Month: September 2022

Big first inning sparks Giants to 10-4 win over Snakes

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San Francisco Giants Evan Longoria (10) gets a warm welcome from teammate Mike Yastrzemski after slugging an two run homer in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Fri Sep 30, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Friday, September 30, 2022

San Francisco batted around in the first inning and didn’t let up in the Giants’ 10-4 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks Friday at Oracle Park.

The fifth straight win for the Giants kept their slim playoff hopes alive for at least one more day. A win by either Milwaukee or Philadelphia in the next two days will eliminate San Francisco from contention for a National League Wild Card berth.

The Giants hit four home runs in the contest, along with a Little League homer by Joc Pederson in the second inning. Evan Longoria hit a three-run home run in the first inning and added a two-run shot in the second. It was Longoria’s 21st multi-home run game of his career.

Christian Walker’s RBI single in the top of the first put the Diamondbacks up 1-0, but the Giants sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs. The rally started when Pederson led off with a walk and scored on Mike Yastrzemski’s double to right.

In the Giants’ second, Pederson hit a high fly ball to right, where it caromed off the wall and rolled toward centerfield. Arizona second baseman Josh Rojas chased the ball down, but his throw eluded shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and Pederson kept running and scored on what was ruled a triple and an error.

Arizona cut the Giants lead to 7-3 in the top of the fourth on a run-scoring single by Emmanuel Rivera and Perdomo’s sacrifice fly to left. Yastrzemski hit a two-out home run to right in the bottom of the fourth, extending San Francisco’s lead to 8-3.

Rojas’ two-out RBI single in the fifth pulled the Diamondbacks to within 8-4. San Francisco scored two more runs in the sixth on a solo home run by Austin Wynns and a sacrifice fly by Wilmer Flores.

Yastrzemski, Longoria, Pederson and Wynns each had two hits in the Giants’ 12-hit attack.

Giants starter Alex Cobb (7-7) struck out five and issued one walk in five innings. He also lowered his ERA to 3.79.

Longtime Giants nemesis Merrill Kelly (13-8) took the loss.

The Giants and D-Backs meet Saturday afternoon. Probable starters were yet to be announced.

Sharks Split SquadTunes Up Vegas 7-3

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San Jose Sharks defenceman Matt Benning (5) and right winger Timo Meier (28) celebrate after a goal at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas against the Vegas Golden Knights on Fri Sep 30, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matt Harrington

A split-squad contingent of the San Jose Sharks topped the Vegas Golden Knights 7-3 at T-Mobile Arena Friday night in Las Vegas. Danil Gushchin had a hat trick and Erik Karlsson, Matt Benning, Jonah Gadjovich and Luke Kunin also scored.

James Reimer made 27 saves and Timo Meier dished out four assists. Karlsson scored his first of the preseason 6:26 into the game with Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier picking up the assists. Vegas Answered back with 1:30 left in the frame on Jack Eichel’s second goal of the preseason.

Gushchin scored his first of the game and second of the preseason on the power play 5:35 into the second period. Benning and Gadjovich also scored for three unanswered goals until Reilly Smith’s power play goal with 6:26 pulled Vegas within two at 4-2.

Gushchin restored a three-goal lead just over two minutes later.Eichel’s second goal of the game 51 seconds into the third made it 5-3 but Gushchin’s third goal and a Luke Kunin power play goal with 8:12 left completed the scoring. San Jose’s power play converted on both chances.

Up next for the Sharks is an exhibition against German Leauge side Eisbären Berlin October 4th in Berlin then the season opener Friday against Nashville in Prague.

Ducks win one for Vaakananien 4-1; First Sharks loss of the pre season

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The San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks faced off in pre season action at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Fri Sep 30, 2022 (@AnaheimDucks photo)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ September 30, 2022

~ ANAHEIM– After losing Urho Vaakanainen to a scary collision midway into the first, the Ducks propelled forward in front of a crowd of 13,616, backing goalies John Gibson and Anthony Stolarz over the San Jose Sharks’ split squad Friday.

Though Vaakanainen had to be stretchered off after his momentum literally headed him into the boards, he fortunately had full consciousness and movement as he eventually made it to UCI Medical Center.  

