Month: April 2016

San Francisco Giants Tuesday game wrap: Cueto wins debut

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By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: San Francisco Giants starter Johnny Cueto brought it against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night for Cueto’s first season victory

Making his San Francisco Giants debut, Johnny Cueto did not disappoint his teammates, the manager, the coaching staff, the front office and the fans.

Cueto pitched seven strong innings, as the Giants hung on to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 at Miller Park.

The right-hander, who signed a six-year $130 contract with the Giants after helping the Kansas City Royals to their first World Championship in 30 years. Cueto gave up six hits and struck out four in his first start of the season.

Brandon Crawford came up big at the plate, and in the field, as he hit his first home run of the season to tie up the game in the top of the third inning and made a huge play in the field to save a run in the bottom of the third inning.

Joe Panik went 2-for-4, while Crawford also went 2-for-4.

Sergio Romo pitched a perfect eighth inning, before giving way to Santiago Casilla, who struck out two and picked up his first save of the season.

Kings forget how to box out in loss at home

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by Michael Martinez

picture credit Luke Cheng/Getty Images

SACRAMENTO- The Kings were down five players tonight. Omri Casspi and Marco Belinelli were out because of injury while Rudy Gay, Kosta Kofous and Darren Collison sat on the sideline just to rest. This might have played a factor in the loss tonight as Sacramento was out hustled and out rebounded.

The Kings’ biggest fault in tonight’s game was giving up offensive rebounds and way too many second chance opportunities. Portland score 26 second chance points and had 19 offensive rebounds. Somehow, the Kings lost while shooting over 50% in the game.

DeMarcus Cousins started off the game and dominated with 18 first half points. Cousins finished the game with 30 points to tie Mitch Richmond for the most 30 point games in a season with 26.

Rajon Rondo had a huge night himself with his sixth triple double of the season to set the all time Sacramento record. Rondo recorded a season high 27 points, 12 assists and 10 boards. However, the big nights from the Kings top players was just not enough. Even though the Blazers made less field goals than Sacramento, they made nine more free throws. Portland gave themselves way more opportunities than the Kings to score on the offensive end and yet again Sacramento’s defense was below par.

Not to mention, the Kings turned the ball over 19 times, which led to 24 points in Portland’s favor. As the final buzzer sounded, Portland won 115-107.

The Kings gave a pretty good effort against the playoff bound Blazers and even cut the lead down to one with plenty of time left in the fourth quarter. The Kings got themselves in trouble thanks to a Cousins’ technical foul, his 17 of the season, as well as a tech on Quincy Acy.

On an inbounds pass, Acy pointed from the bench and the ball hit his hand causing interference and a technical.

Portland’s Maurice Harkless played a huge role in the Blazers’ win with a great second half. Harkless scored all of his 20 points in the second half. The Kings were up 57-51 at the half, meaning Harkless half was pivotal to the win. Damian Lilliard added 20 for the game.

CJ McCollum, who was once on the Kings draft radar, had a game high 30 points going 11-20 from the field and 5-10 from behind the arc. McCollum continues to improve and solidify him and Lilliard’s case as one of the best starting backcourts.

Sacramento will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday at 7 p.m. Minnesota just defeated the Golden State Warriors tonight. The Kings will played their second to last game ever at Sleep Train Arena and hopefully they can get a couple more wins in the historical arena.

Oakland A’s Tuesday game wrap:The White Sox beat the A’s again, win second one-run game to start the season

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by Jerry Feitelberg

photo credit San Francisco Chronicle: The Chicago White Sox Jimmy Rollins crosses home plate after hitting a ninth inning homer off A’s reliever Sean Doolittle

OAKLAND–The A’s were hoping to even the series with the Chicago White Sox at one-apiece Tuesday night. The A’s found themselves down by two runs late in the game but rallied in the eighth to tie the game. The White Sox behind a home run by Jimmy Rollins in the ninth defeated the A’s 5-4 to win their second one-run game in a row. The A’s were led by Jed Lowrie’s two clutch hits that drove in two runs and by Yonder Alonso’s key hit, with two out in the eighth to drive in two and tie the game. A’s closer Sean Doolittle gave up the home run to Rollins. After the game, A’s manager Bob Melvin said that Doolittle had his pitches working, but Rollins just beat him. The game summary follows below.

