(Reuters) – World number five Jessica Pegula said she is feeling better after shaking off an injury that derailed her claycourt season but the American is unsure if she will play at the French Open, which starts on May 26.

The 30-year-old was one of the most consistent players on the WTA Tour last season, winning the Montreal title in the build-up to the U.S. Open, but has struggled this season due to illness and injuries.

Having withdrawn from Stuttgart and Madrid, Pegula confirmed she was also skipping Rome this week and said she may have to miss the year’s second Grand Slam at Roland Garros (RG).

“Hi guys – quick update – will miss Rome and possibly RG. I actually feel really good but have to work back into training at a snail’s pace,” Pegula said on Instagram.

She did not specify what the latest injury was.

Pegula, who also missed tournaments in the Middle East in February due to a neck issue, last competed in the Billie Jean King Cup in April.

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani launched his fourth home run in three games and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Miami Marlins 6-3 on Monday night in Walker Buehler’s first major league start in nearly two years.

Ohtani became the first big leaguer to reach 11 homers this season when he crushed an elevated fastball from Roddery Muñoz (1-1) and sent it 441 feet into the center-field netting for a two-run shot in the first inning that tied the score 2-all.

It is the eighth time in Ohtani’s career he has homered in three straight games, and the fourth time he’s hit four in a three-game span.

“All the balls that he’s driving are in his nitro zone. If they don’t throw it there, he takes his base. And if they do, he’s ready to fire,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “So, he’s getting hits, he’s driving in runs, and now he’s slugging. It’s a result of controlling the strike zone.”

Two pitches after Ohtani’s homer, Freddie Freeman followed with a solo shot to left-center, the first time the Dodgers had gone back-to-back this season.

“I’m just glad we got the lead back. You want to be able to do that as an offense, fight back and let Walker breathe a little bit in his first start back,” Freeman said.

James Outman and Teoscar Hernández also went deep as the Dodgers won their fourth straight.

Nick Gordon homered as the Marlins lost for the third time in four games on their West Coast trip.

Buehler went four innings, allowing three runs and six hits with four strikeouts. He threw 77 pitches, 49 for strikes.

It was his first start in the majors since June 10, 2022. The two-time All-Star had his second Tommy John surgery in August that year. He was 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in six minor league starts this season, mostly at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Roberts said before the game the right-hander’s pitch count would be anywhere from 80 to 85.

“I was kind of tiring myself out the first couple innings before I settled in there,” Buehler said. “I wish it would have gone better and thrown five or six shutout innings, but it’s done and I’m glad to be back.”

Ryan Yarbrough (3-1) followed Buehler with three innings of one-hit ball, and Alex Vesia worked the ninth for his first save.

Buehler showed some early nerves as the first two batters reached base and the Marlins scored twice in the first on RBI singles by by Bryan De La Cruz and Jesús Sánchez. Nick Gordon’s leadoff homer in the second tied it 3-all before Buehler settled down.

Gavin Lux led off the second with a walk before Outman homered to right-center to put the Dodgers up 5-3.

Hernández’s solo shot in the third marked the second time in three games the Dodgers hit at least four homers.

Muñoz went 4 2/3 innings in his third career start and allowed six runs on seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

“I’m guessing maybe the nerves took over a little bit,” Marlins manager Skip Schumacher said. “It’s a team that’s going to hit. They walk and they slug, that’s what they do. If you get behind them and give them free passes they are going to make you pay.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: INF Jake Burger was activated after missing 20 games due to a left intercostal muscle strain and went 0 for 4. INF Jonah Bride was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville.

Dodgers: RHP Joe Kelly was placed on the injured list with a right posterior shoulder strain. … OF Jason Heyward (lower back tightness) took batting practice, but it will not be decided until at least Thursday when he might start a rehab stint.

UP NEXT

Miami RHP Edward Cabrera (1-1, 6.05 ERA) faces RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-1, 2.91) in the middle game of the series.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Corey Seager hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Texas Rangers rallied past the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Monday night.

