Month: July 2024

Hayden Birdsong strikes out 12, Giants walk out of Denver with much-needed 3-2 win over Rockies

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants starter Hayden Birdsong was dealing against the Colorado Rockies seen here in the bottom of the first inning at Coors Field in Denver as the Giants avoided getting swept on Sun Jul 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Coors Field

Denver, Colorado

San Francisco Giants 3 (48-52)

Colorado Rockies 2 (36-64)

Win: Hayden Birdsong (2-0)

Loss: Ryan Feltner (1-10)

Save: Camilo Doval (18)

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 30,507

By Stephen Ruderman

Hayden Birdsong was dominant over six innings in his fifth big league start, as he struck out 12, and the Giants were able to get out of Colorado with a much-needed 3-2 win salvage a game in this series at Coors Field.

The Giants had an exciting finish to the first half last weekend. However, they’ve struggled over the first two games of this series to start the second half.

First, they blew a 3-0 lead and lost 7-3 Friday night, and then they were unable to get to Kyle Freeland in a 4-3 loss last night. Until Friday, the Giants were undefeated against the Rockies this season, but now they were suddenly trying to avoid an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the third-worst team in Baseball.

The Giants would look to get the win on another cloudy and overcast afternoon in Denver. The game got off to an interesting start. Bob Melvin, who doesn’t often take out the lineup card, got ejected by third Base Umpire and Crew Chief Alex MacKay at the plate meeting prior to the start of the game. Usually in that situation, a manager is planning to watch the entire game from the clubhouse.

Jorge Soler then led off, and on the fourth pitch of the game from Rockies’ starter Ryan Feltner, Soler hit a mammoth 478-foot blast just to the left of straight away center field. It was the longest home run in Baseball this season.

It was the start the Giants needed against Feltner, who came into Saturday’s game 1-9 with a 5.38 ERA. Sunday night, the Giants struggled against Kyle Freeland, who came into the game with an ERA right at 6.00, and if the Giants were going to once again struggle against a really bad pitcher, it would have been even more of a really bad look.

Anyway, Hayden Birdsong took the ball for the Giants in his fifth big league start. Birdsong, who has snuck into MLB.com’s top 100 prospects since his major league debut, has gone 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA in his first four starts. Perhaps, he would be the man that could steer the ship for the Giants Sunday.

Indeed, Birdsong started out strong today. He pitched a scoreless bottom of the first inning, and he threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the second.

Tyler Fitzgerald, who hit a home run last night, led off the top of the third with a home run to dead straight away center to make it 2-0. Birdsong then pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third, and he was dealing.

Feltner retired the first two men he faced in the top of the fourth, but Matt Chapman and Mike Yastrzesmski each singled to put runners at the corners with two outs. With Fitzgerald at the plate, Chapman scored on a passed ball by catcher Jacob Stallings to make it 3-0 San Francisco.

Birdsong walked Ryan McMahon with one out in the bottom of the fourth, and with two outs, Brendan Rogers put the Rockies on the board with a two-run home run to left to make it 3-2. Despite the home run, Birdsong struck out the side, and he struck out seven over the first four innings.

Feltner pitched a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, and after Stallings led off the bottom of the fifth with a base-hit, Birdsong struck out the side. Feltner then pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth.

Birdsong threw another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth, while striking out two to end one helluva a day for the young man. Birdsong gave up just two runs and two hits over six innings, but most importantly, he struck out 12, which was the most for a Giants’ rookie since Tim Lincecum struck out 12 against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 1, 2007 at then-AT&T Park.

Feltner ended up going seven innings, an inning longer than Birdsong, and he ended his afternoon when Fitzgerald walked and was then caught trying to steal second base to end the top of the seventh.

Ryan Walker came in for the bottom of the seventh, and he got help right away from Matt Chapman, who took away a base-hit from Brendan Rogers on a ground ball to third to start the inning. Walker was damn lucky that Chapman made that play, because Jake Cave then lined a double to left.

