Month: May 2016

Warriors come back for Game 2 win over Blazers

Published on by Eric HeLeave a comment

By: Eric He

AP photo: The Golden State Warriors Klay Thompson missed 13 of 20 but hit five three pointers and finished the game with 27 points on Tuesday night

For the longest time, it seemed like the Golden State Warriors’ chances of taking a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Semifinals over the Blazers was in jeopardy.

But then, the fourth quarter happened, and the Warriors came roaring back for a 110-99 win on Tuesday night at Oracle Arena.

The Warriors outscored the Blazers 34-12 in the fourth, turning an 11-point deficit into an 11-point victory. Klay Thompson’s 3-pointer midway through the fourth tied the game 91-91, and then another three gave the Warriors their first lead of the night at 94-93. From there, the Warriors pulled away with suffocating defense and a rhythm on offense that they didn’t have for much of the first half.

Thompson led the way with 27 points, though he struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 5-of-14. Draymond Green added 17 points and 14 rebounds. Festus Ezeli played key minutes in the fourth, scoring eight quick points and providing great energy to help spur the turnaround.

Early on, the Warriors found themselves in some trouble, as the Blazers jumped out to a 13-point lead after one and a 59-51 advantage at halftime.

The Warriors made several runs to cut into the deficit, but the Blazers, led by 25 points from Damian Lillard and 22 points from CJ McCollum, responded to every push by Golden State.

That is, until the final one. The Warriors cruised in the fourth for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which shifts to Portland on Saturday.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Podcast with Joe Lami: Catch the entire NHL playoffs review with Joe Lami on the podcast

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

AP photo: Nashville Predators Ryan Johansen 92 and San Jose Sharks Justin Brown 61 battle for puck in game three in second period in Nashville

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast Joe takes a look at the NHL Playoff matchups:

Game three the Tampa Lighting and the New York Islanders series tied 1-1.

Game three the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators Sharks lead the series 2-0

Game three Dallas Stars and the St Louis Blues series its tied 1-1

Game four Washington Caps and the Pittsburgh Penguins the Pens lead the series 2-1

Click below for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast

Categories NHL

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Expect a split in Nashville for games 3 and 4

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

AP photo: Nashville Predators Shea Weber celebrates after scoring in the second period against San Jose Sharks

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa expect the Sharks and Predators to split games three and four in Nashville. That would mean forcing a game five in San Jose on Saturday with the Sharks taking a 3-1 series lead as the most likely outcome.

Also Joe Pavelski is the key core to not only some key goals but also the spirit of the Sharks success offense in this series against the Predators. Martin Jones the Sharks goaltender did a spectacular job stopping Predator shots on Saturday with 37 saves in the Sharks narrow margin win 3-2.

Listen to Mary Lisa below for all the latest on the Sharks-Predators series click below

Sharks lose in tale of reversals

Published on by smallforceLeave a comment

~ (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ In these playoffs, it was both the worst loss for San Jose and the best win for the Nashville  Predators, who won 4-1 Tuesday.

The Sharks have only scored one goal one other time and it was their only other loss, as they lost with their biggest margin.

Nashville scored four for the first time and won by their biggest margin as San Jose gave up four goals for the first time this playoffs.

The power play results were also not indicative of the way they had been going.

The Sharks went 0-for-4 while the Predators went 2-for-5.

Nashville’s Captain Shea Weber scored on his only shot and had an assist.

San Jose’s Patrick Marleau scored the first first period goal of the series with his 62nd playoff goal at 13:13. After taking a pass from Tomas Hertl right before the blue line, Marleau sped past Roman Josi, Weber and then goalie Pekka Rinne, who fell to his knees before somewhat making a save attempt with his stick. Marc-Edouard Vlasic also got an assist.

The Predators came back to take the lead with two in the second.

The Sharks’ Joonas Donskoi got called for a double minor for a hi stick against James Neal.

Neal then converted halfway past the midpoint of the penalty. From the right faceoff circle, Neal shot the puck off the boards. Mattias Ekholm then gave the puck back to Neal at the circle, who scored past goalie Martin Jones. Ryan Johansen also aided.

San Jose’s Matt Nieto took a penalty at 12:57. One minute later, Craig Smith also took a penalty. Weber scored while it was 4-on-4. Donskoi lost the puck along the blue line and Johansen had the puck checked away by Brent Burns. That put the puck in the path of Weber, who with an angled body, shot straightaway at 14:44.

After having their first shot of the third period with 13:11 left, Nashville scored six seconds later.  Ryan Ellis shot the puck off the backboard and Colin Wilson put the rebound in the space behind Jones. Mike Fisher also had an assist.

The 4-1 score came at 15:49. With defenseman Roman Polak in front of him, Filip Forsberg’s puck hit the crossbar before going in. Josi and Weber also helped.