The defending World Series champions were trailing 2-0 until Seager drilled a full-count pitch from Lucas Erceg (1-2) over the right-center wall with two outs. Texas added an insurance run in the ninth on an error by first baseman Tyler Nevin.

Erceg threw six straight changeups to Seager, and the last one leaked out over the plate.

“I think (Josh Smith) had a good at-bat, Leody (Taveras) put a good swing on the ball — and I just got fortunate enough to get the worn-down version,” Seager said.

Kirby Yates got three outs for his sixth save.

The A’s, who are leaving Oakland at the end of this season for Sacramento while they await a new stadium in Las Vegas, drew a season-low 2,895 fans at the Coliseum.

Texas has won four of five, and tied a season high with its three-game win streak. The A’s have dropped two in a row after winning six straight.

Darell Hernaiz and Esteury Ruiz each had a sacrifice fly for Oakland.

Rangers starter Andrew Heaney allowed two runs in six-plus innings as he dueled with counterpart Alex Wood, who pitched six scoreless innings. Texas was 0-6 in games started by Heaney entering Monday.

“Just try to manage to keep the game close, keep plugging away, give those guys a chance,” Heaney said. “It’s a good feeling knowing that we’ve got guys like (Seager) and Marcus (Semien) and the guys that … can come in in big situations and get those big hits, and obviously win the game for us.”

José Leclerc (3-2) struck out two in a hitless inning for the win.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay said his team needed a good outing from Wood, who delivered his first quality start of the season.

“Six innings, two hits, mixing his pitches — just a really well-executed game plan,” Kotsay said. “A well-pitched game tonight.”

Rangers skipper Bruce Bochy, who spent 13 seasons managing the San Francisco Giants and won three World Series titles with them, reminisced about his time in the Bay Area before the game. He also caught up with Kotsay, who played for Bochy in San Diego.

“It’s always good to get back in the Bay,” Bochy said. “I love the Bay. It just feels good, the air.”

Bochy is sad the A’s will be departing Oakland, describing “good battles” as part of the Bay Bridge rivalry series with the Giants.

“We came in here just like they came in our place, trying to do all you can to be wearing the horns in the Bay Area,” Bochy said. “But it will be sad that it’s going to be over. Probably. I can’t say definitely.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: Rookie OF Wyatt Langford (hamstring strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list. … RHP Nathan Eovaldi (groin) does not have a sports hernia and isn’t expected to need a minor league rehab assignment before coming off the 15-day injured list.

Athletics: OF Esteury Ruiz was back in the lineup and playing through a sprained wrist sustained Saturday. He underwent an MRI. … RHP Joe Boyle (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list after being lifted from Sunday’s start. He will be held back from baseball activity for a while. … RHP Luis Medina (knee) and LHP Sean Newcomb (knee) will both face hitters in Arizona this week.

UP NEXT

RHP Ross Stripling (1-5, 4.24 ERA) pitches Tuesday for Oakland against Rangers RHP José Ureña (0-2, 4.35).

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Walker Buehler went four innings and struck out four Monday night for the Los Angeles Dodgers against Miami, his first major league start in nearly two years.

The right-hander allowed three runs and six hits. He threw 77 pitches, including 49 strikes. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game that Buehler’s pitch count would be anywhere from 80 to 85.

Buehler did not factor in the decision, but did depart with the Dodgers holding a 6-3 lead on the strength of four home runs, including Shohei Ohtani’s fourth in three games.

It was Buehler’s first start since since June 10, 2022, at San Francisco The 29-year-old two-time All-Star had his second Tommy John surgery on Aug. 23 that year. The first reconstructive surgery on his right elbow was in 2015 shortly after he was drafted in the first round by the Dodgers.

Buehler was 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in six minor league starts this season, mostly with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He had 21 strikeouts and nine walks in 21 2/3 innings.

“For Walker to still stay focused on getting ready and seeing the light on the end of the tunnel, I’m proud that he could navigate that. It’s hard, especially the second time around,” Roberts said of Buehler’s comeback. “The compete is still in there. I know it has been caged up for quite a while.”

