Month: July 2019

MLB podcast with Daniel Dullum: SF’s Bumgarner x-rays prove negative; Cleveland’s Carrasco diagnosed with leukemia; plus more

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sfgate.com photo: Madison Bumgarner exits in the third inning against St. Louis. The back of his left arm was hit by a liner in the first inning.

On the MLB podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 MadBum hit by line drive, X-rays negative

2 Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco reveals leukemia diagnosis; Angels mourn loss of Tyler Skaggs

3 Throwback Expos Day divides Montrealers and Nats fans

4 Phillies’ Odubel Herrera suspended for season, violated MLB domestic violence policy

5 Nationals’ Max Scherzer won’t be pitching in the All-Star Game, replaced by … ex-A’s ace, the Reds’ Sonny Gray

Daniel is on for the MLB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sad Saturday Night in Seattle for the A’s

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
7-6b
Matt Olson rounds the bases after hitting home run number 18 Photo: @Athletics

By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Oakland A’s hoped to guarantee a series win in their final set before the All-Star Break by downing the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night. That opportunity to win the series will now have to happen on Sunday in the “rubber game” of the three-game series after the A’s lost to the M’s 6-3 on Saturday night.

The A’s staked their starting pitcher Chris Bassitt to a 2-0 lead through three innings, but the game took a dramatic turn in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bassitt gave up four runs off just four hits.

With Domingo Santana on at first and no one out, DH Daniel Vogelbach launched the first pitch from Bassitt high into the right-field seats to tie the game at 2-2. The next batter, Omar Narvaez, singled to right. Kyle Seager then hit a 2-0 pitch into the right-field seats for a two-run home run. The inning ended with the M’s up 4-2, and they would never look back after that frame.

Focus on the A’s

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Graphic/Photo: @Athletics
  • Bassitt was charged with the loss and his record fell to 5-4 on the season. Bassitt gave up multiple home runs for the first time since May 21st in Cleveland. This was just the second time in 14 games that he had allowed more than three runs.
  • Matt Olson hit his 18th home run of the year in the third inning. Those 18 round-trippers have come in just 50 games. Interesting fact: 12 of his 18 home runs have been hit on the road.
  • Ramon Laureano put another home run in the scorebook. He hit his 15th HR of the season in the top of the ninth inning. Seven of his home runs and 22 of his 44 RBI have come in the last 22 games.
  • Bob Melvin said after the game, “He (Bassitt) got off to a good start, he was throwing hard. Everything looked like it was working. Then, he ends up getting a couple of two-run homers and now we’re behind. Maybe not his best outing and I just couldn’t let something happen with Vogelbach at the plate. Looks like he had good stuff today, it just happened quickly on him.”

Mariner’s notes

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Gonzales recorded his 10th win Photo: @Mariners
  • Marco Gonzales recorded his 10th win of the season in this game. He worked 8.0-innings giving up two runs (both earned) on five hits. Gonzales struck out six and walked just one. He has now recorded 10 wins before the All-Star Break in back-to-back seasons.
  • Daniel Vogelbach hit his 21st home run the year on Saturday night. The launch angle on his home run was 43 degrees. It was truly a “moon shot”.
  • Kyle Seager ended an 0-for-21 streak at the plate when he hit his two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. This was his first HR since June 21.
  • There has been a home run hit in each one of the Mariners first 93 games this season. That is an MLB record.
  • Bob Melvin on Marco Gonzales: “It seems like we’ve played that game against him where we’ve had him on the ropes early in the game and he’s limited the damage and ended up going seven or eight innings. It feels like we’ve played that game quite often against him. So you’ve got to give him some credit. We would have liked to have (done) a little bit more damage early on and scored a few more runs and got a little more distance but we didn’t and he settles in and pitches well.”

Up next

RHP Daniel Mengden (3-1, 4.67 ERA) will take the hill on Sunday for the A’s. The M’s will use RHP Matt Carasiti (0-0, 1.80 ERA) to open the game with the plan being to turn the game over to Wade LeBlanc as the primary pitcher. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM PDT.

Bumgarner leaves after getting hit on elbow in Giants’ win

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By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Madison Bumgarner was not around when Austin Slater gave the San Francisco Giants the lead for good.

Bumgarner was forced to leave the game after the bottom of the second inning, as he was drilled on the left forearm by a Jose Martinez line drive that went for an infield single.

X-Rays came back negative, and Bumgarner ended up with a left elbow contusion.

Slater gave the Giants the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he hit an opposite field grand slam and the Giants defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 8-4 before a crowd of 32,487 at Oracle Park.

