Author: Sports Radio Service

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s take long awaited day off after 1-9 road trip; Returning back to Oakland Tuesday

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Aaron Brooks throws to a Houston Astros batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Houston. Brooks will be the A’s starting pitcher on Tue May 21, 2024 vs. the Colorado Rockies in Oakland (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Kansas City Royals pitcher Brady Singer kept the Oakland A’s line up off balance striking nine hitters as the A’s couldn’t had trouble getting around the baseball and not to mention trying to score runs on Sunday in Kansas City.

#2 It was a rough road trip for Oakland as they got swept by the Royals and are on a eight game losing streak. The A’s have fallen to fourth place in the AL West.

#3 The Royals are on the move this is their third sweep so far this season last season they didn’t get their third three game sweep until September.

#4 The A’s Brent Rooker sent his 11th home run over the fence for a three run home run over the left field bullpen. It wasn’t enough as the A’s got beat 8-4 in Houston.

#5 The Colorado Rockies who are coming off a three game series with San Francisco Giants will open a three game series with the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum. Starting pitcher for Colorado RHP Cal Quantrill (3-3 ERA 3.66) and for the A’s RHP Aaron Brooks (0-1, ERA 3.86) first pitch 6:40pm PT on Tuesday night.

Barbara Mason does the Oakland A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Hicks braves through five solid innings as Giants sweep Rockies in 4-1 win at Oracle Park

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Heilot Ramos of the San Francisco Giants runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun May 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Colorado Rockies 1 (15-31)

San Francisco Giants 4 (23-25)

Win: Jordan Hicks (4-1)

Loss: Dakota Hudson (1-7)

Save: Camilo Doval (8)

Time: 2:26

Attendance: 34,766

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Jordan Hicks braved through five solid innings despite a decrease in his velocity, and the Giants swept the Rockies out of San Francisco with a 4-1 win thanks to a three-run bottom of the fifth inning.

After finally winning three games in a row for the first time this season, the Giants were now looking for their first sweep of the season on a hazy Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park. With Jordan Hicks making the start and an offense that’s finally been swinging the bats over the last two games, the Giants had every reason to be optimistic.

Hicks threw up before the game, but he made the start anyway. He set down the first two men he faced to start the game, but with two outs in the top of the first inning Ryan McMahon got a sinker on the outside corner that he hit off the end of the bat and out of the park to left.

Hicks’ velocity was noticeably down, as his sinker, which he generally can get up to 95 and 96 miles per hour, was topping out around 92.

I [didn’t] feel sick at all,” said Hicks. “Just all the fuel I put in my body left.”

The Giants went down 1-2-3 against Rockies’ starter Dakota Hudson in the bottom of the first, thanks in part to a great catch at the wall by left-fielder Jake Cave to take away extra bases from Jorge Soler to start the inning. Hicks then pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second.

Matt Chapman was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the second, and Mike Yastrzemski singled with one out to put runners at first and second for Heliot Ramos. The Giants had a rally going, but the offense went back to their old ways and wasted the opportunity, as Heliot Ramos grounded out to first, and Marco Luciano flew out to center.

Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the third, and the Rockies went down 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth against Hicks, who had to work around his decreased velocity, but had retired 10-straight batters and 12 of the first 13 men he faced on the day.

“It makes it a little bit easier when you have like four pitches to go to and kind of choose,” said Hicks. “[The] slider, I only really had [that] at the top of the zone today. [The] splitter was kind of doing all kinds of things going down [and] breaking left…..I thought the four-seamer was a really good pitch today, even though I only [threw] it like six times.”

The Giants had runners at the corners with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but Ramos grounded back out to the mound.

The Rockies kept their 1-0 lead going to the fifth, as they looked to add on. Elehuris Montero flew out to center for the first, but Jake Cabe lined a base-hit to center, and Jordan Beck doubled to put runners at second and third with one out. Hicks struck out Hunter Goodman for the second out, and then he walked Jacob Stallint to load the bases. Charlie Blackmon then popped up to short to end the inning and Hicks’ day.

Despite being sick prior to the game and his velocity being down, Hicks battled through five innings, as he gave up just a run and three hits. Hicks renourished himself during the game by eating snacks in between innings. In fact, his velocity got back up into its normal range in the fifth.

