2026 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #13

Tijuana struck first in the second inning when Agustin Ramirez launched a two-run homer off Trevor Rogers. The Mobsters responded in the sixth as Julio Rodriguez blasted a two-run shot of his own against Cristopher Sanchez, tying the game 2-2.

The deadlock broke in the eighth against Chicago reliever Felix Bautista. Trea Turner hit a go-ahead RBI single, followed by a Corbin Carroll RBI knock to make it 4-2. Justin Lawrence closed out a perfect ninth to secure the win.

Final Score: Tijuana 4 – Chicago 2

Win: Cristopher Sanchez 9-0 (1.32)
Loss: Felix Bautista 0-3 (7.63)
Save: Justin Lawrence #8

Cameron carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and completely baffled Tijuana’s hitters for most of the evening. The Mobsters provided all their offensive run support in a decisive four-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Carter Jensen and an RBI knock by Julio Rodriguez.

Tijuana finally broke through in the ninth with a two-run homer from Isaac Paredes, but Daniel Coulombe entered to secure the final out and lock down the save.

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Tijuana 2

Win: Noah Cameron 7-1 (2.98)
Loss: Reese Olson 4-2 (4.23)

Tijuana got on the scoreboard first in the third inning with a solo home run from Corbin Carroll. Chicago immediately answered in the bottom half of the frame as Austin Wynns launched a solo blast to tie the game, followed by an RBI single from Luis Arraez. Julio Rodriguez padded the lead in the fourth with another solo shot off Eury Perez.

The Mobsters put the game away in the eighth inning when Yandy Diaz crushed a two-run homer, while Chicago’s bullpen slammed the door to secure the win.

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Tijuana 1

Win: Jesus Luzardo 9-3 (3.59)
Loss: Eury Perez 3-3 (3.59)

Chicago’s offense clicked in the fourth inning when Riley Greene sparked the scoring with an RBI double. Julio Rodriguez and Austin Wynns quickly followed with run-scoring hits to build a 4-0 lead. Yordan Alvarez extended the cushion in the fifth with a solo home run off Luis Gil.

Tijuana attempted a late rally, scratching across runs in the fifth and eighth innings, but closer Aroldis Chapman struck out the final two batters in the ninth to secure his 16th save.

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Tijuana 2

Win: Hunter Brown 9-4 (2.37)
Loss: Luis Gil 3-4 (6.55)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #16

Chicago struck first in the opening frame on a wild pitch, but Tijuana stormed back in the fourth. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Ian Happ and Austin Wells, followed by a Ke’Bryan Hayes single, vaulted the Bottle Rockets ahead 3-1. Chicago answered immediately in the bottom half, stringing together a Jackson Chourio RBI single and a Gio Urshela two-run double to retake a 4-3 lead.

Tijuana equalized in the fifth on another clutch Wells RBI double before Junior Caminero blasted the game-winning solo home run off Felix Bautista in the seventh. Justin Lawrence stranded the tying run at second in the ninth to lock down his ninth save.

Final Score: Tijuana 5 – Chicago 4

Win: Framber Valdez 5-4 (2.89)
Loss: Felix Bautista 0-4 (7.27)
Save: Justin Lawrence #9

Rogers dominated the Tijuana hitters from the start, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning. He ultimately allowed just two hits and one walk across nine stellar innings, capping off his masterful performance by striking out Corbin Carroll to end the game.

Chicago’s offense struck early in the bottom of the first inning. After loading the bases against Cristopher Sanchez, Willy Adames delivered a clutch two-run single to put the Mobsters ahead 2-0. Julio Rodriguez provided the final insurance run in the fourth inning, crushing a solo home run over the right-field wall. Sanchez took the loss for Tijuana despite a solid five-inning effort.

Final Score: Chicago 3 – Tijuana 0

Win: Trevor Rogers 7-0 (2.57)
Loss: Cristopher Sanchez 9-1 (1.50)

Chicago’s rotation dictated the tone of the series, highlighted by absolute dominance on the mound. Noah Cameron carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his victory, while Trevor Rogers put an exclamation point on the matchup with a masterful two-hit, complete-game shutout. Offensively, the Mobsters relied on timely power, getting crucial home runs from Yordan Alvarez, Yandy Diaz, and Julio Rodriguez throughout the week to consistently build early leads.

Tijuana managed to salvage two victories thanks to late-inning heroics, including an eighth-inning rally sparked by Trea Turner and a game-winning solo blast from Junior Caminero. Ultimately, Chicago’s stellar starting pitching and relentless lineup narrowed the gap in the AL Central standings, leaving the Bottle Rockets with plenty to think about as this intense mid-season race heats up.

The Dallas Cougars survived a late collapse and rallied in extra innings Friday night, edging the Hollywood Werewolves 4-3 in a tense 10-inning opener of a six-game series in Dallas.

Kyle Manzardo delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 10th, lining a bases-loaded single to right field that scored Brooks Lee and sent the Cougars to their third straight victory.

Dallas improved to 38-33, while Hollywood dropped to 37-32.

