Author: Sports Radio Service

Portland beats Bay FC in close game 3-2 in San Jose; Bay FC suffers fifth loss and third loss in a row

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Try as hard as they can Bay FC couldn’t run away with the ball enough as the Portland Thorns won by one goal in Wed May 1, 2024 match at Pay Pal Park in San Jose (Bay FC X photo)

By William Espy

SAN JOSE–Bay FC returned home to PayPal Park on Wednesday night to take on the Portland Thorns. Bay was looking to end a two-game losing skid while Portland was looking to extend their winning streak to three following a coaching change in the middle of April. Interim Head Coach Rob Gale has been undefeated since taking over the job after the previous coach Mike Norris was reassigned within the organization following a winless start to the season. Bay couldn’t take advantage of home field lost in a razor close game 3-2 to the Thorns.

Bay FC Starting XI: Proulx, Menges, Beattie, Malonson, Moreau, Shepard, Anderson, Bailey, Princess, Castellanos, Kundananji

Thortns Starting XI: Hogan, Klingenberg, Sauerbrunn, Hubly, Reyes, Sugita, Moultrie, Coffey, Linnehan, Beckie, Smith

Given the fact that they’re playing three games in eight days, it’s not surprising that Albertin Montoya went with a much different lineup than we saw on Saturday in San Diego. Jen Beattie, Alyssa Malonson, Maddie Moreau, Jamie Sheppard, and Princess all came into the starting lineup.

Despite some injury concerns at the end of Bay’s last match, Asisat Oshoala was available as a substitute. As were Kayla Sharples, Savy King, Caprice Dydasco, and Tess Boade amongst others. Scarlett Camberos though was not selected either as a starter or as a substitute. Portland’s lineup was also affected by this, as they’re playing a similar schedule, with three games in seven days.

Portland took the lead on their first attack of the match in just the second minute. Payton Linnehan got past the defense and was essentially one-on-one with Lysianne Proulx, the goalkeeper had no chance and it was 1-0 in favor of the visiting team.

After the ball was taken away from Moreau in midfield, a quick pass to Sophia Smith resulted in a second early goal for the Thorns, this time in the seventh minute. Despite the turnover, Moreau was playing well early on. She was heavily involved in the play and had a key takeaway that led to a strong pass upfield and almost led to a scoring chance.

For a 23-year-old playing in her second professional game, she was certainly making an impact. Notably, Joelle Anderson was taking the corners in place of Deyna Castellanos. Typically Anderson would do so once Castellanos had been substituted, but she took them from the beginning on this occasion.

As a result of their early deficit, Bay had to go for a more attacking approach early on. Their wingbacks were playing pretty high up the pitch given the fact that it was less than 20 minutes into the game, however it did lead to some potential scoring opportunities.

In the 31st minute, Bay got their best opportunity of the night so far however a shot by Castellanos would go just wide. In the 35th minute, Rachael Kundananji and Olivia Moultrie collided with one another. Both got some medical attention, causing a short delay in the game but got to their feet fairly quickly Portland nearly extended their lead to three in the 40th minute however the ball sailed just over the crossbar.

A minute later, Bay FC launched an attack down the field, it ultimately fell to Kundananji inside the box, who slipped past a defender and fired a shot that found the netting to get her team on the board before halftime. For the remainder of the half, Bay was relentless in their attack as they attempted to even it up before the break. They were unable to do so though, and at the half, it was still 2-1 with the Thorns leading.

Montoya made a substitution to start the second half, bringing Boade on for Dorian Bailey. Bay got a scoring chance right at the start of the half, however Kundananji’s shot went high and just wide. In the 50th minute, off of a corner kick the ball landed on Kundananji’s head and it went just wide after deflecting off of a defender in front.