“He wanted to pitch,” said Manager Bob Melvin. “I wasn’t gonna push it past five [innings] regardless with [the] lack of oomph [he] had behind [his stuff], but to go out there and give us five like that on a day that we were pretty limited in the bullpen, I appreciated that.”

“Overall I felt pretty good,” said Hicks. “[I got] strong[er] as the game progressed…..I understood the move to kind of get me out of there and get me feeling right for the next one[-to-]six days.”

Hicks also attributed his success today to catcher Curt Casali, who Hicks threw to for the first time in his career.

“Curt did a really good job today calling the game,” said Hicks. “[I] didn’t have to shake that much just trusted him and that was our first time out there, but I’d like to get my props to him and how he managed the game. How he goes about it was nice to see that and good to have been on the same page [in] our first starts [together].”

“Curt seems to be able to settle in with guys pretty quickly even guys he hasn’t caught before,” said Melvin. “Of course in the game he recognizes what’s working, what’s not, which side of the plate, you know all those things that veteran catchers do. I’m not sure what their conversations were, and Jordan has been pretty good about identifying what’s been working for him and how to kind of manage how he’s feeling.”

Hicks was even able to find a positive out of throwing up prior to the game and his decreased velocity.

“[Today told] me that my sinker with that action is good [at] pretty much any velocity above like 87, 88,” said Hicks. “I’m very confident [in] that pitch at any velocity to be honest, and today kind of just reaffirms that [and] gives me that confidence in it.”

Luciano walked to start the bottom of the fifth, and a single by Curt Casali put runners at the corners with nobody out. Soler struck out swinging, and then LaMonte Wade lined a base-hit to right to tie the game at 1-1. Thairo Estrada grounded to short for a fielder’s choice, and Matt Chapman gave the Giants the lead with an infield single to short.

With two outs, Luis Matos hit a ground ball to third, but the ball went under the glove of Rockies’ third-baseman Ryan McMahon and into left field, which allowed Estrada to score and extend the Giants’ lead to 3-1. That ended the afternoon for Dakota Hudson, and Rockies Manager Bud Black brought in Victor Vodnik, who got Yastrzemski to fly out to left to end the inning.

Sean Hjelle replaced Hicks in the top of the sixth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Heliot Ramos then led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run to straightaway center to make it 4-1.

Luke Jackson pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, and the Rockies brought in Tyler Kinley for the bottom of the seventh. Wade lined a base-hit to right to lead off the inning, but Kinley retired the side in order after that.

Left-hander Taylor Rogers came in for the eighth, and he took a comebacker off the bat of Hunter Goodman off his foot that turned into a 1-6-3 putout to start the inning. Rogers was checked and stayed in the game, but he immediately ran into trouble after walking Stallings and Blackmon. Rogers then bore down, as he got Ezequiel Tovar to pop out to second, and he got McMahon to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Bob Melvin summoned his closer, Camilo Doval, for the ninth, and Doval threw a 1-2-3 inning to end it.

Jordan Hicks got the win; Dakota Hudson took the loss; and Camilo Doval picked up his eighth save of the season.

The Giants’ offense did waste a couple of opportunities early on, but they more than made up for it in the bottom of the fifth. It was another team effort for the Giants, but surprisingly, the white-hot Luis Matos took an 0-for-4.

The Giants not only swept the Rockies, but they have now won four in a row, as they improve to 23-25. With the recent blows that they have taken, including losing Jung-hoo Lee for the season, the Giants did what they needed to do by sweeping the Rockies and having a 6-3 homestand.

“It just feels good, [there’s] good energy in here,” said Hicks. “It’s good to finish up the sweep today. I really like our young guys right now. I mean, I said it last time, they brought some energy…..yeah, we got a lot of guys on the IL right now, but [we’re persever[ing] and keep battling no matter who we got…..I like that mindset.”

Now, the Giants will head back east for a six-game, two-city road trip through Pittsburgh and New York. The Giants will begin a three-game series against the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh Tuesday night with their ace, Logan Webb(4-4, ERA 3.03) on the hill and the Pirates starting pitcher LHP Martin Perez (1-3, ERA 4.86) . First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m. ET. in Pittsburgh, and 3:40 p.m. PT in San Francisco.

