nbcsports.com photo: San Jose Sharks’ Tomas Hertl (48) celebrates after scoring a goal in the second period, Hertl scored both San Jose goals in the Sharks’ win on Saturday night at SAP Center in Game 5.
On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Daniel:
1 Shark Tank gets loud as San Jose takes Game 5 from Avs
2 Tortorella guarantees Blue Jackets will extend series with Boston to seven games
3 Hurricanes complete sweep of Isles; Stars take lead over St. Louis
photo from apnews.com: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Gregory Polanco, right, and Bryan Reynolds (10) celebrate after scoring on a triple by Kevin Newman off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher J.B. Wendelken (57) during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh on Saturday, May 4, 2019.
On the Oakland A’s podcast with Joey:
#1 The Oakland A’s wasted no time in the first inning of Saturday night’s game at PNC Park, getting three runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s always key to jump to a early lead.
#2 Taking a look at the scoring, Khris Davis singled to right to drive Matt Chapman home to score. Kendrys Morales hit his first triple of the year to drive Davis home to score, and Morales would score the third Oakland run of the inning on a Stephen Piscotty single to left field to help the offense in the A’s three-run rally.
#3 It didn’t last long as the Pirates Josh Bell hit a homer in the second inning off A’s starter Chris Bassitt and Bell came back in the bottom of the third and took Bassitt to deep center with a two-run homer to tie the game.
#4 The Pirates scored three more runs in the bottom of the seventh Kevin Newman hit his first triple of the season off A’s reliever JB Wendelken that drove in two runners on base to score and gave the Pirates a 5-4 lead. Francisco Cervelli then hit a 2-2 change up from Wendelken into left field that allowed Newman to score easily from third base for a 6-4 lead, which was the final.
#5 The Oakland A’s Frankie Montas (4-2, 2.97 ERA) gets the start against the Pirates Jordan Lyles (4-2, 2.42 ERA) to conclude the three-game series at PNC Park Sunday
USA Today photo: San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Magnus Eriksson (7) controls the ball between FC Cincinnati defender Mathieu Deplagne (17) and midfielder Frankie Amaya (24) during the first half at Avaya Stadium.
By London Marq
The San Jose Earthquakes have come a long way in their previous five games. After starting the season 0-4 and looking completely disconnected, they seemed to be well on their way to a bottom of the table finish. Since then, San Jose has found some swagger and momentum. With a 2-1-2 record over the past five matches, they have managed to climb back into playoff contention.
Give credit to the head coach Matias Almeyda, who in his first year with the Quakes has managed his team through adversity, despite mounting pressure. After two matches on the road, the Quakes returned to Avaya Stadium to host a struggling FC Cincinnati squad. Cincinnati entered play coming off of four straight shutout losses. Momentum seemed to be in San Jose’s favor. And that was where it would stay.
From the opening kickoff, San Jose was in control. Playing a more confident, aggressive style than earlier this season, the Quakes were able to dominate the ball. Being physical can come with a price, however, as San Jose found themselves with two yellow cards in the first 15 minutes.
One applied to Shea Salinas, the other to Cristian Espinoza. Jackson Yueill played an aggressive game in the offensive third. While none of his shots were on target, they were right around the posts causing the FC Cincinnati keeper Tyton fits. Hometown hero, Nick Lima, found pay dirt in the 22nd minute with a low strike to the far post from outside box.
San Jose would remain in control for the remainder of the half, taking their one-goal lead into the locker room. The tempo of the game wouldn’t change until the 51st minute when Cristian Espinoza made a critical mistake, pulling Cincinnati defender Deplagne down from behind as he moved towards the goal.
Espinoza would draw his second yellow with the foul and exited the match, leaving San Jose down a man for the remaining 39 minutes. With this, Cincinnati was able to capitalize and put some pressure on the San Jose goal. Quakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega, who appeared completely inept early in the season, made an absolutely sensational save to keep Cincinnati off the board. San Jose was able to endure the loss of Espinoza and ride the momentum to a one-goal win. With the win, they’ve move into seventh in the Western Conference and hold a potential playoff spot, for now.
After their miraculous comeback in the series opener on Friday night, the Cincinnati Reds were going to allow the San Francisco Giants do it to them two nights in a row.
Backed by five home runs and a strong performance by Tanner Roark, the Reds evened up the four-game series with a 9-2 thrashing of the Giants at Great American Ballpark.
