Author: Sports Radio Service

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Melvin pleased with Giants breaking out the bats on Friday

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San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said he was pleased with all the Giants hitting going on against the Colorado Rockies Fri May 17, 2024 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Stephen:

#1 The Giants got a win to open the three game series with the Colorado Rockies on Friday night here at Oracle Park 10-5 and they got a three run home from Thairo Estrada in the fifth inning to take the lead.

#2 The Giants Luis Matos drove in five runs against Rockies pitching for the most RBIs in his career. Matos on the homestand made a spectacular catch against the centerfield wall he was shook up a bit but recovered and stayed in the game. He’s been impressive.

#3 Matos said that the club is hitting now and it was coming, Matos said he could feel it coming on in the dugout that the team would have a breakout game and get some runs and hits as the Giants scored ten runs on Friday night.

#4 Giants manager Bob Melvin said they never look back and never gave up and said the Giants haven’t done a ton of that this season and it was good to see a lot of quality at bats Friday night.

#5 The Giants take on the Rockies for game 2 of the three game series today at Oracle Park. With the win on Friday the Giants snapped the Rockies seven game win streak and were clobbered by Giants hitting. The Rockies will start LHP Ty Blach (1-1, ERA 3.00) and going for the Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (3-1, ERA 3.42) first pitch 1:05pm

Stephen Ruderman is an MLB beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants hurting but have no doubt they still can compete

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San Francisco Giants centerfielder Jung Hoo Lee (center) is assisted by his interpreter Justin Han (left) and the Giants trainer Anthony Reyes (right) after colliding with the center field cyclone fence in an attempt to make a leaping catch thus getting injured on the play at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun May 12, 2024. Lee will miss the rest of the 2024 season (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris you got a chance to speak with Giants manager Bob Melvin today no doubt the some of the questions and concerns first and foremost are about the growing list of injuries the team has taken on?

#2 We’ll talk about the catching situation first of all Patrick Bailey had to get over concussion protocols and Tom Murphy suffered a sprained knee and that put Blake Sabol from backing up Murphy into the starting role as catcher.

#3 Heliot Ramos, Casey Schmitt came up at shortstop and was sent back to Triple A Sacramento, Luis Matos and Brett Wisely were brought up from Sacramento to fill in the list of injuries the Giants have taken on.

#4 Taking a look at the injured the big name was the injury of Jung Hoo Lee who was lost for the rest of the season due to the shoulder dislocation and will have season ending shoulder surgery.

#5 Morris just get your feedback on the rest of the injuries in the San Francisco line up Jorge Soler who is back, Michael Conforto, and Nick Ahmed those are some names that Melvin really counted on that’s out of the line up.

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

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Mary Lisa: Canucks edge Oilers in game 5 take 3-2 lead; Game 6 goes back to Edmonton tonight

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Vancouver Canucks JT Miller raises his arms in victory after scoring the game winning goal with just 33 second left in the third period in game 5 of the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Centre on Thu May 16, 2024 (Canadian Press photo via AP)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 With just 33 second left in game 5 of the second round the Vancouver Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers tied 2-2 in the series, the Canuck’s JT Miller score a late third period goal for the game winner to edge the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 at Rogers Centre in Vancouver on Thursday night.

#2 Carson Soucy and Phillip Di Giuseppe also contributed with goals for Vancouver as both returned to the line up to score two of the three Canuck goals.

#3 The Canucks can wrap up this second round in game 6 Saturday night at Scoitabank Arena in Edmonton. The Canucks rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs has been a sensation in net in game 5 he stopped 21 shots and allowed two goals in the win.

#4 Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet said after game 5, “Almost every single guy gave us everything they had,” Tocchet said. “Resilient. I thought the guys were terrific tonight. They really came to play. It thought it was obviously one of our best games in the playoffs.”

#5 So Mary, it’s game 6 and the Canucks can eliminate the Oilers to take round two or the Oilers can once again tie up the series and force a game 7. It’s been a tight series as the last two games were decided by one goal. How do you see this one in Edmonton tonight?

Mary Lisa Walsh podcasts the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#3

Bay FC gets by San Diego Wave 2-1; Bay ends 5 game skid

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Bay FC score goal and later enjoy the thrill of victory defeating the San Diego Wave at Pay Pal Park in San Jose on Fri May 17, 2024 (Bay FC X photo)

By William Espy

SAN JOSE–Bay FC had an opportunity to get revenge on the San Diego Wave on Friday night. Their previous meeting was a 2-1 victory for the Wave, however heading into the night they had yet to win a game on the road which would be some good news for Bay.

