http://www.pinterest.com file photo: Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field
MLB The Show podcast with Daniel:
1 Diamondbacks reach agreement with Maricopa County, seeking new stadium to replace crumbling Chase Field
2 Commissioner Rob Manfred hints at possible expansion to 32 teams
3 Albert Pujols reaches 3,000 hits; Ichiro Suzuki moves to Mariners’ front office
Daniel does the MLB podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes
By Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE–If the San Jose Earthquakes (1-5-2) didn’t have bad luck, they wouldn’t have any luck at all. Diego Valeri scored the game-winning (and only) goal for the Portland Timbers (3-3-2) in the 88th minute to propel Portland to a 1-0 victory on Saturday evening at Avaya Stadium. It was the third loss in a row for San Jose, whose winless streak extended to seven games.
Valeri, the Argentinian forward, received a free kick was he was fouled by a Quakes defender on a controversial platy during an on-coming rush. He didn’t waste his chance as he buried the ball into the upper right corner of the goal for the game-winner.
Both teams traded chances early in the game with Timbers forward Fanendo Adi sent in a shot from the top of the D that hit off the right corner of the post in the eighth minute. Quakes forward Danny Hoesen, who received a nice feed from Vako from just outside the D, had his shot on goal stopped by Timbers goalie Jeff Attinella just a minute later.
“It’s definitely frustrating to not get a victory after so long”, said defenseman Shea Salinas on his team’s seven-game winless streak. “So we gotta look at the things we’re doing well and be more consistent with it.”
The Timbers controlled play between the 18th minute and 23rd minutes with Sebastian Blanco shot from 30 yards away was easily handled by Quakes goalie Andrew Tarbell in the 18th minute. Larrys Mabiala header attempt sailed high over the goal from a set piece in the 22nd minute. Adi sent a shot wide a minute later as Portland created sustained pressure in the Quakes defensive zone.
The Quakes would then tilt the pitch in their favor the next five minutes when Magnus Eriksson led a rush that ended in Nick Lima blasting a shot from the right corner that sailed off the top of the crossbar in the 25th minute.
The best chance for San Jose came when Mabiala tripped up Vako just outside the D box in the 29th minute. His free kick just trickled wide of the goal that beat Attinella to the right side.
The Quakes would keep the pressure on three minutes later when a shot from Hoesen ricochet off a Timbers defender on to the foot of Vako. His shot was stopped by a diving Attinella in the 32nd minute.
Portland would respond with two late chances right before halftime. Cristhian Paredes’ shot in the 44th minute from 20 yards out was turned away by Tarbell. Adi then took a centering feed and his chip shot sailed wide in the 45 minute.
San Jose would control the tempo in the second half. Hoesen took a centering pass into the goal box and his header attempt was saved by Attinella. The chance came off a free kick which was a result of a yellow card issued to Diego Chara in the 53rd minute.
Hoesen then sent cross pass into Wondolowski in the 56th minute but Wondolowski’s chip shot went wide.
Christopher Wehan, who made his MLS debut in the 71st minute, sent in a shot pass from 20 yards out that deflected off Quincy Amarikwa’s foot out of play in the 76th minute.
The Quakes made a late push in the final ten minutes of the game with chances before Valeri’s goal, including a couple of chances in stoppage time but could never get the ball into the back of the net.
“I’m super disappointed from the result perspective”, said head coach Mikael Stahre. “The only thing we can do is move forward, analyze, practice harder, and hopefully we can get a victory soon.”
GAME NOTES: Scratches for Quakes- M – Tommy Thompson (illness); D – Yeferson Quintana (ankle), M – Eric Calvillo (knee) For Timber- D – Roy Miller (left Achilles tendon), F – Jeremy Ebobisse (right thigh); D – Vytas (right thigh), D – Bill Tuiloma (right knee), M – David Guzman (right knee)
San Jose Earthquakes legend, and current color commentator, Chris Dangerfield was elected into the Quakes Hall of Fame during a ceremony at halftime.
Hoesen has three goals, including the team leader with three this season, in this last eight appearances for the Earthquakes. He had eight in his first 31 games with the team.
Paredes was issued a yellow card in one minute into stoppage time in the 1st half. Anibal Godoy was issued a yellow card in the 69th minute after a tackle on Chara.
Wehan came in on a substitution for Wondolowski.
The last time the Earthquakes have gone seven consecutive MLS games without a win was Aug. 19-Sept. 28, 2016.
The Timbers won their first MLS road game since a 1-0 victory on Sept. 9, 2017 at New York City FC. Including the postseason, they are now 1-5-3 and have been outscored 16-9 since then.
