Deadspin | Pistons need All-Star version of Jalen Duren to hang with Magic  Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) reacts during the second half against the Orlando Magic during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images   Detroit center Jalen Duren has been unusually quiet during his team’s first-round series against the Orlando Magic.  That likely needs to change soon if the Pistons intend to earn their first playoff-series win since 2008.  Duren has been a non-factor for the top-seeded Pistons, who trail 2-1 in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference series heading into Game 4 on Monday in Orlando.  The 22-year-old All-Star, who has averaged just 9.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in this series, posted eight points in 27 minutes before fouling out in Saturday’s 113-105 road loss.  Detroit was down 96-79 with 8:34 left before going on a 26-8 run to move ahead by one with 2:52 remaining. The eighth-seeded Magic responded by scoring the game’s final nine points to seal the victory.  Cade Cunningham scored 27 points and handed out nine assists to lead Detroit, which trailed for most of the game. Cunningham spearheaded the Pistons’ comeback, but he also committed nine turnovers and shot 3 of 10 from 3-point range.  The Pistons’ primary source of concern is Duren, who hasn’t come close to approaching his regular-season average of 19.5 points per game. He did, however, swat five shots Saturday.  “He’s confident,” Cuningham said of Duren. “These last three games haven’t been what he wants or what we might want for him. I and the whole team have no doubt he’s going to figure it out and he knows he’s going to figure it out. Excited for the next game for him to plant his foot in this series.”  Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff remains confident his team will respond to the challenge ahead.   “It’s one game at a time, and that’s what playoff series are,” Bickerstaff said. “We come down here, we win on Monday, we take home-court advantage back. (Saturday’s) game, we’ll learn from it. But it’s over with and it gives us more opportunities, more film to watch, more time to prepare, to get ready for Monday.”  The Pistons face another tough matchup in Orlando, where the Magic are 5-1 in their last six home playoff games.  Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 points apiece Saturday to lead the Magic. Franz Wagner added 17, including a key 3-pointer with 1:46 remaining.  Bane showed why the Magic made a blockbuster trade for him during the offseason, bouncing back from a slow start in the series by shooting 9-for-18 from the field and 7 of 9 from 3-point range.  Orlando matched Detroit’s physical play throughout Game 3 and provided the perfect answer after the Pistons stormed back in the fourth quarter.  “Once they tied it up, nobody was panicking,” Banchero said. “Everybody just understood the moment and what had to be done to finish the game off. The guys have enough experience to not panic in those moments and to just stay poised, and that’s what we did.’  Magic coach Jamahl Mosley echoed Banchero’s thoughts.  “That’s what I just said to these guys in there (locker room),” Mosley said. “The composure. They tie it up and we didn’t rattle with three-plus minutes to go. Our ability to stay the course, execute, obviously we had to make a couple big shots down the stretch. But it was more about the stops. Our defense, our composure, our communication — all those little things within the game are so important.”  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Pistons #AllStar #version #Jalen #Duren #hang #Magic

