San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips Thu Apr 24, 2025: Giants four run sixth enough to get by Brewers 4-2

San Francisco Giants second baseman Christian Koss (left) and shortstop Willy Adames (2) both jump for joy after the Giants defeated the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Apr 23, 2025 in game 3 of the four game series (San Francisco Giants X photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1  Wilmer Flores’ two run single helped the San Francisco Giants get back in the drivers seat scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Wednesday night.

#2 Jung Hoo Lee remained consistent at the plate with three hits and the Giants record against right handed pitching improved to 14-2 which leads Major League Baseball.

#3 The Giants starter Logan Webb improved his record to 3-1 and he out pitched Brewer starter Freddy Peralta who dropped his record to 2-2. Webb pitched 6.1 innings, striking out six batters, walking three and dropped his ERA to 1.98.

#4 Giants reliever Ryan Walker got into a base loaded jam and the Brewers were able to score two runs off Walker in the ninth. With the score 4-2 Giants reliever Camilo Doval came in and got the last two out and picked up his fourth save of the campaign.

#5 Game 4 concludes this series the Brewers will be going with starter RHP Tobias Myers (season debut) he’ll be matched up against RHP Landen Roupp (2-1 ERA 4.09) first pitch at 12:45pm PDT at Oracle Park.

Morris Phillips does the SF Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Langeliers Goes 4-for-4, Kurtz Debuts as A’s Down Rangers 5-2

Nick Kurtz after his first major league hit on Wednesday night. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s evened the series with the Texas Rangers on Wednesday evening at Sutter Health Park, powered in part by Nick Kurtz’s RBI single in his MLB debut, as they defeated the Rangers 5-2.

J.P. Sears earned the win for the A’s, tossing five innings of two-run ball while allowing five hits and striking out five. The loss went to Rangers starter Kumar Rocker, who was rocked by the A’s offense, giving up five runs on seven hits in just one and two-thirds innings.

The A’s bats got going early, batting through the order in the first inning and putting up four runs. Lawrence Butler immediately got the A’s on the board with a long solo home run to center field that traveled 425 feet, according to Statcast. The A’s quickly added to the lead as Shea Langeliers singled home Tyler Soderstrom, followed by Kurtz singling in Langeliers to make it 3-0. Gio Urshela capped the scoring in the inning with an RBI double, giving the A’s a 4-0 lead.

It was a welcome change for the A’s, who have often trailed early at home, to jump out to a fast start.

In the bottom of the second, the A’s scored again on a Jacob Wilson bases-loaded walk to make it a 5-0 ballgame. It was Wilson’s first walk of the 2025 season. The A’s wouldn’t score again, but they wouldn’t need to.

After Sears exited with a 5-2 lead, the A’s bullpen shut down the Rangers with four innings of shutout ball. Justin Sterner tossed a hitless sixth, Mitch Spence allowed one hit in a scoreless seventh, Tyler Ferguson delivered a clean eighth, and Mason Miller slammed the door in the ninth, striking out three and allowing just a two-out double. It was an electric performance from the A’s pen following Sears’ strong outing.

Langeliers led the A’s with a perfect 4-for-4 night, driving in a run and scoring once. Gio Urshela went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.

With the win, the A’s improved to 11-13 on the season and have a chance to take the series from the Rangers on Thursday.

Up Next: The A’s and Rangers face off in the rubber match on Thursday at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. Jacob deGrom is slated to start for Texas, while J.T. Ginn is the probable for the A’s.

Four-run sixth inning and last-minute save by Doval carry Giants to 4-2 win over Brewers

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Milwaukee Brewers 2 (13-12)

San Francisco Giants 4 (16-9)

Win: Logan Webb (3-1)

Loss: Freddy Peralta (2-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (4)

Time: 2:34

Attendance: 29,049

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants played a much cleaner game Wednesday night, as Logan Webb was strong over six and a third innings, and Camilo Doval stepped into his old role to avert disaster and close out a 4-2 win over the Brewers.

After the Giants won the series opener on Monday, the Brewers pounded them into submission Tuesday night. It was one of those games where you had to forget about it and be ready to go the next day.

