Author: Sports Radio Service

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Daniel Dullum: SJ’s Karlsson goal in Game 3 was a mistake by NHL; Blues and Sharks in Game 5 today; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SportsDebatable

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Daniel:

1 Sharks lose Game 4, and maybe Erik Karlsson too

2 NHL admits to missed call on Karlsson’s Game 3 OT goal

3 Becoming clear that NHL officials need more help than they’re getting

4 John Davidson leaves Columbus to become president of NY Rangers; Rangers assistant GM Jim Schoenfeld resigns

5 Boston sweeps Carolina, waits for Stanley Cup Final…Could make Boston sports history by winning the Cup

Daniel Dullum cover the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for Sportstalk radio at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s getting great starting pitching and timely hitting during their 3-game win streak

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Athletics

On the A’s podcast with Joey:

#1 Nothing cures the Oakland A’s like a road trip to Detroit. The A’s have won three of the four games after struggling to open the road trip in Seattle early in the week.

#2 The 4-1 win on Saturday over the Tigers marks their 15th consecutive win over Detroit.

#3 A’s pitcher Daniel Mengden got the win for Oakland, pitching seven innings, one earned run, three hits and five strikeouts, 95 pitches and 62 for strikes.

#4 A’s catcher Nick Hundley hit a two-run homer to help the cause. Hundley has been a plus behind the plate and with the bat

#5 To conclude Sunday’s contest in Detroit the A’s will start former Tiger Mike Fiers (3-3, 5.12 ERA) vs. Detroit’s Gregory Soto (0-2, 13.50 ERA).

Joey does the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants use 11-hit attack to hold off Snakes

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, May 18, 2019

PHOENIX — In 24 hours, things changed for the better offensively for the San Francisco Giants.

On Friday, the Giants couldn’t get a key hit when needed. On Saturday, it was key hits to spare.

San Francisco’s 11-hit attack was backed a strong start from Madison Bumgarner, as the Giants defeated Arizona 8-5.

Seven different Giants drove in runs, led by Brandon Crawford with two. Steven Duggar, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria, Mac Williamson and Pablo Sandoval each knocked in a run.

“You could really see the difference tonight,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. “The hitters were doing a nice job of getting on base. We had a lot of big hits, extra-base hits, and we did the little things well.”

Bumgarner (3-4) worked 61/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked three.

“I thought he threw real good,” Bochy said. “His stuff was good. And with that lineup in this ballpark, a really nice job. And he had good command of his pitches all night.

Longoria’s two-out hit in the first inning drove in Joe Panik, who led off the game with an infield single. The Giants rallied for three runs in the third, with Duggar’s RBI triple, Posey’s run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly to center by Crawford the key blows giving San Francisco a 4-0 lead.

Eduardo Escobar’s 10th home run of the season into the left field seats put the Diamondbacks on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Arizona cut the Giants’ lead to 4-2 in the fifth when Adam Jones singled in Blake Swihart, who led off the inning with a walk.

San Francisco pushed two more runs across in the sixth on an RBI triple by Crawford, who scored two batters later on a single by Williamson.

The Diamondbacks chased Bumgarner in the bottom of the seventh after Nick Ahmed walked and scored from second on pinch-hitter John Ryan Murphy’s double down the left field line.

Adam Jones drove in Carson Kelly (who walked) with a ground out off San Francisco reliever Sam Dyson, pulling Arizona to within 6-4. But with two out in the San Francisco eighth, Sandoval — pinch-hitting for Dyson — hit a solo home run, giving the Giants a 7-4 lead.

“How about Pablo, huh?” Bochy said. “It’s nice to start him, and it’s nice to bring him off the bench to pinch-hit. He’s been the silver lining through our struggles.”

San Francisco extended its lead in the ninth to 8-4 when Brandon Belt’s seventh home run of the season reached the swimming pool in right-center.

Arizona closed its deficit to three when Carson Kelly hit a solo home run in the ninth, but closer Will Smith struck out Alex Avila, Adam Jones and Ketel Marte in what became a non-save situation.

In Sunday afternoon’s series finale, Robbie Ray (3-1, 3.14) starts for the Diamondbacks. San Francisco has yet to announce its starter.

GIANT JOTTINGS: Sandoval’s pinch home run in the eighth inning was the second of his career. The first came on May 8, 2018, at Philadelphia. … Gi Belt’s ninth-inning homer into the Chase Field swimming pool was the second overall of the season. Ex-Giant Hunter Pence hit one earlier this season for Texas. … D-Backs OF Adam Jones has hit safely in his last seven games. … Giants 2B Joe Panik has a streak of reaching base safely in 16 straight games, by hit or walk. … The attendance at Chase Field on Saturday was 25,014; Friday’s attendance was 26,806.

