Month: June 2017

Quakes advance in Open Cup to round of 16 with 2-0 shutout of SF Deltas

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By London Marq (SRS staff writer)

SAN JOSE–It was night for American Soccer tonight as The 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup recommenced Wednesday night at Avaya Stadium. A lively evening crowd was treated to Round 4 between the NASL San Francisco Delta and the MLS San Jose Earthquakes.

The match started quick as the Quakes came up big early. Within the first seven minutes, two goals had bulged thte net. Courtesy of midfielder Jackson Yueill (4′) and midfielder Cordell Cato (6′) that lead to a 2-0 shutout for San Jose. Wasting very little time in the early part of the game Yueill the Quakes No. 6 Superdraft for 2017 found the back of the net scoring in less than four minutes and Cato followed with a goal for all the scoring in the match against San Francisco.

“Obviously it was a great start for the entire team. It was very important for us to go out and score. The free kick from Danny (Hoesen) hit off the wall and came right to me. I just saw the perfect opportunity. I couldn’t be happier in that moment. I’m just happy for that.” said Yueill of his goal.

“That goal made me more anxious to keep going. The next goal came and I was happy about that. After that we kept the ball and were able to stay composed. We didn’t risk too much after going up 2-0, which is really good from us. It was a good performance scoring two goals early.” Yueill said on how he set up the goal.

It was a sloppy night after that. While the Quakes were clearly dominant through out the match, it was a fun one to watch. Filled with spills and thrills (and yellow cards), Delta FC had opportunities until the very end. The Quakes next opponent for the Open Cup will be determined on Thursday night.

San Jose eases into the 5th round with a 2 – 0 victory. The Quakes have MLS league play agaInst Sporting Kansas City on Saturday at 5:45PM at Avaya Stadium catch staff writer Mark Andereason with all the coverage Saturday night.

Runs scarce for the Giants again, Royals sweep brief two-game set

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment
AP808441949661
June 14, 2017: Striking out in the sixth inning, San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence (8) walks to the dugout, during a MLB baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. Valerie Shoaps/CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO-The Giants banged out ten hits, got at least one from every starting position player except one, but scored only twice, and looked as lifeless offensively as a team can with double-digit knocks and three walks mixed in.

It’s not easy to do. But the Giants are doing it, with alarming regularity.

In a matchup of teams ranked 28th and 29th offensively in the MLB, the Royals appeared completely unbridled while the Giants remained completely restrained. On Wednesday afternoon, the Royals took advantage of Johnny Cueto and Derek Law, and cruised past the Giants for the second straight day, 7-2.

Back-to-back home runs by Jorge Bonifacio and Lorenzo Cain off Cueto in the third put the Royals ahead 4-0, and took all the life out of the Giants, who had scored four or more runs only 28 times in 66 games this season coming in.

Cueto threw well in stretches, but was roughed up in others, allowing five runs on ten hits, and three walks in 5 2/3 innnings. Facing the club with which he won the 2015 World Series, Cueto allowed three home runs for only the second time in 14 starts this season.

“I left those three pitches hanging, and they beat me,” Cueto said via translator Erwin Higueros. “I just had a bad day.”

The Royals won their third straight, and relied on a powerful offense that’s been absent for most of their season.  With the three homers on Wednesday, the Royals have 13 in the first five games of their unique San Diego, San Francisco, Anaheim road trip that concludes with four games against the Angels starting Thursday.

Mike Moustakas homered with a splash off Cueto leading off the second inning to give the Royals an early 1-0 lead. Moustakas leads the Royals with 18 home runs this season, and he’s hitting .391 in June.

Jason Hammel picked up the win, but needed 12 starts to finally beat the Giants for the first time, one of three MLB teams he had never beaten.  Hammel pitched into the eighth inning, allowing one run on eight hits with four strikeouts.

Denard Span, Eduardo Nunez and Joe Panik had two hits apiece for the Giants, but only one of the Giants’ ten hits went for extra bases, and they finished two for ten with runners in scoring position. Brandon Belt was the only hitless starter for San Francisco, going 0 for 4 with a walk.

