Month: April 2024

Sacramento Kings podcast with David Zizmor: Kings battle Pelicans in Play In game Friday at Smoothie King Center

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The Sacramento Kings guard DeAaron Fox (5) has a little better reach to throw down on the Golden State Warriors guard Draymond Green (23) and Klay Thompson (11) at Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento on Wed Apr 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 David how surprised were you that the Sacramento Kings were able to defeat the Golden State Warriors in a one game Play In and short handed missing Malik Monk and Kevin Hureter.

#2 On defense the Kings were able to shut down Klay Thompson and shut him out how key was that for the Kings victory.

#3 The New Orleans Pelicans are no push overs their next on the Kings docket in the one and done play in. The Kings were 0-5 during the regular season against the Pelicans. With Zion Williamson out how important is it for the Kings to shut down CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy and Brandon Ingram to have a chance to win on Friday night?

Join David Zizmor for NBA Playoff analysis at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Look who’s back: Ruiz returns belts homer A’s beat Cardinals 6-3

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Oakland A’s Esteury Ruiz slugged a two run homer in the bottom of the third inning against the St Louis Cardinals to help pace Oakland to a three run 6-3 victory over the Cardinals at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Apr 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The A’s beat the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 on getaway day. The A’s sent Paul Blackburn to the hill Wednesday afternoon. Blackburn had not allowed a run in 19 and 1/3rd innings to start the season. Blackburn added three more innings to his record, holding the Cardinals scoreless for the first three innings.

The Cardinals plated three runs in the fourth to snap his streak. The A’s rallied in the fifth to regain the lead. The A’s bullpen did not allow a hit or a walk after taking over for Blackburn with two out in the sixth. The A’s won the game 6-3.

The A’s drew first blood in the bottom of the third. The Cardinals’ starter, lefty Steven Matz, walked rookie Max Schuemann to start the inning. A’s centerfielder, Esteury Ruiz, lined a shot over the left field wall to give the A’s an early 2-0 lead. It was Ruiz’s second big fly of the young season.

The Cardinal offense ignited in the top of the fourth, setting the stage for an exciting comeback. Lars Nootbaar led the charge with a single, followed by a single from Nolan Arenado, sending Nootbar to third. Cardinals’ DH Willson Contreras doubled, driving in Nootbar, and Arenado stopped at third. Blackburn struck out Nolan Gorman for the first out. Catcher Ivan Herrera added a single to drive in Arenado and Contreras to the excitement. The Cardinals surged ahead, leading 3-2 midway through the third inning.

The A’s demonstrated their resilience and strategic play in the bottom of the fifth, reclaiming the lead. Singles by Tyler Nevin and Zack Gelof set the stage, putting men on first and second with no outs. A’s catcher Shea Langeliers showcased his strategic thinking with a ground-rule double to drive in Nevin. Gelof would have scored, but the ball got stuck under the wall in center field.

Gelof had to go back to third. Abraham Toro’s ground out allowed Gelof to score, and Langeliers scored on a sacrifice fly, solidifying the A’s lead at 5-3 in favor of Oakland.

The A’s added another run in the bottom of the sixth. With two out, Ruiz reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second. A’s right fielder Tyler Nevin singled to drive in Ruiz with the sixth run of the game. The A’s led 6-3 after six.

The A’s bullpen did not allow a hit after starter Paul Blackburn exited in the sixth inning. The A’s win 6-3.

“The job our bullpen did again today [is] a reflection of the season so far,” said Manager Mark Kotsay. “Overall, [it] was a really solid day for our pitching staff.”

Game notes: With the win, the A’s are 8-11. The A’s are 7-4 after a 1-7 start. The Cardinals fall to 9-10.

Paul Blackburn was the winning pitcher. He is now 2-0 for the year. His line was five and 2/3rds innings, allowing three runs and six hits. Cardinals starter Steven Matz was the losing pitcher. His record is 1-1.

“It was kinda one of those days where [I] didn’t really have anything, I felt like,” said Blackburn. “[However], I kept the boys in it, the offense came through, and we were able to get a win. Anytime you get a win, it’s a good outing.”