Portland leads the overall series 9-4-7 against San Jose. The Quakes are 4-2-4 at home against the Timbers.
The announced attendance was 17,850.
UP NEXT: The Quakes are back on the road as they travel to Minneapolis to take on Minnesota United FC on Saturday, May 12 at 11 am PT at TCF Bank Stadium.
Photo credit: @SFGiants
By Jeremy Kahn
It seems that the San Francisco Giants are beginning to find their stride, despite the fact that their two top starters and closer are currently on the disabled list.
Buster Posey and Andrew McCutchen each picked up three hits, and Alen Hanson hit his second home run of the season and drove in four runs, as the Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 11-2 at SunTrust Park.
Brandon Crawford also picked up three hits and drove in two runs for the Giants, who have at least nine runs in their last three games.
With the victory, the Giants have clinched their fifth straight series and have won three in a row and 10 out of their last 13.
On the evening, the Giants as a team picked up 18 hits, as Braves starter Brandon McCarthy went just 3.1 innings.
Ty Blach picked up his third win of the season, as he went 7.2 innings and allowed just one earned run in the victory.
Hanson got his night started in the second inning, as he hit a double that scored Crawford and then in the top of the third inning, Hanson hit a McCarthy pitch just inside the right field foul pole for his second home run of the season.
The Giants blew the game wide open in the third, that saw Brandon Belt hit a run-scoring single and then Evan Longoria hit a double that fell in just out of the reach of Nick Markakis in right field for his 1,500thcareer hit that drove in Posey.
McCutchen scored on a Posey single in the top of the fourth inning, that saw the Giants score three runs, as Crawford later added a two-run double that scored both Posey and Belt.
Posey got the Giants into the double figure plateau in the top of the fifth inning, as he singled to score Gorkys Hernandez.
Nick Hundley continued his hot hitting, as he hit a single in the top of the ninth inning to score Crawford.
Unfortunately, the Giants committed three errors, including a dropped ball by Hernandez in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Giants committed two errors in the bottom of the third inning, as Crawford committed an error on a ball hit by Albies. Hanson then committed a throwing error on a ball hit by Ronald Acuna, Jr., that retired Albies at second base.
Markakis drove in the Braves final run of the evening, as he doubled to right field that scored Acuna.
The Braves took the lead for the second straight game in the bottom of the first inning, as Freddie Freeman grounded out to first base that scored Ozzie Albies from third base.
NOTES: It was another nice crowd for the Braves, as they drew 38,242 for the game, one night after setting the record of 41,807.
Melancon threw 20 pitches in the bullpen, and looks to be on track to getting off the disabled list on May 25. Currently, Melancon is on the 60-day disabled list with a right elbow strain.
Reyes Moronta was forced to leave the game in the bottom of the ninth inning after he threw eight straight balls to start the inning. Moronta left the game with a tight back.
UP NEXT: Andrew Suarez will start for the Giants on Sunday afternoon, as they look for the sweep, while the Braves will send Mike Soroka to the mound for his first start at SunTrust Park. In his major-league debut on Tuesday night, Soroka allowed one run in six innings against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Matt:
#1 After the Boston Bruins Brad Marchand licked the face of the Tampa Bay Lighting’s winger Ryan Callahan, that was enough to light the fuse and the Lightning. Marchand said that Callahan punched him in the face four times and kept getting close and said it was not a big deal. The Bolts get the 4-3 win in overtime in Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead.
#2 The Vegas Golden Knights got a 5-3 win in regulation to take a 3-2 series lead. The Knights well ahead of San Jose scoring a goal in the first period and two in the second, but the sleeping Shark woke up answering back with three goals to tie it 3-3 in the third period but the Knights would have none of it and roared back with two goals to win it 5-3.
#3 In Washington tonight, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who tied up the series 2-2 with the Caps on Thursday with a 3-1 win do battle again tonight for Game 5. In Game 4, the defense put the pressure on both of the Caps and Pens key players Alexander Ovechkin for the Caps and Sid Crosby for the Pens neither scored a goal, but what’s worse was neither even got a shot on goal in Game 4.
#4 The Nashville Predators pulled off a tough win in Winnipeg on Thursday night in Game 4 to tie up the series 2-2. It’s been a back and forth series as the Jets won Game 3 at home convincingly 7-4 for their short series lead.
Matt Harrington does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Advocate staff photo by MATTHEW HINTON: New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) celebrates a dunk with New Orleans Pelicans forward Nikola Mirotic (3) against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) as fans including Arcade Fire’s Win Butler, left, and Saints Cam Jordan cheer during the second half of game 3 of the conference semifinal NBA playoffs at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La. Friday, May 4, 2018.
