MIKE FITZPATRICK Baseball Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge leaves the field after not scoring in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, July 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Aaron Judge gets struck in the face by a toss from Yankees teammate Anthony Volpe

July 5, 2025

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge was struck in the face by a toss from teammate Anthony Volpe as they were coming off the field after the fifth inning of Saturday’s 12-6 loss to the New York Mets. Judge came to bat in the sixth with a small bandage that was still affixed near his right eye after the game. He had a mark right around the eye but said he was fine. The sloppy Yankees were handed their sixth consecutive defeat, matching a season worst.

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo celebrates his grand slam with the scorers, Pete Alonso, Fransisco Lindor and Starling Marie, during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, July 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Alonso and Nimmo power Mets to 12-6 win over skidding Yankees in Subway Series

July 5, 2025

Pete Alonso homered twice and drove in five runs, Brandon Nimmo hit his second grand slam in four days and the New York Mets battered the reeling New York Yankees 12-6. Carlos Rodón was roughed up as the Yankees equaled a season high with their sixth consecutive defeat. They also dropped six straight June 13-18, marking the first time since 2000 they’ve endured two six-game losing streaks in one year. The Mets have won four in a row following a 3-14 slide, improving the best home record in the majors to 33-13. They’ll go for a three-game sweep in the second Subway Series of the season Sunday at Citi Field.

New York Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt (36) walks off the field during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt is expected to have season-ending Tommy John surgery

July 5, 2025

Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt likely needs a second Tommy John surgery that would sideline him for the remainder of this season and much of next year, a huge blow to New York’s injury-riddled rotation. Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the announcement Saturday before his team’s Subway Series game against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Schmidt had an MRI on Friday and was placed on the 15-day injured list because of right forearm soreness, one day after his start in Toronto was cut short following three innings. The 29-year-old right-hander, who had Tommy John surgery in May 2017, is 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 14 starts this season for a scuffling Yankees club that had lost five consecutive games.

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor gestures to teammates after hitting an RBI single during the sixth inning in the second baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers of a doubleheader Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

All-Star starter Francisco Lindor enjoys big night after slumping Mets drop him from leadoff spot

July 3, 2025

On the same day he got elected to start an All-Star Game for the first time, Francisco Lindor was dropped from the leadoff spot with the New York Mets in a major tailspin. And the move paid off immediately. After making 191 consecutive starts at the top of the lineup, Lindor batted second as the designated hitter in the second game of a day-night doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers and their rookie sensation, right-hander Jacob Misiorowski. Brandon Nimmo returned to the leadoff slot and launched a grand slam off the hard-throwing Misiorowski in the second inning. Lindor followed with his 17th home run, then added an RBI single in the sixth and a run-scoring double in the eighth as the Mets won 7-3 to stop a four-game skid.

Milwaukee Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski pitches during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Brewers phenom Jacob Misiorowski gets tagged for 1st time in loss to Mets

July 2, 2025

Jacob Misiorowski made everything look so easy in his first three major league starts. Now he knows it’s not. The hard-throwing rookie finally got knocked around Wednesday, serving up back-to-back homers as the Milwaukee Brewers lost 7-3 to the New York Mets in the second game of a day-night doubleheader at Citi Field. Barely touched by opposing batters since getting called up from the minors last month, Misiorowski allowed five runs, five hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings in his fourth career outing. Brandon Nimmo connected for a grand slam in the second and Francisco Lindor followed with another longball to give the Mets a 5-0 lead.

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo (9) hits a grand slam during the second inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Nimmo and Lindor deliver after lineup change as scuffling Mets beat Brewers to split doubleheader

July 2, 2025

New leadoff batter Brandon Nimmo launched a grand slam off rookie phenom Jacob Misiorowski, and the New York Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-3 to split their day-night doubleheader. Dropped from the top spot, slumping All-Star Francisco Lindor followed Nimmo’s second-inning slam with a home run and finished with three RBIs as the Mets snapped a four-game slide by winning for only the fourth time in 18 games. Joey Ortiz hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the sixth inning of the opener that sent Milwaukee to a 7-2 victory behind Freddy Peralta in the makeup of Tuesday night’s rainout.