The Cougars struck first in the second inning when Alek Thomas ripped an RBI double off the wall in left-center, bringing home Manzardo for a 1-0 lead. Thomas nearly advanced further during the inning, but the Werewolves cut down the rally with an alert pickoff play.

Dallas starter Patrick Corbin turned in six solid innings, scattering five hits while allowing only one run. The veteran left-hander worked out of multiple jams, including a fifth-inning threat when Hollywood stranded runners at second and third.

The Werewolves finally broke through in the fourth when Matt Chapman crushed a solo homer to left, tying the game at 1-1. Chapman continued to torment Dallas pitching all night, finishing with two home runs and three RBIs.

The Cougars answered in the sixth after a Ketel Marte throwing error put Sal Frelick aboard. Nick Kurtz made Hollywood pay immediately, hammering a two-run homer deep into the Dallas night for his 13th home run of the season and a 3-1 Dallas advantage.

Hollywood refused to go quietly in the ninth. After an error by replacement first baseman Warming Bernabel allowed Aaron Judge to reach, Chapman struck again, launching a dramatic two-run homer just inside the left-field foul pole off closer Daniel Palencia to tie the game at 3-3.

Dallas had a chance to win in the ninth after Manzardo doubled and Victor Caratini was intentionally walked, but the Werewolves escaped when Jack Dreyer struck out Jarren Duran with runners at the corners.
The Cougars finally broke through in the 10th. Lee opened the inning with a double, and after intentional walks to Josh Jung and Jonah Heim’s sacrifice fly failed to advance the runners, Ramon Laureano reached on a Paul Goldschmidt error that loaded the bases. Manzardo then lined Brandon Waddell’s pitch into right-center to end the game.

Manzardo finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, and the winning RBI, while Kurtz provided the big blast for Dallas.

Chapman carried the Hollywood offense nearly by himself, going 2-for-5 with both Werewolves home runs.

Adrian Morejon earned the victory with a dominant top of the 10th, striking out the side. Dreyer took the loss after allowing the tying and winning threats to materialize late.

Despite the defeat, Hollywood pitchers limited Dallas to eight hits, but three defensive errors proved costly in the extra-inning loss.

Dallas struck first in the opening inning when Andy Pages lined a two-out RBI single to score Jarren Duran, who had singled and stolen second earlier in the frame. The Cougars added another run in the third on Pages’ RBI double after Nick Kurtz opened the inning with a two-bagger of his own.

Hollywood answered in the top of the third when Aaron Judge ripped an RBI single to left-center, tying the game at 1-1. Judge finished 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, continuing his dominant season at the plate.

The Cougars regained control in the bottom half of the inning on Pages’ second RBI extra-base hit of the night, then added insurance in the fourth when Jonah Heim launched a solo homer to center field for a 3-1 advantage.

Dallas padded the lead in the fifth after Brooks Lee stole second and later scored on a Sal Frelick single, making it 4-1.

The Werewolves mounted a late rally in the eighth. Alejandro Kirk and Isaac Collins delivered RBI singles to cut the deficit to one, and Hollywood brought the tying run to third before reliever Justin Wilson escaped with a key strikeout of Andrew McCutchen. Brock Stewart then closed the door in the ninth for his first save of the season.

Valente Bellozo earned the win after allowing three runs on 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings, while Michael McGreevy took the loss for Hollywood. Pages paced the Cougars offense with three hits and two RBIs as Dallas improved to 39-33 and took a 2-0 lead in the six-game series.

Dallas improved to 40–33 behind a rollercoaster performance that featured timely power, clutch hitting, and just enough pitching to escape a ninth-inning scare.

The game remained scoreless through three innings as starters Cole Ragans and Colton Gordon traded zeros. Ragans repeatedly worked out of danger, stranding runners in both the third and fourth innings while the Werewolves failed to capitalize on several scoring opportunities.

The Cougars finally broke through in the fourth when Ramon Laureano crushed a solo homer just inside the left-field foul pole for his 13th home run of the season and a 1–0 Dallas lead.

Hollywood answered in the sixth after loading the bases against Ragans. Seth Brown grounded into a run-scoring double play to tie the game, and Aaron Schunk followed with an RBI single to give the Werewolves a 2–1 advantage.

Dallas responded immediately in the bottom half. Laureano singled, stole second, and scored when Miguel Rojas launched a two-run homer to left-center, putting the Cougars back in front 3–2.

The Cougars blew the game open in the seventh. Andres Gimenez delivered an RBI single to score Warming Bernabel, and later Andy Pages ripped a bases-loaded triple into the left-field corner, driving in three more runs as Dallas surged ahead 7–2.

Hollywood refused to go quietly. The Werewolves plated three runs in the eighth, highlighted by RBI singles from Victor Scott and Isaac Collins, while Aaron Judge narrowly missed a three-run homer when Laureano made a leaping catch at the wall to end the inning.

Dallas added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth after Kyle Manzardo reached on a throwing error that allowed Victor Caratini to score, making it 8–5.

That extra run proved critical in the ninth. James McCann, who finished with four hits, blasted a two-run homer off Daniel Palencia to cut the lead to one and bring the tying run no closer than the on-deck circle. Palencia recovered by retiring pinch-hitter Luke Keaschall on a popup to seal his 17th save.

