Month: April 2017

Oakland A’s Friday post game wrap: Alcantara, A’s Battered Around By Rangers in 10-5 Loss

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.Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien prepares to field a grounder by Texas Rangers’ Mike Napoli, who was out at first during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 7, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)

By Matthew Harrington

All the work the Oakland A’s Raul Alcantara did in spring training to win the fifth starter spot was seemingly undone in one start Friday night on Arlington. The Texas Rangers walloped Alcantara for 8 runs over two innings of work in the rookie’s sixth career start, winding up the loser in 10-5 drubbing.

Nomar Mazara knocked in six Rangers runs and Rougned Odor launched a two-run homer to boost the hometeam. Matt Joyce hit a three-run homer, Kris Davis launched his third blast of the season and Yonder Alonso knocked in a run.

Carlos Gomez welcomed Alcantara (0-1, 36.00 ERA) to the game with a leadoff double. Shin-Soo Choo moved Gomez over to third, and Mazara brought him home on a fielder’s choice at home. The A’s challenged the call of safe, but it was upheld, leading to a run in and a runner on board. Odor took a high and inside offering deep to score himself and Mazara for a 3-0 lead.

The Rangers jumped on Alcantara again in the second, with Texas loading the bases with one out. Choo singled in a run, leaving the bases loaded for Mazara. Mazara would loft a grand slam, his 2nd homer of the year for a 8-0 lead. Alcantara would eventually escape the inning without more damage.

A’s picked up a trio of runs in the top of the inning off starter AJ Griffin after Yonder Alonso and Marcus Semien reached base with one out. Rajai Davis struck out, but offseason acquisition Joyce launched a three-run homer off Griffin’s 88 mile-per-hour fastball to bring the score to 8-3.

Kris Davis led off the fourth inning with a solo shot to cut the advantage in half 8-4. Griffin would exit the game later in the inning with an injury, giving Alex Romano (1-0, 0.00) the easiest win of his career after not meeting the innings pitched criteria to be awarded the W.

Jesse Hahn took over for Alcantara to start the third inning and provided quality relief. After missing out on the fourth and fifth starters spots to Andrew Triggs and Alcantara, Hahn restated his case with six innings of two-run relief. The only blemishes were an RBI double to Gomez and Mazara’s sixth run batted in both coming in the sixth inning.

The A’s tacked in a run in the top of the ninth on an Alonso double, but it was too little, too late for the Green and Gold. Opening Day starters will square off Saturday with Yu Darvish taking the hill for Texas and Kendall Graveman on the bump for Oakland. Neither starter had given up a run yet this season

San Francisco Giants Friday game wrap: Bullpen woes continue; Giants drop third straight to Pads 7-6 now 1-4

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San Francisco Giants third baseman Eduardo Nunez, right, bobbles a ground ball for an error, as San Diego Padres’ Yangervis Solarte, left, runs past to third during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Diego, Friday, April 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

By Jeremy Kahn

It maybe just five games into the 2017 regular season, but it seems that the Achilles heel that did the 2016 San Francisco Giants wrong so many times is back again.

That Achilles heel is the Giants bullpen and once again it was the downfall, as the Giants lost for the fourth time in five games after a 7-6 loss to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Yangervis Solarte hit a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning off of George Kontos to overcome a 5-4 Giants lead.

The Giants took a 5-4 lead when Brandon Belt hit his first career grand slam in the top of the sixth inning.

Kontos opened the bottom of the seventh inning by walking Stephen Jankowski to open the frame then a single to Wil Myers, and then Solarte gave the Padres the lead for good with his two-run double. Solarte scored an insurance run, as he scored on a sacrifice bunt by Austin Hedges.

Belt got the Giants within one run, as he hit his second home run of the game in the top of the eighth inning off of Ryan Buchter.

Jose Torres pitched a perfect seventh inning to pick-up his first major league victory. Brandon Maurer shut the Giants down in order in the ninth inning to notch his first save of the young season.

It was a big day for Padres rookie Manuel Margot, as he became the first Padres rookie in team history to hit two home runs in the home opener. In his five minor league seasons before being called up during the 12016 season, Margot hit only two home runs.

Belt’s first home run of the game came in the top of the sixth inning, as he hit a Luis Perdomo over the right-center field wall. Perdomo loaded the bases with nobody out, as he allowed a single to Conor Gillaspie, a double to Joe Panik and a walk to Aaron Hill.

