Month: August 2023

Headline Sports podcast with Bruce Magowan: MLB owners not happy about consequences of A’s relocation; Scherzer and Verlander moves; plus more news

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New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is reportedly one of the MLB owners who is not happy about the relocation of the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas and some of the reasons behind it (AP file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Bruce Magowan:

#1 Bruce, it was reported this week by Sports Business Journal that there are number MLB clubs that are not happy about the Oakland A’s relocation to Las Vegas for various reasons, that their still going to be revenue sharing, going lose gate revenue moving from the sixth largest market to the 40th size market, and relocation fee waved so the next owner who wants to move doesn’t have to pay a relocation fee.

#2 Bad faith negotiating has been a complaint about how A’s owner John Fisher who was ten percent of the way towards deal with the City of Oakland but broke off the deal and said he had a binding deal in Vegas.

#3 Bruce, the New York Mets are big time sellers and before the trade deadline first David Robertson was deal to the Miami Marlins and then pitcher Max Scherzer wanted to meet with the Mets brass and got a deal out of New York to the Texas Rangers, then 48 hours later the Justin Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros. Is this a matter of the Mets trying to unload their humongous payroll or they just want to have a clean slate and rebuild the club again.

#4 Bruce, we talked about the San Francisco Giants and their chances of chasing the first place Los Angeles Dodgers, you mentioned they need the hitting, they’ve cooled off since their ten game win streak, they really will depend on Alex Cobb and Logan Webb for pretty much the rest of the way.

#5 Turning to football Bruce, the 49ers have four quarterbacks in camp with three jobs open. Brock Purdy pretty much looks like a lock for first string, but second string could be interesting with Trey Lance and Sam Darnold and the four quarterback in camp whose looked pretty good is former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen.

Bruce Magowan does Headline Sports for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Bailey becoming a crucial part of the defense; D-Backs-Giants face off for game 3 of series tonight

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San Francisco Giants’ Luis Matos hits an RBI double against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Aug 2, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Talk about the swift move by San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey last night in throwing out Arizona Diamondbacks runner Gerald Perdomo at first base to end the ball game.

#2 It was a crucial out for Bailey to pick off Perdomo to end the game as the score was 4-3 and the Diamondbacks would try just about anything to get back in this game.

#3 Bailey certainly is making a name for himself as the defensive catcher throwing out his 19th runner in 449 innings trying to steal. This is the most by a catcher since the Philadelphia Phillies Jorge Alfaro did it in 2018 throwing 21 runners in 869 innings.

#4 Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that the catchers are just as responsible as anyone else in helping the club win ball games adding that Bailey can really change a ball game with his defense.

#5 The Diamondbacks come back for game three of the four game series tonight, the Diamondbacks have Slade Cecconi (0-0 ERA 0.00) as starter and the Giants will start pitcher Logan Webb (8-9 ERA 3.49). Talk about he has only one win in his last six starts.

Join Michael for the Giants podcast Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Will “Sell the team” become a national rallying cry to save the A’s in MLB parks?; What a Mets rebuild would look like now; plus more news

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Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Dodgers fans stood up to in protest of the A’s relocation to Las Vegas in the top of the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Mon Aug 1, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Top story had to be last night’s game in Los Angeles between the Oakland A’s and the Los Angeles Dodgers when A’s and Dodgers fans alike stood up in the top of the fifth inning while the A’s were at bat and chanted “Sell the team” another message loud and clear to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, the owners and A’s owner John Fisher expressing how opposed they are about the Oakland A’s relocation to Las Vegas. Will “Sell the team” become a national rallying cry at MLB parks?

#2 With the New York Mets it started with Max Scherzer expressing his discontent about the teammate and pitcher David Robertson being traded to the Miami Marlins and that he wanted a meeting with the Mets brass and Scherzer got traded to the Texas Rangers. Then Justin Verlander two days later was dealt to the Houston Astros. Are the Mets just trying to get rid of payroll or they know they can’t win even with such superstars on the payroll.

