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Jones shutouts Canucks

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By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Martin Jones made 30 saves against Vancouver Tuesday, as the San Jose Sharks got to scoring in their first preseason win, 4-0.

A shutout was not a new concept for Jones, who made his Sharks debut. Jones is in fact known for being the quickest modern day goalie to record seven shutouts (NHL.com). He stopped all shots he faced in relief March 1 and his last shutout came January 12.

The contest mirrored more of a real game with several regulars seeing their first preseason action. To name some, there were the Sedin twins for the Canucks and Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau for San Jose.

Nikolay Goldobin and Paul Martin got their first goals as members of the Sharks.

In the first period, Vancouver won the power play opportunity battle three to zero, but San Jose got the more important stats. John McCarthy capitalized on a turnover, went behind the net and passed to Martin, who scored through traffic. It was the first shot of the game, which came at 2:41.

The Canucks had two straight power plays at 6:50 and 9:02, because Matt Tennyson was called for hi-sticking during the first power play. Vancouver got their first shot during the first power play and three more during the second. The Canucks followed up with three more shots after the man advantage and had a total 11-5 shot advantage over the period.

The Sharks made it 2-0 before period end though. Brent Burns scored his goal similar to Martin, but the puck movement before this goal came in front of the blue line. Ben Smith helped out with the assist at 17:16.

San Jose got their first power play opportunity during the second and made a goalie change. Joe Cannata came in for Ryan Miller. Both goalies ended up giving up two goals apiece.

The Sharks finally converted on the power play, considering the opportunities they had Monday as well, tripling and quadrupling their lead. Tomas Hertl was the first at 9:25, aided by Justin Braun and Tennyson. Goldobin followed at 12:37, assisted by Burns and Hertl.

After, both teams played 3-on-3 overtime despite the result, for acclimation.

Game notes: Vancouver outhit San Jose 17-8 and the Sharks won faceoffs, 30-23. Like Monday’s game, a player had to leave the game due to blocking a shot. In this case, it was San Jose’s Micheal Haley in the first period. The Sharks next play their home preseason opener, Friday against the Arizona Coyotes at 7:30pm.

Sharks and Canucks kick off their 2015–2016 “Kraft”

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By Pearl Allison Lo

~ San Jose and Vancouver rung in their preseason in front of and to the delight of smaller fan bases in Kraft Hockeyville, and the “home” team winning 1-0 in overtime Monday, was the icing..

A scoreless regulation led to the showcase of the new 3-on-3 overtime as well. The lone goal was scored by Adam Cracknell with 3:22 left. Cracknell was aided by Jannik Hansen and Matt Bartkowski. It was Cracknell’s debut as a Canuck, as he scored against goalie Aaron Dell. “If you’re going to have a guy be a hero in overtime, you’d like it to be the hometown guy,” said Vancouver assistant coach Perry Pearn, filling in for head coach Willie Desjardins.

Though Kraft Hockeyville was awarded to North Saanich, in Victoria, B.C, Canada, the actual game was played in Colwood, because of the need for more space. The Sharks played in their first Kraft Hockeyville game, while the Canucks played a Kraft Hockeyville game in 2009.  

Both teams had at least one power play in the first period.

The Canucks made it 2-2 in terms of power play opportunities when Alexander Edler was booked less than a minute into the second.

Both teams switched to new goalies midway through the second period. Dell came in for Troy Grosenick and Jacob Markstrom came in for Richard Bachman.  

San Jose’s Tomas Hertl made sure each team had a power play in the second as well, as he committed a penalty with one second left.

The $100,000 check that came along with the Kraft Hockeyville award, was presented during second intermission for renovations to Panorama Recreation Centre in North Saanich.

There was only one power play opportunity in the third, which came when Cracknell was called for holding with six minutes left. Teammate Christopher Tanev had two shots on goal with 19 seconds left and nine seconds left.

In OT, the only other shot on goal came by Vancouver’s Sven Baertschi with 3:57 left. The Canucks had an extra player on the ice at the time of the goal, due to a delayed penalty.

