Deadspin | No. 17 St. John’s continues winning ways versus Marquette

Deadspin | No. 17 St. John’s continues winning ways versus Marquette

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Feb 18, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles guard Adrien Stevens (10) and St. John’s Red Storm forward Zuby Ejiofor (24) reach for the ball during the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Bryce Hopkins had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Oziyah Sellers added 12 points as 17th-ranked St. John’s held off host Marquette 76-70 in a Big East matchup Wednesday in Milwaukee, Wis., extending its winning streak to 12 games.

St. John’s (21-5, 14-1 Big East) moved atop the conference, a half-game in front of No. 5 UConn, which was upset by Creighton 91-84 on Wednesday. The Red Storm has not lost since a 77-71 setback against Providence on Jan. 3.

Nigel James Jr. had 25 points and Royce Parham 13 for Marquette (9-18, 4-12 Big East), which has lost four of its last five games.

Joson Sanon’s 3-pointer put St. John’s up 67-61 with 6:37 remaining, but neither team scored again until Zuby Ejofor hit a free throw with 4:10 left to make it 68-61.

Sanon’s subsequent free throw put St. John’s up 71-63 with just under three minutes left. Adrian Stevens hit a 3-pointer and Tre Norman hit the second of two free throws to pull Marquette within 71-67 with 44 seconds remaining.

James converted a three-point play to make it 72-70 with 27.5 seconds left. Ejofor’s two free throws pushed the lead to 74-70 with 21.1 seconds remaining.

Marquette’s Chase Ross missed a baseline runner and Hopkins added a pair of free throws.

Marquette erased a nine-point halftime deficit with an 11-point run to open the second half. Ross’s 3-pointer from the top put the Golden Eagles in front 46-44 as St. John’s missed its first five shots after the break.

James scored on consecutive drives to put Marquette in front 56-50 with just under 12 minutes remaining.

St. John’s responded with a nine-point run, going in front 59-56 on Hopkins’ 3-pointer.

St. John’s closed the first half with a 10-4 run for a 44-35 halftime lead. The Red Storm shot 54.8 in the first half, hitting 7 of their final 8 shots.

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Behind Braxton Ashcraft, Pirates chase series win vs. Cubs Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (35) delivers a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates will search for a rare series victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon when the teams play the second contest of a three-game set. Pittsburgh went 3-10 against the Cubs in 2025, dropping all four series against its National League Central rival. Through two weeks this season, though, this looks like a much different Pirates squad. Despite being hitless through six innings, Pittsburgh earned a 2-0 win in the series opener on Friday thanks to Bryan Reynolds’ two-run homer in the seventh. After the midseason hire of manager Don Kelly helped galvanize last year’s team, the momentum has carried into 2026. “We’ve talked about it a lot, just taking it one game and one series at a time,” Kelly said Friday. “We’re just looking to get after it tomorrow again. Any win you can get in Chicago against the Cubs at Wrigley is a special one.” Pittsburgh’s Saturday starter, Braxton Ashcraft (1-1, 2.25 ERA), is coming off consecutive stellar starts to open his second season in the majors. After allowing two runs in six innings in a 2-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on March 30, the 26-year-old right-hander surrendered just one run with eight strikeouts across six frames in an 8-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. “As a starting pitcher, you’re trying to go six, seven innings every time you go out there,” Ashcraft said. “Being able to get the ball on the ground or get weak contact is the most important piece of that. Strikeouts come when they come, but if you’re searching for strikeouts, that’s when the pitch county can get up there a little bit.” Ashcraft faced the Cubs three times (two starts) in his rookie season, going 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA. The Cubs were blanked for the second time this season on Friday, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position while leaving 11 men on base. The top of the list of struggling Chicago batters is Dansby Swanson, who went 0-for-3 in the series opener to drop to .140 this season. “We’ve got a couple guys that are not feeling it right now at the plate,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s the nature of offense today, and it gets a little magnified at the start of the season. Dansby is going to be streaky, and we’re going to need production there. He’ll get going.” Offseason addition Edward Cabrera (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will get another opportunity to impress his new club on Saturday. Cabrera, who was traded by the Miami Marlins in January, has thrown 11 2/3 scoreless innings in two appearances with Chicago. Last time out, the right-hander allowed just one hit in 5 2/3 frames, earning a no-decision in his team’s 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. In five years with Miami, Cabrera rarely made a start in a stadium with as much energy as Wrigley Field. The Marlins had losing seasons in all but one year that Cabrera played for them. Now as a key piece of a club with high expectations, he is enjoying the new-found responsibility. “The emotions definitely are different,” Cabrera said of comparing Miami and Chicago. “Let’s be real: There is a big difference between the fan bases and the number of fans we had in Miami. I try not to focus too much on that, but there definitely are different emotions.” In two career starts against Pittsburgh, Cabrera is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Braxton #Ashcraft #Pirates #chase #series #win #CubsApr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (35) delivers a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates will search for a rare series victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon when the teams play the second contest of a three-game set.

