Month: July 2023

Giants Lose In Extras To Diamondbacks 4-3 On The Skipper’s Birthday

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San Francisco Giants hitter Wilmer Flores rounds third base after connecting for a home run and gets congratulations from third base coach Mark Hallberg against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the third inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Jul 31, 2023 (AP News photo)

Monday, July 31st, 2023

By Troy Ewers

San Francisco, CA -The San Francisco Giants began a four game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks it didn’t quite end as planned as the Diamondbacks edged San Francisco 4-3 at Oracle Park on Monday night.

On the mound Jakob Junis for the Giants and Ryne Nelson for the D-Backs. First three batters for starter Jakob Junis went down easily and set the tone for the Giants.

Wilmer Flores then sparked the crowd with a big pop that looked like it was going over the wall for the first run of the game, but Alek Thomas snatched it out of the air. First hit of the game for Arizona comes from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and is hit straight back at Junis in the leg and shakes him up, but he stays in the game and gets back to back strikeouts to get out the inning.

First hit for the Giants came from Blake Sabol on a chip shot over the head of the third baseman and was followed by a single from Patrick Bailey. Isan Diaz ‘first at bat after being called up from Sacramento results in a walk and bases loaded with Luis Matos coming to the plate.

Matos grounded into a fielder’s choice to stop the rally for San Francisco in its tracks. Flores sparked the crowd again with his second at bat, but this time the homer wasn’t robbed and it’s out of here, 1-0 Giants.

Alex Wood replaced Junis in the fourth inning and continued right where Junis left off. The Giants scored a second run after a rally was started by Sabol who got on from a walk. Bailey moved him over on a double and then a sac fly from Crawford scored Sabol, 2-0 Giants.

In the sixth, Arizona scored two runs to tie the game up. The first came when Corbin Carroll hit a single and scored Ketel Marte, then Gurriel Jr. hit a double and scored Carroll and now it’s tied at two. Camillo Doval came in the ninth, but not for a save this time around.

Doval gets three strikeouts in a row and Giants head into the bottom of the ninth hoping for another walk off. One, two, three inning in the bottom of the ninth for San Francisco and we then headed into extra innings.

Arizona started extras with McCarthy as the ghost runner and Emmanuel Rivera hit a double that would score McCarthy and take a one run lead. 3-2 Diamondbacks. In the bottom of the tenth a wild pitch brings in the ghost runner Brandon Crawford and the Giants tie it up. 3-3.

Lamonte Jr looked like he had a walk-off home run, but it wasn’t hit deep enough and the tenth continued. In the 11th Marte hits a ground rule double that scores the ghost runner Perdomo, 4-3 D-Backs.

Taylor Rogers gets out of the inning, but now it was on the bats to send the fans home happy. The Giants get sat down one, two three and the game ends with Giants losing 4-3. The win is rewarded to Kevin Ginkel, Taylor Rogers gets the loss, and the save goes to Scott McGough.

The next game is Tuesday August 1st with Zac Gallen (11-5 ERA 3.36) pitching for Arizona and Alex Cobb (6-3 ERA 2.97) on the hill for San Francisco first pitch 6:45pm PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants open four game series with Diamondbacks tonight at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants’ Marco Luciano, right, hits a double in front of umpire Junior Valentine, left, and Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong, center, during the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco Sat Jul 29, 2023 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 San Francisco Giants Joc Pederson got the game winning hit in the bottom of the 11th inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco as the Giants defeat the Boston Red Sox 4-3.

#2 The Giants picked up their first home series win over the Boston Red Sox since 2004 the year the Red Sox went all the way.

#3 Pederson said after Sunday’s game that you have to be aggressive if you want to win games when your behind and the Giants got two walk off wins on Saturday and Sunday.

#4 Giants pitcher Scott Alexander said sometimes you have to come alive after the seventh inning and they won twice on come backs in the bottom of the ninth with JD Davis’ home run and on Sunday Pederson gets a RBI single.

#5 The Giants open a four game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday night. The Diamondbacks are starting Zac Gallen (11-5 ERA 3.36) the Giants have not determined a pitcher as of yet.

