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The First Pitch: April 27, 2026
Mike Trout’s first-inning home run at Kansas City is the 797th extra-base hit of his career, breaking the mark held by the recently-passed Garret Anderson for the most in Angels history. The two-run shot helps build an early 6-0 lead over the Royals—slimmed down to 7-4 with the Royals batting when the rains take over Kauffman Stadium, putting the game on ice for an hour and a half. Once the tarps are removed, the Royals continue to press; Jac Caglianone’s two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth ties the game, and in the 10th—after the Angels score to take a 9-8 lead—Lane Thomas ends it with a walk-off, three-run homer, giving the Royals an 11-9 victory.
If the Angels, who’ve been showing sparks of overdue vitality early in the season, are to make a run at their first postseason appearance in 11 seasons, they’ll need a legitimate closer. After the team designates veteran closer Jordan Romano (0-2 record, 10.13 ERA over 11 appearances) for assignment earlier in the day, both Drew Pomeranz and Joey Lucchesi suffer blown saves in the loss to the Royals. Only the Mets (two) have fewer saves than the Angels’ four among all 30 MLB teams.
An intentional walk given to the A’s Nick Kurtz in the ninth inning at Texas helps break a franchise record for the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, as he extends a streak of consecutive games with at least one base on balls to 16. Kurtz does not score after being given the free ticket to first, but the A’s still triumph with a 2-1 decision.
Score one for ABS. In the top of the ninth inning at St. Louis, the Mariners’ Rob Refsnyder takes a called strike three from home plate umpire John Bacon on a pitch that’s roughly half a foot outside the zone. Refsnyder quickly challenges, gets the call reversed, and four pitches later launches a go-ahead home run that will be the deciding blow in Seattle’s 3-2 victory.
The reversed call is one of eight that Bacon witnesses on the day.
The Mets may have won two games earlier in the week, but they suffer embarrassment anew as they drop a pair to the visiting Rockies, culminating in a three-game sweep for Colorado. The first loss, 3-1, occurs despite another agreeable start for young Nolan McLean, allows two runs (one earned) with seven strikeouts over five innings; in the nightcap, they’re shut down 3-0 as Chase Dollander, making his first start of the year after six long relief outings, throws seven shutout innings and reduces his season ERA to a very un-Rockies-like 2.25.
It’s only the second time over the last 27 years that the Rockies have swept a doubleheader on the road; the other time they did it, back in 2011, also came at Citi Field against the Mets. The one total run allowed by Colorado over both games is the fewest conceded over any twinbill in franchise history.
Congrats, Your Box Score Line Was the Best (Hitters Edition)
5-3-3-4—Ildemaro Vargas, Arizona
It seems that every ballpark the once-and-current Diamondback has played at this season has been situated at 7,500 feet above sea level. Vargas finished a single shy of the cycle at mile-high-plus Mexico City, leading Arizona to a come-from behind, 12-7 victory over the Padres. All three of Vargas’ hits came from the sixth inning on, starting with his sixth home run—already tying a career mark; it also extended his hitting streak, dating back to the end of last year, to 23 games—the third longest in team history.
Congrats, Your Box Score Line Was the Best (Pitchers Edition)
7-2-0-0-2-8—Foster Griffin, Washington
Here’s another one of those guys who flunks the major league test early on, escapes to Japan in search of rebirth, and returns to America a new pitcher. The Nationals bet $5.5 million this past offseason on the 30-year-old Griffin to prove he belongs back in the bigs; so far, that bet appears to be paying off. In Washington’s 2-1 road win over the White Sox, Griffin threw seven shutout innings to improve to 3-0 on the year, while lowering his season ERA to 2.67. He’s just what the Nationals’ otherwise awful pitching staff needs right now.
It Was Whatever-Something Years Ago Today
1902: During a 2-0 loss to the Pirates, 18-year-old rookie Cubs pitcher Jim St. Vrain hits a ground ball to shortstop Honus Wagner, and is so startled by making contact that he starts running toward the bag—the one at third base. A less-confused Wagner throws the ball to first to retire St. Vrain. In his one and only season in the majors, St. Vrain will get three hits in 31 at-bats.
1930: In a game against the Browns at St. Louis, White Sox first baseman Bud Clancy witnesses the entire game from his position without having to make either an assist or putout. It’s the first time such an occurrence has happened in the 20th Century, and it will only be equaled later on three other occasions.
1971: Hank Aaron becomes baseball’s third player to hit 600 home runs, reaching the milestone for the Braves against San Francisco. The Giants win it in 10 innings, 6-5, on an RBI single by Willie Mays—the second player, after Babe Ruth and before Aaron, to reach 600.
1981: Oakland manager Billy Martin—always one for technicalities—believes the Seattle Kingdome batter’s box is a little too big when the A’s visit, and asks the umpires to break out the ruler. They’ll prove Martin right; it’s seven feet, not the customary six. The A’s win, 7-4, and afterward the Mariners’ groundskeeper admits he was expanding the box under orders from manager Maury Wills—who is suspended for two games as a result.
You Say It’s Your Birthday
Happy birthday to:
Five-time All-Star Texas shortstop Corey Seager (32), 2016 NL Rookie of the Year; two-time NL league leader in doubles
Chris Carpenter (51), pitcher who posted 49-50 record in first six years with Blue Jays—then went 95-44 with the Cardinals for the remainder of his career; 2005 NL Cy Young winner; 2009 NL ERA titlist
Pedro Feliz (51), corner infielder of 1,065 hits including 140 home runs
Frank Catalanotto (52), man of many positions (mostly in the outfield) for 14 seasons with five teams; 1,113 lifetime hits
Willie Upshaw (69), 1980s Toronto first baseman with 1,103 hits including 123 homers
Born on this date:
Enos Slaughter (1916), hard-running, Hall-of-Fame outfielder with career .300 batting average; member of 10 All-Star teams; top NL hitter of 1942; two-time league leader in triples; 1946 World Series hero
Rogers Hornsby (1896), legendary hitting star who won seven batting titles; 2,930 career hits, with 200+ in seven seasons; maintained .400 batting average over five-year stretch (1921-25); managed six different teams, including 1926 world champion Cardinals
Hi Myers (1889), center fielder from 1909-25; two-time league leader in triples
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