Freeman walk-off homer stuns Angels in opener

Freddie Freeman delivered a walk-off lead-off homer in the bottom of the ninth as the Dodgers edged the Angels 1-0 in the Freeway Series opener, with Roki Sasaki striking out 10 and keeping Los Angeles on the verge all night. The MLB slate also featured Corey

LOS ANGELES — The night felt locked in until the last swing.

Freddie Freeman homered to lead off the bottom of the ninth. lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Los Angeles Angels 1-0 in the Freeway Series opener on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Freeman watched a 3-2 pitch from former Dodgers reliever Kirby Yates (0-2) sail over the wall in deep center. and the crowd erupted as his teammates rushed to greet him at home plate. Fans broke into chants of “Freddie!. Freddie!”.

It was the kind of swing Freeman keeps finding himself close to. The Dodgers also had been on the wrong end of a walk-off homer in Arizona on Thursday night. On Friday, Freeman finished with two hits and a walk.

Blake Treinen (3-1) earned the win in relief by going scoreless in the ninth.

The game stayed tight for a reason: through the first three meetings of the season, the Dodgers had outscored the Angels 31-3, but Friday’s opener didn’t resemble blowout baseball. Each team logged three hits, and the margin never widened.

Roki Sasaki, starting for Los Angeles, struck out a career-high 10 over seven scoreless innings. He did not allow a hit until the fifth, when Nick Madrigal doubled with one out. The Japanese right-hander left lowered his ERA to 4.03.

Reid Detmers matched Sasaki for much of the early stretch, firing three hitless innings. Freeman put Los Angeles on the board in the fourth with a single. Detmers ultimately gave up two hits in six innings, struck out six and walked two.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Corey Seager didn’t need many chances to end a brutal stretch. In his first game for Texas in more than three weeks, the Rangers first baseman swatted a go-ahead homer to snap a career-worst 0-for-29 slump as they beat Cleveland.

Seager had missed 19 games since May 13 while on the injured list with lower back inflammation. His two-run homer in the sixth made it 3-2 right after Wyatt Langford doubled. Langford had missed 39 games since April 21 with a right forearm strain before being activated from the IL before the game.

For Cleveland. Guardians rookie starter Parker Messick (6-2) retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced. including the first 11. before the damage caught up. Willson Contreras?. No—this game’s turning moment came when Kyle Higashioka homered leading off the sixth. Messick then surrendered extra-base hits to Langford and Seager and another hit to Josh Jung. A two-out walk ended his night.

Texas starter Kumar Rocker struck out five while allowing two runs over five innings. Peyton Gray (2-0) worked 1 2/3 innings, and Jacob Latz—Texas’ third reliever—pitched two innings for his ninth save.

Travis Bazzana had his first career leadoff homer for the Guardians and finished with three hits. He was left stranded at third after a leadoff triple in the fifth.

NEW YORK — In the middle of Boston’s push, the Yankees lost more than a game.

Willson Contreras homered and drove in three runs as the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 5-3 on Friday night. The Yankees placed Aaron Judge on the injured list with a stress fracture in his right rib.

Contreras homered for the second straight game. His two-run drive off Ryan Weathers (2-4) reached the second deck in left field and stayed inside the foul pole in the fifth. Earlier. Contreras also hit an infield single on a high chopper to the third base side of the mound to snap a 1-1 tie in the third.

Boston added to the lead when Andrew Monasterio homered in the fourth. Wilyer Abreu had an RBI groundout as Boston reached its 10th win in the last 13 road games.

Former Yankee Sonny Gray (7-1) allowed three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, earning his fifth straight win since returning from a hamstring injury after he struggled in the Bronx in 2017 and 2018.

The late innings tightened. Danny Coulombe stranded a runner in the seventh, and Justin Slaten needed four pitches for a perfect eighth. In the ninth, Aroldis Chapman issued a pair of walks to pinch hitters Max Schuemann and Amed Rosario, but he still finished by securing his 13th save.

New York lost for the third time in four games since Judge was sidelined. Before the game, New York said Judge would be re-evaluated in about four to six weeks.

Ben Rice and Trent Grisham homered off Gray, and Spencer Jones added an RBI single. Jones was called up to replace Judge and delivered his first career three-hit game.

Weathers lasted six innings, allowing five runs and seven hits. He struck out four and walked one and is now winless in his last five starts.

CHICAGO — The Giants didn’t just win; they swung hard at the moment it mattered.

