SAN DIEGO (AP) — Andy Pages dug in against Mason Miller and simply refused to give in. The Dodgers' young slugger fouled off three triple-digit fastballs and three 87 mph sliders from San Diego's peerless closer in an epic at-bat Tuesday night.
Pages finally connected on the ninth pitch from Miller, driving the 101.5 mph fastball just far enough to score Los Angeles' tiebreaking run in the ninth inning of a stirring 5-4 victory over the Padres.
That was much more than just a sacrifice fly to the Dodgers, who handed Miller (1-1) his first loss in a San Diego uniform.
Pages proved once again that the World Series champions can handle anything their closest geographical rivals can throw their way — even if it's coming at 101 mph.
“That was one of the greatest at-bats I've ever seen in person,” Freddie Freeman said. “And I've been playing a long time. That was incredible.”
The Dodgers know they'll be matched up with Miller for years to come, and they've faced the reliever known as “The Reaper” in each of the first two games in their first series of the season against the Padres.
After Miller pitched his way out of a jam on Monday, the Dodgers manufactured an unearned run Tuesday to beat the star of San Diego's impressive bullpen. The Dodgers needed help from an ABS challenge and a hard-luck throwing error by Miller, but the hardest work was done by Pages, the Cuban center fielder who has been playing like a superstar this season, his third in the majors.
“Good plate appearance from Pages,” Miller said. “Good, long at-bat, and just barely got it done. Unfortunate, for sure.”
The RBI was Pages’ 42nd of the season — 17 more than four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, and much more than World Series hero Freeman or big-money acquisition Kyle Tucker.
“The work he’s put in showed itself there, but I think at the end of the day, it was just fight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It was just will. Determination. Not worrying about mechanics and this and that. It’s just me versus you, and it was him versus Mason Miller, and he wasn’t going to lose that battle. Mason is the best in the game right now, and Andy willed himself to do something productive in that at-bat. ... It’s a fight, and Andy is a tough kid, and he’s hungry.”
The rally started with a one-out walk when Max Muncy successfully challenged a called third strike. Pinch-runner Alex Call should have been picked off first moments later — but Miller committed the first error of his MLB career on his throw to first when Ty France got a glove on it, but let it get by him.
“Sped up on me a little bit and yanked it,” Miller said. “Probably threw it a little harder than I should have, too. Obviously want it back, but it is what it is.”
Pages dug out of an 0-2 count in impressive fashion and eventually drove his fly ball 275 feet to right. Fernando Tatis Jr.’s throw home was cut off by Sung-mun Song, giving Call just enough time to slide home.
“The most important thing is to win,” Pages said through an interpreter. “To win at any cost. Doing that against a pitcher of that caliber is obviously really good, but I felt very confident the whole time through.”
The loss was Miller’s first since May 17, 2025 — a year and two days ago, while he still played for the Athletics. He hadn’t lost a decision or blown a save since last Aug. 5 in his second game after joining the Padres, who swung an audacious trade headlined by teenager Leo De Vries, one of the top prospects in baseball.
Miller likely has been the best reliever in baseball this season, leading the position by most WAR measurements and converting all 15 of his save opportunities to lead the majors. He was the NL reliever of the month for March/April, when he struck out 53.7% of the batters he faced and allowed one run and six hits across 15 appearances.
“We all know how good Miller has been, so having (Pages) grind it out, battle, spoil pitches — it was tremendous,” Call said. “Incredible job by Andy and the guys tonight.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers' Alex Call, right, scores from third off a sacrifice fly by Andy Pages as San Diego Padres catcher Freddy Fermin is late with the catch during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Andy Pages reacts after hitting a sacrifice fly during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
San Diego Padres pitcher Mason Miller reacts after giving up a sacrifice fly during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
BEIJING (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said their countries are partners in trade and international affairs as they opened bilateral talks Wednesday on his trip to Beijing.
Xi welcomed Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People only days after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The quick succession of Trump’s and Putin’s visits highlighted Beijing’s growing role as an international superpower, experts say.
Putin greeted Xi warmly as they met for bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People.
“My dear friend,” Putin said. “We are truly delighted to see you. We keep in constant touch, both personally and through our aides in the government.”
Xi also stressed the “political mutual trust and strategic cooperation” between the countries, according to Chinese state media. The two leaders have praised each other profusely in the past, with Xi at one point describing Putin as his “best and most intimate friend.”
Xi and Putin were set to focus on energy and security as well as their overall ties. The two sides agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001, Chinese state media reported.
China became Russia’s top trading partner after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Beijing has said it is neutral in the conflict while maintaining trade ties with the Kremlin despite economic and financial sanctions by the U.S. and Europe.
China is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to increase the demand.
In his meeting with Xi, Putin stressed their countries’ economic ties.
“The driving force behind economic cooperation is Russian-Chinese collaboration in the energy sector,” Putin said. “Amid the crisis in the Middle East, Russia continues to maintain its role as a reliable supplier of resources, while China remains a responsible consumer of these resources.”
Xi stressed the need of “complete cessation of hostilities” in the Middle East, according to Chinese state media.
“An early end to the conflict will help reduce disruptions to energy supply stability, the smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, and international trade order,” Xi said.
A Russian presidential aide said earlier Russia’s oil exports to China grew by 35% in the first quarter of 2026 and that Russia is one of the biggest exporters of natural gas to China.
Putin also stressed China and Russia’s cooperation in foreign policy as “one of the key stabilizing factors on the international stage.”
“In the current tense situation on the international stage, our close cooperation is particularly in demand,” he said.
In February 2022, just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia announced a “no limits” partnership during a trip by Putin to Beijing.
Beijing says it is neutral in the conflict, though in practice it supports Moscow through frequent state visits, growing trade and joint military drills. China has also ignored demands from the West to stop providing high-tech components for Russia’s weapons industries.
The two leaders are scheduled to sign cooperation agreements during Putin’s two-day visit.
But regardless of specific deals, the primary purpose of the visit is to reaffirm the countries’ ties as well as project Beijing’s image as an influential superpower, experts say.
“The optics matter,” said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London.
“The message is clearly one that China maintains friendship and strategic partnership with whichever power it likes, and the USA is just one of them.”
Putin and Xi both need to use their close ties in order to prop up their images at home, said Willy Lam, a senior China fellow at the Jamestown Foundation.
Putin “needs to tell his countrymen and the world that Russia has China’s support in terms of buying its oil and gas and other tangible and intangible financial support,” Lam said.
Meanwhile, for Xi, having both Trump and Putin visit in such close succession is a major source of credit with the country’s top Communist leadership.
Putin noted earlier this month that Moscow and Beijing have reached “a very substantial step forward in our cooperation in the oil and gas sector.”
“Practically all the key issues have been agreed upon,” he said. “If we succeed in finalizing these details and bringing them to a conclusion during this visit, I will be extremely pleased.”
Putin also praised their bilateral relationship as a crucial, balancing force in international relations.
“Interaction between such nations as China and Russia undoubtedly serves as a factor of deterrence and stability,” he said.
Moscow welcomes China’s dialogue with the U.S. as another stabilizing element for the global economy, Putin added.
“We stand only to benefit from this, from the stability and constructive engagement between the U.S. and China,” he said.
Mistreanu reported from Bangkok.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Children holding Russian and Chinese flags walk ahead of a welcoming ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, foreground and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping inspect an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP)
