Author: Sports Radio Service

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Sox rally for 4 runs in ninth to defeat Giants 6-2

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Chicago White Sox Luis Robert Jr connects for a base hit in the top of the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Aug 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

On SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The Chicago White Sox Korey Lee hit a two run RBI single that broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon that was part of a four run rally that helped defeat the San Francisco Giants 6-2. The win snaps the Sox four game losing streak.

#2 Giants reliever Erik Miller now 3-4 surrendered two walks to the Sox Luis Robert Jr and Andrew Benintendi with two out in the ninth inning with Lee at the plate he singled off Spencer Bivens to knock in the two runs. The Sox Lenyn Sosa hit a two run single for another two runs and the Sox came away with a four run win. How much trouble did you see Miller and Bivens having trying to work out of that jam?

#3 The Sox Robert and Gavin Sheets had two hits a piece and contributed in the game with two RBIs. As the White Sox who have lost won their third game in nine tries.

#4 Michael, how important is it that Chris Casalli is starting for the injured Patrick Bailey as catcher. Bailey is out on the 10 day IL with the oblique strain.

#5 The Giants open up a three game series with the Seattle Mariners starting Friday night a 7:10pm PT first pitch at T Mobile. Neither club has announced a starter as of Wednesday night.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The passing of Al Attles 87; Basketball in his Veins-As I remember

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Former Golden State Warriors head coach Al Attles from 1970-1983 passed away Wed Aug 20, 2024 at age 87 (USA Today photo)

Al Attles -Basketball in his Veins -As I Remember

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

I had the privilege of knowing Al Attles during the Golden State Warriors years when he was a team advisor-executive and would travel most of the time with the W’s during the 1990s. Then, I was employed by the team as their Spanish play-by-play announcer.

For the record, the “only one they ever had in their history” to date. At their time, only four or five teams were broadcasting NBA in Spanish; I believe the Warriors were after the Spurs, Rockets, and Lakers, maybe we were the fourth in the country to do Spanish on KIQI 1010AM San Francisco.

But first, here is a little history about a great man and a great gentleman, Al Attles, who left us today after 87 years on this earth. He was born in Newark, New Jersey; the “Jersey Jet” was a player for the Philadelphia Warriors from 1960-1962 and then with the San Francisco Warriors until 1971.

The first professional sporting event I ever covered in the Bay Area was a Warriors game in the 1970s. The Warriors played temporarily at the Cow Palace, Daly City, while the Oakland Arena was under construction. I remember Mr. Hal Childs, the first Media Relations person I had to deal with for my credentials; he was then with the Warriors.

Al Attles played on that historic day when Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points. Attles was humble and would not tell you that his 17 points during that same game resulted from making every throw he made: eight field goals and one free throw. He made them all but was always humble as a player or coach.

I once joked with him that when Wilt Chamberlain scored the record 100 points in that game, he must have had a bunch of assists. He joked about how he passed to Chamberlain, but in the end, he admitted he had six assists. By the way, in that game, the Warriors won 169-134 over the Knicks. It was on March 2, 1962.

Al would usually be first on the team bus after every game when traveling with the Warriors on the road. I would be a few minutes later since my post-game show, as I did a solo broadcast on all games home and road, would be handled in 5 minutes, and then I would send it back to our main studios in San Francisco. I would ‘pick his head’ after a game, specially if we lost that game, during those years the W’s had good teams but no titles.

One day, I remember the team losing by a large margin and blowing out 20 points. As I walked onto the bus, he said, “Did you put this team together?” On other occasions, he would tell me, “Can you push the ball?” And it continued, but I always listened to his wisdom and learned a lot from this humble and generous man.

After playing, Attles’s career was dedicated to coaching. He always liked to talk and teach basketball and coached the San Francisco Warriors and then the Golden State Warriors from 1968 to 1975. He won the NBA title in that great 1974-75 season as a coach.