Deadspin | Pistons need All-Star version of Jalen Duren to hang with Magic
Deadspin | Pistons need All-Star version of Jalen Duren to hang with Magic  Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) reacts during the second half against the Orlando Magic during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images   Detroit center Jalen Duren has been unusually quiet during his team’s first-round series against the Orlando Magic.  That likely needs to change soon if the Pistons intend to earn their first playoff-series win since 2008.  Duren has been a non-factor for the top-seeded Pistons, who trail 2-1 in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference series heading into Game 4 on Monday in Orlando.  The 22-year-old All-Star, who has averaged just 9.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in this series, posted eight points in 27 minutes before fouling out in Saturday’s 113-105 road loss.  Detroit was down 96-79 with 8:34 left before going on a 26-8 run to move ahead by one with 2:52 remaining. The eighth-seeded Magic responded by scoring the game’s final nine points to seal the victory.  Cade Cunningham scored 27 points and handed out nine assists to lead Detroit, which trailed for most of the game. Cunningham spearheaded the Pistons’ comeback, but he also committed nine turnovers and shot 3 of 10 from 3-point range.  The Pistons’ primary source of concern is Duren, who hasn’t come close to approaching his regular-season average of 19.5 points per game. He did, however, swat five shots Saturday.  “He’s confident,” Cuningham said of Duren. “These last three games haven’t been what he wants or what we might want for him. I and the whole team have no doubt he’s going to figure it out and he knows he’s going to figure it out. Excited for the next game for him to plant his foot in this series.”  Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff remains confident his team will respond to the challenge ahead.   “It’s one game at a time, and that’s what playoff series are,” Bickerstaff said. “We come down here, we win on Monday, we take home-court advantage back. (Saturday’s) game, we’ll learn from it. But it’s over with and it gives us more opportunities, more film to watch, more time to prepare, to get ready for Monday.”  The Pistons face another tough matchup in Orlando, where the Magic are 5-1 in their last six home playoff games.  Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 points apiece Saturday to lead the Magic. Franz Wagner added 17, including a key 3-pointer with 1:46 remaining.  Bane showed why the Magic made a blockbuster trade for him during the offseason, bouncing back from a slow start in the series by shooting 9-for-18 from the field and 7 of 9 from 3-point range.  Orlando matched Detroit’s physical play throughout Game 3 and provided the perfect answer after the Pistons stormed back in the fourth quarter.  “Once they tied it up, nobody was panicking,” Banchero said. “Everybody just understood the moment and what had to be done to finish the game off. The guys have enough experience to not panic in those moments and to just stay poised, and that’s what we did.’  Magic coach Jamahl Mosley echoed Banchero’s thoughts.  “That’s what I just said to these guys in there (locker room),” Mosley said. “The composure. They tie it up and we didn’t rattle with three-plus minutes to go. Our ability to stay the course, execute, obviously we had to make a couple big shots down the stretch. But it was more about the stops. Our defense, our composure, our communication — all those little things within the game are so important.”  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Pistons #AllStar #version #Jalen #Duren #hang #MagicApr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) reacts during the second half against the Orlando Magic during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Detroit center Jalen Duren has been unusually quiet during his team’s first-round series against the Orlando Magic.

That likely needs to change soon if the Pistons intend to earn their first playoff-series win since 2008.

Duren has been a non-factor for the top-seeded Pistons, who trail 2-1 in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference series heading into Game 4 on Monday in Orlando.

The 22-year-old All-Star, who has averaged just 9.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in this series, posted eight points in 27 minutes before fouling out in Saturday’s 113-105 road loss.

Detroit was down 96-79 with 8:34 left before going on a 26-8 run to move ahead by one with 2:52 remaining. The eighth-seeded Magic responded by scoring the game’s final nine points to seal the victory.

Cade Cunningham scored 27 points and handed out nine assists to lead Detroit, which trailed for most of the game. Cunningham spearheaded the Pistons’ comeback, but he also committed nine turnovers and shot 3 of 10 from 3-point range.

The Pistons’ primary source of concern is Duren, who hasn’t come close to approaching his regular-season average of 19.5 points per game. He did, however, swat five shots Saturday.

“He’s confident,” Cuningham said of Duren. “These last three games haven’t been what he wants or what we might want for him. I and the whole team have no doubt he’s going to figure it out and he knows he’s going to figure it out. Excited for the next game for him to plant his foot in this series.”


Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff remains confident his team will respond to the challenge ahead.

“It’s one game at a time, and that’s what playoff series are,” Bickerstaff said. “We come down here, we win on Monday, we take home-court advantage back. (Saturday’s) game, we’ll learn from it. But it’s over with and it gives us more opportunities, more film to watch, more time to prepare, to get ready for Monday.”

The Pistons face another tough matchup in Orlando, where the Magic are 5-1 in their last six home playoff games.

Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 points apiece Saturday to lead the Magic. Franz Wagner added 17, including a key 3-pointer with 1:46 remaining.

Bane showed why the Magic made a blockbuster trade for him during the offseason, bouncing back from a slow start in the series by shooting 9-for-18 from the field and 7 of 9 from 3-point range.

