Month: May 2024

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s just couldn’t get it done in Houston; Oakland sets their sights in Kansas City

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Oakland A’s starter Joey Estes throws against the Houston Astros line up in the bottom of the first inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Thu May 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 In Houston on Thursday night at Minute Maid Field the Houston Astros (19-25) easily handed the Oakland A’s (19-27) 8-1 loss to sweep the four game series.

#2 Rookie Joey Loperfido hit his first Major League home run went in the right field bleachers gave the Astros a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

#3 The Astros who had struggled have turned things around thanks to the A’s. The Astros now are on a five game win streak and have won seven of their last eight games.

#4 For the A’s Abraham Toro hit a double and Zack Gelof hit an RBI single each that wasn’t enough as the A’s have lost a season high of five straight games.

#5 The A’s open up a three game series against the Kansas City Royals (26-19) on Friday night. The A’s have not announced a starter and the Royals will start Cole Ragans (2-3, ERA 4.22) first pitch 4:40pm PT first pitch.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants catcher Casali calls a great game for Webb in win over LA

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San Francisco Giants catcher Curt Casali (left) and reliever Camilo Doval (right) exchange congratulations after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed May 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 It was the return of catcher Curt Casali who was in the Chicago Cubs Triple A Iowa system after being released by the Cincinnati Reds and the he quickly signed a one year deal with the Giants and started at catcher on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers and did superb work behind the plate in calling pitcher Logan Webb’s pitches.

#2 Webb went six innings and gave up three hits and struck out five hitters. Casali when he was catching for the Giants in 2021 and parts of 2022 was noted for handling the pitchers well and after being away from San Francisco for two seasons looks like he hasn’t lost a step.

#3 The Giants made room for Casali putting catcher Tom Murphy on the 60 IL with the sprained left knee and Jackson Reetz was demoted to Triple A Sacramento. Do you see Casali getting most of the starts behind the plate until Patrick Bailey returns from his concussion protocols?

#4 Yes and we have to ask you about Webb’s performance on Wednesday night. He went six innings and gave up three hits. It was quite a performance keeping the Dodgers off balance in a 4-1 win.

#5 Giants and Colorado Rockies match up on Friday night at Oracle Park. For the Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-3, 5.20) and for the Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (3-1, 3.42 ERA) for a 7:15pm PT first pitch.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Swept in 4 games by Astros In Yet Another Lackluster Performance 8-1

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The Oakland A’s shortstop Max Schuemann throws to first base to retire the Houston Astros Jeremy Pena in the bottom of the sixth inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on The May 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-27) were swept by the Houston Astros (19-25) in the fourth game of their series. Lack of offense and trouble on the mound spelled disaster for Oakland in the 8-1 loss. The relief pitching was good but starting pitcher Joey Estes gave up every hit and run in this game. It was a rough outing for Estes.

Game wrap: This turned out to be a rough one for the Oakland A’s in the final game of the series. As it turned out one inning turned out to be Oakland’s demise in this game and has been the case the entire series. In this game it was the third inning.

Both teams were unable to score in the first two innings. The Astros turned this game upside down in the third inning. Houston really took it to A’s pitcher Joey Estes. Yainer Diaz got the third inning going hitting a double driving in Jon Singleton, Kyle Tucker and Jeremy Pena for a 3-0 lead.

Jake Meyers came to the plate and doubled, Yainer Diaz scored and the Astros had a 4-0 lead. Houston’s rookie Joey Loperfido came to the plate and hit his first major league home run, a two run shot giving the Astros a 6-0 lead.

Houston would tack on two more runs in the fourth inning for an 8-0 lead. Pena sacrificed and Tucker scored followed by a run scored on a balk by Alex Bregman. There was a pitching change on the mound for Oakland after three innings.

Joey Estes finished the 3.2 innings giving up eight hits, eight runs, four walks with four strikeouts. He constantly fell behind the count struggling through the three innings. Hogan Harris would relieve Estes going 3.1 innings keeping Houston from doing any further damage.

He finished with no hits, no runs with three strikeouts. Tyler Ferguson finished off this game in the ninth inning with no hits, no runs and one strikeout.

