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Published

3 years ago

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10:57 PM ET

SAN DIEGO — Juan Soto and Josh Hader absorbed most of the attention, but Brandon Drury and Josh Bell were in-season acquisitions of similar importance to the San Diego Padres — a belief further emphasized by Fernando Tatis Jr.’s ensuing suspension. Bell and Drury represented key power bats in the middle of the lineup, a key source of protection for Soto and Manny Machado. And on Wednesday, with the Padres in desperate need of a victory, their bats finally came alive.

Drury and Bell, struggling all postseason and for most of their Padres tenure, combined for five hits and drove in five runs in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, keying an 8-5 come-from-behind victory over the Philadelphia Phillies to earn a split from Petco Park.

The Padres found themselves in a four-run hole midway through the second inning and clawed all the way back, an exceedingly rare triumph for this time of year. Before Wednesday, teams that trailed by four or more runs at any point in an LCS game were 12-268, which amounts to a .043 winning percentage. The Padres themselves were 1-16 in their postseason history, but they had recency on their side. They came back from down four runs during their last trip to the postseason in 2020, in Game 2 of their wild-card series against the St. Louis Cardinals. And they strung together a five-run seventh inning to overcome a three-run deficit and eliminate the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the NL Division Series four days ago.

“We’re trying to extend every at-bat,” said Padres catcher Austin Nola, who helped ignite a five-run fifth inning with a hit off his brother. “We’re trying to get to the next one. That’s kind of what we’re doing right now. Get to the next pitch, and then eventually you’re going to get to the next guy and keep this thing rolling, getting a good rally.”

Padres manager Bob Melvin made what appeared to be a small lineup change heading into Game 2, benching Wil Myers, who provided superior defense at first base, and moving Jake Cronenworth up to the cleanup spot. Drury and Bell, who had combined for a .105/.128/.184 slash line through the Padres’ first eight postseason games, would hit fifth and sixth, respectively. And they came through when the Padres most desperately needed a lift.

The Phillies had compiled four runs off Blake Snell in the most unlikely of ways, stringing together four softly hit singles, benefiting from a fly ball Soto lost in the sun and scoring another run on a sharp grounder that was booted by Drury at first base. Aaron Nola, who had yet to allow an earned run in these playoffs, was toeing the rubber. A 2-0 lead in this series — with up to three games to follow in Philadelphia — seemed well within the Phillies grasp.

Then Drury led off the bottom half and lined the second pitch he saw, a chest-high fastball, over the fence in left field.

“I was trying to get a big inning going,” Drury said during an on-field interview. “He left a fastball over the middle and I just took a good swing on it.”

On the next pitch — another fastball, this one up and in — Bell hit a towering blast out to right, cutting the Phillies’ lead in half and injecting life into a sold-out crowd of 44,607. Three innings later, in the bottom of the fifth, the Padres sent 11 batters to the plate and accumulated five runs. Three of the first four batters reached, and then Soto tied the score with an RBI double into the right-field corner. Drury came up later against Brad Hand, with the bases loaded and two outs, and smoked a two-run single to left-center. Bell followed with a run-scoring single down the right-field line. By that point, Drury and Bell had combined for as many hits through the first five innings of one game (four) as they had through the entire postseason.

“Those guys are here for a reason, and they all have track records,” Melvin said. “You look at their numbers over the course of this year, and they’re all good. Those are the guys we’re going to keep running out there.”

The Padres’ win was a by-product of so much more than just Drury and Bell. It was Snell hanging tough after a 37-pitch second inning, finding a way to record 15 outs to turn the game over to the Padres’ best high-leverage relievers. It was Soto, who had been hitting the ball hard all month but didn’t have much to show for it, atoning for a missed fly ball with a key hit. It was Machado clobbering a 424-foot home run in the seventh, then starting a slick double play with the Phillies threatening and Bryce Harper up in the next half-inning. And, most memorably, it was Nola conquering his younger brother.

The Padres had one on and one out, still trailed by a couple of runs, and Austin Nola faced an 0-2 count against Aaron Nola, with their parents nervously watching from the stands.

“I feel like every time I face my brother I’m 0-2,” Austin Nola said. “He’s always ahead of me, and I’m always fighting back just trying to get some barrels somewhere.”

This time, Austin — in the first sibling matchup of pitcher versus batter in postseason history — executed a perfect run-and-hit. Ha-Seong Kim took off for second base in an attempted steal, Phillies second baseman Jean Segura shifted over to cover and Austin lined a base hit through a vacated right side, allowing Kim to score all the way from first and ultimately igniting a major rally.

The Padres avoided what would have felt like a major deficit and now they’ll have one of their aces, Joe Musgrove, lined up for Game 3 in Philadelphia on Friday.

“We knew what we had to do,” Machado said in Spanish. “We had to win this game no matter what.”

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Hard-throwing rookie Misiorowski going to ASG

Published

13 hours ago

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July 12, 2025

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Hard-throwing rookie Misiorowski going to ASG

  • Associated Press

Jul 11, 2025, 11:17 PM ET

Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.

Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.

The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.

If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.

Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.

“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”

Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.

“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”

Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.

The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.

In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.

“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”

The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.

Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.

The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”

Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.

Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.

San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.

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Twins SS Correa helped off with sprained ankle

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13 hours ago

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July 12, 2025

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Twins SS Correa helped off with sprained ankle

  • ESPN News Services

Jul 11, 2025, 11:31 PM ET

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa had to be helped off the field after injuring his right ankle when Pittsburgh‘s Tommy Pham slid into him at second base.

Pham was trying to get to second on his liner off the wall in right field in the seventh inning of the Twins’ 2-1 victory Friday night. Right fielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr.’s throw beat Pham, whose batting helmet made contact with Correa’s lower leg.

Correa rolled over and stayed on the ground before leaving the game. Brooks Lee moved from second base to shortstop to replace Correa. The team said Correa had a mild ankle sprain.

Correa said X-rays were negative and that he expects to sit out Saturday’s game, adding that he “hopefully” can play on Sunday, according to MLB.com.

The 30-year-old Correa is already in his 11th big league season and has been a mainstay at shortstop for the Twins since signing as a free agent in 2022. He missed about half of last season with a concussion and a plantar fascia injury, the latter of which kept him from playing in the All-Star Game after he was chosen for the third time.

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Acuña replaced in HR Derby by teammate Olson

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13 hours ago

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July 12, 2025

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Acuña replaced in HR Derby by teammate Olson

  • Associated Press

Jul 12, 2025, 12:34 AM ET

ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña Jr. won’t participate in the Home Run Derby, replaced Friday by Atlanta teammate and fellow All-Star Matt Olson.

Acuña is a starting outfielder for the National League and still is expected to play in the All-Star Game on his home field. Olson is a reserve infielder.

Instead of Acuña, Olson will try to become the first Atlanta player to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night. He could become the fourth to win at home. The All-Star Game is Tuesday night.

Olson competed in the 2021 Derby while with the Athletics. He was eliminated in the first round. The 31-year-old entered the weekend with 17 homers this season.

The other scheduled participants are Brent Rooker, the first for the Athletics since Olson, along with Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and James Wood of Washington.

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