Month: June 2024

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Mid-Season Report- Not to Lose 100 Again?

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Oakland Athletics’ Mason Miller pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Has been a big part of the A’s closing opportunities and could be on the trade deadline in July or could be one of the future foundations for the A’s (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

A’s Mid-Season Report: Not to Lose 100 Again?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s have played 86 games, and they are already into the second half of this 2024 season. Their record of 30-56 is seven games over last season, when at this same time of the season, they had a 23-63 record. From July 2 of last season to July 2 this season, the A’s have seven more wins and seven fewer lost games. What does this mean?

Does it mean they are going to lose 100 games again? They might not lose 112 games as they did in 2023, but they could also end with at least 100 games in the lost column. With a day off Monday, July 1, the A’s return to Oakland after a 1-5 road trip, swept in Anaheim and lost 2 of 3 in Arizona.

They will face the Angels on Tuesday for a three-game series, who swept them last week in Disneyland. They will be followed by the Baltimore Orioles, one of the best teams in baseball. The O’s have been taking turns on first place with the New York Yankees, and more than likely, one of those two teams will win the AL East. The O’s and Yanks are on the list of possible World Series winners this year.

Since they began to play in Oakland in 1968, it was in 1979 (another transition season) that the A’s ended with a 54-108 record. In 2022, with 60-102, and last season in 2023, with 50-112. They could quickly lose 100 or more again.

They continue to rebuild and are in transition, with their main goal to develop the players that, in the future, could make their team like the Orioles. The Orioles also leased the cellar not long ago, but they drafted many good players; a few are headed soon to the All-Star Game in Texas, traded for others, and are a young powerhouse. We will see these O’s soon after the Angels visit Oakland; as a matter of schedule, the Orioles are here next Friday for a 3-game soiree with the young Athletics.

Bleday, Gelof, Soderstrom, Langeliers, Miller, Medina, Rooker, Erceg, and Butler are some of the new names and faces in Oakland who could be the foundation for a better future. However, the trade deadline is at the end of this month, and nobody should be surprised if some of the young talent will also be departing, making room for… more young talent for that long-awaited future.

But as far as this season, who is counting?

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 podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants bats swinging with 10 doubles, Chapman goes yard; SF clobbers LA 10-4 at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman connects for a two run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sun Jun 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, June 30, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Los Angeles Dodgers 4 (52-33)

San Francisco Giants 10 (41-44)

Win: Spencer Bivens (2-1)

Loss: James Paxton (7-2)

Time: 2:27

Attendance: 40,428

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants made a statement today following a tough reality check loss last night, as they annihilated the Dodgers in a huge 10-4 win to take the series from their hated rivals.

Brett Wisely walked off the Dodgers with a two-run home run to end Friday night’s thriller, and then the Dodgers pounded a tired Sean Hjelle for seven runs in the top of the 11th inning Saturday to even the series. Sunday, the Giants looked to take the series on another beautiful day for baseball at Oracle Park.

It appeared that today was going to be another bullpen day for the Giants, but Bob Melvin decided to go to Spencer Bivens for his first major league start. Bivens started the day with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning.

The Dodgers went to left-hander James Paxton. For the second game in a row, Jorge Soler led off the bottom of the first inning with a double down the left field line. Austin Slater walked, and Heliot Ramos lined a base-hit the other way to right field to load the bases with nobody out.

However, Patrick Bailey did exactly what he did with the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth inning Sunday, and struck out. Matt Chapman knocked in Soler with a sacrifice fly to left, but Luis Matos popped out, and the Giants were only able to get a run out of it.

Bivens threw another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second, and David Villar and Nick Ahmed started the bottom of the second with base-hits.

Tyler Fitzgerald lined a base-hit off the end of the bat down the right field line, and the bases were going to be loaded. However, Third Base Coach Matt Williams held Villar up at third base after he had already rounded the bag, and Ahmed, who was almost half-way to third was thrown out when he tried to get back to second.

Soler lined a double off the wall in center to score Villar, and Austin Slater knocked in Fitzgerald with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 3-0. However, with the wasted opportunity in the bottom of the first, and the snafu with Williams, Villar and Ahmed, the Giants should have had a bigger lead.

