Month: September 2021

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants nothing but success in Chicago; Host Padres Magic number is 1 can clinch tonight

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San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt sports a taped C for Captain on his jersey which he talked about on the NBC Bay Area post game show Sat Sep 11, 2021 at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs (photo from nbcsports.com)

On Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 For the Giants (93-50) Kris Bryant it was a memorable and emotional return to Chicago (65-79) for him seeing his old teammates, friends, and yes a few Wrigley Field neighbors as the Cubs ran a video tribute in his honor before the game last Friday.

#2 Brandon Belt has certainly earned the C on his Giants road jersey he’s led by example hitting the home run ball with much frequency and has 23 for the season so far hitting .258. He had black electrical tape to his jersey as a C he certainly has earned the honor.

#3 Wilmer Flores returned on Sunday to the Giants after suffering a left hamstring injury. Flores had been used as a pinch hitter and was in the line up against left handed pitching. Giants manager Gabe Kapler is looking forward to getting productive help from Flores.

#4 Giants pitcher Jay Jackson who pitched an opener for the Giants and got rocked in the first inning on Sep 4th for four runs and a hit against the Los Angeles Dodgers was sent down to the Giants triple A Sacramento. Jackson was 2-1 with an ERA of 4.34.

#5 Giants lead in the NL West by 2.5 games over the Dodgers and open a three game series at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the San Diego Padres (74-67) the Padres have been .500 ball while the Giants have won nine of their last 11 games. The Giants still have to be cautious playing a club like the Padres they’ve got some talent.

Marko Ukalovic is filling for Morris Phillips for the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Flores returns in Giants win over Cubs 6-5

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The return of San Francisco Giant Wilmer Flores who made just one appearance against the Chicago Cubs in the three game series paid off as he rounds second after connecting for a two run fifth inning home run at Wrigley Field in Chicago (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Wilmer Flores made his return to the San Francisco Giants lineup and he did not disappoint them at all.

Flores hit a home run and drove in three runs, helping the Giants to a 6-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs to complete the three-game sweep of the Cubs and ended the road trip with a perfect 6-0 record. Prior to the sweeping the Cubs, the Giants opened the road trip by sweeping the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

With the victory, the Giants have now won a season-high games in a row, their longest winning streak since they won seven in a row in August of 2020.

Kris Bryant, who made his return to Wrigley Field for the first time as a visitor and scored two runs in the finale.

The Giants led 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Cubs scored two runs to get within one run and chased Giants starter Logan Webb. Tyler Rogers came on to replace, and got out of the jam, as he struck out Willson Contreras looking and then got Alfonso Rivas to end the inning.

Closer Jake McGee came on to close it out in the bottom of the ninth inning, but gave up a double to Patrick Wisdom, who eventually got to third base; however, McGee ended the game on back-to-back ground ball outs by Frank Schwindel and Ian Happ to Brandon Belt at first base to end the game and McGee picked up his 31st save of the season.

Flores picked a run batted in for the Giants in the top of the second inning and the Giants stretched the lead to 3-0 in the top of the third inning that scored Flores.

The Giants and Flores put two on the board in the top of the fifth inning, as he hit a two-run home run to stretch the lead up to 5-2 and it was the career-high 18th home run for Flores.

Webb went the first six innings plus, allowing five runs (four of them earned), six hits, walking two and striking out five and picked up his 10th win of the season.

Happ hit his 22nd home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning that cut the Giants lead down to 3-2.

Justin Steele pitched the first five innings for the Cubs, as he allowed five runs to the Giants on 11 hits, walking two and striking out four and saw his record fall to 4-4 on the season.

NOTES: Flores was activated from the injured list with a strained left hamstring and so was Austin Slater, who was out with a concussion. To make room for Flores and Slater, Caleb Baragar and John Brebbia were optioned to Sacramento.

This was the first time that the Giants swept a three-game series from the Cubs since September 8-10, 1995, when Sergio Valdez, Terry Mulholland and William VanLandingham were the winning pitchers in that three-game series.

Overall, this was the 11th sweep of the season for the Giants, as this was their sixth series sweep on the road and have five at Oracle Park.

UP NEXT: Dominic Leone will take the mound in the opener of the four-game series against the San Diego Padres on Monday night at Oracle Park. The Padres will send Yu Darvish to the mound, as he looks for his ninth win of the season.

Texas-Sized Problems: A’s bats go quiet at the wrong time in 4-3 loss to the Rangers

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–In a lot of ways, Sunday’s A’s game was lost on Saturday.

