Month: September 2019

Beaty and Seager go deep in Dodgers’ 5-0 shutout

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Photo credit: @DodgerBlue1958

By Jeremy Kahn

On the day that Bruce Bochy managed the San Francisco Giants for the last time at Dodger Stadium, his team was unable to sweep the series.

Matt Beaty hit a two-run home run off of Dereck Rodriguez in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring their first runs since A.J. Pollocks third home run on Friday night and the Los Angeles Dodgers averted the sweep with a 5-0 shutout of the Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Corey Seager closed out the scoring in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he hit a three-run home run off of Rodriguez, giving the Dodgers 255 home runs on the season, extending their National League record.

Kenta Maeda came on in relief of Dodgers starter Julio Urias in the top of the third inning. And retired the first 10 batters he faced. Maeda gave up just one hit and struck out six, as he won for the ninth time this season.

Bochy, who will retire after the season will finish his career at Dodger Stadium with a record of 107-108, the most by any visiting manager in the ballparks 57-year history.

Beaty broke a 12-inning scoreless streak for the Dodgers in the bottom of the fourth inning, as his solo home run landed in the Giants bullpen.

Seager hit his 14th home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning, a three-run shot over the center field wall to give the Dodgers a 5-0 lead. Pollock then was walked by Rodriguez, who day ended with that walk to Pollock.

Rodriguez went 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on just three hits, walking three and striking out four, as his record fell to 5-9 on the season.

Buster Posey went 2-for-4 on the afternoon, as the Giants managed just four hits off of Urias, Maeda and four other relievers, as the Dodgers can clinch their seventh consecutive National League Western Division Championship with a win over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Tuesday.

NOTES: Johnny Cueto will make his season debut on Tuesday night at Oracle Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cueto was originally going to make his return from Tommy John surgery this weekend at Dodger Stadium; however, he was unable to go due to stiffness in his back.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner will go for his 10th win of the season on Monday night, as the Giants open a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Oracle Park. Game time set for 6:45 p.m.

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s looking to put frosting on the Tigers and the series Sunday

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sfgate.com photo: Detroit Tigers’ Willi Castro is hit by a pitch from Oakland Athletics starter Chris Bassitt during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in Oakland, Calif.

On the A’s podcast with Joey Friedman:

#1 The A’s have won four of their last five games all on this current homestand. A little home cooking could cure some ills especially when you’re trying to put last week’s Yankees series in the rearview mirror.

#2 The A’s are having a time in this current series with the Detroit Tigers, who are at the Coliseum today. With an A’s win, they would have taken three out of four in this series, which includes a makeup game from Friday.

#3 The A’s need to keep winning and they have four games left against a team with a winning record like the Houston Astros, who the A’s visit on Monday night at Minute Maid Field. They could be baseball’s toughest customer.

#4 The A’s also have 16 games left with teams who have below .500 records. The A’s need all the wins they could get in order to keep pace in the AL wild card race.

#5 A pair of left-handers to start today’s contest at the Coliseum. For the Tigers, Daniel Norris (3-11, 4.76 ERA). For the A’s, Sean Manaea (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Second start of the season for Manaea.

Joey does the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Pineda gets caught with PEDs, out for 60 games; A’s could win series over Tigers today; plus more

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from yahoo.sports.com photo: Minnesota Twins pitcher Michael Pineda throws to a Cleveland Indians batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept 6, 2019, in Minneapolis

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Twins pitcher Michael Pineda suspended 60 games for PED violation, will miss the playoffs

2 Swingin’ A’s go for series win over Tigers, continue Wild Card chase

3 Surging Diamondbacks closing in on National League Wild Card berth

4 Cubs All-Star shortstop sidelined with thumb fracture

5 Nationals’ pitcher makes emotional comeback

Catch Daniel each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears Saturday game recap: Electrifying win for Cal 20-19 at UW; 1250 lighting strikes delays game for 2 1/2 hours

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photo from bearinsider.com: The Cal Bears quarterback Chase Garbers (7) in the shot gun sets up the offense with audibles in the Bears second consecutive win for the season at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

By Jerry Feitelberg

1250 lighting strikes was all it took to hold up the second game of the season between the visiting Cal Bears and the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Saturday night. The 2 1/2 hour delay restarted the first quarter of play around 10:30pm and the game ended around 1:30 am. The Huskies had a 14-point spread coming into the contest, but with 15% of the crowd staying after the delay, the Bears were able to take advantage of a quieter stadium and edged the Huskies 22-21.