Bivens pitched a scoreless top of the third, and Luis Matos hit a two-out double in the bottom of the third, but got to third on an error by Dodgers’ left-fielder Teoscar Hernandez. Villar doubled the other way to right to make it 4-0, and the Giants had scored in each of the first three innings.

The Giants would finally get a bigger lead in the bottom of the fourth. In fact, it would be a much bigger lead. Fitzgerald grounded a single to left to start the inning, and Soler drew a walk to put runners at first and second with nobody out.

Austin Slater flew out to center, but Ramos hit a double out to the gap in right-center to score Fitzgerald and make it 5-0. Bailey then came through with a two-run double to left to open the lead to 7-0.

That brought up Matt Chapman, who put his stamp on the rally with a two-run home run to left to make it 9-0. The Giants scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth, and they got to James Paxton, who had only lost one game all season coming into Sunday for nine runs over four innings.

Chris Taylor put the Dodgers on the board with a solo home run to straightaway center to make it 9-1. Bivens then gave up a base-hit to Kiké Hernandez, but he struck out Ohtani to end the inning, and let out some emotion on his way off the field.

“[We] just tr[ied] to hit low line drives,” said Manager Bob Melvin. “[Paxton] manages the top of the zone pretty good. [We] tr[ied] to stay off that pitch up there, and to that, a lot of times, you want to stay on top of the ball.”

Bivens was not supposed to go any more than four innings, but Melvin let him back out for the fifth, and he gave the Giants five strong innings when his team needed it the most.

“To go five innings, and strike out Ohtani to get the win, pretty special day for him,” said Melvin. “I think everybody got goosebumps on that one.”

“The first-career start, I’ve been waiting my whole life for that,” said Bivens. It was really special to be able to help the team win…..Whatever they have me do, I’ll do it. [I’m] just happy I was able to help them out.”

“He’s got a much better pitch mix now with the changeup,” Melvin added. “To let him go through Ohtani three times, we have a lot of faith in him. Two times tops [was] what I was looking at, but [we] wanted to get him the win out there…..After a couple of outings, he’s got control of his emotions. We leaned on him today pretty hard, so he’s rewarding us almost every time he goes out there.”

Michael Peterson pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth and a scoreless bottom of the sixth for the Dodgers. Taylor Rogers pitched a 1-2-3 top of the sixth for the Giants, but the Dodgers got to Landen Roupp, who was called up prior to the game, for a run in the top of the seventh.

Yohan Ramirez pitched through some trouble in the bottom of the seventh for the Dodgers, and Roupp pitched a scoreless top of the eighth for the Giants. Evan Phillips came in for Los Angeles in the bottom of the eighth, and with one out, Ramos was hit on the hand by a 96-MPH sinker from Phillips that he swung at for a painful strike.

Ramos appeared to be a bit dinged up, as Melvin and the trainer came out to check on Ramos, but he stayed in, and ended up lining a double down the right field line for his third hit of the game. Bailey then hit a ground-rule double to right-center to knock in Ramos and make it 10-2.

Ramos had cooled off over the last couple of weeks, as the league has begun to figure him out. However, he is making his counter adjustment, and he is showing the poise of a true major leaguer.

Melvin had Roupp go back out for his third inning in the top of the ninth, but after Roupp retired the first two men he faced, Chros Taylor walked, and Kiké Hernandez singled to left.

The Dodgers were not going to make it easy for the Giants to win the series. Melvin brought in Tyler Rogers, who was not available last night, and was now pitching for the fourth time in the Giants’ last six games. Austin Barnes doubled to right to knock in a pair and make it 10-4, but Rogers struck out Ohtani swinging to end the game.

Spencer Bivens got the win, and James Paxton took just his second loss of the season.

In addition to Ramos’ three hit game, Soler, Bailey, Villar, Ahmed and Fitzgerald all had two-hit games, every single Giants’ starting position player got a hit Sunday.

The Giants, just as they have all season, went out and responded to a tough loss with an offensive explosion and a big win.

“We’re resilient,” said Melvin. “After tough losses, we come out and do stuff like that, it seems, almost every time.”

“We’re in a tough position right now,” Melvin continued. “We have to start winning series. We gotta roll some games together leading up to the [All-Star] Break, and this was a good start in what is a tough stretch right now.”