The Rockies had the tying run at second against Walker with one out, but Stallings struck out looking, and Sam Hilliard lined out to center to end the inning, as the Giants’ kept their 3-2 lead going to the eighth.

Tyler Kinley pitched a scoreless top of the eighth for Colorado, and submariner Tyler Rogers, who got rocked for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning in a tough-luck loss Friday, was back out for the top of the eighth Sunday afternoon.

Rogers seemed as if he was going to find himself in trouble again after Aaron Schunk reached on an error by second-baseman Brett Wisely. However, longtime veteran Charlie Blackmon, the longest-tenured Rockie dating all the way back to 2011, bunted into a 4-6-3 double play. Brenton Doyle singled with two outs, but Ryan McMahon grounded out to end the inning.

For Rogers, he didn’t have himself the worst inning, but with a Giants’ fan base that has relentlessly and unfairly gone after Rogers, I’m sure it wasn’t enough.

Anyway, it was off to the top of the ninth, where Jalen Beeks threw a 1-2-3 inning. For the bottom of the ninth, the Giants turned to Camilo Doval. Doval, who has been nails for the Giants as their closer the last two seasons, had gotten off to another solid start this season.

However, since a blown save in Pittsburgh on May 21 in which he gave up two unearned runs, he has been absolutely snakebit. His latest nightmare came last Sunday, when he blew a save against the Minnesota Twins.

Rumors have swirled that the Giants would go to a new closer, or perhaps Doval would even be sent to the minors, but here he was in the game today to try and notch the save in a semi-must-win game Sunday in Denver.

Doval struck Michael Toglia and Brendan Rogers both out looking to start the bottom of the ninth, but Jake Cave walked and stole second. Of course it wasn’t going to be easy for Doval, but he got Stallings to ground out to third, and everybody went home happy, as the Giants held on for a much-needed 3-2 win.

Hayden Birdsong got his second big league win; Ryan Feltner took his tenth loss of the season; and Camilo Doval picked up his 18th save of the year.

The Giants improve to 48-52—and yes, I just realized that this was the Giants’ 100th game of the season—and they will also have some much-needed momentum heading into a tough four-game series at Dodger Stadium against their hated rivals.

Blake Snell (0-3, 6.31 ERA), who almost picked up his first win of the season last Sunday, will go for the Giants Sunday night. Dave Roberts has yet to say who will go for the Dodgers. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m., which is the old custom for games at Dodger Stadium.

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg: A’s offense springing into action, Rooker and Butler tee off for 3 RBIs a piece

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Brent Rooker (left) gets congratulated by teammates JJ Bleday (33) and Miguel Andujar (22) after slugging a three run home run in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 The Oakland A’s made a fast two wins to start this second half of the 2024 season after the All Star break. Taking Friday night’s game in a 13-3 laugher over the Los Angeles Angels and Saturday getting run production from Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler with 3 RBIs each in the A’s 8-2 win.

#2 Before the All Star Break the A’s took two out of three from one of baseball’s toughest team the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia. If the A’s are on the way to winning a whole bunch of games was the Philadelphia experiment a good curve of that?

#3 A’s are getting a sense that this team is starting to jell. Their hitting has vastly improved but the pitching has also kept them in games with recent help from starters JP Sears on Friday and Saturday starter Mitch Spence on Saturday.

#4 A’s have been rolling they’ve won six of their last ten games they’re 13.5 games off the pace in the AL West and have a lot of work ahead of them if they want to be a factor in this race. Some say this A’s team can’t do it and would be lucky if they don’t lost 100 games this season. In view of what you’ve seen in recent games is this just a passing phase or are these A’s serious?

#5 The Angels will try and avoid getting swept today at the Oakland Coliseum and will start RHP Carlson Fulmer (0-2, ERA 3.45) and the A’s will try for the sweep with starter RHP Joey Estes (4-4, ERA 5.29).