Bay FC’s performances lately haven’t been great either though, as they entered the night in the middle of a five-game losing streak which they desperately hoped to end. Prior to the match, Caprice Dydasco was given a shirt commemorating her 150th career NWSL match which she had played a few weeks ago. Bay turned the tables on the Wave on Friday night with a 2-1 win of their own at Pay Pal Park in San Jose.

Bay FC Starting XI: Rowland, Dydasco, Menges, Sharples, King, Anderson, Pickett, Blade, Kundananji, Oshoala, Camberos

San Diego Starting XI: Sheridan, Lundkvist, Girma, Wesley, Westphal, van Egmond, Colaprico, Sanchez, McCaskill, Jones, Carusa

On the injury front, Bay FC would be without Maddie Moreau, Jordan Brewster, and Maya Doms. Alex Loera and Melissa Lowder remain on the season-ending injury list and will not return until 2025. San Diego on the other hand would be without key player Alex Morgan as well as Jaedyn Shaw and Makenzy Doniak.

An interesting note was that Deyna Castellanos was available off of the bench, which hasn’t been a common occurrence so far this season. After the match, Albertin Montoya said that she had picked up a knock during training and had to be limited as a result.

San Diego did a great job holding possession for the first few minutes of the match, most of the time when Bay touched the ball early it was a simple clearance that would be regathered by San Diego very quickly. Scarlett Camberos got Bay’s first attack going in the fifth minute and earned a corner kick after a fantastic run.

Joelle Anderson kicked it short to Tess Boade who immediately passed it back to Anderson who fired a shot that went just high of the goal. Bay got another strong attacking opportunity when Kailen Sheridan came out of her box to play the ball, the attacking duo of Asisat Oshoala and Rachael Kundananji tried to pass it around to find a shot on the open net, however, were unable to do so.

In the 23rd minute, a scramble in front of the net eventually found its way to the Wave’s striker Kyra Carusa who was able to take advantage and give her team a 1-0 lead halfway through the first half. In the 26th minute, the ball deflected awkwardly off of Katelyn Rowland’s hands and nearly gave the Wave a 2-0 lead, however, Kiki Pickett was able to get back and make a goal-line save to deny a second goal.

Camberos continued to create chances in the offensive third of the pitch through hard work and determination, but at the half-hour mark, they still hadn’t been able to convert on any of the chances. Boade was shown a yellow card during the 35th minute following a play in which she lost possession and made a challenge in an attempt to get it back.

The dynamic duo of Oshoala and Kundananji had another strong chance in the 45h minute, however, the goalkeeper played it almost perfectly and prevented them from getting a shot off. After a single minute of stoppage time, the referee would blow the whistle to mark the end of the first half.

Despite San Diego leading considerably in possession time, shots, and shots on target, the game felt much more even than the numbers indicated at the half. Many of Bay’s opportunities were coming in transition, which didn’t come across on the stat sheet very well.

Albertin Montoya’s squad remained the same to start the second half, while Casey Stoney made one change taking off Naomi Girma for Abby Dahlkemper. Camberos, who had been one of the focal points of the offense all night, finally got herself a goal in the 55th minute.

She was left alone by the back post, and once the ball got to her off of a pass from Pickett, Sheridan had no chance to stop it. It marked Camberos’s first goal with her new team, as although she’d been close on many occasions she hadn’t been able to convert on any of her chances to that point.

After the goal, San Diego would make a couple of substitutions taking off Carusa and Christen Westphal for Kristen McNabb and Elyse Bennett. In the 65th, Stoney would make another substitution taking out Mya Jones for Sofia Jakobsson.

Anderson got a chance in the 67th minute, as she got behind the defense but Sheridan came up big for San Diego and denied the shot. With the game tied up, an already physical game got much more physical. Bay was desperate for a point, although they’d undoubtedly prefer three, and the Wave weren’t going to give it to them without a fight. In the 71st minute, Sheridan required some medical attention but remained in the game after a short delay.

