Month: September 2023

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa: With Couture out Sharks looking for shot in arm on offense

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San Jose Sharks center and team captain Logan Couture is out with a lower body injury for the rest of camp and pre season. His return could be when the regular season starts Thu Oct 12, 2023

SJ Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Mary Lisa, The first day of camp everybody usually is pretty positive about the upcoming season but when the news was dropped that center and team captain Logan Couture would miss camp and pre season games it gives some doubt in the dressing room about team direction doesn’t it?

#2 The Sharks got the news one hour into the first day of camp that Couture would be out with a lower body injury. With Couture out of the line up what does the offense look like and will enough practices and pre season games help find an answer for his absence?

#3 The odds makers are saying this upcoming season could be the worst start in Sharks history since they broke into the league as an expansion team in 1991-92.

#4 The Sharks who will not be able to lean on former teammates defenseman Erik Karlsson (now with Pittsburgh) and last year’s top scorer Timo Meier (New Jersey Devils) and the way things are looking they might see a difference in their absence right off the next face off?

#5 Nico Strum said there are nine guys with expiring contracts and there is going to be more turnover expected and this rebuild is going to take a while. No doubt there will be an adjustment period.

Mary Lisa does the San Jose Sharks podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Hawkes: Giants tried to show blitz but Niners were not intimidated; SF prepares for Arizona on Oct 1

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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, right, runs against New York Giants cornerback Adoree’ Jackson during the second half at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara on Thu Sep 21, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SF 49ers podcast with Joe Hawkes:

#1 It just seemed no matter how hard the New York Giants tried to blitz San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and the 49ers offensive line Purdy was able to find a receiver on Thursday Night Football.

#2 Running back Christian McCaffrey has scored a touchdown in 12 straight games McCaffrey is finding holes and has been getting blocks and has been effective in the red zone.

#3 Joe, talk about wide receiver Deebo Samuel who caught two Purdy passes for touchdowns. How effective has Samuel been at wide receiver these first three games?

#4 The win on Thursday night was the 49ers 13th straight regular season game, there seems like there hasn’t been any effective opponent with the exception of last year’s Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game that the 49ers have faced.

#5 The 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals on Sun Oct 1st at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara. Joe talk about how you see Purdy throwing against the Cardinals defense in this one?

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s still have not submitted a design for Tropicana ballpark in Vegas

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The Tropicana Hotel and Resort the future home of the Las Vegas Athletics. The A’s have not submitted a design, have not addressed the retractable roof or dome, or submitted where the team will play between 2025-27 (photo by Nevada Independent Journal)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Oakland City officials have indicated that they are not impressed with the job the Oakland A’s, or the Tropicana at Bally’s in Las Vegas is doing. The A’s have not submitted a design for the ballpark, the A’s have not said whether the park will be domed or have a retractable roof.

#2 The cost of the ballpark is $1.5 billion on a 35 acre lot and the A’s need to present a design by the beginning of January. The MLB owners will be taking a vote in mid November to approve the A’s relocation but must have the renderings in hand before that time.

#3 The issue of where the A’s intend to play between 2025-2027 still has not been decided. They have a lease with the Oakland Coliseum through the 2024 season. The A’s need to submit where they plan to play before submitting the relocation application to the MLB three man committee.

#4 With the lease expiring in 2024 and needing to submit the relocation application by mid November the A’s are still seeking locations where they will play for the remaining three years while the Tropicana is being built. Suggestions have been three minor league parks, Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Greater Nevada Field in Reno, Las Vegas Park home of the Las Vegas Aviators, and Oracle Park home of the San Francisco Giants. Many think staying at the Oakland Coliseum is the most practical place for the A’s until their new park is built.

#5 A’s team president David Kaval said that the Tropicana location is quintessential, it’s right on the strip, i has people, cars, and eyeballs. Kaval added in many ways the Tropicana has the best location because it’s one of the busiest intersections in the world.

