Month: June 2024

A’s comeback with Langelier’s 2 run homer in 8th to defeat Twins 6-5 at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers (23) rounds the bases after belting a two run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri June 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

Minnesota (41-35). 100 001 300. 5 10. 0

Athletics (29-48). 100 030 02x. 6 6. 0

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 9,158

Friday, June 21, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–After failing by a hare’s breath to sweep the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night, the nomadic Athletics got back on track for the long journey that just might get them close to the .500 mark before the season’s end, coming from behind to defeat the Minnesota Twins in a roller coaster of a 6-5 win.

The victory was not, however, without its cost. Abraham Toro, who has been a mainstay for this struggling team, had to leave the game after suffering a hamstring injury running out a grounder to third in the seventh inning.

Before the game, the A’s DFA’d Vinny Nitoli and recalled Osvaldo Bido from Las Vegas.

Joey Estes, another recalled Aviator, who had rejoined the parent club on May 11, made his eighth start of the year, bringing a record of 2-2,5.97 with him. His only previous 2024 appearance against the Twins came five days ago, when he exited after 2-2/3 inning in which he yielded six earned runs but escaped with a no decision.

In this mid-summer night’s contest he held his opponents to two runs, both earned, on five hits, one of them a home run, and a walk in six full innings. He managed only one strikeout, but it’s his 18 outs that count. He threw only 76 pitches, 58 for strikes, to earn his third win and lower his earned run average to 5.53.

Estes’s opponent for the Twins had unimpressive numbers, for both the season and his career. Chris Paddack came to work at 5-3, 5.25 for the year and 22-21, lifetime. Those figures are pretty drab, but Paddack’s a pretty colorful guy.

The native of Austin, TX, tickled the fancy of San Diego fans when, as a Padre, he began wearing a cowboy hat and boots on his start days, earning himself the nickname of “The Sheriff” and a following of similarly attired fans calling themselves Paddack’s Posse.

The number 236, his number in the 2015 draft, is tattooed on his rib cage The 6’5″, 232 pound righty ‘s eccentricities extended to the record book. As he was making his way from the bullpen to the pitcher’s mound in Anaheim last September 24, play was halted because of rain.

Play was resumed after a 50 minute delay. Paddack never threw a pitch, but was credited with an appearance. This Friday, he threw 82 pitches in 4-2/3 innings and was charged with three runs, all earned, but two of them posthumous, on five hits and three walks. He wound up with a no decision, and his ERA inched up to 5.29. Kody Fundurburk, Jorge Acalá, and Jhoan Durán, who took the loss, also pitched for the Twins.

The Twinkies got off to an early lead on a game opening double by Will Castro, who defied The Curse by scoring on a pair of ground outs by Carlos Correa and Trevor Larnach, respectively.

The A’s erased that transient advantage in the bottom of the first on singles by Abraham Toro, JJ Bleday, and Tyler Soderstrom. They drove the sheriff out of the town in the bottom of the fifth with a two out rally that began with Miguel Andújar’s single to right single and Rooker’s ditto to left center that brought, Fundurburk to the mound. Tyler Sonderstrom greeted him with a bases clearing triple that put the homeless hosts ahead , 4-1.

That didn’t last long. Royce Lewis’s 10th homer of the season, a solo shot to right with one down in the sixth, narrowed the gap to 4-2. Estes hung around to finish the inning; Austin Adams replaced him to start the seventh.

He retired one batter before Christian Velásquez singled to right and Austin Martin drew a walk, setting the stage for Castro’s 363 foot wallop over the right field fence that put the Twins ahead, 5-4. A walk to Correa, and Lucas Erceg came on to put out the fire.

He did that and started off the eighth in fine fettle, retiring the first two Twins he faced. Successive singles to Velásquez and Martin put runners on the corners and Sean Newcomb on the mound. He picked Velásquez off first to keep the A’s within a run of Minnesota.

Still and all, things were looking pretty grim when they faced Jhoan Durán in the eighth in But Minnesota’s right handed reliever hit lead off hitter Sodersrom with a pitch, and Shea Langeliers smacked a 397 foot home run over the left field fence to put the green and gold back on top, 6-5. Durán surrendered a two out double to Max Schuemann, but the A’s lead was still just one run after eight.

It was Miller time. Castro ground out to second. Correa broke his bat grounding out to short. Larnach went down swinging. Miller had thrown seven pitches and earned his 14th save.

