Month: September 2017

NCAA Football Podcast with Michelle Richardson: Notre Dame’s Kelly hasn’t turned a corner one bit; Paterno and Sundusky talked of allegations says ex assistant coach

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Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly discusses call with officials during NCAA football game action between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Georgia defeated Notre Dame 20-19. John Mersits/CSM. (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

On the NCAA Podcast with Michelle:

#1 Is Brian Kelly head coach at Notre Dame on the hot seat after losing to Georgia but also going off on a reporter post game

#2 A CNN report came out saying that former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno had knowledge of former assistant coach Jerry Sundusky’s activities according former assistant coach Mike McQuery who said he heard Paterno and Sundusky talk about the allegations before
#3 Talk about the Miami-Florida State game being pushed back three weeks due to Hurricane Irma
Michelle does the NCAA Football podcasts every other weekend at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Trojans overpower Stanford in Pac-12 football opener 42-24

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USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) has plenty of protection to make a pass during the fourth quarter of a game against the Stanford Cardinal, on September 9, 2017, played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, September 9, 2017

No. 6-ranked Southern California extended its winning streak to 11 games Saturday, routing No. 14 Stanford 42-24 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, in the Pac-12 football opener for both schools.

Southern California also snapped a three-game losing streak against the Cardinal (1-1, 0-1) in the Golden State’s private university rivalry. It was also USC’s 11th consecutive win at the Coliseum.

Coming into the game, Stanford had won eight of its last 11 games against the Trojans.

Deonlay Burnett and Steven Mitchell each hauled in a pair of touchdown passes for the Trojans (2-0 overall, 1-0 Pac-12). USC quarterback Sam Darrold completed 21 of 26 passes for 316 yards, and the Trojans finished with 623 total yards.

Ronald Jones II scored a touchdown in his ninth straight game while rushing for 116 yards. Freshman Stephen Carr added 119 rushing yards. The Trojans amassed 307 rushing yards.

The Cardinal, who haven’t played since their game in Australia against Rice, were led offensively by quarterback Keller Chryst an running back Bryce Love. Chryst threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns, while Love ran for 160 yards, including a 75-yard TD run.

USC pulled away when an 11-yard touchdown pass from Darrold to Mitchell capped a 90-yard drive with 9:42 to play in the third period. Three minutes later, J.J. Arcaga-Whiteside’s touchdown reception kept Stanford close, but the Trojans answered with Jones’ second TD run.

Next week, Stanford wraps up its three-game season-opening road swing with a trip to San Diego State.

Let’s Play Two Day in Oakland: Game Two A’s win 11-5 to sweep Doubleheader

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
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Chad Pinder celebrates his second HR of the night Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

by Charlie O. Mallonee and Jordan Chapin

The Oakland Athletics had not swept both ends of a doubleheader since September 22, 1998 when they did it against the Detroit Tigers. The A’s ended that drought on Saturday as they swept the doubleheader from first-place Houston Astros (86-56).

Oakland won the second game 11-4 after having won the first game 11-1. You are not reading a typographical error. The last-place Oakland Athletics (62-80) just outscored the Houston Astros — the team with best record in the American League — 22 to 5 in a doubleheader.

The two victories also mean that the Athletics have won the opening three games of this four-game series with the Astros. No matter what happens on Sunday, the A’s have won this series with Houston.

The Athletics are now 41-33 at home for 2017 season. That means they have matched the Astros home win total for the season. Only Baltimore and Boston have more wins at home in the American League than do the Oakland A’s.

The big problem for the Athletics is they are 21-47 on the road which is the worst road record in the Major Leagues.

Game Two

Daniel Mengden took the mound for the A’s in the nightcap. After being with the big club briefly early in the year, Mengden spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Nashville. The A’s have always had big hopes for Mengden but things have not worked out the way either party would have liked things to go.

Saturday Mengden worked six innings giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits. He struck out four Astros, walked two and gave up one home run. Manager Bob Melvin was pleased with his starter’s performance.

The outing was also Mengden’s longest of the year in the majors. He went just 3.1 and 4.2 innings in his two previous starts at the beginning of the season.

