Month: April 2022

A’s Pache Continues Hot Start with 7-5 Saturday Win at Toronto

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The Oakland A’s Cristian Pache is thrilled after getting the game winning home run in the top of the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sat Apr 16, 2022 (The Canadian Press via AP News)

A’s, Pache Continues Hot Start with 7-5 Saturday Win at Toronto

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

The no-name A’s continued their quick start to the 2022 season on Saturday by beating old friend Matt Chapman and the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 on the road.

Spring time accusation Cristian Pache belted a go-ahead two-run long ball in the 9th to spear head the win to improve Oakland young season record to 5-4.

Catcher Sean Murphy also went deep for the A’s. The win went to righty reliever Danny Jimenez who pitched a perfect 8th. Lou Trivino notched his second save.

The win snapped Oakland’s six game losing streak to the Jays dating back to last season.

Hot prospect Pache was acquired during spring training in a trade from Atlanta that sent slugger Matt Olson Southbound.

With Oakland tied 5-5, Pache walloped a 1-0 Julian Merryweather fastball over the right field fence for his first Oakland round tripper to put Oakland up 7-5.

“I noticed that he was throwing a lot of breaking balls so I paid attention to that,” the exciting rookie said through an interpreter after the game. “I also saw that he was throwing a lot of curveballs so I made sure not to miss any of the fastballs and I went out there and I didn’t miss.”

Merryweather took the loss.

Earlier, Chapman whacked his second homer and Zack Collins sailed his first on consecutive pitches from A’s right-hander Domingo Acevedo in the 6th as the Blue Jays to over come a 5-2 deficit.

Oakland took a 3-1 lead in the 2nd when they strung four consecutive hits off Toronto starter Hyundai Jin Ryu to take a 3-1 lead.

Murphy, who doubled and scored in that frame, made it 5-1 with a two-run 451 poke to center field seats in the 4th.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Isles Bossy was a goal scorer and a four time cup champion passes at 65; Rangers Shesterkin throws shutout against Red Wings; plus much more

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The late Mike Bossy skated for the New York Islanders between 1977 to 1987 was a four time Stanley Cup Champion winner (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt, it’s hard to believe that former New York Islander Mike Bossy has passed at 65 years old. Bossy has suffered from lung cancer. Bossy was a goal scorer and a four time cup champion winner.

#2 Matt, the New York Rangers didn’t waste anytime making work of the Detroit Red Wings with a 4-0 shutout at Madison Square Garden Saturday. Igor Shesterkin in goal stopped 20 Red Wing shots for the shutout and left winger Alexis Lafreniere scored twice.

#3 Nashville Predators are hard to hold back as they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in a Saturday matinee. The Preds got scoring help from Mikael Granlund who got a goal and an assist. The win strengthens the Predators in the Western Conference wild card.

#4 The Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry is week to week with a lower body injury. Jarry didn’t practice Friday morning at the skate he stopped 36 shots on Thursday against the New York Islanders he has a 2.42 goals for the season in the win over the Isles 6-3.

#5 Black on ice officials with Jordan Samuel Thomas and Shandor Alphonso it was the first time that two black officials worked together in NHL history. Shout out to the San Jose Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center who participated in the historic game on Thursday night.

Join Matt for the NHL podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ebobisse’s brace help Earthquakes draw with Nashville SC 2-2

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Nashville SC and the San Jose Earthquakes played to a 2-2 draw at Pay Pal Stadium in San Jose on Sat Apr 16, 2022 (photo from San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Jeremy Ebobisse is using 2022 as a showcase season.

Ebobisse recorded his second brace of the season as the San Jose Earthquakes came back twice to settle for a 2-2 draw with Nashville SC on Saturday afternoon at Pay Pal Stadium.

San Jose, despite remaining are winless in their first seven matches, earned another point and have earned a point in their last three home matches. Nashville SC has points in three straight matches.

This was the first match between the two clubs as Nashville SC entered the MLS as an expansion team in 2020.

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda welcomed back his best defender to the starting lineup in Nathan. The Brazilian fullback played in his first match since the opener when he suffered a lower body injury in the first half.

Nashville (3-2-2) drew first blood late in the first half. Former Quake Anibal Godoy fed Hany Mukhtar at midfield off of a turnover. Mukhtar dribbled all the way in, untouched, and beat Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski with a right footed shot into the right corner for his first goal of the season in the 38th minute.