“Overall, he managed the game as Paul does,” said Kotsay. “Ultimately, he gave us a chance to win, like he’s done all season. He grinded it in that last inning to get through it.”

The Line score for Oakland was six runs, ten hits, and no errors. The Line score for St. Louis was three runs, six hits, and no errors.

Oakland’s hitting stars were Ruiz, Nevin, and Langeliers. Ruiz blasted a 412-foot home run in the third to give the A’s a 2-0 lead. Nevin had a double and two singles. Langeliers’ double helped the A’s score three runs in the fifth.

The A’s used four relievers: T.J. McFarland, Austin Adams, Lucas Erceg, and Mason Miller. Miller earned his fourth save of the season.

The time of the game was two hours and 30 minutes, and 9,551 fans watched the Green and Gold pick up their eighth win.

“We’re playing great baseball right now,” said Blackburn. “The energy has been I think at [an] all-time high right now for us. It’s not just coming from guys [playing every day]. It’s coming guys that are on the bench…..it’s coming from everyone. It’s definitely a group effort right now, and it shows. The come-from-behind wins that we’ve had this year, it gives us a lot of confidence moving forward. [When] we do get down, it’s not like we don’t have a chance. We’re fighting out every at-bat, we’ve thrown the ball well, we[‘ve] hit the ball well and [we’ve played] good defense. We’re playing some really good baseball right now.” 

“I haven’t been here too long, but [there] doesn’t seem to be any egos,” said Nevin. 

The A’s are off on Thursday as they are on their way to play the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland for three games starting Friday night. Joe Boyle (1-2, 5.68) will pitch for Oakland. Triston, McKemzie (1-2, 6.23) will be on the mound for Cleveland. The game will start at 4:10 pm.

Giants Squeeze out series win in Miami with 3-1 win over Marlins

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San Francisco Giant Thairo Estrada is greeted by teammates in the Giants dugout after scoring in the top of the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Maimi on Wed Apr 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

LoanDepot Park

Miami, Florida

San Francisco Giants 3 (8-11)

Miami Marlins 1 (4-15)

Win: Kyle Harrison (2-1)

Loss: Declan Cronin (0-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (3)

Time: 2:24

Attendance: 8,290

By Stephen Ruderman

Keaton Winn pitched six solid innings, and the Giants were able to squeeze out a series win in Miami with a 3-1 getaway win over the Marlins.

The Giants, who have been off to a slow start this season, came into Miami after losing two out of three to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field to face a Marlins team off to a horrendous start. This was a golden opportunity for the Giants and their offense to finally get things going.

However, things have been much more difficult for the Giants than they would have hoped. The Giants were able to come back from down 3-0 to beat the Marlins in a weird game Monday night, but they dropped the second game of the series last night.

Today, the Giants turned to Keaton Winn to try and take the series in a getaway Wednesday afternoon affair in Miami. Winn and the Giants would be opposed by the left-hander, Trevor Rogers.

Rogers set the Giants down 1-2-3 in the top of the first inning, and Winn pitched a scoreless bottom of the first thanks to his defense after giving up a one-out base-hit to Bryan De La Cruz.

Jorge Soler lined a single up the middle and into center field to start the second. Matt Chapman struck out swinging, and then Thairo Estrado hit a double down the left field line to score Soler.

Jesus Sanchez singled to right to start the bottom of the second, but Winn retired the side in order. The game turned into a pitcher’s duel in the early going, as Winn set down nine-straight after Sanchez’s single, and Rogers retired 11-straight Giants after Estrada’s RBI double.

Winn’s streak came to an end when Tim Anderson legged out an infield single to lead off the bottom of the fifth, but Winn got out of it thanks to a fly out by Nick Gordon, and a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Otto Lopez.

Tyler Fitzgerald lined a base-hit to left to start the sixth. Austin Slater struck out swinging, and Wilmer Flores fouled out, but Jung-hoo Lee reached on an infield hit to the shortstop. That would do it for Trevor Rogers, and Marlins Manager Skip Schumaker brought in Declan Cronin. Soler walked to load the bases, but Chapman grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Giants’ offense had wasted another opportunity, which they have done far too many times in the early going here in 2024, and it would come back to bite them in the bottom of the sixth. Winn retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the sixth, but De La Cruz tied the game with an opposite-field home run to right.