Join Marko for the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s Preview: A’s open three game series with Dodgers at Chavez Ravine Tuesday

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Ex Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lance Lynn delivers a pitch the first inning against the Chicago Cubs on Wed Jul 26, 2023 in Chicago. Lynn was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers this week and will start Tue Aug 1, 2023 against the Oakland A’s at Dodgers Stadium (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s won two out of the three games against the Colorado Rockies this weekend. The A’s offense came to life on Friday and Saturday, putting 19 runs on the board and winning 8-5 and 11-3. The A’s offense went back to sleep on Sunday as they lost 2-0. The A’s record is now a woeful 30-77. Additionally, the A’s have the worst run differential (-255) in baseball. The A’s have scored 387 runs and have allowed a whopping 642.

The A’s finish the road trip in Los Angeles as they face the NL West Division leader, the Dodgers, for three games. The Dodgers are 59-45 and have a two-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the race for first place in the division. The Giants would love to have the A’s commit mayhem by beating the Dodgers.

The Dodgers, favorites to win the pennant in the National League this year, have been hit hard by the injury jinx. The Dodgers’ two best-starting pitchers are not available for the series. Clayton Kershaw, a future Hall of Fame player, is out with a shoulder injury until at least August 10th. Walker Buehler has yet to throw a pitch this season.

Buehler had Tommy John surgery and hoped to return to action around September 1st. Reliever Blake Treinen, a former Oakland Athletic, had rotator cuff surgery and has been unable to perform this season. Treinen is expected back on August 15th. The Dodgers traded with the Chicago White Sox the other day to bolster their pitching.

The Dodgers acquired a starter, Lance Lynn, and a reliever Joe Kelly. Lynn is having a down year. His record is 6-9, and his ERA is a bloated 6.47. Kelly was with the Dodgers in 2018 when they played the Boston Red Sox in the World Series that year. Kelly left the Dodgers to play for Boston and Chicago.

The Dodgers lost shortstop Gavin Lux for the season with a leg injury. The Dodgers lost their star shortstop, Trea Turner, to free agency. Turner is now with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Dodger third baseman Justin Turner left to play with the Red Sox.

The Dodgers made up for the loss of Justin Turner by signing J.D. Martinez as their DH. Martinez had a down year with Boston and is proving Boston wrong for letting him go. Martinez is hitting. 260 with 25 home runs and 75 RBIs.

The Dodgers’ offense is quite potent. Former NL MVP Freddie Freeman and former AL MVP Mookie Betts lead the offense. Other offensive threats are third baseman Max Muncy and catcher Will Smith. Freeman is hitting .329 with 21 homers and 73 RBIs. Betts’ numbers are .227, 27 dingers, and 68 RBIs. Muncy has hit 27 home runs and driven in 70.

The shortstop position has been a problem for the Dodgers this year. The Dodgers have been using Miguel Rojas but acquired Amed Rosario to help improve the play at that position. The Dodgers traded with Boston to bring back the super-utility man, Kike Hernandez. Hernandez can play shortstop, second base, or centerfield.

His ability to play multiple positions gives Dodger manager Dave Roberts the ability to use Mookie Betts in the outfield. David Peralta, James Outman, and Jason Heyward are other players contributing to the Dodger offense. All three players can hit the ball out of the park. The A’s pitching staff will have their hands full trying to contain the potent Dodger offense.

The Dodgers have announced their starters for the series. On Tuesday, Lance Lynn will be making his first start as a Dodger. Lynn has not pitched well this year. He is hoping that Dodger Stadium will be a good place to get a win for his new team.

On Wednesday, Tony Gonsolin will be on the hill for LA. Gonsolin is 5-4 and has an ERA of 4.25. On Thursday, left Julio Urias will start. Urias is 7-6 with an ERA of 4.98. The A’s have yet to announce their starters. Lefties Ken Waldichuk and Hogan Harris may see action.

