Photo credit: @NBCSGiants
On the MLB Podcast with Daniel Dullum:
1 San Francisco Giants Joe Panik’s history-making start sparks 2-0 start for Giants.
2 Disabled lists already well-occupied throughout MLB.
3 Oakland A’s pick up pitcher Josh Lucas from the St. Louis Cardinals.
4 New York Yankee outfielder Giancarlo Stanton linked with Roger Maris–again.
Daniel Dullum does the MLB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Photo credit: @DodgersDigest
By Jeremy Kahn
You knew that the San Francisco Giants were not going to go 162-0, and the Los Angeles Dodgers were not going to go 0-162 on the season.
Kenta Maeda struck out 10 over five innings, as the Dodgers scored for the first time and they went on to defeat the Giants 5-0 at Dodger Stadium Saturday.
The fans at Dodger Stadium exploded with ecstasy in the bottom of the first inning, as Yaisel Puig hit a sacrifice fly to score their first run of the season. Matt Kemp hit a RBI single to increase their lead to 2-0.
Kike Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning to lengthen the Dodgers lead up to 3-0.
The Dodgers scored their final two run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Gregor Blanco and Andrew McCutchen miscommunicated on a fly ball that allowed Austin Barnes and Cody Bellinger to score.
Derek Holland pitched five innings, allowing five runs (three of them earned) on three hits, Holland also walked three and struck out four in his Giants debut.
Joe Panik, who solo home runs in the first two games of the season ended the game as he grounded into a double play to end the game and the undefeated season for the Giants.
NOTES: Chris Stratton will make his season debut for the Giants on Sunday afternoon, as he will take the Dodger Stadium mound and the Dodgers will send veteran left-hander Rich Hill to the mound.
Jeff Samardzija threw a side session of 20 pitches, and will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, prior to the Giants home opener at AT&T Park. If all goes well with the session, Samardzija could begin a rehab assignment within a week.
UP NEXT: Both teams meet again Sunday night at 5:38 pm PT on ESPN.
Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes
By: Ana Kieu
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes returned home for a redemption match, hosting NYCFC at Avaya Stadium Saturday night.
In case you missed it, San Jose dropped a 3-2 decision to Sporting KC at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Mo., on March 17.
The Quakes had a lot to look forward to coming into this nationally televised match against NYCFC on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and TSN2. Vako Qazaishvili returned to the field and these two teams were just moments away from competing in a West Coast vs. East Coast match.
The Quakes didn’t waste any time getting on the board as Yeferson Quintana got his first goal as a member of the Blue and Black at the third minute of the first half. Just moments later, Quintana had a good look on the field.
Oh yeah, and Krazy George was in attendance. In case you didn’t know, Krazy George is the world’s most famous cheerleader as well as the creator of the “wave.”
For the second time in one week, Vako made a powerful kick that went just above the opponent’s net at the 31st minute of the half in an attempt to be featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays on ESPN.
The Quakes held a 1-0 lead over NYCFC at halftime. Shots were 5-3 in favor of San Jose.
NYCFC’s Anton Tinnerholm scored his second career MLS goal to even the score 1-1 at the 49th minute of the second half.
Quakes captain Chris Wondolowski applied pressure on the NYCFC backline at the 54th minute of the half, but the score remained tied 1-1.
NYCFC took a 2-1 lead when Maxi Moralez scored the go-ahead goal at the 60th minute of the half.
Harold Cummings was kicked by an NYCFC player at the 75th minute of the half. Cummings was able to pick himself up off the ground, but he was shook up pretty bad, so Quincy Amarikwa stepped onto the field to replace Cummings.
There was six minutes of stoppage after these two teams battled it out in two halves. Vako kicked a goal into the net at the 95th minute, but a NYCFC defender blocked the kick from entering the net.
The Quakes lost to NYCFC 2-1 in full time.
Notes
Quakes’ starting lineup: Andrew Tarbell, Nick Lima, Chris Wondolowski, Shea Salinas, Anibal Godoy, Magnus Eriksson, Yeferson Quintana, Florian Jungwirth, Danny Hoesen, Harold Cummings and Vako Qazaishvili.
