Author: Sports Radio Service

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s face one of their toughest nemesis in the Twins tonight

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Freddy Fermin is in a groove for the Kansas City Royals taking the Oakland A’s pitching deep for his second home run in the top of the fourth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jun 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Oakland A’s are coming off a very close effort to a sweep after losing nine straight games as they just lost to the Kanas City Royals on Thursday afternoon 3-2 at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 The Royals struck first with two home runs one in the second and another in the fourth by Freddy Fermin to give KC a 2-0 lead. For a moment there any thoughts of a sweep of the Royals might be in doubt.

#3 The A’s Zach Gelof struck back with a two run bottom of the seventh home run to tie it up 2-2 and the possibility of a sweep was back on again.

#4 Then came the Royals Bobby Witt Jr in the top of the eighth who cleared the fence with a solo home run that turned out to be the gamer for a Royals 3-2 win. The did win the series taking two out of three from the Royals.

#5 The A’s open a three game series tonight against the Minnesota Twins. Starting pitcher for the Twins RHP Chris Paddock (5-3, ERA 5.25) the A’s will start Joey Estes (2-2, ERA 5.97) The last time these two clubs met June 13-16 in a four game series the Twins swept the A’s in two single games, rained out on the 15th and the A’s were swept in a doubleheader on Sun 16th. No doubt the Twins are a tough customer.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#3

Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong: Pistons Williams fired worst record in NBA; Giants to show Rickwood game and tribute to Willie Mays; plus more news

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Former Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams who was fired by the Pistons will collect the remaining $68 million of his $78 million contract. (AP News file photo)

On Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong:

#1 The Detroit Pistons ownership made the decision to fire first year coach Monty Williams. After signing Williams to a seven year $78 million deal. The Pistons and Williams last season lost 28 games in a row an NBA record and finished with the worst record in the NBA at 14-68. The firing was ordered by ownership Tom Gores and Pistons vice chairman Trajan Langdon.

#2 Gates at Oracle Park in San Francisco opened at 12 noon PT on Thursday where the game between the St Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants was shown on the scoreboard at Rickwood Field in Birmingham that started at 4:05pm PT honoring the Negro Leagues and pay tribute to Willie Mays who passed away on Tuesday night.

#3 Jessica, X-Rays show negative as the New York Yankees Aaron Judge was hit by a 94.1 MPH fast ball on his left hand by Baltimore Orioles starter Albert Suarez on Tuesday night where the Yankees won it 4-2. Judge left the next inning X-Rays and a CT scan showed Judge was negative for fractures and returned to action on Thursday night.

#4 NHL Finals could have a change of pace. First the Florida Panthers took a 3-0 series lead then the Edmonton Oilers won game 4 defeating the Panthers 8-1 and in game 5 the Oilers won it 5-3 as the Panthers now ahead by one game 3-2. The Oilers can tie up the series Friday in Edmonton in game six.

#5 The Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink tore her ACL and will miss the rest of the WNBA season. Brink got the injury in the left knee against the Connecticut Sun. The Sparks announced the injury on Wednesday to the press. Brink was the No.2 selection in the 2024 draft. Brink had to stop because of the pain and was carried to the locker room.

Join Jessica every other Wednesday for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Donovon leads Cards with home run edge Giants 6-5 in tribute game for Willie Mays, Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field

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By Morris Phillips

BIRMINGHAM–St Louis Cardinals Brandon Donovon’s two run home run and double made a huge difference in a one run game defeating the San Francisco Giants 6-5 at Rickwood Field in Birmingham in a game that honored the late Giants great outfielder Willie Mays and the Negro Leagues.

Mays formerly played at Rickwood Field with the Birmingham Black Barons and did not feel good enough to fly to Birmingham for the game died at 93 years old on Tuesday just two days before the tribute game at the oldest professional baseball park. Rickwood is 115 years old this year.

Former Black Barons player Bill Greason was on hand to throw out the first ball and the game had it’s first all black umpire crew combined from the American and National Leagues . San Francisco pitcher Keaton Winn was going for San Francisco and Donovon hit his seventh homer of the season off Winn.

Donovon was swinging a hot bat who was 3-3 which included a third inning double and a sixth inning RBI. “What a special night,” Donovan said. “I mean, this is something that we should celebrate. This right here is pretty amazing. And to do it in Alabama, I’ve got some friends and family in the stands, it’s like playing summer ball again.”