Jakobsson nearly scored a go-ahead goal for San Diego in the 74th minute, but a clutch save by Rowland maintained the tie for the time being. Anderson came out for Dorian Bailey in the 75th minute. Bay FC continued bringing a lot of pressure in their offensive end of the pitch as the match entered the final 15 minutes, however, San Diego was responding with some pressure of their own as well.

It was quite a bit of back and forth at that stage of the game. In the 87th minute, Bailey jumped around a diving Sheridan while maintaining control of the ball. She passed the ball into the center of the box and Rachael Kundananji was able to get to it and give Bay FC a 2-1 lead with minimal time remaining.

Boade and Savy King came out after the goal with Castellanos and Alyssa Malonson taking their place.Camberos came out in the 92nd minute for Jen Beattie as Montoya looked to defend the lead.After an abundance of time wasting and creating even more offensive chances, the referee would blow the whistle in the 98th minute and Bay FC’s losing streak was officially over. They walked away with a 2-1 win.

They’ve played well most of the season so far despite not getting the result on many occasions, it’s possible this could be remembered as a turning point in the season but we’ll have to wait and see.

William Espy is a Bay FC beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Jung Hoo Lee out for season; SF ends Colorado’s 7 game win streak 10-5 at Oracle

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Thairo Estrada of the San Francisco Giants thanks the good Lord for the ability to take the Colorado Rockies deep for a three run homer in the bottom fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri May 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

Colorado (15-29). 310 001 000 5 11 0

San Francisco (21-25). 100 140 22x. 10. 14 0

Time: 3:01

Attendance: 32,025

May 17, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO– Friday night’s lopsided San Francisco Giants defeat of the Colorado Rockies might have signaled a change in the two teams’ momentum. The Rox came to Oracle Park Friday night with a winning streak of seven games.

The Giants were decently rested for a change after playing 15 days without a break, losing ten of them, one of those being the last of their three game series in Denver. Jorge Soler’s return from the IL boded well for the Giants’ recovery but was offset by the confirmation of Jung Hoo-Lee’s diagnosis of a torn labrum.

His recovery will put him out of action for the rest of the season. In other roster moves, Keaton Winn was placed on the 15 day injured list retroactive to May 15, when he strained his right forearm, and Casey Schmitt was optioned back to the River Cats.

San Francisco’s starting pitcher, Mason Black, has risen quickly through the Giants’ farm system since his selection as their third round pick in the 2021 draft. The 24 year old right hander has a five pitch repertoire in which sweepers, four seamers and sinkers predominate.

Friday night was the third time Black started in the big leagues, and he brought a record of 0-1, 6.23 with him. He gave up a run on four hits and a walk in his last performance in the show and was optioned to Sacramento, from whose roster they recalled him Friday.

He was ineffective Friday night and was removed after hitting Jacob Stallings with a pitch to open the visitors’ fourth. He had thrown 50 pitches in his 3+ innings of work; 34 of them counted as strikes. The Rockies scored four runs against him, all of them earned, on six hits. He didn’t walk anyone, but his strikes found too much of the strike zone. He got a no decision tht left him at 0-1, 7.71.

Colorado’s starter, Ryan Feltner, their fourth round choice in 2018 draft, rose rapidly in their organization, skipping triple A to jump from Hartford in the Eastern League to the mile-high city in 2021. But since then, his road towards success has been a rocky one.

In the second inning of a Colorado-Philadelphia game on May 13 of last year, the Phillies’ Nick Castellanos smacked a line drive that fractured Feltner’s skull. He wasn’t able to throw a pitch in the majors until September 19 and finished the season at 2-4, 5.82. He was 1-3, 5.20 when he came to work Friday, and, after taking the loss Friday night, his record stood at 1-4, 5.69. He had lasted a scant 4+ frames and allowed five runs all earned, on seven hits and two walks while striking out two.

The Blake Street Bombers stomped on Black from the get-go. The first four Rockies he faced, Charlie Blackmon, Ezéquiel Tovar, Ryan McMahon, and Brendan Rogers, lashed drives; Blackmon’s for a single, the others for two bases. All but one of them just missed getting snared by an infielder as they zipped by.

The Giants, down 3-0 before taking their first swing, reacted quickly. LaMonte Wade, Jr. walked with one out. Estrada forced him out at second, but shortstop Tovar’s relay to first pulled Elelhuris Monero off the bag, and the Giants’ second baseman was safe at first. Matt Chapman drove him home with a ringing double to right.