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com and is a reporter at 1080 KWAI Honolulu

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Giants on cusp of getting swept in Colorado today

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The San Francisco Giants and Mike Yastrzemski seen here hitting a fifth inning triple against Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeman at Coors Field on Sat Jul 20, 2024 are hoping to avoid a three game sweep today (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 The Colorado Rockies Ezequiel Tovar is rolling with his third homer in this third straight game which helped edge the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night 4-3

#2 The Rockies got good pitching from starter Kyle Freeland who improved going six innings and allowed three Giants runs.

#3 Giants pitcher Logan Webb who struggled in his All Star appearance no exception on Saturday night as Webb pitched six innings allowed eight hits, four runs, four hits, four walks, and struck out four hitters.

#4 Freeland kept the Giants off balance he threw four pitches for strikes and said he was filling in the strike zone.

#5 Giants are on the cusp of getting swept today in Denver. The Giants are going with starter RHP Hayden Birdsong (1-0, ERA 3.72) for the Rockies LHP Ryan Feltner (1-9, ERA 5.36). Stephen taking a look at this match up today Birdsong has had some good outings and Feltner has struggled and has nine loses coming into this game.

Stephen Ruderman is podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports with Charlie O: Dodgers might trade to make up for injuries; Jays Bichette on 10 day IL; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Mookie Betts who is suffering from a hand injury is expected back by Aug 2. Betts and whole list of key Dodgers players are on the IL and the Dodgers are considering making trades to make up for the holes in their line up. (AP file photo)

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 The Los Angeles Dodgers who got swept by the Philadelphia Phillies and lost two out of three to the Detroit Tigers are looking at ways to back in this thing again. They might be consider making some trades and looking for some help as they have some key players on the IL, Mookie Bets, Clayton Kershaw, Jason Heyward, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Dustin May just to name a few.

#2 The Toronto Blue Jays Bo Bichette is on the ten day IL with a left calf injury. Bichette injured his calf running up the first base line after hitting a line out to right field. How does this effect the Jays missing a bat like Bichette’s.

#3 The Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz was put on the restricted list because of personal family issues. The Rays ended up calling infielder Curtis Mead from the Rays triple A team in Durham.

#4 It’s a Major League debut to be remembered by the Oakland A’s Jacob Wilson but for all the wrong reasons. On Friday night Wilson rounding third base after advancing from second pulled up injured and in the dugout just couldn’t get back on track and had to leave the ball game.

#5 The Las Vegas Stadium Authority hosted a meeting on Thursday with Oakland A’s owner John Fisher’s business partner Sandy Dean at the Las Vegas Convention Center to discuss the plans for the new Las Vegas ballpark on the Vegas Strip. Dean told the Stadium Authority with Authority president Steven Hill on the dais that the A’s plan to spend $350 million of the $380 million of the public money. Neither Hill nor Dean disclosed where or how Fisher will come up with his share of the $500 million towards construction costs will come from. Last report was Fisher was looking for investors to help come up with the costs but still crickets on that as well.

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

Star-Studded Event At Footprint Center- Team WNBA Beats Team USA 117-109

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Team WNBA Arike Ogunbowale (left) drives on Team USA’s Kelsey Plum (5) at the 2024 WNBA All Star Game in Phoenix on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (AP News)

By Barbara Mason

In one of the best WNBA All-Star games of all-time a sell-out crowd of 16,407 witnessed Team WNBA beat Team USA 117-109 in a tight contest Saturday night. Most valuable player the Dallas Wings Arike Ogunbowale led Team WNBA to the win finishing with 34 points.

This was the most points scored in any all-star game earning Ogunbowale a second MVP nod. She was completely contained in the first half but turned it all around in the second half of play hitting eight of 13 three-pointers, giving Team WNBA as much as a 20 point lead in the final 20 minutes of this game.

This game was close in the first half of play with the opening quarter especially close with Team WNBA leading 24-23 after the first ten minutes. At the half, Team USA had a 54-52 lead winning the second quarter 31-28.