Ragans earned the win to improve to 3–3 despite allowing five runs and issuing six walks over 7 2/3 innings while striking out eight. Gordon took the loss after surrendering four runs on 11 hits in six innings.

Laureano led the Dallas offense with three hits, including the homer, while Rojas added a two-run blast and Pages delivered the decisive bases-loaded triple. McCutchen collected three hits for Hollywood, and McCann finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, a homer, and three RBIs in the losing effort.

Giolito was sharp from the opening inning, scattering just four hits while striking out key Hollywood hitters throughout the night. The right-hander stranded runners in scoring position in both the third and seventh innings and finished off his first shutout of the season with a clean ninth inning. The victory was his seventh straight, improving his record to 7-5 as the Cougars extended their winning streak to six games.

Dallas broke through in the second inning when Kyle Manzardo lined an RBI single to right to score Andy Pages for a 1-0 lead. Victor Caratini added a solo homer in the fifth, and the Cougars blew the game open with a three-run sixth inning highlighted by Manzardo’s two-run blast and an RBI double from Andy Pages.

Caratini delivered the knockout punch in the eighth, crushing a three-run homer for his second long ball of the night and four RBIs overall. Manzardo finished with three RBIs, while Pages and Nick Kurtz also drove in runs during Dallas’ 11-hit attack.

Hollywood starter Merrill Kelly allowed two runs over five innings before the Werewolves bullpen unraveled late. The loss dropped Hollywood to four straight defeats, while Dallas improved to 41-33 and remained red-hot in the series with a 4-0 edge so far.

Dallas starter Adrian Houser was dominant once again, allowing just one run on three hits over seven strong innings while striking out six to improve to 7–2. Houser escaped the only serious jam of the night in the sixth by fanning Aaron Judge with two runners aboard.

The Werewolves grabbed a brief 1–0 lead in the third when Seth Brown grounded into a run-scoring double play, but the Cougars answered immediately. Jarren Duran tied the game with an RBI double in the bottom half, then sparked the offense all evening, finishing 2-for-3 with two doubles, four RBIs, a walk, and a sacrifice fly.

Dallas broke the game open in the fourth when Alek Thomas crushed a two-run homer to right, putting the Cougars ahead for good at 3–1. Thomas added another hit later in the game and scored twice.

The decisive blow came during a seven-run sixth inning. Duran delivered a two-run double, Miguel Rojas added an RBI single, Sal Frelick ripped an RBI double after entering as a substitute, and Josh Jung capped the eruption with a towering three-run homer to left-center.

The Cougars piled up 15 hits overall, with Jonah Heim collecting three hits and Rojas adding two. Hollywood starter Dustin May was charged with six runs, four earned, in 5 1/3 innings as the Werewolves dropped their fifth straight game.

Dallas improved to 42–33 with the victory, while Hollywood fell to 37–36.

Rasmussen scattered four hits over seven strong innings, allowing just one run while striking out two to earn his fourth win of the season. Dallas starter Patrick Corbin cruised through the first three innings, but the Werewolves broke through in the fourth when Aaron Judge launched a solo homer to right — his league-leading 27th of the year — to ignite a four-run frame.

Hollywood kept pouring it on in the fifth. Aaron Schunk delivered the biggest blow with a bases-clearing triple into the corner, finishing the night with four RBIs. Seth Brown added an RBI single as the Werewolves built an 8–0 cushion.

Judge finished 1-for-5 with the homer and three strikeouts, while Schunk went 2-for-4 with the triple and four RBIs. Andrew McCutchen chipped in three hits, including an RBI double in the ninth.

The Cougars’ lone highlight came in the fifth when Victor Caratini crushed a solo homer to deep right for his ninth long ball of the season. Nick Kurtz added two of Dallas’ four hits.

Corbin took the loss after allowing eight runs — six earned — across six innings while issuing five walks. The victory ended Hollywood’s five-game skid and prevented Dallas from completing a six-game sweep of the series.

The Expos wasted no time making themselves at home, jumping on the Steelers early and cruising to a convincing 7-2 victory to open the series.

King Was Dialed In M. King was the story on the mound — 6.1 innings, just 1 earned run, and he did it while stranding runners all night. He drops his ERA to 3.53 and picks up his 4th win of the season. H. Harris came in and finished the job, and K. Kelly closed it out cleanly. Tampa Bay’s bullpen looks sharp early in this series.

The Expos’ Offense Spread the Wealth Seven runs on 13 hits — nobody had to carry the load because everyone contributed. J. Soto was the hottest bat in the lineup, going 3-for-4 and getting on base every time up. J. Altuve had a huge night at first base — 2-for-5 with a homer and 2 RBI. J. Wood delivered the big blow with a 3-run homer, his bat continuing to come alive after that clutch Game 5 finish last series. B. Bichette also chipped in with a hit and a walk hitting .304 — quietly one of the better averages on this roster.