Four was the magic number this time in a reversal of fortune between tonight’s game and the teams’ last meeting on Tuesday. Anaheim matched their goal total from that game (preseason high), which they lost 5-4, but this time the one goal they relinquished was a low for San Jose this preseason along with their first loss. 

Both of the Sharks’ split squad games started at 7pm, with the other half playing Northeast in Vegas, winning 7-3 over the Golden Knights with Danil Gushchin´s hat trick.

The Ducks scored first at 9:46 but the celebration was short-lived as this was when Vaakanainen got hurt after securing the primary assist. Derek Grant´s goal was his first of the preseason and Max Jones had the secondary assist. 

Three missed shots and two penalties later from San Jose, Anaheim took advantage as Max Comtois made it 2-0. Comtois scored over goalie Kappo Kahkonen´s right shoulder two seconds after Kahkonen saved Ryan Strome´s shot on the left. The Ducks had strung together eight shots since the Sharks’ last shot and Comtois´ goal occurred on the fourth shot of the 5-on-3 power play. Strome and Troy Terry obtained their second assists of the preseason.

Just over a minute later, Anaheim made their lead triple. With a defender in front, Frank Vatrano was able to score from the inside edge of the left faceoff circle. 

The Sharks finished the period with the last five shots. 

Forty-four seconds into the second, San Jose kept rolling as they obtained a power play advantage.  The teams then traded as it became a period of penalties. with Derrick Pouliot called for slashing at 3:30, Drew Helleson holding at 6:02, and Comtois and Montana Onyebuchi simultaneously served at 10:05. 

Logan Couture broke through Gibson´s wall, when he scored during the holding penalty, making it 3-1. Nathan Beaulieu took the goal back though during even strength at 9:21 as he pulled up going down the slot.

Stolarz took Gibson´s spot and the Ducks then committed and fought through three straight penalties, one 37 seconds into the penalty at 12 minutes and the third at 15:29. 

The period ended with the Sharks called for the last penalty of the second, with 31 seconds left. 

In the extra free shootout for fun, Couture was second up for San Jose and scored again, but Anaheim won it in the fifth round. 

Game notes: With these last games stateside over for the Sharks, just more than half of the team will reunite after cuts, before they head to Berlin, Germany as part of the 2022 NHL Global Series Challenge. San Jose will first face Eisbaren Berlin Tuesday October 4 to cap the preseason before starting the 2022-2023 regular season in Europe as well.

Mariners Clinch Playoff Spot In Walk-Off Win Over Oakland 2-1

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Seattle Mariners Ty France swings for a first inning double off Oakland A’s pitcher Ken Waldichuk at T Mobile Field in downtown Seattle on Fri Sep 30, 2022 (AP News photo)

Mariners Clinch Playoff Spot In Walk-Off Win Over Oakland 2-1

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Oakland A’s (56-100) took on the Seattle Mariners (85-70) in the first game of their three game series. The Mariners won it tonight to clinch a playoff spot so Seattle is in the post season with a 2-1 win over Oakland. They needed to win one of their final six games to play in the post season.

Friday game recap: Ty France doubled in the first inning driving in Dylan Moore giving Seattle the early 1-0 lead. The A’s Shea Langliers hit a solo homer in the second inning to tie up the game. That tie would stand going into the ninth inning.

This game ended in dramatic fashion with a walk off win for the Mariners giving them their sixth playoff spot. For the first time in 20 years the Mariners were headed to the postseason. With two outs, and a full count Cal Raleigh homered to right and that was the ball game 2-1. T-Mobile park was packed and 44,754 fans got to celebrate this incredible moment that was a long time coming.

Oakland pitcher Ken Waldichuk had a terrific game. He went five innings allowing three hits, one run and had eight strikeouts. Austin Pruitt took over in the sixth inning allowing no hits and no runs. A.J. Puk pitched the seventh inning. Domingo Acevedo was the closer in that ill-fated ninth inning.

The Mariners Logan Gilbert went eight innings for the first time in his career. He allowed three hits and one run with four strikeouts. There was some terrific pitching from both clubs.

