Month: August 2013

Zito’s cryptic explanation highlights Giants’ blowout loss

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By Morris Phillips 

August 21, 2013

PhotoIt’s not just that the Giants are losing. It’s how they’re losing. 

Wednesday’s 12-1 super-sized beat down at the hands of the Red Sox wasn’t just embarrassing, it may have been Barry Zito’s final start as a Giant, less than four innings in length and hard to watch as the Boston hitters found the lefty’s offerings to be of little mystery. 

For GM Brian Sabean, trying to figure out which parts of his last place club should return for 2014 and which parts should be dispatched to the nearest recycling center couldn’t be any more difficult. One year removed from a second World Series title in three years, the Giants carried the worst record in baseball for nearly two months and now seem just as unhealthy in completing a third month of awful performances. The 2013 Giants will be known for meager offense supported by raggedy pitching that have their opponents reluctant to leave town after a three or four game series. 

The Red Sox came in struggling and sleepy and left town Wednesday afternoon happy and alert, just what you would expect after a 12-run outburst that took just 12 hits with have of those going for extra bases. After Stephen Drew’s three-run homer in the seventh off reliever Michael Kickham it was hard to tell if the game was being played at AT&T Park or Fenway Park. 

Zito allowed half of the 12 runs and was gone in the fourth inning, and this was after the veteran was temporarily promoted back into the starting lineup due to Chad Gaudin’s injury. But Zito the starter wasn’t any better than Zito the reliever as the desultory appearance kept his ERA over 10 over his five relief appearances and Wednesday’s start. 

So what could the multi-millionaire athlete offer in explanation afterwards? 

“Some strange stuff happened out there today,” Zito said. “Baseball is a strange game sometimes. The nature of the game is so unpredictable. That’s why we all love it and why we all hate it.” 

Given that explanation, we move on to Thursday evening when the first place Pirates begin a four-game set with the Giants that starts with a Jeff Locke-Matt Cain matchup at 7:15pm.

Scutaro with the literal walk off

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By Jeremy Kahn

August 20, 2013

PhotoSAN FRANCISCO-Marco Scutaro was given the nickname “Blockbuster” when he was acquired by the San Francisco Giants.

Scutaro walked on four straight pitches with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning against Brayan Villareal, as the Giants came back to defeat the Boston Red Sox 3-2 before a sellout crowd of 41,551 at AT&T Park.

Shane Victorino maybe in the American League, but he is still tormenting the Giants.

Victorino hit a solo home run in the top of the third inning off of Ryan Vogelsong that gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead.

Besides the Victorino home run in the third, Vogelsong gave up a run in the top of the first inning, when Mike Carp drove in Jacoby Ellsbury with a sacrifice fly to right field.

In all, Vogelsong went seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking one and striking out five.

Joaquin Arias drove in the Giants only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he tripled to score Roger Kieschnick, who singled to leadoff the frame.

Jake Peavy went 5.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits, while walking one and striking out four, but did not fare in the decision.

Buster Posey tied up the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Scutaro.

Sonny Gray’s gem spoiled in A’s 7-4 loss to Seattle

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By Emily Zahner & Gabe Schapiro

On the mound for the Oakland Athletics in just his third Major League start, Sonny Gray (1-1, 1.00 ERA) shined bright and glowed with confidence. In the second of this three game series against the Mariners, Gray, facing off against Joe Saunders (10-12, 4.86 ERA), had the look of a veteran as the A’s were defeated by the Seattle Mariners 7-4 on Tuesday evening. The A’s fall to a record of 71-54, 1-½ games back of the first place Texas Rangers who picked up a victory tonight. The Mariners improve to 58-67, and remain in a distant third place.