Pablo Sandoval led off the inning with a single, then after a Brandon Crawford strikeout, Kevin Pillar came up with his second hit of the night. Joe Panik then reached on an error when Tyler ONeill lost the ball in the lights, and finally, Slater gave the Giants the lead on his first career grand slam.

Bumgarner went just two innings, allowing one run, scattering four hits and striking out two, as he did not fare in the decision.

Miles Mikolas lasted just four innings for the Cardinals, as he allowed five runs (four earned), six hits and struck out 6; however, he lost for the ninth time this season.

The Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Tommy Edman led off the game with a single, and then Martinez lined the ball off of Bumgarner’s left forearm for an infield single.

Paul Goldschmidt gave the Cardinals the lead, as he singled to score Edman from second base.

Like the opener, the Giants got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, as Brandon Belt singled to lead off the inning and eventually scored on a Sandoval sacrifice fly.

The bullpen was solid for the Giants, as Sam Dyson, Reyes Moronta, Mark Melancon, and Will Smith went the final seven innings to secure the victory for the Giants.

Dyson went two innings, allowing just one hit and raised his record to 3-0 on the season.

Home plate umpire Mike Everitt, like Bumgarner, was forced to leave the game in the sixth inning, as he took a foul ball off the mask on a line drive hit by O’Neill. Three umpires finished the game.

Mike Yastrzemski got in on the hit parade in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he singled, then stole his first major league base and then scored on an Alex Dickerson triple to right-center field. Sandoval then picked up his second hit of the night, as he smashed a two-run home run off of Tyler Webb.

It was the 11th home run of the season by Sandoval, and his first as a right-handed batter since hitting one off of Caleb Smith of the Miami Marlins on June 11, 2018, at Marlins Park.

Things got interesting in the top of the eighth inning, as the Cardinals scored three runs off a Goldschmidt three-run home run off the Arcade Garage in right field to get the Cardinals within four runs. Tony Watson, who gave up the three-run home run to Goldschmidt was able to get out of the inning without allowing any more damage.

That was the 13th career home run for Goldschmidt at Oracle Park, the most by any active opposing player in the major leagues

Closer Will Smith was summoned in the top of the ninth inning and gave up a pinch-hit single to Yadier Molina, however, he then got Edman to ground into a force play and then Martinez grounded into a double play to end the small rally and the game.

NOTES: Slater is the 22nd Giants player to hit a pinch-hit grand slam since the team moved to San Francisco in 1958.

Rich Aurilia was the last Giants player to hit a pinch-hit grand slam which came on June 12, 2003, against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park.

Slater is only the second Giants player to hit a pinch-hit grand slam at Oracle Park since it opened in 2000, and Russ Davis hit it on August 21, 2000, against the Florida Marlins

Joey Bart and Heliot Ramos will represent the Giants at the Sirius/XM Futures Game at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon. Bart is hitting .242 with six home runs and 21 RBI on the season in just 33 games for the San Jose Giants, while Ramos, who is also playing for San Jose, is hitting .298 with nine home runs and 29 RBI on the season in 52 games.

Bart missed a considerable amount of time with a broken left arm that was suffered on April 16, when he was hit by a pitch against the Stockton Ports at Municipal Stadium.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija closes out the first half on Sunday afternoon, as he takes the Oracle Park mound and will face Jack Flaherty, who will take the ball for the Cardinals in their final game before the All-Star break.

Earthquakes never say tie in 1-0 shutout over Real Salt Lake

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: Ana Kieu

The San Jose Earthquakes had looked to bounce back at home with a win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday night. The Quakes celebrated Japantown Neighborhood Night presented by Wells Fargo.

The Quakes’ starting lineup featured Daniel Vega, Marcus Lopez, Florian Jungwirth, Guram Kashia, Tommy Thompson, Judson, Jackson Yueill, Cristian Espinoza, Magnus Eriksson, Vako, and Chris Wondolowski.

Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

San Jose was off to a great start, thanks to early chances from the get-go. The Quakes looked positive and were assertive in the possession department. Moreover, Cristian Espinoza’s meg in the 10th minute justified that he was having a home field day.

Judson made a notable kick in the 41st minute. However, the Brazilian midfielder’s kick was blocked by Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando.

San Jose and Real Salt Lake played to a scoreless tie at the end of the first half. Shots were even at six apiece. Moreover, the Quakes dominated in possession, passes, and pass accuracy.

Florian Jungwirth blocked a shot in the 52nd minute. Also, Daniel Vega came in clutch with a few noteworthy saves of his own, like the one in the 54th minute.

San Jose’s first substitution occurred in the 66th minute. Shea Salinas entered the match for Marcus Lopez.

San Jose’s second substitution occurred in the 71st minute. Paul Marie entered the match for Tommy Thompson.