The agonizing 4-3 defeat to the Rangers at the Coliseum saw the A’s fall behind 4-0 through four innings, then rally to trail just 4-3 after six. But the final three innings were quiet ones; the A’s went hitless as they failed to even challenge Texas’ slim lead.

And if Sunday was bad, Saturday was worse, thus the conclusion that the struggling club lost whatever momentum it had in a brutal 8-6 loss in which the Rangers wiped out a four-run deficit in the final two frames as the bullpen again failed to hold a lead.

Instead of a potential five-game win streak to pull the A’s within a game of Boston for the second wild card spot, the A’s have lost 17 of 26 and can’t seem to get over the hump. Losing has a wearing effect, especially for a ballclub not blessed with a great deal of depth, and stuck in a rut with its pitching.

What’s clear is the A’s have been afforded opportunities, including this current stretch of nine games against three clubs with losing records. Along with that, the teams in front of them in the standings have flatlined with the Yankees winning just three of their last 10, and the Red Sox at .500 (5-5).

One issue is the Rangers, a team that stands 26 games below .500 after consecutive wins in Oakland, and has found a way–time and time again–to cool the A’s hitters. The season series between the A’s and Rangers concludes with the A’s holding a slim 10-9 advantage, and five of those nine Rangers’ wins have seen the A’s score three runs or less, including Sunday.

Not that the A’s didn’t do good things against the Rangers, most notably hit 34 homers in the 19 games between the clubs, just one home run off their franchise record for home runs against one club in one season. But often it was homer and little else. On Sunday, Yan Gomes homered in the fifth, and Matt Olson in the sixth, but the remainder of the Oakland output was three singles and a walk. A’s hitters in spots six through nine went hitless, drawing the only walk.

It didn’t help that Matt Chapman was unavailable after fouling a ball off his shin on Saturday, or that Mitch Moreland was in Alabama seeking a second opinion on his injured wrist that has sidelined him for two weeks.

James Kaprelian allowed all four Rangers’ runs, and fell to 7-5 on the season in the process. Kaprelian surrendered eight hits and a walk. He was lifted in the fourth by manager Bob Melvin, who probably couldn’t afford to be patient with the season on the line in these final 20 games.

Taylor Hearn went six innings for the Rangers, allowing the two home runs but little else. The reliever turned starter didn’t walk anybody, but gassed out after 80 pitches, a sign his transformation from reliever to starter isn’t yet complete.

The A’s hit the road for six ballgames starting Tuesday in Kansas City, then on to Anaheim for a weekend meeting with the Angels. Frankie Montas will be looking to pick up his 13th win of the season in the opener.

49ers dominate early, hold off Lions late with 41-33

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo throws against the Detroit Lions defense in the second half of action at Ford Field in Detroit during week 1 Sun Sep 12, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Joe Hawkes
Staff Writer

DETROIT, MI — The 49ers scored 17 unanswered points in two minutes in the second quarter, highlighted by a Dre Greenlaw interception return for a touchdown, but narrowly escaped with a 41-33 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

San Francisco (1-0) carried a 38-10 lead early in the fourth quarter and allowed the Lions to to score 23 straight points in a span of three minutes to pull within eight points. But with 12 seconds remaining in the game, the Lions turned the ball on downs at the San Francisco 24-yard line to thwart Detroit’s late rally.

49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo shook off a fumble on the first snap of the game, finished the game 17 of 25 for 314 yards. Garoppolo hooked up with wide receiver Deebo Samuel on a 78-yard touchdown pass after second-year cornerback Jeff Okudah stumbled in coverage.

“We got into a pretty good groove and we were rolling pretty good, but you want to finish better than that,” Garoppolo said. “There was a relaxation on the sideline.

“At the end of the day, it’s a win and we’re happy with that.”

The scoring play gave the 49ers a 28-point lead midway through the third quarter, which they would need.

Samuel had nine catches for a career-high 189 yards, but had a key fumble late in the fourth quarter that gave the Lions hope with a little over a minute left.

Rookie running back Elijah Mitchell, who stepped in for the injured Raheem Mostert (knee), snapped a 7-7 tie with a 38-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter that put the 49ers up 14-7. Mitchell finished with 104 yards rushing.

Tight end George Kittle had four catches for 78 yards.

San Francisco took an early 7-0 lead after rookie quarterback Trey Lance connected with wide receiver Trent Sherfield on a 5-yard score following a play-action pass in the first quarter.

Defensively, San Francisco must tighten up their run defense. The Lions ran through multiple running lanes in the game and racked up a 116 yards on the ground. Defensive end Nick Bosa, who returned to action for the first time since tearing his ACL early last season, had four tackles and a drive-ending sack in the fourth quarter.