The 23 year old from Smyrna, Tennessee lead off the game by shutting down the Mariners’ hitters 1-2-3. If run support was something he was worried about, the A’s offense took care of that in their half. Mariners starter Joe Saunders was hit hard early, as the A’s batted around and were a double away from hitting for the cycle against him in a 40-pitch first inning. Jed Lowrie, hitting lead-off for the fourth time this season, started off the game with a triple down the right field line. Homeruns by Josh Donaldson and Nate Frieman gave the A’s an early 4-0 lead in the first, giving Sonny some early run support. Gray cruised through two, then hit some trouble in the third. He started the inning with a four-pitch walk to Michael Saunders, and as lead-off walks so often do, it came back to bite him. Three batters later Nick Franklin got a hold of a change-up that was meant for the outside half and drifted in, sending it into the right field bleachers, making the score 4-2.

The A’s scattered a few hits through seven innings, but neither team was able to get on the board again through seven. Gray finished his night after seven strong innings, holding the Mariners to just two hits, two runs (both earned), and striking out seven on 94 pitches. Of his outing tonight, Manager Bob Melvin was pleased, saying “he was great… he’s got some presence out there, he certainly has the stuff and he continues to give us impressive outings.” In Sonny’s last outing, he fanned nine over eight innings. Gray is establishing himself as a competent and reliable started for the A’s, which with Bartolo Colon going to the DL and Brett Anderson still on rehab assignment, is arguably something Oakland needs the most. The A’s bullpen might be another topic of serious discussion.

The momentum drastically shifted to the Mariners in the eighth. Sean Doolittle was the first man out of the bullpen, and the Mariners bats, seemingly relieved to no longer be facing Gray, came alive again. Four consecutive hits later and the game was all tied at 4-4. Ryan Cook was summoned to stop the bleeding, but he couldn’t find his control and the runs kept on coming. After two wild pitches, two walks, and a fielders’ choice play at the plate that injured catcher Derek Norris, the Mariners had built up their first lead of the game, 7-4. Jesse Chavez, the third pitcher of the inning, stabilized the chaos and mercifully ended the inning. Bob Melvin later confirmed the Norris had fractured his left big toe.

The disastrous five-run eighth would prove to be too much to come back from, even for a never-say-die club like the Athletics. The back end of the Mariners bullpen kept the comeback kids at bay, closing down the ninth 1-2-3, clinching the 7-4 win. The A’s and Mariners complete their three game series tomorrow at 12:35pm.

The A’s win in a walk off

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By Jerry Feitelberg

August 19, 2013

PhotoThe Oakland A’s Jarrod Parker and the Seattle Mariners Aaron Harang engaged in an old-fashioned pitchers duel Monday evening in Oakland. The A’s won the game in the bottom of the ninth when Brandon Moss hit his nineteenth home run of the year to win it for the A’s by a score of 2-1.Former A’s pitcher, Harang went seven innings allowing just one one and five hits but the pitching star of the night was Parker. Parker pitched his first career complete game allowing just one on eight hits and struck out eight which was a career high for him. The game summary follows below.

The A’s took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Josh Reddick and Yoenis Cespedes singled to put men on at first an second with no out. Brandon Moss flied out to deep left field. Reddick tagged up and made it to third. Josh Donaldson hit a grounder to the shortstop and reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Reddick to score.

The Mariners tied the game in the top of the seventh. Mariners’ second baseman, Nick Franklin singled to right and advanced to second when Josh Reddick couldn’t field the ball cleanly. Designated hitter,Kendrys Morales, singled to drive in Franklin with the tying run.

The game ended in the bottom of the ninth when Brandon Moss blasted a Carter Capps pitch over the centerfield wall with one out in the ninth to win the game for the A’s. Final score 2-1.

Notes – With the win, the A’s remain ½ game behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West. The A’s are now 7-4 in their last eleven games. It was the seventh walk-off win of the year for Oakland. Jarrod Parker remains unbeaten in his last 15 starts and his record for the season is now 9-6. Brandon Moss had two hits in the game and it was his second walk-off homer this year and fourth in his career.

Game two will be Tuesday night. Sonny Gray will pitch for Oakland and lefty Joe Saunders will take the mound for Seattle. Time of the game was played in 2 hours and nineteen minutes and Attendance was a sparse 11,112.

