Last Night in Sports: July 16, 2026
MLB second-half opener: Baty and Alvarez hit back-to-back homers as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 Thursday. Tonight: 15 games.
The MLB second half opened Thursday with one game on the board. The Mets took it, 4-1, at Citizens Bank Park. NBA and NHL are in their offseasons; NFL training camps are still weeks away.
MLB — Second Half Opener, July 16
| Matchup | Final |
|---|---|
| New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies | Mets 4, Phillies 1 |
New York Mets, 4 — Philadelphia Phillies, 1. Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez hit back-to-back home runs to give the Mets the lead they wouldn't surrender. New York's starter held Philadelphia to four hits and one run across the outing. Trea Turner's solo shot was the Phillies' only offense in a quiet opener. The Mets improved to 41-57; Philadelphia fell to 54-44.
One game, one result. The second half starts 0-1 for a Phillies team that entered at 54-44 and opened on their own field.
What to Watch Tonight
MLB starts Friday with 15 games — the full schedule is live:
- Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees, 7:05 PM ET (MLB Network) — Roki Sasaki vs. Gerrit Cole in a primetime matchup between two headline franchises at Yankee Stadium.
- Texas Rangers at Atlanta Braves, 7:15 PM ET (ESPN Unlimited) — second-half divisional opener in Atlanta.
- Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox (DH) — two games at Fenway; first pitch at 1:35 PM ET, second at 7:10 PM ET.
Full tonight schedule at the Tonight preview.
Follow Sideline for tomorrow's recap — no app required.
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