Month: April 2017

Breath of fresh air: Arroyo, Morse lead Giants to dramatic, 4-3 win over the Dodgers

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AP17117205632762

By Morris Phillips

When it comes to Giants-Dodgers baseball, the emotions are all over the place.  You don’t necesarilly need to track Michael Morse circling the bases, tounge wagging, hair swinging to know that.

Manager Dave Roberts was tight-lipped, but you could literally see the decisions replaying in his head after his Dodgers saw their 3-0 lead evaporate on Wednesday, and morph into a frustrating 4-3 loss to the Giants. Did Roberts lift starter Alex Wood too soon? Did Pedro Baez literally go from unhittable to just-got-hit that fast? Did Adrian Gonzalez make the right play on Nick Hundley’s difficult grounder that would load the bases ahead of Hunter Pence’s game-winning, sacrifice fly? And what of that pitch sequence to Pence that allowed the free-swinging slugger to escape 0-2 and get a pitch elevated?

Ten pitches, all above the belly button with pace.  To Pence?

“I don’t like to second-guess sequencing too much,” Roberts said, after noting the similarity in Ross Stripling’s two-strike offerings.

Roberts and Morse weren’t the only ones reacting to the game’s dramatic turn.

Sergio Romo wanted to be today’s news in his return to AT&T Park. But he wasn’t that after allowing Christian Arroyo’s first major league home run, and seeing his ERA jump to 10.57. Romo’s 80-mph slider unleashed the 21-year old’s big swing, a certain reminder why no one in the Giants’ organization was willing to entertain trade offers involving their top-tiered prospect.

Arroyo’s quick, powerful swat was reminiscent of 23-year old Buster Posey’s swing in 2010, when the Giants’ catcher deposited 18 balls beyond the fences in his first, full big league season.

While Morse’s game-tying shot in the eighth provided the game’s signature moment, Arroyo not-so-quietly made it possible with his shot in the seventh.

“We were down three. Now we’re down one.  We were just not doing anything against Wood,” manager Bruce Bochy admitted.

Dodgers’ starter Alex Wood didn’t allow a hit until Drew Stubbs led off with a single in the sixth. But Wednesday’s outing was Woods’ first one of any length since the end of spring training. Roberts approached it cautiously just as he did when Stripling flirted with a no-hitter a year earlier in similar circumstances.  So with a 3-0 cushion in the seventh, Roberts pulled the plug on Wood, looking to gain confidence in his reconfigured bullpen outside of reliable closer Kenley Jansen.  Roberts’ move didn’t work.

“The bullpen’s been great all year for us,” Wood said.  “It was a tough one for us tonight.”

How tough? Flamethrower Pedro Baez, summoned in the eighth, had not allowed a run in six, previous appearances. Morse, on the other hand, just returned to town for the first time as a Giant in three years.  Part of the club’s early season shakeup, Morse and Kelby Tomlinson were recalled from AAA Sacramento earlier in the day.

One pitch after Morse waved at Baez’ 95-mph heat, he sent one into the left field bleachers, setting off the slugger’s unbridled celebration.  You can’t make this stuff up: The game score on Wednesday was exactly the same before and after Morse’s shot as it was in the Giant’s 2014 NLCS clincher against St. Louis.

“It was cool and not only for me,” Morse said. “I think for the team, it was a really big moment.”

The Giants conclude their series with the Dodgers on Thursday at 1245p in a matchup of Matt Moore and 20-year old Julio Urias, making his season debut.

Oakland Raiders Update Report: Lynch coming home

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Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) is tackled by Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis (58) during an NFL football game at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, January 17, 2016 in Charlotte. The Panthers won 31-24. (Perry Knotts via AP)

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND–Well, the trade to bring home one of Oakland’s most legendary high school players of recent years is about to come into fruition.

Marshawn Lynch, who went to Oakland Technical High School before heading to CAL is about to become the newest member of the Oakland Raiders.

Lynch, who retired after the 2015 season after playing with the Seattle Seahawks will be signing a two-year deal, according to league sources.