Orlando matched Detroit’s physical play throughout Game 3 and provided the perfect answer after the Pistons stormed back in the fourth quarter.

“Once they tied it up, nobody was panicking,” Banchero said. “Everybody just understood the moment and what had to be done to finish the game off. The guys have enough experience to not panic in those moments and to just stay poised, and that’s what we did.’

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley echoed Banchero’s thoughts.

“That’s what I just said to these guys in there (locker room),” Mosley said. “The composure. They tie it up and we didn’t rattle with three-plus minutes to go. Our ability to stay the course, execute, obviously we had to make a couple big shots down the stretch. But it was more about the stops. Our defense, our composure, our communication — all those little things within the game are so important.”


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Pistons #AllStar #version #Jalen #Duren #hang #Magic

Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) reacts during the second half against the Orlando Magic during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Detroit center Jalen Duren has been unusually quiet during his team’s first-round series against the Orlando Magic.

That likely needs to change soon if the Pistons intend to earn their first playoff-series win since 2008.

Duren has been a non-factor for the top-seeded Pistons, who trail 2-1 in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference series heading into Game 4 on Monday in Orlando.

The 22-year-old All-Star, who has averaged just 9.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in this series, posted eight points in 27 minutes before fouling out in Saturday’s 113-105 road loss.

Detroit was down 96-79 with 8:34 left before going on a 26-8 run to move ahead by one with 2:52 remaining. The eighth-seeded Magic responded by scoring the game’s final nine points to seal the victory.

Cade Cunningham scored 27 points and handed out nine assists to lead Detroit, which trailed for most of the game. Cunningham spearheaded the Pistons’ comeback, but he also committed nine turnovers and shot 3 of 10 from 3-point range.

The Pistons’ primary source of concern is Duren, who hasn’t come close to approaching his regular-season average of 19.5 points per game. He did, however, swat five shots Saturday.

“He’s confident,” Cuningham said of Duren. “These last three games haven’t been what he wants or what we might want for him. I and the whole team have no doubt he’s going to figure it out and he knows he’s going to figure it out. Excited for the next game for him to plant his foot in this series.”

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff remains confident his team will respond to the challenge ahead.

“It’s one game at a time, and that’s what playoff series are,” Bickerstaff said. “We come down here, we win on Monday, we take home-court advantage back. (Saturday’s) game, we’ll learn from it. But it’s over with and it gives us more opportunities, more film to watch, more time to prepare, to get ready for Monday.”

The Pistons face another tough matchup in Orlando, where the Magic are 5-1 in their last six home playoff games.

Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 points apiece Saturday to lead the Magic. Franz Wagner added 17, including a key 3-pointer with 1:46 remaining.

Bane showed why the Magic made a blockbuster trade for him during the offseason, bouncing back from a slow start in the series by shooting 9-for-18 from the field and 7 of 9 from 3-point range.

Orlando matched Detroit’s physical play throughout Game 3 and provided the perfect answer after the Pistons stormed back in the fourth quarter.

“Once they tied it up, nobody was panicking,” Banchero said. “Everybody just understood the moment and what had to be done to finish the game off. The guys have enough experience to not panic in those moments and to just stay poised, and that’s what we did.’

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley echoed Banchero’s thoughts.

“That’s what I just said to these guys in there (locker room),” Mosley said. “The composure. They tie it up and we didn’t rattle with three-plus minutes to go. Our ability to stay the course, execute, obviously we had to make a couple big shots down the stretch. But it was more about the stops. Our defense, our composure, our communication — all those little things within the game are so important.”

