Author: Sports Radio Service

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Ex-Giant Romo starts his first career game; Belting them out of the yard, Belt with 3-run jack

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@SFGiants photo: San Francisco Giant Brandon Belt goes yard for a three-run homer against the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park Sunday.

Morris Phillips on the SF Giants podcast:

Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo pitched in his first career start for the Tampa Bay Rays. Romo used as a closer or reliever in his Giants, Dodgers and now Rays days, pitched an inning plus no runs, walking two, and striking out three against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

Brandon Belt: Belt has been hitting the ball out of AT&T Park like he’s auditioning for the Hall of Fame. Belt hit another majestic home run this time a three run shot that helped put the Giants in the win column with a four-run 9-5 victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Belt’s been hitting as hard as anyone else and getting as many home runs as he has in a short amount of time this has been an incredible ride for him.

Next up at AT&T: The Giants are off Monday, but will hit the road starting with Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then they get another day off on Thursday 24th then open up a three-game series in Chicago on Friday night against the Cubs. Then they close out the road trip in Colorado next Monday night at Coors Field.

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Belt continues power surge in Giants’ 9-5 win over Rockies

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Brandon Belt gave the San Francisco Giants the lead for good with one swing of the bat.

Belt hit a three-run home run off of Jake McGee in the bottom of the seventh inning, helping the Giants to a come-from-behind 9-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies before a crowd of 40,334 at AT&T Park Sunday.

“You feel good when he is up there,” said Bruce Bochy.

With the victory, the Giants gained a split in their first series against the Rockies, who they will see beginning on May 28 for a three-game series at Coors Field.

The Giants also finished the home stand on a high note, as they won the final two games of the home stand and went 4-3 against the Cincinnati Reds and Rockies.

Gorkys Hernandez hit his fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning, a two-run blast to straightaway centerfield that looked like a lazy fly ball; however, the Bay Area wind let it sail over the centerfield wall to get the Giants within a run of the Rockies. Miguel Gomez hit a pinch-hit single just before the Hernandez home run.

“Gorkys had a huge hit, Tommy (Tomlinson) had a huge hit into the gap,” said Bochy.

Just one inning later, the Giants took their first lead of the game, as Kelby Tomlinson tripled to the left-center field wall that scored both Belt, who singled to lead off the inning and Brandon Crawford, who walked with one out.

“Just trying to put together a nice at-bat, swung the bat well today and yesterday,” said Tomlinson.

The Rockies tied up the game in the top of the seventh inning, as Ian Desmond walked to lead off the inning, then stole second and went to third on a Nick Hundley throwing error. Nolan Arenado then tied up the game with a single up the middle off of Giants reliever Sam Dyson.

Ty Blach went just 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out one, as he did not fare in the decision.

Like Blach, Tyler Anderson did not fare in the decision for the Rockies, as he went 5.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, walking one and striking out four.

Hernandez got the rally started in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he singled to lead off the inning, and after a Buster Posey fly out to centerfield, Evan Longoria then walked and then Belt hit his 11thhome run of the season. Hundley then extended the lead, as he hit his fifth home run of the season.

The Giants took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Posey tripled to the 421’ mark in right-center field and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Noel Cuevas, who made a terrific catch to take an extra base hit away from Longoria.

The Rockies finally broke through in the top of the fourth inning, as Trevor Story doubled in Arenado, who led off the inning with a single. Cuevas then singled to score Story from second base.

Blach was then sent to the showers in the top of the fifth inning, as Anderson helped out his own cause, as he singled to lead off the inning and then on a Story single. After Chris Iannetta popped out for the second out of the inning, Cuevas drove in his second run of the game, with a bases loaded walk to give the Rockies a 4-1 lead.

Will Smith continues to make great strides as he comes back from Tommy John Surgery that kept him out for the entire 2017 season. In his only inning of work, Smith struck out the side.

“He has been throwing the ball so well,” said Bochy.