On the hill

Oakland

  • The game got very shaky for the A’s when the bullpen took over in the seventh inning. Sam Moll faced two batters and gave up a double to Carlos Beltran followed by a single to Brian McCann that moved Beltran to third. That was all for Moll who would be charged with an earned run after Beltran scored on a sacrifice fly.
  • Chris Hatcher 1-1) took over for Moll and ultimately picked up the win in the game. He not only shut down the scoring in the seventh, but he pitched a scoreless eighth inning as well. Managers love relievers who can post “Goose Eggs” in the score book.
  • Santiago Casilla worked the ninth inning and also put up a “Goose Egg” (zero runs) on no hits with one strike out and one walk.

Houston

  • Brad Peacock (10-2, 3.05) made the start for the Astros and had the game under control until the sixth inning when the A’s figured him out. Peacock went 5.0-innings giving up two runs (both earned) on five hits while striking out nine. Matt Olson’s two-run home run in the sixth chased Peacock from the game. He did not figure in the final decision.
  • The Astros used four relief pitchers and they all broke the rule of the “Goose Egg”. Each reliever gave up at least one run. Michael Feliz gave up four. It was a bloodbath.
  • Chris Devenski (8-4) took the loss. For those of you who are still into antiquated stats, he was also charged with blown save number six of the season.

In the batter’s box

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Franklin Barreto scores go ahead run in the seventh inning Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

Athletics

  • So many stories — so little time.
  • Boog Powell went 2-for-4 with three Rbi and a run scored
  • Chad Pinder hit two home runs in the game (13,14). One home run tied the game and the other just “Wowed” the crowd.
  • Matt Olson went 2-for-4 with a home run, run scored and two Rbi.
  • Franklin Barreto was 2-for-4 with a triple, Rbi and two runs scored.
  • Oakland scored 11 runs on 14 hits. They were 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The A’s left just four runners on base.
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Boog Powell rounds the bases after his home run Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

Astros

  • Carlos Beltran went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
  • Josh Reddick (1-for-3) extended his hitting streak to eight games.
  • Jose Altuve hit his 10th career home run against the A’s in the sixth inning. He was 1-for-4 with two runs and an Rbi in game two.

Star of the doubleheader has to go to the Athletics Matt Olson

The rookie first baseman went 4-for-7 in the two games with a home run (16), a double, two Rbi and two walks. Olson is one of the big reasons the A’s feel their future is very bright.

Sox Abreu hits for the cycle in big win 13-1 over struggling Giants

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Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) reacts after sliding into third base for the triple and hitting for the cycle during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago White Sox on September 9, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

By Jeremy Kahn

Going into his final at-bat of the game, all Jose Abreu needed for the cycle was the hardest part of it, a triple.

Abreu, who says his legs were not responding; however, he would not give and got the triple to become the first Chicago White Sox player to hit for the cycle in 17 years and the White Sox demolished the San Francisco Giants 13-1.

The last White Sox player to hit for the cycle was Jose Valentin against the Baltimore Orioles on April 27, 2000.

Abreu hit one of six home runs for the White Sox on the evening, as it was the 13th time in team history that the White Sox hit six home runs in the same game.

He hit his 29th home run of the season off of former White Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzija in the bottom of the first inning, added a double in the bottom of the third, after striking out in the bottom of the fifth inning, Abreu, added a single off of reliever Josh Osich in the bottom of the seventh and got the cycle, when he hit a two-run triple off of Roberto Gomez in the eighth inning.

Asides from Abreu, Tim Anderson, Avisail Garcia and Yoan Moncada also added solo home runs, while Nicky Delmonico hit a two-run home run and Yolmer Sanchez hit a three-run home run.

This was the first trip to the South Side of Chicago since the final week of the 2015 season, as he allowed six runs and eight hits in 5.2 innings.

James Shields went a season-high seven innings, as he retired 17 of the 18 batters he faced before Nick Hundley hit a home run in the top of the seventh inning.

NOTES: Madison Bumgarner closes out the series and the road trip, as he takes the mound on Sunday afternoon, while the White Sox will counter with Carson Fulmer.