The two former AFC Western Division rivals should have the deal finalized on Wednesday afternoon, and he passes his physical, and Lynch will be a Raider officially.

“He’s one heck of a football player, and I hope to play with him. … Of course, anyone would want Marshawn Lynch, any quarterback in the NFL,” Derek Carr said last week. “As we add pieces, we’ll hug them up and bring them in just as a family and treat them the same way that we do with all of our other teammates.”

Lynch was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 2007 NFL Draft out of CAL, gained 9,112 yards and scored 74 touchdowns while playing for the Bills and the Seattle Seahawks, whom he helped lead to a Super Bowl XLVIII win over the Denver Broncos.

The nine-year veteran will be the veteran leader in the backfield for Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington, both of whom are entering their seasons in the NFL. Lynch will essentially be replacing Latavius Murray, who left for the Minnesota Vikings via free agency.

“Marshawn is one of the best running backs I’ve ever played against in my short career so far,” linebacker Khalil Mack said. “You talk about a player, a hell of a player. It would be a great, great, great treat to have him on this side, on the dark side.”

ESPN.com contributed to this story.

Seahawks-Raiders agree on deal for Lynch

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Marshawn Lynch, a former NFL football running back with the Seattle Seahawks, speaks Thursday, May 5, 2016, at a job fair in Seattle sponsored by the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, an organization backed by Starbucks and other companies that seeks to increase employment and education opportunities for youth aged 16-24. The Seahawks announced Thursday that Lynch has been placed on the reserve/retired list. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND — Retired running back Marshawn Lynch is set to come out of retirement after the Raiders and Seahawks agreed to a trade that will allow Lynch to play for Oakland, sources tell ESPN NFL Insider, Adam Schefter.

In order for the deal to be complete, Lynch must first pass a physical, which is expected to place on Wednesday at the team’s Alameda headquarters. Per Tom Pelissaro of USA Today, Seattle will receive Oakland’s 2018 5th-round pick in exchange for Lynch and the Seahawks’ 2018 6th-round.

Sources report that its a two-year deal (but essentially a one-year deal) worth a maximum value of $8.5 million with $3 million in base salary.

Lynch retired from the NFL after the 2015 season, was born and raised in Oakland and attended Oakland Technical High School where he was star. The length of the contract is interesting given the fact that the Raiders are heading to Las Vegas by 2019.

The NFL Network first reported the deal between Oakland and Seattle.

Lynch, who turned 31 this past Saturday, was the No. 12 pick in the 2007 draft by the Buffalo Bills out of Cal,  has rushed for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns in nine NFL seasons. Lynch played through an injury-plagued 2015 season where he only rushed for 417 yards on 3.8 yards per carry in seven games.

Oakland is looking to fill the hole at running back, after losing last year’s starter Latavius Murray to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency. The Raiders had the sixth-best rushing attack in 2016 and think that adding Lynch to the mix with youngsters Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington could add even more punch to the Raiders’ offense.

The five-time Pro Bowl running back had his best season in 2012 where he rushed for a career-high 1,590 yards and 12 touchdowns while catching 23 passes for 196 yards and a score. Lynch was named first-team All-Pro that season.

The 5-foot-11 Lynch led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2013 and 2014 with 12 touchdowns and 13 touchdowns respectively. “Beast Mode” had four straight seasons rushing for at least 1,200 yards from 2011 through 2014.

Per ESPN Stats and Information, Lynch ranks second in the NFL in rushing touchdowns since 2007 with 74, only second behind running back Adrian Peterson’s 97 rushing touchdowns, who signed with the New Orleans Saints this week after spending his first 10 seasons in Minnesota.

 

 

 

 

Oakland A’s Tuesday night game wrap: Halos Calhoun connects for RBI single in the 11th for gamer to beat A’s 2-1

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Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun, center, celebrates his game-winning hit with teammates during the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, April 25, 2017. The Angels won 2-1. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

By Jessica Kwong

ANAHEIM — Neither the Oakland Athletics nor the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim scored a run through nine innings on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium, then each hit homers right off the bat, but Kole Calhoun’s RBI single in the 11th brought down the A’s 2-1.