The Giants improve to 41-44, and they will head back out on the road for a six-game road trip through Atlanta and Cleveland against two more strong teams. After a day off Monday, the Giants will begin a three-game series Tuesday night at Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia, just northwest of Atlanta, against the Atlanta Braves.

Hayden Birdsong (0-0, 5.79), who gave up three runs in four and two thirds innings against the Chicago Cubs in his major league debut on Wednesday, will take the ball for the Giants on Tuesday, He will be opposed by Reynaldo Lopez (6-2, 1.70 ERA). First pitch will be at 7:20 p.m. at Truist Park, 4:20 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

Right-handed pitcher Landen Roupp was called up prior to Sunday’s game, as mentioned in the recap. The Giants designated right-handed pitcher Spencer Howard for assignment as the corresponding roster move

A’s Lose Rubber Match to Arizona 5-1; Loss is A’s 12th of last 13 road games; Oakland hosts LA Angels Tuesday

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The Oakland A’s second baseman Zack Gelof (20) gets the putout on the Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll (7) and relays the ball to first for the double play in the bottom of the eighth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sun Jun 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s hung in this game going into the bottom of the seventh inning. This is when the Arizona Diamondbacks broke this game wide open scoring four runs and shutting down the Oakland offense. The final was 5-1 in favor of Arizona as they won this series.

Game recap: Through the first three innings of this game neither team was able to score but going into the fourth inning Arizona’s Christian Walker singled Ketel Marte home from third and the Diamondbacks had scored the first run of the game and taken the lead 1-0. Arizona had a great opportunity in the bottom of the fourth inning when they had the bases loaded but came away with only the one run in the inning.

Oakland answered back in the fifth inning tying up this game 1-1. A solo home run from Zach Gelof knotted this game. Through five innings, each team had 3 hits apiece and the A’s were already having a more productive offensive effort.

The A’s had a couple of singles in the sixth inning but left those runners stranded. The Diamondbacks had a couple of runners on base in the sixth inning as well but Medina got out of the inning holding steady through six innings. This game went into the seventh inning remaining tied at 1.

The Diamondbacks again loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning. Oakland starting pitcher Luis Medina had been relieved by T.J. McFarland after going six innings allowing four hits and one earned run with five strikeouts.

It was a quick appearance for McFarland who allowed one hit and three earned runs before being relieved by Austin Adams after less than an inning. Adams stopped the bleeding but the damage had been done in the inning. Arizona scored three runs taking a 4-1 lead. Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte all scored giving the Diamondbacks a nice lead late in the game.

In the eighth inning when Oakland desperately needed hits Miguel Andujar and Brent Rooker both struck out and Tyler Soderstrom flied out. Sean Newcomb took the mound trying to keep Oakland in this game.

Newcomb walked Eugenio Suarez who moved onto second base on a wild pitch. Geraldo Perdomo came to the plate, doubled, Suarez scored and Arizona had a 5-1 lead breaking this game wide open going into the final inning of this game. The Diamondbacks were three outs away from winning this series.

It was a quick one two three inning for Oakland. Kyle McCann struck out swinging, Tyler Nevin grounded out and Zach Gelof also struck out. It was a quick and quiet inning for the A’s losing the game 5-1.

Post game notes: Sunday afternoon the A’s met the Diamondbacks in the rubber match of their three game series the A’s dropped a 5-1 decision losing two out of three to the Diamondback. Friday night the A’s offense went crazy hitting three home runs in the ninth inning. They finished the game with four home runs and 14 hits.

Then along came Saturday night and Oakland’s bats went ice cold losing 3-0 only managing two hits in the entire game. In Sunday’s game, A’s starting pitcher Luis Medina went six innings, allowing four hits and a run. It was McFarland the A’s reliever who ran into trouble giving up three runs in the seventh inning in the four run loss for Oakland.

After another disappointing series, the A’s will now head back to Oakland for a series with the Anaheim Angels. The last time these two teams met back on June 24-26 the Angels swept Oakland. This three game series is set to get underway Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM. RHP Mitch Spence will take the mound for the A’s with a 4-4, 4.35 ERA. Starting pitcher for the Angels RHP Jorge Soriano (4-5, ERA 3.48).

