Published April 17, 2026 at 7:00 AM | By Felix Y. Hamrick, Sports Editor
Thursday’s Major League Baseball slate delivered several compelling finishes across both leagues. The Los Angeles Angels staged one of the day’s biggest upsets, stunning the New York Yankees 11-4 at Yankee Stadium in a game where lefty Max Fried took the loss to fall to 2-1 on the season. The Tampa Bay Rays edged the Chicago White Sox 5-3 in an afternoon matchup, while the Cleveland Guardians continued their solid start with a 4-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
In National League play, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Washington Nationals 7-8 in a late comeback, the Cincinnati Reds shut out the San Francisco Giants 3-0 behind strong pitching, and the Detroit Tigers edged the Kansas City Royals 10-9 in a high-scoring afternoon affair. The Milwaukee Brewers topped the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 in one of the day’s tightest contests.
Late Games
In evening action, the Colorado Rockies pulled off a mild surprise, defeating the Houston Astros 3-2 despite Houston’s 8-11 record suggesting more firepower. The San Diego Padres continued their strong start — now 12-6 on the season — with a 5-2 win over the Seattle Mariners, giving San Diego one of the best records in the National League.
The Texas Rangers rallied late to beat the Oakland Athletics 9-6, earning a split of their four-game series. A go-ahead single by Joc Pederson in a four-run ninth inning was the decisive blow for Texas.
Standings Watch
The Padres at 12-6 and the Yankees at 10-8 remained among the early-season pacesetters in their respective divisions. The Angels’ upset of New York on Thursday serves as a reminder that no team in the 162-game schedule can afford complacency, even at home.
For Spartanburg baseball fans tracking the Hub City Spartanburgers, the Rangers High-A affiliate begins a home series this weekend at Fifth Third Park — a good opportunity to connect with the next generation of Texas Rangers prospects coming through the Upstate.
What’s Happening Q&A
Q: What were Thursday’s notable MLB results?
A: The Angels upset the Yankees 11-4, the Padres beat the Mariners 5-2 to improve to 12-6, and the Guardians topped the Orioles 4-2 in Thursday’s April 16 slate.
Q: Who had the day’s biggest offensive performance?
A: The Angels’ 11-run output against Yankees ace Max Fried was the day’s most surprising offensive performance, with Fried falling to 2-1 on the season.
Q: How are the Padres performing so far?
A: San Diego is 12-6 through Thursday, one of the best records in the National League in the early season.
Q: What does this mean for local baseball fans?
A: The Hub City Spartanburgers, Spartanburg’s High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, continue their home schedule at Fifth Third Park — with Rangers prospects from the same system that has Joc Pederson and other MLB contributors.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Felix Y. Hamrick
HERESPARTANBURG · SPORTS
Nana covers high school and local sports for HERE Spartanburg, reporting on game results, athlete profiles, and Spartanburg County athletics. Doug is on the sidelines every week across the county.