At the start of free baseball, the A’s Josh Phegley made a pinch-hit home run to right field, the first of his career and the first for his club since July 2012.

“First pitch, middle of the zone, I just tried to put a good swing on it and it went over the wall,” Phegley said.

But Mike Trout answered back with a homer, his first in extra innings in his career, to tie the ball game at 1-1 at the bottom of the 10th.

Besides Trout’s opposite-field drive, A’s right-handed pitcher Santiago Casilla made three saves.

“He continues to be reliable,” manager Bob Melvin said.

Calhoun’s walkoff hit was the first of his career. A’s pitcher Ryan Madson said of his fastball, “I should definitely have stepped off and rethought.”

“I didn’t throw it with conviction,” Madson said. “So I learned my lesson to throw the pitch that I’m convicted in.”

The A’s defeat came after right-handed starting pitcher Jesse Hahn threw eight innings with one hit, two walks, six strikes and 101 pitches.

“I feel like I literally had everything working for me today,” Hahn said. “I think it might have been the best command I’ve had of all pitches.”

Angels starting right-handed pitcher J.C. Ramirez also allowed only one hit through three innings.

A’s catcher Phegley said he would trust Madson’s fastball every game of the year.

Tuesday night was “just not the result we were looking for,” Phegley said.

With the Angels’ victory, manager Mike Scioscia became one of only six managers all-time to record at least 1,500 wins with one team.

The three-game series between the A’s and Athletics continues Wednesday at Angel Stadium with first pitch at 7:07 p Sean Manaea starts for Oakland (1-1) and Matt Shoemaker (0-1) gets the call for the Angels .

Vintage Kershaw beats Giants K’s seven in 2-1 pitchers duel

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to a San Francisco Giants batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 25, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

by Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Giving Clayton Kershaw two runs is like giving most pitchers five or six runs, and this is why he is the best pitcher in the major leagues.

Kershaw allowed just one run in seven innings of work, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants x-x before a crowd of 41,329, the 498th consecutive sellout at AT&T Park.

The left-hander struck out seven, walked just one and gave up six hit on his way to fourth win of the season against just one loss.

This was Kershaw’s 19th career win over the Giants in 36 career starts. The 36 starts by Kershaw against the Giants are the most by Kershaw against any other team in major league baseball.

Ty Blach pitched five strong innings for the Giants, as he allowed two runs, while scattering four hits, walking one and striking out two; however, it was the fourth inning that did the left-hander wrong.

Blach gave up three straight hits and those would be the only runs that the Dodgers would need in breaking their six-game losing streak at AT&T Park, somewhere they last won on June 11, 2016.

Corey Seager, Justin Turner, who extended his hitting streak up to 11 games and Yasiel Puig hit back-to-back-to-back singles. It was Puig’s single that drove in Seager, and then Adrian Gonzalez hit into a force play that scored Turner from third base.

Gonzalez’s fielder choice showed some heads up base running by Turner, as he beat Brandon Crawford’s throw from second base, when Nick Hundley was unable to hold onto the ball to give the Dodgers the lead for good.

Actually, Blach picked up his third career hit off of Kershaw in the bottom of the third inning, as he doubled over the head of Kike Hernandez in centerfield. It was the third career hit for Blach against, the exact same amount of hits as Brandon Belt.

Buster Posey also extended his hitting streak up to 11 games, as he singled off of Kershaw in the bottom of the third inning to score Blach easily from third base.

Christian Arroyo picked up his first major league hit off of Kershaw in the bottom of the first inning, as he singled to left field.

Dodgers number one prospect Cody Bellinger made his major-league debut, playing left field and went 1-for-3 with an intentional walk and an infield single off of Neil Ramirez in the top of the ninth inning

Kershaw retired 10 Giants in a row after Joe Panik singled off of him in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Gorkys Hernandez put an end to the streak when he singled in a pinch-hitting role in the bottom of the seventh inning. Turner put an end to the inning, as he made a great play at third base on a ball hit by Hunter Pence.