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

Air Force Beats San Jose State 45-20

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The Air Force Falcons running back Lee Eldridge (24) takes a leap over the San Jose State University Spartans linebacker Taniela Latu (41) at Spartan Stadium in San Jose on Fri Sep 22, 2023 (@AF_Football photo)

Friday, September 22nd, 2023 

By Troy Ewers

 San Jose, CA – CEFCU Stadium was the location for this Mountain West conference duel between the San Jose State Spartans and Air Force Falcons. This Friday night battle may have felt like being in high school and watching a game at your school, but the energy and competition was way more intense with more at stake. Air Force handled the San Jose State with a 45-20 win.

Spartans QB Chevan Cordeiro had his hands full against Air Force considering going into this game the Falcons with a conference leading defense. Air Force’s defense ranked first in the conference in seven categories (scoring defense, passing defense, rushing defense, total defense, opposing first downs, third down defense, and sacks for).

Air Force also was the conference leader in six offensive categories (pass yards/completions, rushing offense, passing efficiency, third down %, sacks against, and time of possession). How would SJSU head coach Brent Brennan prepare for this top ranked squad?

San Jose State’s opening drive showed that coach Brennan was very prepared for the Falcons. The first drive for the Spartans went 75 yards in eight plays and took only 4:17 off the clock, this efficient drive didn’t showcase Cordeiro’s efficiency with the offense, but he was able to score on his feet with a 10 yard run to give the Spartans the lead to start the game, but the extra point was missed, 6-0.

Air Force this season had only allowed seven points in the first half and SJSU had already done better essentially in the first quarter. Air Force’s opening drive wasn’t a quiet in and out drive, they went 62 yards, but could only collect three points off the field goal from Matthew Dapore. 6-3 game at this point in the first quarter. The Spartans next drive went nowhere as they were forced to punt and it was a better example of the Falcons defense that was advertised. 

The second quarter started with Air Force with the ball around midfield and the rushing offense of the Falcons displayed why they were the leaders of the Mountain West. Not only did they control the pace of the game, but after going 65 yards on the drive, a rush by Emmanuel Michel for 17 yards through the defense into the end zone, the Falcons were able to take the lead including adding an extra point, 10-6 Air Force.

The shootout continued with SJSU moving the chains for a 60 yard drive and the exclamation point on the drive was a 29 yard touchdown run by Kairee Robinson, breaking tackles and finding holes, showing off great field vision and putting the Spartans over 13-10.

The momentum swayed largely in San Jose State’s favor after they completely stuffed Air Force as the Falcons tried to rush the ball and went absolutely nowhere and forced a punt. This was SJSU’s opportunity to possibly extend their lead going into halftime.

Cordeiro and this offense took full advantage of this opportunity and in four plays went 64 yards and pounded the ball into the end zone with another Robinson TD for SJSU. Cordeiro at this point in the game was throwing a perfect 11/11 so far as the Spartans were up 20-10.

Air Force’s response as the second quarter winded down was to go 75 yards and run the ball in for TD, but the attack was more balanced as Falcons QB Zac Larrier founds holes in the Spartans defense that made their attack feel easy and as the half ended the score was close, 20-17 with SJSU up. 

The second half started with Air Force having the ball and their game plan was to take over possession time with their nation leading running game. Coming into the second half with 199 rushing yards, Air Force added 75 yards on that stat with a long drive that went 15 plays and took more than half of the quarter to execute, but they executed to perfection with a rushing touchdown by John Lee Eldridge III and on that drive it felt like every running back on Air Force’s roster touched the ball and the Falcons took the lead, 24-20.

Cordeiro’s first incompletion came in the first play of the opening drive for SJSU in the second half and he followed it up with a second incomplete and an eight yard run, but no first down and with 5:28 left in the third, the game was coming down to who can stick to their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.

Air Force’s run game was hitting on all cylinders. So far this season they average 320 yards a game and this game was no different for the Falcons as they hit 333 yards when the whistle blew for the end of the third quarter. 