#3 More Astros news starter to the end Framber Valdez threw a no hitter last night against the Cleveland Guardians a pretty much respected offensive team giving up just one walk, one batter short of a perfect game. Valdez’ no hit bid is MLB’s third no hitter of the season.

#4 Can the Los Angeles Angels make the post season with Shohei Ohtani surviving the trade deadline and the Angels waiting for outfielder Mike Trout to return to action. Ohtani was on the trade rumor market for a time but owner Art Moreno but the kibosh on that as the Angels are destined to try and make post season with their superstars.

#5 The Angels also added infielder CJ Cron and outfielder Randal Grichuk two right handed hitters from the Colorado Rockies. Do you see this improving the Angels line up in the stretch drive?

Join Stephen for the MLB podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Memories of Oakland (No 9 in Series)   Glory Years  –1988,1989,1990 World Series

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Former Oakland A’s outfielder Jose Canseco seen throwing out the first ball in previous years ago game at the Oakland Coliseum was one of the key stars of the A’s World Series teams in the 80s (AP News photo)

By Amaury Pi-González

The Oakland Athletics won three consecutive American League pennants from 1988 to 1990 and made it to the World Series annually.

These three years were the pinnacle of success for the Oakland A’s during the Walter Haas ownership and Tony LaRussa as field manager, the best time since the Charlie O Finley Athletics won three consecutive World Series in 1972-73 and 1974.

The A’s did not win three World Series in a row this time, but these were some of the greatest baseball teams the A’s ever put on the field. The teams had power, speed, pitching, and everything, including very exciting players, but as we know, the World Series is genuinely unpredictable.

  • 1988 I considered the best of these three consecutive World Series teams. They won 104 games and finished 13 games over the Minnesota Twins in their division and then beat the Boston Red Sox in four games to win the American League Championship Series.
  • The World Series matched the A’s vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, only the second time that two California teams met in the October Classic. Previously was also the Oakland A’s in 1974 when they beat the Dodgers. This time the Dodgers took the Oakland A’s in five games, and pitching star Orel Hershiser won the series MVP. José Canseco won the MVP of the American League and the Silver Slugger Award. Dennis Eckersley won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year, and in 1988 Tony LaRussa won the Manager of the Year. The first game of the World Series at Dodger Stadium culminated with a home run by pinch hitter Kirk Gibson (he could not take batting practice due to his physical condition), yet he surprised the world with that dramatic ninth-inning home run vs. Eckersley that landed in the right field seats. Eck threw “one slider too many.” Although it was just Game One, it had the feeling that this was a precursor of what was going to happen. Famous artist Leroy Neiman was present doing his paintings. The great Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo, who sang the National Anthem at the inaugural game at Dodger Stadium, came into our booth prior to game three at the Oakland Coliseum. He was very much curious about baseball and specially asked questions about José Canseco, who that season became the first 40-40 player in history.
  • 1989 Was not only Oakland A’s fourth World Championship title but the most historical as a powerful earthquake stopped it. As Evelio A.Mendoza and yours truly were doing the pre-game show Game 3, less than a half-hour before the game was to start, the quake hit, shaking Candlestick Park. I will never forget that October 17. The Loma Prieta earthquake was a strong 6.9 in magnitude. The series resumes ten days after the quake, which killed 67, injured more than 3,700, and caused billions of dollars in property damage. The Oakland A’s won games 1 and 2 at Oakland by scores of 5-0 and 5-1, then ten days after the earthquake, the series resumed in San Francisco, where they won game 3 by a 13-7 score and game four by a 9-6 score. Dave Stewart, who won games 1 and 3 was named the MVP. Nobody in Oakland history did what Stew accomplished from 1987 to 1990; he won 20 to 22 games in each season consecutively. The four World Series trophies for the Oakland A’s are the best for a Bay Area team. The 1989 World Series is historically unique and shows the leadership of the interim Commissioner Fay Vincent, who, after the earthquake, made the decision as he was sitting at his box at Candlestick Park and ordered the game to be postponed. According to Vincent, he had already made the decision to postpone Game 3 without telling anybody first. As a result, the umpires filed a formal protest of Vincent’s decision. However, the game had to be postponed due to trouble with gas lines and the power issue. Vincent made the right decision, and in the end, the World Series was played in its totality. Dave Stewart was more than the MVP for this World Series. Stewart was active working and helping first responders in the Cypress Freeway area of Oakland, which had collapsed during the quake, an area that caused many of the fatalities.
    1. The A’s played the Cincinnati Reds. The first two games were scheduled to be played at Cincinnati. There was a large contingency of Oakland A’s employees, their families, that followed the team east. The Mayor of Oakland Lionel Wilson and his wife were present among other Oakland leaders. All the rooms in Cincinnati hotels were sold out. My wife and I stayed in Kentucky along with the other staff people, including broadcasters. The bus ride was about hour from the stadium. Later when I was traveling with other teams, I discovered a friendly bridge that I would walk a few times across the Ohio River from Riverfront Stadium to Covington, Kentucky. Everything went the Red’s way as they won the two games in Cincinnati and the last two in Oakland; A’s were swept. As if often happens in baseball, a player that was young and ineffective during his career with the Oakland A’s from 1985 to 1987, Dominican pitcher José Rijo who was traded from Oakland three years before, was 3-0 in the postseason and 2-0 in the World Series came back to haunt his ex-team and won the MVP.