NYCFC’s starting lineup: Sean Johnson, Anton Tinnerholm, Alexander Callens, Maxime Chanot, Saad Abdul-Salaam, Ebenezer Ofori, Yangel Herrera, Maximiliano Moralez, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, David Villa and Jesus Medina.
Up Next
The Earthquakes head to Talen Energy Stadium to take on the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, April 7 at 4:00 pm PST.
Photo credit: @sjbarracuda
By: Ana Kieu
Hawaiian Night was underway at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Ill., on Saturday night and the San Jose Barracuda took on the Rockford IceHogs.
Apparently, the Barracuda and IceHogs got to witness flowers on the ice, which was a pleasant, tropical sight to see on a chilly 48 degree evening in the Windy City.
Cuda goalie Stephon Williams made his second start for the club and made a noteworthy save on a short-handed breakway early in the opening period. After that, the Cuda played 4-on-4 hockey following an IceHogs penalty.
The IceHogs made the unfortunate mistake of leaving the puck unattended at the blue line and Sam Warning picked up the first goal of the game, beating IceHogs goalie Jeff Glass, at the 12:11 mark of the period. Noah Rod collected the lone assist on Warning’s fifth goal on the season.
But the IceHogs were able to score just three seconds into their power play as Adam Clendening fired a long wrist shot from the high slot that beat Williams to get his team on the board and tie the game at one apiece with 4:22 left in the period.
Both teams were tied at one apiece after 20 minutes of play. In addition, the Cuda had some fun on Twitter by coming up with a random poll in the first intermission. The Cuda asked: “Thoughts on bacon?” and 83% answered “Really delicious” while 17% answered “Delicious.”
The Cuda scored two quick goals to start the second period. Brandon Mashinter got his 11th goal on the season at the 13:02 mark of the period. The assists on Mashinter’s goal went to Radim Simek and Rourke Chartier. Just 32 seconds later, Caleb Herbert scored on the power play to make it five straight games in which the Cuda have scored on the man advantage. Warning collected the lone assist on Herbert’s second goal on the season.
The Cuda thanked the IceHogs via Twitter for the nice tribute for left winger Brandon Mashinter in Rockford.
The Cuda led the IceHogs 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.
The IceHogs’ “Rally Crab” apparently helped the home team dominate in the third period. IceHogs left winger Lance Bouma scored a goal to pull his team within one just 41 seconds into the period. Clendening and Chris DiDomenico got the assists on Bouma’s fifth goal on the season. Then, Henrik Samuelsson scored the game-tying goal at the 17:49 mark of the period. Highmore Luc Snuggerud got the assists on Samuelsson’s eighth goal on the season.
The IceHogs continued to pour in the goals as Snuggerud scored the go-ahead goal, his fifth on the season, and Matthew Highmore expanded the lead to 5-3 with his 22nd goal on the season.
The Cuda pulled their goalie (Williams) for an extra attacker late in the game. That didn’t help the road team at all.
The Cuda lost to the IceHogs 5-3. Williams allowed five goals and made 25 saves in a losing effort for San Jose. Meanwhile, Glass stopped 19 of 22 shots in a Rockford win.
Notes
Barracuda starting lineup: Adam Helewka, Manny Wiederer, Jon Martin, Jacob Middleton, Nick DeSimone and Stephon Williams.
IceHogs starting lineup: Matthew Highmore. Tyler Sikura, Henrik Samuelsson, Viktor Svedberg, Cody Franson and Jeff Glass.
Up Next
The Barracuda return home to host the San Diego Gulls Wednesday night at 7:00 pm PST.
Photo credit: @GlobalSportsCtr
On the NHL podcast with Matt:
#1 Who do you like as the NHL MVP? Nikita Kucherov of Tampa Bay, Connor McDavid of Edmonton, Taylor Hall New Jersey, Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado, Evgeni Malkin of Pittsburgh, Blake Wheeler of Winnipeg, Pekka Rinne of Nashville, Boston’s Patrice Bergeron of Boston, Anze Kopitar of L.A. or the Claude Giroux of Philadelphia.