Team WNBA really turned this game around in the third quarter winning the quarter 36-25 and taking an 88-79 lead into the fourth quarter. Team USA fought back in the fourth quarter winning the quarter by the narrowest of margins 30-29. The domination in the third quarter by Team WNBA was the deciding factor in the 117-109 final score.

U.S. women’s national team Head Coach Cheryl Reeve had predicted that Team USA faced a huge challenge in this exhibition match taking on Team WNBA and she had it right although Team USA really did put up a fight.

Records were broken in this game with such incredible talent on the floor. Caitlin Clark set a rookie record with ten assists and Angel Reese became the first rookie with a double-double scoring 12 points with 11 rebounds. Allisha Gray who had won the 3-point shooting contest on Friday night chipped in 16 points for TEAM WNBA.

This All-Star game brought out numerous celebrities who enjoyed the evenings festivities from actor Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso star), Aubrey Plaza, Sue Bird, World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe, rapper Ty Dolla Sign, the Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison Jr., Kyler Murray, Shannon Sharpe and the list goes on and on. It was an evening to remember for the players and the fans alike.

From the very first shot made in this game when Diana Taurasi nailed a 3-pointer to the 3-pointer scored by Sabrina Ionescu with ten ticks left on the clock in the fourth quarter this game was amazing. Ogunbowale hit a couple of free throws to finish off this game.

This event had it all; it was so entertaining, full of high energy and fans expressed on many levels how much more fun this game was than the NBA All-Star game. This event seems to get better and better with every year. Saturday night at Footprint Center was the happening place to be.

The Las Vegas Aces were very well represented as expected in this game. A’Ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray all had some great moments in the game.

Now that this game is in the books, players and fans leave Phoenix with memories that will last a lifetime with the promise of more memories to be made in the coming years. It was certainly something special. Team USA now prepares for the 2024 Olympic Games that gets underway from July 26th to August 11.

What a memorable summer for all of these ladies. Once the Olympic Games are in the books, team USA will head back to finish off the regular season with all eyes focused on the WNBA playoffs to finish off an incredible 2024 season.

In one of the best

WNBA

San Diego hands Bay FC second straight loss 3-1 at Snapdragon

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Hard as they tried Bay FC couldn’t overcome the San Diego Wave at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (Bay FC image)

By William Espy

Bay FC visited the San Diego Wave on Saturday night to start the Summer Cup. With a few of their players off to play in the Olympics, and a few others out of the lineup for other reasons, Bay was running with a much different starting eleven than we’ve seen previously.

San Diego had a highly motivated Alex Morgan in the lineup, as she was left off the United States Olympic Team. Emmie Allen was making the first start of her professional career between the pipes for Bay. Bay FC couldn’t hold on losing in a two goal match 3-1 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

Bay FC Starting XI: Allen, Brewster, Beattie, Moreau, Dydasco, Bailey, Shepherd, Castellanos, Doms, Conti, Hill

Wave Starting XI: Beall, McNabb, Westphal, Dahlkemper, Wesley, McCaskill, Colaprico, Doniak, Bennett, Sanchez, Morgan

Allen got forced into action early, making a great save in the 6th minute while she was assisted by defender Jordan Brewster who was also making her first start with Bay FC. Bay spent a majority of the opening minutes with the ball around their box, but they were defending very well despite a few young defenders and midfielders.

15 minutes into the game, Allen went down with an apparent injury but she got back on her feet and remained in the game. Katelyn Rowland was on the bench if necessary, but the 21-year-old Allen certainly needed to make the most of her opportunity.

She certainly was doing so, making another save, this time on Alex Morgan in the 26th minute. A nice passing play nearly gave Bay the lead in the 28th minute, and Deyna Castellanos put it away with a nice finish but the play was called offside. Albertin Montoya was trying something new, playing with Castellanos as a false nine which was seemingly working early in the match.

Around the halfway point in the first half, things seemed to switch a bit. The Wave were carrying momentum and bringing heavy pressure early on, but Bay was starting to swing things in their favor. Dydasco made a phenomenal block in the 31st minute, preventing a quality scoring chance by San Diego.