Years later (when he was not managing the A’s), I spoke with Tony LaRussa, who used to have a pregame segment before each of our A’s games in Spanish, and told him I believe the A’s should have won the three World Series, he agreed with me. But such is baseball.

1990 was the last time the A’s were in a World Series. Thirty-three years ago and counting,

Famous Quotes: “May God give you, for every storm, a rainbow; for every tear, a smile; for every care, a promise; and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life seems, a faithful friend to share; for every sigh, a sweet song, and an answer for each prayer”. -Vin Scully.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland Athletics Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: GM Lynch says Niners not shopping Lance

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance stands on the sidelines during game vs. Washington Commanders at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara on Sat Dec 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco 49ers podcast:

#1 David, do you think that 49ers back up quarterback Trey Lance could end up being the odd man out?

#2 David, talk about where Nick Bosa is and his hold out.

#3 Their are four quarterback competing with only three openings, Brandon Allen is in came and was a former back up with the Cincinnati Bengals and has had an impressive training camp.

Join David Zizmor for the 49ers podcasts heard Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

He was a Giant? Feature on Dick Phillips

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Former San Francisco Giant infielder Dick Phillips who played on the 1962 Giants is the He was a Giant? feature with Tony the Tiger Hayes (photo from Trading Card Data Base)

Dick Phillips – 1B – 1962 – # 14

He was a Giant?

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

Dick Phillips’ flaccid performance for the 1962 Giants was so inefficient that a lesser man might be left seriously despondent and in search of the type of solace the denizens of Sixth Street hope to find in bottles swaddled in brown paper sacks.

The long-time bush leaguer’s hitless performance in five games as a Giant, left him with him the mortifying distinction of being the least productive of all 31 players who suited up for the ’62 NL Champions.

But Phillips – a 30-year-old MLB rookie who looked closer to 40 -made no plans of taking a one-way trip to the Golden Gate Bridge.

After years of minor league bus rides on dubious shock absorbers and meals at greasy spoon diners – as well as seeing heavy action in the Korean War – heading up to his brief sojourn with the top-notch Giants was reason enough for his heart to take courage and forge forward in the field of his dreams.

Indeed, buoyed by his brief San Francisco cameo, Phillips would spend most of the next four decades in various pro baseball roles.

Phillips would return briefly to the majors as a player and later as a coach, but most of his assignments in the sport spent in the minors leagues.