Selkirk Couldn’t Generate Anything Consistent The Steelers actually out-hit the Expos 10-13 but were only able to scratch across 2 runs — a recurring theme for struggling offenses. E. Wagaman went 3-for-4 and was arguably Selkirk’s best offensive player on the night. M. Betts added a couple of hits and scored both Steelers runs, but nobody else could come through with runners on base. Starter C. Quantrill took the loss, giving up 4 runs in 5.1 innings — not a disaster, but not good enough either.

Key Accomplishment: J. Wood’s 3-run homer is the highlight of the night — that one swing broke the game open in the 7th and put it out of reach for good.

Bottom Line: Tampa Bay looks sharp and confident coming off last series. The Expos’ balance up and down the lineup is going to be a real problem for Selkirk if they can’t find some pitching consistency. Strong start to the series.

Selkirk evened the series in a hurry. The Steelers came to play in Game 2, getting a dominant pitching performance and just enough offense to hand the Expos a tough 6-1 loss.

Cease Was Absolutely Filthy This was D. Cease’s show. He went 6.1 innings and held the Expos to just 1 hit — one! — while striking out 8 and walking just 1. That’s as dominant as it gets. His ERA drops to 3.35 and he improves to 7-5 on the season. The bullpen then took over seamlessly — R. Iglesias was especially sharp with his ERA sitting at a jaw-dropping 0.75. Tampa Bay’s offense had absolutely no answers all night.

H. Kim Was Everywhere The Steelers’ offensive hero was H. Kim — what a performance. He went 4-for-5 with a homer, 3 runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. That’s a legitimate star line. After going hitless in Game 1, Kim came back with a vengeance and completely changed the complexion of this series. Watch out for him going forward.

McLain Provides the Power M. McLain backed Kim up with a 2-for-5 night including a home run and 2 RBI. The Steelers got their offense from unexpected places and it worked perfectly.

Tampa Bay’s Offense Was Nonexistent Just 2 hits all game. Two. J. Altuve had one and B. Bichette had the other. Everyone else was shut down completely by Cease and the Selkirk bullpen. J. Wood, M. Muncy, J. Berti — all 0-for-4. The Expos’ lineup that looked so dangerous in Game 1 was completely neutralized.

Javier Takes the L C. Javier gave up 2 runs in 5.1 innings — not terrible — but the offense gave him nothing to work with. R. Montero struggled in relief, surrendering 2 more runs including a homer, which put the game out of reach.

Key Accomplishment: H. Kim’s 4-for-5 game with a homer, 3 runs, and a stolen base is the performance of the series so far. That’s a complete offensive game.

Bottom Line: Series tied 1-1. The Expos went from 13 hits in Game 1 to 2 hits in Game 2 — that kind of inconsistency will hurt them in a 6-game series. They need to rediscover that Game 1 energy fast. 

Series is knotted up — should be a great one from here.

The Expos bounced back in a big way. Behind a dominant pitching performance and a clutch offensive night from J. Altuve, Tampa Bay took Game 3 to reclaim the series lead at 2-1.

Gray Continues to Impress S. Gray was outstanding — 7 innings, just 1 earned run, 11 strikeouts, and zero walks. That’s a complete, efficient outing from a guy who’s been building momentum all series. He improves to 4-6 and his ERA sits at 5.29, but the stuff clearly plays better than that number suggests. S. Barlow and P. Fairbanks closed it out cleanly, with Fairbanks picking up his 9th save of the season.

Altuve Is the Expos’ Most Dangerous Bat Right Now J. Altuve went 2-for-3 with a homer, 3 RBI, a walk, and a run scored. That’s three straight productive games for him — he’s quietly becoming the most reliable run producer in Tampa Bay’s lineup. T. d’Arnaud also chipped in with an RBI double and C. Moore added a hit and a run scored.

Garcia’s Solo Shot Was Selkirk’s Only Bright Spot A. Garcia provided the lone highlight for the Steelers — a solo homer and a stolen base in an otherwise quiet night. Other than that, Selkirk managed just 5 hits with 13 strikeouts as a team. E. Wagaman struck out all 3 at-bats after that hot Game 1 performance, and N. Arenado and M. Semien were both silent.

Fried Takes a Tough Loss M. Fried is one of the better pitchers in this league with a 2.05 ERA, and he pitched well enough — 5.2 innings, 2 earned runs — but the Expos’ bullpen held Selkirk down while Tampa Bay kept adding runs. The 7th inning 2-spot was the back-breaker. Y. Rodriguez came in and immediately gave up 2 runs to put the game out of reach.

Key Accomplishment: S. Gray’s 11-strikeout performance on zero walks is the gem of the series so far. He was absolutely locked in.

Bottom Line: Tampa Bay is doing exactly what a home team should do — protecting the home field. The Expos’ pitching has been the difference in this series. Selkirk needs to find a way to get to Tampa Bay’s starters before this gets out of hand. Series stands 2-1 Expos.

A marathon. Thirteen innings of grinding baseball and in the end it was Selkirk’s relentless depth that wore Tampa Bay down. The Steelers steal one on the road to even the series at 2-2.

The Game That Wouldn’t End Tampa Bay led 4-3 heading into the 8th, one inning away from a commanding 3-1 series lead. Then Selkirk tied it and the two teams battled through four scoreless extra innings before the Steelers finally broke through with 3 runs in the 13th off a gassed R. Montero, who gave up 7 hits and 3 runs in 2.2 innings of work. A brutal way to lose.