Cronin was back out for the Marlins in the top of the seventh, and he was right back in trouble, as Estrada and Patrick Bailey both singled to put runners at the corners with nobody out for the Giants.

Nick Ahmed came up and reached for an outside slider that he sharply hit off the end of the bat up the middle, but Marlins’ second-baseman Luis Arraez dove to hit right, stepped on second and threw to first for the 4-3 double play. The Giants did retake the lead on the play, but it was a tremendous play by Arraez, and a tough break for the Giants.

Erik Miller came in and threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, and Anthony Bender replaced Cronin for the top of the eighth. Bender retired LaMonte Wade and Wilmer Flores to start the inning, but Lee and Soler singled to put runners at first and second with two outs for Chapman, who doubled to right to score Lee.

The Giants led 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth, as Bob Melvin turned to his submariner, Tyler Rogers. Rogers got Nick Gordon to ground out to first, but Avisail Garcia and Emmanuel Rivera singled with one out to put Rogers on the ropes. Fortunately for Rogers, he was able to get Luis Arraez to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning.

Sixto Sanchez came in and walked Patrick Bailey to start the ninth. Bailey even stole second, but Ahmed and Tyler Fitzgerald were both called out on strikes, and Mike Yastrzemski flew out to left to end the inning.

Camilo Doval came in to try and notch down his third save of the season, and he pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to close this one out. It wasn’t easy, but the Giants were able to take two out of three from the Marlins to win just their second series of the season.

Winn got his first win of the season; Cronin got the loss; and Doval got his third save.

The Giants improve to 8-11, and they will indeed have a happy flight home, as they will begin a 10-game homestand tomorrow night against the defending National League Pennant Winners, the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants will send their ace, Logan Webb, to the mound against the Diamondbacks at Oracle Park tomorrow night with first pitch at 6:45 p.m.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Warriors – Thanks for the Memories

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The Golden State Warriors bench looked tired and ready for the end of the 2023-24 season as they dropped their Play In Game to the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Tue Apr 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

Warriors – Thanks for the Memories

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The dynasty of NBA titles in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022 has ended as we move into a period of uncertainty, huge decisions, and big changes for the team. In the NBA, there is a trend of the ‘no 10th seeded team advancing to the playoffs from the Play-In’.

The Golden State Warriors were eliminated when they lost 118-94 in Sacramento to the Sacramento Kings; the score shocked many. Suddenly, Sacramento has become sort of a villain when it comes to Bay Area sports.

Oakland groups opposing Oakland A’s owner John Fisher from selling the team and moving them to Sacramento (and ultimately to Las Vegas) beginning next year and at least from 2025 to 2027 have pledged they will also travel to Sacramento to continue what they have called “the summer of SELL” some more more radical A’s fans are calling it “The Summer of Hell”. I do not think Mr.Fisher will sell, not yet, but once and if the team moves to Las Vegas, then (about selling) like they say in Vegas “all bets are off”.

Although the Warriors have nothing to do with the world of the A’s, it is interesting that California’s Capital is now focused on major league sports. But, as far as the Golden State Warriors, in the 2024-25 season, they have lost some of that “Shine” they used to enjoy.

But they know nothing will last forever. What is very active and present in Sacramento is Mr.Vivek Ranadivé, owner of the Sacramento Kings and the Sacramento River Cats, and he was a thrilled man last night. As far as the Warriors? Fans should thank them for the Memories, as they might have a different team next season. Some huge decisions must be made in the “not too far” future.

Warriors superstar Stephen Curry had an honest quote after his team’s defeat in Sacramento. “We all got to look at ourselves in the mirror and figure out what we individually can do better. In those deciding moments of a game, better decisions, better discipline to not foul, all the little things that we know impact winning. That’s the only way we’re going to get out of this little funk where you’re playing hard, and you have nothing to show for it.”