Matt Cain made his first start of the season, as he went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking three and striking out three.

NOTES: Hunter Strickland was placed on the paternity list, as his wife Shelley is due to give birth a daughter, Kinsey Rae this weekend. Steven Okert was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to replace Strickland.

D-Backs take 3 of 4 from Giants with 9-3 victory

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Paul Goldschmidt follows through on a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, April 5, 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. – San Francisco’s season-opening series came to a disappointing end Thursday night, when Arizona won 9-3 on the strength of back-to-back homers by David Peralta and Paul Goldschmidt.

Ex-Diamondback Aaron Hill opened the scoring with a solo home run to left in the top of the third inning. In the fourth, Brandon Belt scored on Brandon Crawford’s single to left. Crawford was thrown out trying to take second, but the Giants led 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Peralta and Goldschmidt connected on back-to-back bombs off Giants starter Jeff Samardzija (0-1), tying the game at 2-2.

Buster Posey’s RBI double to the left-field corner drove in Hunter Pence, putting San Francisco ahead 3-2. But the D-Backs surged ahead to stay with four runs in the sixth inning and three more in the eighth.

Jake Lamb hit a three-run, 408-foot homer to right-center, and Jeremy Hazelbaker added an RBI single in the sixth for the Diamondbacks.

Arizona tacked on three more in the eighth on A.J. Pollock’s two-run double to left-center and an RBI double by Peralta.

Samardzija worked 5 1/3 innings in his first 2017 start, giving up six earned runs on eight hits, but also struck out nine and walked two. Hunter Strickland and Ty Blach finished up.

D-Backs starter Robbie Ray didn’t last much longer, going 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six, walked three, gave up three earned runs on three hits and wound up with a no-decision. Reliever Jorge De La Rosa threw 1/3 of an inning to get the win, Randall Delgado bounced back from a horrendous outing on Opening Day and earned a hold, as did Andrew Chafin. J.J. Hoover finished the night with a scoreless ninth.

The Giants season-opening road trip continues to San Diego, where they open a three-game series against the Padres.

DOMINGUEZ SUSPENDED

Giants minor league pitcher Jose Dominguez was suspended for 142 games Thursday, following his second positive test for banned substances under baseball’s minor league drug program.

Dominguez, 26, is on the Giants’ Triple-A Sacramento roster. He tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, according to the commissioner’s office.

Dominguez received a 50-game suspension in September 2009 for testing positive for Stanozolol, and received a 25-game ban in November 2012 for an unspecified violation.

Lucic’s Third-Period Hattrick Downs Sharks’ Home Ice Hopes 4-2

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Edmonton Oilers’ Milan Lucic (27) after getting into a big throw down with the San Sharks Michael Haley earlier in the game Lucic ends up scoring three goals here he celebrates after scoring against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 6, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Matthew Harrington

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The news that both Logan Couture and Joe Thornton will be ready for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is welcome to the San Jose Sharks after taking a beating from Milan Lucic and the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers, a potential first-round opponent, topped the Sharks 4-2 thanks to a natural hattrick in the third period from Milan Lucic and 4 assists from Oscar Klefbom. Connor McDavid, the league’s leading point-getter, picked up a goal and assist for the victors, while Cam Talbot made 13 saves in net for Edmonton.

Joel Ward continued his hot streak, scoring in back-to-back games while Brent Burns scored his second goal in just 18 games. The Sharks power play went 0-for-4 while killing off just 3 of 5 penalties, allowing 32 shots from Edmonton. Martin Jones made 28 saves in net for San Jose.

While a slashing minor to David Desharnais had just wrapped up 6 minutes into period 1, Ward took advantage of the Oilers in the vulnerable minute. David Schlemko ripped a point shot that Ward, stationed on the mouth of the crease, redirected past Talbot for his 10th goal of the year and second goal in as many games. The veteran winger was without a goal in his previous 10 games, drawing a healthy scratch to refocus his efforts.

After being stymied for most of the 1st period, the Oilers increased their efforts down the stretch of the 1st and into the 2nd by firing 21 shots on net after only owning 3 through the first 10 minutes of play. The Oilers’ biggest shot came 4:40 into the 2nd when Connor McDavid netted his 30th goal of the season (and league-leading 96th point) to tie the game.

