Indiana Pacers Tyrese Haliburton (0) takes a jump shot converting the game winner a buzzer beater as the Pacers take game 1 from the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City on Thu Jun 5, 2025 (AP News photo)
NBA Finals podcast Michael Roberson:
#1 The only way the Indiana Pacers were going to win game 1 was to chip away at the Oklahoma City Thunder and they were able to manage to pull it off with a one point 111-110 win over the Thunder.
#2 Another consideration was the Pacers turned the ball over 19 times in the first half and were still able to keep together and pull off the surprise win.
#3 There was no one from the Pacers who scored above 20 points it was total team effort and ball distribution do you see that kind of offense as key strategy to keep the Thunder off balance rather than the Pacers have a designated go to guy.
#4 Talk about Tyrese Haliburton’s buzzer beater that sank in for the Pacers one point win. This team is carrying over momentum from the previous series.
#5 Pacers and Thunder get after it again in game 2 at Oklahoma City. You can be assured the Thunder will do whatever it takes to prevent a loss on their home floor at Paycom Arena in OKC?
#1 Michael, the San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman hit a two run walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oracle Park against the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Saturday for their fourth win in a row.
#2 Heliot Ramos got on board with a single and one out and relief pitcher Pierce Johnson who dropped his record to 1-3 got Wilmer Flores to pop up and then Chapman came up with his 12th homer of the season.
#3 The Braves starter Bryce Elder, allowed a run and three hits and struck out 12 in eight innings of work and the Braves lost another heartbreak losing their sixth straight game.
#4 Giant starter Logan Webb pitched six innings struck out ten and allowed two runs and surrendered six hits. It was the fourth time that Webb had strike outs in double digits this season.
#5 Atlanta and San Francisco match up again on Sunday afternoon at 1:05pm PDT. Starter for the Braves RHP Spencer Strider (0-4 ERA 5.68) for the Giants RHP Landen Roupp (3-4 ERA 3.18) first pitch slated for 1:05pm PDT at Oracle Park.
San Francisco Giants Tyler Fitzgerald is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Atlanta Braves Fri Jun 6, 2025 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)
By Michael Villanueva
SAN FRANCISCO–On Friday night at Oracle Park, the San Francisco Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 5–4 in a thrilling walk-off, extending their winning streak to three games in a row. The Giants handed the Braves their fifth consecutive defeat, improving to 25–15 thanks to early offense, clutch pitching, and an exciting extra-inning finish. Despite a few rocky moments along the way, the Giants’ tenacity was demonstrated in this thrilling victory.
The Giants quickly took the lead, scoring three runs in the first inning as a result of timely hitting and Braves errors. Wilmer Flores and Jung Hoo Lee each contributed run-scoring knocks to take advantage of Atlanta’s defensive errors, while Heliot Ramos continued to be a force at the plate with three hits. The Braves refused to go quietly, even though the Giants appeared to be in control and had a 4-0 lead by the end of the second inning.
Atlanta clawed back in the middle innings, beginning with a run in the fifth before Matt Olson tied the game with a two-run homer in the seventh—his 13th of the season. The Braves’ bullpen held the line from there, including a scoreless ninth by veteran closer Craig Kimbrel, who recently returned to the roster. The Giants had chances but struggled with execution on the basepaths, including a costly pickoff of Tyler Fitzgerald in the ninth that nearly derailed their momentum.
The automatic runner rule gave San Francisco a new opportunity in the 10th inning despite the baserunning problems. On a groundout, Tyler Fitzgerald, who began the inning on second, moved up to third. Fitzgerald then raced home and scored the game-winning run in walk-off fashion after Braves reliever Pierce Johnson uncorked a wild pitch that bounced past catcher Sean Murphy with the game on the line. It was the Giants’ seventh season-long walk-off victory.