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Giants recover Sunday after Dodgers comeback Saturday

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle got lit up in the top of the 11th inning for six runs by the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Jun 29, 2024 (McCovey Chronicle file photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen:

#1 Stephen, the Giants coughed up a lot of runs in the top of the 11th inning against the Dodgers on Saturday night at Oracle Park no doubt it was a breakdown in Sean Hjelle’s effort in trying to close the door.

#2 The Dodgers Will Smith got a hit that knocked in two runs that help start the 11th inning rally and the difference was seven runs as the Giants would lose by a touchdown 14-7.

#3 Hjelle was hit hard in the 11th after Shohei Ohtani was walked Smith got a two run double and the Dodgers put together five hits in row for the win in extra innings.

#4 It was a tight close game until the 11th inning arrived and took the Giants out of it for good. Talk about how close this one was until the 11th inning.

#5 Ohtani always a threat and a concern comes into today’s game as the lead off hitter with a .321 average, 26 home runs and 62 RBIs. One thing he’s understated about he can steal bases he has 16 and has been caught only twice.

Stephen Ruderman is a MLB podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Bruce Magowan: Interviews and meeting with Mays and Cepeda experiences

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Bruce shared many memories of his experiences with Orlando Cepeda (left) and Willie Mays (right) interviewing and speaking with them (photo from facebook.com)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Bruce Magowan:

#1 Bruce, we didn’t get to talk to you about the passing of two Giants legends this month of June and that of Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda. What did each of these players mean to the Giants and their history.

#2 Giants manager Bob Melvin called the passing of Mays and Cepeda a gut punch and it’s puts a big hole in the Giants history with the passing of these two Hall of Famers.

#3 Mays passing just two days before the Rickwood game in Birmingham that paid tribute to him and the Negro Leagues something no doubt that Mays would have liked to have attended.

#4 Orlando had those two memorable seasons with the St Louis Cardinals in 1967 and 1968 as their first baseman and leading the Cards to the World Series in each of those years.

#5 On a personal note for you Bruce can you recall any great stories or memories you’ve had with with either Orlando or Willie?

Bruce Magowan is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Cepeda the second of Giants Heroes to pass in June; Gallen back in D-Backs rotation; plus more

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No Bull, Orlando Cepeda was one of the best he shined when playing for the St Louis Cardinals in the 1967 and 1968 seasons leading them to the World Series in each of those years. Here is Cepeda taking in a slide scoring on the New York Mets catcher JC Martin at Shea Stadium in 1968. (AP file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Orlando Cepeda the St Louis Cardinals first baseman who went to the World Series as their starting first baseman for the 1967 and 1968 seasons. Cepeda won the National League MVP in 1967 passed away on Friday night at age 86. Cepeda was a longtime San Francisco Giant before going to the Cards after the 1966 season.

#2 San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin called Cepeda’s passing a gut punch as his passing is the second Giants Hall of Famer to go as the legendary Giants outfielder Willie Mays passed away on Tue June 18, 2024. It’s been a very rough month for the Giants Hall of Famers and fans.

#3 The Arizona Diamondbacks Zac Gallen has returned to the pitching rotation he started Saturday’s game against the Oakland A’s at Chase Field. Gallen a right hander faced only one batter in his last outing on May 30th. Gallen had a left hamstring strain where he was placed on the IL.

#4 The A’s opened up their three game series on Friday with a win that snapped a long 11 game road losing streak and ended their six game skid. Defeating the Diamondbacks at Chase Field 9-4. It’s been a long tough road but the A’s figured it out on Friday night.

#5 Los Angeles Dodgers bat boy Javier Herrera snared a line drive foul ball that was headed into the Dodger dugout and could have take out Shohei Ohtani but Herrera’s quick thinking and fast hands caught the drive barehanded avoiding hitting Ohtani who just so happened to be right behind Herrera. Ohtani said of the line drive catch and Herrera “my hero.”

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

Northern Colorado hitting knocks Ballers out of the park in 15-7 crushing at Raimondi

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Northern Colorado Owlz (21-14) 005 321 14 15 21 1

Oakland Ballers (19-16) 000 010 114 7 11 1

Time: 3:19

Attendance: 2,337

Saturday, June 29, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

WEST OAKLAND–There are three consolations for the 15-7 drubbing the Oakland Ballers suffered this warm and sunny Saturday afternoon at the hands of the Northern Colorado Owlz. The first is that it wasn’t as bad as the 15-1 demolition they had endured the previous night.