McDavid initiated a cycle on the blue line, passing the puck to Adam Larsson who was stationed in the middle of the blue line. From there, Larsson fed the puck to Oscar Klefbom on the opposite side of McDavid. Klefbom ripped the point shot that pin-balled off Tomas Hertl and Justin Braun, landing on the sure-fire MVP’s stick. With Jones down in position to make a save on the original shot, McDavid had the open net to knot the game up.

Despite struggling to generate much offense (10 shots through two periods) San Jose found itself up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. Brent Burns netted his 29th goal of the season with 7:30 left in the middle period. After Mikkel Boedker couldn’t win the face-off against Desharnais, Hertl swooped in to flick the puck to Burns on the point. Burns’ shot worked its way around the screens of a number of players to beat Talbot for a 2-1 lead.

While the Sharks power play failed to score on four attempts and Marcus Sorensen couldn’t cash in on a penalty shot chance early in the third, Edmonton’s power play tied the game 4:26 into the final period. The Sharks mental mistake, a too many men penalty, lead to Milan Lucic beating Jones just 6 seconds into the man-advantage. Oscar Klefbom picked up his second assist, while McDavid added to his league-best 67 assist total.

Lucic struck again 7:53 into the third for his 22nd goal of the year, scoring it in quintessential Lucic fashion. Jones made a magnificent save on Klefbom streaking down the left wing aiming for the blocker side. While Jones made the save, his blocker shrug popped the puck back to Klefbom who was quickly approaching the goal line. Jones came out of his butterfly to reset his positioning, but in that time Klefbom snuck the puck between Jones’ skates parallel to the goal line. As he has many times before in his career, Lucic was waiting in the blue paint to tap the game-winning goal into the vacant net.

Lucic scored another rebound goal from the goal mouth, collecting the third-period hattrick on an Oilers power play with 3:29 left in regulation. Klefbom added his fourth assist of the night and Letestu picked up his first point of the night.

With the loss, the Sharks have all but guaranteed themselves the third spot in the Pacific Division. The Oilers have two more points than San Jose with two games left to play to San Jose’s one. The Sharks do hold the ROW advantage 43 to 41 though, making the Sharks regular season finale critical. If the Sharks were to beat the Calgary Flames Saturday night at SAP and Edmonton loses its final two games, the Sharks would earn home ice during the opening round of the playoffs.

Sports Headlines Podcast with Tony Renteria: Will Raiders cough up $800k for back pay on parking lot fees? Will Lynch have skittles in Oakland? Cotton rocked Wednesday waits for next outing

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Tony Avelar, Associated Press photo: Oakland Coliseum parking lot site of the city of Oakland who says Raiders owe for revenue since 2013

On the Sports Headlines podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The City of Oakland says the Oakland Raiders owe revenue for parking fees that was withheld and the city of Oakland wants it’s money. The city says the Raiders owe around $800,000 and the Raiders say they aren’t paying. The city says the Raiders owe $25,000 per game since 2013 and that if the Raiders don’t pay the city will kick the team out before it’s lease expires in 2019. The city will allow the team to play at the Oakland Coliseum until the end of the 2017 but if the missing parking revenue is not met the city will ask the Raiders to leave leaving the 2018 and 2019 up in the air as the team prepares to play in Las Vegas by 2020.

#2 Will Marshawn Lynch come out of retirement to join the Oakland Raiders? Lynch is still Seattle Seahawks property and has not played since 2015 but talk has been he would consider coming back and joining the Raiders. Lynch went to school in the East Bay at Cal Berkeley and might like to play a season or two before calling it a career. Keep those skittles on the backburner Lynch might return just yet.

#3 The Oakland A’s starter Jahrel Cotton had a rocky start on Wednesday night against the LA Angels in a 5-0 loss. He struggled surrendering five runs and eight hits. Was it a matter of Cotton having butterflies in his season opening debut, was he off balance, was it just a matter of the Angels saw his pitches and connected. Tony fills us in.

#4 The Sacramento Kings finish up their season this week in Los Angeles as they face the Clippers on Wed Apr 12th. Tony takes a look back on the 2016-17 season and tells us what was his most memorable moment covering the Kings.

#5 The San Francisco Giants have struggled through the first through two of the first three games with the Arizona Diamondbacks but Tony says it’s nothing to worry about it’s an early passing phase and the Giants will be back as they complete this road trip and get ready for their home opener on Mon Apr 10th.