Earlier in the game the Giants Heliot Ramos hit a three run home run off Cards pitcher Andre Pallante to tie it up in the top of the third inning for his tenth home run. The Cardinals got the lead back in the bottom of the third when Nolan Gorman hit a sacrifice fly to bring in a run.

Same clubs on Saturday as both the Giants and Cardinals have Friday off and will meet again at Busch Stadium in St Louis for a Saturday and Sunday series. The Giants will start RHP Jordan Hicks (4-3, ERA 2.82) for the Cards Miles Mikolas (5-6, ERA 4.59) first pitch 11:15pm PT.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum–(Part V) – Rickey’s 939

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Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A’s hoists his 939th career stolen base for the Oakland Coliseum crowd to see. Rickey is the subject of That’s Amaury News and Commentary. (photo from ebay)

2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (Part V) – Rickey’s 939 —

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Since 2024 is the last year that the A’s will play at the Coliseum, I have highlighted the great moments that took place there in this series of articles. Over the decades, I have given my opinion on who is the best player ever to have worn an Oakland Athletics jersey, and I have spoken about it and written about it in two languages.

That guy is Rickey Henderson. On May 1, 1991, during a warm and muggy afternoon at the Coliseum, Rickey made history as he broke Lou Brock’s 938 stolen base record. The A’s were facing the New York Yankees. Rickey tried to steal second base in the first inning, but Yankee catcher Matt Nokes made a perfect throw, and Rickey was out.

In the fourth, Henderson made another try. It was a different outcome. He reached base on an error and took second on a Dave Henderson single. Rickey took off, and he had stolen third base, no doubt about it, with his typical head-first slide. That was his 939 stolen base, breaking Lou Brock’s record.

Rickey stood up and lifted the base over his head, and seconds later, he said, “I am the greatest of all time”. A’s equipment manager, Frank Ciensczyk, brought out a replacement base. Rickey and his mother, Bobbie and Lou Brock all join the recently crowned stolen base king on the field around third base. They all share hugs with Rickey.

Then Rickey talked to the crowd (36,139). “It took a long time, huh?” and finished by saying, “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.” The first thing that surprised me was that Rickey has shown no humility. It sounded like what the great Muhamad Ali (in Boxing) used to say: that he was the greatest of all time. However, Rickey was saying a statement of fact; it just happened.

He just became the King of Steal; Rickey also personally thanked Lou Brock, who has been in the Bay Area for a while, following Rickey Henderson each at-bat, when he got on base, and especially when he went for a steal. Lou Brock was a class act; he passed in 2020. He was patient while waiting for baseball history to be made, and he witnessed Rickey Henderson’s outstanding achievement.

I covered that game and will remember it forever. Rickey Henderson went on to play for another 12 years, with various teams amassing 467 more steals. Today, Rickey Henderson remains the undisputed King of Steal in the history of Major League Baseball, with 1,406 stolen bags.

Note: Today, the active player with the most stolen bases is Starling Marte on the New York Mets, who in his 13-year career has 350 steals. Marte, born in the Dominican Republic, is 25 years old. Quote: “I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball. -Rickey Henderson..

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

Royals hit three home runs in 3-2 win over A’s to salvage game in series

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Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr connected for a go ahead home run in the top of the eighth inning as the run stood up and helped the Royals avoid being swept by the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu June, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Kansas City Royals 3 (42-34)

Oakland Athletics 2 (28-49)

Win: James McArthur (3-4)

Loss: Vinny Nittoli (0-1)

Save: Chris Stratton (4)

Time: 2:23

Attendance: 8,753

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The A’s were unable to get the sweep, as the Royals hit three home runs, two by Freddy Fermin, and beat Oakland 3-2 to take the series.

It hasn’t been the best of times for the A’s. After a six-game winning streak got Oakland back to .500 on May 4, following a 20-4 blowout of the Miami Marlins, they went on to go 9-31 in their next 40 games. They then hit rock bottom with a nine-game losing streak that was snapped Tuesday night with a 7-5 win over the Royals.

The A’s won again last night 5-1 to win back-to-back games for the first time since their six-game winning streak. Thursday, they looked to make it three in a row with Mitch Spence on the mound on this cool and beautiful partly cloudy afternoon at the Coliseum. 

Spence pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, and the A’s came to bat in the bottom of the first against the Royals’ veteran right-hander, Seth Lugo. JJ Bleday drew a one-out walk, but Lugo got Miguel Andujar to ground to short for a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Freddy Fermin hit a home run to left field with one out in the top of the second to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead. MJ Melendez followed Fermin’s home run with a double to left, and Dairon Blanco reached on an infield hit that hit off the glove of spence and died out in the middle in the middle of the infield.