Kristen McNabb picked up a yellow card in the 36th minute for San Diego when she tripped up Dydasco in midfield. A jumping Jordan Brewster and Makenzy Doniak collided in midfield moments later, leaving Doniak down in some pain and Brewster no worse for wear.

Doniak got back to her feet and remained in the match for the time being. San Diego got a dangerous chance in the 40th minute when Jen Beattie went down leaving it a 2-on-1 with Brewster as the long defender back. Brewster handled it very well though and prevented San Diego from getting on the board.

Rachel Hill created a great chance with hard work in the 42nd, as the Wave tried to hold out for a goal kick as the ball drifted out of play but Hill hustled, got a foot on the ball, and centered it to Castellanos who was unable to finish it off.

Moments later, Bay got their strongest opportunity of the night as Maddie Moreau and Hill got past the defense, but Moreau’s pass was just out of Hill’s reach and went out of play. San Diego took the lead in stoppage time off of a corner, Maria Sanchez whipped it into the head of Kennedy Wesley and Allen had no chance to make a save. It marked the Wave’s first goal since June 19th and Wesley’s first professional goal.

Joelle Anderson entered the game early in the second half for Bay FC, taking over for Maya Doms. Bay got a chance around the 50th minute when a cross from Moreau found Castellanos in front of the goal but it went wide of the goal following a weak shot.

Sanchez scored her first goal with the Wave in the 53rd minute on a long shot that went well over Allen’s head, giving her no chance to make the save once again. Allen was playing at a high level in her first career start, but unfortunately, there was nothing she could do on either of the goals Bay had conceded.

Anderson continued trying to make an impact after entering the game, getting a solid shot just a few minutes later. Moreau got Bay FC on the board in the 63rd minute following a bad clearing attempt by the Wave’s goalkeeper Beall.

It was a great moment for Moreau, who was undrafted in the 2024 NWSL Draft but still scored in her rookie season. Chaos inside Bay FC’s box in the 80th minute gave San Diego a 3-1 lead. Allen originally made the save, but with nobody in between the ball and Amirah Ali, Ali was able to retrieve the ball and put it away.

All things considered, Bay played well with a young lineup against an experienced Wave team. Bay was awarded a penalty at the start of stoppage time when Dydasco went down hard inside of the box.

Castellanos stepped up to take it, and Beall read the shot perfectly, denying the attempt. San Diego walked away with their first win in 10 games, as they defeated Bay FC 3-1 and now leads their group in the Summer Cup.

Webb braves through six innings and gives up four, and Giants’ offense unable to take advantage of Coors Field in 4-3 loss

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb is frustrated after giving up a bottom of the fifth inning home run to the Colorado Rockies Ezequiel Tovar at Coors Field in Denver on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Coors Field

Denver, Colorado

San Francisco Giants 3 (47-52)

Colorado Rockies 4 (36-63)

Win: Kyle Freeland (2-3)

Loss: Logan Webb (7-8)

Save: Victor Vodnik (3)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 44,178

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have now dropped the first two games of this three-game series in Coors Field to start the second half, as Logan Webb braved through six innings but gave up four runs, and the Rockies held on for a 4-3 win on Saturday night.

The Giants were looking for a fresh start after a tough loss last night, and there were many reasons to feel better about Saturday night. First of all, their ace, Logan Webb, was on the mound. Second, they were facing Kyle Freeland, who came into tonight with an ERA of 6.00. Plain and simply, Freeland’s having a bad season.

Unlike last night, the sun was out as the game got underway, as Freeland pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Webb, who gave up three runs in the bottom of the third inning at the All-Star Game Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, had a rough go of things in the bottom of the first.

The Rockies loaded the bases right away with nobody out, and Elias Diaz grounded into a double play to score Charlie Blackmon for the game’s first run—of course, Diaz was not credited with an RBI, because you can not be credited with an RBI under any circumstances if you ground into a double play.