Middle linebacker Fred Warner led the team with 11 tackles (8 solo, 3 assisted). San Francisco forced three turnovers off the rebuilding Lions.

In his debut with his new team, quarterback Jared Goff finished 38 of 57 for 338 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Tight end T.J. Hockenson had a career-high eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.

It was third time straight time that Hockenson scored a touchdown in the season-opening game.

Detroit (0-1) recorded 430 yards in total offense, with the majority coming when the 49ers were up comfortably in the second half.

San Francisco held a 31-10 lead at halftime, their highest total after two quarters since 2008.

“We dug ourselves into a really big ditch early against a very good team,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. “We were better in the second half, but that wasn’t good enough.”

On the injury front, the 49ers are holding their breath on the status of starting cornerback Jason Verrett who left the game late in the fourth quarter with a leg injury. According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers believe that Verrett tore his ACL.

Next up for the 49ers: a trip to Philadelphia where they will take on the Eagles in Week 2. Second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts was 27 of 35 for 264 yards and three touchdowns for the Eagles in a 32-6 throttling of the Atlanta Falcons on the road.

NCAA Football podcast with Michelle Richardson: Don’t call him Neon Deion call him coach; Buckeyes shocked by Ducks; Mich St blows out Youngstown

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Oregon Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) threw for 236 yards against the Ohio State Buckeyes in NCAA action on Sat Sep 11, 2021 in Columbus (photo from Yahoo Sports)

On the NCAAF podcast with Michelle:

#1 Former NFL great and Hall of Famer and current head coach at Jackson State Deion Sanders insists that everyone call him coach that includes media, alumni, fans, and especially his players. Sanders said that doctors, nurses, and other have earned their title and so has he. Sanders even walked out on a media scrum when a reporter who refused to to address him as coach. Is Sanders correct on insisting that he be called coach?

#2 Michelle, how surprising is it that the Ohio State Buckeyes ranked #3 lost to #12 Oregon 35-28. The Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown threw 17 for 35 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks scored for 14 points in each of the second and third quarters and the Buckeyes just couldn’t get any offense going.

#3 For Michigan State Spartans (2-0) no contest on Saturday as they upended Youngstown State Penguins (1-1) 42-14. The Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne was throwing all day the only time he got any rest was when his back up Anthony Russo came in at the end of the game to give him a rest. Thorne was 15 for 21 for 280 yards and had four touchdowns.

Michelle’s Final Thoughts

Join Michelle for the NCAA podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Hawkes: Critics say that Lance not ready for prime time

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Former NFL quarterbacks and TV analysts are saying Trey Lance (5) needs more time before becoming a starting quarterback as Jimmy Garoppolo (10) is expected to start this season for the San Francisco 49ers (file photo mercurynews.com)

On the 49ers podcast with J Hawkes:

#1 Joe, just going through some former NFL quarterback and TV analyst analysis regarding San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance and should he be getting time or as much time under center as starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo first we ask you is it too soon and too fast to put Lance in there right now?

#2 Former quarterback and NBC analyst Chris Collinsworth said that Lance is turnover worthy and that his number of interceptions are down in pre season because defenders dropped the balls.

#3 Former New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees said that Lance is a ways off from getting the starter job and will need to continue to learn from Garoppolo.

#4 Garoppolo who gets the start this morning against the Detroit Lions is looking forward to the opener. Garoppolo who had injuries in the past season is looking for a healthy 2021 with the hope that the line could give him some time to throw the ball.

#5 Joe, the Detroit Lions will be looking to starting quarterback Jerod Goff to help light a fire for this team. The Lions had a rough season last year going 5-11. Matt Stafford quarterbacked most of their games and this year they’ll be expecting a lot from Goff who takes the reigns in Detroit.

Join Joe Hawkes Sundays for the 49ers podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Las Vegas Raiders/Monday Night Football podcast with Rich Perez: Quarterback controversy Raiders Carr and Ravens Jackson not elite

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr meets with the media at the Raiders Henderson Nevada facility on Wed Aug 25, 2021 (photo from the Las Vegas Review Journal)

On the Raiders podcast with Rich:

#1 Rich the buzz still is warm from last week’s First Take program when ESPN’s Keyshawn Johnson said that he doesn’t care what anybody thinks and that he likes Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and that Carr is an elite quarterback. Rich in your opinion how far has Carr got to go from being considered an elite quarterback.