The loss marked the end to the Huskies’ 15-home game win streak. The Bears put the ball through the uprights for the win and a 17-yard field goal for the one point winner. Earlier with the Huskies up 19-17 with just second to the two minute warning Patrick Henry booted a 49 yard field goal. The Bears got that second wind and answered back marching the ball to the Washington 17 and with eight seconds left got the game-winning field goal from Greg Thomas for the win.

Husky Stadium is a house of horrors. No team has won there in 15 straight home games, and for the Huskies, it was a set of different circumstances with the lighting and mother nature taking the crowd out of it and that it all changed. It was a see-saw game to begin with. In the second quarter at 14:57, the Huskies kicker Patrick Henry kicked a 36-yarder to put Washington on the scoreboard 3-0. At 7:59 Salvon Amhed rushed for 21 yards to put UW on top 10-0.

The Bears got on the scoreboard with a field goal from Thomas that made it 10-3 Washington at 3:43. In the third quarter, the Bears Marcel Duncy would score twice. He rushed for a 20 yards at 11:56 to tie the game up at 10-10. At 5:50, Patrick Henry booted a 21-yard field goal that put the Huskies back on top 13-10. Still, in the third quarter, Duncy got the ball for an eight-yard rush to get Cal back on top with 50 seconds left in the quarter for a 17-13 lead.

In fourth quarter action, the Huskies’ Henry kicked a 25-yarder at 7:10 to make it a 17-16 contest and the Huskies regained the lead 19-17 at 2:09 when Henry booted a 49-yard field goal. It was all for naught as the Bears quickly marched down field with under two minutes left in the game and got in field goal position for Thomas to boot the game winner for a 20-19 victory with eight seconds left in the game.

The Bears quarterback Chase Garber threw for 111 yards and the Huskies quarterback Jason Eason threw for 162 yards and one interception.

Stanford Cardinal Saturday game wrap: Trojans ground Cardinal in 45-20 defeat

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sfgate.com photo: Southern California running back Stephen Carr (7) scores a rushing touchdown against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Los Angeles

By Pearl Allison Lo

LOS ANGELES — In the 99th matchup between these California rivals, No. 23 Stanford was shut out in the second half as the teams kicked off the Pac-12 season at United Airlines Field Saturday.

Quarterbacks Kedon Slovis (USC) and Davis Mills (Cardinal) also had their first starts of their college careers 99th meeting first Saturday

USC tweeted, “Slovis is the first true freshman in USC history to throw for 2 touchdowns in his first career start.” He went 28 of 33 for 377 yards and three scores.

Mills went 22 of 36 with 237 yards for one score and one interception.

Neither quarterback had a fumble but each were sacked at least once.

Stanford’s leaders were for rushing Cameron Scarlett, 82 yards, 1 TD and receiving Colby Parkinson for 89 yards.

For the Trojans, their leaders for rushing was Vavae Malepeai, 42 yards, 2 TDs and receiving Amon-Ra St. Brown 97 yards, 2 TDs.

The Cardinal started with the momentum even though the Trojans scored first. Stanford scored on every drive, including on a fumble recovery, until 2:21 left to go in the first half. USC’s first touchdown came with 11:29 left in the second and they halted the Cardinal defensively in the end zone after 14:56 left in the second.

In the second half, we saw the first sacks and interception.

Both teams scored on their opening drive.

The Trojans’ first drive was highlighted by a 45-yard pass to Drake London, but Stanford was able to cut them off from a touchdown. The closest USC got was the two yard line, ending the drive with two incomplete passes before Chase McGrath made it 3-0 with a 23-yard field goal.

Connor Wedington was the highlight of the Cardinal’s first drive. He gave them good field advantage with a 60-yard return and two plays after the Trojans were stalled by a holding penalty, he took a 15-yard pass into the end zone, the second pass of the drive.

Both teams combined for 34 points in the second quarter.

Stanford was helped down the field with an illegal use of hands call. A 21-yard pass to Parkinson at the four was then ruled out of bounds before it was called good after review. Scarlett then had two runs in the first and second quarter to make it a 14-3 lead.