With the ball to start the fourth quarter and red zone field possession, Air Force had a chance to extend the lead the only way they knew how and they did exactly that. Converting on a fourth down for a touchdown, Michel jammed in a one yard run in the end zone and took an 11 point lead to start the final quarter, 31-20.

A real shift in momentum came when SJSU tried to convert on fourth down to mount a comeback, but that attempt failed as they were stuffed by the Air Force D-Line and the possession would change hands. The Spartans had been scoreless in the second half at this point and with Air Force having the ball after that turnover on downs, it was clear who had everything in their favor the second half.

The proverbial nail in the coffin for SJSU came when Eldrige III broke tackles and hurdled falling Spartans for a 34 yard TD, 38-20 Air Force. After that TD the fans were filing out to beat the traffic. Both Michel and Eldrige III had 100+ yards rushing and the total rushing yards at this point for Air Force were 380, upholding their average on the season.

Cordeiro would throw an interception to Air Force’s Trey Taylor in a routine pop up pick and by this point in the game, all Air Force had to do was run this clock down to zero. Air Force while running down this clock would score again, 45-20, but the damage was not only done, but the 16,124 in attendance dwindled to around 2,000 people with two minutes left. 

When the final whistle blew it was clear who had won this game and it was clear Air Force was just as dominant as they were advertised. On defense they were a force and on offense they used a ground game that was classic old school smash mouth football.

For SJSU there’s a lot to learn from this game and with a bye week next week, they have time to reflect and learn from this game. Their next game would be in Idaho against Boise State on October 7th.

Giants Hit Three Home Runs Get Past Dodgers 5-1; SF now 3 games back of NL Wild Card

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Top of the fourth inning San Francisco Giants hitter Mike Yastrzemski slugs a home run in front of Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Fri Sep 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

San Francisco Giants (77-77) sluggers Mike Yastrzemski, Thairo Estrada and Tyler Fitzgerald all hit home runs in game two of this series on Friday night. They held the Los Angeles Dodgers (94-59) to five hits and a single run winning the game 5-1.

This game was scoreless through three innings but it was San Francisco that put two runs up on the board in the fourth inning. Mike Yastrzemski knocked a two-run homer with Joc Pederson on base for the 2-0 lead. San Francisco would add to their lead in the sixth inning with a second home run, this one off the bat of Thairo Estrada for a 3-0 lead.

The Giants defense held the Dodgers until the bottom of the eighth when Los Angeles attempted a rally that came up way short. Freddie Freeman singled James Outman home but that would be all that the Dodgers could manage.

San Francisco would belt another home run in the ninth inning. Tyler Fitzgerald had a two-run homer with Marco Luciano on base and the Giants had taken a 5-1 lead and that would be the final. The Fitzgerald home run was his first career long ball giving the Giants the insurance they needed to nail down this win.

The Giants had eight hits in this game and San Francisco pitcher Sean Manaea went seven innings allowing three hits, no runs and two strikeouts. This was Manaea’s first win over the Dodgers. Manaea has the only two wins on the Giants current road trip. He gave up a hit to Miguel Rojas in the third inning but then retired 11 batters in a row in a terrific appearance on the mound.

This win brought the team back to .500 ending their three game skid. The Giants had not been below .500 since June 5th. This was a badly needed win for San Francisco in the crowded NL wild-card race.

Post game notes: Thursday night the Giants lost to the Dodgers amid a host of crazy errors. The Giants were able to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning but that was about it for San Francisco. Wild pitches along with an unbelievable error by right fielder Mike Yastrzemski and another from Wilmer Flores gave the Dodgers a real leg up.

After losing the series to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Giants find themselves in a precarious situation. Hopes of a wild card berth are quickly fleeting, they won Friday night but they must continue stringing wins. The Reds, Marlins, and Diamondbacks all lost Friday but San Francisco still remains in the sixth spot three games back in the wild card race with the San Diego Padres hot on the Giants trail.

