The weekend closed with growing pressure in Philadelphia, optimism in Pittsburgh, and playoff drama across the NBA and NHL.
The biggest concern in the region remains the Philadelphia Phillies, whose ugly start continued Sunday with a 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Philadelphia is now 9-19 after recently enduring a 10-game losing streak, the franchise’s longest since 1999.
Manager Rob Thomson is firmly on the hot seat as the club searches for answers. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said earlier in the week that a managerial change was not being considered at that time, but the continued losses and roster shakeups have intensified speculation. The Phillies already released veteran pitcher Taijuan Walker and appear to be searching for a spark before the season slips away entirely.
The Baltimore Orioles have also disappointed out of the gate. The Birds dropped a 5-3 decision to the Red Sox on Sunday. Baltimore sits at 13-15, well below expectations for a club many expected to contend in the American League.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to be one of baseball’s early surprises. Although blanked, 5-0, yesterday by the Milwaukee Brewers, the Bucs’ start gives western Pennsylvania fans reason for optimism.
Elsewhere Sunday, the New York Yankees beat the Houston Astros 7-4, the Los Angeles Dodgers blanked the Chicago Cubs 6-0, and the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Minnesota Twins 4-2.
In the NBA playoffs, the Boston Celtics moved within one win of advancing by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 128-96. Boston now leads the series 3-1 and has dominated the matchup, putting Philadelphia on the brink of elimination.
Other NBA results saw the Minnesota Timberwolves defeat the Denver Nuggets 112-96 for a 3-1 series lead, the Toronto Raptors edge the Cleveland Cavaliers 93-89 to even that series 2-2, and the Houston Rockets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 115-96.
In the NHL playoffs, the Anaheim Ducks edged the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in overtime to take a 3-1 series lead. The Colorado Avalanche completed a sweep of the Los Angeles Kings with a 5-1 win, the Buffalo Sabres routed the Boston Bruins 6-1, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 to tie their series.
Tonight, Pennsylvania hockey takes center stage again as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5. The Flyers lead the series 3-1 and are one win away from ending their first playoff appearance in six seasons with a statement victory over their cross-state rivals.
Source: MLB, NHL, NBA