By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, May 7, 2018
New Orleans built a double-digit lead in the first half and cruised to a 119-100 victory over Golden State Friday in Game 3 of their best-of-seven NBA West series at New Orleans.
The Warriors still have a 2-games-to-1 lead in the series.
After JaVale McGee’s dunk gave the Warriors a one-point lead midway through the first quarter, Nikola Mirotic responded with a 3-pointer on the Pelicans’ next possession and New Orleans led the remainder of the contest. The Pelicans built a 15-point lead by the second quarter, though Golden State cut their deficit to six by halftime on Klay Thompson’s third 3-pointer of the quarter.
Thompson led the Warriors with 26 points, 20 of them in the second quarter. Kevin Durant was next with 22 and Steph Curry added 19. Draymond Green finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists
Curry became the first Warriors player to score 2,000 career postseason points, now at 2,012. He also became the first Warrior to pass the 500 postseason assist mark and passed Reggie Miller for fourth all time in career postseason 3-pointers with 322. Miller had 320.
After Solomon Hill nailed three 3-pointers in the first quarter off the Pelicans bench, the tone was set. Ex-Warrior Ian Clark scored 18 points in 22 minutes. Rajon Rondo dished out 21 assists, a Golden State playoff opponent record.
Hill and Clark combined for six of the Pelicans’ 14 3-balls while the Golden State bench was held to 10 points over the first three quarters. Anthony Davis led the Pelicans with 33 points and 18 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday added 21 points and five assists.
The series continues in New Orleans at 12:30 p.m. PDT in New Orleans.
Photo credit: @SFGiants
By Jeremy Kahn
After allowing a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, it was like déjà vu all over for Chris Stratton and the San Francisco Giants.
Stratton, who got just four outs in his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday afternoon, was able to recover and go five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking two and striking out six and the Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 9-4 at SunTrust Park.
The win by the Giants stopped the Braves five-game winning streak, who are coming off a three-city, 10-game road trip, where they went 7-3 against the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, who the Braves now lead in the National League East by 1.5 games.
Freddie Freeman gave the Braves a quick 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning, as he hit a Stratton pitch into the left field seats. Following the Freeman home run, Jose Bautista, who was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett made a great first impression on the Braves fans, as he doubled in his first at-bat.
Unfortunately for the Braves and their crowd, the Giants put a quick stop to the lead in the top of the second inning.
Gregor Blanco hit a two-run triple, Alen Hanson hit a run-scoring double and then scored on a fielder’s choice, Brandon Belt added a RBI double and finally Evan Longoria drove in the final run of a six-run inning, when he grounded out.
Nick Markakis cut the Giants lead in half in the bottom of the third inning, as his sixth home run of the season.
Brandon Crawford then gave the Giants a five-run in the top of the seventh inning, as he hit his third home run, a two-run blast into the right field seats.
Crawford went three-for-five on the night for the Giants with two runs batted in for the Giants, who have won six out of their last eight.
Ozzie Albies drove in the final run of the game for the Braves, as he hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning that scored Charlie Culberson, who hit a pinch-hit single, while batting for Jesse Biddle, who came in the top of the seventh and surrendered the two-run home run to Crawford.
It was a rough night for Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz, who pitched just five innings, allowing six runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out four.
Will Smith made his second straight appearance in relief for the Giants, as he went one inning, allowing one run on one hit. Smith, who missed all of the 2017 season after Tommy John surgery, made his season debut on Wednesday afternoon against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park.
Longoria closed out the scoring for the Giants in the top of the ninth inning, as he hit his team-leading seventh home run of the season off of Max Fried.
NOTES: Ty Blach takes the mound on Saturday night, as the Giants continue their three-game series in Atlanta. The Braves will send Brandon McCarthy to the mound, as they look to even up the series.
Mark Melancon will throw in the bullpen for the first time this season on Saturday. Melancon is on the disabled list with a right elbow flexor strain. Mac Williamson, who is eligible to come off the seven-day concussion disabled list on Saturday may not be ready, as he suffering from a virus.
This was the largest crowd in SunTrust Park history, as they drew 41,807 in the opener of the three-game series.
UP NEXT: The Giants are on a three-city, 10-game road trip that began on Friday night, then will move to Philadelphia for a four-game set and end after three games in Pittsburgh on May 12.
