Month: May 2024

That’s Amaury News and Commentary : Comparing Ohtani to Babe Ruth; Padres Bogarts day to day with shoulder injury; plus more news

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Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani rounds third base on a Will Smith base hit on Fri May 17, 2024 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, Babe Ruth once said that he didn’t want to pitch every other day while playing a position in the outfield. Ruth had said this before 1920 before he was traded and converted to being an outfielder. Much the same can be said about Los Angeles Dodgers two way player Shohei Ohtani who is taking the year off from pitching. Ohtani the designated hitter is not throwing from the outfield like Ruth did but he did want to play everyday and not wear his arm out by being a pitcher.

#2 Xander Bogarts second baseman of the San Diego Padres suffered a left shoulder injury during Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. Bogarts was going for a ground ball when he landed his left shoulder on a bases loaded grounder. Bogarts was not able to make the throw on Ronald Acuna’s infield hit that allowed a run to score. Bogarts signaled for the dugout and manager Mike Schildt and the trainer. Bogarts was given tests and they proved to be negative. Bogarts status is day to day.

#3 The Tampa Bay Rays placed starter Zach Eflin on the 15 day IL on Monday night in a game against the Boston Red Sox. Eflin is suffering from back inflammation. Eflin struggled this season at 3-4, ERA 4.12. Last season Eflin went 16-8. The Rays were counting on him signing him to a three year $68 million contract.

#4 It was mentioned it was a great time to be a Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Twins fan and a Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers fan. The Timberwolves and Mavericks of the NBA are headed for the third round of the NBA playoffs and the Twins are in third place only five games behind first place in the AL Central. The Rangers are just 1.5 games out of first place in the AL West.

#5 Amaury, the A’s are coming off an eight game losing streak. They went 1-9 on the last road trip in games played in Seattle, Kansas City and Houston and lost all but one of those games. They had to deal with the thunderstorms in Houston and now return to host the Colorado Rockies tonight here at the Coliseum. Can the A’s turn it around with home field advantage to open this six game homestand?

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 Marko Ukalovic: Giants begin six game road trip in Pittsburgh on Tuesday at PNC

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun May 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos slugged his first home run of the 2024 season in what was one of four Giants runs to defeat the Colorado Rockies 4-1 on Sunday at Oracle Park.

#2 Meanwhile Giants starter Jordan Hicks improved his record to 4-1, ERA 2.38 giving up three hits, one earned run and going 4.2 innings.

#3 Sean Hjelle, Luke Jackson, Taylor Rogers and Camilo Doval followed Hicks each pitched one inning of shutout ball in releif.

#4 The Rockies are a struggling bunch at Oracle Park they lost their eighth consecutive game in San Francisco. The Rockies ended a seven game win streak on Friday night losing to the Giants 10-5.

#5 The Giants will have Monday off and are in Pittsburgh Tuesday to face the Pirates at 3:40pm PT. Starting pitcher for the Pirates Martin Perez (1-3 ERA 4.86) and for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (4-4, ERA 3.03).

Join Marko for the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s take long awaited day off after 1-9 road trip; Returning back to Oakland Tuesday

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Aaron Brooks throws to a Houston Astros batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Houston. Brooks will be the A’s starting pitcher on Tue May 21, 2024 vs. the Colorado Rockies in Oakland (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Kansas City Royals pitcher Brady Singer kept the Oakland A’s line up off balance striking nine hitters as the A’s couldn’t had trouble getting around the baseball and not to mention trying to score runs on Sunday in Kansas City.

#2 It was a rough road trip for Oakland as they got swept by the Royals and are on a eight game losing streak. The A’s have fallen to fourth place in the AL West.

#3 The Royals are on the move this is their third sweep so far this season last season they didn’t get their third three game sweep until September.

#4 The A’s Brent Rooker sent his 11th home run over the fence for a three run home run over the left field bullpen. It wasn’t enough as the A’s got beat 8-4 in Houston.