The next day came, and the Giants had their ace in Logan Webb on the mound. Webb was coming off his first loss of the season on Friday night in Anaheim, which he really didn’t deserve. He gave up just two runs and struck out 12 over six innings. Unfortunately, the Giants just couldn’t provide him with any offense.

Anyway, Webb and the Giants took the field on the first foggy night of the season at Oracle Park. It wouldn’t be easy for Webb out of the gate, as he had to work through jams in each of the first two innings. However, he survived them both without any damage, and proceeded to set down the next 11 hitters he faced over three-straight one, two, three innings.

Brewers’ starter Freddy Peralta had a very similar outing. He escaped a jam in the bottom of the fourth inning, and notched five shutout innings under his belt.

Just like the championship days, the Giants have utilized the ground attack and have taken advantage of errors and defensive mistakes by their opponents this season. They would do it again Wednesday night, as they loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth to knock Peralta out of the game.

In came Nick Mears to face Wilmer Flores. With the count at 1-2, Mears threw a nasty slider just below the knees on the outside corner, but Flores grounded it up the middle and off the glove of the diving shortstop, Joey Ortiz, for a base-hit to center field, and two runs scored to put the Giants up 2-0.

The Giants would get some help from the Brewers’ defense as the inning went along. With runners at the corners at one out, LeMonte Wade hit a potential double play ball to second-baseman Brice Turang that Turang tried to backhand, but it hit off his glove, and Matt Chapman scored to make it 3-0.

Christian Koss came up with two outs and hit a ground ball to Ortiz at short. Ortiz ranged to his left to field it, but his off-balanced throw to first sailed off the glove of first-baseman Rhys Hoskins, and Flores came in to score to cap off a four-run inning.

Webb gave up a base-hit and a walk to start the top of the seventh, and he closed out his night by getting Caleb Durbin to fly out to left. Webb ended up going six and a third scoreless innings and struck out six. Lefty Erik Miller came in and got out of it with the shutout still intact.

Tyler Rogers pitched a one, two, three inning in the top of the eighth, and Ryan Walker came in for a non-save situation in the top of the ninth. It was Walker’s first time on the mound since he gave up four runs and blew the save on Sunday in Anaheim.

Unfortunately, Walker was hit around again. The Brewers loaded the bases with one out following a pair of base-hits and a hit batsman. Turang then came up and lined a ground rule double off the end of the bat down the left field line, which scored a pair of runs and cut the Giants’ lead in half to 4-2.

Bob Melvin summoned Camilo Doval, who lost the closer’s job last August, but who had quietly amassed three saves so far this season. It was a big opportunity for Doval, who lost the job following a string of rough outings in the middle of last season. Doval seized on this opportunity, as he struck out Jackson Churio, and got Christian Yelich to ground out to end it.

Logan Webb got the win; Freddy Peralta took the loss; and Camilo Doval picked up his fourth save. Ryan Walker has five saves.

The Giants improve to 16-9, and they have a chance to take the series with a win Thursday afternoon. Landen Roupp (2-1, 4.09 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants. As for the Brewers, right-hander Tobias Myers will make the start in his 2025 debut.

First pitch will be at 12:45 p.m.

NBA Playoffs podcast Michael Roberson Wed Apr 23, 2025: Celtics Brown leads the way with 36 points beat Magic 109-100; Cavs go up 2-0 defeat Heat 121-112

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) takes a shot on the Orlando Magic’s guard Cory Joseph (10) in first half action in game 2 of the NBA first round playoffs at TD Garden in Boston on Wed Apr 23, 2025 (AP News photo)

NBA Playoffs podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 Michael, the Boston Celtics took game 2 109-100 on Wednesday night. The Celtics once again got help from leading scorers Jaylen Brown 36 points, Kristaps Porzingis 20 points, and Derrick White with 17 points.

#2 The Magic now down 0-2 in this series couldn’t close the gap on the Celtics got scoring from Paolo Banchero with 32 points, Franz Wagner 25 points, and Wendell Carter Jr 16 points. The Magic have their backs to the wall with game 3 going back to Boston on Friday.

#3 The Cleveland Cavaliers Donavon Mitchell helped the Cavaliers go up 2-0 in the series leading with 30 points, Darius Garland 21 points, and Evan Mobley with 20 points. The Cavaliers had an offensive plan and won it 121-112.

