Author: Sports Radio Service

A’s shutout by Marlins Cabrera in 4-0 loss at LoanDepot Park to open series

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Oakland Athletics third baseman Aledmys Diaz (12) and Miami Marlins Bryan De La Cruz (14) hugs after De La Cruz was caught between bases during the fifth inning at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Fri Jun 2, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Mary Anne

The Oakland Athletics (12-47) looked to avoid a two-game losing streak as they started a new three-game series against the Miami Marlins (30-28) on Friday. The A’s and the Marlins matched up at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. The A’s just couldn’t get any hitting going getting struck out ten times by Marlins starter Edward Cabrera for a 4-0 shutout to open the three game series in Miami.

The A’s starting lineup consisted of Esteury Ruiz, Ryan Noda, Brent Rooker, Seth Brown, Aledmys Díaz, JJ Bleday, Jonah Bride, Shea Langeliers, Tony Kemp, and Shintaro Fujinami. Fujinami, a Japanese pitcher who bats and throws right, took the loss and fell to 2-6 on the season after pitching just one inning. Hogan Harris pitched five innings, while Austin Pruitt pitched 1.2 innings and Sam Moll pitched 0.1 innings.

The A’s had their work cut out for them against the Marlins, but they couldn’t get anything going. Miami opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Jesus Sanchez homered on a fly ball to left field and Bryan De La Cruz scored to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.

As if they haven’t already done enough damage, Miami added two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jorge Soler doubled on a sharp line drive to JJ Bleday and Jacob Stallings scored to give the Marlins a 3-0 lead. Bryan De La Cruz scored again as he singled on a ground ball to Seth Brown and Jorge Soler scored to give the Marlins a 4-0 lead.

Cabrera pitched six innings on four hits, one walk and ten strike outs before being lifted in the seventh for reliever JT Chargois who was followed by two more relievers who held down the fort to shutout the visiting A’s.

The A’s and Marlins meet again on Saturday, June 3 at 1:10 pm Pacific. Luis Medina (0-4 ERA 6.83) seeks his first win of the 2023 season will be opposed by the Marlins Eury Perez (2-1 ERA 2.84) in the second game of the series.

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len Shapiro: Panthers-Knights battle for the Cup Saturday night at T Mobile Center

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Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin, center, pressures Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) and defenseman Nicolas Hague (14) as a shot go wide of the net in the first period of Game 6 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Wed May 31, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len:

#1 Both the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers had their shares of six game or seven game thrills this post season. For the Knights they held their own against the surging Dallas Stars who were making a comeback after being down 3-0 and making it 3-2 before the Knights came back to win game 6 to eliminate the Stars and advance to the finals.

#2 For the Florida Panthers they were on life support during the first round of this post season down 3-1 and came back eliminate the Boston Bruins 4-3. They went on to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes to advance to the NHL Finals.

#3 The Panthers in their last series with the Hurricanes swept them clean in four games 4-0, the Panthers Matthew Tkachuk had quite an offensive series scoring two goals in game four that polished off the Hurricanes 4-3.

#4 Which goaltender do you feel has the advantage going into this Final the Knights Adin Hill or the Florida Panthers Sergei Bobrovsky.

#5 So now it’s game 1 of the Finals with the puck dropping at the T Mobile Center on Saturday night as the Knights host the Panthers it’s almost a miracle that both teams are here how do you see them facing off Saturday night?

Join Len for the NHL Stanley Cup Final at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants look ahead to series with Orioles Friday night

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San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores hits a single to drive in a run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed May 31, 2023 (AP News photo)

Giants Look Ahead To Series With Orioles

By Barbara Mason

Thursday, the San Francisco Giants (28-28) got a day off after a grueling 29-game schedule. It has been a long month for the Giants but they were able to get back to .500 winning series over the Astros, a two game series over Milwaukee, a series over Miami and Minnesota.

They swept the Phillies and most recently lost a series to the Pittsburgh Pirates. They beat some very good teams in the month of May and It will be a nice respite today although brief.

The team will be back in action Friday night taking on the Baltimore Orioles (35-21) in a a three-game series and they will be doing it at Oracle. After that series they will have another day off before heading to Colorado to take on the Rockies.