Journey man: Mets pitcher Jonathan Pintaro takes improbable path to majors

June 25, 2025

Some players take unusual paths to the big leagues. And then there is the journey of Jonathan Pintaro. Undrafted from a Division II college in Georgia, he spent two seasons in the MLB Draft League for overlooked long shots. Then two years pitching for the Glacier Range Riders of the independent Pioneer League — where he compiled a 6.60 ERA. So when Pintaro walked into the New York Mets’ clubhouse Wednesday, about 2,400 miles from 2,291-seat Glacier Bank Park in Kalispell, Montana, needless to say it was an improbable arrival. Pintaro received a surprise promotion from the minors when the struggling Mets shuffled bullpen arms again before their 7-3 victory against Atlanta.

FILE - New York Mets' Ronny Mauricio flips his bat after hitting a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sept. 12, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Mets call up prized infield prospect Ronny Mauricio after Mark Vientos injury

June 3, 2025

The New York Mets have called up prized infield prospect Ronny Mauricio from the minors. The promotion comes after third baseman Mark Vientos strained his right hamstring late in Monday night’s victory over the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Vientos went on the 10-day injured list Tuesday. Mauricio made his major league debut in September 2023 and batted .248 with two home runs, nine RBIs and seven stolen bases in 26 games that year. But months later, the switch-hitter tore a knee ligament playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic and he missed the 2024 season.

Ohtani faces hitters for 1st time since elbow surgery, throws 22 pitches of live BP at Citi Field

May 25, 2025

Shohei Ohtani took a significant step Sunday toward making his pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two-way superstar faced hitters for the first time since elbow surgery, throwing 22 pitches at Citi Field about 4 1/2 hours before launching a leadoff homer in a 3-1 loss to the New York Mets. With dozens of reporters watching from the stands, Ohtani threw to five batters in a simulated setting — including teammates Hyeseong Kim and Dalton Rushing. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and pitching coach Mark Prior watched closely from the field. Ohtani isn’t expected to pitch in a major league game until after the All-Star break.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani winces after being hit with his own foul ball during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Ohtani to face hitters Sunday for 1st time in pitching rehab with Dodgers

May 24, 2025

Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to face hitters this weekend for the first time in his recovery from right elbow surgery. The two-way superstar originally planned to throw live batting practice Saturday afternoon at Citi Field before the Los Angeles Dodgers play the New York Mets. But after the Dodgers needed 13 innings to win 7-5 on Friday night in a rain-delayed game that ended about 1 a.m., manager Dave Roberts told reporters Ohtani decided to push back the session to Sunday because of the long, late night. It’s the next step for Ohtani as he works toward returning to the mound. He had right elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023, and hasn’t pitched in a major league game since Aug. 23 that year for the Los Angeles Angels.

Judge homers late and Yankees beat Rangers 5-2 behind Warren and Rice

May 20, 2025

Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer, rookie Will Warren struck out a career-high 10 and the New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 5-2. Ben Rice also went deep for the Yankees in the opener of a three-game series between the past two American League champions. Anthony Volpe blooped an RBI double after Rice drove in the first two runs. New York has won nine of 12 to move a season-best nine games over .500. Texas manager Bruce Bochy was ejected by plate umpire Carlos Torres with Judge batting in the sixth inning, and the Rangers lost for the third time in four games following a six-game winning streak. Jonah Heim’s two-run homer off Ian Hamilton with two outs in the ninth prevented a shutout.

MIKE FITZPATRICK Baseball Writer.

Aaron Judge gets struck in the face by a toss from Yankees teammate Anthony Volpe

Alonso and Nimmo power Mets to 12-6 win over skidding Yankees in Subway Series

Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt is expected to have season-ending Tommy John surgery

All-Star starter Francisco Lindor enjoys big night after slumping Mets drop him from leadoff spot

Brewers phenom Jacob Misiorowski gets tagged for 1st time in loss to Mets

Nimmo and Lindor deliver after lineup change as scuffling Mets beat Brewers to split doubleheader

Journey man: Mets pitcher Jonathan Pintaro takes improbable path to majors

Mets call up prized infield prospect Ronny Mauricio after Mark Vientos injury

Ohtani faces hitters for 1st time since elbow surgery, throws 22 pitches of live BP at Citi Field

Ohtani to face hitters Sunday for 1st time in pitching rehab with Dodgers

Judge homers late and Yankees beat Rangers 5-2 behind Warren and Rice

Finance.

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