The game came full circle when the Sharks’ Tommy Wingels said, “We all come from rinks similar to this, so to play a game here at this point in our careers is special. You see the fans and the kids who hope to be in our position one day and at this point, it’s kind of like we’d like to go back and be in their position for a couple days.”

Game notes: 12 players on San Jose’s roster had previously played for them at some point. Vancouver’s Chris Higgins’ had to exit early due to a blocked shot. The United States will have their own Kraft Hockeyville for the first time on September 29. Both the Sharks and Canucks rematch on Tuesday at 7pm in Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.

Grabavoy grabs game for NYC

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By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Ned Grabavoy played a part in each of his teams’ goals, as New York City FC won over the San Jose Earthquakes in the teams’ first-ever meeting Saturday, 3-2.

It was the first time Grabavoy got on the goal scoring column this season. The last time Grabavoy scored two goals in a game was May 19, 2013.

Both of the teams’ leading scorers scored in the game as all of the goals came in the second half.

Grabavoy inadvertently assisted on his first goal of the year. He passed the ball to David Villa before Villa returned it to him, as Grabavoy scored the game’s first goal in the 51st minute.

In the 63rd minute, Grabavoy scored his second goal of the match from a cross by Frank Lampard.

Villa then made things look even more daunting two minutes later, when he scored past a flying David Bingham. It was Villa’s team-leading 16th goal.

San Jose did not give up though. However, New York City matched their intensity.

After a corner kick that a New York City player hit, the ball hung in the air before Quincy Amarikwa headed it in to make it 3-1 in the 72nd minute.

Amarikwa later got pulled down for a penalty, resulting in a penalty kick by Chris Wondolowski. The conversion was Wondolowski’s sixth out of six penalty attempts for the season and his team-leading 15th goal, to make it 3-2 in the 76th minute.

Game notes: The Quakes resume play September 27 at 4pm versus Real Salt Lake.

Quakes take down second-best in MLS

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By Pearl Allison Lo

~ San Jose followed Wednesday’s performance with another impressive win, as they put together their longest win streak of the season Saturday, beating D.C. United 2-0.

All of the Quakes’ victories were clean sheets, as goalie David Bingham faced the most action of the win streak Saturday, four shots on goal and four saves.

Compared to the last time these two teams met, shots were one-sided again, 23-9, but this time by more and the losing team outshot the winner. Chris Wondolowski also scored.

San Jose got their momentum rolling with another early goal. Not too long after teammate Quincy Amarikwa’s shot missed, Wondolowski scored his 101st team goal in the 4th minute. He has now had goals in consecutive games for the first time since the end of May.

D.C. United responded after the goal but were not able to execute.

Shea Salinas made it 2-0 in his 101st start, assisted by Amarikwa in the 52nd minute It was Salinas’ first goal since May 16. Amarikwa has either scored or assisted now in four straight games.

D.C. United’s Alvaro Saborio had the most shots and shots on goal out of all on the pitch, five and two respectively.

Game notes: The Quakes now aim for revenge against the third-best in MLS, the Los Angeles Galaxy, August 28 at 8pm in the California Clasico season finale. Los Angeles beat San Jose 5-2 last meeting.

Quakes play spoiler

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(AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

By Pearl Allison Lo

~ It was the biggest victory and loss this season for both teams, as San Jose toppled Sporting Kansas City’s team best 16-game home unbeaten streak, 5-0 Wednesday.

It was the Quakes’ biggest margin of victory and season-high in goals and vice versa for Kansas City. Kansas City could not dig themselves out of the 3-0 hole they put themselves in for the second straight game. It was the first time they did not score at home since April 11.

San Jose also ended a four game road losing streak, their last road win June 20 and their last win streak June 27.

The Earthquakes had three goals before the 30th minute.

Both Cordell Cato and Chris Wondolowski scored for the first time since June 27.

Cato scored in the 3rd minute, aided by Shea Salinas.

Wondolowski scored in the 17th minute off a penalty kick.