This rivalry will continue on into the weekend with games three and four. Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for the Dodgers on Saturday. The Los Angeles Ace has a 12-4 win/loss record and a 2.52 ERA. A starter for the Giants is still undecided at the time of this post. First pitch for game three is scheduled for 6:10 PM in another must win for San Francisco.

A’s snap eight-game skid against Tigers 8-2

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Oakland Athletics’ Shea Langeliers hits a three-run home run against the Detroit Tigers during the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Sep 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

Photo courtesy of Oakland A’s Twitter.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

OAKLAND- After losing yesterday to the Tigers the A’s bounced back winning by a final of 8-2.

Getting the start for Oakland was Ken Waldichuk who coming in had a 3-8 record with a 5.25 era. While Detroit had Sawyer Gipson-Long on the mound who had a 1-0 record with a 2.70 era.

Scoring got going quickly for the A’s as in the first inning Ryan Noda singled and Zack Gelof doubled getting in a run.

Things quieted down until the fifth inning when after Javier Baiz got a double Carson Kelly homered on a 1-1 pitch giving the Lions the lead 2-1.

Once again both offensives slowed down until the bottom of the six when Detroit brought on Will Vest in relief of Gipson-Long. That first pitch would be launched right back out into the stands by Brent Rooker who got his 29th home run of the season tying the game up at two.

The fun didn’t stop for the A’s though as Tony Kemp reached on an error and then Lawrence Butler singled. On the play though unfortunately for Oakland Kemp rolled his ankle meaning he was only able to hobble to first on a ball that could’ve been double. Thankfully for the green-and-white Kemp ended up being alright and stayed in the game.

With the pressure mounting Tyler Holton came in to replace Vest and the A’s made a change as well bringing in Shea Langeliers to pinch hit. That move ended up paying off for Oakland as on a 2-0 pitch Langeliers launched one to left field making it 5-2. That home run was Langelier’s 21st of the season.

The A’s found some insurance in the seventh when with the bases loaded Esteury Ruiz poked one to right field scoring two. Ruiz would not be done there as he then stole second and third which brought his total stolen bases up to 63. One more run was brought home by the A’s as Lawrence Butler got a run home on a sac fly making it 8-2.

That score ended up being the final as Waldichuk got the victory and Vest took the loss.

The third game of this home series for the A’s will be played Saturday at 1:07 p.m. Starting pitchers for the Tigers TBA and for the Oakland A’s Joe Boyle (0-0 ERA 0.00) at the Oakland Coliseum.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s hope to snap eight game skid against Tigers tonight

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Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera (24) makes a face that could only scare the Oakland A’s and it must’ve worked as the A’s got crushed by the Tigers 7-3 on Thu Sep 21, 2023 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal set a season high of ten strikeouts in seven innings pitched on Thursday night and won his fourth straight game against the Oakland A’s.

#2 The loss for the A’s was their eighth straight. The Tigers went up by scores of 2-0, 5-0 and 7-0 up until the bottom of the ninth inning. The fact of the matter is through these eight straight loses the A’s offense have been absent.

#3 The Tigers Kerry Carpenter picked up his ninth multi hit game for September and it’s Detroit’s 34th multi hit game for the season.

#4 Jeremiah, the two hitters in the A’s line up that’s been seeing the ball well has been Brent Rooker and Zack Gelof but it’s not enough they whole line up needs to hit and score runs to keep up with the opposing offense?

#5 Sawyer-Gipson Long (1-0 2.70) is starting for the Tigers in game two of this series for Oakland Ken Waldichuk (3-8 ERA 5.40) first pitch at 6:40pm PT.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

49ers remain undefeated in easy 30-12 win over Giants

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver jumps up for a touchdown reception against New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks at Levi’s Stadium on Thursday SEP 21, 2023. (San Francisco 49ers)

by Marko Ukalovic @MarkoUkalovic

It’s a simple formula for success. Great defense plus a balanced offensive attack.