Despite Ninth Inning Rally A’s Swept By Kansas City Royals 8-4

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The Oakland A’s just had a hard time getting around on the baseball as the A’s hitter Max Schuemann strikes out in the top of the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Sun May 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Despite a great ninth inning rally with two outs, the Oakland A’s (19-30) were swept Sunday by the Kansas City Royals (29-19) losing the third game of the series 8-4. Brent Rooker cracked a bomb, a 431 ft home run with Max Schuemann and JJ Bleday aboard to score three runs. Royals pitcher Brady Singer was spot on all afternoon giving Oakland all kinds of trouble and keeping them guessing the entire game.

Game recap: As this game wore on it became evident that Royals pitchers Brady Singer was going to be a huge problem for Oakland. When the dust had all settled Singer had pitched a gem. So much went on in this game and the bright spots in the game were all Kansas City.

We know from this series that the Royals can put runs up quickly and this game was no different. Kansas City had taken a 2-0 lead after the first inning and again the A’s were down very quickly. Oakland has not scored first in probably the last 13 games.

Bobby Witt Jr. doubled and Maikel Garcia scored for the early 1-0 lead. Veteran Salvador, Perez next at bat , singled and Bobby Witt Jr. crossed home plate for a 2-0 Kansas City lead. The game had gotten off on the wrong foot for Oakland as the A’s found themselves playing catchup once again.

In the fourth inning the A’s got back into the game scoring a single run when Tyler Soderstrom doubled and Brent Rooker scored. With the score 2-1, Oakland needed some offense; they needed some big hits.

The A’s had a chance to take the lead in the fifth inning with the bases loaded but came up empty. The A’s would leave 10 runners on base on 11 hits in this game something they have really been struggling with.

This game remained close going into the fifth inning before the Royals broke it all open. They scored twice in the fifth inning and four times in the 6th inning. In the fifth inning, Maikel Garcia doubled Michael Massey home.

In the sixth inning a huge hit, a triple, off the bat of Vinnie Pasquartino allowed three runners to score. Freddy Fermin, Hunter Renfroe and Michael Massey all crossed home plate and the Royals were cruising with an 7-1 lead. They extended their lead with one more run to close out the 6th inning now leading 8-1.

The Royals were unable to score for the remainder of the game but the A’s did put up a fight in the ninth inning. With the odds stacked against them, they put up four runs with two outs. Max Schuemann got the inning rolling with a single and then with two outs JJ Bleday had his second double of the day.

These guys refused to give in as Brent Rooker came to the plate hitting a home run, a three run bomb. This was his 11th home run of the season leading the team with long balls. The final was 8-4 in favor of Kansas City but the A’s fought to the bitter end. They just could not get the big hits in the game leaving two and three players stranded unable to bring them home.

A huge factor for the Royals win in this game was starting pitcher Brady Singer. He was spotless dominating Oakland punching out nine A’s. He seldom threw up the middle, his command was on point mixing up his repertoire and keeping Oakland guessing for much of the game. He went 6 innings allowing six hits and one run.

Oakland’s starting pitcher JP Sears went 4.1 innings allowing five hits, four runs, two walks with four strikeouts. What is always a highlight in any eighth or ninth inning for the A’s, Mason Miller pitched the bottom of the eighth inning only facing three Royals.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon, the A’s finished off what has been a more than disappointing series with the Royals. Oakland lost the first two game of this series and couldn’t avoid another sweep on Sunday as the A’s wrapped up a dismal road trip. JP Sears started this game for the A’s going 4.1 innings and was lifted in the middle of the fifth inning by A’s manager Mark Kotsay and Brady Singer was on the hill for the Royals who went six innings six hits and gave up one earned run.

Oakland now heads home after a grueling road trip that saw them play ten games in a row finishing 1 and 9. They will get a day off tomorrow trying to catch their breath and spend a little quality time at home. Tuesday they will go back to work and try to put an end to this eight game losing streak taking on the Colorado Rockies in a three game series. At the time of this post the starting pitcher for the A’s was undecided. Cal Quantrill will take the hill for the Rockies. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Matos has been a one man hitting clinic for SF

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San Francisco Giants slugger Luis Matos (right) is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (9) rounds third base after hitting a three run home run in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park against the Colorado Rockies on Sat May 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Luis Matos of the San Francisco Giants is hitting like a Ted Williams clinic on Friday he had five RBIs and Saturday he belted a three run home run and six RBIs he helped pace the Giants to a 14-4 laugher over the Colorado Rockies.