The Giants’ defense was crucial in keeping the score tied and facilitating the walk-off. Dominic Smith contributed with strong defense at first base, Mike Yastrzemski displayed good outfield positioning, and Matt Chapman made a crucial throw to cut down a runner. The Giants’ depth and composure under duress were demonstrated by Camilo Doval’s scoreless ninth inning on the mound and Spencer Bivens’ escape from a bases-loaded jam in the top of the tenth to secure the victory.
This game was a gut-punch for the Braves, who dropped to 18–20 amid mounting frustrations. For the Giants, it was another example of a team that continues to find different ways to win, even when the game gets messy. With momentum on their side, San Francisco will look to keep rolling as they head into the weekend, while the Braves are left searching for answers to halt their sudden skid.
Starting pitchers for Saturday for Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (2-3 ERA 4.56) for San Francisco RHP Logan Webb (5-5 ERA 2.55) first pitch 1:05pm PDT at Oracle Park.
Florida Panthers Brand Marchand (63) is excited about scoring his second period goal against the Edmonton Oilers in game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Edmonton on Fri Jun 6, 2025 (Canadian Press via AP)
NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast Mary Lisa:
#1 Brad Marchand scored in the second overtime on a breakaway goal that led to the Florida Panthers winning 5-4 in game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final on Friday night in Edmonton.
#2 The series goes back to Florida on Monday for game 3 tied at 1-1. The Panthers have home ice for games 3 and 4.
#3 The Panthers battled all game long down 4-3 saw Corey Perry tie the game at 17.8 second left in the third period. Perry’s goal was key if not for that the Oilers would be up 2-0.
#4 Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl who were key scorers in game 1 both battled with they had in game 2 on Friday but the Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was able to keep them out of the net. The Oilers ended up pulling goaltender Stuart Skinner for an extra attacker in the second overtime and Marchand took advantage of the open net and got the game winner.
#5 Game 3 moves to Florida on Monday night the Panthers have home ice for games 3 and 4 and it could give Florida a shot at taking a 3-1 series lead. The Oilers will have to regroup to avoid that from happening.
Denzel Clarke made an incredible catch in deep left center field as he crashed into the wall on Friday night. (Photo: Athletics on X)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Athletics were back in action on Friday night after snapping their nine-game losing streak the Thursday against the Twins. Looking to build a streak, the A’s defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 in the first of a three-game series at Sutter Health Park.
JP Sears started the game for the A’s and pitched well. He didn’t have his dominant stuff on Friday, but that didn’t stop him from turning in a solid outing. Sears went five innings, allowing four runs on four hits while striking out three Baltimore hitters. He was a bit off with his command, walking three.
In relief, Grant Holman came in and pitched a scoreless sixth inning while striking out two. T.J. McFarland followed Holman and delivered a clean seventh as the A’s held onto a 5-4 lead. In the eighth, Tyler Ferguson took over and was only able to record one out, giving up a hit and two walks. Mark Kotsay had seen enough and went to his flamethrower, Mason Miller, to finish off the eighth inning. Miller came in and struck out the final two batters with the bases loaded to keep the A’s lead intact heading to the ninth. In the ninth, Mason Miller was as advertised. Miller picked up where he left off by striking out one and pitching a clean inning other than a walk. The A’s defeated the Orioles 5-4.
The A’s offense came early in the game as they scored four runs in the third inning and added a fifth run in the fifth. Lawrence Butler had an RBI double, Jacob Wilson an RBI single, and Tyler Soderstrom an RBI groundout in the A’s four-run third. In the fifth, the A’s run came thanks to a Brent Rooker RBI single.
With the win, the A’s improved to 25-40 on the season and have won two in a row for the first time in a month.
The A’s will take on the Orioles and look for a series win on Saturday at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. The A’s will send Luis Severino to the hill (1-5, 4.54 ERA), countered by Baltimore’s Charlie Morton (2-7, 6.20 ERA).
Note of the day: I know I talk about A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson a lot in my columns. However, whatever praise and attention I bring to him isn’t nearly enough for what he deserves. Jacob is on an absolute terror. After Friday, Wilson is now hitting .369 on the season with eight home runs. He has also had 11 three-hit games this season— the most in MLB. Wilson is proving day in and day out that he is the best big league shortstop in the game, and it’s only his rookie season.