Oakland did avoid the shutout when in the seventh inning Zach Gelof singled Tyler Soderstrom home for their single run of the game. The final was 8-1.

Houston’s Cristian Javier pitched a stellar game going six scoreless innings allowing 2 hits, no runs with 8 strikeouts. This was the Astros fifth win in a row, the team now having won seven of their last eight games. Oakland has now lost five games in a row. The A’s have a horrendous stretch going on where they have given up 86 runs combined in their last 12 games.

Game notes: Thursday evening the A’s wrapped up their series with the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Oakland who got swept in this four game series. Joey Estes the A’s starter went 3.2 innings, giving up eight hits and eight runs and Astros starter Cristian Javier pitched six innings, giving up two hits and no earned runs.

The A’s will now take on the Kansas City Royals another team that is playing very well right now. With the trouble that is brewing on the mound for Oakland the starting pitcher for game one in this three game series is undecided at the time of this post. The Royals have settled on Cole Ragans to start this game with a 2-3, 4.22 ERA. First pitch for this Friday night matchup is scheduled for 4:40 PM PT.

Portland’s quick start puts down San Jose 4-2 at Providence Park

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The Portland Timbers get a two goal defeat over the San Jose Earthquakes at Providence Park in Portland on Wed May 15, 2024 (San Jose Earthquakes image)

By William Espy

The San Jose Earthquakes concluded their short two-game road trip on Wednesday night against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park. The Quakes pulled off a comeback in their last outing against the Colorado Rapids and hoped for a much better start in this affair. The Quakes couldn’t repeat the same performance taking loss to the Timbers 4-2.

San Jose Starting XI: Yarbrough, Costa, Wilson, Rodrigues, Akapo, Tsakiris, Gruezo, Pellegrino, Lopez, Espinoza, Ebobisse

Portland Starting XI: Crepeau, Zuparic, Mabiala, Miller, Mosquera, Chara, Evander, Asprilla, Antony, Mora, Moreno

Portland got off to a quick start, getting the first scoring attempt of the night in the second minute on a Dairon Asprilla shot that was saved by William Yarbrough. They continued bringing pressure as well, however, the Earthquake’s backline was holding strong as a shot from Antony from inside of the box a minute later was blocked by Carlos Akapo.

The following corner didn’t yield any results for the Timbers, but another scoring opportunity from Juan Mosquera sailed over the crossbar in the fourth minute. From there, things turned the corner a bit. The Earthquakes attack woke up and started creating some offensive opportunities of their own. Hernan Lopez and Cristian Espinoza both had shots blocked by Kamal Miller before Carlos Gruezo’s shot sailed wide left.

Things evened out a bit from there, with opportunities being far in between for roughly the next 20 minutes. Maxime Crepeau had to make his first real save of the night in the 31st minute when he got in front of a Jeremy Ebobisse header, however, it immediately led to Amahl Pellegrino getting it past him to make it 1-0 for the Quakes.

Just three minutes later, Hernan Lopez continued his dominant performance since joining the MLS by adding one of his own to make it 2-0 in favor of the visiting team. It quickly went from a tied game to the Timbers finding themselves in a very tough situation.

They desperately tried to get themselves on the board before halftime but were ultimately unsuccessful and heading into the break, the Earthquakes maintained their lead.

The TImbers made a couple of substitutions in the second half, bringing on Eric Miller and Jonathan Rodriguez to start the second half. The Earthquakes continuing their strong attack to start the second half, with Ebobisse having another shot blocked just a couple of minutes in.

In the 51st minute, Lopez nearly scored a second of the night but hit the crossbar. From there, Portland’s attack came alive with scoring chances from Antony and Rodriguez in short succession. Over the next 20 minutes, there was a lot of back and forth between the two teams, however, everything changed in the 71st minute when Bruno Wilson was shown a red card and the Earthquakes went down to ten men.

Just three minutes later, the Timbers would get themselves on the board when Evander scored on a penalty resulting from Wilson’s foul. The Quakes made a few moves at this point, bringing on Preston Judd and Tanner Beason. It wouldn’t take Portland long to tie things up, scoring a second goal in the 80th minute when Rodriguez was able to find the back of the net.