Friday’s game will kick off a challenging series for the team. The Orioles are second in the AL East which is an incredibly strong division with the likes of the Toronto Rays, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 PM with Logan Webb on the mound for the Giants. He has an ERA of 2.75 and a 4-5 win/loss record. He went 7.0 innings in his last outing against the Brewers allowing 4 hits and 1 run with 11 strikeouts in the 3-1 win.

Baltimore will send Dean Krenmer who takes the mound with a 5-2 win/loss record and a 4.58 ERA. He is 2-1 in away games. His last outing was on May 27 against Texas in a 5-3 loss. He allowed 5 hits, 3 runs and 5 strikeouts in that game.

The game will more than likely be played surrounded by the June gloom that accompanies the start of summer for the San Francisco Bay Area. The Giants will be looking to improve their .500 record as they take on Baltimore in this upcoming series.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Memories of Oakland-Billy Ball baseball (#3 in a series)

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Billy Martin former Oakland A’s manager and inset the book written by Dale Tafoya “Billy Ball” (photo from Athletics Nation)

Memories of Oakland – Billy Ball Baseball (#3 in a Series)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Somehow the 1980 Billy Ball era is forgotten by baseball, unless you are a real A’s fan in the East Bay. The colorful Billy Martin only managed the Oakland As for three seasons but it left a remarkable place in the history of the Athletics franchise. Billy Martin was born in Berkeley, he was an original resident of Alameda County and once was a passionate and feisty player who later  became manager in the major leagues.

Billy Martin always loved Latino players. When I asked him during an interview he told me that “Latinos play with a lot of passion for the game, that passion that I had when I played”. During those years the A’s did not win a World Series or produced a real winner but there is no doubt Billy, a real character, left his fingerprints in the history of this franchise.

Billy Martin was the second baseman for the New York Yankees during the early 1950’s Yankee dynasty, winning titles in 1950,1951,1952.1953 and 1956. He played on great winning teams. As a manager he hated to lose and he demanded the most from his players.

As manager Billy was unique, as a player an even more eccentric as a manager. He managed the Twins, Tigers, Rangers, Athletics and Yankees. A 16-year managerial career and was successful with a record of 1,253 games won and 1,013 lost.

More than once when his team was in a real bad slump he will pick up his lineup out of hat. Billy Martin was always getting into trouble, at a bar after a game, or by kicking dirt on umpires. I used to call him “Una bola de Fuego” trans- A Ball of Fire.

During Spring Training in 1980 my broadcast partner Julio González and yours truly went to the then famous Pink Pony in Scottsdale. Julio and I invited Tony Armas, the A’s Venezuelan-born right fielder, a very nice mild manner guy.

As we three, approached an enter, just a few steps inside, Armas told us “no, no aqui, vamos a otro lado” trans – “no, not here, let’s go someplace else”. Tony noticed that at a table there was Billy, with his coaches, Clete Boyer, Lee Walls and pitching coach Art Fowler.  He didn’t want to go and eat there. Why? He explained to us later, Billy could “start” something and he didn’t wanted any part of it.

You might call it respect or afraid of your manager, or both, whatever, Billy brought that type of heat, his presence, he was like a Frank Sinatra type of guy, could get mad and spark something.

The Haas family bought the A’s that year and one of the best moves they made was to bring aboard Marketing guru Andy Dolich who used Billy Martin’s personality to the advantage of the team. A Billy Ball campaign which ultimately won Mr.Dolich a CLIO advertising award.

A CLIO is an annual award in advertising that recognizes innovation and excellence in advertising, aka an Oscar in advertising. Because of Billy Martin’s managing style, Andy Dolich recognized that was an asset to the organization and launched the Billy Ball Baseball campaign.

Billy Martin would later retire with the Yankees, whom he managed three more times, as owner George Steinbrenner (another character) fired him three times. Billy Martin died in an automobile accident in upstate New York on Christmas night in 1989. Although he managed the Oakland Athletics for just three years, to me Billy Martin is an unforgettable man of baseball, talented, explosive and always entertaining.