Buehler allowed four hits his first time through the order, including RBI singles by Bryan De La Cruz and Jesús Sánchez in the first and Nick Gordon’s solo homer in the second, but only one his second time around.

Buehler threw 13 pitches of 96 mph or more, including a 97.6 mph fastball that leadoff hitter Jazz Chisholm Jr. fouled off in the first inning.

Roberts tried to ramp down expectations about Buehler’s velocity before the game, instead turning the focus to his fastball command.

“I do expect command at some point. That will allow him to do different things,” Roberts said. “If he doesn’t command it, then you are sort of trying to mix and match and trick guys. I still think he’s going to be a very good pitcher. He has weapons to get right and left-handers out and he has to use them.”

Buehler appeared anxious during his warmup pitches before facing Chisholm.

The nerves didn’t subside when the Marlins’ center fielder fouled off four straight pitches and got aboard with an infield single inside the third-base line on the ninth pitch of the at-bat with the infield shifted to the right.

Chisholm stole second and scored on De La Cruz’s base hit to right-center. Buehler retired the next two batters, but De La Cruz scored on Jesús Sánchez’s single to right. Buehler got out of the inning when Tim Anderson was called out on batter interference when Sánchez tried to steal second.

After the Dodgers scored three in the bottom of the first, Gordon tied it with a solo shot just over the right-field wall on a full-count cutter from Buehler that was slightly elevated.

Buehler settled down after that and allowed only two more hits. He put two more Marlins aboard after a throwing error and a hit batter, but prevented any damage.

Buehler threw 25 pitches, with 17 being strikes, in the first. He was at 48 pitches after two innings.

Roberts and the Dodgers are hoping Buehler can return to a semblance of his past form. They’re not focused on his potential role in the playoffs right now.

“It’s about him being good in the regular season. Once we get to October, we’ll figure that out,” Roberts said.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Bryce Harper homered, singled and drove in three runs, Zack Wheeler tossed seven strong innings and the host Philadelphia Phillies defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-1 to complete a four-game series sweep on Monday.

Kyle Schwarber ripped a solo home run among his two hits and Nick Castellanos added two hits, two walks and an RBI for the Phillies, who have won six straight overall and 10 in a row at home. Whit Merrifield contributed an RBI single and J.T. Realmuto had two hits.

Wheeler (4-3) allowed four hits and one unearned run with 11 strikeouts and one walk. It was Wheeler’s 24th career game with at least 10 strikeouts.

LaMonte Wade Jr. and Jung Hoo Lee had two hits apiece for the Giants. Starter Mason Black (0-1) gave up eight hits and five runs with four strikeouts and three walks in 4 1/3 innings in his major league debut.

Pirates 4, Angels 1

Mitch Keller pitched his second career complete game and Edward Olivares hit his first career grand slam as Pittsburgh opened a three-game series against visiting Los Angeles with a victory.

Keller (3-3) allowed one run on five hits to go along with one walk and five strikeouts for Pittsburgh, which won its third straight after a five-game losing streak.

Zach Neto homered for Los Angeles, which has lost three straight games and nine of its past 11. Angels starter Tyler Anderson (2-4) allowed four runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings against his former team.

Rays 8, White Sox 2

Jonny DeLuca added to his torrid start with a homer and four RBIs and Tampa Bay beat Chicago in St. Petersburg, Fla., for its season-high fourth straight win.

A starter in every game during a three-game weekend sweep of the New York Mets, DeLuca went 2-for-4 on Monday as the Rays improved to 4-0 on their nine-game homestand. DeLuca has 10 RBIs in his four appearances for the Rays, who reached the .500 mark through 36 games.

Erasmo Ramirez (2-0) fired three scoreless innings to win for the second time in two days. Chicago’s Tommy Pham hit a two-run home run, but the club managed just four hits.

Twins 3, Mariners 1

Carlos Correa went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI, and Minnesota held on for a win over Seattle in Minneapolis.