San Jose (0-4-3) had a couple of chances earlier in the opening 45 minutes, including a shot from Cristian Espinoza from inside the box in the 16th minute, but it was easily handled by Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis.

San Jose’s luck changed early in the second half. A handball by Danile Lovitz in the 51st minute set up a free kick from 20 yards out.

Ebobisse bent in a perfect ball into the left corner of the net past Willis for his team leading fourth goal of the season in the 52nd minute to score the equalizer.

“It’s a team that does not give up,” said Ebobisse. “We’re a team that always play to the final whistle. We always believe we can turn this game around.”

Nashville SC regained the lead in the 63rd minute. CJ Sapong’s header off a throw in caromed over to an unmarked Mukhtar along the left side. The German native used a diving kick into the empty net for his first brace of the season.

The Earthquakes took advantage of another set piece. A corner kick from Jamiro Monteiro found its way to Jan Gregus who poked the ball back into the middle and Ebobisse chipped it into the back of the net for his fifth goal and second brace of the season.

Marcinkowksi finished with two saves on five shots on target. Willis made three saves on five shots on target.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with eight corner kicks. Nashville SC had one.

This was Nashville’s first MLS match against a team from California.

The Earthquakes are off to the worst start in club history with just three points from their first seven games. San Jose is the 10th team in MLS history to have fewer than three points after six games, while only three teams have had two or fewer points through seven games in league history.

UP NEXT: San Jose host the Seattle Sounders on Saturday 4/23 at 7:00pm at Pay Pal Park.

Canucks take down Barracuda with 4-3 overtime win in the ‘Cuda’s home season finale

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They battled hard but no cigar for the San Jose Barracuda in a one goal loss to the visiting Abbotsford Canucks at Solar4 America in San Jose on Fri Apr 15, 2022 (image from the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Justin Dowling scored the second of his two goals in overtime to help the Abbotsford Canucks defeat the San Jose Barracuda 4-3 on Friday evening at Solar4America Ice at San Jose.

Dowling scored the game winning goal when Justin Bailey centered a pass in front of the crease where Dowling beat ‘Cuda goalie Alex Stalock with a one-timer for his third goal of the season at the 3:14 mark of overtime.

San Jose ended its home schedule on a 11-game losing streak, which also extended its franchise worst losing streak to 12 games (0-10-2). Abbotsford is undefeated in the month of April with its five-game winning streak and sit fifth in the Pacific Division with 76 points.

The Barracuda (20-39-4-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to a pair of special team’s goals from Lane Pederson.

Artemi Kniazev found Perderson in the right slot and he beat Canucks goalie Spencer Martin with a wrist shot to the short side for a power play goal, his eighth of the season, at the 7:37 mark.

Antoine Morand found Pederson down low near the left of the crease and Pederson chipped the puck into the net for a short-handed goal, his second of the game at the 12:45 mark.

Abbotsford (35-21-5-1) answered back with two power play goals early in the second period to even the score in a span of 2:36.

Dowling scored his first goal of the night after cleaning up a rebound off of a John Stevens’ shot for his second goal of the season at the 5:59 mark.

Then the second-best power play in the AHL took advantage of another Barracuda penalty. Sheldon Rempal sneaked a shot past a screened Stalock for his 29th goal of the season at the 8:35 mark.

The Canucks scored its third unanswered goal early in the third period to take its first lead of the game. Chase Wouters won a clean face off back to Devante Stephens who wired a wrist shot past Stalock for his third goal of the season at the 2:53 mark.

San Jose scored the equalizer at the 12:16 mark. Jake McGrew led an odd man rush up the ice and sent a rink wide pass to Kyle Topping in the left slot. Topping skated and beat Martin with a wrist shot to the far side for his second goal of the season.

Martin finished the game stopping 22 of the 25 shots he faced to beat the Barracuda for his 19th win of the season. Marin was 4-0 versus San Jose this season. Stalock suffered his eighth straight loss as he made 24 saves on 28 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-5 on the power play. Abbotsford was 2-for-4.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Pederson 2) Rempal 3) Topping

San Jose went 3-5 against Abbotsford in the season series.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda finish their season on a three-game road trip. They travel out to Bakersfield to take on the Condors on Wednesday 4/20 at 7:00pm at Mechanics Bank Arena.