Amaury is the lead announcer for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and KATD 990 Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com and visit my website:  amaury-pi-gonzalez.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants host second place Orioles in 3 game set Friday at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski scores a run on a wild pitch by Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller, right, during the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed May 31, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The San Francisco Giants (28-27) couldn’t win the rubber game match against the Pittsburgh Pirates (28-27) on Wednesday afternoon at Oracle Park in San Francisco as the Pirates Bryan Reynolds belted three RBIs and the Bucs scored four times in the top of the third inning which help keep Pittsburgh ahead for much of the game in a 9-4 win.

#2 The Pirates with the victory are now a game above .500 and had hit and run production from ex-Giant outfielder Andrew McCutchen and first baseman Connor Joe who both went 3-4 with an RBI. Pirates manager Derek Shelton was please that the offense is starting to pick up.

#3 For the Pirates have not won consecutive games since they dropped below the .500 mark since the beginning of the season when they were 1-2. Since their 20-8 start the Pirates have gone 8-19.

#4 Michael, the Giants committed two errors in the game and errors can cost you runs talk about how the two errors impacted the Giants on Wednesday afternoon?

#5 The Giants have the day off on Thursday and open up a series against the Baltimore Orioles (35-21) on Friday night. The Orioles will start Dean Kremer (5-2 ERA 4.58) he’ll be opposed by the Giants Logan Webb (4-5 ERA 2.75) first pitch at Oracle Park at 7:15 pm PT.

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

Earthquakes hold down the fort with 1-0 shutout victory over Sounders, snap road winless streak

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San Jose Earthquakes forward Jeremy Ebobisse celebrates his goal with his teammates during his team’s 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field on Wednesday MAY 31, 2023. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Earthquakes flirted with danger for all of the second half in a hostile environment as they held on for dear life in 1-0 shutout victory over the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday evening at Lumen Field.

San Jose snapped its 14-road match winless streak, with its first road win of 2023, that carried over from last season. The Western Conference leaders have lost three of its past four matches.

The last road win for San Jose was a 3-2 against the Los Angeles Galaxy back on July 13th, 2022.

Seattle (8-6-2-26 points) controlled most of the possession in the opening 45 minutes as they played in the ‘Quakes zone for the majority of the half. The Sounders best scoring chances came in the 35th minute, when Héber’s chance from point blank range was stopped by ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel.

San Jose (6-5-4-22 points) had their best scoring chance in the scoreless first half just before halftime in the 45th minute. Jeremy Ebobisse’s free kick from inside the D sailed high and wide over the net. Both teams had two shots on target.

The Earthquakes drew first blood early in the second half on a set piece in the 48th minute. Cristian Espinoza’s corner kicked was headed toward the middle of the box by Rodriguez. Ebobisse got loose and directed the ball past Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei with his left foot for his sixth goal of the season.

Seattle responded immediately with constant pressure inside the ‘Quakes zone for the next 20 minutes with multiple scoring chances, but San Jose’s defense bent but did not break with help from Daniel.

Raúl Ruidíaz had a golden chance to even the score in the 79th minute after a ball centered into the middle by Reed Baker-Whiting, but he shanked his attempt wide left of the net.

San Jose survived the final 15 minutes, including a point-blank header attempt by Léo Chú in the third minute of stoppage time, without conceding a goal to escape the Pacific Northwest with three points.

Daniel was perfect in stopping all eight shots on target to earn his first clean sheet of the season as well as his first win. Frei made two saves on three shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with two corner kicks. Seattle had 10.

San Jose is now 13-15-9 overall against Seattle, including 7-10-3 on the road.

The ‘Quakes went 2-2-1 in the month of May.

The Vancouver Whitecaps currently have the longest winless streak on the road with 15.

UP NEXT: San Jose close out its two-game road trip against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday 6/3 at 6:30pm at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s can’t get sweep on Braves; Open 3 game set in Miami on Friday night

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Atlanta Braves’ Ozzie Albies, right, hits a two-run home run in front of Oakland Athletics catcher Carlos Perez, left, during the fifth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed May 31, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, after taking the first two games against the NL East Atlanta Braves the Oakland A’s starter James Kaprielian had a great start shutting out the Braves for four inning but ran into trouble in the top of the fifth when the Braves picked up three runs.