McLain Delivers the Knockout M. McLain was the offensive hero for Selkirk — his homer and 3 RBI were the difference-making numbers in this one. He went 2-for-5 with a walk and an HBP, and his big swing gave the Steelers the lead for good. N. Arenado had a quietly excellent game too — 3-for-7 with 2 runs scored, grinding out at-bat after at-bat in a 13-inning slog. And B. Johnson off the bench was huge — 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base hitting .368. That’s a dangerous bench bat.

Selkirk’s Bullpen Was the Real MVP After R. Nelson gave up 4 runs in 5.2 innings, the Steelers’ bullpen completely shut Tampa Bay down. L. Weaver was the standout — 3 scoreless innings, 1 hit, zero runs with an ERA of 1.24. B. Baker picked up the win and B. Keller closed it out for his 19th save of the season. Nineteen saves — that’s an elite closer.

Tampa Bay’s Bullpen Couldn’t Hold It The Expos had the lead and let it slip. H. Harris blew the save in the 8th, allowing the tying run, and then Montero couldn’t survive the 13th. Six pitchers used in a 13-inning game takes a real toll on a bullpen heading into Games 5 and 6. J. Altuve homered again and B. Bichette went 2-for-5 with 2 RBI, but the offense managed just 4 hits total — nowhere near enough in extra innings.

Injury Notes: P. Alonso is listed with a 0-day injury for Selkirk — worth monitoring but appears day-to-day. J. Soto also picked up a 0-day injury for Tampa Bay — same situation, but keep an eye on him heading into Game 5.

Key Accomplishment: B. Keller’s 19th save of the season is a milestone worth noting — that’s one of the best closer numbers in the league right now.

Bottom Line: This was a gut-punch loss for the Expos. They had the game in hand and let it get away in extras. The bullpen is taxed, two players are dinged up, and now the series is tied heading into Game 5. Selkirk has all the momentum. Tampa Bay needs to regroup fast. 

Tied at 2-2 with two games to go — this series just got real interesting.

Selkirk takes the series lead. The Steelers rode a balanced offensive attack and a gutsy outing from C. Povich to hand the Expos a convincing 9-3 loss, putting Tampa Bay on the brink heading into the finale.

Povich Steadied the Ship C. Povich wasn’t overpowering but he was effective — 6 innings, 2 earned runs, 4 strikeouts. He picked up his first win of the series and limited the damage when Tampa Bay threatened. The bullpen did the rest, with R. Henriquez continuing his strong series work and M. Englert holding the line without giving up an earned run.

Alonso Goes 4-for-5 The quiet star of the game was P. Alonso — after that 0-day injury scare in Game 4, he came back and went 4-for-5 with no RBI but a huge presence at the top of the order. Four hits in a game is a statement. M. Semien backed him up beautifully going 3-for-4 with an RBI and an HBP, raising his average to .247. And J. Sanchez scored 3 runs — three! — going 2-for-4 with a walk and being an absolute pest on the bases all night.

The 5th Inning Broke It Open Tampa Bay was actually hanging tough at 2-2 heading into the 5th. Then Selkirk erupted for 3 runs to take control and never looked back, adding another in the 6th and a crushing 3-spot in the 9th to put it out of reach. That 5th inning was the turning point of the game.

Ashcraft Couldn’t Survive the 5th G. Ashcraft took the loss, giving up 9 hits and 5 earned runs in just 5 innings — his ERA climbs to 5.72. The Expos’ rotation has been inconsistent all series and it’s costing them. K. Kelly wasn’t much better in relief, surrendering a homer and 2 more runs. Tampa Bay simply had no answer for Selkirk’s lineup today.

d’Arnaud Bright Spot On a tough night for the Expos, T. d’Arnaud was the lone standout — 2-for-2 with a homer and 2 RBI including an HBP. He’s been one of the more reliable bats in Tampa Bay’s lineup all series but didn’t get enough support around him tonight.

Key Accomplishment: P. Alonso’s 4-hit game is the individual highlight — a complete bounce-back performance after his Game 4 injury.

Bottom Line: Selkirk leads the series 3-2 and Tampa Bay’s back is against the wall. The Expos need a complete game in Game 6 — consistent pitching, timely hitting, and no mistakes. Selkirk is playing with house money right now.

The Steelers close it out. Selkirk wins the series 4-2 with a dominant 6-2 victory in the finale, never really giving Tampa Bay a chance to make it a game.

Quantrill Redeems Himself After taking the loss in Game 1, C. Quantrill came back in the series finale and delivered exactly when his team needed it most — 7 strong innings, 2 earned runs, 8 strikeouts. That’s a complete performance under pressure. He improves to 2-5 on the season and his ERA ticks down to 4.26. The bullpen finished it off cleanly with B. Baker and L. Weaver each throwing a scoreless inning. Weaver continues to be one of the most reliable arms in this series — his ERA now sits at a sparkling 1.20.