Things got interesting for the Giants in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Pedro Baez retired the first two batters he faced, and then was replaced by closer Kenley Jansen, who was greeted by Posey and Crawford, who both singled to put runners on the corners. Jansen then regrouped to get pinch-hitter Brandon Belt to strikeout swinging on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning.

Crawford was forced to leave the game after his single due to tightness in his right groin.

NOTES: Johnny Cueto looks get back on the winning side, as he takes the mound for the Giants against left-hander Alex Wood, who looks to improve to 2-0 on the season for the Dodgers.

On this date in Giants history, on April 25, 1969, Giants catcher Jack Hiatt drove in seven runs in a 12-8 win over the Houston Astros. Hiatt hit a two-run home run in the first inning, and then hit the eventual game-winning grand slam in the 13th inning.

As for the Dodgers, this is a special day in their team history as well. Forty-One years ago, then Chicago Cubs centerfielder Rick Monday saved the American flag from being burned on the field at Dodger Stadium.

The Santa Monica native joined the Dodgers the following season, and hit the most dramatic home run in Dodgers post-season history prior to Kirk Gibson’s walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, as Monday hit a solo home run off of Steve Rogers of the Montreal Expos in Game Five of the National League Championship Series at Olympic Stadium on October 19, 1981.

Monday’s home run propelled the Dodgers to the World Series, where they would comeback from an 0-2 deficit to defeat the New York Yankees for their first World Championship since 1965.

The Santa Monica native joined the Dodgers the following season, and hit the most dramatic home run in Dodgers post-season history prior to Kirk Gibson’s walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, as Monday hit a solo home run off of Steve Rogers of the Montreal Expos in Game Five of the National League Championship Series at Olympic Stadium on October 19, 1981.

Monday’s home run propelled the Dodgers to the World Series, where they would comeback from an 0-2 deficit to defeat the New York Yankees for their first World Championship since 1965.

Ward, Kovalev to duke it out again at Mandalay Bay in Vegas June 17th

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photo courtesy berkcommunications.net

By Jeremy Harness

OAKLAND–Throughout his career, as an amateur as well as a professional, Andre Ward has always found a way to rise above any circumstance to keep elevating himself to the top of the boxing world.

That was most evident on Nov. 19, when the Oakland product boxed and gutted his way to a unanimous decision victory over then-light heavyweight champion Sergei Kovalev, who entered the fight unbeaten and has utterly destroyed nearly everyone in his path.

The decision, which was reached when all three judges turned in identical scores of 114-113, was disputed, and at that point, a rematch was all but inevitable. The date was made official earlier this month, as the two fighters agreed to the highly-anticipated second meeting, which will happen at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas June 17.

Not only did his win in the first meeting garner him another world title, but it also put Ward (31-0, 15 KO’s) into the discussion of who should be the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter.

The other fighters in the discussion include middleweight kingpin Gennady Golovkin (37-0, 33 KO’s), who solidified his claim on March 18, when he earned a 12-round unanimous decision over Daniel Jacobs, who became the first fighter to extend Golovkin to the full 12-round distance.

Another is junior bantamweight champ Roman “Chocalitito” Gonzalez (46-1, 38 KO’s), whose last fight also came March 18, but he was beaten in a 12-round majority decision by a fighter named Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.

Despite his loss, Kovalev is also considered by some experts as one of the pound-for-pound best.

Although he is not known for having big punching power, Ward is known for his superior boxing skills and ring savvy, and those two qualities have served him extremely well during his career, allowing him to capture titles in three different weight classes.

Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KO’s), on the other hand, is known for the exact opposite, as his heavy hands have paved the way for his rise from humble beginnings in his native Russia to becoming a world champion.

He is also known for trash talking in and out of the ring. Upon his knockout win over Jean Pascal in their rematch in January of last year, he called for a possible matchup with Pascal’s fellow countryman in Adonis Stevenson, who was in attendance at that fight and to whom Kovalev referred as “Adonis Chicken-son.”