Christian Vazquez and Manuel Margot had one RBI apiece for the Twins, who won the opener of a four-game series. Minnesota has 13 wins in its past 14 games. Twins right-hander Griffin Jax (3-2) earned the win in relief despite allowing one run on two hits in one inning. Jax was the first pitcher out of the bullpen to follow starter Simeon Woods Richardson, who allowed one hit, walked one and struck out eight in six scoreless innings.

Mitch Garver went 1-for-2 with an RBI to lead Seattle. Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo (3-5) took a hard-luck loss after giving up three runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out seven.

Padres 6, Cubs 3

Jurickson Profar delivered a two-run single and Luis Campusano added a three-run double to power an explosive sixth inning that propelled visiting San Diego past Chicago.

Campusano, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts and Donovan Solano each had two hits for the Padres. San Diego starter Yu Darvish (2-1) allowed three hits and a walk while striking out five over five shutout innings.

Christopher Morel and Yan Gomes each hit a home run for the Cubs, who left 10 runners on base.

Guardians 2, Tigers 1

Jose Ramirez hit a tiebreaking solo homer off the right-field foul pole in the sixth inning, and Cleveland sent visiting Detroit to a fourth straight defeat.

With one out in a 1-1 game and Detroit starter Jack Flaherty (0-2) still on the mound, Ramirez sent a 2-2 fastball high and deep to right field, where it banged off the foul pole to put the Guardians ahead with his seventh homer of the season.

The Tigers, who totaled six runs while being swept in three games at the New York Yankees over the weekend, stranded nine men and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Detroit had runners on first and second with one out in the eighth but failed to score.

Royals 3, Brewers 2

Maikel Garcia hit a go-ahead, two-run single up the middle in the seventh inning as host Kansas City rallied to beat Milwaukee in the opener of a three-game series.

Nick Anderson (2-1) struck out two in a hitless seventh to pick up the win for the Royals.

Gary Sanchez hit a two-run homer for the Brewers, who have lost three straight and six of their past nine.

Dodgers 6, Marlins 3

Shohei Ohtani hit a home run for the third consecutive game and Los Angeles beat visiting Miami for its fifth straight win.

Freddie Freeman, James Outman and Teoscar Hernandez also hit homers as the Dodgers improved to 4-0 on a six-game homestand. Los Angeles has 12 homers over its past three games and Ohtani has four in that span. Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler made his first appearance since June 2022 after undergoing elbow surgery and he showed some rust. He gave up three runs on six hits over four innings with no walks and four strikeouts.

Nick Gordon hit his fifth home run of the year for the Marlins. Right-hander Roddery Munoz (1-1) was touched for six runs on seven hits with four walks in 4 2/3 innings, his worst outing of his three career starts.

Mets 4, Cardinals 3

Brandon Nimmo hit a homer and scored twice to lead visiting New York past St. Louis.

The Mets snapped a three-game losing streak while the Cardinals lost for the fifth time in six games.

Ivan Herrera hit a two-run double and Willson Contreras had a RBI double to account for the Cardinals’ scoring.

Rangers 4, Athletics 2

Corey Seager launched a two-out, two-strike, three-run home run in the eighth inning, rallying visiting Texas to a victory over Oakland in the opener of a four-game series.

A pair of sacrifice flies had the A’s in front 2-0 in search of the seventh win in eight games before pinch hitter Josh Smith led off the Texas eighth by drawing a walk off Oakland’s third pitcher, Lucas Erceg (1-2). A’s left-hander Alex Wood went six innings. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out three. Darell Hernaiz and Esteury Ruiz drove in runs for the A’s.

Jose Leclerc (3-2), who finished off a scoreless seventh after JJ Bleday doubled against Rangers starter Andrew Heaney, was credited with the win. Heaney yielded two runs (one earned) on seven hits in his six-plus innings. He struck out five and did not walk anyone.

–Field Level Media

DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray lost his cool on the bench and tossed a heat pack onto the court.

It was the Denver Nuggets’ frustration boiling over.

Irritated by no-calls and irate over missed calls, the Nuggets melted down in a 106-80 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Monday night. The Wolves turned up the pressure and the defending NBA champions lost their temper, trailing by 32 points in a game that got out of hand before halftime.