San Jose’s third and final substitution occurred in the 74th minute. Danny Hoesen entered the match for Judson.

San Jose put up offensive signals in the final minutes of the match by knocking on the door in the 80th minute, having Vako take down a Real Salt Lake defender in the 85th minute, and most importantly, Danny Hoesen scoring the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute. The Quakes won 1-0.

Fans in attendance also won with a free Jumbo Jack with a large drink purchase at Jack in the Box. Jack in the Box offers some of the most unhealthy items among fast food restaurants, but hey, you can’t turn down free food. Plus it’s pretty cool to see Jack in a Quakes uniform and juggling a soccer ball with his knees.

The Quakes head to Dignity Health Tennis Center to take on the LA Galaxy on Saturday, July 12 at 8:00 pm.

MLB podcast with Matt Harrington: Seinfeld sidearms first pitch at Citi Field, what’s up with that?; Padres-Dodgers play rival type ball; plus more

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Photo credit: @mets_fanly

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 Friday was Seinfeld night at Citi Field and there he was the star of sitcom’s all-time best show Jerry Seinfeld getting ready to throw out the first ball and he did so with a side arm pitch that ended up as a strike. He impressed the crowd so much he ended up getting an ovation and tipped his hat.

#2 No matter where the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the standings, they both play rival type ball and get involved in a deadlock on Friday night which the Padres won it 3-2 during an 7.1 earthquake. There was no exception Pads and Dodgers playing to a close contest.

#3 With all the home runs hit this season in the show, will the big build up lead up to some bombs hit during the All-Star Game home run derby in Cleveland this Monday night. Lots of hit leaders preparing to enter the derby.

#4 The Angels are a team on a mission since the sudden death of their late teammate Tyler Skaggs. The team has been on a roll, the Angels have won six of their last ten games and trying to make a climb out of fourth place in the AL West.

#5 Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees are starting to pull away from second place Tampa Bay and are now 8 1/2 games in front in the AL East and Judge powered his 11th home run on Friday night against the mighty Houston Astros.

Catch Matt every Saturday for the MLB podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cardinals stop Giants’ 4-game winning streak with 9-4 win

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — On the night where there was shaking in Southern California, the San Francisco Giants’ pitching got all shook up.

Jose Martinez and Paul Goldschmidt each hit home runs in the top of the first inning, and despite a comeback, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Giants 9-4 before a crowd of 37,603 at Oracle Park.

Martinez hit a solo home run, and then two batter later Goldschmidt launched a two-run blast into the Garden beyond the left-center field wall to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.

Once again, it was a tough first inning for Drew Pomeranz, as he saw his earned run average increase to 11.25 (20 ER/16 IP) and batters are hitting .365 with eight home runs in the first inning, this according to Bill Arnold of the Sports Features Group.

The Giants wasted little time to get back into the game, as they loaded the bases with nobody out and despite the fact that Dakota Hudson got two straight outs, Brandon Crawford walked on a 3-2 pitch to get the Giants on the board to score Brandon Belt and then Kevin Pillar singled to left field that scored Buster Posey.

Alex Dickerson continues his hot hitting, as he hit his fourth home run of the season to tie up the game in the bottom of the third inning.

Unfortunately, Pomeranz gave the lead right back to the Cardinals, as Kolten Wong doubled and former Stanford infielder Tommy Edman tripled to right-center field to give the Cardinals the lead for good.

Pomeranzs night was done after four innings, as he gave up four runs on six hits, walking four and striking out three, as his record fell to 2-9 on the season.

The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth inning off of Trevor Gott, Matt Wieters singled to score Tyler ONeill and then Wong drove in a run, as he reached on a Fielders Choice that scored Fowler.

Mark Melancon gave up a run in the top of the seventh inning, as he gave up a single to ONeill and then Fowler tripled to right-center field.

Wong then followed up with a single that scored Fowler to give the Cardinals a five-run lead.

Fowler finished off the scoring for the Cardinals the top of the ninth inning, as he took a Ray Black pitch and put It on the arcade. It was the third hit of the night for Fowler, who came up a double short of the cycle.

Stephen Vogt drove in a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he hit a sacrifice fly to ONeill to score Brandon Crawford.

NOTES: Donovan Solanos 10-game hitting streak came to an end, as he went 0-for-2 after replacing Joe Panik at second base in the top of the seventh inning.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner takes the mound on Saturday night, as he looks for his sixth win of the season, while the Cardinals will send Miles Mikolas to the hill and he also looks for his sixth win of the season.

Aces-Mystics game suspended at halftime due to earthquake

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Floor

Photo credit: Sports Radio Service/Shawn McCullough

By Shawn McCullough

LAS VEGAS–A 7.1 earthquake centered in Ridgecrest, CA also shook Las Vegas, NV. 226 miles away!