Although I cannot remember the exact date, I did cover the Victory Rally at San Francisco Union Square after they beat the Washington team in the 1974-75 season NBA finals. I had my SONY small recorder in hand.

I remember as I walked to the Warriors celebratory rally, running into the “one and only Bill King” (best basketball play-by-play announcer I ever heard), who was sporting Jesus sandals and purple socks. He was there to speak at the rally, Al Attles, and then owner Franklin Meuli, wearing his inseparable Sherlock Holmes hat, also talked to a friendly crowd celebrating the moment.

The whole Bay Area is mourning today.

Rest in Peace Al Attles, I will forever remember you your wisdom and your profound voice.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez was a former play by play announcer on the Golden State Warriors Spanish radio network and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: 49ers getting closer to a deal with Aiyuk

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San Francisco 49ers Brandon Aiyuck and the 49ers are reportedly getting closer to settling a deal on a contract extension (AP file photo)

SF 49ers podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 Dave, no doubt the 49ers want to get this deal done with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and from the sound of things on Tuesday the two sides might be closer to a deal. They put off the Pittsburgh Steelers trade that was on the table. The Niners and Aiyuk are trying to work the numbers but their getting closer.

#2 There is no doubt that the 49ers want to get this deal done and not let Aiyuk get away. The 49ers know that he’s had a great run with the team. The 49ers have made multiple offers to try to get him signed and he could have easily have taken other offers but it sound like he want to stay on a team that was in the Super Bowl last season.

#3 Dave, 49ers and Raiders match up for the last pre season game on Fri Sep 23 a 7:00pm kick off. 49ers at quarterback used Joshua Dobbs in their last game against the New Orleans Saints. Dobbs has started in the 49ers last two 49ers exhibition games and it’s most likely he’ll get the call on Friday night.

San Francisco 49ers podcasts with David Zizmor are heard weekly on Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ray strikes out nine over six strong innings, Giants make it three-straight with 4-1 win over White Sox

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San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray struck out nine Chicago White Sox at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Aug 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Chicago White Sox 1 (30-97)

San Francisco Giants 4 (65-63)

Win: Robbie Ray (3-2)

Loss: Davis Martin (0-2)

Save: Ryan Walker (2)

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 28,766

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have taken advantage of their easy schedule to get back on track, as Robbie Ray struck out nine over six strong innings, and the Giants beat the White Sox 4-1 to win their third-straight on Monday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

The Giants beat the White Sox 5-3 Tuesday night after the White Sox got the tying run to second base with two outs in the top of the ninth. It was a game that was much closer than it should have been against the historically-bad White Sox, but at least the Giants were able to get the win.

Tuesday night, the Giants looked to make it three-straight with Robbie Ray on the mound on this Tuesday night at Oracle Park. Ray started the night off with a one, two, three top of the first inning. White Sox’ starter Davis Martin also started his night with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first.

Ray threw another one, two, three inning in the top of the second, and then the Giants got something going against Martin in the bottom of the second. Matt Chapman and Mike Yastrzemski singled to put runners at the corners with one out.

Monday night, the Giants finally got the timely RBI hits with runners in scoring position in a four-run bottom of the fifth. They weren’t able to do that in the bottom of the second Tuesday night, but Thaiuro Estrada was able to beat out the back end of a potential 5-4-3 double play, and Chapman scored to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

The White Sox had Dominic Fletcher at first with two outs for Lenyn Sosa, who hit a double that bounced off the wall in left-center field. Fletcher was waived in, and he was initially called out at the plate. However, the White Sox challenged the call, which was overturned, and the game was tied.

The Giants loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the third for Heliot Ramos, who walked to put the Giants back ahead. They had the bases loaded with nobody out and a chance to extend their lead, but being the Giants, they were unable to add on.

Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the fourth, and Ray pitched another scoreless inning in the top of the fifth.

Curt Casali led off the bottom of the fifth with a base-hit, and after Tyler Fitzgerald struck out, Martin was done. White Sox Interim Manager Grady Sizemore brought in Fraser Ellard, who immediately walked LaMonte Wade.