Czinder and Findlay return to Bulls, top prospect Chiasson signs

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By Kahlil Najar

SAN FRANCISCO– The San Francisco Bulls Professional Hockey Team announced today that forwards Brett Findlay, Nick Czinder and Paul Chiasson have agreed to terms. Nick Czinder and Brett Findlay are returning from last years Bulls roster while Paul Chiasson is entering his first year in professional hockey.

At 6-foot, 5-inches and 230-pounds Nick Czinder provided the much needed intimidation factor last year after the Bulls had traded away the feisty Jordan Clendenning to Utah. Although he didn’t contribute much in the way of points (2 goals, 1 assist) he did add some tenacious defense to the Bulls and was always around the puck on offense and defense.

Brett Findley who also joined the Bulls late last year rejoins the team and is a welcome sign to the offensive side of the ice. In six games last year he was able to notch three assists but during the Bulls first ever playoff run, we was able to get two assists against the number one seeded Alaska Aces.

Of the returning player, head coach Pat Curcio said “Nick is a big physical player with skill, we saw it in his brief stint with the team last season. Brett is a very skilled and smart player, with his skills he has the ability to play at the next level.”

Paul Chiasson who enters his first season of professional hockey after four years at Mercyhurst College comes in with some great numbers a some confidence from Curcio. “Paul is a very fast tenacious right winger,” said Curcio. “He shoots the puck well in stride and has always scored a lot of goals.” Chiasson totaled 109 points (55 goals, 54 assists) in 151 games with Mercyhurst College.

The Bulls have open tryouts the weekend of September 14th at the Cow Palace and open the season in Alaska on October 18th.

Preseason preview week 3, 49ers vs Vikings

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By Gabe Schapiro

In the third game on the preseason schedule, this Sunday, August 25 at 5pm, the San Francisco 49ers (1-1) will be taking on the Minnesota Vikings (0-2) at Candlestick Park. Last season the Vikings went 10-6, clinching a wild card birth before being eliminated in the first round by their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. This offseason the Vikings made several big moves to try and improve on what was a surprisingly successful season last year. The most note-worthy ws the trade of their star but at times controversial wideout Percy Harvin, the signing of Greg Jennings to replace him, and their impressive haul of three first round draft picks.

Last week the 49ers squeaked out a win against the Kansas City Chiefs, 15-13, predominantly thanks to the leg of new kicker Phil Dawson and the arm of rookie quarterback B.J. Daniels. Dawson went
three-for-three on field goal attempts, and Daniels led the 49ers on their only touchdown drive of the game on a 13-play drive in the fourth quarter. A seventh round pick out of South Florida, Daniels didn’t receive a single snap in the teams first preseason game against the Broncos, but turned some heads with his play last week. He is fighting for the backup job behind Colin Kaepernick with Colt McCoy and Scott Tolzien.

The new most note-worthy development as the roster begins to shake itself out with two preseason games remaining, was the announcement on Monday that A.J. Jenkins had been traded to the Chiefs in return for fellow receiver Jon Baldwin. In a classic change-of-scenery type move, both receivers are former first round picks who have struggled to make an impact since arriving in the NFL. Jenkins appeared in just three games last season and didn’t record a catch. He hadn’t been showing much so far this preseason, and so it appears that San Francisco finally decided to move on. Baldwin, a 26th overall pick from the 2011 draft, has played in 26 games over the last two seasons, hauling in 26 catches for 579 yards and two touchdowns.

Baldwin enters a still unclear picture at wide receiver for the 49ers, and last week failed to bring the situation into any kind of focus. For the second week in a row Anquan Boldin and Marlon Moore were the starters, but remained in the game for just the opening drive. Chad Hall was inserted against the Chiefs starting defense, finishing with two receptions for 39 yards, and a team high five targets. Austin Collie and Lavelle Hawkins were inserted into the game late, and finished with one catch for 11 yards and two catchers for 20 yards respectively. Undrafted rookie Chuck Jacobs had the one touchdown reception of the game late in the fourth quarter. Kyle Williams and Quinton Patton dressed for the pregame warm-ups, but did not play. As has been the case ever since Michael Crabtree went down, the receiving corp will continue to be possibly the biggest area to keep an eye on through these last two preseason games.