#5 The Colorado Rockies who are coming off a three game series with San Francisco Giants will open a three game series with the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum. Starting pitcher for Colorado RHP Cal Quantrill (3-3 ERA 3.66) and for the A’s RHP Aaron Brooks (0-1, ERA 3.86) first pitch 6:40pm PT on Tuesday night.

Barbara Mason does the Oakland A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

For the Giants, the Best Weekend of the Season Thus Far

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–When manager Bob Melvin regally hopped off of the clubhouse steps into the Giants dugout on Saturday morning at precisely 11:15am, it didn’t feel like he was completely honest.

“I’m not very good in the mornings,” he said to the media gathered for his pre-game presser.

For the next 15 minutes, Melvin was very good, first updating everyone on Blake Snell’s outing Friday in Sacramento, then dialing back expectations for his availability in the coming week. Melvin hinted that some shoulder discomfort could keep the 2-time Cy Young award winner away from the club for another week, but not much more. He smiled when saying Snell threw 75 pitches and was able to execute his entire repertoire.

Randy Rodriguez perked Melvin up as well, when he was asked about the intriguing 24-year old reliever who struck out Colorado’s Brendan Rogers in the ninth inning of Friday’s game. Melvin was impressed with the youngster’s ability to pepper Rogers with 98 and 99 mph fastballs, before freezing him on 3-2 slider clocked at 84 mph.

When asked if a couple of wins–Wednesday over the Dodgers, after five-consecutive losses to the perpetual NL West division champs, and an offensive breakout against the Rockies Friday–signaled a change for the 21-25 club that has scuffled to generate offense, Melvin spoke confidently.

“We’re going to be OK,” he said. “We haven’t won three in a row, so this would be an important win for us today.”

That win materialized a few hours later in a 14-4 eye-opener, then the Giants doubled down on Sunday with Jordan Hicks holding the Rockies at arm’s distance in a breezy 4-1 win. Now the Giants can hit the road to Pittsburgh and Queens, New York with momentum, really for the first time all season.

For a team finished opening week 2-5, and was 15-21 after being throttled on their previous trip to Boston and Philadelphia, this is new beginning. Through the numerous injuries, including the loss of their prized acquisition, Jung Hoo Lee, for the remainder of the season, the belief hasn’t disappeared, at least within the clubhouse.

“We’ve had a lot of guys who are off to a slow start,” Melvin said, stating the obvious.

Two guys who weren’t in the Opening Day lineup–Heliot Ramos and Luis Matos–aren’t off to slow starts. They both made huge strides on the homestand with Matos going 10 for 22 over five games, and Ramos going 6 for 20, with two doubles and a walk over the same stretch. Just that quickly, Ramos and Matos are two-thirds of the new-look outfield with perfect timing following the loss of Lee.

Matt Chapman and Thairo Estrada have picked up their offensive games as well–after slow starts–and the re-emergence of Michael Conforto, who’s on the injured list with a hamstring issue, could eventually mean that the Giants will be finally ready to fight with both hands and show their promise.

Meanwhile, the big picture still hasn’t gotten too big. Yes, the Phillies (34-14) are on a torrid pace with the National League’s best record, and the Dodgers (32-17) are running away with the NL West, but everything else is completely in reach for the Giants.

The Padres are currently a game ahead of the Giants, having reached .500 with an impressive pair of wins over the Braves this weekend, and those two clubs comprise the front of the pack for the sixth and final playoff spot. Trailing by a stride or two are Diamondbacks (22-25), Pirates (22-26) and Mets (21-25).

Slow start? Yes. But having an optimistic, hopeful manager and few, capable options can overcome that. At least that’s what the Giants are hoping.