That put runners at first and second with one out for Ramos. Ramos knocked in a run with a bases-loaded walk his last time up in the third. Here in the fifth, he lined a base-hit up the middle that scored Casali to make it 3-1. It was the first RBI hit with a runner in scoring position for the Giants Tuesday night.

The Giants were unable to further extend their lead in the bottom of the fifth, but Ray responded with a one, two, three shutdown inning in the top of the sixth. The Giants then wasted an opportunity against Touki Toussaint in the bottom of the sixth.

Ray gave up a one-out base-hit to Gavin Sheets with one out in the top of the seventh. Ray then struck out Korey Lee, but Bob Melvin pulled him for Sean Hjelle, who got Miguel Vargas to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Ray was good Tuesday night, and much more consistent than Kyle Harrison was Monday night. Ray gave up just a run and three hits, while striking out nine over six and two thirds innings.

It seems like the Giants’ starters have been posting a lot of high strikeout totals in starts recently. That’s because they have, as the Giants are fifth in all of Baseball in strikeouts this season with 1,123.

Toussaint was back out for the South Siders in the bottom of the seventh. Ramos walked to start the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Mark Canha then walked, too, but Matt Chapman grounded into a double play.

The good news was that Ramos was still 90 feet away at third. Mike Yastrzemski got Ramos in with a ground-rule double that got stuck underneath the side wall down the right field line, and that made it 4-1.

Submariner Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless top of the eighth, which would have been a one, two, three inning had Dominic Fletcher not reached on catcher’s interference to start the inning. Gus Varland then threw a one, two, three bottom of the eighth for the White Sox.

Ryan Walker didn’t pitch two innings last night, and in fact, he didn’t pitch it all last night, which meant he was free to pitch tonight. Walker indeed came in for the top of the ninth, and he struck out the side in a one, two, three inning to close it out.

Robbie Ray got the win; Davis Martin got the loss; and Ryan Walker picked up his second save.

A win is a win, but it would have been nice had the Giants done better than going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position tonight. I am going to keep harping on that, because the Giants getting their act together and getting consistent key RBI hits with runners in scoring position is the only way they will be able to make a run at the Playoffs in September.

The Giants improve to 65-63, but they remain three and a half games back of the Braves for the third wild card. The Braves beat the Phillies 3-1 in Atlanta.

Wednesday, the Giants can get the sweep; win their fourth-straight; and get back to their season-high three games over .500 on a Wednesday getaway game. Giants’ ace Logan Webb (11-8, 3.17 ERA) will make what seems to be a rare start after a win, and he will be opposed by left-hander Garrett Crochet (6-9, 3.61 ERA). First pitch will be at 12:45 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Padres 72-55 +4.0
  2. Diamondbacks 71-56 +3.0
  3. Braves 67-58 —

Mets 65-61 2.5

GIANTS 65-63 3.5

Giants News and Notes:

Patrick Bailey was placed on the Injured List prior to Tuesday night’s game due to a right oblique strain. Catcher Jakson Reetz was called back up.

The St. Louis Cardinals released former Giant shortstop Brandon Crawford. Crawford, 37, was unable to get a major league deal from the Giants, but he got one from the Cardinals and signed during Spring Training. In just 28 games, Crawford hit .169, going 12-for-71 with one home run and just four RBIs.

With the Giants’ connection to their former players, especially those from the world championship teams of 2010, 2012 and 2014, you can’t help but wonder if a potential reunion could be in the works.

He Was a Giant? Nick Testa-C-1958-#47

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Former San Francisco Giants catcher Nick Testa who passed away in 2018 played for the Giants in 1958 (photo from findagrave.com)

He Was a Giant?

Nick Testa-C-1958-#47

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

A stocky catcher with tree-trunk legs, brawny arms and Greyhound Bus’ equivalent of platinum clientele status, Testa’s entire big league career consisted of one solitary Giants game at Seals Stadium in 1958, played during the first week of the club’s Golden Gate era.

