Month: April 2024

Firebirds third period blitz take down Barracuda 3-1

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Coachella Valley Firebirds forward Cameron Hughes (#19) celebrates his go ahead goal against the San Jose Barracuda during the Firebirds 3-1 win at Acrisure Arena on Thursaday APR 3, 2024. (Coachella Valley Firebirds)

by Marko Ukalovic

The Coachella Valley Firebirds scored three unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the San Jose Barracuda 3-1 on Thursday evening at Acrisure Arena.

San Jose has lost four of its last four games. Coachella Valley has won four of its past five games and sits comfortable in first place in the Pacific Division with 91 points.

Neither team was able to put a dent on the scoreboard in a goal-less first period. Despite Coachella Valley having two power play opportunities and San Jose had one, both team’s goalies Georgi Romanov and Chris Driedger had clean slates in the opening frame that featured both teams have 11 shots on goal.

San Jose’s (21-33-9-3-54 points) fourth line drew first blood early in the second period. Anthony Vincent found Jeremie Bucheler in the right slot. Bucheler’s wrist show was redirected off the post and into the back fo the net by Tanner Kaspick for his sixth goal of the season at the 4:53 mark. The goal snapped a 14-game goal-less skid for Kaspick.

Coachella Valley (41-14-5-4-91 points) dominated the middle frame, but Romanov had another stellar period stopping all 15 shots the Firebirds peppered him with. Romanov did receive help from his two best friends: the posts, late in the period when the Firebirds were on the power play, including 30 seconds of 5-on-3 play. Two different Firebirds hit the post in less than a minute span.

The Firebirds finally broke through on its 33rd shot of the game early in the third period with an even strength goal. Jacob Melanson skate in from the left slot and beat Romanov with a wrist shot falling down to the ice for his sixth goal of the season at the 6:49 mark.

Coachella Valley gained its first lead at the halfway point of the final frame moments after its fifth power play opportunity had expired. Villa Ottavainen’s shot from the left point was tipped past Romanov by Cameron Huges for his 23rd goal of the season at the 10:02 mark.

Kole Lind iced the game for the Firebirds with an insurance goal with two minutes remaining left in the game. Cale Fleury set up Lind with a stretch pass out to the neutral zone. Lind skated in and beat Romanov with a wrist shot through the five-hole for his 16th goal of the season.

Driedger (22-6-5-4) stopped 34 of 35 shots he faced to earn his 22nd win of the season. Romanov (8-9-7), who deserved a better fate as he kept the ‘Cuda in the game with big save after big save, made 39 saves on 42 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-3 on the power play. Coachella Valley was 0-for-5.

UP NEXT: San Jose concludes its five-game road trip in Ontario as the take on the Reign on Saturday 4/6 at 6:00pm at Toyota Arena.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants will be a team for 8 million people 

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Oracle Park in San Francisco will be the only Major League Baseball facility in the nine county Bay Area serving nearly 8 million people as the Oakland A’s will leave the Bay Area for Sacramento in the 2025 season. (file photo from giantenterprises.com)

Giants will be a team for 8 million people

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

With the Oakland A’s departing Oakland, where they have played since 1968, the San Francisco Giants will be (after 2024) all by themselves inside the 9-county San Francisco-Oakland-San José Bay Area. The most recent US Census shows the Bay Area is home to approximately 7.52 million people, the largest population area in California after the Greater Los Angeles Area.

In 2022, the metropolitan area population of New York City was 18,867,000. The New York Yankees and the New York Mets share this huge #1 market.

The Los Angeles Metro area population in 2023 was 12,534,000. The Dodgers and Angels share the biggest market in California and #2 in the country.

In 2018, the Chicago Metropolitan Area reported 9,459,000 residents. The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox share the Midwest.

In 2022, the Houston Metropolitan Area reported 7,122,240 residents. The Astros are it, they rule Houston.

In Dallas-Fort Worth, the World Champion Texas Rangers play in a Metropolitan area with a population of 6,488,000, and the Rangers own big slice of Texas.

Then, there are the other MLB teams cities and Metropolitan areas across the country, with smaller populations, most in the millions, but much smaller.

