Month: April 2017

Golden State Finishes The Season In Warrior Style 109-94

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By Barbara Mason

Wednesday night the Golden State Warriors played their final game of the regular season: game number 82. They took on the 26 and 55 Los Angeles Lakers. Everyone played for the Warriors using this game as a sort of post-season warm-up. Only two teams in the NBA have records worse than the Lakers.

At the end of the first quarter Golden State was leading by the score of 43-28. Kevin Durant led the scoring with 15 points in the quarter. Both teams were shooting at 50% in this game.

At halftime the Warriors had a healthy lead 64-50 and Kevin Durant continued to lead the pack with scoring points at 24. Curry had scored ten points in the first half.

After three quarters the Warriors had extended their lead outscoring the Lakers 29 to 20. The score was 93-70 with one more quarter left on the season.

To the Lakers credit they continued to fight throughout the fourth quarter outscoring the Warriors 24-16. The final score was 109-94. Kevin Durant finished with 29 monster points. He is definitely back and it didn’t take very long at all. The Warriors post-season journey will begin on Sunday against Portland

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Ana Kieu: Post season bound Cuda look to wrap up last two games in the win column

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sjbarracuda.com photo: San Jose Barracuda forward Ryan Carpenter (40) and the Tucson Roadrunners right winger Garret Ross (23) make a valiant effort to regain the puck at SAP Center on Tuesday night

On the Barracuda podcast with Ana:

1. The Barracuda signed captain John McCarthy to a one-year extension last Friday. What are your thoughts on this decision?

2. The Sharks called up Timo Meier, Danny O’Regan and Tim Heed from the Barracuda last Saturday. They also called up Barclay Goodrow that day. What’s your take on all of these transactions?

3. I know you didn’t go to the Sharks’ final regular season home game because you were covering the Earthquakes, but Kevin Labanc was selected as this year’s SAP “Sharks Rookie of the Year.” Is he deserving of this award?

4. The Barracuda allowed four first period goals last Saturday in a 5-2 loss to the Heat, but they still clinched the Pacific Division and won the John Chick Trophy because the Gulls lost to the Reign 3-1.

5. The Barracuda edged the Heat the following night in a 2-1 overtime win over the Heat. They put a franchise high 49 shots on net. With the win, they clinched the Western Conference and won the Bud Poile Trophy.

6. The AHL announced that Troy Grosenick was the winner of the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the league’s outstanding goalie for the 2016-17 season.

7. Give me a quick recap of the Barracuda’s 2-1 loss to the Roadrunners last night.

 

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Utah loss an after thought Warriors good and ready for post season

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Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) drives to the basket against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 10, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

by David Zizmor

OAKALND–The loss the other night to the Utah Jazz for the Golden State Warriors was like an exhibition game they have home court sewed up and that’s all throughout the playoffs The Warriors are 66-15. You still don’t want to lay down because Utah is playing tough and Utah is trying to get a home court game for post season and the home court advantage in that first round against the Clippers.

Even Utah is not in dire straits at this point of the season and the Jazz are trying to get their spot in the playoffs. The Warriors got down a little bit early they fought back at the end of the third quarter and the game was basically tied and the Jazz pulled away in the fourth quarter and won it 105-99. The Warriors wrap up the regular season with the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night.

David Zizmor does the Warriors podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Francisco Giants podcast: Orlando Cepeda’s wife Mirian passes from pneumonia at 62; plus more Giants news

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By | jdurkin@bayareanewsgroup.com photo

by Michael Duca

SAN FRANCISCO–The wife of former San Francisco Giant first baseman and Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda passed away today at the age 62. Mirian Cepeda was married to the former Giant slugger. The Giants plan to have a moment of silence for Mirian tonight at AT&T Park. I’m not sure if we should keep doing these podcasts this is the second week in a row that were leading off with an obituary.

Baseball is barely recovering from the loss of former National League Executive Katy Feeney who passed last week and now Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda lost his companion whose been around the ball park with Orlando who always seemed to put a smile on his face Now that’s up to all the rest of us to do that for Cepeda.

Michael Duca has more Giants news and each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

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Kings eclipse the Suns 129-104 in season home finale

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by Charlie O. Mallonee

phx hield
Buddy Hield drives to the hoop in Kings win over the Suns Photo NBAE

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings played their 41st and final home game of the 2016-17 NBA season Tuesday night at the Golden 1 Center. The Kings sent the sellout crowd of 17,608 home happy by soundly defeating the Phoenix Suns (24-58) 129-104.