But this was no mundane early season contest, Testa’s one and done MLB pilgrimage took place in a whacky 8-7 Giants victory (4/23/58), against the visiting Cardinals in a tilt that included a roaring San Francisco comeback from a 1st inning 5-0 deficit, and concluded on the Giants’ first ever California walk-off home run.

Reporting in the next day’s paper, San Francisco Examiner sports editor Curley Greive wrote the thrilling win was “the greatest game of the young season with a Dempsey wallop.”

The florid scribe concluded the improbable outcome was similar to “…losing a $10 bill and finding a $20. Like getting a rich inheritance from a miserly uncle.”

This was clearly a memorable day for the Giants and Testa – but his one day of big league action doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of the New York City native’s baseball life.

The scrappy, 5-foot-8, 180 pound Italian-American was on nine different teams in the Giants system before reaching San Francisco in 1958 and, believe it or not, his baseball odyssey was just getting started.

Like a Johnny Cash lyric, Testa went everywhere, man.

Why was he a Giant?

More than 60 years later, it might look like Testa’s out of the blue one and done big league career might have come as the result of winning a poker bet with

Giants owner Horace Stoneham (always a possibility) or could it have been Testa was in possession of compromising photos of San Francisco manager Bill Rigney wearing Dodger Blue shower shoes… and little else.

Seriously, while Testa’s minor league track record was nothing spectacular, the 29-year-old rookie was well liked by the Orange & Black brass and teammates alike who welcomed Testa’s receiving skills, natural leadership abilities and his peppy New York personality.

But he was a slow riser. After signing with the New York Giants organization out of the Bronx’s Christopher Columbus High School in 1947, the catcher had banged around the Giants farm system for about a decade without much of a sniff of the majors.

Then in 1958, Testa surpassingly broke camp with the original Fog City club as a third-string receiver behind veteran Valmy Thomas and rookie Bob Schmidt on the depth chart.

Before & After

The Bronx dweller batted .292 as a first year pro ball in 1947 with the Seaford Eagles of the Eastern Shore League. Giants minor league stops with the Erie Sailors, Idaho Falls Russets (seriously), Jacksonville Tars and Dallas Eagles followed there after before his brief big league breakthrough.

After the backstop’s one game Seals Stadium appearance, Testa was released, but stayed on with the big club as bullpen coach.

“About a month into the season the other two catchers were doing so well, there was no way I was going to play,” Testa told Steve Bitker in his phenomenal 1998 penned book, “The Original San Francisco Giants. .“So (Rigney) says, ‘Would you consider being a bullpen coach the rest of the year?’ And I says, ‘Oh, sure, I’d love to.’ I was probably the youngest bullpen coach in the majors at 29.”

Testa returned the minors in 1959, playing another six seasons, and a year in Japan before retiring from organized baseball.

But in many ways Testa departure from professional baseball was just the start of his baseball experience.

Testa would continue to play, coach and manage for years in adult hardball leagues from New Jersey to Italy and England to Panama and Columbia. Testa once estimated that he had played in 3,000 games for 24 teams.

Testa was also head coach baseball at New York’s Lehman College and served as a popular full-time batting practice pitcher for both his hometown Mets and Yankees.

He Never Had a Bobblehead Day. But…

Testa entered his solitary big league game at Seals Stadium as a pinch-runner in the 8th inning with the Giants trailing the Cardinals 7-3. Testa was stranded on second, then remained in the game to catch incoming reliever Marv Grissom.

During his career Testa was known for his rugged catching skills, quick release and forceful throwing arm.

But Testa struggled behind the dish in his lone big league game.

Testa’s one out peg to nab Cardinals base stealer Don Blasingame, a future Giant, was high and late. The “Blazer” eventually scored on a Stan Musial double.

Later in the inning Testa was changed with a error when he muffed a wind blown foul pop up by Del Ennis.