#2 Kaprielian pitched 4.2 innings, giving up five hits, three earned runs and striking out four hitters. One thing about Kaprielian it was one of his better starts this season and James was hopeful that he could get that first sweep of the season against Atlanta.

#3 Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies hit his 11th home run of the season off Kaprielian to get the three run inning started. The Braves have an offense Albie provided some punch. Kaprielian’s record falls to 0-6 and is still looking for that first win of the season.

#4 In the bottom of the sixth the A’s Ramon Laureano singled to left to scored Brent Rooker and the A’s ended the shutout by Braves starter Jared Shuster who gave way to the sixth oldest player Jesse Chavez 30 years old who came into relieve. Carlos Perez hit a ground out to third scoring Ryan Noda from third cutting the lead to one 3-2.

#5 Ken Waldichuk in the top of the seventh pitching for Oakland facing the Braves Ronald Acuna Jr who singled to right and scored Orlando Arcia to put the Braves up by two runs 4-2 for the final.

#6 The A’s getaway after a day off Thursday to Miami to open a three game set with the Marlins on Friday night, Hogan Harris (0-0 ERA 10.13) gets the start for the A’s and Edward Cabrera (3-4 ERA 5.02) goes for the Marlins at LoanDepot Park first pitch at 3:40 pm PT.

Bucs 4 run third boosts win over Giants 9-4 at Oracle Park in Wednesday matinee

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Pittsburgh Pirates’ Rodolfo Castro, center, is tagged out trying to steal third base by San Francisco Giants third baseman J.D. Davis (7) during the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed May 31, 2023 (AP News photo)

Pittsburgh (28-27). 004 202 001. – 9. 14. 1

San Francisco (28-28) 011 011 000. – 4. 12. 2

Time: 2:32

Attendance: 23,817

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–This afternoon’s rubber game of the three contest series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and your San Francisco Giants was not a pretty sight. Exciting, yes. Interesting, yes. But you could tell by the quality of play that this was a day game – and a 12:45 start at that! – after a night game. The Pirates won it. definitively, 9-4.

The Giants chose Alex Wood (1-0, 3.51 at game time). The sinker, slider, changeup lefty was not sharp today. He lasted only 4-1/3 innings, in which he managed to throw 94 pitches, 55 of them counting as strikes.

Wood gave up six runs, all of them earned, and left two inherited runners, who didn’t score, when he was relieved by Ryan Walker. Wood took the loss, leaving him 1-1, 4.80 for the season. He struck out four and walked three.

Wood’s opposite number for Pittsburgh, righty Mitch Keller came to work with a 6-1, 3.01 record but was coming off an awful outing in Seattle where he yielded six runs in as many innings while getting credit for the win last Friday.

He wasn’t impressive today, either, but he got the job done, lasting six frames and allowing four runs, all earned, on 10 hits, a walk, and two wild pitches. He struck out eight and made 101 deliveries to the plate, 74 of them going for strikes. He was the winning pitcher, and his record now stands at 7-1, 3.25.

The Giants opened the scoring in the bottom of the second after Blake Sabol’s shot grounder just barely made it through to center for a single, he moved on a base on a walk to Haniger, and came home on Patrick Bailey’s single to left. Schmitt grounded into double play to end the inning, the third twin killing at this early spot in the game.

The Bucs counter attacked in the top of the third. Ji Hwan Bae drew a walk. Austin Hedges sent him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Bae scored on Andrew McCutchen’s double to left, tying the game.

With two outs, Wood plunked Connor Joe. Rodolfo Castro singled to left, driving in McCutchen. and sending Joe to third while Castro went on to second on Blake Sabol’s bad throw home.

Both runners crossed the plate on Ke’Bryans triple … again to left. When Jack Suwinski went down swinging for the third out, it was 4-1 in favor of the Pirates. They tacked on two more in the fourth on Bryan Reynold’s double with Bae and McCutchen in scoring position.