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Pistons #AllStar #version #Jalen #Duren #hang #Magic

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Deadspin | Sabres smash Bruins to take 3-1 lead back to Buffalo <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28819119.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28819119.jpg" alt="NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 26, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) celebrates his goal with his teammates during the first period in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>The visiting Buffalo Sabres ripped off a four-goal first period and never looked back en route to a 6-1 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Sunday afternoon.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Peyton Krebs, Josh Doan, Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch all notched a goal and an assist, while Zach Benson and Beck Malenstyn also scored for Buffalo, which carries a 3-1 series lead back home for Game 5 on Tuesday after claiming back-to-back victories in Boston.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Krebs netted the opening goal only 4:17 into the first and it was 3-0 less than 10 minutes into the game.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The early flurry was more than enough offense to back goaltender Alex Lyon, who made 23 saves and held a shutout until Boston’s lone goal by Sean Kuraly with 40 seconds left in the third.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Boston’s Jeremy Swayman allowed six goals on 29 shots before Joonas Korpisalo entered in relief for the final 13:19. </p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>In the midst of falling into a 4-0 deficit in the first period of a playoff game for the first time ever, the Bruins lost Viktor Arvidsson to an upper-body injury after he was hit by Buffalo defenseman Mattias Samuelsson.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Buffalo had a 19-5 shot advantage and eight high-danger scoring chances in the opening period.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>Krebs scored Buffalo’s first game-opening goal of the series. A turnover led to Tuch creating the scoring chance, firing a no-look pass to his oncoming winger for a wrister from the slot.</p> </section> <section id="section-9"> <p>Just two seconds after Boston killed off a penalty, Doan made it a 2-0 game by deflecting Ryan McLeod’s centering pass from the right goal line to the top of the crease at 7:10.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Benson added to the tally only 2:05 later. After picking defenseman Jordan Harris’ pocket along the left wing, he drove hard to the net and snuck a backhand shot five-hole on Swayman.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Byram’s third goal in three games capped off the four-goal period with 5:36 left. The defenseman took a pass from partner Owen Power down the left side and scored across the grain past a diving Swayman.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Two goals in a span of 84 third-period seconds put an exclamation point on Buffalo’s win. </p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Starting the quick-fire sequence, Jordan Greenway’s point shot took deflections off Tyson Kozak and then Malenstyn on its way past Swayman at 5:08. Malenstyn made the ultimate tip from between the circles.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>Tuch finalized the Sabres’ scoring to make it 6-0 at 6:32, slotting home Tage Thompson’s feed from behind the net.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>Kuraly scored on the rebound of Andrew Peeke’s point shot for the lone Bruins goal, which came short-handed.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-16"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Sabres #smash #Bruins #lead #Buffalo

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Deadspin | Dominant Kyle Harrison fans 12 as Brewers end slide vs. Pirates <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28818979.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28818979.jpg" alt="MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Kyle Harrison (52) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Kyle Harrison tossed six innings of one-hit ball with a career-high 12 strikeouts and the Milwaukee Brewers snapped a four-game skid with a 5-0 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The Brewers backed Harrison with a five-run fourth inning to avoid their first sweep against Pittsburgh since 2022 and first at home to the Pirates since a four-game series in August 2016.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>The only hit off Harrison (2-1) in his 101-pitch outing was a leadoff single in the second by Marcell Ozuna, who was erased on a double play. The only other runner off Harrison came on a two-out walk in the fourth.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Held hitless through three innings, the Brewers erupted for five runs in the decisive fourth off Carmen Mlodzinski (1-2). William Contreras capped a 10-pitch at-bat with a leadoff single and Jake Bauers lined a ground rule double to right-center. Contreras scored on Gary Sanchez’s RBI groundout.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-5"> <p>Sal Frelick reached on catcher’s interference with two outs and Luis Rengifo followed with an RBI single. David Hamilton lined an RBI double off the wall in right-center to make it 3-0. Brandon Lockridge followed with a two-run single, chasing Mlodzinski, who allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.</p> </section> <section id="section-6"> <p>The Pirates had runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings, but failed to convert.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Milwaukee’s Trevor Megill, recently demoted from the closer role, allowed a double and a walk to open the seventh, but retired three straight with two strikeouts for his fifth consecutive appearance without an earned run.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Pittsburgh loaded the bases in the eighth against Aaron Ashby on two walks and an error, but Bryan Reynolds bounced to second to end the inning.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>The Brewers failed to homer for the seventh consecutive game, their most since a franchise-record 13 straight games in 1999. Milwaukee has one home run in its last 11 games.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-10"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Dominant #Kyle #Harrison #fans #Brewers #slide #Pirates