Here’s your 2:20 Game Wrap

The season is now over for Phoenix. They finish with a record of 24-58 in 15th and last place in the Western Conference of the NBA. The Suns currently hold the number two pick in the NBA Draft Lottery before the pull of the ping-pong balls. That means Phoenix has a 19.9-percent chance of winding up with number one overall selection in this years’ draft.

As of now, that would mean the Suns would probably be the winners of the Lonzo Ball sweepstakes. Tighten those seatbelts – it could be a wild ride from here.

The Kings (32-49) are now in a tie for 12th place in the Western Conference with the Dallas Mavericks. If the season were over today, the Kings would own the number nine and 10 picks in the NBA Draft Lottery.

Dave Joerger seemed caught up in the victory celebration after the game

Major performances on offense

Kings

  • Buddy Hield leads all scorers in the game with a career-high 30 points
  • Ty Lawson posts his first career triple-double with 22 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds
  • Sacramento uses nine players in the game and eight of them score in double figures
  • Kings shoot 51.8-percent (43-for-83) from the floor for the game
  • SAC uses the 3-ball hitting 9-for-19 (47.4-percent) from downtown
Phx ty
Ty Lawson posted his career triple-double vs the Suns Photo NBAE

Suns

  • Tyler Ulis led Phoenix in scoring with 27 points hitting 10-for-25 from the field
  • Sacramento native Marquese Chriss put up 22 points before a large crowd of family and friends
  • The Suns attempted 109 shots in the game connecting on just 41 (37.6-percent) of those attempts
  • PHX went just 14-for-24 (58.3-percent) from the charity stripe
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Dave Joerger draws up a play vs PHX on Tuesday Photo NBAE

Up next

The Kings will be in Los Angeles on Wednesday to face the Clippers in the final game of the 2016-17 regular season. This game will help to determine who will finish fourth or fifth in the Western Conference. It is really a battle for home-court advantage.

For the Suns, the season is over. Up next for them, the NBA Draft Lottery.

Intern Jordan Chapin was our videographer for the coverage on Tuesday evening

San Francisco Giants Tuesday game wrap: D-Backs get the early jump Giants come up short in end 4-3

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Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Fernando Rodney celebrates after recording the last out of the game in a 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants during a baseball game Tuesday, April 11, 2017, in San Francisco.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-This was not the way that Jeff Samardzija wanted to his 2017 season started with two straight losses.

Jake Lamb hit a bases clearing triple in the top of the third inning that cleared the bases, and those would the only runs that Robbie Ray would and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 4-3 before a sellout crowd of 41,562, their 491st consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park.

Lamb’s one out triple went just over the glove of Gorkys Hernandez in left-center field that allowed Ray, A.J. Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt to score.

The Diamondbacks lengthened their lead to 4-0 in the top of the eighth inning, as Chris Iannetta singled in Yasmany Tomas.

Nick Hundley cut the Diamondbacks lead in half in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he doubled down the right field line to score Hunter Pence, who walked, then went to second on defensive indifference.

Following the Hundley double, Eduardo Nunez singled to score Hundley and that brought Brandon Crawford off the bench to pinch hit for Chris Marrero with two outs. Nunez stole his fifth base of the season; however Crawford struck out swinging to end the game.

Samardzija escaped other jams in the top of the first inning, and the fifth inning; however, it was the third inning that was his only hiccup where he allowed those three runs to the now 7-2 Diamondbacks.

Ray went 6.2 innings, allowing zero runs on four hits, walking five and striking out eight on his way to his first win of the season.

Despite falling short for the second time in as many starts this season, Samardzija went 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits, walking four and striking out seven.

After being forced to leave Monday’s opener after being hit in the head by a Taijuan Walker pitch, Buster Posey was placed on the seven-day disabled list with concussion symptoms.

With Posey on the disabled list, the Giants have purchased the contract of Tim Federowicz from Sacramento. To make room for Federowicz on the 40-man roster, the Giants have designated right-handed pitcher Clayton Blackburn for assignment.

Federowicz made his Giants debut in the bottom of the seventh inning when he came off the bench to pinch-hit for Ty Blach, who got Lamb to fly out to Pence in right field to end the top of the seventh inning. Unfortunately, for Federowicz, he struck out against Ray on just four pitches.

