NBA podcast report Michael Roberson: Barkley says Cleveland best landing place for LeBron; Reports say 76ers talk is serious

LeBron James (left) and Stephen Curry (right) unlikely to be teammates as LeBron is reportedly more focused on ending his career in Cleveland at Rocket Arena LeBron’s home state (Marca photo image)

NBA podcast report Michael Roberson:

#1 LeBron James may not choose Golden State as his landing place as it was dicussed that LeBron might play in San Francisco after LeBron announced he was considering going back to Cleveland to end his career.

#2 Bill Simmons writer for NBA Central on X said that LeBron is certainly going to Cleveland.

#3 The Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Miami Heat are the top teams on LeBron’s list. The biggest team of discussion were the Cavaliers because it’s a homecoming and he has a good working relationship with Cavaliers assistant general manager Brandon Weems.

#4 Charles Barkely said that if LeBron were to choose Golden State or Philadelphia he would be ring chasing but going to Cleveland would be a natural for him that’s where it all started and that’s where it should all end.

#5 Wanted to ask you something about something that Giannis Antetokounmpo said after being traded to the Miami Heat about the city of Milwaukee, that Milwaukee will always be his city, it was the place that made him a man, and that he will always honor Milwaukee how tough was it for Antetokounmpo to leave Milwaukee?

Michael Roberson is an NBA analyst for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants continue dominance against Rockies at Oracle Park, win 8-2

Photo: San Francisco Giants pitcher Carson Whisenhunt throws against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 9, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By Vince Cestone

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants needed just one thing to get back on track after getting pummeled by the Toronto Blue Jays at home earlier this week–the Colorado Rockies.

Behind rookie Carson Whisenhunt, the Giants continued their home dominance on Thursday night against the Rockies, beating them 8-2 as 32,301 fans watched.

The Giants started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Casey Schmitt homered with 2 outs and nobody on base. The Giants had an early 1-0 lead and were off and running against Colorado.

But the Rockies would strike back in the fourth against Whisenhunt. After designated hitter Hunter Goodman led off with a single, first baseman TJ Rumfield then walked. The next batter Tyler Freeman grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, potentially ending the rally. But Will Castro had other plans as he hit a home run to left-center field to give the Rockies a 2-1 lead.

The Giants punched right back in the very next inning. After Willy Adames grounded out, Bryce Eldridge launched a home run into McCovey Cove to tie the game at 2. That’s the 109th Giants splash hit home run in Oracle Park’s nearly three-decade history.

San Francisco took the lead in the very next inning. Catcher Drew Cavanaugh led off the fifth inning with a long single to right off of the Willie Mays wall. Heliot Ramos then hit a dribbler to the third baseman for an infield hit. That set it up for Luis Arraez, who doubled in a run to give the Giants a 3-2 lead. The next batter Schmitt walked, allowing the next hitter Rafael Devers to smash an RBI single to increase the lead to 4-2. The lead could’ve grown even more, but the following hitter Eldridge lined out to the second baseman.

The Giants tacked on four more insurance runs in the eighth inning. The rally started with two outs when Arraez singled. The next batter Schmitt doubled Arraez to third. Then, Devers doubled to increase San Francisco’s lead to 6-2. Adames followed with a long home run, way up the right-field bleachers, to give the Giants an 8-2 lead. That would end up being the final score.

Whisenhunt looked sharp in his return to the Giants from Triple-A Sacramento. He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs. He did walk four, but he struck out four batters.

For the Rockies, starting pitcher Ryan Feltner didn’t fare as well. In 4 1/3 innings, he gave up four runs on six hits. He walked four batters and struck out three.

The Giants bullpen finished the game after Whisenhunt was taken out, throwing scoreless, two-hit ball the rest of the way. San Francisco is now 34-6 against the Rockies in their last 40 games at Oracle Park.