Game notes: It was the lowest shot total for the Predators this series. Sissons had to leave the ice after his knee hit the goalpost.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Crawford lends support after Cueto is touched up for six runs

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

AP photo: SF Giants Mac Williamson slides in to score in the second inning of Monday night’s game vs. Reds

On the Giants podcast with Morris the Giants who were down 6-3 on Monday night to the Cincinnati Reds got home run help from Brandon Crawford, Crawford also knocked in four runs to help lead SF to a 8-6 victory.

The Giants starter Johnny Cueto the former Red pitcher went five innings and was lit up for seven hits and six runs, Cueto got six strikeouts. Although it was his toughest outing of the season his teammates rallied around him and got some runs to come back from behind and beat the Reds in the first game of the series on Monday night

Listen to the Giants podcast below with Morris and every week right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A’s need to start swinging the bats: A’s losing a number one run games

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

AP photo: Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea

On the Oakland A’s podcast It has been a tough week for the A’s who dropped two out of three in Toronto, lost three out of four in Detroit, then came back to Oakland and won two out of three from Houston. The needs to move runners over when their on base it will make a huge bit of difference between their recent wins and loses. The A’s got some help from their call ups with pitchers Sean Manaea and reliever Jesse Hahn. After the A’s complete the current series with the Seattle they’ll head out on the road to face the Orioles, Boston, and Tampa Bay.

Charlie O does the A’s podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Big innings push the Giants past the Reds, and into first place in the NL West

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

 

Crawford greeted

By Morris Phillips

Given the early season statistical numbers, it wasn’t a surprise that Brandon Crawford’s home run off Cincinnati’s JC Ramirez stood as the game-winner on Monday night.

So far in 2016, the Reds’ inexperienced bullpen has sprung leaks in multiple spots, allowing 22 home runs in 26 games, the most allowed by any big league team’s relievers by a large margin. Meanwhile, the Giants have proven to be a more than capable power hitting team, hitting 28 jacks in 27 games. Throw in the historically, homer-friendly nature of Great American Ballpark, and the decisive scenario of Crawford batting against Ramirez in the seventh inning with two runners aboard, and the Giants trailing 6-5 was set.

To that point, Monday’s game already stood as an offensive showcase with the Giants scoring three runs in the second, only to see the Reds respond with six runs in the third, ruining what would have been a nice return to Cincinnati for the Giants’ $100-million-dollar man, Johnny Cueto.

With two runs already in, Crawford stepped up and deposited Ramirez’ 2-1 pitch three rows beyond the right center field wall, giving the Giants lead again on their way to a 9-6 win.

The Giants’ won for the second straight day, after dropping the first two games of a six-game road trip, and moved into first place in the NL West, despite their very modest 14-13 won-loss record.

Crawford had been scuffling prior to his big at-bat, hitting around .200 over his previous 18 games, and struggling when given opportunities to knock in a run or two. But Ramirez’ breaking ball hung, and Crawford pounced.

“I’ve gotten a few RBIs through ground outs or sacrifice flies, but getting a hit in that situation is always a lot better,” Crawford said.

The Giants’ shortstop finished the night’s scoring in the ninth, knocking in an insurance run, giving him four RBI on the night. Brandon Belt had three of the team’s 14 hits, and scored twice.

Manager Bruce Bochy got contributions from most of the 25 guys available, as Mac Williamson replaced the injured Angel Pagan in left, and gave way to Gregor Blanco in the sixth in a double switch. Kelby Tomlinson started at second, giving Joe Panik a rare day off, and four relievers followed Cueto, allowing the Reds just one hit.

Cueto pitched eight seasons in Cincinnati, and was greeted warmly by the smallish crowd. That reception transitioned nicely into the pitcher’s infield single that knocked in a pair of runs in the Giants three-run third inning. But the reception turned rough in the third when Cueto was touched for a three-run homer from Joey Votto, followed by a run-scoring triple off the bat of Jay Bruce.

But throughout, the veteran remained composed, barely blinking when Votto’s shot cleared the wall. It must have been Cueto’s familiarity with the Great American Ballpark situation, where runs have traditionally been scored in bunches. Not surprisingly, Cueto followed the six-run third with a pair of scoreless frames to keep the Giants within reach.

Reds’ starter Brandon Finnegan put up four scoreless frames after the Giants took their early 3-0 lead, and seemed poised for a win. But Ramirez relieved Finnegan, and could record just one out before surrendering the home run to Crawford. It was the first home run this season allowed by Ramirez, but the Reds’ bullpen has allowed at least one run in 20 consecutive ballgames, an embarrassing feat achieved just once since 1913 at the major league level.