#2 Third baseman Matt Chapman had a four for four day at the plate on Saturday and scored three runs and getting around on the ball hitting .236, belted his fifth home run of the season with 20 RBIs.

#3 The Giants have reached a high watermark of winning three straight games for this season. The Giants have had a number of injuries and it’s been remarkable with the players that have come up and replaced the injured and the Giants have been rolling since they lost two out of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

#4 Giants manager Bob Melvin said “We’re swinging the bat really well and I think the vibe in the dugout is probably as good as it’s been” Sounds like Melvin has got the team turning the page.

#5 We didn’t get a chance to ask you about how the Jung Hoo Lee injury and how it has impacted the team and it looks like they’ve regrouped and are trying to turn it around.

Stephen Ruderman filled in for Bruce Magowan who is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Yanks Gil 14 K’s career high; Orioles Grayson back in rotation; plus more news

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New York Yankees starter Luis Gil pitches into the top of the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium in New York on the way to a career high 14 strikeouts on Sat May 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The New York Yankees have a lot of history and rookie pitcher Luis Gil just added to another page to the history books with the most strikeouts thrown by a rookie with 14 against the Chicago White Sox in a 6-1 win.

#2 The Baltimore Orioles activated RHP Grayson Rodriguez from the 15 day IL who started against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Rodriguez came back from a shoulder inflammation injury. Rodriguez one of the keys to the Orioles pitching staff is 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA.

#3 Former Los Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher and who is playing infield for the Atlanta Braves triple A affiliate has reportedly been placing bets with the same Los Angeles bookmaker Matthew Bowyer that Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara used. Fletcher’s close friend Colby Schultz who played in the Kansas City Royals farm system from 2018-2020 bet on baseball during his playing days. It was reported that Fletcher did not bet on baseball.

#4 On San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, Snell returned to pitch at the Giants triple A affiliate you might have heard of them the Sacramento Rivercats. Snell was out with a shoulder injury threw five innings of no hit baseball and struck out ten batters.

#5 The Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher Shota Imanaga got into the history books by recording the lowest ERA 0.84 for any rookie in his first nine starts since it was last done back in 1913. Looking at Imanaga reaction after striking out his seventh batter he was even amazed at himself.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Lynn’s late goal propels Orlando City in 1-0 shutout win over Earthquakes

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Orlando City FC forward Jack Lynn dribbles down the pitch against the San Jose Earthquakes during his team’s 1-0 win at Pay Pal Park on Saturday MAY 18, 2024. (Orlando City FC)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — If the San Jose Earthquakes didn’t have bad luck, they wouldn’t have any luck at all.

Jack Lynn scored the match’s only goal in the 89th minute to give Orlando City FC a 1-0 shutout victory over San Jose on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose has lost its past two MLS matches. Orlando City has points in its last three matches.

Orlando City used a counterattack off of a set piece by San Jose. Iván Angulo stripped the ball off of Niko Tsakiris and raced down the left wing before crossing the ball over to Martin Ojeda. Ojeda’s shot attempt took a fluky bounce over to a wide-open Lynn who tapped in the ball into an open net with a right footed shot for third goal of the season.

“We weren’t able to send the ball back to the 18 (inside the box) and at the end of the day, this is football. The team that scores is the team that’s going to win. Today we didn’t have that consistency to score, to take advantage of our opportunities and they did on their last one,” ‘Quakes forward Cristian Espinoza said.

Both teams spent the first 15 minutes of the first half feeling each other out. Neither generated many scoring chances in the beginning of the match.

Orlando City (4-5-4) suffered a big loss to their offensive attack in the 16th minute. Leading goal scorer Duncan McGuire went up for a headed near midfield and landed awkwardly on his arm that looked scary. He laid on the ground for five minutes before walking off the field under his own power. OC head coached Oscar Pareja replaced McGuire with Lynn.

San Jose (3-10-1) controlled the possession for the majority of the first half and dominated play in the last 15 minutes of the opening half. Espinoza crossed the ball from right to left inside the box over to Rodrigues whose point-blank shot was knocked away by Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese in the 30th minute.

Then seven minutes later Rodrigues had another attempt to put the Quakes on the board when he received a cross off the foot of Hernán López, but he shot sailed just to the right of the net.

López was a force for San Jose whenever he touched the ball as he led attacks inside Orlando City’s zone as he played mainly on the right side of the pitch alongside Espinoza. Orlando City did their best to contain the Argentine striker using more than one player to mark him throughout the half.

‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough only had to deal with one shot on target in the first 45 minutes. Orlando City had two quality scoring attempts shoot just wide of the net. Dagur Thorhallsson’s right footed shot just missed to the right of the net in the 35th minute and then Nicolás Lodeiro’s left footed shot from the middle of the box went wide left in the 42nd minute.

“Orlando is a very good team,” said head coach Luchi Gonzalez regarding another tough luck finish for his team. “They have a good away record. Oscar (Parejas) does a great job with this team, and they are savvy. They punched us today in transition (after our) set piece. It was a disappointing goal to give away.”

San Jose had two chances, one in the 86th and the other in the 88th minute to score the winning goal. Espinoza glided in from the right wing, but his shot attempt sailed high over the net. Then two minutes later, Jack Skahan’s, who came into the match as a sub in the 83rd minute for Vito Costa, right footed attempt from the middle of the box was saved by Gallese.

Gallese finished the match with four saves to earn his third clean sheet of the season, including in back-to-back games. Yarbrough made three saves on four shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with six corner kicks. Orlando City had five.

San Jose has lost back-to-back matches against Orlando City and are now 1-3-3 in the all-time series.

The announced attendance of the match was 14,127.

UP NEXT: San Jose continues its quest for its first U.S. Open Cup championship when they take on the Sacramento Republic in the Round of 16 on Tuesday 5/21 at 7:00pm at Heart Health Park.

Preakness: Seize the Grey beats out Mystic Dan for top prize at Preakness

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Jockey Jaime Torres rides Seize the Grey is thrilled to win the Preakness Stakes ahead of second place finisher Mystic Dan who had won the Kentucky Derby in the previous race. (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Seize the Grey held off the Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan to win the 2024 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Sunday.

Mystik Dan and Imagination both had good starts. Mystik Dan made a late push in the quest to win the second Triple Crown but could not overtake Seize the Grey.

Seize the Grey made it a lucky day for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who notched his seventh Preakness win. Lukas now ties Robert Wyndham Walden for second all-time. Lukas, at 88 years old, also became the oldest trainer to win the Triple Crown.

“It never gets old at this level,” said Lukas. “I love the competition. I love to get in here with the rest of them. There were a bunch of good guys in this race. It’s a shame we can’t all win.”

Lukas joked that his Preakness win would prompt some of his colleagues to tell him to quit and consider it a career.

“I think they’re trying to get rid of me,” Lukas said. “I think they want me to retire. That’ll never happen.”

Mystik Dan’s trainer Kenny McPeek was said that his horse couldn’t pull through, but congratulated Lukas.

“Wayne’s a great guy,” said McPeek. “He’s a guy I’ve always idolized. If I’m gonna get beat, it’s fine to get beat by him. In fact, over the years, I’ve been beaten by him plenty of times.”

The top three finishers, with Catching Freedom coming in third, all ran at Churchill Downs a couple weeks ago.

A $2 bet on Seize the Grey paid out $21.60. A $2 exacta bet on Seize the Grey finishing first and Mystik Dan finishing second paid out $119.40. And a $1 trifecta bet with Seize the Grey, Mystik Dan and Catching Freedom paid out $183.70.

Preakness Stakes 2024 finishing order:

1. Seize the Grey

2. Mystik Dan

3. Catching Freedom

4. Tuscan Gold

5. Just Steel

6. Uncle Heavy

7. Imagination

8. Mugatu

A’s Continue to Look For Answers Losing Seventh in a Row to Royals 5-3

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Oakland A’s pitcher TJ McFarland throws to the Kansas City Royals in the bottom of sixth inning at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Sat May 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-29) again came up short losing their seventh game in a row 5-3 in the second game of their series with the Kansas City Royals (28-19). They did get hits, 11 of them, they did have a solid 2nd and 7th inning but failed to score in either of them. They struggled on the mound and continue to search for ways to turn this season around. It is rapidly turning into a nightmare of epic proportion. The Royals are a very talented team 1.5 games out of first place in the American League Central and they are proving to be a very tough team.

Game recap: The Royals got on the scoreboard in the first inning taking a 2-0 lead. Salvador Perez got the Royals going early with a single driving two runners Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. home. Again, the A’s found themselves trailing going into the second inning something that has plagued them throughout this road trip; falling behind early.