Saturday, JP Sear (4-6, 4.25) will face Minnesota’s Bailey Obere (6-4, 4.81) at 1:07 in the second of this three game series.

Aces Beat First Place Connecticut 85-74

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Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) shoots against Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Friday, June 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces (8-6) have some great momentum to build upon after beating the Connecticut (13-2) 85-74 in a terrific win. They’re rebounding was 42 to the Suns 29. While their three’s were not falling, their work in the paint and defensively was spotless. A’ja Wilson had the high with a double double, 26 points and 16 rebounds. Kelsey Plum had 18 points as the Ace’s stubbornly hung onto the lead through all four quarters of the game.

Game recap: A close game was expected but the slow start for both teams was not expected. After the first 3 1/2 minutes of play Brionna Jones had scored all six of the Sun’s points giving her team the early lead 6-2.

The Aces took a time out when this game teetered a bit and Head coach Becky Hammon did not want this game to get out hand. Kelsey Plum hit a three to get within one point but the Sun pushed their lead back out 10-7.

The Aces shots were just not falling so far in the quarter. At 1:49 left in the first 12 minutes the Aces had tied the game at 14 as they had warmed up and their shots began to fall. The crowd erupted when with under a minute, Las Vegas took a four-point lead, their first of the game, 20-16. They had won the first quarter 20-16.

The Ace’s Alysha Clark had the hot hand going into the second quarter going 2 for 2 from downtown. She had scored eight points in the game and had given her team a 25-18 lead in the early minutes of the quarter.

Clark was not the only one with a hot hand, Kelsey Plum hit her third three of the game mid-way through the quarter giving Las Vegas a 33-23 lead. The Aces had to keep their foot on the pedal; a ten-point lead against a team with the talent of the Sun was not enough to relax in any shape or form.

They had to continue playing hard although they had their largest lead of the game 37-25 at the four minute mark. Continuing to extend their lead was now their game plan. It was now the Sun’s shots that were not falling as Las Vegas had taken a 45-25 lead with two minutes left on the clock.

The Aces went on a 17-5 run in the final minute as Connecticut struggled in the paint as well as from long. At the half, the Aces led 45-28 having won the second quarter by a bunch 25-12. The Las Vegas Aces’ defense had stymied the Sun’s offense rendering them ineffective. They were all over them in the first half.

The Connecticut Sun did not take kindly to the Aces running roughshod all over them in the first half and erased the Las Vegas 17 point lead pulling to within seven points in the later minutes of the quarter 47-54.

The Aces pushed back taking a 63-50 lead after three quarters. Jackie Young had been strangely quiet with only six points in the game. Her team would need all hands on deck to finish off the Sun.

With seven minutes left in the game, the Aces had taken a 70-54 lead and there was not much that was not working for Las Vegas. The Aces were fighting to protect their 72-54 lead continuing to excel both offensively and defensively with a lot of time on the clock before this one was over.

This team was really looking like they were turning things around and with the Sun running out of time trailing 81-63 the Aces were on the brink of hanging onto the fifth spot in the overall standings.

With two seconds left in the game, the starters for Las Vegas were sitting out the final minutes as their bench brought this game home 85-74. The Aces were back and looking like the championship team we are used to seeing.

The Aces will have some time off going forward giving Chelsea Gray even more time to work back into the system. They will then be looking to extend their winning streak to three.

Game notes: Friday night a sell-out crowd filled the Michelob ULTRA Arena saw the Aces win against the highly touted Suns. With only a single loss this season they presented the Suns with a mighty challenge and ended up handing them their second loss. With the return of Chelsea Gray the Aces has been energized by her court presence and she did look good in their last game against the Storm despite playing limited minutes and finishing with 4 rebounds and 7 assists so a great effort for Gray. Gray on Friday night had four points and two rebounds.

Next up for Las Vegas will not be for a lengthy five day break taking on the 5-9 Chicago Sky Thursday night with tipoff scheduled for 4:00 PM.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Source-Oakland Mayor will have to resign over FBI raid and investigation

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Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s home was raided by the FBI on Thu Jun 20, 2024. Agents were seen walking out with ice chest size cases. It’s speculated that they were searching for documents related to propriety of campaign contributions. Thao or her office had no comment regarding the raid. (San Francisco Chronicle photo)

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1Daniel Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s home was raided by FBI agents Thursday morning. Reporters on the scene asked agents present what was the reason for the raid they didn’t reply. Miles away in Oakland a dozen agents raided the homes of president and CEO David Duong of Cal Waste Solutions and his son Andy Duong. The City of Oakland in the past had investigated Cal Water Solutions over ownership of campaign contributions that went to Thao and other elected officials.

