Month: September 2023

Oakland Roots lose 1-0 to FC Tulsa to start home stand

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Oakland Roots pose for a pre game team photo before their match against FC Tulsa on Sat Sep 16, 2023 (@oaklandrootssc photo)

Saturday, September 16th, 2023

By Troy Ewers

Hayward, CA – The Oakland Roots face off against FC Tulsa to start a three game homestand with six games left in the season, four out of those six will be home games for Oakland. The Roots find themselves in 7th place of the West, three points clear of the playoff line. 

Tulsa got on the board first 10 minutes into the game when Phillip Goodrum knocked a header in the net after receiving a short cross pass into the box and this header made it past Blanchette to put Tulsa up 1-0. The game plan for Oakland seemed more scattered than usual and Tulsa’s whole system was to take advantage of this scattered style of play.

The course of the first half was predominantly focused on setting up possible opportunities, but Oakland made the biggest mistake of the half right before stoppage time when Lindo Mfeka delivered a hard tackle that wasn’t just a clear foul, but resulted in a red card and the Roots had to play with ten men for the remainder of the game.

With only two minutes of stoppage time, the halftime whistle blew before anything could develop and Tulsa held the lead at 1-0, but with that red card on Oakland, Tulsa had the advantage. 

The second half was a complete battle of possession, but the odds were evened out when Tulsa got a red card and now both teams were playing with ten guys. From there the rest of the second half played out and Tulsa never conceded.

As the final whistle blew, the game was just like how it started, 1-0 Tulsa and three points secured for Tulsa, which isn’t good for Oakland as they go into these final five games with a huge mountain to climb. The next game will be a home match for Oakland and it will be against Monterey Bay FC and the Roots need a win to secure them in the playoff picture.

Mason Miller struggles in second start back from 60-Day IL, as A’s fall to Padres for third-straight loss

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Sep 16, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Brett Sullivan (29) appeals to the third base umpire on a check swing by Oakland Athletics first baseman Ryan Noda (49) during the fifth inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Noda was ruled out on the play. Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

San Diego Padres 5 (71-78)

Oakland Athletics 2 (46-102)

Win: Matt Waldron (1-3)

Loss: Mason Miller (0-3)

Save: Josh Hader (29)

Time: 3:15

Attendance: 14,376

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The San Diego Padres beat the Oakland A’s, 5-2, in the second game of this three-game series on a partly cloudy Saturday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum to hand the A’s their third-straight loss.

The A’s sent the young right-hander, Mason Miller, to the mound. Miller, who was making his second start since coming off the 60-Day Injured List, struggled with his control.

Miller walked Ha-Seong Kim, following a 1-2 count, to start the game; and then Fernando Tatis Jr. doubled to put runners at second and third with nobody out for Juan Soto, who knocked Kim with a sacrifice fly to right. Xander Bogaerts then hit a donk single off the end of the bat into center for a base-hit to knock in Tatis and make it 2-0 Padres. Miller then issued a pair of two-out walks to load the bases, but he escaped further damage.

“Everytime [I’m] out there is a blessing and an opportunity,” said Miller. “I look to capitalize on things I’m struggling with, [and] make those adjustments week to week, outing to outing.” I don’t want to make any excuses for [my command].”

The knuckleballer, Matt Waldron, got the start for the Padres, and pitched scoreless innings in the bottom of the first and second. The A’s got to Waldron for a run to put the A’s on the board in the bottom of the third, as Nick Allen doubled to left with one out, and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Ryan Noda.

“I think that was my first time getting [a] hit off a knuckleball,” said Allen. “It was nice getting a double, [and] getting in scoring position for the guys.”

Luis Medina succeeded Mason Miller on the mound for the A’s, and threw a 1-2-3 top of the second, as well as a scoreless third. Medina remained in a groove in the top of the fourth, as he struck Trent Grisham out swinging to start the inning, and he got Matthew Batten looking for the second out. However, Medina walked Brett Sullivan, and gave up a single to Kim, which put runners at first and third. Medina walked Tatis to load the bases, and then he walked Soto to give the Padres a run for free.

Waldron pitched a scoreless bottom of the fourth for the Padres, and Medina came back out for the A’s in the top of the fifth. Medina hit Luis Campusano with a pitch to start the inning. He got Ji Man Choi to strike out swinging for the first out; he walked Grisham with one out; and got Batten looking again for the second out.

