CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds signed Brandon Phillips to a ceremonial one-day contract on Saturday to ensure the four-time Gold Glove Award winner would retire a Red.
“It was a dream come true,” Phillips said. “For me to officially retire, this was the only place I wanted to do it. For this to really happen, this is where I wanted to be. This is my home.”
Phillips, who also was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame on Saturday, spent 11 seasons in Cincinnati where he earned three NL All-Star selections and a Silver Slugger Award while winning two NL Central Division titles and making three playoff appearances.
“He brought a style and personality that Reds fans absolutely loved,” Reds CEO Phil Castellini said. “He was a cornerstone of our club and one of the most dynamic players in the game. The connection he built with this city was real and retiring him as a Red is our chance to honor that unforgettable relationship.”
Phillips, known for his numerous highlight-reel plays at second, signed the contract during a public event at Great American Ball Park prior to the Reds/Tigers game.
Phillips played 17 seasons for the Guardians, Reds, Braves, Angels and the 2018 World Series winning Red Sox. After four sub-par years in Cleveland, Phillips was traded to the Reds on April 7, 2006, in exchange for a player to be named; right-hander Jeff Stevens.
“They gave me the opportunity to really be myself,” Phillips said of the Reds. “That’s all I really needed to know as a young player. When an organization really believes in you as a player … it felt good.”
Also inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame this weekend were pitcher Aaron Harang, outfielder Reggie Sanders, and manager Lou Piniella, who led Cincinnati to the 1990 World Series championship.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
FILE - Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips turns a double play against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers, File)
FILE - Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) laughs as he runs off the field in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, June 16, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brett Davis, File)
BERLIN (AP) — Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich survived a scare, fighting back from three goals down to beat Mainz 4-3 on Saturday for a morale-booster before facing Paris Saint-Germain.
Bayern goes to Paris on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League semifinal and arrived in Mainz in good cheer after winning the Bundesliga last weekend and reaching the German Cup final with a win over Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
But Mainz romped to a deserved 3-0 halftime lead against a heavily rotated Bayern, with Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise among those on the bench.
The 18-year-old Bara Sapoko Ndiaye made his first start for Bayern.
Mainz's goals came from Dominik Kohr, Paul Nebel and Sheraldo Becker.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany sent on Kane and Olise for Luis Díaz and Aleksandar Pavlović at the break – all four are likely to start against PSG.
Nicolas Jackson pulled one back in the 53rd and Olise let fly with a brilliant strike inside the far post in the 73rd. Musiala equalized in the 81st.
Kane then scored the winner two minutes later from a rebound after Daniel Batz saved Musiala’s effort.
It’s only the second time Bayern has recovered from a three-goal deficit at halftime to record a Bundesliga win. The last time was in 1976 in a 6-5 victory over Bochum.
Last-placed Heidenheim staved off demotion with a 2-0 win over relegation rival St. Pauli.
Budu Zivzivadze scored early and Eren Dinkçi late to keep Heidenheim’s hopes of survival alive with three rounds remaining.
Second-to-last Wolfsburg was unable to capitalize on St. Pauli’s loss as it drew at home with Borussia Mönchengladbach 0-0.
Cologne remained in danger after losing at home to Leverkusen 2-1 in their Rhine derby. Patrik Schick scored twice for the visitors.
Cologne was only five points above St. Pauli in the relegation playoff place, while Wolfsburg was a point behind St. Pauli, and Heidenheim was three points further back. St. Pauli hosts Wolfsburg on the final day.
The bottom two are relegated automatically, while the team that finishes third from bottom faces a two-legged playoff against the third-place finisher in the second division to determine which plays in the Bundesliga next season.
Hoffenheim won at Hamburger SV 2-1 in the late game to move to fourth, the last place for Champions League qualification.
Stuttgart, which is a point behind Hoffenheim, can reclaim fourth place on Sunday when it hosts Werder Bremen.
Leverkusen's win in Cologne moved it a point behind Stuttgart.
Also on Saturday, Eintracht Frankfurt drew at Augsburg 1-1.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Heidenheim's head coach Frank Schmidt gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and 1. FC St. Pauli in Heidenheim, Germany, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
Bayern's Harry Kane reacts during a Bundeliga soccer match between Mainz and Bayern in Mainz,Germany, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Bayern's Harry Kane reacts during a Bundeliga soccer match between Mainz and Bayern in Mainz,Germany, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Bayern's Harry Kanecarries the ball back to the center during a Bundeliga soccer match between Mainz and Bayern in Mainz,Germany, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Bayern's Jamal Musiala celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern Munich in Mainz, Germany, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Torsten Silz/dpa via AP)