The A’s would love to get a win or two in the series. The Dodgers are salivating to play the A’s as they hope to get three wins and increase their lead over the Giants. If the Dodgers pitchers are at the top of their game, they could sweep the A’s.

Taking the A’s lightly would be a mistake. The A’s may not have the name players like the Dodgers, but guys like JJ Bleday, Ryan Noda, Zack Gelof, and Brent Rooker can send the ball out of the park, and the A’s can make life a wee bit more miserable for the Dodgers. A’s manager Mark Kotsay will have his team ready. The A’s players will give Kotsay a 100% effort. They may not win, but they will give the Dodgers a total effort.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Rockies manager Black says shutout on A’s was “pitching at it’s finest”; A’s will not have roof on new ballpark in Vegas

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Oakland Athletics pitcher Ken Waldichuk throws to a San Francisco Giants batter during the fourth inning at Oracle Park San Francisco on Tue Jul 25, 2023. Waldichuk is expected to get the start Tue Aug 1, 2023. (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 The Colorado Rockies (41-64) starting pitcher Ty Blach and four relievers put out the Oakland A’s (30-77) fire and avoided getting swept at Coors Field in Denver on Sunday with a 2-0 shutout.

#2 Rockies pitchers Matt Koch, Brent Suter, Daniel Bard, and Justin Lawrence relieved for Colorado and left the A’s scratching their heads on how to get on the scoreboard after having some landslide games in this series.

#3 Rockies manager Bub Black said that it was a game that the Rockies needed after getting defeated twice by the A’s who have the worst record in baseball twice at home and Black said it was pitching at it’s finest.

#4  The A’s Ramon Laureano got two hits and A’s pitcher Luis Medina threw for 5.1 innings giving up six hits and two runs. Two of the A’s players who got some decent production in Sunday’s loss.

#5 The A’s head to Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles to open up a three game series on Tuesday night Aug 1st at 7:10pm PT. The A’s have not announced a starter as of Sunday night and the Dodgers will start Lance Lynn (6-9 ERA 6.47).

#6 Just wanted to ask you about the relocation vote to Las Vegas for the A’s in November. The A’s will have the renderings ready before Thanksgiving. Does the timing of this vote strike you as a coincidence that the World Series will be over and interest in baseball would over for the winter and the owners can get the relocation vote in?

#7 Barbara the A’s are reconsidering putting a roof on the new Tropicana park in Vegas, fans do turn out in over 100 degree heat for the A’s minor league team the Las Vegas Aviators. Do you see the A’s taking that into account as a reason why they would drop the roof.

Barbara Mason does the A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tigres UANL eliminate Earthquakes from League’s Cup with 1-0 clean sheet

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Tigres UANL’s Rafael Carioca gets ready to mark San Jose Earthquakes Jackson Yueill before a corner kick during a League’s Cup match at Pay Pal Park on Sunday July 30, 2023. (Nico Burgueno/El Show International)

by Marko Ukalovic

It was a learning lesson.

Liga MX’s Tigres UANL needed just one goal to defeat the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 in both team’s final League’s Cup group stage match on Sunday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose, which did not register a goal in both of its matches, were eliminated from the League’s Cup tournament going 0-2 in the group stage competition. Tigres advanced to the knockout round, along with the Portland Timbers, winning both of its matches.

Tigres, one of the best teams in the Mexican league Liga MX, showcased their talent and skill with an attack that consisted of players Andre-Pierre Gignac, Luis Quiñones and Mexican national team member Diego Lainez.

The team from south of the border also enjoyed a home field advantage despite the match being on the road as the majority of the sold-out crowd were cheering for them throughout the match.

San Jose controlled play in the opening 10 minutes of the match. Miguel Trauco set up Cristian Espinoza in the 11th minute as Espinoza dribbled into the middle of the box, but his shot attempt sailed wide right of the net.

Tigres began to take control of the match in the 15th minute as they gained possession. The eight-time Liga MX champion drew first blood in the 19th minute. Quiñones centered a ball from the right wing over to Fernando Gorriarán who one touched the ball past ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel with a low right footed shot.