Up next, the Giants will play game 2 of the series against the Rockies at Oracle Park on Friday night. Robbie Ray (8-6, 3.45 ERA) will take on Tanner Gordon (0-2, 6.95) at 7:15 p.m. Ray figures to be traded before the Aug. 3 deadline, so this could be his last start at Oracle Park as a Giant.

Tigers Finish A’s 4-1 for Yet Another Series Loss

The Sacramento A’s IL is growing as left fielder grabs his leg after colliding into the left field fence while sliding trying to make the catch on Detroit Tigers Zach McKintry’s fly ball in foul ground in the third inning at Comerica Park in Detroit (AP News photo)

Tigers Finish A’s 4-1 for Yet Another Series Loss

By Mauricio Segura

Three swings was all it took for the Detroit Tigers to run away with a series win against the injury-plagued Sacramento Athletics.

The Tigers beat the Athletics 4-1, completing a three-game sweep and handing the Green and Gold their sixth straight loss. The A’s dropped to 41-52 after losing 10 of their last 11 and 14 of 17, while Detroit won for the eighth time in nine games. Framber Valdez did most of the heavy lifting from the mound, holding the Athletics to one run on three hits over seven innings, striking out nine without issuing a walk.

The Athletics tried a different pitching formula, using José Suárez as an opener one day after he threw two scoreless innings in relief. It was a rare assignment. Over the previous 44 years, the only A’s pitcher to start after throwing at least two innings the day before was Liam Hendriks in 2019. Suárez handled the unusual job well, retiring all three batters he faced in the first, including two flyouts after a leadoff strikeout.

Jack Perkins took over in the second and matched Valdez for an inning before Jake Rogers broke the scoreless tie in the third with a solo homer to left. The Athletics had almost nothing going against Valdez early. Through four innings, Shea Langeliers reaching on a hit-by-pitch was their only baserunner.

The fifth finally gave the A’s an opening. Jacob Wilson singled to left and Lawrence Butler was hit by a pitch. Colby Thomas moved Wilson to third with a fly ball, and Henry Bolte brought him home on a force play. The run tied the game 1-1, but the tie lasted only a few minutes.

Kerry Carpenter drew a leadoff walk in the bottom half, and Zach McKinstry followed with a two-run homer to right-center. Perkins’ outing ended after three innings of bulk work, with three runs allowed on two hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Luis Medina then steadied the game, getting five outs without allowing a run, but the Tigers found another homer against Hogan Harris in the seventh.

That one came with a wonderful twist for Detroit. Eduardo Valencia pinch-hit for Carpenter and homered to center, giving the Tigers a 4-1 lead. It was the final run of the game and another example of how quickly Detroit turned a quiet inning into damage.

The Athletics had chances to make the score closer, but Valdez kept ending rallies before they could grow. Langeliers and Jonah Heim hit back-to-back singles with two outs in the sixth, only for Valdez to strike out Wilson on a foul tip. In the eighth, Jeff McNeil singled off Kyle Finnegan, but Joshua Kuroda-Grauer grounded into a double play and Nick Kurtz struck out.

Kuroda-Grauer entered the game as one of the hottest hitters on the roster, batting .500 with 15 hits through his first eight Major League games. Only Mitchell Page, with 16 hits in 1977, had more hits over the first eight games of an Athletics career. The rookie went 0-for-4, ending a six-game hitting streak.

There was still one last chance in the ninth. Langeliers drew a leadoff walk from Kenley Jansen, and after Heim struck out, Wilson singled to right to put runners at the corners. Butler then lined out to shortstop Zach McKinstry, and pinch-hitter Tyler Soderstrom lined out to first baseman Spencer Torkelson to end it.

The final numbers told the story without much translation: one run, five hits and 11 strikeouts for the A’s. Detroit scored all four of its runs on homers, and Valdez gave the Tigers seven innings of control. The Athletics now leave Detroit with a six-game skid and one series remaining before the All-Star break.