The Royals were looking to add on, as they had runners at first and second base with one out for Garrett Hampson. Spence was then able to settle down, as Hampson popped out to second on an infield fly, and Kyle Isbel struck out swinging to end the inning.

The A’s went down 1-2-3 in the top of the second, as did the Royals in the top of the third. Zack Gelof lined a base-hit out to left-center for Oakland’s first hit of the game to lead off the bottom of the third, but Kyle McCann immediately followed that up by grounding into a double play. Aledmys Diaz singled with two outs, but he would be left at first.

The game was going along quite quickly, as it took just 35 minutes to get through the first three innings

Fermin hooked a ball down the left field line for his second home run of the game with one out in the top of the fourth to make it 2-0 Royals. Just like in the top of the second, Melendez followed up Fermin’s home run with a double, but like the top of the second, Spence escaped further damage.

Andujar singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth, but Brent Rooker grounded into Oakland’s third double play of the afternoon to end the inning. Spence and Lugo both pitched 1-2-3 innings in the fifth, and even though the game had slowed down a bit, both pitchers were on in what was a pitcher’s duel.

Spence retired the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth, but Fermin singled the other way to right for his third hit of the game, and Melendez worked a 12-pitch plate appearance into a walk. At that point, Mark Kotsay got his bullpen going, but Spence struck Blanco out looking on a cutter just off the outside to end the inning and his day.

Spence was solid this afternoon, and though the 12-pitch walk may have taken him out of this game earlier than he would have liked, he still gave the A’s everything he needed. Spence did give up six hits, but he limited the Royals to two runs over six innings, while striking out seven.

“I’m starting to get confidence in the rotation,” said Spence. “[I’m] just trying to do the best I can. If the A’s see me in the rotation, then I’ll be in the rotation.”

Max Schuemann singled off Lugo with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, and Bleday walked, and the A’s had a two-out rally going. However, Andujar flew out to left to end the inning.

The new pitcher for Oakland in the top of the seventh with Vinny Nittoli, and he struck out the first two men he faced en route to a 1-2-3 inning. Lugo also struck out the first two men he faced in the bottom of the seventh, but he wouldn’t be so lucky with two outs. 

Lawrence Butler doubled, and Zack Gelof tied the game with a home run to center. The A’s were now looking to do even more. Kyle McCann drew a walk, and Kotsay had Abraham Toro pinch-hit for Aledmys Diaz. Royals Manager Matt Quataro then brought in James McArthur.

Toro ripped a double down the right field line. Right-fielder Dairon Blanco picked it up in the corner and got it in to the second-baseman, Adam Frazier. A’s Third-Base Coach Eric Martins surprisingly waved in McCann, who was thrown out by a mile at the plate by Frazier’s relay.

It was a brand-new game at 2-2 going to the eighth, as Nittoli came out for another inning. However, Bobby Witt Jr. immediately greeted Nittoli with an absolute bomb to left to put the Royals back ahead.

Schuemann walked off McArthur to start the bottom of the eighth, but he was picked off at first base. That proved to be costly for Oakland, as they got runners to the corners with two outs, but left-hander Angel Zerpa came in and got pinch-hitter Tyler Nevin to ground out to short to end the inning.

T.J. McFarland pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth, and Zerpa was back out to try and convert the four-out save in the bottom of the ninth.

Lawrence Butler reached on a bobbled ground ball by Witt at short to start the inning, and Zack Gelof was called out on a slider right at the knees by Home Plate Umpire D.J. Reyburn for the first out. Kotsay then brought up Shea Langiliers to pinch-hit for catcher Kyle McCann, and even though Gelof was the one called out, McCann had some words for Reyburn from the dugout and was promptly ejected.

“The zone was good; DJ was doing a good job all day,” said Kotsay. “It’s just the emotion of the game.”

Langeliers singled Butler over to second, and that prompted Quatato to bring in Chris Stratton. The A’s were in perfect position, as they had runners at first and second—the tying run at second, and the winning run at first—with one out. However, Stratton got pinch-hitter Daz Cameron and Max Schuemann to both fly out, and the Royals held on to win 3-2. 

James McArthur got the win; Vinny Nittoli took the loss; and Chris Stratton picked up his fourth save of the year.