It was a tough night for the Giants, as they loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning; however, Ray was able to get out of the jam unscathed, as he struck out Samardzija and then got Hernandez to fly out to left-center field where Tomas was able to track it down for the third out of the inning.

With two on and two out, and with the potential tying run at the plate, Aaron Hill grounded into a force play to end the threat.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Giants threatened again, as Hundley doubled to lead off the inning, then Eduardo Nunez picked up his third infield hit of the evening; however, Marrero grounded into a double play that sent Hundley to third base. Joe Panik then doubled down the right field line to score Hundley from third base.

Pinch hitter Conor Gillaspie was then hit by a pitch, Hernandez struck out to end the inning.

NOTES: Matt Cain makes his 2017 home debut on Wednesday night for the Giants, while Shelby Miller looks to extend his record on the young season to 2-0, as he takes the ball for the Diamondbacks.

Between the two teams, they combined to leave a whopping 23 runners on base, 10 by the Diamondbacks and 13 by the Giants.

Today marks the 17th anniversary of the first ever game at then Pacific Bell Park. Barry Bonds hit a home run in the bottom of the third inning for the Giants, but Bonds was overshadowed by Kevin Elster, who hit three home runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers would go on to defeat the Giants 6-5 before a capacity crowd of 40,930.

San Jose Barracuda Tuesday game wrap: Fischer and Wood get Roadrunners early lead hand Cuda 2-1 loss in first of two meetings

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sjbarracuda.com photo: San Jose Barracuda forward John McCarthy (17) is chased by the Tucson Roadrunners center Chris Mueller (19) as the Roadrunners goaltender Adin Hill (33) looks on Tuesday night at SAP Center

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda pulled within a goal in the second period, but their comeback bid fell short and they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Tuscon Roadrunners at SAP Center Tuesday.

The Barracuda — the Roadrunners

The Roadrunners got on the board first. Christian Fischer took a pass from Chris Mueller and put it into the net for his 20th goal of the season at 15:57 of the opening period.

The Roadrunners went on their first power play of the game after Barclay Goodrow went to the box for tripping at 12:22. They capitalized with the man advantage for a 2-0 lead 43 seconds later. Kyle Wood used a wrist shot to beat Troy Grosenick stick-side for his 14th goal of the season. With that goal, Wood currently leads the AHL in power-play goals (11) among all rookies.

Shots were 12-9 in favor of the Barracuda, but they trailed the Roadrunners 2-0 after 20 minutes.

The Barracuda cut the lead in half with 5:51 left in the second period. Adam Helewka tried to beat Adin Hill five-hole, but hit the left post. Ryan Carpenter proceeded to clean up the rebound for his 14th goal of the season.

Alex Schoenborn was called for cross-checking just as time expired at the 20-minute mark. Despite outshooting the Roadrunners 21-16, the Barracuda continued to trail 2-1 after 40 minutes.

Schoenborn served his cross-checking penalty during the first two minutes of the third period.

The action intensified midway through the period. Dakota Mermis was called for hooking at 12:38. Less than a minute later, Jamie McBain received a double minor for high-sticking Rourke Chartier.

In his postgame press conference, Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer confirmed Chartier was okay after taking a stick to the face.

Hill was called for delay of game with 20.5 seconds left in regulation. The Barracuda went on the power play, but were unable to capitalize with the man advantage, and their comeback fell short.

The Barracuda (43-16-2-5) dropped a 2-1 decision to the Roadrunners (27-31-8-0).

“I think our power play is kind of (good) and we got some weapons on there,” Colin Blackwell said when asked if there was anything his team could’ve improved on the power play. “I don’t think they have to really improve anything…I think if we just keep shooting, we’ll score on the power plays…It was just one of those nights where we didn’t get ahead of them, but they’re a good team and I expect them to that (capitalize on power plays) for the rest of the year.”

“I thought we were (real) flat,” Sommer said. “You know, especially the first 20 minutes, 25 minutes until we scored in the second (period) and then the game picked up a little bit.”

Notes
The Barracuda honored Grosenick’s AHL Goalie of the Year victory on the jumbotron. Fans gave him a big round of applause.

The Barracuda were without Zack Stortini as he served the first game of his two-game suspension after a controversial incident with the Stockton Heat Sunday. Stortini was accused of kneeling Heat defenseman Oliver Kylington.