Roark pitched 6.2 innings, giving two runs, while scattering four hits, walking two and striking out seven and picked up his second win of the season.
Once again, Dereck Rodriguez did not fare so well on the mound, as he went five innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits, walking four and striking out just one, as he fell to 3-4.
Yaisel Puig got the Reds on the board in the first inning, as he singled to left field to score Jesse Winker.
Just a 1/2 inning later, the Giants tied the game up, as Steven Duggar singled to right field to easily score Kevin Pillar.
Unfortunately, the Reds would break the tie and take the lead for good in the bottom of the second inning, as Tucker Barnhart grounded into a fielders choice that allowed Jose Peraza to score the eventual game-winning run.
After Joey Votto walked, Eugenio Suarez launched a three-run home run that broke the game wide open for the Reds.
Barnhart drove in his second run of the game, as he a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Derek Dietrich followed up his two home run game from Friday night and hit a solo home run, his third of the series in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Nick Senzel, who made his major league debut on Friday night made it back-to-back home runs, as he hit his first major league home run that extended the Reds lead up to 8-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
That would have been the second home run of the game for Senzel, but Pillar made a sensational catch that ended the bottom of the third inning. Pillar climbed the center field wall, grabbed hold of it and pulled the ball back into play.
Senzel was robbed of a hit by Pillar in the bottom of the first inning in his major league debut on Friday night, as he made a diving catch that denied Senzel of his first major league hit.
Duggar continued his hot hitting, as he singled in the top of the seventh inning to score the Giants’ second and final run, when Brandon Crawford scored, after he doubled with one out in the inning.
Switch-handed pitcher Pat Venditte made his Giants debut in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he pitched two innings.
The only hit that Venditte allowed was a solo home run to Puig in the bottom of the seventh inning.
NOTES: Evan Longoria was scratched from the lineup after he experienced tightness and inflammation in his left shoulder. Longoria is considered to be day-to-day, and was replaced in the starting lineup by Pablo Sandoval.
To make room for Venditte on the roster, Tyler Beede, who started Friday nights opener was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
Matt Kemp was released by the Reds not even four months after he was acquired by the team from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kemp, who is currently on the injured list after suffering a broken rib when he collided with the outfield wall at Petco Park in a game against the San Diego Padres on April 23 was hitting just .200 with one home run and five runs batted in. Kemp was acquired from the Dodgers along with Puig, pitcher Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer.
UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija will take the mound on Sunday afternoon, as he will face the Reds for the first time in nearly two years. The last time Samardzija faced the Reds was on May 14, 2017, an 8-3 win by the Giants. Samardzija is 2-1 with a 3.53 ERA.
Luis Castillo, who was the National League Pitcher of the month for April, will make his first start in the month of May. Castillo is 3-1 on the season with a 1.45 ERA.
On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Matt:
#1 With the San Jose Sharks Joe Pavelski skating on Wednesday and wearing full head gear with mouth protector, how soon is he expected to come back?
#2 The Sharks’ Erik Karlsson has skated much better. He has four shots against Colorado in 25:24, which is much better than he shot against Vegas in the first round.
#3 Carolina Hurricanes goals from Teuvo Teravainen and Greg McKegg got the New York Islanders goalie pulled. The Canes goalie Curtis McElhinney stoppd 26 shots — that’s his second best of his postseason career. Carolina picked up a 5-2 win to sweep the New York Islanders in four games.
#4 The Dallas Stars’ Jason Spezza picked up a crucial goal and Stars goalie Ben Bishop stopped 38 shots in the Stars’ 2-1 win over the Blues to take a 3-2 series lead.
#5 Columbus and Boston are tied in their series 2-2 and a crucial Game 5 is tonight in Boston. Matt tells us his expectations in this one.
On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs/SJ Sharks podcast with Len:
#1 Judging from the San Jose Sharks and the Colorado Avalanche, does Len see this series going to seven games?
#2 How much of a difference in goal has Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer made in this series he’s been 93% average in league? His big game was game four when he shutout the Sharks 3-0 saved 32 shots in game four.
#3 Also, not to take anything away from Sharks goalie Martin Jones, whose save percentage is .910 in the postseason, which is up from his regular season save percentage of .896.
#4 Although the series is tied at 2-2, it’s important to note the Sharks won two of the first three games of this series and can lend into Game 5.