The ensuing second corner kick wouldn’t create a strong attack though. Montoya had made a change on the set pieces though, as Castellanos was back to taking corner duties. In the 60th minute, Kundananji and Castellanos got a two-on-two rush, Kundananji carried the ball for quite a bit, into the box before passing it to Castellanos who tied the game at two a piece.

Bay nearly took the lead just a couple minutes later, a shot from Princess went into the box. The ball bounced around and Castellanos fell attempting to knock it into the net. It went out for a corner and the game remained tied for the time being.

A similar situation happened in the 71st when a Boade shot was saved by Shelby Hogan and bobbled in front of the net before a foul was called against Bay FC. After a short delay, Jen Beattie left with an injury being replaced by Kayla Sharples.

Maya Doms also entered the game replacing Anderson. Immediately afterwards, Portland once again took the lead with Smith’s second goal of the night, this time from distance.In an attempt to restore the tie, Asisat Oshoala came into the game in the 82nd minute replacing Princess.

Still trailing by one, Bay FC was given 8 minutes of stoppage time to attempt to tie it up. Following a collision with Proulx, Morgan Weaver had to be carried off the pitch due to an apparent leg injury. Due to the injury, Portland had to finish the game with ten players since they had already made all possible substitutions which gave Bay a chance.

Despite a few quality attacking opportunities, they were unable to tie it up and Bay FC’s losing streak grew to three games. The 3-2 win for Portland also extended their winning streak to three games, continuing to be undefeated since their coaching change.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Len Shapiro: Maple Leafs live another day with win over Bruins; Hurricanes move to next round with win over Islanders; plus more news

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The Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Matthew Knies (23) celebrates scoring an overtime goal on Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) in game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden in Boston (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The Toronto Maple Leafs survived being eliminated defeating the Boston Bruins 2-1 in overtime. The Leafs trail the Bruins in this first playoff round 3-2. The Leafs Matthew Knies scored at 2:26 in the overtime stanza for the game winning goal.

#2 No time like the present with the New York Islanders playing for their lives down 3-1 they were in a 3-3 tie until the third period and couldn’t hold on as the Carolina Hurricanes rallied with three goals in the third period with goals from Jack Drury, Stefan Noesen, and Evgeny Kuznetsov for the come back 6-3 as the Hurricanes advance to the next round.

#3 The Colorado Avalanche had a 3-2 lead going into the third period in game five and the series lead as well at 3-1 against the Winnipeg Jets. The Avalanche added three more goals in the third period to put away the Jets and came away with a three goal 6-3 win in Winnipeg.

#4 The Nashville Predators came into game 5 down 1-3 against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena in Vancouver and were facing elimination and defeated the Vancouver Canucks in razor close game 2-1. All the scoring took place in the third period with the Canucks Nikita Zadorov scoring to start the period at 3:11 on a wrist shot, then the Predators came back with two unanswered goals by Roman Josi at 7:15 to tie it 1-1 and Alexander Carrier at 12:46 for the winning goal for a 2-1 final.

#5 Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said on Tuesday that signing Steven Stamkos is a priority. BriseBois told the media two days after the Florida Panthers eliminated the Lightning at locker cleanout day in Tampa Bay that Stamkos “needs a contract and we want him part of that group.”Stamkos signed an eight year $68 million contract back in 2016 with the Lightning

Len does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts each Wednesday or Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants’ offense struggles again in 6-2 loss to Red Sox at Fenway

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Boston Red Sox second baseman Emmanuel Valdez completes a double play after forcing San Francisco Giants base runner Matt Chapman (26) in the top of the ninth inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Wed May 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Fenway Park

Boston, Massachusetts

San Francisco Giants 2 (14-17)

Boston Red Sox 6 (18-13)

Win: Kutter Crawford (2-1)

Loss: Daulton Jeffries (0-2)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 30,787

By Stephen Ruderman

The San Francisco Giants’ offense was stymied again at Fenway Park, as the Boston Red Sox beat the Giants 6-2, and now have won the first two games to take the series.