The Barracuda went with six defenders: Joakim Ryan, Tim Heed, Mirco Mueller, Julius Bergman, Dan Kelly and Jacob Middleton.

Up Next
The Barracuda and Roadrunners return to action Thursday at 7:00 p.m. PST on AHL Live and AM 1220 KDOW.

Andre Ward Turns Deaf Ears To Kovalev’s Assault of Insults

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Berk Communications photo: Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev weigh in for the upcoming rematch Mon June 17th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas

by Barbara Mason

OAKLAND–“There is such a thing as a close fight with a clear winner,” said Andre Ward at the second of three press tours scheduled this week. On Monday April 10 the tour made their first stop in New York City. Tuesday’s press event took place at the Marriott Hotel as Ward returned to his roots in the Bay Area.

There was such an uproar as to the decision of the last fight and many thought that Kovalev clearly won the fight. All the attention was centered on what happened in the second round and not what happened in the later rounds. Kovalev was tired, very tired and his boxing suffered as a result. That was then and this is now. That fight is history and the question now is, will history repeat itself?

All the trash talk has begun mostly on the side of the Kovalev camp. While it’s all about getting into your opponents head it doesn’t do much good if that talk falls on deaf ears. Mocking Ward’s nickname, calling him “Son of Judges” and also posting a photo of Ward on all fours in the second round of their first fight and saying here you are praying to your God is just the beginning of a long two month assault. Ward doesn’t pay much attention. He knows who he is and what he stands for. Ward is putting the past in the past and looking only towards the fight on Saturday June 17th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

For the next two months Andre Ward will be training in earnest. He will not train any differently than last time but might also add some jabbing. I would say that more jabbing might be the answer to a victory for Ward. He will continue to stay in reality and leave perception to everyone else. He feels that Kovalev’s arrogance will be his downfall. “Big-talk is all a cover-up,” said Ward. “Your hiding something.” He plans to get Sergey outside of his realm where he can exploit his weaknesses.

Kovalev’s social media posts over the past five months indicate that the Russian is infuriated by Ward. He says he does not respect him and there is nothing to like about him. He doesn’t like the way he acts, he doesn’t like his nickname, and he no doubt doesn’t like his popularity. I’d say Ward has crept under his skin big time which could be trouble for the Russian.

The rhetoric will get uglier and the bottom line is that is great for the fight. The more hype the merrier and the more interest in this fight which may attract more attention than the last fight because there is clearly deep hatred in the Kovalev camp. “When he looks at me, I just want to punch him in the head,” said Kovalev. “I want to punish him,” he said. This immense hatred will be good for sales no doubt. Tickets go on sale this Friday April 14 at 10am and range from 1,255.00 to 105.00

 

 

Oakland A’s off day report: Preview of the rest of the three game series with the Kansas City Royals

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AP file photo: Oakland Athletics’ Andrew Triggs works against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of an exhibition baseball game Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

by Jerry Feitelberg

Kansas City- The Oakland A’s have an off-day on Tuesday. The A’s have played eight games so far this season and had a record of four wins and four losses. The A’s won the first game of the three-game series against the Royals behind Jharel Cotton’s seven innings of no runs and giving up just two hits. Santiago Casilla and Sean Doolittle each struck out the side as they helped close out the game for the A’s.

The A’s have the day off, and that means a lot of the players will be heading over to Arthur Bryant’s legendary Kansas City BBQ.  Bryant’s has been around a long time, and with a day off, the players can go over to the restaurant for a great meal. The players have other options. They can go out for a round of golf or go to a movie.   Whatever they do, it will be a nice break from the daily grind even if it comes early in the season.

The A’s will resume play on Wednesday. Andrew Triggs will be on the hill for Oakland. Triggs, who stands six ft 4 inches tall, won his first start of the year against the Los Angels Angels last week in Oakland. He pitched five 2/3rd innings and looked sharp. He currently is the A’s fourth starter in the five-man rotation. The Royals, who won the World Series in 2015, have seen a fairly large turnover in both the starting rotation and the bullpen. Yordano Ventura, who was projected to be the Royals ace, was killed in an auto accident in the Dominican Republic in the off-season. Johnny Cueto left the Royals after 2015 to join the SF Giants. James Shields is now ith the White Sox.  Jason Hammel, who was with the A’s in 2014, came over as a free agent from the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Hammel will pitch for the Royals Wednesday night. The Royals, who were AL champs in 2014 and World Series champs in 2015, had a terrific bullpen made up of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, and Greg Holland. They were lights out in 2015. Holland, who was injured last year, moved on to the Colorado Rockies. Davis was traded to the Chicago Cubs. Herrera is the new closer for the Royals. Danny Duffy, Jason Vargas, Ian Kennedy, Nathan Karns, and Chris Young make up the new rotation.