#5 The Avalanche’s Nathan McKinnon has six goals and seven assists in eight playoff games. How important is it for the Sharks defense to key in on him in Game 5?
#6 The Sharks have not been able to put a decent power play together in this series going 1-11.
#7 Thornton, Sorenson, LeBanc have combined for one assist in the last three games
#8 Hertl and Kane do not have a point in the last two games, Pavelski is a no show and will not play
Len Shapiro is covering the San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Playoffs series and podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
For horse racing fans, the Kentucky Derby is the greatest two minutes in sports. This year’s was Country House. Last year’s winner was Justify.
Rain poured in Louisville, Ky. for about an hour before the post time. As a result, officials were forced to downgrade the track condition to sloppy for the third year in a row.
Despite a muddy track at Churchill Downs, the 65-1 Country House won the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Country House, however, was technically not supposed to be the winner. The favorite, Omaha Beach, was pulled out of the race days ago.
There was a controversial objection on the field and the officials reviewed a light touch between Maximum Security and Country House. Jockeys briefed while the judges watched replays of the race. The official results and payouts were determined after the completed objection review.
The initial winner was Maximum Security, who was immediately disqualified after the objective review. Maximum Security was 4-1.
During the objection review process, Maximum Security jockey Luis Saez told NBC that he did all he could to help his horse stay straight after he became scared of the muddy surface.
Maximum Security trainer Jason Servis said, “He straightened up right away and I don’t think it affected the outcome of the race.” Servis reportedly prayed to the racing gods.
This was the first time in Kentucky Derby history where the horse who finished first was disqualified.
Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, and it is the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, Mexico in 1862, which marks a Mexican military victory over the French forces of Napoleon. It is NOT Mexican Independence Day, that is on September 16. But Cinco de Mayo is a popular day that ironically is celebrated much more in the US than in Mexico.
What? How can that be.The San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Bay Area is one of the most wealthiest areas of the country. The South Bay and Silicon Valley is leading the way when it comes to the world’s technology. Today, the nine-county Bay Area has a population of over seven million people and we are denied to have one our teams at home? For the record, it also happens in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, three metropolitan areas with two major league teams who play less than 50 miles apart.
The MLB’s 30 team schedule is truly a crazy one, with interleague games since 1997, beginning with the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants in Arlington, Texas. That day, Texas and three other games on the West Coast, teams from the National League, played teams from the American League during the regular season for the first time. In the end, they played a total of 214 games spread over three periods, the last ending on September 3.
I was working that first ever interleague game, broadcasting for the Giants when they played the Rangers in Arlington. On June 12 ,1997, a historical first interleague game where the Giants beat the Rangers 4-3. Mark Gardner (7-2) got the victory for the Giants, while Darren Oliver (3-8) was charged with the loss for the Rangers, and Rod Beck saved his 20th game for the Giants. I remember it well and I still have a souvenir they passed in the press box for that historical day.
It is a shame with the great weather we are enjoying in the Bay Area, baseball fans will not be able to attend a game this Cinco de Mayo. However, on Monday, September 16, the A’s will be at home hosting the Kansas City Royals, so you can celebrate Mexican Independence at the Coliseum that day. Also, on September 16, the Giants have an off-day in Boston and will begin a three-game set against the Red Sox the next day. Oh, yes…interleague play!
This will be a game that Stephen Vogt will never forget for the remainder of his major-league career.
Vogt hit a game-tying home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, and then Evan Longoria hit the tie breaking home run in the top of the 11th inning, as the San Francisco Giants came back from an 8-0 deficit to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 12-11 at Great American Ballpark.
This was the Giants first win at Great American Ballpark in three years, and were outscored 58-15 during a seven-game losing streak that ended with this thrilling victory.
As for largest comeback in Giants history, this was the fifth time in team history that the team came back from an eight-run deficit.
The four prior times came on Sept. 8, 1947 at Pittsburgh; April 14, 1970 at Atlanta; Sept. 23, 1970 at Los Angeles; and Sept. 4, 1989 at Cincinnati.
Derek Dietrich hit two three-run home runs, as the Reds jumped out to an 8-0 lead at the end of just three innings and it looked like this game was going to get out of control; however, the resiliency of this team did not allow to happen.
The Giants began to chip away at the Reds big lead in the top of the fourth inning, as they scored three runs off of former Oakland As pitcher Sonny Gray.