Curry is an honest man who, this month said he is thinking of running for President of the United States. This is quite a statement since honesty is not abundant in today’s political world. As the famous quote goes, “We know a politician is lying when his lips are moving.”

I can appreciate the Warrior’s success; I was a witness as a broadcaster in the 1990s for the Warriors, broadcasting all their games in Spanish home and away with the team (by the way, I was the only Spanish broadcaster they ever had).

Although they had inspiring players, like Chirs Mullin and good teams, they never enjoyed such a championship run as the 2000s Warriors. So, congratulations to owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber for their success; they deserve it. Unlike other owners, I have never heard one Bay Area fan complaining about the Warrior’s current ownership. How could you?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings Play In recap: Short handed Kings capitalize on Golden State 118-94

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Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) lights the victory beam at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento after defeating the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Play In game on Tue Apr 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Tuesday night. However, it was game 83 for the Kings this season. The Kings finished the regular season on Sunday and found themselves as the #9 seed in the Western Conference.

It was a lackluster finish for the Kings, who went 2-6 over the season’s final eight games. Yet, the Kings had one thing on their minds: revenge. The Kings played the #10-seeded Warriors in the first game of the NBA Play-In Tournament.

The winner would advance to play the loser of the #7-#8 seeded play-in loser for a chance at the #8 seed in the playoffs. The last time the Kings saw the Warriors in post-season action was last season, when the Warriors defeated the Kings in game seven behind a 50-point Stephen Curry performance.

On Tuesday night, the Kings looked to flip the script and send the Warriors home. The game tipped off inside a raucous Golden One Center at 7 PM PST in Sacramento. The Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-94 on Tuesday night.

Game recap: In the first quarter, the Kings started the game looking good. The Kings defense limited the Warriors to only 22 points in the first quarter. On the offensive end of the floor, the Kings managed 31 points in the first. Keegan Murray started the game red-hot for the Kings with 14 first-quarter points. The Warriors got seven points from Draymond Green in the first quarter. The key to the game in the second quarter would be to keep the defensive intensity high.

In the second quarter, the Kings kept the lead going. With 5:30 to go in, the Kings still led the Warriors 46-34. The Warriors struggled until that point to get on an offensive rhythm. However, the Warriors would pull closer as the quarter ended.

The Warriors offense would pick up a bit of a rhythm, ending the first half to come within four points at 54-50. The Kings were outscored by the Warriors 28-23 to go into halftime in much better shape than the end of the first quarter. Jonathan Kuminga would lead the Warriors with 10 points in the first half. Keegan Murray led the Warriors with 14 points.

In the third quarter, the Kings took back the big lead. The Kings dominated the third quarter behind an offensive outburst that saw them outscore the Warriors 37-26. The Kings would take a 91-76 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The Kings leading scorer through three quarters was Keegan Murray, who had 26 points. Steph Curry was leading the Warriors through three with 16 points. Could the Kings hold on going into the fourth quarter to defeat the Warriors and send them home for the season?

In the fourth quarter, the Kings didn’t flinch. The Kings kept the pressure on the Warriors and didn’t allow them to get an inch on the offensive end. The Kings outscored the Warriors 27-18 in the final quarter of action.

The loss for the Warriors potentially marked the end of the dynastic run of Curry, Klay Thompson, and Green. Asked postgame, Curry and Green didn’t have many concrete answers other than, “they want to win and do whatever it takes to win.” Murray led the Kings in victory with 32 points. Curry led the Warriors with 22 points.

Up Next: The Kings will travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans in the win or go home final NBA play-in game. The winner is the 8th seed in the Western Conference. Loser goes home. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30pm PDT on Friday night.

Golden State Warriors Play In wrap up: Kings demolish Warriors 118-94 end Warriors’ season

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Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) takes an off balance shot against the Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (right) in the second half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Tue Apr 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors, the tenth seed in the Western Conference, had to play the ninth seed, the Sacramento Kings, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The winner of the game would play the loser of the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans.

The Warriors played well on the road and were 16-4 in the last 20 games away from the Chase Center. The Kings were seeking revenge as the Warriors beat them in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.

