SEATTLE (AP) — J.P. Crawford hit a go-ahead homer to cap a five-run sixth inning and the Seattle Mariners rallied from four down to defeat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 on Monday night.
Luke Raley launched a three-run shot in the sixth and Josh Naylor had two hits as Seattle snapped Atlanta's four-game winning streak. Crawford connected for a two-run drive off reliever Tyler Kinley, and the Mariners overcame four solo homers by the major league-leading Braves (25-11).
Click to Gallery
Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (12) greets starting pitcher JR Ritchie after the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners' J.P. Crawford celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners' J.P. Crawford celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Jose Ferrer pitched the seventh inning for the Mariners, Eduard Bazardo worked the eighth and Andrés Muñoz got three outs for his seventh save.
Braves slugger Matt Olson hit his 300th home run. Olson’s 428-foot solo shot to left-center made him the 166th player to reach the milestone. The native of Atlanta has 158 with the Braves after spending his first six seasons with the Athletics.
Olson, 32, leads the National League with 12 home runs.
Drake Baldwin had a leadoff homer for Atlanta. Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley also went deep.
JR Ritchie, pitching in his hometown in his third career start, kept Seattle scoreless until consecutive walks were followed in the sixth by Raley's sixth homer this season.
After a pitching change, Kinley (3-2) walked Mitch Garver with one out. With two outs, Crawford sent a 2-2 slider into the right-field stands to give the Mariners a 5-4 lead.
Logan Gilbert (2-3) was cruising for Seattle until he yielded three solo homers in the sixth as the Braves pushed their lead to 4-0. Albies and Olson went back-to-back.
Gilbert pitched six innings, allowing four runs and six hits.
Ritchie permitted three runs and four hits in five innings. He struggled with command, walking six and striking out two.
RHP George Kirby (4-2, 3.00 ERA) starts for Seattle on Tuesday and RHP Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.88) pitches for Atlanta.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (12) greets starting pitcher JR Ritchie after the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners' J.P. Crawford celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners' J.P. Crawford celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 18 points in his unexpected return from injury and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a huge game by Victor Wembanyama and held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-102 in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night.
Edwards was expected to miss at least the first two games of the series after suffering a bone bruise and hyperextending his left knee on April 25 during Game 4 of Minnesota’s opening-round series against Denver. But he had 11 points in the fourth quarter as Minnesota held on to hand San Antonio only its second loss in its last 17 series openers at home.
“Nobody expected him to play,” Timberwolves veteran Mike Conley said. “It was just his level of commitment to the game. Not just to the game, but to his teammates. It showed a lot.”
Wembanyama had 11 points and 15 rebounds and set an NBA postseason record with 12 blocks. He's the third player to get a triple-double in the playoffs including blocks since the league began tracking blocks in 1973-74.
San Antonio cut the deficit to 104-102 on a steal by Devin Vassell and layup by Dylan Harper with 31 seconds remaining. Following a miss by Minnesota's Julius Randle, Julian Champagnie couldn't connect on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“We have to be better,” Wembanyama said. “It shows up on the stat sheet. We need to figure out before 48 hours what we can do better and I’ve got no doubt that we will. I trust us.”
Randle finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Harper scored 18 points and Champagnie and Stephon Castle had 17 each for the Spurs.
Edwards worked diligently to return for Minnesota with guards Donte DiVincenzo (torn right Achilles tendon) and Ayo Dosunmu (right calf soreness) out with injuries.
“I know for a fact, just me being out there, it calms everybody down," Edwards said. “Not saying there’s any pressure on any of my teammates, but it takes pressure off of everybody just knowing that I’m out there, I’m available to play, yeah. And just doing what I do best, just trying to put the ball in the hoop.”
After draining a stepback 3-pointer early in the game, Edwards looked toward the Spurs bench and screamed: “I’m back! I’m back!”
He definitely was.
Edwards did not start, entering the game with 6:53 remaining in the first quarter and the Timberwolves trailing 11-8. He finished 8 for 13 in 25 minutes.
Game 2 is Wednesday in San Antonio.
Wembanyama had seven blocks in the first half. The NBA Defensive Player of the Year opened the game by blocking a pair of driving layups from Terrence Shannon Jr. on consecutive possessions. Two minutes later, he blocked Gobert’s driving layup just under the rim.
Wembanyama finished 5 for 17 from the field.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) loses control of the ball as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) defends during the first half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1), front, handles the ball as San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2), middle, and forward-center Victor Wembanyama (1), back, defend during the second half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reaches for the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) defends during the second half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) handles the ball as San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) defends during the first half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