The A’s scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third. A’s catcher, Josh Phegley, beat the shift by hitting the ball into right field for a single. Phegley advanced to second on a ball in the dirt. Shortstop Marcus Semien singled sharply to center, and Phegley had to stop at third. After Coco Crisp struck out, Jed Lowrie singled on the first pitch from Quintana to drive in Phegley with the run.

The White Sox scored three runs on two hits in the top of the fifth. Chisox right fielder Adam Eaton singled with one out. The next hitter, Jimmy Rollins, hit a slow ground ball to second. Jed Lowrie attempted to get Eaton at second, but Eaton beat the throw and Rollins reached on a fielder’s choice. Bassitt struck out Jose Abreu for the second out. Bassitt had Todd Frazier in a 0-2 count, but Frazier sent his next pitch over the left-field wall for his first home run of the year and first as a member of the White Sox. Sox have a 3-1 lead in the middle of the fifth. The A’s rallied as they picked up a run on three hits to narrow the gap to just one run. Josh Phegley led off the inning with a double. Marcus Semien had an infield single, but Phegley could not advance. Coco Crisp flew out to right field. Phegley tagged and advanced to third. Jed Lowrie singled to drive in Phegley with the A’s second run of the night. Chisox in the lead 3-2 after five innings.

The White Sox regained the two-run margin in the top of the sixth. With one out, former Athletic, Brett Lawrie singled to get it going for Chicago. Alex Avila singled to advance Lawrie to third. Lawrie scored on an Austin Jackson single. Adam Eaton singled to load the bases. Liam Hendricks, the third pitcher of the inning, got Jimmy Rollins to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. A’s trail the White Sox 4-2.

The A’s rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. Josh Reddick led off with a single. Danny Valencia hit a line shot but right to the center fielder for the out. Khris Davis was hit by a pitch. Billy Butler also hit a sharp line drive, but it was, again, right at the center fielder. The A’s loaded the bases when Vogt was hit by a pitch. A’s first baseman, Yonder Alonso, singled for his first hit as a member of the A’s to drive in Reddick and Davis. Tie score after eight.

In the top of the ninth, Chisox shortstop, Jimmy Rollins, sent a Sean Doolittle pitch over the left field wall to give the White Sox a 5-4 lead in the middle of the ninth. For Rollins, it was his first home run of the year and his first in the American League. Whites Sox closer, David Robertson, retired the A’s in order in the ninth to secure the win for Chicago. White Sox win 5-4.

Game Notes- The A’s start the season 0-2 for the fourth time in the last ten years. Sean Doolittle took the loss and White Sox reliever Nate Jones picked up the win.

Game three of the four-game series will be played Wednesday night at the Oakland Coliseum A’s ace, Sonny Gray, will make his first start of the year and Carlos Rodon will handle the chores for Chicago. Game time is at 7:05 pm PT

Attendance for Tuesday night’s game was 10,478 and time of game was 3 hours and twenty-eight minutes.

 

 

Warriors Upset By Timberwolves — Record In Jeopardy

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By Ben Leonard

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photo credit San Francisco Chronicle: Golden State Warriors Klay Thompson knows it’s foregone conclusion in the closing seconds of Golden State’s ninth loss

The Warriors’ quest for the NBA all-time wins record just took a major blow. Just when you’d have thought the Warriors (69-9) would have stood up strong, they fell flat on their faces in a crushing 124-117 loss to the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves (26-52).

Coming into Tuesday, Golden State had to win just four out of its five remaining games to break the ’95-’96 Bulls’ record of 72 wins, but after the loss are faced with the task of winning out to shatter the mark. Phenom Andrew Wiggins lead the way for Minnesota, scoring 32 points on 11 of 19 shooting and forcing 6 steals.