The Rockies got their next run when first-baseman Wilmer Flores made a bone-headed play. On a ground ball off the bat of Brenton Doyle that was headed right for second-baseman Thairo Estrada, Flores, who was playing halfway between first and second dove to his right to field it, and the ball spat out of his glove. The play was ruled an infield hit, and Ezequiel Tovar scored to make it 2-0 Colorado.

Both pitchers threw scoreless innings in the second, and Tyler Fitzgerald put the Giants on the board with a solo home run out to left-center field with one out in the top of the third. Webb narrowly escaped a jam in the bottom of the third, and Heliot Ramos was doubled off at first to end the top of the fourth.

Webb finally pitched his first 1-2-3 inning of the night in the bottom of the fourth, and the Giants were able to put Freeland in a hole in the top of the fifth after Mike Yastrzemski hit a one-out triple. Curt Casali struck out looking for the second out, and up came Fitzgerald.

The first pitch from Freeland to Fitzgerald was a slider at the knees called a ball by Home Plate Umpire Chris Conroy. The pitch was a nut cutter and could have gone either way, but Freeland did not like the call, and he made his frustration with Conroy quite clear when he lightly threw his arms in the air.

After Conroy took his mask off for a light stare at Freeland, the next pitch was a sinker off the outside corner for ball 2. As Freelend continued to stew, Rockies Pitching Coach Darryl Scott came out to calm down the left-hander.

It was expected that Scott would wait for Conroy to come to the mound to toss him, but Conroy stayed behind the plate and kept his mask on, and Scott went back to the dugout without incident. Fitzgerald then hit a double to left to score Yastrzemski and tie the game. Surprisingly, nobody ended up getting tossed at all.

It was a new game heading to the bottom of the fifth. However, the Rockies got right back ahead when Ezequiel Tovar hit a two-run home run to left to make it 4-2.

Freeland retired the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth. Matt Chapman then reached on an error, and Wilmer Flores lined a double out to center to make it 4-3. Webb, meanwhile, pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth, and both pitchers were done.

For Webb, he braved through six innings, as he gave up four runs and eight hits. Webb also only threw one 1-2-3 inning. Hey, it was Coors Field, and Webb gave it his best.

Freeland’s outing was quite surprising, as he gave up just three runs, two of them earned over six innings. Though Freeland’s success had more to do with the Giants’ offense falling back on their old bad habits than anything else.

Anyway, as the clouds gathered above Coors Field, Nick Mears threw a 1-2-3 top of the seventh for Colorado, and Erik Webb did the same for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh. Mears threw another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth as the rain started to fall, and Sean Hjelle threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth for San Francisco.

Victor Vodnik then came in for the top of the ninth and closed this thing out with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.

Kyle Freeland got just his second win of the season; Logan Webb took the loss; and Victor Vodnik picked up his third save.

The Giants’ offense has gone dark again. The fact that Kyle Freeland of all people was able to shut them down tonight was bad. Jorge Soler, Luis Matos, Matt Chapman, Thairo Estrada and Curt Casali went a combined 0-for-16. Soler struck out twice, and is once again struggling with runners in scoring position.

The Giants have fallen back to five games under .500 at 47-52, and now they are staring down the barrel of getting swept by the lowly Rockies. Hayden Birdsong (1-0, 3.72 ERA) will make his fifth big league start tomorrow, and he will be opposed by left-hander Austin Gomber (2-6, 4.61 ERA).

Giants News and Notes:

Robbie Ray struck out seven and gave up just one hit over five and a third shutout innings in what was likely his final rehab start for the Sacramento River Cats. He is expected to make his Giants’ debut in the team’s four-game series in Los Angeles next week.

Minnesota shuts out Earthquakes 2-0 in St Paul; Loss is third in a row for SJ

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Scoreboard says it all as the San Jose Earthquakes are shutout by the Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field in St Paul MN on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (San Jose Earthquakes X image)

By William Espy

The San Jose Earthquakes were on the road visiting Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, MN on Saturday night. Minnesota entered the night battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference despite a 3-game losing streak at home while San Jose was trying to claw their way out of the league’s basement. The Quakes picked up their third straight loss of their own making getting shutout 2-0 by the United.