#2 Teresa Hoang who spoke to the press and is a staff member at Cal Waste Solutions said that they are confident that they’ll be cleared from any wrong doing at the conclusion of the investigation. Mayor Thao’s last and latest involvement with the Oakland A’s was attempt at an interim deal to keep the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum that fell apart after the A’s declined to pay $97million for three years rent between 2025-27. The Coliseum Joint Authority and the City dropped the price to $60 million and the A’s declined again and made a deal with Sacramento and Sacramento Rivercats owner Vivek Ranadive.

#3 Daniel, talk about the economic damage moving the Oakland A’s will do to not only the City of Oakland and the East Bay but it also impacts the market share of the Bay Area being the sixth largest market?

#4 Even at this point right now there is still an uncertainty that this move to Las Vegas will even go through in the first place. Will A’s owner John Fisher be able to find those minority investors that the Los Angeles investment firm he hired be able to come through so far just like in Las Vegas no one has stepped up.

#5 The A’s will be playing rent free at Sutter Health Field but for how long? The A’s situation needs to be resolved by closing in of April 2025 which is the target date for putting shovels in the ground in Las Vegas if they want to meet the April 2028 opening of the new park deadline.

Daniel Dullum does the A’s relocation podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#4

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s face one of their toughest nemesis in the Twins tonight

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Freddy Fermin is in a groove for the Kansas City Royals taking the Oakland A’s pitching deep for his second home run in the top of the fourth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jun 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Oakland A’s are coming off a very close effort to a sweep after losing nine straight games as they just lost to the Kanas City Royals on Thursday afternoon 3-2 at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 The Royals struck first with two home runs one in the second and another in the fourth by Freddy Fermin to give KC a 2-0 lead. For a moment there any thoughts of a sweep of the Royals might be in doubt.

#3 The A’s Zach Gelof struck back with a two run bottom of the seventh home run to tie it up 2-2 and the possibility of a sweep was back on again.

#4 Then came the Royals Bobby Witt Jr in the top of the eighth who cleared the fence with a solo home run that turned out to be the gamer for a Royals 3-2 win. The did win the series taking two out of three from the Royals.

#5 The A’s open a three game series tonight against the Minnesota Twins. Starting pitcher for the Twins RHP Chris Paddock (5-3, ERA 5.25) the A’s will start Joey Estes (2-2, ERA 5.97) The last time these two clubs met June 13-16 in a four game series the Twins swept the A’s in two single games, rained out on the 15th and the A’s were swept in a doubleheader on Sun 16th. No doubt the Twins are a tough customer.

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

#3

The Stars hold on for a 6-5 win over the Sea Lions at Rickwood Field on Thursday

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St Louis Cardinals Brendan Donovan rounds the bases after his two-run homer off the San Francisco Giants’ Keaton Winn in the first inning at Rickwood Field in Birmingham during the Negro League Tribute game on Thursday, June 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Morris Phillips

BIRMINGHAM—Flashy, throwback television tricks and a whole bunch of baseball history highlighted the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night at Rickwood Field.

Yeah, that part. The Stars beat the Sea Lions. Amongst the extremely-crowded group of nine NL contenders who have losing records, St. Louis got the leg up. The Giants dropped their third straight, and second consecutive game by an identical 6-5 score. The Giants have a rare Friday evening off before finishing their disjointed three-game set with the Cardinals in St. Louis.

“You look around and kind of can feel what transpired here a long time ago and the players that played on the field,” manager Bob Melvin said. “It’d be nice to win the game, but it was a pretty cool experience.”

The Stars built a 3-0 lead with Nolan Gorman’s run scoring sacrifice fly in the first inning and Brendan Donovan’s two-run home run in the second. Both surges were off starter Keaton Winn, who was lifted in the third inning, the conclusion of an outing in which he allowed five runs on five hits with only two strikeouts.

Randy Rodriguez relieved Winn and his wild pitch while facing Matt Carpenter gave the Cardinals an early 5-3 lead.