The A’s fall to 28-49, and they will welcome the Minnesota Twins to the Coliseum for three starting Friday night. Joey Ested (2-2, 5.97 ERA) will make the start for Oakland in the series opener Friday night, and he will be opposed by Chris Paddock (5-3, 5.25 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants pay watch party tribute to Willie Mays at Oracle Park

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Rickwood Field in Birmingham the site of the Negro Leagues Tribute game on Thu Jun 20, 2024 featuring the St Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The San Francisco Giants paid tribute to the late great Willie Mays showing the St Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants at the Rickwood game in Birmingham on the Oracle Park scoreboard at a live Watch Party what was that like?

#2 Michael, this was not any ordinary watch party, this game was originally was to pay tribute to not only the Negro League players but by very sad coincidence Willie Mays passed away two days before this tribute game on Tuesday.

#3 Willie’s career was something everybody had gone over this week, the 660 career home runs, 3293 hits, 1909 RBIs, a 23 years career, and a lifetime batting average of .301. Talk about those numbers and what stands out for you.

#4 Michael just wanted to ask you something that Bob Costas said after learning about Willie’s passing Costas said that if they shrunk the Hall of Fame down to ten people Willie Mays would there amongst the ten.

#5 Lastly, your best Willie Mays experience, you had a chance to rub elbows with him many times of those times what most stands out of those times that you got to talk to him.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#5

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s just miss sweeping Royals; Oakland opens three game series with Twins Friday

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Kansas City Royals Freddy Fermin slugs a top of the fourth inning home run one of his two home runs against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jun 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 The Kansas City Royals (42-34) jumped to a 2-0 lead in Thursday afternoon’s game at the Oakland Coliseum scoring a run in the top of the second and another in the top of the fourth and got Freddy Fermin hit two home runs in each of those innings.

#2 The Royals Bobby Witt Jr hit the go ahead home run in the top of the eighth a solo shot that broke the tie.

#3 The Oakland A’s (28-49) mustered two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning which tied the game Zack Gelof’s home run contributed to the two run seventh but the A’s fell a run short.

#4 Gelof has now hit a home run in three straight games Thursday’s home run was a two run blast.

#5 The A’s will open up a three game series against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Twins RHP Chris Paddock (5-3, ERA 2.25) for the A’s RHP Joey Estes (2-2, ERA 5.97) first pitch 6:40pm PT at the Coliseum. The last time the two teams met earlier this month the Twins swept the A’s in four straight games.

Jerry Feitelberg does the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rodriguez’s late goal lifts Timbers in 2-1 win over Earthquakes

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Portland Timbers striker Jonathan Rodridguez scores the go-ahead goal against the San Jose Earthquakes goalie Jacob Jackson and Paul Marie at Pay Pal Park on Wednesday JUN 19, 2024. (Portland Timbers)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Earthquakes took on the Portland Timbers on Wednesday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose is winless in its past six matches/with the win/tie snapped its five-match winless streak. Portland extended its points streak to five matches/had its four-match point streak snapped.

Portland (6-7-6-24 points) drew first blood in the 22nd minute thanks to a big blunder by ‘Quakes goalkeeper Jacob Jackson, who made his first career MLS start. A back pass from to Tanner Beason to Jackson wasn’t controlled by the young goalkeeper. Evander came storming in and deflected the ball off of the former New England Revolution keeper before depositing it into an open net with a left footed volley for his co-leading eighth goal of the season.

San Jose’s (3-13-2-14 points) Vitor Costa was guilty of offsides twice that derailed two scoring chances first in the 13th minute that wiped out a potential goal and the other in the 30th minute where his shot attempt sailed high and wide over the net.

The Earthquakes didn’t generate a shot on goal in the opening 45. The closest the came to scoring the equalizer was in the 39th minute. A centering pass into the middle of the box from Cristian Espinoza was deflected away from Jeremy Ebobisse by Dario Zuparic who would have had an easy tap in into an open net.

San Jose opened up the second half with the equalizer goal five minutes in off of a set piece. Espinoza’s corner kick was deflected out of the box onto the foot of Paul Marie, who came in off the bench for the injured Carlos Akapo in the 18th minute, and the French fullback blasted a laser of a shot from 23 yards out into the upper corner of the net beyond the outstretched reach of Timber’s goalkeeper James Pantemis for his second goal of the season.

“It’s like this theme that continues to haunt us in terms of a good 60 or 70 minutes. Right there we could be winning, because of how we are imposing. We actually are defending well, we lose in a moment, we lose organization,” ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez said.