Rodón strikes out nine, Giants use power to beat Guardians 4-1

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Carlos Rodon threw heat against the Cleveland Guardians seen here in the first inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Fri Apr 15, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Friday, April 15, 2022

One year after throwing a no-hitter against Cleveland (4-3), Carlos Rodón turned in his second strong start of the season for San Francisco (5-2) on Friday, going seven innings in the Giants’ 4-1 victory over the Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Rodón (1-0) – who no-hit Cleveland as a member of the Chicago White Sox on April 14, 2021 – needed only 47 pitches in the first five innings and threw 68 pitches through six. After working out of a seventh-inning jam, Rodón wound up surrendering one run on two hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.

Camilo Doval picked up his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth. Tyler Rogers was credited with his third hold, throwing a scoreless eighth.

The Gants provided Rodón with plenty of offensive support, as Brandon Crawford, Joc Peterson and Joey Bart all hit home runs. Crawford, playing his first career game in Cleveland, hit a blast to right for his first homer of the season. He’s homered in 24 different ballparks.

Peterson’s second home run as a Giant – No. 150 for his career – traveled 410 feet to right-center off Guardians starter Zach Plesac ()-1). Bart added a two-run shot in the eighth.

Rodón’s fastball reached a high speed of 99.3 mph, hitting 99 on the gun in his final two innings. His 21 punchouts lead the Majors, and Rodón is second on the franchise list for most strikeouts in his first two starts of a season. Cliff Melton holds the team record with 22 K’s in first two starts in 1937 for the New York Giants.

This was Cleveland’s first home game as the Guardians after being known as the Indians for over 100 years. It occurred on Jackie Robinson Day, marking the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier.

In Saturday’s game, the Giants will go with Anthony Desclafani (0-1, 4.91), while the Guardians have Cal Quantrill (1-0, 3.60) on the hill. First pitch is at 2:10 PDT.

Oakland Drops Series Opener to Blue Jays 4-1

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Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr., right, thanks the Almighty for his solo home run in the first inning against the Oakland A’s at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Fri Apr 15, 2022 (Canadian Press via AP photo)

Oakland Drops Series Opener to Blue Jays 4-1

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (4-4) have been on a tear taking a series from the Tampa Bay Rays three games to one. The hits have been coming unlike the first few games where they failed to score in the early innings. Oakland has also been knocking the ball out of the park regularly with runners on base.

They opened the series with the Toronto Blue Jays (5-3) for three games at Rogers Centre Friday night with a 4-1 win. The A’s saw a familiar face in the Blue Jays lineup in this game. It was the first game that Oakland faced former A’s third baseman Matt Chapman.

Ross Stripling took the mound for Toronto and Daulton Jeffries Daulton got the nod for Oakland.

The Blue Jays got on the board with two runs in the early innings. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a home run for a 1-0 Toronto lead in the first inning. The Blue Jays would carry that momentum into the second inning with a Santiago Espinal double driving in Raimel Tapia for a 2-0 lead.

The A’s would make some noise in the sixth inning. With runners on first and second and one out Chad Pinder would single to center driving Tony Kemp home and getting the A’s on the scoreboard. Oakland would get one run on three hits to end the top of the sixth inning. They trailed the Blue Jays 2-1.

Jefferies would pitch through four innings before being relieved by Justin Grimm. Oakland’s Sam Moll would relieve Grimm in the middle of the sixth inning.

The Blue Jays would extend their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Zach Collins singled driving in Guerrero. Toronto took the lead 3-1 going into the seventh inning.

The Blue Jays really went to work in the seventh inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled bringing George Springer home for a 4-1 lead. Adam Kolarek would relieve Zach Jackson with the bases loaded. He would strike out Bradley Zimmer and Santiago Espinal would ground out to Kolarek. The Oakland pitcher had minimized the damage with a single run.

Oakland had their last chance in the ninth inning. Christian Bethancourt and Stephen Vogt would both strike out and Seth Brown grounded out in a flat performance in this game. There would be no rally for Oakland this time.

Tomorrow the A’s will play the second game of this series at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Paul Blackburn will be taking the mound for the A’s and for the Blue Jays Hyun Ryu will get the nod. First pitch is schemed for 12:07.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s score often and score early; Team shocks oddsmakers with 3 out 4 series win over Rays

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Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier loses sight of the ball hit by the Oakland Athletics Sean Murphy in the top of the third inning at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay Thu Apr 14, 2022 (AP News photo)

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Jerermiah, No one would have predicted after the Oakland A’s (4-3) dealt Starling Marte, Mark Canha, Sean Manaea, Matt Olson, Chris Bassitt and Matt Chapman that they would open the season on the road winning four of their last seven games going 4-3.