Pittsburgh went 3-10 against the Cubs in 2025, dropping all four series against its National League Central rival. Through two weeks this season, though, this looks like a much different Pirates squad.

Despite being hitless through six innings, Pittsburgh earned a 2-0 win in the series opener on Friday thanks to Bryan Reynolds’ two-run homer in the seventh. After the midseason hire of manager Don Kelly helped galvanize last year’s team, the momentum has carried into 2026.

“We’ve talked about it a lot, just taking it one game and one series at a time,” Kelly said Friday. “We’re just looking to get after it tomorrow again. Any win you can get in Chicago against the Cubs at Wrigley is a special one.”

Pittsburgh’s Saturday starter, Braxton Ashcraft (1-1, 2.25 ERA), is coming off consecutive stellar starts to open his second season in the majors. After allowing two runs in six innings in a 2-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on March 30, the 26-year-old right-hander surrendered just one run with eight strikeouts across six frames in an 8-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.

“As a starting pitcher, you’re trying to go six, seven innings every time you go out there,” Ashcraft said. “Being able to get the ball on the ground or get weak contact is the most important piece of that. Strikeouts come when they come, but if you’re searching for strikeouts, that’s when the pitch county can get up there a little bit.”

Ashcraft faced the Cubs three times (two starts) in his rookie season, going 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA.


The Cubs were blanked for the second time this season on Friday, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position while leaving 11 men on base.

The top of the list of struggling Chicago batters is Dansby Swanson, who went 0-for-3 in the series opener to drop to .140 this season.

“We’ve got a couple guys that are not feeling it right now at the plate,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s the nature of offense today, and it gets a little magnified at the start of the season. Dansby is going to be streaky, and we’re going to need production there. He’ll get going.”

Offseason addition Edward Cabrera (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will get another opportunity to impress his new club on Saturday.

Cabrera, who was traded by the Miami Marlins in January, has thrown 11 2/3 scoreless innings in two appearances with Chicago. Last time out, the right-hander allowed just one hit in 5 2/3 frames, earning a no-decision in his team’s 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians.

In five years with Miami, Cabrera rarely made a start in a stadium with as much energy as Wrigley Field. The Marlins had losing seasons in all but one year that Cabrera played for them. Now as a key piece of a club with high expectations, he is enjoying the new-found responsibility.

“The emotions definitely are different,” Cabrera said of comparing Miami and Chicago. “Let’s be real: There is a big difference between the fan bases and the number of fans we had in Miami. I try not to focus too much on that, but there definitely are different emotions.”