Brandon Crawford got the Giants on the board, as he grounded out to score Buster Posey, who led off the inning with a single.
After Kevin Pillar flew out for the second out of the inning, Steven Duggar cut the lead down to 8-3, as he singled to center to score Longoria and Brandon Belt.
It was a huge night for Duggar as well, as he backed up his first ever three hit game on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers and then went 3-for-5 in the opener of this three-game series.
Yaisel Puig then scored the ninth run of the game for the Reds, as he scored on a play that saw Nick Vincent commit two errors on ball hit by Dietrich.
Kyle Farmer extended the lead up to seven runs once again, as he hit a solo home run to extend the up to 10-3.
Then the Giants began to chip away even more, as they scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning, when Duggar hit a sacrifice fly to score Crawford, then Vogt doubled to right on a play where you saw Puig nearly throw Pillar at the plate after falling in the outfield and then Joe Panik launched a two-run home run to get within three runs.
Jesse Winker gave the Reds a four-run lead, as he hit a ground-rule double to score Tyler Barnhart in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Giants cut the lead down to one in the top of the eighth inning, as Brandon Belt hit a two-run single that scored Duggar and Vogt and then Longoria came up with the first of his two big hits on the evening, as he singled to score Tyler Austin.
With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Vogt hit the first pitch he saw from Reds closer Raisel Iglesias to tie up this wild game.
It would be tied until Longoria led off the inning, as he hit a solo home run off of Jared Hughes that barely landed into the left field seats that gave the Giants their first and what turned out to be their only lead of the game at the most opportune time.
Reyes Moronta pitched one inning, allowing a walk and striking out three, as he won for the first time this season.
Will Smith struck out two in the bottom of the inning to pick up his eighth save of the season.
Tyler Beede made his season debut, and it will be one that the rookie would like to forget as soon as possible. Beede lasted just two and one-thirds innings, walking two and striking out three and did not fare in the decision.
Gray, who liked he was on his way to his first win of the season, as he left the game with the lead and went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, walking three and striking out two, as he did not fare in the decision.
Mike Gerber, who was President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidis first acquisition, but was designated for assignment during spring training was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento and he doubled and walked in four plate appearances.
NOTES: To make room for Gerber on the roster, the team designated outfielder Gerardo Parra for assignment. Parra, who signed a minor-league contract with the team in February, hit just .198 with one home run.
Erik Kratz was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring.
UP NEXT: Dereck Rodriguez, who allowed six runs in his last start against the New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon will take the mound on Saturday, while the Reds will send Tanner Roark to the hill.
It may be the offseason for the Stanford Cardinal, but the prestigious university’s football and men’s basketball aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
Here’s a roundout of what has been going on in Stanford, Calif. this week:
Football May 1, 2019
Here’s what they’re saying about the five Cardinal players selected in the 2019 NFL Draft over the weekend:
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles Executive VP of Football Operations
“It’s his ability at the line of scrimmage to set defenders up. He’s very crafty and uses his basketball skills to box people out. He creates separation from that and he showed his athleticism as well at his Pro Day. This guy’s a good football player and we are happy to get him.”
Joe Douglas, Philadelphia Eagles VP of Player Personnel
“JJ is a great fit for what we do. His ability to go up and get the ball, his strength, his ability to separate and finish, his contested catches in the scoring zone. He’s just a highly productive guy. Really tough, really strong.”
JJ Arcega-Whiteside on “Why Stanford”
“It’s the best combination of academics and sports. We win the Directors’ Cup every year. I went on a visit and met Condoleezza Rice. I shook her hand and ended up working for her this past summer. There’s no other place like that in the country, where you can do that and still win 9, 10, 11 games every year.”
JJ Arcega-Whiteside on David Shaw
“He’s been here before. He knows the ins and outs. Coach Shaw, there’s a reason we win, because he knows what he’s doing. We watch a lot of Philly, watch a lot of guys because if you can learn from the best it’s going to make you better. Having the same terminology and schemes. Having Coach Shaw because he’s been here before, there’s a lot of reasons we win a lot of games every year.”
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Chris Ballard, Indianapolis Colts General Manager
“Any (line)backer we take we think can play all three (positions). Bobby can play all three. He’s 240 pounds. He’s a big dude with long arms. You’ll be hard-pressed to find two other inside backers in the league that have arms as long as (Darius) Leonard and Okereke. So he’ll get in and he’ll compete. And the best three (linebackers) will play.”