That loss to the Warriors left a bad taste in the mouths of the Kings’ players. The Kings got their revenge as they blew away the Warriors to earn the right to play the Pelicans on Friday night in New Orleans. The final score was 118-94. 

The Warriors had one of their worst games in the 2023-2024 season. The Warriors committed too many turnovers in the first half. Their defense was non-existent. The offense went to sleep. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson put five points on the board in the first half. Curry made the five points. Thompson was scoreless.

Warriors fans counted on Thompson and Curry to lead the charge in the second half. That did not happen. Curry finished with 22 points. Curry did not make a basket and finished the game scoreless. I don’t remember Thompson being held to zero points in a game. The margin of victory over the Warriors was the largest since 2006. 

The Warriors led 8-6 early in the first quarter. The Kings went ahead 11-8 and never relinquished the lead. Sacramento finished the first quarter leading 31-22. The Kings led by 14, 48-34. The Warrior’s offense began to click, and they closed the deficit to four points at the end of the first half. The Kings led 54-50.

The Warriors made a run early in the second half to trail by one, 56-55. The Kings’ fans were starting to squirm. The Warriors, famous for owning the third quarter, had the tables turned on them. The Kings’ offense came to life. Keegan Murray continued to make shots. Murray had 14 points in the first quarter and four threes in the first half and continued hitting shots from downtown. Sabonis continued to clog the middle and block shots. Sabonis finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. 

The Kings won the third quarter 37-26 to lead by 15, 91-76.

The rout was on. Sacramento continued to stop the Warrior offense. Domantas Sabonis, Harrison Barnes, Murray, and D’Aaron Fox made key buckets. The Warriors’ offense went to sleep. The game was over when the Kings led 105-86 with 5:29 left to play.

Game Notes: The Warriors’ season is over. Many people are now speculating about the team’s future. Thompson will be a free agent. Thompson had expressed interest in finishing his Hall of Fame career with Golden State. Hopefully, the Warriors’ management and Thompson can agree soon.

Other players may be elsewhere next year, including Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul, Dario Saric, and Kevon Looney. Wiggins’s scoring went down this year. Wiggins is owed a bundle of money, and the Warriors may trade him to reduce payroll.

The veteran playmaker Chris Paul is 38 years old. Letting Paul seek employment elsewhere will also reduce payroll significantly. Saric was relegated to the bench due to Trayce Jackson-Davis’s improvement at the center position.

Saric earned a little, but he probably did better elsewhere. Kevon Looney was the starter at the center spot early in the season. The Warriors’ head coach adjusted his rotation later in the season. Looney became a fixture on the second unit. Looney never complained and stayed ready even though his minutes on the court were diminished. 

Murray led his team to the Friday night game against the Pelicans. Murray finished the game with 32 points and connected on nine threes. Former Warriors Harrison Barnes added 17. Keon Ellis, an undrafted rookie from Alabama, had 15 points and made three threes. Fox added 24. Malik Monk, who torched the Warriors, was unavailable due to an injury. The Kings’ Kevin Huerter was also unavailable.

The Warriors will now watch the playoffs from their homes.Curry will play for the United States at the Olympics in Paris, France, this summer.

It was a remarkable season. The Warriors needed help finding their rhythm early in the season. They lost games when they had big leads heading into the fourth quarter. They got into gear when Kerr put Jackson-Davis into the second unit.

Thompson, a starter for his entire career, was sent to the bench. Thompson responded by getting back to the player of old. Jonathan Kuminga raised his game to a higher level. Brandin Podziemski, picked 19th in the first round, exceeded expectations. Podziemski played well on both ends of the court. Moses Moody, fighting for playing time, will be someone the Warriors will play more next year. Moody gave the Warriors a spark in the third quarter. 

The Warriors played better on the road this season. They won two more games than they did last year. The competition in the Western Conference has caught up with the Warriors. The OKC Thunder finished as the one seed in the Conference.