And from all indications, Phillips enjoyed every moment of it.

Why was he a Giant?

After toiling away in the minors for years without so much of a sniff of a big league clubhouse, not to mention a spring training invite, things finally started to trend in Phillips direction in 1961.

That year, Phillips led the Giants’ dominating Triple-A Tacoma club (97-57) to the Pacific Coast League Championship and was named the loop’s MVP with a .264, 16, 98 season. The genial graybeard was also voted as the club’s most popular player by the Puget Sound fan base.

The following off-season Phillips was added to the Giants 40-man roster.

“All I’ve ever wanted was a chance,” Phillips was quoted as saying in January of 1962. “Maybe I can’t make it, but this way, I’ll know.”

After a fine Cactus League performance in the Spring of ‘62, Phillips got the happy news, he’d be heading north with the club to Candlestick Park making the cut along with a fellow 24-year-old rookie from the Dominican Republic – Manny Mota.

Opening Day vs. the was just hours away.

“The game’s the same, but it’s nice to be up here. I’ve hung around in baseball. I knew if I stayed long enough I’d get to the top,” a relieved Phillips, puffing a celebratory cigar, told the beat writers.

In 1962 the Giants were not only stocked with a bevy of legitimate All-Stars, former Rookies of the Year and Gold Glove winners, but also numerous future Hall of Fame ball players.

First base, Phillips’ best suited defensive position was already being wrestled over by a couple of young sluggers by the names of Orlando Cepeda and Willie McCovey – back to back winners of the NL Rookie of the Year award respectively in the Giants first two years in San Francisco (1958-59).

In the Giants coaching staff’s eyes, Phillips appeared to have the right amount of seasoning and temperament and versatility- he played seven positions (save pitcher and catcher) on Fan Appreciation Day for Tacoma in 1961, to come off the bench and sizzle a line drive or fill in for Chuck Hiller at second base or Harvey Kuenn at third in a late inning situation.

“A fellow of Phillips’ age and background realizes there is an opportunity as a pinch-hitter,” manager Alvin Dark told The Sporting News.

“You have to believe you’re better than the pitcher when you go to the plate,” Phillips said of his pinch hitting theory. “If you don’t, you might as well not go up at all. No one likes to sit on the bench but if I’m not needed that means the Giants are winning. That’s all right with me.”

Before & After

Phillips broke into pro ball on a high note at age 19 in 1951, batting .293 for the Fulton Railroaders, a Class D club of the original Washington Senators, managed by one Samuel Lamitina.

But then another Sam called. Uncle Sam that is.

Phillips would spend the next few years as a member of the United States Marine Corp, serving much of his hitch overseas during the Korean War.

A veteran of many fierce combat battles during the conflict, Phillips didn’t have much time to play catch over that time frame but the Wisconsin native caught shrapnel during one particularly ferocious assault by the enemy.

When he reentered civilian life Phillips attended Valparaiso University on G.I. Bill. But Phillips itched to fulfill his professional baseball dreams and hooked on with his hometown Milwaukee Braves farm system after a tryout in 1951.

After being away from pro ball for five seasons Phillips batted a sizzling .320 for the Class C Eau Claire Braves in 1955.

Phillips climbed a rung in the Milwaukee system the next few seasons before topping out at Triple-A Sacramento in 1959. Phillips consistently hit for each classification in the Braves system and produced impressive home run totals- but he never got a call-up to the parent club.

The Giants acquired Phillips in a trade for a fellow minor league player in 1960.

After his brief stay with the Giants in 1962, Phillips returned to the Tacoma club for the remainder of the season. He watched as the Orange & Black advanced to a NL Pennant – beating the Dodgers in a special three game playoff series – before taking on the Yankees in the ‘62 World Series.

Phillips was planted on his living room coach, riveted to the television in his Racine, WI home when McCovey lined out in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7 of the Fall Classic as the New York dynasty broke the hearts of Giants fans.