Earthquakes Starting XI: Yarbrough, Verhoeven, Rodrigues, Beason, Kikanovic, Gruezo, Yueill, Pellegrino, Lopez, Espinoza, Ebobisse

Minnesota Starting XI: St. Clair, Jeong Sang, Harvey, Tapias, Padelford, Rosales, Lod, Dotson, Bran, Hlongwane, Oluwaseyi

It took until the ninth minute for either team to get an opportunity when Jeremy Ebobisse fired a shot that sailed wide to the left, giving the Earthquakes the first shot of the night. Minnesota was playing a physical game early on, leading to quite a few fouls by the home side in the opening 15 minutes. The Quakes were getting some dangerous free kicks as a result but weren’t capitalizing on them.

The first card of the night came in the 25th minute when Alejandro Bran blatantly fouled Hernan Lopez. Pellegrino had the best opportunity of the night so far in the 31st minute when he received a pass from the corner and shot it first-time but a defender was able to get a foot on the shot and deflect it over the goal.

Ebobisse got another opportunity moments later, but his header went wide of the goal. Bran got substituted out in the 33rd minute for Franco Fragapane. Minnesota got their first corner of the night in the 35th minute but were unable to do anything with it.

Despite San Jose leading in possession, shots and almost every important statistic in the first half, Minnesota got a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute when Tanner Beason deflected the ball past William Yarbrough and into his own net.

Carlos Gruezo picked up a yellow moments before the end of the half. Minnesota would maintain that lead into the break, it was 1-0 in favor of the home team at the half.

The Earthquakes started the second half with a hill to climb. Despite being the better team in the first 45 minutes, they trailed 1-0 due to a single mistake. Given their typical performance this season, it was very unlikely that they completed the comeback and walked away with three points, but every game has the potential to be a different story.

Lopez tried to tie it up early in the second, but a low percentage shot went over to the left. Joseph Rosales picked up Minnesota’s second booking of the night in the 59th. Just a couple of minutes later Yarbrough made his biggest save of the night on a shot from the center of the box by Bongokuhle Hlongwane.

Hlongwane was determined to extend his team’s lead, following up with two more quality shots but wasn’t able to score. The Quakes made a couple of substitutions in the 62nd minute with Lopez and Verhoeven coming out for Thompson and Jack Skahan.

Late in the 68th minute Minnesota got another yellow card, this time for Lod. Hlongwane’s effort was finally rewarded in the 75th minute when he extended Minnesota’s lead to two.

Despite a strong start to the game, the Earthquakes did themselves a hole they were unable to come out of. It seemed clear that Minnesota wanted it more once the second half started, and they’ll be glad their winless streak at home has come to an end. Meanwhile, the Earthquakes still need quite a bit of work if they’re going to climb up the standings at any point in the season.

A’s get run production from Rooker and Butler with 3 RBIs each to defeat Angels 8-2

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Brent Rooker (25) slugs a bottom of the first inning three run home run in front of the Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (41-57). 001 001 000. 2. 6. 0

Athletics (39-61). 300 400 10x. 8 11 1

Time: 2:29

Attendance: 14,574

Saturday, July 20, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The A’s made it two in a row and clinched the series win against the Angels this lovely Saturday afternoon at the decrepit but, as ever, beautifully manicured Oakland Coliseum. They handily defeated their visitors from the south, 8-2, in a game whose outcome never was in doubt.

Mitch Spence, who started for the Athletics, began the season well, but his performance declined steadily since his first appearance of the season, on March 29. He had been 3-1, 2.84 through April 30. He pitched exclusively in relief through May 13, compiling a record of 4-2, 4.26, after which he joined the rotation. He was 4-4, 4.35 on June 30 and 5-6, 4.75 at game time. The 26 year old righty began to reverse that decline this afternoon.