#4 The Heat tried as hard as they might just didn’t get enough to try and tie this series up the leading scorers Tyler Herro 33 points, Davion Mitchell 18 points, and Haywood Highsmith with 17 points.

#5 The Heat are talented but do they have enough to make any noise as they head back to Miami for Saturday’s game 3?

Michael Roberson does the NBA podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Scott Perry Returns to Sacramento With Optimism and Big Decisions Ahead

Scott Perry is introduced and joined by his wife in Sacramento on Wednesday. (Photo: Kevin John on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — “Good morning everyone, I’m so excited to be back in Sacramento, California. It is a joy and a blessing for me…”

Scott Perry opened his second tenure in Sacramento with a tone of optimism and resolve from the main press conference room inside Golden 1 Center on Wednesday morning.

Perry, who had previously spent a few months with the Kings in 2017 before leaving for New York to join the Knicks, is now back in Sacramento for the long haul as General Manager of the club.

One of the most pressing decisions Perry faces is selecting his head coach. The new Kings GM did not commit to interim coach Doug Christie, but he also didn’t rule him out.

“I’ve spent time with Doug Christie already,” Perry said. “I admire him as a player and his career. I watched him this year from afar… He’s one of the first people I met with when I arrived here in Sacramento… I want to have a few more conversations in and around this job, and hopefully we can come to a decision in the next week or so.”

The Kings and Perry appear eager to get to work. The next few months should give Kings fans a strong indication of the long-term direction the franchise is heading.

Nick Kurtz to Debut for A’s After Meteoric Rise Through Minors

Nick Kurtz in the A’s clubhouse on Tuesday. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — A new era at first base for the Athletics is upon us!

The A’s first selection in the 2024 MLB Draft, Nick Kurtz, will make his debut for the Athletics in Sacramento against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday evening.

Kurtz, the No. 4 overall selection in last year’s draft out of Wake Forest, will debut after just 32 minor league games and less than 10 months since being drafted — both unprecedented in MLB. In those 32 minor league games, Kurtz hit .366 with 11 home runs, 10 doubles, and 22 walks, good for a 1.121 OPS. Coaches and players who have seen him during his brief time in pro ball have described him as a very mature player despite his limited experience. 

A’s manager Mark Kotsay, speaking with the media on Tuesday, said, “He’s a pretty accomplished young hitter, and he’s got an advanced approach. As David mentioned, his demeanor, he’s a pretty even-keeled kid.

It’s safe to say there’s plenty of excitement surrounding Nick, both in the clubhouse and in the front office.

Kurtz will play first base on Wednesday as Tyler Soderstrom moves to the outfield.

As the A’s continue to struggle at home (2-8 over their first 10 home games), Kurtz might be just what the doctor ordered. Granted, A’s pitching is generally seen as the area most in need of improvement.

As for Kurtz and his appeal to fans, I’ll say this: I watched Nick clear the batter’s eye in center field and hit the scoreboard in right-center during batting practice on Tuesday afternoon. The kid is gonna be must-watch baseball.

Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor: Green says Curry Warriors ticket to winning games

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) scores while being surrounded by Houston Rockets Tari Eason (17) and Jalen Green (4) during game 1 of the NBA Playoffs first round at the Toyota Center in Houston on Sun Apr 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor:

#1 Golden State Warriors guard Draymond Green said that game 1 basically boiled down to Stephen Curry leading the Warriors in scoring with 31 points to maintain a lead on the Houston Rockets, “In order for us to win basketball games it requires Steph Curry to be great,” Green said. “And he was just that.”

#2 Curry was 12 for 19 from the floor and hit five crucial of nine attempts for three pointers and got some acrobatic shots that even amazed his teammates.

#3 Game 2 is on deck Wednesday night. The Rockets are looking to get some scoring production from Albert Sengun who lead with 26 points in game 1 but their going to need a lot more from Fred VanVleet and Dillion Brooks if they plan to get by Golden State. David what’s your thoughts on game 2?