A’s Manager Mark Kotsay then opted to pull Medina for the lefty, Easton Lucas to face the left-handed-hitting Brett Sullivan. Sullivan hit a chopper to first that was picked up by A’s first-baseman, Ryan Noda, who threw a bouncer that went all the way to the A’s dugout.

Campusano and Grisham both scored to open the Padres’ lead to 5-1. Sullivan was originally awarded second base, but the third base umpire and crew chief, Dan Iassogna, convened the crew, and awarded Sullivan third since he had reached first before Noda got his throw off.

Mark Kotsay wanted an explanation as to why Sullivan was awarded third, and Iassogna checked in with the replay center in New York for a rule’s check, but he was backed up by Approved Ruling of Rule 5.06(b)(4)(G), which states:

“If all runners, including the batter-runner, have advanced at least one base when an infielder makes a wild throw on the first play after the pitch, the award shall be governed by the position of the runners when the wild throw was made.”

Zack Gelof hit a home run to left off Waldron to start the bottom of the sixth to cut the Padres’ lead to 5-2. Seth Brown struck out swinging, but after Aledmys Diaz singled to center, Waldron’s day was done. Padres Manager Bob Melvin brought in Scott Barlow, who gave up an opposite-field single to Lawrence Butler, which brought the tying run to the plate. However, Carlos Perez grounded back to the mound for a 1-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Easton Lucas ended up pitching two innings in total, and with two outs in the top of the seventh, he was replaced by Lucas Erceg, who would’ve ended up pitching a perfect inning and a third had Tatis not reached on an error with two outs in the top of the eighth.

Barlow ended up pitching an inning and a third of scoreless ball for San Diego, as did Robert Surarez. Dany Jimenez pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for the A’s, and the Padres summoned their closer, Josh Hader, for the bottom of the ninth.

Carlos Perez singled to left to start the bottom of the ninth, but Brent Rooker flew out to left; Nick Allen grounded into a fielder’s choice; and Shea Langeliers pinch-hit for Tony Kemp and struck out swinging to end the game.

The A’s will try and salvage a game in this series tomorrow, as they will send the young 6’7” right-hander Joe Boyle to be the opener in his major league debut.

[Joe Boyle] will open tomorrow,” said A’s Manager Mark Kotsay. “We’re looking forward to this day tomorrow to see a young man that [has] earned this opportunity.” said A’s Manager Mark Kotsay.

Stephen Ruderman is a http://www.sportsradioservice.com contributor and podcaster

Giants swept by Rockies 5-2 in night cap; SF drops 3 straight to Colorado; Series Finale Sunday at Coors; Giants 2.5 games back of NL Wild Card

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Second game of the doubleheader San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Rogers (left) and Giants first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr (right) wait for a Colorado Rockie Ezequiel Tovar ball to go foul in the bottom of the seventh inning at Coors Field in Denver on Sat Sep 16, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants apparently did not get the errors out of their system and had a couple more in the second game of the day at Coors Field. A very sloppy game from San Francisco and some very good play from Colorado gave the Rockies their third win of the series 5-2 sweeping Saturday’s day-night doubleheader.

The Colorado Rockies (55-92) took care of the San Francisco Giants (75-73) in the first game of the doubleheader of their four game series Saturday morning 9-5. This was the one series left in the regular season that many thought San Francisco could succeed in and get closer to a Wild Card.

It is by no means turned out to be that way. The Giants looked awful in Game Two; the pitching was horrendous and offense not much better. The question going into Game Three of this series was could San Francisco get a split out of this series?

Night cap recap: As this game got started, it was not the start that the Giants had envisioned. Colorado got things rolling with a couple of runs in the first inning. Kris Bryant got a double and Elehuris Montero singled and the Rockies had an early 2-0 lead.

San Francisco kept pace scoring in the second inning trailing by a single run 2-1. Mike Yastrzemski singled Patrick Bailey home and the Giants still had Colorado in their sites.

The Rockies would answer and add a couple of runs in the third inning to extend their lead to 4-1. Ezequiel Tovar singled and Charlie Blackburn scored for the 3-1 lead.

Another San Francisco mistake on the mound gave Colorado another run. Tovar scored on a Jakob Junis wild pitch and the Giants were getting deeper and deeper in trouble as this game went on trailing 4-1. It was still very early in the game but the Giants would need some offense asap.