Spence lasted 5-1/3 innings and allowed two runs, both earned, on five hits, three walks, and a wild pitch to get the win that lowered his ERA to 4.67. Scott Alexander (untouched in two thirds of an inning), Austin Adams (a walk and a strikeout in an inning), and Tyler Ferguson (one hit and a pair of strikeouts in two innings) followed him to the mound. He threw 85 pitches; 35 were balls.

Rookie Jack Kochanowicz, who began last year in High-A Tri-City, made his first big league appearance nine days ago in relief against Seattle. This afternoon marked his first start in the show.

It was not an impressive performance. The 23 year old right hander surrendered seven runs, all earned, on seven hits, one of them a home run, in four innings. He issued three free passes and struck out four Athletics. His pitch count reached 74 in his abbreviated mound tenure and took the loss, leaving him at 0-2, 14.14 Kenny Rosenberg replaced him in the fifth and held the A’s to one run on four hits and a walk.

The A’s picked up where they had left off in yesterday’s 13-3 thrashing of the visiting Angels. Brent Rooker took a 96 mph sinker 445 feet deep, into the left field seats above the American League scoreboard, with Miguel Andújar and JJ Bleday on base, to put the green and gold up 3-0 after an inning of play. It was his 22nd roundtripper and drove in his 63rd, 64th, and 65th runs batted in of 2024.

A combination of sloppy play by the Athletics and heads up baserunning by the Halos’ Jo Adell allowed Los Angeles to get back a run in the third. Adell led off with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third when catcher Kyle McCann couldn’t handle Spence’s third strike to Luis Guillome, forcing the throw to first that put Adell in position to score on Anthony Redon’s sacrifice line drive to left.

It was the bottom of the fourth that proved to be the Angels’ undoing. Brett Rooker and Kyle McCann singled, Harris and Max Schuemann walked, Lawrence Butler doubled to add four runs to the Athletics’ advantage.

The visitors drove Spence from the mound in the sixth. Zach Neto’s double down the left field line that went just under Harris’s glove at third plated Tyler Ward, who had led off with a walk and moved on to second on Logan O’Hoppe’s single to center. Scott Alexander, retiring with nine pitches. the two batters he faced to put out the fire.

The homeless wonders tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, courtesy of Schuemann’s leadoff double and Miguel Andújar’s RBI single off Rosenberg.

Both Butler and Andújar, the numbers one and two in the batting order, went three for four. The former drove in three runs; the latter, one. Rooker went two for three and had three RBI. Schuemann drove in the remaining tally.

Lower calf soreness forced Los Angeles first sacker Nolan Schanuel to leave the game after the top of the third.

Joey Estes (4-4, 5.29), who’s been on a tear recently, will pitch for the Athletics in their attempt to sweep the series when he goes against the Angels Carlos Fulmer (0-2, 3.45). The first pitch is scheduled for 1:07.

Oakland A’s podcast with Morris Phillips: Swinging A’s showing some consistent hitting

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

left to right the Oakland A’s Seth Brown (15), Brett Harris (77) congratulate Max Scheumann (12) on his three run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Jul 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris, the A’s have been a hitting bunch of late. They took two out of three from the Philadelphia Phillies when the finished the first half of the season and they come back last night and won in lopsided contest beating the Los Angeles Angels 13-3.

#2 The A’s Max Scheumann contributed with a three run home run and had four RBIs in the ten run win against the Angels.

#3 The A’s JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers both hit two run home runs. They’ve getting their share of extra bases but over the last week it’s been a huge improvement.

#4 Earlier this season the A’s were having issues with getting run production but in their last road trip against Boston and Philadelphia would you say that’s helped build their confidence?

#5 Angels and A’s match up again today at the Coliseum. The Angels will be starting RHP Jack Kochanowicz (0-1, 12.00 ERA) he’s matching up against the A’s RHP Mitch Spence (5-6, ERA 4.75).

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