Each night we'll provide you with the nine top story lines from the day's action, beginning with the stars of the day, and look ahead to the next day's matchups.
Losing a game on a walk-off in extra innings is unlucky. Losing three consecutive games via walk-off in extra innings, to the same team, is unheard of. The Pirates have played three games in May, and all three have ended this way.
The Cardinals, on the other side of the spectrum, might want to take a trip to Las Vegas, because they have found some good fortune. Kolten Wong delivered the walk-off solo home run Sunday, as the Cardinals topped the Pirates 3-2 in 14 innings. The previous two games finished in 11 and 10 innings, respectively.
MORE: Brewers fire Roenicke, set to hire Counsell | Hunter apologizes for Mayweather comments | Metallica's awesome national anthem
Here are Sunday's scores and highlights:
Impact players
C — Stephen Vogt, Athletics: Vogt went 2 for 3 with two home runs, four RBIs and two walks in a 7-1 win over the Rangers.
1B — Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: Miggy was dynamite once again in a 6-4 win against the division-rival Royals. He went 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs against a struggling Jeremy Guthrie.
2B — Jason Kipnis, Indians: Kipnis has been quiet this season, but came to life with a 4-for-5 outing with three runs, a home run and two RBIs.
SS — Ian Desmond, Nationals: Desmond has struggled defensively, but continues to be one of the more consistent hitters on the team. He went 2 for 3 with a walk in a 1-0 win against the Mets.
3B — Trevor Plouffe, Twins; Nolan Arenado, Rockies: Arenado went 3 for 5 with two home runs and three RBIs in an 8-6 loss to the Padres. Plouffe went 3 for 5 with a home run and five RBIs in a 13-3 win against the White Sox.
OF — Adam Jones, Orioles: Jones went 4 for 4 with two RBIs in a 4-2 win against the Rays. He now boasts a lofty .402 batting average on the season.
DH — Evan Gattis, Astros: Gattis went 2 for 4 with two towering home runs and four RBIs to help his team push its MLB-best winning streak to 10 games.
SP — Tim Lincecum, Giants: The Freak is quietly having a very nice start to the season. He pitched eight scoreless innings in a 5-0 win against the Angels, giving up only three hits while striking out four.
Key injuries
Mariners outfielder Austin Jackson left Sunday's game against the Astros with a right ankle injury. He appeared to roll his ankle when stepping on Roberto Hernandez's foot at first base.
Rays placed outfielder Desmond Jennings on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 26, with left knee bursitis.
Jose Iglesias is hopeful that he'll be able to return to the Tigers' starting lineup on Tuesday after being forced to leave Sunday's game against the Royals due to tightness in his left groin.
Brewers shortstop Jean Segura left Sunday's game after he was hit in the helmet with a pitch from the Cubs' Pedro Strop. He didn't appear to sustain a major injury, but is being evaluated further.
Surprise performers
Good: Paul Goldschmidt has 15 hits in his last six games with a home run, six RBIs and two stolen bases. He has four three-hit games during that stretch, and has raised his season average to a whopping .356.
Bad: Jeremy Guthrie allowed six earned runs on 11 hits in a 6-4 loss to the Tigers. He's allowed at least three earned runs in all five of his starts this season, and currently sports an abysmal 6.52 ERA to go with a 1.59 WHIP.
Web gems
Michael Cuddyer turned back the clock on this home run robbery:
Brewers shortstop Jean Segura makes a great diving catch:
The Jean Segura School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. http://t.co/7TM9flCzVG pic.twitter.com/pihhakeueT
— MLB (@MLB) May 3, 2015 Facts of the day
The Nationals are getting the most out of their great rotation:
Nationals beat Mets 1-0 for 2nd day in a row. Last team to beat same team 1-0 on road on B2B days: 1996 Cardinals (vs Phillies, April 19-20)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 3, 2015 Remember when the Mets were riding a nine-game winning streak?
In their last 8 games, Mets have scored total of 19 runs (2.4 runs per game) and are 2-6 Previous 18: 4.6 runs/game, 14-4 record
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 3, 2015Charlie Blackmon is heating up:
Charlie Blackmon hit 2 home runs in April. He has 2 home runs in his first two games in May
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 3, 2015 Mark Teixeira goes big or goes home, or at least back to the dugout:
Mark Teixeira: 9th HR of season. He has 9 HR, 3 singles and 5 doubles. Yankees-Red Sox on ESPN now
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 4, 2015The Yankees swept a series of three or more games at Fenway Park for the first time since August 2006.
You don't say:
Today marked 1st time Giants hit back-to-back HR to start a game in 51 years! (May 27, 1964 vs Cardinals) (via @eliassports)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 3, 2015Reactions
Everything's bigger in Texas:
The Leaning Tower of Arlington. http://t.co/RvMhudXBCb pic.twitter.com/gjCYrA9sCi
— MLB (@MLB) May 3, 2015 "It's pretty cool considering the struggles we've had the last couple of years. I'm just excited to be where we are right now." — Chris Carter on the team's hot start, via MLB.com.
Off the field
After a MLB-worst 7-18 start, the Brewers fired manager Ron Roenicke Sunday. They reportedly will hire Craig Counsell as his replacement on Monday.
The Padres are set to call up catching prospect Austin Hedges on Monday.
Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton (shoulder) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock later this week.
Marlins starting pitcher Mat Latos (hamstring) has been cleared to start on Tuesday versus the Nationals.
Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain began serving his two-game suspension Sunday after dropping his appeal. The suspension stemmed from his participation in a benches-clearing brawl with the White Sox in April.
In better news for the Royals, closer Greg Holland (pectoral) is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday.
Scores
AL:
NL:
Dodgers 1, Diamondbacks 0 (13)
Interleague:
A look ahead
(All times Eastern)
Marlins (12-13) at Nationals (12-14) 7:05 p.m.: Both teams have struggled out of the gates, but the Marlins appear to have turned the corner. Washington's pitching staff is second-to-none, but they need the offense to get going.
Rangers (8-16) at Astros (18-7) 8:10 p.m.: Playing at home, the red-hot Astros shouldn't have any trouble disposing of the hapless Rangers and extending their 10-game winning steak. Jose Altuve leads a lineup that's hitting the ball out of the park at a staggering rate.
Padres (14-12) at Giants (12-13) 10:15 p.m.: San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner takes the mound for the first time since out-dueling Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. The Giants are a scrappy team with lineup capable of hitting to all fields. The Padres have been good, but are still looking to put it all together.