The second was that the Ballers’ bats finally came alive, too little and too late, but still alive in the B’s four run bottom of the ninth, in which they mixed a hit batter (Austin Davis), a single by Myles Jefferson, a Trevor Halsema double, and Dondrei Hubbard’s eighth home run in 35 games, to give what was a rout the appearance of just a lopsided loss.

This isn’t to say that the team’s offense had been completely moribund until the final frame. Three Ballers had multi hit games. Halsema went three for five; Halsema and Jaylen Smith, two for five. The third consolation, and perhaps the most helpful, was the two mediocre innings, the eighth and ninth, that Kelsie Whitmore pitched to preserve the tattered remnants of the Oakland bullpen to survive and fight another day, Sunday’s contest, in which the Ballers hope to even their six game series against the powerful Owlz.

The four runs, all earned, that she allowed in at the game’s end were more than those surrendered by any of Oakland’s two other relievers, Abraham De León and Jake Dahle. Only starter Aaron Eden, who allowed eight runs on a dozen hits, four of them for four bases, in 3-1/3 frames surrendered more tallies than Whitmore. Needless to say, Eden, now 2-3, 8.40, was charged with the loss.

Northern Colorado used three pitchers. Chase Jesse, their starter, was quite effective, gaining the win that put his record at 4-0, 3.48. He was on the mound for six innings and allowed only one run, which was earned, on five hits and three walks.

He threw 105 pitches, 62 of which fit the definition of strikes. Jason McCassey hurled a dodgy seventh frame and allowed a run, earned, on two hits, a hit batter, a walk, and a wild pitch. Halesma greeted Tyler Curtis with a homer over the left field fence in the eighth, but didn’t allow anything more that inning.

But the Owlz relifer fell apart in the ninth and ended up being charged with five runs, all earned, on as many hits, two of them long balls, and two walks in his two innings of work.

NoCo’s five runs in the third pretty much sealed Oakland’s doom. Dario Gómez’s three run homer was the big blow. He ended up going one for four. Dave Matthews and Jackson Coutts, who were on base at the time, finished the day at three for five and three for three, respectively. Evan Scavotto, who went five for six, was on second with a double when Euro Díaz (four for six) doubled him home. Díaz, in turn, scored on Garrett Kuebers single. You get the picture.

In my report on last Saturday’s Baller-Yolo High Wheelers game in Davis, I discussed JP Gates pitching in relief to two Yolo batters without retiring the side and then being replaced by Connor Richardson without any objection by the umpires or High Wheelers.

It caused quite a buzz in the press box. Tyler Peterson, the B’s sportscaster on 860 AM was especially animated, but no one in the press box, including the knowledgeable Doug Greenwald, had an explanation for this violation of the three batter or last out of the inning rule.

After this afternoon’s contest, I had a chance to talk with the Ballers’ manager, Micah Franklin. He had a very simple explanation for this puzzling event; that rule doesn’t exist in the Pioneer League. There’s a certain irony to this. A few days before I went to Davis to cover the game, I wrote to the league offices to ask how I could acquire their rule book. Their answer came after I’d returned to Oakland. They said the rule book wasn’t available to the public. Go figure.

1:05 is the game time for Sunday’s, chance for the B’s to even the series and remain serious contenders for a guaranteed place in the postseason.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Adiós Cha Cha Cepeda, Descansa en Paz, RIP

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Flashback: Hall of Fame acknowledgement for Orlando Cepeda in 1999 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. From left to right: Lon Simmons Giants broadcaster (seated), Amaury Pi Gonzalez Giants Spanish broadcaster, Giants manager Dusty Baker, Orlando Cepeda Hall of Famer, and Giants managing partner Peter Macgowan (seated) (photo furnished by Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Adios Cha Cha Cepeda, Descansa en Paz, RIP

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Ten days after Willie (“The Say Hey Kid”), Mays left us, Adiós today to Cha Cha. Rest in peace. Orlando Cepeda passed on June 28, 2024, at 86, in the Hall of Fame, elected by the Veterans Committee. He was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico; the first baseman played for 17 seasons in the major leagues, and ended with a .297 average, 379 Homeruns, hit over .300 nine times in his career, a six-time All-Star who in 1958, won the National League, Rookie of the Year honors, was the 1966 Comeback Player of the Year Award, the 1967 Most Valuable Player in the National League, and 1973, at the end of his career won the DH of the Year Award.

Orlando’s debut was in 1958 with the San Francisco Giants, where he played most of his 17 seasons. He also played in St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland, and Boston, and his last season with the Kansas City Royals was in 1974. A power hitter from Puerto Rico, Orlando made his debut in the majors just three years after his compatriot Roberto Clemente, who in 1955 was a rookie with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I had the chance to speak with Orlando on many occasions, just talking baseball with him in Spanish and all the great memories of his days as a player that he shares with yours truly, the years when he (like many African-American and Latino players) were discriminated in the minor leagues and later here in the big show.

His telephone at home had a recording with Salsa music in the background. He once told me he would be either a musician or a ballplayer. He shared a great love for Latin music and always had a smile when we spoke about that topic.

Many times, either at Candlestick or later after 2000 at what is today Oracle Park, Orlando will come to the Spanish broadcast booth to join me as he enjoyed doing commentary. He was not part of the broadcast team, but it was an honor for us to welcome him, his experience, knowledge, and stories of his great career.

In February 2018, after a fall, he suffered a cardiac episode, a head injury, and a stroke after falling in a parking lot. Orlando Cepeda’s father was one of the most famous baseball players in Puerto Rico. Nicknamed Perucho was a solid professional baseball player in the “Isla del Encanto” trans “Island of the Charm.”

Orlando told me his dad could have played in the major leagues, but he did not want to suffer the discrimination that Hispanic players were subjected to. His father’s full name was Orlando Manuel Cepeda Pennes.

In 1998, through Orlando Cepeda, I met Garbiel (Tito) Avila Jr, who had the idea of starting a Hispanic Baseball Museum in the United States. I joined Avila Jr and, with him, co-founded the museum, which is still going strong after 25 years of traveling across the country.

In 2002, Orlando Cepeda was inducted into The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame (hhbmhof.com). Orlando shared their passion for the game as he was part of the HHBM during many of our public events and always hopes that we will have the permanent site for the Museum near the San Francisco Giants Park.

As a fan I always remember Orlando Cepeda aka The Baby Bull for his pure power at the plate; he hit a lot to centerfield and had power to spare.

Que en Paz Descanse una de las leyendas de Latinoamerica, el gran Boricua Orlando Cepeda.

Adiós Cha Cha Cepeda, Descansa en Paz, RIP.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Earthquakes drop Cali Clásico against Galaxy 3-0

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Photo courtesy of San Jose Earthquakes.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

STANFORD- The Earthquakes took on the Galaxy in their special Cali Clásico match hosted at the Stanford’s stadium.

Tonight’s match saw Ian Russel lead the squad for the first time since the team parted ways with former head coach Luchi Gonzalez. For the time being Russel is still considered an interim manager after being promoted from his assistant coaching position.

For the Earthquakes it was William Yarbrough in-between the pipes while for the Galaxy John McCarthy got the nod.

It was a solid start for the quakes who had a couple solid early looks from Jeremy Ebobisse and Hernán López. That pressure lead to Mark Delgado being issued a yellow for a foul at the 22 minute mark giving Amahl Pellegrino a free kick.

Only seven minutes later the Galaxy got their second yellow of the night as this time Edwin Cerrillo was awarded one for a foul.

Once again San Jose was pushing as they forced McCarthy to make two saves in the span of just a few minutes. Despite all that LA got the first goal of the game at the 37 minute mark from Joseph Paintsil as he hit the back of the net with a shot from the center of the box.

The yellow’s in the first half were not done though as Jalen Neal was issued one at the 39th minute and San Jose’s Antônio Josenildo Rodrigues de Oliveira was given one for a foul as well.

At the 55th minute star center back Riqui Puig was subbed into the match and made an immediate impact. Just a couple minutes after being subbed in he won a free kick and then got a shot on goal at the 65th minute that was saved by Yarborough. He was not finished though as at the 72nd minute he surged forward and fired a bullet that beat Yarborough but hit iron. Thankfully for LA Dejan Joveljic was standing right there for the rebound and he headed the ball into a gaping cage making it 2-0.

More yellow’s were handed out as this time McCarthy was given one for poor sportsmanship.

With the game now winding down heading into stoppage time LA completely put the game away scoring at the first minute of stoppage time. The goal came from Mauricio Cuevas and ended up being the last one of the match finishing this one at 3-0.

The victory for LA is now their fourth in a row and now puts them up to 11-3-7.

With the loss San Jose falls to 3-15-2 as this club continues to look for answers in what has been a nightmare season.

San Jose will look to end their losing streak on July 3rd when they take on St. Louis on the road at 5:30 p.m.

Galaxy spoil Earthquakes 50th anniversary party with 3-0 shutout win

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Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Ricky Puig entered the game as a substitute in the second half of the 101st California Classico against the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium on Saturday JUN 29, 2024. (Los Angeles Galaxy)

by Marko Ukalovic

PALO ALTO, Calif. — On a night where the San Jose Earthquakes were celebrating the team’s 50th anniversary, the Los Angeles Galaxy played party poopers with a 3-0 shutout victory in the 101st California Classico on Saturday evening at Stanford Stadium.

San Jose has lost five matches in a row. Los Angeles has won four matches in a row and continued to hold on to second place in the Western Conference.

This was the first match with interim head coach Ian Russell at the helms as he took over for Luchi Gonzalez who was relieved of his duties this past Monday. Gonzalez had led a team that had lost a potential of 20 points in matches they had leads in.

“We have a lot of respect for him,” Earthquakes captain Jackson Yueill said on the team playing their first game under Russell as the head coach of the team. “He brings a calm energy, but he wants to press, he wants to play, he wants to be dynamic. So, guys are still eager to make their marks, still make something of this season. It’s the Cali Classico, so it’s an important one. We’re here to play for him.”

Los Angeles (11-3-8-41 points) had the first scoring chance of the match early on in the eighth minute. An odd man counterattack led to a shot attempt by Joseph Paintsil that was easily handled by ‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yabrough.

San Jose (3-15-3-12 points) had scoring chances a minute apart in the 20th and 21st minute by Jeremy Ebobisse and Hernan Lopez that went wide left. Then in the 23rd minute a ball centered in the box was headed on the net by fullback Daniel Munie but Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made a point-blank save.

The match opened up in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Each team had quality chances to break the seal. Ebobisse received the ball inside the center of box from 10 yards out. After moving past a Galaxy defender, Ebobisse’s left footed shot sailed high over the net. A minute later a shot from the left wing inside the box by Amahl Pellegrino was thwarted away by McCarthy.

The Galaxy finally drew first blood on a counterattack in the 37th minute after the Earthquakes failed to get a shot on target off of a corner kick. Gabriel Pec possessed the ball from midfield down the right wing and crossed the ball into the middle and Paintsil beat Yarbrough with a left-footed shot from 15 yards for his sixth goal of the season.

“I think that’s what frustrating,” said Russell regarding his team outplaying Los Angeles in the first half yet were down heading into the intermission. “You see the score line. If you didn’t watch the game, and you see the score 3-0 you think oh man they didn’t play well. I was very happy with a lot of the game. But then there’s again a big mistake that keep on hurting us and we got to fix those.”

Los Angeles threw a dagger through the hearts of San Jose in 72nd minute. A shot from Riqui Puig from outside the box went past the outstretched reach of Yarbrough off the right post. The rebound went to an unmarked Dejan Joveljic who headed the ball into an empty net for his team leading 12th goal of the season.

Mauricio Cuevas put the cheery on top for the Galaxy in the first minute of stoppage when he finished off a great cross into the middle of the box from Miki Yamane for his first goal of the season. Cuevas came into the match in the 86th minute when he subbed for Diego Fagundez.

McCarthy stopped all five shots on target to earn the clean sheet. Yarbrough made four saves on seven shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with five corner kicks. Los Angeles had six.

The Earthquakes honored the 50th anniversary of the team with a special celebration at halftime that included past players, coaches and staff from over the team’s 50-year history, including Quakes legend Paul Child.

The announced attendance was 40,844.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels out to the Midwest to take on St. Louis CITY SC at 5:30pm at CITYPARK.