In two career starts against Pittsburgh, Cabrera is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Braxton #Ashcraft #Pirates #chase #series #win #Cubs">Deadspin | Behind Braxton Ashcraft, Pirates chase series win vs. Cubs Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (35) delivers a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates will search for a rare series victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon when the teams play the second contest of a three-game set. Pittsburgh went 3-10 against the Cubs in 2025, dropping all four series against its National League Central rival. Through two weeks this season, though, this looks like a much different Pirates squad. Despite being hitless through six innings, Pittsburgh earned a 2-0 win in the series opener on Friday thanks to Bryan Reynolds’ two-run homer in the seventh. After the midseason hire of manager Don Kelly helped galvanize last year’s team, the momentum has carried into 2026. “We’ve talked about it a lot, just taking it one game and one series at a time,” Kelly said Friday. “We’re just looking to get after it tomorrow again. Any win you can get in Chicago against the Cubs at Wrigley is a special one.” Pittsburgh’s Saturday starter, Braxton Ashcraft (1-1, 2.25 ERA), is coming off consecutive stellar starts to open his second season in the majors. After allowing two runs in six innings in a 2-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on March 30, the 26-year-old right-hander surrendered just one run with eight strikeouts across six frames in an 8-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. “As a starting pitcher, you’re trying to go six, seven innings every time you go out there,” Ashcraft said. “Being able to get the ball on the ground or get weak contact is the most important piece of that. Strikeouts come when they come, but if you’re searching for strikeouts, that’s when the pitch county can get up there a little bit.” Ashcraft faced the Cubs three times (two starts) in his rookie season, going 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA. The Cubs were blanked for the second time this season on Friday, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position while leaving 11 men on base. The top of the list of struggling Chicago batters is Dansby Swanson, who went 0-for-3 in the series opener to drop to .140 this season. “We’ve got a couple guys that are not feeling it right now at the plate,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s the nature of offense today, and it gets a little magnified at the start of the season. Dansby is going to be streaky, and we’re going to need production there. He’ll get going.” Offseason addition Edward Cabrera (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will get another opportunity to impress his new club on Saturday. Cabrera, who was traded by the Miami Marlins in January, has thrown 11 2/3 scoreless innings in two appearances with Chicago. Last time out, the right-hander allowed just one hit in 5 2/3 frames, earning a no-decision in his team’s 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. In five years with Miami, Cabrera rarely made a start in a stadium with as much energy as Wrigley Field. The Marlins had losing seasons in all but one year that Cabrera played for them. Now as a key piece of a club with high expectations, he is enjoying the new-found responsibility. “The emotions definitely are different,” Cabrera said of comparing Miami and Chicago. “Let’s be real: There is a big difference between the fan bases and the number of fans we had in Miami. I try not to focus too much on that, but there definitely are different emotions.” In two career starts against Pittsburgh, Cabrera is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Braxton #Ashcraft #Pirates #chase #series #win #Cubs

A spirited show by Ankita Raina, an inspired win for Vaishnavi Adkar and a dominant display by the doubles duo of Ankita and Rutuja Bhosale helped India finish its Billie Jean Cup Asia/Oceania Group I campaign with a 2-1 victory against Korea on Saturday.

However, it wasn’t enough as it was eliminated from the World Cup playoffs race.

India had to win 3-0 and hope for a similar result for Indonesia against Thailand in order to finish in the top two. The 2-1 verdict meant India, with three wins and two losses, remained in Group I and Korea finished fourth and was relegated to Group II along with Mongolia. Thailand defeated table-topper Indonesia 2-1 and took the top spot by virtue of its win.