The Giants resume their series in Cincinnati on Tuesday as Jeff Samardzjia faces the Reds’ John Moscot. Moscot suffered shoulder discomfort in his previous start, so his participation isn’t assured. The team said that Moscot will be re-evaluated in pre-game warmups before being allowed to pitch.

The Mariners Squeak by the A’s, win 4-3.

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s played another one-run game Monday night. This time, it was against the Seattle Mariners and the outcome was not a happy one as they lost 4-3. Kendall Graveman started for the A’s and went six and one-third innings. He gave up four runs on ten hits and saw his record drop to 1-3. Nate Karns pitched for Seattle, and he won his third game of the year for the Mariners. Karns allowed three runs on six hits. The A’s Khris Davis hit two dingers to drive in all three runs they A’s scored.

The A’s jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. A’s left fielder Khris Davis lined a home run to left over the 367-foot sign. For Davis, it was his fourth home run of the year and his first at the Coliseum.

The Mariners tied the game in the top of the fourth. Robinson Cano doubled to start the frame. Nelson Cruz singled to right center. Cano did not score as he had to hold up to make sure the ball dropped safely for a hit. Mariner first baseman, Adam Lind, followed with a single to drive in Cano. Graveman threw four pitches and three were whacked for hits. Graveman retired Kyle Seager on a fly to left for the first out of the inning, and Chris Iannetta’s fly out to center was turned into a double play as Billy Burns’ throw to third nailed Cruz for the final out of the inning.

The Mariners scored two runs on four hits in the top of the sixth. Cano singled to start the Mariners’ rally. Nelson Cruz followed with his third hit of the night to put men on at first and second with no out. Adam Lind hit into a double play. Cano advanced to third on the play and scored when Kyle Seager doubled to right. Chris Iannetta singled to drive in Seager to put Seattle ahead 3-1 in the middle of the sixth. Seattle added another run in the top of the seventh. Nori Aoki doubled with one out. He stole third and scored when Stephen Vogt’s throw to third went for an error.  In the bottom of the seventh, the A’s scored twice in their half of the seventh. Josh Reddick led off with a single. He scored when Khris Davis hit a monster home run to deep left centerfield. The ball landed near the TV cameras. For Davis, it was his second home run of the night and fifth of the year. Stephen Vogt followed with a double, but the A’s failed to get a hit to drive him in to tie the score. Seattle leads 4-3 after seven.

The A’s bullpen kept Seattle off the board in the eighth and ninth. The A’s rally in the ninth fell short when Mariner closer Steve Cishek struck out Jed Lowrie to end the game.

Game Notes- The A’s record is now 13-14 while Seattle improves to 14-11. Texas won again to remain in first place. Seattle currently resides in second place, and the A’s are still in third as the Angels and Astros lost their games Monday night.

The A’s will send their ace, Sonny Gray, to the mound Tuesday night. Seattle will counter with Hisashi Iwakuma. Gray will be trying to win his fourth of the year, and Iwakuma will be seeking his first.

Time of game was two hours and forty-five minutes, and there were 10,535 devoted A’s fans in the stands to watch the game. Game time Tuesday night will be at 7:05 pm PT and fans should get here early as the Warriors are playing the Portland Trail Blazers next door at the Oracle Arena at 7:30.

 

 

 

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: A’s shored up bullpen can be a relief for finishing up A’s games

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Amaruy Pi Gonzalez and Jerry Feitelberg take a look at the MLB news. On the Angels they have a staff of pitchers that can hold the runs. The Angels reliever Matt Shoemaker was sent down to the minors after giving up seven runs in his last outing and the Angels just swept in their last home series in Anaheim. The Mariners are doing well and they A’s and M’s opened up a three game series on Monday night and it was a close affair.

For the Oakland A’s they look like they’ve strengthen their bullpen Fernando Rodriguez, Ryan Dull, Marc Rzepczynski, John Axford, and Sean Doolittle. The A’s are very strong in the bullpen and they can get stronger. A’s starter Eric Surkamp went down and they brought up Sean Manaea and he looks like the real deal.

Amaruy Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio voice and is the Spanish voice for the Los Angeles Angels and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s just didn’t get the run production against Houston on Sunday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

On the A’s podcast the Houston Astros who came to the Oakland Coliseum shut down the A’s 2-1 behind the pitching of starter Doug Fister on Sunday. The A’s had their chances and they didn’t cash in on any of them they left eight men on base. They were one for seven with runners in scoring position. The A’s have on one to blame but themselves. A’s starter Rich Hill pitched well enough to get a victory but didn’t get the run support.

That’s the magic of baseball the Astros gave up two runs a couple of hits in six innings of work and he took a loss. Conversely the Boston Red Sox starter David Price coughed up six runs and won his game when the Sox played the Yankees 8-7. So you just never know in baseball.

Jerry Feitelberg does the A’s podcasts each week and is the A’s beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com