With 14:43 left in the half, the Cardinal then forced a fumble off Velus Jones Jr.’s 21-yard return, which was recovered by Stanf Tobe Umerah. Stanford went down the field four straight plays to fourth down and Jet Toner converted a 32-yard field goal to extend the Cardinal’s lead to 17-3.

The Trojans found themselves on third down with 12:54 left, but that was followed by three double-digit plays, the last a 39-yard pass to one of the St. Brown brothers, Amon-Ra, in the end zone for both USC and Slovis’s first touchdown.

One of Stanford’s drives was filled with penalties, two from USC (personal foul and pass interference) and one from the Cardinal (holding). The Cardinal continued scoring with a 37-yard field goal by Toner to double their lead to 20-10.

The Trojans got to within three (20-17) with their second touchdown in a row. The longest plays were a 25-yard return by Jones Jr., a 29-yard pass to Tyler Vaughns and a 25-yard touchdown run to the left by Stephen Carr.

Then Stanford was forced to punt for the first time with 2:21 left.

USC kept rolling with their third straight touchdown that gave them their first lead (24-20) since their opening drive. They had a holding penalty but Vaughns caught a 31-yard pass and the Cardinal had two straight defensive offside penalties. It was their fastest drive, 1 minute and 50 seconds, as the Tronjans went 70 yards.

USC nearly duplicated their first half total in the second half.

The first quarterback sack came with 12:09 left in the third on Mills by Connor Murphy. It was Murphy’s first career sack. Mills was also sacked by Jay Tufele on the same drive. Toner missed his first and longest field goal of the night, 39 yards, in the second half’s opening drive. It was the longest drive of the night in terms of plays (14) and time (7:09).

Slovis was sacked the following drive by Casey Toohill with 7:08 left. It was the shortest drive in terms of plays (three) and yards (one).

Toner then attempted a 47-yard field goal, but he was blocked by Austin Jackson with 3:21 left.

The Trojans made it 31-20 with 44 seconds left in the third. Michael Pittman Jr. accounted for the bulk of the yardage with a total of 61 yards through three plays. Malepeai ran four yards into the end zone to complete the drive.

Mills took the game’s first interception too as he was caught by Greg Johnson with 13:21 left in the game. USC was able to turn it into a touchdown when Malepeai ran six yards for his second score three minutes later. It was the game’s biggest lead at 38-20.

Things continued to look grim as they turned over the ball on downs with 8:21 left. This also went the opposite way as Vaughns had 30 yards, 16 on the scoring reception to make it 45-20. He ended up with the most total yardage in the game with 106.

Up Next: Next Saturday, the Trojans will face BYU at 1:30 pm and Stanford will take on UCF at 12:30 pm

The A’s devour the Tigers 10-2 on Saturday night in Oakland

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Det 9-7
Graphic: @Athletics

By Charlie O. Mallonee @Charlieo1320

Oakland — The Oakland Athletics (83-59) did exactly what they had to do on Saturday night – beat up on a lesser opponent. The “Rooted in Oakland” crew demolished the lowly Detroit Tigers (42-99) by the score of 10-2. The Tigers have the worst record in all of Major League Baseball and have been eliminated from any possibility of playing in postseason in 2019.

The A’s realistically are destined to play in the AL Wild Card game. They want desperately to be the home team in that game. To be the home team, the A’s need wins and wins should come easier over teams that have losing records. It is truly a “survival of the fittest” environment from now until the end of the regular season.

The A’s have only four games remaining to play against a team with a winning record. They begin a four-game series in Houston on Monday night with the Astros who are tied with the Yankees for the best record in the majors at 93-50. Their other 16 games are with Detroit (1), Texas (6), Kansas City (3), LAA (2) and Seattle (4). The A’s must devour the weak in order to come out on top.

Chris Bassitt worked hard to earn a win

Bassitt struggled in the first two innings of the game on Saturday night. After giving up two hits in the top of first, Bassitt was bailed out by a 6-1-4 double play that is detailed later in this story.

In the top of the second, the A’s starter faced seven Detroit hitters. He gave up two runs off three hits and he hit a batter. The Tigers left two runners on base. Despite having some difficulties, Bassitt struck out three batters and appeared to be starting to find himself.