After the Giants took two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates to complete a 6-4 homestand, the Giants went to Boston hoping to get back to .500 for the first time since March 30. Unfortunately for the Giants, the Red Sox shut them out last night, and the Giants would have to bounce back in a bullpen game.

For the Red Sox, Kutter Crawford made the start. Jung-Hoo Lee lined a base-hit to right to open the game, but Crawford set down the next three men he faced in order. Erik Miller would be the opener for the Giants, and he survived a pair of walks in the bottom of the first inning.

Crawford pitched a 1-2-3 top of the second, and Daulton Jeffries replaced Miller, as he threw a scoreless bottom of the second. Tom Murphy then led off the top of the third with a home run over the Green Monster in left field for the Giants’ first run of the series.

Jeffries gave up a leadoff single to Ceddanne Rafaela in the bottom of the third, and then proceeded to walk Jarren Duran. Rafael Devers came up and hit a double to left to tie the game, and then Rob Refsnyder grounded out to short, which knocked in Durran to give Boston the lead.

The Giants bounced back with a two-out rally in the top of the fourth. Michael Conforto walked, and Thairo Estrada doubled him to third. Mike Yastrzemski, who is playing in his second series at Fenway Park where his grandfather and hall-of-famer, Carl Yastrzemski once played, laid down a bunt along the third base line to tie it up.

Jeffries immediately ran right back into trouble in the bottom of the fourth, as Connor Wong led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a ground out off the bat of Dominic Smith. Enmanuel Valdez doubled the other way off the Monster in left to put the Red Sox back ahead, and two batters later, Duran tripled in Valdez to make it 4-2.

Following back-to-back two-run innings for the Red Sox, the Giants’ lethargic offense went down 1-2-3 against Sanchez in a true shutdown inning. The submariner Taylor Rogers, who finished the bottom of the fourth, gave up a single to Refsnyder to start the bottom of the fifth.

Rogers then induced flyouts from Tyler O’Neill and Wilyer Abreu. Bob Melvin lifted Rogers for Luke Jackson, who immediately surrendered a base-hit to Wong, as well as a base-hit by Smith to knock in Refsnyder and make it 5-2.

LaMonte Wade Jr. walked to start off the sixth, but Sanchez then retired the side in order. Jackson pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth, and Sanchez did the same in the top of the seventh. That would do it for Sanchez, who struck out six, and gave up just four hits and two runs against the struggling Giants’ offense.

Mitch White came in for the bottom of the seventh and retired the first two men he faced. However, Abreu singled, and Wong doubled to tack on another run for the Red Sox to make it 6-2.

Chris Martin came in for Boston, and he and White each pitched 1-2-3 innings in the eighth. Red Sox Manager Alex Cora went to Greg Weissert for the ninth. After giving up a leadoff single to Matt Chapman, Weissert struck out Michael Conforto, and got Thairo Estrada to line into a 6-3 double play to end the game.

Kutter Crawford got the win, and Daulton Jeffries took the loss. The Giants fall back to three-games under .500 at 14-17, and they will try and salvage a game in this series with Kyle Harrison on the mound. First pitch will be at 1:35 p.m. in Boston, and 10:35 a.m. back in San Francisco.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: When the A’s brought The Beatles Interview with Nancy Finley

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Beatles ticket from concert scheduled Thursday September 17, 1964 8:00pm at Municipal Stadium Kanas City (photo from Nancy Finley)

When the A’s brought The Beatles –Interview with Nancy Finley–

That’s Amaury News and Commentary–

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

When most baseball fans think about Charlie O. Finley, owner of the Kansas City and then the Oakland A’s, they return to the three consecutive World Series he won for the Swinging A’s in 1972,73,74. By winning three consecutive World Series, Finley’s A’s became only the second team to date that accomplished such a feat. During their dynasties, the New York Yankees were the only other team.