NOTES: After an off-day on Monday, the Giants open a brief two-game series at Minute Maid Park against the defending World Champion Houston Astros. Andrew Suarez will take the mound in the opener for the Giants, while Gerrit Cole will take the mound for the Astros.

The off-day on Monday, will be their first off-day since May 3, the day before the beginning of their three-city, 10-road trip thru Atlanta, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. During the streak of playing 17 days in a row, the Giants went 8-9.

Mac Williamson continues to swing the bat well, as he through his first two games with the Sacramento Rivercats on his rehab assignment, Williamson is 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a double and two home runs and six runs batted in.

Hunter Pence went 2-for-5 on Saturday night with an RBI, and is now hitting .321 (18-for-56) with two doubles, six RBIs, and four walks in his 14 games with the Rivercats, as he recovers from his sprained right thumb.

UP NEXT: The Giants will return to action Tuesday against the Astros at 5:10 pm PST.

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Pinder’s slam gets A’s third straight win over Jays; Giants’ Melancon may not close for SF; Giants Utility man Panda likely to fill in at second

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photo from sbnation.com: Chad Pinder clears the bases with this swing a grand slam that helped the A’s win three straight over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. The A’s and Jays meet again on Sunday.

On the MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Chad Pinder hits grand slam in A’s win at Toronto.

2 Mark Melancon not likely to jump back to closer’s role with Giants; Bumgarner making progress.

3 Panda may see action at second base for Giants before Joe Panik returns.

4 Brandon Belt hears from Joe Torre for comments about umpires.

5 Twins put former MVP Joe Mauer on DL with concussion symptoms.

6 Tim Tebow having great month at Double-A, could move up.

Daniel Dullum does the MLB The Show podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Earthquakes lose to D.C. United 3-1

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes welcomed D.C. United to Avaya Stadium Saturday night. San Jose looked forward to Retro Night while D.C. hoped to end their two-game losing skid.

Chris Wehan, a winger from Orange, California, made his MLS debut with the Quakes on this cool, windy evening in the South Bay. The Quakes appeared to be ready for the match, but they turned out to be unprepared. Well, at least in the first half, that is.

DC United grabbed a 1-0 lead at the 15th minute. Zoltan Stieber slipped behind the back line to get on the score sheet for the third straight game.

It wasn’t long before DC United doubled their lead. Darren Mattock scored a goal off a pass from Luciano Acosta to make it 2-0 at the 20th minute.

DC United capitalized off a Quakes’ turnover for a 3-0 lead at the 37th minute. Yamil Asad scored the third goal of the game in the midst of excess pressure.

After what appeared to be a countless number of missed shot attempts, San Jose cut its deficit to 3-1 at the 43rd minute. Danny Hoesen scored the Quakes’ first goal of the match.

Hoesen provided a necessary boost to help the Quakes avoid a shutout, but DC United proceeded to take a 3-1 lead to the locker room at the end of the first half.

Both teams returned to the field for the second half. Quakes captain Chris Wondolowski also entered the match, which excited most, if not all, fans in attendance.

Quakes goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell continued making noteworthy saves, including a flawless reaction save at the 57th minute, to fend off what could’ve been a fourth DC United goal.

The Quakes swapped Jackson Yueill in favor of Quincy Amarikwa, who made it clear that it was Quincy time.

Unfortunately, San Jose was unable to get past DC United as they kicked multiple saves that either ended up caught by the opposing goalkeeper David Ousted or just wide of the net.

The Quakes made their third and final substitution at the 82nd minute. Tommy Thompson took Vako’s spot on the field.

After a full 90 minutes plus three minutes of stoppage time, the score remained in the same and DC United defeated the Quakes 3-1.

Notes 
Quakes’ starting lineup
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D.C. United’s starting lineup
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Up Next
Quakes head to L.A. to take on the Galaxy next Friday, May 25th at 8:00 pm PST.

D.C. United also head to L.A., but to face the LAFC next Saturday, May 26th at 7:00 pm PST.