The Giants were able to get even briefly when Heliot Ramos connected for a three-run shot off Andre Pallante in the third. Pallante steadied and picked up the win. He allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out five.

Matt Chapman was 1 for 5, and Michael Conforto 0 for 4 in the middle of the Sea Lions lineup constructed by Melvin. Along with Winn’s poor outing, Rodriguez’ wild pitch and the inability to grab a lead at any point, the Giants weren’t all-around good enough to break their losing ways at 114-year old Rickwood. The TV lights, the tiny crowd, and even the fear that there could be a security breach didn’t change the visitor’s poor habits. Wearing snazzy home throwback uniforms didn’t help either.

LaMonte Wade and Cardinal legend Willie McGee weren’t honorary captains, but the pair did escort 99-year old Negro League legend Bill Greason on to the field before the game. Wade’s attempt to play in the game was aborted. His rehab from a hamstring injury continues. Melvin wanted Wade to at least have an opportunity to pinch hit in the game but that fell short when the recovery process didn’t progress quickly enough.

The Giants conclude their road trip over the weekend before a quick turnaround at Oracle Park for games against the Cubs on Monday through Wednesday.

Rickwood Field is on the air….

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The San Francisco Sea Lions’ Heliot Ramos watches the flight of his three-run homer against the St. Louis Stars in the third inning at Rickwood Field in Birmingham the Negro Leagues and Willie Mays Tribute on Thursday June 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Morris Phillips

BIRMINGHAM–Nobody got a day off. And nobody got to see all the different bounces in the outfield area either. Well, third base coach Matt Williams did try to show his outfielders what to expect by peppering batting practice balls in off the showy, TV friendly fences. He did that.

Rickwood Field is television. And television is Rickwood Field.

And baseball, for one day, is only slightly more important than spectacle. Forget for a minute that the Giants as well as the Cardinals are fighting for their lives in a crowded, flailing group of National League underachievers.

“Today it feels like it’s a little bit more than baseball,” said Masyn Winn of the Cardinals.

The Giants needed a win, but the Giants organization needed to grieve. Willie Mays has died. It makes for a tough balance, even with a dream-like setting, a national audience, and more in-house historians than you can shake a stick at. Juneteenth, summer solstice and locals beaming with pride round out a very dense mix.

The baseball history in Birmingham begins with Rickwood Field in 1910. The players came soon after. They were black ballplayers with skill and showmanship. Black Birmingham adored those players. Blacks had to envelop those players because white Birmingham wanted to harm them and get them to disappear.

Reggie Jackson came the year after Bull Connor left. He hated the attitudes in the Magic City. He admitted with brutal honesty on FOX’s pre-game show that his temper could have gotten him strung up.

“The nigger can’t stay here. The nigger can’t eat here,” an angry Jackson said of the typical reception he would receive. At the end of his rant about the blatant racism in 1964, Jackson had hto be consoled by Alex Rodriguez on air.

An hour later, Jackson was good again, talking to FOX’s John Smoltz and Joe Davis, and remembering Mays.

“I was honored that he wanted to know who I was.”

Yes, Birmingham is uplifting. It’s also frustrating. And at night, Birmingham is dangerous. Young people here don’t necessarily fall into savory occupations and lifestyles. This keeps things on the edge in 2024.

“Our people are apathetic,” Jeff Drew said.

No Fortune 500 businesses, the prevalence of drugs, a below average school district, and the percentage of single parent homes are all problems for Birmingham.

Businessman Jeff Drew is trying to maintain hope for the future of his town. His family maintained a storefront office in the downtown district beginning in 1950. They had as many as six employees there. But Drew went years without interviewing any black men for a job. And when a particularly callous couple used colorful language around Drew he was disturbed. Soon after, he closed his office and began working from home.

Drew already had issues. Martin Luther King picked Birmingham to give his movement its biggest showdown. Essentially, Martin against Bull Connor and his boys. There were water hoses, embarrassment and pain. Black people suffered and they learned. Drew learned. Martin learned too when he was thrown in jail for “parading without a permit.”

What Drew learned was Martin’s non-peaceful, peaceful ways. When Martin told the Kennedy brothers, “We think you support Bull Connor and segregation,” a line was drawn across the South. Martin would then hang up the phone on the Kennedys. President Kennedy changed his tune after Martin hung up, and provided his full support to the movement.