Deadspin | A’s, Brewers meet again in Las Vegas after show-stopping opener     Jun 8, 2026; Summerlin, Nevada, USA;  Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) celebrates after hitting a home run against the Athletics during the ninth inning at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images   LAS VEGAS — Both scheduled starting pitchers have a pretty good idea of what to expect when the Milwaukee Brewers face the Athletics on Tuesday night in the second game of a three-game series at Las Vegas Ballpark, the hitter-friendly home of the A’s Triple-A affiliate, the Aviators.    Left-hander Robert Gasser (0-2, 4.73 ERA) will start for the Brewers against right-hander J.T. Ginn (3-3, 2.74) of the A’s, who are using this series in Las Vegas to connect with the community. The Athletics currently play their home games in West Sacramento, Calif., but will move to Las Vegas permanently when their new climate-controlled stadium opens there in 2028.   On Monday, the Brewers rallied for a wild 15-14 victory in 12 innings in a 4-hour, 14-minute game that featured 11 home runs, including seven by the A’s. The teams combined for 34 hits.    “The most bizarre game I’ve ever had in Major League Baseball in 11 years,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said afterward. “I never saw anything like it.”    Milwaukee, which trailed 8-4 after three innings, tied the score at 10-10 in the ninth. The Brewers then scored four in the 10th, boosted by William Contreras’ three-run homer, only to see the A’s rally with four runs in the bottom of the inning behind homers from Nick Kurtz, his second of the game, and pinch hitter Jonah Heim.  After neither team scored in the 11th, automatic runner Christian Yelich stole third in the 12th and slid home ahead of the throw on Brice Turang’s fielder’s choice bouncer.   Milwaukee’s Chad Patrick took the mound in the home half of the 12th and stranded the tying run at third base to earn the save.    “I’ve played here and I’ve seen it,” said Patrick, who played at Las Vegas Ballpark when he was in the A’s system. “It’s definitely crazy. I don’t know if it’s necessarily made for big league hitters, but it’s still baseball.”    Tyler Soderstrom homered twice for the A’s, who also got solo homers from Zack Gelof and Shea Langeliers. Brice Turang, Andrew Vaughn and Jake Bauers also homered for the Brewers.    Milwaukee, which started its current six-game road trip with a three-game sweep at Colorado, moved a season-high 18 games above .500 (41-23). The Brewers lead the National League Central by 5 1/2 games over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.     For the A’s, Ginn made his first three appearances of 2026 out of the bullpen before joining the rotation. He is 3-2 with a 1.49 ERA over his past six starts, holding opponents to a .172 batting average.    In his most recent start, he allowed one run — a homer by Pete Crow-Armstrong — in six innings of two-hit ball against the Cubs, leaving with a 6-1 lead, but did not get the decision in a 7-6 loss on Thursday.    “Ginn was exceptional again,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said afterward. “One pitch to Crow that he left up, but outside of that, I thought he had a dominating performance tonight.”    Ginn also has experience pitching at Las Vegas Ballpark during his minor-league career. He was 4-3 with 5.72 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) at Triple-A Las Vegas in 2024 and was 1-0 with a 2.11 ERA in five starts in 2025.    Ginn is 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against Milwaukee.    Despite a loss his last time out, Gasser is coming off his best start. He allowed one run on five hits in five innings, taking the loss in a 1-0 defeat against San Francisco on Wednesday.    He has never faced the Athletics in his 10 career outings.    The series with the Brewers will be followed by three games against Colorado in Las Vegas.  –Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Brewers #meet #Las #Vegas #showstopping #openerJun 8, 2026; Summerlin, Nevada, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) celebrates after hitting a home run against the Athletics during the ninth inning at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

LAS VEGAS — Both scheduled starting pitchers have a pretty good idea of what to expect when the Milwaukee Brewers face the Athletics on Tuesday night in the second game of a three-game series at Las Vegas Ballpark, the hitter-friendly home of the A’s Triple-A affiliate, the Aviators.