Perez Was the Offensive Star S. Perez had the best individual performance of the game — 3-for-4 with a homer, 2 RBI, and 7 total bases. That’s a catcher putting up outfielder numbers. He’s been quietly building momentum all series and saved his best for last. M. Betts also came alive in the finale — 2-for-5 with a homer, 2 runs scored, and an RBI. And H. Kim continued his pattern of big moments, going 2-for-5 with a solo shot and raising his average to .267.

Selkirk Scored Early and Often The Steelers jumped on the board in the 1st, added another in the 2nd, and never relinquished the lead. Scoring in 5 of 9 innings is a sign of a lineup that just kept grinding. N. Arenado went 2-for-4 with an RBI, M. McLain added an RBI, and P. Alonso drew 2 walks and scored a run — patient at the plate all game long.

Tampa Bay’s Pitching Let Them Down Again M. King gave up 3 earned runs in 5 innings, including 2 home runs — not the ace performance the Expos needed in a must-win game. Then S. Barlow came in and made things worse, surrendering 3 more runs in 2 innings with his ERA ballooning to 5.02. The Expos’ bullpen was a liability all series and it ultimately cost them.

The Offense Had No Answers Six hits and 2 runs against Quantrill just isn’t going to win a series finale. B. Bichette went 2-for-4 and K. Tucker had a triple and 2 RBI, but everyone else was largely shut down. J. Altuve, J. Wood, D. Smith all went hitless. A tough ending for a team that looked so sharp in Game 1.

Key Accomplishment: C. Quantrill’s redemption arc — losing Game 1 and coming back to win the series clincher is the best storyline of the series.

Bottom Line: Selkirk wins the series 4-2 in convincing fashion. They had better pitching depth, a more balanced lineup, and clutch performances when it mattered most. For Tampa Bay, the rotation inconsistency and bullpen struggles need to be addressed before the next series. 

A series that started with promise for Tampa Bay but slowly slipped away as Selkirk’s depth, pitching consistency, and clutch hitting proved to be the difference.

Game-by-Game Breakdown

Game 1 — Tampa Bay 7, Selkirk 2: The Expos came out firing with 13 hits. Altuve homered, Wood hit a 3-run shot, and King cruised for 6+ innings.
 Game 2 — Selkirk 6, Tampa Bay 1: Cease was dominant — 1 hit allowed in 6+ innings. H. Kim went 4-for-5 with a homer. Tampa Bay’s offense went completely silent.
 Game 3 — Tampa Bay 4, Selkirk 1: Gray struck out 11 with zero walks in 7 innings. Altuve continued his hot streak with a homer and 3 RBI.
 Game 4 — Selkirk 7, Tampa Bay 4 (13 innings): A marathon that broke Tampa Bay’s spirit. McLain’s homer was the difference and Keller earned his 19th save after the Steelers’ bullpen shut the door for 7+ innings.
 Game 5 — Selkirk 9, Tampa Bay 3: Alonso went 4-for-5 and Selkirk’s offense erupted with 15 hits. Ashcraft couldn’t survive the 5th inning.
 Game 6 — Selkirk 6, Tampa Bay 2: Quantrill’s redemption outing — 7 strong innings to close out the series. Perez homered with 3 hits and 2 RBI to put the exclamation point on it.

Series MVP: H. Kim (Selkirk) Kim showed up in every big moment. His 4-for-5 explosion in Game 2 completely flipped the series, and he homered again in the series clincher. Consistent, dangerous, and clutch when it counted most.

Expos MVP: J. Altuve Three productive games, multiple home runs, and the most reliable bat in Tampa Bay’s lineup all series. Altuve was the one constant in an otherwise inconsistent offense.

The Turning Point: Game 4, 13 Innings Tampa Bay was one inning away from a 3-1 series lead. Instead they burned through six pitchers, lost in extras, and never recovered. That game changed everything.

What Went Right for Selkirk Pitching depth was the story. Cease, Quantrill, Povich, Weaver, Keller — every arm delivered when needed. Weaver finished the series with a 1.20 ERA. Keller saved 2 games. And Quantrill bookended the series with losses turned into lessons, closing it out in Game 6.

What Went Wrong for Tampa Bay The bullpen was the Achilles heel all series. Barlow, Montero, and Kelly combined for an ERA north of 5.00 in high-leverage situations. The offense also ran hot and cold — 13 hits in Game 1, 2 hits in Game 2, 4 hits in Game 6. That kind of inconsistency doesn’t win series.

Looking Ahead for Tampa Bay Gray and King are legitimate starters when locked in. Altuve, Bichette, and Soto give the lineup real pop. But the bullpen needs a reliable setup man and the offense needs to be more consistent against tough pitching. The pieces are there — it’s about putting it all together.

Tough series to lose at home. But the Expos have the talent to bounce back — hopefully next week’s matchup brings better results.