Reggie Jackson, the centerpiece for those winning teams, said of Charlie O. Finley, “He was great for baseball, years ahead of his time,” Reginaldo Martínez Jackson, a Hall of Fame outfielder, played for the A’s from 1967 to 1975. Charlie O.

Finley’s innovations in baseball are legendary, from Charlie O, the mascot Mule of the team, to pioneering the idea of night games in the Postseason play/World Series to many other ideas that baseball adopted, innovations, including all sorts of promotions.

During the Kansas City years, Mr.Finley had one of the most significant music bands in history, The Beatles, who performed in Kansas City as part of one of many Charlie O.Finley promotions. Time Magazine included the Beatles in its list of 100 most influential people in the 20th century.

I interviewed Nancy Finley who tells me that Charlie (her uncle) sent her the 45 LP “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”, while her mother repeatedly played that song in the house. She tells me, “Dad (Carl Finley), the minority owner and General Manager, and Charlie were sitting with the group in a conference room waiting for performance time.

Dad said they were “a group of polite young men.” Spoken like a High School Principal. Charlie O.Finley left his mark in baseball and in American history, truly an innovator who brought the A’s the Gold and Green uniforms, the first team to let the players have facial hair, the Ball Girls, he was strong proponent of Inter league Play, decades before MLB adopted it in 1997.

Also, there is Night Playoff baseball, plus the Designated Hitter and Runner. He suggested the “alert ball,” also called the orange ball, to make it easier for the fans to follow the baseball because white was not that easy to see, and although that was never adopted, it was talked about.

I do not believe Mr.Finley would like any clock ruling in the game, the “free runner” at second base when a game spins into extra-innings, and some other radical changes during the last few years. Undoubtedly, when A’s Charlie O. Finley brought The Beatles, he left his mark on US pop culture forever. He was a visionary a showman and a man for the ages.

Quote: Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris, who played more games than any other Athletics player, (1,795 games) a great shortstop born in Cuba, told me years ago talking about Charlie O. Finley ” Charlie no era solo dueño del equipo, pero hablaba y conocía de baseball” -Trans: “Charlie was not only the owner of the team, but he could talk and was knowledgable of the game of baseball”.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer 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

A’s female TV play by play announcer Cavnar getting support after fans pushing petition to get rid of her

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Oakland A’s lead TV play by play announcer Jenny Cavnar of NBC Sports California has received support after it was learned a petition was being circulated in an effort to have her fired for what some say poor announcing. (photo from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and @NBCSAthletics)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland A’s and Major League Baseball’s first full time lead TV play by play female announcer Jenny Cavnar is under an avalanche of scrutiny from viewers of A’s televised games as announced by Cavnar. A petition is being circulated that as of Tuesday had over 620 signatures that demand the Oakland A’s fire Cavnar forthwith.

Some of the signers cite that she has no emotion in her home run calls, that she’s not a voice for baseball, that she went against former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf because Schaaf didn’t do anything to get a ballpark built in Oakland for the A’s at the time Schaaf was mayor.

Others who wrote on Awful Announcing’s X platform quoting RichDT “She really is not good. She needs more experience somewhere else. She hardly starts conversations during the game. Her calls of HR’s for the A’s are not good. Chris Caray does a better job in my opinion and comes from a legendary broadcasting family.” also JWP303 wrote, “No excuse for outright misogyny but she’s always been a tough listen as a broadcaster. As a reporter, calling games, in the studio… never was a fan in CO. Doris Burke, she is not.”

Those who criticize Cavnar showed one video one of her calling an RBI double hit by he A’s Abraham Toro that went over Orioles centerfielder’s Ryan McKenna’s head in Baltimore scoring Brent Rooker from second and her saying “over his head it goes and coming in home, how about we have ourselves and even up game.”

Cavnar who is in the broadcasting wing of the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown for becoming the first lead full time play by play announcer in MLB history just completed her first month of announcing in that role. Cavnar has been defended by other media outlets namely the San Francisco Chronicle who said basically it’s Cavnar’s first year as a full time announcer in the lead role maybe she needs some time to review and improve on some her calls.