The road trip continues in Chicago, where Sacramento’s LHP Aaron Civale (4-3 ERA 7.04) is expected to face White Sox right-hander Sean Burke(5-4 ERA 3.56), with first pitch scheduled for 4:40 p.m. Pacific.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Saramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s need to gear up on offense against this White Sox club

Sacramento A’s Shea Langeliers (23) is one of the leading hitters with a .261 average, 20 home runs, 45 RBIs, 88 hits is hoping to provide some run supports against the Chicago White Sox on Fri Jul 9, 2026 (AP file photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Can Shea Langeliers continue his power surge and provide the Athletics with a big offensive spark against the White Sox pitching staff?

#2 How much of an impact will Jacob Wilson make now that he has returned from the injured list, and can he help stabilize the Athletics’ infield and lineup?

#3 Will Zack Gelof deliver the middle-of-the-order production the Athletics need to open the road series in Chicago?

#4 Can Nick Kurtz build on his promising season and give the Athletics another dangerous left-handed bat against the White Sox?

#5 If called upon, can Jeffrey Springs and the Athletics’ pitching staff keep the White Sox offense under control and give Sacramento a strong start to the series?

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

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Wagaman: Webb had a bad game but is still San Francisco’s ace; Loeder criticized team for it’s lack of leadership

Logan Webb was quite upset after Wed Jul 8, 2026 game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oracle Park in San Francisco after receiving criticism on social media regarding his pitching performance and the team’s slide (AP file photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Wagaman:

#1 Logan Webb got shelled on Wednesday afternoon by the Toronto Blue Jays giving up five runs to the first five batters in a 10-0 loss that saw the Giants almost get no hit. Webb took a look at what the press were saying about him on social media when KNBR’s Jack Loeder said after Wednesday’s game “This team has a leadership void on its roster, a talent void on its roster, and it seems like many of them are checked out. Sad.” then Webb deleted his X account because he didn’t like what Loeder wrote.

#2 For Jack was this a matter of Webb not accepting Loeder’s critcism after a rugged start and the club has now lost six of their last ten games why isn’t shocking that anyone would be shocked by any critcism of the Giants right now.

#3 Webb said that Loeder shouldn’t be allowed in the clubhouse and complained he took 20 minutes to respond to his tweet. Webb also said a fan who criticized him on social media said that Webb’s on line responses are embarrassing where Webb responded saying that fan couldn’t even make a Little League team and he should get off his couch.

#4 How do you see this blowing over this rift between the media, fans and Logan Webb or has it reached a low at this point of the season?

Michael Wagaman is a beat reporter for Associated Press and podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: From Oakland A’s Ball Girl to owning a Cookie Empire

Debbie Sivyer founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies is seen on a Topps 1973 style card as a ball girl for the Oakland A’s during the A’s World Championship years

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Somebody who knew former A’s ball girl Debbi Fields is Nancy Finley the niece of former Oakland A’s owner Charlie O. Finley and the daughter of Carl Finley, who was the team’s General Manager. I asked Nancy about Fields. Nancy Finley is the author of the book “Finley Ball”, which details the behind-the-scenes administrative history of the A’s during the dynasty years in the 1970s. You can buy the book on Amazon and at many bookstores.

Nancy Finley explained to me how the whole idea of having Ball Girls came about: “I overheard Dad on the phone with Charlie, telling him how pretty Kathy’s sister, Debbi, was. Charlie asked Dad what they could do to bring Kathy into the office. This is when Charlie or Dad came up with the Ballgirl position. They briefly tried this in KC. That was in 1965. Dad said it would be better if they had a pair of Ballgirls, one for first base, and one for third base”.

“Dad asked Kathy if her sister could meet with him after school. I remember when Debbi arrived to meet with Dad. Dad offered her this position and asked if Debbie had a friend she could recommend for the other Ball Girl. This turned out to be Mary Berry. Debbie Sivyer and Mary Berry started as Ball Girls in 1971. I remember when we had the green-and-gold outfits designed”.