BB 2 TCP 0

W: Burns (1-5)
L: Bieber (3-1)

BB 1 TCP 2

W: Taillon (3-3)
L: Keller (7-7)
S: Henderson (7)

BB 3 TCP 4

W: Banda (6-0)
L: Mejia (0-2)

BB 8 TCP 2

W: Lopez (5-4)
L: Gausman (7-3)

BB 6 TCP 0

W: Springs (7-4)
L: Kremer (8-3)

BB 3 TCP 4

W: Lorenzen (6-6)
L: Burns (1-6)
S: Strahm (3)

Mlodzinski makes his first appearance in a while and is greeted roughly by the Muscle in the first. Jackson Holliday singles then Oneil Cruz brings him home with a triple. Cruz beats the throw on a Jo Adell grounder to make it 2-0. A steal from Adell is followed by an Edmundo Sosa to put them at the corners. Spencer Torkeslon walks to load the bases, then Matt Shaw brings in two more with an RBI single to make it 4-0. Mlodzinski finally gets the 8 and 9 hitters to end the inning.

The Cannons roar back in the second. Elly de la Cruz leads off with a single and steal and comes home on a Teoscar Hernandez RBI single. An infield single from Mike Yastrzemski and walk to Carlos Correa loads the bases. Alex Freeland grounds to first but Torkelson’s throw home goes awry, leading to two Cannons runs. Holmes walks the #9 hitter Autin Hedges to load the bases for Shohei Ohtani. No big dramatics as a fielder’s choice gets one out, but the tying run scores. A Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sac fly then gives the Cannons the 5-4 lead. Byron Buxton adds the exclamation point with a two-run HR to make it a seven-run inning.

Singles in the fourth from Freeland and Ohtani put runners on the corners and end Holmes’s day. Ohtani steals second and Jimmy Crook’s throw is off-line, scoring another Fremont run to make it 8-4; however, Ohtani is thrown out at third.

After a rough start, Mlodzinski is solid the rest of the way, as is the bullpen. Fremont tacks on another run in the eighth and the Cannons win 9-4. Mlodzinski racks up 9 K’s in 6 innings in his first win of the season.

W: Carmen Mlodzinski (1-0)
L: Clay Holmes (6-4)

HR: MCM- none; FRE- Byron Buxton (15)

Lawrence Butler tries to spark the Muscle towards another first inning lead with a leadoff walk, but Skubal gets the next three. Instead, the Cannons strike first after a pair of singles sets up Bo Naylor’s RBI in the second for a 1-0 lead. Elly de la Cruze plates another in the third for a 2-0 Cannons lead.

Skubal is keeping the bases clean but the game stays tight until the sixth. A single and steal from ELDC sets up Teoscar Hernandez’s RBI double to make it 3-0, then Carlos Correa sends one over the fence to make it 5-0 Fremont. The Cannons add some insurance in the seventh after Hernandez doubles home another, then the Muscle walk the bases loaded then walk one more for good measure to make it 7-0 Fremont.

Meanwhile, Skubal makes it through seven with no hits allowed, the only baserunner being Butler in the first. After a couple popups and a groundout in the eighth, Skubal heads to the ninth with the no-hitter intact. After a groundout, Skubal strikes out the final two batters to complete the NO-HITTER as the Cannons win 7-0.

Skubal was just a walk shy of the perfect game, striking out 15 Motor City batters for his second no-hitter of the season. Carlos Correa finished with a 3 RBI night.

W: Tarik Skubal (7-4)
L: Cade Cavalli (1-10)

HR: MCM- none; FRE- Carlos Correa (3)

In an inauspicious start, Jackson Holliday leads off with a homer off of Sandy Alcantara to make it 1-0 Motor City. Oneil Cruz and Jo Adell both single, then Rhys Hoskins doubles them in to extend the lead to 3-0. After a Ceddanne Rafaela single, a double play gets the Cannons out of the inning.

In the third, an Alex Freeland double and bunt hit from Austin Hedges puts runners at the corners. A Daylen Lile RBI single gives Fremont their first run and keeps runners at the corners. Byron Buxton single sin another and cuts it to 3-2 MCM.

The Muscle get two on in the fourth, but baserunning blunders lead to a double play. They get two on again in the fifth but do not score. Fremont threatens in the fifth with runners at 2nd and 3rd and no outs, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lines into a double play and the Cannons pick up nothing.

The Cannons try to wring one more inning from a shaky Alcantara, but a Ceddanne Rafaela double leads to a Matt Shaw RBI single. Jared Koenig comes on with two on, and a Jackson Holiday grounder makes it 6-2 Motor City. Fremont gets two on in the sixth but a pair of strikeouts ends the threat. The Cannons get one baserunner the rest of the way and fall 6-2 to Motor City after Jo Adell adds a HR in the ninth. Adell went 3-5 and Rafaela went 3-4 as Alcantara allows 12 hits in 5.1 IP.

W: Keider Montero (1-2)
L: Sandy Alcantara (1-6)
S: Eduard Bazardo (16)

HR: MCM- Jackson Holliday (10), Jo Adell (9); FRE- none

Fremont threatens in the first with two on but fail to score. In the third inning the Cannons get runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs, but…

E. DE LA CRUZ facing D. FESTA, B 3rd, No Outs, 1st and 2nd, Tied 0-0
The runners take their lead … the pitch comes in … it’s lined up the middle
RAFAELA’s racing in … he dives for it … he’s got it! … throws to second … that’s two
back to TORKELSON at first … TRIPLE PLAY!