#2 To open the season on the road the A’s lost their first two games to the Philadelphia Phillies and the critics were saying “here we go” as the oddsmakers had the A’s finishing in the bottom of the cellar but something sparked them as they now have won four of their last five games.

#3 In Tampa Bay (4-3) the A’s opened the four game series on Monday with a 13-2 win, on Tuesday they nearly won that contest but lost by a run 9-8, on Wednesday they got a three run homer out of catcher Sean Murphy and excellent pitching from Frankie Montas in a 4-2 win, and Thursday soundly beating the Rays 6-3 on some solid hitting.

#4 The A’s scored early and often on Thursday getting three runs in the second and a run in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings. Is this a matter of some smart sabermetrics or just some sound fundamental hitting from the A’s line up,

#5 The A’s will be starting Daulton Jefferies (1-0 ERA 0.00) going up against the Toronto Blue Jays (4-2) Ross Stripling (0-0 ERA 9.00) at Rogers Centre in Toronto tonight. The Blue Jays have been playing some good ball of late how do you see this match up tonight to open the series.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Daniel Dullum: An interesting newsworthy homestand this week for the Giants

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San Francisco Giants first base coach Antoan Richardson (left) and San Diego Padres third base coach Mike Schildt (right) address what Richardson said were racial overtones said to him by Schildt on Tue Apr 12th’s game. Schildt said that racial overtones was not his intent. (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Daniel:

Daniel, on Tuesday night against the San Diego Padres the Giants were running away with the game 10-1 when all of a sudden it was announced that Giants first base coach Antoan Richardson was ejected from the game for instigation.

After the Giants had stole a base and bunted with the nine run lead things got hot as the Padres felt the Giants were piling on. Padres third base coach Mike Schildt too exception to the Giants extra handiwork and started trading words with the Giants dugout more specifically with Richardson when Schildt barked to Giants manager Gabe Kapler to “control this motherf—-er.”

Richardson then came out of the dugout and then was told by third base umpire Greg Gibson to back in the dugout when Richardson didn’t get back to the dugout he was thrown out of the game. Richardson said the words of Schildt had the undertones of racism.

The next day Wednesday Schildt wanted to clear up the misunderstanding with Richardson and the two spoke behind the batting cage and later both addressed the media. Schildt said it was not his intention to make Richardson feel what he said was racial in anyway.

Richardson said the impact of those words had racial undertones because how the words are perceived in the black community and that words can have an impact on a person of color and their community.

After the ejection of Richardson, Giants coach Alyssa Nakken took over coaching over first base for Richardson making Nakken the first woman first base coach in Major League history. Nakken was in the batting cage which is located downstairs behind the Giants dugout was asked to come coach first base.

Nakken said looking past the historical significance of being the first woman to coach in a big league game at first base saying, “Right now in this moment as I reflect back, I reflect back to somebody needed to go out, we needed a coach to coach first base, our first-base coach got thrown out. I’ve been in training as a first-base coach for the last few years and work alongside Antoan, so I stepped in to what I’ve been hired to do, is support this staff and this team,” 

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

Giants Are Good, But What About Their Competitors?

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–When your ballclub’s won 111 of their last 168 regular season contests, you don’t lose sleep at night. But just how comfortably do you sleep?

Starting with the hated, rival Dodgers, the Giants clearly have company at the top. The Padres are in the mix as well making the NL West arguably the toughest division in baseball. Both teams dipped into their wallets to beef up their lineups with San Diego adding slugger Luke Voit, and the Dodgers acquiring Freddie Freeman.

The Giants prioritize bringing back their division-winning lineup from 2021, and they did so with the exception of letting Kevin Gausman walk in free agency and seeing iconic catcher Buster Posey abruptly retire.

The result? The Giants aren’t widely considered to be the club to repeat atop the NL West putting them squarely in the position to prove themselves once again.

Internally, the Giants aren’t necessarily at odds with how prognosticators see them. President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi would likely admit his 2021 club arrived a year or two ahead of schedule. In keeping with that mentality, the off-season was not as eventful as eager fans would have preferred. The team’s big acquisition was both below the radar and measured. White Sox starter Carlos Rodon was given a two-year deal likely as safety measure acknowledging the hurler’s recent injury history.

Instead of splashy, the Giants appear content to roll out their youthful talents like LaMonte Wade Jr., Joey Bart and Heliot Ramos. From a pitching perspective, the Giants are prepared to weather growing pains from closer Camilo Doval in an attempt to see what top-end talents they can unearth from within. It’s a wise approach, and one Zaidi and his staff have doubled down on after their early successes.