Trailing 7-4 heading into the bottom of the 9th, the Giants rallied to score four runs to pull out an improbable 8-7 victory with all runs scoring after two outs were recorded by St. Louis.

Two runs scored on a Orlando Cepeda triple down the left field line that bounded over the head of Ennis. Testa was gearing to bat when Daryl Spencer followed by clocking a hanging curve from St. Louis pitcher Phil Clark over the left-field barrier for a game winning round-tripper.

Delirious fans showered the field with rented seat cushions.

The win was bittersweet for Testa. Despite finally playing in a big league game, he never got to chance to take his turn at-bat.

Testa was in the “hole” – two batters down the line- when Spencer bashed his game winning round tripper.

Giant Footprint:

Since relocating to San Francisco in 1958, the Giants have had five “Cup of Coffee” participants, i.e. players who played in one game, and one game only, in the majors: Testa, RHP John Fitzgerald, LHP Marshall Renfroe, RHP Jeff Stember and RHP Dan Slania.

Testa was the first, and the only non-pitcher.

Ray’s Baz taking care of Biz shuts out A’s in 1-0 in 1:54 special

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Tampa Bay Rays starter Shane Baz heads to the dugout in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Aug 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tampa Bay (63-62). 000 000 010. 1 3 0

Athletics (54-72). 000 000 000. 0 3 0

Time: 1:54

Attendance: 4,377

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–We’ve become accustomed to well pitched, tight games at the site of the doomed pleasure palace off the Nimitz freeway, and this Tuesday night’s contest between the flirting with .500 Floridians from Tampa Bay and the too late surging Oakland Athletics (54-72) about to desert the bay for Sacramento and the desert was no exception. The Tampa Bay Rays (63-62) wound up on top, 1-0, in a game that could have gone either way.

The Athletics’ starting pitcher Joey Estes, hadn’t been part of the team’s recent renaissance that had given them a 24-15 record since July 1, the fourth best in the majors and earned them sole possession in the AL West, but he sure did pitch masterfully Tuesday night.

The 22 year old right hander pitched deep into the game, 7-2/3 innings, before Estes surrendered his third, and final hit. Unfortunately, it was a home run to José Siri, a 415 foot blast that went over the Sports California sign in center field, his 15th round tripper and 39th RBI of the year.

It brought his batting average up to .195. Aside from that one bad pitch, a 92 mph four seamer, you couldn’t have asked Estes for a better performance. A double by Yandy Díaz in the sixth was the only other extra base hit he allowed.

Estes faced 19 batters, throwing them 94 pitches, only 27 of them balls, issuing but one free pass. But he took the loss, leaving him with a record of 5-6, 4.44. Michel Otáñez got Yandy Díaz to ground out to short for the third out and then put the Rays down in order in the ninth.

Tampa Bay’s Shane Baz was just a smidgen better than Estes. He, too, lasted 7-2/3 frames and surrendered three hits . He walked three and struck out four. All of the hits against him were singles. 31 of his 92 deliveries were balls.

The win improved his season’s record to 1-2, 3.48). Edwin Uceda relieved Daz after Darell Hernaíz got the A’s third and final hit. He pitched a perfect ninth to earn his first save.

Miguel Andj́ar, Sean Langeliers, and Darell Hernaíz were the only A’s not held hitless. Langeliers’ safety was on a high bouncing ball to third. Tampa Bay’s Díaz was the only batter on either team logged a multi-hit game.

The match up for the third encounter of this four game series will start Wednesday, evening at 6:40pm PT and feature right handers Mitch Spence (7-8 , 4.54) for the Athletics and Ryan Pepiot (6-5, 3.69). If it’s anything like the first two games of this series, it’ll be great fun to watch.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Bailey on ten day IL with Oblique Strain; Casali in as starting catcher

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San Francisco Giants Chris Casali swings for an RBI single against the Chicago White Sox in front of Sox catcher Corey Lee at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Aug 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris he’s known as dependable Matt as Matt Chapman took Chicago White Sox pitching deep in the bottom of the sixth inning to help pace the Giants in a 5-3 win on Monday night here at Oracle Park.