The fourth and fifth innings were quiet for both teams but in the top of the sixth inning, San Francisco got one run showing some signs of life. Michael Conforto hit a sacrifice fly and Thairo Estrada scored. The score was still a bit lop-sided as this game went into the latter innings with San Francisco still trailing 4-2.

The Rockies would top off this game in the seventh inning with a Bryant single and Blackman scored for the final of 5-2. The Rockies had won three straight games off San Francisco after being swept in their last series with the Giants at Oracle Park.

In Game Two, there were more errors and more runners left stranded. In the ninth inning the Giants had the bases loaded but came up empty. Both teams had ten hits in the game which highlights all the runners that San Francisco left hanging.

They had a couple of errors as well in the game which Colorado took advantage of. The Rockies have really played well in this series giving San Francisco all sorts of problems.

Sunday the Giants will try to salvage this series in Game Four. They cannot afford to be swept. Sean Manaea will take the mound for the Giants with a (5-6, 4.80 ERA). The Rockies will start Chris Flexen with a (1-7, 7.22 ERA). First pitch for this game will be 12:10 PM PT.

San Jose State falls to Toledo 21-17

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Photo credit: toledoblade.com

By: Mary Anne

The San Jose State Spartans looked to win two in a row at the Toledo Rockets on Saturday, but they didn’t. San Jose State fell to Toledo 21-17 at Glass Bowl Stadium. SJSU’s record dropped to 1-3, while Toledo improved to 2-1.

After a scoreless first quarter, San Jose State took a second-quarter lead in only a minute. Kyler Halvorsen kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it 3-0 Spartans at 7:47. Spartans quarterback Chevan Cordeiro threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dominick Mazotti, who scored his first of the season, and Halvorsen kicked an extra point to give the Spartans a 10-0 lead at 6:47.

The Rockets cut the Spartans’ lead to 10-7 with ten seconds left in the second quarter. Rockets quarterback Dequan Finn threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jerjuan Newton, who scored a touchdown, and Luke Pawlak kicked an extra point to make it a three-point game.

The Spartans took a 10-7 lead to the locker room at halftime.

The Spartans took a ten-point lead at 9:58 of the third quarter. Kairee Robinson ran for a 15-yard touchdown and Kyler Halvorson kicked in an extra point to put the Spartans up 17-7.

The Rockets made it a three-point game at 6:15 of the third quarter. Dequan Finn ran for an 18-yard touchdown and Luke Pawlak kicked in an extra point to cut the Spartans’ lead to 17-14.

The Rockets took their first lead of the game with 2:01 left in the third quarter. Chris McDonald scored a touchdown on a 25-yard interception return and Luke Pawlak kicked in an extra point to put the Rockets up 21-14.

Notes
Spartans quarterback Chevan Cordeiro joined the 10,000-yard club Saturday.

Up Next
The Spartans will return home to host the Air Force Falcons at CEFCU Stadium on Saturday, September 22, at 7:30 p.m. Pacific.

Cal Scores 31 Unanswered Points To Beat Idaho 31-17

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Congratulations all around as the Cal Bears defeated the Idaho Vandals for their second win at Cal Memorial in Berkeley on Sat Sep 16, 2023 (@CalFootball photo)

Saturday, September 16th, 2023

By Troy Ewers

Berkeley, CA – At Cal Memorial Stadium, the University of Cal Bears host the Idaho Vandals in their third game of the season, and the Bears come into this game 1-1 and coming off a loss last week to Auburn. The defense of Cal has only allowed 14 points in the last six quarters and that was all in the Auburn game. Cal dominated on offense coming away with their second win of the 2023 season defeating the Vandals 31-17.

The game started with Idaho receiving the ball and their first drive was a 12 play, 67 yard drive that resulted in a field goal, 3-0 Idaho, but the story here is Cal’s defense stopping the Vandals in the red zone and forcing them to have to settle for three points.

Quarterback Sam Jackson V leads the Cal offense and has been leading them as a scoring dynamo the last two games, but his first drive this game went three and out and was forced to punt. Idaho’s very next drive was complete domination on offense and was efficient with nine plays and 80 yards that ended with Vandals running back Anthony Woods running head first into the defense and into the end zone for a touchdown. 10-0 Idaho.

The first quarter was all Idaho, dominating the possession time, the yards, and the score. Idaho had a 10:40 possession time and 147 yards which was polar opposite to Cal’s 4:20 time of possession and 39 yards in the opening quarter and Cal needed to shake things up for the second quarter or the Vandals would run away with this game early. 