By any Justifiable means necessary: Justify just one race short of the Triple Crown

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Jeffrey F Bill Baltimore Sun photo: Jockey Mike E Smith rides Justify (7) who holds a close  lead followed by Good Magic just behind on the inside

By Matt Harrington and Joe Lami

It started out with a victory at decisive victory at the Kentucky Derby for what was to put the Preakness winner on the brink for a Triple Crown.  The gallop on Saturday at the Preakness in Maryland had Justify take the spoils for his second consecutive win in muddy foggy conditions on the Pilimco Track.

It was not for the faint of heart as Justify graced the track with a close half of length win in 1:55.93. Bravazo was runner up to Justify while Tenfold finished up in third. This was a competitive race and with the top three horses putting it to the proverbial pedal to the medal there was no surrendering but Justify was just that length better.

Champagne on Ice: Trainer Bob Baffert said it was the hardest race that Justify has ever run and was really put to the test, “It was a hard race today on him, probably the hardest race he’s had, but he’s getting fit,” Baffer said.

The muddy conditions might have the reason why the competition was so close at the Preakness. At Kentucky the odds were 2-5 for Justify, Good Magic who had 7-2 odds Good Magic was not anywhere close to Justify and for good measure no other competing horses at the Kentucky Derby had double digit odds like Justify or Good Magic.

At the Preakness there were only four horses who kept up on the muddy track and for Justify’s competitors the odds were much larger for any chance for a win. The odds for Bravazo were 15-1 and Tenfold had 25-1 odds.

PLACE HORSE
1 Justify
2 Bravazo
3 Tenfold
4 Good Magic
5 Lone Sailor
6 Sporting Chance
7 Diamond King
8 Quip

The Belmont Stakes sets the stage for the possibility for Justify to become the 13th thoroughbred to win a Triple Crown. The last winner was American Pharaoh in 2015 Baffert also was the trainer of American Pharaoh. 37 years previous to American Pharaoh’s victory in 2015 the last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed.

Next up the Belmont Stakes: The Belmont is slated for June 9, 2018 a date that could catapult Justify as the second horse in three years to win a triple crown. Baffert has trained some of the best horses and there’s that air of confidence from Baffert that Justify could just get that one more needed race.

Matt Harrington and Joe Lami are talk show hosts for Sports Talk podcasts and http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Crawford continues to swing bat well; Giants defeat Rockies 9-4

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Photo credit: @MLB_News247

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Brandon Crawford continues to swing the bat well, and with that the San Francisco Giants broke out of their recent funk.

Crawford went 3-for-5 on the afternoon, as the Giants came back to defeat the Colorado Rockies 9-4 before a crowd of 39,195 at AT&T Park Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, the Giants put a stop to their modest three-game losing streak and defeated the Rockies best pitcher in the process.

After scoring just seven runs during the three-game losing streak, the Giants scored in every inning between the second and sixth innings.

Crawford got the ball rolling for the Giants in the bottom of the second inning, as they trailed the Rockies 2-0 at the end of an inning and a half.

After leading off the inning with a single, Crawford was forced out at second base on a Miguel Gomez ground out, Gorkys Hernandez continues his hot hitting, as he doubled to left field that sent Gomez to third base. Chris Stratton then helped out his own cause, as he drove in his first major league run with a ground out to Trevor Story at shortstop.

The Giants took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning, as they loaded the bases, as Andrew McCutchen singled, Buster Posey singled, then Brandon Belt walked to load the bases. After Evan Longoria flew out for the first out of the inning, Crawford lashed a double down the left field line that scored both McCutchen and Posey.

Gomez then got in on the act, as he singled in Belt for the third run of the inning and the Giants took a 4-2 lead.

After the Rockies cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth inning, as Daniel Castro grounded into a double play that scored Desmond, the Giants came back with a run of their run in the bottom of the inning.

Gregor Blanco tripled just past the second baseman, and after both McCutchen and Posey were unable to bring in Blanco, Belt greeted reliever Chris Rusin with a single to right-center field to extend the Giants lead up to 5-3.

The Rockies would not go away, as they clawed back in it to get within one run, as Blackmon led off the inning with a single of his own. Gerardo Parra then singled Blackmon to third base.