“If you don’t have a lot of power, you’re not a home run-hitting club, you need to get those timely hits,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Our guys aren’t having a good year with men on base.”

The Giants concluded a dismal homestand in which they finished 1-4, scoring 13 runs in their win on Sunday and only five runs total in their four losses.

The Giants open the first of two, consecutive four-game series in Denver on Thursday night against the Rockies. Matt Moore will face Jeff Hoffman (4-0, 2.33) in the opener at 5:40pm.

San Francisco Giants feature report with Tony the Tiger: JIM KING – Who the Heck is that Playing Next to Willie Mays?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Topps 1958 baseball photo: Former Giants outfielder Jim King the subject of Tony The Tiger’s feature piece and his brief career in San Francisco in 1958

by Tony the Tiger Hayes

SAN FRANCISCO–Not only was Jim King a Giant, he played a historic role in San Francisco Giants history. King was the starting left fielder in the club’s first ever game played in City by the Bay.

Never heard of King? Don’t beat yourself up, fog banks often lingers longer in the City than King did.

A career journeyman with more stops than a greyhound bus, King was signed to the club just days before San Francisco welcomed the team with a parade down Montgomery street and departed before the All-Star break.

Why was he a Giant?

King had been part-timer in three big league seasons with the Cubs and Cardinals when he won a job with the Giants as a backup outfielder and pinch hitter after a strong spring camp in 1958.

He was not expected to be the Giants opening day left field starter in the first major league game played in California. That slot was supposed to go to the savvy veteran Hank Sauer, a former NL MVP and All-Star.

But the night before Opening Day, SF manager Bill Rigney noting a strong wind towards right field decided to play the percentages against right-handed Dodgers starter Don Drysdale and swapped the left-handed hitting King for the righty Sauer. He batted King second in the lineup in the Giants 8-0 rout (4/15/58).

Before & After

After making Rigney look like a genius with a superb opening day game, King settled on to the Giants bench as Sauer was given most of the left field starts. King was eventually shuttled to Triple-A Phoenix to make way for youngsters like Leon Wagner and Felipe Alou. Later in ’58, King was dealt to Toronto of the International League. King finished with a .214 average in 34 games with the Orange & Black.

King eventually resurfaced in the American League and enjoyed a nice run at Washington where he was a starter for six seasons.

He wasn’t Willie Mays. But…

In the first major league game played in California, King batted 2-for-5 with an RBI as the Giants stomped the Dodgers 8-0. After grounding out in the first, King rapped an RBI single in the third and singled again in the sixth.

Giant Footprint

Not only did King take part in the first ever major league game held in San Francisco, he also played in the first big league contest hosted by Los Angeles, walking in a pinch hitting appearance in the sixth inning of a 6-5 defeat at the L.A. Coliseum.

By the way King Street in which AT&T Park borders and shares with 24 Willie Mays Plaza was not named after the obscure original San Francisco left fielder.

 

Marlins beat the A’s 11-6, sweep the two-game series; Fish score runs in six consecutive innings

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

Miami- The Oakland A’s concluded the six-game road trip by losing to the Miami Marlins 11-6 Wednesday. The A’s finished the trip with just one win and five losses. The A’s have now lost six of the last seven played and are now eleven games under the .500 mark. Their record for the season is 27-38, and they are in last place in the American League West. A’s manager Bob Melvin, and the entire A’s organization are at the point of the season where decisions will have to be made regarding the direction the team has to go. The A’s brought in veterans Rajai Davis, Trevor Plouffe, and Matt Joyce. None of these three players have been very productive. It looks like their playing time will be diminished, and younger players like Chad Pinder and Jaycob Brugman will be taking their places.

The A’s brought up Daniel Gossett from Nashville to make his Major League debut Wednesday. Gossett retired the Marlins in order in the first inning. That was his best inning as he lasted just 3 and 1/3rd innings and was touched for 7 runs, all but one earned, and 6 hits including two home runs. The A’s offense provided Gosset with a 4-0 lead after scoring one in the first and three in the second. Ryon Healy slammed a three-run homer to give the A’s the lead. For Healy, it was his 15th of the year. The Marlins scored two in the second on home runs by Marcell Ozuna and Tyler Moore and two in the third to tie the game.