The domination didn’t slow down for Idaho in the second quarter as they stopped Cal in their tracks to start the quarter and then followed that stop with a nine play, 53 yard touchdown drive where they scored off a two yard run in the end zone for Idaho QB Gevani McCoy.

17-0 Idaho and the Bears were not only trailing, they allowed more points in one half then they did in the last six quarters of two games. Cal finally got on the board with a 20 yard TD pass from Sam Jackson V to Jeremiah Hunter and the energy in the stadium perked up. 17-7.

The first time Cal stopped Idaho for a turnover on downs was deep in the second quarter when cornerback Jeremiah Earby knocked down two big passes, one of them being on fourth down and this set up the Bears for the momentum shifter of the half.

On the fourth play of the drive, Sam Jackson V threw a 36 yard TD pass to Trond Grizzell and the score being 17-14 now changed the environment and the energy in it. On what was supposed to be Idaho’s final drive before the half, they were about to enter the redzone, McCoy threw the ball and it was Nohl Williams for Cal who was there to pick it off and the Bears took over possession with 28 seconds left, but couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. The first half ends with Idaho in the lead 17-14, but the momentum on the Bears side. 

The second half started with a major drive from Cal’s Sam Jackson V as he led the Bears 80 yards and scored  by running it in himself for a 27 yard TD, giving Cal their first lead of the game, 21-17 Cal. Idaho’s third quarter was vastly different than their entire first half.

Cal clearly made adjustments to the defense where this half Idaho couldn’t get anything going even though they were still dominating the time of possession. The offense though for Cal was in full gear during the quarter, collecting another TD, but this one on the ground when Isaiah Ifanse hammered in a one yard run after setting up the scoring play with an even better 17 yard run where dodged any defender who tried to wrap him up. 28-17 Cal. 

The fourth quarter started with a big run by McCoy for Idaho, but a penalty made them go back to their start point and then a fumble recovered by Raymond Woodie III gave the Bears the ball early in the fourth and with such a clear lead, this moment was theirs to seize and put a potential nail in the Vandals’ coffin.

A huge 41 yard run by Ashton Stredick put the Cal offense in the best position to hammer that nail in the coffin, but they had to settle for a field goal after a penalty and failed plays held them outside the red zone. With the score being 31-17 Cal, the Bears at this point had scored 31 unanswered points.

As we went in to the final three minutes of the game, Idaho needed to get back to the vibe they set in the first half, but after another turnover, a fumble recovered by Cal, it was clear that the Vandals might’ve hit their peak point too early and it was in the hands of the Bears as the clock winded down. 

The clock hit zero and the score was final with Cal winning 31-17 and now holding a 2-1 record. Cal’s next game will be against a Pac-12 foe, the #8 Washington Huskies in the University of Washington and the Bears want to take this momentum and type of game into their next game and even into the conference part of the season.

Troy Ewers is a Cal Bears beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Drop Front Game Of Doubleheader (Game 2 Of Series) To Rockies 9-5

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Keaton Winn works against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Coors Field in Denver on Sat Sep 16, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

A disastrous fifth inning set the stage for the San Francisco Giants (75-73) second loss in this series. All that they can hope for right now is a split losing the front game of Saturday’s doubleheader to the Colorado Rockies (55-92) and game two of the series 9-5.

Friday night the Giants lost a heartbreaker to the Rockies 3-2. The Giants led going into the bottom of the ninth. A single and an error later, the Rockies were celebrating a walk-off win 3-2.

Saturday San Francisco was back on the field playing a double-header scheduled due to a rain-out Thursday night. Losing game one of this series hurt San Francisco’s playoff hopes. Every game going forward is critically important if the Giants want any shot at a playoff berth.

They are not doing much to advance their cause that’s for sure. They are making this pretty hard on themselves. Friday’s loss was a bit of a surprise because the Rockies reside in the basement of the NL West so this is a team that the Giants need to beat, especially with a couple of series coming up with the Dodgers, one with the Diamondbacks and another with the Padres.

The Giants got off to a quick start taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning and adding another run in the third inning to extend their lead to 3-0. In the second inning Blake Sabol doubled and both LaMonte Wade Jr. and Luis Matos scored.

In the third inning Thairo Estrada scored on passed ball by Austin Wynns. It was all looking good for San Francisco until the bottom of the third inning. This is when it all went sideways for the Giants.