“He couldn’t beat us,” Drew said of JFK. “He had to join us.”

Great baseball teams did the same in Birmingham. They joined, and people, fans, joined too to support these teams and players. Willie Mays joined the Barons as a teenager. He wasn’t the only name on the marquee. Mays was just getting started, but he already knew who he was.

Tuesday’s minor league game and Thursday’s big league game between the St. Louis Stars and the San Francisco Sea Lions were reminders. They also brought hope that MLB will return soon. Maybe next year.

“I think there should be a three-game series with an off-day,” said Sea Lion Mike Yastrzemski, a visionary for future events at Rickwood Field.

And third base coach Williams just wanted his Sea Lions outfielders prepared. Hitting baseballs pre-game off the colorful, outfield panels displayed the bounces, the nuances.

“I was prepared,” Yastrzemski said.

Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong: Pistons Williams fired worst record in NBA; Giants to show Rickwood game and tribute to Willie Mays; plus more news

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Former Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams who was fired by the Pistons will collect the remaining $68 million of his $78 million contract. (AP News file photo)

On Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong:

#1 The Detroit Pistons ownership made the decision to fire first year coach Monty Williams. After signing Williams to a seven year $78 million deal. The Pistons and Williams last season lost 28 games in a row an NBA record and finished with the worst record in the NBA at 14-68. The firing was ordered by ownership Tom Gores and Pistons vice chairman Trajan Langdon.

#2 Gates at Oracle Park in San Francisco opened at 12 noon PT on Thursday where the game between the St Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants was shown on the scoreboard at Rickwood Field in Birmingham that started at 4:05pm PT honoring the Negro Leagues and pay tribute to Willie Mays who passed away on Tuesday night.

#3 Jessica, X-Rays show negative as the New York Yankees Aaron Judge was hit by a 94.1 MPH fast ball on his left hand by Baltimore Orioles starter Albert Suarez on Tuesday night where the Yankees won it 4-2. Judge left the next inning X-Rays and a CT scan showed Judge was negative for fractures and returned to action on Thursday night.

#4 NHL Finals could have a change of pace. First the Florida Panthers took a 3-0 series lead then the Edmonton Oilers won game 4 defeating the Panthers 8-1 and in game 5 the Oilers won it 5-3 as the Panthers now ahead by one game 3-2. The Oilers can tie up the series Friday in Edmonton in game six.

#5 The Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink tore her ACL and will miss the rest of the WNBA season. Brink got the injury in the left knee against the Connecticut Sun. The Sparks announced the injury on Wednesday to the press. Brink was the No.2 selection in the 2024 draft. Brink had to stop because of the pain and was carried to the locker room.

Join Jessica every other Wednesday for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Donovon leads Cards with home run edge Giants 6-5 in tribute game for Willie Mays, Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field

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By Morris Phillips

BIRMINGHAM–St Louis Cardinals Brandon Donovon’s two run home run and double made a huge difference in a one run game defeating the San Francisco Giants 6-5 at Rickwood Field in Birmingham in a game that honored the late Giants great outfielder Willie Mays and the Negro Leagues.

Mays formerly played at Rickwood Field with the Birmingham Black Barons and did not feel good enough to fly to Birmingham for the game died at 93 years old on Tuesday just two days before the tribute game at the oldest professional baseball park. Rickwood is 115 years old this year.

Former Black Barons player Bill Greason was on hand to throw out the first ball and the game had it’s first all black umpire crew combined from the American and National Leagues . San Francisco pitcher Keaton Winn was going for San Francisco and Donovon hit his seventh homer of the season off Winn.

Donovon was swinging a hot bat who was 3-3 which included a third inning double and a sixth inning RBI. “What a special night,” Donovan said. “I mean, this is something that we should celebrate. This right here is pretty amazing. And to do it in Alabama, I’ve got some friends and family in the stands, it’s like playing summer ball again.”

Earlier in the game the Giants Heliot Ramos hit a three run home run off Cards pitcher Andre Pallante to tie it up in the top of the third inning for his tenth home run. The Cardinals got the lead back in the bottom of the third when Nolan Gorman hit a sacrifice fly to bring in a run.