Colorado took that run back with one down in their half of the second. Their number nine hitter, Jordan Beck, deposited an 81 mph sweeper over the fence in straight away center field, 410 feet from the plate, for his second round tripper of the year.

The Rockies almost struck again in the fourth, but Sean Hjelle, who inherited a runner from Black and then surrendered a double to Monero that put runners on second and third, slammed the door on them.

SF chipped away at Colorado’s lead when the home team batted in the fourth. Mike Yastrzemski survived The Curse of the Leadoff Double when, after advancing to third of Héliot Ramos’s productive ground out to second, he cruised home on Luis Matos’s two bagger to left. That closed the gap to 4-2.

They went ahead before Feltner could get an out when he faced his hosts in their next turn at the plate. Soler singled to center, to right, and Estrada sent a 94 mph four seamer 370 feet into the chill of the night and the left field bleachers for his seventh home run of 2024. It also sent Feltner to the showers and Victor Vodnik to the mound. Singles by Chapman, Yaz, and Matos increased the Giants’ lead to 6-4.

Luke Jackson came on in the sixth, retired his first two opponents, and walked Blackmon, who took second on a wild pitch to Tovar, who proceeded to slam a double off the National Car Rental advertisement in left, to slice San Francisco’s advantage to a razor thin 6-5.

That brought Erik Miller into the fray. He walked McMahon on a full count, drawing boos from the crowd that disapproved of third base umpire Ryan Blakney’s ruling that McMahon had checked his swing in time. Nonetheless, Miller escaped the inning without allowing another Rockie to cross the plate.

Ryan Walker set them down in order in the top of the sixth. Jake Bird held the Giants scoreless on a walk to Soler that was wiped out when Estrada hit into a 4- 6-3 double play. The Rockies’ righty continued into the home seventh, when he began things by plunking Chappy and walking Yastrzemski.

After Ramos made out on an infield fly, both runners advanced a base wild pitch to Matos, who eventually ground out, 1-3, on a checked swing, allowing Chapman to score. Colorado reasonably chose to grant Sabol an intentional walk in order to face Marco Luciano, who responded by getting his first hit of the season, a solid RBI single to right that drove in Yastrzemski to up the Giants’ lead to 8-5.

Tyler the Submariner Rogers hit Blackmon with a pitch in the top of the eighth, but that was the only flaw in his one inning on the mound.

San Francisco rocked Anthony Molina, who tried to shut them down in their half of the frame. After Wade wiffed, Estrada lined a single to right, and Chapman legged out a double to left center that brought Estrada to within 90 feet of home. Yastrzemski fouled out to third, and Ramos worked a walk to clog the basepaths, bringing up Ramos. He hooked a double over a leaping McMahon at third and into left that plated Estrada and Chapman.

That gave Randy Rodríguez a 10-5 cushion when he faced McMahon, Rogers, and Doye, the heart of the Rockies order in the ninth. He got the first two, striking out Rogers but walked Doyle on a full count. He took second on defensive indifference during Jake Cave’s at bat.

Cave beat out a slow roller to short on which Doyle moved to third. Now Stallings was up, and, even though we weren’t at Coors Field, a five run lead in the ninth didn’t seem quite as secure as it had a few minutes earlier. But Stallings flew out to center, and the Giants had prevailed.

It remains to be seen if the signal provided by Friday night’s results is reliable. The next two games in the current series might well clarify the situation. Saturday’s game time will be 1:05, and the probable starting pitchers are Ty Blach (1-0, 3) for the purple mountains’ majesties and Kyle Harrison (3-1, 3.42) for the orange and black.

Royals Hand A’s Sixth Loss In a Row 6-2

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Oakland A’s Abraham Toro (31) slides but will be tagged out by Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (left) Toro got hung up on a pick off throw to first base and was out at second base by Massey in the top of the first inning at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Fri May 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-28) lost the first game of their series with the Kansas City Royals (27-19) 6-2. Nothing went right for the A’s in this game. They plowed through three pitchers in the sixth inning desperately trying to find answers.

The third pitcher Austin Adams in that rotation gave up a three run homer and that’s just about how things were going for the Oakland A’s Friday. The A’s did have a late game surge but it was too little too late. Shea Langeliers homered, a two-run shot with Abraham Toro scoring but that was all they got in the game.

Game recap: Mitch Spence got the start for the A’s with a 4.26 ERA. On the hill for the Royals; Cole Ragans got the nod with a 4.22 ERA.