A Colorado triple from Ezequiel Tovar with the bases loaded tied up the game 3-3 and this game quickly escalated in favor of the Rockies.

The fifth inning was a disaster for San Francisco. Giant’s starting pitcher Keaton Winn fell apart and after 76 pitches he was done. He had allowed three hits and three runs. Ryan Walker who relieved him in the fourth did not fare much better allowing two hits and three runs walking three batters. San Francisco walked in two runs in the fifth inning and when the dust had settled Colorado had taken a 6-3 lead. The Rockies would add another run in the sixth inning to lead 7-3.

Going into the seventh inning, the Giants had three innings left to make up a lot of ground or drop even further back in the wild card race. This was a horrible let-down after last night’s loss.

Colorado continued their beat-down in the bottom of the seventh inning scoring two more runs. The Rockies 9-3 lead set up a more than likely Colorado win going into the eighth inning and assuring them a split series or better.

San Francisco crept a little closer in the eighth inning when LaMonte Wade Jr. homered, a solo, to right center but still trailing 9-4 going into the ninth inning. The Rockies were three outs away from taking a 2-0 lead in the series.

San Francisco made a little noise in the ninth inning. Estrade singled Brandon Crawford home. With two outs, Mitch Haniger struck out swinging and that was the ball game 9-5.

This game was lost on the mound and the quiet bats didn’t help at all. They had seven hits in the game and left a lot of runners stranded The Giants are in a self-destruction mode right now and have to turn it around in the second game of the double dip. The two teams will take a breather and then play the second game of this double-header with first pitch at 5:10 PM.

Starting pitchers in the night cap for the Giants Scott Alexander (7-2 ERA 4.53) for the Rockies Kyle Freeland (6-14 ERA 6-14) at Coors Field.

MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Ohtani done for season; San Diego manager Melvin talks about being back in Oakland

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Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani sits in the dugout before a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. Ohtani left the Angels on Fri Sep 16, 2023. His agent said he’ll be a DH somewhere next season (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Los Angeles Angels two way star Shohei Ohtani cleared out his locker on Friday night and is done for the rest of the 2023 season. Ohtani has been out of the line up since Sep 4th is will need a procedure for his right elbow. Ohtani’s personal items were seen in a garbage can in the Angels clubhouse according to reporters and Ohtani didn’t speak to the media after taking batting practice in a cage before the game.

#2 Stephen, with former Oakland A’s and now San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin was back in his old confines at the Oakland Coliseum. It gave Melvin who showed up at the ballpark at 11 AM time to run the stairs in the lower bowl of the Coliseum.

#3 Asked about the A’s move to Las Vegas Melvin said he hopes fans would enjoy the ballpark and hope that the A’s are in Oakland a lot longer then people expect. Meaning getting the extension at the Coliseum through the 2027 before they move to Vegas if it gets the owners approval.

#4 The Los Angeles Angels Anthony Rendon has been out a good two months and has not made himself available to talk about what was thought to be his bruised deep bone which outside doctors with no working relationship with the Angels said it was a fractured tibia.

#5 New York Yankees pitcher Anthony Misiewicz was hit in the head by line drive hit by the Pittsburgh Pirates Ji Hwan Bae which happened in the bottom of the sixth inning at PNC Park. Misiewicz was hit on the side of the head as the ball rolled to right field. Misiewicz stood up after getting hit and was escorted off the field via cart under the watchful eye of medical personnel and the Yankee trainer.

#6 If the bags are ever juiced and the Minnesota Twins Royce Lewis is coming to the plate his odds of hitting a grand slam home run are pretty good. Royce hit grand slam number four for the season a Twins record for a season on Friday night. Lewis said he thinks of the wins that comes with hitting the grand slam and he hopes his teammates hits some as well.

Stephen Ruderman is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Taking a look at the steps MLB will take to move A’s out of Oakland

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Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman is part of a three man MLB committee that will recommend relocating the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas. The committee will send their recommendation onto MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred after doing the first step of the study. (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, MLB announced that there will be a relocation vote in mid November. There are several steps to the process beginning with a three man executive committee which consists of Milwaukee Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio, who is chairing the committee, Philadelphia Phillies CEO John Middleton and Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman. 

#2 The second step of the process is the recommendation gets passed along to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred who will look over the relocation application and no doubt put his stamp approval on it.