Matt Chapman powered San Francisco past Chicago with a fourth career grand slam in the fourth inning, then capped a seven-run sixth inning with a three-run shot as the Giants handed the Cubs their 19th loss in 25 games.

Willy Adames and Casey Schmitt each added a pair of home runs. Jonah Cox hit a solo shot among three hits.

Chapman’s big day carried a theme: he hit the Giants’ second grand slam in two days, and the sixth this season. All of it came during San Francisco’s last 18 games. Chapman finished with a career-high eight RBIs after adding a sacrifice fly.

The Giants’ offensive outburst was historic in its own way. San Francisco became the sixth team in MLB history to hit six slams in 20 days or less.

Schmitt finished with four hits, including his second homer of the game. He hit his team-leading 15th homer off Chicago catcher Carson Kelly, who pitched the ninth. The Giants finished with 19 hits after following up on a 20-hit, 12-9 win at Milwaukee on Thursday.

Seiya Suzuki hit a solo shot for the Cubs. Kelly finished with two hits and an RBI.

Giants starter Robbie Ray (4-6) earned the win by allowing no runs on two hits in five innings, even though he issued five walks.

San Francisco’s early damage came off Edward Cabrera (3-3), who lasted 3 2/3 innings in his return from a blister on his right middle finger and surrendered eight of the first eight runs on eight hits.

DETROIT — The Tigers didn’t waste the reunion.

Gleyber Torres had three hits as Detroit beat Seattle in their first meeting since the Mariners eliminated the Tigers in the AL Division Series.

Kerry Carpenter and Spencer Torkelson homered for Detroit, which is now 4-0 in June after going 9-22 in May. The Tigers are averaging eight runs during the winning streak, even as Seattle absorbed a second straight loss after an eight-game winning streak.

Framber Valdez (3-4) got the win by allowing one run on five hits and two walks in five innings. Bryan Woo (5-4) took the loss, giving up five runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead in the first on three singles, but Detroit responded with three in the third. Torres singled with one out. moved to third on Kevin McGonigle’s base hit. and Dillon Dingler lifted a ball to shallow center. Julio Rodriguez played it on a hop, allowing Torres to score, but Rodriguez threw to J.P. Crawford in time to force McGonigle at second—costing Detroit an additional run. Carpenter followed with a two-run homer to right.

Colt Emerson made it 3-2 with a seventh-inning homer off Drew Anderson, but Torres answered in the bottom of the inning with a two-run double to push Detroit further ahead.

MIAMI — Tampa Bay turned dominance into scoreboard pressure.

Drew Rasmussen allowed one hit in seven dominant innings as Tampa Bay beat Miami. Junior Caminero reached base five times, and the Rays got key hits all over the field.

Caminero doubled and walked twice, and he also singled. Cedric Mullings homered for the Rays. Ryan Vilade had two hits and two RBIs while Yandy Díaz added three singles.

Rasmussen (5-2) struck out a season-high nine and retired 17 straight after allowing Javier Sanoja’s opposite-field single to right in the second. The right-hander was lifted after 87 pitches.

Two of Rasmussen’s five victories have come against Miami. He also completed 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball in a 6-3 win at Tampa Bay on May 17.

It was another strong sign for Caminero, who recorded five times on base for the second time this season—after he had four walks and a single in Tampa Bay’s 9-7 loss against St. Louis on opening day.

After being swept at home by Detroit in a three-game set, the Rays brought 12 hits into their series opener against Miami.

ATLANTA — Mauricio Dubón kept the momentum rolling and Atlanta opened another home series with a win over Pittsburgh.

Dubón homered for the third straight game, finishing 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs. It was the first time in his eight-year career he had homered in three consecutive games.

Ronald Acuña Jr. went 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI, and Matt Olson had two hits and a run.

Martin Pérez (4-3) went five innings and gave up three runs, then the bullpen took over and blanked MLB’s fourth-highest-scoring offense in the final four innings. Raisel Iglesias picked up his 12th save and lowered his ERA to 0.92 after pitching the ninth.

Atlanta improved its home-series opening trend as the Braves won the opening game of a home series nine times in 10 tries this season.

Dubón’s swings told the story. His two-run, 405-foot homer to left field tied the game at 3 in the third. A double later gave the Braves a 4-3 lead in the fifth, and he scored again on an RBI double by Austin Riley.

Mitch Keller (5-3) took the loss for the Pirates, allowing six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Keller has now allowed 13 runs in his last two starts.