Ty Blach will head to the bullpen, while Matt Cain will return to the team on Monday when the team begins an eight-game home stand against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Let’s Play Two Day in Oakland: Game One Athletics crush the Astros 11-1

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
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Khris Davis hits 100th Rbi of 2017 Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

by Charlie O. Mallonee and Jordan Chapin

“Let’s play two” is the baseball quote made famous by the late, great Ernie Banks. The problem is for most baseball fans is they really have no idea what Banks was referring to when he made that famous statement.

Sure, most baseball fans have heard about day-night doubleheaders where one game is played in the afternoon then the stadium is cleared and the second game is played several hours later as a night game. Of course separate tickets are required for each game.

On Saturday, the Astros and Athletics scheduled a “twin bill” the old fashion way. The first game started at 1:05 p.m. and the second is scheduled to start approximately 45-minutes after game one is over. And, only one ticket is required to see both games.

As Bill King would say, “Holy Toledo!”

Game One

The Athletics needed a strong pitching performance from their starter Daniel Gossett because the pitching staff would be taxed playing a minimum of 18 innings on Saturday. Gossett was trying to bounce back from a less than stellar start last Sunday in Seattle that lasted just 3.2-innings and resulted in Gossett recording his eighth loss of the season.

The problem for Gossett has been the way opponents hit off him after they see him one time through the order. The batting average against Gossett the first time through the order is just .211. The batting average against Gossett jumps to .356 after that first time look at his pitches.

Gossett struck out four Astro hitters and gave up no runs on two hits in the first two innings. In the top of the third, Gossett issued back-to-back walks and the A’s dugout began holding their breath. Gossett then retired Bregman, Altuve and Correa to get out of the inning.

Gossett was able to come out to start the top of the seventh inning but he walked the first batter and Bob Melvin came to the mound to take him out the game. Melvin no doubt had some words of praise for his starter as well. Gossett (4-8,5.02) pitched 6.0-innings giving up just one run (earned) off five hits. He struck out seven and walked just three. The 99-pitch effort by Gossett was most definitely a “quality start”.

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Daniel Gossett exits the game in the 7th inning Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

The Athletics also exploded for 11 runs against the Astros. Houston starter Charlie Morton (11-7, 3.86) was expected to be a real problem for the A’s hitters on Saturday. Morton gave up a double to the Athletics leadoff batter Marcus Semien in the first inning and then proceeded to record three consecutive strikeouts. It looked like it might be a long day for the A’s.

The Athletics (61-80) broke through for three runs off Morton in the second inning and never looked back in the game. The A’s put three more runs up on the board in the sixth inning and then broke the bank with a five-run eighth inning that forced the Astros to use J.D. Davis — an infielder — to close out the game on the mound.

The powerful Astros (86-55) were not able to generate anything on offense. The scored only one run off their five hits.

On the hill

Oakland

  • The A’s relievers did their job in game one holding up their starter Gossett by putting up the coveted “Goose Eggs” in their three innings of work.
  • Ryan Dull and Simon Castro not only allow zero (Goose Eggs) runs in three innings of relief but they allowed not no hits and just one base runner via a walk. That is the perfect scenario for a bullpen to preserve a win.

Houston

  • The Astros pitchers were their own worst enemies in game one of the doubleheader. As a staff they issued 13 base-on-balls and struck out 12.
  • Houston pitchers walked in five of the 11 runs they gave up to the Athletics in game. That will give managers and pitching coaches ulcers and nightmares.
  • The Astros gave up 11 runs on just 11 hits to Oakland

In the batter’s box

Athletics

  • The “2 Matts” had another big game for the A’s. Matt Olson 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and two runs scored. Matt Chapman was 1-for-4 with two runs, one Rbi, one walk and one triple.
  • Boog Powell enjoyed his day with the bat going 2-for-4 posting two Rbi to go with three runs scored.
  • Khris Davis posted his 100th Rbi to become the first Athletic to have back-to-back 100-plus Rbi seasons since Miguel Tejada accomplished that feat in 2002-03.
  • A’s batters walked 13 times in the game and struck out 12 times — that is bat control.