The A’s will send JP Sears to the mound in the second game of this series. His ERA is 4.22 and his win/loss record is 6-3. Seattle will send Luis Castillo. He has a 3.06 ERA and a 7-6 win/loss record. First pitch will be at 1:10 PM PT.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Will Garoppolo run all day or have time to throw on Monday Night Football

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo looks for a receiver against the Denver Broncos in first half action at on Sun Sep 25, 2022 at Empower Field in Denver (AP News Photo)

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 After that last game that saw 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo scrambling and looking for daylight and getting the second loss of the season in Denver the question the media was asking during 49ers practice in Santa Clara this week was is the 49ers season in danger?

#2 What are the differences between their win against the Seattle Seahawks and their loss to the Broncos.

#3 Garoppolo seemed like he just simply couldn’t move the offense and struggled to get inside the red zone he also missed a lot of his passes going 18-29 for 211 yards and one touchdown.

#4 The 49ers will try and get back in the win column on Monday Night Football a big stage against a big team at Levi Stadium the Los Angeles Rams who are coming off a huge win against Arizona Cardinals 20-12. The Rams have won two straight games. How do you see this match up on Monday Night?

David Zizmor filled in for Marko Ukalovic for complete podcast coverage of the 49ers Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s 2022; 1979 All Over Again

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Former Oakland A’s centerfielder Tony Armas was part of the 1979 A’s (photo from sportsmemorbilia.com)

A’s 2022: 1979 All Over Again

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

They say ‘history repeats itself’ and such is the case with this 2022 Oakland A’s team who lost their 100th game as they got swept in Anaheim by the Angels on Thursday night. However, with six games remaining in the season they will not match the 108 losses of the1979 A’s (the worst year since they play in Oakland in 1968).

I remember 1979 because I was broadcasting all weekend games and other selected games for Spanish radio, I covered them. And if you saw these guys play, you remember also; the outfield was Rickey Henderson (rookie) in left field, Dwayne Murphy in center, and Tony Armas in right, also Miguel Dilone, Mitchell (The Rage) Page, and Glenn Burke.

You might remember these guys also, Mike Heath and Jim Essian, Jeff Newman, sharing the catching position, and others around the infield like Mario Guerrero, Rob Picciolo, and Mickey Klutts. And let us not forget the pitching staff with Mike Norris, Matt Keough, Brian Kingman, Mike Morgan, Rick Langford, and others.

Jeff Newman led the A’s power in 1979 hitting .231 with 22 home runs and 71 runs batted in. Rick Langford was the work-horse of the rotation starting 29 games with a record of 12-16 and 4.28 ERA, pitched 218 2/3 innings struck out 101, and walked 57.

That 21-year rookie playing left field that made it to the Hall of Fame, after playing for 25 years, was Rickey Henderson who that season played 89 games, stole 33 bases and went on to steal a major league record 1,406 bases.

Unlike today where the A’s (as the majority of teams televise all their games) in ’79 the team only televised selected games. As a matter of fact owner Charlie O Finley didn’t even signed a regular radio station as their English flagship to broadcast the games. He sold the rights for $1 to the University of California (Berkeley) campus radio station, with just a few watts of power, the signal was “very limited”.

In 1979 the Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum was a lonely place. Only 306,763 paid during the whole season to see the A’s, 3,984 fans at home, the worst attendance since leaving Philadelphia. Their attendance that year was doomed from the very beginning. On April 17, when they played the Seattle Mariners at the Coliseum 250 people showed up to see that game.

The 1979 Oakland A’s finished in 7th Place (cellar) with 54-108 and 34 games out of the first place California Angels.

A year later, 1980 Charlie O Finley agreed to sell the Oakland A’s to Walter A. Haas, Jr., president of Levi Strauss & Co, a local historic company with headquarters in the Bay Area. Finley sold the team for $12.7 million. The deal was finalized before the 1981 season.

The future of the Athletics hangs in the balance. In the next few months, this coming winter if they cannot come to a final agreement with the City of Oakland to build the proposed new ballpark at Howard Terminal, Oakland, chances are they are gone for good.