Same clubs on Saturday as both the Giants and Cardinals have Friday off and will meet again at Busch Stadium in St Louis for a Saturday and Sunday series. The Giants will start RHP Jordan Hicks (4-3, ERA 2.82) for the Cards Miles Mikolas (5-6, ERA 4.59) first pitch 11:15pm PT.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum–(Part V) – Rickey’s 939

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Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A’s hoists his 939th career stolen base for the Oakland Coliseum crowd to see. Rickey is the subject of That’s Amaury News and Commentary. (photo from ebay)

2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (Part V) – Rickey’s 939 —

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Since 2024 is the last year that the A’s will play at the Coliseum, I have highlighted the great moments that took place there in this series of articles. Over the decades, I have given my opinion on who is the best player ever to have worn an Oakland Athletics jersey, and I have spoken about it and written about it in two languages.

That guy is Rickey Henderson. On May 1, 1991, during a warm and muggy afternoon at the Coliseum, Rickey made history as he broke Lou Brock’s 938 stolen base record. The A’s were facing the New York Yankees. Rickey tried to steal second base in the first inning, but Yankee catcher Matt Nokes made a perfect throw, and Rickey was out.

In the fourth, Henderson made another try. It was a different outcome. He reached base on an error and took second on a Dave Henderson single. Rickey took off, and he had stolen third base, no doubt about it, with his typical head-first slide. That was his 939 stolen base, breaking Lou Brock’s record.

Rickey stood up and lifted the base over his head, and seconds later, he said, “I am the greatest of all time”. A’s equipment manager, Frank Ciensczyk, brought out a replacement base. Rickey and his mother, Bobbie and Lou Brock all join the recently crowned stolen base king on the field around third base. They all share hugs with Rickey.

Then Rickey talked to the crowd (36,139). “It took a long time, huh?” and finished by saying, “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.” The first thing that surprised me was that Rickey has shown no humility. It sounded like what the great Muhamad Ali (in Boxing) used to say: that he was the greatest of all time. However, Rickey was saying a statement of fact; it just happened.

He just became the King of Steal; Rickey also personally thanked Lou Brock, who has been in the Bay Area for a while, following Rickey Henderson each at-bat, when he got on base, and especially when he went for a steal. Lou Brock was a class act; he passed in 2020. He was patient while waiting for baseball history to be made, and he witnessed Rickey Henderson’s outstanding achievement.

I covered that game and will remember it forever. Rickey Henderson went on to play for another 12 years, with various teams amassing 467 more steals. Today, Rickey Henderson remains the undisputed King of Steal in the history of Major League Baseball, with 1,406 stolen bags.

Note: Today, the active player with the most stolen bases is Starling Marte on the New York Mets, who in his 13-year career has 350 steals. Marte, born in the Dominican Republic, is 25 years old. Quote: “I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball. -Rickey Henderson..

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

Royals hit three home runs in 3-2 win over A’s to salvage game in series

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Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr connected for a go ahead home run in the top of the eighth inning as the run stood up and helped the Royals avoid being swept by the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu June, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Kansas City Royals 3 (42-34)

Oakland Athletics 2 (28-49)

Win: James McArthur (3-4)

Loss: Vinny Nittoli (0-1)

Save: Chris Stratton (4)

Time: 2:23

Attendance: 8,753

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The A’s were unable to get the sweep, as the Royals hit three home runs, two by Freddy Fermin, and beat Oakland 3-2 to take the series.

It hasn’t been the best of times for the A’s. After a six-game winning streak got Oakland back to .500 on May 4, following a 20-4 blowout of the Miami Marlins, they went on to go 9-31 in their next 40 games. They then hit rock bottom with a nine-game losing streak that was snapped Tuesday night with a 7-5 win over the Royals.

The A’s won again last night 5-1 to win back-to-back games for the first time since their six-game winning streak. Thursday, they looked to make it three in a row with Mitch Spence on the mound on this cool and beautiful partly cloudy afternoon at the Coliseum. 

Spence pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, and the A’s came to bat in the bottom of the first against the Royals’ veteran right-hander, Seth Lugo. JJ Bleday drew a one-out walk, but Lugo got Miguel Andujar to ground to short for a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Freddy Fermin hit a home run to left field with one out in the top of the second to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead. MJ Melendez followed Fermin’s home run with a double to left, and Dairon Blanco reached on an infield hit that hit off the glove of spence and died out in the middle in the middle of the infield.

The Royals were looking to add on, as they had runners at first and second base with one out for Garrett Hampson. Spence was then able to settle down, as Hampson popped out to second on an infield fly, and Kyle Isbel struck out swinging to end the inning.