“I’m really liking this tournament a lot”, said Tigres head coach Róbert Siboldi as his team continues on to the knockout round. “So far, we’ve had some thought and closed games. We’ve seen high intensity matches thus far. I like how MLS teams play, because they give it all on the pitch. They’re always looking to score, attack and make transitions. These Leagues Cup games have been dynamic and entertaining matches for fans. I’m surprised that all these MLS teams have put forward their best players. It’s been a really great competition.”

Tigres kept the Earthquakes on their heels the rest of the first half as they dominated possession 58%-42%.

San Jose, who needed to win by a two-goal margin in order to have advanced to the knockout stage, had chances in the second half but weren’t able to cash in their opportunities and Tigres were patient with counter attacks in the second half.

“I am sad for the guys because I thought our players left everything on the field. I’m really proud of them. I thought we showed some high-level concepts, ideas, play, combinations, and pressing against one of the best teams in Central, North, and South America. It’s disappointing not to get the result here at home in front of our fans, they had amazing energy. It just made it a great environment, a great event. If we keep showing that attitude, personality, that confidence to play, things will bounce our way in our league,” ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez said.

Ayo Akinola made his ‘Quakes debut in the 71st minute. Akinola was acquired on loan from Toronto FC this past Tuesday in attempt to inject new life into the ‘Quakes offense that needed a booster shot. He showcased his power when he blasted a shot way up into the stands in the 85th minute.

“Ayo (Akinola) is still needing integration; he’s only trained maybe three times with the group. He’s adapting to San Jose now, that is going to take time so these next few weeks will be really good for him. I think he already showed he’s got some physical qualities in terms of hold up, turning defenders. He’s got power and speed. He’s versatile and he’s young and has a lot of room to still improve. I think he is going be a good addition to our depth in what we need to compete the rest of the season,” Gonzalez said.

The best chance for San Jose to score the equalizer came late in the match at the 88th minute. Espinoza centered a corner kick into the middle of the box and Carlos Akapo’s header was robbed by Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman with an outstretched one-handed save to the chagrin of the Quakes faithful.

Guzman stopped all four shots on target to earn his first clean sheet of the tournament. Daniel made two saves on four shots on target in the losing effort.

Gonzalez said San Jose will get back to training this week but plans to give the players some extra time off during the month off before their next match. He also hopes to do some team-oriented activities outside the pitch for some team bonding.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with 10 corner kicks. Tigres UANL had seven.

The Earthquakes faced their first Liga MX team since defeating Cruz Azul 2-0 in an international exhibition held at PayPal Park on Oct. 7, 2021.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns back to MLS action when they visit the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday 8/20 at 7:30pm at BC Place.

Jocamania: Pederson belts 11th inning walk off RBI single for 4-3 win at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores (41) hits an RBI single in front of Boston Red Sox catcher Jorge Alfaro during the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

Boston (56-49). 000 000 130 00. – 3. 8. 1

San Francisco (58-48) 010 010 010 01 – 4. 11 0

Time: 3:13

Attendance: 37,026

Sunday, July 30, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–After Saturday’s last minute turnaround victory over the Boston Red Sox, the Giants were 57-48, in second place for the NL West lead, three games behind the Dodgers and six games behind the three teams tied in the race for a wild card berth.

That put the exhilaration of the win in some perspective. The Giants kept the excitement up with the same momentum but this time in 11 innings picking up narrow 4-3 win over the Bean Town Dudes at Oracle Park on Sunday.

Similarly, the return to the lineup of Brandon Crawford, high on the list of San Francisco’s all time list of shortstops but clearly showing the effects of his 12 years in the major leagues, was both encouraging and concerning at the same time. Who would you rather have as your shortstop, Crawford or the wunderkind of the week, Marco Luciano, today’s DH?

Whose bat would you prefer to have in your lineup? When today’s game had ended, with the Giants winning a 3-2 11 inning thriller Crawford had gone 2 for 5 and made a pretty backhanded flip to start a double play in the sixth, while Luciano had gone 0 for 2 as a pinch hitter. It’s still an open question.