The Denver Nuggets, with Nikola Jokic, are preparing to repeat as NBA Champions. The Minnesota Timberwolves are right behind those two teams in talent. The Wolves are built around Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Karl-Anthony Towns. The Houston Rockets are on the rise. 

The Kings beat the Pelicans on Friday to become the eighth seed. If they win, they will face the number one seed, the OKC Thunder. 

That’s it for the season. It was very interesting to watch the Warriors in 2023-2024. Let’s hope they draft some players to return them to the top.

Adios

A’s bow to Cardinals 3-2 in front of season’s smallest crowd 3,296; Whitey Herzog honored before game

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Oakland A’s second baseman Zack Gelof left tags out St Louis Cardinals runner Brendan Donavon (right) trying to steal second in the top of the seventh at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Apr 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

St. Louis (8-9). 001 002 000. 3. 4. 1

Athletics (7-11). 010 010 000. 2. 5. 1

Time: 2:29

Attendance: 3,296

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Forget about the 5.17 earned run average that JP Sears brought with him to tonight’s bout with the St. Louis Cardinals and instead focus on how brilliantly he had performed in his previous start, 6-1/3 one hit innings against the Rangers in Arlington five day ago.

Tuesday night the 28 year old lefty with a little over a year’s seniority in the show wasn’t quite as sharp, but he was damned good. He went five innings and allowed one run, earned, on two hits and three walks, while striking out a couple of Cards. He threw 82 pitches, 51 for strikes, and left with a no decision and a record of 1-1, 4.35.

The Cards sent starboarder Lance Lynn, a veteran of over a dozen years of the major league wars, against the A’s promising southpaw. The journeyman brought an 0-0, 2.63 mark to the game with him and was in vintage form tonight.

He lasted seven full frames and held the Athletics to two runs, only one of which was earned. He yielded five hits, one of which left the park, and a walk., He also notched a K. 65 of his 101 pitches were counted as strikes. He reduced his ERA to 2.18 and finally broke into the win column; he’s now 1-0. Athletic speed combined with sloppy Redbird fielding put the A’s ahead, 1-0, in the second.

Tyler Nevin beat out a single to short and advanced to second on Maysn Winn’s errant throw. He scored on Kyle McCann’s single to center. All the outs in that frame came on fly balls to the warning track. Two of them were corralled at the wall.

The Cards evened things up in their next turn at the plate. Sears walked Masyn Winn, who promptly stole second. Jordan Walker lived up to his name. Both of them advanced 90 feet on Michael Siani’s sacrifice to third. Brendan Donovan’s grounder to third brought Winn home with the tying tally.

McCann unknotted the score with a lead off four bagger on a full count four seamer, a 385 foot blast over the auxiliary scoreboard in right center field, in the bottom of the fourth, his first major league home run.

Dany Jiménez relieved Sears for the visitors’ sixth, and his turn on the mound was a disaster, mostly his fault but aggravated by a throw to nowhere by JJ Bleday. Arenado led off with a clean single to left. Jiménez walked Iván Herrera and Lars Nootbaar.

Winn then lifted a sacrifice fly to Bleday in center. That brought Arenado home while the two others held their base. That is, until Bleday heaved a slovenly throw to a spot in the infield that was nowhere near any possible cutoff man.

So now there were two runners in scoring position, and Walker’s fly to right became a sacrifice fly that brought Herrera across the plate with the leading run. TJ McFarland took over and retired Michael Siani out, so when Mitch Spence, who was the A’s’ last pitcher of the game, strolled to the mound to open the top of the seventh, the A’s were looking up at a 3-2 St. Louis lead.

Jolo Romero retired the hosts 1,2,3 in the eighth, and Ryan Helsley came through with an equally clean bottom of the ninth to earn his seventh save and second in two days.

This afternoon the Oakland City Council, Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency, and the Geologic Abatement Board met to discuss the Ballers’ proposal to make $1.6 million of improvements to Raimondi Park. As of this writing, I haven’t heard the outcome of that meeting.

Former St Louis Cardinal manager Whitey Herzog passed away on Tuesday at 92 years old and was honored on the Oakland Coliseum scoreboard before the game. Herzog managed the Cardinals from 1980-1990.