India out of Billie Jean King Cup World Playoffs race despite beating Korea A spirited show by Ankita Raina, an inspired win for Vaishnavi Adkar and a dominant display by the doubles duo of Ankita and Rutuja Bhosale helped India finish its Billie Jean Cup Asia/Oceania Group I campaign with a 2-1 victory against Korea on Saturday.However, it wasn’t enough as it was eliminated from the World Cup playoffs race.India had to win 3-0 and hope for a similar result for Indonesia against Thailand in order to finish in the top two. The 2-1 verdict meant India, with three wins and two losses, remained in Group I and Korea finished fourth and was relegated to Group II along with Mongolia. Thailand defeated table-topper Indonesia 2-1 and took the top spot by virtue of its win. The 383rd-ranked Vaishnavi overcame Sohyun, ranked 276th, in an intense two-hour 17-minute battle marked by frequent breaks of serve, long rallies and a medical timeout by the Indian. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR The 383rd-ranked Vaishnavi overcame Sohyun, ranked 276th, in an intense two-hour 17-minute battle marked by frequent breaks of serve, long rallies and a medical timeout by the Indian. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR The 33-year-old Ankita, the team’s most experienced member, squandered opportunities to go down 1-6, 5-7 to Dayeon Back. Vaishnavi shocked the higher-ranked Sohyun Park 7-6(2), 7-6(5) to pull things level before Ankita and Rutuja sealed it with a 6-2, 6-2 win in 74 minutes.After winning just one game in the first set, Ankita battled hard in the second. The drop shots that helped her stay in the contest also proved her undoing as Dayeon read them and smashed cross-court winners. Serving for the set at 5-3, Ankita lost the plot as her opponent reeled off the next four games.The 383rd-ranked Vaishnavi overcame Sohyun, ranked 276th, in an intense two-hour 17-minute battle marked by frequent breaks of serve, long rallies and a medical timeout by the Indian. The results: India bt Korea 2-1 [Ankita Raina lost to Dayeon Back 1-6, 5-7; Vaishnavi Adkar bt Sohyun Park 7-6(2), 7-6(5); Rutuja Bhosale & Ankita Raina bt Dayeon Back & Eunhye Lee 6-2, 6-2]. New Zealand bt Mongolia 3-0 [Aishi Das bt Khongorzul Aldarkhishig 6-0, 6-1; Monique Barry bt Jargal Altansarnai 6-1, 6-2; Erin Routliffe & Aishi Das bt Jargal Altansarnai & Anu-Vijn Gantor 6-1, 6-2]. Thailand bt Indonesia 2-1 [Priska Madelyn Nugroho lost to Thasaporn Naklo 3-2, retd.; Janice Tjen bt Anchisa Chanta 6-2, 6-4; Anchisa Chanta & Patcharin Cheapchandej bt Anjali Kirana Junarto & Meydiana Laviola Reinnamah 6-2, 6-4]. Published on Apr 11, 2026 #India #Billie #Jean #King #Cup #World #Playoffs #race #beating #Korea

The 383rd-ranked Vaishnavi overcame Sohyun, ranked 276th, in an intense two-hour 17-minute battle marked by frequent breaks of serve, long rallies and a medical timeout by the Indian. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

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The 383rd-ranked Vaishnavi overcame Sohyun, ranked 276th, in an intense two-hour 17-minute battle marked by frequent breaks of serve, long rallies and a medical timeout by the Indian. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

The 33-year-old Ankita, the team’s most experienced member, squandered opportunities to go down 1-6, 5-7 to Dayeon Back. Vaishnavi shocked the higher-ranked Sohyun Park 7-6(2), 7-6(5) to pull things level before Ankita and Rutuja sealed it with a 6-2, 6-2 win in 74 minutes.

After winning just one game in the first set, Ankita battled hard in the second. The drop shots that helped her stay in the contest also proved her undoing as Dayeon read them and smashed cross-court winners. Serving for the set at 5-3, Ankita lost the plot as her opponent reeled off the next four games.

The 383rd-ranked Vaishnavi overcame Sohyun, ranked 276th, in an intense two-hour 17-minute battle marked by frequent breaks of serve, long rallies and a medical timeout by the Indian.

The results:

India bt Korea 2-1 [Ankita Raina lost to Dayeon Back 1-6, 5-7; Vaishnavi Adkar bt Sohyun Park 7-6(2), 7-6(5); Rutuja Bhosale & Ankita Raina bt Dayeon Back & Eunhye Lee 6-2, 6-2].

New Zealand bt Mongolia 3-0 [Aishi Das bt Khongorzul Aldarkhishig 6-0, 6-1; Monique Barry bt Jargal Altansarnai 6-1, 6-2; Erin Routliffe & Aishi Das bt Jargal Altansarnai & Anu-Vijn Gantor 6-1, 6-2].