TAGS: San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, Madison Bumgarner, Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Belt, Steven Duggar, Sports Radio Service

Draymond Green shines as Warriors defeat Trail Blazers 110-99 for 3-0 series lead

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @warriors

By: Ana Kieu

The Golden State Warriors walked into the Moda Center to take on the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference Finals Saturday night. The Warriors entered with a 2-0 series lead, which was commanding, but the series wasn’t over yet. The Warriors still had some work to do.

The Warriors’ starting lineup featured Steph Curry, Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Damian Jones. Andrew Bogut was initially slated to start, but Damian Jones reportedly got the nod just moments before the tip-off.

The Blazers played beautiful basketball in the first half.

The Blazers’ back court of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum hit back-to-back three-pointers early in the first quarter. Also, Meyers Leonard made the most out of his second career postseason start. Leonard was a last-minute replacement for Enes Kanter in the Blazers’ starting lineup.

Steph Curry hit a couple of threes and Shaun Livingston’s mid-range shooting game was on fire. But the Blazers held a 29-27 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The Blazers, however, showed the Warriors how basketball should be played in the second quarter. Zach Collins blocked Klay Thompson’s shot for a potential bucket early in the second quarter. Also, Evan Turner made mid-range shots as well as threes from the corner.

Sure, Dub Nation was thrilled to see Draymond Green make a buzzer-beating layup to end the first half. But it was the Blazers who took a 66-53 lead to the locker room at the break.

Meyers Leonard achieved a playoff career-high 16 points in the third quarter. But it was Draymond Green who stole the show by playing with such great energy. Green made some spiffy layups, despite multiple Blazers defenders all around him.

The Warriors finally took a one-point lead 77-76 with 1:54 left in the third quarter. The explosive play of Draymond Green and the slight leadership of Steph Curry and Jordan Bell contributed to the Warriors’ big run. Green had his seventh career playoff triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Blazers gave the Warriors a hard time and Steph Curry made a pass to Jordan Bell for a two, but the buzzer sounded before the shot was made and the Warriors settled for a 82-79 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Blazers were well-aware that they had 12 minutes to get the lead back.

CJ McCollum slid down the court on an arguable right hand grab and received a pair of free throws, but failed to make one or both of them. McCollum later made a two that pulled the Blazers within six 90-84 with 7:09 left in the fourth quarter. Then, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr called a timeout for his team to regroup for a little bit.

It was quite a turnaround for the Warriors, who had an 11-point lead 100-89 with 4:18 left in the fourth quarter. Steph Curry stepped up his game, too. Curry’s efforts helped the Warriors to a 110-99 win and a 3-0 series lead.

Check out the Warriors’ final stats below.

Moreover, Draymond Green became the fifth player in NBA history to tally a triple-double (20 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists and four steals) in three straight NBA Playoffs series in a single postseason.

Game 4 will be Monday night at 6:00 pm on ESPN.

War of Will bounces back in the Preakness Stakes

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @PreaknessStakes

By: Ana Kieu

After clashing with Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby, War of Will bounced back in the Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. War of Will’s jockey was Tyler Gaffalione.

This year’s Preakness Stakes was rather unusual. It was the first to not include a Kentucky Derby winner in 23 years. Maximum Security was initially this year’s Kentucky Derby winner until the controversial disqualification occurred at the hands of the officials. Maximum Security didn’t race. Country House, the designated winner, also didn’t race. That being said, there was no contender for the Triple Crown.

Among the horses War of Will held off was a jockey-less one, who threw his rider off right out of the gate. Fans in attendance and at home were shocked by that particular moment.

At the 144th Preakness Stakes Winners Party, Horseware provided the coolers for the winning horses, including War of Will. Everyone at the Winners Party toasted to the glorious success achieved Saturday.

Wondo rewrites the history book in Earthquakes’ 4-1 win over Fire

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

by Marko Ukalovic

San Jose, Calif- Move over Landon Donovan! The Wondo Watch is finally over thanks to a career game from captain Chris Wondoloski. The Danville native, making his first start since March 30th, scored four goals to become the MLS all-time career goals leader with 148. It paved the way for the San Jose Earthquakes dominating 4-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday afternoon at Avaya Stadium.

San Jose (3-6-2) drew first blood thanks to a great play by Shae Salinas in the 21st minute. Salinas dribbled in from the left wing and sent a low centering pass to a wide open Chris Wondolowski from five yards out and Wondo cashed it in with a one-timer off his right foot into the back post for his first goal of the season tying former Quake Landon Donovan at 145.