#2 The Sharks, after dropping their last two games, are trying to avoid losing a third they’ll be put to the test tonight as they face off with the Vegas Golden Knights, one of the Western Division’s toughest teams at the T-Mobile Center.
#3 NHL player of the week no doubt goes to the Chicago Blackhawks emergency goalie Scott Foster, who played 14 minutes after the starter and the backup went out with injuries. Foster ended up stopping seven shots.
#4 The Anaheim Ducks got a big win past the LA Kings when Rickard Rakell scored in OT at 4:41 for the Ducks 2-1 win.
#5 The Tampa Bay Lighting continue to win this time with a 7-3 victory past the New York Rangers. Brayden Point and Cedric Paquette got two goals apiece for the win.
Matt Harrington does the NHL podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Photo credit: @SFGiants
By Jeremy Kahn
Just two days in the 2018 Major League season, San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik made history.
Panik hit a solo home run off of Kenley Jansen in the top of the ninth inning, as the Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 at Dodger Stadium.
His home run was the only run of the game for the second game, as he became the first player in the 139-year history of Major League Baseball to hit home runs in back-to-back games with the final score of 1-0.
The Giants became the first team since the 1943 Cincinnati Reds to pick-up 1-0 wins in their first two games of the season, as they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 75 years ago.
Johnny Cueto retired the first 18 batters of the game until Chris Taylor led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single. That would be the only baserunner to reach base against Cueto on the evening.
Cueto walked no one and struck out four, as he went seven innings after he threw 97 pitches in his first start of the season.
Former Dodgers reliever Tony Watson struck out two in the bottom of the eighth inning, before giving way to Hunter Strickland, who retired the Dodgers in order that included getting Joc Pederson to pop out to Buster Posey on the first pitch he saw on from Strickland.
It was the second game in a row that Pederson made the final out of the game, as he grounded out to Brandon Crawford to end the opener on Thursday.
Through their first two games of the season, the reigning National League Champions have yet to score a run, while allowing just two runs to their longtime rivals from San Francisco.
If you thought Cueto pitched a great game, the guy across the diamond for the Dodgers was not too shabby either.
Alex Wood pitched eight innings, as he allowed just a base hit to Brandon Crawford in the top of the fifth inning and nothing else.
Wood struck out five and did not walk a batter like Cueto, but it was one pitch by the best reliever in the game that cost the Dodgers the game.
Logan Forsythe, playing at third base in place of the injured Justin Turner, who suffered a broken wrist during spring training, committed three of the four Dodgers errors on the night.
The four errors in a game by the Dodgers are their most in a game since they committed four on August 11, 2013 against the Tampa Bay Rays. In that game, like Forsythe, Dee Gordon committed three errors for the Dodgers.
NOTES: Derek Holland makes his Giants debut on Saturday night, as he takes the Dodger Stadium mound, while the Dodgers will send Kenta Maeda to the hill.
UP NEXT: These two teams face each other again Saturday night at 6:10 pm PST.
Photo credit: @sjbarracuda
By Marko Ukalovic
The hourglass has just about ran out on the San Jose Barracuda’s (28-25-4-4) playoff chances. Their latest loss was to the Grand Rapids Griffins (38-24-1-7) by a score of 3-2 in a shootout on Friday evening at the Van Andel Arena. The victory extended the defending AHL champions’ point streak to six games.
Grand Rapids controlled the game during the 1st period as they outshot San Jose 19-6. However, the strong play of Cuda goalie Antonie Bibeau (19-14-4) kept the period scoreless after the opening 20 minutes.
The Griffins would break the deadlock just 16 seconds into the second period when Dylan Mcllarth scored his fifth goal of the season after firing home a rebound past Bibeau after a Dominic Turgeon. Mcllarth snapped a 30-game scoreless drought.
Jacob Middleton would tied the game up while the teams played 4-on-4. Middleton took a pass from Adam Helewka and blasted a shot from the point passed Griffins goalie Tom McCollum inside the far right post for his fifth goal of the season at the 12:15 mark of the second period.
