Angels botch popup in 9th and Yankees take advantage when Caballero's double gives them 5-4 win

NEW YORK (AP) — José Caballero laced a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the New York Yankees a 5-4 victory over the Angels, moments after Los Angeles botched an infield popup in a costly misplay Wednesday night.

Aaron Judge hit his third homer of the series and Trent Grisham had a two-run single for the Yankees, who won for only the second time in eight games following an 8-2 start.

Mike Trout hit his fourth homer in three games, putting the Angels ahead 4-3 with a two-run drive in the fifth.

That was still the score when Jazz Chisholm Jr. popped up to the left side with one out and nobody on in the ninth. But shortstop Zach Neto and ex-Yankees third baseman Oswald Peraza miscommunicated, and the ball dropped right between them on the infield dirt for a gift single as Neto put his hands on his head.

That came back to bite the Angels, who had played outstanding defense all night to that point.

Austin Wells worked a full-count walk against closer Jordan Romano (0-2), and both runners were attempting to steal when Caballero lined a 1-2 slider into left-center.

Chisholm easily scored the tying run and third-base coach Luis Rojas aggressively waved Wells home. The catcher barely beat Neto's relay throw to the plate with a feetfirst slide, and the safe call was confirmed after a replay review.

It was the second blown save and loss in the series for Romano, who squandered a two-run lead in the ninth inning of Monday night's 11-10 defeat.

David Bednar (1-2) struck out two in a perfect inning for the win, helped by a fine defensive play at shortstop from Caballero.

Adam Frazier and Logan O'Hoppe each hit a solo homer off Yankees starter Luis Gil to help the Angels erase an early 3-0 deficit. It was the first home run at Yankee Stadium for O'Hoppe, who grew up about 45 miles away on Long Island.

Judge sent an opposite-field solo shot to right in the first for his seventh home run this season and fourth in four games.

Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and four walks with six strikeouts.

After the game, manager Aaron Boone said Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, coming back from Tommy John surgery, will make his first minor league rehab start Friday for Double-A Somerset.

Yankees ace Max Fried (2-0, 1.93 ERA) pitches Thursday afternoon in the finale of the four-game series. Los Angeles was undecided on a scheduled starter.

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

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, right, celebrates with José Caballero after Caballero had a walk-off two run hit during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Austin Wells, left, celebrates with Jazz Chisholm Jr. after they scored on a walk-off two run hit during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Angels' Zach Neto, left, and Oswald Peraza, right, react after a ball dropped between them allowing a single for New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Austin Wells slides past Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe to score on a double by José Caballero during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Wyatt Johnston scored the decisive shootout goal and the Dallas Stars posted their third consecutive 50-win season with a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Justin Hryckowian and Esa Lindell each had a goal and assist, and Mavrik Bourque also scored for the Stars. Dallas finished 50-20-12 in reaching 50 wins for the seventh time in franchise history.

Jake Oettinger stopped 21 shots and two of Buffalo’s four shootout opportunities.

Zach Benson had a goal and assist and Josh Norris and Alex Tuch — with his 200th career goal — scored for Buffalo. Colten Ellis made 25 saves, then allowed three goals on Dallas’ four shootout attempts.

Johnston scored by driving in from the left of the net and beating Ellis with a shot inside the far post.

The Sabres squandered two one-goal leads in the second period with Hryckowian tying it at 3 by firing a shot through Ellis’ legs with four minutes left in the frame.

It was a relatively uneventful outing for two non-conference teams having already locked in their playoff seedings.

Having already won the Atlantic Division title, Buffalo (50-23-9) rested numerous starters including captain Rasmus Dahlin and scoring leader Tage Thompson.

For Dallas, the Central Division’s No. 2 seed, center Sam Steel returned after missing nine games because of an undisclosed injury. Defenseman Miro Heiskanen missed his third game, with coach Glen Gulutzan hopeful he’ll be ready for the start of the playoffs.

Stars: Host Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs Saturday or Sunday.

Sabres: Host Boston in the first round of the playoffs Saturday or Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis (92) stops a shot by Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) watches the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) is pressured by Dallas Stars center Sam Steel (18) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)