Refsnyder successfully challenges 3rd strike, and then homers to lift Mariners over Cardinals 3-2

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Rob Refsnyder successfully challenged a third strike, and then hit a go-ahead solo home run in the ninth inning to lift the Seattle Mariners to a 3-2 win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

Refsnyder was initially called out by plate umpire John Bacon on an 0-2 pitch that the replay showed was outside. After two more balls, he hit a 412-foot blast into the left-field bullpen off JoJo Romero (0-1) to give the Mariners their first lead.

Jose Ferrer retired the Cardinals in order in the ninth for his first save of the season.

Each team successfully challenged four ball-strike calls by Bacon during the game, all during Mariners plate appearances, before JJ Wetherholt had an unsuccessful bid in the ninth.

During J.P Crawford’s eighth-inning plate appearance, each team had a successful challenge. Crawford had a strike overturned early in the at-bat, and then had ball four changed to the third strike on a challenge by catcher Iván Herrera. Herrera also secured a strikeout against Randy Arozarena in the second inning with a challenge.

Eduard Bazardo (1-1) got four outs in relief to record the victory.

Wetherholt led off the third inning with a line drive that traveled 375 feet into the right-field bullpen for the rookie's fifth home run.

Cal Raleigh answered in the fourth with a 401-footer that also landed in the Cardinals' bullpen.

Nathan Church added a 407-foot home run down the right-field line in the sixth to put St. Louis up 2-1.

Emerson Hancock gave up seven hits, including the Cardinals' two solo home runs, in six innings for Seattle. He walked two and struck out four.

Michael McGreevy allowed one run and five hits in six innings while striking out six and walking none.

Seattle: RHP Luis Castillo (0-1, 5.01 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game set Monday at Minnesota against LHP Connor Prielipp (0-0, 4.50).

St. Louis: RHP Dustin May (3-2, 5.84) takes the mound Monday at Pittsburgh to open a four-game series. The Pirates had not yet announced a probable starter.

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy delivers against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt reacts after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

St. Louis Cardinals' Ramón Urías (29) is out as Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford, left, throws to first to complete the double play against Victor Scott II during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

Seattle Mariners right fielder Luke Raley (20) misses the catch on a home run from St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock delivers against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

NEW YORK (AP) — Colorado avoided falling behind when the robot umpire changed Brett Baty's bases-loaded walk to an inning-ending called third strike in the first, and Jose Quintana got his first win of the season as the Rockies sent the New York Mets to their 14th loss in 16 games, 3-1 in a doubleheader opener Sunday.

Troy Johnston hit an RBI single in the fourth and broke a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring, double-play grounder in the sixth. Jake McCarthy added an RBI single in the seventh for Colorado (12-16), which clinched its third series win this year. Last season, the Rockies (43-119) didn't win their third series until July 18-20.

Players won four of seven challenges to the robot umpire on ball-strike calls by plate umpire Ryan Blakney.

Blakney was challenged four times in the first inning, with three called overturned — including a called strike to Bo Bichette that became a ball on Quintana’s first pitch. The inning ended when Baty started heading to first when Blakney called ball four on a bases-loaded, full-count sinker on the outside corner only to have the ABS system change it to a called third strike — the first of three against Baty.

Quintana (1-2) allowed two hits in a season-high 5 1/3 innings. Jaden Hill escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth by retiring Luis Robert Jr. on a foul pop and striking out Mark Vientos, and Victor Vodnik got three straight outs for his fourth save, finishing a four-hitter.

Nolan McLean (1-2) gave up two runs — one earned — and five hits in five innings for the Mets (9-18).

With Francisco Lindor on the injured list, Bichette made his first start at shortstop this year.

Tyrone Taylor tied the score in the fifth with his second homer of the season, matching his 2025 total, a drive to left into a 15 mph wind.

Francisco Alvarez had been 0 for 28 in his big league career as a pinch hitter before his eighth-inning single.

Mets RHP Kodai Senga (0-3, 8.83) was to start the second game on eight days’ rest. Colorado started Chase Dollander.

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

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza returns to the dugout after a pitching change during the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets Francisco Lindor walks in the dugout wearing a protective boot during the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Colorado Rockies' Brett Sullivan (26), right, slides safely home while New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens waits for the ball during the seventh inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos reacts after striking out to end the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Colorado Rockies' Jake McCarthy looks after an RBI single during the seventh inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)