Thailand bt Indonesia 2-1 [Priska Madelyn Nugroho lost to Thasaporn Naklo 3-2, retd.; Janice Tjen bt Anchisa Chanta 6-2, 6-4; Anchisa Chanta & Patcharin Cheapchandej bt Anjali Kirana Junarto & Meydiana Laviola Reinnamah 6-2, 6-4].

Published on Apr 11, 2026

#India #Billie #Jean #King #Cup #World #Playoffs #race #beating #Korea">India out of Billie Jean King Cup World Playoffs race despite beating Korea A spirited show by Ankita Raina, an inspired win for Vaishnavi Adkar and a dominant display by the doubles duo of Ankita and Rutuja Bhosale helped India finish its Billie Jean Cup Asia/Oceania Group I campaign with a 2-1 victory against Korea on Saturday.However, it wasn’t enough as it was eliminated from the World Cup playoffs race.India had to win 3-0 and hope for a similar result for Indonesia against Thailand in order to finish in the top two. The 2-1 verdict meant India, with three wins and two losses, remained in Group I and Korea finished fourth and was relegated to Group II along with Mongolia. Thailand defeated table-topper Indonesia 2-1 and took the top spot by virtue of its win. The 383rd-ranked Vaishnavi overcame Sohyun, ranked 276th, in an intense two-hour 17-minute battle marked by frequent breaks of serve, long rallies and a medical timeout by the Indian. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR The 383rd-ranked Vaishnavi overcame Sohyun, ranked 276th, in an intense two-hour 17-minute battle marked by frequent breaks of serve, long rallies and a medical timeout by the Indian. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR The 33-year-old Ankita, the team’s most experienced member, squandered opportunities to go down 1-6, 5-7 to Dayeon Back. Vaishnavi shocked the higher-ranked Sohyun Park 7-6(2), 7-6(5) to pull things level before Ankita and Rutuja sealed it with a 6-2, 6-2 win in 74 minutes.After winning just one game in the first set, Ankita battled hard in the second. The drop shots that helped her stay in the contest also proved her undoing as Dayeon read them and smashed cross-court winners. Serving for the set at 5-3, Ankita lost the plot as her opponent reeled off the next four games.The 383rd-ranked Vaishnavi overcame Sohyun, ranked 276th, in an intense two-hour 17-minute battle marked by frequent breaks of serve, long rallies and a medical timeout by the Indian. The results: India bt Korea 2-1 [Ankita Raina lost to Dayeon Back 1-6, 5-7; Vaishnavi Adkar bt Sohyun Park 7-6(2), 7-6(5); Rutuja Bhosale & Ankita Raina bt Dayeon Back & Eunhye Lee 6-2, 6-2]. New Zealand bt Mongolia 3-0 [Aishi Das bt Khongorzul Aldarkhishig 6-0, 6-1; Monique Barry bt Jargal Altansarnai 6-1, 6-2; Erin Routliffe & Aishi Das bt Jargal Altansarnai & Anu-Vijn Gantor 6-1, 6-2]. Thailand bt Indonesia 2-1 [Priska Madelyn Nugroho lost to Thasaporn Naklo 3-2, retd.; Janice Tjen bt Anchisa Chanta 6-2, 6-4; Anchisa Chanta & Patcharin Cheapchandej bt Anjali Kirana Junarto & Meydiana Laviola Reinnamah 6-2, 6-4]. Published on Apr 11, 2026 #India #Billie #Jean #King #Cup #World #Playoffs #race #beating #Korea