The A’s were the first team in Major League Baseball to introduce ball girls on the foul lines, under baseball innovator Charlie O’. Finley. The iconic program began in 1968 and famously employed future Mrs. Fields Cookies founder Debbi Fields in its early years. The tradition continued across the baselines until the franchise concluded its 57-year tenure in Oakland at the end of the 2024 season

Fields was destined to hit the jackpot in the Holding Company business, with help from an investor. Fields sold her Mrs. Fields cookie empire to an investment firm, Famous Brands International (formerly Mrs. Fields Holding Company), for $100 million in 1992. Currently, she doesn’t own the company; she continues to serve as the brand’s iconic spokesperson.

Fields opened her first store in Palo Alto, California, in 1977. By offering free samples to attract customers, she turned a small startup into an internationally recognized brand that now operates in over 250 locations. In addition to her baking empire, she has authored several cookbooks.

When I first began broadcasting Major League Baseball, back in the mid-to-late 1970s for the Oakland A’s. I usually had more contact with Mr. Carl Finley, who was the GM and oversaw the team’s daily operation, than with Charlie Finley, the owner.

Charlie O. Finley occasionally visited Oakland after the A’s won World Series titles in 1972-73-74. Remembered as a groundbreaking and innovative executive, he is not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, but he is a member of the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame and the Athletics Hall of Fame.

I thank Nancy Finley for sharing these memories from her years with the Oakland A’s.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulcahy: Tigers Rogers, Torkelson each homer to beat A’s 6-1

Sacramento A’s second baseman Joshua Kuroda Grauer makes a diving tag on the base to beat the Detroit Tigers Zack McKinstry for the force out in the bottom of the sixth inning at Comerica Park on Wed Jul 8, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Bridget Mulchahy:

#1  With home runs from the Detroit Tigers Jake Rogers and Spencer Torkelson the Tigers won their fourth straight game over the Sacramento A’s at Comerica Park on Wednesday night.

#2 The Detroit Tigers Troy Melton improved his record to 5-1 with a win over the A’s going 5.1 striking out nine hitters. It was the Tigers seventh win in their last eight games.

#3 A’s starter Jefferey Springs dropped his record to 3-9 and the A’s have no lost their fifth straight and nine out of their last ten games. . Springs gave up six runs in 4.1 innings pitched. Springs drops to 0-9 in his last 15 games starting.

#4 Each of the A’s and Tigers lost an All Star player in Wednesday’s contest. Nick Kurtz left due to an illness and the Tigers catcher Daron Dingler had to leave after getting hit on his throwing hand.

#5 A’s and Tigers wrap up this series Thursday night at Comerica at 3:40pm PDT starting pitcher for the A’s RHP Jack Perkins (2-4 ERA 6.75) for the Tigers RHP Framber Valdez (4-6 ERA 4.29). A’s trail the series 0-2 can they avoid getting swept?

Join Bridget Mulcahy podcasts Sacramento A’s Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Sacramento A’s game wrap: A’s Fail for Second Night to Tame the Cats lose 6-1

Sacramento A’s reliever Mason Barrett (63) pitches in relief in the top of the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wed Jul 8, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento A’s had seven hits, two walks and several chances to change the game’s direction. Detroit Tigers needed only three scoring hits to do all its damage. Riley Greene supplied the first hit, Jake Rogers turned a surprise appearance into a two-run homer, and Spencer Torkelson added the biggest blow with a three-run shot as the Tigers handed the Athletics a 6-1 loss. The defeat stretched the A’s skid to five games and gave them nine losses in their last 10.

Jeffrey Springs had history on his side against Detroit, carrying a 2-1 record and a 0.53 ERA through three previous career starts against the Tigers. That history disappeared quickly. Dillon Dingler reached on an infield single in the first and moved to second on Zack Gelof’s throwing error. Kevin McGonigle and Torkelson drew walks, and Greene lined an RBI single to right for a 1-0 lead. The A’s limited the inning to one run when Gelof forced McGonigle at home before Springs struck out Ben Malgeri.

Rogers was not even in the original lineup. He pinch-hit for Dingler in the second and immediately changed the game. After Zach McKinstry drew a one-out walk and Matt Vierling fouled out, Rogers drove a ball over the wall in left-center for a two-run homer and a 3-0 Detroit advantage. He was not finished. Rogers singled in the fifth and later drew a walk, reaching base in all three of his plate appearances.

The A’s had their first real chance in the second when Lawrence Butler doubled and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer followed with an infield single. Troy Melton ended the threat by striking out Carlos Cortes. Sacramento finally scored in the fourth after Tyler Soderstrom doubled and Jacob Wilson reached on McKinstry’s throwing error, allowing Soderstrom to score. Kuroda-Grauer collected another infield hit later in the inning, but Melton again escaped with a strikeout of Cortes.

Melton made the A’s work for almost everything. The right-hander allowed four hits and one unearned run over 5 1/3 innings, striking out nine and issuing one walk. He struck out the side in the fifth, getting Henry Bolte, Gelof and Jeff McNeil in order, and left after walking Soderstrom with one out in the sixth.

Detroit then ended any thought of a comeback. Rogers singled with one out in the fifth, McGonigle followed with a single to right, and Torkelson sent a three-run homer to left for a 6-1 lead. Greene drew a walk, ending Springs’ outing after 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander allowed six runs on six hits, four walks and two home runs while striking out four. Springs had allowed at least one homer in nine straight outings before this start, and the Rogers and Torkelson blasts extended that streak to 10. His personal losing streak also reached nine consecutive decisions, with his last victory still dating to April 14.

The A’s kept creating small openings but never found the hit to cash them in. In the sixth, Soderstrom and Wilson drew walks before Butler moved both runners with a groundout, but Kuroda-Grauer grounded out to end the inning. In the seventh, Cortes singled and McNeil later sent a single to right that moved Bolte to third, only for Shea Langeliers to ground out. Detroit’s bullpen covered the final 3 2/3 innings without allowing a run.

Kuroda-Grauer remained the brightest part of the A’s offense, finishing with three singles in four at-bats. He had already produced 12 hits through his first seven major league games, tied for the fourth-most in Athletics history over that opening stretch and the most since Ben Grieve had 13 in 1997. Three more hits gave Kuroda-Grauer 15 through his first eight games. Soderstrom, reinstated from the injured list before the game, doubled, walked and scored the Athletics’ only run.

There was at least one encouraging piece for the A’s after the game had tilted away from them. Justin Sterner, Mason Barnett and José Suarez combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings, with Suarez striking out four over his two frames. It kept the margin from growing, but the offense never answered after Detroit’s fifth-inning homer.

The A’s get one last swing at the series Thursday, when Jack Perkins (2-4, 6.75 ERA, 70 strikeouts) faces Detroit left-hander Framber Valdez (4-6, 4.29 ERA, 78 strikeouts), with first pitch scheduled for 3:40 p.m. Pacific.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Giants pummeled in 10-0 loss to Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease, middle, reacts with shortstop Andrés Giménez, left, and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos hit a single during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in San Francisco (AP Photo/ Jeff Chiu)

By Maggie Akins

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants were blown out and nearly on the wrong side of history after a near no-hitter by All-Star Dylan Cease. 

The day looked to be cloudy, but the San Francisco fog fled as the sky became blue for the Toronto Blue Jays. Blue sky for a Blue Jays dominant game, beating the Giants 10-0 at Oracle Park on Wednesday, winning the series finale. 

Left fielder Heliot Ramos took the no-no dream from Cease, hitting a single in the ninth inning. 

“You certainly like Ramos’ effort in the ninth inning, but kind of just focused on today, it was a low point with a couple defensive plays, and not finished the game the way we need to on the mound, and then obviously, not having much to show offensively,” Manager Tony Vitello said post-game. 

The 2026 season becomes more and more unwatchable for the Giants faithful. They have hit a low-point as they drop 16 games under .500 for the first time in the ’26 season.