The ‘Quakes has a glorious chance to gain its first lead of the match three minutes later. Hernan Lopez found Amahl Pellegrino all alone in the middle of the pitch. Pellegrino dribbled in one-on-one with Pantemis, made a move around the goalkeeper to the left side before missing wide left and over the net with his shot attempt.

Portland regained the lead in the 72nd minute. Evander chipped in a ball from just outside the box and Jonathan Rodriguez got behind Marie near the left post and headed the ball past Jackson for his seventh goal of the season.

“I don’t know maybe you and I share the same feelings,” said Marie when asked if the lack of communication has led to his team conceding goals late in the match. “I feel like we start to be over positive on one side and getting stretched out with nobody in the middle. I feel like that’s what happened in New York, last game and this game.”

Pantemis made one save on two shots on goal to earn the victory. Jackson made two shots on four shots on goal in the losing cause.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with eight corner kicks. Portland had two.

San Jose is 6-22-10 against Portland in the all-time series.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels down south in a battle of California as the take on LAFC on Saturday 6/22 at 7:30pm at BMO Stadium.

Medina picks up first victory after 11 months of waiting A’s defeat Royals 5-1 at Coliseum

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Luis Media Oakland A’s starter delivers to the Kansas City Royals in the top of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Jun 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Kansas City (41-34). 000 010 000. 1. 8. 1

Athletics (28-48). 002 000 21x. 5. 8. 0

Time: 2:35

Attendance: 4,557

Wednesday, June 19

Oakland, CA

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The temperature cooled off for this Wednesday evening’s game between the Kansas City Royals and the barn storming Athletics, but the green and gold didn’t. They defeated KC for the second time in a row, this time by four runs, 5-1.

Luis Medina, the Athletics’ starting pitcher, came to the organization at the 2022 trading deadline, when he, along with Cooper Bowman, JP Sears, and Ken Waldichuk in exchange for Frankie Montás and Lou Trivino.

He made it to the majors last year, when he went 3-10, 5.42. He’s had his troubles this season. He was on the injured list until June 2 and had gone 0-2, 5.87 before his 6:42 game opening pitch. His first start after rejoining the team had been his best; he hurled 5-2/3 frames of two hit ball, allowing one run, which was unearned, in a no-decision against the Braves in Atlanta.

Wednesday night’s win was first career appearance against the Royals and left him with a season record of 1-2, 4.71. He lasted 5-2/3 innings, leaving after throwing 88 pitches, 54 for strikes, with a 2-1 lead and a runner on first. He’d allowed six hits and two walks, and the run he was charged with was earned. He struck out three Royals.

Medina was followed by TJ McFarland, who closed out the sixth, Dany Jímenez took care of the Royals, allowing a single before an around the horn double play closed the books on KC for the inning. Austin Adams yielded a double, and that was it for them in the eighth. Mason Miller earned his eighth save and second in two days. Tonight he gave up a walk while striking out two and inducing an infield popup.

The starting pitcher for Kansas City, southpaw Cole Ragans, has had a checkered career. He’s undergone two Tommy John surgeries and lost the 2020 season to the COVID pandemic. He came to the Royals a little less than a year ago in the trade that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers. Ragans went a combined 7-5, 3.47 last year and was the AL Pitcher of the Month in August.

This season, he was 4-4, 3.14 when he toed the rubber in the bottom of the first. When he left the field for the clubhouse showers after six innings, the 26 year old had yielded a pair of runs, both of them earned, on four hits, four walks, and two wild pitches. His total pitch count was 102, 65 of which met the scoring definition of a strike, i.e. they were called strikes by the umpire, the batter swung on them and missed, or there was contact with the bat. With the loss, his record dimmed to 4-5, 3.13.

John Schrieber, Dan Altavilla, and Chris Stratten also pitched for the visitors.

The Athletics took advantage of Ragans’ wildness in the bottom of the third to go ahead, 2-0. Max Scheumann led off with a four pitch walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. JJ Bleday filled the void at first by drawing another walk.

Then Miguel Andújar delayed his swing to send an opposite field single to right that drove in Schuemann and sent Bleday to third. Brent Rooker’s single to left brought in Bleday with the second tally. Andújar further burnished his credentials by throwing Salvador Pérez at second when the KC catcher tried to stretch his lead off single to left. It was an excellent night for Andújar, who went three for five, boosting his batting average to .330.

