PHOENIX (AP) — A race to first based turned into a violent collision that sent two players sprawling onto the field and, eventually, into the dugout.
Arizona's Ildemaro Vargas and the Dodgers' Max Muncy are sore but otherwise OK, but, boy, what a crash.
“It was terrible,” Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte said through an interpreter after hitting a walk-off homer in Arizona's 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night. “In my 10 years, I've never seen a collision like that.”
It came in the fifth inning when Muncy hit a ground ball down the line over first base.
Vargas fielded the ball behind the bag, spun around and, seeing pitcher Ryne Nelson wasn't covering, took off running, hoping to beat Muncy.
He didn't and the full-speed collision sent both players flying in the air, landing with a thud on opposite sides of the base.
A hush fell over the crowd as both players writhed in the dirt and trainers from both teams rushed out. Vargas and Muncy lay on the field for several minutes before slowly making their way to the dugouts.
“Those are the types of things that you see on the baseball field when two players are lying on the dirt after trying to make a hustle play,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “It tough to see, but they both got off the field.”
Muncy left with shortness of breath and was being evaluated for a concussion. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he wouldn't play Friday against the Angels — it was already a scheduled day off — but could be available over the weekend.
Muncy told reporters he was a little banged up, but will be all right.
“I really hope Vargas is OK — I sent something over to him,” he said. "I’m hoping he’s doing all right and he’s not too bad. But just bad situation that looks like neither of us knew which direction to go.”
Vargas suffered bruises all down his left side — thigh, ribs and neck. X-rays were negative and he told Lovullo he would be ready to play on Friday, if needed.
“My whole body feels like I ran into a truck, but thankfully all the exams and tests were negative,” Vargas said through an interpreter.
It could have been much worse.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy (13) and Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas, right, collide on a play in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy (13) and Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas, center, reacts after colliding on a play in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy reacts after colliding with Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Seth Jarvis scored on a power play in overtime after Carolina erased a deficit in regulation only to gave up a late tying goal, and the Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night to tie the series.
Jarvis’ heroics 3:56 into OT came after a thrilling third period that included four goals being scored and another getting called off because of goaltender interference. Carolina became the first team since 1994 to win a Cup final game when trailing by multiple goals in the final 10 minutes.
“It was lot,” said Jarvis, who scored for just the fourth time this playoffs. “We did a great job controlling our emotions. We never got too high, never got too low. Just kept responding, and that’s what I love about this group is we always bounce back.”
Game 3 is Saturday night in Las Vegas. There is now a guarantee the series will return to Raleigh for a Game 5 next week.
That did not look anything close to certain when Hurricanes had almost nothing going for the first 45 minutes, falling behind by two goals as the Golden Knights took advantage of a couple of scoring chances and locked down defensively. A couple of strong shifts in the offensive zone just before the midway point of the third brought the crowd back to life because the Hurricanes were buzzing.
“The building is a tough building to play in when it gets going,” captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, we just needed a spark.”
Logan Stankoven, one of the team's best players this spring, provided he. Stankoven made a terrific individual effort to get them on the board, taking the puck away from Rasmus Andersson, going to the net and banking a shot off Jeremy Lauzon and in with 9:40 remaining in regulation.
Less than three minutes later, Mark Jankowski fired a shot past Carter Hart to tie it, flipping the script from Game 1, when Vegas erased a multigoal deficit and won. This is the first time each of the first two games of a Cup final featured a team falling behind by more than a goal and winning.
“Stanky did a great job getting it going and Janks with a great shot, and it just carried on from there,” Jarvis said.
A big decision by Vegas coach John Tortorella with five minutes left paved the way for it to happen.
Frederik Andersen initially went full extension to deny Ivan Barbashev with the paddle of his stick, and a scrum ensued in the crease that ended with the puck eventually in the net. Referee Jean Hebert waved it off immediately, saying Andersen was pushed into the net and ruling it was goaltender interference.
“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie," Tortorella said. "Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”
Tortorella after some deliberation opted to use his coach’s challenge, and the on-ice officials in consultation with the NHL’s situation room confirmed the call on the ice stood.
“The ruling on the play was goaltender interference,” executive vice president and director of officiating Stephen Walkom told a pool reporter. “He waved it (off) immediately. He believed that it was under the goalie, and the Vegas player went after the puck and interfered with the goalie and his ability to freeze the puck and waived it off immediately.”
The punishment for a failed challenge is a 2-minute minor penalty. The Hurricanes went on the power play, where they had been so ineffective all night and most of the playoffs.
Not this time. Staal redirected Shayne Gostisbehere’s point shot in on the power play. with 4:35 left in regulation.
The Hurricanes killed off a penalty in the intervening time before allowing Stone to tie it with 1:21 left at 6 on 5 with Hart pulled for an extra skater. Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin actually knocked the puck into his own net on the play.
Eearly in overtime, Tomas Hertl tripped Staal to put Carolina back on the power play. That allowed Jarvis to score just Carolina’s ninth power play goal of the playoffs.
“That’s a step in the right direction,” Jarvis said. “Our power play found our groove tonight. It started with Jordo in the third, and there just making the right plays, playing smart and being aggressive and it worked out.”
Instead of Vegas going home looking to move to the verge of a second championship in nine years of existence, the series is all square, despite Hart making some big saves and Brett Howden scoring his playoff-leading 12th and 13th goals.
Asked what changed, a tight-lipped Tortorella said: “I have my thoughts. I’m not discussing it here.”
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Carolina Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis (24) celebrates after his winning goal with teammates Shayne Gostisbehere (4), and Jordan Martinook (48) with Nikolaj Ehlers (27) nearby following the overtime period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Frederik Andersen (31) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights' Ivan Barbashev (49) in the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Carolina Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis (24) celebrates after his winning goal with Shayne Gostisbehere (4) during the overtime period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Mark Jankowski, left, celebrates after his goal with Eric Robinson (50) during the third period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Vegas Golden Knights' Noah Hanifin (15) and Brett Howden (21) celebrate after a goal during the second period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) and Sebastian Aho (20) scuffle with Vegas Golden Knights' Cole Smith (22) and Nic Dowd (26) during the second period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Vegas Golden Knights' Brett Howden (21) handles the puck in front of Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) during the second period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Vegas Golden Knights' Brayden McNabb takes a puck to the face during the first period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Vegas Golden Knights' Brayden McNabb takes a puck to the face during the first period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Vegas Golden Knights' Brett Howden (21) battles with Carolina Hurricanes' Sean Walker (26) on his way to scoring a goal during the first period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Vegas Golden Knights' Brett Howden (21) reacts ahead of Carolina Hurricanes' goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) after scoring a goal during the first period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Carolina Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers (27) and Jordan Staal (11) battle with Vegas Golden Knights' Cole Smith (22) for a puck during the third period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Vegas Golden Knights' Brett Howden, right, handles the puck ahead of Carolina Hurricanes' Alexander Nikishin, middle, and goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) during the second period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Fans at the Lenovo Center wave towels late in the third period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