Newcomer Anibal Godoy then scored his first MLS goal in his second start in the 27th minute. Quincy Amarikwa had his second assist in as many games. Ever since July 17, Amarikwa has scored or assisted in every game but one.

In the 36th and 37th minutes, Kansas City had two corner kicks in a row.

In the 52nd minute, a wide open Wondolowski missed his shot.

Cato and Wondolowski then proceeded to end the scoring, like they started the game.

Salinas helped again as he powered up ahead of his defenders as he neared goal. Cato took Salinas’ pass and made a clean finish to put San Jose up 4-0 in the 58th minute. It was Cato’s first career brace.

Kansas City’s Krisztian Nemeth then immediately had an opportunity on the other end of the pitch, but his shot was blocked by the far post.

In the 61st minute, Wondolowski was able to make up for his missed goal. Fatai Alashe crossed the ball to him and Wondolowski headed it in from farther out than before, for the 5-0 decision. It was Wondolowski’s second brace since the second game of the season.  

Benny Feilhaber received a red kick for denying Amarikwa an obvious goal scoring opportunity in the 71st minute.

The Quakes’ Adam Jahn came on for the first time since July 17 and had a shot on goal.

Game notes: It was Salinas’ first pair of assists since March 15, 2014. Nemeth led all with four shots. San Jose had more passes, passing accuracy, possession and duels won than Kansas City. The Quakes will go for another road win versus DC United, Saturday at 4p.

Quakes see red

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By Pearl Allison Lo

~ The Houston Dynamo recovered from a late San Jose goal to preserve the Quakes’ winless streak, Saturday 2-1.

San Jose went down to 10 men after Fatai Alashe received a second yellow and thus red card. The Quakes’ now have a six-game winless streak, this being their second loss versus the Dynamo during that time.

Houston also scored two goals the last time the teams met as the home team won for the first time this season matchup.

Both teams were coming off a draw.

The Quakes had five yellows in the match.

The Dynamo’s Damarcus Beasley scored his first of the season, beating goalie David Bingham at the near corner of the goal mouth in the 55th minute. Giles Barnes gave the assist.

With a foul against Barnes in the 58th minute, there was talk about Marc Pelosi possibly getting another yellow. He already had one in the 34th minute.

Pelosi went down in the front of the goal before a possible scoring opportunity, but there was no call.

Alashe was sent off in the 60th minute. His first yellow came in the 43rd minute.

It took several touches, but an aggressive set piece, starting with a corner by Tommy Thompson, leveled the game in the 70th minute. Shaun Francis had the assisting header, as the ball went past goalie Joe Willis to Quincy Amarikwa with the chest shot. Amarikwa was back to his scoring ways, with his third goal in four games to avoid the shutout.

However, the Dynamo’s Boniek Garcia, playing for the first time since June 5 where he also assisted, got the second assist, as Sheanon Williams slid the ball past Bingham and to Alex Lima on the other side. The game winner came at the 76th minute.

Game notes: Houston was without starting goalie Tyler Deric, Nathan Sturgis and Ricardo Clark. San Jose had the same lineup as last week, with the exception of Pelosi playing for Matias Perez Garcia. Tuesday, the Quakes announced that former captain Ramiro Corrales will be the newest inductee into the team’s Hall of Fame and that Khari Stephenson was loaned to the North American Soccer League’s San Antonio Scorpions. Wednesday, they announced the acquisition of Anibal Godoy, Panama midfielder. San Jose plays Colorado August 14 at 8pm.

Giants fall short

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(AP Photo/David Banks)

By Pearl Allison Lo

~ San Francisco got to Chicago Cubs starter Jason Hammel, but the early hole was one run too deep, as the Cubs won 5-4 to open the series Thursday.

In what was not as an exciting game as the last time the two teams met, neither pitcher made it to the fifth inning.

Chicago got to scoring early. In the first, with one out, Kyle Schwarber walked. With two outs, Anthony Rizzo was hit, Kris Bryant walked and Jorge Soler singled in two runs.