The A’s regained the lead in the top of the fourth when Jed Lowrie doubled to deep center to drive in Gossett all the way from first base. The lead didn’t last long as the Marlins, helped by an error by Healy, scored three times to take the lead for good. The Marlins scored two more in the fifth, one in the sixth and one in the seventh to own an 11-5 advantage. The A’s scored one in the ninth, but it was not enough.

Game Notes- Matt Joyce and Yonder Alonso collided on a ball hit into shallow right field. Joyce had to leave the game with the injury.

The four hitters at the top of the Marlin lineup, Dee Gordon, Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, and Marcell Ozuna knocked in eight of the eleven runs scored by Miami. Ichiro Suzuki had a pinch-hit single, and he broke Derek Jeter’s record for most hits in interleague play.

The A’s scored 6 runs on ten hits and one error. The error was the 63rd of the season for Oakland. Miami’s line was eleven runs, 13 hits, and one error, Ryan Healy was the hitting star for Oakland as he was 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIS.

The A’s return home to start an eight-game homestand against theNew York Yankees and the Houston Astros. Sonny Gray will go for Oakland Thursday night, and the Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to handle the pitching chores.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants looking for the pitching to hold; starting pitching has been an adventure almost every night

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto throws against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

On the Giants podcast with Miguel:

1 The Giants opened the short two game series with the Kansas City Royals to a 8-1 loss and the Royals Whit Merifield got a bases loaded triple that pretty much put the kibosh on starter Ty Blach’s outing on Tuesday night at AT&T Park

2 Blach got touched up for seven runs, ten hits, in 5 plus innings of work on Tuesday and raised his ERA to 4.24 and the Royals six run sixth inning pretty much done in Blach

3 No matter who manager Bruce Bochy brings in to pitch they’ve struggled and Bochy pretty much is leaving pitchers out to fight their way out of jams such was the case on Tuesday night when Blach couldn’t get out the sixth and on Wednesday afternoon. Giants starter Johnny Cueto who surrendered three runs in the top of the third in a 5-1 game pitched his way out of the top of the fifth leaving the bases loaded and surrendering no runs but was lifted in the too of the sixth after reaching his pitch count.

4 The Twins series saw San Francisco lose two out of three plus an impressive four hit 4-0 shutout from Twins starter Ervin Santana on Friday night

5 The Royals have won three straight coming into Wednesday’s action including the 8-1 seven run victory over the Giants on Tuesday. KC is only five games back AL Central

San Francisco 49ers Podcast Report with David Zizmor: Santa Clara Mayor says notion that the 49ers have paid all their bills “makes me laugh”

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

AP photo file: Inside the disputed Levis Stadium before a game between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers from this Oct 6, 2016 photo as the City of Santa Clara say the 49ers are on the hook for over $2.1 million in stadium construction and parking overruns

by David Zizmor

SANTA CLARA–Cost overruns, unpaid parking use on a city owned golf course ($719,000) and emergency services and a beat up fan in the 49ers bathroom during a 2014 game (total $488,000), stadium cost over runs ($894,000) are just a few of the bills the city of Santa Clara are saying the 49ers are in for. San Francisco 49ers media relations manager Bob Lange has said that the 49ers are in accordance with their construction obligation and further that the team has paid all their bills to the city. Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor said that the notion that the 49ers have paid all their bills and that they have met all their all obligations “makes me laugh.”

The dispute between the 49ers and the City most likely won’t reach the inside of a courtroom and that it would settled behind closed doors in arbitration. There are all sorts of issues with the team like the construction overruns, the parking bills, the use of golf course land for emergency vehicles and how the 49ers and the city will address each issue with the scenario of an arbitrator asking for the 49ers to come up with receipts showing they are up to snuff with the City.

There’s more on this issue join Dave below on the San Francisco 49ers podcast below at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: Fans switching allegiance of Champs Giants for Warriors; Here comes da Judge Yanks rookie cleans up

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge #99 signs autographs for fans before the game between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA, Photographer: Peter Joneleit (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

ANAHEIM–The San Francisco Giants who are those guys? Asks fans at Oracle Arena in Oakland when asked about the not too long ago former baseball champions. The Giants who have hit the skids of late and are in dead last in the NL West are yesterday’s news as the new NBA champion Golden State Warriors move in and everything from television coverage to their fans buying product is moving and selling. Even their questionable move in switching flagship stations from the powerful flamethrower KNBR leaving to join 95.7 The Game which has less power was a business decision that turned out to be a boon.