Former Spanish announcers Miami Marlins Felo Ramirez (left) worked until he passed away at age 94 and Los Angeles Dodgers Jaime Jarrin retired at 87 both Ramirez and Jarrin are in the Baseball Hall of Fame and are in the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum (photo from the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame)
Baseball: Why Retire if you are having Fun?
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
Most studies that did not account for individuals’ prior health status and demographic factors found that on-time retirement was associated with a higher risk of mortality compared to those who continued working beyond the retirement age.
In our American culture, it seems that when a person reaches a certain age, they are supposed to retire. You get free calls from your health provider trying to lure you in for another vaccine, because if your age is XX, something must be wrong with your health.
Remember that it is a business also. And some people get the same question, “Why are you not retired”?, which in my opinion is in the category of ‘that is not your business’ type of question. But what happens if you are past your retirement age and you have a job that you enjoy that brings you the pleasure some people cannot buy, even when they retire with a nice financial nest?
A recent report published by Investment News reveals that the “magic number” for retirement savings today is around $1.5 million, which is certainly enough to turn heads. Still, some advisors argue that such numbers are misleading at best.
—Vin Scully. There are specific jobs that, regardless of finances, could extend your life. Baseball broadcasting is a good sample; some of the best baseball announcers in history did not wait until 65 to retire. After all, they are not Airline pilots, who are required to retire at 65. In broadcasting, as long as you can talk, read, and entertain an audience, you can work longer than most people. Some of the best examples are people like Vin Scully, who broadcast the Dodgers for 67 years from coast to coast, from Brooklyn, New York, to Los Angeles, California. The most extraordinary baseball announcer who ever lived passed at the age of 95.
Scully’s last season behind the mike at Dodger Stadium was 2016. I was privileged to meet and speak with Mr. Scully, including during his last season on the air, when I was working play-by-play for LA Fox Sports Spanish TV for the Los Angeles Angels. His booth at Angel Stadium was next to mine when he came in with the Dodgers, and he never disappointed. If he was the best ever baseball announcer, he was also one of the best human beings you could meet. He truly enjoyed his work, and his dedication and honesty were exemplary.
—Bob Uecker. He was the voice for the Milwaukee Brewers for 54 seasons and passed in 2024. Funny, this man who was an ex-player and, like he said about his playing career,”Sporting goods companies would pay me not to endorse their products” And “I always tried to stay around .190, with three or four RBIs” Plus also highlighting his experience catching knuckleballs and noted that his slumps sometimes lasted into the winter.
He was naturally funny, pleasant, and knowledgeable. He was the key character in the Mr.Belvedere television series. Mr. Uecker’s appearance on the most Johnny Carson shows in history. Bob Uecker appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson more than 100 times, the record.
Johnny Carson, for those of us who remember, was the best on television during that time slot and, in my humble opinion, the best. The Late-Night hosts today are not even close to Mr. Carson. The guys today often get into politics, which can be embarrassing, and also feature scripted and predictable participants as guests promoting their movies and series.
These individuals lack the spontaneity of Carson, who was genuinely clever and witty. Even the old-time great Groucho Marx said he liked Johnny Carson, and Groucho was famous for always speaking his mind.
–Rafael “Felo”Ramirez. Last but not least, Rafael “Felo” Ramírez, whom I proudly call my mentor. In 1998, I was selected to work with him during the NL Championship Series between the Braves and the Padres for the LBC Network, which broadcast to US and Latin American radio stations.
I used to listen to Felo when I was a little 12-year-old boy in Cuba; he called the Cuban Winter League games. Before the game, I asked him if it would be fine with him to mention what I have always told him in private, “I listened to you when I was a boy in Cuba”.
He said, of course, and during the broadcast, towards the end, I mentioned over the air. For me, that was one of the highlights of this business. The Legendary Spanish voice of the Marlins, while traveling with the team on April 26, 2017, fell off the team’s bus in Philadelphia, hit his head, and was hospitalized for two months before his passing in Miami, Florida, at the age of 94.