Regardless of the final decision, they will still have to play at the Oakland Coliseum in 2023 and maybe (maybe) 2024 when their lease expires. It is also possible the team could announce early next year, that they are leaving because they could not come to an agreement with the city. In that case, then 2024 could be played in another park, while the new park at location X, not in Oakland, is under construction.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio at LeGrande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Ohtani just flat out had the A’s off balance Tuesday; A’s and Angels close out series in the Big A tonight

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The Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani rubs up the baseball during the top of the eighth inning to face the Oakland A’s at the Big A in Anaheim on Thu Sep 29, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Was the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani just on or were the A’s hitters just off on Thursday.

#2 Talk about how Ohtani’s pitches were just working against the A’s line up who by the way have been struggling.

#3 Ohtani picked up his 15th win of this season and has been lights out on both sides of the baseball with his pitching and hitting will he win the MVP again this season or will New York Yankees Aaron Judge who just tied Roger Maris for the AL all time home run leader get the MVP?

#4 After retiring 22 straight batters Ohtani in the eighth faced the A’s Conner Capel who broke up the no hitter with a hit that deflected off Angels shortstop Livan Soto’s glove and into leftfield in the top of the eighth.

#5 Tonight the A’s will head up to Seattle to take on the Mariners. Ken Waldichuk (1-2, 7.15) will take the mound for Oakland. Seattle will start Logan Gilbert (13-6, 3.29). First pitch will be at 6:40 PM PT.

Jeremiah did the A’s podcasts Thursdays for the 2022 season and will return next Thursday for the Sacramento Kings podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Warriors Kickoff Pre-Season In Tokyo Beating Wizards 96-87

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The Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (left) and the Washington Wizards Rui Hachimura (right) are presented before their game in Tokyo on Thu Sep 29, 2022 (@Warriors photo)

 

Warriors Kickoff Pre-Season In Tokyo Beating Wizards 96-87

By Barbara Mason

The NBA preseason got underway a world away last night in Japan. The World Champion Warriors took on the Washington Wizards in a two game series.

Friday night a sellout crowd in Tokyo got to see not only the defending champion Golden State Warriors but they also got to see Japan native Rui Hachimura who is a starter for the Wizards. He understandably got a huge round of applause from the crowd when introduce along with the Wizard starters.

It has been awhile. In fact, the last time a preseason series was played was back in 2019, that game a contest between the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors.

Fans got to enjoy the play of not only the starters but the bench as well. None of the Warriors played more than 20 minutes in this game and going into the third quarter both teams were digging deep into their benches.

The Warrior’s James Wiseman, after missing all of last season, played 24 minutes and had the high score with 20 points, He hit on eight of 11 shots and had nine rebounds on his return. It could not have gone better for Wiseman after so much missed time. The high score for the Wizards was Hachimura with 13 points and nine rebounds. Wiseman and Hachimura were the only players to finish in double digits.

It’s early and it’s the preseason and so there were the expected early turnovers and erratic passes. Both teams shot under 33% in the first half and by game’s end they finished under 37%. Despite the less than stellar shooting, the crowd enjoyed a game that they will remember for a long long time. They got to see some of the world’s greatest players and they showed their appreciation with thunderous applause throughout the game.

Klay Thompson did not play in this game and Jordan Poole started in his place. The team continues to be cautious with Thompson since his return last January after suffering a torn ACL and a ruptured Achilles which sidelined him 2 1/2 season. He will not play in this series.

The second game of this series will be played on Saturday with tipoff at 10:00 PM on NBA TV.

Ford’s Drive: Rookie’s grand slam propels Giants to 6-4 win over the Rockies

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Improbably, the Giants avoided post-season elimination for the second night in a row.

While the Giants drubbed the Rockies for a team-record eighth, consecutive time, winning 6-4, the Phillies lost to the Cubs, and Brewers lost at home the Marlins.

Of the 18 clubs that will be parked in front of their TV screens when the playoffs commence on October 7, 15 have already ordered food from their preferred, delivery service. The Giants aren’t one of them, and that’s a good thing. Officially, they’re still battling.

“We’ve still got a chance, I guess,” Carlos Rodon said. “A lot of things have got to go our way, but all we can control is us winning.”

An upbeat, engaged Rodon maybe as valuable to the Giants as any late-season surge. In winning for the 14th time as a Giant, Rodon was flawless, allowing two hits and striking out 10 in six, scoreless innings of work. With each impressive outing, it becomes more and more apparent that the Giants will want to consummate a long-term deal with Rodon, and make him the most, prominent free agent signing in the Farhan Zaidi era, pending Aaron Judge’s decision, of course.