Consequently, 107 more wins isn’t the goal, but consistent play in part featuring the younger Giants led by starter Logan Webb is. That won’t scare the Dodgers, Padres, Mets or the World Champion Braves. But the Giants hope it’s enough to command their attention.

If the Giants perform, the trade deadline could be interesting. They have the wherewithal to make additions to boost their program in August and September.

Sharks Fall to Blackhawks 5-4 in Shootout

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Chicago Blackhawks center Dylan Strome (17) scores against San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer, left, at the United Center in Chicago on Thu Apr 14, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks fell 5-4 in a shootout to the Blackhawks in Chicago on Thursday. Patrick Kane, Taylor Raddish, Calvin DeHaan, and Dylan Strome scored for Chicago. Kevin Lankinen made 33 saves for the win. Timo Meier, Scott Reedy, Rudolfs Balcers, and Jaycob Megna scored for San Jose.

James Reimer made 28 saves in the loss. Going into the game, the Sharks had lost seven in a row and the Blackhawks had lost eight in a row. The win was fortuitous, as the game was the last for long-time (39 years) Chicago broadcaster Pat Foley.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner talked about missed opportunities in this game and other recent losses. He said he would like to know “how many breakaways we’ve had probably in the last ten games, either five-on-five, short-handed. Shoot-outs, all those situations, you know, two nights ago in Nashville, Tommy Hertl. We missed a few breakaways in Vancouver. So those are golden opportunities to shift the momentum and we haven’t been able to take advantage of that.”

Patrick Kane gave the Blackhawks a lead at 2:03 in a three-on-one attack. Kane, arriving at the side of the net received, the pass from Dylan Strome and tapped the puck over the line. Assists went to Strome and Alex Debrincat.

Timo Meier tied it up at 4:45. Brent Burns took a shot from the point. Tomas Hertl redirected it and it went off of a Chicago defender, bouncing right to Meier, who shot it in off of the far post. Assists went to Hertl and Burns.

Taylor Raddish scored for Chicago on the power play at 13:35 of the second period. Assists went to Seth Jones and Patrick Kane.

Scott Reedy tied it 2-2 at 15:53. Matt Nieto passed the puck to a trailing Reedy who took the shot up the slot through traffic. The puck went in off of the crossbar. Assists went to.

The NHL reviewed a play at 17:14 after the Blackhawks celebrated, thinking they had a goal. But Reimer twisted around to reach for the puck and sweep it out while it was still on the red line. Before play resumed, Nicolas Meloche and Jake McCabe seemed ready to fight but the officials intervened and gave them each four minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Blackhawks scored during the ensuing four-on-four at 18:42. Patrick Kane sent the puck at the net just as Calvin DeHaan was passing in front of the blue paint for a neat redirection. Assists went to Kane and Debrincat.

Dylan Strome made it 4-2 Chicago at 4:45 of the third. Four Blackhawks entered the zone, and four passed the puck across the ice before Strome took the shot from just below the circle. Assists went to Seth Jones and Alex Debrincat.

Rudolfs Balcers cut the lead back down to one with a goal at 5:40. With a scramble going on in front of the Chicago net, Balcers found the puck out front. He took his time to set up and shoot the puck up over the prone goaltender. Assists went to Logan Couture and Erik Karlsson.

Jaycob Megna tied the game at 16:35, after a flurry of shots from the Sharks late in the third. Megna caught a rebound at the bottom of the circle and shot the puck into the far side. Assists went to Meier and Hertl.

After a scoreless overtime, James Reimer saved shots from Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, but gave up a goal to Alex Debrincat. Kevin Lankinen stopped shots from Tomas Hertl, Logan Couture and Erik Karlsson.

Alexander Barabanov did not skate after he took a body check early in the first period, but he returned for the second period. Radim Simek also left early the first period, returned for two shifts before the end of the period and then did not return for the second. Matt Nieto sustained an upper-body injury at the end of the second period but returned for the third.

The shot count was close in the first and second periods, 22-20 Sharks. In the third, the Sharks stepped on the gas and out-shot the Blackhawks 13-6. In OT, the Blackhawks had four shots to the Sharks’ one. In the face-off circle, the Sharks took a beating, winning only 36% of the draws.

The Sharks next play on Saturday in Dallas against the Stars at 5:00 PM PT.