Bassitt would go on to pitch 6.0-innings giving up just the two runs (both earned) off eight hits. He walked none but did hit one Detroit batter. Bassitt struck out 11 Tigers in 6.0-innings on the mound. That is a career high for Bassitt and the most for an A’s pitcher in a game this season.

After the game, Bob Melvin said, “Bassitt often gets better as he goes along in a game. He also gave our bullpen a break by going six innings.”

Bassitt is now 10-5 on the season with a 3.64 ERA. This is the first time Oakland has had three 10-game winners since 2013 when they had five.

Wild Card Standings

The A’s now have sole possession of the second Wild Card slot in the American League. They are one game back of Tampa Bay (85-59) who is in the number one spot and would host the one-game playoff if the season ended today.

The Indians are 1.5-games behind the A’s for the second spot in the Wild Card race at 82-61. Boston is 7.0-games back and has an elimination number of 14. It would take a miracle and a massive collapse by the Rays, A’s or Indians for the Red Sox to become a part of the race.

Focus on the A’s

Det c 9-7
Olson gets congratulated Photo: @Athletics
  • Matt Olson went 4-for-4 in the game. He hit his 29th home run of the season in the fifth inning off Jordan Zimmerman on 1-2 pitch that sailed into the right-field seats. Olson also added three RBI to bring his total for the season to 73. He also extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
  • Jurickson Profar matched his career high for home runs when he hit number 20 of the season in the second inning off Zimmerman. Profar is batting .340 over his last 15 games. He has also been very helpful to his team by being able to play both outfield and infield as needed.
  • Matt Chapman hit his 32nd home of the season in the eighth inning which ties Eric Chavez for the most in a season by an Athletics third baseman.
  • Oakland now has six players with 20-plus home runs which is a franchise record.
  • A’s pitchers combined for a total of 19 strike outs on Saturday night – a season high.

Spotlight on Detroit

  • Jordan Zimmerman allowed six earned runs for the first time since July 19. He previously had allowed a total of seven earned runs in four career starts against the A’s. Zimmerman is now 1-10 on the season.
  • Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4 in the game which gave him a team-leading 38th multiple-hit game for 2019. It was also the 804th multiple-hit game of his career tying him with Ivan Rodriguez for 39th-most in MLB history.
  • Harold Castro had 4-for-4 game with the bat with two RBI for the Tigers. That tied his season high.
  • The Tigers have not had a winning record versus the AL West since 2014. They are 53-112 against the division since 2015.

Up next

LHP Sean Manaea (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will take the ball for the A’s and make his second start of the season to close out this three-game series with the Tigers. He had a no-decision in first start of the season last Sunday in New York against the Yankees. The Tigers will counter with LHP Daniel Norris (3-11, 4.76 ERA). He had a no-decision in his last start on Tuesday in Kansas City.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:07 PM at the Oakland Coliseum.

Shouldn’t the infield fly rule have been called?

In the top of the first inning with runners at first and second and one out, the Tigers Christin Stewart hit an infield fly into foul territory on the third-base side. The wind then pushed the ball back into the field of play. Matt Chapman attempted to catch the ball but was unable to do so. Marcus Semien picked the ball up and tossed it to Bassitt who was covering third. The pitcher stepped on the bag and Harold Castro – the runner at second was called out. Bassitt then alertly threw the ball to Profar who stepped on second base and Miguel Cabrera – the runner at first was called out on what scored as a 6-1-4 double play.

As a former amateur umpire, I was immediately looking for one of the four umpires to have his right arm up in the air to indicate that the infield fly rule was in effect. I was shocked when no call such call was being made. So was Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire who immediately came out to discuss the situation with the Homeplate umpire – Dan Bellino.

The umpires explained that the infield fly rule is to be called when the ball can be caught with “ordinary effort”. The “men in blue” said in their opinion Chapman would have needed to use extraordinary effort to have made the catch of Stewart’s fly ball, so the infield fly rule did not apply.

In this reporter’s opinion (and as a former umpire), the umpiring crew was caught off guard when an apparent foul ball came back into fair territory.