David Zizmor does the Golden State Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioserivce.com

Rangers Outslug A’s 8-5 Despite Late Push in A’s Sacramento Return

Brent Rooker receives his Silver Slugger from the 2024 season. (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s were back home in Sacramento on Tuesday night after a road trip that took them through Chicago and Milwaukee. They swept the White Sox and dropped two of three to the Brewers, finishing the trip with a winning record of 4-3.

On Tuesday, the A’s welcomed in the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, who entered the game with a 13-9 start to the 2025 season. The A’s came in last place in the division at 10-12 but sat just three games behind the Rangers.

The A’s fell to Texas by a final score of 8-5.

A’s starter Osvaldo Bido was roughed up, lasting five and a third innings while allowing eight runs (all earned) on eight hits, including four home runs. It was a tough outing in a game where any decent contact seemed to have a chance to leave the yard.

Rangers starter Patrick Corbin went five innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits and allowing two homers.

The A’s got on the board with solo home runs in the second and third innings from Miguel Andujar and Lawrence Butler, respectively. Aside from those, they didn’t generate many scoring chances until the sixth inning, where they loaded the bases but came up empty. They finally broke through again in the bottom of the seventh when JJ Bleday delivered an RBI single to score Brent Rooker and cut the deficit to 8-3.

Sacramento continued to chip away in the eighth as Luis Urias and Brent Rooker each added solo shots to pull the A’s within three at 8-5 heading into the ninth.

After a scoreless top of the ninth from the bullpen, the A’s went down in order in the bottom half to end the game.

Brent Rooker finished 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk. JJ Bleday went 2-for-4 with a walk, and Miguel Andujar had a strong night, going 3-for-5 with a homer.

After the game, manager Mark Kotsay praised the team’s fight but pointed to missed chances in the sixth inning. “The sixth inning was the inning we left opportunities on the bases… we left the bases loaded, second and third with nobody out really… We continued to take good at-bats after that… it could’ve been more. We just had our opportunities—had 11 hits and left 10 on the bases.”

Note: In the top of the seventh inning, A’s reliever Jose Leclerc recorded only one out before leaving with right shoulder soreness. After the game, Kotsay confirmed the injury, calling it “more of a strain than soreness.” It’s tough news for a bullpen already dealing with depth issues.

Up Next: The A’s and Rangers continue the series on Wednesday night at 7:05 PM PST at Sutter Health Park. J.P. Sears is scheduled to start for the A’s, while the Rangers counter with Kumar Rocker. A’s No. 1 prospect Nick Kurtz will make his debut at first base in the contest.

Brewers explode for eight-run top of the sixth in 11-3 route of Giants

Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich gets around on the baseball for his fifth home run of the season for a grand slam in the top of the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Tue Apr 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Milwaukee Brewers 11 (13-11)

San Francisco Giants 3 (15-9)

Win: Jose Quintana (3-0)

Loss: Jordan Hicks (1-3)

Time: 2:48

Attendance: 28,573

By Stephen Ruderman

An eight-run top of the sixth inning did the Giants in, as Brewers smoked their way to an 11-3 win on Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

After a tough loss in Anaheim on Sunday, the Giants bounced back with a 5-2 win Monday night. Tuesday night, the Giants would try to build on that, and get back to their season-high of eight games over .500.

Before the game, Hunter Pence threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his wife, Alexis. Pence was at the ballpark for Earth Day on behalf of his organization, Healthy Planet Project, which focuses on efforts to clean the city, reduce pollution and bring awareness to Global Warming.

The Giants took the field for the second time this season in their new City Connect jerseys. Jordan Hicks took the ball following a shaky start in Philadelphia last Thursday, and he pitched a pair of scoreless innings to start his night. Meanwhile, the veteran left-hander, Jose Quintana, who pitched in five games for the Giants in 2021, threw a one, two, three bottom of the first, as well as a scoreless bottom of the second.

However, Hicks had his doldrums in the top of the third. Caleb Durbin led off the inning with a double, and Brice Turang singled him over to third. Jackson Churio grounded into a fielder’s choice to open the scoring, and after Christian Yelich doubled Churio over to third, William Contreras knocked them both in with a base-hit to left field to make it 3-0.