From all appearances some say Cavnar is being criticized because she is a woman, she doesn’t know how to make the right calls on home runs and that she has no emotion and some said she was just awful. The Chronicle would argue regarding Mayor Schaaf was what the criticism of Schaaf was at the time when anything on an Oakland ballpark seemed stalled and that Cavnar’s home run calls are fairly standard.

To have a petition now after her first month of work is premature take a look at her work after the entire regular season has been completed. Fans demanding that she should be fired doesn’t seem really fair. She’s in a new job, a new market, and yes maybe she made some tough calls at the mic but Cavnar should be given the chance to work on some things rather than blow it up now.

There are some rough patches but if Cavnar puts her shoulder into it she can make the necessary improvements. Also there is no way that team president David Kaval or owner John Fisher will let go of Cavnar they stand behind her and are proud to have a pioneer like her who represents the team in the Hall of Fame.

Jerry Fetielberg is an Oakland A’s beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Complete 3 Game Sweep Against Pirates In 4-0 Win at Coliseum; Oakland now 2.5 games back of first place

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Oakland A’s pitcher Ross Stripling works on the Pittsburgh Pirates line up in the top of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed May 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, May 1st, 2024

By Troy Ewers

In the final game of the series, the Oakland Athletics with Ross Stripling on the mound against the Pittsburgh Pirates with Quinn Preister on the mound. The A’s took the final game of the series defeating the Pirates in a shutout in front of 4679 fans at the Oakland Coliseum. This was Oakland’s fourth consecutive win a streak that started on Sunday in Baltimore.

Oakland won the game 4-0 and Stripling got his first win since 2022. Stripling broke a 10 game losing streak with six shutout innings. Two strikeouts and only giving up three hits, Stripling survived his outing to hold off the Pirates. With the win the A’s now are 2.5 games behind first place Seattle in the AL West. The Mariners lost Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves 5-2.

The A’s had two solo home runs off Preister to put them on the board first. Abraham Toro in the second inning, his third of the season and Tyler Nevin in the third inning, with his fourth of the season, that put the A’s up 2-0 early. Nevin continued his nine game hitting streak and the A’s in this series against Pittsburgh hit five home runs. 

Toro was up again with the bases loaded and when a routine play at shortstop to end the inning resulted in an error, not only did Toro get to first safely, but a run was scored as well, 3-0 A’s.

An RBI single from Kyle McCann put the A’s up 4-0 in the eighth. McCann single drove in Esteury Ruiz, who had a stolen base while pinch-running for Toro, who got a walk to lead off the inning.

Mason Miller came in for a non-save situation and retired the Pirates in order with one strikeout, capping the series where Oakland pitching gave up three runs and 11 hits in three games. 

Next game for the A’s will be against the Miami Marlins for a three game series in Oakland. Probable pitchers for the first game on Friday, May 3rd will be JP Sears (1-2, 4.64) for Oakland and Ryan Weathers (2-2, 4.55) for Miami first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum 6:40pm PDT.

NBA Playoffs podcast with David Zizmor: Bucks get by without Antetokounmpo and Lillard; Pacers lead series 3-2

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The Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo sits in the middle of the bench resting on Sun Apr 28, 2024 he and teammate Damian Lillard both sat out in game 5 on Tue Apr 30, 2024 in Milwaukee (AP News photo)

On the NBA Playoffs podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 To show you how good the Milwaukee Bucks are they went without  Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard down 1-3 against the Indiana Pacers in Milwaukee the Bucks persevered to move within a game of the Pacers in a 3-2 series with a 115-92 win.

#2 Antetokounmpo is suffering from a strained left calf and Lillard is out with an  Achilles tendon. Antetokounmpo has been taking some shots and Lillard has just rested.