Oakland did tie up this game in the second inning off a Seth Brown home run with Zach Gelof on base. The A’s wasted no time answering the Royals start and knotting this game 2-2.

Oakland would be looking to break the tie but it was Kansas City that answered scoring single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings taking a 5-3 lead going into the ninth inning. Vinnie Pasquantino, and Nelson Velazquez both singled runners home and they topped it off in the seventh inning with a solo Kyle Isbel home run. With only two innings left in the game the A’s had their work cut out for them.

The eighth inning was a three and done for Oakland. Tyler Nevin grounded out, Zach Gelof struck out swinging and J.D. Davis grounded out. The A’s were three outs away from a seventh loss in a row.

With one out, Oakland had runners at the corners; Max Schuemann on third and Brett Harris on first. Oakland just couldn’t get the offense they needed when they needed it. They ended up losing the game 5-3 and had now lost seven straight games in a row.

Both teams finished the game with 11 hits each and it all came down to timing. Oakland had some solid innings. They doubled, homered and singled in that order in the second inning. They also hit three singles in the seventh inning but that was about it for the game. They did have their opportunities in this game but were not able to capitalize on those opportunities.

The A’s Ross Stripling went five innings allowing nine hits and four runs with only two strikeouts. The Royals offense had a nice offensive effort scoring in four frames. Oakland’s relief pitcher Lucas Erceg did give up the Isbel home run in the seventh inning but limited the damage getting out of the inning and closer Michael Kelly gave up a Royals single dismissing the next three at bats. The A’s came a hit or two shy of a win Saturday.

Game notes: Friday the A’s suffered their 6th loss in a row in game one of their series with the Royals. Oakland fell behind early and was not able to score until the ninth inning in a losing 6-2 effort. The A’s struggles seem to be without end right now as they look for answers that they can’t seem to find. They went into game two of this series looking to somehow right the ship and got beat again now dropping the first two games of this series. Oakland pitcher Ross Stripling will take the mound giving up nine hits and four runs in five innings. The Royals will start Seth Lugo was on the hill and he added to Oakland’s woes pitching 5.2 innings giving up six hits and two earned runs.

Sunday Oakland will finish up this series with Kansas City with first pitch scheduled for 11:10 AM. JP Sears will take the mound for Oakland with a 3-2 win/loss record and a 3.96 ERA. Brady Singer will be up on the hill for the Royals also with a 3-2 win/loss record and a 2.84 ERA. The A’s will continue to try and break the losing streak that they are currently on.

Aces win second straight, top Sparks 89-82

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Las Vegas Aces forward Jackie Young (0) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Sports Radio Service/Shawn McCullough)

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces improved to 2-0 on the season with an 89-82 win over the Los Angeles Sparks at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 22 points.  Young added 11 assists, while Wilson pulled down 10 rebounds.

Kelsey Plum struggled from the field, going just four for 14, but hit three three-pointers for a total of 17 points.

Aces rookie guard Kate Martin played 26 minutes and scored three points.

Former Aces forward Dearica Hamby punished Las Vegas by going 12 for 16 from the field for 29 points.

Guard Chelsea Gray remained out with a lower left leg injury.

The Aces will next play at home on Tuesday against the Phoenix Mercury.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 42.5% from the field, while Los Angeles shot 51.5%.
Las Vegas went 13 for 31 from three-point range.
The Sparks turned the ball over 17 times.

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 41 Kiah Stokes
F – 7 Alysha Clark
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 0 Jackie Young

Aces Injury Report:

Chelsea Gray, Out, Lower Left Leg

Offense stays hot, as Giants blow out Rockies 14-4 for first three-game winning streak of the year

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San Francisco Giants Luis Matos connects for a two run single in the top of the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat May 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Colorado Rockies 4 (15-30)

San Francisco Giants 14 (22-25)

Win: Kyle Harrison (4-1)

Loss: Ty Blach (1-2)

Time: 2:47

Attendance: 31,098

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Luis Matos led the way, as the Giants’ offense kept their rhythm from Friday night going to blow out the Rockies 14-4 in a resilient team effort, and the Giants have finally won three games in a row for the first time this season.

The Giants salvaged a game against the Dodgers with a win Wednesday night. Then after learning the news that Jung-hoo Lee was lost for the season, the Giants came back with an offensive explosion to win the series opener last night, which snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Rockies.