Hicks braves through five solid innings as Giants sweep Rockies in 4-1 win at Oracle Park

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Heilot Ramos of the San Francisco Giants runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun May 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Colorado Rockies 1 (15-31)

San Francisco Giants 4 (23-25)

Win: Jordan Hicks (4-1)

Loss: Dakota Hudson (1-7)

Save: Camilo Doval (8)

Time: 2:26

Attendance: 34,766

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Jordan Hicks braved through five solid innings despite a decrease in his velocity, and the Giants swept the Rockies out of San Francisco with a 4-1 win thanks to a three-run bottom of the fifth inning.

After finally winning three games in a row for the first time this season, the Giants were now looking for their first sweep of the season on a hazy Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park. With Jordan Hicks making the start and an offense that’s finally been swinging the bats over the last two games, the Giants had every reason to be optimistic.

Hicks threw up before the game, but he made the start anyway. He set down the first two men he faced to start the game, but with two outs in the top of the first inning Ryan McMahon got a sinker on the outside corner that he hit off the end of the bat and out of the park to left.

Hicks’ velocity was noticeably down, as his sinker, which he generally can get up to 95 and 96 miles per hour, was topping out around 92.

I [didn’t] feel sick at all,” said Hicks. “Just all the fuel I put in my body left.”

The Giants went down 1-2-3 against Rockies’ starter Dakota Hudson in the bottom of the first, thanks in part to a great catch at the wall by left-fielder Jake Cave to take away extra bases from Jorge Soler to start the inning. Hicks then pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second.

Matt Chapman was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the second, and Mike Yastrzemski singled with one out to put runners at first and second for Heliot Ramos. The Giants had a rally going, but the offense went back to their old ways and wasted the opportunity, as Heliot Ramos grounded out to first, and Marco Luciano flew out to center.

Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the third, and the Rockies went down 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth against Hicks, who had to work around his decreased velocity, but had retired 10-straight batters and 12 of the first 13 men he faced on the day.

“It makes it a little bit easier when you have like four pitches to go to and kind of choose,” said Hicks. “[The] slider, I only really had [that] at the top of the zone today. [The] splitter was kind of doing all kinds of things going down [and] breaking left…..I thought the four-seamer was a really good pitch today, even though I only [threw] it like six times.”

The Giants had runners at the corners with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but Ramos grounded back out to the mound.

The Rockies kept their 1-0 lead going to the fifth, as they looked to add on. Elehuris Montero flew out to center for the first, but Jake Cabe lined a base-hit to center, and Jordan Beck doubled to put runners at second and third with one out. Hicks struck out Hunter Goodman for the second out, and then he walked Jacob Stallint to load the bases. Charlie Blackmon then popped up to short to end the inning and Hicks’ day.

Despite being sick prior to the game and his velocity being down, Hicks battled through five innings, as he gave up just a run and three hits. Hicks renourished himself during the game by eating snacks in between innings. In fact, his velocity got back up into its normal range in the fifth.

“He wanted to pitch,” said Manager Bob Melvin. “I wasn’t gonna push it past five [innings] regardless with [the] lack of oomph [he] had behind [his stuff], but to go out there and give us five like that on a day that we were pretty limited in the bullpen, I appreciated that.”

“Overall I felt pretty good,” said Hicks. “[I got] strong[er] as the game progressed…..I understood the move to kind of get me out of there and get me feeling right for the next one[-to-]six days.”

Hicks also attributed his success today to catcher Curt Casali, who Hicks threw to for the first time in his career.

“Curt did a really good job today calling the game,” said Hicks. “[I] didn’t have to shake that much just trusted him and that was our first time out there, but I’d like to get my props to him and how he managed the game. How he goes about it was nice to see that and good to have been on the same page [in] our first starts [together].”

“Curt seems to be able to settle in with guys pretty quickly even guys he hasn’t caught before,” said Melvin. “Of course in the game he recognizes what’s working, what’s not, which side of the plate, you know all those things that veteran catchers do. I’m not sure what their conversations were, and Jordan has been pretty good about identifying what’s been working for him and how to kind of manage how he’s feeling.”