#3 So it’s the Pacers up 3-2 they need one more win to advance the Bucks can tie up the series as this series moves to Indiana on Thursday May 2. Given the circumstances of Antetokoumpo and Lillard can the Bucks tie this one up?

David Zizmor is a NBA Playoffs contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bleday goes deep twice as A’s win third straight game beat Pirates 5-2 at Coliseum

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The Oakland A’s Abraham Toro (right) scores in the in front of Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart (right) in the bottom of the second inning at Oakland Coliseum on Tue Apr 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Pittsburgh (14-17). 100 100 000. 2. 5. 0

Athletics (13-17). 020 010 020. 5. 8. 0

Time: 2:02

Attendance: 3,876

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Tuesday night’s come from behind 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates was their third straight triumphed and their fifth win in their last six games. Rookie Taylor Nevin continued to amaze with his hitting, and JJ Bleday was responsible for 60% of the A’s scoring. And let’s not forget the phenomenal mound mastery of Mason Miller, the relief revelation of the young season.

The A’s chose as their starting pitcher 10 year veteran Alex Wood, who spent the last three seasons toiling for the Giants as they descended from 107 games winners to mediocrity. Whoever writes the Athletics’ game notes has a sense of humor, because they gave the title of “Qualifications” to this summary of the lefty’s record: “Has compiled a 6.59 ERQ … which is sixth highest in the majors among pitchers with at least 25 innings pitched … using the same minimum, he has the highest opponents OPS (1.018), on-base percentage (.444), and slugging percentage (.574) and third most pitches per inning (19.2).

Wood lived down to his numbers tonight. He escaped with a no decision that shaved 0.27 runs from his ERA, lowering it to 6.32. He threw 93 pitches in just four innings of work and allowed two runs, both earned, on four hits, one a home run, on four walks. He also struck out four.

Mitch Keller, the Pirates’ starting pitcher, had a better 2023 than Wood. He pitched in the all-star game and also set the Pittsburgh franchise record for strikeouts by a right handed pitcher, with 210. He wound up the year with a record of 13-9, 4.21 and came to work tonight at 2-2, 5.14.

He ended his stint after throwing 96 pitches, 59 for for strikes, over five mediocre frames, in which he gave up 3 runs, all earned, on five hits and two walks. He took the loss and now is 2-2, 5.18.

The Pirates wasted no time in jumping to an early lead. Connor Joe, batting third, drove a 2-2, 91 mph sinker over the left field scoreboard for his third home run of the year. Like on Monday night, the A’s trailed 1-0 before their first turn at bat.

Undaunted, the A’s pulled ahead in the bottom of the second. Shea Langeliers defied The Curse of the Leadoff Double by scoring on Abraham Toro’s game tying single to right. Toro then went to second on single to right by Darell Hernaiz and scored when Tyler Nevin extended his consecutive game hitting streak to eight with a Texas League single that dropped safely in front of Edward Oliveras in right. It now was 2-1 in favor of the resurgent Athletics.

But not for long. Leading off in the top of the fourth, Jared Triolo singled to center and advanced to second when Wood walked Michael A. Taylor. Alika Williams moved both runners up on a sacrifice bunt to third that was originally called a hit. But the A’s challenged first base umpire Tony Randazzo’s safe call, and the ruling his decision was overturned on video review. A sacrifice fly to right by Ke’Bryan Hayes knotted the score at two all.

Mitch Spence relieved Wood to start the next, fifth, inning, and allowed only an infield single. That meant that JJ Bleday’s second four bagger of 2024, a 399 foot blast to right, returned the lead to the A’s, 3-2. The shot came off an 84 mph sweeper.

Luis Ortiz hurled a scoreless sixth for Pittsburgh in spite of a double by Toro. Josh Fleming, who replaced him for the seventh, wasn’t as successful. Bleday slammed a 417 foot shot to center for his second homer of the evening, making this his first career multi-homer game. Nick Allen, running for Nevins, who had singled, was on base. That meant that Bleday’s shot made the score 5-2 and that Bleday had driven in three of the Athletics’ five runs.