It most disheartening thing for Golden State was that it seemed like the Warriors were going to roll over the Timberwolves and coast to a relatively easy win. They had an nine point lead heading into the second half, a position in which they’ve thrived.

Stephen Curry was facilitating the offense, scoring just two points in the first but dishing out 10 assists, many of them to Harrison Barnes, who had 18 points in the first. They reversed roles in the second half, as Curry finished with 21 and Barnes with 20, but it wasn’t enough in the end.

The Timberwolves proceeded to take over in the fourth quarter, making the Warriors fold in a close game, not something that they’ve often done. Heading into Saturday, they had won 12 of 14 games decided by 5 points or less — now it’s 12 of 15. Minnesota dominated overtime and the fourth, outscoring Golden State by a combined fifteen points.

Now the Warriors are faced with the tall task of beating the Spurs — and the Grizzlies — twice if they want to officially become the best team in NBA history. Yes, it was a classic trap game, with San Antonio next on the slate, but they’re going to have to take it up a notch. Or three.

Sharks tame Wild

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~ PC: Jim Mone AP Photo

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ San Jose cruised to a franchise record 28th road win with a 3-0 blanking of Minnesota Tuesday.

The Sharks also earned the NHL’s best road record, as they finished their last road game in the regular season.

San Jose’s James Reimer made 29 saves in his third shutout for the team, all of them within the last month. Teammate Patrick Marleau had two goals for the first time since October 10.

It was the Wild’s fourth straight loss, but it was not the worst loss, as with the Colorado Avalanche’s loss as well, Minnesota was able to clinch the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

The Wild struggled with two goals or less again in their losing streak. The last time they were shutout though was January 16.

Meanwhile, it was the Sharks’ seventh consecutive game with at least two goals. They last shutout their opponent March 20.

Logan Couture struck first at 4:43 of the first period with his only shot of the game. After a cross ice pass from Joonas Donskoi on his left, Brenden Dillon shot towards the net. Couture then grabbed the deflection in the air and scored as he pushed toward the net, with Joel Ward in the mix.

Marleau made sure to get his first goal the second time around. Coming from behind the net, Brent Burns passed it to Joe Thornton, who passed around the horn to Couture. Couture shot the puck against the boards and Marleau shot it past Devan Dubnyk at 5:31 of the second period.

Minnesota’s Erik Haula narrowly missed with a post shot in the second.

Marleau scored again at 18:15 of the third, aided by Melker Karlsson and Dillon.

Game notes: None of the Wild finished with a positive plus/minus rating. Minnesota’s Jared Spurgeon returned with one shot, one hit and one block as he earned the third star of the game. Teammate Zac Dalpe had two shots and three hits in his debut for the team. San Jose lost faceoffs 34-18. The Sharks play their second to last game of the regular season Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets at 7:30pm.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Minn Wild need to battle for playoff berth Sharks want to improve road record

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AP photo: The San Jose Sharks Tomas Hertl (48) goes for the puck behind the net as the Nashville Predators goalie Carter Hutton (30) tries to control the puck along the boards last Saturday at Nashville

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh the Sharks end their two game road trip tonight at the Target Center in Minnesota. The Sharks are battling to keep their winning road record going while the Wild will be fighting to get points towards a play off berth. The Sharks who started out the road trip with a 3-2 win in a shootout over the Nashville Predators last Saturday got scoring help in regulation from Tomas Hertl.

The Sharks are headed back to San Jose to close out their regular season after tonight’s game with the Wild. On Thursday nigh they’ll face the Winnipeg Jets and on Saturday their hosting the Arizona Coyotes. Fun Fact: years when Patrick Marleau has a bad offensive year for example this year 22 goals and 22 assists the Sharks have had a successful road record. The Marleau struggled offensively in 2007 and the Sharks had a wining road record that season.