Photo credit: @NBCSWarriors
By: Eric He
If the Golden State Warriors were looking to coast their way to the Western Conference Finals, the New Orleans Pelicans just reminded them that it won’t be all smooth sailing.
The Warriors fell 119-100 to the Pelicans on Friday in Game 3 on the road, and their lead in the series is now at 2-1. They were outplayed from beginning to end by New Orleans, never establishing their game and failing to mount a second-half comeback.
Instead, it was the Anthony Davis show. the Pelicans’ star recorded 33 points and 18 rebounds, having his way inside. The Pelicans shot 45.2 percent from 3-point range, giving the Warriors a dose of their own medicine. Davis dominated JaVale McGee, who got the start despite receiving minimal playing time in the first two games. McGee played just nine minutes and had a plus-minus of -10.
The Warriors had four starters in double figures, but found no rhythm offensively. They trailed by six points at halftime, but in the third quarter, when they typically make their push, it was the Pelicans who went on a run and outscored the Warriors by 11. New Orleans led by 17 points after three quarters.
But the issue was more on the defensive end. The Warriors were slow on rotations and allowed clean looks from distance. Jrue Holiday and Nikola Mirotic both provided supplemental scoring, while Ian Clark had 18 points off the bench.
Now, the Warriors would do themselves a huge favor by winning Game 4 and returning home with a 3-1 series lead. Otherwise, a series that felt like it was over after Game 2 may last longer than expected.
photo from nhl.com: The Nashville Predators PK Subban celebrates scoring the game winner past the Winnipeg Jets to tie up the series up at two games apiece in Winnipeg on Thursday night
On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Joe:
#1 The Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne stood on his head and stop 32 shots in a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets who just trounced the Preds on Tuesday night in game three 7-4 flipped the script with a series tying game loss to Nashville. Game 5 will be this Saturday night in Winnipeg. The Predators’ PK Subban scored a power-play goal for the gamer.
#2 The Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night got a series-tying win past the Washington Capitals in a Game 4 win 3-1. The Penguins also were able to shut down Alex Ovechkin likewise the Penguins Sid Crosby who didn’t score a goal or get a shot and both were well-defended in Thursday’s contest.
#3 The San Jose Sharks tied their series 2-2 with the Vegas Golden Knights with a 4-0 shutout in Game 4 at SAP Center on Wednesday night. The Sharks dominated this game from start to finish and avoided going back to Vegas down 3-1. The Golden Knights will host the Sharks on Friday night for Game 5.
#4 The Tampa Bay Lighting are up two games to one over the Boston Bruins. The Bolts have been living on the forecheck that has helped shake the puck loose a few times and the Ligthing were able to gets wins by two goals and three goals in Games 2 and 3.
Joe Lami does the NHL Stanley Cup podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Photo credit: @mlbdepthcharts
On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:
#1 How possible is this elbow injury for Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto being a season-ending injury?
#2 Will Cueto be considered for Tommy John surgery?
#3 Giant pitcher Will Smith has been activated Thursday after being on the DL from Tommy John surgery. Smith last pitched last season.
#4 Also, after the news about Cueto, the Giants pitcher Andrew Suarez was almost demoted to Triple-A Sacramento, but the Giants kept him up with the club to spot start and he’s slated to start on Tuesday in Philadelphia.
#5 What’s it like to see with Mac Williamson back in the lineup with his scheduled return on Saturday?
Giants podcasters Morris Phillips and Michael Duca podcasts Giants baseball each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com
By: Ana Kieu
San Jose State University will be one of 10 Mountain West schools participating in the eighth annual Mountain West-Missouri Valley Men’s Basketball Challenge Series during
the 2018-19 non-conference season.
The Spartans will host Indiana State University on Wednesday, November 28, at The Event Center. The game time and television assignment will be announced at a later date.
“We’re excited to be a part of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Men’s Basketball Challenge Series this season and are looking forward to hosting Indiana State at The Event Center,” says SJSU head coach Jean Prioleau.
Indiana State was sixth in the Missouri Valley last season with an 8-10 conference record. The Sycamores were 13-18 overall.
This non-conference home game will be the second time these schools are facing each other in men’s basketball. These two teams faced each other in the 1948 NAIB Championship Tournament (now the NAIA Championship) in Kansas City, Missouri. Coached by the legendary John Wooden, Indiana State pulled out a 59-52 win in the quarterfinal round of the 32-team tournament.
The Challenge Series consists of each conference hosting five games each season. This year’s series runs from November 27 through December 1. Matchups are based on the previous season’s records and RPI rankings and projections for the upcoming season. Games from the previous year’s Challenge series aren’t returned.