This is a significant marketing change for the San Francisco Giants. It has been 27 years since MLB introduced Interleague games. Before that, the Giants of the National League only played teams in the National League, and across the Bay, the A’s of the American League only played American League teams. But the equation changes big time without the A’s in Oakland, even with Interleague play.

Starting in 2025, you can attend a Giants game at Oracle Park and see any other team, including the A’s. But the popular Bay Series is dead, since the A’s do not identify with a particular city anymore for the next three years, or four years. The once Philadelphia, once Kansas City, once Oakland, now renting in Sacramento while they build in Las Vegas, will only be called “The A’s”

If you live in the Bay Area and want to see a Major League game starting in 2025, there is only one place —the corner of 2nd and King, San Francisco. The Giants now own the Bay Area.

Have a great weekend, and may your favorite team win.

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 Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Too much Sho-Time for Giants in LA; SF home opener on Friday

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reaches home after hitting his first home run in the bottom of the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants and catcher Patrick Bailey looking on (left) on Wed Apr 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

On SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hit a home run a solo shot his first of the 2024 season in the bottom of the seventh inning that help lift the Dodgers past the San Francisco Giants 5-4 in a three game sweep for LA.

#2 This was Ohtani’s ninth game for the Dodgers and hit connected with a 93.2 MPH sinker and smoked it for 430 feet and Giants reliever Taylor Rogers threw the pitch and the left Ohtani’s bat at 105.6 MPH.

#3 The Giants got home run production from Jorge Soler and Patrick Bailey but it wasn’t enough as the Giants are now on a four game skid and drop their record to 2-5.

#4 Michael, talk about Kyle Harrison’s (1-1) pitching performance giving four runs and six hits in five innings of work.

#5 Michael lets talk about Friday’s starters for the Giants home opener the San Diego Padres are going with RHP Dylan Cease (0-1 ERA 3.86) the Giants will counter with RHP Jordan Hicks (1-0 ERA 0.00) first pitch at Oracle Park is at 1:35pm PDT. Talk about the Giants coming off a four game split with the Padres and having opening day at home?

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

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Celebrini looking to go #1 in draft; Knights dominate Canucks; plus more NHL news

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Team Canada Macklin Celebrini scores against Team Latvia in the IIHF World Junior Championship group in Gothenburg Sweden Wed Dec 27, 2023. Celebrini is the NHL No.1 draft choice in the 2024 NHL Draft. (TT News Agency photo via AP)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Macklin Celebrini is the expceted No.1 draft choice out of the NHL draft. Celebrini is having a great year at Boston University scoring 32 goals and 64 points in 37 games. Celebrini is well sought after most likely he could go in the first of the draft.

#2 Len, how potent is this Vegas Golden Knights (42-25-8) team they scored four goals in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks to win it 6-3 on Tuesday and pick up their point streak to seven games. The Canucks who are first in the Pacific are starting to show ware they have now lost three of their last four games.

#3 Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella says the Flyers need another level just to make post season. The Flyers are on a five game skid and have lost five of their last ten games. The Flyers are third in the Metropolitan Division. Tortorella said that it’s his job to get this team over the hump and he hasn’t done that good of a job to do that.

#4 The Vegas Golden Knights Tomas Hertl made morning practice on Tuesday. Hertl had been skating on his own on Mar 11. Since he had knee surgery on Feb 12th he’s skated on his own and the Knights are hoping to get him in the line up on Friday night against the Arizona Coyotes.

#5 Len, lets talk about Dallas and the scoring race.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Harrison and Giants put up fight, but Dodgers assert dominance to finish sweep in 5-4 win

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after Will Smith doubles Shohei home in the bottom of the third inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wed Apr 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles, California

San Francisco Giants 4 (2-5)

Los Angeles Dodgers 5 (7-2)

Win: Tyler Glasnow (2-0)

Loss: Kyle Harrison (1-1)

Save: Dinelson Lamet (1)

Time: 2:25

Attendance: 52,746

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants put up a fight, but Tyler Glasnow shined, and the Dodgers got to a flustered Kyle Harrison for four runs, as they completed their sweep of the Giants with a 5-4 win.