He was broadcasting until the very end, but that accident ended his historic career. Felo was like my second father. He loved his career broadcasting baseball; he called the landmark Roberto Clemente 3,000 hit in Pittsburgh. I have the 33 rpm record album with his call, and then President Richard Nixon calling Clemente to congratulate the great Puerto Rican player. About that recording, last time I visited Cooperstown it was there for every fan to listen to.
These three broadcasters are proof that specific jobs exist. If you enjoy what you do, you can outlive many people. Granted, these three were extraordinary people, but they were in their mid-90s and still working. How many other jobs aside from broadcasting can you do that? Maybe as a Senator in Washington?
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray was dealing on Thu Jun 5, 2025 against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park in San Francisco (photo from Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva:
#1 Michael big day for the San Francisco Giants Robbie Ray picking up his eighth win with a 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres Thursday afternoon at Oracle Park.
#2 Ray had nine strikeouts over seven innings of work and is the first pitcher in the National League to win eight games.
#3 Ray at 33 retired the Padres in order four times and the Padres couldn’t get past first base in the last four innings of the ball game.
#4 What’s remarkable about Ray is when the Giants got him last season he couldn’t start pitching until July and coming into this year he’s showing shades of the 2021 Cy Young pitcher that he was.
#5 Giants open up a three game series with the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Braves RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (4-4 ERA 3.13) for the Giants RHP Hayden Birdsong (3-1 ERA 2.37) first pitch 7:15pm PDT.
Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaitl (not shown) scored on Florida Panther goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) as the Oilers Connor McDavid looks on while the Panthers Seth Jones (3) tried defending during the first overtime period in game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Rogers Centre in Edmonton (Canadian Press via AP)
NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast Len Shapiro:
#1 The Edmonton Oilers in game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals saw Leon Draisaitl score a goal with a minute into the the game. The Oilers got a tying goal when Connor McDavid executed a perfect pass Draisaitl.
#2 Len, this game almost went into a second overtime but McDavid’s pass to Draisaitl got the winning goal. This combination has been key to the Oilers getting this far.
#3 Draisaitl was not able to score a goal in the finals last season but wants to make up for lost scoring. The Oilers also lost the first three games of the series to the Panthers and won the next three to tie up the series but couldn’t close out the 7th game for a loss.
#4 The two potential Hall of Famers McDavid and Draisaitl what this finals means to them if they can win this series. What they haven’t done is win the Stanley Cup and McDavid and . It would be the first franchise title in 35 years.
#5 Game 2 slated for Friday night in Edmonton. If the Oilers can come away with the win they will have 2-0 momentum going into game 3 in Florida. If the Panthers were to win game 2 it’s 1-1 going to Florida and that could shift momentum in Florida’s way.
Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom circles the bases after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Thu Jun 6, 2025 (AP News photo)
Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:
#1 After losing nine games in a row it’s been awhile but the Sacramento A’s have overcome once again in a big way winning with a vengeance over the Minnesota Twins 14-3 on Thursday afternoon. How important was this win for the A’s in snapping their nine game losing streak.
#2 The A’s Tyler Soderstrom got hold of a pitch for a grand slammer and later hit off a two run homer. The A’s Max Muncy ripped a three run homer in the first inning to get things started for the A’s.
#3 Jacob Wilson got a home run before Soderstrom’s home run, Brent Rooker got three hits, three RBIs, and scored three times.
#4 A’s starter Mitch Spence now 2-1 surrendered a run and three hits in five innings of work for the A’s.
#5 The Baltimore Orioles and A’s open up a three game series on Friday night at Sutter Health. Starting pitcher for the O’s RHP Dean Kremer (5-5 ERA 4.70) for the A’s Mark Kotsay has not announced a starter yet.