The two teams would be right back at it for a Saturday afternoon affair at Oracle Park. The Giants had a chance to win three games in a row for the first time this season, as they sent Kyle Harrison to the mound. Harrison struggled early, but bounced back for an overall-solid outing against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

The Rockies scored three runs off Sean Hjelle in the top of the first inning last night, but the top of the first inning today was the exact opposite for Harrison, who threw a 1-2-3 inning. Former Giant Ty Blach made the start for Colorado, and he immediately ran into trouble in the bottom of the first.

Thairo Estrada lined a single the other way to right field with one out, and he advanced to third on a two-out double by Matt Chapman. Luis Matos then came up, and he blasted a three-run home run to left-center to put the Giants up 3-0.

Harrison pitched a scoreless top of the second after a leadoff walk to Elehuris Montero, and the Giants would be right back at it in the bottom of the second. Marco Luciano led off the inning with a double to right, and he advanced to third on a groundout by Mike Yastrzemski. Curt Casali walked, and Jorge Soler lined a double to left to score Luciano and make it 4-0. Estrada then knocked in Casale with a sacrifice fly to center.

The Giants carried a 5-0 lead into the third inning, but the Rockies were ready to put a dent into it. Hunter Goodman led off the top of the third with a double for Colorado’s first hit of the game. Alan Trejo struck out swinging for the first out, but Ezequiel Tovar lined a base-hit just to the left of straightaway center to put the Rockies on the board.

Brendan Rodgers popped out to second, but Ryan McMahon walked, and Tovar and McMahon advanced to second third on a wild pitch by Harrison. Montero then lined a base-hit to left-center to score two and cut the Giants’ lead to 5-3.

“I really wanted to [go] out there, pound the zone and get us back in the dugout,” said Harrison. “[I] just wasn’t able to execute those changeups down in the zone when I needed to.

The Giants had a response in the bottom of the third. Matt Chapman lined a single to right to start the inning, and Matos doubled to center to make it 6-3.

Harrison settled back down with a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth, and Peter Lambert replaced Blach for the bottom of the fourth and pitched a scoreless inning. Harrison survived a pair of singles in the top of the fifth, but he was really saved when Matos robbed Alan Trejo of a home run to start the inning.

It was the second time in three games that Matos took a home run away from a player, as Matos also took a home run away from Teoscar Hernandez in the top of the fourth inning on Wednesday night against the Dodgers. Like his catch to rob Hernandez, Matos crashed into one of the unpadded portions of the wall.

That would end Harrison’s day, and Harrison had a very similar pitching line compared to his last start. Like his start on Sunday, Harrison gave up three earned runs over five innings of work, but he had much better control today, as he issued just two walks after issuing five on Sunday.

“[The Rockies] had some good swings on him [and] made him work pretty hard,” said Manager Bob Melvin. “I [would have] liked to have him go back out again [for the sixth inning], but at the time, it seem[ed] like they were squaring him up toward the end, more so.”

The Giants went down scoreless against Lambert in the bottom of the fifth, and the Rockies would rally against Ryan Walker, who was brought in for the top of the sixth. Brenton Doyle reached on an infield single to start the inning and then stole second. Following a pair of strikeouts, Goodman hit a loft line drive up the middle into center to score Doyle and close the gap to 6-4.

The Giants would get the run back in the bottom of the sixth. Marco Luciano hit his second double of the game to start the inning, and then Yastrzemski walked, which forced Lambert out of the game. Rockies Manager Bud Black went to Justin Lawrence to face Casali, who laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third for Jorge Soler, who knocked in Luciano with a single to left.

The Giants were unable to add on any further in the bottom of the sixth, as they led 7-4 going to the seventh. Left-hander Erik Miller was summoned by Bob Melvin, but he ran into trouble with one out in the top of the seventh. Rodgers and McMahon each singled to bring the tying run up to the plate in Elehuris Montero, but Miller bore down and struck out Montero and Brenton Doyle to end the inning.

The Giants tacked on another run off of Lawrence in the bottom of the seventh. Matt Chapman hit a leadoff double and scored on a base-hit to left by Heliot Ramos, who continued to stay hot.