 

Pillar drives in only run in Giants’ 1-0 win

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Photo credit: sfexaminer.com

By Jeremy Kahn

On a night where the San Francisco Giants got only one run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the first inning, and it was able to stand up.

Kevin Pillar grounded out to Justin Turner to score Mike Yastrzemski from third base, helping the Giants to a 1-0 victory over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Yastrzemski singled off the game, when to second on a Evan Longoria walk and Stephen Vogt loaded the bases when he singled to right with one out in the inning.

Pillar, who grew up about 30 miles northwest of Dodger Stadium in West Hills grounded to third and Yastrzemski scored what proved to be the only run of the game.

Tyler Beede was fantastic, as he went the required five innings to pick up his fourth win of the season.

Beede went those five innings, allowing zero runs and scattering four hits, walking three and striking out five.

Six different closed it out for the Giants, as Shawn Anderson, Tyler Rogers, Andrew Suarez, Sam Coonrod, Fernando Abad and Jandel Gustave went the final four innings, allowing zero hits, walking one and striking out two.

Gustave closed it out, as he walked A.J. Pollock to lead off the inning, but Garrett Lux lined out to Pillar in center and then Gustave picked up his first major league save, as he got Enrique Hernandez to ground into a double play to end the game and give the series to the Giants with the finale coming on Sunday.

Abad came up huge to close out the bottom of the eighth inning, as he got Cody Bellinger to ground into an inning-ending double play on just two pitches.

Bellinger also ended the bottom of the fifth inning, as he flew out to Yastrzemski in left field with the bases loaded.

Tony Gonsolin was the hard luck loser on this night, as he went just four innings, allowing one run on just two hits, walking four and striking out four.

It was the 107th career victory for Bruce Bochy at Dodger Stadium, the most by any visiting manager since the ballpark opened in 1962.

NOTES: Alex Dickerson returned to the Bay Area to get a cortiaone injection for his sorre right oblique. Dickerson could comeback before the season closes on September 29. Zach Green was recalled from Sacramento and was placed on the 60-day injured list with an impingement in his left hip. With Green on the 60-day injured list, it made room for Left-hander Wandy Peralta, who was claimed off of waivers by the Giants from the Cincinnati Reds.

UP NEXT: Dereck Rodriguez closes out the series and the road trip for the Giants, as he takes the mound. Left-hander Julio Urias will take the hill for the Dodgers in the finale. Game time set for 1:10 p.m.

Tulsa hands San Jose State first loss of the season, 34-16

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Photo credit: @SJSUSpartanFB

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State hoped to wrap up the back end of a two-game home-and-home series with a win over Tulsa at CEFCU Stadium on Saturday night. The Spartans beat Tulsa for the first time since November 16, 2002. But that didn’t happen.

Shamari Brooks ran for a nine-yard rushing touchdown to help the Golden Hurricane open the scoring. Jacob Rainey kicked in the extra point to make it 7-0 with 7:48 left in the first quarter.

Tulsa stopped the touchdown, but Matt Mercurio kicked a 22-yard field goal — his first collegiate field goal — to get the Spartans back within four with 3:59 left in the first.

San Jose State trailed 7-3 at the end of the first.

Zach Smith cashed in with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Denzel Carter, who scored an eight-yard passing touchdown to extend the lead. Rainey kicked in the extra point to make it 14-3 at 14:53 of the second quarter.

Josh Love found a wide-open Jermaine Braddock for a 23-yard touchdown. The Spartans got within four with 6:31 left in the second. Love also had a 17-yard completion alongside Bailey Gaither.

The Spartans held the Golden Hurricane to a field goal late in the first half. Rainey kicked a 27-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-10 with 2:50 left in the second.

San Jose State trailed 17-10 at the halftime break.

The Spartans stopped the touchdown, but Rainey kicked a 28-yard field goal to make it 20-10 with 3:03 left in the third quarter.

San Jose State trailed 20-10 at the end of the third.

The Spartans continued to struggle with stifling the Golden Hurricane offense in the fourth quarter. TK Wilkerson ran for a three-yard rushing touchdown to extend the lead. Rainey kicked in the extra point to make it 27-10 at 13:21 of the fourth.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Wilkerson scored his second touchdown of the game–a 17-yard rushing touchdown–to extend the lead. Rainey kicked in the extra point to make it 34-10 at 10:12 of the fourth.