San Francisco Giant starter Robbie Ray kept the San Diego Padres in check picking up his eighth win against one loss at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Jun 5, 2025 (AP News photo)
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Oracle Park
San Francisco, California
San Diego Padres 2 (35-26)
San Francisco Giants 3 (35-28)
Win: Robbie Ray (8-1)
Loss: Dylan Cease (1-5)
Save: Camilo Doval (8)
Time: 2:28
Attendance: 37,436
By Stephen Ruderman
The Giants pulled off another one, as Robbie Ray struck out nine over seven strong innings, and the Giants beat the Padres 3-2 to get a split in this four-game series on Thursday afternoon.
After their biggest win of the season Wednesday night, in which they came back from down 5-0, the Giants sought to get the split in the series finale on another nice day for baseball at Oracle Park. They had the perfect man on the mound in Robbie Ray, who despite not having the official ace title, has been the Giants’ most dominant starter this season.
Ray came into Thursday’s game 7-1. He took his first loss of the season last Saturday in Miami after his offense was unable to provide him any support in a 1-0 loss. With the Giants’ offense finally scoring more than four runs Wednesday night, there was hope that he would get more support today.
Ray started off the day nicely with a one, two, three inning in the top of the first. The Giants looked to pounce on Padres’ starter Dylan Cease, who has not had a particularly good season thus far. Cease came in 1-4 with a 4.66 ERA, and with the Giants’ offense carrying some of the momentum from last night, he was the perfect man to face.
The Giants had runners at second and third with one out after Jung Hoo Lee got screwed on a ground-rule double to Triples Alley. That bounce over the wall would come back to bite the Giants, who would waste a golden opportunity to make an early statement.
Ray got out of a jam in the top of the second, and he appeared to be headed for a quick and quiet inning after striking out the first two men he faced in the top of the third. However, Luis Arraez reached on an infield hit that deflected off Ray, and Manny Machado broke the ice with a home run to left-center field.
The Padres had a 2-0 lead, but the Giants were ready to respond in the bottom of the third, as they loaded the bases with one out. Willy Adames put the Giants on the board with a sacrifice fly to right-center field, and then one of the other newbies, Dominic Smith stepped up to the plate.
Smith fell behind in the count early, as he whiffed at the first two pitches. Smith took a pair of pitches to work the count to 2-2, and then he fouled off three-straight. Smith was looking to fit in quite nicely with a Giants’ team that has worked two-strike at-bats all year long.
Cease threw a perfect pitch on the outside corner, but Home Plate Umpire Will Little did not give him the call, and the count was now full. The next pitch, the ninth of the at-bat, was a slider that Smith drove into the gap in right-center for a ground-rule double that gave the Giants the lead.
Ray then responded with a six-pitch one, two, three inning in the top of the fourth, and he went on to retire 11-straight. At the end, Ray retired 13 of the final 14 men he faced to cap off a dominant seven-inning performance. On top of that, he walked just one, and he struck out nine. Ray now has 87 strikeouts through 13 starts this season.
Randy Rodriguez, fresh off converting his first big league save Wednesday night, took the ball for the eighth. Rodriguez gave up a leadoff single to Brandon Lockridge, but he was able to work his way through the inning.
Camilo Doval came in for the ninth and looked to bounce back after his blown save on Tuesday. It wouldn’t be easy, and just as they did Wednesday night, the Padres put runners at second and third with two outs. Doval then struck out Jake Cronenworth on a filthy low slider to end it, and the Giants won it 3-2.
Robbie Ray got the win to improve to 8-1, and Dylan Cease took his fifth loss. Most notably, Camilo Doval picked up his 100th-career save.
The Giants improve to 35-28.
The Atlanta Braves, who blew a 10-4 lead in a brutal loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday, will fly across the country for a three-game series at Oracle Park that will start Friday night. The Giants will look to take advantage of a Braves’ team that has been unable to click so far for whatever reason.
Hayden Birdsong (3-1, 2.37 ERA) will make his fourth start of the season in the series opener Friday. Birdsong has given up four earned runs, and has struck out 14 over 14 and two thirds innings in his first three starts.
Sports Radio Service 