Hicks was even able to find a positive out of throwing up prior to the game and his decreased velocity.

“[Today told] me that my sinker with that action is good [at] pretty much any velocity above like 87, 88,” said Hicks. “I’m very confident [in] that pitch at any velocity to be honest, and today kind of just reaffirms that [and] gives me that confidence in it.”

Luciano walked to start the bottom of the fifth, and a single by Curt Casali put runners at the corners with nobody out. Soler struck out swinging, and then LaMonte Wade lined a base-hit to right to tie the game at 1-1. Thairo Estrada grounded to short for a fielder’s choice, and Matt Chapman gave the Giants the lead with an infield single to short.

With two outs, Luis Matos hit a ground ball to third, but the ball went under the glove of Rockies’ third-baseman Ryan McMahon and into left field, which allowed Estrada to score and extend the Giants’ lead to 3-1. That ended the afternoon for Dakota Hudson, and Rockies Manager Bud Black brought in Victor Vodnik, who got Yastrzemski to fly out to left to end the inning.

Sean Hjelle replaced Hicks in the top of the sixth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Heliot Ramos then led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run to straightaway center to make it 4-1.

Luke Jackson pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, and the Rockies brought in Tyler Kinley for the bottom of the seventh. Wade lined a base-hit to right to lead off the inning, but Kinley retired the side in order after that.

Left-hander Taylor Rogers came in for the eighth, and he took a comebacker off the bat of Hunter Goodman off his foot that turned into a 1-6-3 putout to start the inning. Rogers was checked and stayed in the game, but he immediately ran into trouble after walking Stallings and Blackmon. Rogers then bore down, as he got Ezequiel Tovar to pop out to second, and he got McMahon to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Bob Melvin summoned his closer, Camilo Doval, for the ninth, and Doval threw a 1-2-3 inning to end it.

Jordan Hicks got the win; Dakota Hudson took the loss; and Camilo Doval picked up his eighth save of the season.

The Giants’ offense did waste a couple of opportunities early on, but they more than made up for it in the bottom of the fifth. It was another team effort for the Giants, but surprisingly, the white-hot Luis Matos took an 0-for-4.

The Giants not only swept the Rockies, but they have now won four in a row, as they improve to 23-25. With the recent blows that they have taken, including losing Jung-hoo Lee for the season, the Giants did what they needed to do by sweeping the Rockies and having a 6-3 homestand.

“It just feels good, [there’s] good energy in here,” said Hicks. “It’s good to finish up the sweep today. I really like our young guys right now. I mean, I said it last time, they brought some energy…..yeah, we got a lot of guys on the IL right now, but [we’re persever[ing] and keep battling no matter who we got…..I like that mindset.”

Now, the Giants will head back east for a six-game, two-city road trip through Pittsburgh and New York. The Giants will begin a three-game series against the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh Tuesday night with their ace, Logan Webb(4-4, ERA 3.03) on the hill and the Pirates starting pitcher LHP Martin Perez (1-3, ERA 4.86) . First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m. ET. in Pittsburgh, and 3:40 p.m. PT in San Francisco.

Despite Ninth Inning Rally A’s Swept By Kansas City Royals 8-4

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The Oakland A’s just had a hard time getting around on the baseball as the A’s hitter Max Schuemann strikes out in the top of the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Sun May 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Despite a great ninth inning rally with two outs, the Oakland A’s (19-30) were swept Sunday by the Kansas City Royals (29-19) losing the third game of the series 8-4. Brent Rooker cracked a bomb, a 431 ft home run with Max Schuemann and JJ Bleday aboard to score three runs. Royals pitcher Brady Singer was spot on all afternoon giving Oakland all kinds of trouble and keeping them guessing the entire game.

Game recap: As this game wore on it became evident that Royals pitchers Brady Singer was going to be a huge problem for Oakland. When the dust had all settled Singer had pitched a gem. So much went on in this game and the bright spots in the game were all Kansas City.