Denver trails the Timberwolves 2-0 as their second-round playoff series shifts to Minnesota. The Nuggets are searching for the rhythm that allowed them to go 16-4 in the postseason during last year’s title run. They’ve struggled against a hungry Minnesota squad playing relentless defense.

“A loss like this is tough,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “You feel embarrassed. You feel exposed. So what are you going to do about it? … Have the courage to look yourself in the mirror and say, ‘I did not do my job tonight,’ and be better next game.”

Sitting on the bench in the second quarter, Murray tossed a heat pack toward the court after a layup by Karl-Anthony Towns. There wasn’t a call on Murray, but a warning from the public address announcer to the crowd not to throw objects onto the floor.

In a pool report, official Marc Davis said the crew wasn’t aware the object came from the bench. Had they known, “we could have reviewed it under the hostile act trigger. The penalty would have been a technical foul,” he said.

Murray could be looking at a fine. He was not available to speak with reporters after the game.

The play didn’t sit well with Timberwolves coach Chris Finch.

“We tried to impress upon them that there’s probably not many fans in the building that have a heat pack,” said Finch, whose team has won six straight playoff games, including a sweep of Phoenix in the first round. “So, it probably had to come from the bench, which they found logical. But yeah, it’s inexcusable and dangerous and, you know, I’m sure it was just a mistake and an oversight. I’m sure there was nothing intentional about the officiating at all. But certainly can’t allow it to happen.”

Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves forced Denver into 34.9% shooting and countless turnovers. Murray was 3 of 18 from the floor.

The Nuggets have a few days to regroup, with Game 3 scheduled for Friday.

“The body language of our guys is not where I think it needs to be,” Malone said. “We just got beat up in our building. We got embarrassed in front of our fans.”

Denver’s opening half was filled with missed shots and aggravation. Malone was so upset at a no-call after Towns bulldozed through Murray for a layup that he ran onto the court and began yelling at Davis. That sort of demonstration in the regular season would’ve drawn Malone at least one technical and possibly an ejection. But there was no whistle.

“Although Coach Malone was visibly upset about both his team and the officials, I did not hear him say anything unsportsmanlike that warranted a technical foul,” Davis said in the pool report.

Malone said he was just defending his player.

“I owe it to Jamal Murray, or anybody else in that situation, to voice my opinion, to voice my concern and my disagreement,” Malone explained. “That team over there in Minnesota, I have to give them credit. They’re very good team. They came in here and won two games. Tonight, they ran us off the floor.”

Minnesota came at the Nuggets in waves and didn’t give them a moment of peace. The Timberwolves were missing center Rudy Gobert, who was back in Minneapolis, where his partner gave birth early Monday.

“They played really good defense,” said Nikola Jokic, who had 16 points and 16 rebounds. “They know what they’re doing and it’s hard to score.”

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CHICAGO (AP) — Yu Darvish pitched five scoreless innings, Luis Campusano drove in three runs and the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 6-3 on Monday night.

Darvish (2-1) allowed three hits in his second start since he was activated off the 15-day injured list after being sidelined by neck stiffness. He struck out five and walked one.

The Japanese right-hander, who played for Chicago for three seasons before he was traded to San Diego in December 2020, also tossed five shutout innings in a 6-4 victory against Cincinnati last week.

“Better rhythm, I would say. I think the velocity is back as well,” Darvish said through a translator. “So all in all, I felt good pitching out there tonight.”

Campusano, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth and Donovan Solano each had two hits as the Padres won for the fifth time in six games. Robert Suarez got five outs for his 11th save in 11 opportunities.

Christopher Morel and Yan Gomes homered for the Cubs, who dropped to 12-5 at Wrigley Field this season. Mike Tauchman had two hits and scored a run.

Chicago left-hander Justin Steele pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his first major league start since he strained his left hamstring on opening day. He allowed three hits while throwing 68 pitches, 43 for strikes.