Deadspin | Padres, Rockies clash again in tight series Apr 10, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Gavin Sheets (30) celebrates after hitting a walk off three-run home run during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images The San Diego Padres have taken the first two games of their series with the Colorado Rockies, but the 7-3 and 5-2 final scores don’t tell the story of how close the games actually have been. First-year Padres manager Craig Stammen knows both games easily could have gone the other way. The teams will meet again Saturday night in San Diego to continue the four-game set between National League West rivals. The Padres needed 12 innings to win the opener Thursday on a Xander Bogaerts walk-off grand slam and were tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth Friday night before Gavin Sheets hit his second homer of the game, with two aboard, for another walk-off win. “It’s tough to win a Major League Baseball game,” Stammen said. “It just is. These last two games have come down to one or two pitches.” Pitches disappearing over outfield fences the last two games is a good sign for San Diego, which seems to be finding the slugging it didn’t have when it started the season at 2-5 and averaging three runs per game. Since then, the Padres have won six of seven games, averaging 5.3 runs per game. Although the batting averages don’t reflect it, the Padres have gotten contributions throughout the lineup. Luis Campusano doubled and homered Friday night, while newcomers Miguel Andujar and Nick Castellanos have supplied key hits. “That’s how we built a roster with all those guys,” Stammen said. “When we give those guys that are playing most every day a day off, it’s still a pretty darn good lineup out there with guys that can do damage.” Right-hander German Marquez (1-1, 4.50 ERA), in his first season with the Padres after 10 years with the Rockies, will try to prevent his former club from doing damage. Marquez will start against Colorado for the first time after making 200 starts with the team. He’s coming off a 5-0 win Monday night in Pittsburgh, where he fired five scoreless innings. The Rockies will counter with right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-0, 4.32), who got into the win column Monday after allowing four runs over 5 1/3 innings of a 9-7 decision over Houston. Feltner, who walked two and struck out one, is 0-0 with a 3.80 ERA in five career starts against San Diego. Colorado came into Petco Park with a four-game winning streak and could have stretched it to six. The Rockies never trailed Thursday until Bogaerts’ slam and rallied in the eighth inning Friday to tie the game before Sheets walked it off. Still, the Rockies can take solace in two things. One, All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman returned in a pinch-hitting role Friday after leaving the game the night before with a laceration to his right middle finger. The injury occurred when he was drilled by a 95 mph pitch by the Padres’ Randy Vasquez. Also, they’re getting good work out of the bullpen in a setup role from Antonio Senzatela. The former starter has thrown nine scoreless innings in four games and has struck out 12, using an uptick in velocity to blow fastballs by surprised batters. “I worked on my delivery, using my lower back and lower body,” Senzatela said, “and I worked on some things throwing the ball … how my arm is getting out.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Padres #Rockies #clash #tight #seriesApr 10, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Gavin Sheets (30) celebrates after hitting a walk off three-run home run during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

The San Diego Padres have taken the first two games of their series with the Colorado Rockies, but the 7-3 and 5-2 final scores don’t tell the story of how close the games actually have been.

First-year Padres manager Craig Stammen knows both games easily could have gone the other way. The teams will meet again Saturday night in San Diego to continue the four-game set between National League West rivals.

The Padres needed 12 innings to win the opener Thursday on a Xander Bogaerts walk-off grand slam and were tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth Friday night before Gavin Sheets hit his second homer of the game, with two aboard, for another walk-off win.

“It’s tough to win a Major League Baseball game,” Stammen said. “It just is. These last two games have come down to one or two pitches.”

Pitches disappearing over outfield fences the last two games is a good sign for San Diego, which seems to be finding the slugging it didn’t have when it started the season at 2-5 and averaging three runs per game. Since then, the Padres have won six of seven games, averaging 5.3 runs per game.

Although the batting averages don’t reflect it, the Padres have gotten contributions throughout the lineup. Luis Campusano doubled and homered Friday night, while newcomers Miguel Andujar and Nick Castellanos have supplied key hits.

“That’s how we built a roster with all those guys,” Stammen said. “When we give those guys that are playing most every day a day off, it’s still a pretty darn good lineup out there with guys that can do damage.”


Right-hander German Marquez (1-1, 4.50 ERA), in his first season with the Padres after 10 years with the Rockies, will try to prevent his former club from doing damage. Marquez will start against Colorado for the first time after making 200 starts with the team. He’s coming off a 5-0 win Monday night in Pittsburgh, where he fired five scoreless innings.

The Rockies will counter with right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-0, 4.32), who got into the win column Monday after allowing four runs over 5 1/3 innings of a 9-7 decision over Houston. Feltner, who walked two and struck out one, is 0-0 with a 3.80 ERA in five career starts against San Diego.

Colorado came into Petco Park with a four-game winning streak and could have stretched it to six. The Rockies never trailed Thursday until Bogaerts’ slam and rallied in the eighth inning Friday to tie the game before Sheets walked it off.

Still, the Rockies can take solace in two things.

One, All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman returned in a pinch-hitting role Friday after leaving the game the night before with a laceration to his right middle finger. The injury occurred when he was drilled by a 95 mph pitch by the Padres’ Randy Vasquez.

Also, they’re getting good work out of the bullpen in a setup role from Antonio Senzatela. The former starter has thrown nine scoreless innings in four games and has struck out 12, using an uptick in velocity to blow fastballs by surprised batters.

“I worked on my delivery, using my lower back and lower body,” Senzatela said, “and I worked on some things throwing the ball … how my arm is getting out.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Padres #Rockies #clash #tight #series">Deadspin | Padres, Rockies clash again in tight series Apr 10, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Gavin Sheets (30) celebrates after hitting a walk off three-run home run during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images The San Diego Padres have taken the first two games of their series with the Colorado Rockies, but the 7-3 and 5-2 final scores don’t tell the story of how close the games actually have been. First-year Padres manager Craig Stammen knows both games easily could have gone the other way. The teams will meet again Saturday night in San Diego to continue the four-game set between National League West rivals. The Padres needed 12 innings to win the opener Thursday on a Xander Bogaerts walk-off grand slam and were tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth Friday night before Gavin Sheets hit his second homer of the game, with two aboard, for another walk-off win. “It’s tough to win a Major League Baseball game,” Stammen said. “It just is. These last two games have come down to one or two pitches.” Pitches disappearing over outfield fences the last two games is a good sign for San Diego, which seems to be finding the slugging it didn’t have when it started the season at 2-5 and averaging three runs per game. Since then, the Padres have won six of seven games, averaging 5.3 runs per game. Although the batting averages don’t reflect it, the Padres have gotten contributions throughout the lineup. Luis Campusano doubled and homered Friday night, while newcomers Miguel Andujar and Nick Castellanos have supplied key hits. “That’s how we built a roster with all those guys,” Stammen said. “When we give those guys that are playing most every day a day off, it’s still a pretty darn good lineup out there with guys that can do damage.” Right-hander German Marquez (1-1, 4.50 ERA), in his first season with the Padres after 10 years with the Rockies, will try to prevent his former club from doing damage. Marquez will start against Colorado for the first time after making 200 starts with the team. He’s coming off a 5-0 win Monday night in Pittsburgh, where he fired five scoreless innings. The Rockies will counter with right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-0, 4.32), who got into the win column Monday after allowing four runs over 5 1/3 innings of a 9-7 decision over Houston. Feltner, who walked two and struck out one, is 0-0 with a 3.80 ERA in five career starts against San Diego. Colorado came into Petco Park with a four-game winning streak and could have stretched it to six. The Rockies never trailed Thursday until Bogaerts’ slam and rallied in the eighth inning Friday to tie the game before Sheets walked it off. Still, the Rockies can take solace in two things. One, All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman returned in a pinch-hitting role Friday after leaving the game the night before with a laceration to his right middle finger. The injury occurred when he was drilled by a 95 mph pitch by the Padres’ Randy Vasquez. Also, they’re getting good work out of the bullpen in a setup role from Antonio Senzatela. The former starter has thrown nine scoreless innings in four games and has struck out 12, using an uptick in velocity to blow fastballs by surprised batters. “I worked on my delivery, using my lower back and lower body,” Senzatela said, “and I worked on some things throwing the ball … how my arm is getting out.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Padres #Rockies #clash #tight #series

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