We know from this series that the Royals can put runs up quickly and this game was no different. Kansas City had taken a 2-0 lead after the first inning and again the A’s were down very quickly. Oakland has not scored first in probably the last 13 games.

Bobby Witt Jr. doubled and Maikel Garcia scored for the early 1-0 lead. Veteran Salvador, Perez next at bat , singled and Bobby Witt Jr. crossed home plate for a 2-0 Kansas City lead. The game had gotten off on the wrong foot for Oakland as the A’s found themselves playing catchup once again.

In the fourth inning the A’s got back into the game scoring a single run when Tyler Soderstrom doubled and Brent Rooker scored. With the score 2-1, Oakland needed some offense; they needed some big hits.

The A’s had a chance to take the lead in the fifth inning with the bases loaded but came up empty. The A’s would leave 10 runners on base on 11 hits in this game something they have really been struggling with.

This game remained close going into the fifth inning before the Royals broke it all open. They scored twice in the fifth inning and four times in the 6th inning. In the fifth inning, Maikel Garcia doubled Michael Massey home.

In the sixth inning a huge hit, a triple, off the bat of Vinnie Pasquartino allowed three runners to score. Freddy Fermin, Hunter Renfroe and Michael Massey all crossed home plate and the Royals were cruising with an 7-1 lead. They extended their lead with one more run to close out the 6th inning now leading 8-1.

The Royals were unable to score for the remainder of the game but the A’s did put up a fight in the ninth inning. With the odds stacked against them, they put up four runs with two outs. Max Schuemann got the inning rolling with a single and then with two outs JJ Bleday had his second double of the day.

These guys refused to give in as Brent Rooker came to the plate hitting a home run, a three run bomb. This was his 11th home run of the season leading the team with long balls. The final was 8-4 in favor of Kansas City but the A’s fought to the bitter end. They just could not get the big hits in the game leaving two and three players stranded unable to bring them home.

A huge factor for the Royals win in this game was starting pitcher Brady Singer. He was spotless dominating Oakland punching out nine A’s. He seldom threw up the middle, his command was on point mixing up his repertoire and keeping Oakland guessing for much of the game. He went 6 innings allowing six hits and one run.

Oakland’s starting pitcher JP Sears went 4.1 innings allowing five hits, four runs, two walks with four strikeouts. What is always a highlight in any eighth or ninth inning for the A’s, Mason Miller pitched the bottom of the eighth inning only facing three Royals.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon, the A’s finished off what has been a more than disappointing series with the Royals. Oakland lost the first two game of this series and couldn’t avoid another sweep on Sunday as the A’s wrapped up a dismal road trip. JP Sears started this game for the A’s going 4.1 innings and was lifted in the middle of the fifth inning by A’s manager Mark Kotsay and Brady Singer was on the hill for the Royals who went six innings six hits and gave up one earned run.

Oakland now heads home after a grueling road trip that saw them play ten games in a row finishing 1 and 9. They will get a day off tomorrow trying to catch their breath and spend a little quality time at home. Tuesday they will go back to work and try to put an end to this eight game losing streak taking on the Colorado Rockies in a three game series. At the time of this post the starting pitcher for the A’s was undecided. Cal Quantrill will take the hill for the Rockies. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Matos has been a one man hitting clinic for SF

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San Francisco Giants slugger Luis Matos (right) is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (9) rounds third base after hitting a three run home run in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park against the Colorado Rockies on Sat May 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Luis Matos of the San Francisco Giants is hitting like a Ted Williams clinic on Friday he had five RBIs and Saturday he belted a three run home run and six RBIs he helped pace the Giants to a 14-4 laugher over the Colorado Rockies.

#2 Third baseman Matt Chapman had a four for four day at the plate on Saturday and scored three runs and getting around on the ball hitting .236, belted his fifth home run of the season with 20 RBIs.