2017 may be the last year that the Royal will be able to contend for the playoffs. Several of their big names will be free agents at the end of the year, and since the Royals are a small market team, they may not be able to retain them. Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain, and Alcides Escobar could all be wearing different uniforms next year.

The A’s have had some bright spots so far. Khris Davis, who did not hit well last year when he arrived from the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League, is hitting .345 and has four home runs and six RBIs in eight games. Yonder Alonso leads the club in OBP, and  Jed Lowrie and Stephen Vogt are off to good starts, too. Kendall Graveman appears to be the ace of the staff. Graveman has won both of his starts and shut down the hard-hitting Texas Rangers last week. Jharel Cotton had a so-so start against the Rangers but was brilliant yesterday against the Royal. Sean Manaea has started slowly and, hopefully, he will improve. Triggs pitched Wednesday. Raul Alcantara was slated to be the fifth starter in the rotation but was roughed up in Texas. The A’s are planning to move him to long relief and will give Jesse Hahn a chance to start. Hahn was effective in relief. He pitched six innings allowing just two runs and seven hits. Alcantara is out of options, and the A’s will have to make a decision on his status when Sonny Gray returns to the team. The A’s could send Alcantara down, but he could be claimed by another team. However, if he pitches poorly, he would lose value and the A’s could send him to Nashville without losing him. Alcantara could be designated for assignment when Gray returns. They would have ten days to trade him or return him to Nashville if no one claims him.

Gray, according to A’s manager Bob Melvin, will throw two sets of fifteen pitches to two hitters on Thursday in Kansas City. Gray probably will rehab at Nashville and return to the club by the end od April.

Bob Melvin’s bullpen has looked pretty good up to this point in the season. He has the luxury of mixing and matching his closers and setup men. Sean Doolittle and Santiago Casilla each have a save and a hold. Ryan Madson, who had over 30 saves in  2016, own two holds. John Axford is on the 10-day DL but is expected back shortly. Axford has closed in the past but appears to be the guy that pitches the 7th inning. Ryan Dull, Liam Hendriks, and Frankie Montas round out the bullpen.

One area of concern for the A’s and Melvin has been the lack of hitting from four of the regulars. Marcus Semien, Matt Joyce, Ryon Healy, and Trevor Plouffe are all hitting below the Mendoza line (under .200). Melvin said that he knows the guys will come around and that they will be productive.

Wednesday night in Kansas City will be game two of the three-game series. Andrew Triggs goes for Oakland, and Jason Hammel will toil for the Royals. Game time will be 5:05 pm.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s to remove tarp from third deck and Mt Davis; A’s win is as easy as taking away Cotton Candy; Giants Posey day to day

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KANSAS CITY, MO – APRIL 10: Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Jharel Cotton (45) during the Kansas City home opening game between the Oakland Athletics and the Kansas City Royals on April 10, 2017 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Athletics defeated the Royals 2-0 (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

ANAHEIM–It was Jharel Cotton who had his pitches had the movement he was looking for as he served up a three hit shutout against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium for a 2-0 three hit win. The Royals are a struggling bunch at 2-5. The A’s who are 4-4 and are 1.5 behind the Angels. They will be starting Andrew Triggs for this Wednesday night’s thrill in KC. The A’s have Tuesday. The A’s team president Dave Kaval said those green tarps that covered up the third deck at the Coliseum is coming down and Thank God now the A’s are going to sell those seats at $15 a pop which is a bargain at Major League prices.

The Arizona Diamondbacks Taijuan Walker who threw a 94 MPH pitch which hit San Francisco Giant catcher Posey’s head has put Posey on a day to day basis. Posey insists he’s alright and he wants to get right back in there for tonight’s game against Arizona. It was reported that there was no concussion symptoms. Posey might have got his bell rung but insists that he’s fully back and ready to get back into the line up something Giants manager Bruce Bochy will discuss with team doctors.

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