“It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work by Wondo”, said Salinas. “He’s been my teammate longer than anybody (I’ve played with) and I’ve been his teammate longer than anybody. It’s an honor to be apart of what he’s done. He’s an incredible goal scorer.”

Chicago (4-4-4) had two good chances to even the score within four minutes of each other. In the 24th minute the ball caromed off a deflection over to Nemanja Nikolic who was wide open in the center of the box but Quakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega made a diving save with his legs to keep Chicago’s leading goal scorer off the scoreboard. Then in the 28th minute, a free kick attempt Aleksandar Katai from just outside the box was stopped by Vega.

History was made in the 48th minute when a centering cross by Christian Espinoza was dropped by Fire goalkeeper David Ousted that landed right on to the foot of Wondo who chipped the ball past Ousted for the record breaking 146th career goal.

“It’s crazy”, said the all-time leading goal scorer in MLS history. “I love visualization. I’d always pictured hitting a 30 yard blast going up the 90. Didn’t really picture the goalie dropping it and tapping it in.”

Wondo scored the hat trick in the 74th minute when Espinoza led a rush down the right slot. He was tripped up but referee Alex Chillowicz allowed the Quakes to play the advantage and the ball found its way to a wide open Wondolowski who fired the ball into the upper left corner for goal #147.

“Honestly I’m just having fun right now”, said Wondo. “It’s really rejuinating and has just reignited this passion (I have playing soccer). I’m really having fun now.”

Wondo wasn’t done as four minutes laters he added to his all-time total when Jackson Yueill centered a ball from the right over to the left to a once again wide open Wondolowski who tapped into the goal into an empty net sending the crowd into a frenzy for goal #148.

Chicago scored a late goal in the 83rd minute when a shot by Katai deflected off a body that changed direction on Vega and into the back of the net for Katai’s third goal of the season.

“I can say it (now) because it’s going to seem odd to you guys”, Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda said jokingly. “But when I was speaking to my coaching staff today (before the game), I said maybe he’ll score four goals today.”

Wondo was substituted in the 90th minute to a standing ovataion from the Avaya Stadium faithful.

GAME NOTES: The Quakes have won four consecutive home games this season.

Forward Danny Hoesen suffered an injury yesterday that prevented him from playing in the game which cleared the way for Wondo to start.

Chicago had their two game winning streak snapped after back-to-back wins for the first time in two years after wins over the New England and Minnesota. It also snapped the Fire’s three game winning streak against the Quakes. San Jose leads the overall series 9-6-5.

A video message from Donovan was played at the 90th minute congratulating Wondolowski’s accomplishment.

Johan Kappelhof was issued a yellow card in the 41st minute on a tackle he made on Magnus Eriksson. Espinoza was issued his own yellow card in the 54th minute. Then Jorge Corrales received a yellow card in the 63rd minute. Katai received a yellow card at the end of the match.

Fire midfielder Nicholas Gaitan did not play due to a thigh injury.

UP NEXT: The Quakes travel north of the border to take on Toronto FC on Sunday 5/26 at 4:30pm at BMO Field.

 

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Final podcast with Matt Harrington: How the Bruins would match up against either San Jose or St. Louis in the Finals

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: nhl.com/bruins

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt talks about the advantage for the Boston Bruins to have some time off before getting into Game 1 of the Finals against either St. Louis or San Jose.

#2 In the series against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Bruins made it look easy. They have been a very consistent team.

#3 Usually the team that has finished early that meets a team that has either just finished Game 7 or their playoffs or  at a disadvantage because of the lag time.

#4 Looking up and down the roster, the Bruins are loaded they have a team that would be favored in meeting either San Jose and St Louis. Who would you see them in the next round?

#5 Lastly, talk about the year that Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. He has had a great year in net. How do you see him matching up against either the Blues or Sharks’ offensive attacks?

Join Matt for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference podcast at  http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final podcast with Len Shapiro: Despite loss, Sharks have advantage and home ice; series tied at 2-2

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final podcast with Len:

#1 As San Jose Sharks’ Justin Braun said after the game in St. Louis on Friday night, the start of the game buried the Sharks.

#2 The Blues got scoring help in the first period from Ivan Barbashev for his first postseason goal at 0:35 and the second one coming from Tyler Bozak for his fourth postseason goal at 17:53.

#3 After the game, Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said the series is tied, the Sharks have home ice and DeBoer says he feels good about it.

#4 Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 29 out of 30 shots, shutting out the Sharks in the first and second periods.