It was business as usual for the San Francisco 49ers as they dominated the New York Giants in a 30-12 victory on Thursday Night Football at Levi’s Stadium.

San Francisco has won three games in a row start a season since they opened up the 2019 season with seven straight wins. New York has lost two of its first three game to open up their 2023 campaign.

Both teams traded field goals in the first quarter as the 49ers went on a long methodical 15 play 64-yard drive that ended with a Jake Moody 28-yard field goal. New York went 12 plays for 49 yards on its opening drive to even the score with Graham Gano’s 44-yarder.

San Francisco (3-0) regained the lead midway through the second quarter when quarterback Brock Purdy connected with Ronnie Bell on a nine-yard touchdown reception along the left sideline. It was the first NFL reception for Bell, the rookie seventh round draft pick out of Michigan, who did a nice tight rope job to haul in his first career touchdown.

Defensive end Nick Bosa looked like a well-oiled machine as he made life miserable for New York quarterback Daniel Jones the entire game. Bosa finished with one sack and hit Jones four times as he took advantage of banged up Giants offensive line.

49ers running back Christian McCaffery gave his team a two-touchdown lead near the end of the first half when he scampered in for a four-yard rushing touchdown that completed a 11 play 73-yard drive that chewed up over four and a half minutes off the clock.

“That’s the goal, we’re really happy to be 3-0 right now. It’s really cool to do it after a Thursday night game. I told the guys if they want to have a weekend off, we gotta earn it. They did and now they can relax and enjoy it a bit,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said.

McCaffery led all rushers with 85 yards on 18 carries. He finished with 118 all-purpose yards as he also had five catches for 34 yards.

New York (1-2) kept it close early in the third quarter when former 49ers running back Matt Breida ran for an eight-yard touchdown on the Giants second possession of the second half. The drive was kept alive by a 22-yard passing interference penalty against Deommodre Lenoir on tight end Darren Waller. The Giants failed on the two-point conversion when Jones was sacked on the play.

That was as close as it would get for New York, as San Francisco’s defense did its second half shutdown as they forced three more punts and Talanoa Hufanga intercepted Jones with 3:48 remaining in the game to seal the deal for the 49ers.

Deebo Samuel had his breakout game with six catches for 129 yards that included a 27-yard touchdown reception that put the game away with 5:58 left in the fourth quarter. Samuel’s highlight of the night was a 40-yard reception where he broke tackles along the way before finally being tackled by Michah McFadden at the Giants 35-yard line.

“It was kind of a double move cause they (Giants secondary) were playing a bit inside on me today,” said Samuel regarding his touchdown catch. “Luckily we got that call at the end. Brock (Purdy) made an awesome job of putting that ball where only I could get it.”

Purdy, who had his best game of the young season, finished 25 of 37 for 310 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Tight end George Kittle chipped in with seven catches for 90 yards. Elijah Mitchell had 42 yards on 11 carries.

Jones went 22 of 32 for 137 yards with no touchdowns and one interception while being sacked twice. Darius Slayton led the Giants in receiving with three catches for 32 yards.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco finished 9-for-16 on third down conversions. New York went 3-for-12.

The 49ers were without wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk who didn’t play due to a shoulder injury he suffered this past Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

The 49ers have won 13 straight games with one turnover or less.

McCaffery has scored a touchdown in 13 straight games.

UP NEXT: San Francisco continues its homestand when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday 10/1 at 1:25pm at Levi’s Stadium.

Tigers Skubal keeps A’s off balance for his fourth straight win 7-3 in Oakland

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Luis Medina jumps over Detroit Tigers’ Zach McKinstry (39), who slides into third base after hitting a double and advancing on an error during the fifth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Sep 21, 2023 (AP News photo)

Detroit (72-81).          200 030 020.  –    7.  9.  0

Oakland (46-107).     000 000 003.  –    3.  5.  3

Time: 2:33  

Attendance: 6,160

Thursday, September 21, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND—The significant news from the Oakland Coliseum tonight wasn’t the first of the four game series  between the Detroit Tigers and your for now Oakland Athletics. Both teams had already been eliminated from wild card competition.

