Month: June 2021

Chicharito’s brace leads Galaxy over Quakes 3-1 in Cali Classico

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The Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond looked about as surprised as the San Jose Earthquakes offense did standing in front of the net after Bond stopped a shot at Pay Pal Park in San Jose on Sat Jun 26, 2021 (@LAGalaxy photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE–Chicharito scored two goals and the Los Angeles Galaxy cruised to a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park in the second installment of the California Classico.

Los Angeles have won three out of its last four matches, including two against San Jose. The Quakes have lost two matches in a row and are winless in their last four.

This was the first game where Pay Pal Park has been at full capacity for attendance since the 2019 season.

The Galaxy (7-3-0) drew first blood early in the second half. Samuel Grandsir serviced the ball from the right side into the middle where an unmarked Chicharito raced in and one-timed the ball past Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski for his ninth goal of the season at the 11th minute.

Despite having a 60%-40% edge in possession, San Jose (3-7-1) weren’t able to generate any quality scoring chances in the first 45 minutes of the match.

Los Angeles generated quality scoring chances with counter attacks that had San Jose on its heels during the first half including a shot from Grandsir from the left side of the box that Marcinkowski saved from going into the back of the net in the 41st minute.

“I think the team looked different compared to the last game,” said Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda. “They uncovered their identity. We keep making the same mistakes where we have to restart in the middle (of the pitch).”

San Jose had a chance to score the equalizer in the 49th minute but Chofis’s shot hit off the right post.

The Galaxy doubled its lead a minute later on an almost identical goal. Once again Chicharito was left unmarked by the Quakes defense and one-timed a shot after receiving a centering pass from Kévin Cabral for his team leading 10th goal of the season at the 50th minute.

Almeyda inserted 17-year sensation Cade Cowell from off the bench in the 54th minute and he immediately provided a spark for the anemic offense.

In the 57th minute Chofis had the ball inside the box, did a spin-o-rama before firing a shot just to the outside of the night on the right side. Then two minutes later Jackson Yueill’s shot from 15 yards out was saved by Galaxy goalie Jonathan Bond.

To add insult to injury, the Galaxy received its third goal thanks to a gift from Florian Jungwirth. Cameron Dunbar serviced a ball into the middle and the ball hit off the foot of Jungwith and rolled into an empty net in the 70th minute.

The Quakes spoiled Bond’s shutout bid in the 82nd minute when Chofis found Cowell just inside the D box and the sophomore forward beat Bond with a left footed to the lower left corner of the net for his third goal of the season.

San Jose broke a 258 minute score-less draught with Cowell’s goal. The last time they had scored in a match was against Sporting KC on 5/22/21 when Chofis scored the opening goal in the fourth minute.

Bond made two saves on three shots to earn the victory. Marcinkowski made one save on three shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose had five corner kicks. LA had two.

San Jose was issued a yellow card at the 40th minute when Almeyda kicked a ball back onto the field before a free kick.

UP NEXT: The Quakes travel out to St.Paul to began a three-game road trip as the take on Minnesota FC on Saturday 7/3 at 5:00pm at Allianz Field.

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Matt Harrington: Habs and Bolts drop the puck Monday night in Tampa Bay

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The Tampa Bay Lightning pose for a post game photo with the Prince of Wales Trophy for winning the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Islanders in game 7 on Fri Jun 25, 2021 in Tampa Bay (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt, let’s take you through the game sevens before we talk about the big match up on Monday night between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. The Lightning coming off a 3-2 overtime loss against the New York Islanders in game 6 with the series tied got a narrow win over the Isles 1-0 on Friday night.

#2 Tampa Bay goaltender Andre Vasilevskiy stopped all 18 shots by the Islanders for the shutout 1-0. The shutout marked his fourth shutout in these playoffs.

#3 The Lightning are starting to look like a dynasty of sorts this is their second straight trip to the finals in two seasons and you can just look at the job they did not only in the regular season but post season that this is a team on a mission.

#4 The Lightning will be hosting the first game of the Finals on Monday night against the visiting the Montreal Canadiens tell us about some of the players to look for on both sides.

#5 The goaltenders for this series is brining lots a thrills into these finals for the Canadiens Carey Price he’s been key to saving a lot of games for the Habs especially during the Vegas Golden Knights series and for the Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andre Vasilevskiy.

Join Matt during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast on Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants take Game one of the Bay Bridge Series 2-0

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San Francisco Giants starter Johnny Cueto delivers a fifth inning pitch to the Oakland A’s at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri Jun 25, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

After a quick two-game road trip that saw the San Francisco Giants sweep the Los Angeles Angels, they returned home to face another American League West team.

Curt Casali, who was a late replacement for Buster Posey hit a big solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the Giants defeated the Oakland As 2-0 before a paid crowd of 36,928 in the re-opening day for the Giants. This was the ninth win in 10 games for the Giants, who are now a Major-League best 49-26 on the season.

Johnny Cueto went seven strong innings, allowing just five hits, walking one and striking out six, as he raised his record to 6-3 on the season.

The Giants got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Brandon Crawford drove in Wilmer Flores with a single off of eventual losing pitcher Sean Manaea.

Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee came on in the eighth and ninth innings, to finish off the Giants 11th shutout, tops in the major leagues.

Rogers gave up a hit and struck out two before giving way to McGee, who struck out former Giants outfielder Skye Bolt for his 15th save of the season.

Manaea went six innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking three and striking out seven and allowed picked up a single and a double in his only at-bats, before he was replaced by Mitch Moreland, who flew out off of Cueto in the top of the seventh inning.

The double by Manaea was his first hit since the 2018 season.

The Giants could muster only five hits off of As pitching, as Mike Yastrzemski, Wilmer Flores and Mauricio Dubon picked up the other three hits on the evening.

When Crawford drove in Flores with the first Giants run of the evening, it was the 50th run batted in for Crawford on the season.

It was a tough night on the bases for the As, as they left nine runners on base and went `1-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

NOTES: Brandon Belt was placed on the 10-day disabled list (retroactive to June 24) with inflammation in his right knee. Lamonte Wade, Jr., was recalled from Sacramento to Belts place on the Giants roster.

Posey was scratched due to back stiffness.

The ceremonial first pitches prior to the game were thrown by San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who threw to Giants manager Gabe Kapler and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf threw the first pitch to former Giants reliever and current As reliever Sergio Romo.

UP NEXT: Alex Wood takes the mound for the Giants, while the As will send Frankie Montas to the mound.

Cueto and Giants shutout A’s on five hitter in 2-0 win

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Oakland A’s hitter Tony Kemp takes one in the back in the third inning against the San Francisco Giants on Fri Jun 25, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

Oakland 0 – 6 – 0

San Francisco 2 – 5 – 1

By Lewis Rubman

Friday, June 25, 2021

SAN FRANCISCO–The battered Oakland Athletics, limping back to the bay area after splitting a four game series with the last place Texas Rangers and dropping two out of three to the struggling Yankees, announced more discouraging news before tonight’s game in San Francisco. Mark Canha went on the ten day injured list thanks to the left hip strain he suffered early in Wednesday’s game in Arlington.

Canha’s modest batting average of .255 belies his value to the A’s. His OBP is .264, and his OPS , .826, second on the team only to Ramón Laureano’s .844.

He has been an effective lead off hitter, and was third in the league in runs scored when he was injured. The human bull’s eye was hit by 13 pitches and started games at all three outfield positions and as the designated hitter. He also has seen service in the infield.

His replacement will be Vimael Machín, who is as versatile, if not as accomplished, as Canha. He was with the A’s for about a month earlier this season and appeared in only nine games, going 1 for 20. He played second, third, and short.

He has played outfield and first base as well and, of course, could be used as a DH, which would be extremely unlikely. He hit .300, with seven doubles, three triples, three home runs and 28 RBI in 31 games for Las Vegas.

The Giants had their own bad news on the injury front. Buster Posey was a last minute scratch because of back stiffness.

The A’s started the game at 46-31, two games behind the division leading Astros, who were rained out in Detroit, and a game in front of the surging Mariners.

They were up against the winningest team in major league baseball. The Giants, at 48-26, took a 4-1/2 game lead over the Dodgers and Padres into the contest. They sent veteran right hander Johnny Cueto (5-3, 4.05) against Oakland’s ace, southpaw Sean Manaea (6-3,3.01).

The resut was a hard fought pitcher’s duel that the Giants eventually won, 2 -0.

The teams traded zeroes for a couple of innings, and then, with two down in the top of the third, events took an interesting turn. Manaea got the A’s first hit, splitting the gap between Mike Yaztremski in right and Mauricio Dubón in center and huffing and puffing his way to second base for a double.

Then Tony Kemp, batting in the lead off spot in Canha’s absence, followed Canha’s footsteps by getting hit by a pitch Matt Chapman loaded the bags on a slow grounder to short that Brand Crawford coluldn’t handle and which was scored—correctly—as a hit. This brought Matt Olson to the plate. Cueto got him to fly out to center, ending the game’s first serious threat.

But it was the Giants who drew first, and, it turned out, only blood. Wilmer Flores lined a two out double into the left field corner, and Crawford, who entered the game fourth in the National League in runs batted in, drove him home with a single, also to left. It was the Giants´ shortstop´s 50th RBI of the season.

He hada chance to drive in more when he came up with two out on two on two frames later, but he popped an infield fly. It bounced off the heel of Chapman’s glove, but an infield flyis an infield fly, and it didn’t look as if the A’s third baseman were trying to fool Darin Ruf, the runner on second.

Manaea left the game trailing 1-0 in the top of the seventh when Mitch Moreland pinch hit for him and flew out to left. The A’s stater had gone six innings, allowing that one (earned) run on three hits and three walks. He struck out seven Giantsand threw 93 pitchees, 64 for strikes.

It was a good outing, and he complimented it by going two for two at the plate, adding an infield single in the fifth to go with his third frame two bagger. He was took he loss, bringing his record to 6-4, 2.91.

Curt Casali greeted Cam Bedrosian, who took over for Manaea in the home seventh, with a booming home run over the National Car Rental advertisment in left field. The ball left home plate at 104 mph and travelled 378 feet. It was his first round tripper of the year.

Bedrosian left after surrendering a Texas League single to Dubón and retiring Alex Dickerson, pinch hitting for Cueto, on a fly to left. Deolis Guerra then took over on the mound for Oakland. He ended the inning by getting Steven Duggar, pinch hitting for Slater, to ground into an around the horn double play.

Cueto’s line was seven shut out innings of five hit ball, in. which he allowed one walk and hit one batter. Of his 102 pitches, 67 were counted as strikes, he would be credited with the win, giving him a 6-3, 3.63 record for the. year. The right handed submariner Tyler Rogers took over for him in the eighth and reetired the side on one hit.

Southpaw Jake McGee put the A’s away in the ninth, allowing only one base runner, Elvis Andrus, who got to first on an error byFlores. That was McGee’s 15th. save of 2021.

Saturday’s game is scheduled to start at 7:05, with Frankie Montás (7-7, 4.79) going against Alex Wood (6-3, 4.09)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Sixth time was the charm for Tauchman on Wednesday night

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San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Tauchman struck out five times before hitting a grand slam in the 13th inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Wed Jun 22, 2022 (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 San Francisco Giant (48-26) outfielder Mike Tauchman had struck five times before getting a 13th inning opportunity to hit a game winning grand slam against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night. Tauchman was just warming up in those previous five at bats.

#2 Tauchman said after Wednesday night’s game when he was coming to the plate “Please God put something in play” and got the kind of hit that he wanted.

#3 Michael big rally in that top of the 13th the most Giants runs scored in extra innings in the team’s history you got to see a little history in the making there.

#4 On the pitching side of it starter Kevin Guasman whose been having all sorts of success went seven innings, one run and four hits another good outing for Guasman.

#5 The Giants open up a three game series at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday against the Oakland A’s (46-31) the A’s will be starting Sean Manaea (6-3 ERA 3.01) going for the Giants Johnny Cueto (5-3 ERA 4.05)

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Manaea to start for A’s against Giants Fri; A’s get great outing from Bassitt Thu

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Oakland A’s starter Sean Manaea will start for the A’s on Friday night against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park (AP News file photo)

#1 The Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt supplied a great start pitching seven innings and surrendering only one run to pick up his eighth win against two loses against the Texas Rangers on Thursday.

#2 Bassitt has had a number of great outing this season he’s walked only three batters and struck out four and has been keeping hitters off balance in particular Thursday’s game against the Rangers.

#3 The A’s who had lost two games against the Rangers after winning on Monday really wanted to come away with a split rather than lose three out of four games in Texas.

#4 The bullpen was of big help after Bassitt’s departure in the seventh as Jake Diekman and Lou Trivino pitched in the eighth and ninth innings to mop up.

#5 The Oakland A’s open a three game series in San Francisco on Friday the A’s will send out starter Sean Manaea (6-3 ERA 3.01) and the Giants will start Johnny Cueto (5-3 ERA 4.05) at Oracle Park to open a three game series.

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants open 3 game series in SF with A’s; Belt back on IJ with leg injury

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San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt seen in this Sat Jun 19, 2021 photo after hitting a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies and congratulated by third base coach Ron Wotus will be on the injured list after suffering a leg injury against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim on Wed Jun 23, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

After sweeping the Los Angeles Angels in a two-game series to strengthen their position as the best team in the league with a 48-26 record, the San Francisco Giants enjoyed Thursday off. The Giants sit 4 games ahead of the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

The only bad news for the Giants from Wednesday was that first baseman Brandon Belt could be going back on the injured list. Belt suffered a possible leg injury while trying to score the go-ahead run when a throw to third base got away from the Angels’ Anthony Rendon. Giants manager Gabe Kapler said after the game that Belt injured his right knee and would get an MRI.

Belt’s apparent injury comes after he missed 11 games this season due to a left oblique strain. The Giants’ offense will suffer if Belt is indeed placed back on the injured list. With the team being off on Wednesday, there was no word on Belt’s condition, so fans will have to wait until Thursday to find out his status.

The Giants host the Oakland A’s for the first of three games in the Bay Bridge Series on Friday at 6:45 p.m. The crowd at Oracle Park is expected to reach close to full capacity, and be the biggest since 2019 before the pandemic. The Giants and A’s are two of the best teams in the league. The A’s (46-31) are second in the AL West and lost two of the first three games in the series against the Texas Rangers but won on Thursday. The Giants have won three straight games.

San Francisco’s starting pitcher on Friday will be Johnny Cueto, who has 68 hits, 27 earned runs and allowed eight homers, 11 walks, 47 strikeouts and has a 4.05 ERA across 60 innings this season. Meanwhile, Oakland will start with Sean Manaea, who has 84 hits, 29 earned runs and allowed eight homers, 21 walks, 89 strikeouts and has a 3.01 ERA across 86.2 innings.

A’s Bassitt shuts down Texas offense Oakland split the four-game series win 5-1

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Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt allowed only one run in seven innings pitched against the Texas Rangers on Thu Jun 24, 2021 at Arlington (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (46-31) needed to beat the Texas Rangers (27-48) Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Things have not gone for the Green and Gold on the ten-game road trip. The A’s were 2-4 coming into the game.

The A’s fell two games behind the rampaging Houston Astros in the race for first place in the AL West. Bob Melvin’s guys had to find a way to beat the young Texas team. Currently, in last place in the AL West, the Rangers beat the A’s twice in the series.

They scored eight runs in the first game, six in the second, and five last night. Bob Melvin knew the A’s had a chance to win as he sent out his ace, Chris Bassitt, to do the pitching. Bassitt entered the game with a record of 7-2. He gave the A’s what they needed. Bassitt went seven innings and allowed one run and five hits. He won his eighth game of the year 5-1 over the Rangers in Arlington, and it appears that Bassitt might be heading to this year’s All-Star game in Denver on July 13th.

The Rangers sent their promising lefty, Kolby Allard, to the hill to face the A’s. The A’s greeted him by putting three runs on the board in the first inning. With one out, Matt Chapman singled to start the rally. Chappie advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Matt Olson singled to send Chapman to third. Ramon Laureano doubled to plate Chapman with the A’s first run, Olson stopped at third base on the play. Olson scored the second run of the inning when Chad Pinder ground out 5-3. Jed Lowrie singled to drive in Laureano. The A’s led 3-0 halfway through the first inning.

The Rangers scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the second. Bassitt hit Rangers’ left fielder Eli White, leading off the inning with a pitch. White scampered to third on the play. Bassitt retired Willie Calhoun for the first out. The next hitter, Nick Solak, grounded out. White scored on the play. The A’s lead was now 3-1 after two innings.

Kolby Allard settled down. In the next five innings of work, he allowed just one and four hits. Jed Lowrie took Allard deep in the top of the fourth. Lowrie, hitting right-handed-blasted a 430-foot home run over the centerfield fence. It was Jed’s sixth dinger of the year. 