#5 Game 5 comes back to San Jose on Sunday night at SAP Center. Despite the loss, the series with home ice for the Sharks looks to be in their favor.

Len Shapiro does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Western Conference podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Diamondbacks blank Giants behind timely hitting

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Dbacks

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, May 17, 2019

PHOENIX — It was Game of Thrones Night Friday at Chase Field, pitting Team Giant vs. Team Diamondback.

Team Diamondback got timely hits when necessary, while Team Giant did not.

David Peralta’s fourth-inning home run, followed by two extended rallies, gave Arizona a 7-0 NL West win over visiting San Francisco.

The Giants stranded 10 baserunners.

“We just didn’t get that big hit when we had runners out there,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said of his team’s scoring chances in the second, third, sixth, seventh and eighth innings. “We tried to get things rolling and just didn’t get it tonight.”

With one out in the Arizona fourth inning, David Peralta broke up the scoreless deadlock with a home run to left-center, just left of the 413-foot marker. It was Peralta’s seventh homer of the season.

San Francisco loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on consecutive singles by Buster Posey and Brandon Belt and a walk to Pablo Sandoval, but Arizona reliever Yoshihisa Hirano replaced starter Merrill Kelly (4-4), struck out Brandon Crawford, and Kevin Pillar flied out to right.

The Diamondbacks added two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Jarrod Dyson walked and scored two batters later on Adam Jones’ double down the left-field line off San Francisco starter Jeff Samardzija.

“(Samardzija’s) been one of the top pitchers for a long time,” Jones, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI, said. “So, when you get an opportunity to score off of them, you have to. Same thing tomorrow night against (Madison) Bumgarner. They’re very stingy with runs.”

Ketel Marte then greeted Giants reliever Reyes Moronta with a broken-bat infield single, driving in David Peralta, who was intentionally walked prior to the double by Jones.

Samardzija (2-2) gave up three earned runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings, didn’t strike out anybody, and issued three walks.

“Shark threw well,” Bochy said. “He kept us in the game and gave us a chance. He had good command and was doing a nice job. He gave up that walk (to Dyson) right before the big hit by Jones and he’d like to have that one back.”

Arizona tacked on four more runs in the seventh off reliever Derek Holland after loading the bases. After Alex Avila walked, pinch-hitter Wilmer Flores singled and Dyson was hit by a pitch, Eduardo Escobar delivered a three-run triple. Peralta followed with an run batted in when he reached on an error by Belt at first.

In between the Dyson and Peralta at-bats, Bochy was ejected for the third time this season following an argument with home plate umpire Andy Fletcher.

“You can’t argue a check-swing,” Bochy explained about his 77th career ejection. “

Kelly struck out four and walked one while giving up six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

“I’ve been very impressed with him,” Jones said of Kelly, who pitched in the Korean League for four years before joining the D-Backs this season. “He knows how to use his defense, works fast and throws strikes.”

Joe Panik was 2-for-4 with two doubles for San Francisco. Posey and Belt each collected two hits.

Madison Bumgarner (2-4, 4.04 ERA) is on the hill for the Giants on Saturday, while the Diamondbacks have yet to announce their starters for either Saturday or Sunday.

GIANT JOTTINGS: Giants C Buster Posey was activated prior to the game from the concussion injured list. Posey had missed San Francisco’s last six games after taking a foul tip off his mask on May 5 in Cincinnati. … Fox Sports Arizona took a moment to wish a happy 71st birthday to former White Sox 1B Carlos May, the only MLB player in history to wear his birthday on the back of his jersey.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Belt, Posey expected back in the lineup tonight in Arizona

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @mercnews

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he kept first baseman Brandon Belt out of the lineup due to his inflamed knee Bochy says Belt is listed as day-to-day.

#2 Belt has had two knee surgeries. He went 0-3 with a walk on Tuesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays. Did his 0-for-3 have something to do with his knee being inflamed?

#3 The bobblehead for Pablo Sandoval reads “Let Pablo pitch” but someday the bobblehead for Giants pitcher Shaun Anderson will read “Let Shaun hit” because two hits in his first MLB game and some solid hitting would make only teammate Madison Bumgarner proud.

#4 Buster Posey is expected to be in the lineup on Friday night to open up the series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was out with a concussion for seven days. How cautious will the Giants and Posey be about his return?

#5 Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto is doing a 40-pitch bullpen session as he catches up with the team in Arizona. Bochy said he’s not sure if Cueto will be back this season after having Tommy John surgery, but he wants to see how and where Cueto is at in these bullpen sessions.

Join Miguel for the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com