Tony Renteria does the Sports Headlines each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Did the plasma procedure fail and cause cramps for Richards; Cotton was touched for five runs & eight hits

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Oakland Athletics pitcher Jharel Cotton (45) throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, April 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry: On Wednesday A’s pitcher Jahrel Cotton did not have his best game as an A’s starter he gave up five runs and eight hits Wednesday. Cotton who gave up three runs in the second inning the LA Angels got a couple bloop hits. one bloop double right down the left field line that drove in two runs. The Angels weren’t knocking the cover off the ball but they did get five runs and the shutout to beat the A’s.

Cotton struck out the Angels Mike Trout the first two times he faced him, Cotton didn’t pitch poorly but it didn’t go his way on Wednesday night. The A’s didn’t have any offense Garrett Richrads who started the game pitched shutout ball until he had to leave and hadn’t pitched since May of last year. He avoided Tommy John surgery and went for the plasma treatment but his arm cramped up and he couldn’t finish the ball game. Richards pitched very well until he had to be lifted in the fifth inning when he started having cramps in his arm.

Jerry Feitelberg does the Oakland A’s podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Ana Kieu: Playoff bound Barracuda prepares for Stockton for home at home this weekend

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sjbarracuda.com photo: San Jose Barracuda goaltender Troy Grosenick and defenseman Tim Heed are awarded the AHL first and second All Star teams for 2016-17

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Ana tonight:

1 The SJ Barracuda come into Friday’s game against the Manitoba winning three of their last six games.

#2 The Sunday loss was a close contest where the Tucson Roadrunners edged the Cuda 5-4 in an overtime shootout

#3 Five of the Barracuda’s next eight games will be at home at SAP how advantageous is that for SJ

#4 Talk about what Dan O’Regan, Ryan Carpenter and Timo Meier have meant they’ve been up and down between the Cuda and the big club

#5 Since winning 14 straight have other teams bore down on the Barracuda

Ana Kieu does the San Jose Barracuda podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The A’s, behind a great effort by Andrew Triggs, defeat the Angels 5-1 and split the four-game series

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by Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland-The Angels scored an unearned run in the top of the third inning. Yunel Escobar led off the inning with a single. A’s centerfielder, Rajai Davis didn’t field the ball cleanly, and Escobar advanced to second on the miscue. He went to third on a groundout and scored when Albert Pujols ground out. The A’s came back in their half of the frame to score four times. Adam Rosales started things going with a single. With one out, Marcus Semien singled to center. Rosales was able to score when Mike Trout let the ball get by him. Trout was charged with an error and Semien went to third on the miscue. Khris Davis flew out to right field to drive in Semien. Ryon Healy hit his second homer of the season about 12 rows deep into the left-field stands with a man aboard to put the A’s in the lead 4-1 after three innings of play.

The A’s plated their fifth run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Khris Davis led off the inning with a double to the left. With one out, A’s third baseman, Trevor Plouffe, singled to center to drive in Davis. For Plouffe, it was his the first RBI of the year and his first as a member of the A’s. After six innings of play, the A’s lead 5-1.

The A’s bullpen shut the Halos down the rest of the way. Liam Hendriks finished the sixth and pitched a perfect seventh inning. Santiago Casilla set the Angels down in order in the eighth, and Sean Doolittle struck out the side in the ninth to secure the win for Oakland.

Game Notes- The A’s outfielders committed two errors in a game since 9/23/2015 when Josh Reddick did it. Ryon Healy went 1- for-3 with a home run. He is hitting .354 against the Angels with four dingers and 11 RBIs in 13 games. Bob Melvin commented that Healy “plays with an edge and he is very confident and that he has power to all fields.” Melvin was pleased with the effort of starter Andrew Triggs. Triggs went 5 and 2/3rds innings and allowed just one run which was unearned. He gave up just four hits and picked up his first win of the season. Melvin said this about Triggs:”When he’s throwing the ball over the plate, he’s got so much movement on it. He’s throwing breaking balls for strikes. He’s a tough guy to get a swing on.”

13,292 fans were in the park and the time of game was two hours and forty-four minutes.

The A’s are on the road and will be in Arlington, Texas Friday night to face the Rangers. Raul Alcantara will handle the pitching chores for Oakland, and the Rangers will send former Athletic, A.J.Griffin to the mound. The game will start at 5:05 pm.

San Francisco Giants Wednesday game wrap: Giants fall short in 8-6 loss to Snakes

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San Francisco Giants’ Matt Moore wipes his face as he pauses on the mound on his way to giving up three runs during the fifth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, April 5, 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Arizona used production from each end of its batting order, took advantage of timely San Francisco errors, and held off the Giants 8-6 in the third game of their NL West season-opening series at Chase Field.