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, & Commentary: After flash mob BART robbery is the ride to A’s and Warriors games safe anymore?

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Antiochherald.com photo: Golden State Warrior and Oakland A’s fans are questioning if the transit ride to and from the Oakland Coliseum is safe anymore some fans might resort to using protection in the case of a flash mob robbery like last Saturday

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

After BART passengers got robbed and had their phones, bags, wallets purses, luggage stolen from them around 9:30 PM at the Oakland Coliseum BART station last Saturday night in Oakland fans who attend Oakland A’s and Golden State Warriors games have to ask themselves are they really safe on the mass transit ride. Witnesses reported that 60 juveniles jumped the fare gates and ran to the BART train platforms and robbed trains while passengers were boarding and exiting and passengers who were seated were beaten and robbed.

The robbers held the doors open on a Dublin bound train and beat the riders while robbing them there were no reports of guns or other weapons that were used during the robbery. The A’s and Warriors were not playing a home game that night at that time.  A’s and Warriors fans, workers at the Oakland Coliseum who use BART are determined to use the transit system no matter what say they will protect themselves they did not specify how they would go about protecting themselves but if these types of flash mob robberies continue someone could get hurt or even killed.

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

 

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs with Len Shapiro: Next round of playoffs start on Wednesday

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AP file photo: CALGARY, AB – APRIL 19: The Anaheim Ducks move on to the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, sweeping the Calgary Flames in 4. As is customary in the NHL, the teams have a handshake at the end of each series during game 4 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Anaheim Ducks and the Calgary Flames on April 19, 2017 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Clint Trahan/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images

On the NHL Stanley Cup podcast with Len:

A look at the playoff match ups:

Anaheim vs. Edmonton

St Louis vs. Nashville

Washington vs. Pittsburgh

Ottawa vs. NY Rangers

Get the latest inside scoop on the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Categories NHL

Extra Dribbles: Warriors complete sweep of Trail Blazers to advance to West semis; await Jazz/Clippers winner

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

PORTLAND — All five starters scored in double figures led by Stephen Curry’s game-high 37 points as the Golden State Warriors completed a four-game sweep to advance to the conference semifinals by dismantling the Trail Blazers with a 128-103 victory Monday night.

The Warriors improve to 12-1 in the first round over the past three postseasons, per the Elias Sports Bureau.

This is the third four-game sweep in franchise history for Golden State. The Warriors swept the Washington Bullets in the 1975 NBA Finals, and the New Orleans Pelicans in 2015 en route to the championship that season.

Even without head coach Steve Kerr, who is away from the team to deal with lingering affects from back surgery in 2015, and assistant coach Mike Brown moving into Kerr’s chair for the second straight game (and for the foreseeable future), the Warriors played the brand of basketball that has become must-see-television for the past three seasons under Kerr in Game 4.

Curry shot 12-of-20 from the field, including 7-of-11 on 3s to go along with eight assists and seven rebounds in 30 minutes.

Draymond Green added 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in 33 minutes. Green, who by all accounts is the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, leads all players with 4.7 blocks per game in the playoffs.

Klay Thompson, who struggled for most of the series shooting 37-percent from the field and 35-percent on 3s, bounced back in the clincher with 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting (3-of-5 on 3s) in 30 minutes.

Kevin Durant returned back in the starting lineup, adding 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in 20 minutes.

Durant was sidelined in both Games 2 and 3 with a strained left calf, showed no signs of the injury whenever he drove the ball to the basket as evident of his dunk that increased Golden State’s lead to 22-3 at one point.

Golden State’s hot three-point shooting was in true form in Game 4, as the team knocked down 17-of-29 (58.6-perecent) from beyond the arc. The team had 27 assists (with 10 turnovers) on 46 made baskets (53.5-percent) from the floor, while holding a 45-39 edge on the boards.

The Warriors jumped out early on the Trail Blazers, scoring 45 points in the first quarter tying an NBA record for most points in a single quarter (Portland had 22 at the end of the first quarter). The Houston Rockets scored 45 points against Golden State on May 25, 2015 in Game 4 of their best-of-seven conference semifinals, per ESPN Stats and Information.