San Francisco’s defensive unit, however, seems to be as stout as ever. The team gave the Chiefs starting offense line fits, and finished the game with seven sacks. The battle at cornerback following the loss of Chris Culliver appears to be going well, with Parrish Cox, Tramaine Brock, and Nnamdi Asomugha all putting in solid outings last week. At free safety Craig Dahl started for the second straight week, but coach John Harbaugh said following the game rookie Eric Reid will be getting looks with the first team defense.

The third game of the preseason tends to be when the starters really start to see more playing time as they gear up for the regular season, so as always, keep an eye on these key position battles, and hope for good health.

Jury still out on Tolzien, McCoy or Daniels for number two quarterback spot

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By David Zizmor

SANTA CLARA–The 49ers who completed their second pre season game on Friday night was an uneventful match in Kansas City although they did manage to win the game 15-13. As we saw in the first game this wasn’t much of a match up it was obviously the intrigue involved with former 49ers quarterback and now Chief Alex Smith facing the 49ers for the first time ever and seeing him in another uniform was certainly strange.

The 49ers are concerned from a roster stand point this wasn’t exactly a big deal of a game were not seeing a lot of competition and were not seeing the starters for all that long 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick only played one series and that series was uneventful it was highlighted by a big 50 plus yard run by running back Frank Gore. Kaepernick he looked so good in practice and in the first game there was really no reason to run.

There was no need having Kaepernick go onto the field and get hurt, the 49ers immediately shifted to back up mode partly because the back up quarterback situation is a little bit more tumultuous and the 49ers need to make a decision about the number two guy behind Kaepernick whether it’s going to be Scott Tolzien, Colt McCoy, or B.J. Daniels who the 49ers drafted this year. From that prospective it’s not sure if the 49ers got a whole lot of answers.

None of these guys really separated themselves from the field and they all had okay games but nothing particularly note worthy, you could see Tolzien was 3-8, McCoy was 3-6, Daniels probably had the best game going 6-9 for 72 yards including a little bit of scrambling 4-13. You have to note that he threw the only touchdown pass in the game. You have to note that Daniels was playing in the fourth quarter when they were going at third and fourth string guys or in other words players that won’t even make it to the NFL when the season starts.

Most of those guys might make it to the practice squad at that. Daniels had a good game and could see that and you could see the raw talent. The 49ers liked when they drafted him but he wasn’t only going against high quality opponents. McCoy and Tolzien were going to get slightly better and they had a little bit tougher time. The 49ers looked at their performance and said “oh boy we got to be a little concerned with how their playing, because none of these guys are separating themselves and making it obvious whose going to be the number two quarterback.

It’s a bit of a concern if Kaepernick gets hurt and if your comparing McCoy and Tolzien and the reason to separate Tolzien from McCoy is that McCoy has started about 20 games in his NFL career. So at least he has the experience being under center when it counts. Tolzien has been in the league for a couple of years and knows the 49ers system a little bit better because he’s been with the team for a couple of years but at the same time he’s never taken the field and that’s got to be a little bit of a concern you never know how a player is going to respond under pressure.

David Zizmor covers the NFL for Sportstalk Radio

Quakes win crucial encounter against SKC

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By Elliot Alagueuzian

SAN JOSE- San Jose Earthquakes will be happy that their playoff hopes got a big boost Sunday night as they shutout Sporting Kansas City 1-0 at Buck Shaw Stadium. After a disappointing result in Vancouver the Quakes were looking to bounce back against one of the top teams in MLS.

The game started out pretty slow for both teams with SKC hunkering down their defense and not letting the Quakes create too many chances. Both teams enjoyed good spells of possession but never created anything that made the crowd stand on its feet and cheer.

It wasn’t until Steven Beitashour served a great ball into the box to forward Chris Wondolowski that the Quakes finally took a chance and finished and one of the most hardest defenses in MLS. Wondo was about 10 yards away from goal and got a powerful header to the far post that beat the outstretched fingers of KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.