The Royals got up on the scoreboard in the first inning taking an early 1-0 lead. Salvador Perez reached first base on an infield single driving Bobby Witt Jr home for the single run which persisted into the fifth inning.

Through five innings the A’s had only managed two hits while the Royals had five hits. Both pitchers were throwing a solid game keeping opposing batters guessing. As the fifth inning progressed T.J. McFarland was warming up in the bullpen and after 4 3/4 innings he relieved Spence. Spence finished with five hits, one run, one walk with four strikeouts.

Through five innings the score remained 1-0 in favor of Kansas City and this was still anybody’s game. This game went sideways for the A’s in the bottom of the sixth when Michael Massey homered, a two run shot and the Royals took a 3-0 lead.

Oakland went through three pitchers in the sixth inning T.J. McFarland went 0.1 followed by Austin Adams for another 0.1 and Brandon Bielak came in and gave up a three run homer for a 6-0 Royal lead and this game was turning into a disaster with three innings left in the game.

Kansas City threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners at the corners but Bielak got out of the inning with no further damage. The top of the eighth inning was uneventful for Oakland with a JD Davis strikeout, a Max Scheumann flyout, a Tyler Nevin walk and a Bret Harris strikeout. Not much was going well for the Oakland A’s to start this series.

The A’s did make a little noise in the ninth inning in a late game surge when Shea Langeliers hit a home run with Abraham Toro but that was just too little too late. The final was 6-2.

Game notes: This weekend the A’s traveled to Kansas City for a three game series with the Royals that opened on Friday night. The A’s just finished off a four game series with the Houston Astros in which they were swept. Oakland is really facing numerous disturbing struggles right now that begins with their offense as well as what is going on with their starters and their bullpen. Unfortunately the success they had been having is a distant memory and they have not found any answers to turn it back into a positive direction.

The A’s will back at it Saturday in the second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM with Ross Stripling on the mound for Oakland with a 1-7 win/loss record and a 4.98 ERA and Seth Lugo with a 6-1 win loss record and a 1.66 ERA.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast: Was Nevada Court’s Decision to turn down Schools over Stadiums the wrong ruling? Fisher and A’s make final payment on Coliseum property

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The Oakland A’s proposed rendering of the Armadillo ballpark located at the Tropicana site at Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd on the Las Vegas Strip (AP News photo)

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 It took two court hearings at the Nevada Supreme Court of Appeals for Schools over Stadiums to be rejected but what were the reasons the court rejected the stopping of SB1 a initiative by Schools over Stadiums to stop the public funding of a Las Vegas A’s Tropicana Stadium?

#2 The court once again ruled that the language to have a ballot measure reject the public funding was “confusing” and “legally deficient” what makes this court decision questionable is that it took five justices to rule on it on a split vote with one judge dissenting.

#3 Behind closed doors you can only imagine, guess but can not prove that the court was under pressure from Nevada governor Joe Lombardo and the strongest union in Las Vegas the Culinary union to name one of the unions to make sure this petition never sees the light of day.

#4 Justice Patricia Lee concurred in her ruling saying saying the petition was “inadequate” and violated Nevada’s constitution because Schools over Stadiums “failed to put forth a full text of the measure proposed.”

#5 Schools over Stadiums countered by saying that they plan to continue the fight the public funding of SB1 for an A’s ballpark at the Tropicana for the 2026 election. Schools over Stadiums said they are organizing another constitutional challenge to SB1.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s just couldn’t get it done in Houston; Oakland sets their sights in Kansas City

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Oakland A’s starter Joey Estes throws against the Houston Astros line up in the bottom of the first inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Thu May 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 In Houston on Thursday night at Minute Maid Field the Houston Astros (19-25) easily handed the Oakland A’s (19-27) 8-1 loss to sweep the four game series.

#2 Rookie Joey Loperfido hit his first Major League home run went in the right field bleachers gave the Astros a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

#3 The Astros who had struggled have turned things around thanks to the A’s. The Astros now are on a five game win streak and have won seven of their last eight games.

#4 For the A’s Abraham Toro hit a double and Zack Gelof hit an RBI single each that wasn’t enough as the A’s have lost a season high of five straight games.