Tyler Rogers came in for the eighth, and of course he ran into trouble, as the Rockies, who would not go down quietly, put runners at the corners with one out. Fortunately for the Giants, Rogers struck out Charlie Blackmon swinging and got Tovar to ground out to escape the inning unscathed.

Nick Mears came in for Colorado in the bottom of the eighth, and the Giants’ offense, which was finally getting on a roll, was prepared to put the game away. Casali flew out to right to start the inning, but Soler and Estrada doubled with one out to make it 9-4. LaMonte Wade lined a base-hit to right to put runners at the corners, and Chapman walked to load the bases.

Luis Matos then came up and got his third hit of the game, a line drive to left-center to knock in a pair and open the Giants’ lead to 11-4. Heliot Ramos then hit a ground-rule double to left-center to score Chapman and make it 12-4.

The Giants were still going. With the bases loaded and two outs Casali, who led off the inning, lined a single to center to score a pair. Luciano was thrown out at third on the play to end the inning, but since Ramos, who was the following runner, touched the plate before the out was made, he scored to make it 14-4.

Taylor Rogers came in for the ninth and pitched a scoreless inning to end it.

Kyle Harrison got the win, and Ty Blach took the loss. Luis Matos certainly led the way with three legs of the cycle and six RBIs, but he was not alone. Like Matos, Jorge Soler had a three-hit game, and Matt Chapman had a 4-for-4 day.

“[Chapman] can get a little streaky at times, and now you’re seeing what he has to offer,” said Melvin. “[He’s] not trying to do too much. He’s getting better balls to hit and using the whole field, and typically that’s what he does when he’s swinging the bat well. This is who he is. He’s made a nice career for himself, and we [were] lucky to get him.”

Thairo Estrada, Heliot Ramos and Marco Luciano also did their part, as they all had two-hit games.

“It’s not just one guy, it’s everybody just taking good at-bats, being tough outs and stringing hits together,” said Chapman. “It’s not like we’re going up there and hitting a ton of homers. Obviously, those are coming, but I think it’s just us being tough outs one through nine…..and once it gets rolling, you get momentum, you get some more confidence and things start to build.”

The latest surge has also been in large part to the Giants calling up the kids.

“We kinda have this youthful enthusiasm going here, and I think it’s picked us up,” said Melvin. “Obviously, you [don’t] want to lose guys, but you know what, we’re swinging the bat[s] really well, and I think the vibe in the dugout’s probably as good as it’s been [all season].”

“If we want to be a team that’s going to play at the end of the year, we have to get help from everybody,” said Chapman. “I think that these guys are getting valuable experience, and they’re helping us out a ton.”

The Giants indeed have their first three-game winning streak of the season, as they improve to 22-25. Sunday, they can get their first sweep of the season. The Rockies are going with RHP Dakota Hudon (1-6, ERA 6.13) the Giants are going with Jordan Hicks (3-1, ER 2.44) on the mound. First pitch will be at 1:05 p.m.

News and Notes:

In addition to his six RBIs today, Luis Matos has 17 RBIs in his first six games with the Giants this season, and that ties a major league record for most RBIs in a player’s first six games of a season. Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles had 17 RBIs in his first six games of the 2013 Season.

Matos’ 17 RBIs in his first six games have suddenly given him the fourth-most RBIs of any Giant this season.

“Man, that’s a lot of RBIs,” said Melvin. “It’s like player of the week stuff he’s doing.”

The Giants improve to 14-0 in games in which they have scored five or more runs this season. They are the only team in Major League Baseball to be undefeated in games where they scored five or more runs.

The Giants also hit nine doubles in a game for the first time since April 11, 1912, when the Giants hit 12 doubles against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the final opening day at Washington Park III. The Dodgers moved to Ebbets Field the following season in 1913.

Blake Snell pitched his second rehab assignment for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento last night. After throwing four perfect innings for the Single-A San Jose Giants on Sunday, Snell threw five no-hit innings and struck out 10 against the Oklahoma City Baseball Clubs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, last night.

Snell could return to the Giants’ rotation Wednesday or Thursday when the Giants are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates.

Michael Conforto was placed on the 10-Day Injured list prior to the game due to his strained right hamstring. Outfielder Luis Matos was called up to take Conforto’s place.

Catcher Patrick Bailey, who was placed back on the 7-Day Concussion Injured List, has been cleared to resume baseball activities after being evaluated by Dr. Mickey Collins, a concussion specialist in Pittsburgh.