As a result, the WNBA suspended the Aces-Mystics game at halftime as a precautionary measure in case of a shifted or damaged floor. The Mystic led the Aces 51-36 at halftime when the game was suspended.

Liz Cambage led the Aces with 12 points while A’ja Wilson had nine.

The game will be resumed at a later date.

The Aces will next travel to New York to face the Liberty on Sunday.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 21 Kayla McBride
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum

A’s Rally in 7th for 5-2 Win Over M’s

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Athletics

By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland A’s rallied in the seventh inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 5-2 on the road Friday night. Franklin Barreto hit his first homerun of the season, Robbie Grossman knocked in two runs and Brett Anderson went six-plus innings for the win. Newly minted All-star and closer Liam Hendriks nailed down his fourth save of the year.

Seattle took the lead in the first off a J.P. Crawford sacrifice fly, but Barreto’s big fly off starter Yusei Kikuchi tied the game. Tom Murphy lifted a solo fly off Anderson in the bottom of the fifth to give Seattle a 2-1 edge. 

Kikuchi was cruising through six innings having given up just the one run, but he ran into trouble in the seventh. Matt Olson hit a ground-rule double to open the inning then scored on Khris Davis’ single and a throwing error by Domingo Santana in right. Mark Canha grounded out to move Davis to 3rd, then Davis scored on Ramon Laureano’s sacrifice fly for a 3-2 A’s lead.

Kikuchi (4-6, 4.94 ERA) would escape the inning, but wound up the loser after going seven innings with four hits and three runs (two earned) allowed. Anderson (9-5, 3.86 ERA), by virtue of the rally, wound up the winner after going 6 1/3 innings with five hits and two runs.

Robbie Grossman gave the A’s breathing room in the top of the ninth, knocking a one-hopper to the wall off Dan Altavilla good for two runs. Hendriks, crowned the A’s closer with Treinen injured, pitched a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to close out the contest after Ryan Buchter and Yusmeiro Petit bridged the gap between Anderson and the closer. 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca Part 1: Giants coming off sweep in San Diego, ready for St. Louis after 4th of July off

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photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants’ Evan Longoria, right, is greeted by third base coach Ron Wotus after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 3, 2019, in San Diego

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Thursday was the first time in a while the Giants didn’t have to play on July 4th, which gave them sometime to prepare for their three-game series coming up tonight with the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park.

#2 The Giants are coming off a three-game sweep past the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Does the sweep have some impact some confidence building for the Giants, who have not swept too many series this season?

#3 Just looking ahead to Saturday, the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 4.02 ERA) is pitching on Saturday and has had some good recent outings against the Diamondbacks and Rockies. Some have called some of Bumgarner’s outings showcasing. It is realistic to say Bumgarner will be leaving the Giants before the end of the month?

#4 The Cardinals come in at 42-42. The Cards have won four of their last nine games. Are the Cards a team that shared the same struggles similar to the Giants or are they a good .500 that can find their way and improve in the standings?

#5 The Cardinals for Friday night’s game will be starting Dakota Hudson (6-4, 3.40 ERA) going up against the Giants Drew Pomeranz (2-8, 6.25 ERA). In two of his last three decisions, Pomeranz got the loss, so you know going into Friday night’s game, he’s looking for that win.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca Part 2: Pomeranz looks to get back into win column, starts tonight against Cards

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sfgate.com photo: San Francisco Giants third baseman Evan Longoria during a game in San Diego against the Padres on Wednesday, July 3rd and the Giants will be hosting the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Thursday was the first time in a while the Giants didn’t have to play on July 4th, which gave them sometime to prepare for their three-game series coming up tonight with the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park.

#2 The Giants are coming off a three-game sweep past the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Does the sweep have some impact some confidence building for the Giants, who have not swept too many series this season?

#3 Just looking ahead to Saturday, the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 4.02 ERA) is pitching on Saturday and has had some good recent outings against the Diamondbacks and Rockies. Some have called some of Bumgarner’s outings showcasing. It is realistic to say Bumgarner will be leaving the Giants before the end of the month?

#4 The Cardinals come in at 42-42. The Cards have won four of their last nine games. Are the Cards a team that shared the same struggles similar to the Giants or are they a good .500 that can find their way and improve in the standings?

#5 The Cardinals for Friday night’s game will be starting Dakota Hudson (6-4, 3.40 ERA) going up against the Giants Drew Pomeranz (2-8, 6.25 ERA). In two of his last three decisions, Pomeranz got the loss, so you know going into Friday night’s game, he’s looking for that win.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com