The defensive play of the game came up next, as Story hit a single to right that scored Blackmon and McCutchen came up throwing and tried to get Parra at third base. Bruce Bochy challenged the call, as it looked like Longoria tagged Parra and after a 1:57 review, the call was reversed.

McCutchen blew the game wide open in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he hit a two –run double that scored Austin Jackson, who picked up a pinch-hit single off of Rusin and Gomez, who led off the inning with a single of his own.

Crawford capped off his big day in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he hit a two-run home run off of Brooks Pounders.

Over his last 18 games, Crawford is 31-for-69 (.448) with 16 runs batted in and thru the first six games of the home stand, he is 12-for-22, a .545 clip.

Every member of the Giants starting lineup with the exception of Stratton picked up a hit, as McCutchen joined Crawford with three hits. Posey, Belt and Gomez each picked up two hits, as the Giants got 17 hits on the afternoon.

Stratton went the minimum five innings, as he allowed four runs (three earned), allowing eight hits, walking two and striking out one, as he won for the fifth time this season.

Gray, who was unable to get out of the fourth inning, allowed five runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out four and saw his record fall to 4-6 on the season.

NOTES: Ty Blach looks to end the series and the home stand on a high note, as he takes the mound on Sunday afternoon, while the Rockies will send Tyler Anderson to the mound.

Mac Williamson went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in his first rehab game on Friday for the Sacramento Rivercats against the Salt Lake Bees. Williamson last played on April 24, a span of 24 games after crashing into the wall near the Giants bullpen in left field and suffered a concussion.

Hunter Pence went 2-for-4 in the same game, as is now hitting .314 with two doubles and five runs batted in in his 13 games with the Rivercats. Over his last seven games, Pence is hitting .393, as he is 11-for-28 during that stretch.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rockies’ series finale is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm PST.

NHL Stanley Cup Western Conference Finals podcast with Matt Harrington: A Vegas win Sunday would make the Knights a first-time, first-year expansion team to go to the NHL Finals

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@GoldenKnights photo: The Vegas Golden Knights Reilly Smith who scored the game winning goal in the third period on Friday night at T Mobile Center in game 4 as the Knights take a 3-1 lead going back to Winnipeg

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Matt:

The Vegas Golden Knights, who entered their first year expansion season, were even long odds in the their hometown at 500-1 to go all the way when they were chasing the puck in September during preseason. Now those same oddsmakers have the Knights favored to go all the way to win the NHL Stanley Cup, which would be a first in any sport for a first year expansion team.

The Knights down 1-0 to the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Friday night at the T-Mobile Center got their game plan together with goals from Reilly Smith who scored on a breakaway in the latter stages of the third period. The goal put the Knights a goal in front of the Jets and later for the win 3-2.

The Knights also got offensive help with goals from William Karlsson and Tomas Nosek. The Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 35 shots by the Jets in gGame 4 and moved into ninth place for wins by a goaltender in the NHL post season.

Matt Harrington is doing analysis for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Desmond does a number on Giants in Rockies’ 6-1 win

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Photo credit: @MLB_News247

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Ian Desmond may be getting booed at Coors Field after his slow start with the Colorado Rockies, but he loves playing at AT&T Park.

After going 0-for-4 in the first game of the four-game series against the San Francisco Giants, the new Rockies first baseman could begin to change the opinion of Rockies fans with one swing of the bat.

Desmond cranked a three-run home run off of Derek Holland in the top of the fourth inning, as the Rockies defeated the Giants 6-1 before a crowd of 40,970 at AT&T Park Friday night.

Prior to going 2-for-4 on the evening, Desmond was 30-for-89 (.337) with a home run and 13 runs batted in.

Kyle Freeland went 6.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits, while walking one and striking out five on his way to his fourth win of the season.

As for Holland, he went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking one and striking out three and his record fell to 2-5 on the season.

Holland was cruising along until the top of the third inning, when Nolan Arenado walked to lead-off the inning, then Trevor Story singled and after a Noel Cuevas strikeout, Desmond took a Holland offering and planted it into the left-center field bleachers.

Gorkys Hernandez got the Giants off to a quick start, as he hit a home run to lead-off the bottom of the first inning. It was the third home run of the season for Hernandez and his second of the week, as he hit a solo home run to the top of the fifth inning on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

Desmond added another run batted in, as he doubled off of Holland to score Arenado, who doubled to lead-off the top of the sixth inning.

Charlie Blackmon put the finishing touches on the scoring for the Rockies, as he hit a Jose Valdez offering and planted it on the right-field arcade for a two-run home run. It was the 12thhome run of the season for Blackmon.

Arenado also lived up to why he is the winner of the last five Golden Gloves, as he made a diving stab at a Kelby Tomlinson groundball and threw Tomlinson out from his knees behind third base.

NOTES: Chris Stratton will look to stop the Giants three-game losing streak, as he takes the mound on Saturday afternoon, as he looks for his fifth win of the season. The Rockies will send right-hander Jon Gray to the mound, as his looks to win his fifth.

Mac Williamson began his rehab assignment today for the Sacramento Rivercats, and he went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. Austin Slater followed up the Williamson home run one of his own, as the duo went back-to-back, as Slater also went 1-for-4 in the 7-3 Rivercats win over the Salt Lake Bees.

Hunter Pence continues his rehab assignment for the Rivercats, and he went 2-for-4 on the evening in Salt Lake City.

The hitting star of the night for the Rivercats was Chase d’Arnaud, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and three runs batted in.

This was the 500th career appearance for Rockies reliever Bryan Shaw, who came on to replace Freeland in the bottom of the seventh inning.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rockies will face off for Game 3 Saturday afternoon at 1:05 pm PST.

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu: Quakes settle for 2-2 draw vs. WhiteCaps and prepare for Retro Night this Saturday

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu:

1. Before the Quakes’ kickoff in Vancouver against the WhiteCaps, they gave a special shoutout to Amgen TOC’s Stage 4 winner and overall leader Tejay Van Gardern. Van Gardern was presented with a Quakes jersey as an award.

2. The Quakes settled for a 2-2 draw against the WhiteCaps at full-time. San Jose accepted their four-point road trip and will gear up for Retro Night at Avaya Stadium against D.C. United Saturday night.

3. Nick Lima commented on the Quakes’ four points out of what could’ve been a six-point road trip.

4. Former voice of the Quakes, Hal Ramey, will be on the call for Saturday’s match on KNBR 1050. Hal reflected on the 80s Quakes in an interview with his son Ted.

Catch Ana Kieu on the San Jose Earthquakes podcast each week at SportsRadioService.com.

 

NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Playoff podcast with Joe Lami: Lightning strikes twice as Tampa Bay ties series with Caps at two apiece

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(Photo: Amber Searls, USA TODAY Sports) Ouch! Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin (8) feels the pain after the Tampa Bay Lightning put the stop to his attempts to score in the second period

On the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference playoff podcast with Joe Lami:

Up 2-0 after the first two games in Tampa Bay, the Washington Capitals had a lot of confidence going back to Washington that this one was in the bag. A swagger and maybe some overconfidence during the morning skates before Games 3 and 4 and no idea what would be ahead after the conclusion of the two games on the Capitals’ ice.

In the first period of Game 4, the Lightning scored twice in the first period wasting no time as the Bolts’ Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos put the Lightning in the drivers seat. The Capitals would score only a goal in that first period and another in the second for all their offense on Thursday night.

In the third period, the Lightning’s Alex Killorn scored his fifth goal of the postseason and Anthony Cirelli found the back end of the net with his second goal of the postseason to put this one to bed for the 4-2 win.

Joe tells you about Tampa Bay’s success in coming back in this series with speed, shutting down Alex Ovechkin, and taking Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby out of his game. Joe also takes a look at going back to Tampa Bay and what Washington needs to do to get back into this series in Game 5.

Join Joe Lami for the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Stanley Cup playoff podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com