The first run in the game goes up in the sixth, with a Lawrence Butler HR making it 1-0 Motor City. Festa has been strong, going into the ninth hoping for the CGSO, but Mike Yastrzemski leads off the inning with a game-tying HR! Festa gets the rest of the lineup to send it to extra innings,

A Spencer Torkleson error in the tenth puts Shohei Ohtani on, and after advancing on a grounder he stands in scoring position, but Elly de la Cruz strikes out to end the inning. An Adley Rutschman error in the twelfth puts Austin Hays on 1st. An errant click leads to a successful steal of second base, so Ohtani is walked to bring up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Jimmy Herget gets him to ground out to keep it 1-1.

An Oneil Cruz single in the thirteenth is followed by a successful hit-and-run from Ceddanne Rafaela to put runners at the corners. Butler notches his second RBI with a bloop single to give the Muscle the lead. Will Vest gets the next two batters to keep it at a one-run deficit. Herget gets the first two outs but walks Mike Yastrzemski. A Carlos Correa flyout ends the Cannons hopes, and Motor City wins 2-1 in 13 innings.

ELDC and Correa combine to go 0-12 with 5 Ks. The Cannons left 11 men on base. Motor City was error-prone (3) but it did not cost them. Fest allowed 5 hits and struck out 7 in his 9 innings of work.

W: Jimmy Herget (1-1)
L: Will Vest (1-3)

HR: MCM- Lawrence Butler (10); FRE- Mike Yastrzemski (7)

MCM gets the leadoff man aboard, but a double play erases the runner. Mize gets the first two outs in the bottom of the inning but a Byron Buxton HR puts the Cannons on the board. That’s followed by a Matt Shaw error and HBP, then Teoscar Hernandez homers to make it 4-0 Cannons in the first.

Shohei Ohtani goes deep in the second to make it 5-0, then Buxton hits his second homer of the game to make it 6-0. Mize is chased one batter later. The Muscle get two on in the fourth but are unable to make a dent in the Fremont lead. With two outs in the fifth, Oneil Cruz launches a homer for the first MCM run and prevents Ober from getting the grade bump. A Ceddanne Rafaela single is followed by a Lawrence Butler double, but Buxton is able to nail Rafaela at the plate.

The score holds at 6-1 until the bottom of the eighth, where Byron Buxton’s third homer of the game (!) makes it 7-1. The Muscle are able to scrape together two runs in the ninth but ultimately lose 7-3 to Fremont.

Buxton fills up the stat sheet with a 4-4 performance with three HRs. Ober went 8.2 IP with 2 ER and 7 hits allowed, striking out 10. The Muscle have committed an error in every game this far.

W: Bailey Ober (3-2)
L: Casey Mize (7-5)

HR: MCM- Oneil Cruz (9); FRE- Byron Buxton 3 (18); Shohei Ohtani (23), Teoscar Hernandez (9)

A rematch of Game 1 that saw Mlodzinski pick up a win. A single and HBP in the first gives Motor City a chance, but a double play ends the threat. Fremont gets Mike Yastrzemski on with a leadoff double with no outs in the third. Bo Naylor bunts him over, but a weak grounder keeps him at third and Shohei Ohtani strikes out to end it.

Daylen Lile sends one into the corner in the fourth but is out trying to turn it into a double. Back-to-back walks put runners on, but Holmes strikes out Yoan Moncada. Yastrzemski singles in the fifth and is bunted to second, but Alex Freeland whiffs and Ohtani lines out to keep it scoreless.

The Muscle finally break through in the sixth with a Jackson Holliday two-out double, followed by a Lawrence Butler RBI single. Butler is nabbed trying to steal second to end the frame. Fremont answers in the bottom half with a Byron Buxton infield hit followed by an Elly de la Cruz two-run HR. Moncada follows with a double but is stranded.

Garrett Whitlock comes on and gives up a walk to Spencer Torkelson and a single to Ceddanne Rafaela. Edmundo Sosa comes on to pinch-hit and doubles in the tying run. Whitlock gets the next out, but Adley Rutschman brings home two with a single to make it 4-2 Muscle, then Bryan Ramos walks. Whitlock is able to get Holliday to whiff to keep the disaster inning from getting any worse.

Motor City gest two on in the eighth but score none. A walk is all the Cannons get from the bottom of the inning. The Muscle go 1-2-3 in the ninth. Fremont backs against the wall, Yoan Moncada leads off the bottom of the ninth to give Fremont some hope. A Mike Yastrzemski walk is followed by a Bo Naylor single to load the bases, still no outs. Nolan Gorman strikes out, then Shohei Ohtani K’s for the fourth time in the game, leaving it up to Vladimir Guererro Jr. A flyout to right center sees the game end meekly, as the Muscle take the finale 4-2.

Holmes struck out 9 in 6.2 IP. Whitlock has another high-profile meltdown, and Ohtani continues to struggle with RISP.

W: Clay Holmes (7-4)
L: Garrett Whitlock (3-5)
S: Eduard Bazardo (17)

HR: MCM- none; FRE- Elly de la Cruz (10)

Next week, Motor City heads south to Cincinnati for another divisional matchup, and Fremont hosts an always-tough Chicago.