The New York Yankees rookie Aaron Judge: The people are going to learn more about Judge in New York as well as right here in Anaheim their ready to take Judge on as an understudy. Comparing the rookie Judge to other sluggers he’s having a great first half of the season hitting .340. He hit a monster shot in Monday’s game to help the Yanks to a two run victory 5-3. Judge’s clout was good enough for his 22nd homer of the season. Judge is also leading the American League in hits 74, RBIs 57, runs, a .347 average and has a shot at the Triple Crown if he can keep it up through the second half of the season.

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

 

 

 

Vargas and Royals bats rough up Giants 8-1; KC’s Merifield triple adds to the damage

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy, from left, watches with batting coach Hensley Meulens and bench coach Ron Wotus during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-In their first appearance back at AT&T Park since Game Five of the 2014 World Series, the Kansas City Royals scored more in one game than they in the three games of that Fall Classic.

Jason Vargas was helped out by a six-run sixth inning, as the Royals defeated the San Francisco Giants 8-1 before a crowd of 41,284, the 520th consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park.

Vargas was helped out by a Whit Merrifield bases clearing triple that landed just out of the reach of Hunter Pence in right field. The other big hit in the inning was a Alcides Escobar down the right field line that scored Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer.

Jorge Bonifacio gave the Royals the lead for good in the top of the third inning, as he hit a two-run single to centerfield that scored Escobar and Alex Gordon.

Vargas raises his record on the season to 9-3, as he went seven innings, allowing just one on four hits, while walking one and striking out seven. Overall, in his career, Vargas raises his career record versus the Giants to 2-1.

On the other side of things, it was not a good night for Ty Blach, as he went 5.2 innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits, walking just one and striking out four and he saw his record on the season fall to 4-4.

Brandon Crawford got the Giants on the board in the bottom of the second inning, as he hit a sacrifice fly to score Buster Posey, who led off the inning with a double.

Eduardo Nunez extended his streak of reaching base up to 27 games, the longest such streak in the major leagues, as he doubled in the bottom of the sixth inning.

NOTES: Former Royals pitcher Johnny Cueto closes out the series and the home stand on Wednesday afternoon as he takes the mound for the Giants, while the Royals will send Jason Hammel to the mound.

This past Sunday, when Buster Posey and Austin Slater each picked up three hits and drove in four runs, it was just the third time over the past 15 seasons, according to Elias Sports Bureau, that two Giants accomplished this in the same game. Andres Torres and Pablo Sandoval did it in 2010, and then Brandon Belt and Hunter Pence accomplished it in 2015.

With the annual baseball draft beginning on Monday, and continuing on Tuesday, the Giants drafted one player in each of the 10 rounds.

With their first pick, the Giants drafted outfielder Heliot Ramos of the Leadership Academy High School. Their second pick was another high school player, as they drafted third baseman Jacob Gonzalez out of Chaparral High School in Arizona. If the last name sounds familiar to Giants fans, it should as Gonzalez is the son of former Diamndbacks left fielder Luis Gonzalez. After drafting Gonzalez, the high school trend continued, as Seth Corry out of Lone Peak High School was the Giants third round pick.

The next seven picks were all from the college ranks, as the Giants then Garrett Cave out of the University of Tampa, then Jason Bahr from the University of South Florida. Bryce Johnson from Sam Houston State, Logan Harasta from Buffalo, John Gavin from Cal State Fullerton, Aaron Phillips from St. Bonaventure and Rob Calabrese from UIC rounded out the final picks for the Giants.