In the spring of 1963 the Giants cut the well-liked minor league vet a break by shipping him to Washington in a cash deal. Though nick-named the “Senators” this was not the same franchise that Phillips became his pro career with more than a decade earlier.

The original Washington Senators had decamped to Minnesota and rebranded themselves as the “Twins.”

The new D.C. expansion club retained the “Senators” nickname and unfortunately for fans of the long suffering Washington fans base, the original Senators second division status as well.

After losing 100 games in their first two years of existence, the Senators were in dire need of skilled professionals and they found one in the adroit Phillips.

Just as he had in ‘62, Phillips began the 1963 season in the majors and this time he stuck.

The Senators again dropped 100 games for the third straight season, (56-106) but Phillips still must have had a smile.

The club’s top utility man, Phillips played wherever his managers Mickey Vernon and his mid-season replacement, Gil Hodges asked, seeing action primarily at first base, but also at second and third base. In 124 games, Phillips batted .237, 10, 32.

Phillips returned to the Senators for another full campaign in 1964. The 1965 season saw Phillips back in Triple-A, but Lady Luck was shining upon Phillips – the franchise’s top minor league club just happened to be located In Honolulu. Phillips family naturally fell in love with Hawaii’s tropical setting and would eventually relocate to the Islands on a year round basis. Phillips would later serve as the manager and General Manager of the Islanders club.

After starting the 1966 campaign with Hawaii, Phillips was recalled to Washington (regrettably?) and remained with the big club through the end of the ‘66 season concluding his big league playing career. Phillips would return for one final season with the Islanders in 1967 where he concluded his playing career for good at age 36.

Phillips was hardly done with the game as he would spend the next three decades in various roles in baseball including a dozen seasons as a minor league manager.

He once described his managerial style as this: “I like to play the running game if I have speed. I like the hit-and-run, and I try and out-think the other guy,” Phillips said. “I expect the players to hustle all the time. If they don’t hustle, they don’t play.”

After piloting the Islanders – then the top farm club for San Diego- for three seasons in the late-1970s, Phillips was promoted to big league club as first base and hitting coach for the club’s new manager Jerry Coleman in 1980. However the season went notoriously bad for Coleman – who had never managed previously- and the big league coaching gig ended after just one season for Phillips.

He wasn’t McCovey or Cepeda. But…

Phillips long awaited big league debut came as a pinch hitter for Juan Marichal vs. the visiting Cincinnati Reds at Candlestick Park (4/15/62). With the Reds winning 4-0, Phillips flew out to right fielder and future Giants manager Frank Robinson off Reds starter Bob Purkey (also a future Giant) to lead off the 7th inning. Cincy would win the game 4-3.

Phillips didn’t collect a hit as a Giant, but he did record the first of 60 career MLB RBI with San Francisco and it must have tasted good because it came against Milwaukee. The team that never promoted him to the majors.

In a road game at County Stadium, (4/18/62) Phillips was sent to pinch hit for Jim Davenport with runners on second and third, with one out in the top of the ninth. With Don Nottebart pitching, Phillips hit a slow roller to Braves second baseman Frank Bolling and Orlando Cepeda scampered home. The Giants were defeated in that contest 6-4.

Giant Footprint

Though Phillips on-field play really had no impact on the Giants Pennant winning campaign of ‘62, there is no doubt he was well liked by his San Francisco cohorts.

When it came time to divvy up World Series bonus money, Phillips was awarded a third of a full share.

And as far as manager Dark projection of Phillips as a potentially lethal major league pinch hitter? That didn’t really pan out.

Phillips would bat 115 times in his big league career as a pinch hitter – collecting 15 knocks for a .152 average with 13 RBI.

Meanwhile Manny Mota, the other rookie who made the Giants ‘62 opening day roster, primarily for his speed and defensive versatility only lasted slightly longer than Phillips on the Giants active roster in ‘62.