#5 The A’s open up a three game series against the Kansas City Royals (26-19) on Friday night. The A’s have not announced a starter and the Royals will start Cole Ragans (2-3, ERA 4.22) first pitch 4:40pm PT first pitch.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants catcher Casali calls a great game for Webb in win over LA

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San Francisco Giants catcher Curt Casali (left) and reliever Camilo Doval (right) exchange congratulations after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed May 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 It was the return of catcher Curt Casali who was in the Chicago Cubs Triple A Iowa system after being released by the Cincinnati Reds and the he quickly signed a one year deal with the Giants and started at catcher on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers and did superb work behind the plate in calling pitcher Logan Webb’s pitches.

#2 Webb went six innings and gave up three hits and struck out five hitters. Casali when he was catching for the Giants in 2021 and parts of 2022 was noted for handling the pitchers well and after being away from San Francisco for two seasons looks like he hasn’t lost a step.

#3 The Giants made room for Casali putting catcher Tom Murphy on the 60 IL with the sprained left knee and Jackson Reetz was demoted to Triple A Sacramento. Do you see Casali getting most of the starts behind the plate until Patrick Bailey returns from his concussion protocols?

#4 Yes and we have to ask you about Webb’s performance on Wednesday night. He went six innings and gave up three hits. It was quite a performance keeping the Dodgers off balance in a 4-1 win.

#5 Giants and Colorado Rockies match up on Friday night at Oracle Park. For the Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-3, 5.20) and for the Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (3-1, 3.42 ERA) for a 7:15pm PT first pitch.

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

A’s Swept in 4 games by Astros In Yet Another Lackluster Performance 8-1

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The Oakland A’s shortstop Max Schuemann throws to first base to retire the Houston Astros Jeremy Pena in the bottom of the sixth inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on The May 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-27) were swept by the Houston Astros (19-25) in the fourth game of their series. Lack of offense and trouble on the mound spelled disaster for Oakland in the 8-1 loss. The relief pitching was good but starting pitcher Joey Estes gave up every hit and run in this game. It was a rough outing for Estes.

Game wrap: This turned out to be a rough one for the Oakland A’s in the final game of the series. As it turned out one inning turned out to be Oakland’s demise in this game and has been the case the entire series. In this game it was the third inning.

Both teams were unable to score in the first two innings. The Astros turned this game upside down in the third inning. Houston really took it to A’s pitcher Joey Estes. Yainer Diaz got the third inning going hitting a double driving in Jon Singleton, Kyle Tucker and Jeremy Pena for a 3-0 lead.

Jake Meyers came to the plate and doubled, Yainer Diaz scored and the Astros had a 4-0 lead. Houston’s rookie Joey Loperfido came to the plate and hit his first major league home run, a two run shot giving the Astros a 6-0 lead.

Houston would tack on two more runs in the fourth inning for an 8-0 lead. Pena sacrificed and Tucker scored followed by a run scored on a balk by Alex Bregman. There was a pitching change on the mound for Oakland after three innings.

Joey Estes finished the 3.2 innings giving up eight hits, eight runs, four walks with four strikeouts. He constantly fell behind the count struggling through the three innings. Hogan Harris would relieve Estes going 3.1 innings keeping Houston from doing any further damage.

He finished with no hits, no runs with three strikeouts. Tyler Ferguson finished off this game in the ninth inning with no hits, no runs and one strikeout.

Oakland did avoid the shutout when in the seventh inning Zach Gelof singled Tyler Soderstrom home for their single run of the game. The final was 8-1.

Houston’s Cristian Javier pitched a stellar game going six scoreless innings allowing 2 hits, no runs with 8 strikeouts. This was the Astros fifth win in a row, the team now having won seven of their last eight games. Oakland has now lost five games in a row. The A’s have a horrendous stretch going on where they have given up 86 runs combined in their last 12 games.

Game notes: Thursday evening the A’s wrapped up their series with the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Oakland who got swept in this four game series. Joey Estes the A’s starter went 3.2 innings, giving up eight hits and eight runs and Astros starter Cristian Javier pitched six innings, giving up two hits and no earned runs.

The A’s will now take on the Kansas City Royals another team that is playing very well right now. With the trouble that is brewing on the mound for Oakland the starting pitcher for game one in this three game series is undecided at the time of this post. The Royals have settled on Cole Ragans to start this game with a 2-3, 4.22 ERA. First pitch for this Friday night matchup is scheduled for 4:40 PM PT.