Chris McGaha, Indianapolis Colts scout
“He’s got the length, 35-inch arms. He’s fast. He ran fast (in the 40). I don’t remember the number exactly, but (he) plays with effort, kind of like Darius (Leonard). Instincts, tackling, sideline-to-sideline guy. He’s good in coverage, too. We kinda saw him in the same light (as Leonard). Can’t wait to put those guys together.”
Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins Head Coach
“Very talented. Unfortunately he had the injury. When you go by the board, he was ranked up there pretty high for us and he was available and we took him. Give him time to get better. Number one, get him in the building — get his rehab going on the right path which it already is, and the type of guy that he is — a team captain — I think he’ll be ready in no time. We just got the opportunity to draft a player with unbelievable production at a big time school.”
Michael Renner, PFF News and Analysis
“A handful of backs in this class rightfully deserve to have their ‘speed’ praised, but none of them have speed the way Love has speed. We’re talking legitimate angle-altering juice that doesn’t even need broken tackles to take it to the house.”
Connor Muldowney, Saturday Blitz
“Washington got one of the best steals of the draft and only needed to wait until the fourth round. This kid is a future NFL star.”
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Nick Caserio, New England Patriots Director of Player Personnel
“He’s a pretty athletic kid, a great kid, great traits, smart, mature.”
John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers General Manager
“He makes big plays in big moments. A lot of contested catches. Someone is all over him, and he’s got an ability. I think he’s got a big catch radius, and the nice thing about Stanford football is that they’re playing traditional football.”
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers Head Coach
“He’s a good blocker, you look at what makes him successful in college. He’s not depending on his speed. He gets open with his hands and with his feet. He’s a tough player. He’s not scared at all out there going over the middle. He’s big enough with his size, he’s smart enough to be very good in how he blocks and how we will use him blocking. That’s why he was very good for them and that’s why we think he has a good chance to make our team.”
Men’s basketball April 29, 2019
Cardinal senior Josh Sharma has been selected to play in the USA Basketball 3×3 National Championship.
The tournament features 15 teams competing May 3-4 at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. The event will also serve as the 2019 USA Basketball Men’s 3×3 National Team trials, as all eligible athletes will be in consideration for selection to the 2019 USA Men’s 3×3 World Cup and 2019 USA Men’s 2019 US Pan American Games 3×3 Basketball teams.
The USA 3×3 Nationals will tip-off with preliminary games from 3-10:30 pm on Friday. The preliminary round will continue from 9 am-12:30 pm on Saturday, and, after teams are seeded based on preliminary records, the knockout round will begin at 5:40 pm. The championship game, which will be streamed live online at usab.com/live, is set to tip at 10:20 pm.
Sharma is part of the 3Ball California entry, which also includes Olin Carter III of San Diego, Henry Caruso of Santa Clara and Frankie Ferrari of San Francisco.
Sharma also played in the NABC College All-Star Game and the 3×3 competition at the Final Four earlier this month.
Sharma, who was a candidate for the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player Award, established a school record for field goal percentage in a season. His mark of .673 was not only a program record, it was the eighth-best field goal percentage in a season in Pac-12 history. He completed his standout career eighth on Stanford’s field goal percentage list, shooting .563 for his career.
Sharma was an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention selection as a senior, after finishing the year as the conference’s field goal percentage leader and ranking in the top-10 in the league in offensive rebounds (3rd, 2.6 orpg), blocks (7th, 1.4 bpg) and rebounds (9th, 7.1 rpg). He averaged 11.3 ppg and 8.2 rpg during Pac-12 play, posting double-doubles in five of his final seven games. He averaged 14.7 ppg and 11.1 rpg over those final seven contests.
Olympic fans will see the launch of a new basketball discipline with the inclusion of 3×3 in 2020. The exciting and fast-paced game officially was unveiled in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games and has since become a fan favorite at FIBA 3×3 World Cup events. Played on a half court with a 10-minute clock, and a 12-second shot clock, the first team to 21 points, or the team in the lead at the end of regulation, is the winner.
Held annually since 2012, this year marks the eighth edition of the USA Basketball 3×3 National Championships, and the first time the nationals will be held outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the international level, USA Basketball has been represented by at least one national team in every FIBA 3×3 World Cup, FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup and Youth Olympic Games held since 2010.