The A’s and the Cardinals will meet again tomorrow, Wednesday, afternoon at 12:37. Paul Blackburn will take his immaculate record of 1-0, 0.00 against Steven Matz’s 1-0, 1.80).

Giants Drop Game Two to Marlins 6-3

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Walker (left) waits on the mound to be relieved as he’s joined by third baseman Matt Chapman (right) in the bottom of the sixth inning at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Tue Apr 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants took a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth in their series with Miami Tuesday. The Marlins were able to tie up the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth and extended their lead in the sixth inning scoring three times. Miami scored one more run in the seventh inning winning this game 6-3 and tying up the series.

Jordan Hicks took the mound for the Giants for game two and Ryan Weathers started for the Marlins.

San Francisco took a 2-0 lead after the first three innings. Matt Chapman hit a solo home run in the second inning for an early 1-0 lead. Wilmer Flores doubled in the third inning driving Austin Slater home extending the Giants lead to 2-0.

Miami had a quiet first three innings but came alive in the fourth inning tying the game 2-2. Bryan De La Cruz doubled and base runner Luis Arraez scored and the Marlins were on the board 2-1. Jesus Sanchez grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop and De La Cruz scored on a San Francisco error. Going into the fifth inning this game was tied 2-2.

Miami took the lead in the sixth inning. Tim Anderson grounded into a fielder’s choice to third and base runner Josh Bell crossed home plate giving the Marlins their first lead of the game 3-2. With two outs, Miami had the bases loaded with the Luis Arraez at the plate. Arraez singled driving Tim Anderson and Emmanuel Rivera home extending the Marlins lead to 5-2.

Starter Jordan Hicks went five innings for San Francisco allowing 3 hits, 2 runs with 5 strikeouts. Ryan Walker came in to relieve. Miami starting pitcher Ryan Weathers went six innings allowing 5 hits, 2 runs with 10 strikeouts. Burch Smith relieved Weathers in the seventh inning.

The Giants go something going in the seventh inning. With runners on second and third and one out, LaMonte Wade singled, Michael Conforto scored and Nick Ahmed advanced to third. With the one out, San Francisco was in business but still trailing 5-3. Wilmer Flores came to the plate and hit into a double play and the scored remained 5-3 in favor of Miami. This was a lost opportunity for San Francisco.

In the bottom of the seventh inning with two on base Miami’s Nick Gordon ripped a single into right field and Jesus Sanchez scored giving the Marlins a 6-3 lead going into the eighth inning. The Marlins went into the ninth three outs away from winning game two and tying up this series one apiece.

Lefty Tanner Scott took the mound looking to close out this game for the Marlins. Scott did not have any command walking Ahmed and Tyler Fitzgerald back-to-back and the Giants had two on with only one out. Unfortunately Wilmer Flores popped out and Miami had evened up the series winning this game 6-3.

Game notes: Tuesday evening the Giants played the second game of their series with Marlins at Loan Depot Park. Monday, the Giants took game one winning on a single run game 4-3. The Giants rallied in the seventh inning with 3 runs beating the Marlins. Wilmer Florres gave San Francisco the lead with a RBI single in the seventh inning. The Marlins are struggling, they are worst team in the NL, and it all came to a head when Miami manager Skip Schumaker was ejected by the plate umpire in the eighth inning. They did pick up game two of the series Tuesday night in a 6-3 win at LoanDepot.

Game three is scheduled for 9:40 AM tomorrow. Keaton Winn (0-3 ERA 5.06) will take the mound for the Giants and Trevor Rogers (0-2 ERA 4.80) will start for the Marlins. San Francisco will be looking to take the series and the Marlins will be looking for their fifth win of the season.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Could a Mayor Thao recall get a better Mayor for A’s to work with? Aramark’s employee gag order from media how long will that last?

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Oakland voters are hoping to uproot Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao in a recall. If successful the question is if the Oakland A’s ballpark deal falls apart in Las Vegas can a new Oakland mayor make a new pitch to the A’s to get them to stay and build a park in Oakland? (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commenary podcast:

#1 Food and beverage concessionaires at the Oakland Coliseum have been told in a 99 worded company letter they had better keep their opinions about lay offs, the A’s relocation to Sacramento, or any business related issues regarding Aramark to the media or reporters. Aramark also said that “violations of this policy are subject to discipline up to and including termination.”