Lucas Erceg protected that three run margin by striking out the three Pirates he faced in the eighth, setting the stage for Mason Miller to earn his eighth save in as any opportunities by setting the side down on three straight Ks.

The Athletics will go for the sweep tomorrow, Wednesday, afternoon at 12:37. Ross Stripling, who’s lost five games, will be looking for his first win of the season and to lower his ERA of 4.98. He’ll go against the Bucos’ righting Quinn Priester ((0-1, 3.48)

Sox Criswell and four pitchers combine for 4-0 shutout over Giants at Fenway

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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Cooper Criswell throws against the San Francisco Giants line up at Fenway Park in Boston on Tue Apr 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

By William Espy

The San Francisco Giants (14-16) started a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox (17-13) on Tuesday evening. Coming off of a series win against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Oracle Park, the Giants find themselves second in the National League West, behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On this road trip, they’ll visit Fenway Park in Boston before heading off to Philadelphia and then Colorado, returning home on May 10th. Logan Webb started on the mound for the Giants, while the Red Sox went with Cooper Criswell.

Both pitchers have had a strong start to the season, so it seemed this game may not be heavy on offense, however, almost instantly the first inning challenged that idea. Red Sox pitcher Cooper Criswell and four relievers combined for a four hit 4-0 shutout against the Giants.

With two outs in the inning, Rob Refsnyder of the Red Sox came up with runners on first and second. A single to the outfield allowed Tyler O’Neill to score from second, and Wilyer Abreu advanced to second. Enmanuel Valdez came up next and after a lengthy nine-pitch at-bat, he flew out to Mike Yastrzemski. Also, it’s worth noting, that Yastrzemski was returning to the ballpark where his grandfather, Carl, spent his legendary career.

Webb struggled with control early on, throwing a lot of pitches and not hitting the strike zone when ahead in the count. Even the strikeout to start the second one was a generous call by the umpire. Having eclipsed the 40 pitch mark before recording the second out of the second inning, he was going to need to improve his efficiency drastically or the Giants would need to call on the bullpen much earlier than they had hoped.

This was reinforced by the Red Sox scoring their second run of the game when Jarren Duran singled to center and Reese McGuire scored from third base. He got out of the inning on a ground out from O’Neill, but he was already nearing the 60-pitch park. Refsnyder got hit second RBI of the night with a single to right field which allowed Abreu to score from second base.

It took until the fourth inning for the Giants to get a base runner when LaMonte Wade Jr walked, however, they had still been held without a hit up to that point. Webb remained in the game to start the bottom of the fourth.

Duran started the inning with a single, stole second then advanced to third on a ground ball. With two outs, a line drive by Abreu went straight down the first base line and Duran scored on the resulting triple. Sean Hjelle came into the game at this point, ending Webb’s disappointing start with 90 pitches, four earned runs, three walks, and nine hits allowed over 3.2 innings pitched. Hjelle immediately got them out of the inning by striking out Refsnyder.

Michael Conforto got the Giants their first hit of the ball game to open the fifth inning with a groundball single, however, Patrick Bailey immediately grounded into a double play. Hjelle hit Garrett Cooper with a pitch in the bottom of the fifth, it appeared to hit the Red Sox’ first baseman right in the wrist and he exited the game in clear discomfort.

Boston seemingly made it 5-0 on a groundball to short, the runner on third scored and the throw was too late. However, the Giants didn’t agree and initiated a manager’s challenge. Upon replay, it appeared that the first baseman caught the ball a split second before the runner made it to the base and the umpire overturned the call. As a result, the Giants got out of the inning and trailed 4-0.