While the Rockies started six rookies on Thursday night, making Rodon’s path less Rockie, the Giants started one, Ford Proctor, who essentially won the game. Proctor’s second inning, grand slam off Ross Feltner increased the Giants lead to 5-0 and erased whatever doubt regarding the game’s outcome early. Proctor, who started his trip around the bases in a reserved manner was an absolute teenager with a huge smile on his face when he crossed the plate, in celebration of his first Major League home run.

“The fastest I’ve ever run around the bases, I know that,” Proctor said. “This past week has been a whirlwind. Just trying to take it all in and enjoy it.”

Kelly Tomlinson was the last Giant to have his first home also be a grand slam in 2015, and Brandon Crawford also achieved the feat in 2011, when his slam was also his first Major League hit.

Eight different Giants had at least one hit in the ballgame including pinch-hitter Austin Slater, who doubled and later scored in the seventh.

Very little went wrong for the Giants individually or collectively until the ninth inning when Jharell Cotton fell into trouble in his third inning of relief. Yonathon Daza and Alan Trejo singled to open the inning, giving Colorado runners at first and third. With one out, C.J. Cron’s sacrifice fly scored Daza with the Rockies’ first run.

That flurry forced Gabe Kapler into his bullpen and Sean Bouchard greeted John Brebbia with a two-run homer off Brebbia’s first pitch. Two batters later, Elehuris Montero tripled home Michael Toglia and the Giants’ lead was trimmed to 6-4.

Camilo Doval came on to face Ezequiel Tovar as the tying run and Doval retired Tovar to end the game.

The Giants welcome Arizona to Oracle Park for their final, three home games starting Friday night. Alex Cobb will face the Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly in the opener.

Angels Sweep Oakland Winning 4-2 A’s 100th loss of the season

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Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani delivers to the Oakland A’s lineup at the Big A in Anheim in the first inning on Thu Sep 29, 2022 (AP News photo)

Angels Sweep Oakland Winning 4-2 A’s 100th loss of the season

By Barbara Mason

Thursday night the Oakland A’s (56-100) faced Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels (70-86) in game three of their series. The A’s were trying to avoid a sweep but with Ohtani on the mound for the Halo’s it would turn out to be a tall order.

Los Angeles got on the scoreboard early in this game. Luis Rengifo homered and Ohtani singled driving in Mike Trout for a 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, Taylor Ward homered extending the Angels lead 3-0. The Halo’s knocked a third home run out of the park in the sixth inning off the bat of Max Stassi now leading 4-0. Los Angeles had 12 hits through six innings and the A’s were still looking for their first hit in this game. They were not even close to figuring Ohtani out who already had eight strikeouts.

Ohtani was looking for his 15th win of the year which looked more and more likely as this game wore on. Going into the seventh inning his pitch count was at 72 and still no hits for Oakland.

In the eighth inning the A’s Connor Capel got the A’s their first hit of the game. Next up at the plate was Dermis Garcia who got a second hit for Oakland. The A’s had put an end to Ohtani’s bid for a no-hitter.

The A’s loaded the bases in the ninth inning and Nick Allen scored off a Seth Brown ground out to second. Jonah Bride scored on a wild pitch but it was too little too late. The final was 4-2 and unfortunately this was loss number 100 for the A’s. They were swept but avoided getting shutout. This was the second time in A’s history that they lost 100 games in a season.

It was a tough start for Oakland’s Cole Irvin. He went four innings and allowed nine hits, three runs with six strikeouts. Collin Wiles relieved him in the fifth inning. He got the job done allowing only one hit and no runs. Norge Ruiz relieved in the sixth and seventh innings allowing three hits and one run. Sam Selman would close for Oakland.

The A’s will finish the season against the Angels after their series with the Mariners. Those final three games will be played at the Coliseum. Will we see Shohei Ohtani in that series? We will have to wait on that one.

Friday night the A’s will head up to Seattle to take on the Mariners. Ken Waldichuk (1-2, 7.15) will take the mound for Oakland. Seattle will start Logan Gilbert (13-6, 3.29). First pitch will be at 6:40 PM PT.