Indeed, Detroit would have had to win tonight and go onto be undefeated in their nine subsequent encounters to reach .500 by the season’s end. I don’t have to tell you that Oakland’s chance of getting into the postseason crap shoot had been shot to hell some time ago.

So tonight’s decisive 7-3 win by the visiting Tigers paled in importance in the face of the stark climatological reality of a game time air quality index of 104 with no significant improvement expected before Saturday. 

It almost goes without saying that the PA announced before the game that it was a perfect day for baseball. (After each game, the PA blares its thanks to the spectators “for being the best fans in baseball.” We heard the same message tonight as well).

Luis Medina, one of the four players the A’s got from the Yankees in exchange for Frankie Montás and Lou Trivino last August, sent his first offering into the smoke filled air at 6:41. The young lefty was 3-9, 5.56 in this, his rookie season and went home after the game at 3-10, 5.73.

He lasted five innings, and pitched  acceptably in the first four of them. The two runs he surrendered in the initial frame were earned but not deserved. Two of the three he gave up in the fifth were well and truly earned.  He faced 23 batters in all and threw  80 pitches, 58  of them considered strikes. He allowed six hits and a walk while striking out five. He also committed a run producing balk. It was no surprise that he didn’t come out for the sixth.

Tarik Skubal, a Hayward native, was 6-3, 3.25 for the less than mediocre Bengals when he went to work in the bottom of the first. That’s pretty good, but when you consider that he had gone 4-2, 2.98 in his seven previous starts, you realized that the weak hitting Athletics and their game time team batting average of .224,were up against a formidable opponent, at least as far as pitching was concerned. Although still poor, Detroit’s team BA of .234 before today left little doubt about which team was least bad  in that department.

Skubal’s performance tonight was excellent. He shut the Athletics out on two hits over seven frames, striking out ten and issuing but a single base on balls. He faced 22 hitters, one over the minimum, helped out by two double plays, and threw 87 pitches, 61 for strikes. He earned his seventh victory against three defeats and lowered his ERA to 2.95. Brenan Hanifee relieved him and went the rest of the way.

The Tigers lost no time in taking the lead. Matt Vierling’s leadoff pop fly to short right fell in for a Texas League double. He scored on Spencer Torkelson’s grounder to short that Nick Alllen threw away in an attempt to get Vierling out at home, Torkelson taking second on Allen’s error and then scoring when Andy Ibáñez smacked a triple to right center.

The Tigers tacked on a trio  of talleys in their half of the fifth. Parker Meadows started things with a single to center and moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch to Jake Rogers, who then flew out to the right field warning track, advancing Meadows to third.

Verling’s single to center drove in Meadows. Zach McKinstry smacked his 20th two bagger of the year,  a line drive to right that plated Vierling, and kept on running to third on Brent Rooker’s errant throw. After Torkelson went down swinging, Medina ceded an international pass to Kerry Carpenter. Both runners moved up 90 feet, with McKinstry scoring, on a balk.  That made it 5-0, in favor of the men from Mo’ Town. 

Mason Miller relieved Medina for the sixth. He pitched a scoreless inning that ended when the A’s challenged second base umpire  Brian Walsh’s safe call on an attempted stolen base by Parker Meadows, who had received a two out walk. The A’s won the challenge, and Miller went on to retire the Tigers in order in the seventh.

That ended Miller’s effectiveness. Torkelson and Carpenter hit back to back singles to kick start the visitors’ eighth, and Ibáñez smacked a single to left through a drawn in infield to make it 6-0- Miller was yanked in favor of Easton Lucas, which, in turn, brought  about a pinch hitter for Miguel Cabrera (how the mighty have fallen!), André Lipcius.