Astros

  • Frankly there are not many highlights for Houston. They were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Houston left six men on base.
  • The big blow for the ‘Stros was Alex Bregman’s double in the fifth inning that drove home the only run for Houston.
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Marisnick goes down on the back end of a 5-4-3 double play Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

Postgame note

Astros catcher Juan Centeno started the game but had to leave the contest in second inning when he took a bat off the back of the head from a hard swing by Matt Joyce. He is being evaluated for a possible concussion.

Sluggish Cal jumps into the fast lane against Weber State behind former walk-on Laird

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California running back Patrick Laird (28) jumps over Weber State safety Trey Hoskins during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. California won 33-20. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–Patrick Laird likes to read books. Now that Laird has earned a football scholarship at Cal, his new, not-so-quiet place to read is the end zone at Memorial Stadium during games.

Laird resuscitated the Bears with two fourth-quarter touchdowns in Cal’s 33-20 come-from-behind win over Weber State, and punctuated each with his unique, reading celebrations. When asked about his routine, which involves quickly tossing the football to the referee, then turning the pages of his imaginary books, Laird didn’t bother to spice things up, he instead kept it cerebral.

“I like to read books,” he said.

And score touchdowns. Laird, who is third on Cal’s depth chart at running back has four of them, three of more than 50 yards… after just two games. Only half-jokingly a couple of Laird’s teammates declared that the junior’s Heisman campaign has opened for business.

One thing’s certain: Cal goes as Laird goes as the back is a major reason the Bears are off to a 2-0 start. In fact, no Cal running back had galloped across the turf at Memorial Stadium to this extent since Jahvid Best in 2008.

“It’s great when one of the leaders can shine like that because he’s just going to get a bigger and bigger following and bring people in,” quarterback Ross Bowers said. “It’s great to see a guy that’s worked as hard as he has, just to get that success transferred over to when everybody is watching.”

Tre Watson, Cal’s starter at running back, didn’t finish the game, and left the stadium limping noticeably. The Bears run defense sagged noticeably in the third quarter as the Wildcats maintained their slim halftime lead into the fourth quarter. And a pair of big Weber State pass plays exposed the Cal secondary in the first half. Both Bowers and new head coach Justin Wilcox acknowledged the mistakes with a thirst to clean things up in advance of Ole Miss visiting Berkeley next Saturday.

“We’re fortunate to get out with a win,” Wilcox said. “I think we’re going to learn a lot from it. We felt like we had a really good week of practice and were focused during the week, but our execution didn’t match the week of practice. We’re going to learn a ton of lessons from this moving forward in all phases; everybody in our program. Again, never minimize winning because it is hard and it’s a battle every week.”

Through two weeks, the Cal program appears transformed under the leadership of Wilcox. While it’s two weeks too early to make such a proclamation, ahead of sterner tests against Mississippi and USC, the numbers back that claim. After allowing 42 points a game in 2016, the Bears have surrendered just 20 points to both of its 2017 opponents. The defense’s physicality was noticeable against Weber State with all three Wildcats’ fumbles attributable heavy hitting and active hands.

The offense won’t regain the explosiveness of the Davis Webb/Chad Hansen group from last season but that explosiveness didn’t consistently carry the Bears, nor is this offense substandard. In the end, it may be almost as good with Webb’s brilliance the only difference compared to Bowers growing confidence and execution.

 

 

 

 

Toronto FC tramples Quakes

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~ Photo credit: San Jose Earthquakes

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ San Jose was outshot 21-6 as Toronto FC won in a 4-0 rout Saturday.

Toronto increased their unbeaten streak to 10 games while remaining undefeated at home.

The Quakes had no shots in the second half before going a man down in the 72nd minute. They ended up getting three shots starting in the 88th minute.

Jozy Altidore got his 50th and 51st MLS goals, Victor Vasquez got a goal and assist and former Quake Steven Beitashour had two assists to name some.

San Jose was able to hold off Toronto at first.

Toronto had a number of chances, including Altidore to start. In the 7th minute, he had an offsides goal, a missed header in the 12th minute, and another shot that was saved in the 14th minute.

Marco Urena had the Quakes’ first shot in the 17th minute.