Wildness cost Medina as well. He walked Nelson Velásquez to begin the visitors’ fifth. A wild pitch to Kyle Isbel, the next batter, gave Velásquez second base as a gift, and he scored on Bobby Witt, Jr.’s down the line double to left. Witt got halfway to the plate on another wild pitch, but Medina got Vinny Pasquantino to fly out to center, allowing the A’s to escape the episode still leading, but now by a thread, 2-1.

The green and gold tacked on. another two runs with Schreiber on the mound in the seventh. He walked Schuemann with one down. Bleday forced him at second but beat the throw to first. Kansas City claimed that Schuemann had committed a baseline violation, but the review crew in New York disagreed. Back to back singles by Andújar and Nevuins brought them home.

It looked as though Zack Gelof hadn’t completely broken out of his slump when he faced Altavilla in the bottom of the eighth. The A’s second sacker had whiffed twice and grounded out in three at bats, he took a 2-1 offering 434 feet deep to center for his second home run in two days and seventh for the season, making it a 5-2 lead for the A’s and ending Altavilla’s night.

Who’d have thought it? The A’s will go for the sweep Thursday, at 12:37 sending Mitch Spence (4-3, 3.95) against Seth Lugo (10-2, 2.40).

Aces Celebrate Return of Chelsea Gray With Win Over Storm 94-83

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Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) returned against the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Wed Jun 19, 2024 (AP News file photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces (7-6) got back on the winning track beating the Seattle Storm (9-6) Wednesday night 94-83. The Storm had a lot of trouble handling the Las Vegas defense. Jackie Young had a monster game finishing with 32 points.

It was a great win for the team but the highlight of the evening was the long awaited return of Chelsea Gray. She did play limited minutes as expected but did finish with four rebounds and seven assists making an instant impact. As she works back into the system, she will continue to lift up her team.

Gray was very obviously working out for some time, as much as her injury would allow anyway and the Vegas fans showed their appreciation blowing up the sound meter. Her return has been so anticipated and now it has finally materialized.

Game recap: The Aces went right to work winning the opening quarter 29-16. Unlike their first matchup with the Storm, Las Vegas had solid control of this game in the first 12 minutes of play.

The Storm battled back but lost the second quarter by a basket 18-16. At the half the Aces had a 47-32 lead. Jackie Young had a terrific first half scoring 19 points. The Aces needed A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum to get going with both of them having a quiet couple of quarters. As expected Chelsea Gray had played limited minutes in the first half.

The Storm rallied to open the third quarter scoring the first four points of the quarter cutting the Aces lead but that would be all that the Aces would allow. Las Vegas turned it back on taking a 17 point lead 57-40 with 5:25 left on the clock.

The Aces were on a roll and refused to back down. When it looked like the Aces had it all going, the Storm mounted a comeback. After trailing by as much as 19 points they won the third quarter 22-19.

After three quarters, the Aces continued to lead but it had been cut to 66-54, a 12 point lead. The Storm had struggled against the Aces defense all game and with under four minute left in the game Seattle was running out of time if they wanted to turn this game.

The Aces had pushed their lead back out to a 20 point lead 84-64. The Storm continued to battle cutting the Aces lead from 20 points to thirteen 86-73 prompting Head Coach Becky Hammon to take their third timeout in the quarter. Seattle made it a little uncomfortable for the Aces at times but Las Vegas held fast to win the game 94-83.

Jackie Young had a terrific game finishing with 32 points. A’ja Wilson really turned it on in the second half shooting for 27 points and nine rebounds. Tiffany Hayes who started this game finished with 11 points and five rebounds. Kelsey Plum had double digits with 11 points after only having three at the half. She had eight assists. The Aces had outscored the Storm in the paint and from downtown. Both teams had 15 turnovers.

Game notes: The Las Vegas crowd went nuts erupting into cheers with a standing ovation celebrating the return of Chelsea Gray. The thunderous shrieks bounced off the walls of Michelob ULTRA Arena and the game had not even begun. This was Chelsea Gray’s first appearance this season. The Aces had been missing her all season and they have struggled in her absence.

Gray completes this team as she got four rebounds and seven assists. The Aces beat the Seattle Storm by 11 in Vegas and with Gray on the squad they begin their climb back into dominance. Her leadership and impeccable passing and timing was spot on from the get go.

Friday night, the Aces will be back in action in Vegas taking on the 13-1 Connecticut Sun. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.