last term. It is not a situation fans of the five-time champion have been familiar with. A section of them have questioned if the Kiwi coach, who has been in charge since 2009, deserves to continue in the hot seat.The coach, however, was quick to respond to suggestions that he hadn’t been up to speed with the exponential changes in the shortest format over the last half-decade.“Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well; that’s part of the position, and the results dictate that. I’m coaching through the year in two other competitions, so it’s not that I just turn off and then come to the IPL without an idea of where the game is going. I have probably not spent more time studying T20 cricket and players around the world [as much as now],” the head coach said on the eve of the encounter against the Delhi Capitals.“Yes, we were off the pace last year. [Mine will be] the first hand up. We pivoted quickly. Now, we’ve got some younger players, and I’m very confident about this group. We haven’t shown that as yet [this season]. One of the challenges is the number of players we have changed [from last year]. That means there is a bit of a settling-in process which we are trying to accelerate,” he added.MATCH PREVIEW | Wounded Delhi Capitals faces floundering Chennai Super Kings in search of momentumFleming cheekily attributed his long-term association with the team, an aspect that has been dwindling across both franchise and national teams in this era, to the five IPL and two Champions League titles won under his reign.“It is unusual, and I’m very grateful. But we have been able to operate at a consistent level that I guess has allowed the franchise to put faith in the coaching group. We’re proud of what we achieved, but not satisfied. There is a desire to keep adding,” the 53-year-old said.The head coach swayed away from the suggestion that he has not been given his due credit despite winning countless championships. “It’s purely the players for me. The coaching off the field is important, but it’s the performances that win titles and eventually what coaches are judged by. I’ve worked with one of the greatest captains of all time, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to do that as a coach,” he said, paying an ode to former skipper M.S. Dhoni, who continues to miss out on action through a calf injury.Fleming added that Dhoni was ‘working hard to get back’ from a calf strain without giving a timeline for his return.Published on Apr 10, 2026 #CSK #IPL #Criticism #fair #youre #Chennai #Super #Kings #coach #Fleming](https://i2.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/3y76q5/article70848039.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/STEPHEN%20FLEMING%20CSK%20VS%20RCB%20IPL%20MATCH_01.jpg?ssl=1 "CSK vs DC, IPL 2026: ‘Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well,’ says Chennai Super Kings coach Fleming Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that the criticism directed towards him following the side’s dismal start to the IPL 2026 season was ‘fair’.CSK has been winless in its last three encounters and is currently rooted to the bottom of the table, the same position where the side finished last term. It is not a situation fans of the five-time champion have been familiar with. A section of them have questioned if the Kiwi coach, who has been in charge since 2009, deserves to continue in the hot seat.The coach, however, was quick to respond to suggestions that he hadn’t been up to speed with the exponential changes in the shortest format over the last half-decade.“Criticism is fair when you’re not doing well; that’s part of the position, and the results dictate that. I’m coaching through the year in two other competitions, so it’s not that I just turn off and then come to the IPL without an idea of where the game is going. I have probably not spent more time studying T20 cricket and players around the world [as much as now],” the head coach said on the eve of the encounter against the Delhi Capitals.“Yes, we were off the pace last year. [Mine will be] the first hand up. We pivoted quickly. Now, we’ve got some younger players, and I’m very confident about this group. We haven’t shown that as yet [this season]. One of the challenges is the number of players we have changed [from last year]. That means there is a bit of a settling-in process which we are trying to accelerate,” he added.MATCH PREVIEW | Wounded Delhi Capitals faces floundering Chennai Super Kings in search of momentumFleming cheekily attributed his long-term association with the team, an aspect that has been dwindling across both franchise and national teams in this era, to the five IPL and two Champions League titles won under his reign.“It is unusual, and I’m very grateful. But we have been able to operate at a consistent level that I guess has allowed the franchise to put faith in the coaching group. We’re proud of what we achieved, but not satisfied. There is a desire to keep adding,” the 53-year-old said.The head coach swayed away from the suggestion that he has not been given his due credit despite winning countless championships. “It’s purely the players for me. The coaching off the field is important, but it’s the performances that win titles and eventually what coaches are judged by. I’ve worked with one of the greatest captains of all time, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to do that as a coach,” he said, paying an ode to former skipper M.S. Dhoni, who continues to miss out on action through a calf injury.Fleming added that Dhoni was ‘working hard to get back’ from a calf strain without giving a timeline for his return.Published on Apr 10, 2026 #CSK #IPL #Criticism #fair #youre #Chennai #Super #Kings #coach #Fleming")
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