#2 For Chapman it was his 20th home run and he’s raking some of the home runs that he’s had this season had been key in either winning games or sparking the offense.

#3 The Giants got some good pitching from starter Kyle Harrison who allowed one run and five hits and walked two hitters.

#4 Harrison on Monday pitched in the fifth straight game where the Giants have limited their opponents to three or fewer runs.

#5 The White Sox and Giants in game two of this three game series at Oracle Park and the Sox will start RHP Davis Martin (0-1, ERA 3.00) and for the Giants LHP Robbie Ray (2-2, ERA 6.00) first pitch 6:45pm tonight.

Morris Phillips is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Evaluating Pierce’s decision to go with Minshew as starter

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew (15) was tabbed starting quarterback by head coach Antonio Pierce for the 2024 season. Minshew is seen here throwing against the Dallas Cowboys last Sat Aug 17, 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (AP News photo)

On the Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce announced after last Saturday’s game that quarterback Gardner Minshew would be the starting quarterback for the Raiders. The competition was stiff between Minshew and Aidan O’Connell but Minshew won it out.

#2 Pierce said that some of what Minshew showed in pre season games showed in practices which counted towards the decision.

#3 Pierce said says while the quarterback situation is not a finished product and based off what Pierce has seen he feels Minshew gives the Raiders the best chance.

#4 Minshew is in his sixth year in the NFL and started last season with the Indianapolis Colts and led them to the post season. Minshew does come in with experience and credentials that could help the Raiders.

#5 The Raiders conclude the pre season with the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on Fri Aug 23rd in Las Vegas. Since announcing Minshew as the starter do you see him sitting out that last pre season game and O’Connell taking most of the game’s snaps?

Join Tony Renteria for the Raiders podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Miguel Tejada Inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame

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left to right, Manolo Hernandez Douen, Amaury Pi Gonzalez, and Miguel Tejada celebrate Tejada’s induction into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame on Sat Aug 17, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum (photo by Jose Orellana KIQI radio)

Miguel Tejada Inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–On Sunday, the 18th of August, before the second game of the last ever Bay Bridge series against the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland A’s ceremony on the field officially inducted these players as the sixth Oakland A’s Hall of Fame class of 2024. Born in the Dominican Republic, Miguel Tejada, born in Cuba, José Canseco, who choked up at ther end of his acceptance speech on the field, saying he never dreamed of receiving this honor.

A sunny and joyful afternoon at the Coliseum in front of 32,727 A’s and Giants fans it resembled a big family during an Oakland historic and sad day. We will never again see the Oakland A’s play the San Francisco Giants at this Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum, the home of the four-time World Series champion Oakland A’s.

This was indeed a historic day here in the East Bay. The Giants arrived from New York in 1958, and the A’s from Kansas City in 1968. Numerous families in the Bay Area share fans for each team. They have been friendly geographical rivals ever since.

Miguel Tejada visited the A’s Spanish Radio booth, something the affable ex-player has done in the past, but this time sporting a very bright, nice green jacket, minutes after being inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame. A humble Miguel Tejada told us about his inspiration for baseball, his Dominican Republic compatriot Juan Marichal.

I asked Miguel about his family, who accompanied him in receiving this well-deserved honor. I asked him about his 10-year-old son, and he told me he was playing baseball and might be another shortstop.

Miguel Tejada played for the A’s from 1997 to 2003. A six-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, the 2002 American League MVP, and the 2005 All-Star game MVP. His career spanned 16 years, mainly with the A’s, and he made stops later in Baltimore, Houston, San Diego, and San Francisco.

In his better years, he was wearing Green and Gold. Inducted also; Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bill King (1927-2005), Manager Dick Williams (1921-2011), and Eddie Joost, who was born in San Francisco and played in the 1940s as an infielder for the Philadelphia Athletics. Carney Lansford, a 2023 inductee, was also there.