Altidore, Justin Morrow and Sebastian Giovinco had shots for Toronto in the 21st minute, 23rd minute and 24th minute respectively.

They finally scored in the 26th minute. Goalie Andrew Tarbell got his hands on the ball before Beitashour’s ball went to Vasquez, who took advantage of Tarbell being out of position.

Urena had another shot in the 34th minute.

San Jose only had possession advantage in the final five minutes of the first half. The Quakes’ Jackson Yueill had a shot in the 43rd minute and Giovinco had another shot in the 44th minute.

Altidore finally got his goal when Toronto tacked on another goal in the 48th minute. He then scored another goal in the 64th minute.

Half-time substitute Jonathan Osorio made it 4-0 two minutes later.

Darwin Ceren was the man issued a red card. The Quakes also went down a man the last meeting between the teams. 

Game notes: It was both goalie Alex Bono’s and San Jose’s second shutout in three games. The Quakes return home to play the Houston Dynamo Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

MLB Podcast The Show with Matt Harrington: Rays-Yanks move their series to Citi Park due to Irma; Rare inside the park grand slam by Nats Taylor, Cobb County DJ plays Hurricane song during Miami game

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Washington Nationals’ Michael Taylor, right, comes in to score against Philadelphia Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro, left, on his inside-the-park grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

On the MLB Podcast with Matt:

1 Tampa Bay Rays have moved their series with the New York Yankees from Tampa Bay to Citi Park in New York due to tropical Hurricane Irma the series was supposed to start this Monday through Wednesday in Tampa but with Irma taking aim at Tampa Bay MLB decided to put the series in New York at Citi Park and the Rays would be the home team for that series. The Hurricane has been weakened to a category three from a category four but still Florida Gov Rick Scott has issued a mandatory evacuation for all of Florida.

2 Michael Taylor accomplished a rare feat with an inside the park grand slam on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Taylor wasted no time rounding the basis for the inside job.

3 The Cobb County Stadium disc jockey made an error by playing the hit song “Rock you like a Hurricane” over the sound system in a game between the Braves and the Miami Marlins. The song was played with no harmful intent and removed from the Braves playlist.

4 Colorado Rockies with their win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night continued the Dodgers loss streak at eight straight

5 The Oakland A’s play a traditional doubleheader Saturday. The A’s host the Astros for a three game series at the Oakland Coliseum. This one will beat a day night double header which would translate into a long day the traditional has a 45 minute intermission. The fans love it, the players know they just have to go out and perform.

Matt does the MLB Podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Categories MLB

A’s Rally for Rare Win At Home Against Astros 9-8

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics’ Jed Lowrie, center, is mobbed by teammates after making the game winning hit against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot

By Matthew Harrington

OAKLAND, Calif. – Friday night, the Oakland Athletics looked like they were on their way to the usual ending they get when facing the Houston Astros; a loss. Thanks to some late-inning dramatics from Marcus Semien, Boog Powell and Jed Lowrie, the A’s turned what would have been an 11th-straight home loss to the Astros into a 9-8 walk-off win.

Lowrie singled home the winning run, Boog Powell hit one of four A’s homers to tie the game in the 9th and Marcus Semien hit a then game-tying grand slam to help the A’s erase a 7-3 deficit. A’s starter Jharel Cotton allowed six runs on 3 homers, but Houston starter Collin McHugh departed his start just 3 innings in after suffering from a right middle finger avulsion.

Powell opened the 9th facing fireballing closer Ken Giles (1-3, 2.63 ERA) with the A’s trailing 8-7. He quickly fell behind 0-2 on a pair of fastballs before hitting his second homer of the year to right field on a slider from the Astros closer.

“I just wanted to get on base,” said Powell. “I knew he had the heater, and he throws hard, so I was just trying to go the other way with it, then he threw me a slider right where I liked it, and it ended up going out.”

Oakland continued to rally after Semien singled and Matt Joyce walked. Lowrie flared a Giles offering to center field that Cameron Maybin originally charged in on. He pulled up, and with Marcus Semien going half-way to 3rd base already, failed to get the ball to home plate in time to stop Oakland’s short stop from scoring the winning run.