In the third period, Grand Rapids would regain the lead when Colin Campbell found Ben Street wide open along the right side and was able to slide the puck into an open net for his 18th goal of the season at the 7:10 mark.
The Cuda wouldn’t go away quietly as the evened up the game with a power play goal from Alex True. Nick DeSimone fired a shot from the point that True was able to tip past McCollum for his 12th goal of the season at the 13-minute mark.
The final 12 minutes of the game, including the overtime, would remain scoreless. In the shootout Matt Puempel would send the 9,860 fans home happy when his goal in the fourth round of the shootout clinched it for the Griffins.
McCollum earned the victory making 33 saves on 35 shots. Bibeau suffered the tough luck loss making 36 saves on 38 shots.
GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1/3 on the power play, while Grand Rapids was 0/2.
UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel to Rockford to take on the IceHogs on Saturday afternoon at 4 pm PST.
Photo credit: @deepredthread
By Amaury Pi Gonzalez
OAKLAND — Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels infielder and pitcher, is baseball’s center of the universe at the Oakland Coliseum with at least 100 Japanese journalists out here to cover the first ever position and pitcher player since Babe Ruth did it for the Boston Red Sox in the early 20th century.
Ohtani, who had not made himself available to the Japanese and English media, is a very low-key player much in the way that former Seattle Mariner Ichiro Suzuki was when he was in his hey days. Ohtani is schedule to pitch on Sunday against the Oakland A’s that will draw not only thousands in the stands, but millions watching from Japan and about 100 Japanese reporters are expected to cover his first big league pitching performance on Sunday.
A’s opening day transformation: The A’s team president David Kaval, who did away with the opening night game concept, gets a lot of credit for his scheduling of the A’s first day game since the day game opener since 1994. Amaury remembers covering the Giants opening day and the Giants played a lot of day games.
Day games are special, and in Anaheim, the Angels play a lot of Saturday night games. It’s an entertainment area as you get Disneyland which is for families who take their families to the park, and at night, they go to the games. The games for the A’s every game is a day on a Saturday.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio play-by-play and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Photo credit: @SFGiants
On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:
#1 The opening day performance by San Francisco Giants starter Ty Blach, who went five innings with three hits and three strikeouts. Blach put out a strong performance.
#2 A look at what pitches that were working for Blach.
#3 It took four relievers to come in to shut the door on the Los Angeles Dodgers. There were doubts about the Giants bullpen, but they really impressed on Opening Day.
#4 Dodgers starter Clayton Kernshaw pitched well enough to win, but he didn’t get any offensive support, throwing for one run, eight hits, walked two, struck out seven well enough to complete the game.
#5 Joe Panik, who got the game’s only run on a solo home run in the fifth, that turned out to be the difference maker.
Michael Duca does the Giants podcast Fridays and Morris Phillips on Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Photo credit: @BarDown
On the NHL podcast with Joe Lami:
#1 What could you say about emergency goalie Scott Foster, a 36 year old accountant by day, back up goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks by night? Foster, who stopped seven shots after the Hawks’ first two goalies were hurt, helped in defeating the Winnipeg Jets 6-2. Foster set the NHL record for length of time played by an emergency goalie. The previous record was under 60 seconds. Foster was put into a situation where he was greatly needed as opposed to previous emergency goalies who played for just a few seconds and got the job done.
#2 The Vancouver Canucks got by the Edmonton Oilers 2-1. The Canucks’ goals from Sam Gagner and Derrick Pousiot were all that was needed. The Canucks were down 1-0, but came back with goals in the second and third periods.
#3 The Minnesota Wild made no doubts about who was going to dominate this game as they got three goals in the second period. The Wild got two goals from Zach Parise.
#4 The San Jose Sharks dropped their second straight game. This time to the Nashville Predators 5-3. Coming out of a 2-2 tie after the first period. the Preds got to work with a goal in second period and scored twice in the third period.
#5 It was all Blue Jackets in a 5-1 win past the Calgary Flames. Columbus’ Pierre Luc DuBois got a hat trick in the contest.
Joe Lami does the NHL podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