Nick Nash scored a 20-yard rushing touchdown to pull the Spartans within 18 with 2:37 left in the fourth. However, it sparked some controversy as the Spartans went for the onside kick and recovered it, the play was under review and the call stood. It was a San Jose State ball.

The Golden Hurricane ran out the clock and the Spartans called it a night. San Jose State (1-1) lost to Tulsa (1-1) by a final of 34-16.

The Spartans have a bye week then take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in Razorback Stadium on Saturday, September 21. Game time TBD.

Raiders report: Did Brown act deliberately so he could join Belichick and the Patriots?

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sfgate.com file photo: Former Oakland Raider Antonio Brown (84) in this August 20th photo tunes up with the team during practice. Brown was signed to the New England Patriots hours after getting released by the Oakland Raiders on Saturday.

By Jerry Feitelberg

You can only speculate and it’s anyone’s guess, but the timing was awfully quick and you might have saw  Oakland Raiders former running back Antonio Brown on video celebrating by running to the distance of close to 50 yards from his kitchen to his backyard fence when he learned that the Raiders released him.

It didn’t take long after learning that after leaving the Raiders he was sought by the New England Patriots. Could it be possible that Brown had foreknowledge that if he could somehow get out from under the Raiders and that he would be able to play for the New England Patriots?

It also was brought up by conspiracy theorists that the Pats rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers who will be facing the Pats for Week 1 this Sunday would have loved to have Brown in for Sunday’s game. Head coach Bill Belichick is always thinking and if anyone doesn’t think he just might have had knowledge of video gate, deflate gate, or any other gate would be naive. Hence, the playbook to get Brown on the Patriots by hook or crook.

Brown, who was signed by the Pats, didn’t make the roster missing the 4 p.m. deadline on Saturday in order to play in tomorrow’s game against the Steelers. Brown, if you watched the video, was just a little too happy upon learning of his release from Oakland, but be as it may, he joins the Patriots for $15 million on a one-year deal.

There is little doubt that the Patriots could use a guy like Brown and when all the fuss of the helmet, the missed practices and walk throughs, suspensions, fines, arguments with Raiders general manager Mike Mayock, photos of his fines from Mayock, recorded conversations with head coach Jon Gruden about wanting to be a Raiders or not, came out it was just a matter of time when Brown would be leaving the Raiders and the Patriots no doubt stood up and took notice.

You could be rest assured Brown will not fuss too much like he did in Oakland once he gets to New England. He won’t fuss about his helmet, going to practice, showing up for meetings, and getting along with Belichick. Let Brown experience just a few Sundays and he’ll be as happy as a clam because he feels like he’s with a real franchise now.

MLB The Show podcast with Matt Harrington: A’s split two from the Tigers and continue to carry in the AL Wild Card

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Photo credit: @Athletics

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 The Oakland A’s made easy work of the Detroit Tigers on Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum in a make game from a rain out from May 29th the A’s played visiting team in Oakland and picked up the game from where it was left off in the seventh inning Chad Pinder in the top of the ninth hit a two run home to help the A’s cap a 7-3 winner.

#2 In the regular game, the A’s got four runs on the board against the Tigers starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull in the bottom of the second inning and there was no looking back from that point as the A’s carried the win improving their wild card record to just a 1/2 game back of the Tampa Bay Rays.

#3 Speaking of the Rays Tampa Bay got a 5-0 shutout over the struggling Toronto Blue Jays. The win helps the Rays hold a 1/2 lead over the A’s in the AL wild card. The Rays have won seven of their last 10 games and are in second in the AL East.

#4 Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer and current Orioles TV analyst was diagnosed with shingles in his spinal column. Palmer did not work Friday night’s game. Palmer said that team doctors have told him to get an MRI, which he plans to do. Palmer is the only surviving starter from the 1971 Baltimore Orioles starting staff, of Dave McNally, Pat Dobson, and Mike Cuellar.

#5 The Boston Red Sox got a win over the New York Yankees 6-1 on Friday night at Fenway Park. It doesn’t lessen the Yankees’ position in the standings, but it was an important win for the Sox anytime they could beat their rival and show a fighting spirit in what’s left in the final weeks of the season. The Sox will take it.

Matt Harrington does the MLB The Show podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.