Taijuan Walker (1-0) gave up four earned runs in six innings, but shut down the Giants when he needed to while picking up his first win as a Diamondback. Walker struck out seven, walked one and gave up seven hits.

“I didn’t have very good command on my fastball; it wasn’t moving very well the first three innings, but my last three innings, it was moving pretty well,” said Walker, who was acquired from Seattle in the off-season.

“It was just nerves, really, being the first start of the season,” Walker added. “I was kind of amped up, but after the third inning, I felt really good.”

Fernando Rodney retired all three hitters he faced in the ninth to earn his first save of the season, and first for Arizona.

Matt Moore (0-1) took the loss for the Giants, now 1-2. In 5 1/3 innings, Moore struck out three, walked two and three of the six runs he surrendered were unearned.

The Giants had a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth, but the D-Backs scored three unearned runs to tie the game. Arizona surged ahead in the sixth when pinch-hitter Jeremy Hazelbaker delivered a one-out RBI double.

Brandon Belt hit his first home run of the season, a one-out line drive to the right field seats, that extended San Francisco’s lead to 4-1. But in the bottom of the fifth, Belt’s first error of the season allowed the D-Backs to score twice in a three-unearned run rally.

With one out, Owings doubled, Paul Goldschmidt walked, and both moved to third and second, respectively, on a double-steal. Jack Lamb’s sharp chopper down the first base line was mishandled by Belt, allowing Owings and Goldschmidt to score. Yasmany Tomãs followed with a double to plate Lamb, tying the game at 4-4.

“It helps when you have one of the best offenses in the league,” Walker said. “We’re always going to be in it because our offense is so good.”

Arizona surged ahead in the sixth when Chris Iannetta singled and scored from first on Hazelbaker’s double into the right field corner. That prompted Giants starter Matt Moore’s exit. He was replaced by Cory Gearrin, who gave up an RBI single to Pollock.

“Matt had good stuff and threw pretty good,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He got a bad break in that fifth inning with two outs and nobody on.

“Belt catches that ball 99 percent of the time. That was a momentum changer there and we couldn’t stop it.”

In the bottom of the seventh, Arizona added two more runs on an RBI single by Brandon Drury and a run-scoring double by Nick Ahmed.

San Francisco loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eighth on consecutive singles by Posey, Crawford and Nunez. Pinch-hitter (and former D-Back) Aaron Hill drew an RBI walk off reliever Andrew Chafin, driving in Posey.

Panik struck out, but Chafin’s replacement, Tom Wilhelmsen, threw a wild pitch that allowed Crawford to score before Chris Morrero flied out to center to end the threat.

Rodney retired Gorkys Hernandez, Belt and Pence in order to record his first Diamondback save.

“I felt good about the eighth,” Bochy said. “We had the bases loaded with some good hitters up there. We just couldn’t get that extra hit to get us over the hump. But (the D-Backs) battled when we tried to get back in it.”

The Giants manufactured the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. After Eduardo Nuñez singled and stole second, Joe Panik hit a sharp grounder to short, where Nick Ahmed weighed his options and chose to throw home when Nuñez rounded third. Nuñez slid head-first under Ahmed’s high throw, giving Panik an infield RBI single.

“Eduardo showed how fast he can really be. He’s electric,” Bochy said. “His speed makes it tough for the third-base coach to judge whether or not to send him on a ball hit to center.”

Arizona pulled to within 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Chris Owings. With one out, A.J. Pollock doubled and scored when a low liner to center by Owings was trapped by Hernandez.

“They’re getting good at-bats,” Bochy said of the D-Backs. “But we’ve helped them. They’re a tough lineup. They battled well, our guys battled well. It was a hard-fought game. We had a 4-1 lead and couldn’t hold it,”

Bochy said he would try to get some of his regulars some rest in the series finale on Thursday.

“Aaron Hill will start at second, we don’t know about (Denard) Span (hip injury) and I’ll check with Buster,” Bochy said.

Right-hander Jeff Samardzija makes his first start for San Francisco in the series finale, facing D-Backs lefthander Robbie Ray.