A’s road trip continues to be painful; Marlins bomb Cotton in fifth for 8-1 loss

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jharel Cotton walks to the dugout after pitching during the fourth inning of an interleague baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, June 13, 2017, in Miami. Cotton gave up a solo home run to Miami Marlins’ Marcell Ozuna in the inning. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

by Jerry Feitelberg

Miami- The Oakland Athletics continue to play poorly on the road as they lost for the fifth time in the last six games. The Miami Marlins pounded them 8-1 to win the first game of the short two-game series. The A’s road record this year is a woeful 9-24, and they fell ten games under the .500 mark with an overall record of 27-37 which is the worst in the American League. They play the Marlins again on Wednesday at 9:10 am.

Jharel Cotton was the starting pitcher for Oakland. He pitched well for four innings, but the roof caved in on him in the fifth. Cotton, who pitched well in September last year, has not been the same pitcher this season. Cotton has great stuff, but his command is just not there. He continues to leave his pitches in the middle of the plate, and the hitters are not missing. As a result, Cotton has lost four of his last five starts and his record for the tear in 3-7.

The A’s hitters were mesmerized by the Marlins’ starter Jose Urena. Urena went six innings and allowed just three hits and one run. The A’s scored their lone run of the game in the second inning. With Cotton at the plate, Urena committed a balk to force in the run. Urena retired the next fourteen hitters in a row before exiting the game after the sixth inning.

The A’s lead didn’t last long as the Marlins’ Marcell Ozuna took Cotton deep to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. Cotton appeared to be doing okay, but the Marlins were able to score four runs in the bottom of the fifth. The big blow was a moonshot off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton had just returned to the lineup after suffering a sore wrist. Cotton’s night was over, and he left the game having given up 5 runs on 8 hits in just five innings of work.

The Marlins scored three runs on one hit in the seventh to ice the game. Three Miami relievers kept the A’s hitless and they won the game 8-1.

Game Notes- The Marlins’ Ichiro Suzuki had a pinch-hit single in the eighth inning. It was his 364th interleague hit tying him with Derek Jeter’s Major League record.

The A’s top three hitters were 0-for-12 Tuesday night. Can’t score runs if you don’t get on base.

The A’s conclude the series with Miami Wednesday. Game time is at 9:10 am. Righty Daniel Gossett will make his Major League Debut for Oakland, and he will be opposed by Edinson Volquez.

Time of the game was two hours and fifty-seven minutes and 19,952 watched the Marlins win.

Royals, Giants meet again: Can either team regain the magic?

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment
AP17110030842507
Young fans watch activities before a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

By Morris Phillips

The last time we checked in on the Giants and Royals collectively, things weren’t going well.

Two months later, on the occasion of their second interleague matchup of 2017, they still aren’t.

The 2014 World Series champs, the Giants, are battling the Padres to stay out of the basement in the NL West. The 2015 World Series champs, the Royals, have shown signs of life lately, but still reside in fourth place in the crowded AL Central.

The biggest issue is the same for both teams. The Giants have seen their offensive stars deal with injuries and/or regress. Currently, the Giants average just 3.68 runs scored per game, which ranks 29th out of 30 clubs. That’s almost a full run below the MLB average of 4.61. The Royals rank 28th, averaging 3.86 runs per game.

Manager Bruce Bochy admitted on Saturday that a return to form for his guys could take a while, now that he finally has his top seven hitters healthy for the first time all year. Hunter Pence, the most recent returnee from the disabled list, struggled in his first week back, registering just three hits in seven games. In Sunday’s bust out 13-8 win over the Twins, Pence showed life with three hits, and three runs scored.

The Royals just clubbed 10 home runs in three games at San Diego’s still spacious Petco Park, winning two of three from the Padres.  The series highlights a modestly improved stretch for Kansas City, winners of seven of their previous 12 ballgames. After starting the season 10-20, the Royals are 28-34, still just five games of the division-leading Twins.

Mike Moustakas hit a pair of home runs Sunday, and leads the club with 17, putting him on pace to shatter the surprisingly-modest franchise record of 36, set by Steve Balboni in 1985. Still Moustakas isn’t in the position to gloat, likely mindful of his and his team’s struggles offensively.

“This game is hard,” Moustakas said. “I’m just trying to come in and find ways to get hits every day. I’ve been fortunate this year that things are going out of the park.”

While Moustakas has flourished, Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer, the other Kansas City mainstays have not.