Pittsburgh’s 11-game homer streak ended.

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies stacked the kind of day that keeps rival lineups unsettled.

Brandon Marsh hit his first homer off a left-handed starter in nearly four years, Kyle Schwarber produced four singles in a game for the first time in his career, and Philadelphia defeated Chicago.

Adolis García homered for the second straight game, Alec Bohm hit a two-run double, and Trea Turner had an RBI as the Phillies improved to four straight wins and eight of their last 10.

Marsh’s impact came early. He sparked Philadelphia’s five-run second inning with a two-run homer off White Sox starter Anthony Kay. It was Marsh’s first home run off a lefty starter since July 16, 2022, when he homered while with the Los Angeles Angels against the Dodgers’ Julio Urias.

Schwarber then carried the plate with power and patience. Leading the majors with 23 homers, he singled in the first, second, seventh and eighth innings and finished 4 for 5. He scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Edmundo Sosa. sliding under the tag at home plate. Philadelphia later added an insurance run in the inning when White Sox reliever Seranthony Dominguez tossed a wild pitch.

Jonathan Bowlan (2-0) earned the win in relief of Jesús Luzardo, who allowed five runs and six hits in six innings. Jhoan Duran pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 15th save in as many opportunities.

TORONTO — Baltimore’s offense didn’t just show up; it carried the game from start to finish.

Adley Rutschman homered and finished with four hits and five RBIs in Baltimore’s victory over Toronto.

Rutschman hit a solo homer and added two two-run doubles. Coby Mayo then followed with a two-run homer off Trey Yesavage (2-3) in the five-run sixth to help Baltimore win for the fifth time in six games. The Blue Jays lost for the fifth time in six games.

Brandon Young (4-1) won for Baltimore for the first time since May 6. He allowed a two-run homer from catcher Brandon Valenzuela in the fifth. Young lasted 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

Rutschman walked in addition to his big hits, reached base a fifth time with a walk, and scored four runs.

Toronto’s Daulton Varsho left the game in the fourth inning with left wrist discomfort.

HOUSTON — Isaac Paredes kept the hitting streak alive and Houston took care of business against the Athletics.

Paredes homered for the third straight game and drove in four runs as Houston beat Oakland.

The first inning opened when Jeremy Peña singled off Jack Perkins (2-3) to extend his hitting streak to six games. Yordan Alvarez followed with a walk, and Paredes homered for the ninth time for a 3-0 lead.

Alvarez, who chased down first-inning fly balls from Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz in left field in his first start out there since May 5, singled to start the third before scoring on a triple by Christian Walker. Paredes followed with a sacrifice fly for a 5-0 advantage.

Peter Lambert (5-4) seemed in control until Brent Rooker hit his ninth homer in the sixth. Lambert then walked Tyler Soderstrom before Henry Bolte doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. Enyel De Los Santos came in. struck out Zach Gelof. and then retired Jeff McNeil on a liner to Jose Altuve at second to limit the damage.

Houston maintained control even when the Athletics loaded the bases with one out in the second, as Lambert struck out McNeil and Darell Hernaiz to keep it 3-0. Lambert allowed one run on five hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings.

De Los Santos retired all five batters he faced, Bryan King pitched a scoreless eighth, and closer Josh Hader struck out the side in his second appearance after beginning the season on the injured list.

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis made it count in a big debut, then kept pouring on runs.

Alec Burleson homered and scored four runs, Lars Nootbaar added two hits and an RBI in his season debut, and St. Louis beat Cincinnati.

Nootbaar had surgery on both heels in October. Batting leadoff, he singled in his first at-bat. His RBI double started a six-run sixth.

After the Reds scored three runs in the first, St. Louis reeled off 10 straight runs, with eight Cardinals driving in a run.

Hunter Dobbins (1-0) pitched the final five innings in relief of starter Kyle Leahy. Brady Singer (2-6) threw 4 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Jordan Walker, who had three hits, drove in a run with an RBI double to center off reliever Brock Burke in the fifth to make it 4-3.

The thread across Friday’s slate was unmistakable: games swung late, stars showed up at the exact moment, and the smallest margins—one swing, one pitch, one injury update—changed everything for everyone in the stadium.

MLB roundup Dodgers Angels Freddie Freeman Kirby Yates Roki Sasaki Corey Seager Rangers Guardians Willson Contreras Yankees Aaron Judge injury Matt Chapman Giants Cubs Adley Rutschman