Kyle Harrison, who was coming off a great start in San Diego Friday, made the start tonight, as he looked to be the stopper. Tyler Glasnow made the start for the Dodgers in the first of what is expected to be many matchups between Harrison and Glasnow.

Glasnow started the game with a pair of 1-2-3 innings. Harrison pitched a scoreless inning after walking Mookie Betts, but he did have to throw 17 pitches. 

Harrison struck out Teoscar Hernandez to start the bottom of the second, but he then proceeded to walk Max Muncy; give up a base-hit to Kiké Hernandez; and walk Chris Taylor. That loaded the bases for Miguel Rojas, who hit into a 4-6 fielder’s choice in which Giants second-baseman Thairo Estrada made an impressive behind the back flip to shortstop Nick Ahmed to retire Taylor at second.

The Dodgers had struck first, but the Giants were ready to respond. Glasnow struck Mike Yastrzemski swinging to start the top of the third, and then Patrick Bailey hit a home run to the Pavilion in right field, his first of the year, to tie it up.

However, the Dodgers struck right back in the bottom of the third. Shohei beat out a ground ball to first-baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. after Harrison was late in covering the bag. Freddie Freeman struck out on a foul tip for the first out, but on back-to-back pitches, Will Smith lined a double down the left field line to put the Dodgers back again, and Teoscar Hernandez singled to left-center to knock in Smith and make it 3-1.

Wade walked to start the fourth, as the Giants hoped to bounce back, but Glassnow struck out the side, all looking, on 10 pitches. Harrison retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the fourth, but Miguel Rojas hit a line drive home run to the Dodgers’ bullpen in left to extend Los Angeles’ lead to three at 4-1.

Patrick Bailey singled sharply on the ground up the middle with two outs in the top of the fifth, but Glasnow remained dominant with his fastball. Harrison continued to struggle, as he hit Freddie Freeman to start the bottom of the fifth. However, Harrison bore down, and he induced a 5-4-3 double play from Smith, as well as a fly out to right by Teoscar Hernandez.

Harrison had a rough time tonight, but he hung in there to throw five innings and prevent Bob Melvin from blowing through the Giants’ bullpen. 

The Giants made a game of it in the top of the sixth. Wade walked with one out, and Jorge Soler doubled Wade to third. The Giants had runners at second and third with one out against Glasnow, who was now starting to tire. 

Michael Conforto was now up, and he continued his hot start by lining a single to right to knock in both runners and make it a 5-4 game. Conforto did get to second on a wild pitch to put the tying run in scoring position, but Glasnow got out of it with the Dodger’s lead intact.

Melvin went to Erik Miller in the bottom of the sixth, and Miller continued his impressive start with a 1-2-3 inning. Miller, who is 6’5” tall and weighs 240 pounds, has also very quickly established a dominating presence on the mound.

Joe Kelly came in for the Dodgers and pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh. The lefty, Taylor Rogers, came in for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh, and he retired the first two Dodgers. However, Shohei Ohtani was not going to go this whole series without burning the team that tried so hard to sign him over the off-season. 

After the Giants fell short of signing Aaron Judge in December 2022, Judge homered off Logan Webb in his first at-bat on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day last season. It did take Ohtani nine games to hit his first home run this season, but like Judge, Ohtani did it against the Giants after they fell short of signing him, and he made it hurt too with a booming shot to right-center.

Ohtani’s home run was one final act of a real statement series for the Dodgers. Both teams made big free agent splashes over the off-season, but at the end of the day, the Dodgers are a much stronger team. The Dodgers asserted their dominance this entire series, but to the Giants’ credit, they put up a fight, and showed that they can hang in there with the Dodgers.

“We’re not at full strength yet, but [having] two games that you come back and you’re that close against a good team playing really well right now, it’s really nothing to hang your hat on,” said Melvin. “It’s more frustrating than anything else.”

The Giants put up one last fight against the veteran, Daniel Hudson, who succeeded Kelly in the top of the eighth. Soler took Hudson deep for the latter’s second home run in as many nights to make it 5-4, and Michael Conforto came close to tying it, but ultimately flew out to Teoscar Hernandez deep in right.

“You don’t get any prizes for close, so we gotta dig a little harder.” said Melvin.

Tyler Rogers came in for his brother Taylor, and pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth, and Dinelson Lamet closed out the Giants with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Glasnow got the win with his strong performance; Harrison the loss; and Lamet the save.

“To get swept is not a great feeling,” added Harrison. “We’re gonna be back to the drawing board, and we’re going to be ready for these guys next time we come out. It gives us that much more motivation to want to get them.”

The Giants fall to 2-5, and they will now head back home to San Francisco for the Home Opener against the San Diego Padres on Friday afternoon. Jordan Hicks will be on the mound for the Giants, and first pitch will be at 1:35 p.m.

News and Notes:

  • Blake Snell threw a simulated game prior to tonight’s game at Dodger Stadium, as he prepares to make his Giants debut next Monday against the Washington Nationals.

“This was important for him,” said Melvin. “I really do believe that he needed to face some big league hitters, and I know he felt much better about what he needs to do and where his stuff is facing this type of opponent.”

Bystedt scores two goals in pro debut but Gulls take the game in the shootout 6-5

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San Jose Barracuda goalie Magnus Chrona (#30) makes a save against San Diego Gulls right winger Judd Caulfield (#28) as Akim Aliu (#83) pressured Caulfield during the Gulls 6-5 shootout win at Pechanga Arena at San Diego on Wednesday APR 3, 2024. (San Diego Gulls)

by Marko Ukalovic

It was quite the North American professional debut for the San Jose Sharks 2022 first round draft pick.

In a game that went back and forth all night long, the San Diego Gulls won a wild affair with a 6-5 shootout win over the San Jose Barracuda on Wednesday evening at P Pechanga Arena at San Diego.

San Jose has lost three out of its last four games. San Diego has won two out of its last three games.

Filip Bystedt, who the Sharks selected with the 27th pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, donned the number 21 on his jersey as he made his pro debut with the ‘Cuda. He centered the top line with Ethan Cardwell and Kyle Rau. Bystedt finished with 17 points (8G, 9A) in 47 games this season for Linkoping HC of the Swedish Hockey League.

Akim Aliu (who wore number 83) also made his debut on the blueline as the 34-year-old veteran played in a game for the first time since 2020 when he played in Czechia. The Sharks signed him to an AHL tryout contract back on March 20th.

San Diego (24-31-8-0) drew first blood near the halfway mark of the first period with an even strength goal. Judd Caulfield sent a pass back up to the point where Nick Wolff’s slapshot was redirected past ‘Cuda goalie Magnus Chrona by Nathan Gaucher for his 10th goal of the season at the 9:09 mark.

Gaucher has scored a goal in four straight games for the Gulls.

San Jose (21-32-9-3) answered back with a power play goal less than four minutes later. Danil Gushchin’s wrist shot was redirected by Rau past Gulls goalie Alex Stalock for his seventh goal of the season at the 12:56 mark. Rau snapped a 14-game goal-less draught.

The Gulls regained the late in the opening frame. Glen Gawdin led a rush into the ‘Cuda zone. Chase De Leo found an uncontested Ben King in the right slot and King scored his 15th goal of the season into an empty net at the 16:23 mark.

The Barracuda scored the equalizer with nine seconds left in the first period. Cole Cassels skated out from behind the net and found Scott Sabourin just outside the faceoff circle. Sabourin beat Stalock with a one-timer top-shelf to the short side for his 17th goal of the season.

Sam Colangelo regained the lead with an even strength goal past the halfway point of the second period. Sam Colangelo, who made his AHL debut for San Diego, collected a block shot off a ‘Cuda defender and fired a wrist shot through a sea of traffic past Chrona for his first professional goal at the 12:10 mark.

Bystedt evened the contest with his first professional career goal late in the middle frame. Cardwell entered the Gulls zone on an odd man rush. Rau found Bystedt along the right slot and the Swedish center wired a one-timer past Stalock at the 18:10 mark.

If that wasn’t memorable enough, Bystedt scored his second goal of the game to give the Barracuda its first lead of the game near the halfway mark of the third period. Ethan Frisch cruised around a Gulls defender along the left board before centering a pass over to Bystedt who beat Stalock from point-blank range at the 8:31 mark. Rau picked up his second assist for a three-point night (1G, 2A), his third of the season. Bystedt also finished the game with three points in his debut.

San Jose’s lead was short lived as Carrick evened the game when he completed a two-on-one as he buried a pass from Caulfield into an empty net for his eighth goal of the season 89 seconds later at the 10-minute mark.

The back-and-forth action kept going as San Jose regained the lead 92 seconds after Carrick’s goal. Nathan Todd skated in along the left slot and sent a centering pass over to Cardwell who chipped the puck top-shelf for his team-leading 21st goal of the season at the 11:32 mark.

San Diego made San Jose pay for back-to-back trips to the sinbin for interference late in the period. Sasha Pastujov centered a backdoor pass over to Pavol Regenda who tapped home the puck into an empty net for his 17th goal at the 15:32 mark with the game’s fifth tie.

King scored the only goal in the shootout as the five other four other skaters were unsuccessful with their attempts.

Stalock (2-9-1) finished the game, in what may be the last of his long career, with 22 saves on 27 shots (and all three in the shootout) to earn his second win of the season. Chrona (5-16-4-1) made 28 of 33 saves in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-4 on the power play. San Diego was also 1-for-4.

De Leo became the all-time Gulls scoring leader with an assist on an Anderw Agozzino goal in a 7-3 loss to Tuscon Roadrunners for his 182nd point on March 30th, surpassing Sam Carrick’s mark of 181 points.

San Jose is now 3-1 in the season series against San Diego.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Colangelo 2) Gaucher 3) Regenda.

UP NEXT: San Jose continues its five-game road trip against the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Thursday at 7:00pm at Acrisure Arena.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s to play home games in Sacramento in 2025; As the Park Turns – What Sacramento will not ask the A’s

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Outside of Sutter Health Park a simulated West Sacramento Bridge slide next to the real one equipped with glove in the children’s playground. Sutter Health Park will be the home of the 2025-28 Oakland A’s while the Tropicana Ballpark in Las Vegas will be constructed and ready by 2028. (photo by Sutter Health Park)

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s will be playing their 2025 season at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento as the A’s and Sacramento River Cats owner Vivek Ranadive have come to agreement and pathway for the A’s to play all their home games in Sacramento. The details of the plan are forthcoming at the end of the week according to Sactown Sports.

The A’s announced Tuesday after they reviewed the “leaked to the media” proposal/offer to the A’s to extend their Coliseum lease for five years (minimum of three) for $97 million plus other demands. The A’s put a press release stating that they did not agree and that no further meetings were planned with Oakland officials. This long A’s stadium saga is not as long as ‘As the World Turns”, the legendary TV Soap Opera that ran on CBS for 54 years. But it is becoming like the Telemundo “Esmeralda”.

Nobody knows how this is going to end. Many say, “It is not a done deal,” leaving from Oakland to Las Vegas. I agree that the only “done deal” in life are taxes and death and that The Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel has closed its doors after more than six decades of memories. The famed venue, home to the city’s longest-running cabaret, The Folies Bergere, nearly made it to its 67th anniversary before closing on Tuesday, April 2. We know these things are a “done deal”.

However, we know that Sacramento will not ask for the following:

1-Sacramento will not ask the A’s for $97 million to play there for three years or maybe five. 2-They will not ask the A’s to sell half of their stake in the Alameda-County Coliseum, among other demands Oakland had in that proposal, including extending their lease. Oakland is not Sacramento.

However, Sacramento is especially interested in the A’s because, as a “trial for a few years” at Sutter Park, if they get the A’s, they are banking that they can prove to Major League Baseball that their city of Sacramento should be seriously considered for a future expansion team.

Sutter Park’s 14,000-plus capacity is not MLB standard, but for the A’s in the last few years, including the first home stand this 2024 season, that is a good crowd. Opening Night at Oakland 2024 last Thursday, 13,522 fans attended the game against Cleveland, and at least half were rooting for the Guardians, maybe more. The A’s fans’ noise came from the crowd boycotting in the parking lot.

But let’s get to the point. David Samson was the President of the Major League Miami Marlins from 2002 to 2017. He was involved with the new Marlins Park next to Little Havana in Miami—the ins and outs of the new Marlins Park.

Samson hosts “Nothing Personal,” a top-rated podcast. He has been following the A’s stadium situation for a long time. This is what Mr. Samson said a day before the A’s met with the City of Oakland, and they did not agree to the 3-5 year extension at the Oakland Coliseum. By the way, Samson also predicted that nothing would be decided upon during the meeting (the third) between the A’s and Oakland. He has experience as an MLB team President, especially when his team, the Marlins, was building their new ballpark, which they play today,

Mr. Samson said this on his podcast: “The A’s need to find a stadium to play before Las Vegas Stadium if they even open. In other words, they need to get a deal in Sacramento and negotiate a deal with their TV partner. Figure out the logistics with the Rivercats.

They have to make sure it is a Major League-ready facility and what this is code for; it doesn’t mean the fans have to have concession stands or that there is good ingress and egress. When you say Major League ready, all that means is players’ facilities behind the scenes you do not see as a fan. It means the weight room, the food room, how the players get to the clubhouse, how they get to the bullpen, all the pleasures and comfort that Tony Clark loves to make sure players enjoy during the season.” (quote)

Commissioner Rob Manfred is under pressure to deliver a playing baseball-ready park for the Oakland A’s while building their new facility in Las Vegas, expected to be ready for Opening Day 2028. Manfred said MLB needs a schedule.

The other teams (including the A’s) deserve a schedule very soon; that is the norm. Tony Clark is the Executive Director of the Major League Players Association. Sure, he will have to say that if Sutter Park is a “baseball-ready” facility, everybody knows it is a minor league park, but the A’s are running out of options. The A’s and the City of Oakland have been butting heads for a long time. Some say today (Wednesday), Sacramento might have a deal in place.

The Next chapter is being scripted.

Adiós.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s listening to Sacramento for interim Sutter Health Park possibilities

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Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento home of the San Francisco Giants triple A minor league Sacramento River Cats. The Oakland A’s could call it home starting in the 2025 season if the Rivercats and A’s reach a lease agreement. (photo by visitsacramento.com)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Oakland A’s need to get a deal in gear and soon as MLB is pressed to get the schedules ready for the 2025 season by July.

#2 Manfred addressed Tony Clark and the players union to sign off on the A’s playing and using Sutter Health Park a minor league facility in Sacramento because there is not much time left.

#3 The A’s brass of John Fisher and David Kaval are to meet with Sacramento River Cats owner Vivek Ranadive on Wednesday and sources have it that they’ll get a deal done at a much less asking price that the Oakland Coliseum was asking for.

#4 The Coliseum asking price was $17.5 million per season over what the A’s are currently pay at $1.5 million. The Coliseum was asking for $19.4 million per season. Also A’s owner John Fisher would walk away from $70 million in TV money from NBC California.

#5 If the A’s accept the deal on Wednesday this season will mark the final time the A’s will play in Oakland once they leave for Sacramento and later Las Vegas. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said “Oakland made a fair and reasonable offer to the A’s. We await their response and look forward to continuing discussions as necessary.” Thao is also facing a recall and a deficit for Oakland’s next fiscal year.

Join Jerry for the Oakland A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Red Sox beat A’s 1-0 to complete three-game sweep; Loss is 6th out of last 7 games for Oakland

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Oakland A’s pitcher TJ McFarland gives up the intentional pass to Boston Red Sox hitter Trevor Story (foreground) to load the bases with one out in the top of the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Apr 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg and Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND- The Boston Red Sox beat the Oakland A’s 1-0 Wednesday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep. The A’s have lost six of the seven games played this season. The pitching for both teams was excellent—the game’s only run came in the fourth inning.

The A’s starter, Ross Stripling, pitched well enough to win.“Strip was great. [He] pounded the zone…..I think the biggest difference this outing from his first was he actually crowded some guys with his sinker, which is a good sign. Obviously, he’s a guy that’s gonna keep hitters off balance. He did a great job today…..It was a great outing for him.” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay.

The A’s had their chances but could not get a hit when needed. They threatened to score in the fifth, seventh, and ninth innings. They failed all three times. Each team’s bullpen held the opposition scoreless. The game summary follows below.