In the 90th minute, the Timbers would end up getting a second penalty and scored on that attempt as well to give them a 3-2 lead heading into stoppage time. They controlled the attack for the entirety of stoppage time, and eventually, Rodriguez scored his second of the night in the 100th minute making it 4-2 and that’s how the game would end.

The Earthquakes started off strong, but a red card was ultimately the difference between them potentially walking out with another victory and another heartbreaking loss

Giant’s Webb goes 6 innings hold Dodgers to 3 hits in 4-1 win at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb delivers against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed May 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (29-16) 000 000 010.  1. 7. 1

San Francisco (20-25) 002 001  01x.  4 7.  0

Time: 2:23

Attendance: 36,027

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants avoided being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in Wednesday night’s finale to their three game series, defeating their rivals from the south, 4-1,  in an exciting contest that wasn’t decided until the last out.

 San Francisco’s for the time being ace, Logan Webb, was on the hill for the hosts and began his evening with a respectable earned run average of  3.38 in spite of poor performances in his April 30 and May 5 starts, which he followed on May 10 with an acceptable but losing effort against the woeful Cincinnati Reds.

Webb was throwing tonight to Curt Casali, with whom the Giants had signed a one year contract earlier in the day in an effort  to buttress the team’s injury plagued catching corps. Casali had been hitting .362 for the Iowa Cubs. This is his second stint with San Francisco. He was a Giant in the wildly successful 2021 season and part of ’22.

The Dodgers certainly didn’t choose anyone from the top of their rotation. Dave Roberts and Company took its time deciding who would be on the mound  in Wednesday night’s game before settling on Eliéser Hernández, a five year veteran with a lifetime mark of 10-21, 5.04 with the Marlins, as their starter.

The 28 year old righty was signed by the Dodgers in January and invited to spring training but assigned to Oklahoma City before being placed on the Dodgers’ 26 player roster today. Although Hernández has been used primarily as a starting pitcher, the Dodgers’ thumbnail sketch of him in their game notes appears in the “Bullpen” section

Logan had control issues in the early going, throwing 67 pitches while holding the Dodgers scoreless in the first three frames. Hernández, on other hand, held San Francisco hitless until Casali singled to right with one down in the third.

Mike Yastrzemski immediately converted that hit into a run, two runs, in fact, with a 345 foot home run over the brick facing in right field. When the inning was over, Hernández had delivered only 45 pitches, but he and his team were trailing, 2-0.

That almost became 2-1 when  Teoscar Hernández led off the fourth with a towering drive over the fence in front of the visitors’ bullpen in right center, Over the fence or not, the ball came down in Luis Matos’ glove, a spectacular catch that preserved the Giants’ lead.

The score remained 2-0 stayed until the bottom of the sixth, when, after Estrada’s lead off single to left, Hernández retired Chapman and Wade, bringing up Héctor Ramos, He whacked a 3-2 pitch into left center field, splitting the outfielders and bouncing off the 391 foot marker, driving in Estrada and increasing SF’s lead to 3-1..

Hurling six innings was enough work for Hernández. He had reached a pitch count of 91 that included 63 strikes and allowed three runs, all earned, on four hits, one of them yard, and a walk. He was the losing pitcher, making him 0-1, 4.50 in his return to the show. Eduardo Salazar followed him on the mound. Salazar  kept the Giants off the board in the seventh but coughed up a tally in the eighth

Webb didn’t come out to pitch the seventh either.  He’d thrown 103 pitches, 62 for strikes, in his six frame exercise and held the Dodgers to three hits, three bases on balls, and a hit batter, He stood in line for the win and got it, evening  his won-lost balance sheet to 4-4 and 

dropping  his ERA to 3.03. Sean Hjelle replaced him, retired Andy Pages  and James Outman before allowing Betts to single to right.

That was it for Hjelle. Southpaw Erik Miller was assigned the tough task of facing Ohtani. Miller struck him out looking at a four seam fastball.

Tyler, the torpedo tossing Rogers twin, had to face the heart of the Dodgers order in the eighth.  He was, at best, moderately successful. Freeman and Smith started things with back to back singles that put runners on the corners. Muncy’s sacrifice fly to the warning track in left diminished the Giants’ lead to 3-2. 

Matos came through again in the penultimate frame. He tacked on another tally with a broken bat single to right that plated Wade, who ha walked and  advanced to second on a passed ball.

The stage was set for Camilo Doval, in search. of his seventh save.  He struck out Pages and Outman but walked Betts. This brought up Ohtani, who dropped a 2-2 pitch into left for a single that moved Betts up 90 feet. Freeman was now at bat, representing the potential tying run. The count reached 2-1. Doval threw a cutter. Freeman swung … and grounded out to second.

The Giants will have a well earned day off tomorrow and return to work on Friday the 17th for the first game of three against Colorado.

The Rockies will throw Ryan Feltner (1-3, 5.20) against San Francisco’s Kyle Harrison (3-1, 3.42) on Friday night at Oracle Park with a 7:15pm PT first pitch.

Oakland Stagnate in Third Loss to the Houston Astros 3-0

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The Houston Astros Framber Valdez throws to the Oakland A’s line up in the top of the first inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Wed May 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

There was nothing going on for the Oakland A’s (19-26) in their third game against the Houston Astros (18-25). They generated next to zero offense. The bright spot in this game was Aaron Brooks who took the mound for Oakland. He had a nice game but the caveat in this game was the lack of offense The bats were silent partially due to the excellent pitching of Houston’s Framber Valdez but they only managed 2 hits in the 3-0 loss.

Game recap: The first inning was a rough way to start for the A’s. The Astros scored their first two runs in the bottom of the first due to a throwing error by second baseman Zach Gelof. The Astros Jose Altuve scored off that error for a 1-0 lead.

Alex Bregman sacrificed and Kyle Tucker scored from second giving Houston a 2-0 lead going into the second inning. The Astros extended their lead in the fourth inning when Dubon sacrificed and Pena scored from third base clocking their third run of the game. The Astros had six hits through four innings while Oakland had a single hit through five innings.

Through five innings the A’s had a litany of strike outs and ground outs. Astros pitcher Framber Valdez had struck out six A’s and he was showing little signs of letting down. He had only allowed the one hit, no runs and six strikeouts through five innings.

Oakland had so far shown a real lack-luster performance and were behind the eight ball trailing 3-0. A’s starting pitcher Aaron Brooks had allowed six hits and three runs through the first five innings with four strikeouts. Houston was dominating Oakland at every turn threatening to take a 3-0 series lead.

Oakland had runners on first and second in the seventh inning but left them stranded when Tyler Nevin grounded out to end the inning. Valdez went seven innings in this game finishing with two hits, no runs and eight strikeouts. After a solid seven innings, Valdez was relieved by Seth Martinez in the eighth inning.

It was an uneventful eighth inning for Oakland. Max Schuemann struck out and Seth Brown grounded into a double play. Oakland pitcher Aaron Brooks was relieved in the bottom of the eighth by T.J. McFarland. Brooks had a good outing going seven innings finishing with seven hits, three runs and five strikeouts. He was one of the bright spots in this game.

Oakland got a couple of runners on base in the ninth inning with one out but Shea Langeliers grounded into a double play and that was the ball game 3-0. Houston will be going for the sweep in Thursday’s game. Should the Astros win game four, they will be tied for third place with the A’s in the American League West.

Post game notes: Tuesday, the A’s came close in their second game of a four game series with the Astros but fell short in the tenth inning losing 2-1. This was Oakland’s third loss in a row and they have shown a steady decline for awhile now.

There is trouble in the bullpen and that has hurt the team. Yes they do have a number of excellent starting pitchers, relief pitchers and closers but they are not deep in that department. They have also struggled offensively lately leaving runners stranded as well as not being able to string hits together or even get hits at all for that matter.

The A’s have been managing defensively but they have fallen off considerably since their six game winning streak that began last April 28 and ran through May 4th. They have lost eight of their last ten games so something is very wrong right now.

The A’s had been playing well, in fact exceeding expectations, and then it all came to a screeching halt. They were either beating or keeping pace with some very good teams earlier which included splitting a four game series with the Yankees.

This team needs to recover the success they were having; the magic that was bringing so much success earlier in the season or they will, much as last year, be left behind. This is a critical juncture for the Oakland A’s right now.

The Oakland A’s will try to avoid the sweep in game four of this series. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 PM. Joey Estes (1-0 ERA 1.80) will take the mound for Oakland and Cristian Javier (2-1 ERA 4.01) will be on the hill for the Astros.

NBA Playoffs podcast with David Zizmor: Thunder-Mavericks series tied 2-2 game 5 in OKC tonight

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Oklahoma City City Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives on the Dallas Mavericks Daniel Gafford who tries to defend the basket in game 4 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs in Dallas on Mon May 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the NBA Playoffs podcast with David:

#1 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who scored 34 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 100-96 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas on Monday night in game 4 to tie the series 2-2.

#2 Alexander also had 13 blocks to help out on defense and late in the game. OKC’s Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort got crucial three point shots and Jalen Williams got a dunk to get the Thunder a 94-91 lead with 1:29 left. The Mavericks coaches were yelling for a double dribble on Williams but no luck. Zack Zarba the crew cheif said that Williams did not have control of the ball before getting it with both hands and then commencing his dribble.

#3 Dave, game 5 goes back to Oklahoma City with the series tied 2-2 it’s a tug of war with the Thunder having home court advantage. The Thunder won the first game and the Mavericks won games 2 and 3, and the Thunder tied up the series with a win in game four. How do you see game 5 tonight?

David Zizmor podcasts the NBA Playoffs Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#3

#1

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 5 podcast with Len Shapiro: Stars can put it away tonight in Dallas; Stars leads series 3-1

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Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) talks with center Wyatt Johnson (53) during the second period of game 4 of the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Mon May 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Let’s take a recap of the last game between Dallas and Colorado of the series in Colorado.

#2 For Wyatt Johnston it was a pretty good Monday night scoring twice, it was his 21st birthday.

#3 Johnston scored a short handed goal and a goal on the power play.

#4 Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger stopped 24 Colorado shots. Oettinger allowed just one goal for the win. Talk about valuable Oettinger is for the Stars to help them pull within one game of winning round 2.

#5 Stars and Avalanche face off tonight at 5:00pm PT in Dallas. Crucial game for the Aves to try and stay alive in the series and the Stars can end it tonight. How do you see this one?

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

WNBA podcast with Michael Roberson: With Clark face of the league race is a forefront discussion

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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever scored 20 points and turned the ball over 10 times against the Connecticut Sun in Clark’s WNBA debut at Uncasville CT on Tue May 14, 2024

WNBA podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 The signing of Caitlin Clark with the Indiana Fever has raised the subject of race in the WNBA. Clark is the face of the WNBA since she singed. The Las Vegas Aces star player A’ja Wilson said people say it’s not about race, but Wilson insists, it is about race and Wilson said if your a top notch black woman player “maybe that’s something people don’t want to see.”

#2 Wilson added saying no matter how hard she works at it people don’t see the black or minority player as marketable and Wilson said that minority players are still being swept under the rug.

#3 Clark was raising TV ratings when she help lead the Iowa Hawkeyes to back to back championships and the networks and the NCAA and the press who covered her realized that she was the perfect marketing tool. It’s along the lines what Wilson was talking about who wants to listen to a black female player endorsing when they will listen to Caitlin Clark.

#4 Clark matched up against LSU Tigers star Angel Reese who now play for the Chicago Sky. There were discussions that the treatment for Clark a white woman and from the “Heartland of America” compared to Reese and other black players. Michael during that Final Four between Iowa and LSU talk about the differences that you’ve pointed out that was going on at the time between Reese and Clark?

#5 Clark got a deal from Nike for $28 million in endorsements for over eight years it is the largest endorsement contract in women’s basketball. Victoria Jackson a sports historian at Arizona State University said the reason for Clark’s huge contract is a break off into a completely different stratosphere. That anything involving Clark is being questioned.

Michael Roberson covers Stanford Cardinal basketball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com and is a writer for the African American Athlete.

A’s Fall Short In Tenth Inning Losing to Houston Astros 2-1; Astro starter tossed for foreign substance in glove

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Houston Astros starter Ronel Blanco (56) after having his glove confiscated by the umpires talks with second base umpire Tripp Gibson after being thrown out of the game for having a foreign substance in his glove against the Oakland A’s in the top of the fourth inning at Minute Maid Field on Tue May 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-25) hung in this game until the bitter end. Pitcher Mason Miller struck out five Astros late in the game giving the Oakland offense a couple of opportunities but they just came up short. Against a team like the Houston Astros (17-25) you have strike when you get the chance and the A’s had multiple opportunities but just could not get the job done offensively. The Astros ended up walking this game off 2-1.

Game recap: Through the first three innings the A’s JP Sears allowed a double in the first inning and a single in the third inning. Houston’s Alex Bregman hit a home run in the second inning, a solo shot, for the only Houston run through three innings giving the Astros a 1-0 lead.

Sears was keeping this game competitive. Oakland had the bases loaded in the first inning but came away empty something they have struggled with this season; leaving far too many runners stranded. The A’s singled in the 2nd inning and doubled in the third leaving more runners stranded.

JP Sears went five innings before being relieved by Austin Adams. He allowed five hits but only the one home run with two strikeouts. He had a good day on the mound and he kept Oakland very much in this game. The A’s were running out of time and after an uneventful seventh inning Oakland had a couple of innings to either tie or take the lead in the game. This remained anybody’s game.

Oakland’s Luca Erceg took over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. He threw back-to-back strikeouts coupled with a Dubon line out and the side was retired. The Astros would face the top of the Oakland lineup in the eighth inning.

It was a productive eighth inning for Abraham Toro who doubled and Brent Rooker who singled driving Toro home and this game was tied 1-1. The bottom of the eighth inning saw the entrance of Mason Miller on the mound facing Jose Altuve.

Miller did was he does so well, he struck out Altuve for the first out and was looking for more. Miller walked Kyle Tucker on some very close pitches. He has been taking care of some of hottest hitters in the game today. He went on to strike out Yordan Alvaraz and Jeremy Pena and it was on to the ninth inning.

Oakland came up short in the ninth inning unable to score. The inconsistency of the umpire was more than frustrating and was really getting under some of the players skin. Mason Miller would try to force this game into extra innings.

Miller faced another huge Houston threat Alex Bregman and struck him out. A line out and a strike out later and it was off to the tenth inning. In two innings he had struck out five Astros.

Oakland had two runners on base in the tenth inning but failed to score. The A’s Michael Kelly took over on the hill trying to keep Oakland in the game. Victor Caratini singled Cabbage home and this game went to Houston; the Astros won this one in a walk off 2-1. Houston has now won 5 of their last 6 games.

Game notes: Tuesday the Oakland A’s went into game two in their series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Field in Houston. The Astros took care of business in game one soundly beating Oakland 9-2 in game one of the series thanks to an offensive flurry that included a couple of home runs from Alex Bregman who was unstoppable.

Houston had a very slow start this season but they have sure turned it around the past few games. The way they are playing right now they could very well make their way to the top of the West. Oakland had a lot of trouble handling the Astros offense even though they did have nine hits on Monday night. This was also another game in which Oakland did not clock a single home run. This so far has turned out to be a very tough series for the Oakland A’s who have now dropped the first two games of the series.

The Astros starter Ronel Blanco was ejected by third base umpire Laz Diaz for having a foreign substance in his glove the top of the fourth inning. While the umpires were discussing the foreign substance found in Blanco’s glove Blanco was talking with manager Joe Espada on the mound. It was decided by the umpires that Blanco would be ejected.

The umpires confiscated the glove and first base umpire first base umpire Erich Bacchus said that was the stickiest substance that he’s ever felt on a glove and that he’s been checking gloves for years now. Blanco said it might have been rosin that he might have put on his left arm and sweat and that’s maybe what they’ve found.

This game was a huge disappointment for Oakland having fought so hard and coming so close but just coming up short. They will try to avoid the sweep Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 5:10 PM. Aaron Brooks (0-0 ERA 0.00) will take the mound for the Athletics and Framber Valdez (2-1 ERA 3.64) will be on the hill for Houston.