The Giants of course responded to the Brewer’s three runs in the bottom of the third, as David Villar led off the inning with a double. Villar got to third on a ground out by Patrick Bailey, and then scored on a broken-bat bloop single to right by Tyler Fitzgerald to put the Giants on the board.

Hicks pitched through some more trouble in the top of the fourth, and he finally threw his first one, two, three inning of the night in the top of the fifth. Quintana was back in control, as he pitched two more scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth.

Unfortunately, Hicks and the Giants just ran into a brick wall in the top of the sixth. A pair of base-hits and a wild pitch made it 4-1. Hicks then walked Garrett Mitchell, and that ended his night.

Lou Trivino was brought in, and things didn’t get any better. Trivino got Durbin to fly out for the first out of the inning, but Turang singled to right to make it 5-1. Churio was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and up came Christian Yelich. What did Yelich do? He hit a grand salami to straightaway center to turn this into a laugher.

The Brewers now led it 9-1, and they still weren’t done. Sal Frelick walked with two outs, and Jake Bauers added insult to injury with a two-run shot to right-center to make it 11-1.

As for Hicks, he gave up five earned runs in five-plus innings. Trivino ended up giving up five runs as well.

You really have to give it to the Giants. They never gave up, and in fact, they loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Unfortunately, they were unable to come through in the sixth, but they rallied again and scored runs in the seventh and eighth to make it 11-3. The Giants even rallied in the bottom of the ninth, but nothing came out of it, and the Brewers won it 11-3.

Jose Quintana, who pitched six innings got the win, and Hicks took his third loss of the young season.

The Giants fall to 15-9, and they will look to bounce back Wednesday night with their ace, Logan Webb (2-1, 2.40 ERA) on the hill. Freddy Peralta (2-1, 1.91 ERA) will take the ball for Milwaukee.

First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m., something I’m still getting used to in the Giants’ seventh season of 6:45 weeknight games.

Giants News and Notes:

Giants’ top prospect, Bryce Eldridge returned from his left wrist injury to make his 2025 debut for the Giants’ Double-A affiliate, the Richmond Flying Squirrels, who were in Akron, Ohio tonight.

In his first at-bat, Eldrige picked up right where he left off last season and the beginning of Spring Training this year, as he hit a home run to right-center.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Padres Arraez placed on 7 day concussion IL; Braves Strider hurt again out on 15 day IL; plus more MLB news

San Diego Padres Luis Arraez is laid out after colliding with Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon (left) as Padres first base coach David Macias (46) and the Houston Astros trainer checks on Arraez in the top of the first inning at Daikin Park in Houston on Mon Apr 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1  The San Diego Padres have placed Luis Arraez on the seven day concussion injured list on Monday. Arraez got into a scary collision with Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon at first base. Arraez was laid out and had to be carted off the field and taken to the hospital but came back to the ballpark after the Padres 3-2 win. Talk about taking one for the team.

#2 If it’s one thing it’s another for the Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider. Strider was who returned from elbow surgery and had not been in a game since April 5, 2024. Strider in his last game pitched five innings in a 3-1 loss giving up two runs on April 16th. Strider on Monday strained his right hamstring while playing catch on Monday and is now on the 15 day injured list.

#3  Cleveland Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie has been designated for assignment on Monday. McKenzie had been suffering from arm injuries had made 30 starts in 2022 when he went 11-11 with a 2.96 ERA. McKenzie had a 11.12 ERA in four appearances this season. McKenzie a right hander since April 16 when allowed four runs against the Baltimore Orioles.

#4 After playing in 32 minor league games the Sacramento Athletics have called up first baseman Nick Kurtz. Kurtz the A’s No. 4 overall pick in last season’s draft will be activated on Wednesday. The A’s will face the Texas Rangers left hander Patrick Corbin on Tuesday and would like to see Kurtz get some at at bats to see if he add some punch to the line up.

#5  San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt is on the 30 day IL suffering from a grade 2 left oblique strain. Schmitt who underwent an MRI Monday was diagnosed by Dr. Ken Akizuki and the Giants orthopedist has scheduled Schmitt for evaluation for this weekend. Schmitt was hitting in the batting cage last weekend in Anaheim when he got injured putting him on the ten day IL.

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.