The A’s needed to rally after Blake Treinen (2-6, 4.48) gave up a run in the stop of the 9th. Josh Reddick doubled home George Springer with two outs to take a 8-7 lead, one of 4 RBIs for the former Oakland Athletic.

Reddick’s run would have been just an insurance run for a cushy Houston lead if not for Semien’s bases-loaded shot in the bottom of the 7th off another former Athletic, Luke Gregerson. Semien’s no-doubter, his 6th of the year, as his first long ball since July 8th.

“That’s what last year I did a lot more of. I’m just trying to hit the ball hard,” said Semien. “When you get pitches to drive out of the ballpark it’s always nice to do it. It just hasn’t been happening as often this year.”

The Astros were cruising to the win despite McHugh’s early exit thanks to a trio of homers off A’s starter Jharel Cotton. Jose Altuve, Josh Reddick and Yuli Gurriel all hit two-run shots off Cotton in his 5 innings of work, with Reddick also doubling a run off Cotton.

“He’s got to get the ball down,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “He has to keep the ball in the ballpark.”

Oakland trailed 7-3 when Cotton exited the game thanks to homers from Matt Chapman (two runs) and Matt Joyce to stay afloat against McHugh before being shut down by Houston’s pen for the next 3 innings.

Saturday the A’s send a pair of Daniels to the mound in a true traditional double-header. Daniel Gosset gets the ball in game one, while former Astros farmhand Daniel Mengden toes the rubber in game two. The Astros counter with Charlie Morton and former Sacramento Rivercat Brad Peacock.

 

Sick and tired Sandoval breaks out of slump in 9-2 win over Sox

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San Francisco Giants Pablo Sandoval celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Haynes

By Jeremy Kahn

Pablo Sandoval was probably sick and tired that he recently set a San Francisco Giants record for most at-bats without a hit.

Sandoval, who set the record previously held by Johnnie LeMaster, ended his 0-for-39 slump, when he hit a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning and the Giants defeated the Chicago White Sox 9-2.

Prior to the home run, Sandoval’s last hit was a single on August 25 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Sandoval ended the night 1-for-3, as he added a sacrifice fly and four runs batted in.

It was the second win in a row for the Giants after they lost seven of their previous eight games.

Denard Span also hit a home run and Brandon Crawford picked up three hits and drove in a run for the Giants.

Matt Moore was solid on the mound, as he gave up two runs and allowed five hits in 6.2 innings, as he won for the second time in his last nine decisions.

The only two runs allowed by Moore came on a Avisail Garcia two-run home run for the White Sox, who have lost five in a row.

It was a tough night for Lucas Giolito, as he allowed five runs, three of those runs earned, and gave up three hits in 5.1 innings. Giolito also gave four up walks and struck out five before being ejected by home plate umpire Gabe Morales.

Giolito was not the only member of the White Sox ejected, as manager Rick Renteria was also ejected, as he was ejected by Eric Cooper, the crew chief.

Prior to being lifted and then ejected, Giolito did not allow a hit until giving up one to Crawford, who singled in the top of the fourth inning. Following the Crawford single, Nick Hundley, then after an out, Sandoval launched a Giolito pitch 405 feet into the right-field bleachers to give the Giants a 3-0 lead.

Garcia then cut the Giants down to 3-2 in the bottom of the inning, as he hit a two-run home run off of Moore.

Buster Posey scored on a weird play in the top of the sixth inning, as he scored from third base on a Hunter Pence walk. On the play, Crawford was tagged out while going to second base on a Hunter Pence walk and Posey scored from third base.

Crawford scored after he advanced to third on an Aaron Bummer wild pitch and scored on Sandoval’s sacrifice fly.

The shortstop drove in a run in the top of the seventh inning, and then the Giants closed out the scoring, as they scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning, when Span hit a solo home run and Hundley hit a two-run single.

NOTES: Former White Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzija takes the mound on Saturday, while the White Sox counter with James Shields.

Giants closer Marc Melancon will have season-ending surgery on his right forearm on Tuesday, and should be ready into time for spring training. Melancon has been bothered by chronic compression of a muscle in his arm all season.