The A’s went down 1-2-3 in the top of the second, as did the Royals in the top of the third. Zack Gelof lined a base-hit out to left-center for Oakland’s first hit of the game to lead off the bottom of the third, but Kyle McCann immediately followed that up by grounding into a double play. Aledmys Diaz singled with two outs, but he would be left at first.

The game was going along quite quickly, as it took just 35 minutes to get through the first three innings

Fermin hooked a ball down the left field line for his second home run of the game with one out in the top of the fourth to make it 2-0 Royals. Just like in the top of the second, Melendez followed up Fermin’s home run with a double, but like the top of the second, Spence escaped further damage.

Andujar singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth, but Brent Rooker grounded into Oakland’s third double play of the afternoon to end the inning. Spence and Lugo both pitched 1-2-3 innings in the fifth, and even though the game had slowed down a bit, both pitchers were on in what was a pitcher’s duel.

Spence retired the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth, but Fermin singled the other way to right for his third hit of the game, and Melendez worked a 12-pitch plate appearance into a walk. At that point, Mark Kotsay got his bullpen going, but Spence struck Blanco out looking on a cutter just off the outside to end the inning and his day.

Spence was solid this afternoon, and though the 12-pitch walk may have taken him out of this game earlier than he would have liked, he still gave the A’s everything he needed. Spence did give up six hits, but he limited the Royals to two runs over six innings, while striking out seven.

“I’m starting to get confidence in the rotation,” said Spence. “[I’m] just trying to do the best I can. If the A’s see me in the rotation, then I’ll be in the rotation.”

Max Schuemann singled off Lugo with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, and Bleday walked, and the A’s had a two-out rally going. However, Andujar flew out to left to end the inning.

The new pitcher for Oakland in the top of the seventh with Vinny Nittoli, and he struck out the first two men he faced en route to a 1-2-3 inning. Lugo also struck out the first two men he faced in the bottom of the seventh, but he wouldn’t be so lucky with two outs. 

Lawrence Butler doubled, and Zack Gelof tied the game with a home run to center. The A’s were now looking to do even more. Kyle McCann drew a walk, and Kotsay had Abraham Toro pinch-hit for Aledmys Diaz. Royals Manager Matt Quataro then brought in James McArthur.

Toro ripped a double down the right field line. Right-fielder Dairon Blanco picked it up in the corner and got it in to the second-baseman, Adam Frazier. A’s Third-Base Coach Eric Martins surprisingly waved in McCann, who was thrown out by a mile at the plate by Frazier’s relay.

It was a brand-new game at 2-2 going to the eighth, as Nittoli came out for another inning. However, Bobby Witt Jr. immediately greeted Nittoli with an absolute bomb to left to put the Royals back ahead.

Schuemann walked off McArthur to start the bottom of the eighth, but he was picked off at first base. That proved to be costly for Oakland, as they got runners to the corners with two outs, but left-hander Angel Zerpa came in and got pinch-hitter Tyler Nevin to ground out to short to end the inning.

T.J. McFarland pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth, and Zerpa was back out to try and convert the four-out save in the bottom of the ninth.

Lawrence Butler reached on a bobbled ground ball by Witt at short to start the inning, and Zack Gelof was called out on a slider right at the knees by Home Plate Umpire D.J. Reyburn for the first out. Kotsay then brought up Shea Langiliers to pinch-hit for catcher Kyle McCann, and even though Gelof was the one called out, McCann had some words for Reyburn from the dugout and was promptly ejected.

“The zone was good; DJ was doing a good job all day,” said Kotsay. “It’s just the emotion of the game.”

Langeliers singled Butler over to second, and that prompted Quatato to bring in Chris Stratton. The A’s were in perfect position, as they had runners at first and second—the tying run at second, and the winning run at first—with one out. However, Stratton got pinch-hitter Daz Cameron and Max Schuemann to both fly out, and the Royals held on to win 3-2. 

James McArthur got the win; Vinny Nittoli took the loss; and Chris Stratton picked up his fourth save of the year.

The A’s fall to 28-49, and they will welcome the Minnesota Twins to the Coliseum for three starting Friday night. Joey Ested (2-2, 5.97 ERA) will make the start for Oakland in the series opener Friday night, and he will be opposed by Chris Paddock (5-3, 5.25 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.