In 2019, A’s Cuban-born shortstop Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris, the great lead-off hitter who Reggie Jackson once called a key piece of the A’s 1970s dynasty, was inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame.

Campy played the most number of games in Oakland Athletics franchise history, with 1,795 games in his career. Campaneris was the A’s shortstop during those three consecutive World Championships in 1972-73-74. Campy Campaneris is the A’s Franchise All-Time Hits Leader (1882), All-Time Plate Appearances Leader (7895), All-Time At Bats Leader (7180),

Tremendous shortstop defensively, a base stealer, a great bunter (a lost art today), and an excellent teammate. He is a humble man who represented his country of Cuba, Major League Baseball, and the Oakland Athletics, as well as anybody I know.

There are no more ceremonies scheduled for the A’s in 2024. The A’s missed retiring #19, the number Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris wore during their dynasty of the 70s. Unfortunately, fans who wanted to see his number retired will never see it.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants get too-close-for-comfort 5-3 win over White Sox in series opener

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San Francisco Giants third coach Matt Williams (9) congratulates Matt Chapman (right) who scored on a sixth inning home run at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Aug 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, Aug. 19, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Chicago White Sox 3 (30-96)

San Francisco Giants 5 (64-63)

Win: Kyle Harrison (7-5)

Loss: Jonathan Cannon (2-7)

Save: Jordan Hicks (1)

Time: 2:22

Attendance: 29,209

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants got back over .500 with a 5-3 win that was too close for comfort against a team like the White Sox, but their offense came back to life with runners in scoring positions, as the Giants were saying so we’ll take it!

After the Giants snuck out of Oakland with a 4-2 win thanks to their home run-happy offense Sunday, they returned home across the bay to play the worst team in Baseball, the Chicago White Sox. Every couple of years or so, we get that one really bad team that threatens to overtake the 1962 New York Mets, who went 40-120, for the most losses in a single season.

The White Sox came into tonight’s game 30-95, on pace to go 39-123. Perhaps, the 2024 Chicago White Sox will be that team. With the Giants fighting to stay in contention for the third and final wild card spot in the National League, they were playing a team that they not only had to sweep, but that they had to absolutely pound into the ground.

Left-hander Kyle Harrison made the start for the Giants Monday night, and he got his night started with a pair of one, two, three innings. Though Harrison owes it to center-fielder Grant McCray, who took a hit away from Luis Robert Jr. with a great diving catch with one out in the top of the first inning.

Jonathan Cannon made the start for the South Siders, and he also got his night started with a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the first. Cannon then threw a scoreless bottom of the second.

Harrison ran into trouble in the top of the third, as the White Sox loaded the bases with nobody out. Harrison struck Lenyn Sosa out on three pitches for the first out, and that brought up Robert, who would get robbed by great defense again.

Robert hit a ground ball to the right side, and second-baseman Thairo Estrada, who was activated off the Injured List and in the lineup for the first time since July 25, dove to his left to field it and turn an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

Cannon threw a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the third, and Harrison escaped another jam in the top of the fourth.

Harrison was in trouble again in the top of the fifth, as the White Sox had Brooks Baldwin at second with two outs. Robert, who was robbed of hits in the first and third, would not be robbed this time, as he lined a base-hit the other way to right field to score Baldwin.

The Giants had wasted an opportunity in the bottom of the fourth, and now they were losing to the worst team in Baseball.

Estrada and McCray singled with one out, and the Giants had themselves another golden opportunity. Curt Casali then came up and shot a base-hit off the end of the bat to right-center that knocked in Estrada to tie it. It was a much-needed RBI hit with a runner in scoring position for the Giants, who were surprisingly not done yet.

Tyler Fitzgeraled lined a double down the left field line to score McCray and give the Giants the lead. LaMonte Wade hit a sharp ground ball to first that shot off the glove of the diving Lenyn Sosa, and Casali scored to make it 3-1.