“Felt really good, especially pitching at Wrigley again in front of the fans,” Steele said. “Really awesome just to be back with the team again, you know, in the locker room, hanging out with the guys and stuff.”

Steele got a big ovation when he departed, and Richard Lovelady retired Luis Arraez for the final out of the fifth. Manager Craig Counsell then sent Lovelady (0-1) back out for the sixth, and San Diego jumped all over the left-hander.

Singles by Fernando Tatis Jr. and Cronenworth — along with a double steal — set up Jurickson Profar’s two-run single through a drawn-in infield. Solano hit an RBI single off Daniel Palencia, and Campusano’s three-run double lifted the Padres to a 6-0 lead.

“We get rewarded tonight by using the whole field,” manager Mike Shildt said. “It was a great inning for a big six spot.”

Chicago cut its deficit in half on Morel’s two-run shot in the sixth and Gomes’ solo drive in the seventh. But the rally fizzled from there.

The Cubs came up empty after they loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth. Jeremiah Estrada struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong swinging before he was replaced by Suarez, who fanned Gomes and retired Nico Hoerner on a popup to shortstop.

Suarez then worked a perfect ninth. The right-hander has allowed one run and seven hits in 15 1/3 innings this season.

“I mean that was tremendous. … Robert comes in with his slow heartbeat in a big situation,” Shildt said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: 3B Manny Machado got the day off. The All-Star slugger is batting .287 (27 for 94) with three homers and 14 RBIs in his last 23 games.

Cubs: OFs Seiya Suzuki (right oblique strain) and Cody Bellinger (right rib fracture) worked out before the game once again, including batting practice. Counsell said Suzuki is going to need a rehab stint in the minors, but Bellinger could be activated by the team before it begins a six-game trip at Pittsburgh on Friday night. … RHP Kyle Hendricks (low back strain) will make a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Randy Vásquez and Shota Imanaga take the mound on Tuesday night. Vásquez (0-1, 5.87 ERA) was recalled from Triple-A El Paso when the Padres placed right-hander Joe Musgrove on the 15-day injured list on Sunday. Imanaga (5-0, 0.78 ERA) is going for his fifth consecutive win for the Cubs.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Brandon Nimmo hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning that sent the New York Mets to a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

“Honestly, the home run I hit was a good pitch,” Nimmo said. “That’s something that really gives you confidence.”

Sean Manaea (2-1) pitched six effective innings and Edwin Díaz rebounded from a rare blown save Sunday as the Mets bounced back from a weekend sweep at Tampa Bay.

“He was aggressive with all of his pitches,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said about Manaea. “He just threw strikes. That was the plan. He attacked the hitters.”

Iván Herrera had a two-run double for the Cardinals, who have lost five of six.

Díaz worked a 1-2-3 inning for his fifth save in six opportunities. The star closer gave up Randy Arozarena’s tying solo homer on a full-count pitch with two outs in the ninth Sunday, and the Rays went on to win 7-6 in 10 innings.

Before that, Díaz had converted 26 consecutive save chances dating to 2022 — which was the longest active streak in the majors.

Manaea allowed three runs, six hits and one walk in his first career start against the Cardinals. He became the first Mets starter to earn a win since Luis Severino beat Pittsburgh 9-1 on April 17.

“I was just attacking guys,” Manaea said. “I felt good. My fastball and cutter were really, really good. I thought my changeup was OK. My sweeper was good. All in all, it was a pretty good outing.”

Nimmo went deep off Andrew Kittredge (0-1) with one out in the seventh, putting the Mets up 4-3 with his second go-ahead homer this season. New York’s leadoff man finished with two hits and scored twice. He is 13 for 41 (.317) with two home runs and seven RBIs over the last 11 games.

“I felt like, hey, it’s coming around,” Nimmo said. “I still feel like there’s more in the tank that I can get better at. I got some good pitches to do something with tonight. I just try and keep my head down and battle.”

It was the first homer allowed by Kittredge this year.

“It’s tough. If it’s not one thing, it’s another,” he said. “Our goal when we toe the mound is to put up zeros. It’s a long season. Right now, we’re trying to hang in there.”