Mota however would one day develop into the game’s most dangerous all-time great pinch batters – collecting 150 career pinch hits for a .299 average in pinch situations.

Tony the Tiger does “He was a Giant?” features every Tuesday Giants home game at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Crawford and Wade take D-Backs Gallen deep; SF edges Arizona 4-3 at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants LaMonte Wade Jr does the home run trot after hitting a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Aug 1, 2023 (AP News photo)

Arizona (57-51). 000 012 000. – 3. 6. 0

San Francisco (59-49). 000 003 100. – 4. 9. 0

Time: 2:22

Attendance: 25,806

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–When the Giants duked it out with Arizona tonight, there were a couple of players in the Diamondbacks’ dugout who looked as if they’d shown up early for this coming weekend’s continuation of the Battle of the Bay. Third baseman Jace Peterson and southpaw reliever Sam Moll now wear the Rattlers’ rags, a costume change that I suspect will benefit both the traded players and their new team.

Peterson is likely to have better hitters behind him than he did with Oakland, although Carson Kelly (.174) and Alek Thomas (.237), who followed him in tonight’s D-Back lineup, hardly strike fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers. Moll will enjoy having a less porous defense than he had with the green and gold.

The Giants, on the other hand, did little to strengthen their roster at the trade deadline. The addition of AJ Pollock, who started tonight in left field, batting ninth and went 0 for 3, may prove to be helpful, but old and injury sounds like more of the same to me.

They did, however, complete another transaction that affected tonight’s lineup, recalling Isan Díaz from the River Cats, to replace Mike Yastrzemski, who was placed on the 10 day injured with a strained left hamstring. Díaz batted in the eighth spot and took the field at second base.

Whatever the effects of the teams’ response to the trade deadline turn out to be, tonight the Giants beat the Diamondbacks, 4-3 in a thrilling, come from behind battle.

For the first time since July 25, San Francisco’s starting pitcher was a member of their rotation, Alex Cobb, who also started that game for them. In it, he hurled six scoreless innings of three hit ball in a 2-1 win over the Red Sox at Oracle Park, which left him with the 6-3, 2.97 mark with which he came came to work today.

No one in San Francisco’s rotation has better traditional numbers. Cobb pitched extremely well for 4-2/3 innings tonight After that, not well at all. He ended up throwing six full innings an allowing three runs, all earned, on four hits, three of them home runs. He struck out four and issued one base on balls with a pitch count of 84, 53 counting as strikes. He escaped with a no decision and saw his ERA rise to 3.05.

For their part, the Diamondbacks entrusted their fate to the six pitch repertoire of Zac Gallen (11-5, 3.36 at game time), who pitched a scoreless first inning in this year’s All Star Game. (I guess the ASG is the bullpen game to end all bullpen games). He also allowed three runs, all. earned, over six innings and left with a no decision.

Gallen allowed seven hits, one of them a three run homer to Brian Crawford. 59 of his 91 pitches met the definition of strikes, His ERA also rose, to 3.41.

Both pitchers pretty much coasted through the first four innings. No one scored, and Gallen allowed three hits; Cobb, one. Lourdes Gurriel, Jr., changed that in the top of the fifth. With one down, he hammered a 94.6 mph Cobb sinker 413 feet deep into the left center field twilight for his 16th home run of the season and a 1-0 Diamondbacks lead.

Number nine batter Alek Thomas did a encore in the next frame, dumping fly just over the National Car Rental advertisement in left center for a solo home run, his seventh dinger of the year. The ball traveled 385 feet and also came off a Cobb sinker. Ketel Marte varied the script, sending another sinker sailing out of the park to right, making it 3-0, Arizona, after six. It was Marte’s 18th round tripper and 57th RBI of ’23.

San Francisco cane roaring back. with two out in their half of the sixth. Sabol singled to left and scored on a double by Luis Matos that split the outfielders in right center. Then Crawford showed he still had enough pop in his bat to propel a 93.3 mph four seamer 420 feet into for a game tying round tripper to center.

Ryan Walker took over for Cobb to pitch a scoreless seventh and eighth. Miguel Castro relieved Gallen after the seventh inning stretch only to cough up the lead on a solo shot to Levi’s Landing by LaMonte Wade, Jr., giving the Giants’ first baseman 10 homers and 29 RBI for the year. That blast put the Giants ahead for the first time since the 6;45 opening pitch

Austin Adams threw two pitches in the bottom of the eighth. The first was a ball to Joc Peterson, who ined the second pitch off of Adams’ body, causing him to leave the game. Luis Frías replaced him and retired the three Giants he faced.

Walker was back on the mound for the ninth. He surrendered a 3-2 single to Perdomo and got Marte to foul out to third before passing the ball to Sean Manaea. Carroll lined out to left . Then, with Christian Walker at the plate, Patrick Bailey, who had replaced Sabol behind it in the top of the eighth, picked Perdomo off first. The call was reviewed and confirmed.

Walker got well deserved credit for the win. His record now stands at 4-0, 2.35. Castro, now 5-5, 4.06 took the loss. Manaea got the save, his first. Patrick Bailey should have gotten it.

With this win, the Giants are back to a two game lead over the Dbacks for second place in the NL West.

The series will continue tomorrow, Wednesday, at 6:45. Slade Cecconi, with no record this year, is slated to pitch for Arizona; Logan Webb (8-9, 3.49), for the Giants.

Dodgers beat A’s 7-3; Lance Lynn gets first win as a Dodger

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Lance Lynn pitching in his first game as a Dodger against the Oakland A’s on Tue Aug 1, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Having won two out of three from the Colorado Rockies, the Oakland A’s came to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers. Lefty Ken Waldichuk was on the hill for Oakland. Lance Lynn would make his first start as a Dodger. Lynn did well, going seven innings and allowing three runs and five hits. The A’s just came up four runs short and were defeated by the Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium 7-3.

Three of the hits allowed were solo homers. Waldichuk did well for three innings. He struggled in the fourth and ended up being the losing pitcher. The game summary follows below.

Things went south for Waldichuk in the bottom of the fourth. Waldichuk kept the Dodgers hitless for the first three innings. Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman led off the fourth with a single. Waldichuk struck out Will Smith and Amed Rosario.

Suddenly, Waldichuk could not find the strike zone. He walked Max Muncy and Chris Taylor to load the bases. Waldichuk hit James Outman with a pitch to force in the Dodgers first run. A’s manager Mark Kotsay replaced Waldichuk with righty Tayler Scott. Kike Hernandez, recently acquired from Boston, doubled to clear the bases. The Dodgers lead 4-0 after four.

The A’s put a run on the board in the top of the sixth. With one out and no one on board, Zack Gelof blasted his fourth home run of the year into the left-field seats. For Lance Lynn, it was the 29th home run allowed, the most in baseball. The A’s trail 4-1 midway through the sixth.

The A’s hit two solo homers in the top of the seventh. Brent Rooker led off the inning with his 18th dinger of the season. Lynn retired Tyler Soderstrom for the first out. Jordan Diaz, playing third base for the A’s, hit an opposite-field home run to make it a 4-3 game.

It was an opposite-field dinger for the young man. Lynn has now allowed 31 gopher balls season. The Dodgers got two runs back in their half of the seventh. Mookie Betts blasted his 28th big fly of the year leading off the frame.

Freddie Freeman singled. Tarnol stuck out Will Smith for the first out. Amed Rosario walked to put men on at first and second. Lefty Sam Long was brought in to pitch. Long uncorked a wild pitch, Greeman and Rosario advanced a base. The A’s intentionally walked to Taylor to load the bases. Long walked James Outman to force in a run. The Dodgers lead 6-3 after seven.

The Dodgers tacked on a run in the eighth. With one out, Mookie Betts doubled. Freddie Freeman’s fourth hit of the night, a single to center, drove in Betts with the Dodgers’ seventh run. LA leads 7-3 after eight.

The A’s failed to score in the ninth.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 30-78. The Dodgers improved to 60-45. The Dodgers lead the San Francisco Giants by 2 1/2 games in the race for the NL West crown.

The Line score for Oakland was three runs, six hits, and no errors. Three of the hits were home runs.

The line score for LA was seven runs, seven hits, and no errors. The hitting stars for LA were Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Kike Hernandez. Betts had a double and a home run. Freeman had three singles and a double. Hernandez’ double drove in three runs in the fourth.

Lefty Hogan Harris will start for Oakland on Wednesday night. Tony Gonsolin will pitch for the Dodgers. The game will start at 7:10 pm.

Aces Blister Atlanta 93-72; Clinch playoff birth with win in Vegas

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All for one and one for all as the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their win over the Atlanta Dream and move into the post season clinching at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Tue Aug 1, 2023 (@LVAces photo)

Aces Blister Atlanta 93-72

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday evening the Las Vegas Aces (24-2) took on the Atlanta Dream (14-12) at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Las Vegas has been having another “dream” season. There are only 15 games left in the regular season and the Aces have their sights set on another post season run that will hopefully end with a second title. That dream continued with the Aces 93-72, 21 point win over the Dream.

The Dream challenged Las Vegas in the first quarter. Atlanta led for the first three minutes of the game coming out strong in the opening minutes. The Aces turned the slow start around tying up the game 8-8 at 7:08. The two teams remained close for the remainder of the quarter. Las Vegas took a five point lead in the final minute of play and led after one quarter 25-22.

The Aces began to pull a bit of a lead winning the second quarter 29-21 and leading at the half 54-43. Las Vegas has been a second half team all season. The second half is when they typically pull out all the stops and they would need that against this feisty Atlanta team that refused to back down.

The Dream won the third quarter 16-15 but still trailed 69-59. Atlanta kept plugging away and a minute into the fourth quarter, the Aces lead had been cut to seven points 69-62. Las Vegas turned that around in record time taking a 75-62 lead.

As the fourth quarter wore on, the Aces got this game under control leading 80-62 with four minutes left in the game. The Dream called a timeout when this game began to go south but there was no stopping Las Vegas. This game had turned into a real nightmare for the Dream. The final was 93-72.

Las Vegas powered their way through the fourth quarter. Jackie Young finished the game with 24 points and A’Ja Wilson had 20 points and 11 rebounds. The high for the Dream was Cheyenne Parker with 19 points.

The Aces will take on a tough team in the New York Liberty next Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jim on Bases: A’s get translucent ceiling idea from Raiders; Owners to sneak relocation vote in Nov after World Series

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The A’s are planning on installing a translucent roof at their new Tropicana ballpark in Las Vegas similar to what the Las Vegas Raiders are using for their roof at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (photo from Raiders.com)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jim on Bases:

#1 Jim, instead of a retractable roof a Las Vegas A’s team has decided on a translucent roof similar to the roof that the Las Vegas Raiders have at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

#2 The cost for the retractable roof would run an amazing $1.5 billion almost the cost of the ballpark itself.

#3 So the see through roof will fit the size of the Tropicana ballpark which will sit on nine acres of land and the A’s are hoping this answer their roof issues.

#4 The A’s are waiting for the renderings from architect Gensler whose based in Las Vegas and BIG who combining forces with HNTB. The contractor with the best rendering will be the one to do the official rendering for the Las Vegas ballpark.

#5 The relocation application is expected to be voted on in November after the renderings are submitted. Commissioner Rob Manfred and the MLB owners have scheduled all A’s relocation issues for after the World Series and after the topic of baseball is pretty much put to bed and not face the pressure of the fans.

Jim on Bases does the MLB or Oakland A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com