Mary Lisa talks Sharks on the podcast below at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Joe Lami: Rangers clinch playoff berth; Panthers 99 points best in franchise history; plus more NHL headlines

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AP photo the New York Rangers Derek Stepan (21) is congratulated by Marc Staal (center), and Dan Girardi (right)

On the NHL podcast with Joe Lami the New York Rangers handed the Columbus Blue Jackets a resounding defeat 5-2. The Rangers had help from Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan each scored their 20th goal of the season. Meanwhile the Florida Panthers picked up their best record of their franchise history notching up their 99th point with a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday 4-3.

The St.Louis Blues came back from being two goals down to defeat the Arizona Coyotes 5-2. The Blues were down by two goals and had help from Vladimir Taarasenko who also scored his 37th goal of the season. The NY Islanders John Taveras scored his 30th goal of the season with two assists to help the Islanders defeat the Tampa Bay Lighting on Monday 5-2.

To hear the top NHL headlines listen to Joe Lami below on the NHL podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Categories NHL

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: After 108 years of waiting this could be the Chicago Cubs year to win it all

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

AP photo: Chicago Cubs starter Jake Arieta goes seven innings and give up just two hits against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night

ANAHEIM–The Chicago Cubs came in on Monday night’s opener and spared no prisoners as they demolished the Los Angels 9-0 at Angels Stadium behind the Cubs pitching of starter Jake Arieta who went seven innings, gave up  two hits, and struck six batters. I can now see why the Cubs are 4-1 favorites to win the World Series.

The Cubs have a terrific pitching staff you talk about Arieta who shutout the Angels. It was the first time the Angels were shutout in an opening night game in Anaheim in 14 years and 9-0 at that. The Cubs are a dream team most of their guys are under 25 years old Jorge Soler, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant who was rookie of the year last year and there’s Anthony Rizzo who can produce 100 runs.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for the Angels, the Spanish radio voice for the A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Categories MLB

The Oakland A’s lose the season opener to the Chicago White Sox

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by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: The White Sox Chris Sale takes aim at the Oakland A’s pitching seven innings and getting the win Monday night

There is nothing better than opening night to start the baseball season. It would be better if the home team would win. That, however, did not happen as the Chicago White Sox beat the A’s 4-3. As usual, the game was sold out, and the 35,067 were hoping the A’s would rally to win the game.

All the scoring came in the third inning. The White Sox sent nine men to the plate and scored four times in their half, and the A’s came back in the bottom of the inning, sent eight men to the plate and scored three times.  The game summary follows below.

The White Sox sent nine men to the plate in the top of the third. They scored four runs on four hits and the A’s committed two errors to help the Sox score the runs. Left Rich Hill pitched well for the first two innings, but the roof caved in on him in the third. After he struck out Dioner Navarro, He walked Austin Jackson. Hill, attempting to keep Jackson close, at first, threw the ball into foul territory down the right field line. Jackson advanced to third on the play. Adam Eaton tripled to drive in Jackson with the first run of the game. Jimmy Rollins singled to drive in Eaton. Jose Abreu doubled to put men on at second and third with one out. Hill struck out the pride of Toms River, New Jersey, Todd Frazier for the second out. Melky Cabrera then hit a grounder up the middle that was fielded by Marcus Semien. Semien threw to first but A’s first baseman, Mark Canha, dropped the ball for  an error. Rollins and Abreu scored on the play. White Sox lead 4-0 in the middle of the third. The A’s scored three times in their half of the third. Catcher Stephen Vogt got the rally rolling as he beat out a hit to second. Chris Sale walked Marcus Semien to put men on at first and second with one out. Billy Burns grounded to advance the runners. Jed Lowrie singled to right to drive in Vogt and Semien. Josh Reddick singled up the middle to drive in Lowrie with the third run.  A’s trail 4-3 after three.

There was no more scoring after the third inning. Chris Sale went seven innings and picked up his first win of the year. The White Sox used four pitchers to shut down the A’s in the eighth and ninth innings. The A’s used five relievers. They included Fernando Rodriguez, Ryan Dull, John Axford Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle. The bullpen did their job going six innings and held the White Sox from scoring.  The A’s had a couple of men in scoring position after the third but couldn’t get the key hit needed to get the run in to tie the game. Chicago wins 4-3.