Flores’s Texas League single to center in the bottom of the frame plated Wade, who had doubled with one down, to close the gap. to 4-2.

The men from the Monongahela added two more tallies in the fourth on a Bryce Reynolds single with Bae and McCutchen in scoring position, and the home team countered with the fifth when Yastrzemski hit a triple that hit the wall between the AAA and State Farm Insurance advertisements in right center and scored on a wild pitch.

Hard hitting by Pittsburgh and bad fielding by San Francisco (specifically a throwing error by Wisely at second on what should have been a double play) enabled the Pirates to put two more runs on the board in the top of the sixth, giving them an 8-3 lead.

Schmitt almost made it a close game in the sixth, but Reynolds a leaping catch of his drive over the top of the left field fence that change what looked like it would be a home run into a sacrifice fly.

Luke Jackson came in to. pitch the top of the seventh or the orange and black, who still trailed 8-4. He kept it there, and Rob Zastrzyzny and Dauri Moreta combined to keep the Giants off the board in their half of the frame.

Tyler Rogers brought his submarine delivery to the mound for the Pittsburgh eighth. He held the Pirates to a lone single.

Robert Stephenson put the Giants down in order in the eighth.

Camilo Doval allowed another Pirate tally in the top of the ninth. It came on a walk to Joe, who stole second, and scored on a Texas League single by Suwinski, mixed in with three strike outs.

Yohann Ramírez closed it for Pittsburgh, allowing a single to Brett Wisely, who was erased in a game ending double play.

The Giants have tomorrow off and will play their next game at home at 7:15 Friday evening against the Baltimore Orioles. The orange and black against the orange and black– Halloween in June. Dean Kremer (5-2-4.58) is scheduled to start for the O’s; Logan Webb (4-5,2.75) for the Giants.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Even If they Strike Out in Las Vegas, A’s are not coming back to Oakland

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The proposed site of the Oakland A’s new ballpark at Tropicana Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas. The Nevada Legislation votes this week with a deadline of Mon Jun 5, 2023 (photo by the Las Vegas Review Journal)

Even If they Strike Out in Las Vegas, A’s are not coming back to Oakland

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–During my recent Podcast here I mentioned that the Oakland A’s cannot wait to leave Oakland. I was correct. Nevada State Senate hearing this past Monday. A joint meeting of the Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees in Carson City. It was also video-conference at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas.

Representatives for the A’s stated that if funding for the ballpark in Las Vegas doesn’t happen and they cannot get a deal, the A’s will explore other cities as relocation options, like Portland, Nashville and Salt Lake City, instead of going back to Oakland.

In other words, if they ‘strike out’ in Las Vegas, they will not entertain the idea of coming back to the table for more negotiations in Oakland. The whole session during Memorial Day lasted six hours.

Including opinions (via telephone calls) pro and con from residents, although since the chairman of the committee did not request that citizens participating disclosed their area code, there were some comments that some people from Oakland called, to “boycott” and vote against the team playing in Sin City.

The Legislative session (only hearing on the A’s stadium plan) revealed the real plans for the A’s in Las Vegas as their representatives, lawmakers and finance experts all participated. Oakland Athletics Consultant Jeremy Aguero spoke, below some of the most important points he made: – There will be no new taxes –

Project could be sustained within the sports and entertainment improving district. – State has the opportunity to recoup at least $90 million of its $180 million (Nevada is shelling $180 million in funds, while Clark County $120 million) – Relocation to Las Vegas by the major league team will NOT lead to the relocation of their Triple-A team Las Vegas Aviators.

The A’s will also have to enter into a non-relocation agreement with Las Vegas Stadium Authority for at least 30 years, Representatives for the A’s continue to make their points about the events that would take place at their new Tropicana location, like: 82 A’s games and other sports events like soccer, college baseball, volleyball, concerts, etc.

Quote by one of the A’s representatives, “This is just NOT for baseball events” He also estimated baseball events would draw 2,296,000, an average of 28,000 X 82 games. Gov. Joe Lombardo, State Treasurer Zach Conine, Clark County and the A’s all together announced the agreement for the stadium bill last week, saying Nevada’s commitment would be less than 25% of the projected $1. 5 billion project.