GIANT JOTTINGS: Arizona won a video challenge on an apparent double play in the third inning, when Brandon Drury was called out on a close play at first. The call was reversed. Time of the review was 1:08. … Paul Goldschmidt stole his 100th career base on a double steal in the fifth inning. … D-Backs reliever Jorge De La Rosa turned 36 today. It’s the second time in his career (2014 while with Colorado) that he’s pitched on his birthday. … Brandon Belt’s home run was his first against Arizona since April 8, 2014 (at AT&T Park). … After 1,526 games as an infielder, Giants INF Aaron Hill made his first appearance as an outfielder Thursday. … San Francisco is hitting .192 (5-for-26) with runners in scoring position in the first two games. … When Arizona won Sunday’s season opener despite giving up a pair of homers to Madison Bumgarner, it was the first a team did that since Minnesota handed Kansas City a 6-5 loss at Metropolitan Stadium on July 7, 1969, when the Royals’ Jim Rooker hit a pair of roundtrippers. … An announced crowd of 14,675 watched the game with the roof open for the third straight game. … Our colleague Michael Duca reported on Facebook that this year’s MLB Opening Day was the first since 1885 that did not include either Connie Mack or Vin Scully. Mack’s final season as manager of the Philadelphia Athletics – 1950 – coincided with Scully’s first season as a Brooklyn Dodgers announcer.

TAGS: San Francisco Giants,Arizona Diamondbacks,Sports Radio Service,Connie Mack,Vin Scully,Daniel Dullum

San Jose Barracuda Wednesday game wrap: Meier scores twice as Barracuda crush Ontario 5-1

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sjbarracuda.com photo: San Jose Barracuda forward Timo Meier (28) finds the back end of the net as he scores on the Ontario Reign’s defenceman Matt Roy (3) at SAP Center on Wednesday night in AHL action

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda dethroned the Ontario Reign with a 5-1 victory at SAP Center Wednesday.

The defense was strong in the opening period. It was a goaltending duel as Barracuda goalie Troy Grosenick and Reign backup goalie Jeff Zatkoff made the necessary saves to keep the game scoreless.

Things got chippy late in the period when Zack Stortini dropped the gloves with Paul Bissonnette for an action-packed fight. Both players received five-minute majors for fighting and two-minute minors for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Barracuda and Reign skated to a scoreless tie after 20 minutes. Shots were 16-9 in favor of San Jose.

Timo Meier broke a scoreless deadlock halfway through the second period. Meier collected a pass from Barclay Goodrow and fired the puck into the net, beating Zatkoff short-side for his 13th goal of the season.

The Barracuda took a 2-0 lead when Danny O’Regan sent a pass to Meier, who tipped it into the net to beat Zatkoff for his second goal of the game and 14th of the season.

The Barracuda outshot the Reign 28-16 and led 2-0 after 40 minutes.

The Reign cut the Barracuda’s lead in half when T.J. Hensick scored a power-play goal — his 14th overall — after Colin Blackwell went to the box for hooking at 13:48 of the third period.

However, the Barracuda extended its lead to 3-1 with 7:29 left in the period. Tim Heed fired a shot from the right point past Zatkoff for his 14th goal of the season.

Joakim Ryan’s shot missed the net, but Buddy Robinson tipped it in for his 15th goal of the season, extending the Barracuda’s lead to 4-1 with 4:03 left in the period.

48 seconds later, Adam Helewka collected a pass from Joakim Ryan and put it into the net for his 13th goal of the season, expanding the Barracuda’s lead to 5-1.

The Barracuda (42-14-2-5) beat the Reign (33-20-10-0) by a score of 5-1. Grosenick finished with 23 saves in a San Jose victory.

Zatkoff made 33 saves in a losing effort for Ontario.

“They (Barracuda) don’t always go in for you,” head coach Roy Sommer said when asked about his thoughts on tonight’s power play opportunities. “But they get a lot of good looks. I think we’re leading the whole American Hockey League in power-play percentage…As long as you’re getting the looks and you’re getting some quality chances on it…The PP (Power Play) and PK (penalty kill) ebbs and flows are normal…I don’t think there’s a lot of stuff to worry about. We only had three of them tonight.”

Notes
O’Regan was named to the 2016-17 AHL All-Star Team.

Sommer celebrated his 60th birthday. He was born on April 5, 1967 in Oakland, Calif.

Sharks reassigned Meier to the Barracuda.

Up Next
The Barracuda head to Stockton Arena to face the Stockton Heat (32-25-4-2) Saturday at 7:30 p.m. PST on AHL Live and AM 1220 KDOW.