St. Louis tied the score with three runs in the sixth. Willson Contreras doubled in José Fermín, who led off with a single. Paul Goldschmidt walked and Herrera doubled home two runs with two outs, but was thrown out stretching at third.

The clutch swing gave Herrera his first RBIs since April 17 and his first extra-base hit since April 10.

“We had a good inning there and then we ran into a pretty good bullpen,” Cardinals manger Oliver Marmol said. “It’s hard to score on that back end.”

The Mets scored twice in the fifth for a 3-0 lead. Tomás Nido led off with his second single and went to third on Nimmo’s single and an error by right fielder Lars Nootbaar. Starling Marte drove in a run with a groundout, and Francisco Lindor added a sacrifice fly.

DJ Stewart had a two-out RBI double in the first off Kyle Gibson, who allowed three runs (two earned) and seven hits in six innings. Gibson has pitched six or more innings in all seven starts this season.

“My location wasn’t good,” Gibson said. “My changeup wasn’t good. We haven’t played like we want to play and we’re not where we want to be.”

TRANSACTIONS

Mets: Claimed RHP Yohan Ramírez off waivers from Baltimore. Ramírez began the season with the Mets before they traded him to the Orioles for cash on April 11. RHP Max Kranick was designated for assignment.

Cardinals: Selected RHP Chris Roycroft from Triple-A Memphis. The 6-foot-8 Roycroft posted a 1.38 ERA in 11 games at Memphis. INF Tommy Edman (right wrist surgery) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: C Francisco Alvarez (left thumb surgery) had stitches removed.

Cardinals: Placed RHP Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement) on the 15-day injured list. Gallegos is 2-1 with a 12.00 ERA and one save in 13 appearances. … INF/DH Matt Carpenter (right oblique strain) will head to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday to continue his rehab assignment.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP José Buttó (0-2, 2.57 ERA) took the loss April 26 against St. Louis when he allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings.

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (2-4, 5.68) threw a season-high 101 pitches in his last start, a 4-1 defeat in Detroit.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Simeon Woods Richardson pitched six shutout innings of one-hit ball and the Minnesota Twins scored twice in the seventh to beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1 on Monday night in the opener of their four-game series.

Minnesota rebounded quickly after its 12-game winning streak was snapped Sunday with a 9-2 loss to Boston.

Woods Richardson struck out a career-high eight and walked just one in his fifth major league start. He whiffed five of his first six batters and had seven strikeouts through three innings, outpitching Mariners All-Star Luis Castillo. The only hit Woods Richardson permitted was a leadoff single by Mitch Garver in the third.

“He’s been pitching really well. Today, he was phenomenal,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “It’s just a pretty incredible start, and he’s matching up against one of the best pitchers in the game. That can affect people sometimes, when you’re watching the other guy on the other side of the field who does it all a lot and is putting up zeros, too. It didn’t put him off one bit.”

Seattle loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh but pushed across only one run against reliever Griffin Jax (3-2). Garver’s sacrifice fly plated Jorge Polanco to tie it 1-all before Luke Raley struck out to end the inning.

Castillo (3-5) allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings and struck out seven. The right-hander, who won his previous three starts, didn’t give up a hit until the fifth.

“He has a great name in this league. He’s a competitor, throws strikes, gives his team the best chance to win,” Woods Richardson said. “So, it’s always fun to go toe-to-toe with somebody like that.”

Minnesota’s offense put together two runs in the seventh to reclaim the lead for good. Carlos Correa’s second double of the game helped set up the go-ahead run, as he eventually came around to score on Christian Vázquez’s sacrifice fly off Castillo for a 2-1 lead. Manuel Margot added an RBI single to make it 3-1.

“He’s a top-of-the-rotation starter and he had all his pitches working today,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said of Castillo. “They were just able to put a rally together against him late in the ballgame and it was one of those games where it was going to come down to that, who gets a big hit, who can put it together, and Correa had two big hits tonight, no question about that.”