Oakland added a run in the top of the seventh. Josh Sborz was now pitching for Texas. A’s catcher, Aramis Garcia, singled to start the rally. Tony Kemp, who replaced Mark Canha in left field in the second inning, doubled to send Garcia to third. Sborz uncorked a wild pitch, and Garcia trotted home with the A’s fifth run.

Lefty Jake Diekman pitched a scoreless eighth, and Lou Trivino finished up, shutting the Rangers down in the ninth. The A’s win 5-1.

Game Notes and Stats: The A’s are now 46-31 for the season with the win. The A’s will either be one game or two games back, depending on what the Astros do against the Detroit Tigers later Thursday evening. 

Chris Bassitt was the man for Oakland Thursday. Bassitt improved to 8-2, and his ERA dropped to 3.25. In his seven innings of work, he allowed one run and five hits. He walked three, struck out four, and hit a batter. 

The hitting stars for Oakland were Jed Lowrie, Matt Olson, and Aramis Garcia. Lowrie had a single, homer, and two RBIs. Olson and Garcia each had two hits. The A’s finish the road trip with three games against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park starting Friday night. The Giants will open the park to full capacity Friday night, and a big crowd is anticipated. The A’s will have left Sean Manaea handle the pitching chores. Manaea’s is 6-3 with a 3.01 ERA. Johnny Cueto will go for the Giants. Cueto is 5-3 with a 4.05 ERA. The game will start at 6:45 pm. Let the Battle of the Bay begin!!!

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Mary Lisa: Canadiens could wrap up series with Knights in Montreal tonight

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Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) scrambles to reach the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber (6) at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Tue Jun 22, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 After taking a tough loss on Sunday in Las Vegas to the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 to even the series 2-2 the Montreal Canadiens rebounded on Tuesday night with a convincing 4-1 win over the Knights to take a 3-2 series lead and taking the series back to Montreal giving the Canadiens home ice tonight.

#2 The Habs on Tuesday night executed a successful offensive plan against the Knights at the T Mobile Center on the Las Vegas strip with a goal in the first period, scoring twice in the second period unanswered making it 3-0 after two periods getting the Canadiens off to a quick start.

#3 Scorers in game five for the Canadiens in the first period at 8:45 Jesperi Kotkaniemi, second period Eric Staal scored his second goal of the playoffs at 6:32 and Cole Caufield at 9:49 scored his third goal of the playoffs for the Habs quick 3-0 lead. Mary Lisa talk about the contribution of these players they really kept the Canadiens in it in this tight series.

#4 Mary Lisa, talk about the job that Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has done between the pipes he certainly kept the Knights out of this one allowing one goal and stopping 26 shots on Tuesday and the Canadiens will be dependent on his performance in game 6 in Montreal if their going to get by the Knights.

#5 Game 6 is the big one for the Knights its win big or go home their going to need some offense from their top skaters that they lacked in game 5 and for goaltender Marc Andre Fluery to keep busy between the pipes in Vegas and the Canadiens will look to their some of their top scorers Josh Anderson, Nick Suzuki, and Tyler Toffoli and goalie Carey Price just to set up tonight’s game for you.

Join Mary Lisa for the NHL Stanley Cup podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s to conclude four game series with Rangers today

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The Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy gets a greeting from teammates after hitting a solo homer in the top of the seventh inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wed Jun 23, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 For a very brief period in Wednesday night’s game the Oakland A’s (45-31) held a 3-2 lead over the Texas Rangers (27-47) in Arlington. The A’s had scored three times in the top of the seventh inning to overtake a Rangers 2-0 lead.

#2 The 3-2 lead disappeared quickly after the Rangers scored twice in the bottom half of the seventh taking over the lead once again 4-3.

#3 In that bottom of the seventh when the Rangers took over the lead A’s reliever Yusmeiro Petit allowed two earned runs on two hits in one inning of work and that was all the Rangers needed to win it. For Petit it had to be a tough outing to lose the lead like that.

#4 Talk about Rangers slugger Adolis Garcia who was the offensive star for Texas on Wednesday hitting two solo home runs hard to keep a good hitter down.

#5 The A’s conclude this four game series with the Rangers today at Globe Life Field the A’s will send out starter Chris Bassitt (7-2 ERA 3.40) and the Rangers will start Kolby Allard (2-2 ERA 2.93) the A’s have lost two of the last three games with the Rangers and are hoping for a split.

Join Jerry for the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com