Wondo had a lot of great things to say for the back line who kept great organization throughout the game. “I thought we kept our defensive shape and were hard to break down.” An amazing night for one Quake in particular, Jon Busch celebrated his 100th win in the league as well as his 37th birthday. Wondo could not emphasize how big Busch has been since joining the Quakes. “He’s such a true professional, he comes in works hard everyday. Day in day out. Couldn’t be happier for him and he definitely deserves it.”

The Quakes will face FC Dallas in Frisco Texas next Saturday.

Marlins avert sweep at home, beat Giants

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By Jeremy Kahn

Looking for their first sweep against the Miami Marlins in the City of Miami since 2010, one unfortunate bounce denied that to happen.

Jeff Mathis hit a double in the bottom of the eighth inning that scored the eventual winning run, as the Marlins came back to defeat the Giants 6-5 at Marlins Park.

The Mathis double bounced off of Giants center fielder Andres Torres that scored Ed Lucas, who singled off of losing pitcher Sandy Rosario.

Chad Qualls pitched 1.1 innings to pickup the win, and Marlins closer Steve Cishek picked up his 27th save in 29 chances.

Hector Sanchez singled with one hit in the top of the ninth inning, but Buster Posey grounded into a game-ending double play.

Hunter Pence hit his first home run in 112 at bats, a two-run poke that was estimated at 458 feet to give the Giants 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Pence tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning, as he singled and it was his eighth run batted in during the three-game series.

Brandon Crawford tied up the game in the top of the seventh inning, as he hit a solo home run and then Sanchez gave the Giants the lead in the top of the eighth inning; however they were unable to hold the lead.

Madison Bumgarner went five innings allowing four runs.

A’s bounce back with unconventional lineup

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By Morris Phillips

PhotoSunday afternoon wasn’t like Saturday night for the Oakland A’s.

The A’s shed their recent struggles and produced a solid, all-around effort in beating the Indians, 7-3, to capture the weekend series and move closer to Texas in the AL West.

Tommy Milone returned from the minors and pitched effectively into the fifth inning and left with the game tied at 3. From that point, the Oakland offense and the bullpen handled the rest. Chris Young and Alberto Callaspo homered in the bottom of the fifth to break the tie and A’s relievers kept the Indians scoreless over the final 4 1/3 innings.

“That’s when we’re at our best, when we have equal parts and we can trust everybody up and down the lineup. That’s been our key offensively,” Jed Lowrie said of the fifth inning surge in which the A’s number six and eight hitters went yard.

The A’s left the Coliseum in a haze Saturday night having accumulated just three hits in a 7-1 loss that dropped them below .500 since the All Star break. The lack of offense stands as the biggest reason for the second half slump but on Sunday the A’s banged out 12 hits and saw good swinging bats up and down the lineup. Five A’s had multiple hits including Callaspo who was 3 for 4.

Manager Bob Melvin shook up his lineup for the series finale with Lowrie and Derek Norris at the top the lineup and Nate Freiman spelling Brandon Moss and hitting fifth. Unconventional? Absolutely, but it worked right down to the hits, the mid-game rally and in the absence of a big game from cleanup hitter Yoenis Cespedes who was 0 for 5 with two strikeouts.

Cespedes made his contribution defensively by throwing out Nick Swisher trying to stretch a single into a double in the seventh. Young made a spectacular catch in the eighth that kept Michael Brantley from getting extra bases.

Scott Kazmir started for Cleveland after an eight-day break and struggled. Kazmir allowed 10 hits and five runs, including both homers in the fifth, and took the loss. Kazmir has resurrected his career in 2013 but the Coliseum brings out the worst in the former Rays’ ace. Kazmir allowed two home runs equaling his home runs allowed over his previous nine starts. On July 10, 2010 Kazmir allowed 11 hits and 13 earned runs in a not-so-memorable start for the Angels at the Coliseum.

The A’s are a half-game out of first place and a half-game behind Tampa Bay in the wild card hunt with 39 games to play. Oakland continues their home stand Monday with the Mariners visiting.