Both teams went the opener route, San Francisco going with Scott Alexander (6-1, 3.41) and his sinkers, sliders, and change ups. Boston entrusted the task to a southpaw, Bernardo Bernadino (1-0,2.31). Those were their game time numbers. Anthony DeScalfani, whose name had been. bandied about as a possible starter in this series, was placed on the IL yesterday.

Alexander, making his third start of the ’23 season, threw 1-2/3 perfect innings before his scheduled removal and replacement by Ross Stripling, who threw 4-1/3 innings of one run, four hit ball. The Giants also used Taylor and Tyler Rogers, Camilo Duval, and Tristan Beck, the eventful winner, now 2-0, 2.94.

Bernandino held the Giants to a walk in the first but plunked the first two batters he faced in the second, Michael Conforto and Luis Matos. Blake Sabol loaded the bases by beating out a bunt in front of the plate. That was it for Bernadino. Right hander John Schreiber replaced him.

Casey Schmitt drove a hard drive down the third base line that Rafael Devers snared. He slapped his glove on the base to force Matos out as Conforto crossed the plate.

Then Crawford hit a liner to center that Duvall captured and returned the ball to Christian Arroyo at second before Sabol could get back to the bag. As they did yesterday, the Giants missed a chance to blow the game open early and had to settle for a 1-0 lead. They missed another opportunity one inning later.

Mike Yastrzemski pinch hit for Slater and invoked The Curse of the Leadoff Double. He moved to third on Flores’s nubber to the mound and died on third after Luciano and Davis fanned. Yastrzemski left the game in the top of the fifth because of hamstring tightness. Joc Pederson replaced him.

John Schreiber (two innings), Chris Murphy (3-1/3 innings), Josh Winckosxki (1-2/3), Richard Bleier (1), Chris Martin (1), and Mauricio Llovera, who got no one out in the 11th and took the loss, also performed mound duties for the Bosox.

San Francisco managed to tack a run onto their lead in the fifth. Schmitt led off with a single. Devers couldn’t handle Crawford’s grounder to third, putting runners on the corners, After Pederson flew out to center, Flores sent Schmitt home with a single to right.

The Giants might have scored more, but Crawford was put out in a rundown between third and home on Luciano’s grounder to the hot corner. Davis grounded out to end the threat.

The Red Sox drew closer in the top of the seventh with Duvall’s lead off 381 foot homer over the National Car Rental advertisement in left center field. He hit it off a change up on Stripling’s 63rd and final pitch of the game, Taylor Rogers, the left handed brother, relieved him and, in spite of a single and a walk, kept Boston off the board, thanks, in part to an 8-4 double play that the Giants pulled off on a broken bat fly by Tristón Casas.

Boston went ahead in the next frame. The right handed Rogers brother, the submarining Tyler, went to the mound at the start of the visitors’ eighth and gave up a leadoff Texas League double to a pinch hitting Jarren Duran. One out later, the Red Sox went ahead, 3-2.

The much booed Justin Turner sent his 17th round tripper of the season on a line 382 feet into the left field bleachers. The pitch, a slider that came in 73.1 mph left Turner’s bat at 104.7 mph.

The Giants came roaring back in their next at bat. With one down, Conforto beat out a grounder to third, and Matos slammed a double off the top of the Bank of America ad just to the left of the 399 foot marker in left center field. Conforto rounded third but scrambled back to the bag.

The roar was modulated when Patrick Bailey, who had replaced Sabol in the sixth, hit a bouncer to the mound and was tagged out by Winckowski. But Conforto scored, and the game was tied. Schmitt then struck out amidst a chorus of boos from the umpires in the stands.

Camilo Doval came in to pitch the Red Sox ninth and kept the game tied, allowing only a single to Casas.

Richard Bleier replaced Winckowski preserved the tie in the bottom of the ninth, and so we went into extra innings.

Tristan Beck now was on the hill for San Francisco, He blanked the Bosox, in spite of the zombie runner.

Chris Martin faced the Giants in their half of the tenth. He had to face five batters (if you count his two. intentional walks), but he sent us into the eleventh.

And it was in the eleventh, against their recent teammate Mauricio Llovera, that the Giants won it. Bailey, the zombie runner, scored after Schmitt was hit by a pitch, Crawford’s bunt died on the grass between home and third, and Pederson laced a single to right.

With all its frustrations, a most satisfying victory.

There’s been no word yet on who will pitch for either Arizona or the San Francisco Monday, evening at 6:45pm PT when the Giant and Diamondbacks will begin a four game series.

BoSox Lose Game 4-3 and Series 2-1 Versus Giants in Extra Innings

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Ross Stripling throws against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO–The Boston Red Sox (56-49) dropped their second straight game 4-3 and lost the series 2-1 to the San Francisco Giants (58-48) in 11 innings on a beautiful afternoon in the City on the Bay.

Boston was hitless until the top of the fourth when third baseman Rafael Deavers hit a double to left field,  Nothing materialized after that scoring opportunity.

The Giants on the other hand, scored twice in each of their halves of the second and fifth innings.  Casey Schmitt hit into a fielder’s choice at third, scoring Michael Conforto, while Joc Peterson singled to right field in the fifth inning, scoring Schmitt.  2-0 SF.

Boston finally got on the board in the seventh inning on a homer to left by first baseman Adam Duvall, but that was all they could muster that inning, which ended on a (8-4) double play.

The Red Sox came right back the following inning and took their first lead (3-2) on a two-run blast to left by Justin Turner, who also scored Jarren Duran.

The Giants came back to tie it at three on a fielder’s choice play to the pitcher by Patrick Bailey, while Conforto snuck in from third.

After nine hard fought innings, the two combatants went to extra frames.  The new rules are implemented with a runner in scoring position to start off the inning.

In the bottom of the 11th inning, with the bases loaded, Joc Peterson lined a single to right field, scoring Alex Verdugo and ending the thriller of a ballgame.

Boston stays on the West Coast and travels north to Seattle, Monday July 31.  Their starting pitcher is yet to be determined.  The Giants host Arizona on the same date, while neither pitcher is determined at press time.

Michael Roberson is a http://www.sportsradioservice.com staff writer

Aces continue to roll, beat Wings, 104-91

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Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson (22) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Sunday, July 30, 2023 in Las Vegas. (Sports Radio Service/Shawn McCullough)


By Shawn McCullough

LAS VEGAS–The Aces fought off a 15-0 run early in the fourth quarter to beat the Dallas Wings, 104-91, at Michelob Ultra Arena.

“Tough game,” said head coach Becky Hammon. “It was a tough, physical game and down the stretch we got stops when we needed.”

Kelsey Plum led the Aces with 28 points, including four three-pointers, while Chelsea Gray added 27 and eight assists.

“We needed to get stop and execute on the offensive end,” said Gray of the fourth quarter.

The Aces were out-sized by the Wings, being out-rebounded 41-30.

“They [the Wings] are huge, they hurt us on the glass,” said Hammon.  “They got a legit big four.”

A’ja Wilson scored 22 points while also blocking six Wings shots.

“Just trying to be the anchor of the defense,” said Wilson. “I want to be consistent for my teammates and be there to alter shots.”

With the win, the Aces improved to a WNBA best 23-2 on the season heading into their next game at home on Tuesday against the Atlanta Dream.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 50.0% from the field.
Las Vegas went 13 for 25 from three-point range.
The Aces never trailed in the game.

Game Starters:

C – 41 Kiah Stokes
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Riquna Williams, Out, Lower Back
Candace Parker, Not with team

Rockies Foil A’s Bid For Sweep; Oakland blanked by Colorado’s Five Man Rotation 2-0

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Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ty Blach works against the Oakland Athletics in the fifth inning at Coors Field in Denver on Sun Jul 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

Rockies Foil A’s Bid For the Sweep Oakland Falls Short 2-0

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Oakland A’s (30-77) played the third and final game of their series with the Colorado Rockies (41-64). The A’s couldn’t seal the deal in picking up the sweep getting shut out by starter Ty Blach who pitched for five innings giving up three hits and striking out two. The A’s bats also fell silent against four relievers who followed Blach in the 2-0 loss at Coors Field.

This game did not go the way Oakland had envisioned. The game was scoreless through the first two innings. The Rockies tallied two runs scoring a run in each of the third and fifth innings. Ryan McMahon set up both runs. He singled in the third inning, driving in Austin Wynns and in the fifth he doubled in Ezequiel Tovar who crossed home plate giving Colorado a 2-0 lead.

The Rockies would take the 2-0 lead into the eighth inning. Colorado threatened to extend their lead in the ninth inning with runners on base but the A’s kept them off the scoreboard.

Oakland had the ninth inning to try to salvage this game. Seth Brown struck out, JJ Bleday struck out and Shea Langeliers flied out. That was the ball game and the Rockies had foiled the sweep for the A’s with five pitchers getting the shutout.

Oakland’s Luis Medina went 5.1 innings taking a bit of pressure off the A’s bullpen. He allowed the six hits that turned out to be the only Colorado strikes in the game. Medina also allowed the two runs with six strikeouts.

Oakland had a great opportunity in the seventh inning loading the bases. Nick Allen came to the plate and got a terrible call that ended the inning and any chance for the A’s to get on the scoreboard. Oakland only had five hits in the game.

A’s post game notes: Oakland won the first two games of the series, the second game was a bit of a blowout 11-3. The A’s have not seen many blowouts this season so this game was a beautiful thing. A win in Sunday’s game would have been a sweep for the A’s but they fell short. It also would have been their second sweep of the season.

Oakland will now head out west for a three game series with the NL West leader, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ken Waldichuk (2-6 ERA 6.38) will take the mound for the A’s. Lance Lynn (6-9 ERA 6.47)will start for the Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for Tuesday at 7:10 PM PT.

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: Suspended Cardinal Mikolas seems to think Happ backswing was intentional; Cubs Tauchman’s catch prevents walk off HR; plus more

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St Louis Cardinal pitcher Miles Mikolas seems perplexed and questions why umpires threw him out of the Thu Jul 27, 2023 game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in St Louis after beaning Chicago Cubs hitter Ian Happ in the hip. (USA Today photo)

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Last Thursday St Louis Cardinal pitcher Miles Mikolas threw at Chicago Cubs hitter Ian Happ in the hip and was ejected for retaliation of Happ’s back swing that caught Cardinal catcher Wilson Contreras in the head causing him to get a cut and bled out and had to leave the game. The question is did Happ intentionally back swing to catch Contreras in the head? Mikolas seems to think so from his actions.

#2 More Cubs news their on a roll they won their seventh straight game on Saturday defeating the St Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium saving the day as Cubs centerfielder Mark Tauchman who robbed pinch hitter Alec Burleson of a walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Burleson’s belt looked like it was gone until Tauchman reached his glove above the fence to make the catch for the 3-2 win.

#3 Some say that the Los Angeles Angels are gambling away their fortunes keeping Shohei Ohtani when they could deal with a club that could load them up with multiple future draft picks. The Angels are driven they want to make the post season and they believe Ohtani is their ticket to make that happen.

#4 Former Oakland A’s and New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon will get the proper send off that he deserves as Big Sexy will get a huge retirement party at Citi Field in Flushing on Sep 17th. Colon who pitched 21 years in The Show with 11 different MLB teams and retired after the 2018 with the Texas Rangers. Colon pitched for the A’s from 2012-2013 and with the team that’s honoring him the Mets from 2014-16. Get your Big Sexy shirt on Sep 17th Charlie O.

#5 The Oakland A’s will submit their relocation application to MLB in November after the World Series for the voters to vote on. Some have said that the timing of having the MLB owners vote just before Thanksgiving is suspicious considering the season is over and no one is thinking baseball by then and the owners and Commissioner don’t have to deal with the pressure and criticism of the baseball fans over the A’s move at that time of the year.

Join Charlie O for the MLB podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com