Twins closer Jhoan Duran pitched the eighth, striking out Julio Rodríguez on three pitches to end the inning. Caleb Thielbar tossed a scoreless ninth for his third save.

POLANCO RETURNS

After spending 10 years with the Twins, Polanco made his first trip to Target Field as a visitor.

Polanco debuted with the Twins in 2014 and was traded to Seattle after the 2024 season. He was an All-Star in 2019 and helped Minnesota end its playoff drought last season.

“A lot of emotions,” Polanco said pregame. “I spent a lot of time here. It’s definitely great coming back here, so I feel pretty good.”

The Twins played Polanco’s old walk-up music as he received a standing ovation before his first at-bat.

UP NEXT

RHP Emerson Hancock (3-3, 4.75 ERA) takes the mound for Seattle in the second game of the series Tuesday. He gave up five runs in a loss to Atlanta last time out. Minnesota counters with RHP Bailey Ober (3-1, 4.55), who has won his last three starts for the Twins.

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This story has been corrected to indicate that all three runs Castillo allowed were earned.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Michael Massey homered and Maikel Garcia singled in two runs in a three-run seventh inning as the Kansas City Royals rallied past the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Monday night.

The start was moved up a half-hour to 6:10 p.m. CDT to beat predicted thunderstorms, which didn’t arrive before the last out.

After the Royals did next to nothing against Milwaukee starter Bryse Wilson, who allowed one hit and struck out six in six scoreless innings, they broke through in the seventh against the Brewers’ bullpen.

“These guys just don’t quit,” Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said. “I wish I could put my finger on it and say, ‘Let’s do that in the first.’ But for whatever reason, the game gets later and they come through.”

Massey greeted Jared Koenig (2-1) with a 412-foot homer through a crosswind to right-center.

“It found the barrel and got the inside part of the ball and felt good,” Massey said. “Before the game. I didn’t think I was gonna be able to get one out to right. So it feels good.”

Quatraro said the conditions made Massey’s drive more impressive.

“Usually a crosswind doesn’t help,” Quatraro said. “He cut through that. We know this park plays big.”

Koenig was lifted with one out after a walk and a hit batsman, and Garcia hit a bases-loaded single up the middle against Elvis Peguero.

“It’s another good start for (Wilson),” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “Gary (Sánchez) did a great job handling him.

“(Garcia’s single) was hit where we weren’t and scored a couple runs.”

Cole Ragans allowed two runs on two hits in six innings for the Royals, striking out eight and keeping Kansas City’s offense within striking distance.

“Relentless,” he said. “They keep going until somebody makes a mistake and then they make you pay. It’s fun to watch.”

Nick Anderson (2-1) pitched a scoreless seventh. Tyler Duffey and Will Smith got through the eighth — helped by catcher Salvador Perez, who threw out Jackson Chourio trying to steal third — and Chris Stratton worked the ninth for his second save.

Sánchez hit a two-run homer in the fourth for the Brewers, taking advantage of a strong southerly wind. He got a 2-1 fastball up into the air and it landed 427 feet away in the seats in left-center.

“I made a mistake and (Sánchez) made me pay for it,” Ragans said. “I got it down and in when I wanted it more middle up. You saw what he did with it.”

Wilson walked the first two Royals in the sixth. But he induced Vinnie Pasquantino to hit into a 4-6-3 double play and then struck out Perez to get out of the jam.

TRANSACTIONS

Brewers: Selected the contract of RHP Kevin Herget from Triple-A Nashville. RHP Janson Junk was optioned to Nashville … RHP Jakob Junis was transferred to the 60-day injured list. … RHP Freddy Peralta dropped his appeal and began his five-game suspension for hitting Tampa Bay’s Jose Siri with a pitch Tuesday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Alec Marsh felt good after a rehab start with Triple-A Omaha Sunday. He is on schedule to return to the starting rotation Friday at the Los Angeles Angels.

UP NEXT

The three-game series continues Tuesday with Milwaukee RHP Colin Rea (3-0, 2.67 ERA) facing Kansas City RHP Seth Lugo (5-1, 1.60).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb