NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Mary Lisa: Panthers and Hurricanes on verge of moving to next round now just one win away

The Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour (62) celebrates his goal with teammate defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (91) scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period of game 3 of the firs round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena in Tampa FL on Thu Apr 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

On NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Game three of the Stanley Cup Playoffs puts the Tampa Bay Lightning on the brink as they are down 0-3 against the Florida Panthers. The Panthers took game three 5-3 on Thursday night in Tampa Bay. The Panthers left winger Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and the goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 shots and allowed three goals in the win.

#2 Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said that he doesn’t feel the 3-0 lead and that he feels all these games are tight. Game 2 was an overtime that the Panthers on in Miami 3-2 on Tuesday just for an example. Maurice said it’s tight and that’s what he’s expecting for the next game on Saturday afternoon for game four.

#3 The Carolina Hurricanes against the New York Islanders got scoring help from Brent Burns in the first period who scored his first goal of the playoffs at 4:46 and the Hurricanes edged out the Isles 3-2 at UBS Arena in Elmont. We mentioned Burns as you saw him for years when he was in San Jose and now he’s on this successful Hurricanes team who leads New York 3-0 in this first round.

#4 Mary Lisa, the Hurricanes also got some good goaltending from Frederik Andersen who stopped 29 out of 31 shots in this close game.

#5 Islanders on are on the brink in game four against the Hurricanes need to win big or go home. The Islanders have lost each of he first three games 3-1, 5-3 and 3-2. The Islanders once again have home ice today and if they ever had to use it to their advantage this game would be it.

Join Mary Lisa for the Stanley Cup Playoffs podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bailey With A 3-Run Walk Off Gives San Francisco Giants A 3-0 Win Against The Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates hitter Brian Reynolds (10) strikes out swinging with the bases loaded against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri Apr 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, April 26th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

Fresh from a rare home off day in the middle of a homestand, the  San Francisco Giants have reached the final series of their longest homestand of the year as they welcome in the Pittsburgh Pirates for three games beginning Friday night.

For San Francisco pitcher Kyle Harrison took the hill for his sixth start of the season pitched a gem shutting out the Pirates in a 3-0 win in front of a crowd of 37,110 at Oracle Park. Improved from his shortest outing of the season (4.0ip) vs. Arizona last Saturday.

Harrison facing the Pirates for the first time in his career…not one player on the Pirates has logged a plate appearance against Harrison in the regular season. Quinn Priester (0-1, 8.31) started for Pittsburgh pitching six innings no runs, three hits and seven strikeouts.

Harrison went six innings, five innings, seven strikeouts and no runs. Preister also went six innings, three innings, one walk, six strikeouts, and no runs as well. 

For the duration of the game, it was a scoreless game with at various times both teams scaring the pitchers, but to no avail. 

Pittsburgh had the bases loaded in both the seventh and ninth innings, but could not score. Brian Reynolds hit into a double play against Giants closer Camilo Doval (2-0) with the bases full and one out in the ninth. 

In the ninth Michael Conforto walked and Matt Chapman singled to begin the inning off reliever David Bednar (1-2). Bailey then knocked a 3-run homer to right field. 3-0 Giants win!!! “One thing this year I tried to build was just my confidence at the plate,” Bailey said. “I felt like I proved to myself last year that I could do it at this level, even with the struggles at the end. So that was my biggest thing this year was just going up confident every time no matter what.” Time of game was 2:23.

Next game for this series is Saturday night at 6:05pm PDT April 27th. Jordan Hicks (2-0, 1.61 ERA) was set to pitch for the Giants in the second game of the series against Martín Pérez (1-1, 3.45 ERA).

A’s Win In Tenth Inning Beating Orioles 3-2; Rooker gets go ahead double for gamer in extras

Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers (left) congratulates closer Mason Miller after retiring the Baltimore Orioles in the bottom of the tenth at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Fri Apr 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

In yet another electric performance on the mound Mason Miller finished off this game in the tenth inning for the 3-2 Oakland A’s (11-16) win over the first place Baltimore Orioles (16-9) at Camden Yards. The A’s now are three games off the pace in the American League West. This young team has been incredibly competitive lately. They did have the bases loaded in the ninth inning but got the job done in the tenth. In this game the team put together some at-bats in a great outing.

Game recap: Oakland took the early lead 1-0 in first inning when Shea Langeliers hit a solo home run. Baltimore tied up the game in the third inning 1-1. Ryan OHearn singled Gunnar Henderson home for the tie. Baltimore would take the lead in the fourth inning when Cedric Mullins homered to right and the 2-1 score would hold going into the top of the ninth inning.

Oakland pitcher Ross Stripling went 5.2 innings allowing 6 hits, 2 runs with 3 strikeouts. Going into the ninth inning, the Orioles had not gotten another hit in the game. TJ McFarland relieved Stripling for less than an inning and Mitch Spence would take over on the mound in the seventh inning going through the ninth inning.

With two runners on base and no outs in the ninth inning the A’s tied up the game 2-2. Abraham Toro doubled Brent Rooker home. There was a tight play at home plate and for the moment Oakland had a 3-2 lead but after review, JJ Bleday was called out and the tie remained.

With one out, Oakland had the bases loaded when both Darell Hernaiz and Lawrence Butler walked and the A’s were 90 feet from the lead. Ryan Noda came to the plate with two outs. Noda popped out and the A’s missed a golden opportunity leaving three runners stranded. The A’s Mitch Spence had a perfect ninth inning with three up and three down and this game went into extra innings.

In the tenth inning Shea Langeliers grounded into a fielder’s choice to third and Ryan Noda was out. With two outs Brent Rooker doubled Langeliers home and the A’s had taken the lead 3-2 and there would be no review on this one.

JJ Bleday struck out for the third out and Oakland was three outs away from a win in the first game of this series. Mason Miller would take the mound looking to try and lock this game down. It was three up and three down for Miller finishing the game with a 102 mph bullet and Oakland had won the game 3-2. This was Miller’s seventh save of the season.

Oakland finished the game with seven hits and the A’s bullpen kept the Baltimore offense at bay only allowing the six hits.

Game notes: Friday evening the A’s traveled from New York to Baltimore to take on the Orioles. Oakland is coming off a very nice competitive series against the New York Yankees. The A’s split the series with New York winning the first and fourth game of the series. Game two in that series was a 4-3 score and was anybody’s game but it went to the Yankees.

The A’s got some great pitching and saw quite a few home runs in that series. Friday night, A’s pitcher Ross Stripling went 5.2 innings gave up six hits and two runs and the Orioles Corbin Burnes went six innings giving up three hits and one earned run to open Friday’s series. The Orioles are in second place in a very tough AL East division.

Game Two against the Orioles will get underway Saturday . First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM. JP Sears will take the mound for Oakland with a (1-1, 3.38 ERA). Cole Irvin will get the nod for Baltimore with a (1-1, 4.64 ERA).

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nevada Court still hasn’t ruled on Schools over Stadiums petition

An Emerson College poll show that 52 percent of Nevadans would vote against public funding for an Las Vegas A’s ballpark at the Tropicana in Las Vegas as 32% would vote to support it. If approved by the Nevada Court a petition drive in four Nevada districts would kill the SB1 bill to fund $380 million for a Las Vegas ballpark. (image from CBS 8 KLAS Las Vegas)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 It’s been since April 9th when Schools over Stadiums had went to the Nevada Supreme Court to appeal for language that clears up what the court deemed “legally deficient” and “confusing.” Here it is Fri Apr 26th and the court still has not come up with decision whether or not to deny or accept language for the petition language against SB1 state funding for a Las Vegas A’s ballpark at the Tropicana worth $380 million.

#2 There are now 34 days that’s two months to get over 102,000 signatures split up amongst four districts in Nevada primarily in Cook County and Las Vegas to stop SB1. Some say the court is delaying and burning off precious time before they approve the petition language as the petitions are due and signed by June 1st 2024.

#3 The decision rests with a seven member panel on the Nevada Supreme Court. With the State of Nevada backing this funding how much pressure does the Nevada Supreme Court panel face in not approving the petition language and forcing Schools over Stadiums to fold up?

#4 Pressure is also mounting against the Supreme Court to not approve the petition language in favor of Schools over Stadiums from the unions who are seeing the Tropicana project as jobs for contractors and union employees at the hotels as well as laborers. The panel on the other hand has not made a decision one way or the other because delaying would shorten the time for Schools over Stadiums to gather signatures.

#5 Chris Daly, deputy executive director of government relations for the NSEA who is fighting to get the approval for the petitions to get on the streets and signed said that time is running out. A recent poll shows that Nevadans would vote against public funding of the A’s ballpark at 52% and those in favor are at 32%. If this initiative ever made the ballot it would stop the public funding of the A’s Tropicana ballpark.

#6 Strong Public Schools another Nevada Schools organization has filed a lawsuit against the State of Nevada, the Governor of Nevada and the Secretary of State of Nevada which required a majority two thirds rather than the standard majority vote. The standard majority vote is what passed SB1 and Strong Public Schools said that vote was unconstitutional.

Join Daniel Fridays for the Oakland A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson; A’s open three game series with Orioles at Camden Yards tonight

New York Yankees Aaron Judge is caught in a rundown by the Oakland A’s second baseman Max Schuemann in the bottom of the second inning at Yankee Stadium in New York on Thu Apr 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Oakland A’s closer Mason Miller retired four Yankee hitters in including Yankee slugger Aaron Judge to shut the door on the Yankees for a 3-1 win in New York on Thursday night.

#2 The A’s got offensive help when Nick Allen and Tyler Nevin both slugged third inning home runs off of Yankee starter Nestor Cortes in a three run inning that turned out to be all the A’s runs they needed for the win.

#3 One thing that can be said about Miller he can heave he throws over 100 MPH and struck out Jose Trevino the his first batter he faced when he came into relieve TJ McFarland.

#4 Miller pitched his eighth consecutive scoreless inning of relief. Miller has put out 31 of his last 38 hitters and has struck out 22 of those 38 batters. Miller is really putting up some Fireman of the Year numbers at this stage of the season.

#5 The A’s open up a series in Baltimore on Friday night. The A’s will start RHP Ross Stripling (0-5 ERA 5.34) whose looking for his first win. The Orioles will start RHP Corbin Burnes (3-0 ERA 2.76). Like the Yankees the Orioles are hot. They’re in first place in the AL East 16-8, they have won and have won eight of their last ten games.

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

A’s Mason lights out against Judge and Yankees, shuts door in relief for A’s 3-1 win

Oakland A’s starter Alex Wood had one his best outings of the season pitching five plus innings giving up eight hits and one run against the first place New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thu Apr 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK.—The Oakland Athletics’ Mason Miller retired Aaron Judge with his first four-out save and the visitors defeated the New York Yankees 3-1 on Thursday night, splitting the four-game series in the Bronx.

Winning the final game of the series at Yankee Stadium was a big confidence booster for the A’s, who were swept by the Cleveland Guardians to start their 10-game road trip and fell in the last two contests against the Yankees.

“It’s a great bounceback series for us. We knew going into this road trip, Cleveland, New York and now going now to Baltimore, that we had a challenge in front of us with some good baseball teams,” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay. “After getting swept by Cleveland and coming here, to split a series with the AL East division leaders right now, it’s a good sign.”

In the second inning, Jose Trevino hit a home run on a fly ball to right field to put the Yankees up 1-0.

The A’s answered back in the third inning, as Nick Allen hit a homer on a fly ball to left field and tied the game. Then Tyler Nevin hit a home run on a fly ball to right field and Darnell Hernaiz scored, giving Oakland a 3-1 lead.

A’s starting pitcher Alex Wood earned his first win of the season after allowing one earned run in a season-high 5.2 innings pitched. He triumphed in bases loaded situations in the first and fourth innings.

“This game could’ve gotten out of hand in the first inning, especially against a lineup like that… so it just felt good,” said Wood.

In the eighth inning, A’s right-handed pitcher Mason Miller relieved TJ McFarland with a runner on first base and struck out Jose Trevino on a fastball. In the ninth, Miller got Oswaldo Cabrera out on a third strike, allowed a single to Anthony Volpe, and struck out Juan Soto. Judge flied to right on a slider and Miller notched his sixth save of the season.

“The kid is impressive. He’s a power pitcher but he’s got a good slider to go with it and he showed that tonight a couple times,” Kotsay said of Miller. “He’s really embraced this role, he loves it, and you can see just the energy when he comes into the game. This is the first time we’ve kind of used him in that four-out situation and for him to respond the way he did is a good sign.”

Miller, who averaged 100.8 mph with eight fastballs, affirmed that the fastball and slider combination is his go-to.

“Yeah that’s my mix,” he said. “Those are the pitches I’m going to come to the guys with.”

The A’s (10-16) continue their road trip with a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles starting on Friday at Camden Yards. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m. PT. Starting pitchers for the Oakland A’s RHP Ross Stripling (0-5 ERA 5.34) for the Orioles RHP Corbin Burnes (3-0 ERA 2.76).

“We’ve got a task in front of us with going to Baltimore now,” Kotsay said.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Béisbol de Grandes Ligas! The México City Series

Mexican City Series 2024 between the Colorado Rockies vs. Houston Astros in Mexico City on Apr 27 and 28, 2024 (MLB.com image)

Béisbol de Grandes Ligas! The México City Series

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball continues flirting with México, playing regular season games down México way. This weekend, the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies will play two games in the Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú with 20,062 capacity. This will mark the seventh time MLB plays a regular season series in Mexican territory.

It will be the first international game for the Houston Astros since 2019. The Rockies also played in Monterrey during 2019 but in Spring Training. México City’s population is over 9 million, and the metro area population of México City is over 22,000,000 people. If baseball is smart “if” they should consider México City for expansion.

These are the potential cities that have shown interest for an expansion team, some are being considered.

Austin/San Antonio, Texas

Charlotte, North Carolina

México City, México

Montréal, Canada

Nashville, Tennessee

Orlando, Florida

Portland, Oregon

Raleigh, North Carolina

Salt Lake City, Utah

San José, CA

Coverage for the US. MLB TV (Saturday) and ESPN TV (Sunday)

Major League Baseball will expand from 30 to 32 teams in the coming years. The only uncertainties are when the process will formally begin and when the two new franchises to be named will begin play. The last time MLB expanded, ahead of the 1998 season, the Tampa Bay then-Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks each had to pay $130 million to join the club. We feel confident the price has gone way up.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for 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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Was Snell damaged goods before coming to San Francisco?

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell (left) departs from the mound after being lifted in the top of the fifth inning by manager Bob Melvin (right) against the Arizona Diamondback on Fri Apr 19, 2024 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael, pitcher Blake Snell had been rocked in his last two outings in Tampa Bay on Apr 14 giving up six hits and seven runs and on Apr 19 against Arizona giving up nine hits and five runs. He’s on the 15 day IL for an adductor strain. Watching him in his last start was there any indication to you he was in any kind of physical struggle or discomfort?

#2 Snell comes to the Giants on a two year deal for $62 million. He was the touted free agent in the off season and during spring training signing with the Giants during pre season. It was said that another MLB team didn’t want Snell and he was damaged goods. How much confidence did general manager Pete Putila have in signing a healthy Snell?

#3 In Wednesday’s matinee the New York Mets avoided getting swept by the Giants with a 8-2 win. After Snell’s scratch it turned into a bullpen game with Ryan Walker getting the start after pitching one inning of shutout ball he was lifted for Sean Hjelle who gave up two hits and three earned runs and reliever Landen Roupp faired no better giving up three hits and three earned runs in one and one third innings of work.

#4 The Mets Francisco Lindor went yard twice against Giant pitching with two home runs and helped the Mets end their three game losing streak. The Mets had lost the first two games of the three game series.

#5 The Pittsburgh Pirates come calling for the first of three games against the Giants on Friday night at Oracle Park. The Pirates are coming off a series with the Milwaukee Brewers and will start Quinn Priester (0-1 ERA 8.31) for the Giants Kyle Harrison 2-1 (ERA 5.00) for a 7:15pm PDT first pitch.

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Judge and Yankees tee off on A’s in 7-3 win Wednesday night

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees (left) and Juan Soto (right) go for a forearm bash after Judge’s home run off the Oakland A’s in the first inning at Yankee Stadium in New York on Wed Apr 24, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, things just didn’t go right for the Oakland A’s at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night. Yankee slugger Aaron Judge hit a home run right after the A’s pitcher starter Joe Boyle was called for a balk.

#2 The Yankees further added to their total with home runs from Anthony Rizzo and Juan Soto. It was like Boyle was pitching to a complete All Star line up and couldn’t put anyone away.

#3 Boyle had been called for a quick pitch after after it looked like Judge had took strike three. Boyle was hit for the balk and Judge got another chance to take a swing which he did on the next pitch it was a home run.

#4 More bad news for the A’s their second baseman Zack Gelof had to be removed from the starting line up due to abdominal soreness . Gelof had an MRI which show a strained oblique and most likely Gelof is headed to the IL.

#5 Starting pitchers for Thursday’s A’s and Yankees battle in the fourth and final game of this series. For Oakland, Alex Wood (0-2 ERA 7.89) going for New York Nestor Cortez (1-1 ERA 3.41) first pitch 4:05pm PDT.

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

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Wendelstedt won’t be disciplined; A’s having slight uptick improvement so far this season

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone was tossed out in the first inning after a fan behind the Yankees dugout shouted something to plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt at Yankees Stadium in New York on Mon Apr 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong:

#1 Jessica, on New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s ejection on Monday. Boone had just come out of the dugout to question plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt about a ball that hit Oakland A’s hitter Esteury Ruiz’s foot and on a swing. Once back in the dugout Wendelstedt had warned Boone about saying anything further when a fan said something and Wendelsted threw out Boone who said nothing.

#2 The A’s who were the worst team in baseball last season has improved slightly. They won two straight series which didn’t happen much last season. They did get swept by the Cleveland Guardians who are the hottest team in baseball. But the A’s surprised everybody with a 2-0 shutout win over the Yankees on Monday, they maintain third place and are three games back in the AL West.

#3 The Chicago White Sox said before the season that they would be an improved team and they would compete but they have lost nine of their last ten games and are dead last in the American League Central winning on three games so far this season against 19 loses. The Sox have an atrocious road record winning only one game against 12 loses.

#4 Turning to the NBA, Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James had lots to say about the officiating after last Monday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in a game 2 loss 101-99. LeBron was called for having his foot on the three point line and got only two points losing the three points in a close game. He also was called out of bounds in a game against the Golden State Warriors. LeBron questioned why the NBA has a replay center for when calls are going to stand like those ones?

#5 Jessica, the subject was raised about the Golden State Warriors possibly trading Stephen Curry. The Warriors who lost a play in game against the Sacramento Kings to be eliminated from post season. Curry scored only 22 points and teammate Klay Thompson had 0 points. The Warriors might even consider trading Draymond Green. It looks like Golden State is going to break up that old gang and try and get younger.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com