#3 After Manfred is finished with his approval it moves onto a eight man committee who will look it over for the renderings, the blue prints, how the move will benefit MLB, the topic of moving to the smallest MLB market will no doubt be part MLB considerations.

#4 Once the eight man committee has completed their study they will pass it onto the 30 MLB owners for the mid November vote which requires 75% approval to relocate the A’s from Oakland to Las Vegas.

#5 You have to wonder if Oakland was going to get an expansion team out of this then why move out of Oakland in the first place. Also revisiting Howard Terminal could be tougher than it was the first time with John Fisher and the A’s.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s 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 Joe Hawkes: Purdy best patient a surgeon could ever have; Niners prepare for Rams in the Southland

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy throws against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sun Sep 10, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the 49rs podcast with J Hawkes:

#1 Joe, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s surgeon said that Purdy is a “exceptional individual.” Dr. Keith Meister said that his surgery on Purdy is the best one he’s ever done. Purdy came out with flying colors. Meister has worked on baseball pitchers as well.

#2 Who’d a thunk Purdy came back from right elbow surgery and threw for a 30-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on opening day. Joe watching him you wouldn’t have even known he had the surgery.

#3 Defensive end Nick Bosa said after holding out for 43 days and getting game ready in less than a week that he felt sore but he felt really good and it was about getting some practices and getting adjusted.

#4 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk received his first NFC Offensive Player of the Week Award and was asked if anything came with that beyond recognition. Aiyuk said asking 49ers media relations department’s Peter Volmut if he gets something for that.

#5 49ers are in the Southland to battle the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. The Rams won their opener on Sun Sep 10th against the Seattle Seahawks 30-13 in Seattle. Rams quarterback Matt Stafford threw for 334 yards, 24-38 and no touchdowns and no interceptions. How do you see the Niners matching up with the Rams on Sunday?

Join Joe Hawkes Saturdays for the 49ers podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rough start spells doom for A’s against Padres as they lose 8-3

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Photo courtesy of Oakland A’s Twitter.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

OAKLAND- The A’s opened a home series against the Padres with a rough outing against the Padres by a final of 8-3.

Attendance: 17,828

Before the game Tony Kemp was awarded a nomination for the Roberto Clemente award whose number he wore along with a few other players.

Photo courtesy of Oakland A’s Twitter. Tony Kemp is handed the Roberto Clemente award by manager of the A’s Mark Kotsay on Sept. 15th 2023.

This would also be former A’s manager Bob Melvin’s first visit back to the Coliseum after going to the Padres.

Starting for the Athletics was Sean Newcomb who coming in had a 1-0 record with a 3.21 era. While the Padres had Seth Lugo start who had a 6-7 record with a 3.82 era.

The offense was working early for the Padres as Fernando Tatis Jr. showed his power by crushing a 2-0 pitch to center field. Then after back-to-back walks Newcomb threw a wild pitch getting Juan Soto home.

Quickly down 2-0 Newcomb wasn’t able to establish much more confidence in the second inning as he gave a lead-off double to Garrett Cooper. After a single and a hit by pitch the bases were then loaded for Tatis who singled getting two runs home making it 4-0. Newcomb was able to minimize the damage to just two runs but now the A’s needed some runs.

There would be some help in the bottom of the second as Shea Langeliers launched a solo shot to center field getting his 20th homer of the season.

The fourth saw the first pitching change of the game as Adrián Martínez came in to replace Newcomb.

Martínez would end up having quite the opposite of and outing as he only gave up one earned run in 4.2 innings pitched. It was exactly the kind of bounce back Martínez needed after his rough outing against Texas on the 10th when he gave up four runs.

Following up the second Ryan Noda hit a ground-rule double bringing home Esteury Ruiz making things a little closer at 4-2.

The one run given up by Martínez was a double by Luis Campusano in the fifth that made it 5-2.

There would be another solo home run by an A’s player in the sixth inning with Brent Rooker this time homering getting his 25th of the season.

Scoring stayed relatively quiet until the top of the ninth inning when with Devin Sweeney on the mound the Padres got two on base. Jose Azocar then stepped up and pretty much put the dagger in this game by getting a three run homer. That home run was Azocar’s first home run of his career as he didn’t have any in his rookie campaign.

The A’s could not form any sort of response in the ninth ending this one at 8-3.

“I think the walks killed us tonight,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said after the game.

Oakland will look to bounce back tomorrow against the Padres at 1:07 p.m.