RHP Logan Webb got the start for the Giants, entering the game with 5-6 record and a 3.66 ERA on the season. Wednesday was Webb’s first start since he was named a 2026 All-Star last Saturday, making him the first Giants pitcher with three straight nominations since Madison Bumgarner. Webb’s outing came to a close in the seventh inning, tallying 100+ pitches. RHP Spencer Rivens took relief. 

“I thought he was really good today. I know that’s difficult to say…I don’t think the line score does it justice, and he was determined to get back out there and finish the seventh inning,” Vitello said. 

For Toronto, Cease got the nod with a 5-4 record and a 2.79 ERA entering the game. Cease was named a 2026 All-Star as well. Cease was three batters away from a no-hitter, but alas, not today. RHP Tyler Rogers came in for relief to close out the game. Ramos’ swing stood as the lone hit for the Giants Wednesday.

The Blue Jays pounced on the Giants early, putting up five runs in the first inning, highlighted by a grand slam from third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. Okamoto hit the one spot in the stadium where it could have gone that way, as Vitello recalled it looked like Okamoto was trying to hit a sac fly out of his swing. 

From that point on, it became a pitcher’s duel. Both Webb and Cease were knocking out batters left and right. 

There was not another offensive show from either side until the ninth inning when the Blue Jays decided to close out with two more home runs, eating away at the Giants’ relief pitchers. 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered down center field, bringing in Nathan Lukes for a two-run shot. George Springer followed suit, hitting a solo homer right down center field again. 

During pregame media, Vitello spoke about how important trends are in baseball, and in this case, the Giants do not want zero offense to be a trend for the remainder of the season, as they are approaching the All-Star break.

 ”There are so many days, and when you get out of bed, you wanna be looking up, you don’t wanna have your shoulders slumped or down,” Vitello said. 

Up next, the Giants are welcoming the Colorado Rockies to Oracle Park. Perchance the sky will be cloudy, and the Giants can pull something together in their first matchup of the series on Thursday, July 9. First pitch is at 6:45 p.m.

Thursday starting pitchers for Colorado RHP Ryan Feltner (3-2 ERA 4.27), San Francisco has not announced a starter yet.

MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong: Baseball’s biggest surprise team; Who are the MVP candidates?; plus more news

New York Yankees Al Sanchez thanks the Good Lord for his ninth inning single against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tue Jul 7, 2026 at the Tropicana in St Petersburg (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 The New York Yankees of all teams set a Major League mark for a team to strike out 17 times in two straight games. The Yankees KO’d 17 times on Monday and Tuesday nights at the Tropicana in St Petersburg to set the record. The Yankees a have a rough time of things having lost eight of their last ten games.

#2 Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Ryan O’Hearn hit for ten RBIs in a game against the Atlanta Braves. No one has ever done that for the Bucs. O’Hearn set a club record on Tuesday night the record was last set on May 30, 1939 when Johnny Rizzo hit nine RBIs agianst the St Louis Cardinals some 54 years before O’Hearn was born.

#3 Kansas City Royals Tyler Tolbert set a Major League record hitting in 12 straight plate appearances. Tolber reached the record with an infield hit in the Royals 16-12 win over the New York Mets Tuesday. Tolbert hit a two run home run in the second, then singled in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh ending the streak in the ninth inning with a fly out in the ninth inning.

#4 Detroit Tigers third base coach Joey Cory separated with the Tigers after “philosophical differences” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said of Cora and quoting, “I love Joey. Joey loved being a Tiger. He’s been instrumental in his time here. But similar to a family, sometimes it doesn’t last forever. and “We both just agreed it’s probably best for the players and everybody to separate.”

 #5 Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani will pitch the Friday right after the All Star break according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Ohtani had left in the seventh inning of last Friday’s game due to tightness in his right biceps in the bottom of the sixth inning while hitting.

Join Jessica for MLB The Show podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com