#3 The Giants have reached a high watermark of winning three straight games for this season. The Giants have had a number of injuries and it’s been remarkable with the players that have come up and replaced the injured and the Giants have been rolling since they lost two out of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

#4 Giants manager Bob Melvin said “We’re swinging the bat really well and I think the vibe in the dugout is probably as good as it’s been” Sounds like Melvin has got the team turning the page.

#5 We didn’t get a chance to ask you about how the Jung Hoo Lee injury and how it has impacted the team and it looks like they’ve regrouped and are trying to turn it around.

Stephen Ruderman filled in for Bruce Magowan who is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Yanks Gil 14 K’s career high; Orioles Grayson back in rotation; plus more news

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New York Yankees starter Luis Gil pitches into the top of the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium in New York on the way to a career high 14 strikeouts on Sat May 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The New York Yankees have a lot of history and rookie pitcher Luis Gil just added to another page to the history books with the most strikeouts thrown by a rookie with 14 against the Chicago White Sox in a 6-1 win.

#2 The Baltimore Orioles activated RHP Grayson Rodriguez from the 15 day IL who started against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Rodriguez came back from a shoulder inflammation injury. Rodriguez one of the keys to the Orioles pitching staff is 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA.

#3 Former Los Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher and who is playing infield for the Atlanta Braves triple A affiliate has reportedly been placing bets with the same Los Angeles bookmaker Matthew Bowyer that Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara used. Fletcher’s close friend Colby Schultz who played in the Kansas City Royals farm system from 2018-2020 bet on baseball during his playing days. It was reported that Fletcher did not bet on baseball.

#4 On San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, Snell returned to pitch at the Giants triple A affiliate you might have heard of them the Sacramento Rivercats. Snell was out with a shoulder injury threw five innings of no hit baseball and struck out ten batters.

#5 The Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher Shota Imanaga got into the history books by recording the lowest ERA 0.84 for any rookie in his first nine starts since it was last done back in 1913. Looking at Imanaga reaction after striking out his seventh batter he was even amazed at himself.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Lynn’s late goal propels Orlando City in 1-0 shutout win over Earthquakes

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Orlando City FC forward Jack Lynn dribbles down the pitch against the San Jose Earthquakes during his team’s 1-0 win at Pay Pal Park on Saturday MAY 18, 2024. (Orlando City FC)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — If the San Jose Earthquakes didn’t have bad luck, they wouldn’t have any luck at all.

Jack Lynn scored the match’s only goal in the 89th minute to give Orlando City FC a 1-0 shutout victory over San Jose on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose has lost its past two MLS matches. Orlando City has points in its last three matches.

Orlando City used a counterattack off of a set piece by San Jose. Iván Angulo stripped the ball off of Niko Tsakiris and raced down the left wing before crossing the ball over to Martin Ojeda. Ojeda’s shot attempt took a fluky bounce over to a wide-open Lynn who tapped in the ball into an open net with a right footed shot for third goal of the season.

“We weren’t able to send the ball back to the 18 (inside the box) and at the end of the day, this is football. The team that scores is the team that’s going to win. Today we didn’t have that consistency to score, to take advantage of our opportunities and they did on their last one,” ‘Quakes forward Cristian Espinoza said.

Both teams spent the first 15 minutes of the first half feeling each other out. Neither generated many scoring chances in the beginning of the match.

Orlando City (4-5-4) suffered a big loss to their offensive attack in the 16th minute. Leading goal scorer Duncan McGuire went up for a headed near midfield and landed awkwardly on his arm that looked scary. He laid on the ground for five minutes before walking off the field under his own power. OC head coached Oscar Pareja replaced McGuire with Lynn.

San Jose (3-10-1) controlled the possession for the majority of the first half and dominated play in the last 15 minutes of the opening half. Espinoza crossed the ball from right to left inside the box over to Rodrigues whose point-blank shot was knocked away by Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese in the 30th minute.