Left-hander Robert Gasser (0-2, 4.73 ERA) will start for the Brewers against right-hander J.T. Ginn (3-3, 2.74) of the A’s, who are using this series in Las Vegas to connect with the community. The Athletics currently play their home games in West Sacramento, Calif., but will move to Las Vegas permanently when their new climate-controlled stadium opens there in 2028.

On Monday, the Brewers rallied for a wild 15-14 victory in 12 innings in a 4-hour, 14-minute game that featured 11 home runs, including seven by the A’s. The teams combined for 34 hits.

“The most bizarre game I’ve ever had in Major League Baseball in 11 years,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said afterward. “I never saw anything like it.”

Milwaukee, which trailed 8-4 after three innings, tied the score at 10-10 in the ninth. The Brewers then scored four in the 10th, boosted by William Contreras’ three-run homer, only to see the A’s rally with four runs in the bottom of the inning behind homers from Nick Kurtz, his second of the game, and pinch hitter Jonah Heim.

After neither team scored in the 11th, automatic runner Christian Yelich stole third in the 12th and slid home ahead of the throw on Brice Turang’s fielder’s choice bouncer.

Milwaukee’s Chad Patrick took the mound in the home half of the 12th and stranded the tying run at third base to earn the save.

“I’ve played here and I’ve seen it,” said Patrick, who played at Las Vegas Ballpark when he was in the A’s system. “It’s definitely crazy. I don’t know if it’s necessarily made for big league hitters, but it’s still baseball.”

Tyler Soderstrom homered twice for the A’s, who also got solo homers from Zack Gelof and Shea Langeliers. Brice Turang, Andrew Vaughn and Jake Bauers also homered for the Brewers.

Milwaukee, which started its current six-game road trip with a three-game sweep at Colorado, moved a season-high 18 games above .500 (41-23). The Brewers lead the National League Central by 5 1/2 games over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.


For the A’s, Ginn made his first three appearances of 2026 out of the bullpen before joining the rotation. He is 3-2 with a 1.49 ERA over his past six starts, holding opponents to a .172 batting average.

In his most recent start, he allowed one run — a homer by Pete Crow-Armstrong — in six innings of two-hit ball against the Cubs, leaving with a 6-1 lead, but did not get the decision in a 7-6 loss on Thursday.

“Ginn was exceptional again,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said afterward. “One pitch to Crow that he left up, but outside of that, I thought he had a dominating performance tonight.”

Ginn also has experience pitching at Las Vegas Ballpark during his minor-league career. He was 4-3 with 5.72 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) at Triple-A Las Vegas in 2024 and was 1-0 with a 2.11 ERA in five starts in 2025.

Ginn is 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against Milwaukee.

Despite a loss his last time out, Gasser is coming off his best start. He allowed one run on five hits in five innings, taking the loss in a 1-0 defeat against San Francisco on Wednesday.

He has never faced the Athletics in his 10 career outings.

The series with the Brewers will be followed by three games against Colorado in Las Vegas.

–Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Brewers #meet #Las #Vegas #showstopping #opener">Deadspin | A’s, Brewers meet again in Las Vegas after show-stopping opener     Jun 8, 2026; Summerlin, Nevada, USA;  Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) celebrates after hitting a home run against the Athletics during the ninth inning at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images   LAS VEGAS — Both scheduled starting pitchers have a pretty good idea of what to expect when the Milwaukee Brewers face the Athletics on Tuesday night in the second game of a three-game series at Las Vegas Ballpark, the hitter-friendly home of the A’s Triple-A affiliate, the Aviators.    Left-hander Robert Gasser (0-2, 4.73 ERA) will start for the Brewers against right-hander J.T. Ginn (3-3, 2.74) of the A’s, who are using this series in Las Vegas to connect with the community. The Athletics currently play their home games in West Sacramento, Calif., but will move to Las Vegas permanently when their new climate-controlled stadium opens there in 2028.   On Monday, the Brewers rallied for a wild 15-14 victory in 12 innings in a 4-hour, 14-minute game that featured 11 home runs, including seven by the A’s. The teams combined for 34 hits.    “The most bizarre game I’ve ever had in Major League Baseball in 11 years,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said afterward. “I never saw anything like it.”    Milwaukee, which trailed 8-4 after three innings, tied the score at 10-10 in the ninth. The Brewers then scored four in the 10th, boosted by William Contreras’ three-run homer, only to see the A’s rally with four runs in the bottom of the inning behind homers from Nick Kurtz, his second of the game, and pinch hitter Jonah Heim.  After neither team scored in the 11th, automatic runner Christian Yelich stole third in the 12th and slid home ahead of the throw on Brice Turang’s fielder’s choice bouncer.   Milwaukee’s Chad Patrick took the mound in the home half of the 12th and stranded the tying run at third base to earn the save.    “I’ve played here and I’ve seen it,” said Patrick, who played at Las Vegas Ballpark when he was in the A’s system. “It’s definitely crazy. I don’t know if it’s necessarily made for big league hitters, but it’s still baseball.”    Tyler Soderstrom homered twice for the A’s, who also got solo homers from Zack Gelof and Shea Langeliers. Brice Turang, Andrew Vaughn and Jake Bauers also homered for the Brewers.    Milwaukee, which started its current six-game road trip with a three-game sweep at Colorado, moved a season-high 18 games above .500 (41-23). The Brewers lead the National League Central by 5 1/2 games over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.     For the A’s, Ginn made his first three appearances of 2026 out of the bullpen before joining the rotation. He is 3-2 with a 1.49 ERA over his past six starts, holding opponents to a .172 batting average.    In his most recent start, he allowed one run — a homer by Pete Crow-Armstrong — in six innings of two-hit ball against the Cubs, leaving with a 6-1 lead, but did not get the decision in a 7-6 loss on Thursday.    “Ginn was exceptional again,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said afterward. “One pitch to Crow that he left up, but outside of that, I thought he had a dominating performance tonight.”    Ginn also has experience pitching at Las Vegas Ballpark during his minor-league career. He was 4-3 with 5.72 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) at Triple-A Las Vegas in 2024 and was 1-0 with a 2.11 ERA in five starts in 2025.    Ginn is 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against Milwaukee.    Despite a loss his last time out, Gasser is coming off his best start. He allowed one run on five hits in five innings, taking the loss in a 1-0 defeat against San Francisco on Wednesday.    He has never faced the Athletics in his 10 career outings.    The series with the Brewers will be followed by three games against Colorado in Las Vegas.  –Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Brewers #meet #Las #Vegas #showstopping #opener

There’s no good way to interview someone the size of Victor Wembanyama post-game, unless the man is sitting down. When you’re 7-4 your entire existence is spent adapting to the world around you, so I don’t blame him when he doesn’t feel like stooping down after a basketball game to make life easier on reporters. Still, it has a tendency to create some hilarious moments, as we saw on Monday night when ESPN’s Lisa Salters was reduced to a disembodied arm on camera.

The internet tells me that Lisa Salters is an unconfirmed 5-2, but still this is pretty hilarious. Would it have killed ESPN to take a couple of steps back so both Wemby and their reporter could both be in the shot at once? It wouldn’t have taken away from the moment considering that Wembanyama is a literal giant, and it’s gotta be better than just having a random arm invading the frame.

#Victor #Wembanyama #interviewed #disembodied #arm">Victor Wembanyama got interviewed by a disembodied arm  There’s no good way to interview someone the size of Victor Wembanyama post-game, unless the man is sitting down. When you’re 7-4 your entire existence is spent adapting to the world around you, so I don’t blame him when he doesn’t feel like stooping down after a basketball game to make life easier on reporters. Still, it has a tendency to create some hilarious moments, as we saw on Monday night when ESPN’s Lisa Salters was reduced to a disembodied arm on camera.The internet tells me that Lisa Salters is an unconfirmed 5-2, but still this is pretty hilarious. Would it have killed ESPN to take a couple of steps back so both Wemby and their reporter could both be in the shot at once? It wouldn’t have taken away from the moment considering that Wembanyama is a literal giant, and it’s gotta be better than just having a random arm invading the frame.  #Victor #Wembanyama #interviewed #disembodied #arm

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