Brennan Bernardino took over on the mound for the Sox to start the sixth inning, while Bobby Dalbec came in for the injured Cooper. Yastrzemski got hit by a pitch to start the inning, it looked fairly similar to what happened to Cooper, but Yastrzemski remained in the game.

Bernardino wouldn’t make it through the inning though as he was replaced by Greg Weissert with two outs. Taylor Rogers took over pitching duties for the Giants for the bottom of the sixth. After walking the first batter, he struck out the next two and Refsnyder grounded out on the first pitch to end the inning.

After a couple of uneventful innings, the Giants found themselves with runners on first and second in the bottom of the eighth. O’Neill grounded to Matt Chapman who stepped on third, and threw it to second where they got the out and the shortstop threw it to first where the umpire called the runner out, seemingly giving the Giants a triple play.

After a manager’s challenge though, it would be overturned as the runner was safe at first. Eventually, Landen Ruopp would get a strikeout to end the inning, and the Giants had their final opportunity to get some offense on the board.

Justin Slaten entered the game to close it out for the Red Sox who led 4-0 entering the top of the ninth. The first batter of the inning, Jung Hoo Lee flew out to right field. Wilmer Flores was the next batter up and he singled up the middle.

Chapman then hit a soft liner up the middle, putting runners on first and second. Kenley Jansen started warming up for Boston at this point as well. Conforto grounded out to the second baseman, so the runners advanced and the Giants were down to their final out. Bailey struck out on three pitches, and the Red Sox walked away with a shutout win to start the series.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Petition going around to fire first full time woman announcer at A’s; LA investment banker to secure $500 million for A’s Vegas stadium costs

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Oakland A’s announcers Jenny Cavnar (left) and Dallas Braden (right) during a broadcast on NBC Sports California in March 2024 during a Cleveland Guardians and Oakland A’s game. Cavnar is the target for a petition drive to get her fired. (photo by Michael Zagaris Oakland A’s photographer)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, there is a petition going around that already has over 600 signatures demanding that the Oakland A’s fire the first woman full time lead play by play announcer in MLB history Jenny Cavnar. Reasons given by the fans petition, “extremely poor job announcing”, also Cavnar said while working another announcing job that former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff was responsible for not building a ballpark in Oakland, and Cavnar is “not a baseball voice..” Sources say the Oakland A’s stand behind her and that she’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

#2 Los Angeles sports investment banker Sal Galatioto has been retained by the Oakland A’s owner John Fisher to invest in the A’s Las Vegas ballpark at the Tropicana Hotel and Resort location. Fisher’s share of the construction costs is $500 million and has been trying to drum up investment support in the Las Vegas casino community or business community. Since Galatioto has stepped forward this might have answered the question where Fisher was going to the money for his share of the Vegas ballpark construction costs.

#3 In spite of he Oakland A’s defeating the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday over the weekend the Orioles have hit seven home runs.

#4 The Orioles are if not one of the best teams in the American League they have 41 home runs in 27 games considering that kind of offense it was impressive the A’s even came away with two wins out of three to take the three game series?

#5 Another impressive run fact the A’s are playing .500 ball over the last few weeks. On the road they won in Detroit and Texas on their first road trip of the season and this last road trip they split with the Yankees and won the series against the Orioles after starting the season at 1-7.

#6 A large part of the A’s wins has been lent to closer Mason Miller whose 103 MPH fast ball has been impossible to hit. He’s throwing shades of relief pitchers like the Minnesota Twins Jhoan Duran who clocks in from 100-104 MPH or the Cleveland Guardians Eammanuel Chase who can throw at 99 MPH.

#7 Pittsburgh Pirates and A’s get after it tonight at the Oakland Coliseum in game 2 of the three game series. The Pirates will start RHP Mitch Keller (2-2 ERA 5.14) he’ll be opposed by A’s starter Alex Wood (1-2 ERA 6.59). Amaury if Wood could get his ERA down and cut his runs against total he can pick up some wins?

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