Then seven minutes later Rodrigues had another attempt to put the Quakes on the board when he received a cross off the foot of Hernán López, but he shot sailed just to the right of the net.

López was a force for San Jose whenever he touched the ball as he led attacks inside Orlando City’s zone as he played mainly on the right side of the pitch alongside Espinoza. Orlando City did their best to contain the Argentine striker using more than one player to mark him throughout the half.

‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough only had to deal with one shot on target in the first 45 minutes. Orlando City had two quality scoring attempts shoot just wide of the net. Dagur Thorhallsson’s right footed shot just missed to the right of the net in the 35th minute and then Nicolás Lodeiro’s left footed shot from the middle of the box went wide left in the 42nd minute.

“Orlando is a very good team,” said head coach Luchi Gonzalez regarding another tough luck finish for his team. “They have a good away record. Oscar (Parejas) does a great job with this team, and they are savvy. They punched us today in transition (after our) set piece. It was a disappointing goal to give away.”

San Jose had two chances, one in the 86th and the other in the 88th minute to score the winning goal. Espinoza glided in from the right wing, but his shot attempt sailed high over the net. Then two minutes later, Jack Skahan’s, who came into the match as a sub in the 83rd minute for Vito Costa, right footed attempt from the middle of the box was saved by Gallese.

Gallese finished the match with four saves to earn his third clean sheet of the season, including in back-to-back games. Yarbrough made three saves on four shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with six corner kicks. Orlando City had five.

San Jose has lost back-to-back matches against Orlando City and are now 1-3-3 in the all-time series.

The announced attendance of the match was 14,127.

UP NEXT: San Jose continues its quest for its first U.S. Open Cup championship when they take on the Sacramento Republic in the Round of 16 on Tuesday 5/21 at 7:00pm at Heart Health Park.

Preakness: Seize the Grey beats out Mystic Dan for top prize at Preakness

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Jockey Jaime Torres rides Seize the Grey is thrilled to win the Preakness Stakes ahead of second place finisher Mystic Dan who had won the Kentucky Derby in the previous race. (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Seize the Grey held off the Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan to win the 2024 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Sunday.

Mystik Dan and Imagination both had good starts. Mystik Dan made a late push in the quest to win the second Triple Crown but could not overtake Seize the Grey.

Seize the Grey made it a lucky day for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who notched his seventh Preakness win. Lukas now ties Robert Wyndham Walden for second all-time. Lukas, at 88 years old, also became the oldest trainer to win the Triple Crown.

“It never gets old at this level,” said Lukas. “I love the competition. I love to get in here with the rest of them. There were a bunch of good guys in this race. It’s a shame we can’t all win.”

Lukas joked that his Preakness win would prompt some of his colleagues to tell him to quit and consider it a career.

“I think they’re trying to get rid of me,” Lukas said. “I think they want me to retire. That’ll never happen.”

Mystik Dan’s trainer Kenny McPeek was said that his horse couldn’t pull through, but congratulated Lukas.

“Wayne’s a great guy,” said McPeek. “He’s a guy I’ve always idolized. If I’m gonna get beat, it’s fine to get beat by him. In fact, over the years, I’ve been beaten by him plenty of times.”

The top three finishers, with Catching Freedom coming in third, all ran at Churchill Downs a couple weeks ago.

A $2 bet on Seize the Grey paid out $21.60. A $2 exacta bet on Seize the Grey finishing first and Mystik Dan finishing second paid out $119.40. And a $1 trifecta bet with Seize the Grey, Mystik Dan and Catching Freedom paid out $183.70.

Preakness Stakes 2024 finishing order:

1. Seize the Grey

2. Mystik Dan

3. Catching Freedom

4. Tuscan Gold

5. Just Steel

6. Uncle Heavy

7. Imagination

8. Mugatu