The big hit came in the second inning however. Two leadoff singles set up Schwarber, who after one out, hit his second home run in as many games, including his third in four games. It was Chris Heston’s first home run given up since May 23.

Hammel sported a one-hit shutout heading into the fourth, but that changed. Hunter Pence had a two out double to continue his four-game hitting streak and Brandon Belt followed with his second home run in four games.

The Giants had more opportunities in the fifth. Ehire Adrianza led off with a walk, stole second, and Hector Sanchez walked with no outs. However, this led to a pitching change from Jason Hammels to Justin Grimm. Grimm proceeded to take the threat in order, though he had to make 10 pitches to get out Nori Aoki.

In the sixth, both teams had a runner steal base with two outs, but it was San Francisco who capitalized. It was Pence’s second stolen base of the season. After, Brandon Crawford hit his third home run in as many games to make it 5-4.

The Giants’ Sergio Romo struck out the side in the eighth inning but Cubs’ relievers combined to keep San Francisco hitless from the end of the sixth to game end. Hector Rondon got the save.

Game notes: San Francisco’s Buster Posey did rest, but was available off the bench. He entered in the ninth to bat second, but flied out. The Giants play the second of four games Friday at 12:30

Bumgarner bedazzles

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(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

By Pearl Allison Lo

~ San Francisco was able to hold onto their six run advantage this time, at least until the seventh inning, as Bumgarner held down the Atlanta Braves, 6-1 Monday.

Bumgarner beat the Braves for a fifth straight time, as he gave up one run, seven hits and struck out nine.  The Giants’ starter also dealt out a new season high in pitches, with 116.

Meanwhile, Atlanta starting pitcher Williams Perez gave up a season-high 10 hits. Wednesday’s result marked the seventh straight game the Braves gave up double-digit hits since 1990.

It was another night with more than one first for San Francisco’s Kelby Tomlinson, who started for the first time, starting at second base, had his first RBI, first multi-RBI and also first out.

In the top of the second, with two early outs, the Giants’ Brandon Belt was hit, Ehire Adrianza singled and moved over on Eury Perez’s error. Tomlinson then, who was responsible for half of San Francisco’s runs, singled in Belt and Adrianza to make it 2-0.

With one out in the fourth, Adrianza doubled and Tomlinson brought Adrianza in again with a single, making it 3-0.

Tomlinson experienced his first out in the sixth inning.

The Giants scored their final three runs in the seventh. Nori Aoki led off with a walk, Gregor Blanco singled and Matt Duffy doubled them home. With Jake Brigham then replacing Perez on the mound, one out later, Duffy moved over on a wild pitch and Hunter Pence brought Duffy home.

Ryan Lavarnway ended Bumgarner’s shutout in the bottom inning as Lavarnway scored off pitch 99. This ended 19 scoreless innings at Turner Field for Bumgarner.

In the eighth inning, Eury Perez was initially called out, but after review, ruled safe. That spelled the end of Bumgarner’s outing, as he exited for Hunter Strickland.

Game notes: After clinching the three-game series, San Francisco now take on the Chicago Cubs for four games, starting Thursday at 5:05pm.

Giants endure disappointing loss

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(AP Photo/John Amis)

By Pearl Allison Lo

~ The eighth home run of the game ended up being the game winner, as the Atlanta Braves came back from a 6-0 hole to outmatch San Francisco Monday, 9-8.

After what looked like could be a redeeming win from a newcomer and Georgia native, things broke down for the Giants a second time, in the bottom of the twelfth. Braves’ rookie Adonis Garcia responded after the Giants went ahead. The pitch to Garcia was a 3-1 pitch, with Jace Peterson on base due to an error by Brandon Crawford. Garcia’s walk off was his third home run in 11 games.

For the Braves, who had their second straight game with at least 11 hits, it was their first winning streak since July 6-7. Inversely, San Francisco had their first losing streak since July 6.

Both starting pitchers struggled, but it was the first time Giants pitcher Matt Cain had two poor outings since mid-late March.