The Giants were getting big RBI hits with runners in scoring position and keeping the line moving. They have been more than capable of doing that all year, which makes it all the more disappointing that they have struggled doing so throughout the season. If this offense kept doing this after the Giants won 10 of 12 at the end of May, who knows where they would stand right now.

Heliot Ramos was then able to knock in Fitzgerald with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 4-1. The Giants had their first four-run inning since their four-run 10th inning on Aug. 8 when they won that insane game in our nation’s capital in their effort to skip down before Tropical Storm Debby got in.

After three-straight rocky innings, Harrison settled down to end his night on a high note with a one, two, three top of the sixth. Harrison gave up just one run over six innings, but his outing was pretty much half and half, as he had three one, two, three innings, and three shaky innings. Harrison was quite lucky that the offense picked him up in the bottom of the fifth.

Matt Chapman led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run to left off Cannon to make it 5-1. For Chapman, it was his 20th home run of the season. Cannon then retired the side to end his night.

Erik Miller threw a scoreless top of the seventh for the Giants, and the Giants wasted an opportunity to add on against Gus Varland in the bottom of the seventh. It was a wasted opportunity that would make this game a bit scary in the final two innings.

Bob Melvin brought in Spencer Bivens for the top of the eighth, and he ran into trouble when the White Sox put runners at second and third with one out. That would be it for Bivens, as with the Giants trying to stay in contention, Melvin wasted no time going to his eighth inning man, Tyler Rogers.

Miguel Vargas hit a sacrifice fly to left, and Robert scored to make it 5-2. White Sox Manager Grady Sizemore then had Gavin Sheets pinch-hit, and Sheets floated a base-hit to center to knock in Korey Lee and make it 5-3.

Rogers escaped further damage in the top of the eighth, and Chad Kuhl pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth for the White Sox.

Ryan Walker pitched two innings in Oakland yesterday, so he was not available Monday night. Instead, Melvin went with Jordan Hicks, who had 12 saves last season. However, the White Sox made things scary for Hicks and the Giants in the top of the ninth.

Brooks Baldwin singled to lead off the inning, and Robert lined a base-hit to left with one out. It was Robert’s third hit of the game, and if it wasn’t for the defense of Grant McCray and Thairo Estrada, Robert may have very well had himself a five-hit night.

The White Sox had runners at first and second with one out. Andrew Vaughn flew out to left for the second out, but with Korey Lee at the plate, a passed ball by Casali allowed the runners to get to second and third.

The White Sox were quite possibly a base-hit away from tying this thing. Lee worked the count full, but on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Hicks threw a sinker at the top of the zone that Lee just got a bit too much underneath of, and he flew out to left-center to end it.

Kyle Harrison got the win; Jonathan Cannon got the loss; and Jordan Hicks picked up his first save of the season.

The Giants finally had an inning where they got RBI hits with runners in scoring position, but it was their pitching that let them down Monday night. I get that we should be celebrating after a win, and we should, but against a team like the White Sox, this game was a lot closer and scarier than it should have been. The Giants did win though, so we’ll take it, but just make it cleaner Tuesday!

The Giants are back over .500 at 64-63, and since the Braves were off Monday night, the Giants are three and a half games back of Atlanta for the third wild card.

The Giants and White Sox will be at it again in this 1917 World Series Rematch Tuesday. Robbie Ray (2-2, 6.00 ERA) will make the start for the Giants, and Davis Martin (0-1, 3.00 ERA) will take the ball for Chicago. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Padres 71-55 +4.0
  2. Diamondbacks 70-56 +3.0
  3. Braves 66-58 —

Mets 65-60 1.5

GIANTS 64-63 3.5

Cardinals 61-63 5.0

*Reds 61-64 5.5

*Cubs 61-64 5.5

*Tiebreaking procedures taken into account.

Giants News and Notes:

With Thairo Estrada being activated off the Injured List prior to the game, Brett Wisely was sent back down to Triple-A Sacramento.