#2 Aramark who serves food and beverages to nine Major League Stadiums and is a Forbes Fortune 500 holder and is the 50th largest employer in America. Is the issue of the lay offs a huge concern for Aramark and is putting a muzzle on the Coliseum concession employees a prevention from any negative publicity because of the layoffs after this last season in Oakland for the Aramark employees.

#3 Amaury, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao could face a recall. Currently Oaklanders are trying to put together a petition drive to get a ballot initiative to get Thao recalled. If successful and its long shot could a new mayor try and get together with the Oakland A’s and try and work something out for a stadium if the Las Vegas deal falls through.

#4 Mayor Thao has surmounting complaints from City of Oakland residents who want her removed because of the firing of Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong, the huge crime that has forced retailers particularly in downtown Oakland and Chinatown to either fold their businesses or move, and the Airport corridor has seen car break ins and crime at their local restaurants including the high profile In and Out Burger and Denny’s close and shutter their businesses. Now with the recent rent offer by the City of Oakland and the Coliseum Joint Authority of $97 million for the A’s to rent the Coliseum was so inflated that it chased off A’s team president David Kaval who the next day chose to have the A’s play their interim years in Sacramento. Many critics said this was poor handling of business from the City of Oakland and the appearance of gouging on the City’s part.

#5 In the event of a new Oakland Mayor takes over for a recalled Thao that new mayor could call the A’s back to the bargaining table if Vegas were to fall apart and offer the A’s a sweetheart deal. Here is the scenario come back to the Coliseum from Sacramento for $3 million a year. Offer to bridge the gap that the City and A’s were apart on for Howard Terminal and that money some $97 million (sound familiar) and the money will be paid back on taxes on ticket sales and concessions and parking.

#6 The current plan to have the A’s in Sacramento if Las Vegas fails won’t work from the marketing and sponsorship aspect. What works for the NBA Sacramento Kings in advertising might not work for the A’s who will see that money get divided in half when they and if they build a 30,000 seat stadium in Sacramento. The A’s would be playing in the 20th TV market while it’s likely they can get the support but owner John Fisher’s TV revenue will also come down from what he’s getting in Oakland at $70 million versus what he would get in Sacramento around $35 million.

#7 If you follow the money whether it’s in Las Vegas or Sacramento the A’s lose. TV money always rules the day even if the A’s were to get good crowds they leaving Oakland will hurt their pockets by walking away from their $70 million TV contract with NBC California. If Oakland changes it’s mayors maybe the A’s could consider changing their minds.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice at 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

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: What are the Kings chances without Monk and Huerter in tonight’s line up

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The Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis is guarded by the Portland Trail Blazers forward Justin Minaya in first half action at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sun Apr 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Kings podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Sacramento Kings Malik Monk injury is a huge hit to the Sacramento Kings who host the Golden State Warriors tonight in an NBA Play In game tonight at Golden 1 Center. Talk about how huge of a hit it is not to have Monk in the line up tonight.

#2 The Kings are also missing Kevin Huerter and will rely heavily on DeAaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis for scoring. The Warriors have lots of experience in post season. The way it looks right now the Kings will have to depend on Fox and Sabonis and their younger players if they want to get by the Warriors.

#3 How will the Kings shutdown the Warriors offense with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Jonathan Kuminga, and Draymond Green under the basket grabbing rebounds.

#4 The Kings in their final game of the regular season on Sunday blew out the Portland Trail Blazers 121-82. Fox led with 24 points, Sabonis had 18 and Harrison Barnes with 17 points. These are the guys that the Kings will rely heavily on in the play in game against Golden State tonight.

#5 Tony so it all boils down to this game tonight at Golden 1 the Kings need to win big or go home. How do you see them matching up with the Warriors in this play in game tonight?

Tony Renteria podcasts Sacramento Kings basketball Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com