#2 Of the elite quarterback class that was listed in the conversation Aaron Rogers, Pat Mahomes, Russell Wilson, and Tom Brady no one would be too shocked if you mention them for Hall of Fame caliber talent.

#3 Rich, talk about the benefit the Raiders got not using Carr in any of the pre season games and head coach Jon Gruden staying on the side of caution to prevent injuries to Carr and back up Marcus Mariota.

#4 Will defense be in question for the Raiders this season. The Raiders allowed a lot of scoring and Carr got sacked quite a bit towards the end of last season.

#5 First game of the season the Raiders host the Baltimore Ravens at Allegiant Stadium and once again First Take and ESPN’s Stephen Jackson chimed in on Ravens quarterback LeMar Jackson regarding being an elite quarterback to which Stephen A said “Not Elite!” and he also added, “Until you can throw that football accurately under duress period” he won’t be in the elite class.

Join Rich Perez for the Raiders podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford’s big 2nd and 3rd quarters route USC 42-28 in the Southland

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The Stanford Cardinal cornerback Kyu Blue Kelly makes an acrobatic lunge into the end zone after returning a 31 yard interception off USC Trojan quarterback Kedon Slovis in the second half of Sat Sep 11, 2021’s game at USC in Los Angeles (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Stanford Cardinal (1-1) quarterback Tanner McKee threw for two touchdowns, went 16-23 for 234 yards in the Cardinal’s first win of the season over their Southern California opponents the USC Trojans (1-1) 42-28. The Cardinal scored 14 points in each of the second and third quarters that helped lead them to victory.

The Cardinal were coming off a opening day loss from last Sat Sep 6th to Kansas State 24-7 and wanted badly to make amends. They shocked the oddsmakers who had USC favored and who were ranked No.14. The Cardinal’s wide receiver Nathaniel Peat had 115 yards and caught a 87 yard touchdown pass from McKee and the Cardinal Kyu Blue Kelly picked off a USC quarterback Kedon Slovis pass for 31 yards for a touchdown that sparked and inspired the Cardinal in the victory.

Stanford head coach David Shaw had his team prepared this week after the Cardinal took that tough loss to Kansas State and the taste of that game was still in their mouths from opening week and the improved offense on Saturday night against the USC defense made things just a little bit satisfying for Shaw and McKee.

McKee had some good looks from the Kansas State opener after starting quarterback Jack West struggled to start that game. McKee did himself well against USC throwing for touchdowns to receivers Elijah Higgins and Brycen Tremayne in the fourth quarter that put Stanford ahead of USC by 29 points.

This was the Cardinal ninth win out of the last 14 games with the Trojans and the Cardinal defense kept the pressure on Slovis all night who went 27-42 for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception. USC running backs Keaontay Ingram and Darwin Barlow each carried for a touchdowns but the effort was far short with McKee and the Cardinal pouring it in on offensively all night.

The loss snapped the Trojans nine game winning streak which carried over from last season, the Trojans won their opener on Sep 6th handling a very talented San Jose State team 30-7. That Trojan win looked as if it was going to set the tone for Saturday night’s game against the Cardinal but the Cardinal defense held Slovis and the Trojans offense from any developing opportunities and the Cardinal came into this game after studying film from the Trojans last game.

It was so bad for the Trojans that they even had their kicker Parker Lewis ejected from the game on the opening kick off for targeting his tackle. Despite that back up kicker Alex Stadthaus wound up kicking two field goals and two extra points flawlessly.

Next week USC will head to Pullman and face the Washington State Cougars at 12:30 pm on Sat Sep 18th and Stanford will conclude this three game road trip at Vanderbilt (2-1). The Commodores are coming off a close 24-21 win against Colorado State Saturday. Kickoff between Stanford and Vanderbilt is 5:00 pm PDT Sat Sep 18th.

TCU edges Cal 34-32; Horned Frogs Johnston catches 2 TDs

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Quentin Johnston (1) wide receiver of the TCU Horned Frogs makes for the end zone out pacing the Cal Bears linebacker Evan Tattersall (54) for one of his two touchdowns this one coming in the second half at Fort Worth in week 2 of the NCAA season (AP News photo)

By Michael Duca and Morris Phillips

It was a close contest in Forth Worth on Saturday but the Cal Bears (0-2) couldn’t hold off the TCU (2-0) Horned Frogs and Quentin Johnston who scored two touchdowns as TCU edged Cal 34-32. TCU quarterback Max Duggan threw three touchdown passes was 17-31 for 234 yards and threw only one interception.