Game Notes- Joe Stiglich of CSNBA report this about A’s pitcher Felix Doubront. Doubront left the exhibition game Saturday after the first inning with pain in his pitching arm.

‘The news doesn’t appear good for the fifth starter Felix Doubront. After leaving Saturday’s exhibition with what was described as forearm tightness, Paparesta said an MRI showed Doubront has some“fibrous tearing” in his ulnar collateral ligament along with a muscle strain. Doubront is headed to Cincinnati next Monday for a second opinion, but any damage to the ligament indicates that Tommy John surgery is a possibility.”

A’s ace Sonny Gray was supposed to start Monday night but was ill due to food poisoning. Gray may pitch Tuesday if he is feeling better.

Before the start of the game, it should be noted that the Opening game ceremonies honored the memories of  Dave Henderson and Tony Phillips. Both men played on the 1989 World Championship team, and both were in their 50s at the time of their passing. The ceremonies included the introduction of the players, coaches, manager, trainers and other members of the staff of both teams. Following the singing of the National Anthem, the fans enjoyed the flyover by a military plane.

The A’s have lost 11 of their last 12 Opening Day games. Rich Hill made his first Opening Day start.

The A’s meet the White Sox Tuesday night at 7:05 PM. Lefty Jose Quintana will pitch for the Sox and he will be opposed by a pitcher to be named later.

 

Giants open 2016 season with a power display in Milwaukee

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Buster bust out

By Morris Phillips

Giants’ hitters spent the afternoon trying to top each other’s feats in an Opening Day offensive explosion for the record books in Milwaukee.

Denard Span knocked in five runs in his first game as a Giant, and Matt Duffy plated four in a 12-3 rout that was capped by three consecutive home runs in the eighth inning by Span, Joe Panik and Buster Posey. The back-to-back-to-back homers in the opener had only been accomplished twice in major league history, most recently by the 1997 Padres.

Madison Bumgarner started on Opening Day for the third straight year despite experiencing fever and chills starting on Sunday. The former World Series MVP lasted just five innings, allowing three runs on five hits and five walks, but departed with a 7-3 lead.

Bumgarner pulled his big escape act in the first inning after walking three batters and allowing a run. With the bases loaded, he induced Aaron Hill to hit into an inning-ending double play.

“We’ve all seen what he’s done in the postseason multiple times, so I wouldn’t expect the flu to hold down a guy like that,” Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun said.

The healthy Giants’ lineup with capable hitters one through nine impressed Brewers’ manager Craig Counsell with their ability to hit deep in counts, moving the line early against starter Wily Peralta, who lasted just four innings after coughing up four runs on five hits. The Milwaukee bullpen didn’t fare well either, allowing all four the Giants’ homers including Matt Duffy’s blast off Carlos Torres in the fifth.

Duffy knocked in all four of his runs in the first five innings, but Span topped that with total with his three-run shot in the eighth.

“What they’re good at is putting the ball in play on tough pitches with two strikes,” Counsell said.

“That’s a good team. They’re great hitters,” Peralta said. “That’s a tough game for me and for the team today, but we have to move forward.”

Ariel Pena was on the hill for the home run explosion in the eighth, capped by Posey’s blast over the centerfield wall. The Giants last hit four home runs on Opening day in 1983, also the last time they scored as many as 12 runs.

The game was played as light snow flurries descended on the Wisconsin lakefront, but didn’t interrupt the proceedings with the retractable roof at Miller Park closed.   The Giants opened a season in Milwaukee for the first time ever.

While the Giants were as advertised after a trio of splashy free agent signings in the off-season, the Brewers rebuild got off to a rocky start. The news off the field wasn’t much better for Milwaukee, as veteran Matt Garza was scratched from his scheduled start on Wednesday in the series finale due to shoulder issues.

On Tuesday, Johnny Cueto makes his Giants’ debut against the Brewers’ Jimmy Nelson.