Governor Lombardo is expected to sign the bill if approved by all parties in Carson City, with a deadline of June 5. If approved, major league baseball will move to take a vote by all team owners, which is expected to pass with little opposition.

Where will the A’s play, since the date for inauguration of their new place in Las Vegas is now 2028 remains to be seen. They could play the whole 2024 season at the Oakland Coliseum (which they own by a 50% share and still have a lease) or they could just be playing their last season in Oakland, as like I previously stated, they cannot wait to leave Oakland.

Sacramento has also shown interest in hosting the A’s while they build a new park. From 2000 to 2014 the Sacramento Rivercats where the Triple A affiliate for the Oakland A’s, since then they are the SF Giants. Finally. If anybody wonders if Oakland could get another major league team, via an expansion team it will not be easy.

They still need a new ballpark in Oakland and as it looks now, the Howard Terminal is becoming another trivia question for the ages. It could take even longer than 2028 for the Athletics to get back to major league baseball in the city of Oakland.

If you hear this Commissioner talking about expansion in Oakland, congratulations you have a great story to tell. Las Vegas has sports fever as their Las Vegas Golden Knights are in the NHL Finals. They are facing the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead broadcast voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish Radio Network Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburgh and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Pirates Aim to Right Ship with 2-1 Win

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Pittsburgh Pirates’ Connor Joe (2) is congratulated by Jack Suwinski (65) after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue May 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

SAN FRANCISCO-A day after the Giants scored 14 runs against the Pirates, San Francisco had trouble making solid against Pittsburgh pitching losing 2-1.

The Giants managed to work seven walks off five Pirates pitchers, but just five hits in the loss.

After playing sourly most off May the Pirates hope tonight’s win bodes good fortunes for June.

The Pittsburgh club currently visiting the City by the Bay are a far version of the Pirates that shot out of the gate this season and opened eyes around baseball like a triple shot of espresso from Cafe Trieste.

After beginning the 2023 campaign 20-8, the youthful Pirates had people thinking the long struggling franchise had finally turned the corner.

No, no one was seriously considering the Pirates winning their first World Series title in 44 years this season.

But at least the Bucs – who went 20 straight seasons without a winning record after Barry Bonds left them to join the Giants after the 1992 season – had a vibrancy to them .

However, in recent weeks the Pirates’ ship has begun taking on water, losing 19 of their past 25 games and dropping in the standings as if it were weighed down by fools gold.

The Giants meanwhile have been the opposite version of Pirates. After struggling to string together wins the first month of the season the Giants have surged in May going 17-10 and climbing up the standings in the NL West into third place.

The club produced their most impressive win on Memorial Day, knocking the embarrassed Pirates into McCovey Cove with a dominating 18-hit, 14-4 win.

With the win Sunday, San Francisco moved a season best two games games over .500 (28-26). The battered Bucs (26-27) fell under .500 for the first time since April 2.

Tuesday night at Oracle Park however, the Pirates drew blood first when short-lived former Giant Connor Joe – San Francisco’s opening day left field starter in 2019 – clubbed a soaring solo home run down down the left field line off Giants “opener” John Brebbia to make it 1-0.

But the Giants didn’t waist any time tying the game in the bottom of the first off Pirates starter Johan Oviedo. After the young righty issued back to back walks to Mike Yastrzemski and J.D. Davis, Michael Conforto hammer a run scoring single to left.

The action reached a crescendo in the top of the fifth when Giants rookie catcher Patrick Bailey put on a defensive display that would have made Johnny Bench proud.

After the Pirates took a 2-1 lead on a wild pitch by Giants reliever Sean Manaea, Bailey went to work showing why the used a No.1 pick on the receiver a few years back.

With base runner Jason Delay charging hard from third on a sharp ground ball to Giants first baseman Lamont Wade, Bailey artfully blocked home plate and applied a sweeping tag on Delay for the putout. Pittsburgh challenged the play, but video showed conclusive evidence of the out.

With Andrew McCutchen up next, Palacios strayed too far off first and Bailey threw a dart to first to pickoff the hapless Bucco.