The Red Sox drew first blood in the top of the fourth inning. Stripling had the Sox under control for the first three innings. With one out in the fourth, Singles by Triston Casas, Matsataka Yoshida, and Cedanne Radaela loaded the bases.

Second Baseman Emmanuel Valdez’s fly ball to short right field drove in Casas with the first run of the game for Boston. The A’s mounted a threat in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, A’s third baseman, J D Davis, doubled to deep center field—Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta Struck out Seth Brown on a 95 Mile-per-hour four-seam fastball.

The next hitter, Brent Rooker, mired in an early season slump, blasted a ball Ceddanne Rafaela caught at the 400-foot sign. The Red Sox lead 1-0 after four. Kotsay said the A’s simply got beat by good pitching, “We know those first five games weren’t clean games. These last two games were clean; they were competitive. We had a chance to win both games. That’s the type of baseball that I was expecting us to play. We had opportunities with the bases loaded. We also got a couple balls dead center that is this park seem not to go anywhere…..the at-bats [today] were better, even though we didn’t score…..the Red Sox’ bullpen has got it going right now, [and] it was a challenge.”

In the bottom of the fifth, the A’s loaded the bases with one out. Singles by Tyler Nevin, his first Major League hit, Nick Allen, and Ryan Noda gave the A’s a chance to put some runs on the board. The next hitter, Zack Gelof, hit into a 6-4-3 to end the inning.

The Red Sox loaded the bases in the eighth inning. Lefty T.J. McFarland was on the hill for the A’s. McFarland retired Abreu for the first out. Jarren Duran singled. It was Duran’s fourth hit of the day. Rafael Devers doubled to put men on at second and third.

The A’s issued Sox shortstop Trevor Story an intentional walk to load the bases. The threat ended when Triston Casas grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. The Sox still lead 1-0 halfway through the eighth. The Red Sox dodged a bullet in the eighth; with one out, Zack Gelof singled.

Story fielded J J Bleday’s ground behind second base. Trevor stepped on second to get the out on Gelof. Story’s throw to first to complete the double play went awry, and Bleday went to second on the error. Sox reliever Chris Martin could not field Davis’s ball. Bleday went to third on the play. Martin struck out Seth Brown to end the inning.

The A’s had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen walked Shea Lamgeliers and Lawrence Butler. Pinch hitter Abraham Toro hit into a fielder’s choice. Langeliers went to third on the play. All the A’s needed to tie the game was a hit. Jansen ended the A’s thoughts of tying the game when he struck out Ryan Noda to preserve the win for the Red Sox. The Sox win 1-0.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are 1-6 to start the 2024 season. Boston improved to 5-2. The Line score for Oakland was no runs, eight hits, and no errors. Boston’s line was one run, ten hits, and two errors. The Winning pitcher was Nick Pivetta. Pivetta lost his first start 1-0 and won his second start 1-0.

Kenley Jansen recorded his second save. The A’s Ross Stripling pitched well for the A’s. Stripling went seven innings, allowing eight hits and one run. Stripling did not walk a batter and struck out three. Stripling threw 85 pitches, 61 for strikes. Stripling is now 0-2 for 2024.

The game lasted two hours and 21 minutes. There were 6,436 fans in attendance. The A’s are off on Thursday. They will start JP Sears and the Tigers have not yet decided on a starter in Detroit on Friday. The game will start at 10:10 a.m.

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: No.10 Warriors hear No.11 Rockets footsteps in battle for play in spot Thursday night

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) scores on the Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic in second half action at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tue Apr 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Golden State Warriors podcast with David:

#1 Close game Dave on Tuesday night, the Dallas Mavericks Luka Doncic triple doubled but the Golden State Warriors got by with a four point 104-100 win.

#2 The Warriors have over come plenty of adversity they struggled in March but as soon as the post season is around the corner they’ve turned it on winning five straight. Could they finish with a play in or better?

#3 Warriors open a two game road trip in Houston on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets (38-37). The Rockets are coming off two loses and they’ve had a hot run previously and are just behind the Warriors in 11th place trying to catch the Warriors for that last play in spot.

Join David Zizmor for the Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com