SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Patrick Bailey’s entrance into the Major League Baseball record books on Tuesday night began with a tight swing that sent a fastball from Phillies reliever Jordan Romano into Triples Alley.
It ended with Bailey chugging his way around third base then getting mobbed at home plate by his teammates after becoming the third catcher in major league history to hit a game-ending, inside-the-park home run.
The three-run shot had an exit velocity of 103.4 mph and bounced off the brick wall at the Giants waterfront ballpark. It ricocheted back toward center field as Nick Castellanos and Brandon Marsh gave chase.
Bailey said his initial thought was to get a triple before he saw third base coach Matt Williams waving him in.
“Off the ball I just knew I got it well,” Bailey said. “I saw it was towards Triples Alley and I was like, ‘Oh I gotta go. I at least gotta get to third.’ Once I saw the bounce, I was like ‘All right, just don’t fall over.’ ”
It’s the ninth time this season that the Giants have won in their final at-bat, tops in the majors.
It was also the first time in nearly nine years that a player has hit a walk-off, inside-the-park home run in the majors. Cleveland’s Tyler Naquin was the last to do so on Aug. 19, 2016.
The three-run home run lifted the Giants to a 4-3 victory that had the Oracle Park crowd roaring as Bailey crossed the plate.
“He has gotten some big hits this year,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “In big situations he’s come through. Not as much as he would like. Hopefully that’s something that catapults him. Haven’t seen him drive a ball like that in a while.”
Bailey couldn’t recall if he had previously hit an inside-the-park home run at any level. And as nice as this one was, Bailey said that he would have preferred to hit a regular home run.
“Tired,” Bailey said when asked how he felt. “I wished it would have gone over the fence.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
San Francisco Giants' Patrick Bailey watches the flight of his ball before running on his three-run inside the park home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in San Francisco, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco Giants' Patrick Bailey runs home to score after hitting a three-run inside the park home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in San Francisco, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Dak Prescott threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns, and the Dallas Cowboys blew most of an 18-point lead before squeezing past the Washington Commanders 30-23 Thursday.
Dallas (7-8-1) scored touchdowns on its first three possessions to go up 21-3. Although the Commanders (4-12) cut the gap to a touchdown on three different occasions, they couldn't complete the comeback and absorbed their 10th loss in 11 games.
Both teams were previously eliminated from playoff contention, which severely lessened the significance of this matchup between longtime NFC East rivals.
Prescott completed 19 of 37 passes and helped Dallas convert all six of its fourth-down tries. His two TD passes gave him 30, tying Tony Romo's franchise record of four seasons with at least 30 touchdown throws.
Prescott shrugged off six sacks, including three by Jer'Zhan Newton.
Playing without injured quarterbacks Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Marcus Mariota (quad, hand), Washington turned to 39-year-old journeyman Josh Johnson. Making his 10th career start and first since 2021, Johnson went 15 for 23 for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt scored on runs of 10 and 72 yards for Washington. The latter touchdown got the Commanders to 24-17 in the third quarter, but Dallas restored its double-digit lead with a 52-yard field by Brandon Aubrey.
Aubrey added a 51-yarder to make it 30-20 with 3:59 remaining.
After Prescott threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Ferguson on the game's opening drive, Johnson went 3 for 3 for 68 yards to get Washington to 7-3. The key play was a 41-yard completion to Deebo Samuel, Johnson’s longest since 2018. Samuel finished by running into Donovan Wilson, knocking the safety's helmet off.
On their second possession, the Cowboys converted three fourth downs on a 17-play march that ended with a touchdown run by Javonte Williams. Prescott then made it three TDs in three drives with an 86-yard scoring pass to KaVontae Turpin.
Cowboys: Williams sustained a shoulder injury. ... Ferguson missed the second half with a calf injury.
Commanders: C Tyler Biadasz left with a right knee injury.
Cowboys: Close the season at New York Giants on Jan. 3 or 4.
Commanders: Season finale at Philadelphia on Jan. 3 or 4.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson (14) throws during the first half an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws during the first half an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (87) catches a touchdown pass as Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin (20) defends during the first half an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (22) is congratulated by teammates running back Jeremy McNichols and wide receiver Treylon Burks (13) after scoring during the first half an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws during the first half an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