Portland was hit with a massive uppercut by the Warriors in the first quarter that they never recovered from the rest of the game.

Golden State started off hot in the first quarter, going on a 14-0 run before Portland scored their first basket, a three-pointer by Evan Turner. Golden State shot 15-of-18 in the first quarter and led as much as 33 points in the game.

By halftime, the game was never in doubt when Golden State was leading 72-48.

But Portland’s season really came to an end when Curry drained a rainbow three-pointer from 31-feet that pushed the Warriors’ lead to 104-77 late in the third quarter that sucked the final breath out of the Trail Blazers.

Damian Lillard, Oakland’s native son, tried to will Portland as he’s done for most of the season, led the Trail Blazers with 34 points on 12-of-24 shooting to go along with six assists. Lillard was given a standing ovation by the remainder of the Moda Center crowd when he left the floor at the 6:12 mark in the fourth quarter.

Al-Farouq Aminu finished with 25 points and seven rebounds in 35 minutes and Shabazz Napier scored 14 points off the bench for the Trail Blazers, who just completed their fourth-straight playoff appearance under head coach Terry Stotts.

Per ESPN Stats and Information, this is the first time since 1999 that the Trail Blazers have been swept in a best-of-seven series when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs, who went on to win their first NBA championship in franchise history after the NBA players’ lockout shorten the season to 50 games.

The real dud of the night was the performance of shooting guard, C.J. McCollum in the biggest game of the season for Portland which was real head scratching to watch.

After averaging 28.0 points per game in the series, McCollum was nowhere to be found in as he couldn’t buy a basket for most of the game.

McCollum started the first half shooting 0-of-7 from the floor.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, that was McCollum’s second scoreless first half of the season. McCollum finished the game 2-of-12 from the floor for just six points.

With the Jazz-Clippers series tied at 2-2, Golden State won’t play another game until this weekend which will give the team a  chance to rest. Getting players like Shawn Livingston (right index finger sprain) and Matt Barnes (right ankle/foot sprain) additional rest will be key for Golden State.

Livingston hasn’t played since Game 1, while Barnes hasn’t been available for the entire series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changing their tune: Giants nip Dodgers behind Cain’s third, consecutive encouraging start

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AP17115097032245

By Morris Phillips

In a close game against the hated Blue, Giants’ catcher Buster Posey and starting pitcher Matt Cain’s moment of realization while sitting together in the dugout between innings could have signaled the pair were on the same page, a determined alliance of stubborn, veteran ballplayers tired of losing, and willing to unearth any details that might prompt a reversal of their fortunes.

Or just two old guys acknowledging how much time has passed in their baseball careers without being too smug to admit it.

“Goodness. He looks really young,” Posey said to Cain regarding Giants’ rookie Christian Arroyo, 21, making his big league debut on Monday.

And truth by told, Arroyo did look young, but he didn’t play like a youngster.  The Giants’ number one ranked prospect was tabbed from Sacramento to help jump start a club that found itself in sole possession of the National  League’s cellar on Monday morning, promoted as a desperately needed shot in the arm.

And while it took just a shade under three hours, the Giants achieved the desired result, a win and another encouraging outing from Cain, a guy who suddenly fills a huge void in the absence of Madison Bumgarner.

Cain hadn’t beat the Dodgers in nearly four years, and only five of the 312 starts in his career had resulted in a win over his team’s biggest rival.  But this time, things fell into place, and weren’t disrupted when the veteran pitcher was removed while favoring his hamstring in the moments leading up to the top of the seventh inning.

Instead, the bullpen hunkered down, 30-year old Posey threw out runners in the eighth and ninth innings, and the 32-year old Cain fell into the win column.

“We’re at our best when the pitching’s there and the defense is there. That’s our strength and it’s gotten away from us,” manager Bruce Bochy admitted.

“I don’t think we had a scenario where we very predictable,” Cain said.