Duggan hit Johnston for the go ahead score in the fourth quarter to give TCU the two point advantage. In the fourth quarter both Cal and TCU scored 13 points each the difference was earlier in the game when the Horned Frogs scored 14 points to make it 19-14 Cal in front by five at the half. That lead was erased when the Horned Frogs scored a touchdown in the third quarter to take the lead 21-19.

The Bears with the loss are winless through the first two weeks of the season after they lost to the Nevada Wolfpack last Sat Sep 6th 22-17. Johnston made the fourth quarter catch with 9:53 left in the ball game a 45 yard catch under pressure Johnston twisted away from one Cal defender at the 30 yard line and another Bears defender missed taking down Johnston falling at the 10 and Johnston ran home free the rest of the way.

Johnston ran for 95 yards after making five catches he made every catch count in very close knit game against the Golden Bears “I think I speak for the whole team when I say this … we were very excited when he caught it,” said running back Zach Evans. Johnston said that he’s more than a tall lanky receiver but a threat to the defense that can down field and score and he did three times.

The Bears quarterback Chase Garbers threw 16-27 for 309 yards, and two touchdowns good enough to win most ball games but TCU just got enough scoring to get by the Bears. Garbers had a decent first half for Cal Berkeley throwing for 234 yards in the first half of action.

Garbers in four plays in the first half had 199 yards out of the 234 yards going for 49, 54, 28 and 68 yards. Garbers moved the ball so well in the first half the Bears scored six in the first quarter, 13 in the second quarter to take that 19-14 first half lead and they made it close in the fourth quarter matching TCU with 13 points each but fell short.

The Bears go back to the drawing board as they prepare to host the Sacramento State Hornets (1-1) in their home opener. The Hornets are coming off a tough loss to Northern Iowa on Saturday night in Sacramento. Kick off on Sat Sep 18th at Cal 1:00 pm PDT

Earthquakes earn 1-1 draw with FC Dallas

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FC Dallas defender (24) gives the ball a header to try and get it away from the San Jose Earthquakes forward Cristian Espinoza during the second half of action at Toyota Stadium in Frisco on Sat Sep 11, 2021 (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

FRISCO, Texas.—The San Jose Earthquakes scored early but couldn’t hold their lead in the second half as they battled to a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas on Saturday evening at Toyota Stadium.

San Jose are unbeaten in 11 of its past 12 matches. FC Dallas are 1-1-2 in its past four games.

San Jose (6-8-9-27 points) drew first blood early in the match when FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges was whistled for a hand ball inside the box for a penalty kick in the fourth minute.

Oswaldo Alanis converted the penalty firing a shot right right down the middle as FC Dallas goalie Phelipe Megiolaro guessed wrong and dove to the left in the sixth minute. Alanis scored his second goal of the season. Both of his goals have come on the penalty against FC Dallas.

FC Dallas (6-10-8-26 points) generated quality scoring chances in the first 45 minutes against San Jose. However Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski frustrated the home team by stopping each scoring chance that resulted on a shot on goal. Marcinkowski’s best save came in the 40th minute when Jesús Ferreira was open in the middle of the box. Ferreria’s shot attempt was knocked away at the last second by the right hand of Marcinkowski. The ensuing rebound was cleared away by San Jose.

FC Dallas won the possession battle with a 60%-40% edge and generated 12 shot attempts in the first half.

FC Dallas scored the equalizer early in the second half as they carried the momentum they had in the first half to start the final 45 minutes. Justin Che serviced the ball inside the box where Ricardo Pepi headed home the ball past Marcinkowski for his team leading 12th goal of the season in the 50th minute.

San Jose came within inches of regaining the lead in the 58th minute. Chofis sent in a corner kick over to a wide open Chris Wondolowski on the left side. The All-time goal scorer in MLS history sent a header off the crossbar and the rebound was cleared away by FC Dallas.

Two minutes later, Marcinkowski was a thorn in Ferreira side once again as he stoned Ferreira’s shot attempt from point-blank range in the 60th minute.

Both teams had scoring chances late in stoppage time but neither converted their free kicks.

Marcinkowski was the man of the match as he finished the match with six saves on seven shots on target. Megiolaro made one save on two shots on target.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with five corner kicks. FC Dallas had eight.

Each team were issued two yellow cards.

The Quakes hold an all-time record of 29-20-18 against FC Dallas, including an unbeaten record of 4-0-4 in their last seven meetings. That unbeaten streak includes four matches played at Toyota Stadium (2-0-2).

UP NEXT: San Jose returns home to host Real Salt Lake on Wednesday 9/15 at 7:30pm