With him at the plate, Lucas unleashed a wild pitch that moved both runners up a notch. After Lucas walked LIpcius, Zack Short pinch hit for Akkil Baddoo. He hit a weak grounder to first that Jordan Díaz fumbled,  bringing in Carpenter and leaving the bases loaded. Then Lucas settled down and retired the side with Detroit ahead, 7-0. Trevor May hurled a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.

Oakland finally ended their string. of goose eggs in their last turn at bat. Kevin Smith advanced to third on a ground out to second by Allen after leading off with a double to left and scored on a wild pitch to Gelof, who reached first on a two out infield single.  Oakannd’s last hurrah came on Rooker’s 28th home run of his rookie season, a blast that cleared the 388 foot marker at the State Farm advertisement in right center.

The series will resume Friday, evening at 6:40pm PT with Ken Wldichuk (3-8, 5.40), another acquisition in the Montás, Trivino trade, facing off against Sawyer Gipson-Long (2-0, 2,70) at the Swinging Coliseum,.

Fitzgerald gets first MLB RBI in Giants’ 7-2 loss to Dodgers

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Photo credit: Los Angeles Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez, second from right, heads to first for a solo home run as San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Kyle Harrison, left, watches along with catcher Blake Sabol, second from left, and home plate umpire Erich Bacchus during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants began a four-game series with their biggest rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Thursday night. The Giants lost a 7-2 heartbreaker to the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

John Brebbia (3-1, 3.41 ERA) took the loss for the Giants. San Francisco fell to 76-77, while Los Angeles improved to 94-58.

The Giants’ starting lineup featured LaMonte Wade Jr., Wilmer Flores, Joc Pederson, Michael Conforto, Thairo Estrada, Mike Yastrzemski, Marco Luciano, Blake Sabol, Tyler Fitzgerald, and Kyle Harrison. Harrison pitched for 5 1/3 innings and gave up three hits, two earned runs, one walk, two strikeouts, and one home run.

After two scoreless innings, Los Angeles got on the board first. Enrique Hernandez was out on a sacrifice fly to Mike Yastrzemski. Chris Taylor scored for a 1-0 Dodgers lead in the bottom of the third inning with two outs.

The Dodgers doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. J.D. Martinez homered on a fly ball to right field for a 2-0 lead.

The Giants finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Tyler Fitzgerald walked, and Mike Yastrzemski scored to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 2-1. Marco Luciano went to third base, while Blake Sabol went to second base.

The Giants tied the ballgame in the top of the sixth inning. Joc Pederson homered on a fly ball to center field to even the score 2-2.

The Dodgers regained their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. J.D. Martinez was out on a sacrifice fly to Mike Yastrzemski. Will Smith scored for a 3-2 lead with two outs.

Fast forward to the bottom of the seventh inning as the Dodgers extended their lead, thanks to a wild pitch by Luke Jackson. Chris Taylor scored first for a 4-2 lead. James Outman went to third base. Outman later scored to make it 5-2.

The Dodgers expanded their lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. J.D. Martinez singled on a sharp line drive to Tyler Fitzgerald. Freddie Freeman scored for a 6-2 lead. Chris Taylor singled on a ground ball to Michael Conforto. Max Muncy scored to make it 7-2. Miguel Rojas went to second base.

Notes
Tyler Fitzgerald made his MLB debut with the Giants on Thursday. Fitzgerald’s family cheered after he walked to record his first MLB RBI.

The Giants recalled Tristan Beck and Marco Luciano from Triple-A Sacramento while selecting Tyler Fitzgerald after optioning Sean Hjelle to yesterday’s Triple-A Sacramento postgame, placing Brandon Crawford on the ten-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, and placing Paul DeJong on unconditional release waivers.

Up Next
The Giants and Dodgers will meet again Friday night at 7:10 p.m. Pacific. The Giants will start Sean Manaea (6-6, 4.82 ERA). The Dodgers haven’t announced tomorrow’s starter yet.