San Francisco built their 6-0 lead on four home runs sprinkled through the second through fourth innings. Crawford had half of those home runs. Brandon Belt and Buster Posey accounted for the other half. It was Posey’s second home run in his second game against starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz.

Atlanta then started making their way back in the sixth inning, while the Giants went scoreless until the ninth. The Braves had four runs in the sixth, due to Peterson hitting a three-run home run and Nick Markakis singling in Garcia. It was Peterson’s second straight game with a home run, three hits and three RBIs.

Chris Johnson made it 6-5 in the seventh with a home run on an 0-2 count.

San Francisco got an insurance run in the top of the ninth, but it was not enough. A.J. Pierzynski, in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak, hit a two-out two-run home run in the bottom, to bring the game to extra innings. Pierzynski ended up 4 for 6 for the night.

The Giants had chances in the tenth and eleventh. Both innings they had a leadoff man on base, but also fell into double plays. In the eleventh, they got two men on due to walks, but the inning ended with Pierzynski nabbing Ehire Adrianza on a stolen base attempt.

Things started looking up for good for San Francisco in the twelfth. Kelby Tomlinson, who was called from Triple-A earlier in the day, had his first Major League hit.  Gregor Blanco was then hit by Detwiler. Vizcaino came in to get another out, but Georgia native Posey then gave Tomlinson his first Major League run as well, to make it 8-7.

Game notes: When scoring at least four runs, the Giants had won those last twelve games. San Francisco’s Joe Panik was placed on the 15-day DL before the game. Johnson replaced Freddie Freeman, who had to leave before the fifth inning. The Braves were without Andrelton Simmons again. The Giants continue the series Tuesday at 4:10pm.

Quakes close out winless July

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By Pearl Allison Lo

~ The Vancouver Whitecaps preserved their undefeated streak against San Jose at BC Place with a 3-1 win Sunday.

Both were winless in their last three games. Now, with this result, the Quakes have conceded multiple goals in their last three games, while Vancouver has not.

San Jose’s Clarence Goodson was injured in the 11th minute and Paulo Renato came in for him in the 13th minute.

The first two goals for the Whitecaps were a long time coming for both players, both scoring their first of the season.

Mauro Rosales had the longer streak. He scored in the 5th minute for the first time since October 9, 2013. That goal came against Vancouver as this was his first goal for the Whitecaps.

In the 32nd minute, Kendall Waston scored his first since September 10, 2014. That goal also came at home versus the Earthquakes. This goal came off a corner kick from Rosales as Waston headed the kick in to double Vancouver’s lead. It was the first goal off a corner this season, Cam Tucker of the Vancouver Metro reported.

After Octavio Rivero narrowly missed a goal in the 51st minute, Renato committed a penalty in the 56th minute. Then, Rivero scored his team-leading eighth goal on the ensuing kick. It was his second penalty kick converted this season as Rivero tripled the lead. The Whitecaps have made all three they have taken. It was Rivero’s first goal since June 27, but he has had at least one shot on goal in each game since then.

San Jose’s Cordell Cato played for the first time since June 27 and started for the first time since June 7. He had a shot on goal in the 76th minute.

Teammate Shea Salinas’ shot was similarly caught by keeper David Ousted in the 80th minute, when Salinas kicked from inside the box.

In the 81st minute, Salinas shot again from just outside the box, similar to Cato, but this time the ball hit the crossbar and then the line.

Finally, in the 90th minute, the Quakes were able to avoid a shutout. Quincy Amarikwa, after fighting off defenders and passing to Salinas, then found himself alone. Once he received the ball back from Salinas, Amarikwa scored his third goal in two games.

Game notes: Vancouver was without Darren Mattocks, who scored Jamaica’s goal in the Gold Cup. San Jose meanwhile welcomed back Chris Wondolowski, a day after he started in the third-place game. Wondolowski was held without a shot in the game for the first time since April 5. The Quakes hope to get back on track when they host the Portland Timbers on August 2 at 2pm. The Timbers started San Jose’s winless streak back on July 5.